The main actress did an amazing job imo. She has a lot of natural talent and the most mesmerizing expressive eyes. She constantly had me guessing what she was going to do next. There were not a lot of verbal cues. Probably half of her dialogue was done with just her eyes. When she did speak she did a great job of never overacting where it kind of spoils the illusion for the viewer. I was totally involved and invested in her character. She had me believing this was a real person living a real life. I was only planning on watch one or two episodes and ended binge watching the whole thing in one day.
Reviews
16 Reviews
Raised by Wolves
(2020–2022)
Keeps you guessing
6 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Very original plot. In the first episode it has you thinking the atheists are the good guys. Then in the second episode they reveal more of the history and you think the religious people are the good guys. Then in the 3rd episode you see good and bad on both sides. Individually they are not just one dimensonal characters so there is good and bad in each of them and it kind of forces you to rethink what is going on and who to root for yet again.
Truth
(I) (2015)
Riviting Authenticity
22 January 2016
Riveting Authenticity is the first feeling I had when the movie ended. After watching these events unfold. If you don't feel for these real life heroes, Americans.... You may want to consider a frontal lobotomy. Or just stop reading and/or watching anything political. This work is best viewed after removing the talking points/ talking heads. Only recount the actual time line of events. This work gives a mega phone to those who's voices where dismissed and a heart to those who never got a chance to tell their side publicly. The director clearly did the right thing by taking direction from those who where actually there. That is evident throughout the movie and really gives a heightened authenticity. One of the best historical TV reporting stories ever. Several emotions smack you hard throughout this movie. The acting was very well done by pretty much everyone. Cate Blanchett probably impressed me the most. This is a rare film in that I will want to see again. I hope this work can help heal a country that was stabbed in the gut by the attempt to hide the facts of one of the worst presidents in history.
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur13250491/ is an idiot who needs to learn how to spell riveting.
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur13250491/ is an idiot who needs to learn how to spell riveting.
Making a Murderer
(2015–2018)
The saddest spoiler of all.
21 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There are 2 innocent men in prison. There that is the spoiler. It's not editing tricks or production or any kind of bias in this documentary that leads a reasonable person to that conclusion. It's the overwhelming evidence. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind.
If you are like me you will absolutely hate the ending. If you want someone to blame for that, blame the legal system these 2 men went through like a meat grinder. The difficult part about this is that it could be years or decades before the REAL killer is found if ever. So there may never be an ending to this.
I'm still mad to be quite honest. So many questions. Like why nobody asked more questions of the police officer who radioed in the license plates and make/model vehicle 2 days before it was conveniently found on the property. Why was he never given a poygraph? There are a lot of common sense things as well. Like why would someone do things that would so easily connect them with the crime? It was a scheduled appointment, there are phone calls. His history of being convicted! Seemingly like he wanting to get caught which is of course ridiculous. Why did the key pieces of evidence like the car keys and bullet fragments only show up after several searches followed by a visit but one particular officer? The opened evidence containing Stephens blood? What about the conflicting information and timelines of 2 witnesses who could be potential suspects? What about the 2 guys who found the vehicle. One an ex bf. Any investigation will start with people who knew the victim but nobody talked to the ex bf. At least not right away.
If you are like me you will absolutely hate the ending. If you want someone to blame for that, blame the legal system these 2 men went through like a meat grinder. The difficult part about this is that it could be years or decades before the REAL killer is found if ever. So there may never be an ending to this.
I'm still mad to be quite honest. So many questions. Like why nobody asked more questions of the police officer who radioed in the license plates and make/model vehicle 2 days before it was conveniently found on the property. Why was he never given a poygraph? There are a lot of common sense things as well. Like why would someone do things that would so easily connect them with the crime? It was a scheduled appointment, there are phone calls. His history of being convicted! Seemingly like he wanting to get caught which is of course ridiculous. Why did the key pieces of evidence like the car keys and bullet fragments only show up after several searches followed by a visit but one particular officer? The opened evidence containing Stephens blood? What about the conflicting information and timelines of 2 witnesses who could be potential suspects? What about the 2 guys who found the vehicle. One an ex bf. Any investigation will start with people who knew the victim but nobody talked to the ex bf. At least not right away.
American Sniper
(2014)
First half is a recruitment video but second half feels more real.
19 January 2015
Based on the IMDb ratings and reviews I was expecting more and came away a bit disappointed. The first half felt a little bit like army propaganda at times. This left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth and probably ruined the more realistic second half when they started to deal with the negative effects of war.
Cooper did a really good job. He deserves props or his portrayal. However, I think this movie could have been much better if they didn't have to get sign off from the family and the army requiring them to portray the main character in a certain way. Also the ending just sucks and no way around that one.
To summarize, it was OK but not at all Oscar worthy imho.
Cooper did a really good job. He deserves props or his portrayal. However, I think this movie could have been much better if they didn't have to get sign off from the family and the army requiring them to portray the main character in a certain way. Also the ending just sucks and no way around that one.
To summarize, it was OK but not at all Oscar worthy imho.
The Imitation Game
(2014)
Not as good as the book
8 January 2015
After all the rave reviews I was expecting a much better movie. Unfortunately they spend way too much time on the gay angle and not nearly enough on the intelligence gathering at Blechly and the accomplishments of Turing and his team in that regard.
So they strayed away from the book this is based on and I think it was quite detrimental to the movie. Obviously at some point the script writers decided that spending more time on Turings homosexuality would make the movie more interesting. I couldn't disagree more.
The book went into a lot of detail about the intelligence gathered that helped Britain win and some of the drama surrounding that. There were also things that went on with the enigma device such as adding the 4th wheel that the movie did not get into at all.
So they strayed away from the book this is based on and I think it was quite detrimental to the movie. Obviously at some point the script writers decided that spending more time on Turings homosexuality would make the movie more interesting. I couldn't disagree more.
The book went into a lot of detail about the intelligence gathered that helped Britain win and some of the drama surrounding that. There were also things that went on with the enigma device such as adding the 4th wheel that the movie did not get into at all.
The Interview
(II) (2014)
About what I expected
25 December 2014
This review is an attempt to judge this movie on it's own merit without any political baggage.
If you go in expecting a low brow comedy I think you will enjoy it. Some reviewers here seem to have been caught in the unintended hype and perhaps would not have watched it otherwise. They seem to have gone in expecting some sort of intellectual comedy with deep political undercurrents or something. Other reviewers seemed to be expecting comedy genius.
If you go in expecting a typical Rogen low brow comedy with jokes about getting stoned and farting or whatever then you will probably enjoy this. There are some genuinely funny one liners and you don't need to be 15 to find them funny as one poster implied.
Like any other Rogen movie it's like watching a comedy routine with a string of one liners that are loosely held together by some sort of basic plot.
I found the interaction between the Franco character and the Jong-Un character quite funny. Like a couple of college buddies with their use of American slang. For me that was funny because that was not what I was expecting at all. I thought the Jong-Un character was actually quite good.
I'm not a Franco fan but I think he put in a pretty good effort with his character. I'm definitely not a Rogen fan and this movie didn't change any of that. He just played himself like he always does so nobody is going to accuse him of trying to act.
So to summarize, if you feel like watching low brow comedy just for a few laughs without having to think then it's worthwhile imho. If you go in expecting something more because of totally unrelated events surrounding this movie then you will almost definitely be disappointed.
If you go in expecting a low brow comedy I think you will enjoy it. Some reviewers here seem to have been caught in the unintended hype and perhaps would not have watched it otherwise. They seem to have gone in expecting some sort of intellectual comedy with deep political undercurrents or something. Other reviewers seemed to be expecting comedy genius.
If you go in expecting a typical Rogen low brow comedy with jokes about getting stoned and farting or whatever then you will probably enjoy this. There are some genuinely funny one liners and you don't need to be 15 to find them funny as one poster implied.
Like any other Rogen movie it's like watching a comedy routine with a string of one liners that are loosely held together by some sort of basic plot.
I found the interaction between the Franco character and the Jong-Un character quite funny. Like a couple of college buddies with their use of American slang. For me that was funny because that was not what I was expecting at all. I thought the Jong-Un character was actually quite good.
I'm not a Franco fan but I think he put in a pretty good effort with his character. I'm definitely not a Rogen fan and this movie didn't change any of that. He just played himself like he always does so nobody is going to accuse him of trying to act.
So to summarize, if you feel like watching low brow comedy just for a few laughs without having to think then it's worthwhile imho. If you go in expecting something more because of totally unrelated events surrounding this movie then you will almost definitely be disappointed.
Better than I expected
10 February 2013
I was expecting this to be like one of those low budget pro marijuana documentaries. Production value is surprisingly high. The documentary didn't seem to have too much of a bias which was good. It just told the story as it happened. I think if you are a computer geek type you will find this more interesting than the general public. Lots of techy speak. Scenes in data centers and what not.
I found the piratebay guys to be kind of boring. Just dumb kids really. I would have loved for them to be able to sit in the court room and give eloquent speeches about how it doesn't matter what happens to them or pirate bay. There are already alternative websites and Hollywood should be trying to address the demand rather than the people who are simply responding to that with available technology. Technology does not wait for outdated business models to catch up.
So if you are looking for statements like that you aren't going to find them in this movie. Just some young guys who like to spend a lot of time on computers trying to fight the system.
I found the piratebay guys to be kind of boring. Just dumb kids really. I would have loved for them to be able to sit in the court room and give eloquent speeches about how it doesn't matter what happens to them or pirate bay. There are already alternative websites and Hollywood should be trying to address the demand rather than the people who are simply responding to that with available technology. Technology does not wait for outdated business models to catch up.
So if you are looking for statements like that you aren't going to find them in this movie. Just some young guys who like to spend a lot of time on computers trying to fight the system.
Mama
(I) (2013)
Most reviewers must have only saw the first half of what I saw
27 January 2013
I had high hopes after reading some very positive reviews and after the impressive performance Chastain gave in Zero Dark Thirty. For the first half of the movie those expectations seemed to be largely met. Some good old school horror thrills as others have said. Things got more and more ridiculous as the movie progressed and had to reveal more of what was going on to keep the suspense going. It was still not too bad until the ending which all I can say (without giving anything away) was completely ridiculous. The first sign of trouble for me was when a character jumps into their SUV and drives into the middle of nowhere to a creepy old cabin by themselves, timed to arrive at night, with nothing but a flashlight. That's just the first hint of how dumb things get.
Yea, it's about ghosts so you have to kind of leave your logic and reason at the door but the ending was bad enough that it transcends that. I'm not even getting into the ridiculous fact there are all these strange things and sounds going on in the house day after day with a couple creepy kids acting even more creepy when it happens and the parental characters don't even bother to look into it. Not even so much as opening closets after seeing something go in there.
The only reason to watch this movie is for Chastain who made the most of a ridiculous script.
Yea, it's about ghosts so you have to kind of leave your logic and reason at the door but the ending was bad enough that it transcends that. I'm not even getting into the ridiculous fact there are all these strange things and sounds going on in the house day after day with a couple creepy kids acting even more creepy when it happens and the parental characters don't even bother to look into it. Not even so much as opening closets after seeing something go in there.
The only reason to watch this movie is for Chastain who made the most of a ridiculous script.
Zero Dark Thirty
(2012)
If you liked Blackhawk Down you will probably like this movie
6 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The 2.5ish hours went by fast. The magic of this movie for me was the rhythm of it. It's a slow but steady pace but the intensity keeps building. In the last 30 minutes it still feels like the same pace but it is very intense and I was totally engaged at that point. Afterwards I felt drained. Escapism at its best which is what movies are all about.
I have mixed feelings about the Chastain character. I am not sure if it was great acting by not overdoing it, great directing trying to make her look very human and flawed, great script. Maybe all of the above or maybe that's just the way it came together and the acting and directing were not all that outstanding. I don't know but it worked for me. I never really got to like the Chastain character but perhaps that was the point. She helps carry the plot through it's twists and turns but doesn't get in the way of it. Like one of the lines in the movie, they are not there to be your friend.
Like many others I am not happy that the movie slants towards suggesting torture produced actionable intelligence because all information we have to date says it didn't. However, I didn't let it get in the way of my experience with this movie. To be quite honest it made the movie better than it would have been without that piece of fiction. Also, from what I have read beyond the 3rd party rumours from more credible sources, there never was a real Chastain character. She is more of a composite character comprising many many people who came and went on this including multiple CIA directors. That is how you turn reality into a compelling movie. Create composite characters, combine events, and bend facts or create your own when necessary to improve the story. If you want reality go watch a documentary.
I have mixed feelings about the Chastain character. I am not sure if it was great acting by not overdoing it, great directing trying to make her look very human and flawed, great script. Maybe all of the above or maybe that's just the way it came together and the acting and directing were not all that outstanding. I don't know but it worked for me. I never really got to like the Chastain character but perhaps that was the point. She helps carry the plot through it's twists and turns but doesn't get in the way of it. Like one of the lines in the movie, they are not there to be your friend.
Like many others I am not happy that the movie slants towards suggesting torture produced actionable intelligence because all information we have to date says it didn't. However, I didn't let it get in the way of my experience with this movie. To be quite honest it made the movie better than it would have been without that piece of fiction. Also, from what I have read beyond the 3rd party rumours from more credible sources, there never was a real Chastain character. She is more of a composite character comprising many many people who came and went on this including multiple CIA directors. That is how you turn reality into a compelling movie. Create composite characters, combine events, and bend facts or create your own when necessary to improve the story. If you want reality go watch a documentary.
Prometheus
(I) (2012)
Overrated....unfortunately
12 June 2012
I am a huge fan of the first 2 Alien movies. They are my favorite movies of all time. I have seen both more times than I can remember.
This movie was NOTHING like those 2. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't hyped as being a prequel that is comparable to those 2. I think most of the reviewers are blinded by the fact it was done by Ridley Scott and they seem to believe he can do no wrong.
The movie was OK but (with the exception of the automated surgery scene) never really captured that totally unique experience of believable suspenseful scifi like the first 2.
I also thought some of the casting was off like Charlize Theron. Seemed to me she was just thrown in there because some movie executive somewhere said the movie needed an A list female character.
Being a prequel to Alien, they should have also made sure it was consistent with that. There is a huge inconsistency at the ending that doesn't fit with that. I can't go into more details without it being a spoiler.
This movie was NOTHING like those 2. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't hyped as being a prequel that is comparable to those 2. I think most of the reviewers are blinded by the fact it was done by Ridley Scott and they seem to believe he can do no wrong.
The movie was OK but (with the exception of the automated surgery scene) never really captured that totally unique experience of believable suspenseful scifi like the first 2.
I also thought some of the casting was off like Charlize Theron. Seemed to me she was just thrown in there because some movie executive somewhere said the movie needed an A list female character.
Being a prequel to Alien, they should have also made sure it was consistent with that. There is a huge inconsistency at the ending that doesn't fit with that. I can't go into more details without it being a spoiler.
Machine Gun Preacher
(2011)
Seriously IMDb, your rating system must be broken.
13 March 2012
How is it possible this movie only gets a 6.8 but some fictional piece of fluff like Real Steel gets 7.2???
This is a very good movie IMHO. I would rate it around an 8. I was expecting a 6.8 movie and needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. It's based on a true story and very timely considering the leader of the Ugandan rebels (Joseph Kony) is in the news with a viral video about him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
The basic premise is quite intriguing before you even see the movie. A bad boy biker finds god but he never gives up his love of guns and still has a penchant for violence if pushed hard enough. Add in the evil insanity that is presently still going on in Uganda and it's an incredibly compelling story. I don't want to say any more at the risk of giving away some of the things that are best left to the movie to explain.
This is a very good movie IMHO. I would rate it around an 8. I was expecting a 6.8 movie and needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. It's based on a true story and very timely considering the leader of the Ugandan rebels (Joseph Kony) is in the news with a viral video about him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
The basic premise is quite intriguing before you even see the movie. A bad boy biker finds god but he never gives up his love of guns and still has a penchant for violence if pushed hard enough. Add in the evil insanity that is presently still going on in Uganda and it's an incredibly compelling story. I don't want to say any more at the risk of giving away some of the things that are best left to the movie to explain.
Margin Call
(2011)
As you move up the corporate ladder the acting gets more powerful
7 November 2011
I'm no expert but seems to me what makes this movie work is not so much the great script and great acting but proper casting.
It's a good movie but with a few minor changes I think it could have been a great movie.
I personally thought Demi Moore and Simon Baker were miscast. Both good but not great actors combined with not being quite right for the part weakened the movie.
But that is not to say this is not still a good movie. I especially liked how as you moved up the corporate ladder from Paul Bettany to Kevin Spacey to Jeremy Irons the performance got more powerful. That is what made this movie work. If Simon Baker was able to put in a more powerful performance than Spacey it would have been even better. He did an OK job but it didn't quite measure up to the performances Spacey and Irons delivered so his casting didn't feel quite right to me.
But I am probably being too critical. Most people don't pay as much attention to these things and just let themselves experience it rather than think about it as much as I did. So for most people it will probably not seem like a problem.
Worth seeing if you like this type of movie.
It's a good movie but with a few minor changes I think it could have been a great movie.
I personally thought Demi Moore and Simon Baker were miscast. Both good but not great actors combined with not being quite right for the part weakened the movie.
But that is not to say this is not still a good movie. I especially liked how as you moved up the corporate ladder from Paul Bettany to Kevin Spacey to Jeremy Irons the performance got more powerful. That is what made this movie work. If Simon Baker was able to put in a more powerful performance than Spacey it would have been even better. He did an OK job but it didn't quite measure up to the performances Spacey and Irons delivered so his casting didn't feel quite right to me.
But I am probably being too critical. Most people don't pay as much attention to these things and just let themselves experience it rather than think about it as much as I did. So for most people it will probably not seem like a problem.
Worth seeing if you like this type of movie.
Death Proof
(2007)
Total garbage
15 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
In a word, this movie is garbage. Total complete absolute garbage. How this thing get's the rating it does on IMDb is just beyond comprehension. I guess some small minority of people think everything Quint does is golden no matter how crappy it is and they will rave about it all over the place.
The only thing Quint did that I ever liked was Pulp fiction. Reservoir dogs wasn't my cup of tea but it was OK I guess.
This movie just drags on and on and on and on and on with endless mindless dialog and innuendo and garbage! There are precisely 30seconds in here that are good right in the middle when they show the grizzly accident scene happen in slow motion and you get to see hot girls get decapitated and mamed.....but in a good way because you really don't care. It was actually well done IMHO. The 30 seconds I mean. A flash of brilliance in a sea of stupidity. So now it get's good right? WRONG! The second half starts all over again and manages to outdo the first half at takes it to a much higher level of mind numbing boring stupid dialog that just seems to drag on forever. Typical Quint stylistic garbage with that vintage music parmesan he always like to sprinkle over everything. Same formula as all his other garbage.
The only movie this style ever worked in for me was Pulp fiction. Don't waste your time or money. Worst movie I have seen in years.
The only thing Quint did that I ever liked was Pulp fiction. Reservoir dogs wasn't my cup of tea but it was OK I guess.
This movie just drags on and on and on and on and on with endless mindless dialog and innuendo and garbage! There are precisely 30seconds in here that are good right in the middle when they show the grizzly accident scene happen in slow motion and you get to see hot girls get decapitated and mamed.....but in a good way because you really don't care. It was actually well done IMHO. The 30 seconds I mean. A flash of brilliance in a sea of stupidity. So now it get's good right? WRONG! The second half starts all over again and manages to outdo the first half at takes it to a much higher level of mind numbing boring stupid dialog that just seems to drag on forever. Typical Quint stylistic garbage with that vintage music parmesan he always like to sprinkle over everything. Same formula as all his other garbage.
The only movie this style ever worked in for me was Pulp fiction. Don't waste your time or money. Worst movie I have seen in years.
Planet Terror
(2007)
More garbage
15 October 2007
This is the second worst movie I have seen in years. The worst was DeathProof which I gave a 1. At least there is some action in this one and it doesn't pretend to reflect any sort of reality. The babe factor didn't hurt. I admit that I never saw the whole movie. I had to fast forward through the last third as I just couldn't stand to watch it anymore. I had better things to do like clip my toe nails. Yes I do realize he intentionally tried to make this look like a drive in B movie and it worked a little too well.
Ironically, the best part of this movie was the fake interlude in the middle with a commercial for some fake movie. That was actually kind of entertaining. Where do I see that one?!
Ironically, the best part of this movie was the fake interlude in the middle with a commercial for some fake movie. That was actually kind of entertaining. Where do I see that one?!
Alfie
(2004)
Yawn, kind of a chick flick with the predictable "man bad woman good" plot.
7 November 2004
Warning: While I don't specifically explain the lame ending I will go into a few general details of the movies direction which makes it obvious. I suppose if you saw the original 1960's movie you won't be surprised anyways.
Well, after reading a few reviews I thought the movie sounded kind of interesting. I was lead to believe that it was a more realistic portrayal of modern sexually active single men. This would be a refreshing change from the media created "sensitive, metrosexual male" that most women like to say they want but in reality is NOT what get's their juices flowing.
It would also be a nice departure from the totally unrealistic and common plot of the spineless pussywhipped guy seeing the error of his ways of actually(gasp)thinking about other women and therefore, winning the leading ladies heart.
Neither of these scenarios could be further from the truth. It ends up portraying the guy as both a metrosexual male and, towards the end, a spineless pussywhipped pathetic loser.
It is a movie about a shallow playboy told mostly from the womans point of view IMHO. This is somewhat cleverly disguised as the playboy himself describing his thoughts throughout the movie. Guys, I don't think you will like it and I wouldn't really suggest it as a date movie either. It is the sort of movie a bunch of women would go to to help them forget about a recent failed or failing relationship to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Now, I do realize that it is a remake of a 1960's movie and they sort of tried to keep it in line with that but I don't care. That is not the way it was advertised to get me to see it. To the movies credit, they do throw in one psycho girlfriend and one cougar (older woman that likes to indulge in much younger men)to show that women are not all good and men are not all bad. In the end, the guy is the loser and all the women that mean't anything to him move on.
It was just a real downer for me and not realistic at all IMHO.
Well, after reading a few reviews I thought the movie sounded kind of interesting. I was lead to believe that it was a more realistic portrayal of modern sexually active single men. This would be a refreshing change from the media created "sensitive, metrosexual male" that most women like to say they want but in reality is NOT what get's their juices flowing.
It would also be a nice departure from the totally unrealistic and common plot of the spineless pussywhipped guy seeing the error of his ways of actually(gasp)thinking about other women and therefore, winning the leading ladies heart.
Neither of these scenarios could be further from the truth. It ends up portraying the guy as both a metrosexual male and, towards the end, a spineless pussywhipped pathetic loser.
It is a movie about a shallow playboy told mostly from the womans point of view IMHO. This is somewhat cleverly disguised as the playboy himself describing his thoughts throughout the movie. Guys, I don't think you will like it and I wouldn't really suggest it as a date movie either. It is the sort of movie a bunch of women would go to to help them forget about a recent failed or failing relationship to make themselves feel better about themselves.
Now, I do realize that it is a remake of a 1960's movie and they sort of tried to keep it in line with that but I don't care. That is not the way it was advertised to get me to see it. To the movies credit, they do throw in one psycho girlfriend and one cougar (older woman that likes to indulge in much younger men)to show that women are not all good and men are not all bad. In the end, the guy is the loser and all the women that mean't anything to him move on.
It was just a real downer for me and not realistic at all IMHO.
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