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leland-mckeithan
Reviews
On a Wing and a Prayer (2023)
Good intentions, God awful Execution
Forced drama. Terrible soap opera acting. Cheesy plot devices. Weak writing. Every character is a stereotype shell. Over the top personality traits. You name it this movie has it. So bad it makes it almost fun to watch... like ac train wreck you know is coming.
Quaid is pretty much the only actor that feels like a real person but not great. Honestly he's sooo much older then Graham - looking kind of beaten down and not well - it's distracting and I don't think accurate to the story. Poor Heather. I want to love her so much but this acting job was SO SO bad. So forced. The writing for her (and many of the characters) was so one note. Just love God and support your man. Nothing wrong with those ideals, but make her more real, more human, more powerful (like the woman she's portraying obviously must be in real life). Their two teenage daughters that are forced from a mold stereotypes. And what's with the two random kids, completely unrelated to the story, shoehorned into the plot line? Clearly there just so they could feed us small lessons on aircraft and the world of flying while reinforcing the fear and danger. Poor actors. What a ridiculous part to play.
I had heard the audio recordings so I wanted to watch. Did enjoy seeing the details of how the story unfolded but geesh this was bad execution. For me the best part of watching is a few cute male actors. But really that's a lame reason to watch a film. Nothing If substance here. Like many have said I have a feeling just telling the story as it really unfolded would've had all the drama needed.
She's in Portland (2020)
A little closer to real people
Good men are liars. Not all careers work out. Friends get depressed and don't call you back. This is not a romcom. The characters are a little closer to real people. It's nice that almost all the characters in this movie besides the mains are women. And they are all forces to be reckoned with and move the boys forward. Only complaint: wish they had avoided the stereotype "tattooed people are bad people".
Stano (2019)
Delivers on a feel-good underdog hero story
Nobody's saying this movie is Spielberg level, but Bottom of the 9th is touching and it delivers in it's promises. It's a feel good hero Hollywood drama to a T. Not too heavy on the cheesiness/unrealistic circumstances until the end and even then it's ok. As expected for this kind of movie.
I don't understand the reviews about bad acting. The characters were natural and for the most part unforced. I found myself engaged all the way through and rooting for the characters. I can think of so many movies that we just have to turn off because the actors are so obviously acting. This isn't one. Joe does a nice job as a strong understated lead. Handsome to look at and quiet like one would expect a person to be in his position. Was pleased to see Sophia relax and do a decent (not great) but decent job acting like a human instead of a Latina stereotype for the most part.
Would've like to see a little more arc for both characters. Why would they value eachother now? They're different people now. Why do they want to be together?
Would've like the director/writers to show us more background as to how the fiery young hot head we saw turned into the humble man coming out of jail.
I imagine getting out of jail and finding a job and a new life is a good bit harder than portrayed in this movie but still the story sheds some light on the many challenges for people in this position. It's hard to assimilate and feel valued.
I think the baseball fans found it unrealistic. So be it. That's hollywood and I'm not in it for the sports. Perhaps if you are this movie wont work as well for you.
Overall this movie delivers as the hero's journey tale it says it is. It's what you'd expect from hollywood's version of this tale with just enough real human element and real life feeling to make it feel real. Overall satisfying movie.
Destination Wedding (2018)
Can we see it with a different actor?
The format is like a play - the 2 main actors have little to no interaction with any other characters in the movie. So there's a lot of chatting. The dialogue might be interesting but Reeves is so stiff and unskilled it's hard to know if it flows. His character is an uptight guy but that isn't the problem. Just feels like a badly acted play with two people just taking turns saying their lines. Reeves has never really learned to just speak naturally and relate as an actor. The movie might be interesting...but would love to see it with a different actor.