jfgibson73 Reviews

Back to Black (2024)

It just can't be done

[5/10 · 5 June 2024]

I think I'm going to only say things about this movie that have been written thousands of times already. It doesn't feel like I'm watching Amy Winehouse AT ALL, and I never felt like there was a moment when I was seeing anything that resembled what actually happened. If you watch the movie with no context, there are things you could probably enjoy--there are some good performances that bring characters to life, and you can probably get caught up in the story. The person they created onscreen IS someone fairly compelling; it just doesn't feel anything like watching Amy. So if you don't mind a work of pure fiction, this might go down fine. Personally, I don't believe Amy is someone you can ever dramatize, and no one else should ever try.

Cade: The Tortured Crossing (2023)

It's torturous all right...

[1/10 · 4 June 2024]

This was my first Neil Breen film. I knew what I was getting into, so I wasn't shocked by how inept it was--I doubt anyone who chooses to watch it would be surprised about that. Most folks who seek this out will be wanting laugh at how bad it turned out. Well, it's hard to imagine a movie could be any worse. The story is so poorly told, it makes The Room look well-structured. The basic plot is simple enough, but the way it unfolds is very hard to follow along with. There are absolutely no filmmaking techniques that will help the viewer understand anything that is happening. And the performances are so poor that unless someone states something implicitly, you don't know what they are doing or thinking. Neil might have had it worked out in his head, but he has no ability to communicate his intentions. I really beleive that for a person to put in the time, money, and effort to produce something like this, they must have some kind of impairment. I don't know if it was a brain injury, a developmental delay, or some other form of neurodivergence, but not only is Neil afflicted, I think that anyone who appears in his films must be, too. I can't think of any other reason a person would allow themself to perform the way these people do--not for money, not for acting experience--not even if they were being blackmailed. I haven't even gotten into how visually assaultive this movie is. Anyone who rates this higher than a 1 is only doing so to be funny. There is nothing to appreciate about any moment of Cade, except for fans of bad movies. Those are the only people I would ever hope will sit through this.

Challengers (2024)

A story that keeps you guessing

[7/10 · 4 June 2024]

When you are deciding if you want to watch a movie devoted to a particular sport, it is helpful to know if the filmmaker was able to show the subject in a way that is interesting even to people who aren't fans. I think most viewers will enjoy the way the tennis is filmed in Challengers. I also think that as the details of the story unfolds, it will be easy to get caught up in the tension of wanting to see how it all turns out. There are three central characters, and the plot hinges on their relationships to each other, as well as what they want from competing in tennis. You may have heard something or other about how the film ends; what I will say is that up until the final moments, you might not be sure what these three people are actually working towards. The ending does answer this, and I believe it gives a worthy resolution. In that sense, I would say Challengers offers an emotional journey that many will enjoy going on.

Pignorant (2024)

Not an easy watch if you are bothered by animals in pain

[6/10 · 4 June 2024]

This documentary has some upsetting content. The filmmakers explore a farm and a factory where pigs are raised and slaughtered. Not only are there graphic images, but there are some descriptions of what goes on that are hard to hear. The goal was to expose the practice of using a gas chamber to kill pigs, which will then be used for food. With hidden cameras, we are shown some of what goes on in the factory. However, I think some of the worst things that were happening only got spoken about. The documentary has a resolution that will give viewers some sense of closure to this group's first effort; however, they stress that they want to continue to work to bring awareness to practices that they feel are cruel and wrong. I should note that the story takes places in one area of the U. K.; we do not see how animals are processed in other parts of the world, nor do they discuss the food industry beyond their region.

Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm (2022)

Not nearly outrageous enough

[5/10 · 5 May 2024]

I enjoy these characters as much as anyone, but this movie was way too conventional. The appeal of the show is that it can go in so many nonsensical directions in just an 11 minute runtime. For this film, it seems like they thought they needed to keep a linear narrative going for the 75 minute runtime. I preferred it when things would go off the rails right from the start, and then keep getting more and more out of control. Of course, there are plenty of silly moments and goofy plot points, but compared to what we've been used to, this seems really tame, even as they add in explicit language. I recommend skipping this one--it offers minimal payoff.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Not like anything else in a long, long time

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

This movie was my first time experiencing this fandom. I really liked it. I enjoyed where the story went, and it had a look and feel that made it easy to place myself in the action. But the most transporting aspect had to be the score. The music was absolutely essential to making this an experience that stands apart. On top of that, there were some casting choices that paid off big time, with Austin Butler being the standout for me. Some of the characters might have been a little one-note, especially the women, but this is sci-fi written decades ago. I enjoyed this enough to go back and look into some of the other stuff made around this property, and I'm interested to see what this director can do to continue the story. He's set the bar pretty high here, so hopefully he can deliver on the same level.

Riddle of Fire (2023)

Fun, adventurous storytelling

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

Is this movie something special? I think some viewers will feel that it is. I think two reasons include: 1) It follows some free-range kids on an "adventure," and 2) The film quality gives it a retro look. These two elements add a sense of nostalgia for filmgoers of a certain age. The fact that the kids just roam the county with no parents checking in on them sets this movie apart from anything else made in a long, long time. There is also a slightly surreal quality to a lot of the scenes; the filmmakers did NOT go for a sense of realism. Instead, the children are able to do and say things that kids would like to be able to do, but never really could in real life. So it's kind of like a stylized way of telling the story from a kid's perspective--kind of like how Night of the Hunter has it's own logic at times. I happened to enjoy it, even when not everything worked 100%. For example, the fabled dance sequence: this should have been a highlight, but I didn't feel like it had the intended effect for me. Still, I very much appreciate that someone was able to get this made, and I would be interested to see what the writer/director does in the future. It's the kind of story I wouldn't mind telling if I were ever to write.

Strictly Confidential (2024)

Edge of your seat erotic thriller

[10/10 · 16 April 2024]

Here is a film that achieves so much in it's runtime that it's hard to believe it's only an hour and a half long. Strictly Confidential will surely take it's place along the great mystery/thrillers by masters such as Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch. However, neither of those greats ever helmed an ensemble piece the likes of which writer/director David Hurley has assembled. He guides every actor and actress to an award-worthy performance, with the standouts being an intense Laura McQueen and a magnetic Llyrio Boateng as the enigmatic Sebastian. Does he know more than he is telling us? You will be guessing right up to the final shot. But even those stellar craftsmen must defer to the sparkling champagne fizz of the centerpiece: Liz Hurley as Lily. The pain of her loss--and the choices it leads her to make--is so palpable, ever viewer's heart will ache as they follow her journey. Clearly, the director earned everyone's trust and led a film shoot with no drama or disharmony. Special credit must go to 2nd 2nd assistant director (two 2nds--not an error) Danielle Browne. No doubt her contributions helped carry the production to that upper echelon that so few films reach. If you are tired of the repetitive, uninspired slop that floods the streaming services today, seek out Strictly Confidential. You will be in for a ride that will restore your faith in the power of film!

Followers (2024)

I did not care for this

[2/10 · 7 April 2024]

As soon as this movie began, I picked up on all the trademarks of a poorly made low budget effort: stilted performances, uninspired cinematography, insipid dialog, and an unremarkable score. I think the only thing that has changed recently in trash filmmaking is that now anyone can get a drone shot.

As the story unfolded, I was surprised at how quickly the first act was paced. It did not seem like the standard slasher formula was being used; things progressed much more quickly than typical. It still wasn't very good, but it wasn't the same old/same old. I guess it's really hard to edit a scene to play out with any kind of natural rhythm when you work in low budget filmmaking, because these movies always have odd timing to everything; it's no different with Followers. Someone will make a statement or ask a question, and there will be a weird pause with some kind of filler shot before the response comes. None of the actors have any kind of charisma or presence, or if they do, the filmmakers couldn't capture it. Another criticism I have is that I wasn't very interested in the story, and I was especially apathetic to how everything resolved. I am sure I will forget this movie so quickly that the next time I look over my list of reviews, I will have no memory of what this was. Hard pass.

Frogman (2023)

I don't care what anybody says

[8/10 · 17 March 2024]

I thought this movie was fun from start to finish. For me, it had a midnight movie feel--cheap trash just made to entertain. It's found footage, and it definitely uses low-res shots and shaky camera work. The story feels like someone saw The Taking Of Deborah Logan and decided to do a Spinal Tap-like parody of it. I don't actually know if the tone was meant to be comedic, but there were plenty of moments that they couldn't possibly have thought anyone would take it seriously. I also liked how everything builds to an off-the-wall climax where they just totally go for it. I couldn't take my eyes off of the screen. It was a sweet rush of low budget horror.

Poor Things (2023)

It drew me in, but struggled to hold my interest

[7/10 · 23 January 2024]

I admire this movie for its reach. They definitely tried to do something you don't see all the time. For much of the first act, I thought maybe they were going for a surrealist approach, because so many elements of the story were unconventional. Once the narrative got going, however, there weren't as many jarring surprises. There was still messed up stuff all the way through, but by the end, it had started to feel a lot more conventional. My personal opinion is that the performances were well done--probably enough to get some award attention--but that they didn't stand out as anything that will be remembered as all-time great acheivements. And I think that is true of the film overall.

The movie reminds me of The Saddest Music In The World in a lot of ways--although there were no glass legs filled with beer. It does create its own universe without feeling like a sci-fi story, and tells a dramatic story with a character worth following. I just didn't feel that Poor Things utilized this device as fully as it might have.

Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023)

This was pretty fun

[7/10 · 23 January 2024]

I thought this was a better-than-average comedy. It's pretty goofy, but it was my style of humor. The three male leads are the best part--they are given pretty good material almost all the way through. I did think things fell off at one point when the group stumbled onto a secret community, but most of the rest of the story delivered. Even though there were a few sequences where the shtick got a little tiresome, I thought it still averaged out to a lot of enjoyment overall. There is even narration by John Goodman that had some memorable lines (He reminds us he's been in The Big Lebowski--and a LOT of other stuff). I would give it a moderate recommendation, but it's not on that level of something great enough that I would try to get people to watch it with me.

The Iron Claw (2023)

Spoiler-free thoughts

[9/10 · 7 January 2024]

Although I followed wrestling for over 40 years, I didn't know much about the Von Erich family. This movie told their story in an incredibly captivating way. It is exteremly well-written and well-filmed, but the performances are what really stand out. Every character gives you a reason to want to keep watching them; you won't necessarily like some of them, but they hold your attention. Zac Efron brings unbelievable gravity to his portrayal of Kevin Von Erich. In just a few short moments, he had me admiring this person completely. It's a very emotional story with a lot of difficult moments, but it didn't leave me depressed. In fact, I thought this movie had the most perfect, emotionally affecting ending since Toy Story 3. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

The Cooler (2003)

Entertaining all the way through

[7/10 · 7 January 2024]

I thought this was a better-than-average movie. It looks great, has excellent performances, and a tight script that builds to a satisfying conclusion. I don't have any interest in the subject matter, but I imagine people who enjoy Vegas would rate this movie even higher, as it stands as one of the better films around the subject. Every scene has a purpose, and it all fits together in a way that makes sense. I didn't learn anything about myself or contemplate any deep truths about the human condition after watching, but I was thouroughly entertained for the entire run time. I would be comfortable recommending this movie to most people I know, as I believe it is a well-made crowd pleaser.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

One of my biggest lifelong favorites

[9/10 · 7 January 2024]

When I was very young, I told my parents that I thought my favorite animal was an octopus. My mom told me I should watch this movie. I did, and even though it featured NO octopi, it became one of my favorites that I continued to enjoy the rest of my life. This movie does many of the things that I love about classic Disney: the design of the sub is iconic, the story is well-paced with scene after scene of memorable action, and it features characters for the ages. Kirk Douglas brings to life one of my favorite movie heroes of all time, and James Mason--despite not being a Hindu--plays an unforgettable Captain Nemo. None of the other adaptions of this story come anywhere close, although I wouldn't mind if someone eventually does make another great movie based on it. I also really enjoy the scenes filmed underwater. The movie also inspired the greatest theme park attraction ever built (the ride at Disney World, now removed). Not perfect, but a special movie which I will always treasure.

Baby Driver (2017)

Fun

[6/10 · 7 January 2024]

I like Edgar Wright. His movies are always entertaining, with sharp humor and fast-paced action. I consider Baby Driver to be one of his better offerings. It's a straightforward story about a character trying to exit a life of crime. He works as a getaway driver, which gives Wright an excuse to film some of the most unquie car chase scenes ever. The main character doesn't just go fast; he has complete control of the automobile, slamming between gears effortlessly while making manuevers that don't seem physically possible. So those parts are fun. But we also get reasons to like the character and care about him succeeding. It might not be the most memorable story, but it's a fun, entertaining watch that doesn't ask too much of the viewer.

Soft Liquid Center (2023)

Guaranteed to make you regret the time you spent watching it

[2/10 · 7 January 2024]

Soft Liquid Center is one of the more unsatisfying horror movies I've seen in a while. It is well-filmed, the performances are enjoyable, it has a great soundtrack, and it is pretty scenic much of the time. My main problem is the story. It isn't so much that it is a slow burn or that some things were slightly ambiguous; a movie can do that and still be enjoyable. But in this story, it felt like they had ideas for some cool things to film wihout taking the time to decide what it had to do with the plot. Rather than bother to think everything through and ensure it was all coherent, they chose to leave things open-ended. This will trick viewers into imagining that these filler scenes actually have meaning for them to interpret, and they will go on to label Soft Liquid Center as "intelligent." In fact, it is not scary or entertaining in any way.

The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972)

A film with a unique charm

[6/10 · 29 December 2023]

This was pleasant. Most of the scenes are relaxing shots of small town locals in a very rural area of Arkansas, including very scenic swamps. They characters recall encounters with bigfoot. There is a lot of narration and voiceover, which normally would be grating. Here, however, it adds to the calming tone that most of the movie creates. Then, there are the attack scenes. You don't ever really see the bigfoot creature, but there are a couple sequences where he makes loud noises. It gets a little intense. Eventually, sightings of the creature seem to die off, and the movie ends. There are some seriously goofy songs, and it all has a very 70's low-budget feel. I would mind more like this.

Bottoms (2023)

I will rewatch this one for years to come

[9/10 · 29 December 2023]

I really can't score this movie any lower than a nine. Not only was it my style of humor, it was able to stay entertaining all the way to the end. No third act deflation! And on top of being funny for the entire runtime, I enjoyed the story. I actually thought it had a plot that drew me in and gave me a highly satisfying resolution. I appreciated the fact that there were so many ridiculous details that it was almost like this movie was set in an alternate universe. For me, it kept the balance exactly right. Wild, but with some grounded elements to keep me caring about the characters. I think this could become one of my favorite comedies of all time. I don't know how many other people I would show it to, because I think the humor was extremely subjective, but I treasured it.

The Marvels (2023)

I did not hate this movie with every fiber of my being

[5/10 · 29 December 2023]

It was fine overall. I didn't like anything about the first Captain Marvel movie, so I never expected to even watch this one. Eventually I saw some footage that got me interested, and I ended up liking some parts. I'll agree that the script never should have been approved with such an underwritten villain, and that the story was impossible to care about. The thing that carried it for me was that I was enjoying the three main characters together. Kamala was the key; without her, there was no reason for this movie whatsoever. I hope they can use her in something better eventually. At this point, however, I'll be fine if Marvel just holds off for a while.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

An All-Time Great

[9/10 · 29 December 2023]

All the praise this movie is getting is deserved. This isn't just the best Godzilla movie, or even the best movie of the year--this is one of the great movie experiences of a lifetime. I'm not sure I have been affected by a film this much since The Florida Project. Everything came together in that special way that only seems to happen every now and then with movies. Now, I could nitpick about some questionable moments, but when this much work has been put into delivering a well-thought out story, I just want to appreciate how much there is to enjoy. I thought there were great visuals as well, and a pretty awesome score. So, all around, very likely a timeless classic.

Saltburn (2023)

Yuck

[7/10 · 29 December 2023]

This was an icky story.

The movie follows a character named Oliver who spends a summer with an extremely wealthy family. Their home is closer to a castle than a mansion. The main hook is Oliver's interest in a university classmate, Felix. All sorts of unusual behaviors are on display in this film. I was interested in watching it because I heard it described as being a "messed-up masterpiece." I ended up feeling like it wasn't really messed-up enough. Even though there are some fairly outrageous sequences, I felt like the movie was still too restrained overall. I would have like for the filmmakers to have really gone absolutely bezerk and given us some truly jaw-dropping moments in the final scenes. Now, you might say the end of the movie is pretty wild, but I felt that it was too tidy. For a movie about obsession and going to extreme lengths to get what you want, things cooled off way too much in the last act. Consider that there is a 17-year time gap between the bulk of the story and the closing moments; that is way too long of a period of inaction. The story needed to ramp things up instead of letting all the momentum just fizzle out. It was still worth a watch, but I can't help but wish they had taken things a bit further.

Eileen (2023)

Such a letdown...

[6/10 · 29 December 2023]

I wish I hadn't watched this movie back-to-back with Saltburn; I would have liked more time between viewings before seeing so many similar character traits and situations. Eileen kept me interested throughout the runtime, mostly thanks to Thomasin McKenzie. A less interesting performer could have rendered this completely skippable. The movie spends a lot of time establishing what Eileen's life is like, and those details drew me in to the story. Then, Anne Hathaway's character is introduced, and the plot begins to take off. As the action continued to build, I really wanted to see where everything would end up. However, I was disappointed by the resolution; I felt like most of what we had learned about the characters became unimportant as a result of their final choices. It was hard not to feel like I had wasted my time when the credits came up because it was such an unsatisfying way to end things. It prevents me from being able to recommend this movie to anyone. I don't regret watching it, but I was definitely let down.

Angel Baby (2023)

Best Horror Movie of 2023 -- BY A COUNTRY MILE!!!

[10/10 · 23 December 2023]

I knew this was going to be an awesome story before I ever watched it. The lead performances were off the charts! I had a feeling the actors and actress would enhance the experience with their talents, and I was right. Effects are very amazing, as is the cinematography. Groundbreaking camera work, breathtaking use of angles, picture-perfect shots in every scene. Everyone who worked on this production brought their A-game, that is clear. Their efforts pop off the screen. The people hired as key grips did top-notch work, and it pays off in every frame. The director certainly was able to induce everyone on the film to reach new heights of achievement because of his willingness to make each one of them feel valued. It is so refreshing to see such a well-made movie where everyone worked in harmony to produce something that will stand the test of time.

Messiah of Evil (1974)

One of the biggest falters of 70s horror

[4/10 · 10 December 2023]

My impression of this film is that it could have been remembered as a horror classic with a little bit better execution. Storywise, there's almost enough there to be great, and some of the scenes end up being fairly effective, but there are too many wasted opportunities. A woman arrives in a strange town looking for her father. He's an artist, whose expansive home is filled with striking paintings. The town is eerie, and the people she meets are clearly off. So there is some pretty good atmosphere that is developed. However, clunky direction and lazy techniques, such as narration (which is delievered by MULTIPLE characters), take away from what could have been effective scares. There are scenes, such as the one in the theatre, that build very well, but there are also poor choices, such as taking jarring detours to follow around side characters that we haven't even gotten to know. There were even some moments that could have been fairly shocking, but by the time the movie got to them, the effect was already ruined. Not to mention the weak ending. Can not recommend, unless you just want to observe how not to make a memorable horror movie.