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Unfrosted (2024)
Absurd and not very funny
Seinfeld's humor is all about commenting on the absurdity of certain aspects of life and he tries to do that here but it's so over-the-top that most of the jokes don't really land. I really like Seinfeld but I don't think his comedic style lends itself to a full movie. This had a couple moments that did make me laugh but for the most part it was completely ridiculous and not that funny. There were also a lot of famous comedians in it so you would think it would be better than it is. It was mercifully under 2 hours and not a complete waste of time but I wouldn't watch it again and I don't think I can recommend it unfortunately.
Killing Eve (2018)
I lost interest pretty early on
One of my wife's friends recommended this and suggested we only watch seasons 1-2 since it gets pretty ridiculous and over the top after that. My wife is still interested but I barely made it through season one. I started to lose interest around episode 5. To me the whole plot is pretty ridiculous even in season one. With the exception of maybe one time, the main villain is untouchable and can never be outsmarted or defeated in any way but the "good guys", who are supposed to be MI-5 agents are bumbling and incompetent half the time. The password for the main protagonist's phone is "1234", they almost never have weapons, don't have any backup, and even when they do pull out a gun, it's revealed that some of them have never used one. I think it's really supposed to be a lesbian love story about two crazy chicks who are made for each other? I don't know, even that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Euphoria (2019)
Reminds me a little of the problem with Poor Things
Not sure why any adult would watch this and it's very obviously not for teenagers even though it's based on them. It's basically a bunch of softcore porn filmed with 20-something actors and actresses portraying teenagers. I realize it's not real but the story and the implications of what's on screen still have an impact and still mean something. To me it's too much. And it's also pretty creepy to me to watch essentially a soft-core porn drama where almost every character involved in the sex is supposed to be underage. It's the same problem as Poor Things. Obviously the actress who portrays the main character is not underage but the character has the mind of a child, so anyone with half a conscience can see how that would be problematic and make you squirm a little. Hard pass.
Road House (2024)
Don't take it too seriously
It's a fun, cheesy action flick, which I believe is what the original was as well. I vaguely recall the original but I don't think I've watched it all the way through. This is exactly what it's advertised as: A fun action flick that doesn't take itself seriously. I watched it during dinner and had a few drinks. It's got some pretty awesome fight scenes and some great one-liners. And yes, McGregor is over the top but it's kind of what this movie is about. I'm also not expecting him to be a skilled actor. I think he played the part the way the director wanted him too and I was fine with it. It definitely has some eyerolling moments but plenty of pretty sweet action scenes as well. I enjoyed it for what it is.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
An epic masterpiece
I really enjoyed the first Dune but this one is a notch or two better and is executed flawlessly. The only downside is you really can't watch it and know what's going on without seeing the first film or having at least read the book. It picks up where the first one left off and it never felt like it was almost three hours long. All the characters are memorable and the story moves along at a brisk pace. Every time it almost gets to where you think it's starting to feel slow, there's an epic action sequence. The story, acting, effects and execution are all superb. Just like with the first one, I really enjoyed the world Villeneuve put on screen and all the weaponry and ships and everything. It's really well done and made me want to go back and watch the first one again!
Barbie (2023)
Hilarious
My wife wanted to watch this so we tried it and it was absolutely hilarious and I'm not being sarcastic. I genuinely laughed throughout and actually really enjoyed it. Gosling makes the movie in my opinion; he's hysterical. There's obviously the overarching political and social commentary but I didn't mind it and frankly didn't pay much attention to it. It's a silly, hilarious movie if you don't take it too seriously. There are many really bad "effects" where it's done on purpose and it made me laugh. Not sure if the filmmakers meant it to be as funny as I took it but I enjoyed it that way nonetheless.
Yellowstone (2018)
Jimmy's character makes the show
I started this a while back and actually hated it in the beginning, especially during the first season. Almost every character was cruel and/or annoying, there wasn't anyone to root for, and I didn't really care about the land argument. I went back recently though and stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It gets much better as the seasons progress, especially with Jimmy's character arc. He's the best character by far and you actually see him grow and mature in each season. There are still the annoying characters of Beth (she's the worst), Rip and Jamie but even with them you start to get backstories that explain why they're so cruel. As others have pointed out, there are some pretty ridiculous and over-the-top moments throughout the series but they started balancing that out maybe halfway through season 4 and most of the characters have been fleshed out much better.
Fast X (2023)
I don't get it
This was pretty bad. There are so many over the top ridiculous moments, I lost count. I think maybe the drive down the Hoover Dam with explosions behind and car engulfed with flames takes the cake? Not sure. Anyway, I don't really get why these movies are so popular. It was cheesy, the villain was laughable, and the story was pretty dumb. I get that it's an action flick but at this point it appears to be almost a parody. Also how many times do they need to tell us that "it's about family". I haven't seen every one of these movies but I can say they make sure to remind us about "family" multiple times throughout each one of these I've seen. Glad I watched this for free on a flight and didn't pay $16 for it.
The Holdovers (2023)
Great film
Finally an Oscar nominated movie that doesn't have some weird sex theme. All the performances are terrific, especially Giamati, who plays a grumpy old professor who seems trapped in a thankless job and wounded by his past. He is obligated to look after some students over winter break who aren't able to go home to see their families. The film is centered around one of those students in particular who Giamati's character initially dismisses as spoiled and arrogant. They have great banter and learn from each other and I loved the character of Mary as well. This probably won't win any awards because it's not weird or perverse enough but I absolutely loved it.
May December (2023)
Wish I hadn't tried it
The movie plot is pitched as a "tabloid romance" so you know going in that it's at least about some kind of affair, and boy is it ever, but just not the kind you're thinking it would be. The music is kind of dated like something from a 90s made-for-TV movie and the entire atmosphere and story is creepy and uncomfortable to watch. The plot involves characters appearing to sympathize with a convicted pedophile. Because of this, I found the story problematic, bordering on offensive. Beyond that though it was slow and creepy. I wish I had known more about the story before watching. Lesson learned.
Poor Things (2023)
I don't understand the praise for this
The premise of this film is that a suicidal pregnant woman jumps off a bridge and is brought back to life by a mad scientist who puts her unborn child's brain into her head. She then embarks on a "self-discovery" journey to apparent liberation. This involves her having sex with as many men as possible throughout the film in graphic detail, mostly while she either still has the mind of a child or is very clearly mentally challenged. Even if she really is "of age" by the time the sex starts or if these guys really don't know that she has the mind of a child, they have to know that she at the very least is mentally handicapped since it's made abundantly clear by the story and her acting, yet they continue anyway. To me that is textbook sexual abuse/rape, not liberation, and makes watching the proceedings extremely uncomfortable since they also filmed it in an erotic way and it drags on and on. As an aside, and no offense to Ms. Stone, but watching Emma Stone participate in porn was never on my list of things to do. If it were me, I would feel embarrassed and ashamed to have participated in the film. I'm flabbergasted that so many people seem to enjoy it and it's very sad to me that this is not only approved of but lauded after everything the industry JUST went through with #MeToo. It's a nasty film in my opinion and I wish there was a zero stars option.
Beef (2023)
Over the top study in anger management
This is a weird one because I kind of found myself enjoying it at times but I think really only because of the shock value. It's like watching a trainwreck, you can't look away. The show is centered around a road-rage incident involving two selfish and emotionally challenged 40-something year-olds. Things escalate and their actions cause their lives to spiral out of control and ruin the lives of those close to them in the process. I found the first half, while cringe-worthy at times, to be kind of interesting in that "can't look away" aspect and the second half to be gradually over the top, peaking at the end with unbelievable decisions and unnecessary scenes (there is a "crunch" death at the end that's pretty ridiculous). If you're OK with watching people self-destruct and treat others terribly then that's basically what you'll find in every episode.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Very good but WAY too loud
I don't understand Nolan's fascination with jacking up the volume of his films to a level that sometimes drowns out the dialogue. It's also not necessary to constantly play background music. I'm not a filmmaker but it's ok to let the dialogue speak for itself. At least with this one I could still hear the dialogue, unlike Insterstellar where much of the film's exposition was drowned out by banging music. I don't recall Nolan's earlier films being this way but I think it may have started around The Dark Knight Rises and definitely hit a crescendo with Interstellar. Anyway, clanging music aside, the film is very good. The acting is superb and the story, minus a couple frankly unnecessary sex scenes, is phenomenal. My favorite scene was the bomb test and the tension of expecting the loud bang that waits for a bit before it actually happens. There's an example where audio was used correctly. It was actually QUIET for what seemed like an eternity and then the loud bang kicked in at just the right time. I wish the music had been handled the same way for the rest of the movie. I also didn't have any problem with the length and while it was preachy at times, the story was still effective and I could see why Nolan has said it's a horror film. Fix the audio and this is a 10.
Silo (2023)
Great show, requires some patience after the first couple episodes
The first two episodes start out with a bang and move quickly. Then the show kind of settles in and takes some time on character development and becomes more of a murder mystery. For the sake of not spoiling anything, there are some weird things that come up that are explained later but seem odd early on. But if you stick with the show it all pays off in the end. The main character is a female mechanic and is a little rough around the edges but it's perfect for what her character should be and needs to be. I've never read the books that this is based on but from what I've read this first season is basically the first book and I'm assuming they'll make two more seasons for the next two. Anyway, great show to check out!
Interstellar (2014)
Good but the soundtrack gets in the way at crucial times
I saw this when it came out. Overall it's a good film with an excellent story but music was constantly playing in the background and amped up way too loud at times, making it almost impossible to hear the dialogue. At the time I read that it wasn't just the theater, it was how Nolan decided to do it. He wanted to have the music to tell the story or something like that. That's my only complaint really. Had the sound not been a problem, I would have given this a 10. It's a real shame that something so simple was made complicated for a really kind of dumb reason. Hopefully Oppenheimer doesn't have the same problem. I'm planning on seeing that this weekend.
Set It Up (2018)
Predictable rom-com
It was fine for a Netflix watch with the wife but I don't get the 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has all the usual rom-com troupes: 1. Meet cute. 2. Major conflict between the main characters halfway through the film 3. Full resolution by the end and one of the major characters has seen the error of his ways.
It definitely got better as the film progressed. The first 30 minutes or so was pretty cheesy but it settles in somewhat after that at least. The acting was fine, especially from the two main leads but the writing was filled with typical rom-com troupes unfortunately. Again, not a bad movie, just OK and definitely not above average in my opinion.
The Out-Laws (2023)
Cringe
Speaking of in-laws, my mother in-law suggested this movie mostly as a joke (I'm hoping...) so we tried it. Thankfully it's on Netflix so you can just turn it off if you want and I wish I had. I did almost switch it off with maybe 30 minutes left. I chuckled a few times in the very beginning of the film and then it just got shockingly bad and unfunny as it progressed. I usually like Adam Devine even though he's been typecast as a lovable idiot/nice guy but his character was really over-the-top dumb in this. He seems fine with the fact that his future in-laws are criminals and relieved that he gets to marry into the family after all. The rest of the gags are sexual in nature and/or gross-out bodily fluid jokes. It's kind of like one of those older Adam Sandler Happy Madison productions. Don't waste your time.
SmartLess: On the Road (2023)
Good, but Bateman takes it a little too far at times
If you like the podcast, you'll like this series. The banter between the three is always great but Bateman comes off as a jerk at times. Maybe he tones it back after episode 1, but he's a little much during that one and he's that way at times on the podcast as well. When Will does it, it comes off a little better where you know he's joking but with Bateman it seems like he means what he's saying. That's my only gripe, otherwise it's pretty funny. There are times where it's just them chit-chatting amongst themselves while traveling and while I haven't watched the rest of the episodes yet, I would imagine they would need to include more of some of the interviews with guests so it doesn't get repetitive.
Barry: tricky legacies (2023)
Uncomfortable to watch and incredibly depressing
I get the direction they've decided to go for the show and for the most part I understand it and have been OK with it. This episode though was just too hard to watch. I felt so bad for the poor kid, especially all the hypocrisy and the fact that he has no idea about who and what his parents really are. The scene in the bathroom between Sally and the creepy guy at work almost made me turn it off. I guess I'll watch until the end of the series since I think it only has like 2 of 3 episodes left but I kind of wish there was more comedic relief like in the first couple seasons. It's just gotten so intense and dark that it's becoming too much.
John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)
Not that funny and I usually like Mulaney
This was not very funny and his pacing seemed off as well. This was his weakest special by far. I fell asleep towards the end. I get addressing rehab since it was so public, but there's really nothing funny about rehab and he spends the ENTIRE special on it. It's more sad than anything. I chuckled a few times and even then it was kind of forced. If it were me I'd make some self-deprecating jokes in the beginning and move on. He used to be a writer on SNL and has written some all-time great sketches. Not sure if the drugs made him funnier or if this was just a misstep and he'll return to form with the next one.
Barry (2018)
Great show, huge tonal shift at the start of season 3
The first two seasons are really fantastic, with season 2 just a notch better than the first. It took me a few episodes to get into it but was hooked halfway through the first season. All of the acting is very good and my favorite character is NoHo Hank who is a local crime boss. He provides some comedic relief, although it's still pretty dark comedy. Beware of a dramatic tonal shift by Season 3. It's unexpected and some people might be turned off by it. It becomes more of a drama at that point and I think the creators wanted to make it more realistic for what the subject matter is and it seems like Bill Hader is using this to get into directing. There's still some comedy here and there but it goes very dark.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Boring
I'm 0 for 2 on Oscar movies I've tried but didn't care for. The first was the really weird "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and now this. I couldn't make it past the first hour. I just stopped caring about why this one guy stopped being friends with the other guy. That's literally the story. The cinematography was beautiful though and the acting was good I guess. At least it wasn't weird or perverted (at least the first hour I watched anyway...). I'm at the point where I'm more than skeptical when movies are nominated for Oscars. It almost always means I won't like them and I know I'm not alone. The people who live and work in Hollywood live in a different world in more ways than one.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Great acting, weird story
This could have been really good. It has a cool concept and great acting but it was just too weird and borderline perverted at times. I'm not a prude but I have no interest in watching people with dildos and butt plugs fighting each other on screen. The hotdog hands were weird too. And it was also about 30 minutes too long. I was hitting pause to see how much time was left towards the end. Whoever wrote this has an odd sense of humor to say the least and that's being kind. Somehow this won all the awards though which should tell you something about the state of Hollywood now and probably also tells you something about why the Oscars are plummeting in ratings and interest. Maybe soon they'll make movies again that are inspiring and heroic instead of weird and perverse. Fingers crossed (not hotdog fingers)...
Poker Face (2023)
Good but becomes predictable
It's a good show overall. The main character is likeable and it's mostly enjoyable to watch her solve the mystery even though it's revealed in the beginning who did it and why. But that's also what kind of keeps it from being great in my opinion. Every episode so far follows the exact same formula so there's not really much suspense. Thankfully the main character is entertaining and you can kind of sit back and enjoy her put someone away who deserves it. But if you're looking for surprises, this isn't the show, at least so far. Maybe they'll switch up the formula some in the upcoming episodes, otherwise I could see this becoming boring and bland.
1923 (2022)
It's about harsh and cruel people
I understand the initial appeal for these Yellowstone shows but after a while the shine wears off and you realize that there are no redeemable characters and the story, that's not all that engaging to begin with, starts to drag on. 1923 is no different, unfortunately. There are three threads to the story in the episodes I've seen so far: The first is the story of a Dutton and his wife who are in conflict with some local Irish whose sheep keep grazing on the Dutton's land (the GALL!!). The second appears so far to be completely unconnected and is about a poor Native American girl who is being brought up (and abused) in a Catholic school somewhere on the prairie (I think). The third is about an estranged (I think) son of the Duttons from the first story who appears to be trying to make a life for himself in Africa. The acting is fine, the cinematography is movie quality, but the story is just kind of...boring. Not enough that I won't watch it anymore but definitely not appointment TV. I usually turn this on when I can't think of anything else to watch and my wife is busy or something. I think it's been well established that the Duttons are terrible people but so are pretty much all of the characters in these shows, including 1923. Even the Native Americans who you would think would be the heroes, look kind of bad too much of the time. When you boil it down, it's just a bland story about land ownership going back about a couple hundred years and what lengths people will go to preserve it. That would be fine with me if there were at least some interesting or even likeable characters along the way.