dillylamar Reviews

Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island

[10/10 · 20 July 2020]

Shutter Island is a 2010 film directed by Martin Scorsese, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio. This film is absolutely amazing on every aspect. Leonardo Dicaprio gives one of best performances in this film, along with good performances from Ben Kingsley, Michelle Willams, Jackie Earle Haley and Mark Ruffalo. The script is complicated, well written, and after a second viewing, makes you realize that clues were left behind all along. But the best thing about this film is its atmosphere. The island is designed in an absolute perfect way. With telling Cinematography and symbolism sprinkled across its entirety. The films editing and sound are very commendable as well. The film contains a lot of symbolism. The fire and water complex, and the multiple subtle hints of dialogue and action throughout. The film's score is brillant. I didn't even know that "On The Nature Of Daylight", was originally from this film. This film creates a grand illusion to the protagonist and the viewer. For most of the film, you are left believing in a fake character created by a real person. The viewer is just like Andrew in the fact that the world around them (the film) is set up, staged, and an elaborate attempt to get them to accept their doing and regain sanity. I'll have to watch this film more times to get every context clue. Spoiler Alert: Andrew killed his wife after she killed his kids. He was sent there, and created a fake U.S. Marshal named Teddy Daniels, and created the disappearance of Rachel to have something to investigate. He is also looking for Andrew Laeddis. The man he says killed his wife, when it was actual him. In "reality", he was doing this to take the blame and guilt from himself, and not face reality. The doctors played along, and set up the entire story. He begins to believe that he was set it up by the Doctors, and that this place was a Nazi brain experimental camp, and begins to hallucinate. He eventually finds out about the scheme, and this is the second time its happend. In fact all of the dreams and nightmares he have, feature a girl saying save me, who we first belive to a jew prisoner, but is actually his daughter. He wakes up and appears to have accepted reality, but later, it is revealed that he hasnt, or has he. He walks off, presumably getting a lobotomy, so his memory and feeling will be evaporated. This is the way I interpret this.He has accepted what he has done, but cant live with it, so he pretends to still be Teddy, in order to get his brain washed. Basically, his self dies without having killed anymore people. Terrific film, haunting, disturbing, thrilling, perplexing and a reality mind bender. "we have the ability to deny reality even when it staring right back at it us, we always want to hold to what we want to be true." The denial of reality, the creation of blame on someone else, the guilt and the trauma from killing or doing something or someone you cant get rid of that feeling. Perspective is everything in the interpretation of this film.

Alien (1979)

Alien

[9/10 · 16 July 2020]

Alien is a 1979 film directed by Ridley Scott. A breathtaking classic that influences the current genres of sc-fi, space films, horror, and thrillers. The films a masterclass in production design and Cinematography making it a very pleasing thing to view. Its scenes of suspense and jumpy horror kills are surprising, shocking, and influential. Its a epic sc-fi thriller/horror with solid performances. Humans venturing out and evenatully being hunted by the unknown, must survive under bizzare circumstances, where the governnent/NASA always knows more. As in one of their crew members being a designed robot who was sent to ensure the survival of the species, and didnt care about the crew members. And a female hero/lead in a sc-fi film in 1979 was a unique step. The film still holds up without looking too outdated. Its thrilling, horrific, beautiful, scary, horrifying, breathtaking and classic. A milestone of sound and visual effects as well. It's fairly minimalistic, yet so hard hitting. A very claustrophobic film. Ordinary people facing true fear and terror, with opossing pland and personalities, they must fight for and look out for each other

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

[4/10 · 12 July 2020]

Overall, this film is a pointless, dumb, boringly written, and dragging feel good romance endeavor, however, the songs and performances are supringlsy entertaining, make it a few steps above awful. Way too long, a supreme lack of wit, and a messy gimmicky film

The Town (2010)

The Town

[6/10 · 10 July 2020]

While "The Town" is a very run of the mill crime film, as far as plot structure, subplots, and character types. The fact that Affleck is from Boston helps him form the story and its background, along with its dialogue, a lot smoother. While there is a touch of tenderness, love, and power built between Affleck and Hall, the film falls flat at its characterization, as the characters are recycled types fro previous films. Affleck does a solid well done job, offering the deeply flawed, stuck in his heritage, past mistaken yet wanting to change guy, who gets out the in the end, but pays the price. Hall as the banker just feels very generic. Her character is very typocasted and one dimensional. Renner plays the typical gun go at em hothead, who is all about loyalty. Despite the typocasted character, he gives the most memorable performance, delivering is lines with some raw power and grit. A film that takes the look at the Irish-American crime brotherhood that spans between decades and families. The film contains themes loyalty, second chances, morality, and the price to pay for your mistakes, even if you change. Its action scenes are pretty thrilling as well. It's a entertaining, intriguing, and thrilling film, that plays off its strengths of the fact that Affleck uses his Irish- Boston background, to create the raw and authentic feel. Yet it's still a very generic, carbon copy, character typed film, that you'll watch again, but its nothing special. The script is pretty average, for a film like this, but maybe a little above due to a few brillantly written and acting scenes. The film had moments where it couldnt have risen to a higher level of grit and intensity, but just didn't quite get there.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Bohemian Rhapsody

[6/10 · 29 June 2020]

Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 film directed by Bryan Singer, and stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. Look, the film is a biopic about the formation of Queen up until their live aid performance. After doing research, I find the film to have many historical inaccuracies. The timeline was changed and edited for dramatic effect, to make the film more Hollywood typical. The films pacing is uneven, and the supporting cast are very surface level and barely even touched upon. The film is a constant mashup of timelines, and glosses over a lot of things. The script is weak and shallow, and the film also feels very superficial. The editing is sometimes very awkward in the film as well. However, the makeup, costume design, and set design are brillant. The sound mixing and editing are great as well. Rami Malek's performance is pretty damn good as Freddie Mercury. The teeth are a little distracting, but his depiction of his mannerisms, flamboyance, and loneliness is great. The recreation of the performances are epic and great, thrilling and exhilarating. The film is just kind of thrown together in a mash up fashion, with little to emotional investment, and depicting the lifestyle of Freddie Mercury in a interesting, yet almost "bad guy" way. The dialogue is also very bland. The film is entertaining, held up by its sheer appeal to Queen fans, its great lead performance, its costume, makeup, and set design, and its amazing recreation of the Live Aid performance. The film is held back by its historical inaccuracies, its overstuffed mashup plot, its isolation of a supporting cast, it's boring and bland dialogue, its awkward editing, and its emotionless llook at some of the personal life of Freddie Mercury. However, what you get is a very flawed, yet exhilarating crowd pleaser, with some epic moments and a very good lead performance.

The King of Comedy (1982)

The King of Comedy

[8/10 · 26 June 2020]

The King of Comedy is a 1982 film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul D. Zimmerman, and starts Robert De Niro. Along with supporting roles from Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. The film is underrated in my opinion, and is a gem in Scorsese's large body of work. It was so ahead of its time, and is very relevant in todays culture. The film is not very violent, or wild, or extreme, like most of Scorsese's other work. Rather it is more tame, as far violence goes. However the film is a dark, sad, and uncomfortable comedy. And it makes you really look at yourself and the culture of the world. De Nrio gives a great perfomance, different from a lot of his roles,d while Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard do solid jobs in their roles. The film is very mature, yetfollows a very immature character. This film is about the danger of celebrity worship, entitlement, delusion, and a constant search of acknowledgement and validation in humans, through attempting fame at whatever the cost. Rupert has no care for the art of comedy. He really doesnt want to work on his material or get better at his act, he wants to be famous. He wants to be in Jerry Langford's position. He was bullied by his peers, and set aside by his parents as a kid, so all he wants is acknowledgement and validation. He is insecure, self pitying, but most of all greatly naive and deluded. In the end, the fillm can be interpreted in two ways, either he went to jail, got out early, lived his 15 minutes of fame, and it ended there, meaning he imagined the very end where he was still in the spotlight. Or he went to jail, got out early, and actually became infamous for what he did, making him a figure of that. Whether he ends up liking it or not is up to interpretation. The film is so relevant, because it discusses how people need to be validated, and a way to do that it become famous. They have unresolved problems in their lives from their past, that they want to tie up. This a common thing that people attempt to do in current culture, along with the obsession of celebrities in the spotlight, doing everything you can to meet them or get in their position. They are just people. Maybe Rupert imagined the ending, and in reality he is back out on the street with nothing, or still in jail. Or maybe he became infamous past his 15 minutes, maybe he likes it, now maybe he realizes it not that great. This film is a underrated gem. Tragic, Telling, funny, and true

American Psycho (2000)

American Psycho

[10/10 · 24 June 2020]

American Psycho is a 2000 film directed by Mary Harron, adapted for the screen by Mary Harron, and based off of the novel of the same name. This film is a cult classic, as it's dark humor, ridiculousness, bloody violence, horror film traits, and insanely quotable moments mix well with its satire and criqie of collective identity, individuality consumerism, capitalism, and yuppie culture. Bale's breakout performance in the film is absolutely phenomenal and iconic. The main themes of the film are lack of individuality, collective identity becoming personal identity, the greed and self indulgence of those in high society, and what a psychopath can get away with in a world like this. All of the men on Wall street look and act the exact same. They are interchangeable, as are the women. That's why people constantly get names mixed up in the film, and that ends up saving Bateman. Bateman only cares about other view him. He is in a constant hunger for conformity and to be seen as better, as he ends up killing Paul Allen because he had a better business card than him. He has been killing for a long time, and has been able to maintain, but starts to breakdown. The film is about how we form a collective identity, pretty much losing our individuality and personal identity. We crave attention, material wealth, conformity and to be seen as better. Bateman does. So do the others. At the end of the film he realizes that nothing including himself really matter, everyone is the same. He is so indulged in a collective identity, that his lawyer mistakes him for someone else, obliterating his confession. No one cares that he kills people, no one even notices. He can get away with anything, even if your a serial killer/psychopath. because he has sold himself a collective identity. He puts value into material things like restaurants, suits, watches, cards, and apartments. He listens to cheesy pop music because its trendy, but much more value into it, than it really holds. He views the homeless and lower classes to be less than him, he just kills them. In this type of high society, the people lose their individuality and distungishable traits, and just become greedy, power hungry, emotionless, interchangeable and unoticable nothings. The only difference between Bateman and his banker colleagues, is that he kills people. But everyone is so wrapped up in themselves and collective identity, that they dont notice. Bateman sees women as meat or objects, and men as something to be better than.At the end of the film, after his breakdown, Bateman realize that he and everyone else he knows is meaningless, interchangeable, and that he can get away with anything. He can Indulge in his murderous hunger all he wants. He presents himself in the collective identity, fitting in losing all sense of self. It will go on. He becomes more and more hungry and uncontrollable and his private life becomes integrated into his professional, and he realizes that he take it, and get away with it, there is more to take. Don' become a Patrick Bateman. He craves to stand out and be better. His view of himself is skewed by his psychosis, inflated ego and sociopatheology. His fantasy and reality become jaded, mixed, and goes insane because he can't really tell the difference. His killings all happend, but some are partial truths, or over aesthetically elaborate type chainsaw massacre killings. He so disconnected and detached from reality.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs

[10/10 · 23 June 2020]

The Silence Of The Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 film directed by Jonathan Demme, written by Ted Tally, and starts Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, and Ted Levine. This film is one of my favorites. Flawless. Its direction is precise, meticulous, and unique, making this film such a game changer breaking the preconceptions of the thriller/horror genre. The screenplay is phenomenal, captivating, and detailed, based off of the book by Thomas Harris. Its performances are iconic. Jodie Foster does a great job portraying a young female trainee aspiring to be a hard nosed FBI agent, whom is vulnerable, constanly objectified by men, and constantly preconceived for her gender, and emerged in her past, yet strong and determined. Anthony Hopkind gives the greatest performance of all time as Hannibal Lector. He dominates every second of the screen for his total 16 minute screentime. He is a psychiatrist turned serial killer and cannibal, who is locked in a maximum security facility for the remainder of his life. Hopkins terrifies the audience with his deep gaze, his meticulous and detailed speech, his lack of blinking and showing weakness, and his constant psychoanalysis, purged with the creepy and chilling presence of the character. Lector is a cannibal, yet respectful and courteous to those he deems as such. He constantly five steps ahead of you and in your head. He is at full acceptance of his identity, and is a aristocratic man. Enjoying the fine and classic tastes. He is a master manipulator. Scott Glenn does a fine job in his role as Jack Crawford. While Ted Levine, only getting limited screentime, does a great job as Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who skins women trying to make a body suit. He was a patient of Lectors, and despises his identity, desperate to become a woman, most likely due to a rough and horrid upbringing. The films cinematography and use of the close up on the face camera during the dialogue sequences are one of a kind and brillant. Investiging the audience. The themes of this film are as such. Its about transformation. Clarice is desperate to become a hard nosed FBI agent, rejecting the preconceptions of feminity. She is also trying to put her past at ease, by catching a killer and saving a girl. She is trying to silence the lambs. The loss of her father put her a place of unknown, she tried to save a screaming lamb but it was slaughtered. She is always met with the male gaze and the either sexual objectification or gender preconception, thay she constantly tries to defy. Lector is the only character who pretty much accepts his identiy. He was born the way he is, and nothing made him the way he is. He respects Clarice Starling's determination and perservance. Buffalo Bill mirrors Starling. A man whom hates his identity and desperately tries to change, and become a woman. He most likely had an abusive childhood making him what he is. He is the opposite of Clarice but also the same. His transformation his physical, while hers is psychological. Katherine (Bill's first victim) is also revealed to have desires to transform. She is overweight and wants to be desirable and thin. That is shown through the items in her room. The ballerina and the pictures. Starling is a determined, strong woman in a mans world of chauvinists, killers, manipulators, who is vulnerable, fearful, and human. She is trying to silence the screaming lambs of her past and insecurities, and accomplishes that. Lector is what he is. Bill and Clarice mirror each other. The films symbolism through colors, design, and images are prevalent. The cocoon, moth, and butterfly are the main focus. A representation of transformation, whether good or bad. This film breaks preconceptions of genre, characters, through its characters, camera angles, dialogue, and its payoff the Oscars. Lector gives Clarice hints to test her. He wants to know about her past. Possibly he respects her as a person, or he is attracted to her. He escapes in the end and plans to kill the psychiatrist at the end, who constantly tries to get information out of him, and tried to transfer him. He only kills people who he deems rude. He is an old fashioned gentleman yet a killer. Clarice subverts the male gaze. Lector is a superior man in intelligence, senses, and thought. Bill sees women as objects. Wants to be one to become sexy and because he hates himself. At least that is what he thinks. He loves his moth garden. Creating a woman as cocoon to become a woman. He has butterflies and moths flying around his house. The killers in prison are animals and are different than Lector. He admires her bravery, intelligence, and determination. She makes him belive in goodness a little bit, by her showing him her motivation in reality is the protection of innocence. She defied his expectations.

Tombstone (1993)

Tombstone

[5/10 · 21 June 2020]

Despite the fact that's its tedious, generic in its writing and plot structure and subplots, charestically undeveloped, and like an extended episode of Bananza, Tombstone has a entertaining nostalgia in it, with a great perfomance by Val Kilmer. But that's not enough to overcome its generic and stale nature. It resorts to the played out tendencies of adding emotion kickback at the very end. Script is very restrained and generic

Gravity (2013)

Gravity

[8/10 · 11 June 2020]

A tense, climatic, and stunning ride that is Gravity. The effects, visuals, sound, edting, and cinematography in this film are beautiful. This film is compact, and almost never derives from its focuses. The main Performance by Sandra Bullock is okay, but she is able qato carry the film well enough. The script is pretty bare, and it is predictable. Some may also question its realistic quality, but this film is of course not without flaws. The meaning of this film is the search for meaning in an a world where we are much more insignificant than we think. Instead of floating away, giving up and dying, she powers through making something of her life. This film is also about Ryan overcoming the loss of her daughter, and not being held back by it. The odyssey of a lonely woman overcoming fear, isolation, grief, and the odds. Visually and technically brillant, decently acted, predictable, written bare, but meaningful and throughly wondering and entertaining

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Do The Right Thing

[8/10 · 9 June 2020]

Do The Right Thing is a 1989 film written and directed by Spike Lee. Let me just cut into it, the film depicts race relations like no other film, it isn't over the top racism, or the white savior complex, it's real. This film is a low budget independent film, as Spike Lee made the most out of it. The film is directed in a very unqiue way, with odd angles, close zoom in, an quick jumps of dialogue. The set is stylish and so are the costumes. The performances while some are one dimensional, still hold up, like the performances by Ossie Davis, Danny Aileo, and Spike Lee himself. This film is written with powerful dialogue and a great soundtrack as well. Essentially, this film is about the constant battle of love vs. hate. This film is about the clashing perspectives of that battle, and how it is impossible to "Do The Right Thing" in a system that's broken. This film has no resolution of an ending. Just angry, bitter, and ignorant people. Except for da mayor. This film is about how bigotry and hate is alive very much, and how little things can set it off, turning into bigger things that shouldnt happend. This film is about the reactions of the oppressed and the poweful in a flawed system. This film is about whether or not violence is the answer. All peace is an impossible virtue, yet violence and hate is a never ending wheel of recycled unresoltion. This film couldn't be more relevant to the current climate of the world today. Do The Right Thing is a cinematic landmark.

Platoon (1986)

Platoon

[9/10 · 7 June 2020]

Platoon is a 1986 Vietnam war film written and directed by Oliver Stone. It depicts the breakdown and transformation of a man, into becoming a part of the war machine. While also depicting the horror of the war, and the soldiers fight with morality, duality, self worth, and leadership. This film is directed very well. With Stone, whi was in Vietnam hinself, making the narrative of this film similar to his experience, he created epic and brutal war sequences, and constructed scenes that are crucial in the soldiers transformation. The film is written well, with dialogue and narrations of the main character fighting between two leaders, struggling to understand his meaning in life, and discussing how most of the soldiers come from bad places, and that they are considered expendable by the government. Charlie Sheen does a pretty job in his role, while Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe excel in theirs. The themes of this film are the horror of war, the breakdown of a man into becoming part of the machine, and the duality of men. For example, the duality of Chris is shown through Elias and Barnes. In the beginning of the film his weak side, a soldier whom I dont know the name, is killed. Integrated him to war. He fights in almost the entire film between Elias and Barnes. As he acts like both of them in several scenes. When Elias dies, he loses that morality, and eventually by the end of the film, becomes Barnes when he kills Barnes. This film does a great job of foreshadowing and showing the transformation of this certain person and topic. Platoon is not the best war film of all time, but a horrifying, epic, layered, and thought provoking one, that packs an incredible realistic punch. Holding up in current times. The film does a fantastic job of making war look horrifying, brutal, torturing, making the characters look desperate, tired, worn out and unstable.

Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia

[10/10 · 4 June 2020]

This 2002 film directed by Christopher Nolan is an underrated gem. Its setting, and cinematography feed into its isolation. A film about guilt, right or wrong, action and intent, and moral compromise. This film is edited well, along Christoper Nolan directing into a great way. Pacino gives a standout performance, and so does Robin Willams. Doorman's history of manipulating evidence based off his own personal opinion clouds his consciousness. His then accidental killing of his partner, furthers that, as he struggles with his distinction of action and intent. He then begins to suffer from Insomnia. While Finch claims to also suffer from it, as he proclaims to accidentally killing the girl. Finch witnessed Doorman kill his partner, and so they are forged to "work together". And you dont know who to trust. In the end Doorman does the right thing, and dies in the process. He tells Elllie that she can ruin his reputation, as he is released from his Insomnia and can finally sleep This visually stunning and edge of your seat psychological thriller is a gem. Nolan does it again. Atmospheric, brillant, tightly woven, detailed, and perfect. Alaska: stays light outside for the entire day for 5 months, "Days never end"

Witness (1985)

Witness

[6/10 · 2 June 2020]

Its visually beautiful, edited well, great cinematography and has a great story. Harrison Ford performs well. However, the films characters and plot could have developed a lot better. But a solid mix of drama, romance, and quirky situation, along with the seriousness of a man in a new environment. The two worlds collide. But this film doesn't quite reach its full potential, but is a decent watch

Brahms: The Boy II (2020)

Brahms: The Boy ll

[1/10 · 31 May 2020]

This is a dull, uninteresting, tedious, generic, unnecessary, unsuspenseful, redundant, bare and worthless excuse for a film, that lacks story, acting, character, wrting, directing, and pretty much everything else. In the end, Its idea doesnt even make sense to the original

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Beverly Hills Cop

[5/10 · 29 May 2020]

While there are a few moments where Eddie Murphy's talent shines, other than that, Beverly Hills Cop is a very dull, unitersting and average cop movie, with no intruiging characters or plotlines, or really any comedy at all. The film falls to interest, fully entertain amuse, or make the viewer appreciate it.

The Interview (II) (2014)

The Interview

[7/10 · 28 May 2020]

While it doesn't fulfill the idea of a complete "political satire", and doesn't go as far on the jokes as I'd like it to, The Interview, is still a wild, far fetched, clever, over the top, and sometimes hilarious film, that has a great perfomance by James Franco, well enough writing to entertain, and after North Korea's reaction to the film, kind of depicts the pettiness of their " supreme leader". The film contains the usual for an R rated, as their are a ton of sex jokes, but it's crazy plot, and its ridiculous ending involving crying, a bulletproof vest, and seal team six, show this film is anything but to be taken a sliver seriously. It could have been better, and everything wasn't hit, but "The Interview is still a satisfying experience.

The Next Three Days (2010)

The Next Three Days

[6/10 · 28 May 2020]

The Next Three is a decent thriller, but with a few striking flaws. Its lack of substance or depth, along its exclusion of a major details and logic, cause it to lower itself in terms of quality. The plot is well thought out, and its a classy film, but it doesn't exhibit any true sense of uniqueness

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

Horrible Bosses 2

[6/10 · 27 May 2020]

Despite its use of the same formula and gimmicks as the first film, its overall unnecessary attribute, losing some of its freshness and a lot of its black comedy energy, and maintaining some of same flaws, Horrible Bosses 2 is still a wild, fun, crazy, thrilling, and entertaining comedy, with a lot to offer in its insanity.

Face/Off (1997)

Face/Off

[10/10 · 26 May 2020]

Face/Off is probably the greatest action film of all time. It's crazy and unique plot, its absolutely hilarious and bizzare humour, it's over the top yet skillfully filmed action scenes, its touching elements of family and loss, and it's great vice versa performances from John Travolta and Nicholas Cage. Its epic, wild, thrilling, and throughly entertaining. It's a great mix of action, drama, and corny/bizzare comedy, that proves amazing in the end

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

[10/10 · 25 May 2020]

This film is absolutely breathtaking. Its concept is unique and peculiar, simply like no other film. Visually the film is stunning, as it takes place over various time periods and delivers beautiful production and costume design, as well great editing and stellar cinematography. The CGI and effects added in this film aren't over the top, but are simply fitting, and very well done. The performances are all amazing, Brad Pitt does an especially amazing job, as well as Cate Blanchett, and Taraji P. Henson. The film is written in a exquisite way, with many great narrations, pieces of dialogue, and philosophical lessons weaved in. David Fincher directs this film unlike his others, as this film isn't quite as dark as his others. This film is exceptionally stylish, and very old fashioned. It captures you in a passionate way, as it leaves you with emotion. The are a lot of ways to interpret the meaning of this film, it is about how sometimes our paths are driven by decisions we fail to make, and how life is all about starting again, no matter the age, it truly isn't that different. This films shows the importance of getting over things, that bad things just happened out of our control, "sometimes we are on collision course and we dont know it, love needs maturity and compatibility, This is probably the biggest life message delivered right at the very end of the movie. You have the choice to be whoever you want. whatever it may be. No matter where you are, no matter what your conditions are, no matter how old you are, You can change or stay the same, whatever you decide make the best of it. The last line of the letter pretty much takes the cake"If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start aII over again". It gives you a very important lesson, you must start over if you feel you are not doing what you feel you are supposed to be doing. As he says there are no rules to this thing. You cannot do much about the hand you are dealt with, you have to play the game even if you feel cheated. But remember we are all going in the same direction, time moving backwards is still time passing. As Daisy says, we are all going to end up in diapers. The house always wins, so have fun while you are at it. do things you like, go to places, meet people with a different point of view, get startled by the amazing things out there. In the end nothing lasts. This film shows our limited time, and how what matters is how we life our life. Regardless of whether we going forward or backward, there is, for each of us, only that one breif moment when we are at our optimal point, and most of us dont recognize it. What I understood from the movie is, whether clock runs backwards or forwards, you have gotten your time to live the life you want and remember it's never too late to start all over again. for what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be, there is no time limit, start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or worst of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things, you never felt before. Hope you meet people with a different point of view. Hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. Live your time to the fullest. It's our fate to be controlled by coincidence, and its coincidence that we are all bound to fate.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Usual Suspects

[10/10 · 23 May 2020]

The Usual Suspects remains a style of it's own. It a masterpiece of suspense and putting wonder into the audience. This film has great performances, dialogue, and story elements. The film's twist is the perfect. It makes the viewer unlearn everything they have learned throughout the film, as most of it fabricated, coming from an unreliable source, who is thought to be the man behind it all. Is Verbal Kint actually Keyzer Soze? Or is Verbal Kint one of Keyzer Soze's men. Or did Verbal use the myth of Keyzer Soze to get away? Or is Kobayashi Keyzer Soze? Even Keaton could be Keyzer Soze? It's not definitive. This film is a high achievement, it entertains with dialogue, flashbacks, suspense, shocking moments of realization followed by more shocking moments of realization. Most of the plot relys on the flashbacks told by Verbal Kint, leaving the audience stunned after viewing it. As Keyzer Soze is the myth the criminals fear, and may or may not be real.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler

[9/10 · 20 May 2020]

Nightcrawler is a realistic and dark film about a sociopath turning a smaller buisness into an eventual larger business, by filming and manipulating gruesome crimes, in order to put them on the news, glorifying and instilling fear into the people. He does whatever it takes to get what we wants, innocent's dying, manipulating a womens career, almost setting up a brutal crime, by withh olding information from the police and allowing his "employee", to be killed. This film touches on the subject how news glorifies brutality, and how big corporations and the people part of them, will do whatever it takes to achieve higher, touching on the major theme and subject of the evil side of capitalism. Lou Bloom, searches for power, but also for meaning. He is a sociopath, and doesn't connect with or like people, and find his true place to grasp power and manipulate, through his news company. This film explores the worldview of capitalism, as Lou is a white male manipulating his minority employee, as he also explicitly states that the news wants urban crime leaking into the suburbs as stories, to instill fear. The cinematography, editing, lighting, and framing are dark, gritty are perfectly fitting. The script is brillant. Lou Bloom speaks like a person imitating a real person, and uses his false charming and manipulative words to lure his employee and Nina into his game. He has no formal education, he says he spends time on his computer trying to learn new skills and take in knowledge, in order for him to excel, as he speaks facts and demands with no understanding of any human elements behind them. He doesn't understand buisness ethics and doesn't know to function in society. The score is meant to be taken as it is from Bloom's perspective, as he believes that he truimphat, after manipulating a dead body into view of his camera. And at first, the audience is tricked into rooting for Bloom. Ome of the film's essential themes, is that us, the audience, lets bad people rise to power because they give us things. That the ones will all the power were the ones willing to do anything, and step on anyone to do it. This is implied by Nina a few times in the film, and the film also shows corrupt capitalism and its connection to racism. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is amazing. The film's major theme is that it exposes the spirit of capitalism, and what the human spirit becomes in America. A character like Lou, who is disconnected from society, who probably wasn't correctly diagnosed, and gets all of knowledge through the internet and self help books, arrogant, emphatically bare, demanding and and succeeds through that. As this film takes the more realistic look at the underdog to riches story, and removes the downfall, as in Lou's case, he's only going to get more poweful. He is clever, with a learned and false sense of niceness. And in the beginning, Gilroy makes the audience almost feel sorry for Lou, with traits of likeable not relating to morality. The problem isnt Lou, the problem is the society that rewards him. The advantages of sociopathy in a capitalist society.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

[3/10 · 19 May 2020]

Shallow, recycled, non-sensical, and misguided. But I laughed through some of it

Ozark (2017–2022)

Ozark

[6/10 · 18 May 2020]

My Up to date review of Ozark:

Ozark: A Thrilling story of corruption, lies, manipulation, politics, violence, drugs, blackmail, and family. All about the domino effect of engaging in dangerous and risky decisions and choices, and the personal dynamics between the family.

The first two seasons were pretty enjoyable. Thrilling, dark, powerful, but they never quite hit the level of potential I think the show has. There are moments where it does, but the first two seasons never really had quite the ultimate acceleration in theme, suspense, dialogue, acting, and writing, that I think it is capable of. However, I was throughly entertained and intrigued with the series. There were nice twists, turns, and shocking moments. some great performances, solid writing, including exchanges of witty and memorable dialogue, a great concept and atmosphere, plenty of different characters, all with distinctive styles. The directing and cinematography were also at times stellar. Characters you can root for, characters you hate, and the blurred line between good and evil, including the characters confronting their morals. As this is a series of constant betrayal and mistrust. Sure, the show bares a lot of blatant similarities to Breaking Bad, but I still think it has its unique style and substance. Where the show didn't meet it's full potential is with Jason Bateman's performance. He is solid, and it is saved by the many supporting characters, but Marty Byrde is not interesting or unique, and that is not made up for, because hes not threating or captivating either. The show uses more of its hillbilly powerhouses and the FBI as antagonists, then it does the actual cartel, which I do think is a unique quality. Season 1: 7/10 Season 2: 7/10 So, I was expected that Season 3 would take the show to an Elite level, and that Jason Bateman and Laura Linney would step up, and that the addition of new characters and the presence of reoccurring ones, along with the new casino plot, making a great season. But, Season 3 is a huge disappointment It does find a consistent footing better than the previous seasons, but it proves to very lackluster. I'll start with the positives; There are scenes of great writing and explosive dialogue, as well some good direction and thrilling and suspenseful quality. Tom Pelphrey as Wendy's mentally ill brother (Ben), is great. He gives the best performance by far in this season. Now, the negatives; This season fails to interest, captivate, and expand by a huge margin. Its anti climatic, sometimes boring and drab, and does carry the Ozark shock moments as much as the previous seasons. There is a ton of story filler, as this season felt like a ticking time bomb that never explodes. Marty Byrde almost becomes a supporting character in this season, as he gets just one episode where he really has the spotlight, which is strange for the main character of the series. He takes a backseat, to Wendy, who takes the most screen time and narrative this season. She is focused on much more, and I just think it gets annoying. Laura Linney's Performance isnt bad, but she just not good enough to carry as much is put on her. This season felt like 10 Episodes that really could have been about 5 episodes, as it falls short of interesting content. Mainly, the Byrd's feel less in danger, which makes the series feel dragged out and unnecessary. I've read reviews stating that Ruth's character is repetitive and annoying, it makes sense, but I think Julia Garner gives a great perfomance and varies her character's emotions. Charlotte and Jonah are ridiculous. The amount of boring and cliche emotional and social filler that is put into them this season is unnecessary. The shift in roles made the show somewhat different, as Wendy taking over, made Marty feel non-existent sometimes. The lack of interesting characters was apparent also, since there is no longer Jacob Snell, Cade Langmore, Agent Petty, Mason and Rachel, there were spots to fill that weren't filled. Agent Evans makes a few appearances, Agent Miller is about as interesting as dry wall, so the only good addition was Ben. Helen got a lot more screentime.... And the finale was lackluster, with the payoff being a under acheivment. Also Wyatt and Darlene as a couple is strange, but could work in the story However, that relationship is shown much at all, except for a handful scenes and a disgusting sex scene between a 18-19 year old and a grandma age woman that I never want to see again. Overall, Season 3 was lackluster, uneventful, dull, and a disappointment. The characters and relationships are almost all extremely underdeveloped and lacking depth, except for a few. And Wendy taking the spotlight, puts the main character in the background, and annoys the viewer in its redundancy. Season 3: 5/10 Maybe Season 4 can do better. Overall Series: 6/10