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The Underground (2021)
Even if he was killed, this is a bad documentary
The politics and poorly supported ideas here do nothing to solve the mystery of someone who may very well have been murdered (and not necessarily by the government, either). Instead, it feels like the opposite of an investigation is happening: the suspicious death of someone who might have been unstable or might have had insight into unexplained phenomena is leveraged for political grandstanding. It's a mishmash of occult Nazis, miles-deep bunkers by both aliens and humans, and UN/gun rights grumping, none of which connects the dots. I would not waste my time on this documentary; I kind of resent the time it stole from me. Go watch something better, like Encounters or some-such.
Chopped: $50,000 Champs Challenge: Part 3 (2020)
Extremely upset with final result
Spoilers. My rating is based on the cooking, which is worth watching, not the result.
Kristol was robbed. She bobbled the first round, but then had two spectacular rounds and it was clear she won both of them. Every episode of Chopped I've see until this one (hundreds) has based decisions on 2 out of 3 rounds won. They may not say that specifically, but it shows when they explain things like, "In this round you did ___ and then in this other round ___, and so we had to chop you." It's a clear formula.
This time, Kristol Bryant hit both the second and third rounds out of the park. The opponent made an unnecessary risotto in the second round and undercooked it, while Kristol did a great job; and then, the competition just fell very short of Kristol's amazing work in the third round. And then the judges themselves said she did fantastic work in the last two rounds, so they had to go back to her flaws in the first round to find reasons to chop her.
Why did they need to find reasons? I do not want to say the only reason I can imagine. It makes no sense that, having clearly won two out of three rounds, Kristol does not win the championship and move on.
The Apology (2022)
Brilliant psychological drama
This is not a Shudder horror movie, but it is excellent drama by first-class actors around a horrifying subject.
It reminded my husband and me a little of when we first started watching David Mamet's movies. At first, you're a little taken aback, because all of his characters speak in such a way that the words, not the emotional delivery, convey the power of the moment, so that when you first start watching a Mamet film, you think for a moment, "What's wrong with all these people?", and then the magic clicks, and you're entranced.
Not that Locke's style in anyway copies Mamet, it's all her own. Nevertheless, we had a similar experience with this movie. At first, we wondered why these wonderful actors seemed a little awkward, and then suddenly what was being conveyed clicked, and we were caught up.
Excellent film.
Pearl (2022)
Mia is metal beyond reproach
This was not what I expected, but exactly what it should have been. I came expecting a period piece, a WWI version of X.
What I got was so much more: a satire of The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie, a psychological tragedy in which good intentions are insufficient to avoid disaster, a feminist diatribe about the few paths of escape from domestic servitude historically available to women, beautiful acting from all involved, and a gorgeously shot and directed film packaging it all.
No spoilers, but please, do yourself a favor and watch the credits. I don't mean fast forward to an easter egg, I mean watch the credits. Mia Goth is not going to get an Oscar nomination, but she should. She is astonishing in this film.
Cosmos (2019)
Smart, realistic sci-fi
I don't want to spoil anything, but it is smart and extremely well done and acted. Watch it if you care about things like SETI and astronomy and other people who care about that. The actors were spot on and the science was realistic, as far as my limited knowledge extends.
I also enjoyed the interaction and backstory of the three main characters.
I don't know why the rating isn't higher, except that it's perhaps too slow a burn for people seeking action flicks. I am astonished it was done essentially without a budget, except for time and love.
Also, it stuck the landing at the end. Just right.
She Will (2021)
A film that understands witchcraft
People will say this is anti-man, or anti-patriarchy, but I don't think that's the main goal. It's more anti-denying your own trauma, and this trauma involved a man.
"She Will" also gets the will that is at the heart of witchcraft and similar occult traditions.
An excellent debut film.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
Amazing; worth watching every second
This is every bit as good as any Western ever made, and transcends the genre to be a great movie on its own. I find myself sad Chadwick Boseman will never see it, or Roger Ebert, or my dad, or Michael K. Williams. It's that good.
If you love films like Inglourious Basterds or Kill Bill Pt. 1, you will love this. Adding Jeymes Samuel to the list of writers and directors I'll follow off a cliff.
P. S. Returning to this page I saw the mediocre rating, and the many low-starred reviews. I can only attribute this to one thing, and it's not an exquisitely refined taste in movies. People, stop voting with your prejudices and start voting according to film quality.
1883 (2021)
I'd give it a 10, except for the narration
The narrator does a good job with bad writing, but the writers need to kill this darling (the narration conceit, not the role). It distracts from the action and feels lazy; we're already caught up in the story, trust us to see what's happening and how the character evolves! And where it's backstory, just show (as you do with the flashbacks) or have one character tell another.
The Return (2020)
Fun sci-fi haunting
Not sure where the haters are coming from. I showed up with no expectations and was delighted to find a pleasant little sci-fi ghost story. Well acted, doesn't waste time, and when the big reveal happened about the ghost, the story made sense when I looked back at the events until then.
I also very much liked the end; it's refreshing to see a story stop when the action stops, instead of drag you through some pointless denouement.
Wrong Turn (2021)
Ignore the previous films and enjoy it!
This is GREAT folk horror. A gem of a taut horror flick, with an outstanding ending. Some gore, but not excessive; some twists and turns and misinterpretations that flip the plot in interesting directions; good acting and satisfying. Completely enjoyed it.
Agnes (2021)
Deeply Catholic, occasionally hilarious, profound
This is not your typical horror flick; not sure it is even horror. Instead, it's a brilliantly acted exploration of what people say and think about life, Catholicism, and themselves.
Some of the film seems to show, not what is happening, but how the people involved are experiencing what is happening. I don't know if there are demons or not, and much of the film deals with the aftermath of an exorcism. Perhaps that ambiguity is what bothers some people?
For those with ears to hear, you may find moments of hilarity and sadness and creepiness and more. And there's a heartfelt metaphor at the end that is sheer genius.
This is a brave, inspired film that is as off kilter and exuberant as people are ourselves.
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021)
Fun, enjoyable B horror
That's pretty much it! Emily Bader did a great job, as did the rest of the cast. If this is the kind of movie you like, this is a good movie!
Not a lot of gore, a few jump scares, and the logic behind the movie's secret was followed. Pleasantly believable heroes. Classic creepy setup.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Such a bad addition to the series.
Might as well be called "Halloween: the Idiocracy Version." Or maybe, "Halloween: in Praise of Peasants and Pitchforks." Gory is acceptable, stupid is not.
I suspect the writers imagined they were making a comment on the world, but it wasn't very well thought through.
Beatus (2018)
A genuinely fresh take on possession
Thoughtful, mature, and pleasantly surprising writing, with some genuinely creepy moments. You don't fully know what's happening until fairly close to the end, but stick around for the ride! It's a good one!
The 13th Warrior (1999)
A "real" Beowulf story with a culture clash
Spoilers below!
This is a gem of a film. Wonderfully acted, not a false note from anyone. Everyone here mentions Banderas, Sharif, and Kulich but I'd also like to given a shout-out to Dennis Storhøi, who completely captivated me.
The thing I love is the twofold culture clash story. Cultured, intellectual Arab encounters Vikings; they learn how to be friends and work together in the face of a deeper culture clash with a last, remnant population of Neandertals. ("Has anyone seen one in A HUNDRED YEARS?" Such a great moment.)
Laid over that are varied, wonderful characters as amazing (and more vivid, because possible) as any fictitious fellowship. Don't get me wrong, I love Tolkien. I just think these heroes are likewise delightful.
Well crafted, paced, and acted story with an outstanding soundtrack from the great Jerry Goldsmith. I suspect it was disdained in the '90s because of some overt violence (nothing compared to American Horror Story or the like nowadays) and a lack of trust in how smart and capable people can be. Also because most reviewers probably did not suss out the Beowulf-vs-Grendel, Beowulf-vs-Grendel's-mom story, nor the Neandertal aspect.
The only carp I can see is that visually we didn't see Neandertals-but that might have been from evolving to live off less. But if you can watch feather-free dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, you can enjoy this film!
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Finally, the mustache Hercule had in the books
Enormous, immense, something that interferes with sipping hot cocoa or soup, a beast you could take a hair curler to. About the only difference is that it's not artificially dyed black, which Branagh could not have pulled off in a million years. It's a relic of a bygone era, the mark of a gentleman imprinted on by an autistic childhood Poirot, along with the wired-in sensibilities of right, wrong, and a sense of patterns in human behavior.
People seem to want to pick one Poirot and crown him king: Suchet, or Ustinov, or Branagh. I don't, I just think they're different Poirots, just as there are different Spidermans. This is a psychological Poirot, a Poirot absorbed with being authentic because he cannot be other. It's beautifully done. If that appeals, dive in!
After Midnight (2019)
Delightful
Real life is bizarre and complicated, and sometimes you can both be dealing with love's challenges and also have something creepy attacking your home every night. Too many filmmakers and writers would force a story to focus on one or the other, but not Jeremy Gardner.
The Flight Attendant: Arrivals and Departures (2020)
Excellent season conclusion
This show is a delight! The light-hearted tone against the merged storylines of whodunit and psychological revelation the whole season came together beautifully. Also, the scene in which Cassie forgave her child self for her father's death straight up made me cry.
Ghosts of War (2020)
Clever and well done
Don't let anyone tell you this didn't earn the ending, or didn't make sense, or anything like that. It's well done, clues are scattered throughout, and the end was perfect.
Torden (2020)
More, please
This was astonishing. Great story, well acted, beautiful effects. This is exactly the kind of movie I love. I don't want to leave spoilers, but it made me realize how spot on Godard was when he said, "In order to criticize a movie, you have to make another movie." I suspect this is brilliant criticism.
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Surprisingly enjoyable
Saw the rating, but I love sharks, and I knew Raymonde was excellent from her work in Goliath. I hoped for fun, and you know what? I got it. Decent story, and the plot made sense within its own context, which is more than many more highly rated films can say.
My guess? Everyone tanking it did not get it. They either thought the smart shark background wasn't believable, when in fact it's just a McGuffin (the thing all the characters care about but the audience doesn't, except in how it creates tension and rolls the plot along), OR they couldn't get past their stereotypes of who played what role. If the above doesn't apply to you, have a beer and enjoy some sharks, along with a whiff of social conscience, a decent soundtrack, and good effects.
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens (2020)
Delightful and unexpected
This is not a documentary about extraterrestrials. It's more a story about someone who for many reasons found it more logical to reach out to space for communication and understanding - and then found it on earth anyway. Utterly charming.
The Mist (2007)
Worth watching through
This is one of those rare B horror movies that has a near-perfect ending. I was riveted the last ten minutes. Darabont was inspired!
The Haunting of Hill House: The Bent-Neck Lady (2018)
Astonishing
Possibly the best single episode of horror in a series. Scary and heartbreaking every time I see it, and just as riveting when you know what's going to happen as when you watched without knowledge the first time. That's some seriously good work.
Don't Leave Home (2018)
It depends what you're looking for
If you're into fairy tales and suspense and Celtic mythology, but not into gore or action for the sake of action, this is a good movie. It's what you might find if a fairy tale or a curse involving the Good People found a way of persisting into the modern world. The horror lies in the concept, not in visual gore or a scream fest. If that's what you like, this movie is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed it.