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Reviews
Spaceman (2024)
I can't believe I watched the entire thing
Spaceman is Contact with a bit of Intersteller mixed in. Adam Sandler delivers his lines, emotionless, without any intonation or feeling. He seems bored, like he is doing a run through of the script. There was literally no "acting" at all.
I'm not sure why the alien looks so much like a spider. Did this mean something to Jakob? Did his subconscious manifest the spider and if so, why that form? Or was it really an alien who infiltrated the ship, and took this form for some reason? Wouldn't a form more acceptable to humans be better, after studying them for so long, learning the English language, etc? Maybe a dog, perhaps?
Some comic relief with the spider loving Nutella (tastes like home) and Jakob finally embracing the spider, didn't make up for the slow pacing and zero compassion for the main character. I didn't care why Jakob was the way he was. There was nothing about him that made me want to like him or forgive him for being a narcissistic jerk. Especially his attitude towards his wife; pregnant with their second child after miscarrying their first. I think I liked the spider more. And I truly dislike spiders.
Isabella Rossilini was good in the limited role she played. It's too bad her character wasn't developed.
In the end, Jakob found redemption and decided life was worth living and he did want to give his wife the attention and love she deserved and had lost. This was all wrapped up in the final 10 minutes of the film. But boy, what a slog to get to that point.
All the Light We Cannot See (2023)
Gave it my best shot, but....
After two episodes, I won't be continuing it. I think Mark Ruffalo was miscast in this role and normally I like him in just about anything. Maybe it was the fake English accent which bugged me (why do he and the daughter have English accents if they are French?).
I thought some of the dialog was contrite and forced. The book was excellent and I just didn't feel the movie did it justice. I hate comparing film to book but in this case, it just did not live up to the book's intrigue and character portraits. You really loved the characters by the end of the book. The film, however, doesn't seem to have the same magic.
Autumn Leaves (1956)
Surprisingly good
I don't know what I was expecting. I guess being a later Joan Crawford picture, I was prepared for a little campiness. But wow was I pleasantly surprised at the twists and turns this picture takes.
I was also amazed at Cliff Robertson's range here. When he is committed to the sanitarium, he was so believable as someone truly struggling with mental illness.
Joan is always great, and plays an older, single woman who falls, hard, for a much younger man. She fights her feelings and is concerned about their age difference. But when she starts to find out he's not the Prince Charming he makes out to be, that's when the story really gets interesting.
I'm glad I gave this movie a chance. I love Joan in just about anything she's done so I should have known she'd be great in this picture as well.
Booksmart (2019)
I don't get it.
I admit it. I loved Superbad. And for the record, I am so far outside the target audience, it's not even funny. Bur I love that movie.
So when I read an article about Booksmart and found it was favorably compared to Superbad, I added it to my watchlist.
Cued up the movie and settled in with some snacks and the hope of some lighthearted comedy and potential in-bad-taste sophomoric humor (I was in that kind of mood).
After about 15 minutes, I couldn't take it any longer. The main characters are not even remotely likeable. I don't even want to know them. We're not rooting for them to have that one perfect night before graduation. And I didn't even care to know what happens with the potential love interest.
The directing is rough, I felt like I was watching several skits all cobbled together to make a movie.
Bottom line, this is not a female version of Superbad. Not even close.
Spencer (2021)
Not worth the time
Granted, I only made it through about 30 minutes before I couldn't take any more. The music score is horrible. I understand music adding to the mood but this was beyond distracting.
Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Diana seemed like a caricature. Way too many affected sideways looks (the "shy Di") and breathy speeches.
There were many obvious, supposed clues to her mindset...Diana stopping at a fish and chips place because she was lost on the way to Sandringham. Turning to the patrons and saying "where am I?"...and cut to the next scene. At first I thought this was some sort of dream sequence, but it wasn't.
Rating this two stars (for effort) is being generous.
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)
Enjoyable, hoky little romp
This is a fun movie, evidently based on a true story. Some of it is quite hoky and unbelievable (Helen really wouldn't notice the cocktail contained gin, vodka and whiskey?).
The kids are super cute and fun to watch. I especially got a kick out of the bathroom and bedroom assignments gone wrong.
On another note, I had a hard time believing Lucy would pass as child bearing age. She was 57 when she made this and Fonda 62.
Overall, just suspend belief about some of the details and you'll have fun watching it.
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Yawn.
So very boring. We didn't make it halfway through this snoozefest. Cannot understand all of the high ratings and reviews. Realize it was ground breaking for the times, but legendary actors and bloody shoot outs don't make up for a lack of story. Also, anyone else notice that all of the stars were always clean and everyone else was caked in dirt?
Them: Day 10 (2021)
What did I just watch?
I left the final 3 episodes to watch one night because I enjoyed the first 7 so much. It literally just fell apart at the end. So disappointed. I can't even describe what happened or why. Just a disjointed mess of a final episode. I gave it 4 stars because the acting was stellar.
The Serpent (2021)
Overall solid crime drama
I enjoyed this series for the most part. Some episodes were a little slow but overall it kept my interest once I got used to the time jump format. One thing that was somewhat annoying....everyone smokes. All the time. It was a little distracting.
The Tender Trap (1955)
Cute little romp
What I enjoyed most about this movie was the lovely mid century vibe. The clothes, the sets, the beautiful color palette. Other than that, it's a predictable light hearted little romp.
Echo in the Canyon (2018)
I really wanted to like this...
... However Jakob Dylan and his band really ruined it for me. I wanted more of the originators of the music and less of his renditions of the same music. And it was very apparent they were lip syncing to recordings in the studio.