craigdoolan Reviews

Licorice Pizza (2021)

Great performances, but a bit of a mess

[6/10 · 15 March 2022]

I thought I would love this film. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of my favourite directors, I enjoy a good bit of 70s nostalgia, and great reviews and Oscar nomination bode well. Starting with the positives, the performances are terrific, especially from the two leads Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, neither of which are you're typical Hollywood lead. The film has a nice feel to it throughout and looks good.

The plot, however, is an absolute mess. As I look back on it, I have no idea what it was trying to say or why many of the plotlines were included in the film. There are cameos by Sean Penn, Tom Waits and Bradley Cooper, all mildly humorous, but none make the slightest sense in the context of the film. The period is not dissimilar to an earlier Anderson film, the far superior Boogie Nights, but where that followed a clear path, this one meanders, and for way too long.

The Two Popes (2019)

Two old men talking for a couple of hours - and I loved it

[8/10 · 15 June 2021]

It would be fair to say that this is not everyone's sort of movie. If you're waiting with baited breath on the newest Marvel installation, this may not be for you. It's a quiet movie, mostly a conversation between two old men, and it is absolutely riveting.

Knowing a bit about the topic helps to provide some context on the conversation and it would certainly help with the enjoyment. The movie is anchored by outstanding performances by the two leads, Anthony Hopkins (in possibly his best role) and Jonathon Pryce (in definitely his best role).

I was initially somewhat sceptical, as the movie overplayed the differences between the two, seemingly to partake in a bit of Catholic-bashing of the conservative Ratzinger, however this gradually filled out. It's fair to say the movie is still much more sympathetic to Bergoglio and the movie is best treated as a biography of him, given the background of Ratzinger wasn't given as much of a balanced perspective in the film.

I have no idea whether much of of this is based on fact (I suspect not, but haven't attempted to find out), but I actually don't think it matters one iota. I like the idea of manufacturing the clash of two forces, both within the somewhat narrow prism of the Catholic Church.

The flashbacks that flesh out some of the story are important, but generally the least interesting parts of the movie. The film is at its best when the two outstanding leads are sitting, talking and debating.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Time flies by in this masterpiece

[9/10 · 15 June 2021]

This is one of those movies where three and a quarter hours is barely enough. It is a beautifully well made and superbly acted film, one of the best Vietnam war films (in a category with stiff competition).

De Niro plays the awkward anti-hero, typically of some of some of his best roles and the movie rightly made a star of Christopher Walken. There probably could have been more of Meryl Streep and John Cazale is great again, just months before he died, with arguably the most perfect filmography in movie history.

I actually think the best parts of film are back on American soil, where the impacts of the war on a small town are beautifully shown, as their menfolk go to war and the women are left behind to pick up the mess. There is a lot more to this than the famous Russian Roulette scenes, although the first one is amazingly powerful.

The only thing that could have been improved is the plotting, which is a bit disjointed, stopping the film from being truly great, but it still deserves its place among the great American films.

The Loved Ones (2009)

Some good elements, poorly executed

[4/10 · 14 June 2021]

There are some good elements to this, the acting is surprisingly strong and it's shot well, sounds good and looks really good for a low budget offering. It has enough gruesome elements and gore and a nice twist.

Overall though, it is poorly written and just kind of dumb. In the end, I don't know why several of the storylines even existed, they served no real purpose. It's a bit of a waste of what could have been a really solid entry into the slasher/gore genre.

Army of the Dead (2021)

The definition of mediocrity

[4/10 · 10 June 2021]

I like a good zombie movie as much as the next person. This is not a good zombie movie!

Forget the one and ten star reviews, this one is the definition of mediocrity. Mediocre acting, a painfully predictable script (there was no surprises - anywhere!). It wasn't even shot particularly well, it doesn't look good and the zombies (and their deaths) are dull and uninspired.

It's a shame, there were some useful character ideas here that could have been developed, though the father-daughter storyline was just so obvious (and yes, the daughter is particularly annoying). The movie is slow and dull and completely lacking in suspense. What a waste!

Gerald's Game (2017)

Interesting, if flawed, King adaptation

[6/10 · 31 May 2021]

I haven't read the book, so didn't come in with any preconceptions, except for perhaps the somewhat checkered past of any film adaptation of a Stephen King book.

There are some good elements to this, although I think it tried too hard to imbue importance into each element with a bit of amateur psychology. What works really well is Carla Gugino in the lead. She was instantly recognisable, but I had to look up her name, as she rarely gets a chance like this. She grabs it with both hands and it terrific in the main role.

Overall however, I found the hallucinatory conversations somewhat irritating and it actually wasn't really that suspenseful, which ultimately bought down and an otherwise well-made film. The twist at the end seemed somewhat pointless, as it only loosely connected to the bulk of the film, and was actually rather silly.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Typically magnificent Anderson style and humour

[8/10 · 13 January 2021]

One thing that is clear about 60 seconds in - this is definitely a Wes Anderson film. Rarely can you see the stylistic stamp of a director so clearly and so quickly. Generally I would consider this a big plus - it's a great story with good performances throughout.

As with other Anderson films, it is all about the distinctive style and his offbeat timing. There is barely a shot in the whole film that is not an intriguing mix of colour and symmetry, indeed you could probably watch this without the sound and enjoy it. A series of A-list actors line up to be included, though the nature of the film doesn't give them much room to move.

The drawback of the heightened style is that, for a story of young love, the film has no emotional core at all. Nothing is heartfelt, or real. This is consistent with Anderson's other films and doesn't detract, however with this subject matter it leaves a slight sense of shallowness that there are no 'real' characters or emotions within the film. Overall an impressive, if not quite perfect, piece of cinema.

The Other Guys (2010)

Really good script, could have been handled better

[7/10 · 10 January 2021]

Generally a well-scripted and funny film. It starts especially well with some terrific scenes with Samuel L Jackson and Dwayne Johnson, but doesn't quite sustain it through the film, although the action scenes remain strong.

A good script really helps and this one is quite clever and, by themselves, Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell both do it well. For some reason though, they just don't seem to work that well together, I couldn't quite put my finger on why it didn't seem to work, but if often didn't. Michael Keaton's character also doesn't quite seem to work, although there are funny elements to it.

While the action scenes were really well done, some of the other scenes are poorly shot and edited and once I noticed it, it really started to bother me. I suspect that in better hands, this could have been a much better film. Overall a good film and worth a watch at least once.

Get Smart (2008)

Great cast, light on for laughs

[6/10 · 10 January 2021]

Enjoyable harmless fun that is not as good as I might of thought, salvaged by a top notch cast. Steve Carell seemed an inevitable choice for Maxwell Smart (I watched the show regularly when I was a kid and couldn't think of a better modern actor for the role) and Alan Arkin is fantastic as always as The Chief, just strange to see him in something not swearing quite as much as usual.

I would have expected a lot more laughs in a slapstick manner from a movie based on Get Smart. Fundamentally I think Steve Carell's Maxwell Smart wasn't nearly stupid enough. The scene in the airplane toilet has my 12 year old son in stitches, and I would have expected a lot more of that, leaving it pretty light on laughs throughout.

Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

Nostalgia time

[6/10 · 9 January 2021]

Where this show clearly succeeds in is the nostalgia element. Being 10 and 12 when the first two Karate Kid movies came out, I remember them well. It was a hoot to see the majority of the original characters return more than 30 years on, some having clearly aged better than others (Elizabeth Shue looks likes she's barely aged a day!). The show splices in plenty of scenes from the original movies (sometimes a little too much) to provide context for those not familiar with the original films, so you certainly don't need to have seen them to follow and enjoy the show.

After watching the first three series, there is plenty to like about it, but it could have been so much better. It doesn't appear to know whether it is a modern take on the Karate Kid story, or an 80's homage. Unfortunately it fails in both regards. Even after 30 episodes the shallowness of the stereotypical characters is amazing, especially the kids - the scenes in the schools are generally pretty shallow and poor and in the end you know little to nothing about any of them. The rest of the cast is average, the one and only exception is William Zabka, who is excellent as Johnny Lawrence, and is given a lot more to do than in the original movies.

The main issue though is the fight scenes. If you like seventies kung-fu movies where the violence (and there is a lot of it) is unrealistic and cartoonish, it won't bother you, but it did me. I prefer my violence realistic, where the impacts of the violence are actually shown with some sense of proportion or intelligence. The tournament scenes are fine, but the endless other fights are, put simply, just pretty dumb. They look like scenes from the Batman series of the 1960's, I half expected to see "THWACK" and "KAPOW" pop up on the screen. The first series set the show up reasonably well, however it went nowhere in the following two and I probably won't be bothering with any more.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Evidence that not all superhero movies are awful

[9/10 · 22 October 2020]

In The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan convinces us that not all superhero movies have to be awful, you actually have to actively make them that way. In the hands of a good director, (some) great actors, and with a decent script, a really worthwhile movie can be made. All this without losing the appeal of the audience that normally migrates to these movies.

While all of Nolan's three Batman movies are good, this one really stands out. There is more substance to this than the first one, and it doesn't descend into farce as the third does a little, but mostly it's a couple of standout performances. A lot is made of Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, for good reason, but his equal is Aaron Eckhart, always great, who shines as Harvey. High quality support from Gary Oldman and the movie is lifted above all other superhero movies of the past 20 years.

I struggled with how I felt about Christian Bale's Batman. I guess most Batman's are somewhat understated and I initially thought Bale was a strange choice that didn't work. However as I moved through the movies, I actually thought he bought the vulnerability to the role that he needed, as a very human Batman.

Scream: The TV Series (2015–2019)

This should have worked ...

[5/10 · 30 September 2020]

Firstly, this is a review for season one only.

This should have worked. I actually think the idea of Scream could have worked well as a 10 part series, and elements of it do. The overall plotting is quite reasonable, some of the murders inventive and interesting and the final resolution okay, if a little contrived.

I really enjoyed the first Scream movie, primarily because of the humour bought to the story. While there are occasionally nods to the history of horror here, and the conventions they hold, they are sparse and seem forced, interspersed by general melodrama.

The main problem however is the characters and the actors playing them. They are universally predictable, dull and uninteresting, especially the lead. The acting is mediocre at best and salvaging the poor characters was well beyond their capabilities.

I stuck with it though the whole ten episodes, but by about half way, I was really just waiting for the end.

Terra Willy (2019)

Nice visuals, no story

[6/10 · 30 September 2020]

I watched this at the cinema with my three children, aged 8, 10 and 12, and all enjoyed it, which I guess is the most important thing.

Visually, the movie is inventive, colorful, and the interesting 'creatures' were highlighted by all my kids as the best part. It's also nice to watch an animation not straight out of one of the big Hollywood studios, though it didn't look that different compared with some of the more interesting animations out there.

Having watched it in English, it's possible some of the awkward dialogue resulted from translation, though the voice actors are fine. What is really surprising is the complete lack of any story or plot whatsoever. It's almost like there was no story-boarding done at all at the start of the film, I'm surprised something could get a green-light without at least some form of plot (even if it's a poor one). Overall a wasted opportunity given the obvious money and creativity that went into the films animation.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Quality Vietnam War film

[8/10 · 1 June 2020]

I hadn't seen this movie for many, many years, probably not since it was a new release on VHS, so could remember little of my initial thoughts. It's probably fair to say I wasn't expecting a lot.

Overall, a really pleasant surprise, much better than expected. It has aged well and the early performance by Tom Cruise is excellent. As an actor with somewhat limited range, this seemed just right for him, though I seem to recall it raised a few eyebrows at the time. I found it surprisingly moving, especially when he returns home and he, his family, and his local community, try to adapt to his new station in life.

A few of the other characters could have been developed a bit more, Kyra Sedgewick seems a bit under-used and Willem Defoe, while entertaining, doesn't make a lot of sense. It also drifts a bit in the last half hour, if you didn't actually know the story, the wrapping up in the last five minutes would seem a bit rushed. This doesn't detract from the movie overall however, that sits quite nicely among the many other great films about the Vietnam War.

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Professional, well-made film with amazing look

[9/10 · 15 April 2020]

Firstly I should say that I'm not particularly a fan of motor racing, or aware at all of any of the story covered. Had it not been for the rave reviews, I wouldn't have sought this one out.

The story itself is relatively straight forward, and the outcome not a particular surprise. This film could easily have fallen into mediocrity, however it just so well made. For the entire film, there barely seems a scene or a word out of place. On top of this, it looks amazing. I can't recall a film that, while not dealing with typically spectacular visuals, just looked so good.

The acting is outstanding, especially Christian Bale, who gives I think his best performance, in a fantastically nuanced job. Matt Damon is good and the rest of the supporting cast generally spot on. Overall very highly recommended, one of the most professionally made films I've seen in a long time.

Booksmart (2019)

Solid teen comedy with good leads

[7/10 · 2 April 2020]

I almost loved this film, however if faded in the second half.

A nice concept of a film, with two girls realising they should have partied more, when they discover that those around them with better life balance had also been sucessful. The films seems stuck between two central themes - is it a comedy, or is it a drama about the life and challenges of being a teen.

On the first count, it succeeds reasonably well. There are genuinely funny moments, even if they aren't sustained throughout the film, but overall it's a enjoyable ride. As far a getting under the surface of the stresses of the teenage years, it is a very shallow dive, barely scratching the surface despite some pretentions to go further.

The movie is sustained by a real star turn by Kaitlyn Dever, while Beanie Feldstein is OK as the other of the pair of teenage girls. The rest of the supporting cast is adequate, though not given a lot to do. This is really about the girls, and overall they do enough to carry this film.

21 Jump Street (2012)

A pleasant surprise

[7/10 · 11 March 2020]

I can vaguely remember the original TV show from the late 80's (?) and fair to say I didn't go into this one with high expectations. What a surprise! A really funny film for the most part, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill play off each other beautifully and a good cast of supporting characters.

The story pokes fun at the original concept, and the appearance of the original 21 Jump Street stars (including Johnny Depp) is a hoot. The only thing I didn't quite get was the abusive boss, played by Ice Cube, he's usually really good but this one didn't work for me.

The movie slows a bit in the second half, and the attempts at mild melodrama fall a bit flat, but overall it's a pretty enjoyable ride.

Hustlers (2019)

Waiting for the penny to drop ...

[4/10 · 11 March 2020]

I went into this film not knowing a lot about it, but with a general understanding that it was supposed to be quite good. As such, I kept waiting for something to happen, something interesting that created some kind of meaningful plot.

It never came. This is a really mediocre film, with very mediocre performances, and a lousy plot. I think there is a great film to be made about this topic, the idea of strippers getting their own back on the Wall St high rollers had great potential. This is not that film and is best avoided.

Blow Out (1981)

Good solid thriller

[7/10 · 27 February 2020]

I remember watching this many years ago and enjoying it, and only recently caught up with it again. It's probably the last half-decent film John Travolta acted in before he was resurrected in Pulp Fiction more than a decade later.

It's a taut thriller, though without too many legitimate thrills, that maintains a good tension throughout. The acting (even Travolta) is not too bad, though it probably doesn't live up to the solid material they are provided. It's interesting to see Denis Franz in an early role, and for someone who's never been much of a John Lithgow fan, this didn't change my mind. I've always liked Nancy Allen, and this is another solid performance on her behalf.

While it seems to get a bit lost as it moves along, the first half makes it worthwhile, and worth another look after all these years.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Not Tarantino's finest

[7/10 · 27 February 2020]

What the worst thing you could say about a Tarantino film? That it's mediocre. And for me, this is where this one sits. I'm a big Tarantino fan, always enjoy his movies, even if I find it frustrating that his self-indulgence stops them from being truly great.

There's a lot of great things in this movie, it's full of style, good (though not great) performances, and usual sparkling conversation and writing one would expect of any Tarantino film. I was waiting for the pay-off in the second half of the film, and sadly it didn't really come - what's lacking here is a really carefully thought through plot line, where something actually happens.

The film takes another interesting 'alternative history' approach, such as in (the much superior) Inglorious Basterds, which could have been really interesting, but doesn't really do a lot with it. I suspect if you weren't at least somewhat familiar with the story of Sharon Tate the movie would make even less sense (and be even less interesting).

It's still better than 90% of the films released in 2019, but we expect so much more of QT, that it feels a bit of a letdown. So may of Tarantinos films I can watch again and again, I don't think this is one of them.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Not too far off the mark

[5/10 · 27 February 2020]

I've seen plenty of Dora over the years, with my daughters both entranced by it in their pre-school years. As a result, I know the show pretty well, and couldn't see how well it would translate to a live action show (the TV show is so formulaic), and I can't say it's something I was particulalry looking forward to.

The surprise was that it almost worked. The transition to live action was great, and they way they dealt with things like backpack were clever and humorous. The actress who played Dora was terrific, although some of the supporting cast less so, and there were some really good moments, especially early.

The desire to also have adventure story was where it started to fall down, a silly script, actors unable to carry it, and not much of any real interest. The movie is probably still pretty good for kids, mine enjoyed it (despite the fact they're a bit older now), but if you're looking for one of those kids films that adults might really enjoy as well, this isn't it.

Apollo 11 (I) (2019)

Looks amazing

[9/10 · 21 February 2020]

I understand this is probably not everyone's cup of tea. It moves pretty slowly, with no narration or human side of story, just carefully edited original footage recorded at the time.

It was my cup of tea. The moon landing happened before I was born, but the 50th anniversary was a good time to consider the sheer magnitude of the achievement and this doco honours that beautifully - it is absolutely riveting stuff.

The reason for this is that the footage, much of it newly discovered, looks absolutely extraordinary. It is almost incomprehensible to me that this was recorded at the time. It honestly looks like it was taken yesterday, using a HD camera. It makes you feel like you are there, in the room, in the crowd, in the shuttle - giving the story not just of the moon landing, but of 1969 as a point in time.

I only saw this on TV and found it quite awe-inspiring, I can only imagine what it might have looked like on a huge screen.

Parenthood (1989)

Touching comedy, still fresh today

[8/10 · 22 December 2019]

I've recently been re-visiting quite a few 80's comedies from my childhood, mostly with very disapointing results. Watching Parenthood again after all these years kind of restored my faith. I don't remember it being a favourite at the time, but watching it now, as a parent, puts an entirely different prespective on it. As well as being genuinely funny, it's really astute and genuinely touching. It's a great ensemble cast and feels like a personal labour of love for Ron Howard.

While I feel for Steve Martin dealing with his ' special son', his usual acting limitations are evident, the real pick is Diane Weist, an outstanding performance as a single mum dealing with the problems of her two kids. Keanu Reeves plays a nice early cameo/

Trading Places (1983)

Mediocre 80's comedy

[6/10 · 22 December 2019]

Looking back on alot of these 80's comedies, it's fair to say they are generally not as good as I remembered them. Trading Places is no exception - a great concept, good actors, but light on for any laughs and best left in 1983.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Unwinds nicely

[8/10 · 11 December 2019]

This is a film that creeps up on you. Deliberalty low-key throughout, the story unfolds in pieces as you jump fro the past to the current. The first couple of these jumps were a little disorienting, until we became familiar with the characters., but eventually the story unfolds nicely.

Casey Affleck is the whole show, and he carries it nicely. His understated performance carries the film, and its success largely rests on his shoulders. I think the film could have benefitted from more of a role for Michelle Williams, she's a bit wasted here, but lights up the screen when she's there.

This film is not eveyone's cup of tea, it does move slowly, but give it a chance, and it's ultimately a pretty rewarding experience.