lm-43083 Reviews

Forty Winks (2022)

Stupid, Poorly Acted, Film School Project...

[1/10 · 28 September 2023]

If you're suffering from insomnia, give this ridiculous film a viewing. I dare you to make it through without falling asleep. If stupid, poorly acted, film school (or high school) project level filmaking turns you on, you will love this film. Nothing, including a couple of "big" names, will save this film from the criticism that all 120 mins of this disaster richly deserves.

Several reviews (likely astroturfed) are heeping praise on the directorial debut of William Atticus Parker. If this rubbish is the best Parker can do on his first outing, no need to see another act. Maybe Parker could benefit from a trip to film school, or just watch Citizen Kane. The reset button needs a hard hit before Parker's next project.

Some find it astonishing that Parker wrote and directed this mess when he was just 17 years old. NO! This sleep inducing tripe looks EXACTLY like a 17 year old created it. It's certain that anyone watching "Forty Winks" will get far more than 40 winks for their trouble.

What Lies West (2019)

Anyone can make a movie!

[1/10 · 8 January 2022]

The Golden Age of Hollywood is gone. The time when movie stars looked like movie stars is gone. The time when movie stars knew something, anything, about acting is gone.

This movie is proof that anyone with an iPhone can make a movie. The plot is meaningless. The actors are dull and inept. The time wasted on this "film" can't be reclaimed . . . But watching anything from Golden Age of Hollywood might help. Check out TCM before the best films are woked away.

Don't listen to what the AstroTurf "crew" had to say about this movie. Pass it by. Go reorganize your pantry. Time will be better spent.

WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn (2021)

Why WE are in the MESS that WE created?

[10/10 · 4 April 2021]

This is an excellent documentary about why WE (worldwide) are in the MESS that WE have created, and why WE are unlikely to get out of it before it gets much, much worse. It's who WE are, as humans. It's how We Work. (Puns intended and oh so appropriate.)

Con men like WeWork's consummate con artist Adam Neumann (and his equally nefarious "new age" hippy - dippy wife Rebekah Newmann) have always been with us. They are found in every century, in every country, in every culture, pushing their impossible plastic banana good-time rock and role promises, NEVER delivering.

They are con artists like the 20th century's Charles Ponzi, who's name is synonymous with the corporate unicornery (uniconery?) found at WeWork, detailed in this documentary. They are the 19th century's Joseph Smith who's ludicrously anachronistic "visions" created an entire religion that has persisted for almost 200 years, at one time having millions of "followers", now amazing wealth headed toward a trillion dollars. They are Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes (another pathetic "Steve Jobs" wannabe) raking in billions before bursting the bubble, now richly deserving a long prison sentence. They are the intergenerational "ponzi" schemes peddled by 21st century politicians promising solutions to problems that can't (or won't) be solved, such as poverty, racial tensions, and never ending climate change, by robbing "Peter" to pay "Paul."

They all have one thing in common. They are charismatic malarkey peddlers. The current helpless and hapless White House occupant infamously promised "no malarkey", and now delivers nothing but. You can't con an honest man (or culture, or follower). When you take money from "Peter" to pay "Paul", you can ALWAYS count on Paul's help. That's the eternal message of this film.

Natalie Palamides: Nate - A One Man Show (2020 TV Special)

More EXTRAORDINARILY UNFUNNY Woketard Con-edy!

[2/10 · 20 March 2021]

In the new tradition of Seth Myers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, comes more of the same "performance art" NON-comedy (I call it CONedy) that's seething out of the corners and niches of very unfertile minds. This new unfunny "comedy" genre brings another awful waste of time from Netflix (subscription cancelled!).

If your idea of comedy has anything to do with this tripe, I'm very nervous around you. Is seeing a half naked young woman covered with fake hair and fake tats repeatedly yelling "express yourself" funny to you? Then, you've never seen a second of real comedy from George Carlin, Richard Pryor or David Chappelle. They all make you nervous and make you think, alternately or at the same time. This awful experience just made me want to hurl!

The equally and increasingly unfunny (ever funny?) Amy Poehler, responding to people saying this was "disturbing", proclaimed this is "art baby!" I immediately looked up "Natalie Palamides" to see if her other name was "Art." Only explanation for suggesting that this is "Art" baby. There's NOTHING artistic about anything Palamides dumps on us here.

Cancel your subscription to Netflix. Take a walk. Enjoy the sunset. Then, find an old copy of Geroge Carlin or Richard Pryor, and laugh / think for real.

The Last Blockbuster (2020)

NOT a documentary about Blockbuster and - a fanfest of trivial silliness

[2/10 · 18 March 2021]

If you're easily entertained by "E" list hollyweirds (most looking like frequent bathing is way down their "to do" list) talking about the good "ole days at Blockbuster, this is your kinda "documentary." If you want to actually learn something about Blockbuster's colossal business failures, as a cautionary tale, look elsewhere. This isn't for curious people.

This way too long "documentary" spends about 10 minutes actually, cartoonishly, covering a few (very few) of the missteps and half-wittery that lead to Blockbuster's demise. Would be nice to see a well documented (the root of the word "documentary") presentation of WHY Blockbuster, unnecessarily, bit the dust. I'd like to know more about why ANYONE at Blockbuster could think that depending on LATE FEES for as much as 75% of their revenue was EVER a good idea. What were they thinking, or smoking? NOOOOOO, that interesting detail, and many others, might be too boring for the navel gazers this tripe is obviously targeting.

God, I miss real (and courageous), informative, useful, insightful . . . DOCUMENTARIES.

Some Kind of Heaven (2020)

What else would you expect from the NY Times and LA?

[1/10 · 20 January 2021]

Be warned . . .This movie is a hit piece, perhaps satire, from the acerbic, caustic minds at The NY Times and the LA alt documentary crowd.

"Some Kind of Heaven" is a exposé of Florida's "The Villages" from the perspective of four troubled "residents." I qualify "residents" because one of the film's subjects isn't a resident of "The Villages." He's an opportunistic criminal grifter, passing through and living in his van (down by the storage center), who "honestly" admits his intention to con the first marginally attractive woman with money into taking him in. Another subject is a recently windowed woman, perpetually financially strained, saddened, and suffering. Then we see a couple, affluent and once ostensibly happy, now beset with late life mental health issues, addiction, and challenges beyond their once "perfect couple" capacity.

Exactly what is the NY Times trying to say about "The Villages?" Simple: EVERYONE THERE is either unhappy or in denial. Everyone!!! This isn't new. "American Beauty" and "Revolutionary Road" both proudly pealed back what Hollywood, The NY Times, and the chattering classes believe is America's exceptional capacity for superficial happiness self-delusion. In "Some Kind of Heaven", and many earlier films, people are shown as the perpetually sullen, troubled folks that ALL Americans truly are, in the view of our "elites."

Is that perspective authentic? Factual? Of course it can be. The four troubled people in this film are real. Every community has plenty of such people.

But, where's the balanced inclusion of the many more happy folk living out their final years in a place that brings often well earned, deserved enjoyment, capping a life well lived? Not in this film, or the other films offered by the chattering classes, elites. Only the worst is shown here. Typical. Depressing!

Why? Because, in The NY Times and other elites opinion, happiness doesn't sell. The NY Times isn't in the business of truthfully showcasing the best America can offer, like the capstone life style found at "The Villages." The NY Times, the LA set, and the people behind "Some Kind of Heaven" deal in despair, peddling the drug of "hopelessness" to their customers.

Luckily, hopefully, most aren't buying their "junk." Certainly not the many people truly living happily at "The Villages."

Shameless: Which America? (2019) Season 10, Episode 3

Worst Shameless episode ever

[1/10 · 25 November 2019]

As fans of Shameless from the start, my wife and I have occasionally felt that the "shark" was nearby. Last night's episode saw the shark hop into the boat and bite virtually every cast member.

Enjoying Shameless means suspending disbelief. Last night's episode also required suspending all sense of reality and maturity. This was simply the silliest episode ever. From vets treating late stage terminal disease to scores of tinder dates showing up for a "contest" . . . AND . . . actually staying around to see who wins, there's only two possible questions: Are the writers now a bunch of semi-literate 10 years old? Or, do the writers expect viewers are now moronic enough to accept their stupidity. OK, a third question: are the writers just messing with us.

Shameless used to be one of the most creative, shocking and often intelligent commentaries on bad behavior and bad choices, with occasional redemption. No more. Hope Shamless' "shark" circling is rewarded with a much deserved final season.

Scrooge (1970)

Underrated, superb rendition of Dickens most famous work with a bonus

[10/10 · 9 February 2019]

With Albert Finey's passing, this may be his finest role, seeing Finey stretch and flesh the role to its fullest. The music brings a wonderful atmosphere of lows and highs to the classic story of recognition, repentance, and redemption. Inspiring tradition for almost 50 years. See it and celebrate a true masterpiece.

Ocean's Eleven (1960)

Fun ... not factual. Manhood celebrated.

[10/10 · 15 January 2019]

Relax and enjoy a time when cool manhood was celebrated. And Sinatra was the coolest man around. Fun not factual.

Skybound (2017)

Ridiculous plot and horrible acting

[1/10 · 6 September 2018]

Skybound could possibly be the most ridiculous plot ever foisted upon a viewer. Forget suspension of disbelief. Watching this movie without constant eye rolling requires suspension of all logic and reason.

spolier alerts (or time wasting avoiders):

Here's a quick list of the top nonsense you're expected to swallow:

• stowaway hiding below deck in a small business jet
• bullet shot to the stomach with the bullet just under the skin
• infection resolved immediately after removing the bullet
• cauterizing the bullet wound make everything better and fine
• diabetic coma happens immediately after insulin is flushed down the toilet
• two people standing and talking, behind the pilots, in the cockpit of a small business jet
• A small business jet having the fuel to fly across the United States and then on to Hawaii

Oh . . . wait . . . here's the biggest crap you'll have to overlook:

• hanging outside the aircraft flying at 160 knots cutting the "extra" engine off the plane
• the plane crashing into the water short of Hawaii with everyone washing up on shore and surviving!!!
• flying near a nuclear explosion and high temps without damage

And . . . if you manage to believe any or all of the dozens of ridiculous plot lines, you'll have to make it past some of the worst acting ever forced upon a viewer.

Don't waste your time. Pass this one up. Use your imagination. Anyone can dream up something more interesting and realistic than this drivel. This "high school project" of a movie isn't worth it.