moviesbio Reviews

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Effortless telling of endless layers peeled in search of truth

[10/10 · 23 March 2024]

There is no super hero or lovable protagonist in this story, but we witness real characters in raw form trying to survive.

We are not spoon fed with scenes but given the opportunity to relate to and judge everyone from the suspect, the son to the witnesses, lawyers, defense attorneys to the judge.

Assumptions and opinions are believed and debunked.

We, as viewers are not given certainty of the facts, putting us right in the middle of that court room making up our own assumptions and opinions.

Once the court is through with the mother and son, they are left to pick up their own pieces.

I did care and get to understand each of the people in it. Each role was real and thought out and worked independently to tell this story.

Impressive. I didn't even realize how long the movie was until reading IMDB just now.

What Happens Later (2023)

Better than I thought. It's definitely a play.

[8/10 · 28 January 2024]

This movie is somewhat more relatable for people who grew up in the same era I think.

Just like Meg Ryan and David Duchovny, the characters have lived a good amount of life. It may be a flawed life but they are experiencing a few hours of clarification that many people wonder about having. Running into an old love or friend you haven't seen and left so many things unsaid. Having a chance to revisit and clarify misunderstandings.

It's more of a play than a movie. I liked it more than I thought I would. The negative reviews were probably written by people expecting a romcom Meg Ryan special but this was just a little bit more about real lives lived.

American Symphony (2023)

Felt all the feelings

[10/10 · 10 December 2023]

Jon Batiste was first imprinted in my mind during Covid when The Stephen Colbert Show closed for the night. The undeniable positive, creative energy. A beautiful human who heals souls. I am not a religious person but now and again you come across humans who are just that.

Clearly the documentary shows you the other side and the very real struggle to not only helplessly stand by while your partner suffers but everything else. Eternal hope and realism and pure love.

This was my first introduction to Suleika. What a force and gorgeous artist. She makes me want to pick up my paint brushes again.

They are making quite an imprint in this world. Individually and ultimately together.

Thank you for making this movie. Kleenex thanks you too.

May December (2023)

The movie was odd and missed its potential

[6/10 · 3 December 2023]

It seemed as though the movie was trying to cover a novel's worth of emotional ground but only touched on a tiny portion to leave each character unresolved.

I get that the movie is about an actress stepping into the real life of her character and that she has zero empathy for anyone as she fulfills her assignment, while she leaves everyone involved a casualty of doubt.

If that's all there was to it, then I guess the movie succeeded. It simply wasn't entertaining and left me, the viewer with more questions about literary everyone but the actress or the woman she has to portray. Might have been better as a series, giving all people in their orbit a better storyline.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Kenneth Branagh doesn't get Poirot

[4/10 · 13 October 2023]

If I had seen this movie without knowing it was based on an Agatha Christie Poirot book, I may have enjoyed it more.

Poirot is eccentric, arrogant and lovable. KB missed the lovable part which made the character unfunny. There is an art to knowing what you are good at and what you simply aren't. Time to hire someone who fits the character, millions of readers and viewers of older adaptations of Agatha Christie movies adore.

KB takes himself too seriously and misses the sense of humor in Poirot.

The rest of the cast was pretty good. The scenery was gorgeous. Is Tim Curry still around. He'd make a fantastic Poirot.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Greta did it!

[10/10 · 24 July 2023]

Greta Gerwig did it. Broke the ceiling financially for a movie directed by a woman.

I like all of her work and the Barbie theme was a daring one to take on. Then again she created a powerful version of Little Women. I also figured if Isa Rae agreed to be in this, there had to be more to it.

It was so much funnier than expected. They figured out how to not make a parody of Barbie and Ken. That's no small task.

I don't want to give away anything because everyone is going to see themselves in this in another way. It's clever, thoughtful, and so funny. The actors performed to perfection.

There's a lot to unpack in this movie. I want to watch it again. It has all the makings of a classic and a cult film.

Glamorous (2023)

Predictable storyline with a favorite and a break out star

[9/10 · 26 June 2023]

I watched it knowing it would be a simple story and love Kim C. Something to watch in the background while crafting.

Pleasantly surprised and binged it over two days. Miss Benny is the purest of characters and so fun to watch. Felt as though we were watching their own feelings unfold and there was a lot of nuance to the character. Star power!

Thank you for allowing all these diverse characters to have real story lines and feelings. Even though they were predictable story lines, the characters looked more like the real world.

My only comment is that there are more than one drag bar in NYC and surrounding areas. It wasn't even near the office. Otherwise thought it was wonderfully entertaining.

Beef (2023– )

Not what I expected but so good

[10/10 · 8 April 2023]

I was expecting a dark comedy but nothing like this. The twists and turns and the timed release of character descriptions. The writing is clever and witty. The actors kept us guessing throughout the story.

I just turned it on to watch a movie in the background and I like Ali Wong. Then I was hooked halfway into episode 1 when I realized that it was a 10 episode series. Binged it in three sittings.

Don't want to give away spoilers but it wouldn't surprise me if everyone sees themselves in one or some of the characters. Actions, consequences, pettiness of wars born from impulse. Cause and effect, ripple effects.

Your Place or Mine (2023)

Just like Sleepless in Seattle

[5/10 · 12 February 2023]

... and I did not like Sleepless in Seattle. Even though I really like all the actors in the movie, it felt as though everyone just phoned it in. There was nothing believable about their supposed love. It almost seems the actors never longed for someone they felt was out of reach. It wasn't funny either. I hoped for some comic relief. Nothing.

Romcoms should be left in the 80s and 90s. We need something different and more contemporary.

If I want that good old feeling I can just watch When Harry met Sally. These recent attempts are blah and way too far fetched.

Meg Ryan needs to start acting again.

Pamela: A Love Story (2023)

Finally humanizing her

[10/10 · 4 February 2023]

I'll be honest that I have never watched her in anything other than the occasional talk show, but no one can escape wondering how all the objectification and those tapes affected especially her. Never doubted that there was a real person behind the cartoonized image. There always is.

This documentary was very honest and finally gave us, the perplexed audience of this, her voice. She's so wonderfully honest and that's been covered up by the male gaze. She played along and now she's owning it.

It was like watching Norma Jean owning her voice had she been given the chance.

Hopefully we'll see the real Pamela only going forward. I would tune into that.

You People (2023)

It's a good laugh and provides some thoughtful dialogue

[8/10 · 28 January 2023]

The cultural references were cringy but designed to do just that. Make us think, look at our own actions and inactions when we interact outside of our own bubble. I still laughed and enjoyed it.

All cliches aside it was a simple love story with in-laws who need to buy into their children's love. It's exactly what I thought it would be. Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis Dreyfus didn't have the best chemistry but they are pros so they made it work.

We could use more stories like this. Simple story that is brutally honest enough to expose our own biases through comedy.

Award worthy? No. Comedic story telling? Yes.