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dvehampton
Reviews
Mommy (2014)
Unbelievable!
This film has been on my radar since shortly after it came out. I thought "A French language drama? Not for me." I just assumed it'd be dull. I watched Tom at the Farm(another movie I've known about but resisted watching for years that's directed and lead by Xavier Dolan) last night and realized Xavier Dolan isn't messing around. I could pretentiously break down what makes this a great movie but it would be easier to just say "Everything" about it is brilliant. Acting, writing, incredibly real, multi layered, complex characters perfectly developed. The soundtrack fits each scene as if they were made together for this specific purpose. It conveys the emotions of the scene maybe the best I've seen in any film. Drama is not my favourite genre. It just so happens that many of the best all around movies and hence many of my favourites are drama's. This is now among them. It provokes a wide array of emotons like so few others. A truly brilliant movie! Watch it! You won't be disappointed if you have a beating heart in your chest. I hope that wasn't too pretentious. I'm sorry but the review titled "if you like ADD and histrionics see this film" is so hilariously telling of the person who wrote it. The reason you don't get it the way the majority do is because you either live an incredibly privileged life, a very sheltered life where your only examples of real people come from TV(or any kind of media) or you're a sociopath and can't experience the empathy(the identification with the characters and their life situations) that this movie demands for it to be felt or appreciated as it was designed. That must be a boring, dull existence I imagine. That's empathy! Not to necessarily feel bad but to be able to put yourself in another's shoes and imagine how they must feel. The depiction of Stevie going from calm as you described it(which of all things he never really is)to manic is the most realistic of how a young man struggling with mental illness reacts or behaves. He is provoked by what is said and how it makes him feel about himself many times. If you had any experience to draw upon that would be obvious.
The Witcher (2019)
Every interaction is painfully over acted!
This show is probably the highest rated show I've began to watch with the worst, , overly dramatic, unrealistic acting I've seen in my 45 years. There is not a single realistic interaction or dialogue between characters. There's zero character development. Why do I care about this Rivia? He's not likeable at all. Or the princess? They give you no reason to care. Cavill survives on his looks abd name entirely I see now. Name he made essentially playing someone in Superman who everybody's gonna love regardless of actor, requires no range, just more brooding. He gets away with his inability to act a single realistic interaction, over dramatizing because the Superman name was already made long ago and I assume the way he looks. I would've said I was a minor fan before this but this show exposes his lack of acting talent and the fact that he gets by on his looks and roles that require no range. Whoever directed this must live in an entirely fantasy world to believe this level of over acting is the best route to go. It makes a soap opera's characters seem realistic and the interactions organic. Some of my favorites were where the Rivia , who is almost impossible for other characters to communicate with decides he suddenly needs to tell the story of killing his first monster to his horse in a forest when
necessary for the upcoming scene and I can only guess was an attempt at character development. Character development through acting completely out of character. Which is probably the most consistent part of the show. Characters say one thing in one scene then contradict it later the same episode. The viewer isn't given credit for being smart enough to spot this. They say lines that suit the current scene but the past scenes/episodes or coming episodes totally conflict with those lines. It's a bloody mess. Or the former Hunchback mage sits beside the infant who's just died and goes through a dialogue intended to bring sadness for its passing but is entirely selfish and self pitying. Yet the unmatching sad, dramatic music plays. And
It makes me further miss and makes evident how special Game of Thrones was(excluding its final season). I'd give it lower than 5 if it weren't evident alot money was spent on the superficial parts of the show.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A true film(especially sci-fi) lover's paradise.
How do I write a review of this film without sounding pompous, arrogant or a band wagoneer hopping fan boy? I am now 41 years old in 2020 so this movie came out 12 years before I was born. Starting from approximately 18-19 I was aware of the movie and it's reputation. From the little info I'd absorbed over the years I'd pegged it as a sci-fi artsy film that movie snobs liked to analyze and praise. I had no interest, assumed it'd be boring and lack a cohesive plot. Finally about 6 years ago I gave in and watched it with extreme skepticism. I had an experience I've only had a few times. It's like being so captivated and present that there's no thought just attention, on the edge of my seat waiting to see what brilliant creative theme will appear next. I personally can't say it's at all slow, a faster pace and it wouldn't have been what it is. However, for people who have aunts in their pants or can't appreciate the building of wonder and suspense through pace it may seem that way. The second time I was able to take how far ahead of it's time this was. The number of times my mind was blown by the thought that it was made in 67 easily set a new personal record. Even if you too weren't born yet but have the ability to imagine the world then it will bring the experience to a new level. So, it turns out I am a fan boy. Not because it's the popular thing to say but because in spite of my small mind and imagined preconceptions it won me over almost immediately. It is in my opinion the greatest movie of all time. Masterpiece, legend, maverick are the appropriate descriptions. I'm still stuck in my preconceptions of Citizen Kane. How could I like a movie from 31? Hopefully I'll realize I don't know ahit and it'll also prove me wrong. Take care.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A true film(especially sci-fi) lover's paradise.
How do I write a review of this film without sounding pompous, arrogant or a band wagoneer hopping fan boy? I am now 41 years old in 2020 so this movie came out 12 years before I was born. Starting from approximately 18-19 I was aware of the movie and it's reputation. From the little info I'd absorbed over the years I'd pegged it as a sci-fi artsy film that movie snobs liked to analyze and praise. I had no interest, assumed it'd be boring and lack a cohesive plot. Finally about 6 years ago I gave in and watched it with extreme skepticism. I had an experience I've only had a few times. It's like being so captivated and present that there's no thought just attention, on the edge of my seat waiting to see what brilliant creative theme will appear next. I personally can't say it's at all slow, a faster pace and it wouldn't have been what it is. However, for people who have aunts in their pants or can't appreciate the building of wonder and suspense through pace it may seem that way. The second time I was able to take how far ahead of it's time this was. The number of times my mind was blown by the thought that it was made in 67 easily set a new personal record. Even if you too weren't born yet but have the ability to imagine the world then it will bring the experience to a new level. So, it turns out I am a fan boy. Not because it's the popular thing to say but because in spite of my small mind and imagined preconceptions it won me over almost immediately. It is in my opinion the greatest movie of all time. Masterpiece, legend, maverick are the appropriate descriptions. I'm still stuck in my preconceptions of Citizen Kane. How could I like a movie from 31? Hopefully I'll realize I don't know ahit and it'll also prove me wrong. Take care.
American Beauty (1999)
Thora Birch is his daughter.
To uhmartinez-phd, Thora Birch is Spacey's daughter and while I couldn't completely blame his attraction, she is not the object of his desire. It's her friend who's played by Mena Suvari. This would've been an even darker note disturbing film had you're scenario been the case.