Change Your Image
lorisloan
Reviews
Walking with the Enemy (2013)
Good Idea But Not a Great Movie
I really like movies about WW2 Europe because I am fascinated by lack compassion the Nazis had... that they couldn't see the Jews as people. That having been said, the story line is great... Ben Kingsley is in it... it would have to be a good movie, right? Nope. Ben isn't in it too much and a lot of the acting seemed over the top to me. It isn't always clear what is going on... the accents are thick and at least for me, hard to understand. Also, everyone looks a bit too clean... I mean, none of it is in a concentration camp, but they still look a little too pulled together. It wasn't a horrible movie... just not great. I almost paid $4 to watch it on Amazon, but I thought to check to see if my library had it, and they did, so I saw it for free. If I'd had to pay for it, I would have given it a much lower rating.
I Saw the Light (2015)
I Wanted to Like It
I really wanted to like this movie... I wanted it to be a huge breakout solo hit for Tom Hiddleston, but it just wasn't that great. The writing seemed a bit cheesy and it took a while to get moving and that didn't happen until pretty far in, about the time his back problem was finally explained. From there on out, his drinking becomes obvious, but there is still too much left unmentioned about his marriage and what lead him to such destructive behavior. Hank Williams has been gone for a long time... I think we needed more of a reminder about who he was and what he went through. The music is great... there is talent in the film and you can tell that Tom Hiddleston put a lot of work into it, but it just doesn't come together. I guess in the end there was just too much left unexplained.
Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter (2013)
It Makes You Think
First off... I don't think this contains any major spoilers, but if you want to be totally surprised by the mini-series, don't read it.
This mini-series makes you realize that not all Germans were pro-Hitler/ anti-Jew. That many, many Germans were simply fighting for their country and ended up very disillusioned with Hitler and his lies. With his insanity and hatred. That blind loyalty to anything can be incredibly dangerous. That war is more Hellish than most of us civilians can ever imagine.
The acting/ costumes/ sets were great. The characters did not develop they way I thought that they would. They all certainly aged in four years... they developed depth and wisdom that given a chance, they might give back for their innocence. It certainly didn't end the way I thought that it would. I wish there had been more to it. I wanted to see them after the war... I wanted to see how they readjusted to German society. Did they stay? Did they move? As soon as it was over, I was sad... I really wanted it to keep going for a while.
The Nativity Story (2006)
Pretty Good Telling of the Nativity
I think this is a pretty good telling of the nativity story. The good things about the movie is not only does it make you realize how violent a time it was, but how unjust. People had no "civil rights"... King Herod did exactly as he pleased... guards coming into your house at night and killing your sons... it must have been horrifying.
Oscar Isaac was great as Joseph, who was very loving towards Mary... he took on the role of father to Jesus once he got over the initial shock of Mary's condition. That having been said, there were a few things I was not happy with.
I wish Keisha Castle-Hughes had spoken up more... I mean, her voice is hard to hear and her accent was a bit hard to understand. Also, he did not portray Mary in the way I've always imagined her. I thought she would be a bit more lively... that she'd have a happier air about her, but I guess that is up for debate.
I wish there had been more of a look into how life was at that time. And I would have love to know how old Elizabeth was when she had John, but I don't guess we'll ever know that for sure.
Michael Kohlhaas (2013)
What?
I am almost an hour into this movie and I barely know who any of the characters are (they are seldom introduced by name, occupation, relationship to the main character) and I've little idea what is going on. Maybe the story is well known enough in Europe that it makes sense to them, but I think even a story we know in the US (such as Abraham Lincoln), you'd at least say who is who, what is happening, etc. Anyway, it is explained a bit a little more than halfway through, but it should have come much sooner and it gets a bit confusing again. It is similar to a Robin Hood story, but not as lively or nearly as clear cut. If you have the hots for Mads Mikkelson and you don't mind being utterly confused and can watch this for free, go ahead. But if you have to pay for it... well... be fair warned because you probably are going to say "What the hell is going on?" at least once during this movie. Also, you'll be really glad to have not lived in that era. Gross.
Grey Gardens (2009)
Not Bad But Not Great
The story of Big Edie and Little Edie is interesting, and if you can watch it for cheap (or free) I recommend it, if for nothing else, to see the dangers of hoarding, as well as of the dangers of a truly unhealthy mother/ daughter co-dependency. The movie itself is not quite what I expected... I expected more detail maybe... something that explained them a bit better. Drew Barrymore's accent seems forced and while she tries hard to sell it, it always seems to be like an ill fitting article of clothing on her. I also didn't understand the point of she and Jessica Lange wearing blue contacts, given that I don't think that most people would even know that their real life counterparts had blue eyes. I mean, no reference is made to their being famous for them... it isn't like Frank Sinatra who was actually known as "Old Blue Eyes".
Love Is Strange (2014)
Kinda Blah
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina make a great couple in this film, who have to separate because of money issues, but they don't get enough screen time together. Why don't they get together more often? Truth is, they only come to life when they are together... the rest of the time, they seem very mopey.
I wish at some point the supporting characters would have stated how long Ben and George have been living with them, because maybe that would explain why Ben's family is so damn bitchy about him staying at their home. Marisa Tomei's character acts like a martyr, as if she has a house full of children instead of just one (plus a maid who appears briefly at the beginning).
The people George are staying with are lively and don't seem to take to take into account that he might not like an apartment full of people over every night, especially considering he is sleeping on the couch.
Both groups of hosts are stereotyped... raucous gay couple and boring white family.
Let me state that this is not a bad movie... it is just frustrating how little support Lithgow and Molina's characters get from their so called family and friends. I hope I would not be so selfish if someone with no other options had to come and live with me.