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Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Eddie Murphy shines in this one
This is the best performance by Eddie Murphy in 20 years, and possibly the best Netflix original movie made so far. As I found online, very little of the movie deviates from the true story of Rudy Ray Moore, again proving that fact is stranger, and funnier, than fiction.
I am now 1/3rd through the original version of the "Dolemite" movie. Although "Dolemite Is My Name" is better, knowing the back story makes it even more fun.
Snowpiercer (2013)
Finally, a movie worse than The Phantom Menace (even you, Jar Jar Binks!)
I'm not going to waste 1/50th as much time writing a review for this piece of garbage as this movie wasted of mine. Although it is has excellent production design, there are more holes in the plot than the FBI shot into Bonnie and Clyde's car. All too often, the story made my wife and I comment, "Why would he/she/they do that? That makes no sense."
I expected much more based on the reviews and the fact that the director won Best Picture with Parasite. I felt cheated with my intelligence insulted. If you want the same feeling, go for it.
The Pickup Game (2019)
Engaging film from beginning to end, although a bit one-sided
This documentary involves many well-known pickup artists, including Mystery and Ross Jeffries. I'll admit to skimming their material in the past, but I never actually studied or practiced any of it. They, like most pickup gurus, focused more on memorizing material, either written by them or created by yourself, and that was not for me.
Instead, I read more stuff by David DeAngelo about how to improve my looks and confidence, a side of meeting women that this documentary ignores, probably because it is not controversial enough. I find this a shortcoming of the film. The pickup community that focuses on "inner game" has probably helped many thousands of guys become better with women, and without them having to act manipulative or dishonest.
But exposing the pickup gurus themselves is where this film excels. And each comment by the female psychologist is pure gold. The film is tight and builds to a tense and exciting third act. I found it very much worth watching, but those who have never heard of the pickup industry should realize that this film's view is myopic, focused on the bad guys and not the good ones.
Leave No Trace (2018)
Slow, unengaging, and forgettable
I guess I should have followed my instincts and walked out of the theater when I got bored at the 20-minute mark so I could see something else. This movie takes until almost the very end to build any palpable tension. I even found myself greatly disliking one of the protagonists, which is a bad sign. Overall, not only was I not engaged, I was not entertained, nor was I left to ponder any thought-provoking moments. Oscar-hopeful, this is not.
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Facinating story, but your shock value will vary
This is a very interesting topic that is well researched and well told by the director. Kudos to him and I expect an Oscar nomination for this film. This is a very difficult story to tell and particularly to wrap up into a tight, cohesive package.
But was it shocking, as much as the marketing materials claim that it would be? The level to which you will be offended by the "bad people" depends on how you view it in context of the time period of the 1960's versus today as well as your own sensibilities. At the very least, this film allows you to initiate interesting discussions about this topic either with yourself, against others' opinions expressed here, or with other people you know who have seen the films. Few films can do that, and for that reason, I'd suggest to go see it.
I do have some beefs. One item that I did not feel merited inclusion was the suggestion that these twins were chosen for the study based on the mental illnesses of their mothers. There was no evidence to support this, and this idea was squashed by the academic near the end. Was it added for shock value? No doubt, as I heard gasps in the audience.
What about the Nature vs. Nurture argument -- was it truly settled? I'd say No, it was not done convincingly so, as the Nurture > Nature conclusion was mostly, albeit emphatically, delivered as a statement of opinion by one of the research assistants at the end of the film. Worse, the implication that Eddy committed suicide, yet his two brothers did not, due to his stricter upbringing was far too big a reach by the filmmaker for me to accept, even when the dad was shown as clueless as to how he could have helped.
Despite my issues, I still suggest you watch this film. At the very least, it will cause you to think.