cparousis-30615 Reviews

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Slow burn but what a great film

[9/10 · 21 April 2024]

In a way, this film was inspired by the Robert DeNiro tv spot from The Joker. An extremely interesting premise about a 70s late night talk show host whose ratings are dropping so he plans a Halloween show with guests who can speak with the dead and a possessed child. Then the insanity starts. Weird, unexplained happenings take place. All the while, a skeptic is also a guest is trying to poke holes in these strange occurrences.

Special effects were....meh. But the story is solid and delivers on all fronts. We need more brave films like this. No need for superheroes or dinosaurs to make a great film. The ending was good but not great. Solid film.

Argylle (2024)

Fun movie but could have sliced 30 minutes off the run time

[6/10 · 14 April 2024]

This is a very fun movie but too long for its own good. The run time is 30 minutes way too long. That aside, great cast (Sam Rockwell is excellent in this film ). The story is extremely predictable but that's okay. Not every film produced today can claim that it's original. Good action sequences. Great location used for this film. The introduction of the film was exactly where I visited in Greece last Summer. It delivers what you'd expect. Watched it on Apple Plus. This is a "stream only" movie. There was no need to see it in the theaters. Recommend this but expect to say to yourself, "I'd cut that part out" multiple times.

Civil War (2024)

A+ film

[10/10 · 13 April 2024]

This was a great film. A24 delivers again. You'd expect a left leaning or a right leaning film. Nope. You never know how the Civil War starts. You are dropped smack center of the problems. Kirsten Dunst is great as an old school photo journalist. The film is a road movie with the characters stopping off and working through different scenarios. The violence is at times over the top but what else would you expect? You feel for each character and there are about ten occasions you think a different character will be killed. I highly recommend this film. Do not go into it with preconceived notions. Keep an open mind.

The First Omen (2024)

The most terrifying film of the year? No. Not this year or any year. This film was blah...

[2/10 · 5 April 2024]

It kind of boring. You feel like they edited this film to the point of sleep inducement. It lives off the name of the original Omen film but leaves the good storytelling on the sidelines. The story is weak and predictable. A woman goes to Italy to become confirmed as a nun. She tests her faith by going out to a club with another woman who is going to pledge her life to being a nun. Makes no sense and is a Macguffin of the highest. Then a few weird occurrences that point to evil is on its way. I love these types of films but this one like last year's addition to The Exorcist franchise fall flat. Nice try but leave the films making to those who have a good story to tell.

Steve! (2024– )

Incredible two part film on a incredible performer

[10/10 · 29 March 2024]

This was an incredible capture of a brilliant performer. From his early struggles, to his successes, to his insecurity about his father, and finally to his final sense of happiness and his return to standup.

The footage is great. Love the intertwined voiceovers from those who helped build his career. Steve's even talks about his career failures and reflects on them equally as he does his career successes.

You appreciate Steve Martin more after watching this (if that's at all possible). Steve's current family but thankfully he's responsible enough not to show his daughter on camera (she's represented by a cartoon drawing). He's responsible and you quickly appreciate this.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Not enough Godzilla but still a great popcorn movie

[9/10 · 29 March 2024]

You get what you paid for. Lots of CGI titans, going scene by scene, then culminating into a boffo end fight scene. I've read some write ups online stating "there's too much CGI.." The movie is centered around a fifty foot gorilla, a sixty foot lizard, and they are fighting other enormous titans in a world that does not exist. Great special effects, great action, and a it's paced well.

Story? Don't fool yourself. The story is as thin as half of a single hair. You came for the fictional animals fighting. Not enough Godzilla. That was a shame. Go see this if you are a fan of dumb, popcorn films. Don't expect Othello.

Road House (2024)

A dumb, fun film

[8/10 · 24 March 2024]

A throwback movie from years gone by. It's very formulaic but fun to watch. Jake G is great in this film especially with the fight scenes. And there's a lot of fight scenes. The film knows its audience right off the bat. I was never a fan of the original movie. I watched this on a rainy Saturday afternoon because nothing else was on 📺. Unlike the original, there are no gratuitous sex scenes or nudity. I could do without the Connor McGregor character. He mixes in with the other villain in the film and is introduced about halfway into the film. Meh.

The fight scenes are cleverly filmed and the movie is paced well. Turn your brain off and enjoy a well made throwback film.

Dream Scenario (2023)

Excellent!

[9/10 · 16 March 2024]

This movie sums up the frailty of our modern culture. Paul Matthews acquired fame in the beginning by folks saying he appeared in their dreams. Then the dreams become more and more and violent. People actually ostracize Paul and vilify him. He becomes a pariah and eventually cancel culture rears its ugly head. His life falls apart because of these ridiculous events. Eventually someone creates a device that allows anyone to enter someone's dream. Advertising in someone's dream is prevalent.

It's a spotlight on our weak minded society. If we are triggered by anything, expect that thing to be cancelled. We are a culture of maladjusted weaklings. This film does a great job driving that point home.

Poor Things (2023)

Weird for the sake of being weird

[1/10 · 8 March 2024]

Dumb. Pointless. Ridiculous. Horrible. Pretentious. Weak. Artsy in all the wrong ways. Lazy. Silly. Abhorrent to watch. Fraudulent. Sloppy. Frivolous. Reliant too much on shock value vs. Having a strong script that is coherent. Wasted talent on such a terrible script. Weirdness does not equal great. Poor quality though out the film. No redeeming quality whatsoever. Terrible. Reprehensible. Too cool for the audience attitude. Plodding. Slow. Sleep inducing. Going nowhere quick. Dizzying drabness. Unapologetically unnecessary.

Other that the quibbling and nitpicking listed above, it's a solid film. 😂😂😂😂😂. Stay away. Your brain & your good sense will never forgive you.

The Iron Claw (2023)

Such a big subject treated poorly

[4/10 · 3 March 2024]

Underwhelming is the only way to describe this film. Wrestling in the 80s was broad and bombastic. This film is a watered down representation of those times. The curse surrounding this famous family was mentioned but not the focal point. It's a small part of the film and that's it. More focus on Fritz being a task master & a manipulator should have been presented. The wife? An afterthought. The guy playing Ric Flair? Downright pathetic. Wooo, that was horrible. No extended mention of the Free Birds or the crazy fans who thought it was real and would take their aggressions out on the heels. I expected way more but got very little. One small B role scene with MJF as well. Nice try. But it falls flat.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Now that was a great movie!

[10/10 · 1 March 2024]

Where do I start? Visuals: A++. Story: A++. Casting: B+(the dude who played Elvis is not believable as a sociopathic killer but it doesn't hinder the action or the flow of the movie). Dialogue: A+. Flow of the film:A++. Almost three hour but feels like it was a ninety minute movie. Lots of great action and incredible moments of "Wow that was great!!!" Zendaya is a standout as well as Tomothee Chalamet as the movie's lead actor Paul Atreides. This is better than the first and I loved the first installment of the film. Cannot wait for Part three. Oscars in the future? Yes in deed! Three cheers to Villeneuve for making the best sci-fi film of all time.

Priscilla (2023)

Elvis was a perv

[8/10 · 24 February 2024]

At face value, Elvis Aaron Presley was a perv. Wanting to date a then fourteen year old little girl. He gives her pills to "help her sleep", flies an under age girl away to Graceland, flies an under age girl to Las Vegas and eventually married her. The actor who plays Elvis isn't very good in the role. Which is why I deducted two stars. The actress who plays Pricilla is outstanding in the role. She cannot make up for his ineptitude.

It's an A24 film. Their track record is pretty solid. If you can tolerate the horrible actor playing Elvis you will enjoy the film. Even though all in all, Elvis was a perv.

Death and Other Details (2024)

Tedious..

[1/10 · 13 February 2024]

The show is absolutely tedious. Boring dialogue, bad acting, slow as molasses plot. It tries to be a version of "Only Murders in the Building" but way more boring and sleep inducing. But on a boat. Mandy Patinkin is dreadful. He was great on Homeland. That show was the absolute opposite of this show. Watchable and entertaining. His accent is laughable. And he's completely not believable as a detective character. Slips in and out of this dreadful accent throughout the show. The lead actress is horrible. No one on this show is any good on this show. Hulu, you can do better. I made it through five boring episodes and then I tapped out.

Dumb Money (2023)

Not funny, just a story..

[2/10 · 21 January 2024]

This movie was categorized as a comedy. There are no laughs at all. It's just there. This film has been called this generation's The Big Short. This film is no way whatsoever even remotely as good as The Big Short. This movie is not even in the same stratosphere with that incredible film. The cast is good. Except I could do without Pete Davidson. It's a tale of underlying greed and stupidity. It was one jour and forty minutes of story. You don't care at all about these characters or the outcome. It's a tale of vapid greed and faking the need to be steadfast in your beliefs. The film never needed to be made. Adds nothing.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Excellent filmmaking

[10/10 · 13 January 2024]

Scorsese at his best. DeCaprio at his best. DeNiro is being DeNiro. Three and a half hour epic story of murder, cheating, and high crimes with no misdemeanors. Not a slow pace film but the three and half run time might have been trimmed a bit. Great performances and the cinematography is top notch. Feels like a mob movie but set in 1920s Oklahoma, where sickness and poverty rule the day. The ending is reminiscent in some ways to Goodfellas. Pathetic characters who committed crimes to Osage tribe all for oil. DeNiro breaks out his Max Cady vocal tone toward the end of the film when he turns himself in. I watched this one at home on Apple Plus. I loved this film.

Kill Boksoon (2023)

Pacing is important

[3/10 · 2 January 2024]

This film is all over the place. Some action but a whole lotta melodramatic schmaltz. Pacing is the movie's Achilles heel. It's a two hour and twenty minute movie that feels like it's about five hours long. A good editor would do this film justice. You don't care about these characters whatsoever. I expected the action to be on the uptick throughout but it was not in the cards. The lead character starts off as a smart as a whip assassin then turns into a mom who has a family issues. I kept checking how much time was left roughly every 10 minutes. You can skip this one. Nothing to see here, to be honest.

The Holdovers (2023)

They haven't made them like this in forever..

[10/10 · 1 January 2024]

Sad, poignant, funny, and beautiful are words that best describe this film. If this film doesn't make you feel sone kind of emotion, you are absolutely heartless. You love these characters. You feel for them on every single level. The film itself feels like a film from the 70s. The twists and turns the film takes are wonderful and heartwarming/heartbreaking. Paul Giamatti is excellent as always. This is Dominic Sessa's first film and he does an outstanding job. No crazy special effects or bloated explosions. Just great filmmaking. It's streaming on Peacock. An absolute holiday must. Take the time to watch it. You'll love it.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

Can't wait for part two

[9/10 · 30 December 2023]

Oh our cynical society. You read reviews by a bunch of creatively stunted individuals, and you jump on the bandwagon. Tsk-tsk.. Rebel Moon was a joy to watch. This was a great action/adventure film from beginning to finish. Point number one: it's a ripoff of Star Wars. Well, Star Wars ain't that original. It stole from. Old school samurai films that were way better. Point two: the action scenes are stilted. What film did you watch? Lots of great action sequences throughout. Beautifully paced, made for adults, that has replay value. The female protagonist is excellent and so is the rest of the cast. Highly recommended. Can't wait for part two.

Somewhere in Queens (2022)

Italian stereotypes and schmaltzy melodrama....

[4/10 · 27 December 2023]

Where do I begin? Fiery, yelling, and angry Italians and Italian-Americans throughout the film. We've seen this before. Much like Nia Vardalos did with the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" franchise but much more toned down. Ray Ramano plays a nebbish father who wants his emotionally damaged son to play college basketball. This idea comes about when a scout from Syracuse approaches him after a high school game. The son dates a girlfriend who breaks up with him multiple times. Ray encourages her to keep dating his son ultimately until his son attends Drexal University. That's the plot in a nutshell. Laurie Metcalf is the film's only saving grace. The rest of the cast is forgettable. The film is forgettable. It gets four stars because of Metcalf.

Candy Cane Lane (I) (2023)

Expected a goofy holiday movie and I got one

[8/10 · 11 December 2023]

A fun family Christmas movie is delivered. Eddie Murphy in a family film? Not usually my cup of tea, but this film had charm, a fun story, & heart. Eddie's character Chris competes in a neighborhood Christmas decoration competition. But this year, the local cable company is offering a huge cash prize. Simultaneously, Chris is laid off. He needs to win that competition so he goes to what turns out to be a magical Christmas decoration shop to make sure he wins. The all heck breaks loose. Lots of Christmas good feelings and good family values and fun are on display. It takes a weird turn but worth the time.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

It pains me to watch an 80 year old playing treasure hunter

[2/10 · 10 December 2023]

They should have stopped at three films. Harrison Ford should not be running around like it's 1982. He looks out of place and frankly he looks pained throughout the whole movie. The plot is laughable and honestly the main reason why this was a bomb at the box office. It's not as bad as the fourth movie but that's not saying much. They go back to 217 BC with an ancient time piece of some kind with a group of Nazis who want to win the war by killing Hitler. Ok, what were you smoking when that plot was cooked up and have you joined a twelve step program seeking help? The opening scene was old school Indy but the rest was poop.

Joy Ride (2023)

Some parts are funny, some just shock for shock value

[6/10 · 9 December 2023]

Reminded me of Bridesmaids & it introduces cheap shock value just to seem edgy. Just like Bridesmaids. But not as funny or clever. The underlying message of being proud of your culture was nice but the shocking parts sideswipes that message. A lawyer goes to close a deal in China then all hell breaks loose. The main players are endearing and pleasant on screen but they can't carry the movie. The plot is convoluted and the logic used to get them out of the messes they get into makes zero sense. The ending was sweet with the video of the main character's mother talking to her daughter beyond the grave on video but it didn't save the film. Worth a viewing on STARZ but that's it. More culturally reassuring movies are great.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Hollywood, take note of this film's quality

[10/10 · 2 December 2023]

Every single Hollywood filmmaker take note. This is what a blockbuster film looks like. No goofy comedy. They treated the topic seriously because the plot was serious. Excellent special effects. Great story with excellent characters we cared about. The flow was pitch perfect and we were not inundated with goofy sidekick characters that add nothing to the story. The Godzilla film we all deserved and will love. The ending was so dramatic you felt it would have gone differently. Side note: the subtitles were clear and did not blend or get washed into the background. Best Godzilla movie I've ever watched. Better than Shin Godzilla and that film was stupendous. A+!

Midsommar (2019)

Zzzzzzzzz....

[1/10 · 30 November 2023]

Unbearably boring. I love A24 films but this one is a snoozefest. It felt like a four hour slog through a twisted travelogue. It's meaningless filmmaking. It tries to be this out there movie about a weirdo Swedish cult but it forces you to lose interest because it has no meaning, purpose, or substance. This is one of those overhyped, pretentious, critic favorites that the general public watches and scratches their heads wondering if they watched the same movie. I last felt this way when I watched The Green Knight. I heard glowing reviews but it was the same mindless slog through just like this one. Zzzzzz..

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023)

A documentary as brilliant as the subject

[10/10 · 23 November 2023]

I have been an Albert Brooks fan for 35 years. Rob Reiner did an exceptional job capturing the and his brilliant mind. From the time Albert was a teenager, he was a brilliant comedian. The stories and the interviews with famous comedians and actors put an exclamation point on his brilliance. The documentary let the subject be the star. Many modern documentaries have the filmmakers as the focal point in terms of their struggles to make the film either with budgets being out of control or the subject is not cooperative. I only wish it was four hours long. When Letterman said he would rather have Albert's career than his own was the most telling admission. A+