This "show", for being set in the hurried metropolis of NY, moves at a distinctly separate rhythm. It's not so much a show but a day in the life of it's maker, a guy who is hard not to like. John's self depreciating, non judgemental style won me over pretty quickly as he seems to win over almost everyone he comes into contact with. He reminds you he's not that comfortable while at the same time constantly challenging himself to be better and to try new things like quitting vaping, making risotto, buying property for the first time. People respond to his candor with their own, once you fall into step at his pace it's very easy to just keep following him.
Reviews
13 Reviews
The Last Movie Star
(I) (2017)
Burt plays Burt, as usual
23 February 2022
Never the strongest actor, this film is no exception for Mr. Reynolds. As usual he leans on the talent around him and muddles through. The strength of this movie lies in the writing. It amounts to what seems to be a fairly honest look at Burt's character's (and maybe his) life and the regrets he, and all of us, will accumulate. Enjoyable throughout, thoughtful but not profound, well worth your time.
Under the Silver Lake
(2018)
A bit rambling but enjoyable
20 January 2022
This film certainly takes liberties with it's route but overall the drive is nice. Formulated Hollywood pieces are everywhere, this is not one. A series of seeminly disjointed scenes in the beginning start to come together about 2/3 of the way through but they are well constructed and pleasingly shot. I didn't mind some patience and most of the dialog, acting and cinematography was good enough to make these work on their own. The payoff is nothing ground breaking but as kind of a faux film noir it does get tied up at the end. It's no Chinatown but I enjoyed it.
My Octopus Teacher
(2020)
Didn't win an Oscar for editing...
8 January 2022
Like some others I very much enjoyed this film overall but have issues with the flow and focus. Disregard any review that mentions "boring" or that this was in any way an invasive action by the filmmaker, neither are true in any objective way. There is certainly more than enough quality in sections to warrant the watching of it, that is not an issue at all. As good as parts are (and they are very good) it goes along in straight lines then loses traction before coming back. The story about the relationship between filmmaker and wild animal is wonderful and rewarding. The scientific explanations are informative. The sections about the animals' and our place place in the food chain and our respective influences on our environments is the goal and best part of this film. The time spent on father and son works as we all have complex relationships to balance in life. The people and things see and manage every day take our focus. This film's great strength is the perspective it gives us on a relationship we have not considered enough in these times and needs our attention badly. Transitions between these topics seem awkward and at times and you find yourself coming out of the world you were breifly immersed in. Overall, as someone who loves open water swimming, I'm jealous someone else got to make this movie but he's more talented than I am at filmmaking. Editing with a rhythm and symmetry in mind could have made this continuously spellbinding. A slightly tighter version could have kept me under longer, I can hold my breath.
Idiocracy
(2006)
Much like Huxley's Brave New World...
30 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Sometimes life imitates stupidity. As time progresses this movie that once seemed so idiotic in it's day is hitting it's stride as the world converges to meet it amid piles of trash. Gatorade or glyphosate, who can even spell them without cutting and pasting? Not sure would be a welcome prophet these days and President Camacho would certainly be a step up. I will admit I didn't give this film the credit it had coming when it was released, I've learned my lesson. I'll leave you in the capable hands of Camacho..."S%$t. I know s&*t's bad right now, with all that starving bulls@(t, and the dust storms, and we are running out of french fries and burrito coverings. But I got a solution."
And as if the script were ripped from today's headlines...South Carolina Representative # 1 : "That's what you said last time, dips&#t!"
South Carolina Representative # 2 : "Yeah, I got a solution, you're a d$%k! South Carolina, what's up!" Mr. Judge has his moments, he did certainly nail the leadership from South Carolina down nicely. Dax is amazing playing himself. I feel dumber for having watched this film and I think that's just what I needed. If you're out there not sure...
My Salinger Year
(2020)
I get the Prada comparisons...
29 December 2021
...but I like the Devil Wears Prada. And Sigourney is more human than what's her name. And Qually is more human than what's her name. It's a valid comparison, MSY is very similar in construction but better executed. I get that this movie could be better but it was very enjoyable for me. There is no action, there isn't a whole lot if substance other than a young woman "coming of age". But Qually is so remarkable it's enough. The acting overall is fantastic, it saves what would be a dismal rehash otherwise.
Nebraska
(2013)
Very well put together
8 December 2021
I don't need for anything much to happen in a movie if I like the people doing nothing. This is a perfect example of that. Extremely well acted and shot it captures the emptiness of the landscape of the central northwest and juxtaposes it against the initially non apparent fullness of the relationships between the characters. I stopped waiting for something to "happen" early on, once I did this became a truly enjoyable film.
Never Goin' Back
(2018)
Not a 10, not a 2 either
8 December 2021
Overall fairly good go nowhere flick about 2 chicks trying to make rent. Stoner humor but well done for the most part. Found the characters enjoyable enough to get through it. There is nothing new here but it's a decently told story about nothing important.
American Rust
(2021–2024)
Is the Cheif a locksmith?
3 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Love Maura, I'd watch her mow a lawn (Jeff is ok too). Great show, but in episode 9 the Chief hot wires the dead guys car at the old folks home. After he sets up the pharmacist at the bar he goes out to the car and starts it with a key he doesn't have. Is he the town locksmith too? Other than that I highly recommend season 1. Also he digs his bullet out from the wall (via Jesus dude) but not the 2 he pumped into the pharmacist. Who is the continuity guy on this project cause I'm looking for a creative outlet.
Why Did I Get Married Too?
(2010)
Why did I watch this too?
10 November 2021
Insulting level of hacksville. Even for TP, this a very low bar. Written in a day, terribly acted, everyone involved should be embarrassed. This was phoned in for the paychecks, Anyone who paid to see this should have left angry.
Bio-Dome
(1996)
It is bad enough to make you angry...
28 September 2021
It's the same gag over and over and it wasn't funny the first time. Sometimes mindless entertainment is exactly what you're looking for, keep looking. I hope everyone involved regrets it and is appropriately ashamed. Even when talent is on screen this film has a way of making them unlikable, maybe 15 million just wasn't enough of a budget. This may be the most poorly directed film I've ever seen. Ever heard of Jason Bloom? This film is why and deservedly so.
Expedition Unknown
(2015– )
If this guys says "legendary yeti" again...
15 March 2020
I knew of this show but had only seen parts of episode before moving on. Now that the covid has shut down every sport on the planet I sat through this one. In the first 7 minutes I watched Josh said "legendary yeti" approximately 9 times. It was so awkward I kept watching. Waste his time taking a plaster cast of a bear print and picked up some unidentified primate skull piece. He subjected all of these amazing artifacts to high school level analysis while constantly saying the word yeti and then asking these random science teachers "can we close the books on this one?" Beyond awkward, watching this taught me the I can have my own show and that the discovery channel will fund anything. Josh seemed proud that he almost proved that bears might be where he was. He closed the show by saying yeti four times in one sentence, mesmerizing.
Breakthrough
(2019)
Unbearable drivel...
11 March 2020
I watch a lot of films, some years more than 500, and there's is little I enjoy more that a well crafted film. I tend to read about what I'm going to watch as I get pretty annoyed if I feel I've wasted my time. By the end of this movie I was quite offended. Where to begin?
Let's begin with the main character, John's mother, Joyce. She could not be a more off putting human being. Controlling, judgmental, overbearing and a little bit racist ("the rapper was a bit much don't you think?"). Rude to everyone she comes into contact with throughout the movie, she berates the medical professionals who are trying to save her son. By the end of the third act I was rooting for the diabetic coma she was in to finish her off.
Topher Grace as the "hip" pastor was equally unlikeable. A walking cliche, his poorly acted character comes across as mainly creepy and invasive. Joyce's husband was the character I identified with most in this movie. He seemed like a real human being, flawed and struggling. The added star (2nd) is for John. The kid that played him did a nice job. He was solid in his role, his acting was the best in this film.
We can move on to the medical inaccuracies that permeate this film. The first doctor the dealt with an unresponsive John basically threw his hands in the air and gave up after 2 minutes of CPR, this is ridiculous. This kid would be worked on for hours, intubated, put on a respirator and any doctor that behaved this way would lose his licence. Not long after it's stated that "nobody in John's situation has ever survived". Would you like to explain that to the nine patients who survived hypothermic cardiac arrest between 1999-2013. In reality many people have survived prolonged submersion in very cold water, some showing no lasting ill effects.
By now, if you've bought all that malarky, you probably do believe that the hand of god is the only thing that could possibly be responsible for John's survival. This is where the movie takes us, the power of combined prayer (and amazing singing by the random townspeople) is what wholly saves John. Of course it had nothing to do with expert medical care as Joyce made most of the decisions about what was best medically for John (although after seeing that first doctor's work it was probably for the best). This is not a question of belief, i happen to believe there is a god. This is a question of whether this movie makes any sense...it does not.
I watched this in a hotel room on HBO, nothing else was on. I feel as though I need to read a good book to restart my brain. This is just a bad movie. BAd writing, bad acting, unlikeable characters. It did accomplish one thing, I know how John felt. My brain feels numb, as if it's been submerged in freezing water for 15 minutes.
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