j-a-julian Reviews

Strip Club Massacre (2017)

Brilliant Film - Underrated

[9/10 · 7 May 2024]

I don't understand why this little film is so underrated on IMDB. Excellent character development. A very beautiful sophisticated cast. Costuming is outstanding.

The story is well told with tight direction. The plot never drags.

The music track is a mix of familiar and original material, perfectly chosen to support the plot.

The killing sequences are innovative and well executed (pun intended). I will stop short of a spoiler, but the scenes of execution by anal insertation of a crowbar are priceless. The entire contents of the intestines wind up on display.

Unfortunately the sex scenes all seem to be simulated and are not very exciting.

Carmilla (2019)

A Truly Beautiful, but Morally Misguided Film

[9/10 · 3 May 2024]

Well done. Good pace. Excellent acting.

The director's use of insects to tell the story is brilliant. I've never seen anything quite like that.

I don't want to make this a spoiler review, but the way it unfolds is a bit hard to accept. I can see the two main characters driven by normal feelings of girls their age. As depicted, they live in a bit over the top family environment. Nevertheless it is well worth watching. I am actually a bit surprised that it didn't get more award nominations and actually win awards. Clearly I would have awarded something to the director.

Be bold, be adventurous and give Carmilla a watch. You will be glad that you did.

Us x Her (2022)

A Beautiful Story, Tight and Well Told

[10/10 · 27 March 2024]

I am very familiar with the Philippines, having lived there and having several lovely pinay girlfriends. This film does a perfect job capturing the romantic spirit of pinays as the writer and director are pinay. It does a less than perfect job of capturing the spirit of pinoys, but it's close. The 3 main characters provide magnificent performances. The film has excellent pace and holds your interest. The sex scenes are extreme but necessary to tell the story. The end is very interesting. It seems to portray several potential outcomes (and this is not a spoiler) and leaves it up to the viewer to decide. I seldom rank films at 10 but this one is highly recommended. Watch it, you'll be glad that you did.

Strip (2020)

So Bad on So Many Levels

[2/10 · 13 March 2024]

Often when I see an IMDB listing that looks interesting but has zero reviews, I will make it a point to watch the entire film and review it. It was painful, but I did so in the case of "Strip". I'm not sure what was worst, the casting or the direction. Our main character, Arielle (Miracle Sims) is cast as a beautiful woman recruited to strip in Las Vegas because her father (Tyree Jamar?) is ill and in need of money. In reality Miracle Sims is overweight, her face is not even feminine looking, she exhibits zero personality, seldom smiles and would never be recruited to be a stripper. Her father has all of the acting talent of a mechanical zombie. Some of the supporting cast seem to be cast well, but the two leads are a miserable failure.

The film at 2:06 moves at a snails pace with many lingering shots that seem to have no value added. The director (Osaretin Oghomwen) could have easily cut 30 to 45 minutes to tightly tell this story. They also mischaracterize stripping in Las Vegas by showing Arielle making very significant money from the dollar bills thrown on the stage when she dances. Most people know that this is just minor income for strippers and they make the big money by taking clients into the VIP Room, or Champagne Room, or whatever it is called in that particular club. They do imply some outside prostitution for Arielle but the context is also unrealistic. No spoilers, but the end of the film is also very unrealistic.

Bottom line: one of the worst films I have ever watched until the bitter end. Don't waste your time.

Palitan (2021)

Beautiful Story, Brilliant Film

[10/10 · 8 January 2024]

I seldom give ratings of ten but this is truly a beautiful story and a brilliant film.

(For those who may not know, pinays are female Filipinas and pinoys are male Filipinos.)

I have known many pinays in my life and have spent considerable time in the Philippines. The film perfectly captures many aspects of Filipino culture. This capture ranges from the old fashioned strict, religious father to the two free spirited pinays, around which the story revolves. I don't want to include spoilers but suffice it to say that the eventual outcome is not telegraphed until just before the film ends. The film contains considerable nudity and sex but it is all an integral part of telling this beautiful story. The photography is very well done and the acting of the leads is superb. I urge you to watch this, you'll be glad that you did.

Sloppy Seconds (2023)

This Could Have Been a Great Movie

[3/10 · 28 November 2023]

The director simply lacked the courage to put it over the top. A great plot, very well acted BUT when ever the plot called for nudity or graphic sex the director backed out. It is really a shame. The absence of the reality of nudity and sex destroyed the whole feeling of the film. The plot and reality simply fell apart. This film had so much potential. It is a travesty that it was directed like this.

The director simply lacked the courage to put it over the top. A great plot, very well acted BUT when ever the plot called for nudity or graphic sex the director backed out. It is really a shame. The absence of the reality of nudity and sex destroyed the whole feeling of the film. The plot and reality simply fell apart. This film had so much potential. It is a travesty that it was directed like this.

Divine Love (2019)

An Increddible Film

[10/10 · 13 November 2023]

I don't want to write a spoiler review because this film is just too good to give away the essence in a review. It is VERY rare for me to give a film a ten. In the case of Divine Amor I would give a twelve out of ten if I could. It is a truly extraordinary film. Julio Machado and particularly Dira Paes give magnificent performances. The film is a brilliant fusion of science fiction and religion. You don't have to be religious to appreciate it, but if you are religious, and I am, have plenty of tissues ready. The mechanism of the child narrator is a stroke of genius that doesn't become clear until the end. Yes, there is some nudity and sex, but it is necessary to tell the story and you shouldn't shy away from this film because of that. All I can say is, trust me, watch it, this film is a unique experience.

Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2014– )

Magnificent Drama

[10/10 · 24 October 2023]

Well written. Well acted. The plot twists are amazing. Offers a deep reflection on the Japanese culture. The lead actress is incredibly beautiful, gentle and kind. You will so much want her to achieve happiness and fulfill her love, but I say that from the viewpoint of an American with a totally different culture. I would be very interested to see a Japanese person review this mini series as their reactions may be more accepting of the eventual resolution of these love stories. In any case this mini series is well worth watching. I know a little Japanese and I found the English subtitles did a good job of conveying the essence of the dialog.

The Concubine (2012)

Very Good Film Destroyed by Technical Issue

[1/10 · 21 August 2023]

This is probably a good, or maybe even great, movie. I struggled through the entire thing. I am a native English speaker with a Masters degree ... I CAN read English. The sub titles appear on the screen and are gone too fast for anyone to completely read. Countless times I had to stop the film and skip back to read the subtitle. It was IMPOSSIBLE to take in the subtitle content and to appreciate the beautiful photography. The subtitle appeared on the screen as the actor began to speak and then immediately disappeared as their line was finished. Leaving the subtitle up for perhaps another 5 seconds, as in other subtitled movies (and I watch a lot of them), would have solved the problem. Such a shame to ruin a beautiful film with such a stupid technical error.

The Girlfriend Experience (2016–2021)

Three Different Series

[7/10 · 14 May 2022]

This is and anthology currently comprised of 3 different series which are fundamentally not related.

Season 1 has been thoroughly reviewed by others. It is well done and I would rate it as a 7.

Season 2 is terrible. It flip flops between 2 different story lines which I found annoying. I cannot see any reason that the director chose to do this. I would rate this season as a 2.

Season 3 is TOTALLY different from 1 and 2. It is science fiction based and very well done. I would rate it as an 8.

Bottom line: watch 1 and 3 and don't waste your time on 2.

Another Round (2020)

He Traded His Wife for Alcohol

[7/10 · 27 November 2021]

This is an interesting but very sad movie. On the surface it might seem fun but at its depths it is tragic. The main character, Martin, has had a deteriorating life as he ages, with his three amigos he tries an alcohol experiment to revitalize his life. At first it seems to work, but then the boys push it further and further. I winds up killing one of them and snuffing out a chance for Martin to save his relationship with his wife. In the final scenes she reaches out to him in text messages but then Martin makes his choice and the graduating student celebrations and associated alcohol extinguish the possibility of saving his marriage. The Danes and the Brits are terrible binge drinkers. In my international travels I have seen it many times. It is a shame. The movie is interesting and well worth watching but it is not a comedy .... it is a tragedy.

Prozac Nation (2001)

Excellent Movie Based on Real Life Situation

[8/10 · 28 October 2021]

Great cast and well acted. It's a serious movie about real life, not a fluff piece to be watched for amusement. To me it seems balanced and realistic. I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews. Highly recommended.

Nomadland (2020)

Hard to Understand the Acclaim

[2/10 · 27 October 2021]

This is not a good movie. It's a depressing tale of a mentally ill woman who cannot deal with life. It is slow, ponderous and in the end goes nowhere. I absolutely cannot understand the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. Frances McDormand gave a good performance but nothing at the Oscar level. Don't waste your time on this one.

Homeland (2011–2020)

The Best Ever

[10/10 · 25 May 2021]

I used to think 24 was the best long TV series, but bing watching Homeland has changed my mind. In my career I was closely involved in the subject matter ... it's right on. Clair Danes and Mandy Patinkin were outstanding in their roles. This is a MUST watch.

Assassins (I) (2020)

A Fantastic Documentary

[10/10 · 29 March 2021]

I can't say enough about this film. It's tight. It's real. It's riveting. AND the "actors" are the real people, not actors. This is a must see. Why did this not win an Oscar or three??

Dollhouse (2009–2010)

I Think this is the First TV Series I've ever given a TEN

[10/10 · 26 March 2021]

Fantastic. Compelling. Brilliant. A complete package. Well connected episodes and a very satisfying ending. I can't say enough about Dollhouse. Eliza Dushku was amazing as she flawlessly play many characters. Fran Kranz was the anchor as he played a well developed character. I fell in love with Dichen Lachman ... beautiful, exotic, wonderful actor ... I just don't understand why her career has languished, she deserves more. Highly recommended.

Windrider (1986)

This Going for it Film Has 2 Things Going for It

[5/10 · 13 March 2021]

1. Interesting to see Nicole in her first leading role. 2. Nicole's nudity .... my gosh, she is very small

Narcos (2015–2017)

A Great Series, Worthy of a 9 ... Except for One Thing

[1/10 · 11 March 2021]

Absolutely a great series. A story well told that follows the real world story closely. Roughly 2/3rds of the dialog is appropriately in Spanish .... but herein is the root of the fatal flaw. The English subtitles OFTEN flash on and off too rapidly to read. This is a GREAT distraction. English is my first language and I can read quickly. A minor corollary, I do speak some Spanish and did notice that the English translation, in some cases, has been toned down a bit from the raw terms in the Spanish. Again, great series, well worth watching ... hard to believe that they totally blew the subtitles.

The Little Things (2021)

An Unnecessarily Convoluted Ending

[5/10 · 25 February 2021]

Not a bad movie up until the last 15 minutes or so. One of the major moves made absolutely no sense. The detective could have easily justified killing the suspect in self defense. Given that, the rest was convoluted ... yes, understood the point the mov ie was intended to make but with a better ending this would be a 7, not a 5.

The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018)

A Terrible Disappointment

[1/10 · 22 February 2021]

I've read all the books. I've seen all the movies. I'm a huge fan.

This was a travesty. The cast was populated by B or C actors ...terrible performances. The story line was contrived. Such a disappointment. Don't waste your time.

Angel of Mine (2019)

This is a GREAT Movie

[9/10 · 4 January 2021]

Wonderful individual and group character development, that is each of the principal actors deliver a fine performance, not only as an individual, but also as a group. Stunning performances by Noomi Rapace and Yvonne Strahovski. It's difficult to go into detail without exposing spoilers. Well worth watching. If you find the beginning a bit slow, stick with it ... you'll be glad that you did.

Harlots (2017–2019)

A Potentially Great Series Destroyed

[7/10 · 30 December 2020]

First of all I cannot understand why the user review on the IMDB lead page is by someone who only watched 3 episodes. Insane.

The story was great. The acting was fine. What destroyed this series was the HEAVY British accents. I estimate that I couldn't understand 20% of the dialog ... even after rolling back and listening 2 or 3 times.

I have worked internationally for years with English folks, Indians, etc. I understood them but this is over the top.

A potential 9 goes down to a 7.

Easy (2016–2019)

Unique

[8/10 · 13 December 2020]

I've watched a lot of series but this one takes a really unique approach. The episodes are only loosely connected and sometimes not connected at all. I approached Easy with a positive expectation because I was born and raised in Chicago, a city I love. Some of those brick buildings were SO Chicago. I also really like Elizabeth Reaser and she did her usual great job in this series. The series is a little bit uneven ... many episodes are great but there are some clunkers, for example the penultimate episode in Season 3 with the dudes selling toys on the street ... made zero sense to me, maybe I'm not woke enough. Sad that there wasn't a Season 4. This is a concept that could go on for many seasons. All that said this is a series well worth watching.

Altered Carbon (2018–2020)

Well THAT was a Ride

[8/10 · 3 December 2020]

I just binge watched both seasons of AC. Thank goodness there are son web resources to explain terms. The terminology is hard to follow and certainly not defined in the episodes. It's an interesting construct. Generally well acted. Netflix dropped season 3 for business reasons ... it was costing them $7 million per episode to produce ... unbelievable. The plan was for 5 seasons but we will never see that.

Gladiator (2000)

No Way this is a 10 or 5 Oscars

[4/10 · 17 November 2020]

Ponderous. Historically in accurate. Poor character development. Sloppy direction to allow it to expand to 3! hours. Yeah might be worth watching but really overrated.