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chris-pulleyn-1
Reviews
Still (2023)
MJF !
If you are watching this it's because you want to know his story.
Been a fan of Michael J Fox since Back to the Future and Family Ties.
This is more a documentary than a film. That said the Editing is great. Made as a kind of life timeline in POV style but using stand in silhouettes and illustrated with clips and dialogue from all his movies in a new way (or at least a way i haven't really seen).
We follow Michael through his daily routine, then and now. From a floundering start to last 30 years and the hard journey for him AND his wife Tracey, who has been a star, giving up her career for their family and Michaels illness. A good yet sentimental watch.
Shrinking (2023)
Never been a Segal fan.. but
From the guys who brought us Scrubs. Not really a Jason Segal fan (except Sarah Marshal) but this works for him. Ford, Miller and the rest of the cast work well together. The script isn't too cheesy and though no big drama so far it's fun.
Shrinking is more about relationships and the lemons given us in life but quite light.
Based on a shared psychologists practice and the people who work there and their own personal relationships they have to deal with whilst having to deal with their own quirks and demons at the same time. Segals character being the central role, he doesn't take over everyone else's as they explore work/private boundaries.
Not rated much from Apple Originals but this one is good.
Persuasion (2022)
actually quite enjoyable
Many purists will say it doesn't work but then I was never into to idea of dicaprio playing a rather odd version of Romeo.
This was a nice and easy way to watch Austin. Maybe the language and intricacies of the story were simplified for those who do not appreciate the authors reputation but honestly, that doesn't matter if it gets a new generation to become interested. And i think it did. Not complicated but an entertaining watch. Sorry to those who didn't like it.
A Castle for Christmas (2021)
tv kitsch
Easy watching for daytime tv viewers.
A typical stereotype of what quaint scottish life is like and obviously made for the US market and the romantic visions of the old heritage countries.
People in the UK don't call it a "stick shift".
Totally predictable and cliche all the way.
Pub and ballroom scenes lit straight from above without warmth or emotion they deserved.
Father Christmas Is Back (2021)
Flat and doesn't make it.
There is a scene in a pub, the lighting is so flat it's like a sitcom. No Christmas warmth
Script is flat, shame as there are some good actors but they seem to just be saying there lines so they can get it over with.
Direction is flat, as is the edit. Music is just boring and adds nothing.
One moment everybody is angry with each other and next they are all chummy without explanation.
I started it on 6/10 but as I get closer to the end it slipped to 5 then 4!
It's trying to be Love Actually
It had promise but just got more cringe. A TV movie at best.
It's about as coherent as this review. I've made about as much effort as they did.
Daybreak (2019)
Post apocalyptic Ferris Bueller?
There are two distinct audience groups for this. Those who are in their teens to mid twenties who came for the high school part and gore, and those 80s kids who came for Ferris. No one is trying to hide the fact that it's so obviously built to some degree around Brodericks reputation and iconic performance. The 4th wall, the high school situation, even the poster screams Ferris Bueller, and then he's cast as the Principal.
To the story then. Hardly credible and pushed to extremes with extra gore and gloopy bits as you'd expect in the zombie genre, it doesn't actually matter to me as one of the 80s generation viewers. I did feel mid series that, though I did get the his and hers cross story line episodes and flashbacks, you started to wonder what the point was besides introducing new ideas for apps, overdoing the stereotyping and sob stories angles. As well as the gradual elimination of golf as a sport.
Would this have worked without Broderick? Not sure. Without him it would have been just another teen series that would appeal to the 16-22y olds.
Maybe I'm being harsh, I did really quite enjoy it, even if I did mainly come to see Broderick. And yes, Ferris I think would have liked it.
The Upside (2017)
Ok as a remake, but still rewatching the original
I won't nag about this remake. I LOVED "Intouchables" gave it a big fat 10. Up there with Shawshank, still gave this a 7 but mainly because of the story, even if Hart doesn't have Omar Sy's blatant, raw, almost offensive humour or persona. I didn't believe Hart was street wise for a moment. They did mix up some of the original plot points which was confusing. Swapping the Love interest for the secretary, making good with the wife instead of the mother and the happily ever after at the end, was a bit too Holiwood Cliche Nice. It hints of formula. Still, it's a decent movie as is, but I'll still choose the original anyday.
By the way people, "The Untouchables" as loads of people are calling it, starred Costner & Connery.