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phxphil
Reviews
The Outfit (2022)
Well Acted Period Gangster Movie
The movie is character driven and well acted. I loved Mark Rylance's portrayal of Leonard the "tailor". O'Brian and Flynn as Richie and Francis are very good as well. This movie is very much like a stage play. The entire movie takes place in the Taylor's shop from start to finish. All the characters have an entrance onto that set one after another. This is why I rated it lower than most have. I felt some "cabin fever" once I realized they were never going to leave the shop. I would have liked to have traveled back in time to experience Chicago during this period. It's what Hollywood usually does very well for us and I was disappointed that this one didn't do that for me.
Beatriz at Dinner (2017)
A very good movie so don't pass it up
It was very thought provoking. My spouse enjoyed it as well. We talked about it all the way home and some this morning. Lithgow gave a great performance as a calloused wealthy man only concerned with himself, in this life, and no one else present or future. Selma Hayek matched his performance as an "old soul" who is ultra sensitive to other's pain and needs. She ultimately breaks down after coming face to face with what she sees as the true evil in this world. It certainly is a theme that speaks to our life and times. I think it is Hayek's best performance yet.
Child 44 (2015)
A Very Well Acted Period Piece
We rented this last evening and did not realize it was over 2 hours long. However we were glued to the screen as the plot unfolded and our attention was held by the great performances involved. While trying to decide what to rent we looked it up on IMDb and saw the low score. But we had recently rented Survivor (5.5) and because of the actors involved we rented it anyway. We ended up enjoying the fast action, suspense and the great performances and we felt Child 44 could be the same situation. And it was. Why anyone would give Child 44 one and two stars is a complete mystery to me. Based on their reviews it seems that some folks fancy themselves as more than a viewer or consumer of entertainment. It seems some see themselves as screen writers, directors, cinematographers, editors and professional critics. I wonder if these are folks who dropped out of film school or many never went but wanted to. This movie seems to have been particularly downgraded by those that read the book and think the screen writer had the responsibility to hold the script details closely to the book's story line. Come on guys, get a life and quit trying to downgrade good movies with your unwarranted low scoring. In any case don't be afraid to download, rent or stream this movie if you like the actors involved, a good murder mystery, a multi faceted story line and a beautifully filmed and costumed period piece.
Unbroken (2014)
Slow and Bad Script
Unbroken was just okay. I gave it one star lower than mid-range because I fell asleep for a portion and have no desire to see any part of it again to catch up. The film is about a WWII soldier held prisoner by the Japanese and was based on a very long book who many say was excellent. I read that Jolie successfully convinced the studio to let her bring the picture to the screen by selling them on how she capture the heart of the story. She failed. The script spent waaaay too much of the film depicting the character's suffering while floating around the ocean in a raft after their plane crashed. It seemed to take up the entire first half of the film. That time would have been better spent telling the story of how the main character dealt with his trauma after the war. The credits at the end refer to it. Apparently he struggled but finally found some solace through his faith and traveled to Japan to meet his captors who he forgave. Now I'd rather have seen some of that story than watching three men barfing after they tried to eat a seagull.
Deadheads (2011)
Not Bad. I enjoyed it.
Entertaining actors, well acted and the movie has a pretty funny script. I didn't hear/see a lot of Clichés as other have said. The script moved along well. It was not low budget nor was it high budget. But definitely not low budget. The special effects were high quality, body parts, gun shot wounds, etc. The guys chasing the two main characters do a good job as vigilantes and present a nice reason for the main characters to be on the run. Oh, and there is an explanation for the reason the two guys are not like the other zombies. You just have to wait for it. It's definitely a good popcorn movie with enough funny moments.
Young Adult (2011)
A excellent study in character development
I'm not sure why some have given low ratings to this excellent film. Largely based on those reviews my wife chose to watch TV after viewing the first half hour with me. "I agree with those reviews...where's this going?". But she came in from time to time and watched segments. Then in the morning had me tell her how it all came out and ended. I think she got hooked even though she didn't want to admit it. Theron is simply wonderful crafting her character. I really disliked her and in the beginning and in the end felt very badly for her. Just when you think she's going to have a personal breakthrough...well you'll have to see what happens. She is under-rated in her skills as far as I'm concerned. If you're looking for old fashioned moving making, character development, audience engagement in the lives of the characters, this is the movie for you. One last thing...not sure why IMDb has this listed under comedy. It's not.
The Hunger Games (2012)
Good movie even if you haven't read the book
Jennifer Lawrence is wonderfully attractive throughout, whether she is hunting, running, fighting, in a red dress or in competition clothes. Her husky but feminine voice is enthralling. She carries the movie. Even though she's not a classic beauty she has a certain look that attracts the eye. But there is plenty other talent to entertain as well. Not having read the book I was surprised at who wasn't chosen to go to the competition from her village. But as the story unfolds its understood that it's being set up for a sequel. The sets and the futuristic setting is a nice add to an old story line. Some reviews have said that the story doesn't pay homage to the village starvation that the book spoke to. I think it's pretty evident but it's not dwelling piece in the story. I got the point well enough and don't think it was necessary to emphasize it more. There could have been more character interaction during the training period to set up the bad relations between contestants during the contest. The time does fly and I would have never guessed it was over two hours long although I did have to bow to the Big Gulp in the later half of the movie. Dehydrate before you go.
Blackthorn (2011)
Good basic western
It's a very basic western with a twist in the story line to make it a bit more interesting. The Spaniard is played well and I really liked what he brought to the screen. But Sam Shepard keeps it low key. Maybe too low key for my taste. My thought is another actor (Kevin Kline or Tom Selleck?)could have brought a lot more flavor to the role and kept it closer to the fun loving character the original movie portrayed. We enjoyed the movie well enough and a bag of popcorn and drink helped to make it a decent movie night at home. I would recommend this flick if you like Westerns. Especially since there are not a lot of them being produced in Hollywood these days. So it's hard to not rent one when it's available.
Source Code (2011)
Wow, either love or hate
I'm glad I didn't read the second page of reviews before going to see this movie or I might have had second thoughts (sorted by BEST). I liked the movie which is very much above average when compared to some of the drivel coming out of Hollywood these days. And Waffle...you figured out the whole movie in the first few scenes and worked on a cross word puzzle during the movie? If you think this makes you sound super smart it does the opposite. Only a fool would stay if that bored. Geeze, it's a SciFi movie, which means it doesn't have to be plausible or real (The Fi stands for FICTION). All of you who had this criticism should stay home and watch reality TV.