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The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
The real mob are the writers of negative reviews, this film is great.
This "Sporanos" story is great gangster film and deals with the 60's and 70's with care regarding the "fictional" DiMeo crime family. I love that the writers chose Dickie Moltisanti as the main character and avoids the fan service that most of the other reviewers demand from "their" gangster movies. Nothing "woke" to see here, this is raw as any period piece I have seen. They introduce the real gangster Frank Lucas in the film and actually depict him, not just mentioned in passing, that was very cool. I think if the film had been only about Tony Sopranos childhood, James Gandolfini would have rolled his eyes. James would say you complainers are unworthy to appreciate the craft of film and storytelling and have to politicize what you waste printing, a nothing burger review. Surprisingly for a 2 hour run time the pace is great and I as an adult love character and world building. The writers and filmmakers did a phenomenal job and I plan on seeing this on the big screen. I can agree with one thing that the detractors of this film state and that is the film ended like the Sopranos finale, abruptly "weird" and somehow I find that consistent and comforting. There's that fan service you were looking for.
Music Box: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage (2021)
CringeStock 99
I would first like to address all the negative reviews of the film lecturing to the perceived woke-ness. I say to you, dear critics, that you rob the readers of what the documentary is about. An examination of what the Woodstock 99 festival was supposed to be and what it really was. Attacking the subject with the same tired trope hopefully falls on deaf ears because baby the tape don't lie. One could argue the filmmaker had an agenda, however I ask the critical thinker in yourself, what was good about that moment in time? Would you like to see the exceptions to the Woodstock 99 experience? Those Woodstock 99 one off stories where love was found and happiness achieved? I challenge the counter point to provide such an example and give me a two hour runtime and captivate this viewer. You'd be hard pressed to complete such a project in my estimates. On with the review.
The title of my review says it all. The filmmaker spotlights and asks the viewer what is the value of nostalgia? Why should I, after living my life, somehow need to compare what was fun and good for me, be better than today. Comparisons are overrated, being present is what matters and hopefully one reasonably could surmise that one should learn from the past and make a brighter tomorrow. Woodstock 99 is a dark and disturbing documentary that haunts this watcher. The film does not lie to me. The interviews do not mislead me. The perceived vibe from the attendees, performers and organizers, tells the Gods honest truth of a really bad idea after the fact. What a better human experiment to experience through the medium of television to say that I thought my music concert life is bad, but nothing compares to the horror show that is truly Woodstock 99. Horror is a fitting description of that moment, I should not complain.
The style of the documentary is that of a ESPN 30 for 30 sports doc, small digestible bites of embarrassing induced reflection. I can honestly say that I wish current and future concerts goers a better experience than the one had by the former attendees, performers and organizers of this sad and tragic event in time. The film is blue and a true downer, but entertains. Honestly some the musical performances were amazing, even though that genre didn't speak to me at the time. However those performances were just the backdrop to the real story. Even the filmmaker was aware of that when making comparisons to the Woodstock 69 film. Every real life plot device is here to tell this tale and far as enjoyment goes, you'll be hitting the cringe button most of the time while watching.
F9 (2021)
There is a reason for 9 movies so far and more to come.
If you cannot approve the FF saga for what it is so far then I feel sorry you are not at the cool table. More importantly we have been on lockdown for a year and this film represents the release we have all needed. I get it if you don't get the FF franchise and are more a curated film head, but you are wrong to mistake this wonderful film for what you do not think of as good filmmaking. Plot holes? So what. So many people work so hard to entertain judgemental reviewers like yourselves and I dear reader find these negative postings sad. F9 is a accidental masterwork in a long line of films from a franchise that anyone should enjoy watching cars go fast and action goes boom. Love and family, likeable characters and outrageous story plots, it's Indiana Jones in a fast car. What is wrong people, relax and enjoy yourselves sometimes, get out of your head.
Ghost Adventures: Goatman's Bridge (2017)
The best episode ever in the franchise.
Hands down, this is one for the record books. Being one of the most unusual episodes I've ever watched makes Goatman's Bridge entertaining to the maximum. Must-see viewing this is the number one episode of the entire franchise.
Joker (2019)
You'll have a gut reaction then you'll sleep on it.
Leaving the theater disturbed and somewhat disappointed, I had to sleep on it after watching this film. It's great to see Warner Bros. establish a foothold into a style of comic book storytelling that's usually left for the graphic novels. I like the Joker, the one in the comics, the one from Tim Burton's film and especially Heath who owns the part. Jared's Joker looked cool but that was it, even 60's TV Joker was likable. It is this viewers belief that Phoenix wanted me to hate this Joker and he succeeded. Phillips wanted me to acknowledge the fact that we need more mental health awareness, which I commented through out the movie in my head like a crazy person. I honestly could not take my eyes off of the screen and did not want more nor did I need less. The movie itself is beautiful and ugly at the same time, how is that possible, I don't know but it is evident. Phoenix acted his butt off and Phillip's directed his butt off and they created something so different it can be only described as a one hit wonder. It won't be the kind of film you'd watch over and over again unless you want to study great acting and great filmmaking. I'm not trying to trick you for this review nor am I wanting to be on one side or the other of opinion the movie is just, is.
Ad Astra (2019)
I enjoyed the poor reviews and can relate.
However Tyler Durden can have feelings too. I am of a new mind set as I have gotten older, I can appreciate how different of a film this is. Let's stand back for a moment and look at the film as a whole. It represents the willingness of human imagination to spin tales about how far we are willing to not go. The absurdity of the conditions set forth with this story was enough for me to enjoy this film. I tire of cliche and desire more introspective dialogue. As one clever reviewer points out the similarities of 2001: Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now, I go yes that's what film is all about, things don't need to blow up every five seconds and space rules need not apply for a story of heart and mind. Call me sappy but we all need a message in the plot once in a while, and I can relate to those who were bored to death and feel gypped.
Rocco (2016)
So many stones left unturned
I want to believe that people, who venture out creatively and do the things that they do to make something, are complex and interesting. This expo leaves only my imagination to fill in the blanks of many questions I have regarding the life and times of Rocco Siffredi. I am left to wonder that all Rocco has to say, after 90 minutes, is that there is a sexual void in his life, and nothing can fill it? Rocco is tortured emotionally by the death of his brother at a young age and his Mother much later in life. His Mom, in the interim, has shaped whom we know as Rocco the porn star today. The films ambiguity makes it confusing to watch, however, as a surveyor of pornographic material, it compels this viewer to wonder, is there anything more I need to ask about Rocco? On the surface I find a man too manly to admit that he may need some type of treatment to deal with what may be a disorder of his mind. He subjects the viewer to his tormented state, and surrounds himself with enablers who validate his "God" only gift, Rocco's sexuality. It is literally a "Passion Play". On the bright side I did find the filming of it beautiful, equivalent too watching a porn without the close ups of naughty bits plugged into each other. I do empathize with reviewers' observations about the mistreatment of women in the porn industry, and for that the film supplies us with porn actress, Kelly Stafford, to dispel that notion and ground the viewer with a feminist point of view. In closing I ask myself is Rocco as interesting as I would like to think someone in his situation would be? The answer is a resounding no, and this disappoints me. Maybe on the surface most people who do pornography are merely normal with heightened sexual prowess and that is all. It's not a disparaging thing to say and maybe had Rocco been a pioneer of pornography; this look into his life could have worked. Again I am not slamming the documentary, I'm left with stones unturned. Instead of honesty from Rocco, I only have his disturbed void and the fact that he may never fill whatever it is.
Death Note (2017)
Anime Fanboys are taking this too heart.
It was a very decent live action film to get a new audience involved with creative concepts coming from our Japanese family. Netflix is at least trying to do something cool and that region is cranking out more original source material than us in the west. I too would like to see west movie companies stay truer to the source, however in order to get to that ideal spot we have to chill out and get behind what I viewed as a pretty good and tight script that in this viewers observation stayed as close to the tale of Death Note as possible given the restraints of a one time film. Yes please continue to honor the original but keep an open mind on Anime to live action, it will develop eventually to that desired honesty you Anime Fans desire so much. On the bright side keep up your criticisms it at least lets them know to keep trying so they can get it right and eventually quell these bombastic opinions that this reader feels are overblown.