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Reviews
Tenet (2020)
My least favorite Nolan film
I just traveled back in time to tell you not to waste yours watching "Tenet". I can tell the filmmakers intended it to be so complex as to invite multiple viewings; but for me, this had the "inverse" effect (plot-related pun). I never want to watch it again. It's not just the convoluted concept and disorienting visuals that are confusing, but I couldn't understand much of the dialogue because the actors were mumbling and barely moving their mouths quite a lot! The only enjoyment I got from it was laughing at how seriously it took itself, and how I couldn't understand what was being said at key parts. I could only tell that they were saying it very seriously! It doesn't help that the main theme is time travel, which is an inherently distorted and misunderstood idea. Time is only real as a relative experience, but does not actually exist in a universal sense.
Like everything though, "Tenet" is an interpretation or reflection of reality. For some who aren't aware, investigating covert projects like "Looking Glass" and "Montauk" will be a gateway to further discovery. Though time is not concrete or linear as many believe, there are "time corps", or people who attempt to police various parallel realities. That's really what everything is: simultaneously existing parallel realities, or infinite nows. In other words, everything exists in infinitely varied energy frequencies which are constantly changing, shifting, cycling, evolving. Some interpret this change as time, but there are frequencies or states of consciousness where time is simply an illusion, and isn't real. If you understand that, then this movie doesn't make much sense; and if you don't understand that, it still doesn't make much sense!
For example, a bomb is ultimately the main threat in the movie, but they fail to adequately explain how a seemingly conventional explosive is supposed to somehow destroy all of existence. (If I'm misinterpreting that being the case, then again this is a failure of the film for not clarifying what is actually going on.) If the main antagonist is not believable or perceived as an actual threat, that completely deflates any dramatic tension, plausibility, or interest in the story. In other words, a bomb is a rather weak, lazy, and uninspired plot device for a movie that is supposed to be so "intellectual".
Wrath of Man (2021)
my least favorite Guy Ritchie movie
I've seen almost every Guy Ritchie film, and this does not even feel like he directed this. Has Covid robbed him of his artistic flair? It lacks the style, wit, and charm that have been so prevalent in his work. I even enjoyed his worst-reviewed movie (Revolver) more than this; at least it had some personality and visual appeal to it. This is more cold, monotone, derivative. It's like John Wick, but with a brighter image and less creativity. If it was an effort from a first time director, it would be more impressive. The characters are flat and cliched, even their nicknames are lame (seriously, I cringe at how stupid "Boy Sweat" sounds).
It's hard not to compare a filmmaker's movies to his previous work. But this is just not as fun as his other films. Without giving anything away, the ending is bleak and unsatisfying. I've watched most Ritchie movies multiple times, but I have no desire to ever see this again. It's not the worst film ever, it's just uninspired and bland.
Project Blue Book Exposed (2020)
waste of time
Films like this are used by skeptics to dismiss truth, because it is so devoid of convincing evidence. There is a handful of actually good photos of craft in the sky. The other 99% is stock footage and recreations of people pointing off-camera, using typewriters, dialing old-fashioned rotary phones, looking in file cabinets, flying airplanes, and some poor quality CG flying saucers. It does show a very accurate CG depiction of a gray being that will probably disturb some people, but at least that breaks up the boring narration and visuals. There are so many better documentaries out there with more detailed footage and interviews. Like the project this film claims to "expose", there is a small degree of disclosure and truth to be found; but that is largely overshadowed by relatively useless material. This does little to enlighten anyone about very real events and phenomena that have been systematically denied and covered up to keep the public in the dark.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The Count of Johnny Cristo
Let me begin by saying that I've never written a review before now. I was compelled to do so for this movie because I simply can't understand why it has such a high rating. Did no one else notice that this is a goth knock-off of The Count of Monte Cristo? Alright, so the mise-en-scene is great. It's got a classic Burton look and feel. But beyond the visuals of the film, it falls flat. While I enjoy the concept and dark humor of what the characters do, there's little to actually like about any of them. One could say the same of Daniel Day-Lewis' latest role in There Will Be Blood, but his characterization is so masterfully and undeniably inspired that the performance is none-the-less mesmerizing and enjoyable to watch. Whereas in Sweeney Todd, the usually charming Depp basically mopes about whenever he's not slitting throats. Sure, he looks great as always, but his choices are rather predictable. I can picture any number of actors playing this role simply by slapping some makeup, a wig, and leather boots on them. Even the sympathetic characters fail to conjure much emotion beyond annoyance. The worst character of all however is the music. (Unfortunate, seeing as this is a musical.) The score itself is enjoyable, but the lyrics are cheesy and dreadful. It's hard to care much for a song about bad pies. "I Feel You Johanna" sounds like something by John Cougar Mellencamp. The hooks in "Pretty Women" and "Not While I'm Around" are heavily reminiscent of several tunes from Willy Wonka (which has a good 7 years on Sondheim's musical.) Thinking back now, I did like the ending, but I was too far removed at that point to even appreciate it. All in all, this is just another movie musical that fails to achieve the magic of a live theater experience.