Reviews
The Penguin (2024)
Gotham: The Real World
I have a problem with the "real world" approach to the superhero movie. The worst part of The Dark Night is Nolan keep pretending that if a real billionaire would want to exercise revenge, they would put on a cape and roam around the city beating criminals.
In the real world a billionaire would hire mercenaries, comandos or some sort of para militar force to exercise revenge.
Who wears a cape after the 17h century?
That is why the superhero genre works in comic books and animated films since these media is better suit to convey the message to children, for wich this genre was created for. That doesn't mean an adult can't enjoy the genre, but it is simple not meant for us.
Marvel executives understood better the superhero genre than DC executives, that is why they opted since the begining for a more unrealistic, campy and comedy approach.
Nolan's Batman, Snyder's Justice League and now Reeve's Gotham universe have tried so hard to put the comic world in the real world. I'm just not buying it.
Why would they tried so hard to make a totally unrealistic plot as Superman or Spiderman or Joker or Pinguin realistic???
Why?
I really prefer Tim Burton take on Gotham, for all it flaws, a movie like Batman Returns doesn't take itself too serious. It is still a comic book based movie.
Having said all that I can appreciate the technical aspects of the DC universe, and mainly the unhinged, immersive and sensual Cristin Milioti's performance.
Just like the late Heath Ledger did with the joker, Milioti's Sofia Gigante is a heart stopper. She deserves all the praise.
I watched the full series just for her and her character.
I don't care about Batman or the Riddle since they wouldn't make sense in the real world the DC universe is trying to create.
But a psychopath as Sofia or the Joker are compelling.
So I'm torn between these two opposing elements. The technical aspects of the DC universe and the complete inadequate idea to manipulate reality to fit a billionaire in a cape.
Caddo Lake (2024)
Very good sci fi drama
In a year of over hyped horror indie movies (the substance, longlegs, alien romulus) all of wich turn out to be pretty bad, it is refreshing to watch a thrilling movie that didn't have that online buzz but it is very rewarding and well made.
Caddo Lake is a mix of genres that you dont see so often together: family drama, missing-search thriller and sci fi, in that order.
The first act being the family drama sometimes feel drag and lacking in originality, feels like your generic HBO drama from the 90s.
The second act starts as a missing-search when an 8 year old suddenly disappear from the shores of the swamp fueled lake. That is when the movie really gets interesting since you don't get a lot of information. The movie succeeded in this way since you don't know what is really going on untill the final act is revealed.
The final act is pure sci fi joy and I won't spoil it for you.
Hit Man (2023)
Could have been great
I rewatched The French Connection a couple of weeks ago and I noticed how much William Friedkin covers in just an hour and a half.
20 years ago or so, most thrillers or action movies lasted 1hour and 30 - 40minutes approximately.
Two or three hour time were reserved to epic, historical drama or war movies, like Saving Private Ryan or Lord or the Rings.
Hitman is a good movie, but it could have been great, if they cut 20 - 30 minutes
What added to the character arc the fact that he is a teacher? Nothing. That was just some random idea that Linklater wanted to add, and that leads me the my second complain: why most indie movies give final cut to directors?
Some in the edit room could have cut this movie and we could have a more thrilling thriller movie that didn't drag so long to get to the very good final act.
But then again, they let Linklater made Boyhood, probably the longest and more boring time I have ever spent in a cinema.
The Substance (2024)
Childish resolution
Why producers let new filmmakers to get away with their self absorbed fantasies ? Why they let this movie too end like this,? Why nobody in pre production stage or even in filming stage say: Hey, rewrite the third act.? You wanna do what???? Oh no dear screenplay writer, make something different so THE AUDIENCE don't feel like you've robbed them 2 hours of their life.
I mean, the concept was pretty interesting. The first hour was pretty good. Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore are perfectly cast. Qualley is one of the most beautiful women in the world. The stylish cinematography suits the story. Some body horror here some sci fi there. The doppelganger plot was entertaining. Good score. A little beauty industry criticism. It was self contained for about hour and a half.
And then.... Jesus Holy Mary and Joseph. It's like a twelve year old wrote the third act. So over the top gore nonsense. It is strange to say the least, that an indie filmmaker trying to make a satyre about modern entertainment would chose for her movie "The final monster" mcguffin plot. It's like they decided to reject their own story with some sort of -The Fly meets Carrie- B movie ending.
Too bad. Had potencial.
Rebel Ridge (2024)
No Tom Cruise jumping from a plane bs.
There's been some solid good non franchise action movies in the past 10 years: Brawl in cell block 99, Blue Ruin, Sicario 1 & 2, Cop Car, and this one falls into that forgotten genre: mid budget no nonsense action flick.
From the first scene this movie keeps the tension and hold it very good.
The actions scenes are awesome and believable. No Tom Cruise jumping from a helicopter bs.
The performances are very good, it's always great to see Don Jonson as a crooked cop.
It's smart. Sharp dialogs and all the actions scenes are connected by cause/consequence logic. No gratuitous violence.
I think they could have cut 15-20 minute from the second act, but all in all it delivers.
Longlegs (2024)
Great publicity stunt
Rave reviews don't mean anything these days. For a month I've been reading great things about this film. It premiered and it made good at the box office.
They sold it as the new Silence of the Lambs, oh my god, it is not.
I'm going to point out how bad the movie is.
1. The lead character is non believable. In what universe the FBI would hire a person with obvious psychological problems. She is shy, non communicative, has a weak posture, it's simply not FBI material.
2. The plot is non sensycal. They've been after this serial killer for 10 years and they "hired' this rookie because of some weird coincidence, they make some IQ tests and bang !!! She is the answer. She is Sherlock Homes.
3. Deadpan and mumble performances. Besides Nicolas Cage (who gives an ok performance, nothing to make a fuzz about) all the other actors are flat and mumble their lines.
Just a bad movie.
House of the Dragon: The Queen Who Ever Was (2024)
The whole season was a trailer
Is funny, as I'm writing this I keep reading Does this review contain spoilers? But..... hahaha it doesn't, there is no story development to spoiled from episode 3 on. It was tease after tease. Nothing more.
The fact that IMDB requires 600 hundred characters is for avoiding people to simply write: it sucked.
Season 2 basically is a trailer fos S3.
It is out fault for trusting the same people who did GOT S7 onward.
I have to give props to the actress playing Rhyniera. I don't remember her name, but she alone is taking the show on her shoulders. Great actress, hope to see her in other productions.
The Batman (2022)
PROS and CONS in second viewing
PROS
Great noir cinema treatment
Suspense charged score
The camera relentless search for nuance and details is a must see
No slow motion
Overal good performances
In its own universe (just like The Joker) the story makes sense, its riveting
Not another Marvel copy paste flick
Very erotic heroe-villain couple or at least (if you think Im exagerating) great chemestry between the leads
CONS
Could be 30 minutes shorter
Bruce Wayne emo hair a little distracting
In costume, The Riddle felt like Christopher Nolans Bane
First and second act way better than third. Third is good, but the first two hours are way better.
Peacemaker (2022)
I watched first 3 episodes so you dont waste your time
This show has nothing to do with the far superior, super fun, action packed, in your face The Suicide Squad (2021). This is a show trying so hard to check all the politically correct items. The main character is depicted as an idiotic sexist retrograde good for nothing individual who needs to be saved by.... wait for it....diverse super smart female new lead. Yep, he is reminded (and we are reminded) on every single episode how horrible his conduct is. Peacemaker is not a hero or an anti hero, he is reduced to a sad sack of progressive cliches. What the hell happened to James Gunn?
Station Eleven (2021)
Mixed bag. PROS AND CONS
Pros
Great source material
Interesting apocaliptic premise
Good production values
Cons
Horrible lackluster performances (with the exeption of great child actor Matilda Lawler)
Horrible music choices, completly out of touch with the story
Terrible direction (trying to be weird and artsy missing key moments in the story)
Dune: Part One (2021)
A big mehhhhh
There isnt a single moment in this movie when you might feel something is at stake. That is, the characters are not endearing enough for you to care and the story is not interesting enough for you to enjoy. So, if its not charcter driven or plot diven, what is it?
Just scenes leading to some clímax that may be comming (or not) in the next movie.
Love and Monsters (2020)
Awesome
This is exactly what I was asking for in a long time. A superbly executed adventure movie. No Identity politics, no woke-isms. Just pure fun. I want a sequel.
Nomadland (2020)
Boreland or when you can't trust movie critics anymore
For the moment it stars to me moment it ends, nothing happens, there is no plot, no drama, no quest, no search for meaning, no twist, nothing. Save your self from this one. I'm warning you. You can't trust movie critics anymore.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Title should have been: Snitch and the Black Indoctrinated Maoist
Movie is good. Well directed. Great actors all around. Perfect score (awesome music). But let's be clear, panthers killed cops and killed their own. No heros there. No MLK unity or equality message, just plain old marxist indoctrinated barbarians. I know it's controversial but, by no means that criminal behavior is ok. This movie is as amoral as Malcom X. The "hero" is urging for assassination guerrilla style. Judas is not existent in this movie cause Jesus is not found. This is a movie about criminals, the FBI acted like criminals, the BPs acted like criminals and the so called judas was a snitch. I enjoyed the movie, even with it's clear pro-socialist message.
Run Hide Fight (2020)
In 2011 they would call it Cult Potencial
So, let's address the elephant in the room.
We all know Critics would hate the movie either way just because they hate Ben Shapiro. So that is not a surprise. But they don't make the rules anymore. People know how bias critics or cultural pundits are. The movie is good, not great, just good. Some plot holes, uneven performances and a bland cinematography poised the movie. Now, I didn't find any propaganda in the movie. None. If this movie had been released in an indie festival back in 2011 critics would have praised it for its low budget approach, it's fearless lead character, it's provocative nature, and for its cult potential, wich this movie has. But this is 2021 and you will be judge by your politics. Sad. But the movie will stand for it self. I promise you that.
Run (2020)
What an incredible and tense horror movie
I don't understand the bad reviews. It had it all. A great script, great performances, great direction. It was really creepy. That young actress is someone that played the daughter delivers a breakthrough performance. Maybe was to much for you all.
Druk (2020)
Best movie I've seen in years
Finally a deep look into what being a flawed man means. Not by an ideological stand but from a philosophical and humanistic point of view. Great performances. The finale dance is a classic cinema moment.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
It's a Meg Ryan movie ... with some CGI
1.- 90% of this movie is a Romance Comedy straight up from the late 80's, the other 10% is an action movie based on a comic book hero.
2.- Cristen Wigg as Cheetah might be the worst casting choice since Halley Berry as Catwoman.
3.- C.G.I. as mediocre as it can get.
4.- A lot of cringe inducing dialog
5- I am sorry for Gal Gadot, but after that Imagine viral video.... I couldn't concentrate on her performance.
Mank (2020)
This is not Fincher
Th movie is a mess. Every single review I have read says it is a masterpiece or the best Fincher movie ever. There's no element that point to the director signature. It is a bland, predictable, boring and poorly acted film. The B&W only exacerbates how bland this film is. The constant flashback gimmick is tiresome. The extreme manerism and vintage vocalizations from actors is distracting and take performances from fully develope. It is not historically accurate, but Oliver Stone's JFK proved a film can create it's own aspect of reality by giving a tour de force, Mank is just it's own aspect of reality in a wheelchair, overweight and on sleeping pills. Where is the Social Network fast violent pace? Where is Gone Girl political incorrection? Where is Seven drama and surprise? Nowhere. This felt like a documentary with situation re-enactments.
Mr. Jones (2019)
I hope every single university student watch this movie
The name is HOLODOMOR. The biggest manmade famine in the 20th century in the name of equality. Hope every single left leaning young person in the world can watch what happens when you defy the laws of nature.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
Don't confuse past activists with present day activists
The movie is good. Sharp dialogue, great performances. But I read some comments comparing the Chicago 7 with Antifa. That's the most uninformed opinion if there ever was. Main differences? Let's start with the most obvious: the Chi 7 were fighting for freedom of speech, Antifa is well known for silencing speech that they disagree with. Another one? (For the most part) the protest were very peaceful during the 60s, very intelectual, they were protesting the Vietnam War. Antifa is extremely violent and his members were masks, boots and handmade weapons. The last one? The Chi 7 were proud americans, left leaning, progressive, open minded americans, Antifa is known to burn flags and chant anti-american slogans. So get your fact straight.
Tenet (2020)
Purposely confusing doesn't mean deep !!!!
Im going to give Nolan a pass since he's one of the few filmakers trying to do original content instead of reboots or franchises., but this one is a very confusing movie.
If you need to wait for the infographic to appear in reddit to understand, then you know the plot didn't work completely.
And this is a Plot driven movie as you expect from Nolan. In that regard is not his best moment.
I like Robert Pattinson in the supporting role, he turned out to be a very charismatic actor.
Elizabeth Debicki is a beauty to behold.
The "protagonist" doesn't have a motivation, is sort of a plot device, could have used some script treatment.
John David Washington has no charisma. Bad choice. Idris Elba could have done a better job.
I watched it with subtitles so I cannot complain about the sound.
Travel in time concept is entertaining.
Great special and practical special effects as expected.
Worth wachting it one time. It's not that deep as you might think. Purposely confusing is not deep.
Distrito salvaje (2018)
Not that wild
Cons
Campy
Soup operish
Generic
Bad written dialogue
Unconvincing performances
Pros
Good production values (expected from Netflix anyway)
Interesting concept for an action thriller
El robo del siglo (2020)
Best latino series on Netflix
Gripping, fast pace, well edited, well written, a good combination between an action heist thriller and comedy. All the characters are likeble, complex and believable. Awesome soundtrack, with salsa, cumbia and Latin Rock.
Barry: ronny/lily (2019)
Bill Hader should direct Action Movies !!!!
Just catching up with this series in 2020 and this episode is awesome. Great great action secuences. It's like Tarantino and Larry David in one. Good for Hader.