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Reviews
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Heartwarming and nostalgic take on "when life gives you lemons"
Shows that life doesn't always turn out the way you want or expected but that you can make it into something different and altogether more appealing. Heartwarming and nostalgic. Diane Lane is a pleasure to watch. Gorgeous male actors. Fun, quirky characters throughout. LGBT themes.
The OA (2016)
Fascinating premise and strong acting
Plot: Fascinating premise - the OA ("Original Angel") has near death experiences that give her a glimpse at the other side and secrets of how to get to other dimensions. The final episode is so unexpected, with an intensely emotional event that will definitely definitely leave you crying and wanting more!
Themes: Love, paranormal, sacrifice
Acting: The leads are amazing. Prairie (the OA) has a fascinating face that looks "blind" even when she can see again. Her mother and father are great. The team she assembles is great. A+ acting
Setting: nondescript suburbs for the most part
Soundtrack: Haunting, memorable classical music mixed with indie rock
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
First Romance
Plot: 17-year-old Elio has a lustful romance (his first) with Oliver (an older grad student) and comes out to his parents. Oliver gets engaged to a woman.
Themes: first relationship, gay relationships, coming out; Anyone who's been in love with know those feelings and relate to Elio
Acting: Amazing acting by Timothée Chalamet (Elio). Strong performances overall, though Oliver ( Armie Hammer) was not very likable as a character. Elio's parents are lovingly played. The last act is where it pays off - the "coming out" conversation between Elio and his father will make you cry. However, to me, the relationship was mainly one of lust/puppy love, not the deep relationship the father describes, so it felt a little incongruent. The final long shot of Elio looking into the fireplace and reflecting on the past is amazing.
Setting: 1983 beautiful rural Italian estate - transports you to a simpler time and place
Soundtrack: wonderful classical music selection - A+
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
Satisfying Dystopian Action Movie
I read the first book in the series but couldn't get through the second. It was interesting to see what WCKD was up to and learn how everything ends up.
This is a satisfying dystopian action movie. Most loose ends are tied up, though it would be interesting to see how the "Safe Haven" develops, say, 50 years in the future.
I appreciated that everything doesn't end with a nice bow, with everyone escaping and living. It was more realistic that way.
It's not rated higher because the character development/emotional pull wasn't there - I wasn't moved at the two major death scenes - and the musical score was weak.
Walk with Me (2017)
Interesting glimpse of Buddhism, if a bit slow
I think I was expecting more from this film than I actually got, which is probably a reflection of why I was drawn to the film, attachment and expectations being the root of suffering and all. :)
Stillness and a very slow development punctuated by a couple memorable nuggets - doggy story (he is not dead - he is just in a new form), you can only enjoy the treasures of the world in the present (the past is gone, the future has not happened), mindful eating - be present with each bite.
I think I personally need to dive more deeply into stillness and contemplation to rate this more highly, but it was an interesting glimpse at what Buddhism really means in practice.
California Typewriter (2016)
Multifaceted look at the typewriter as a mirror on progress
A diverse look at a niche I didn't know was so cool! Looks at so many unknown aspects of how the typewriter manifests itself in the current world, from collections, to repair shops to making music from them. This documentary is not just about the typewriter but about people and progress in a technological age.
Mother! (2017)
Maddening
I generally like Jennifer Lawrence, and the film is pretty, but I couldn't abide the repeated horrible decisions/lack of action she takes at the mounting intrusion on her own life. I can sit through darn near anything, and I almost walked out of the theater on this one.