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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Lady Bird (2017) in Movies

Sep 25, 2019

Lady Bird (2017)

2017 | Comedy, Drama

7.7

(53 Ratings)

Movie Rating

In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.

I'm going to start at the end and work my way forward. When the film ended there was just silence... I don't expect cheering or anything like that, but there's normally some murmuring and movement as people are getting up. But no one realised that the film had ended because it happened so fast.

The emotion between Lady Bird and her mother towards the end of the film were really strong and it reminded me of why I'm always entertained by Laurie Metcalf.

All in all there was nothing wrong with this film. But it's just a teenage girl's life... I've led one of those, I don't need to see a film about one. It just wasn't anything exciting. After a little Googling (because I wanted to see what nominations and wins it had this award season) I discovered that the writer wants to make three more films in the same setting. I'm feeling exhausted just thinking about it.

There are lots of bits of story line that don't have any resolution. I'm not sure if that's to do with the quartet of films plan or just that they had nothing to do with Lady Bird, and that bugs me a bit.

Kudos

Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Conspirator (2011) in Movies

Sep 1, 2019

Love me a good true historical drama

Director Robert Redford delves into a story everyone knows, but doesn't really know.

After the assassination of our 16th and very popular president, Abraham Lincoln, the conspirators are shot and/or caught to face an outraged and shocked nation right at the end of the Civil War. Among the accused is Mary Surratt who is on trial for her involvement in aiding, lodging and collaborating with those accused. The entire nation wants justice however they can get it, so her circumstance seems dire without a lot of reprieve.

Enter her reluctant defense attorney who doesn't really want the job of defending a woman everyone wants to see brought to justice. Her trial seems one-sided at best with witnesses changing their stories and the judges not allowing much argument against the accused.

Mary herself seems she has given up hope with little regard for her own life.

Redford manages to build the tension slowly as the evidence becomes increasingly bleak for the defendant and everyone's eyes on the trial's outcome. Stellar performance by the always interesting James McAvoy. He wrestles with his own emotions and the growing prejudice the trial has brought upon him and his family to persevere and provide ample defense for his client.

Kudos

Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Turn of The Key in Books

Sep 10, 2019

The Turn of The Key

Ruth Ware | 2019 | Thriller

7.7

(10 Ratings)

Book Rating

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

What would you do if you were in jail for murder? Try to get someone to help you, of course. That is exactly what the main character in Ruth Ware's latest, The Turn of the Key, attempts to do. From her jail cell, Rowan Caine writes her lawyer begging for his help.

I work in a courtroom in the criminal court system and hear trial after trial of people accused of various felonious crimes, including murder. I heard countless defendants testify. However, their stories are always fed bit by bit as the attorneys ask questions. This book is a defendant's story as it happened, from her point of view, from start to finish.

While I enjoyed the format, I found the story hard to get into. I am glad that I finished reading it because the surprise ending makes the story worth reading.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the story takes place inside a smart house. The house is so central to the story it could be considered a character itself. Ware makes us question whether the convenience of smart technology is worth the lack of privacy.

The story is a slow burn but worth reading.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/9/19.

Kudos

Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated The Devil's Candy (2015) in Movies

Aug 17, 2019

The Devil's Candy (2015)

2015 | Drama, Horror

7.3

(3 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Pruitt Taylor Vince perfectly cast...

265. The Devil's Candy. A pretty intense horror/thriller about everyone's favorite superhero: Satan!! Ok, it's more about the people that fall under that sly bastards charms... Jesse and Astrid move into a pretty sweet old house with their daughter, Zooey. Yea, sure the previous occupants died in the house under totally normal circumstances, a-hem, but it's just a house right. Everything is all razor blades and rainbows until the previous occupant of the house shows up and wants in... After that metal head Jesse, because metal heads worship Satan, starts hearing the dark lords sweet nothings in his ear, and unleashes itself in the form of Jesse's art... And the picture he paints, oh boy... Flames... his daughter... and dead kiddies... Yea it seems, the previous occupant, Ray, well maybe his parents deaths weren't so natural, and he may hear voices too... Pretty violent at times but also coated in a hidden layer of religious crap... it was a decent flick... Cool Metal soundtrack... Choosing Pruitt Taylor Vince to play a child murderer, always an excellent choice!! They dug up Ethan Embry for this one painted him like Jesus a bit, Shiri Appleby of Roswell fame (lol) and Angelina Jolie's hollywood clone as the daughter. Under 1 1/2 hours, you got the time, chillax, watch... Filmbufftim on FB