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Lenard (726 KP) rated Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) in Movies
Dec 23, 2020
Stupid Sometimes is Different From Dumb
There is a "danger" to a 50-something year old actor playing a role that they originated as a young adult actor. Especially when the role is the one that a whole generation associates with that actor even when there are at least three other characters one could recognize as the actor's. But the analysis of Keanu Reeves's career, especially the more experimental aspects, is worthy of a blog post or podcast episode.
Bill and Ted Face the Music is the third entry in the series released 29 years after the second one. Bill and Ted are now middle-aged parents still trying to write the song that will unite the world and bring about a utopian society. But once again, that future is threatened unless Bill and Ted can fulfill their destiny. Reality is starting to unravel as George Washington is transported to another time, Babe Ruth takes his place, and Kid Cudi comes to San Dimas. Bill and Ted hijack a time machine and consult with future selves to take the song to their time.
First, I was happy to see the original actors for Missy and Col. Logan also return. Second, the actresses playing the two teenage daughters really captured the essence of Bill and Ted. Third, the couples therapy was a brilliant idea although I am not sure that medieval princesses would really consider this modern-day novelty. Lastly, it was a great idea to have different versions of Bill and Ted to cover the fact that Keanu and Alex are too old to play overgrown versions of the teenage Bill and Ted.
My only complaint was the undercooked screenplay. It had ideas but abruptly ended the threads.
Bill and Ted Face the Music is the third entry in the series released 29 years after the second one. Bill and Ted are now middle-aged parents still trying to write the song that will unite the world and bring about a utopian society. But once again, that future is threatened unless Bill and Ted can fulfill their destiny. Reality is starting to unravel as George Washington is transported to another time, Babe Ruth takes his place, and Kid Cudi comes to San Dimas. Bill and Ted hijack a time machine and consult with future selves to take the song to their time.
First, I was happy to see the original actors for Missy and Col. Logan also return. Second, the actresses playing the two teenage daughters really captured the essence of Bill and Ted. Third, the couples therapy was a brilliant idea although I am not sure that medieval princesses would really consider this modern-day novelty. Lastly, it was a great idea to have different versions of Bill and Ted to cover the fact that Keanu and Alex are too old to play overgrown versions of the teenage Bill and Ted.
My only complaint was the undercooked screenplay. It had ideas but abruptly ended the threads.
Beth Orton recommended Still Bill by Bill Withers in Music (curated)
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Near Dark (1987) in Movies
Oct 20, 2018
Vampires without vampires
The cast of Aliens (I think this movie was directed by James Cameron's former spouse lol) reunites one year later in this stylized vampire flick even though they never mention the "V" word.
A young man falls into an unusual new crowd in his small town. He finds out more about them including their hatred for sunlight. His new friends have a proclivity to bloody violence to which he does not appreciate especially when his family gets involved. His loyalties are tested when events turn violent and he has to decide who's team he's on.
Geeing Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson together again was just fantastic; however made me miss Bill even more. He steals every scene he is in just like Aliens and is sheer joy to watch.
The film is a unique take on the traditional bloodsucking genre and very entertaining.
A young man falls into an unusual new crowd in his small town. He finds out more about them including their hatred for sunlight. His new friends have a proclivity to bloody violence to which he does not appreciate especially when his family gets involved. His loyalties are tested when events turn violent and he has to decide who's team he's on.
Geeing Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson together again was just fantastic; however made me miss Bill even more. He steals every scene he is in just like Aliens and is sheer joy to watch.
The film is a unique take on the traditional bloodsucking genre and very entertaining.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Out of Blue (2019) in Movies
Apr 10, 2019 (Updated Apr 10, 2019)
Bafflingly impenetrable crime drama. A young woman is found dead from a gunshot wound; assigned to the case is veteran homicide detective Mike Hoolihan (Clarkson) who finds it opens up many unanswered questions from her own past, raising many demons.
Sounds fairly straightforward, but film's many strange pretensions - discussion of quantum theory, astrophysics - and dourly humourless tone make it intensely hard work. Why does title not include word 'the'? It's a mystery. Why does this review not include word 'the'? Well, you've got to do something for entertainment, and this film certainly doesn't fit bill. Feels weirdly incompetent on many levels.
Sounds fairly straightforward, but film's many strange pretensions - discussion of quantum theory, astrophysics - and dourly humourless tone make it intensely hard work. Why does title not include word 'the'? It's a mystery. Why does this review not include word 'the'? Well, you've got to do something for entertainment, and this film certainly doesn't fit bill. Feels weirdly incompetent on many levels.
David McK (3188 KP) rated Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) in Movies
Mar 22, 2022 (Updated Apr 13, 2023)
Light-hearted slacker romp through history, starring a very-young Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as the eponymous duo Bill & Ted (respectively, Winters and Reeves) who are in danger of failing their high school history assignment and so being split up forever.
Which is obviously NOT what the future society wants, based - as it is - on their music, and so sends Rufus back in time via a time travelling phone box (shades of the TARDIS, anyone?), to help them pass said history course.
Silly? Absolutely?
Fun? Yep.
Remember, folks, in their immortal words: "Be Excellent to each other"
Which is obviously NOT what the future society wants, based - as it is - on their music, and so sends Rufus back in time via a time travelling phone box (shades of the TARDIS, anyone?), to help them pass said history course.
Silly? Absolutely?
Fun? Yep.
Remember, folks, in their immortal words: "Be Excellent to each other"
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) in Movies
Oct 7, 2020
And you thought Tenet's timey wimey stuff was confusing?
Thirty-One years after the first Bill and Ted movie, and 29 years after the slightly disappointing sequel, the dudes are back for a three-quel. Older... but not much wiser.
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are the only ones that can save reality. If they don't play the 'song that will unite humanity' at 7:17 at MP42 then the whole of time and space will unravel. It's already happening, with historical characters zapping here and there at random. There are only two problems: 1) they have no idea where MP42 is and; 2) the no-hoper wedding singers haven't written the song... yet.
Zipping forwards in time, they plan to steal the song from their future selves.
Meanwhile their daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Kelly (Kristen Schaal) travel backwards in time to assemble a world-class backing band. (As an aside, it is astonishing how much Weaving looks like Margot Robbie - never a bad thing in my book! If there is ever a biopic requiring a young and old version of her character, they will save a BOMB on the CGI bill!)
Meanwhile (meanwhile) Bill and Ted's princess brides (now Erinn Hayes as Elizabeth and Jayma Mays as Joanna) are unsettled with their marriages and are jumping from time to time to see if they can be happy with any version of Bill and Ted.
Death (William Sadler) quotes a Wyld Stallyns review as "A raging confused mess". And it really applies to this too! The screenplay, by original Bill and Ted writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, is all over the place. With a scattergun approach to the comedy, some of the lines firmly stick to the wall - making me guffaw with laughter - and others are just plain duds.
Some of the scenes - a "couples therapy" session for example - seem to be desperately trying to be milked for all they're worth. Even the "monkey" after the end titles - with "old dudes" rocking out - isn't worth the wait.
But, contrary to that, it's also difficult not to be swept along with the anarchic joy of the concoction. The movie of course leans heavily on the nostalgic catchphrases and air guitar riffs of years gone by. But there's no shame in that. And there's a star quality cameo at one point that entertains.
Director Dean Parisot - most famous for the minor classic "Galaxy Quest" - manages to rustle all this diverse material into something that overall still manages to leave an overall stupid grin on your face. As a comedy it passes the '6-laugh' test, but - as someone who has never been a great "Bill and Ted" fan - it's not a classic. But I can see how "Bill and Ted" fans, like my daughter Jenn, would have loved it (and she did).
(For the graphical review, check out One Mann's Movies on t'internet here https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2020/10/06/bill-and-ted-party-on-til-we-drop-dudes/ . Thx.)
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are the only ones that can save reality. If they don't play the 'song that will unite humanity' at 7:17 at MP42 then the whole of time and space will unravel. It's already happening, with historical characters zapping here and there at random. There are only two problems: 1) they have no idea where MP42 is and; 2) the no-hoper wedding singers haven't written the song... yet.
Zipping forwards in time, they plan to steal the song from their future selves.
Meanwhile their daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Kelly (Kristen Schaal) travel backwards in time to assemble a world-class backing band. (As an aside, it is astonishing how much Weaving looks like Margot Robbie - never a bad thing in my book! If there is ever a biopic requiring a young and old version of her character, they will save a BOMB on the CGI bill!)
Meanwhile (meanwhile) Bill and Ted's princess brides (now Erinn Hayes as Elizabeth and Jayma Mays as Joanna) are unsettled with their marriages and are jumping from time to time to see if they can be happy with any version of Bill and Ted.
Death (William Sadler) quotes a Wyld Stallyns review as "A raging confused mess". And it really applies to this too! The screenplay, by original Bill and Ted writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, is all over the place. With a scattergun approach to the comedy, some of the lines firmly stick to the wall - making me guffaw with laughter - and others are just plain duds.
Some of the scenes - a "couples therapy" session for example - seem to be desperately trying to be milked for all they're worth. Even the "monkey" after the end titles - with "old dudes" rocking out - isn't worth the wait.
But, contrary to that, it's also difficult not to be swept along with the anarchic joy of the concoction. The movie of course leans heavily on the nostalgic catchphrases and air guitar riffs of years gone by. But there's no shame in that. And there's a star quality cameo at one point that entertains.
Director Dean Parisot - most famous for the minor classic "Galaxy Quest" - manages to rustle all this diverse material into something that overall still manages to leave an overall stupid grin on your face. As a comedy it passes the '6-laugh' test, but - as someone who has never been a great "Bill and Ted" fan - it's not a classic. But I can see how "Bill and Ted" fans, like my daughter Jenn, would have loved it (and she did).
(For the graphical review, check out One Mann's Movies on t'internet here https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2020/10/06/bill-and-ted-party-on-til-we-drop-dudes/ . Thx.)
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated On the Rocks (2020) in Movies
Oct 23, 2020
Bill Murray being Bill Murray, but in sparkling form
Bill Murray is astonishing. Not just in "On the Rocks", but generally in life. Some actors - Johnny Depp, Mark Rylance, Gary Oldman, for instance - disappear completely into their characters so it takes a while to "see" who they are. Whereas with others - Bill Nighy, Tom Cruise, John Wayne, for instance - it's "Oh, there's the famous actor xxxx in a new movie". If we were grading on a scale, Bill Murray would be at the far right of the latter category. In every movie, he IS Bill Murray! In "Ghostbusters" he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking ghost hunter. In "Groundhog Day" he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking weatherman. In "The Monuments Men" he was the dry, laconic, wisecracking art historian. (In the "Zombieland" movies, he excelled himself by playing the dry, laconic, wisecracking Bill Murray!)
For many actors, that would be a problem. But Bill Murray gets away with it, because - - he's Bill freakin' Murray!! And being him is so awesome that however many times you've seen the character, you always want more.
Here's a case in point. In "On the Rocks", a chaffeured car with tinted windows rolls up. You brace yourself as the window winds slowly down. And there he is... the star. This happens quite a way into Sofia Coppola's new film. First up, we get a leisurely, but intelligent, set-up to the plot. The "Parks and Recreation" actress, Rashida Jones, plays Laura; a successful writer (currently with writer's block) married to successful businessman Dean (Marlon Wayans). The couple seem to have it all: high income; large New York apartment; two lovely young children. But Dean is always away, travelling on business - and always with his attractive co-worker "with the legs" Fiona (Jessica Henwick). Is Dean scratching the seven-year itch?
Laura's rich, art-dealing father Felix (Bill Murray) arrives, and won't take no for an answer in sniffing out the truth.
Love, love, love this movie! The pacing, the humour, the witty dialogue (it's Sofia Coppola's script) and - above all - Murray's triumphant performance all fire this well and truly into my Top 10 for the year.
Bill Murray's acting is astounding... is there an actor who spends more time in his "deep in thought" mode, with eyeballs looking at the ceiling? You could quite well believe that none of it is scripted, and he's pausing in deep thought because he really is trying to compose the next best line! A scene where, through appropriate name-dropping, he charms his way out of a traffic infringement with two New York cops is utterly absorbing.
Behind every embarrassing father is a grown-up daughter rolling her eyes. (I should know!) And Rashida Jones is perfect in the role. I'm not familiar with Jones's previous work, but she was just perfect as the foil for Murray's humour.
There's dry comedy to be had throughout "On the Rocks" which I found delightful. A running joke is Laura's drop-off and pick-ups from the local kindergarten, where she is repeatedly pinned against the wall by single-mum Vanessa (Jenny Slate) and bored to death with her moans about boyfriend-hunting on the New York scene! It's an insight that the project is led by a female writer/director, reminiscing about personal experiences!
Coppola's script also buzzes with politically incorrect views of the playboy Felix. (He reminds me strongly of an ex-work colleague: the life and soul of any party and with a charisma that is naturally attractive to women!)
For me, there was just one misstep in the movie. There's a sub-plot about the estranged relationship between Felix and Laura's mother, and the unspoken tension that lies there. This all comes to a head in a hotel bedroom, and for me personally it brought the mood of the movie down and wasn't necessary. It's a relatively minor thing. But the result was that it just took the edge off things for me in declaring it a classic.
This is one of those flicks produced for Apple, in cinemas only while en-route to their streaming service to make it eligible for Oscar consideration. And it's actually available now. This is Coppola's third outing with Murray, with the most famous being the Oscar winner "Lost in Translation". I'm actually not a mad fan of that film. But this one comes with a "Highly recommended".
(For the full graphical review, please check out the bob the movie man review here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2020/10/23/love-on-the-rocks-aint-no-surprise/ . Thanks)
For many actors, that would be a problem. But Bill Murray gets away with it, because - - he's Bill freakin' Murray!! And being him is so awesome that however many times you've seen the character, you always want more.
Here's a case in point. In "On the Rocks", a chaffeured car with tinted windows rolls up. You brace yourself as the window winds slowly down. And there he is... the star. This happens quite a way into Sofia Coppola's new film. First up, we get a leisurely, but intelligent, set-up to the plot. The "Parks and Recreation" actress, Rashida Jones, plays Laura; a successful writer (currently with writer's block) married to successful businessman Dean (Marlon Wayans). The couple seem to have it all: high income; large New York apartment; two lovely young children. But Dean is always away, travelling on business - and always with his attractive co-worker "with the legs" Fiona (Jessica Henwick). Is Dean scratching the seven-year itch?
Laura's rich, art-dealing father Felix (Bill Murray) arrives, and won't take no for an answer in sniffing out the truth.
Love, love, love this movie! The pacing, the humour, the witty dialogue (it's Sofia Coppola's script) and - above all - Murray's triumphant performance all fire this well and truly into my Top 10 for the year.
Bill Murray's acting is astounding... is there an actor who spends more time in his "deep in thought" mode, with eyeballs looking at the ceiling? You could quite well believe that none of it is scripted, and he's pausing in deep thought because he really is trying to compose the next best line! A scene where, through appropriate name-dropping, he charms his way out of a traffic infringement with two New York cops is utterly absorbing.
Behind every embarrassing father is a grown-up daughter rolling her eyes. (I should know!) And Rashida Jones is perfect in the role. I'm not familiar with Jones's previous work, but she was just perfect as the foil for Murray's humour.
There's dry comedy to be had throughout "On the Rocks" which I found delightful. A running joke is Laura's drop-off and pick-ups from the local kindergarten, where she is repeatedly pinned against the wall by single-mum Vanessa (Jenny Slate) and bored to death with her moans about boyfriend-hunting on the New York scene! It's an insight that the project is led by a female writer/director, reminiscing about personal experiences!
Coppola's script also buzzes with politically incorrect views of the playboy Felix. (He reminds me strongly of an ex-work colleague: the life and soul of any party and with a charisma that is naturally attractive to women!)
For me, there was just one misstep in the movie. There's a sub-plot about the estranged relationship between Felix and Laura's mother, and the unspoken tension that lies there. This all comes to a head in a hotel bedroom, and for me personally it brought the mood of the movie down and wasn't necessary. It's a relatively minor thing. But the result was that it just took the edge off things for me in declaring it a classic.
This is one of those flicks produced for Apple, in cinemas only while en-route to their streaming service to make it eligible for Oscar consideration. And it's actually available now. This is Coppola's third outing with Murray, with the most famous being the Oscar winner "Lost in Translation". I'm actually not a mad fan of that film. But this one comes with a "Highly recommended".
(For the full graphical review, please check out the bob the movie man review here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2020/10/23/love-on-the-rocks-aint-no-surprise/ . Thanks)
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated St. Vincent (2014) in Movies
Nov 16, 2017
The description of it put me off " Vietnam vet babysits his neighbour's child" gave me visions of something like The Pacifier but this couldn't be more untrue. It's such a heartwarming story and the child actor is just brilliant. Bill Murray is a grumpy veteran with issues over gambling and drinking and is like Michael Douglas's character in Falling Down. By chance he ends up being the baby sitter for a young boy who is quiet, polite and bullied at school. The film shows their relationship and the warmth and respect growing between them. Lots of laugh out loud moments and a couple of tearful ones. Well worth a watch.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Frailty (2002) in Movies
Feb 12, 2019
Brooding Southern Gothic horror movie starring and directed by Bill Paxton. Two young boys don't quite know how to react when their father announces he has been chosen by God to become a demon hunter; this involves hitting people with a big axe a lot. Low-key stuff for the most part; Paxton does a good job of taking you into the world of this family and their rather peculiar take on what is 'normal', strong performances all round.
Sadly the film is virtually undone by a frame story featuring a pre-McConnaissance Matthew McConnaughey, leading up to a long-way-sub-Shyamalan twist ending; this one element is so convoluted and unconvincing it drags down what's otherwise an atmospheric and effective film into something resembling a forgettable episode of The X Files.
Sadly the film is virtually undone by a frame story featuring a pre-McConnaissance Matthew McConnaughey, leading up to a long-way-sub-Shyamalan twist ending; this one element is so convoluted and unconvincing it drags down what's otherwise an atmospheric and effective film into something resembling a forgettable episode of The X Files.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Frailty (2002) in Movies
Jan 4, 2018
Paxton acting and directing (1 more)
Plot twists
Bill Paxton was one of my favorite actors of all time. I was very sad when he passed away in 2017 at the young age of 61. He will leave a legacy of fantastic films including Aliens, Twister, One False Move, Apollo 13 and this film which he also directed.
Matthew McConaughey walks into the office of FBI agent Powers Boothe and begins telling a very unusual story. When he was a kid, his dad said he had a vision which gave him the ability to see "demons" within human beings. He is then given the task of "dispelling" the demons in front of his two young sons.
The film creates quite the moral dilemma for the audience as you feel for the boys and the dire predicament their father places them into. You also wonder whether he can really "see" the demons or he is just losing his mind.
The 3rd act of the film takes some interesting turns as the true nature of some of the characters is revealed. You will not see this one coming.
A real standout in the Paxton legacy.
Matthew McConaughey walks into the office of FBI agent Powers Boothe and begins telling a very unusual story. When he was a kid, his dad said he had a vision which gave him the ability to see "demons" within human beings. He is then given the task of "dispelling" the demons in front of his two young sons.
The film creates quite the moral dilemma for the audience as you feel for the boys and the dire predicament their father places them into. You also wonder whether he can really "see" the demons or he is just losing his mind.
The 3rd act of the film takes some interesting turns as the true nature of some of the characters is revealed. You will not see this one coming.
A real standout in the Paxton legacy.