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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Stillwater (2021) in Movies
Sep 3, 2021
On paper this has it all: Matt Damon's first great performance in *years*, an actually good sidekick child actor, a complex and consistently surprising father/daughter relationship, and though I initially dreaded the 2hr20min runtime it ended up being insanely economical with it against all odds. The only problem is it does all that without offering up a single piece of compelling imagery - framed into another one of these "white American solves problems in foreign country" things (to the point where a French woman asks Damon if he owns a gun while she's fucking him, like okay...) with a bargain-bin Lifetime Channel score. Not to mention the surreal way this rips off/takes inspiration from the Amanda Knox trial. Though you know what - they'd have their own separate sets of problems either way but - I'm glad this took the route of normie-fied mom & pop film as opposed to a tiring, self-serious prestige slog if it just had to be one or the other; that way it makes the unexpected shift in tone a little over halfway through so much more special. And that ending is a real gut punch.
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Rites of Spring (2012) in Movies
Dec 29, 2019
Kind of like... Well... A pile of shit, actually
Well... Once again I delved into the world of the WalMart bargain bin and came out with another masterpiece of shite. Thankfully you only pay 2-5 bucks for these... So Im only out the price of a pack of ZigZag's.. No biggie.
Rip-offs come and go... Most of the time I can sniff them out from the poster or cover art.
This film was misleading by art standards. And I had no idea what to expect.
Bad people rob a bank... Bad people need a place to hide... Bad people pick an old slaughterhouse type place not realizing that they have landed in the middle of feeding time for some ancient evil who keeps a farmers crops plentiful and his cows full of... Well... Cow stuff...
This year he caught a wiff of the bad folks and went asshole hunting... What follows is your basic JEEPERS CREEPERS type shit that left me unsatisfied and... Well, not wanting more.
To quote the paperboy in Better Off Dead...
"I want my 2 dollars!!!!"
Try it if you must... But, be warned... It will tear your anticipation apart....
Lol... See what i did there :)
Rip-offs come and go... Most of the time I can sniff them out from the poster or cover art.
This film was misleading by art standards. And I had no idea what to expect.
Bad people rob a bank... Bad people need a place to hide... Bad people pick an old slaughterhouse type place not realizing that they have landed in the middle of feeding time for some ancient evil who keeps a farmers crops plentiful and his cows full of... Well... Cow stuff...
This year he caught a wiff of the bad folks and went asshole hunting... What follows is your basic JEEPERS CREEPERS type shit that left me unsatisfied and... Well, not wanting more.
To quote the paperboy in Better Off Dead...
"I want my 2 dollars!!!!"
Try it if you must... But, be warned... It will tear your anticipation apart....
Lol... See what i did there :)
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Zero Dark Thirty (2013) in Movies
Jul 19, 2020
So I have been putting off seeing this movie since it was released. Well, not really. I just never made it a priority. There was always something else to watch or capture my time. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to see it.
I was under the false impression that Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt would be primary characters in the story line. They played their roles, but the true ownership of the script has to go to Jessica Chastain (whom I have a newfound respect for) with a side of Jason Clarke. To be honest, I hadn't read much about the movie either. Mainly just had an idea of it being about the assault on Bin Laden.
There is a level of mental anguish during the movie that I didn't expect. You come to terms with the reality that these people are living trying to fulfill their duty while being able to sleep at night and having a need to protect their families and loved ones.
Zero Dark Thirty isn't an outright action movie as expected. There are some action sequences and those are done well, but the real strength of the movie is the mental gymnastics endured by all involved.
I was under the false impression that Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt would be primary characters in the story line. They played their roles, but the true ownership of the script has to go to Jessica Chastain (whom I have a newfound respect for) with a side of Jason Clarke. To be honest, I hadn't read much about the movie either. Mainly just had an idea of it being about the assault on Bin Laden.
There is a level of mental anguish during the movie that I didn't expect. You come to terms with the reality that these people are living trying to fulfill their duty while being able to sleep at night and having a need to protect their families and loved ones.
Zero Dark Thirty isn't an outright action movie as expected. There are some action sequences and those are done well, but the real strength of the movie is the mental gymnastics endured by all involved.
Gruff Rhys recommended Elektronik Turkler by Erkin Koray in Music (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Nun (2018) in Movies
Oct 26, 2020
Have the exact same problems with this as I do with ๐๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ but cranked up to 11. A lot of overloud, vexatious noise plastered crudely with bargain bin visuals and lifeless acting with nothing going on underneath it. I think this movie maybe has less than seven seconds total of half-decent material cumulatively, one of the very worst things ever created for the screen. At a mere 96 minutes it felt like I was growing cobwebs in my seat from the ungodly slow de-spinning of this piece of shit's collective nothingness. Some have found inspiration in its Italian horror vibe but not only do I think it looks terrible and feels more like rip-off than homage, but is the bar really so low that this bland, unmistakably modern (in the worst ways) visual dogshit passes off as nostalgic? Easily the worst entry (so far) in a franchise that has no business being a franchise with really only one notably good movie under its belt. The only pseudo-memorable thing about this is when I saw it in the theater and the old couple in front of me were complaining the entire time because they thought it was going to be a Christian movie.
Merissa (11805 KP) rated The Royal Marine (The Sin Bin #4) in Books
Nov 17, 2017
The Royal Marine (The Sin Bin #4) by Dahlia Donovan
The Royal Marine is the fourth book in The Sin Bin series, and it's time for Hamish's story. He has worked with Earp for a while now, and get set up on a blind date with Akash. Luckily (or unluckily) Akash is set up with Scottie on the same evening. Now we all know that Scottie is having major issues at the moment and, to be fair, acting like a jerk. So it comes as no surprise when Akash chooses to be with Hamish. Scottie is none too pleased about this, and continues to pop up throughout the book, with pleas and demands for Akash to go for a drink with him. During this time, Akash and Hamish are slowly getting to know each other. The spark is there, but it needs to be more than just sex. In between Akash's bakery and Hamish's work overseas, their relationship continues to move forward.
Now, I'm stopping right there, because I could go on. I could tell you about what a first class prize prat Scottie is, and how I think (hope) that I know who his match is. I could tell you how amazingly written the twins are, and how brilliant Akash is with them. I could tell you about the constant wit and banter, in amongst the danger, from Hamish, Earp, and the rest of the team. But seriously? Why would I do that? Why would I HAVE to do that? This is the fourth book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order for total enjoyment. So therefore, you know about Dahlia Donovan's writing style, her quick wit and sense of humour that comes across loud and clear in her writing. You know some of the previous characters and like/love the updates on their lives. So really, I don't have to tell you ANYTHING about this book, series, or author!
In case you haven't realised yet, I love Dahlia Donovan's books, her writing style, her characters, her charm. What I don't like is not having a mascara warning, and sobbing into my breakfast as I desperately try to finish The Royal Marine before I start work. Oh my, this book ripped my heart out. Did I get a happy ending? I'll leave that to you to read and find out.
I absolutely recommend this book, and the series, so GO READ IT! Now!
(And, no, I wasn't serious about the mascara warning before someone says it should be written on the cover somewhere!)
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Now, I'm stopping right there, because I could go on. I could tell you about what a first class prize prat Scottie is, and how I think (hope) that I know who his match is. I could tell you how amazingly written the twins are, and how brilliant Akash is with them. I could tell you about the constant wit and banter, in amongst the danger, from Hamish, Earp, and the rest of the team. But seriously? Why would I do that? Why would I HAVE to do that? This is the fourth book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order for total enjoyment. So therefore, you know about Dahlia Donovan's writing style, her quick wit and sense of humour that comes across loud and clear in her writing. You know some of the previous characters and like/love the updates on their lives. So really, I don't have to tell you ANYTHING about this book, series, or author!
In case you haven't realised yet, I love Dahlia Donovan's books, her writing style, her characters, her charm. What I don't like is not having a mascara warning, and sobbing into my breakfast as I desperately try to finish The Royal Marine before I start work. Oh my, this book ripped my heart out. Did I get a happy ending? I'll leave that to you to read and find out.
I absolutely recommend this book, and the series, so GO READ IT! Now!
(And, no, I wasn't serious about the mascara warning before someone says it should be written on the cover somewhere!)
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Road Trip (2000) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
Deplorable, only a few meager steps above the likes of shit hall-of-famer ๐๐ฆ๐ถ๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ข๐ญ๐ฐ๐ธ: ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ. Bargain bin ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฆ meets injudicious ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ณ๐ช๐ด ๐๐ถ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ณ'๐ด ๐๐ข๐บ ๐๐ง๐ง mixed with elements that we'd later see Phillips use to his benefit in better films like ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ and ๐๐ถ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ฆ - but are 0% amusing here. I challenge you to find a more stagnant road trip movie than this, why even cast Tom Green at the peak of his fame (who, along with DJ Qualls, are the only perfect performances) if you're only going to have him do a couple outrageous things? Like yeah don't overdo it but come on you can do better than this. I mean hell even similarly awful 30 ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ด did at least fifty times more with Fred Ward. Also worth noting how much this films hates women. The entire plot of this movie hinges on the Meyer (who is worse than terrible in this) character rightfully being in danger of his girlfriend finding out he undisguisedly cheated on her but we're supposed to not want that to happen because him and his noxious jackass friends are funny... but they aren't? Some of the ugliest aesthetics and soundtrack offerings of the crime of good taste that was the late 90s/early 2000s style. I'm usually a Todd defender but this is just wretched. ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฑ๐ฆ.
Kurt Vile recommended Live At The East by Pharoah Sanders in Music (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) in Movies
Jul 30, 2020
Slightly discombobulating horror sequel. Following the events of the first movie Kirsty Cotton unsurprisingly ends up in a loony bin run by brain surgeon and keen puzzle-box fan Dr Channard (Kenneth Cranham tries mightily to bring a touch of Peter Cushing-style class to an underwritten part). As Channard is a lunatic, he resurrects Kirsty's evil stepmother, and because he is clearly either very forgetful or slow off the mark, together they give a puzzle box (which he already had) to a traumatised patient who's good at puzzles (who he likewise already had about the place) and together they begin to explore the realm of the box.
Meanwhile... oh, does it really matter? As you can perhaps begin to discern, the plot of Hellraiser II Makes No Sense Whatsoever (the Cotton house appears to have teleported from London to New York City in the gap between films, and this is only a minor issue), and there is something baffling and miraculous about the fact the film is as coherent and watchable as it is. Then again, it's not actually about logic, plot, or the motivation of the characters, just a succession of grisly, visceral, nightmarish, surreal images. In this respect at least the film is an astonishing success. Doesn't stop the story from being nonsense, though. Manages to be a very bad movie but also a terrific one, frequently at exactly the same time. Like I say, discombobulating.
Meanwhile... oh, does it really matter? As you can perhaps begin to discern, the plot of Hellraiser II Makes No Sense Whatsoever (the Cotton house appears to have teleported from London to New York City in the gap between films, and this is only a minor issue), and there is something baffling and miraculous about the fact the film is as coherent and watchable as it is. Then again, it's not actually about logic, plot, or the motivation of the characters, just a succession of grisly, visceral, nightmarish, surreal images. In this respect at least the film is an astonishing success. Doesn't stop the story from being nonsense, though. Manages to be a very bad movie but also a terrific one, frequently at exactly the same time. Like I say, discombobulating.
JT (287 KP) rated The Drop (2014) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
A brooding English debut feature from Michaรซl R. Roskam who cooks up a simmering pot of dramatic intrigue.
Tom Hardy plays Bob Saginowski a quiet unimposing figure who helps to tend the bar of his cousin Marv (James Gandolfiniโs last film before he sadly passed away). The bar is the main dropping off point for all money collected from mob owned businesses. The location of the bar changes each night.
When the bar is held up the money stolen belongs to the Chechen mob who want it back putting Bob and Marv in a tight spot. The setting is the streets of Brooklyn where age old mafioso have been replaced by a more brutal foe. In this instance in the form of the Chechen mob.
One night Bob finds a puppy in a bin and upon rescuing it meets Nadia (Noomi Rapace) who has a hidden past of her own, one that Bob refuses to question. The puppy will certainly tug at your heart strings but itโs Hardyโs spot on Brooklyn accent and good natured personality that wins through. Even when heโs harassed by Matthias Schoenaertsโs Eric Deeds he remains calm.
Deep down however we known that something inside him is going to snap, itโs just trying to predict the moment when it will happen. This makes for an engaging thriller with a twist ending that is more than satisfying.
The Drop is a slow burn that builds from the outset. Itโs great to see Gandolfini on screen one last time and such a disappointment that he is no longer with us.
Tom Hardy plays Bob Saginowski a quiet unimposing figure who helps to tend the bar of his cousin Marv (James Gandolfiniโs last film before he sadly passed away). The bar is the main dropping off point for all money collected from mob owned businesses. The location of the bar changes each night.
When the bar is held up the money stolen belongs to the Chechen mob who want it back putting Bob and Marv in a tight spot. The setting is the streets of Brooklyn where age old mafioso have been replaced by a more brutal foe. In this instance in the form of the Chechen mob.
One night Bob finds a puppy in a bin and upon rescuing it meets Nadia (Noomi Rapace) who has a hidden past of her own, one that Bob refuses to question. The puppy will certainly tug at your heart strings but itโs Hardyโs spot on Brooklyn accent and good natured personality that wins through. Even when heโs harassed by Matthias Schoenaertsโs Eric Deeds he remains calm.
Deep down however we known that something inside him is going to snap, itโs just trying to predict the moment when it will happen. This makes for an engaging thriller with a twist ending that is more than satisfying.
The Drop is a slow burn that builds from the outset. Itโs great to see Gandolfini on screen one last time and such a disappointment that he is no longer with us.