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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) in Movies

Aug 23, 2019

Great Movie About Absolutely Nothing

Everybody Wants Some!! follows the lives of a group of college baseball players at a junior college in their days leading up to preseason training.

Acting: 10
This movie is largely a character piece and it wouldn’t work nearly as well without such great acting performances. There are no weak links here as each performance is memorable in its own way. The acting was so efficient, there were a handful of moments where it almost felt like you were watching a documentary as opposed to a fictional movie.

Beginning: 10

Characters: 10
No two players are alike in the movie, each of them bringing something different to the table. As the movie progresses from one act to the next, it is pure entertainment watching them react to different scenarios so differently. My favorite character on the team was Finnegan (Glen Powell). Charismatic and ever-changing, I love how he adapts to new situations and always had a go-with-the-flow attitude. Jay Niles cracked me up as well for his ridiculous intensity that you have to see to understand.

Cinematography/Visuals: 10
You know a movie really gets to you visually when you find yourself saying, “Man, it would’ve been cool to live during that time period.” Everybody Wants Some!! captures the cool, fun feel of the 70’s on all fronts from one scene to the next. While the film doesn’t leave the town where it takes place, you’re entertained with a number of different setpieces that change the dynamic of the movie in their own way.

Conflict: 5
Definitely the weakest part of the movie. Nothing terrible really happens to the characters at the end of the day leaving no room for any kind of worry. It is amazing that the movie still works so well with so little conflict to keep you engaged.

Entertainment Value: 10

Memorability: 10
This movie reminded me of my college days and I’m probably not alone in this. It makes you remember younger days and having zero responsibility. It’s also a movie that doesn’t leave its replay value. Definitely a movie I could watch repeatedly.

Pace: 10
The movie proceeds in definable acts based around parties and it works in a loose structure kind of way. You never really know where the story is going until you get near the end and you realize it’s going absolutely nowhere. But that’s ok because the road to nowhere in this case is extremely fun and memorable.

Plot: 5

Resolution: 10
The movie ends just as chill as it started, very fitting for its overall lackadaisical tone. A little bit of perspective ties things on with a nice little bow before the movie bows out gracefully. Beyond satisfying.

Overall: 90
Everybody Wants Some!! is the perfect Exhibit A case of sometimes less is just more. The film is light-hearted, yet you’ll be having such a good time you’ll probably forget nothing substantial is actually happening. It’s a wonderful film that will give you something new each time you watch it.

Kudos

Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019) in Movies

May 28, 2019

Boring Mansion Mystery

Sleuth Nancy Drew (Sophia Lillis) is tasked with getting to the bottom of a haunting mystery at the Twin Elms mansion.

Acting: 9
For the most part, Lillis’ performance is solid in her role as Nancy. She shows her range throughout the movie and you can easily understand why she was given the leading role. Fortunately she is at the helm of the majority of the movie because most of the actors were just “meh” in their roles. Their cardboard delivery gave the movie more of a Lifetime movie feel than a feature film.

Beginning: 10

Characters: 8

Cinematography/Visuals: 2

Conflict: 5

Genre: 1

Memorability: 2
Memorable? The main thing I remember is falling asleep not once but TWICE while watching the movie. There is nothing here that really stuck out for me, neither good nor bad. Wait, I do remember one thing: Waiting for the movie to be over.

Pace: 5
The movie had a tendency to drag on, shot for shot. You think you’re going to get to delve mostly into the mystery, but it somehow devolved into a “daily life” routine type of movie. There was a lot of Much Ado About Nothing as the film drags on. Weak pacing was a huge contributor in killing the whole vibe.

Plot: 2

Resolution: 2

Overall: 46
Yikes. Talk about a movie that is hard to stomach. If your kids ask to see Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, suggest something else. By the time you get to the meat of this movie, you won’t care anymore.

Kudos

Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable in Books

Jul 12, 2018

I was asked to read this book as part of a management team building exercise. I was truly hoping that this book would help me understand some of the personalities that are harder to get along with but this book seems to justify some of their behaviors.

I do understand the concepts in this book and I can see how they can be beneficial but I also struggle with how this book can be used to justify being an asshole. I understand that a management staff needs to be able to trust that they can be honest and candid when it comes to personal responsibilities but I also fear (due to seeing this book in action) that this book can be used as a way to bully your way into the management staff.

There are some people that this book would work wonders for and other people that will not be able to handle it. I think I'm one of those people. It seems that this book talks of trust, and very simple concepts but it does not explain ways to truly create any sort of buy in from a employee. I think that it is a good thing to be honest but I also think that you need to take people into consideration. Just saying that it isn't personal does not help if the statement is personal.

Ultimately, I think that the concepts can be good but I also see this book as another way to create bullies and unneeded conflict.