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A.O. Scott recommended Grandma (2015) in Movies (curated)
Maxine Taylor is the queen of the red carpet interviews. But her scoop at this year's Oscars, troubled teen star Halsey Hamilton, turns to tragedy when Halsey collapses at her feet. When no one else thinks it might be murder, Maxine decides to find out. I bought this book only because it had Jerrilyn's name on the cover (love her Madeline Bean books), and I'm glad I did. While the mystery was rather light, the book was fun from beginning to end.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-murder-at-academy-awards-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-murder-at-academy-awards-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dean (6925 KP) rated G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) in Movies
Jun 22, 2018
No it won't win any Oscars, but this was a surprisingly very good all out action blockbuster! It never lets up, just one action scene after another and with the same amount of special effects as the last few Star Wars films!! The CGI on the whole is great, bit ropey in some scenes but the detail in the back grounds and vehicles is great. Plenty of special features on the DVD regarding the CGI too! A great enjoyable fun blockbuster film from the director of The Mummy films. Grab the popcorn, switch your brain off and enjoy!
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) in Movies
Sep 10, 2017
Great acting (1 more)
Visually Stunning
Not quite worth all the awards, but great cast
What a strange film. It basically entails Michael Keaton's character, an aging, flailing theatre actor, who is basically having a nervous breakdown and hallucinates throughout the movie.
While the cast is absolutely incredible (Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts), and the acting is equally top-class, the film itself feels like it falls short.
The cinematography is quite stunning, especially the dream sequence with the bird itself. But I am slightly baffled to how this was put up for so many Oscars. A good film, but not a great one.
While the cast is absolutely incredible (Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts), and the acting is equally top-class, the film itself feels like it falls short.
The cinematography is quite stunning, especially the dream sequence with the bird itself. But I am slightly baffled to how this was put up for so many Oscars. A good film, but not a great one.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Titanic (1997) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019 (Updated Jun 10, 2019)
Titanic was an absolute breakthrough for director James Cameron, swooping 11 Oscars at the 1998 awards. To this day, it remains the third highest grossing film of all time, recently pushed down from second by Avengers: Endgame. Starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, a lot has been said about the film’s over reliance on the central love triangle.
Watching it again over 20 years later still showcases Titanic’s incredible special effects, emotional plot and stunning cinematography and sound design. This disaster film is the biggest of all time and it’s easy to see why, despite the, at times, flabby story.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/08/films-set-at-sea-top-5/
Watching it again over 20 years later still showcases Titanic’s incredible special effects, emotional plot and stunning cinematography and sound design. This disaster film is the biggest of all time and it’s easy to see why, despite the, at times, flabby story.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/08/films-set-at-sea-top-5/
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated The Shape of Water (2017) in Movies
Mar 6, 2018
Amazing performances (2 more)
Incredible practical effects
Fantastic direction
A Strangely Enchanting Tale
Ever since seeing the first trailer, I was dying to see this movie. I am a huge fan of Del Toro's other work and I loved the aesthetic that was being used to present this story. The movie did not disappoint me at all when I finally got around to seeing it, (as the UK got it much later than the States,) and I am so glad it won best picture at this year's Oscars ceremony.
An all round beautiful production that has bags of heart and excitement to go along with it. Do yourself a favour and see this masterpiece, you will not be disappointed.
An all round beautiful production that has bags of heart and excitement to go along with it. Do yourself a favour and see this masterpiece, you will not be disappointed.
Omari Hardwick recommended Coming to America (1988) in Movies (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Rampage (2018) in Movies
Jan 20, 2019 (Updated Jan 20, 2019)
Riotously silly computer game adaptation, as magic DNA jollop falls out of the sky and turns animals into giant, aggressive monsters; one of them happens to be genial Dwayne Johnson's pet gorilla, so there's bound to be trouble.
One of those films where everyone is in on the joke - doesn't bear much resemblance to the original game, but works pretty well as a piece of nonsense anyway. Johnson is a reassuring presence in the middle of it all, and the film does a surprisingly good job of catching some of the essence of the classic Japanese monster movies which obviously inspired it. Probably not going to win any of the major Oscars but still good fun while it's in front of you.
One of those films where everyone is in on the joke - doesn't bear much resemblance to the original game, but works pretty well as a piece of nonsense anyway. Johnson is a reassuring presence in the middle of it all, and the film does a surprisingly good job of catching some of the essence of the classic Japanese monster movies which obviously inspired it. Probably not going to win any of the major Oscars but still good fun while it's in front of you.
David McK (3361 KP) rated Ben-Hur (2016) in Movies
Nov 20, 2019
Re-make of a re-make, with the first re-make the one that starred Charlton Heston and that - until Titanic came along - I believe held the record for the most number of Oscars for a single movie.
And this is pretty much a straight re-make of that move; pared down somewhat and with Jack Huston's Judah Ben-Hur unable to hold a candle to Heston's take on the same character.
We do, however, still have the same main points from the earlier movie: early 30s AD setting in Jerusalem. Judah forced to become a galley slave after he is wrongly accused of treason by (here) his Roman foster-brother, chariot-racing, his family stricken with Leprosy, miraculous cure following Jesus' crucifixion ...
And this is pretty much a straight re-make of that move; pared down somewhat and with Jack Huston's Judah Ben-Hur unable to hold a candle to Heston's take on the same character.
We do, however, still have the same main points from the earlier movie: early 30s AD setting in Jerusalem. Judah forced to become a galley slave after he is wrongly accused of treason by (here) his Roman foster-brother, chariot-racing, his family stricken with Leprosy, miraculous cure following Jesus' crucifixion ...
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated The Bad and the Beautiful (1953) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
By 1952, Douglas was being cast regularly in higher profile productions with higher profile acting support. But the trend of being an ambitious and manipulating anti-hero was clinging on. As unscrupulous movie producer Jonathon he was never more unlikable, and rarely more unmissable, treating Lana Turner like his personal puppet to get to the top. The film won 5 Oscars and earned Douglas his 2nd nod. Many think this was his best shot at winning, such was the degree of sophistication and animal magnetism on display. He eventually lost out to Gary Cooper for High Noon by a handful of votes, but his reputation as a bankable A-lister was cemented forever, allowing him the weight to begin a secondary career as a producer.