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Sarah (7798 KP) rated I, Tonya (2017) in Movies
Dec 30, 2018
Great performances
I missed out on watching this when it was out at the cinema and I’m really disappointed I did, especially as it is actually quite good.
I didn’t know anything about true story about Tonya Harding, so for me this film was a real eye opener. It’s a fascinating story and the film features some great performances from both Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan. However it’s Alison Janney that steals the entire film as the mother from hell, she’s horrible yet absolutely hilarious too. The way this film unfolds using a documentary style storytelling really works and makes for such an entertaining film. The film drags a little during certain parts, and it’s a little ambiguous as to whether you should feel truly sorry for Tonya or not, especially with the conflicting stories between her and Jeff. But it’s the brilliant cast and the unique story telling theta really make this film worth watching.
I didn’t know anything about true story about Tonya Harding, so for me this film was a real eye opener. It’s a fascinating story and the film features some great performances from both Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan. However it’s Alison Janney that steals the entire film as the mother from hell, she’s horrible yet absolutely hilarious too. The way this film unfolds using a documentary style storytelling really works and makes for such an entertaining film. The film drags a little during certain parts, and it’s a little ambiguous as to whether you should feel truly sorry for Tonya or not, especially with the conflicting stories between her and Jeff. But it’s the brilliant cast and the unique story telling theta really make this film worth watching.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated The Covenant (2006) in Movies
Jul 3, 2018
I could watch this on infinite loop until I'm dead
I've watched this movie twice in as many days because it is the kind of bad that is wonderful. I don't know how I missed this one as a teenager, as everything involving witchcraft was interesting to me then. Think of The Covenant as a spiritual successor to The Craft, but with boys. And there are boys. This movie is one fuzzy sex scene away from being a David DeCoteau film. Notable features are an all male shower scene filled with foggy butts, Sebastian Stan (who's nineteen or twenty years old here) stumbling over a line regarding another kid's penis (after being called a homosexual slur) and, last but not least, the line, "I'm going to make you my weyotch." It's a gem.
The plot is blah, the music is alright, and it has the mid-noughts "blue and orange" filter--but that's not why you're watching this movie. You're watching it because the actors are hot, there's not-so subtle gay subtext (though if Sebastian Stan's character kisses another guy, is it really subtext?), and latent homoeroticism. The whole stinkin' thing could be an allegory for homosexuality, but really, I don't think anyone was thinking that far ahead.
Also, there's a character named Pogue Perry. Pogue. As in, rhymes with "vogue." My boyfriend couldn't stop laughing, and he was only half watching it to humor me.
The plot is blah, the music is alright, and it has the mid-noughts "blue and orange" filter--but that's not why you're watching this movie. You're watching it because the actors are hot, there's not-so subtle gay subtext (though if Sebastian Stan's character kisses another guy, is it really subtext?), and latent homoeroticism. The whole stinkin' thing could be an allegory for homosexuality, but really, I don't think anyone was thinking that far ahead.
Also, there's a character named Pogue Perry. Pogue. As in, rhymes with "vogue." My boyfriend couldn't stop laughing, and he was only half watching it to humor me.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Logan Lucky (2017) in Movies
Jul 22, 2018 (Updated Jul 23, 2018)
Promising but doesn't quite deliver
You expect a lot from Steven Soderbergh, and I think sadly it doesn't quite deliver.
In short, it's basically a country/hillbilly version of Ocean's Eleven, but not nearly as fun or stylish. There are some hilarious moments in this film (the scene referencing Game of Thrones had me cracking up) but these moments aren't as often as I'd like. The plot itself is interesting and although the denouement is quite clever, how the heist itself plays out is a little bit dull and not up to the standard you'd expect. Daniel Craig is a hoot as Joe Bang and Tatum and Driver are good as well, although I'm not entirely sure what was going on with Hilary Swank, her acting seemed completely ott. I should also add that I was surprised to see Sebastian Stan in this, but disappointed that he wasn't in it for long! Have a little crush on him so he really needed to be in this film a little more.
This is a vaguely entertaining heist movie made more bearable by some hilarious lines and scenes. However there's much better heist films out there (Ocean's Eleven being one of them).
In short, it's basically a country/hillbilly version of Ocean's Eleven, but not nearly as fun or stylish. There are some hilarious moments in this film (the scene referencing Game of Thrones had me cracking up) but these moments aren't as often as I'd like. The plot itself is interesting and although the denouement is quite clever, how the heist itself plays out is a little bit dull and not up to the standard you'd expect. Daniel Craig is a hoot as Joe Bang and Tatum and Driver are good as well, although I'm not entirely sure what was going on with Hilary Swank, her acting seemed completely ott. I should also add that I was surprised to see Sebastian Stan in this, but disappointed that he wasn't in it for long! Have a little crush on him so he really needed to be in this film a little more.
This is a vaguely entertaining heist movie made more bearable by some hilarious lines and scenes. However there's much better heist films out there (Ocean's Eleven being one of them).
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Last Full Measure (2020) in Movies
Jan 25, 2020
The main reason I saw this film was because of Sebastian Stan. Of course, the story is interesting. Stan's character is gathering evidence for a Medal of Honor for an Airman named Pitts during Operation Abilene during Vietnam.
It was interesting for the film to show portrayals of multiple cases of PTSD. It was obviously sad, and I had a headache from the tears that wouldn't stop running down my face. It definitely tugs at the heartstrings. It was also pretty depressing. But, of course, it does have a happily ever after.
I found the whole quest for a medal interesting. Since I saw 1917 last weekend, with the main character openly talking about trading his bit of ribbon from the Somme for some wine because it didn't mean anything. Also, I happen to have a bro that was glad when he didn't get a Purple Heart, and wants nothing to do with medals. I suppose the medal was sought for the parents, and because the vets from the Vietnam War were treated poorly. Though, you could argue that vets from every war haven't been treated particularly well.
I think this film was Peter Fonda's last, which shows how long ago it was filmed. I'm not sure why the release was delayed for around 2 years. I guess overall, if you're interested in war films, specifically Vietnam, you would like it. I don't think it would be for everyone.
It was interesting for the film to show portrayals of multiple cases of PTSD. It was obviously sad, and I had a headache from the tears that wouldn't stop running down my face. It definitely tugs at the heartstrings. It was also pretty depressing. But, of course, it does have a happily ever after.
I found the whole quest for a medal interesting. Since I saw 1917 last weekend, with the main character openly talking about trading his bit of ribbon from the Somme for some wine because it didn't mean anything. Also, I happen to have a bro that was glad when he didn't get a Purple Heart, and wants nothing to do with medals. I suppose the medal was sought for the parents, and because the vets from the Vietnam War were treated poorly. Though, you could argue that vets from every war haven't been treated particularly well.
I think this film was Peter Fonda's last, which shows how long ago it was filmed. I'm not sure why the release was delayed for around 2 years. I guess overall, if you're interested in war films, specifically Vietnam, you would like it. I don't think it would be for everyone.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated I, Tonya (2017) in Movies
May 1, 2020
I found this movie to be good, but also kind of boring. The best part of it was Sebastian Stan and it's really because he looks hot in literally everything he does - even with a super creepy mustache. I also really loved Allison Janney. I think she's a phenomenal actress and I've been loving watching her work lately.
It's not that I didn't like Margot Robbie, it's more that I didn't love her. I think she's talented and she very obviously gives 100% to her work, I just wasn't obsessed with her. I don't know. The other thing that I didn't like was the CGI. I'm not sure if it could've been done better because I'm not in the industry (obviously), but I don't think it was as seamless as they wanted it to be. I liked that they tried to give you the close-ups because we don't often get that with stunts or things that the actors don't know how to do, but I almost would've preferred not seeing her face and it being seamless than seeing her face and it being what it was.
Overall, I think this film is a good watch. It's not a favorite but it's definitely not the worst thing I've seen. I could've gone without watching it and I was right to wait until it was available on digital instead of seeing it in theaters.
It's not that I didn't like Margot Robbie, it's more that I didn't love her. I think she's talented and she very obviously gives 100% to her work, I just wasn't obsessed with her. I don't know. The other thing that I didn't like was the CGI. I'm not sure if it could've been done better because I'm not in the industry (obviously), but I don't think it was as seamless as they wanted it to be. I liked that they tried to give you the close-ups because we don't often get that with stunts or things that the actors don't know how to do, but I almost would've preferred not seeing her face and it being seamless than seeing her face and it being what it was.
Overall, I think this film is a good watch. It's not a favorite but it's definitely not the worst thing I've seen. I could've gone without watching it and I was right to wait until it was available on digital instead of seeing it in theaters.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) in Movies
Apr 12, 2020
Our introduction to Captain America withing the MCU gets a bad wrap.
I see it labeled fairly regularly as weak entry into the ever expanding saga and I just don't think that's the case.
It's got a solid narrative for a start as we watch Steve Rogers go from frail Regular Joe to bonafide hero who truly believes in fighting for the good of humanity over the course of two hours.
The WWII setting provides a touch of historical reality, collided with the fantasy of the Tesseract, our first glimpse of the now infamous Infinity Stones, and in this narrative, providing Red Skull with cosmically charged weapons the gain the edge in the war with Allied Forces.
The First Avenger has a fantastic cast. Chris Evans is pretty much perfect in the titular role and has played the character solidly for the last 10 years.
Hugo Weaving as Red Skull is an undeniable highlight. He plays the villain with evil glee, and looks so comic book accurate that it hurts. It's a real shame that he has never returned to the role.
The supporting cast is strong as well. Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Stanley Tucci are all great, and relish in a tight screenplay.
I do think that the film feels over long at times, although the story being told is undeniably important in the run up to The Avengers.
The effects are mostly decent and still hold up, with an exception here and there, primarily before Steve Rogers goes all buff, but these are small gripes with an otherwise solid origin film.
I see it labeled fairly regularly as weak entry into the ever expanding saga and I just don't think that's the case.
It's got a solid narrative for a start as we watch Steve Rogers go from frail Regular Joe to bonafide hero who truly believes in fighting for the good of humanity over the course of two hours.
The WWII setting provides a touch of historical reality, collided with the fantasy of the Tesseract, our first glimpse of the now infamous Infinity Stones, and in this narrative, providing Red Skull with cosmically charged weapons the gain the edge in the war with Allied Forces.
The First Avenger has a fantastic cast. Chris Evans is pretty much perfect in the titular role and has played the character solidly for the last 10 years.
Hugo Weaving as Red Skull is an undeniable highlight. He plays the villain with evil glee, and looks so comic book accurate that it hurts. It's a real shame that he has never returned to the role.
The supporting cast is strong as well. Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Stanley Tucci are all great, and relish in a tight screenplay.
I do think that the film feels over long at times, although the story being told is undeniably important in the run up to The Avengers.
The effects are mostly decent and still hold up, with an exception here and there, primarily before Steve Rogers goes all buff, but these are small gripes with an otherwise solid origin film.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated I, Tonya (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
I was very excited to see this one as an Unlimited Screening... you know how I love rubbing it in people's faces when I see things before them! I was looking forward to it even more as I'm a fan of sporty films. [Which always strikes me as odd considering I don't do sports.]
As a story [regardless of it's accuracy] I enjoyed it. I don't think I've seen a film done in this way before. Part film, part documentary, but more than that. The odd occasion where the two we're entwined really made it something different.
Both Margot Robbie and Allison Janney made this film for me. The pair together made the perfect duo bouncing off each other. There was a wonderful presence from them in all their scenes, and I was taken aback by how well they both seamlessly acted their way through the years with what felt like amazing accuracy. I had also been looking forward to seeing Sebastian Stan playing Tonya's husband, but with such strong performances from the actresses around him his character was lost. Obviously you're not going to end up loving him as a character, but usually you can still enjoy the horrible characters if they're acted well.
It's probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea but honestly I really enjoyed the whole thing. Margot Robbie's performance at the very end actually had me gasp for breath through tears, it was so convincing, and so devastating.
I was very excited to see this one as an Unlimited Screening... you know how I love rubbing it in people's faces when I see things before them! I was looking forward to it even more as I'm a fan of sporty films. [Which always strikes me as odd considering I don't do sports.]
As a story [regardless of it's accuracy] I enjoyed it. I don't think I've seen a film done in this way before. Part film, part documentary, but more than that. The odd occasion where the two we're entwined really made it something different.
Both Margot Robbie and Allison Janney made this film for me. The pair together made the perfect duo bouncing off each other. There was a wonderful presence from them in all their scenes, and I was taken aback by how well they both seamlessly acted their way through the years with what felt like amazing accuracy. I had also been looking forward to seeing Sebastian Stan playing Tonya's husband, but with such strong performances from the actresses around him his character was lost. Obviously you're not going to end up loving him as a character, but usually you can still enjoy the horrible characters if they're acted well.
It's probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea but honestly I really enjoyed the whole thing. Margot Robbie's performance at the very end actually had me gasp for breath through tears, it was so convincing, and so devastating.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
8.9
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Avengers: Endgame is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team...
Ryan Hill (152 KP) rated Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) in Movies
May 10, 2019
Chris Evan as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Sebastian stan as Bucky Barnes/The winter soldier
The rest of the cast
Fury's car chase
The elevator scene (1 more)
The highway fight scene
Cap and Bucky's final fight
Cap and Bucky's relationship
The political intrigue
Antony Mackie as Falcon
"i'm with you till the end of the line"
Man 2014 sure was a fantastic year for Marvel! Not only did we get Guardians of the Galaxy, but also Captain America the Winter Soldier, a film that I honestly didn’t really appreciate all that much when I first saw it, as back then I wasn’t all that interested in the plots of these films more then I was just seeing the cool characters and fight scenes. But upon rewatching this I was legitimately blown away by how jaw dropping good this was, because not only is this an amazing movie that completely surpasses the first film on every level with it’s excellent story and standout action sequences, but also serves as a great action thriller, and surprisingly, a political satire that reflects the corruption that lies in our very own government. And sure Jon Favreau and Joss Whedon did great jobs with their inclusions in the franchise, but the Russo brothers just absolutely nailed it with this film.
And what makes Winter Soldier so good and entertaining, is it’s extremely captivating story. I was so invested in it that I couldn’t take my eyes off of the screen, I focused and paid attention to every line of dialogue that was said by these characters, as well as every easter egg and reference, which trust me, there are a lot of! This film also features a ton of different twists and turns which on my first viewing way back in 2014, really had me shocked, and though rewatching it five years later doesn’t at all have the same impact on me that it once did, it still is highly entertaining, and some scenes do actually still hold that element of surprise with their abrupt sequences. And while technically they’re not in that jump scare category, the were some parts of the movie that really caught me off guard and made my heart stop for a moment. One aspect about this movie that I thought was very interesting and added a sense of realism to the plot, was the political satire that was excellently interwoven into the storyline of the movie, and like I said, really made the film feel very grounded because it reflects all of the corruption lying within our very own government, and for Captain America to want to expose that and put a stop to it really when you think about it lines up perfectly with Steve’s very patriotic attitude and outlook. I mean he’s Captain America for crying out loud!
All of the performances in this film are absolutely phenomenal! Chris Evans, Scarlet Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, as well as Anthony Mackie. And if that’s not good enough we’ve got freaking Samuel L. Jackson reprising he role as Nick Fury. What more could you possibly ask for in terms of casting, I mean seriously! There is not a single bad or bland performance, and everyone gets to shine with their own great and memorable moments. But for me the standout of this movie is Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. Holy crap! This is the definition of a badass villain, and he owns every scene he is in. Whenever he shows up on screen and starts taking down guys your heart just starts beating faster and faster, and I was on the edge of my seat when watching the nail biting action scenes he shows up in. So gold star to the Russo brothers for not giving us another two dimensional baddie just there to be evil, as well as being a typical MCU villain. Yeah I’m looking at you Darren Cross! Overall just fantastic performances.
The action scenes in this movie are amazing, and you can really tell that the filmmakers as well as the Russos really put a lot of effort in these sequences, as they are choreographed and shot so well, and the way the directors move the camera really adds a whole other intense and exhilarating edge to these already intense scenes. The highway scene in particular is probably one of, if not the best part of the movie, I mean it’s just perfection, and that’s mainly because of the excellent choreography and directing, that Joe and Anthony Russo definitely put a lot of time into getting just right. And they not only did it right, they did it masterfully! Henry Jackman’s score for the film is so good as well, and it may just be in my top ten favorite soundtracks of all time. And the Winter Soldier’s theme is just downright fantastic as well as absolutely terrifying!
So that’s my review. This is a film that really surpassed my low expectations when rewatching this for the first time in a few years. And with it’s great storyline and characters, as well as it’s amazing performances and action sequences, which kept me enthralled and entertained the entire time, Winter Soldier proves that it is not just a great Captain America movie, or MCU addition, and that it is just an amazing film in general.
And what makes Winter Soldier so good and entertaining, is it’s extremely captivating story. I was so invested in it that I couldn’t take my eyes off of the screen, I focused and paid attention to every line of dialogue that was said by these characters, as well as every easter egg and reference, which trust me, there are a lot of! This film also features a ton of different twists and turns which on my first viewing way back in 2014, really had me shocked, and though rewatching it five years later doesn’t at all have the same impact on me that it once did, it still is highly entertaining, and some scenes do actually still hold that element of surprise with their abrupt sequences. And while technically they’re not in that jump scare category, the were some parts of the movie that really caught me off guard and made my heart stop for a moment. One aspect about this movie that I thought was very interesting and added a sense of realism to the plot, was the political satire that was excellently interwoven into the storyline of the movie, and like I said, really made the film feel very grounded because it reflects all of the corruption lying within our very own government, and for Captain America to want to expose that and put a stop to it really when you think about it lines up perfectly with Steve’s very patriotic attitude and outlook. I mean he’s Captain America for crying out loud!
All of the performances in this film are absolutely phenomenal! Chris Evans, Scarlet Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, as well as Anthony Mackie. And if that’s not good enough we’ve got freaking Samuel L. Jackson reprising he role as Nick Fury. What more could you possibly ask for in terms of casting, I mean seriously! There is not a single bad or bland performance, and everyone gets to shine with their own great and memorable moments. But for me the standout of this movie is Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. Holy crap! This is the definition of a badass villain, and he owns every scene he is in. Whenever he shows up on screen and starts taking down guys your heart just starts beating faster and faster, and I was on the edge of my seat when watching the nail biting action scenes he shows up in. So gold star to the Russo brothers for not giving us another two dimensional baddie just there to be evil, as well as being a typical MCU villain. Yeah I’m looking at you Darren Cross! Overall just fantastic performances.
The action scenes in this movie are amazing, and you can really tell that the filmmakers as well as the Russos really put a lot of effort in these sequences, as they are choreographed and shot so well, and the way the directors move the camera really adds a whole other intense and exhilarating edge to these already intense scenes. The highway scene in particular is probably one of, if not the best part of the movie, I mean it’s just perfection, and that’s mainly because of the excellent choreography and directing, that Joe and Anthony Russo definitely put a lot of time into getting just right. And they not only did it right, they did it masterfully! Henry Jackman’s score for the film is so good as well, and it may just be in my top ten favorite soundtracks of all time. And the Winter Soldier’s theme is just downright fantastic as well as absolutely terrifying!
So that’s my review. This is a film that really surpassed my low expectations when rewatching this for the first time in a few years. And with it’s great storyline and characters, as well as it’s amazing performances and action sequences, which kept me enthralled and entertained the entire time, Winter Soldier proves that it is not just a great Captain America movie, or MCU addition, and that it is just an amazing film in general.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) in Movies
Oct 15, 2020
This first sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger is everything a sequel should be. It has bigger and better set pieces, it has a bigger emotional centre, it brings in already established MCU characters and introduces new ones, and is arguably one of the best entries into the MCU to date.
Chris Evans does nothing more than tighten his grip around his most famous role. He joins Robert Downey Jr. in the category of irreplaceable actors for these characters.
Scarlett Johansson is once again great as Black Widow, and newcomer Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon provides Cap with a likeable new ally. The three of them as a sort of mini Avengers in this movie are fantastic.
Sebastian Stan plays The Winter Soldier with aplomb, and gives us a truly dangerous antagonist. The dude is fucking terrifying, yet his relationship with Steve Rogers gives us the heart of this movie. It's a tragic story which of course will be further explored in Civil War further down the line.
The cast is rounded off with Samuel L. Jackson returning as Nick Fury, Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce, Emily VanCamp as Agent 13, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow, and some smaller roles for Cobie Smulders and Hayley Atwell.
It's a really solid cast all in all, an area that Marvel Studios rarely missteps.
The set pieces are hugely high octane and thrilling. The opening scene on the barge is a highlight, as well as the teams fight with the Winter Soldier midway through. Even Nick Fury gets a banger of an action sequence. Also, this film boasts probably the biggest plot twist gut punch in the whole MCU with the SHIELD/Hydra reveal. It's an extremely well crafted, ballsy narrative that impacts the shape of the MCU going forward.
There's honestly nothing bad to say about this one. It's top tier comic book cinema.
Chris Evans does nothing more than tighten his grip around his most famous role. He joins Robert Downey Jr. in the category of irreplaceable actors for these characters.
Scarlett Johansson is once again great as Black Widow, and newcomer Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon provides Cap with a likeable new ally. The three of them as a sort of mini Avengers in this movie are fantastic.
Sebastian Stan plays The Winter Soldier with aplomb, and gives us a truly dangerous antagonist. The dude is fucking terrifying, yet his relationship with Steve Rogers gives us the heart of this movie. It's a tragic story which of course will be further explored in Civil War further down the line.
The cast is rounded off with Samuel L. Jackson returning as Nick Fury, Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce, Emily VanCamp as Agent 13, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow, and some smaller roles for Cobie Smulders and Hayley Atwell.
It's a really solid cast all in all, an area that Marvel Studios rarely missteps.
The set pieces are hugely high octane and thrilling. The opening scene on the barge is a highlight, as well as the teams fight with the Winter Soldier midway through. Even Nick Fury gets a banger of an action sequence. Also, this film boasts probably the biggest plot twist gut punch in the whole MCU with the SHIELD/Hydra reveal. It's an extremely well crafted, ballsy narrative that impacts the shape of the MCU going forward.
There's honestly nothing bad to say about this one. It's top tier comic book cinema.
Andy K (10821 KP) Dec 30, 2018