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Awix (3310 KP) rated Contagion (2011) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019
One Flu Over - The Cooker's Next
Steven Soderbergh's crack at the all-star disaster movie genre starts well but is eventually tripped up by its own insistence on naturalism and scientific rigour. Gwyneth Paltrow comes back from a business trip with mutant pig-bat flu, drops dead, gets cremated (see review title), authorities struggle to contain the spread of the virus. Gwynnie's widower Matt Damon wanders about looking mournful wondering how well he really knew his wife.
More a collection of subplots than an actual narrative, but there are plenty of good moments and strong performances to begin with (maybe not Jude Law's Australian accent, come to think of it). The problem is that Soderbergh sets out to do this seriously, which means that he struggles to build the thing to a proper climax with any real sense of closure: a real pandemic would be horrible, but not apocalyptic in the way it's usually presented in movies and TV shows. Soderbergh can't help but be effortlessly watchable and stylish though. Not sure what the point of the film is, except to traumatise germophobes and hypochondriacs, but it's good at that and engaging for everyone else.
More a collection of subplots than an actual narrative, but there are plenty of good moments and strong performances to begin with (maybe not Jude Law's Australian accent, come to think of it). The problem is that Soderbergh sets out to do this seriously, which means that he struggles to build the thing to a proper climax with any real sense of closure: a real pandemic would be horrible, but not apocalyptic in the way it's usually presented in movies and TV shows. Soderbergh can't help but be effortlessly watchable and stylish though. Not sure what the point of the film is, except to traumatise germophobes and hypochondriacs, but it's good at that and engaging for everyone else.
Mike Nichols and the Cinema of Transformation
Book
Mike Nichols burst onto the American cultural scene in the late 1950s as one half of the comic...
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Logan Lucky (2017) in Movies
Sep 20, 2017
A Hugely Humerous, High Quality, Hillbilly Heist
Steven Soderbergh has made some good movies and some bad movies over the years, but I'm glad to say his comeback movie falls on the right side of his filmmaking. Teaming up again with Channing Tatum in the lead role, the movie follows two brothers who are known in their town for being unlucky. They recruit their younger sister and an off-kilter Daniel Craig and decide to attempt to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
What ensues is fun, witty and moves at a brilliant pace. The ending of the movie isn't quite what you expect and although some of the big twists can be seen coming, the way that it is executed plays well.
Overall, the movie is a lot of fun and pretty stylish in places too.
What ensues is fun, witty and moves at a brilliant pace. The ending of the movie isn't quite what you expect and although some of the big twists can be seen coming, the way that it is executed plays well.
Overall, the movie is a lot of fun and pretty stylish in places too.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Logan Lucky (2017) in Movies
Sep 3, 2018
Dramastically!
I did not know much about this going in, but what a pleasant surprise! I thought it was going to be more of an action film, but ended up being very funny indeed. I don't think they make good comedies any more, so I really don't seek them out. I fell into this one by accident because I'm a big Steven Soderbergh fan.
The screenplay is very funny especially with a lot of the "redneck" dialogue between Channing Tatum and Adam Drive or Daniel Craig and his two crazy brothers.
When the group decides to rob a major NASCAR raceway, they need all the hep they can get including a demolishonist who is currently in jail.
The plot has some holes, and everything is too convenient at times, but overall a very entertaining film which is never boring and usually very amusing.
Highly recommended.
The screenplay is very funny especially with a lot of the "redneck" dialogue between Channing Tatum and Adam Drive or Daniel Craig and his two crazy brothers.
When the group decides to rob a major NASCAR raceway, they need all the hep they can get including a demolishonist who is currently in jail.
The plot has some holes, and everything is too convenient at times, but overall a very entertaining film which is never boring and usually very amusing.
Highly recommended.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
8.5
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George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Don Cheadle go for broke to pull off the...
Erin Brockovich (2000)
8.4
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A real woman. A real story. A real triumph. In her Oscar®-winning role, Julia Roberts stars as Erin...
Behind The Candelabra (2013)
8.0
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Before Elvis, before Elton John, Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was Liberace: virtuoso pianist,...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Kimi (2022) in Movies
Feb 22, 2022
Better-Than-Average, but nothing more
Oscar winning Director Steven Soderbergh (TRAFFIC) could rightfully be called the current “Master of Suspense” as most of his films fall into the “Psychological Drama” category - and his latest HBO MAX film, KIMI, is a perfectly ordinary entry in his catalogue.
Starring Zoe Kravitz (BIG LITTLE LIES) in the titular role, KIMI follows an agoraphobic tech worker, in the middle of global pandemic, who thinks she might have stumbled upon a crime.
Written by veteran Screenwriter David Koepp (the OG SPIDERMAN, starring Tobey Maguire), KIMI is a better-than-average thriller with a better-than-average lead performance by Kravitz and Directed in better-than-average style by Soderbergh.
Which makes this film entertaining, somewhat interesting but nothing special.
The plot twists and turns enough that keeps you guessing, but never falls into over-the-top “you got to be kidding me” territory or something of true suspense while the performance of Kravitz is good (enough) to hold your attention without falling prey to gimmickry/tricks/twitches. It is a solid “B” performance but not better (or worse).
A highlight for me was the appearance of Robin Givens (the former Mrs. Mike Tyson) as Kravitz’/Kimi’s mother. It was good to see her get some work. On the other hand, this is counter-balanced by the horrible performance of Rita Wilson (the current Mrs. Tom Hanks) as a shady Corporate-type who does everything by twirl her mustache in her single appearance on screen.
Add on top of this some fairly pedestrian Direction by Soderbergh and you have a serviceable, passable, “good enough” film that is, mercifully, only an hour and a 1/2 long. It is one of those rare films that I wondered when it ended that if they added another 1/2 hour to this film - and added some depth to the characters (especially the villians) perhaps this would have been a better film.
But, instead, we get a pleasant (enough) diversion.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Starring Zoe Kravitz (BIG LITTLE LIES) in the titular role, KIMI follows an agoraphobic tech worker, in the middle of global pandemic, who thinks she might have stumbled upon a crime.
Written by veteran Screenwriter David Koepp (the OG SPIDERMAN, starring Tobey Maguire), KIMI is a better-than-average thriller with a better-than-average lead performance by Kravitz and Directed in better-than-average style by Soderbergh.
Which makes this film entertaining, somewhat interesting but nothing special.
The plot twists and turns enough that keeps you guessing, but never falls into over-the-top “you got to be kidding me” territory or something of true suspense while the performance of Kravitz is good (enough) to hold your attention without falling prey to gimmickry/tricks/twitches. It is a solid “B” performance but not better (or worse).
A highlight for me was the appearance of Robin Givens (the former Mrs. Mike Tyson) as Kravitz’/Kimi’s mother. It was good to see her get some work. On the other hand, this is counter-balanced by the horrible performance of Rita Wilson (the current Mrs. Tom Hanks) as a shady Corporate-type who does everything by twirl her mustache in her single appearance on screen.
Add on top of this some fairly pedestrian Direction by Soderbergh and you have a serviceable, passable, “good enough” film that is, mercifully, only an hour and a 1/2 long. It is one of those rare films that I wondered when it ended that if they added another 1/2 hour to this film - and added some depth to the characters (especially the villians) perhaps this would have been a better film.
But, instead, we get a pleasant (enough) diversion.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)