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TacoDave (3787 KP) rated The Good Liar (2019) in Movies
Nov 12, 2019
Acting (2 more)
Actors
Story
Unexpected violence (2 more)
Unexpected adult themes
One random scene of nudity for no reason
A Good-ish Thriller
I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of "The Good Liar" on November 6 in New York City. (I won a sweepstakes to attend.) I was already interested in seeing the movie, but getting to watch it in a theater full of the people who made the movie was thrilling.
"The Good Liar" is the story of two people in their 70's who meet on a dating app. The man, played by Sir Ian McKellen, is clearly a con man. We get to see him interact with the woman - a fantastic Dame Helen Mirren - with a certain old man, kind hound-dog attitude, then immediately leave the room and work on a scam to steal thousands of pounds from unlucky rubes.
It seems, at face value, that he is indeed a good liar. But things are not always clear cut in a game of shells, and although we don't know what Helen Mirren's character is doing, it starts to become clear that she hasn't been completely honest about herself...
I won't spoil anything else in the plot: this is the kind of movie that unravels slowly as it builds with twists and turns. You should go into it with no more knowledge than what I've posted above.
If that was it - if the whole movie was a fun cat-and-mouse game between two phenomenal actors - I would have given it a higher score. But the movie also has a dark underbelly that surprised me and turned me off a bit. There is one gratuitous shot of nudity at the beginning of the film that makes little narrative sense and feels shoehorned in. There are a few moments of unexpected, brutal violence. And the reveal at the end relates to adult themes that left me feeling unsettled when the movie ended.
In short, I liked the movie quite a lot, but I wouldn't recommend it to my mom.
"The Good Liar" is the story of two people in their 70's who meet on a dating app. The man, played by Sir Ian McKellen, is clearly a con man. We get to see him interact with the woman - a fantastic Dame Helen Mirren - with a certain old man, kind hound-dog attitude, then immediately leave the room and work on a scam to steal thousands of pounds from unlucky rubes.
It seems, at face value, that he is indeed a good liar. But things are not always clear cut in a game of shells, and although we don't know what Helen Mirren's character is doing, it starts to become clear that she hasn't been completely honest about herself...
I won't spoil anything else in the plot: this is the kind of movie that unravels slowly as it builds with twists and turns. You should go into it with no more knowledge than what I've posted above.
If that was it - if the whole movie was a fun cat-and-mouse game between two phenomenal actors - I would have given it a higher score. But the movie also has a dark underbelly that surprised me and turned me off a bit. There is one gratuitous shot of nudity at the beginning of the film that makes little narrative sense and feels shoehorned in. There are a few moments of unexpected, brutal violence. And the reveal at the end relates to adult themes that left me feeling unsettled when the movie ended.
In short, I liked the movie quite a lot, but I wouldn't recommend it to my mom.
Emily Long (18 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies
Dec 22, 2018
Characters (1 more)
Crossovers
Marvel worthy?... Definitely
I found this movie interesting to watch. The plot line I found to be less like a typical marvel film however had all elements- battles, individual character development, crossovers between storyline... It stood out however due to the location and area that the black panther is from. It is slightly pushed on realistic boundaries to have such a developed community unknown to the best of the best for years only to appear out of the blue in previous movies. I think the movie has good acting also and holds potential for future plots and movies.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Night of the Comet (1984) in Movies
Mar 22, 2020
Cult mash-up of Day of the Triffids and The Omega Man is engaging enough to make you overlook how brazen it is. Teenage sisters improbably survive the end of the world: time to load up with automatic weapons, hit the shops and argue about boys!
Handles its genre movie conventions with knowing deftness, but after a strong first act the pace slacks off a bit too much and it feels like the movie loses focus - faster and funnier would be better. Recovers somewhat for the climax, though. Ultimately, this is only ever superficial, but it's also undeniably good fun.
Handles its genre movie conventions with knowing deftness, but after a strong first act the pace slacks off a bit too much and it feels like the movie loses focus - faster and funnier would be better. Recovers somewhat for the climax, though. Ultimately, this is only ever superficial, but it's also undeniably good fun.
Melanie Lynskey recommended The Piano (1993) in Movies (curated)
Gemma (26 KP) rated The Silence of the Lambs (1991) in Movies
Oct 17, 2019
This movie is classic and for a good reason. Everything about it is superb from the acting to the camera work and everything in between.
Of course the standout performances of Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins are amazing but these two aren't the only two who deserve recognition.
Dr. Chilton's character is also portrayed extremely well. Even though he isn't the villain, the performance makes you just... Dislike him and you don't know why. Maybe it's because he tries to charm young girls... Maybe because he likes himself a bit to much... Whatever the reason is, at some points (for me personally anyway) he becomes even less likeable than Hannibal Lecter himself.
The only one issue I have with this movie is its lack of a certain Doctor after about 2/3 of the movie but they can't help that. Without that absence in this movie, Hannibal (2001) would've never have been possible and man, I wouldn't want to miss that.
Of course the standout performances of Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins are amazing but these two aren't the only two who deserve recognition.
Dr. Chilton's character is also portrayed extremely well. Even though he isn't the villain, the performance makes you just... Dislike him and you don't know why. Maybe it's because he tries to charm young girls... Maybe because he likes himself a bit to much... Whatever the reason is, at some points (for me personally anyway) he becomes even less likeable than Hannibal Lecter himself.
The only one issue I have with this movie is its lack of a certain Doctor after about 2/3 of the movie but they can't help that. Without that absence in this movie, Hannibal (2001) would've never have been possible and man, I wouldn't want to miss that.
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) in Movies
May 5, 2019 (Updated May 5, 2019)
Subversiveness (3 more)
Costumes and makeup
Tim Curry
Entertaining songs
Great in the theater. Lackluster at home.
This is not a movie so much as it is an experience. The movie itself is not great. But if you get the chance to see it in a theater with a live cast performing at the same time the movie is playing and when audience participation is encouraged, this is hella fun. I used to spend most weekend nights in high school and college at the midnight showing of Rocky Horror at the local arthouse theater dressed in a bustier, getting panties, garter belt, thigh-high stockings, and high heels with all the other weirdos enjoying the hell out of the movie, live cast, and audience. I highly recommend the help of alcohol and/or chemical indulgences to enhance the experience. But maybe not an entire bottle of Sambuca as I did one nonmemorable evening.
The songs in the movie are fun to sing. Dancing to the Time Warp, as well. If you're lucky, the theater will also play music videos from Tim Curry's Fearless album Paradise Garage and I Do the Rock and Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell and Paradise by the Dashboard Light before the movie.
This is one of Susan Sarandon's first films. She and Barry Bostwick play the innocent couple Brad and (Dammit) Janet. And Tim Curry is a God in this movie.
I have such great memories of my time at as Rocky Horror fan back in the day. I hope many generations continue to enjoy this movie in the theater. It's a blast!
The songs in the movie are fun to sing. Dancing to the Time Warp, as well. If you're lucky, the theater will also play music videos from Tim Curry's Fearless album Paradise Garage and I Do the Rock and Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell and Paradise by the Dashboard Light before the movie.
This is one of Susan Sarandon's first films. She and Barry Bostwick play the innocent couple Brad and (Dammit) Janet. And Tim Curry is a God in this movie.
I have such great memories of my time at as Rocky Horror fan back in the day. I hope many generations continue to enjoy this movie in the theater. It's a blast!
Leigh J (71 KP) rated Lords of Chaos (2018) in Movies
Nov 19, 2019
Let the Churches Burn
I feel I need to mention that I was into the Black Metal scene when all this was going down.
Oysten "Euroymous" Aarseth is a young Metalhead who thinks Metal isn't extreme enough, so he starts an extreme "Black" Metal band called Mayhem. Mayhem are heavy, screechy, blasphemous and absolutely shocking, resulting in them being an instant hit with the other Metal fans of Norway. Black Metal is born! Unfortunately, their lead vocalist, aptly named Dead suffers from severe bouts of suicidal depression and it leads to his self inflicted demise. Upon discovering Dead's corpse, Euronymous does the very Black Metal thing of taking pictures of his dead body (which appeared then on Mayhem's "Dawn of the Black Hearts" album), and also taking parts of his bone and brain to put on a Necklace.
Euronymous shortly after opens Helvete Records, which attracts a newcomer to the scene called Kristian "Varg" Vikernes. At first, Euronymous scoffs at Varg and thinks he's just a poser... but he soon starts paying attention when Varg's one man band Burzum starts getting more notoriety than Mayhem. Also, Varg is admitting responsibility for a series of Church Burnings in the area, and Euronymous starts to also get involved. Will Euronymous and Vargs constant need to one-up each other go too far? Who in the Black Metal scene will also be dragged in to their crimes? And will their volatile relationship reach a breaking point?
As mentioned, I was (and still am) into the Black Metal scene when this was all happening and I have also read "Lords of Chaos" by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind a few times. Don't get me wrong, there are a few... embellishments in the Movie, but there is also a large portion that is true. I really enjoyed Lords of Chaos because I'm glad they've done a Movie about this Scene... even if some of it is fictional. I think the people who are really trashing this are taking it more seriously than they should, honestly. It's well acted, great cinematography and is an interesting story! I feel like this appeals to a wide audience, not just those of us who are partial to a bit of the ol' True Norwegian Black Metal. My only hang-up is that I think there are a few unnecessary scenes in the Movie that serve no purpose and just make the Movie feel long. But for me, it's a nice piece of fucked up nostalgia from my own Black Metal loving days!
Oysten "Euroymous" Aarseth is a young Metalhead who thinks Metal isn't extreme enough, so he starts an extreme "Black" Metal band called Mayhem. Mayhem are heavy, screechy, blasphemous and absolutely shocking, resulting in them being an instant hit with the other Metal fans of Norway. Black Metal is born! Unfortunately, their lead vocalist, aptly named Dead suffers from severe bouts of suicidal depression and it leads to his self inflicted demise. Upon discovering Dead's corpse, Euronymous does the very Black Metal thing of taking pictures of his dead body (which appeared then on Mayhem's "Dawn of the Black Hearts" album), and also taking parts of his bone and brain to put on a Necklace.
Euronymous shortly after opens Helvete Records, which attracts a newcomer to the scene called Kristian "Varg" Vikernes. At first, Euronymous scoffs at Varg and thinks he's just a poser... but he soon starts paying attention when Varg's one man band Burzum starts getting more notoriety than Mayhem. Also, Varg is admitting responsibility for a series of Church Burnings in the area, and Euronymous starts to also get involved. Will Euronymous and Vargs constant need to one-up each other go too far? Who in the Black Metal scene will also be dragged in to their crimes? And will their volatile relationship reach a breaking point?
As mentioned, I was (and still am) into the Black Metal scene when this was all happening and I have also read "Lords of Chaos" by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind a few times. Don't get me wrong, there are a few... embellishments in the Movie, but there is also a large portion that is true. I really enjoyed Lords of Chaos because I'm glad they've done a Movie about this Scene... even if some of it is fictional. I think the people who are really trashing this are taking it more seriously than they should, honestly. It's well acted, great cinematography and is an interesting story! I feel like this appeals to a wide audience, not just those of us who are partial to a bit of the ol' True Norwegian Black Metal. My only hang-up is that I think there are a few unnecessary scenes in the Movie that serve no purpose and just make the Movie feel long. But for me, it's a nice piece of fucked up nostalgia from my own Black Metal loving days!
Movie Critics (823 KP) rated Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) in Movies
Jun 23, 2017
I enjoyed Transformers: The Last Knight, but I am also glad I used a free ticket to go see it rather than spend money on a ticket. The entertainment that I expected to receive from the movie, I got. At the end of the day, that’s the least I can ask for
Critic- Phil Gow
Original Score: 6 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.residententertainment.com/transformers-last-knight-review/
Original Score: 6 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.residententertainment.com/transformers-last-knight-review/
Benedick Lewis (3001 KP) created a post in Movie Fun and Trivia
Aug 21, 2018
Amy Carney (3 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019
Filler film for a wider franchise
I love the wizarding world.
But this film felt like it was unnecessary and a filler for the wider world. The character development made me sad for the history of some characters. Breaking down and twisting personalities seemingly for pointless plot development. Maybe this will go further in future films.
Also ... No really amount of fantastic beasts In this movie.
But this film felt like it was unnecessary and a filler for the wider world. The character development made me sad for the history of some characters. Breaking down and twisting personalities seemingly for pointless plot development. Maybe this will go further in future films.
Also ... No really amount of fantastic beasts In this movie.