Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated 29 Seconds in Books

Sep 26, 2019  
29 Seconds
29 Seconds
T.M. Logan | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sarah's life is ruled by her horrible boss. Yet he's untouchable due to a sizable grant and his famous TV show. Driving to get her children from school one day, Sarah rescues a young girl from harm. She does it out of the kindness of her heart, expecting nothing in return. But her act puts a very powerful man in her debt, and he decides that it must be repaid in his own way. He offers Sarah a 72-hour deal: he can make someone disappear with a simple phone call. No traces to her, no repercussions. Sarah's life with her boss is nearly intolerable, but can she really make that call?


"You give me one name. One person. and I will make them disappear. For you."


I went in to this one a little dubious about its premise, and yes, it's wild and crazy and implausible, but it's also one of those fun, addictive reads that you get caught up in and can't put down for hours. It was a whirlwind read, and I totally loved it. The book's story is very timely--Sarah's boss, Dr. Hawthorne is a terrible, despicable character: a poster child for the #metoo movement. Her success and livelihood are tied into sleeping with him. He sexually harasses her, threatens her, and basically does everything awful thing he could do. Your blood will boil when you read this story, and it was honestly stressful at times. Yet the man is untouchable thanks to protective male colleagues and the money he brings in.


"What happened is that it's a business and they've got too much invested in their prime asset to let him go. People like us are just the collateral damage."


Once Sarah is offered her "deal," it seems like the book will go a certain way, but there's nothing predictable about this novel. It's mesmerizing and completely addictive. There are a ton of twists and turns that keep you completely off guard. It's really easy to root for Sarah, as our bad guy stands in stark contrast to her, even if you question a few of her decisions. (And she's awfully lucky to have her father, who sure takes her kids on with no complaints.)


"She saw it now for what it was: a deal with the Devil."


If you're looking for a fun, unpredictable escape, this thriller is for you. It's really an awesome read, and I, for one, loved the ending. 4+ stars.
  
40x40

MelanieTheresa (997 KP) Sep 26, 2019

This one's on my TBR list - glad it was good! 😊

Free Fire (2017)
Free Fire (2017)
2017 | Action, Comedy, Drama
At a rundown warehouse in 1970’s Boston, Justine (Brie Larson) and Ord (Armie Hammer) are brokering a deal between a South African arms dealer (Sharlto Copley) and members of the IRA (Cillian Murphy & Michael Smiley). Tensions flare almost immediately between the two sides and an inevitable battle of wills and gunplay ensues when two members of their entourage take decisive action on a fresh grudge from the night before.

 

It may say Scorsese’s producing, but Free Fire definitely smacks more of a Tarantino-influenced affair and I can think of no better example, in recent years anyway, that proves the lasting legacy of his still awe-inspiring debut, Reservoir Dogs. After years of making deliberately obtuse films (High Rise, A Field in England), Ben Wheatley has finally made something accessible, but unfortunately, Free Fire can’t pack the same visceral punch and narrative competence as the films that it takes influence from. I’m having flashbacks to about this time last year when I reviewed another film from A24, Green Room. I walked out of Free Fire in much the same manner; on a high, feeling satisfied from what appeared to be something unique and notable. As the hours have passed and I’m preparing my summation, the sentiment has all but vanished and I’m wanting of something with a little more substance. Granted, an 90 minute runtime can only accommodate so much, but I have to ask: could all that time spent crawling around in the dust and the rubble, as realistic a light that it may or may not shine on the authenticity of an actual shootout, have been used instead to get inside our characters motivations, driving us to really care about their fates? There’s no doubt that from its style and attitude, there was the potential for this to be the Reservoir Dogs for a new generation, but ultimately it’s just not a very memorable experience.

 

What will save Free Fire from obscurity is a cast that, despite having little plot to work with, is firing on all cylinders. An exemplary job is done from Oscar winners on down to character actors whose faces you know, but names you don’t. There isn’t one weak link in the chain and their performances have an excellent balance of toughness and levity that grounds them just enough to allow for suspension of disbelief. I might chastise Ben Wheatley as a storyteller, but there’s no doubt that he has an ear for great dialogue and fine judgement on the performers to deliver it.
  
Car Dogs (2017)
Car Dogs (2017)
2017 |
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
One of the things that universally connects us in this world is driving. Eventually, in life, the other factor involved is buying a vehicle. Depending on your experience, it can be nerve wracking, intensely crazy or enjoyable. Almost everyone has a story about the first car they purchased. For some it is the entire process, spotting THE car or coming up against the salespeople. This common thread allows us to identify with each other. With Car Dogs, you will find yourself immersed in the world of car sales.

Mark Chamberlain (Patrick J. Adams) is a sales manager at his father’s dealership. He is in line to get his own shop once he fulfills the quota assigned by his dad. We see Mark go through his day handling purchase issues, client issues and his salespeople in the bullpen. Christian (George Lopez, playing against type) is one of the top dogs at Chamberlain. He gets assigned a fresh rookie on the day that he is busting to make his numbers. Sharon (Nia Vardalos) Is the clever sales guru that is always in competition with Christian. She plays Sharon as a tough but smart sales rep with a warm likability. George Lopez and Nia Vardalos are both well known for comedic parts and they play against type with such care that their performances are refreshingly unexpected.

Patrick J. Adams evokes the stress and pressure that he slowly builds throughout the day, taking us with him as the clock counts down to the hour of reckoning that is the sales goal of 35 cars for the day. This number is enforced by Mark’s father Malcolm (Chris Mulkey) embodying the old school stereotype of a car dealer, pushing his son in a supremely passive-aggressive dance with his brown nosing sadist sidekick Mike (Josh Hopkins).

Filmed on location in Scottsdale, Arizona. Directed by Adam Collis, taking us on a road trip that has familiar sites and unexpected surprises. Mark Edward King’s script pulls the curtain back from a world we rarely see the inner workings and shows us that even car salesmen, although can be real jerks to get the sale, are also human.

Whether you have bought or sold a car. Shopped or searched for the right one, dealt with some B.S. artist or had a fantastic experience. This movie provides the viewer with moments at a dealership that are so familiar, yet gives us a look at how they function behind the sales desk.
  
2-Headed Shark Attack (2012)
2-Headed Shark Attack (2012)
2012 | Action, Horror
6
3.8 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
You know full well I'll be watching all the movies in the -Headed Shark Attack series!

When a boatful of students is attacked at sea they must get to the safety of a nearby atoll while crew remain on board to make repairs. As they explore their new surroundings the danger becomes even more real when the shark starts to pick them off one by one.

In my shark appreciation post (on my website) I listed off a lot of plus points to amusingly entertaining shark films and this has a lot of them. Science, geography, everything you learnt at school is wrong... if you use this film as a reference.

We start with the inexplicable "semester at sea" storyline...

"We could have them doing a day trip out to study marine life, a science field trip."
"That's not long enough, make it a whole semester at sea."
"Okay, but we don't have the budget for technically accurate sets with equipment for people studying the ocean to that level."
"They just need a boat."
"I mean, I've never studied the ocean but I imagine they'd have sonar and lots of diving gear..."
"Just give them a boat!
"Okay, I'll get the writers to give the boat an experienced crew and..."
"No, no, no! Why would they need that?"
"Because they're going to sea on an expedition..."
"Give them minimal crew, no common sense and make the most useful members of the crew not speak the same language as the majority of the others."
*blank stare*

See what I mean? Shark film gold! There are so many ridiculous things that I lost count.

From the completely logical inclusion of a scene where Carmen Electra sunbathes in a bikini in the middle of a crisis to some obligatory boobs, the human section of the cast are all playing their stereotypes well. The acting is fairly good for this sort of film, it's surprisingly convincing... occasionally.

The shark contingent has mystical control over the world around it. You know when you're driving and you inhale to get through tight gaps? I believe the shark harnesses that same magic to get into the shallow water.

2-Headed Shark Attack does everything I love in a shark film and it has that star quality that's needed (someone you know and someone who looks familiar and you have to IMDb them), I would happily watch it again, probably in a marathon with 3-, 5- and 6-Headed Shark Attack... but every time I write that down I worry about where 4- went.

Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/08/2-headed-shark-attack-movie-review.html
  
    Galileo Offline Maps

    Galileo Offline Maps

    Travel and Navigation

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Go offline anywhere you want — offline vector maps and offline search for your better travel...