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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Devil's Own (1997) in Movies
Jul 4, 2021
I don't know what's worse: a film that's underwritten and knows it, or a film which sets up such thought-provoking themes only to immediately ditch them by the wayside (which this one is). It's so frustrating how this had most of the elements just on principle alone to be really, really good and it still wasn't. Seemingly intentionally unexciting, so much so that Brad Pitt's middle-schooler-impression-of-Daniel-Day-Lewis-from-๐๐ฏ-๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ-๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ-๐ฐ๐ง-๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ-๐๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ accent is actually the best part of it. Gets semi-engaging in the last 45 minutes if only because it finally gets some of the right look + feel for what this wants to be, but even then it's got no bite and is disgustingly pro-cop (a cop who shot dead an unarmed victim multiple times then tried to force everyone to cover it up and doesn't regret it can be redeemed without doing anything!). Poises itself to go over issues of oppression, nationalism, trauma, violence, and what happens when they all intersect - but never does. Harrison Ford is so bland here, too. Doesn't even care about its own story, what a fucking shame. This really coulda been something.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Project Power (2020) in Movies
Sep 9, 2020
Another glossy but slightly underwhelming Netflix genre movie. A new drug granting temporary superpowers is being sold on the streets of New Orleans, and a maverick cop, a ex-military drifter and a teenage girl team up to put a stop to it.
Maybe some of these Netflix movies would be more impressive on a big screen where all the special effects and sound design would get an appropriate delivery and have the faculty-numbing effect this sort of film is depending on. Or maybe not, I don't know. As it is this has an interesting premise, charismatic leads and seems to genuinely want to do some social commentary about US society, the nature of power, etc etc. But that would require a level of downbeat grittiness wholly at odds with the extravaganza of lavish CGI and show-offy direction this film also wants to be, and it's the latter elements that win out. As a result it is watchable and engaging on a superficial level but you sort of lament the loss of the more interesting and restrained film this could have been instead. Hey ho.
Maybe some of these Netflix movies would be more impressive on a big screen where all the special effects and sound design would get an appropriate delivery and have the faculty-numbing effect this sort of film is depending on. Or maybe not, I don't know. As it is this has an interesting premise, charismatic leads and seems to genuinely want to do some social commentary about US society, the nature of power, etc etc. But that would require a level of downbeat grittiness wholly at odds with the extravaganza of lavish CGI and show-offy direction this film also wants to be, and it's the latter elements that win out. As a result it is watchable and engaging on a superficial level but you sort of lament the loss of the more interesting and restrained film this could have been instead. Hey ho.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Kingpin (1996) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Familiar Farrelly fare to a fault (I swear to God that repetition was unintentional) - it's got every single hallmark of their films all rolled into one: extremely juvenile peepee/caca/sex jokes, USA heartland road trip, lovable doofus + straight man lead pairing plus the underdeveloped woman who puts them at odds with each other, runtime that's about 15 or so minutes too heavy, unpointed misogyny, and heaping helpings of sentimentality. For better or worse, this is the quintessential Farrelly film. On the whole though, it's okay. Comedy is hit or miss here but this can be damn funny, specifically Bill Murray - who easily runs away with this entire film (the film's biggest flaw? that there isn't more of him). Randy Quaid is a riot too, though this is oddly a better sports movie than it is an outright comedy. All these (still fair) gross-out comedy trappings are infused into your model sports film formula but it's oddly really engaging as that, and the comedy is just a bonus. I like how this movie portrays skill, and it's also one of the Farrellys' best looking ones, too. All of this is still rather simple but it's fun.
Gods, Ghosts and Black Dogs: The Fascinating Folklore and Mythology of Dogs
Book
Here is a rich collection of folklore, mythology, and tall tales concerning dogs. These provide a...
Humankind sets out to prove that human beings are essentially nice people who want to help other people. Except over the centuries, philosophers, politicians and other influential people have told us the complete opposite - to the point that we believe it. I think Bregman is successful at this as well. Help does come in the most unexpected places, as weโve seen recently in towns and cities across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. Yes, there are those who take advantage of others, but Iโd like to believe that theyโre in the minority.
This is a really engaging, easy to read book, with some great examples. Bregman looks at studies and experiments that all types of scientists have done, and also looks at some real life examples.
This book left me feeling very positive about the state of humanity, and I hope that the good people in our societies will always outnumber the bad.
I really do highly recommend this if youโre prevaricating over whether to read it or not. Itโs a great read.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Rutger Bregman for reading along!
This is a really engaging, easy to read book, with some great examples. Bregman looks at studies and experiments that all types of scientists have done, and also looks at some real life examples.
This book left me feeling very positive about the state of humanity, and I hope that the good people in our societies will always outnumber the bad.
I really do highly recommend this if youโre prevaricating over whether to read it or not. Itโs a great read.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Rutger Bregman for reading along!
Grave New World
Book
A controversial look at the end of globalization and what it means for prosperity, peace, and the...
Economics politics
Trick or Murder? (Sophie Sayers Village Mystery #2)
4.0
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Book
As Halloween approaches in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie Sayers, new to the...
Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street
Book
What do the $350 million Ford Motor Company disaster known as the Edsel, the fast and incredible...