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Dean (6921 KP) rated Choose (2011) in Movies

Jun 6, 2021  
Choose (2011)
Choose (2011)
2011 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
5
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Katheryn Winnick (0 more)
Weak plot (0 more)
Had potential
This started off OK, a sort of Slasher film with a twist with the killer forcing victims to choose who to kill or be attacked. With a detective element to it as well. Katheryn Winnick of Vikings stars as a journalism student tracking the killer along with her dad as the local sheriff in a small town.
Just a shame it didn't reach its potential, not a particularly scary film. Seems to be stuck between genres without choosing which direction to go in. The second half of the film unravels without much drama to a rather tame ending. OK if you want a short film to pass the time.
  
Broadcast News (1987)
Broadcast News (1987)
1987 | Comedy, Drama

"These are my three favorites for pure entertainment. I’ve lumped them together under “professional comedy.” And these are the best. Though, if you want to crack into journalism or daytime television after watching them, perhaps you should watch them again. Broadcast News and Tootsie make me put my hand to my heart, just thinking about them. I can’t think of a single thing I’ve ever written in any book that doesn’t aim to have that ideal blend of humor and heart, that pacing. Sweet Smell of Success is more of a perfect script than a perfect movie, but it’s phenomenal. “I’d hate to take a bite outta you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic.” Who says these things?"

Source
  
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
1957 | Drama, Film-Noir
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"These are my three favorites for pure entertainment. I’ve lumped them together under “professional comedy.” And these are the best. Though, if you want to crack into journalism or daytime television after watching them, perhaps you should watch them again. Broadcast News and Tootsie make me put my hand to my heart, just thinking about them. I can’t think of a single thing I’ve ever written in any book that doesn’t aim to have that ideal blend of humor and heart, that pacing. Sweet Smell of Success is more of a perfect script than a perfect movie, but it’s phenomenal. “I’d hate to take a bite outta you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic.” Who says these things?"

Source
  
40x40

Sloane Crosley recommended Tootsie (1982) in Movies (curated)

 
Tootsie (1982)
Tootsie (1982)
1982 | Comedy, Drama

"These are my three favorites for pure entertainment. I’ve lumped them together under “professional comedy.” And these are the best. Though, if you want to crack into journalism or daytime television after watching them, perhaps you should watch them again. Broadcast News and Tootsie make me put my hand to my heart, just thinking about them. I can’t think of a single thing I’ve ever written in any book that doesn’t aim to have that ideal blend of humor and heart, that pacing. Sweet Smell of Success is more of a perfect script than a perfect movie, but it’s phenomenal. “I’d hate to take a bite outta you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic.” Who says these things?"

Source
  
We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
Harold G. Moore | 2002 | Biography, History & Politics
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"The flip side of the “The Sorrow of War,” this book is a brilliant and telling account of one brutal battle in Vietnam from the American perspective. Moore was the commander of soldiers who were airdropped into the jungle, only to be promptly surrounded and massively outnumbered by North Vietnamese troops. The reporter Joseph Galloway had rare access to the troops, witnessing this desperate battle for survival. I love it for the story of heroic journalism. It is why I so admire books like “Once Upon a Distant War,” by William Prochnau, which is the Vietnam war seen through the eyes of legendary correspondents like Neil Sheehan, David Halberstam, Peter Arnett, and others of that generation, providing stark evidence of their courage and fearless contributions to history and truth."

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The Assassin (1961)
The Assassin (1961)
1961 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
First film directed by Elio Petri, which at first may seem simple and superficial, but after watching it I kept thinking and thinking about it and ended up being referred to The Usual Suspects (Bryan Singer, 1995), because at no time do we have an account of the impartially, all flashback scenes are narrated by Marcello Mastroianni's character. There are no absolute truths in the film. The direction is very competent and the performance of Mastroianni, as always, perfect. In the end there are some exaggerations and they miss exploring some aspects, but I really liked the movie. Nowadays there would be a good discussion about him being featured on the cover of a newspaper as a murderer while he was a suspect, something quite common in journalism to this day.
  
Kinda Funny Gamescast
Kinda Funny Gamescast
Games & Hobbies
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Two fantastic personalities passionate about what they are discussing (1 more)
Features a lot of interesting guests
Tim's bias for Nintendo (1 more)
Not as insightful since Colin left
Kinda Brilliant
I have been listening to Gamescast since day one. The podcast took a few episodes to find it's feet, but once it did, it quickly became one of the most insightful gaming discussion podcasts on the internet.
Unfortunately Colin left Kinda Funny almost a year ago and some of the show's integrity went with him. Now it is just Greg and Tim that host it, however it is still very much worth listening to, if you can ignore some of the outrageous things that Tim frequently hits out with. It has been good though, to listen to Tim grow as a prevalent voice in the video game journalism echo-chamber.
  
Truth (2015)
Truth (2015)
2015 | Drama
Great cast and acting (0 more)
Watching a car crash (0 more)
Good film but at times hard to watch if you already know about the true story
This was like watching a train crash for all those who know about Rathergate. Thanks to a cocktail of management pressure, ego, self-esteem and politics, a group of CBS journalists broadcasted the most extraordinary claims about George W Bush jnr ahead of the elections in 2004 - without verification. Memos were published without authentification, showing the worst of journalism.

This film is literally the opposite of the Spotlight investigations on church abuse, which took careful planning over the span of a year. This on the other hand was a slapdash job in 5 days, costing a lot of jobs in the process. It's hard to watch knowing the outcome but acting from Cate Blanchett was fabulous.
  
The Post (2017)
The Post (2017)
2017 | Biography, Drama, Thriller
Tom Hanks (2 more)
Meryl Streep
the underlying message
slow paced (1 more)
maybe boring for those who aren't interested in public affairs
Hanks and Streep are an amazing duo
Being a journalism student I thought I better see this because it relates to my studies. So it's not the type of film I would see usually. It is boring in parts, and a bit slow paced.
But the acting from Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep will always make up for anything. They are two of the best actors of all time, and this film is no different.
The underlying message is great, that the press should hold powers to account. It made me feel more empowered as a person, and as a journalist.
However, it also made me realise that a lot of the modern press has forgotten this.
  
The Psychopath Test
The Psychopath Test
Jon Ronson | 2012 | Health & Fitness
9
8.2 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fascinating psychology (1 more)
Dark humour
Humorous Gonzo Journalism
Contains spoilers, click to show
Jon Ronson, the author of Men Who Stare at Goats, dives into the psychology behind the PCL-R, also known as the Bob Hare Psychopath Checklist (revised). Having heard about the checklist, Ronson self diagnoses as a psychopath, and decides to find out more. From talking to high-powered businessmen, to discussing brain scans of psychopaths' brains with an experimental psychologist who has a psychopath's brain scan, this is a fascinating dive into the psychology of psychopathy.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Jon Ronson book if it didn't include Ronson's special brand of gonzo, self-deprecating humour, which ties the whole book together into a cohesive story that will keep you reading "just one more page" until the end.
The only reason I gave this book a rating of 9 and not a 10 is because I have also read Men Who Stare at Goats, which is even better.