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Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies
Nov 7, 2020
Nice enough
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood follows the story of a friendship between a journalist (Matthew Rhys) and tv presenter/personality Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks). And I’ll start off by saying that going into this film, I didn’t have a clue who Mr Rogers was, so this was all rather unknown for me. The only reason I decided to watch it was because of Tom Hanks, although overall I did find this to be a nice film.
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is rather disturbing, but in a good way as he puts in a stellar performance. Matthew Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel starts off with a huge amount of cynicism and wariness of Rogers, and that’s exactly how this film made me feel at the beginning. Hanks as Rogers is rather creepy and comes across as very strange. However throughout the course of the film as Lloyd discovers more about Rogers, so did I and it really helped me enjoy this film more. And whilst I don’t know who Fred Rogers is, Hanks’ performance was spot on as an old school kids tv presenter. Matthew Rhys as well puts in a great turn as the hardened journalist who does have a heart after all, and I think he’s such an underrated actor.
The styling of this film too is very good. The use of the toys and miniature cities and buildings is a genius move, and brings such a fun and magical feel to the entire film. To begin with I worried it would be out of place, but there’s enough whimsical and childlike aspects in this so that it all fits together perfectly.
However, despite the rather fun side and the great performances, for me I found the story a little lacking. It’s almost too cutesy and sweet at times, even considering the serious parts of the family drama. I also found it dragged as well in parts and I got a little bored with the Rogers based show scenes. This is still a good film, I just think I’m not particularly sold on the whole Fred Rogers thing especially as this has only told me a limited amount about who he really is!
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is rather disturbing, but in a good way as he puts in a stellar performance. Matthew Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel starts off with a huge amount of cynicism and wariness of Rogers, and that’s exactly how this film made me feel at the beginning. Hanks as Rogers is rather creepy and comes across as very strange. However throughout the course of the film as Lloyd discovers more about Rogers, so did I and it really helped me enjoy this film more. And whilst I don’t know who Fred Rogers is, Hanks’ performance was spot on as an old school kids tv presenter. Matthew Rhys as well puts in a great turn as the hardened journalist who does have a heart after all, and I think he’s such an underrated actor.
The styling of this film too is very good. The use of the toys and miniature cities and buildings is a genius move, and brings such a fun and magical feel to the entire film. To begin with I worried it would be out of place, but there’s enough whimsical and childlike aspects in this so that it all fits together perfectly.
However, despite the rather fun side and the great performances, for me I found the story a little lacking. It’s almost too cutesy and sweet at times, even considering the serious parts of the family drama. I also found it dragged as well in parts and I got a little bored with the Rogers based show scenes. This is still a good film, I just think I’m not particularly sold on the whole Fred Rogers thing especially as this has only told me a limited amount about who he really is!
Hag 12 Down (6 KP) rated Night Film in Books
Dec 30, 2017
This Book is a challenge, but in a good way.
Brilliant, haunting, breathtakingly suspenseful, Night Film is a superb literary thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster debut Special Topics in Calamity Physics.
On a damp October night, the body of young, beautiful Ashley Cordova is found in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. By all appearances her death is a suicide - but investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. Though much has been written about the dark and unsettling films of Ashley's father, Stanislas Cordova, very little is known about the man himself. As McGrath pieces together the mystery of Ashley's death, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the dark underbelly of New York City and the twisted world of Stanislas Cordova, and he begins to wonder - is he the next victim?
This is a page turner that makes you want to be in the mystery. You will want to watch the Horror films yourself.
On a damp October night, the body of young, beautiful Ashley Cordova is found in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. By all appearances her death is a suicide - but investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. Though much has been written about the dark and unsettling films of Ashley's father, Stanislas Cordova, very little is known about the man himself. As McGrath pieces together the mystery of Ashley's death, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the dark underbelly of New York City and the twisted world of Stanislas Cordova, and he begins to wonder - is he the next victim?
This is a page turner that makes you want to be in the mystery. You will want to watch the Horror films yourself.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Monsters (2010) in Movies
May 4, 2018
Whack
When a probe crash lands in Central America, large creatures form and begin to take over. Journalist Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) is hired by his boss to find his daughter, who is stranded in Central America, and bring her home.
Acting: 8
Very strong performances from the two stars of the film. The acting was far from the problem here. It was everything else. Whitney Able plays Sam Wynden, the woman Andrew was hired to rescue. Her display of emotions are well-ranged and believable. You can feel her dismay, her fear as she moves from one scene to the next. Truly a talent that I enjoyed watching work in her craft.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 3
Conflict: 3
Genre: 0
Memorability: 2
Pace: 1
Plot: 7
Resolution: 5
Overall: 40
Nothing eventful really happens for the majority of the film. Like nothing. Not even exaggerating. I could rip this film apart, but you see the numbers. I don't need to waste my time. Don't waste yours either. Stay away from Monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Acting: 8
Very strong performances from the two stars of the film. The acting was far from the problem here. It was everything else. Whitney Able plays Sam Wynden, the woman Andrew was hired to rescue. Her display of emotions are well-ranged and believable. You can feel her dismay, her fear as she moves from one scene to the next. Truly a talent that I enjoyed watching work in her craft.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 3
Conflict: 3
Genre: 0
Memorability: 2
Pace: 1
Plot: 7
Resolution: 5
Overall: 40
Nothing eventful really happens for the majority of the film. Like nothing. Not even exaggerating. I could rip this film apart, but you see the numbers. I don't need to waste my time. Don't waste yours either. Stay away from Monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Passenger (Professione: reporter) (1975) in Movies
Apr 14, 2019 (Updated Apr 14, 2019)
Existential meditation on identity and purpose from Michelangelo Antonionioni. Jaded journalist (Nicholson) finds the man in the next hotel room has died and decides to switch identities with him and make a fresh start (they are in a remote part of Africa and he is a close lookalike, which makes this somewhat plausible). He soon discovers the man whose life he has stolen had secrets of his own, and finds himself hunted by people in search of both his identities.
A film about the desire to be reborn and also to destroy oneself. Or, possibly, just about Jack Nicholson having a somewhat premature mid-life crisis, walking out on his old life and acquiring a rather younger girlfriend (Schneider). Either way, Nicholson is on startlingly restrained and effective form (this was made back when he was a serious leading man), and there are some technically brilliant moments scattered throughout the film. It is always enjoyable to watch, even if it does seem sometimes that it is rather less profound and meaningful than the director thinks it is.
A film about the desire to be reborn and also to destroy oneself. Or, possibly, just about Jack Nicholson having a somewhat premature mid-life crisis, walking out on his old life and acquiring a rather younger girlfriend (Schneider). Either way, Nicholson is on startlingly restrained and effective form (this was made back when he was a serious leading man), and there are some technically brilliant moments scattered throughout the film. It is always enjoyable to watch, even if it does seem sometimes that it is rather less profound and meaningful than the director thinks it is.
Amy Curtis (49 KP) rated A Christmas Prince (2017) in Movies
Dec 23, 2018 (Updated Dec 30, 2018)
Jolly (1 more)
Easy watch
Standard Christmas film
Contains spoilers, click to show
What with Christmas just around the corner, I decided to give this a go. It's a lovely film to watch with the build up to Christmas. At times I felt like there wasn't much going on. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas so that could add to why I didn't score it as highly. The plot itself was very good and unique for a Christmas film. It features a young aspiring journalist, Amber who is about to marry a prince in Aldovia. When she arrives in the country she has to be aware of what she can and cannot do as the Queen to be. Prince Richard is under a lot of stress following his royal duties. It is soon discovered that money was being taken out of the royal account. I just felt that it was a bit obvious who was behind changing the figures and it could have had more of a build up. Overall a good film but don't make the same mistake I did and watch the second one first without realising!
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