iraz Reviews

American Heist (2014)

There is a "heist" here - if you spend money to watch this turkey!

[2/10 · 20 June 2015]

Boring, predictable and utterly forgettable, "American Heist" is a complete waste of time. I watched this because my wife has a thing for Adrien Brody. I think he's a fine actor, but clearly this was done just for a paycheck. It's hard to make a bland bank robbery, but it was done successfully here. Just putting known actors in a film does not a good film make, an intelligent well-written script helps and this was just thrown together without much thought.

Save your money and read a good novel or take a walk or stare into space! There are so many poor films out there. When the industry complains about loss of its audience, it should consider the product we are asked to rent/purchase.

The Untouchables (1987)

Fictional account of historical events. Terrible movie!

[2/10 · 4 January 2015]

It's hard to make such a bad movie about a colorful period in American history, but they did just that. I cannot recommend any part of this film as worthwhile, from the poor acting, very flat performances to the truly bad musical score, this film is bad all around. It does not follow the historical events accurately besides the fact that Al Capone and Eliot Ness, etc. did exist.

The characters are cartoon like, as is the action - just watch the scene with the baby carriage going down the stairs with guns firing all around it.

How this received such a high rating is beyond me! The film actually made me angry because it was so ridiculous. Just think of this material in the hands of someone like Scorsese.

The Other Woman (2014)

Amazingly unfunny!!!

[3/10 · 15 July 2014]

No matter how much talent is in front of the camera, if the writing is not up to par there's trouble ahead. That about sums up "The Other Woman", which is a mess of a film and makes the almost two hours feel like at least ten hours.

It is just not funny and is filled with implausible situations that try your patience. Of course, if those situations resulting in humor and "ha ha" funny, you just go with it, but there's nothing worse than a unfunny "funny" picture. Leslie Mann is a talented actress but is wasted here along with Cameron Diaz. I kept waiting for those funny moments I read about in other reviews. Well the film ended and I'm still waiting!

Transcendence (I) (2014)

Ridiculous and boring but with a great cast!

[3/10 · 1 July 2014]

I will usually watch any film with Johnny Depp in it but I wish that I had made this the exception to my rule. Somehow, as soon as this film began, I knew I was in trouble. Call it an intuitive sense based on the number of films I've watched or whatever, but the truth is I was correct. It is a tremendous waste of exceptional talent in a film that is way beyond preposterous. I can deal with expanding what is believable but this film presents it in a way that is incredibly not interesting. I found myself not caring within 30 minutes. Actually, to make a scifi film so lacking takes a certain kind of "talent". It's a shame because the genre is screaming for intelligent, well-made movies. It's also a cruel joke to fill it with so much top talent and then waste it with so poor a script. Johnny Depp could not look more bored and one of his over the top performances might have helped here.

Delivery: The Beast Within (I) (2013)

Don't accept this "Delivery"!

[1/10 · 27 May 2014]

And again, those exceptional reviews had to be written by those involved with the film. I keep promising myself not to get sucked in by those reviews and t be more discerning but I was taken again! Nothing much happens and I was on the edge of my couch since I fell asleep and almost landed on the floor. This was extremely boring, very slow moving, no real plot and absolutely no suspense. Basically a waste of time and money and clearly one of the most boring found footage films ever made. Those of you who found something like this suspenseful should check out true horror films and see the difference. Watch "Rosemary's Baby" and compare it to this film and then review this title!

Devil in My Ride (2013)

Beware, this is a BAD ride!

[2/10 · 13 May 2014]

I rented this video due to the high rating and the good external ratings. I was fooled again!! This is a low quality film that is neither a decent comedy nor a decent horror film. The effects are poor, the acting is poor and basically every aspect of this film is poorly done! I am getting tired of being fooled by reviews and ratings by those affiliated with the project. I now am more careful but still get fooled at times. Count this as one of those times! Horror films used to be one of my favorite genres, it is now my worst due to the countless lousy titles out there. It is the easiest kind of video to make, don't need much of a script or plot and just follow thee template for horror films. I think we should all make a concerted effort to STOP watching this videos, they do not deserve an audience!

Walk of Shame (2014)

Walk away and save yourself the shame!

[4/10 · 2 May 2014]

This film starts out strong with funny news clips and goes downhill after the first 30 minutes. I really like Elizabeth Banks and find her to be a very talented actress. This proves once again that talented actors alone do not a good film make. So much depends on the writing and script and in this case the poor writing and overdone script ideas sink this way before the end.

Since Ms. Banks does not have much to work with she's without a paddle here. The film becomes tedious about halfway through.

I saw people mention the similarity to "After Hours", but that film had a creative energy and didn't follow a normal "plot". This film lacks anything creative and is a by the numbers comedy.

The real shame is that this was made!

Broken Side of Time (2013)

Broken side of filmmaking

[1/10 · 22 April 2014]

OK, I have never done this, but I am 35 minutes into this film and cannot believe how awful this film is! The first 30 minutes were spent with one character. She played with her lighter for 15 minutes, spent some time on the phone, etc. The film is slightly over 2 hours long and I am getting sick and tired of people associated with a film writing phony reviews. Film making is an art, it requires a particular kind of talent and skill. Owning equipment does not a film maker make!! I wish there was some way to control bogus reviews because this does not qualify as a film! I am tired of wasting my time watching stuff that's unwatchable.

Spare yourself and pass this one by quickly!!

Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang (2012)

An excellent film!

[8/10 · 27 March 2014]

I have not read the novel, nor seen the 1996 version, so I cannot base my review on any sort of comparison. Filled with newcomers, this film really surprised me. I was hooked from the first scene and my interest continued for the length of the film. This is a long film, over two hours but it did not feel like it. The performances were outstanding, especially by the actress portraying legs. With so many lousy films and independent attempts that are failures, it was a pleasure to be rewarded with this viewing. I would guess that several promising careers have now begun. Kudos to all involved with the making of this film!

Booley (2010)

A review by someone NOT involved in this film

[2/10 · 4 March 2014]

I watched this film after the glowing reviews by both the external reviews and those posted on this website. Be forewarned this is an extremely low budget film with terrible acting, camera work and music among other things. The story is less than interesting and I am posting this review to maintain some integrity to this site. I question the professionalism of those who write reviews for some of the film websites. To rate this so high is beyond me.

So, the movie is less than interesting because all aspects of the production are amateurish. A movie viewer should be able to rely on other people's honest appraisal of something that is going to cost them money. I hope this review will be read along with the glowing ones!

The Counselor (2013)

Wow!!! As bad as bad could be!!!

[2/10 · 28 January 2014]

A great cast and director do not a movie make. I only made it through 40 minutes of this mess. What has happened to the movie industry? This should have been an interesting film, to say the least, however after 40 minutes it was obvious that a decision had to be made on my part. Waste an additional 90 minutes or so or bail. The film was all talk (and boring talk) with no real plot. Don't they review what they've shot and realize they are making a true piece of garbage? I guess they figure they can market anything as long as well known names are involved. I guess it has become very difficult to tell a compelling story. Hopefully, after losing tons of money on some of these turkeys, the powers that be will realize there is an intelligent movie watching public out there who demand quality films. At least I hope so!

Of Silence (2014)

slow, boring and any heart will do!

[3/10 · 14 January 2014]

This was described as "not for the faint of heart" and I can only surmise that the individual's taste is far different from mine or that person was involved with the film or knew people involved with the film. When part of a positive review is that it was filmed on film, well that is not pertinent to whether the film is good or not.

The story moves very slowly and is not very involving. Basically a one person film, the other characters make a short appearance and disappear. I wish there was some way to make these reviews and rating more honest. The rating was well over 7, to me that means we are talking about an exceptional film. Not the case here!! This was a disappointing experience. Let's try to be more honest with each other, shall we?

American Hustle (2013)

Disappointed beyond belief!

[4/10 · 28 December 2013]

First of all David O. Russell is one of my favorite directors. I've enjoyed his films and absolutely loved "The Fighter" and "Flirting with Disaster". This film also boasts an incredibly talented cast including Christian Vale, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams.

The problem is with the story, the film's pacing and length. Of course if I was enjoying the film the length would not be an issue. The film did not hold my interest and I was bored for most of it. I read that most of it is improvised, and I think this lead to it feeling very fragmented and disjointed. My mind drifted often and I checked my watch many, many times. What should have been a compelling, interesting movie was turned into a bore fest with several funny moments.

I am surprised at the overall extremely positive reviews and will watch it again when it is on cable but expect my reaction to be the same.

Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water (2012)

Sad commentary on human rights vs. corporate greed.

[6/10 · 6 November 2013]

I've seen a number of documentaries on this issue and it underlines how little these large worldwide corporations care about the lives they affect. This is an important documentary about an issue that is life and death for many people.

It actually deserves a slightly higher rating but there are no subtitles and even when an individual is not speaking English, no subtitles are provided. So quite a number of sections of the film are useless unless you happen to speak all the languages spoken in the film. Even many statements from the Nestles CEO are wasted in the film.

Nestles says its concerns are humanitarian, but as evidenced in the film, its only concern is money and making a profit. Once an area is dry, they move on to another area.

Dracula: The Impaler (2013)

It's what you will feel like doing after viewing this film!

[1 November 2013]

I watched this film based on the External Reviews. I was hesitant but the reviews were all positive and I love GOOD horror films, but there are so many lousy ones made these days.

So, I gave it a shot and I now wonder if they saw the same film I did! There is hardly anything to examining the story of Vlad, just an opening scene that was pretty poor. The rest of the film is the same stuff you see in so many horror films these days - a group of college kids visiting Vlad's castle with the same cast of characters you always see. Several attractive women, make sure you have a blonde in the group! The acting is wooden and pathetic, the "horror" is laughable and it couldn't end fast enough. I am really upset that I was duped again, either the reviewers' expectations are low already from the many poor movies out there or, need I say or suggest what the other option is. I promise myself to NOT be taken again and all I can say is the old adage - "let the buyer beware"!!!!

Life Tracker (2013)

Interesting idea, poor execution.

[4/10 · 15 October 2013]

I guess I will never learn to be careful of highly rated movies with not a substantial amount of votes. This film had 81 votes and a 8.0 rating. If you like the plot to consist of much talking and little else then this is the film for you. The idea is so intriguing and there was so much more that could of been done that it's a shame the filmmaker did not take advantage and make a more interesting and compelling film. I have to admit that an hour was all I could take and my frustration got the better of me, but it didn't seem to me that the film was going to utilize the main idea to make a better film. The one critic who wrote about the film mentioned that it was a sci-fi mumblecore. This is obviously a low budget film, but still so much more could have been accomplished here. It's a shame and a missed opportunity.

The Way Way Back (2013)

Did I see the same film as most of the reviewers?

[4/10 · 8 October 2013]

What fun would it be if we all agreed about the films we see? Well, we don't have to worry about that however I was surprised by the amount of positive reviews listed here. I went through the first three or four ages and read only one negative review. Well, here's another one! I gave the film a four because the acting was good and Sam Rockwell stole the film with his performance.

The problem I had was that I did not emotionally connect with any of the characters nor the story and found the film predictable and not all that interesting. Based on the reviews I read, I expected something special and got an ordinary story I've seen many times. I could have turned the film off at any point without feeling that I was missing anything. The comedy portion was lacking and the drama was very plain. I think there have been so many poor films released that a so-so film has become more than it would normally be. I'm sure most people will disagree with me, but I had to include my two cents.

Pacific Rim (2013)

Isn't this Transformers 3 or 4 or 5?

[3/10 · 1 October 2013]

Guillermo del Toro is an incredibly talented director and has always (until now) made interesting, intelligent films. Why he would stoop to a CGI loaded character-less film like this is beyond me. Are we sure this wasn't made by Michael Bay? I was excited to see "Pacific Rim" and had hope at the beginning but after about 30 minutes or so, I was bored. With poorly developed characters, this is nothing but a movie cartoon. Now that is probably fine for many movie goers and if that's what you like, fine! I like substance, a well scripted movie that gets you completely involved. That is not this film. Another issue is why do these type of films have to be so long? They are always well over two hours which can seem much longer if you are uninvolved.

I don't understand the mostly high scores and positive critical reviews. Does this mean we expect that much less from our blockbusters? CGI alone does not a picture make!

Jewtopia (2012)

A waste of time and talent. An unfunny film with poorly developed characters.

[1/10 · 20 September 2013]

I did not see the play, so I cannot compare the two works. I am Jewish and enjoy films that poke fun at Jews. A film that comes to mind is "A Serious Man" by the Coen brothers which is drawn from their upbringing in the Mid West. This was a very funny film with finely drawn characters. In "Jewtopia", the characters do not come across as real people but rather caricatures of real people. The humor is not clever but extremely silly and not funny. It shows a lack of creativity because there is a wealth of material to draw from and this is a lazy effort to poke fun at both Jews and non Jews alike. This is the kind of film that makes me angry because the effort is so poor. the story so weak that you have to wonder where it will draw an audience from. It does not deserve and audience! Once it opens in theaters I guarantee it will have a short run and generate very little income and no buzz. There are so many poor films being made and this one indicates the filmmakers have little faith in the intelligence of its audience.

Paradise (I) (2013)

Paradise it is not!

[2/10 · 19 September 2013]

After an interesting start, Paradise plunges to the depths of pure boredom and a waste of time. When the lead character meets Russell Brand after about 15 minutes, the movie's whole direction changes and becomes close to unwatchable. Not that it's Russell Brand's fault, the film becomes stagnant and never regains any momentum. Interest wanes and the story lacks any coherent reason to continue watching. The film is not well constructed and I found myself asking why it was ever given a green light. The writing lacks any bite save for the opening and it is a waste of time. It almost plays like a Lifetime movie and I avoid those films like the plague. I saw this film on my cable provider's Video On Demand, it has not been released in theaters yet. I think this is done to generate revenue when they have a questionable title that they feel will not do well when it is released. When they do this, little is known about a film so caution should be used. I should have taken my own advice!!

This Is the End (2013)

The best moment in this film was the end!

[2/10 · 17 September 2013]

I cannot believe the high rating nor the critic reviews. This film was overly long and NOT funny! I like all the actors in this film and have enjoyed them in other films. I figured putting them all together in one film, co-written by Seth Rogen, would be a winning combination. I was shocked that the film dragged and hardly had any funny moments. This was a major disappointment and I feel that I was mislead by the high rating and mostly positive critical response. You do wonder if they saw the same film you saw because I'd like them to explain to me what was so funny about this mess and why did it have to be so long? I think our expectations have become so low because there are so many bad, unprofessional films being made. If this qualifies as exceptional comedic material, then it's time for me to stop watching comedies. So, watch at your own risk and good luck!

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Such a disappointment

[1/10 · 13 August 2013]

I was excited to see this version of The Great Gatsby, especially after reading the mostly glowing reviews. I was expecting a film that would bring me back to that unique period in American culture.

After about 45 minutes, it reminded me of Moulin Rouge, which I hated. I hadn't made the connection that both films were made by the same director. Overblown, ridiculous party scenes, no real structure nor story, basically just a mess. After realizing this and watching one party scene after another with emphasis on the fireworks, etc. I found myself,losing interest in the film. I felt the characters weren't developed and the whole structure of the film was off. I kept asking my wife if she liked the film, hoping I could use her lack of interest as an excuse to turn it off. We both eventually fell asleep not even halfway through and I hope she doesn't want to finish it. How this got such glowing reviews is beyond me. This interpretation of one of the great American novels was a disgrace and making it almost 3 hours long doesn't help either.

The Bake Street Hauntings (2011)

Poor, poor!! Did I saw poor!

[1/10 · 8 July 2013]

First of all, to the reviewer who mentioned that Philip Seymour Hoffman would not be in a true indie film, I would suggest he looks at the early films he appeared in. Many of the bigger stars got the start in low budget films.

Since most of the reviews here are positive, I can only surmise that they were written by people somehow involved in this film or knew someone involved in the film. I support indie films but this does not qualify as a film. If you search around for other reviews of this film, you will get a better representation of the true value of what you are watching. With the advent of inexpensive video cameras, almost anyone can make a "film". I believe that is the case here. It's almost an insult to real filmmakers who take their craft seriously. This is boring, no structure, horrible video and audio quality. Do not waste your time on this one. I did and I will never get that valuable time back! I am so tired of reading these great reviews and then watching something that is a piece of garbage. The purpose of this review process is to give an HONEST appraisal not helping a friend out!

Evidence (2013)

Let me wake up and write my review

[3/10 · 1 July 2013]

This film is a mess. By the time all the details have been revealed, I could not have cared less. I generally will watch found footage films, even though I am often disappointed, however I don't remember being less interested in a found footage film than I was in this one. I was interested in seeing this film, I enjoyed "The Fourth Kind" (the director's previous effort) and I like the actors in the film.

I found myself unable to get involved in the plot and it just did not generate any suspense which is vital for a found footage film. Whatever kind of film you are making, you are trying to tell a story and if you lose viewers at the beginning it's awful difficult to get them back interested. Hopefully, the director's next effort will be more successful. All I can say is skip this one!

Compulsion (I) (2013)

A truly bad film with no point.

[21 June 2013]

Often times films are dumped on VOD or will be released the same time as the theatrical release. Not always, but often it is a warning sign that these films are marginal, just plain bad or the distributor is not sure of its appeal. "Compulsion" falls under the just plain bad category.

It's an empty film and what I mean by that is there's nothing much going on and the little bit there is, the viewer could just not care less. I've always liked Heather Graham, but after "Boogie Nights", she's been in many so-so films. This is even worse than that. With a title like "Compulsion", you would expect an involving thriller. After watching this, I would have been happy with any type of movie as long as it's involving. Ms. Graham wears many different outfits all of which show off her best attributes but I do need more from my films. My recommendation is to stay far, far away from this film!