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Reviews
Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga (2022)
Avoid the 1 star reviews
For all the people blasting the series with low ratings or one star I don't think they actually watched the entire series. This is worth a watch if you like documentaries or interested in investing or how markets work.
I had no bias going into the series. There may be more pieces to the puzzle but my takeaway was this was more about large hedge funds and big investment firms having a leg up on retail investors, these same companies can drive prices and fluctuate the market in a way retail investors can't, including actively betting on a company to fail, so retail investors are at a disadvantage, and then when retail investors push back collectively and gain traction, the rug is pulled out from under them by the platform they are using who would appear to be involved in a conflict of interest in the stock that's being pushed.
I never thought this painted retail investors as dumb. I thought this was more of a hit on the hedge fund managers and that big money will prevail and that the government doesn't seem equipped to handle or doesn't want to handle it. I thought it was commendable on what the retail investors and online users were able to achieve. The hedge funds have found "loopholes" for lack of a better term that to most of us would probably seem shady or manipulative. It even gets referenced that this is a classic David vs Goliath situation. I enjoyed it, thought it was compelling, and certainly not understanding of all the negativity in the reviews.
Blonde (2022)
Incredibly sad, but impactful
Quite possibly one of the saddest and depressing movies I've seen. For most that's probably not a ringing endorsement to watch a movie, but this was powerful. If you just watch it on a surface level doesn't surprise me the hate it's receiving. It focuses mainly on the negative, and offers little in redemption, and spirals out of control until her eventual death.
The movie needs some context, but that likely detracts from the artistry and makes a nearly 3hr movie even longer. This isn't an outright biography either so maybe also why this is garnering so much disdain for over embellishments or outright falsehoods. Marilyn was/is a cultural icon. Right or wrong icons tend to be a product of their accomplishments and of the times they came from. Post World War II, in an incredibly male dominated society, Marilyn was the dopamine society needed. Beautiful blond bombshell, flirtatious, and sexual. Arguments can be made that Marilyn certainly had a role to play in that or how far the exploitation was taken. With that being said in the fashion she died would be a safe assumption that not all was well and the customs of the times weren't always favorable to women.
For me this was a rollercoaster of heartbreak and anger, so badly just wanted to jump through the screen and give her a hug or shake the people around her to help her. While the story weaves in and out of fiction and reality it's not hard to believe that personal relationships or the conversations off camera, or in her early life weren't tumultuous, or that Marilyn was simply seen as a product to be dangled in front of the masses. Ana De Armas was phenomenal, her portrayal was excellent while still being able to act within the character. There were a few accent slips, but not a dealbreaker. There is quite a bit of nudity, and at times I don't think it really added to the story my takeaway is that it was more a representation of how sexualized Marilyn was. Overall I thought the film was fantastic, it's not going to make you feel good, quite the opposite, and it's going to stir up issues and topics that in today's society cause plenty of debate (drugs, nudity, sexism, abortion, etc). The acting, writing, cinematography, all the things that go into making a movie however were excellent.
This portrayal of Marilyn isn't rosy, it isn't fun, whimsical, or comical, it's the dirty side of her life and while I'd like to hope that's not completely what Marilyn's life was like, it may have been part of it and I applaud the effort to tell it.
1917 (2019)
Intense Movie, Amazing Cinematography
First and foremost, the set designs and filming are superb. Saw the film in IMAX and that was intense, took the film to a whole other level. The one shot filming is different, but personally thought it helped the storyline and the urgency the characters were under. It isn't real herky jerky like other films I've seen where it's live action. The music accompanying several scenes was also extremely well done.
If you're in the military, a veteran, or military enthusiast then yes you could probably poke holes in some of the scenes. The cinematography more than makes up for it though.
The storyline is simple, maybe a little to simplistic for some, but I personally think it was done on purpose because of how the film is shot. It's basically a race against the clock, move across enemy territory, against terrible odds, and save massive loss of life. You aren't going to get a lot of extra details about the characters or what's led to the situation they are now in, its purely about the journey and what they have to overcome.
For those who thought it was boring or slow not sure what movie was being watched. For most of the movie you're on pins and needles anticipating who or what is going to pop out from behind who knows what. This was a great movie, highly recommend.
American Son (2019)
Awful!!!
Do not waste your time with this movie. If there was a point or purpose to this film it gets lost in the contradictory, argumentative, back and forth, painstaking dialogue.
I think Kerry Washington is a great actress, but her character in this film is unbearable. The constant racial tension and innuendo throughout the movie follows no logic or consistency. Her character early on acknowledges and understands there is prejudice in the world against black people that applies to her biracial son, but then turns a blind eye to details that would help protect her son as he leaves on a night out with unknown friends. It doesn't help that her character is established as a PhD in psychology, which when it comes to scenes discussing her son any type of rationality that would be expected by a PhD is thrown out to his feelings, actions, and if he should or shouldn't be held accountable or it's the "system" working against him and her.
The black/white racial back and forths feel so over the top, you end up not empathizing with anyone, which in a film with only 4 people shouldn't be hard to side with someone. The writing is so forced trying to establish a racial divide, but at the same time forcing the narrative to stay neutral. You'll be annoyed with everyone's perspective before, and if you even get to the end of it.
Won't spoil the ending, but as you muster your way through the dialogue, it becomes as about as obvious as it can be what the outcome will be. Not an enjoyable film, would recommend moving on to the next watchlist item.
The Witcher (2019)
Must Watch
Yet another series where critics just don't know what they're talking about. I read one review where not the plot, cinematography, acting were the first things discussed, but Cavill's wig, give me a break. Read the books or play the video games that's kind of how he looks, and if that's the first thing you jump to maybe don't be a critic.
If you're missing your Game of Thrones fix this will get you close. The fight scenes are on par with GOT or in some cases exceed it. The show is going to garner a lot of comparisons to GOT just because of the fantasy aspect and the very appropriate TVMA rating. With The Witcher you're primarily focused on three main characters for now, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri. Other key role players exist, but these seem to be the main three for now. A lot of destiny will be mentioned throughout the series, but the storylines are more dynamic then you'd think. There are a few lines in the first episode that at first seem like a cliched response about lesser of two evils, as the character stories build that becomes what I thought was a pretty common reoccurring theme. There is a lot of blatant surface material and with how the episodes transition that isn't a bad thing. Everyone will view it differently but I thought with each episode there was also an underlying tone of things aren't what they seem, both from a viewers perspective and how characters within the show react to events happening; basically a good vs evil, right vs wrong dynamic.
The first episode I thought was pretty epic, if that didn't get you excited then maybe you won't enjoy the rest of the season, but I couldn't stop watching. The cinematography is outstanding. The fight scenes are amazing. You will have to pay attention to names and towns. As with GOT you're being introduced to an entirely new realm with various towns, kings, queens, prophecies, etc. I still love the show, if I was going to knock it for anything would be the writing. I think the dialogue comes across more modern than GOT. Sometimes seems forced or was an attempt to try and make a line or phrase sound older. Writing overall is good. There's plenty of little comedic jabs or one liners to lighten the mood to make it not so serious or one tracked.
Love the show. I think Netflix has a hit on their hands. Looking forward to season 2.