charlesr-8 Reviews

Sweet Dreams (I) (2024)

So close to good, but I was just left wanting it to deliver more

[6/10 · 16 April 2024]

So close to good, but I was just left wanting it to deliver more.

More stories on some of the characters, More Closure of some of the storylines - I just felt like the concept had more to deliver than what it gave us.

There is a lot that's right about the movie. Great characters, good laughs, solid emotions, and i loved the way this felt like it wasn't all filmed on a sound stage/green screen. But it felt like there was more potential here. With great comedians like Bobby Lee and Theo Von in the cast, it felt like it had more laughs and emotions to pull on (and both are sober as well - so experience to draw on.) Kate Upton's character felt like there was more storyline available. There were a number of things where we got a taste of something but it didn't move/resolve/progress - the Diner scenes/story, Kate Upton's character, the music video situation, Garvey's roadtrip, what happened after the game, etc. There were just a bunch of questions that could have been answered and would have raised my enjoyment.

It's thoroughly watchable, with some solid performances from a range of quality actors/personalities, and a decent smattering of laughter and emotion. There's nothing "dumb" about it or cliched - it just felt like it could have been 10 mins longer and given us a lot more, or 10 mins shorter and removed some storylines that didn't go anywhere.

Road House (2024)

If this wasn't a remake it'd be a star or two higher.

[5/10 · 24 March 2024]

If this movie had a different title and more divergent (from the original) plot, I'd suggest a 6 star effort.

Gyllenhaal's character is well played, with the same slowly revealed backstory the original movie had, along with the same "pacifist, until I have to be your worst nightmare" mindset that works really well for him.

Conor is ideal for the character he played. A fantastic bad guy trope, with adequate levels of violence and humour.

Unfortunately it felt like they blew the cast budget and focus on the two leads, and the rest of the cast is "thoroughly adequate" No character is badly portrayed/acted, but no-one else stands out, either. Credit to Post Malone for his cameo, which worked out well. The "bad guy" didn't quite hit right for me - whether that was the actor or the lines he had, I'm not sure.

I did appreciate that it didn't feel as green screen/CGI/Sound-stage as a lot of the recent productions. The few times it is noticeable (water/boat scenes, the car crashing into the bar/fight scene, and a few others) it doesn't distract/detract too much from the enjoyment. For the most part it felt like it was either shot on location, or done well enough to not be noticed. As a UFC fan, I did notice the changes to Conor's tattoos.

As my title suggests - if it wasn't a remake, it'd be a star or two higher - but the original set a high bar to try to redo. It *is* a great remake though - they thought through how to make it suitable for a modern setting, and the UFC footage/link being well executed. I can't help but wonder if they hadn't made a few subtle changes and called it something else, how it might have been perceived in a higher regard. All in all a good "popcorn movie" with some laughs (both with, and at the movie) some action, and a good first outing for McGregor.

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War (2024)

Should have been a higher rating but the propaganda element detracted from the overall impact.

[7/10 · 24 March 2024]

I nearly wrote my review at the halfway point, before deciding to see it through and ensure I was balanced. Unfortunately that didn't improve my impression of the series. There is a lot of great footage and history covered off - some fantastic insights and great scientific information too. But unfortunately they opted to inject some old fashioned propaganda into the final couple of episodes, after foreshadowing this in the earlier ones.

In short, what was predominantly a "nuclear paranoia drove the world wild with fear and led to idiotic levels of armaments at the expense of cultural, scientific, and social advancement" (on both sides to varying degrees - Soviet citizens suffering considerably more) has an underlying message of "orange man bad, Putin bad, Zelensky good, Government narrative on war is true, etc" There's no question that the aforementioned personalities are fraught with issues - but having covered the propaganda, subterfuge, and shadowy behaviour from the cold war, it is hard not to question the way they glossed over how widespread certain actions from the 50's through the 70s were, along with the way they tried to paint current situation.

I'm sure the military industrial complex overlords loved the "war is for peace" message that it felt like it ended on.

The Holdovers (2023)

Clever script, fantastic acting, and great representation of the era

[9/10 · 25 February 2024]

Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The film is brilliant at capturing so many of the idiosyncrasies of the time - smoking pipes inside, the still lingering racial differences, and the way the education system used to operate.

Giamatti is absolutely brilliant in his character portrayal, and brings back memories of a range of teachers from my childhood. The other staff do similar as well - especially the Cook.

One particularly appreciated move is the ending - not what was expected, and untypical of most movies. There's the right balance of heartwarming, humour, and quick dialogue that keep you switching between contemplation and laughter.

American Fiction (2023)

Thoroughly enjoyable, intelligent comedy

[8/10 · 25 February 2024]

I hesitated as to whether I'd watch this due to it not looking like something I was the target market for - I'm middle aged, white, and live on the other side of the world. I'm also somewhat sick of movies that try to preach and teach, behind a thin veil of "entertainment." This was the complete opposite, and a thoroughly enjoyable watch.

Jeffrey Wright is just brilliant in this role as the lead. His ability to convey the character's intelligence, frustration, and his mockery of the modern trends in culture, is fantastic. I had genuine moments of laughing out loud at his exasperation with the situations he was put in.

Rather than lecturing, the movie weaves a clever balance of mockery and education, forcing viewers to consider their own biases, as well as the way our culture is uplifting certain segments in the name of equality. It is astute, clever, and genuinely funny.

Land of Bad (2024)

Russell Crowe elevated this by two or three stars

[7/10 · 20 February 2024]

I was sceptical coming into this movie, but was pleasantly surprised by the end of it. If Crowe's character was played by a lesser actor with less character development, this would be a straightforward action movie with implausible outcomes and stretched plotlines. But the portrayal of modern warfare relying on people in front of screens on the other side of the world dropping bombs in foreign countries, is something I haven't seen much of (let alone the reality of what the US military has done for a couple of decades.) Crowe brings a human side to the job, and an insight into the day to day reality these operators face. The Supermarket scene in particular stands out.

The rest of the action/plot is standard Hollywood fare - Good guys fighting bad guys, all is lost, no it isn't, etc etc. The rest of the cast is decent enough, acts well enough, and delivers enough action to entertain. Liam Hemsworth does well in a leading role, albeit one where his rookie action status (the character's) seems a bit of a stretch.

A day on and I'm still impressed with Crowe's character and how he portrayed it. I'm curious as to how much input he had into the lines/backstory, as it seemed almost out of place with a lot of the rest of the movie. Worth a watch for him alone - otherwise this would be a 4 or 5 star effort (I rounded up from 6.5)

Calamity Jane (2024)

Feels like a feminised attempt at a Western that fails to deliver much other than novelty

[3/10 · 14 February 2024]

The push from the studios for diversity and equality delivers us movies like this. Half rate action, changing accents, characters treated with reverence/respect/caution without any backstory to justify it, and an underwhelming end product.

I *get* that people want representation and variety, but this felt forced and contrived. Maybe we've been spoilt for choice with the range of modern westerns (Deadwood, No Country For Old Men, 1883) but this is not even close to the same league. It felt like it delivered WNBA level excitement. Acting is sub par, accents weren't consistent, and even the set/cinematography felt too CGI to be believable.

Watched on a whim - don't necessarily regret it, but won't be recommending it to anyone.

Obliterated (2023)

Fails to find its balance between comedy, plot, and action.

[4/10 · 24 December 2023]

Some genuinely laugh out loud moments - but plenty of cringe/cliche comedy as well. This paired with attempts at seriousness for the sake of (over extended) plot development, frequently fails to find its balance.

It goes for longer than was needed (6 hour story that is played out over 8 episodes) and it comes to feel like a lot of filler. Overdoes pop culture humour, and often overacted.

Imagine: The Hangover dragged out too much, then badly crossed with Reacher and the Terminal List, with a light dusting of half decent sitcom humour. It's engaging enough that you leave it running in the background, but don't miss anything not pausing it to check your phone.

Freelance (2023)

Predictable, played out storyline with heavy green screen usage

[4/10 · 4 December 2023]

Start to finish this was predictable and cliched. Not to say there aren't some smirk-worthy moments, maybe even the odd chuckle - but it really felt like a cliche. Cena showed more range than I'd seen before - albeit in a part that was 60%+ 'on brand' for him. Alison Brie did well in a part that had limited opportunity to shine. The dictator role was played well, but there were exaggerated aspects to the character that made for cringing moments.

If there was meant to be some underlying messages about America's history in geo-politics, or their own history of controlled opposition etc, it was far too subtle and muddy.

Heavy green screen usage completely detracted from what little enjoyment I had in watching - either go shoot on location or do a better job in the editing/CGI. The horse scenes in particular were one of my few laugh out loud moments (unintentionally funny, I'm sure) It genuinely felt like that whole part of the movie, and the delivery on screen, was a 'I give up, just run with what we have' moment from the producers. Likewise a lot of the jungle scenes.

This would have rated lower but for Cena being better than expected, Brie being solid, and the potential for people to understand how governments really work.

Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

Exactly what it says on the box...

[6/10 · 8 September 2023]

My Rating reflects expectations. If this was touted as a edge of your seat thriller with cutting edge CGI and unexpected twists and turns, it'd be a 2. But this was always going to end up the campy, overacted, completely implausible, CGI riddled cheese-fest that it is. And it absolutely delivered on that expectation.

It has Plot holes so big you could swim a megladon through, hilarious foreshadowing via dialogue (if they say something won't happen, its going to happen,) and a decent smattering of quips, giggle/smirk inducing lines, and the requisite action scenes.

It ticked all the boxes for expectations - and exceeded it in areas like "completely unrealistic technology," "inaccurate animal behaviour" and "Implausible physics/hydrodynamics." But that just added to the fun.

For the naysayers - expecting more quality/realism/etc from this movie is like expecting a Fast and the Furious movie to be extolling the virtues of bicycles.

Its a fun, lighthearted, and "laugh at the ridiculousness" sort of flick and that's worth a passing grade.

Guest House (2020)

It'd be 3/10 but it gets bonus points for Pauly

[5/10 · 5 September 2023]

Very average movie - acting is average, storyline obvious, cheese levels high. Etc.

BUT - who the heck would watch a Pauly Shore movie expecting Tarantino-esque dialogue, or Scorsese level cinematography. This is a Pauly Shore frat boy movie with all the puns, quips, and random booze/drug references we've come to expect over (how many?) decades. So, for that it gets bonus points compared to something I had no familiarity with.

Some good cameos with everyone from Billy Zane to Bobby Lee ad Steve O (what a damn contrast.)

Its a slow moving, occasional giggle, with a predictable conclusion. Heavy on the cheese and "dude-isms" - and anyone that expected something different was delusional.