coolcleangreen Reviews

Tau (2018)

Decent enough thriller

[6/10 · 6 February 2022]

TAU is about a young woman who tries to escape a sado-scientist who is keeping her captive in the smart house he controls.

This is a decent Sunday afternoon trapped-in-the-house thriller, but nothing revelatory. There are some smart turns and some dumb ones too. Maika Monroe plays a smart enough protagonist, and she was my draw to it, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear Gary Oldman's voice acting. That man has a vocal command that is astonishing.

While the movie as a whole is not particularly remarkable, the soundtrack is! The cinematography is dark but beautiful. It's entertaining.

Message Man (2018)

easily likeable action flick

[6/10 · 15 January 2021]

Really liked this. Has relatively unknown actors in it but they are all interesting in their bit parts. Generally anything with snipers, and credible combat, sprinkled with revenge, justice, and morality themes makes me happy. I know people are comparing this to The Raid, but it has the feel of The Raid meets American Western due to its slow build and classic characterizations. It's gruesome at times, but still very enjoyable... and even quotable, despite the dearth of dialogue. 6/10

Outlawed (I) (2018)

Fails on many levels

[2/10 · 15 January 2021]

This film has an abundance of problems but the worst is the grating non-stop instrumental score that drowns out bits of dialogue and overreaches for dramatic effect throughout. I had to watch it on mute with subtitles for half the film. Truth...I should have just turned the film off. It fails even as an action movie because the action, well, it sucks. The sexy scenes are like mini music videos. Don't waste time on this film. I do not recommend it. 2/10 because it tried.

P-Valley (2020– )

Hot & Hype, loving this spotlight on stripper life

[9/10 · 28 July 2020]

Knowing this is fantasy and heightened drama that just happens to be playing out in a strip club setting, I am enjoying the show. Every week the dances are wicked and graceful. It shows the athleticism and effort these women dedicate to their craft. Also, the show dives into realistic issues that pretty women face, especially when the most valued thing about them is their appearance. The show tackles degrading relatives, domestic abuse, war trauma, economic decay, and general desperation to stay afloat in the MS Delta. This is appointment TV I wish I could throw some stacks at!

And Soon the Darkness (2010)

a clinic on what NOT to do

[4/10 · 5 April 2020]

It was not a good movie. It was basically a bunch of cliches. I do think that was only good for seeing what not to do while traveling alone or with a friend on vacation. I wanted to throw my popcorn at the screen more than once. Horrible script and acting. Amazing scenery though. If this were a silent film, it might have been more interesting. I would not recommend this title.

Night School (2018)

Love it!

[7/10 · 13 May 2019]

LOL Funny as hell. It also had some real heart to it. I enjoyed the ensemble, and the comedic chemistry between Haddish and Hart was beautiful. I don't know if I can forgive the chicken suit, or the awful twerking ...but I know I was busting at the seams laughing all through this movie. I even appreciated the twist in the end. Good times.

The Aftermath (2019)

good, not great

[6/10 · 26 March 2019]

The Aftermath stars Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke and Alexander Skarsgard in a love triangle mixed with post WW2 grief and residual anger. They each struggle to find themselves again in the ashes. It is a good film, but not great. You can wait to stream it.

I came to this film open-minded. I did not go in seeking a certain movie just to be disappointed when it wasn't that. Keeping an open mind, I felt like the film was balanced and heartfelt and...boring. It just wasn't a fiery enough romance or determined enough post-war piece to make me say it is a must-see film. Honestly, after seeing Cold War (ugh) I was ready for something like it that actually contained a plot and good direction. The Aftermath certainly has those things. It just lacked in other things.

I enjoyed all of the performances. They were earnest and you could tell that Jason Clarke was pouring his heart out in his scenes. I wish every actor could go from compassionate to menacing in a single stride like he does. Only a few do it as well as Clarke.

Otherwise, I was underwhelmed by the drama as a whole. Nothing felt urgent about the love affair, just taboo. It kind of snuck up and showed up. There were so many threads of guilt, shame, and anger, but few of them got to see the light of day in this film. I wish we'd had a bit more time and a bit more dialogue with each character. But we get what we get.

Captain Marvel (2019)

decent origin story with a killer soundtrack

[7/10 · 20 March 2019]

Some really awesome and funny moments throughout, but had its flaws.

The good: I loved that what tethers her to earth is her love for two female characters. This was not a love story, but more buddy cop adventure that was engaging and playful. The soundtrack was awesome and basically the soundtrack of every grunge loving 90's girl (like me). Loved that cat! Needed every one of those explanatory Easter eggs. For critics who say she seemed "too powerful" and "not vulnerable enough" or "not in danger" or "in enough peril", I say, so what!?! She has to be the kind of hero that would be the emergency call when the galaxy has been decimated by a madman. I think that person would have to be an inherently indestructible intergalactic being. Also, clearly in this story, Carol Danvers was her own worst enemy. She had to embrace her full power and be brave enough to break free of a mental blockade in order to let her emotions rule and guide her full strength.

The bad: I wish CM's past was less montage and more specific moments. It was difficult to dive into the emotion behind the memories. A few of the twists were telegraphed. Also, I'm getting tired of the cliche: "black/brown-bestie-who lifts/counsels/supports-the-extraordinary-white-character". (Thank goodness for Black Panther). Brie Larson was funny, and cool, but showed little range. For someone being told she was too emotional, she didn't show a lot of emotion, just cockiness, determination, and mild frustration. No believable regret, sadness or out-of-control anger. Any of those would have been understandable given what she had been through. I mean nobody is perfect (except maybe the working-mom-brown-bestie whose name I can't recall lol, j/k her name is Rambeau, who could forget that?!)

Anywho, good introduction to Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel on the big screen. Can't wait to see Endgame.

Triple Frontier (2019)

unexpected action drama

[6/10 · 15 March 2019]

I liked this one. i was interested because it had a great cast, and it lured me in with the military-esque-caper idea. i enjoyed its simplicity in script, plot, and storytelling. i wish that the big bad was utilized more, but i came to understand that this story is about the friends. although i think the story could have cut even deeper into the fellas' relationships, i was entertained, shocked, dismayed, and both satisfied and dissatisfied in all the good ways. i recommend this one for a lazy afternoon.

The Dig (2018)

Powerful drama from Ireland

[8/10 · 13 February 2019]

I enjoyed this film so much. The acting was great, the cinematography was appropriately rough and off-kilter which matched the way this film grapples with perspective and memory. I really felt the story and it haunted me after viewing it. I had deep discussions about this film, because it tackles elements of emotional trauma, justice, mystery, family, and community. There is so much meat on this bone, so much to "dig" into. I highly recommend this film for the indie film lovers who want to see something special that reverberates in the mind for a while.

Saw this at TIFF where it received positive reviews. I will definitely seek this film out on DVD or digital release. 8/10 (not 10 only because at times the dialogue was unintelligible, but that might have been due to my American ears)

Cold War (2018)

A deep well, but confusing

[5/10 · 4 February 2019]

Set in post WWII Poland, two musical artists are ill-fated in love, and struggle with maintaining their love while separated by politics and circumstance. This film had its moments of brilliance, especially the musical score, but the plot was sometimes indiscernible. I felt like this story was freewheeling through space and time with no compass. Maybe this was emblematic of the jazz period that filtered through the background, but this felt more like a gothic romance set out of place. I could not always sympathize with the characters' decisions or issues, especially since many of their issues were self-inflicted. The chemistry between the two leads was there but it did not help with the stilted, manufactured anger (which some mistake for passion) that would bubble up periodically throughout their decades long semi-relationship. I did not like this film as a whole, although some things were good. I felt the music, the jazz era coolness and messy vibe. I felt the coldness and the settings. On the other hand, the passages of time gave me whiplash. I could barely understand the motivation for anyone's actions. The emotional arc was severely curved. I could relate to the feeling of being drawn to the same person throughout life because they were your first love, but the way that these protagonists treated each other made no sense. I'm surprised it is getting so many rave reviews. Perhaps because the soundtrack is amazing, which is why it gets a 5/10 from me.

Aquaman (2018)

Fun, Spectacular, but Horrible Script Though

[7/10 · 31 December 2018]

I loved the movie! Don't get me wrong. It was a thrill ride! However, the lack of script development was unfortunate. I also have to note that some of the musical selections were glaringly out of place. Bright spots were scenes between Aquaman and his father, because I actually felt history and deep connection between the characters that resonated in me. Momoa has a way with improvisational speech that works to anchor the bad script but everyone else seemed to be reading sparsely populated cue cards. Lots of eye-rolling cliches all over the place. Meanwhile, the action and visuals were spectacular, including one breath-taking scene of extreme peril near the end of the second act of the film. There was plenty of fun and funny moments and even the cartoony stuff was on the good side of ridiculous. So yeah, 7/10 because the movie does its job in the superhero sphere, bringing some camp, some heart, and some awesome visuals. But can we sprinkle some "Whedon dust" on the next installment please?!? I have a feeling he can craft the more complicated dialogue that should have been explored in this origin story.

I saw this on IMAX. I highly recommend watching this film on IMAX.

Traffik (2018)

had potential but disappointing execution

[4/10 · 10 December 2018]

This film missed the mark on so many levels. The acting was terrible. Paula Patton as Brea is horrible. Director Deon Taylor did more to write a visual love letter to Patton's beauty than to direct a film about Brea and her friends' clash with the horrors of human trafficking beneath the surface of a picturesque California town.

Instead, Taylor clearly tries to raise Patton up to the level of blaxploitation goddess Pam Grier in "Foxy Brown", but he fails. Patton - our heroine - spends most of her time reacting, panting, and looking miserable or hurt. It was difficult to sympathize with or applaud half of her choices. Besides, Patton is no Pam Grier and Brea is no Foxy Brown. (Spoiler Alert!! but it must be mentioned: Foxy would never walk over a perfectly good loaded shotgun to "hide" in a car that won't start, and is sure to be checked by the bad guys, because it is the only vehicle around for a mile...COME ON BREA! REALLY?!)

The dialogue was silly, and the plot dragged. The human trafficking part of Traffik was not even introduced until the last twenty minutes of the film. On the other hand, twenty minutes into "Taken", Emily was already snatched, and we were all gripping our seats.

It should have been as shocking and horrifying as the news. While this film had a couple of shocking moments, it did little to make my blood boil - or run cold - either way it was not as moving as reading the news.

Better films that this film wanted to be include: "Foxy Brown", "Taken", "The Whistleblower", and "Eden". If you want a gripping story about the pervasive horror of human trafficking, then watch any of these instead. Traffik falls short of all of them. Such an important subject deserved much better direction, character, and plot.

Scenery was gorgeous though, gotta hand it to the location scout. The music choice was good, especially the inclusion of Nina Simone's haunting version of "Strange Fruit". (4/10)

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Fantastic Fun!

[8/10 · 25 May 2017]

Letting go of all the critics panning this movie due to all the outside elements that contributed to its poor monetary showing... King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was a great and funny action adventure movie. It should not be overlooked.

I am personally a big fan of King Arthur/Merlin/Knights of the Realm films and TV adaptations of the legends. Some are horrible. Some are decent. Some are spectacular. This one was heartfelt, engaging, and funny from beginning to end.

Charlie Hunnam has proved several times that he is a leading man (Sons of Anarchy, Nicholas Nickelby, Crimson Peak). He played King Arthur with as much bravado and vulnerability as he did Jax - but it was not a repeat performance. it was a fresh take on the King Arthur standard: humble, sometimes melancholy, but always hopeful gentleman. Thank you Guy Ritchie, writers, and Hunnam for re- imagining this hero.

Yes, there are parts that are wholly sensational, but in a good Lord of the Rings way, not a bad Legend of Hercules way. And no, it does not pass the Blechdel Test, but not many movies do every season. This one is good. It's just too bad it was overshadowed by the exhausting craze for comic book extravaganza. The critics are wrong on this one.

See it. You'll enjoy it.

The Accountant (2016)

Great Action Movie - Can Watch On Repeat

[9/10 · 3 January 2017]

i loved it. action film junkies would love it too. in general, it's a story about a reclusive accountant (Ben Affleck) with extraordinary problem-solving skills, who is also managing a personality disorder, until he encounters a fellow problem-solver (Anna Kendrick) who has gotten in over her head and needs his help. it has a great balance between emotion and action. Affleck is brilliant in the role. he employs beautiful nuances in his performance and he's hilarious. (my theater was clapping and oo-awwing the whole time) i hope to see sequels. Anna Kendrick was her usual witty self, but i think Affleck trumped her a bit in this one. i never saw her as an action girl, but she did great. serious credit goes to the editors, because the storytelling was powerful mostly due to the way the visual pieces fit together. everything was harmonious. i could watch this again and again, and learn something new about the characters. isn't that the hallmark of a great movie? well, i highly recommend it. in a nutshell, it was an action flick about thinkers, and it was fun.

9/10

*Potential Spoiler* only thing I did not like about the film was having Kendrick as a potential love interest. she looked like a child in comparison to Affleck, and that made it a little uncomfortable to watch. but they are still a charismatic, funny duo. maybe she could play Robin??

Dark Matter (2015–2017)

Andromeda/Firefly?... OK

[7/10 · 12 October 2015]

the show hooked me in the last ten minutes of the first episode. here we are watching six amnesiac strangers and an android weigh their personal morals when none of them know if they even have morals. then we find out a little snippet of the truth - they are wanted criminals.

what i like about the show after watching six episodes is the chemistry that has already formed between the cast. there is a natural, strong leader in "Two". "Five" and "Six" are big brother and little sister. when "Four" speaks, everyone listens. there is a real nice dynamic going on.

this show is like Andromeda/Firefly in the way that the cast of characters includes a stoic warrior, a techy teen, a gun-toter who is always about the bottom line, a female android who is also the ship's consciousness - a ragtag group of dangerous criminals who contemplate redemption at every chance. so are they really without morals? are they really that bad? i am interested. i'll keep watching.

Luv (2012)

really good

[7/10 · 8 January 2015]

this is one of the better coming of age indies I have seen lately. it made me laugh and cry and afraid.

Common is a powerhouse in the film, he's so commanding - not easy to do when acting opposite Dennis Haysbert (Mr. President/Snake Doctor himself).

and the boy, oh this little boy, Mr. Michael Rainey Jr. I doubt we will see the last of this amazing young thespian.

i highly recommend this film for a bitter taste of growing up in B-more. and of course we get to see cameo appearances by the great Charles S. Dutton - a strong advocate for Baltimore filming - as well as Danny Glover.

popcornmoviemaiden.blogspot.com

Haven (2010–2015)

Buffy/Stephen King lovers will like this

[8/10 · 1 October 2014]

i absolutely loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up. and Stephen King's stories (one of which this series is based on) scared the hell out of me too. this show is a happy medium.

Audrey, a snarky little blonde, bursts into a small, picturesque town; and, with her arrival coincides a bevy of supernatural problems - "the troubles." Audrey's sidekicks are not as diverse and witty as Buffy's were, but they grow on you. two elderly brothers, two tall-as-church-steeples best friends. there are no other female mainstays, which irks me a little (at least Buffy had Willow).

Audrey is specially equipped to handle the troubles and the series unfolds from this premise with the important questions being "how do the troubles begin?" and "how do the troubles end?" my little brother, who loves all things supernatural, suggested i watch the series. i have been bingeing it on Netflix and what do you know?... i like it. the leading lady can be a bit of a drone at times, but her partners Nathan and Duke keep things interesting. it's funny though, because Nathan is someone who can't physically feel, yet he displays more feelings than Audrey every episode. that alone is interesting.

Black or White (2014)

run, do not walk, to see this film

[8/10 · 16 September 2014]

funny, brilliant, honest script and actors who pull off both harshness and sympathy. special mention to Anthony Mackie, though I know all the critics will give a lion's share of praise to Octavia Spencer and Kevin Costner. Mackie (aka the Falcon) delivers a powerful, resonating speech that simply must be heard. the judge was awesome too, absolutely spot on.

i saw this with my mother at the Toronto Intl Film Festival Elgin Winter Garden Theatre. the room was packed, and the crowd was mixed not just racially but generational too. this is truly a universal film despite its title.

i highly highly recommend this film to everyone.

Road to Paloma (2014)

down for the ride

[7/10 · 16 July 2014]

Robert Wolf is on the run and on a mission. along the way we laugh, play and cry with him. we get frustrated. we fall in love. we get scared and heartbroken. what a journey.

i was so impressed with this feature length debut from Pride of Gypsies. cinematography, mood, tone, cast, dialog all fit (though dialog was light). there was deeply felt emotion throughout, but balanced with much appreciated levity. Jason Momoa directed a well-rounded experience. under Momoa's direction, i have to say that Chris Browning (Schaeffer) and Michael Raymond-James (Irish) stole it. they were wonderful and so perfect in their roles. Chris Browning, well, i have only seen him play sleazy characters, so this was a treat to see a different side of him. Linden Chiles (Bob, may he RIP) and, of course, Momoa (who basically played himself) were great to watch. Robert Mollohan (Cash) was...well...you gotta see lol. wish there was more Wes Studi though.

i especially loved Brian Mendoza's cinematography. scenes by firelight, by morning light, by dusk and storm, by flare. i don't believe i have seen such brilliant use of natural light on earthy human beings since "Girlfight". i like the way he fills his shots with equal attention to foreground and background. this could easily have looked crowded, but in a movie with sparse dialog it was smart to keep the eye moving in almost every frame. there were some grainy moments that sort of added to the low-budget flavor of the piece. but then there were shots that looked like they would cost a fortune to recreate.

heartfelt, poignant, relevant...i recommend this one highly to those who care about good stories. if you keep producing this quality (or better), PoG you got me.

Belle (2013)

lovely

[9/10 · 20 May 2014]

a story of lost & found, this is the tale of a biracial woman in slave-hub England who is raised in aristocracy while being excluded from it, and struggling to find her place in society. it's a universal tale of finding oneself as well as a different angle on slavery.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido is not only visually stunning but theatrically breathtaking. all the while she is being still, you can see her mind and emotions running a mile a minute as her eyes are incredibly expressive. this talent is crucial as she portrays a woman navigating a time when restraint was key to acceptance and advancement. she was a revelation.

Tom Wilkinson as Papa was also a struggling soul in this piece as he represented the turbulent political climate into which Belle was born. with the looming "Zong case," he also represented every parent's struggle: how do you explain to children the horrors of this world? and is explaining accepting?

Amma Asante's direction and Ben Smithard's cinematography are reminiscent of "The Queen" and "The White Queen" as this pair play with frame and light and focus to drive us from one thought to another by utilizing every eye flutter, swallow and incline of the head for every character. as much of the story is told through Gugu's eyes as it is through her aunt's smirks, her suitors' dropped jaws, her cousin's hands, the servant's slow gait, etc. i rarely see so much sharing of the screen, it's refreshing. some of the best moments were silent.

"Belle" is a female heroine without guns/whips/acrobatics, but with gripping wit in a socio-political nightmare (hey, Juno!). i ran to see this movie. i recommend you do the same.

Million Dollar Arm (2014)

feel good movie

[8/10 · 15 May 2014]

went to an advanced screening with mom and we were laughing crying and cheering all over ourselves and with the other moviegoers in the theater. i mean, seriously we all clapped and jumped out of our seats. what a treat! the premise is simple: take a self-involved ambitious businessman and stick him with three talented but hungry baseball prospects and they end up changing each other for the better. plus, the cast is superb! Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton and Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal who play their real-life counterparts, wow just wow!

my family loves sports movies and my mother loves baseball movies in particular, so seeing this with her on mother's day was perfect. if you love baseball movies or know kids who love baseball (or any sports for that matter), Million Dollar Arm is a must-see feel good film. it's The Rookie meets Hoop Dreams.... go see it

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

i love this Spider-Man!

[8/10 · 5 May 2014]

casting really is half the battle in movies. the cast was amazing! Jamie Foxx as Electro was comical and earnest making this villain my favorite so far (plus, Electro's animation was beautiful, and his heavy metal inner monologue theme was brilliant). Sally Field showed up in this installment! i saw this with my mom, and SF brought us both to tears. Dane DaHaan is the creepiest most sympathetic Harry Osborn to imagine. i could buy this Spidey and this Goblin as friends who are two sides of the same coin.

i seriously disliked the previous Spider-Man movies (even though set in a different time) because i never bought Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man or any of the rest of the cast for that matter. Andrew Garfield, however, has done an amazing job with my beloved Spidey. He's equal parts brain, sport, and heart - a mixture missing from the previous one.

the story is the other half of the battle. the writing in these two stories have been light years better than the previous versions, making abandonment, inadequacy, and bullying just as important to feature as science and love.

so i must say i really love this Spider-Man. keep up the good work.

The Red Road (2014–2015)

a deep series

[8/10 · 11 March 2014]

watching The Red Road is like patiently watching fog lift before your eyes. little by little we see the shape of the story and depths of these characters unveiled. father and son Kopus, Marie, Jean, and Harold are the most fascinating to discover. they are each deliciously multi-layered.

i think the direction, editing and acting are close to excellent because each scene is drawn out to perfect measure to increase tension or allow for emotional saturation. the only drawback for me so far are the segments dedicated to the star-crossed teenage lovers who may become irksome as forced interjections of sweetness in what would otherwise be a properly moody atmosphere of familial and racial turbulence.

somehow, i like the moody brooding atmosphere of this show. i'm transported by the stillness of the wide shots of woods, lakes and open fields. it's easy to become invested in the place and characters. there is no rush and i like that too. each word is measured, except of course with the character of Jean who is a force of nature in herself, so much so that her ramblings make you dizzy --awesome Julianne Nicholson. Jason Momoa and Tom Sizemore make sinister look good. Martin Henderson is a revelation for me because I have never found him to be particularly impressive. it is also so good to see Tamara Tunie in a completely different light (literally) from her drab post on L&O:SVU.

but if you're looking for weekly action, blood, profanity, sex, and breakneck speed...you won't get much of that here. meanwhile, i am enjoying the slow reveal of illicit activity, emotional disturbance and family drama. i think it's definitely a worthy watch.

Gimme Shelter (2013)

well done

[7/10 · 8 January 2014]

i was expecting a tear-jerker and i got one.

the movie follows 16yr old Apple on her journey to find hope and peace and she finds it in an unlikely place. Vanessa Hudgens' portrayal of Apple was tender and touching and over-the-top at times but still very moving - and believable. Rosario Dawson appeared in a way i've never seen, not just physically, but so emotionally disturbing i felt a visceral reaction when she was on screen. Brendan Fraser was heartbreakingly good in this. when I thought I would dislike his character, I actually ended up loving him. the rare glimpse of James Earl Jones was like a balm in this emotional whirlwind. everyone played so well.

i went to see this with mom and girlfriends. i recommend it highly for girls' nights out or group bonding of any kind. it is a special film about a special group of people in our world. well done.