Joss Crowley's 'Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl' is a well-made and enjoyable music documentary that digs into the career of one of country music's towering figures. The film doesn't provide any new information for those already familiar with Twain's life and work, though some of the interviewees are insightful.
Reviews
457 Reviews
Perjalanan Pertama
(2021)
Enjoyable due to the performances and on-screen chemistry of its leads
19 July 2022
Even in its weakest parts, Arief Malinmudo's 'Perjalanan Pertama' is still enjoyable due to the performances and on-screen chemistry of its leads, Muzakki Ramdhan and Ahmad Tamimi Siregar, which complement and strengthen each other.
The Doll 3
(2022)
Another mind-numbing Rocky (Soraya) horror picture show
5 June 2022
Rocky Soraya's 'The Doll 3' is often mean-spirited and gruesomely bloody, though perhaps too self-conscious about its schlock origins - pretty delicious formula for a fun slasher. Shame it all crashing down due to the movie's extremely poor pacing, lack of plot and character development throughout the course of the narrative. 'The Doll 3' ended up as another mind-numbing Rocky (Soraya) horror picture show.
Top Gun: Maverick
(2022)
An entertaining blockbuster sequel
1 June 2022
Joseph Kosinski's 'Top Gun: Maverick' is a blockbuster sequel that while doesn't always soar but flies higher than the original. Tom Cruise is in his best element, and a superb cast - Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly along with Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and a scene-stealing Glen Powell - gamely supports him.
Feels like sketches, bits, and pieces of a larger film
28 May 2022
Fajar Nugros' 'Srimulat: Hil yang Mustahal - Babak Pertama' feels like sketches, bits, and pieces of a larger film. Certain writing decisions towards the film's treatment of a biopic may have seemed revolutionary on paper, but without strong emotional layering and execution to back it up, the results are simply bland. The performances are enjoyable, but the movie ultimately lets its audience down.
'The VVitch' casts an atmospheric spell
16 May 2022
Robert Eggers' 'The WWitch' doesn't rely on jump scares or grotesque imagery to strike fear into its audience. It is a slow-burning, dark fairytale dripping with a uniquely eerie, dreadful atmosphere, and effectively brought to life by realistic characters. The acting is superb, with Anya Taylor-Joy shining out from an already stellar cast. A remarkable feature debut.
Spiral
(2021)
Tedious if not torturous to watch.
15 May 2022
Darren Lynn Bousman's 'Spiral: From the Book of Saw' is a pretty laughable effort to resurrect the already tired 'Saw' franchise with pretty laughable serious acting effort from Chris Rock. The game-traps are as gnarly as people might hope, but the execution feels particularly bland and without any real suspense. It is tedious if not torturous to watch.
Senior Year
(2022)
Pure early-millennium teen comedy throwback
15 May 2022
Britney. Mandy. Avril. And even B*Witched? (Too bad they couldn't get the rights to Céline's 'The Power of Love.') Alex Hardcastle's Senior Year is pure early-millennium teen comedy throwback galore. Slightly ridiculous, too many unresolved characters and sub-plots, and often trying hard to be funny, but pretty enjoyable for all that.
Uncharted
(2022)
A pretty decent popcorn action-adventure picture
6 March 2022
Ruben Fleischer's 'Uncharted' is a pretty decent popcorn action-adventure picture, but the video game adaptation just isn't clever, original, or amusing enough to take it to the next level. Tom Holland does his hardest not to be Peter Parker/Spider-Man. And there's Mark Wahlberg who's not even trying to change. Both leads are well-acted, but they lack the warmth and personality needed to make the chemistry and exchanges between their characters believable.
Pelangi Tanpa Warna
(2022)
Poor screenplay and direction overshadow the decent performances of its cast
6 March 2022
Indra Gunawan's 'Pelangi Tanpa Warna' depicts a married couple going through Alzheimer's and dementia. The narrative is formulaic, the characters are half-baked, and Gunawan fails to make it fascinating. The cast gives good performances, but the storyline and directing are a severe letdown.
Garis Waktu
(2022)
No one deserves this kind of awful experience
6 March 2022
Third feature-length film - and the first one he didn't write - from the director of highly acclaimed and beloved 'Mekah, I'm Coming' (2020) and 'Just Mom' (2021), Jeihan Angga, is quite awful. 'Garis Waktu' is badly written, cheaply made, dramatically inept, and staggeringly dull despite a running time that only clocks in at 100 minutes. Reza Rahadian and Michelle Ziudith simply don't have chemistry together. Bland. Bad.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(2022)
Looks cheap, sounds cheap, and thinks cheap
20 February 2022
David Blue Garcia's 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' looks cheap, sounds cheap, and thinks cheap. The script is busy and unconvincing, with the attempts at "social commentary" are laughable and much of the acting is lousy. Everyone involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. It is nice and mildly satisfying seeing insultingly stupid characters get ragdolled around though.
The 355
(2022)
It isn't a horrible film, but neither is it groundbreaking
13 February 2022
Although Simon Kinberg's 'The 355' isn't exactly the most memorable affair, the solid performances from a strong cast, as well as the exhilarating action sequences, make it a pleasant movie that doesn't take on more than it can handle. It isn't a horrible film, but neither is it groundbreaking.
Nightmare Alley
(2021)
Guillermo del Toro's fascinating modern take on film noir
13 February 2022
Despite its length and some sluggish moments, 'Nightmare Alley' is Guillermo del Toro's fascinating modern take on film noir, equipped with a dark storyline, exquisite production design, and cinematography. It is thoughtful and hypnotic. Bradley Cooper gives an outstanding performance, with the level of raw emotion that comes around is heart-wrenching. Toni Collette, Cate Blanchett, and the rest of the ensemble are also fantastic.
Ben & Jody
(2022)
Succeeds in integrating exciting action aspects to 'Filosofi Kopi' movie series
13 February 2022
Not without its fair share of missteps, but Angga Dwimas Sasongko's 'Ben & Jody' succeeds in integrating exciting action aspects to his 'Filosofi Kopi' movie series. The movie tries to hit social commentaries about agrarian conflict and violence toward peasants, as well as law enforcement misconduct and grassroots movements, but they aren't really concentrated enough to maximize the film's objective. Not bad.
Kukira Kau Rumah
(2021)
Tries to be a lot of things, but doesn't quite succeed at any of them
13 February 2022
Umay Shahab's directorial debut, 'Kukira Kau Rumah,' tries to be a lot of things, but doesn't quite succeed at any of them. Most of its conflicts and characters are underdeveloped with the slow-burn pacing drags, making it rather difficult to relate to or become attached to the whole story. There's no denying the two leads are attractive, but they're either stuck in the muck of this uninspired material, or lack the chemistry to elevate it.
Ibu
(2021)
A quietly powerful drama about family, acceptance, and love
3 February 2022
Christine Hakim's emotive performance leads Jeihan Angga's sophomore feature, 'Just Mom,' a quietly powerful drama about family, acceptance, and love. The story is grounded, personal, and very emotional but never too sentimental.
Antlers
(2021)
A muddled movie, but it delivers on the horror
1 February 2022
Scott Cooper's 'Antlers' often struggles to figure out what it's trying to say, but it delivers the thrills and fear, as well as some very fantastic creature design. Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, and child actor Jeremy T. Thomas all give powerful performances.
Brazen
(2022)
Cheesy and predictable
1 February 2022
Monika Mitchell's 'Brazen' is one of those terrible movies. A colossal letdown in every aspect, there isn't a single part of the movie where it thrives or even performs a commendable job. There's no emotional connection with any characters, the dialogue is clumsy and stilted, and the murder-mystery narrative lacks tension. Cheesy and predictable.
Scream
(I) (2022)
Bloody good time!
19 January 2022
Bumpy, but Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's 'Scream' is killing it as both homage and continuation to the iconic horror franchise. Stylish, brutal, and a third act that absolutely slays it. Bloody good time!
Denial
(II) (2016)
Genuinely engaging and sincere
11 January 2022
Mick Jackson's 'Denial' is a powerful depiction of a very important subject that, somehow, lacks the emotional heft it should have. As far as courtroom dramas go, this one isn't the most thrilling or inventive, but it is both genuinely engaging and sincere. All of the actors provide excellent performances, especially Rachel Weisz, Timothy Spall, and Tom Wilkinson.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
(2021)
Nothing spectacular, but still a lot of fun
31 December 2021
Andy Serkis' 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' is nothing spectacular, but it is still a lot of fun. The film's core is the comedic chemistry between Eddie Brock and Venom; it's entertaining and the comedy packs a punch. It isn't a solid sequel to the previous film. The narrative feels hurried, the villains lack character, the performers are underutilized, and the overall picture is a bit jumbled.
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