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Sharp Objects (2018)
Different ways to hurt
While I didn't find the book particularly worth reading, I did read the book and watch the show simultaneously. While Gone girl is a fun reading, this one starts really strong and then falters. Hence, the writers of this show do rewrite some to make it more believable, especially the character of Amma. Also, everybody is a bit older in the show (at least the actresses if not their characters). By the way, the female cast receives well-deserved acclaim. Main character is exquisitely played by Amy Adams, and strongly supported by Patricia Clarkson and Eliza Scanlen; Lovely Sophia Lillis wasn't in my opinion given enough scenes - and can we talk about how horrible that wig was? The only problematic difference for me is that the main character in the book suddenly realizes some important things about her past, which is the key moment so the mystery can be solved. In the show male detective is the one to start sniffing down that road and is quite off-handendly told by a local woman about the plot twist. That unfortunate choice, especially given the main theme of processing trauma, took something critical away from the plot and is the reason why I lowered my rating a bit. I still consider it some of the finest shows in HBO production.
È stata la mano di Dio (2021)
Read the book
Most of the witty moments originate from Sorrentino's book Tony Pagoda and his friends. Editing is clumsy, cinematography meh. Main actor is, as we say in my native language, as a cooked leg. Overall, I was disappointed with the movie and I recommend reading the book instead.
Election (1999)
not dark or funny enough but explores some proper ideas
On one hand, I loved that it makes conspicuous the fact that men, both grown-ups (as in the movie) and adolescents (speaking from real life experience) love to blame and scrutinize girls whenever they feel wronged. If system is broken - let's take our frustration out on little girls. And God helps girls who discover they're sexual beings. Even if they are harassed by 40-somethings, it's still their own fault. Eek. And I didn't mind that Chris Klein's comedic pacing wasn't the best - he potrays perfectly the opposite group of men who are inherently good and wish well to everybody but still have no clue what's going on in the society (or even his own sister's life). And Reese Witherspoon delivers a flawless performance, making us have no empathy for her character even though she is just a product of her surroundings. Even just by joy-jumping. However, Matthew Broderick's character's sudden downfall seems a bit far-stretched. In the end, for both of their characters, the conclusion seems to be that it doesn't matter if you know the difference between morals and ethics, if you can't grasp the difference between right and wrong.
Nevertheless, I got scarcely any laughs and I love dark comedy. This movie just doesn't stand the test of time IMO (as American beauty, released the same year and with similar undertones, definitely does).
Basic Instinct (1992)
Basic instinct is a classic who-dun-it
So, who is guilty?
In a broader sense, is it the women who claim to love us, that support us every step of the way? Are they actually twisted and manipulating us into loving them? Or is it the ones who openly play games and won't accept the role of a good little girl? Oh, they must be evil since they represent forbidden fruit (they are capable of bringing our worst desires out, but are simultaneously worth whatever the outcome might be). In the end it's easier to say the former... or is it the last?
Notice there are two fade-outs - therefore, two possible endings. Well, for us, but as far as the detectives in this film are concerned, the answer is the former. It's 'cause they are men and men always blame whoever it's the easiest to (it's their basic instinct). Eh, feel free to disregard that one. But, of course, this mayhem acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy, making women thus capable of the roles created for them. Sure, there is more than just this feminist take on the movie, and that's why, as limited as the last part of it make its whole out to be, it is albeit an interesting one. What's the most probable answer for audience?
Could be that Catherine did it - because for everything to go smoothly she had to correctly assume that Nick is, indeed, quick on the trigger and will shoot anybody, even somebody he is intimate with (provided that she messes with his head enough). And Catherine definitely does have the psychological arsenal needed to make the correct assumption. Whereas Beth is truly gullible - clever and capable otherwise, but at that exact moment she is hopelessly in love and therefore as dumb as they come. She above all trusts Nick and that ends, well, badly for her. Any other explanation would have to involve her either wanting to die or playing a game with Catherine as to see which one of them Nick loves more - but that's stretching it too far. Also, this solution satisfies the question about the title - Nick in the end acted on his basic instinct to kill which is something he shares with Catherine and something Catherine is obssesed with observing in people. That could also be the reason why she didn't finish him off in the end - they being akin and all (although it eludes me as to why that should be the case, given that the character of Nick is no match to Catherine's and comes across as terribly dull - but that could be just my sentiment).
Well, the only thing left for us to do is **** like minks, forget about this movie and live happily ever after!
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
What the
After having read the abridged version of the ending (that the actual novel did offer to its readers to round out the story and more), I find myself thinking that Kaufman is an ***hole. For some reason, he didn't want to grant his audience the same right and has therefore rendered 2 hours of their lives meaningless. Perhaps he is a pretentious one, or simply full of disdain for people who watch Netflix? At this point, I don't even care. I just know that the book sounds amazing, that the actors did decent job, but then Kaufman decided to be... treachereous. And it was all for nothing.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Truth is somewhere in between
There's litteraly nothing in this movie that would usually appeal to me, but I still enjoyed a good measure of the ride it took me on. Sandler and Safdie brothers develop rarely seen level of actor-director chemistry.