kjs2525 Reviews

Licorice Pizza (2021)

Worst Drivel - Avoid!

[2/10 · 21 August 2022]

Hard to write about this "film." Incredible waste of time and money - for everyone who made it or anyone who tries to watch it. Hard to believe anyone would it give more than 3 stars, let alone nominate for any awards. Rarely do I put down a film but this one deserves it. Bad acting, bad screenplay, and a non-plot that is meaningless. As someone who graduated high school in 1973, I did not recognize any of these characters as being from that year. Anyway, watch it at your own risk.

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Painfully Bad - Unwatchable

[2/10 · 2 January 2022]

The worst film of 2021 / 2022. Bad directing, bad writing, and bad acting. A boring story of bad parenting and boring people who do boring and bad things to each other. One of the main plot lines is the lead steals a doll from a child.

Because I love my partner I sat thru this garbage, trying to understand it and find something redeemable. Sadly, I never found anything worthwhile. A complete waste of time. The lead is selfish and pathetic as a parent and person. Gets 2 stars instead of one because as a horror film it succeed in scaring me silly. Avoid at all costs.

A Very Curious Girl (1969)

A Feminist Fantasy?

[10/10 · 23 June 2021]

This is an awesome film which needs to be seen and discussed by critical thinkers, Marxists and feminists in general. After seeing it last night I was fascinated to read reviews on this site, as well as professional film reviews written at the time of the film's release. Most of the reviews are simplistic (usually by men - Canby and then Hoberman 50 years later, both of the NYT), offering little in the way of deep analysis. However, my partner did dig up the best of the lot, a review from 1975 by Linda Green in Jump Cut. Green is able to break down the film in ways beyond my abilities. Just see the film, read the review, and decide for yourself. A profound and fun film. What more could you ask for?

Robot & Frank (2012)

Great Little Sci-Fi

[8/10 · 14 May 2019]

Highly enjoyable and entertaining film. Great story, excellent acting all around, and fantastic effort for a first time director and screenwriter. No need to describe the story, as it unfolds accordingly. Just see the film! My rating is 8.75 actually.

Ashes and Embers (1982)

Harrowing film for harrowing times.

[10/10 · 14 May 2019]

What an amazing film!! Way ahead of its time, and surely ahead of our current times. Hard to understand why there are no other film reviews on this site. Maybe it's just difficult to find a viewing. I happened to stumble on it the other night on TCM. This is a powerful story told by a brilliant story teller, Haile Gerima, acted by a brilliant cast of actors, including unforgettable performances by John Anderson as Ned Charles / Grandson, and Evelyn Blackwell as Grandma. Fact is the entire cast is awesome. It's the harrowing story of a young black who returns home after fighting in Vietnam, who comes back comes back with a severe case of PSTD in the midst of a racist and exploitative country that doesn't give a wit about his service, his health, or his well being. A tough road to hoe, even though he has many folks who care about him and try to offer support and guidance. A very tough film to watch because it's a story that still resonates today. Brilliant writing, filmmaking and acting. Highly recommend for film connoisseurs and those interested in social and economic justice.

A Woman's Face (1938)

Great Film by Master Actress @ 23yo

[8/10 · 27 February 2019]

What a wonderful film to discover on TCM Imports. A textured and powerful performance by a very young Ingrid Bergman, and sterling work by a great cast. Everyone plays their part perfectly and the writing is stellar. The details of the story are not important. It's the amazing acting by Bergman that will stay with me long after seeing this film. I've rated the film a 9, but Ingrid's performance is a solid 10. Highly recommended for lovers of good film.

We're Still Here: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited (2015)

Wonderful Doc on J Cash Bitter Tears Album

[8/10 · 21 February 2019]

Great doc associated with re-creating the powerful Bitter Tears album by Johnny Cash. The story is an important one, which everyone should be aware of: the plight of native American Indians, Ira Hayes, Peter Lafarge, the Bitter Tears album and how record executives mishandled it's distribution, etc. The muscians who recreate the songs are top shelf current day folkies. Personally, after seeing the doc, just bought the original Cash cd and the cd associated with the doc. All good!

Psych-Out (1968)

A Bit of a Mess

[6/10 · 26 January 2019]

A good try but really misses the mark. A shame considering the film had the opportunity to make a statement about an important moment in history at one of the key places: San Francisco in 1968. The actors can act because they all went on to do good work. The problem was the script, and the muddled story. Too convoluted to break down but one comes away, if one had not been alive at that time, thinking the music sucked, the drugs sucked, and no one had much in the way of values or morals. But having lived thru the period and done drugs and experienced the music I have to say it was a hellava lot better than anything in this film. Good try but can't recommend, sadly.

The Green Ray (1986)

A Perfect Film

[10/10 · 16 October 2018]

My title says it all. One can see this film at 30yo and again at 60yo. And while the film stays exactly the same, you will come away with a very different impression. Great art I'd like that. This is a simple story of a young woman searching for meaning, and perhaps a partner to search with, or maybe not. You decide.

Children of Men (2006)

Prophetic?

[10/10 · 28 June 2018]

This is one very, very scary film. I originally saw it when it was released in 2006. At the time I thought it was just an over-the-top, unrealistic, dystopian story. But after 12 years, the Trump election, many countries embracing totalitarianism and fascistic leaders, not to mention the impact of climate change on migrants and refugees, I now see how this film was way ahead of its time, maybe a future that can really happen, better than anything Kubrick might have conceived (e.g., Dr Strangelove, 2001, Clockwork Orange). Watch it, and then pray this is not our real future.

Topaz (1969)

Brilliant Hitch - Topaz is Amazing!

[9/10 · 28 December 2017]

This is not your typical Hitchcock film, nor is it an easy film to follow and understand, but Topaz is a fantastic film! Took me many years of living and a few viewings over the decades to get it. Topaz is complicated, with a half a dozen McGuffins, tons of fascinating and intriguing international subplots, two parallel love stories, and an amazing cast of actors. After watching Hitch films for 50 years, and following the politics and spy craft of America, Cuba, Russia and France, all of which is needed to appreciate this film, for those who do their homework this film will be loved and seen as high quality Hitchcock with tremendous suspense and one awesome Hitchcockian murder scene. Visiting Cuba (yes - go!) and understanding the context of the geo politics in 1962, with respect to Russia, France and America will help greatly. My only fault with the film is the musical score which is subpar; a shame the great composer Bernard Herrmann was not able to work on this film. I will only say this: if you love Hitchcock and modern day geo politics you will love Topaz!

Changing (1971)

Insightful 1971 short doc of how the times were a-changing

[7/10 · 9 March 2014]

Fascinating cinema verite about a California man and his family as they are influenced and changed by the shifting values of the 60s. As as the man begins smoking pot and growing his hair longer, he starts to re-evaluate what's really important, like spending more time with his kids, and less on the overtime demands of his trucking jobs. Again, a powerful slice of reality from 1971, a golden time. If this period in American history interests you then this doc will give you a good feel for the times. If you've ever wondered what a pot party among a few couples lolled and sounded like from this period, this doc gives a perfect example.