jon-c-ison Reviews

Gerald's Game (2017)

Tedious, crass, unpleasant and boring

[3/10 · 13 August 2020]

The underlying subject matter - abuse - does not make for pleasant viewing, and this is compounded badly by the generally trashy and crass tone of this movie overall. What really kills it though is the major plot device - the main lead character talking to imaginary figures - the narrative is unconvincing and dragged out to the point of painful tedium. This is mixed with flashback scenes which are shallow and unconvincing. Plus a contrived horror cliche character, which is weirdly incongruous. The whole thing is stitched together in a tacky way. The conversations and scenes really don't tell much of a story or develop the characters, or one's empathy with the main character, in any way. There is really not much of a story here at all. For her part, the female lead did a good job, but the supporting actors were dire. The first 10 minutes were interesting, but the rest is mostly boring trash.

Sanctum (2011)

Solid action adventure thriller

[6/10 · 22 July 2020]

A tale of a deep caving mission that goes bad. The impact of the movie hinges on the relentless action sequences that illustrate various caving and climbing techniques in fine and realistic detail, and upon the relationships between the characters, which is passable, although the acting is overdone at times. The story is of a survival situation (or all such situations one might encounter whilst caving chained together) gone awry. The movie is tense and fast but well paced, making a gripping experience from start to finish. If you like this sort of movie, and are into caving or appreciate the natural beauty of caves, you'll probably enjoy this a lot.

Beyond Skyline (2017)

No

[3/10 · 21 July 2020]

Gave up after 20 minutes due to boredom, which was not for want of action on screen. No drama, no build up of tension, in fact no tension at all. Things start happening, but I don't feel why I should care. A movie needs more than action sequences, which themselves were underwhelming. Nothing engaging here. Perhaps it improves, but it appeared to be a movie without a brain or a heart.

Ozark (2017–2022)

Consistently excellent thriller

[9/10 · 21 July 2020]

Seasons 1-3. Brilliant stuff, especially the characters which mostly are initially unlikable, but over time are developed brilliantly by the actors. Stereotypes are played on, and then upturned, in a very smart and sensitive way. The plot development, tension and action are just great. Really outstandingly good and consistently so throughout. Super characters and acting all round. Thrillers don't get much better than this.

The Siege of Jadotville (2016)

One of the great war movies

[8/10 · 18 July 2020]

The movie tells the true story of a lightly armed company of Irish soldiers deployed on a UN mission and besieged by an overwhelming force of Katangese paramilitaries, during the Congo Crisis of the 1960's. The engagement is a textbook example of a perimeter defence and is brilliantly portrayed. The pace of the movie is perfect, really tight, with no moments wasted. The tension builds perfectly and one is captivated from the start. Just enough of the political backdrop is explained to put things in context; honest without over-labouring the point. Refreshingly, this a dignified rendition from a solider's view of the event, no ridiculous dramatisation here. The action sequences feel very realistic, and the filming and location just right. A war movie with integrity. Superb and highly recommended.

Everest (2015)

Grim but true

[7/10 · 16 July 2020]

Anyone who has spent days and nights in the mountains in Winter time knows that they are beautiful but uncompromising places. If conditions turn bad, which can happen frequently and quickly, they can be terrible. And it can defeat the best of men in the peak of fitness and with the best equipment and training. One mistake, or moment of lack of humility to the mountain leading to a bad decision, can have very serious consequences. This film does a pretty good job at showing all of that. The location shots and recreation of the mountain are just incredible, but the the movie otherwise is mixed - the first quarter does not hit home and and is rather boring, and the pacing throughout is off, it manages to feel rushed despite the long play time. A lot of film is wasted. Nonetheless it achieves it's core purpose extremely well and with integrity.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Gripping thriller about human nature

[7/10 · 14 July 2020]

A simple chase story with a modern Western vibe, brought alive by compelling characters brilliantly acted throughout. The core of the film to me was the simple portrayal of the humanity (good and ill) of the many characters, in sharp contrast to the interesting but chilling psychopath antagonist. Attention is paid to all the characters, even minor roles, and the subtle but very true portrayal of different facets of human nature - which is what really carries the movie. The action sequences are superbly done - chilling and blood soaked - and well timed, and the tension and pace is just right throughout. The ending, perhaps, is a bit sudden. Recommended.

Hold the Dark (2018)

Captivating but unfortunately unfathomable

[6/10 · 13 July 2020]

Dark and at times shockingly violent, this is a slow burning mystery with occult overtones set in the beautiful but bleak Alaskan mountains. The location, filming, acting and slow burning pace are all excellent. An unnerving strangeness and mystery build as events unfold, and it makes for captivating viewing, but by the end, sadly, there is no resolution, nothing is explained and one is still left guessing to the motives of the main characters. This is a major flaw, as the whole emotional arc really is demanding a resolution, but it really is unfathomable. Could have been an 8/10. A big shame as one is left unsatisfied at what is otherwise an excellent movie.

Noah (2014)

Weirdly incoherent but good despite this

[6/10 · 12 July 2020]

Fantasy based very loosely around the story of Noah and the flood from the bible. It's rather a strange mix of biblical story, morality tale, character play and fantasy action movie. Russell Crowe and the other actors generally do a great job, but I feel were let down by the movie's major flaw - it's incoherence. There are too many competing different vibes- littered with alternately clumsy or cheesy moments. So the experience is schizophrenic. Had they picked just one thematic type and stuck with it, it may have been much better, even great.. Nonetheless, if you go with it, it's very entertaining - even profound (when it's not being absurd). This may be a very different movie to the one that you're expecting. Worth a watch. but watch without preconceptions!

The Revenant (I) (2015)

Stunning location & cinematography

[6/10 · 12 July 2020]

The story is a straightforward one about human greed, the will to survive, and revenge. The cinematography and bleak wilderness location are stunning - worth watching just for this. But a large part hinges on the survival motif, and the movie would have been much better if much attention had been paid to to the details and realism. More build up or context would have helped to empathise with the characters more. Brilliantly filmed, brutal, and bleak - but somehow rather lacking emotional impact.

How It Ends (2018)

Gripping from start to end - but inconclusive

[6/10 · 11 July 2020]

Great acting, compelling characters, setting and events. Tense and gripping throughout. One is waiting the whole movie for the big moment, but this never arrives. Ultimately the film brings no resolution or understanding of why the events being portrayed are happening. This has integrity, because the characters have no idea of why things are happening either. But the emotional pay off, at the end, isn't there. Otherwise a good movie.

Another Life (2019–2021)

Oh dear

[2/10 · 10 July 2020]

Starts strong. But then you meet the starship crew - who portray the precise look and feel of a cheap reality TV show, with mostly the personas of immature pre-teens. And then the whole show deteriorates further into a cheesy soap opera, and then into just unbelievable nonsense. Dear oh dear oh dear. Laughably bad. I didn't make it past half an hour.

Splice (2009)

Jaw-dropping weirdness

[7/10 · 10 October 2019]

A seemingly straightforward pseudo-science story, made remarkable by the buttons it presses, especially through jaw-dropping levels of weirdness. It has a B-movie vibe, and stimulate the thoughts and emotions in a very original and quite unexpected way. Rather than jump-scares, it forces you to face some some very thorny moral conundrums. The actor and actress playing the leads - boyfriend and girlfriend scientists - are captivating, and interplay very nicely. The fact everything is completely scientifically unrealistic doesn't really matter. As for the weirdness, this really is out there. Early on there are some extremely uncanny moments, and whole sections which are grimacingly weird. Later on things get horrible, and at times, well, really screwed-up. It's weirdly light, or darkly funny, and horrible at the same time. The whole premise is strange, and packs a punch - you've got to see it to appreciate it. The movie has an original idea, goes in unexpected directions and is nicely paced. But be warned, it is seriously twisted.

Kill List (2011)

Original, dark and intense

[9/10 · 6 October 2019]

The movie begins as a very gritty, character-driven drama, and ends as a work of pure horror. The movie succeeds on both counts; the drama feels very real and is very compelling, and the horror, which really comes mostly in the last moments, is truly shocking. The film portrays an ex-solider, a fated man, on a descent into darkness. The opening family drama is gripping, with brooding tension and setting the scene for an inexorable spiral of violence in the middle act, which feels like a crime drama of sorts, towards the surreal and horrific third act conclusion. The script is natural, the characters absolutely convincing, and the acting first rate. Very original, twisting in tone from drama to action to horror in a very deft way. The intense edginess and harrowing, graphic violence really pack a punch. Be warned, this is raw stuff. Strongly recommend you watch this movie cold, as plot details will ruin the impact.

Fury (2014)

The horror of war

[8/10 · 6 October 2019]

An unrelentingly grim portrayal of the horror and brutality of war as seen through the eyes of a Sherman tank crew. War and the wholesale slaughter of human life is horrible, and this film successfully portrays that, mostly without glorification, and with unflinching attention to detail of the physical horror. The filth, gore, violence and death of war is shown in graphic details. A great deal of effort went into showing the authentic armour, weaponry and paraphernalia of the period, which combined with the detailed locations, filthy ruined environments and human desolation, paint a realistic picture. Many of the battle scenes feel realistic, with a few exceptions, notably the finale battle which is a borderline ridiculous turkey shoot and lets the film down very badly. The characters and acting are first class, really exceptional, but be warned these are not heroic figures you can feel good about. Be ready for harrowing camaraderie, broken bodies and broken minds. Deserving of praise for its integrity to its purpose, which I think is solely a portrayal of the horror of war.

The Ghost Writer (2010)

Flawless political mystery thriller

[9/10 · 4 October 2019]

An intricate and extremely well constructed story about high politics and conspiracy, that is perfectly told. It is a masterclass of mystery storytelling, nothing is ever contrived, the plot and details unfurling in a very precise, but natural and believable way. Great care was put also into the characters - even minor side characters to the films great credit - and they are acted brilliantly, to a great script. The pace and tension are slow burning and well managed, the tone is suspenseful from the start, but has a spectrum of emotion, including humour. The location and filming are very atmospheric. The whole experience is extremely immersive and very engaging. Perhaps the finale doesn't quite live up to the rest. But a real gem of thoughtful and precise storytelling that absolutely works - highly recommended.

Body of Lies (2008)

Technically brilliant but choppy and lacking tension

[6/10 · 2 October 2019]

A technically brilliant thriller around CIA involvement in the "war on terror". The cinematography is extremely impressive, imaginative camera work, great shots and great lighting. The locations and sets are brilliant, the story is good, and the acting is solid, particularly the support actors. But the main CIA characters are not quite convincing; too slick, and so gung-ho as to be unbelievable. Another problem is the pacing; events fly by at the start in a choppy way, and it's difficult to keep pace, or form a connection with the characters and story - this is the movie's main failing. The viewer doesn't get much chance to breath, and while the action set pieces are extremely impressive and realistic, real tension is lacking. Things improve as the film progresses though. It's a long movie but somehow doesn't feel it. Less would have been more.

Level 16 (2018)

Mostly a tedious drama

[4/10 · 1 October 2019]

This movie is based on a simple but strong (and grim) premise, and starts off strong. But the basic theme already established is then laboured to the point of tedium. The middle three quarter of an hour or so really do drag, not much happens, no new meaning or ideas are conveyed, there is no emotional arc or tension, and there is little or no narrative development. Then it picks up in the last 20 minutes or so, things happen and there's a satisfactory ending. The movie explores (or at least exploits) some stereotypes around the roles and expectations of women in society, but this is overdone. It is only very loosely a sci-fi, more of a drama. The young female lead actresses are excellent though. There was potential here, but let down by bad direction.

The Day of the Triffids (1963)

Camp B-movie classic

[5/10 · 29 September 2019]

Sci-fi classic from the 1960's, it's a nice story, albeit rather choppily told. The triffid effects are very funny, and the train crash scene, not to mention the wandering blind folk, well ... you have to see it. The movie starts off very strong, the second part is weaker, and it fizzles out at the contrived end. There is some good, and some terrible acting. Some helpless women scream a lot. Very camp. But it's an engaging watch the whole way through, and if you like that B-movie vibe, you'll love this.

Mother! (2017)

Amazing surreal nightmare

[9/10 · 29 September 2019]

This movie is one hell of a trip and perhaps completely unlike anything you've seen before. It starts out feeling like a horror drama, or the makings of one, but then goes off in a very strange, unexpected and highly original direction. There is a palpable tension throughout, and an unnerving, strange dream-like quality, with a real sense of dread. Later on, towards the end, the movie completely flies off into something like an insane surreal nightmare, an assault on the senses,and is very shocking. The ending is incredible. The movie says a lot about the human experience and especially relationships, love and selfishness; this is the emotional core seen through the eyes of the lead actress. The acting is great, especially the lead actress who is absolutely superb, as is the set. The filming style, and sound work, are at times intentionally disorientating, adding to the surreal sense. It's an absolutely gripping experience and very psychedelic. Despite much intense darkness and carnage, there is also goodness, beauty and truth, so in a strange way, in parts it's a wholesome experience. Bear in mind this movie is working more on a subconscious level and a lot of it does not make logical sense. You may well hate it. Incredible.

The Woman in Black (2012)

Great atmosphere but lacking psychodrama

[5/10 · 28 September 2019]

A beautifully filmed and atmospheric Victorian era ghost story, in a great location and with wonderful spooky sets. The focus is on the lead character and a very, very haunted house, the history of which is gradually revealed. I liked the slow pacing to begin, the retro atmosphere, the house itself which is amazingly staged, and the few genuinely creepy and shocking moments. The problem is the movie does not quite manage to build tension and fear in an an incremental way, and relies too much on cliched devices. And although the characters and their history come out nicely in the storytelling, somehow the "vengeful ghost" idea isn't very convincing, and this sort of breaks things, including the unsatisfactory ending. Worth a watch though.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Well thought out and well made treatment of demonic possession

[8/10 · 26 September 2019]

Outstanding as a somewhat serious study of the phenomena of demonic possession, loosely based on (or really, inspired by) a true story. The movie interweaves very successfully events leading up to and during the exorcism, the court room trial of the priest involved, and surrounding events. To it's great credit, it manages - mostly - to show restraint and not overdo things, adding greatly to the terror and horror. It is visually and psychologically scary, precisely because it remains within the realms of plausible, and lets the viewer make their own mind up. The cinematography and score are a work of art. The characters are interesting and compelling, the acting spot on. The ideas behind the movie were clearly very well thought out, and the whole story hangs together and is well told - a rarity. Well done.

Look Away (2018)

Almost ...

[6/10 · 24 September 2019]

The first part is excellent; touching, creepy, interesting and really very chilling at times. A mix of believable characters and relationships, very well acted. The stage is set perfectly, but unfortunately in the second half the violence somehow undoes the tension already established. It's as if they couldn't resist the temptation to overdo it. Less would have been much more. Rather than build on the psychological and atmospheric creepiness, they throw it away with a rather unimaginative, predictable story arc, where the very dramatic actions feel over the top, and lack impact. A shame, as this really could have been excellent. Nonetheless, worth a watch.

Cold Skin (2017)

Unfortunately a dud

[3/10 · 23 September 2019]

Incredible island location - the breathtaking beauty of nature, wild and raw, is captured perfectly. Great cinematography, very atmospheric. But after opening well, it quickly goes into the rough and never recovers. Lots of problems - all serious. All tension is lost early on, once the "cold skin" is revealed. The storyline barely develops at all, the characters aren't interesting, events shown have no logic, it's very repetitive. It tries to make a point about human nature, but labours this far beyond breaking point through repetitive violence, which has no impact. As another reviewer put it "If a tower defense game for mobile phones were remade as a movie, this would be it" .... it all comes over as shallow, absurd even, and unengaging. Bored at the half way point. What a shame.

Apollo 13 (I) (1995)

Superb in every way

[9/10 · 22 September 2019]

A brilliant illustration of the fated Apollo 13 space mission and the near miraculous turn of events in the crews struggle for survival. Everything technically is perfect; the sets, cinematography and effects. The acting is spot on, very realistic, and the movie, once it gets to the spaceship launch, is absolutely thrilling to the finish. There is an incredible attention to detail to all aspects, everything from mission control, the spaceship, to the 1960's backdrop. A story which is unbelievable, yet true. The movie is almost documentary in tone at times, which speaks of it's integrity, but might not suit everyone. Superb.