matteveland95 Reviews

The Hero (I) (2017)

Watch with care.

[10/10 · 6 September 2023]

Reflection, redemption, love, life, thought, attempt, success, failure, regret, consideration, ownership, family, friendship, health, death, time, space, self, ego, humility.

A uniquely human movie. For those who seek inspiration, introspection, and maybe struggle with their identity. For those who wonder where they and where they will be. Maybe even why they are. Wonderfully shot, perfectly paced. Briliantly acted, nothing forced and nothing missed. Fantastic chemistry between improbable people. Solid writing and solid silence. Modern film rarely gives you moments to think about what you've just seen and heard.

Watch this if you wonder.

Don't Worry Darling (I) (2022)

Way underrated. Hated for the exact reason it was made.

[8/10 · 2 September 2023]

Sci-fi psycho horror. Honestly surprised me. Way more than I thought it was going to be. Excellent pacing. Excellent acting. So much mystery and suspense with nothing handed to you. The story evolves scene for scene right in front of you, with new revelation and horror as it continues. Terrifying prediction of a potential reality and a glimpse into the minds of some of the most fringe desires of the worst of us. I was unsure, and then I was curious, and then stumped, and then horrified. It's dark, it's possible, it's rooted in a reality that exists today. Oppression, control, sexism, desperation, horror, reality, future. A proper modern horror film right here.

Scream VI (2023)

All time classic franchise. True to its core.

[8/10 · 29 April 2023]

Another installment to one of the all time great slasher franchises. True to itself- fun, gory, crazy, jumpy, and non stop slasher action. Loved the ensemble cast we got here. So many recognizable faces and just all out Ghost Face slasher goodness.

It's exactly what it's supposed to be. Anyone expecting anything other than another Scream movie is asking for too much. They're all great for what they are. I don't think it missed a beat and was entertained the entire time. A proper fun slasher that keeps its namesake alive. Shoutout Wes Craven, RIP. It's been 20 plus years of Scream and I hope I get another decade or more. Self indulgent and the perfect slasher/satire sweet spot. I will never not watch a new Scream movie!

Jack Reacher (2012)

Leave your fantasy of the man at the door.

[10/10 · 22 March 2023]

All the negative reviews say the same thing: Tom Cruise isn't big enough to be Reacher. So very strange. Everyone wants to see a big hulking dude play the role, rather than a great actor.

Never read the books, doesn't matter to me. This MOVIE is seriously great. The characters, the action, the story, the score, the development. Seriously! This is one of the finest modern action/investigation movies we have today. Tom Cruise aces this part, doesn't matter how big he is, he is one bad man in this movie. Great chemistry with Rosamund Pike who compliments so well in her part. Great supporting cast all around too.

The story is great, the revelations are great, the score is seriously great, and the action is all out exceptional. This deserves to be rated way higher than it is.

WATCH THIS.

Black Adam (2022)

Top tier from the hero genre.

[8/10 · 16 November 2022]

Seriously good stuff. Black Adam is an awesome all powerful character and Dwayne played the part exceptionally well. Seriously enjoyed this one. The continue development of the backstory as well as the additional hero's within made this one incredibly good. I've grown a little tired of the hero genre but this one really stood out amongst the field.

Some epic battle scenes as well as a great showcase of other superpowers. Loved the character design for everyone and the subtle nod to skateboard culture was very much appreciated.

The 600 required character thing really made me type more than I wanted to. I guess it's to control the incessant bots that have taken over of late.

Anyways, watch this one for some epic superhero action!

Persuasion (I) (2022)

Face value, valuable gem..

[10/10 · 16 July 2022]

Charming, cute, potent. I've not read the source so as to have anything to compare it to, lending me a seeming advantage on this one. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue, Dakota Johnson's narrations, and the overall pacing.

I good love story is my favorite subject and I found myself wanting at every encounter.

Solid cinematography, dialogue, and characters. I will definitely be watching this one again. I understand being disappointed in regard to matching the source material but I do not believe it to warrant the excessively low ratings.

The Prestige (2006)

Brilliant story.

[10/10 · 4 January 2022]

What a story. An engaging and developed timeline of conflict and drama and event. A brilliant film overall. The direction, the execution- simply a masterpiece of layered emotion.

One of my favorite films for many years and only on this viewing have I recognized it's special place as a 10/10 for me. From nine to ten since my first viewing in 2013 and many subsequent viewings to today. Nolan's masterpiece.

No Time to Die (2021)

What a waste.

[4/10 · 10 November 2021]

Incredible opening, epic investigation and building to finale, AWFUL ending. Absolutely wasteful and disrespectful to kill James at the end and ruin the happy ending we've never gotten but always wanted. Can we get an alternate ending please? I loved James and Madeline and I wanted their storyline to continue to exist for a lot of reasons. The tragic hero death does not fit at all and it ruins the film in my opinion. The best parts of the film are James and Madeline and to kill it off for nothing other than a closing is just awful. This could have been something timeless and truly special but instead it feels like a slap in the face to true fans of the franchise. I am so disappointed.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Brilliant acting.

[10/10 · 18 October 2021]

Besides the brilliant story within and the nonlinear layered telling of it- I truly believe this to be one of the finest portrayals of love to be put on screen. Penelope is absolutely stunning in her role and the chemistry between her and Tom/their characters is absolutely wonderful. This relationship is one of my favorites in film history.

True Detective (2014– )

Truly top tier.

[10/10 · 3 October 2021]

A lot of love for season one, I get it. But for me, each season is its own masterpiece.

Spanning every era and each uniquely built. The pacing, the drama, the details that unfold, and the overall depth of every season makes this some of the best viewable fiction I've seen.

I'm more of a film fan but I've been in a rut. True Detective and all of its seasons have filled the space so well and I can't wait for more!

If you enjoy depth and unique pacing, a truly built out story, and gritty cop drama- this is surely for you.

The House That Jack Built (2018)

Monotonous and without a point.

[3/10 · 30 September 2021]

Not sure what I was expecting but this didn't deliver much anything. Very skippable. The pacing is painfully slow and it's just very dry. The use of art and iconography throughout packed more time on to this than needed. Slow, boring, uninteresting, and without a useful point. I can't imagine many people finding this worth their time.

Nine Perfect Strangers (2021)

Modern masterpiece.

[10/10 · 23 September 2021]

Perfectly relevant. Wonderfully acted across the board. This is top tier production of story.

Filled with character and drama and poignant climax each episode. There is direction and building and thorough relation with everything. No disappointment episode to episode and an overall positive outcome that closes with satisfaction and optimism.

Fiction steeped with reality.

The music, cinematography, acting, animation, and overall direction really sends this into the upper echelon. Brilliant.

Fright Night (2011)

Well rounded vampire fright and fun.

[8/10 · 22 August 2021]

A modern vampire film with the right mix of all you could want. The movie gets down to it almost right away and it keeps the pace up throughout.

Colin Farrell is top tier as the vampire king and the rest of the cast aced it. The perfect movie night fright flick!

Watchmen (2009)

The finest hero movie made.

[10/10 · 22 July 2021]

With all the comedy and mass ensemble assembly we get in today's hero movies, this is a critical and poignant movie all these years later. Supremely adult and critical of society in a way that only an informed adult can understand. Referencing history throughout and adding fine detailed touches to integrate it into the fiction.

Overall format of the story is exceptional with a backstory for each, exceptional writing and narration by the characters and a great performance by each as well. I seriously believe this to be the finest work by ZS and one of the finest hero films of them all.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Mediocre at best.

[4/10 · 19 July 2021]

Follows the same standard format as all the super movies we are inundated with at the moment. Barely entertaining. 4/10 is very fitting.

Stoker (2013)

Be careful here.

[6/10 · 16 March 2021]

The movie has a unique approach to the timeline and the changing/repeat of scene is fun to watch. Nonlinear and cyclical scenes with lots of details, it is shot AND acted well. **************++++++*+****

Must warn of a pretty gnarly masturbation scene that really put me off. Got better again after that. That is completely unnecessary to put that in a movie.

Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)

Uniquely lovely.

[8/10 · 15 December 2020]

I really enjoyed this. Maybe it was good timing. Unique dialogue that leaves you following closely. Antoni may have been the main character but Rosemary is our protagonist and she is wonderful. A great love story with great supporting characters.

Phantom Thread (2017)

A lot of subtle emotion.

[7/10 · 15 November 2020]

Tense, dark, calm, paced, consistent, brooding, sad, subtle, strong!

I enjoyed this film for its nuanced and subtle but jarring story of love. Our lead is strong, unlikable sometimes, but understandable throughout. An interesting and honest take on what it means to love someone unconditionally.

Serenity (I) (2019)

Dark tension.

[7/10 · 25 October 2020]

You know something bigger is happening from the minute it rolls. Dark, mysterious tension holds the screen. Cool concept and interesting direction with that concept. A modern sci-fi film.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Solid mayhem. Massive plot holes.

[6/10 · 5 October 2020]

As many have mentioned, this is the follow up to Prometheus. I was hoping for some explanation to the inferred superiority of the engineers but none is given, any assumption we have made is walked back as they are so easily destroyed by their own weapons.

Another glaring problem I have is with David and his development of the "perfect organism". So strange he considers the xenomorph a perfect organism. How could an organism that kills anything else alive be perfect? The inability to coexist, communicate, integrate with another advanced species is "perfect"? David requests and enjoys music developed by humans, he copies the instruments and wants to hear the music played when he has the opportunity. Can a xenomorph write symphonies? Wouldn't a perfect organism be more pleasant to look at, have a more balanced aesthetic? Wouldn't it reproduce in a more pleasurable/harmonious way (as humans do)?

David is extremely inconsistent and illogical.

Beyond all this, great science fiction mayhem within.

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

Woah that got bad.

[4/10 · 7 May 2020]

Started off kind of funny and fell apart around half way in. Went from alright watchable to awful and vulgar. Not worth your time.

Extraction (2020)

Pure modern action.

[6/10 · 6 May 2020]

A true modern shoot em up. Lots of gunfire, lots of heroics, lots of solid action sequence, and some good old drama.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Brilliant dialogue, revelations. Social commentary.

[10/10 · 22 March 2020]

Stellar film, detailed dialogue, and poignant clashes of ideals. Took me a long time to watch this film, I'm young- older films can be a bit tedious when making a selection from the massive catalogue that exists these days. Do not skip this one if you're a fan of film and enjoy a larger cast with detailed dialogue!

The Tourist (I) (2010)

Light, sexy, and fun.

[7/10 · 24 February 2020]

Very enjoyable. Clean story, smooth pace, and charming leads. Angelina stuns, the setting is romantic, and Depp charms. Smooth victory that you were rooting for without knowing it.

The Big Short (2015)

Brilliant film exposing US corruption.

[10/10 · 23 February 2020]

Capitalism breeds greed, inequality, corruption, loss, and failure. This film exemplifies what is wrong with this country! Watch this and understand it.