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shelleygilbertauthor
Reviews
Manhunter (1986)
First Hannibal Movie
If you love the Hannibal Lecktor movies, I hope you saw the classic Manhunter, 1986, 2hrs, Michael Mann, writer/director. But you're in luck if you missed it. It's on Amazon etc. Now. I can't see this movie at night, only in the daytime. Excellent precursor to Silence of the Lambs. This was the first Hannibal movie, I believe. Great cast--William Petersen as Will Graham, Brian Cox as Hannibal, Joan Allen, Dennis Farina and poor ol' Stephen Lang. Wait till you see what happens to him. This chiller was made with an artist's finesse, thanks to Michael Mann. It's time for me to see it again. I have the DVD but, what the hell, it's so much easier to press that button and rent it on Amazon.
True Story (2015)
Gripping
Based on a true story. Starring Oscar nominees Jonah Hill and James Franco. I saw this movie because I like Jonah Hills' acting and I like the movies he appears in, ever since Moneyball. True Story is another good one for Jonah. Strong, fascinating, tragic movie. Well-crafted screenplay and directing. Jonah does his acting just below the surface of his face, like Clint Eastwood. Jonah invites you to hunt for his emotional eggs hidden somewhere in his face. There's a scene in the courtroom where Jonas' nostrils flare like a bull in a bullring and you know that Jonah is angry. Franco is perfect in his role as the charming, scheming, manipulative accused murderer of his wife and 3 young children. He even manages to make Jonah's girlfriend fall in love with him over the phone. Beguiled by his sexy voice, she goes to his prison under the guise to tell him off, when she really goes because she must see him in person. She would've done it right there on the table with him, if she could. Did you see how rosy her cheeks were? I'm a woman, so I got that scene. A riveting, deep movie that makes you want to talk about it after. Did you recognize aspects of the musical score, Succession fans?
In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
Visually Sumptuous
This true story was all about Ron Howard's great directing. Visually sumptuous film for lovers of the big open ocean, as I am. Howard put his directorial DNA on every frame of this masterful film. His camera gave us the intimacy of the story that our eyes crave. I think my jaw dropped at many of those scenes at sea. Good acting by Chris Hemsworth and cast. Cillian Murphy's talents were unfortunately wasted. The casting was almost perfect. You want to see those faces of men who went out to sea in the 19th century. I didn't know who to root for--the men to kill the whale or the whale to kill the men.
Breathless (1983)
Plugged In
Once a year I find a movie that I absolutely fall in love with. I never saw nor have I ever heard of Breathless with Richard Gere, 1983, until last night. I think it was a great movie. The story was original. The acting, direction and editing was excellent and of course Jerry Lee Lewis' music was fun and exciting. The Oscar for best actor that year went to Ben Kingsley for Gandhi but I think Richard Gere should've gotten it for his amazing portrayal of Jesse. It's a cinematic crime that Gere wasn't even nominated. So what, if the story was seedy. So what, if Jerry Lee Lewis was a bad boy. All of that does not take one iota away from Richard Gere's seeexy, astounding, inspirational and electric performance. Gere put every inch of his body and soul into this part. He overcame all inhibitions to plug himself into that socket and come alive. I remember my 20s and I felt exactly the way Jesse and Monica felt. I think this movie personifies the free feeling of our 20s. Of course, we knew all along that there would not be a happy ending. But the ending was necessary because Jesse was an all or nothing kind of guy. I must see it again.
The Good Nurse (2022)
Shock and Fury
The Good Nurse on Netflix, with Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, is very good. Just knowing those 2 great actors were in this production gave me high expectations for this film. It was a simple production, straightforward acting, well told story, simple direction, simple editing. Nothing fancy. But then, you don't need anything fancy to a true story as horrific as this one. I still can't believe it's true. I'm so tempted to talk about the ending but I can't. I think if you see this film, you'll understand the shock and fury about the ending of this true story. Make sure you read the closing comments after the movie is over.
Monster (2022)
Why is Everyone Always Leaving Me
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starring Evan Peters, who is brilliant, is so good. I normally wouldn't watch such a gruesome movie if the production was mediocre. But this series is outstanding, The writing is perfect. The acting, editing, directing, casting-all of it gels perfectly together. I got deep into it within 2 minutes.
Evan Peters gave an incredibly inspired performance. You just never knew that underneath that calm, good looking face was an astonishingly sick monster. But you knew he was sick. He was the perfect actor to cast in this role. He didn't have to act like he was sick. It was so natural to him. It was as if he was Jeffrey Dahmer. I remember reading about him in the 90s when the story broke. I couldn't read the whole article, it was so disturbing.
Yes, the creators and writers, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brenner, plus a few other writers, even were able to show a sympathetic side to this killer. Don't know if this is part of the real Jeffrey Dahmer story or a figment of the writers' imagination. You can even understand why he did the things he did.
When I saw Richard Jenkins was in this movie, I knew it would be a good one. He knows how to pick good movies. He was great in his role as Jeffrey's father. So perfect as the hot and cold father.
You may think, as I did, that this movie is a single-minded sensational story about a serial killer. You certainly get that impression in the first few episodes. But it turned out to be not a simple story.
Monster lays out a much deeper, more complicated and wider landscape. The writers accomplished the Herculean task of artfully fleshing out a few of the victims' lives with their families. At first, I didn't know where the writers were going with these subplots. But then I realized the writers were showing that these victims were normal, nice people. They were loving sons and brothers, they had jobs, they were gay, they weren't criminals and they weren't drug addicts.
They were beguiled by Dahmer's sweet sexy face and demeanor. He sweetly and politely lured them into his apartment, gave them coffee or soda or beer and put inside a drug that rendered the man helpless. Why he drugged them comes out in a later episode. There's more to it than your first impression.
There are 2 elephants in the room in this series: racism and testosterone. The writers don't really play up these words but their behavior is clearly present. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin police department was not incompetent, as some reviews and people say. They were racist. Dahmer was a normal-looking white man and almost all his victims were black, brown or Asian. Plus they were all gay, which was taboo and untouchable in the 70s and 80s. If Dahmer were a black man and all his victims were white, you can be sure he would've been arrested far sooner. The Milwaukee police ignored, avoided and neglected any complaints that had to do with Dahmer.
All throughout this series, the writers explore the one question that is on everyone's mind, especially his father's. Why? Why did Dahmer capture, imprison, torture, kill and eat 17 human lives? What drove him to do this? The father wonders if he passed his DNA on to his son. He wonders if his son was affected by them dissecting roadkill together in their garage. The father wonders if the mother's neglect turned him into such a cruel person. They did not, however, explore the practical and scientific aspect. Testosterone is the male hormone that causes violence, aggression and domination. Dahmer was extremely violent, aggressive and had a driving need to dominate, which is why he drugged all his victims. His psychiatrist did not check his testosterone level to see if it was dangerously high. No one made the connection between Dahmer's behavior and his hormone levels.
Evan Peters Is up for a 2023 SAG award for his role. Richard Jenkins should be recognized for his excellent supporting role as the father, which only got better and richer as the series went on. If Hollywood had the stomach, a best picture nomination might be forthcoming.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
No No No No and No
If you like soap operas, you'll like this movie. I'm not a soap opera person. I don't trust or like a film that is constantly going after my heart with an ice pick. Yes, Brad Pitt is cute, handsome and sexy all at the same time but I refuse to cheer for him when he's doing something stupid. Or if he goes along with the story line: let's drag female hearts through hot coals. I also look for a movie to makes sense. I know it's a story and the writer could write whatever she wants in her story but the moviegoer wants to see some sense to the story. When this movie was over, I was filled with frustration and anger.
American Assassin (2017)
It's Personal
I liked American Assassin. CIA vs The World. Director Michael Cuesta delivered a solid nonstop action film. Dylan O'Brien gave a tough sensitive performance. Michael Keaton, as always, was state of the art. A little too visually dark but I was already embedded in the story. I wanted to eat a bowl of cereal while watching this film but I knew if I put my head down, I would miss something important. Loved the scene with the dogs. It was funny. And then Spiderman right after the dogs. I did not expect that. It was startingly brilliant. You'll see what I mean. The moral of this story: it's always personal.
Roadie (2011)
GLF (Great Little Film)
Lies, shame, failures and a quart of bravery face Jimmy, newly fired as roadie for Blue Oyster Cult rock band. No job, home, money or possessions, middle-aged Jimmy goes to "visit" his Mom in Queens, NY. Well-played with dignity by Lois Smith, Mom has one foot in the past, one foot in the present. That's OK, so does Jimmy and his 2 high school buddies he reunites with 35 years later. And we know how rough that can get. The nice thing about director Cuesta, who wrote the screenplay with his brother Gerard Cuesta, is that they are kind folk.
Spencer (2021)
Uninspired Acting
I cannot recommend Spencer. Kristen Stewart gave a lazy performance. She whispered her role as Princess Diana all throughout the movie. You could hardly hear her talking. Her facial expressions were one dimensional. I remember Diana when she was alive. She did not whisper. She spoke in a normal voice. She was full of emotions. Ms. Stewart's performance was so annoying that I could not watch the whole movie.
12 and Holding (2005)
Great Film
Starring Jeremy Renner, Conor Donovan, directed by Michael Cuesta. I like this movie. It was well done. The characters are real, the dialogue is natural and well written. The story is strong and good. This film is so satisfying. It's intimate and emotion-driven. This is the third of director Michael Cuesta's films that I've seen. The other two: L. I. E. And Kill the Messenger. I love all three. He's such a good director. I am a fan.
Middle of the Night (1959)
Taboo
This is a taboo love story. Fredric March, a widower in his late 60s, is in love with Kim Novak, a 24-year-old divorcée. His family is upset. Her friends are critical. Jerry, the smart and successful businessman, is the gung-ho lover who flings himself into Cupid's Now-or-Never arrow. Betty, a dead-end receptionist, follows her temptation. The writing could have been awkward or clunky but Paddy Chayefsky wrote a thoughtful and delicate script.
This Happy Breed (1944)
A Film About Family
This is my favorite film about family. Big names produced this great little gem. Written by Noel Coward and directed by David Lean, like an epic novel there is love, hate, bickering, devotion, jealousy, fear, disappointment, birth and death. The story is modern, yet timeless. The dialogue is real and detailed. The characters are sharply written. Although This Happy Breed isn't as recognizable as It's a Wonderful Life, I think you can appreciate this unsung hero.
Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
Authentic and Great
I think Tarzan, The Ape Man is one of the finest movies ever made because it was made only 5 years after the first talkie, because of the primitive and difficult scenes, because of the unusual storylines, because of the inspired acting. Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan are so natural as Tarzan and Jane. Their love is the epitome of a Great Love Story and soared this authentic early work into the pantheon of forever films.
L.I.E. (2001)
Danger Zone
I liked this well-made film that deals with teenage coming-of-age, a sensitive toptic. The acting was thoughtful and superb. The director, Michael Cuesta, did an especially masterful job with this challenging script. The film could easily have been too much one way or the other but instead it demonstrated the powerful control of excellent directing.
Thirteen Lives (2022)
Trapped in a Flooded Cave
Thirteen Lives is based on a true story. In 2018, 12 young soccer players and their coach are trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand during monsoon season. This is an excellent production. The acting was very good. The sound was incredible. Ron Howard's masterful direction is Oscar worthy. The tight editing made the film edge-of-seat riveting. You don't feel like an innocent bystander watching this movie. You feel like you're there.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
What a Pisser!
I loved Everything Everywhere All At Once. I laughed a lot. Loved the IRS Brooklyn bubala. Huge flying dildos will always get a laugh. That slo-mo goosing was a pisser. The movie started out simply. The Chinese mother, juggling 100 things at one time in her laundromat business. The Chinese father, so sweet and caring. Then all hell breaks through. This film had every single feeling, thought and idea that humans ever had in our 200,000 years on Earth. But enjoy!
Positive Energy with Michele Granberg (2015)
Cannot Recommend
I cannot recommend Michele Granberg to anyone because she led me on about the services she would provide for me. I went to her for a past life regression therapy session in which I was supposed to be hypnotized and go into a past life. She never hypnotized me and I never went into a past life. The phone went off and we were interrupted. She didn't even go back and start again but she continued where we left off. I was totally awake and disturbed by the ringing of the phone. She knew why I went to her and she led me on, almost promising with her vague and flowery language that she could help me in some way. I felt that Miss Granberg misrepresented her services, as far as I was concerned.