llsmith-87182 Reviews

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Don't Waste Your Time

[2/10 · 6 February 2022]

One of Taratino's worst offerings. Very boring and worth a 3-4 rating but it is also in very bad taste. Hence a 2. Most awful. But Dicaprio and Pitt are quite good. And so it's more than zero.

News of the World (2020)

Nicely Done

[8/10 · 27 November 2021]

A tender tale of a man with a big heart and solid moral values in a time and place where sadly neither seemed to matter to anyone. It's a story of honor and responsibility fulfilled.

The Institute (2017)

Not Good but not too Bad

[5/10 · 26 November 2021]

Shaky story and weak dialogue. Film starts out as an innocuous sanatorium-based theme but then bounces around to various disconnected threads and ends up at an incongruous point that seems to be the start of something else. As a serious drama, it fails miserably. As a film noir, it's not too bad. If you want to see Pamela Anderson, look elsewhere.

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

A Fun Ride

[7/10 · 22 November 2021]

This film is one of at least three Beatty/Christie collaborations. There is evident chemistry between the two but it could have been portrayed better. Beatty's and Henry's limited directorial skills impede better performances. Westin, Grodin and Cannon are superb and very well may be their personal best efforts. Still a clever fanciful story and worthwhile to watch.

Shampoo (1975)

Good, Fun but not Great

[6/10 · 22 November 2021]

This film, one of at least three vehicles for Christie and Beatty, is a lame attempt at a love story. One wants to assume that these two actors must have had some kind of rapport but it fails to come through in their on screen performances. The 60s free love setting is fun and amusing but the story that started out with promise ends up a disappointment.

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

A Classic from a Bygone Era

[7/10 · 22 November 2021]

Much like many other films of this era, this one found the vista first and then tried to find a story that fit it. Thomas Hardy's story about a woman struggling to find her independence was noble, insightful and controversal in his time but really isn't enough for a big venue. Well cast, well acted and well directed. But the cinematography is what makes it watchable. As the storyline is a bit thin, the need to fill the old 70mm Cinerarama format results in at times a ponderous travelog.

Promising Young Woman (2020)

Missed Opportunity

[4/10 · 24 October 2021]

A good concept weakly done. Very little to keep one's interest. I fell alseep a few times. Ending is disappointing and unfulfilling. So much so that you feel cheated.

Dune (2021)

I Stopped Watching After 30 Minutes

[2/10 · 24 October 2021]

Unintelligible. A series of unconnected artistic images. Dialogue without content. No plot. No story. A total waste of time. A very weak imitation of early Star Wars George Lucas imagery.

To the Wonder (2012)

Killed by a Bad Concept

[3/10 · 4 October 2021]

This is a picture (movie) where the director chooses to tell its story through a series of short video clips with very minimal dialogue. And it doesn't work. The lack of dialogue breeds boredom and results in an epic failure. Lest us not forget how well Jackie Vernon deftly made boredom funny.

Cry Macho (2021)

Weak Story Weakly Done

[5/10 · 2 October 2021]

All good things must come to an end. This film was not well cast, not well acted and not well directed. It's really not that bad but it isn't really that good either. Overall the acting seemed forced and not natural except for a stellar performance by actress playing Marta.

Reminiscence (2021)

A Missed Opportunity

[6/10 · 29 August 2021]

It could've been so much better. An interesting concept but poorly presented. And a flat ending. Wasted star power.

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

I'm a Much Lesser Person for It

[1/10 · 18 August 2021]

I've already written a scathing review but I'm not satisfied. This show is the worst attempt at art I have ever encountered! Saying that this show is purely awful is giving it a supreme compliment. Everyine associated with the making of this series should be deeply ashamed of themsrlves.

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

A Complete Bust

[1/10 · 4 August 2021]

Easily one of the worst in total memory. Very, very weak script that is mostly stupid. Very, very slow pace if one is discernable at all. Totally uninteresting characters. No message. No point. Totally lame attempts to be artistic to point of the sea scenes looking like they were taken of the Atlantic Ocean and not the Hawai'ian Pacific. Just plain awful!!!

Sex/Life (2021–2023)

Life Is Complicated

[8/10 · 29 June 2021]

Interesting story of a woman trying to figure out how to have it all. A little bit too much present time and flashback and points in between makes it hard to follow and so you get a bit forced to keep up which cheats you of fully absorbing all the emotions. Shahi is great! Incredible courage for an actor!

Sex/Life (2021–2023)

Graphic But Not Slutty

[8/10 · 27 June 2021]

Interesting introspective into a woman searching for a balance between the American Dream and feeling lustfully animalistic. Intriguing. Shahi is excellent portraying a broad range of emotions. Worthwhile watch.

Bless the Child (2000)

Incomplete

[6/10 · 27 June 2021]

Not a bad concept but poorly completed. Too many loose ends. Basinger and Smits are excellent as usual and Sewell is as sinister as ever. But it just doesn't click.

Life Itself (2018)

Stick with It All the Way Through

[9/10 · 14 June 2021]

Wonderfully packaged. Wonderful message portrayed with great skill. Excellent investment of your viewing time.

The Door in the Floor (2004)

An Incredible Disapointment

[2/10 · 14 June 2021]

No real story. Shallow acting. Weak direction. Uninteresting cinematography. Bland nudity. Awful I mean really really really awful script. And many peculiar and quirky scenes that totally muddle any semblance of message. Proceed at your own risk.

The Change-Up (2011)

Good Message Portrayed Awkwardly

[5/10 · 9 June 2021]

Trite story of boyhood friends that grew up as one being resposible and other being irresponsible and each envying the other. Enter movie magic and unfortunately everything gets bogged down. The worst part is the gratuitous and mostly unattractive nudity which was not relevant to the story. End takeaway is a profound message but loses its cachet in how poorly it is conveyed.

Deadfall (2012)

Low Grade Thriller

[7/10 · 9 June 2021]

This is a decent movie but as a thriller it doesn't thrill. Star-studded cast but interestingly only Olivia Wilde got the good lines and hence all the other talent got wasted. Not a bad central story line but too many loose ends.

Rush (I) (2013)

Good But Should've Been Better

[7/10 · 7 June 2021]

The Hunt vs Lauda rivalry is well portrayed and makes film worthwhile to watch. The on track racing scenes are amateurish and frankly a waste of screen time.

About Time (I) (2013)

Lesson in Life

[8/10 · 5 June 2021]

Cute. Clever. Simple. Rewarding. A nicely done and compact love story. Not too big. Not too small. Just about right. Worth your while.

I, Tonya (2017)

Not as Good as It Could Have Been

[6/10 · 3 June 2021]

A truly significant real life story botched by a lame attempt at a docudrama. The film should have just told the story. Basing it on mock interviews of actors portraying real people fails miserably. Robbie is miscast and the rest of cast woild fit well into the bungling oafs in a remake of All the President's Men.

Dreamland (I) (2019)

Boy Meets Girl

[6/10 · 3 June 2021]

A fairly thin and trite storyline. Finn and Robbie are excellent but not enough to distinguish film as memorable. Sad commentary on what desperate and lonely soles allow themselves to be driven to.

Bombshell (I) (2019)

Very Powerful

[9/10 · 3 June 2021]

This is a story that had to be told. Marvelously acted hy Lithgow and others. Based on true experiences of real people intricately wovrn together. A must see.