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richardasmus
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The Interview (2014)
Absolutely hilarious but early for its time.
This film is written, cast, directed and produced as an excellent work of comedy... but it's now near the end of 2023. The humor bangs hard where it needs to and definitely will appeal to older folks who have lived through the nonsensical antics of the United States government, along with its lapdog presstitutes. But this is the way propaganda movies are supposed to work... exaggerate a serious problem and turn it over and over with lots of twists and turns. It's not that I believe it paints any sort of picture of reality in North Korea. We should all know by now who we CAN'T trust. But it does highlight the absolute stupidity of this time in history (2023). It's now on Netflix. Watch it!!!
Lucy (2014)
Beyond Beyond
Lucy goes beyond science fiction, beyond science, beyond physics, beyond astronomy, beyond religion and approaches that unknown reality of why and how time exists... if at all. I would assume most people who argue the science/religion nonsense have never even stepped on the threshold of the reality that all things are connected, up to and including infinity. Wires and God don't get it. But Lucy presents us with the most accurate theory of the connections that go beyond even what the human mind can even imagine about the ultimate reality. This film is most likely so deep that most humans will just shrug it off as too deep, or even ridiculous. But watch it and see. (smiley face)
The Father (2020)
Oh Poor Us, He Has Dementia
Anthony Hopkins does an excellent job of playing an old man with dementia. The rest of the cast skillfully play roles of family and friends who are upset or angry because he doesn't do what they want. Any simple class on how to deal with old people (not found in the USA) would explain the simple steps needed... basically, love and patience. Arguing and trying to reason definitely do not work. But that's what they all do, obviously playing out the materialistic roles of pretending to care but really just wanting to conveniently get rid of him without feeling guilt. I'm in my 80s and the movie sickened me, making me glad I live where people really care for their fathers. This inspires me to write a similar one where the daughter stands up to the materialists and says "both of us or no one." Hopefully it would inspire people to really care about old folks and not just themselves.
Mute (2018)
Excellent Film With Unpopular Point of View
Acting, directing, wardrobe, graphics and stunts all work together to bring meticulously written script to a movie of historical excellence. The bad ratings come from the unpopular light shown on sexual deviates who we're supposed to be praising, if not worshiping. But the entire setting smacks of "Back to The Future II" where Biff takes over Hill Valley and turns it into a crime riddled slum with prostitution and corruption as the main businesses, a reality that seems to be coming more and more popular amongst the power elite, whom the critics must please if they're going to eat. Further, although plot and theme are rather clear, the details, twists and turns that bring it to excellence make it difficult to follow. To me, that makes a great movie. You have to watch it several times to get it all. I'll put it on my once-a-year list.
Black Adam (2022)
Go See It
I usually shy away from superhero films and only go along with the group. And I just saw this in Spanish with with my 12 and 18 year old Godchildren and their parents. The dubbing was so good the actors did NOT look like marionettes. My understanding of Spanish is limited, but I did get enough out of it to laugh out loud with the rest.
More than just sight and sound, movies have feeling. This movie felt good. Although I didn't totally get the philosophical message, the argument "We need a hero" vs "We need to be free" gives me the impression that the message goes deeper than most in its genre, and challenges some of the crap philosophy polluting social media. I've put seeing this in English as my top movie goal for the near future. Everyone I was with, all Spanish speakers, said it was the best movie they had seen in our monthly outings over the past five years.
After seeing it in English, I'm looking forward to rating it again.
The Fanatic (2019)
Incoherent, disconnected and unbelievable
John Travolta plays an autistic street bum that somehow manages to survive with the help of an unbelievably nice lady but with no connection as to why. The theme that he has a fanatic obsession to get an autograph from a movie star makes an incredibly weak argument, even for an autistic person. Then things happen out of reason. He rides a scooter but somehow doesn't take it to the actor's home. He walks. The dead girl lays in the garden, unfound for what appears to be several days. The bound actor doesn't do a believable performance of trying to escape. The injustice of arresting the wrong man defies all the forensic evidence. The film seems like just another attempt by the woke culture to relieve borderline people of having any responsibility whatsoever for their actions. The more disgusting a person is, the more they will celebrate them. But promoting autistic persons as potential murders does them no justice. Give The Fanatic a miss and look outside the United States for quality movies from now on.
The School for Good and Evil (2022)
Couldn't watch it
The first thirty minutes is totally contrived, shallow and meaningless nonsense. Yes, pretty colors for the sake of pretty colors, lots of action for the sake of action, none of it with any meaning other than desperately trying to engage the audience with nothing other than glitzy impressionistic idiocy. The connection between the two friends seems like the producers are trying to grab me with impressions that there is a marked difference between what is good and what is evil. But these two girls really don't have any connectivity worth mentioning. I get that it's trying to make me think something without telling what it is.
Me Time (2022)
Annoying Protagonist
To me, a protagonist should at worst be ridiculous. But Kevin Hart's character comes of as an obnoxious person in most areas. That he gets forgiven for all of his stupidity and selfishness goes beyond ridiculous and into the realm unbelievably annoying. To assume that such a person would be a good parent goes outside the limits of reason so far that I found the process of watching this film revolting. Although I struggled through to the end, I found no redeeming features. And surely with their ending tactics, they put everyone's life in danger, including the children, all of whom would most certainly be killed by the loan shark.
The Hunt (2020)
Pulled By The Rabbit
The twisted ending of the fable "The Tortoise and the Hare," narrated by the protagonist, is the reason the movie has been banned. After the race, the rabbit returns to the tortoise's home and slaughters the tortoise, his wife and two childreny at the dinner table, then eats the entire meal. The rabbit, who "always wins," obviously personifies a power elite that will brutally slaughter anyone who exposes or threatens it. In reality, the "Rabbit" honors no flag, no political party or any ideology other than blind, fear-driven greed. The film exaggerates the suggested sides of liberal and conservative in a weak attempt at dark comedy. But in my opinion it doesn't work. It's overly simplistic and just too grisly. But the fact that it's been banned clearly shows that it strikes too close to home. It was the rabbit who banned it. I strongly suggest you find a way to watch it just to piss him off.
Aloha (2015)
I love this movie.
It's just a fun movie. It pokes fun at billionaires, the military and the crazy aspect of love. Having lived in Hawaii for nine months, I love the sensitivity to the Hawaiian culture, at least from the non-billionaire set. And to add to it, a cute little love story with an ending that ridicules the many imbeciles who want to control the planet.
Wild Indian (2021)
Every Second Gripping
In a superficial society that insists on dividing itself between black and white, what's between their legs and what they do with it, I can understand why so many people cannot see deeply beneath the surface of this film. In reality, we divide ourselves between those who fear the Natural World and try to conquer it and those who love the Natural World and strive to live in harmony with it. Our inane labeling system deftly skirts this issue. Although no one lives 100% on either side, some cross the line. "Wild Indian" tells the story of one who does, but with gut-wrenching emotional involvement. The many trans-cultural motivations, along with each actors dynamic interpretation of their character drive this film to perfection. The ending does not draw the movie out; Makwa must live with his guilt forever, with the most severe punishment being the inability to love and enjoy his own children.
Having been born in the superficial world but with Destiny frequently plunging me deeply into the Natural, I can see the profound conflict that this movie highlights. I have now lived at the center in a small town in the Amazon Jungle for 17 years. In a gathering a few years ago, a young man didn't believe there were oceans. We told him to Google "Pacific Ocean" on his phone. When images appeared, he said, "Nah, that's Photo Shop." I find that story interpretive. My friends in the north scoff and call it ignorance.
So with my experiences, I see "Wild Indian" much differently than most in my original culture. Watching this, I was gripped every second with empathy for the Apache, Navajo, Eskimo, Hawaiian, African and South American friends I have come to love.
Hasta que nos volvamos a encontrar (2022)
Misleading Title
Living in Peru and having seen Machu Picchu three times, I saw this movie quite warming. The shots of the mountains surely capture the breathtaking beauty. But the scenes of the homes and small businesses lead us to believe everyone lives in high-end gift shops or small museums, which would be quite attractive to pass-through tourists. But realists may want to look into the hearts of the people. The movie sets aside the tolerance that permeates the culture, keeping life in Peru quite enjoyable no matter what the rest of the world may be writhing about. Although the movie attempts to show Ariana as a nature and culture lover, it falls way too short of reality. Further, the title "Backpackers" also misleads us. In Spanish it's "Hasta que nos volvamos a encontrar," which translates to "Until we return to see each other." Considering the immense amount of international backpackers who pass through the area, and the plethora of stories they have to tell, the translation of the title drops the movie in the wrong bin. The plot could occur in almost any vacation setting. But the scenery makes it worth watching again... perhaps with the sound turned off.
The Lost Daughter (2021)
My Trip
I stood in line at the airport for 20 minutes watching old folks and people with small children board first. On the plane I sat next to a literature student going to a wedding. When we landed, I negotiated the taxi fare to my final destination. I saw no lost daughters, although there may have been such an experience that i missed. But I enjoyed the time more than watching this movie. Sorry.
tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)
Mish Mash
New title suggestion: "How to turn a dynamic, wonderful rock opera into a dragged-out soppy movie." I would love to see a music theater version. Is there one? It would be a killer, but the story of making it would be so-so. All great music theater works have struggles that are not particularly noteworthy. I got tired of fast forwarding it to find the songs, but I truly enjoyed all I found. Sigh.
Belfast (2021)
Gut Wrenching Decision
I loved everything about this movie and was gripped throughout. I was delighted by the balance of family connections to their heritage and faced with the decision to go or stay. All real, nothing contrived. Every moment counts. Don't miss it.
King Richard (2021)
Glorify the Dad but not the girls?
A simple movie about a Dad urging his kids on to success. OK. But I think a far more interesting movie would be how the sisters reached fame from their point of view, and I don't want to say "in spite of their father" because he was obviously a good motivator. But more than see respect for him, I felt pity for the three younger daughters who the movie shoves aside, along with Richard's other kids. Since the Williams sisters produced the film, I think a better title would be "A Tribute to Our Dad." Further, I did not see Will Smith's performance to be any more than adequate. Not an instant of his performance made me think he deserved an Oscar, although he played the part well.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Shame on the Academy
There was a time when I could look at a list of nominees to find the best movies of the year. But now the Academy only wants to convince society that it should live the way they want them to. This movie struggles to inject modern confusion into the old west, a new setting to shove Hollywood social ideology down the throats of people capable of rational thought.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Annoying
If it was supposed to reflect anything about 1973 it absolutely failed. It looks like a futile attempt to ridicule the 70s, which indeed were quite dynamic, and far more so than the socially controlled present. I found it annoying more than anything else.
Our Idiot Brother (2011)
Honesty is the best policy.
With the simplicity of Forrest Gump, but in a much shorter time frame, Paul Rudd shows that facing life honestly and simply is the best policy. Although for himself, it gets him deeper and deeper in dodo until the end where he finally finds his place in life.
As an apparent idiot, he doesn't really meddle with his sister's lives. He simply explains them the way he sees them. Eventually, each sister overcomes her problem which she would not have had if she had faced life full front. And the problems are well worth addressing: a cheating husband with a sister who won't look at reality, a lesbian sister getting pregnant in an affair where she's cheating on her lover, and a journalist sister breaking rules of confidentiality with her publisher.
Well worth the watch if you stand against today's trend of deception to get what you want.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Great Spoof
Clearly shows an incompetent White House, uncompassionate big business and a populace that loves to highlight it's pride of its ignorance on social media. Well done. Replace "Comet" with "Covid" and it pretty much nails it.
Death to 2021 (2021)
Pure nonsense
Rabid misinformation most probably paid for by big pharma. Accusations of others lying are in themselves lies. Repeating misinformation does not make it fact. Mimicking those honestly seeking truth does not hide truth. No truth, no comedy. Lies are not funny.