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Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
A Huge Letdown
I was so excited for the last summer of the decade to arrive because I knew that my favorite director was going to be releasing his penultimate 9th film before he quits (so he says).
I per-ordered my tickets and was so excited that he decided to use the Manson murders as a basis for his new movie. I thought that this movie was going to explore these murders more and that a lot of action would be involved.
I couldn't have been more wrong. It was pretty much a snooze fest even thought they had some of the best actors that contemporary Hollywood has to offer. There's no real "action" until the last 30 minutes of the movie when DiCaprio comes out wielding a flamethrower to roast some poor SOB in the Mansion pool.
His signature profanity and foot fetish is in this movie but all this movie really is, is a "chill out" movie about friends in 60's Hollywood hanging out together. The mood rarely turned dark and you were pretty much laughing throughout the whole thing. It was like a the Res Dogs "Tip" Scene going on for almost 2 hours but with none of the action that Res Dogs had.
This movie has probably divided die-hard QT fans. Some will like it, others will hate it. I'm the latter.
Let's hope he goes out with a bang for his final 10th film in the next decade and really gives it his all before he puts down the camera for good.
Joker (2019)
What a relevant end to an absolutley horrifying decade (2010's).
I rarely go to movies anymore because I think modern movies are hollow and nothing but reboots, sequels that are done to death, etc, but after I saw how much hate the ppl#x27;s and people were giving it and how it was apparently going to trigger an "incel rebellion" I just needed to check it out. The media HATED this movie and wanted it to fail, which is why this is one of the best movies in a long time. You know somethings amazing when the right people hate it.
Arthur Fleck is a man who is disabled, bullied, and constantly shat on by society. Out of a job and taking care of his mother things take a turn for the worse. After seeing how crazy America is getting with wealth inequality, the militarization of police, super-rats, he has taken the black pill and realizes that nothing else matters in such a cruel and insane society. Arthur has had enough and becomes a celebrity that modern America deserves.
This movie and it's themes of mental illness and childhood abuse reminded me a lot of Natural Born Killers which was released 25 years ago in 1994. In that movie, Bonny and Clyde characters Mickey & Mallory Knox have both been abused by their parents as well as having mental issues, decide to go on killing spree that makes headlines.
I wasn't expecting this movie to have a lot of action but it didn't need it. Every minute is just as grungy, morose, and depressing as the one that comes after it. The atmosphere is so incredibly dark and hopeless which meshes perfectly with the gritty subject matter. This is in total contrast to 2008's Joker which was packed with action and was more of a good vs evil tale.
The dialog is amazing. The acting is amazing. The music is amazing. Everything about this movie is top-tier.
I never even knew Todd Phillips directed it until I saw his name on it and then the realization hit me. This is the same man who started off his career with a documentary movie on legendary shock-punk rocker GG Allin called "Hated". If anyone hasn't seen that I recommend you do as well as it shows the making of a legend.
In conclusion, I think this movie perfectly encapsulates the state of modern western society. That on which is decaying and on it's last legs. Arthur becomes the norm.
American Pie (1999)
Mediocre
I don't understand why people like this film. I know it's a staple for Gen X but it's downright terrible. The characters are terribly developed. You have a Jew played by the very Jewish looking non-Jew Jason Biggs, a homosexual jock played by Chris Klein, and a bunch of other forgettable characters.
It's an teen sex comedy so I never expected much in the first place. Movies that came out after this in the same vein like Superbad weren't much better either. Just juvenile humor about sex and other silly teenage crap.
There is nothing thought provoking about this film. I know it's supposed to be a comedy but it really fails to even have a message of any sort.
Hopefully we won't get a 4K 20th Anniversary release of this next year.
The Matrix (1999)
A Glimpse Into A Dystopian 2019 Future
1999. The internet was gaining popularity, the dot com bubble was about to collapse, and Sci-Fi movies were getting better.
Fast forward almost 20 years after this movie was released and we have a dystopic future that is just like this movie predicted.
This movies main catch was the blue pill/red pill argument. Does Neo take the blue pill and stay a slave to the system or does he take the red pill and break himself free of this slavery that's called The Matrix.
The movie is very Orwellian in nature and with technology having come along 20 years after this film was released I think it's safe to say that this movie did an amazing job at guessing what was to come later on.
The action scenes, dialogue, and plot are all amazing. The cast is amazing. The soundtrack is amazing. This is probably one of the best Sci-Fi's of all time behind the Aliens and Predator movies respectively.
It's one you have to watch a few times to "get" but once you do, you feel accomplished.
11/10
True Romance (1993)
One of Tarantino's "Big 3" Crime Thrillers.
This movie was a treat to watch. The cast is amazing and even included a very young Brad Pitt who would go on to be famous. Michael Rappaport, Christian Slater (now of Mr.Robot), Kilmer, and Hopper all make this one of the most entertaining movies of all time to watch.
The mob is trying to retrieve a bunch of stolen cocaine while a call girl ends up falling in love with Slater.
The famous "Sicilian scene" is also included in this movie.
The dialogue is fantastic and pretty much everything about the film is classic Tarantino and memorable.
10/10
The Doom Generation (1995)
A Good Gen X Teen Natural Born Killers Type Film
This is the first Gregg Araki film I got into. I heard the amazing soundtrack before I had even seen the film which I bought on CD.
The story follows the lives of drifting young adults who are in a wasteland that resembles modern day America wreaking havoc wherever they go. The group encounters a bunch of crazy characters from Nazis to hobos to crazy shotgun wielding convenience store clerks.
Some of it's cheesy and low budget. It's certainly not as good as Natural Born Killers but the movie is good in it's own way.
7/10.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
One of the best films made, period.
Everyone knows, or should know, of this masterpiece of cinema. It is without a doubt one of the most popular names in film of all time and for a good reason. Brilliant dialogue, a signature Tarantino non-linear story-line and a connecting "universe" with Reservoir Dogs and True Romance make this one of the 3 best Gangster/Crime films of all time.
The scene doesn't even need to contain any action for this movie to be good. In the beginning, when the 2 bank robbers are talking at the restaurant, or when Jules and Vince are eating and discussing philosophy you get something that's fun to watch.
When you want violence, there's plenty of that. This movie has a few gruesome scenes in particular that will make you turn your head.
Add in a fabulous soundtrack, one of the best I may add, and you can easily count this film as one of the best ever made hands down.
I strongly recommend you watch Reservoir Dogs and True Romance when you watch this to make it part of a 3 some whose stories all connect.
Not as good as Reservoir Dogs but still amazing.
10/10
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
The Best Crime Film of All Time
This marked the start of Tarantino's career and in my opinion, this movie is arguably his best. Pulp Fiction is amazing but it doesn't come close to the genius that this movie has to offer.
A non-chronological plot (which became Tarantino's style) revolving around a diamond heist gone terribly wrong, an amazing 70's soundtrack, and disturbingly well done scenes make this movie a must have for any collector. I'd consider this much better than films like Scarface, The Goodfellas, or any of those typical Italian mobster movies. This movie should be the benchmark by what any gangster movie is compared to.
The dialogue is brilliant at times where the characters are literally just sitting and talking to each other. The ending will leave you to make your own conclusion on what happened based on all of the events that took place.
You're going to want to pick up the soundtrack for this one as well. It's amazing listening to it while driving in your muscle car in the country fast!
10/10
Natural Born Killers (1994)
One of the best Bonny and Clyde type movies ever made.
There are a lot of idiots whose message of the movie goes way over their head and they'll end up giving this movie a terrible review. This movie is a SATIRE crime film that tries to make a point about how mass killers are glamorized, which is more true today than ever with social media and whatnot.
This is a movie chock full of symbolism and double meanings which you have to watch a few times to properly understand.
It's amazingly shot, incredibly violent, and has an amazing plot and dialogue. Although I always wondered what Tarantino's version would've been like had he ended up doing this movie instead.
I'm not going to give any spoilers but it's a love story made in hell and it's a crazy ride. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails provides an amazing soundtrack which you should also buy.
10/10