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The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
Not perfect, but not an awful film by any means
I have to admit there does seem to be an air of laziness - or something - about this film. It's almost as if many of the takes were during blocking or early rehearsal. It seems not the actors' faults, but I'd say something at the heart of the production. At times, I even notice actors looking at the camera, perhaps because they're unsure of what's going on.
As a story it's a bit lame, I have to confess. But there are some moments where it does invoke some feelings, but it's quite predictable, somewhat schmaltzy, and quite corny at times. The music is cheap and the whole film really has a made for TV feel about it.
I just don't think it's written very well. That's the main thing. It's a half hearted attempt, and relies entirely on the named cast to get it anywhere.
I can see it as a student's first feature, really, and if it were so it'd rate a bit higher, perhaps.
But if you're in your fifties, you might get something out of it. But it's certainly not for a younger person to watch.
Not by any means Robin Williams finest, but then how can he only produce perfect films? Glad I watched it, but unlikely to watch it again.
Another Earth (2011)
Awful
Sometimes when I read positive reviews I can't help thinking that the film makers family and friends have gone to very, very great efforts to make it seem that lots and lots of people think the movie is really good. That's the only conclusion I can reach why there are any positive reviews for this film.
It's like a fairly good student film. Lots of work might have gone into it, but it's a fairly good, and not exceptional, student film.
Abysmal science, amateurish writing, amateurish acting, bad score, lousy plot, silly film from start to finish.
If I was a student, I'd be fairly proud to have made this film as my first feature.
But as a watchable film? Forget it.
This is probably the most amateurish science fiction film I've ever seen, from start to finish.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Did I miss something?
Well, I feel as though I'm committing some act of heresy here, because I absolutely love PT Anderson's films - usually. I mean, who can beat Magnolia and Boogie Nights for great films? This one just didn't work for me. I can't say it worked on one level, even. I mean, I want it to work, because it's Adam Sandler and it's PT Anderson. Thing is, it just doesn't.
It's Adam Sandler on the phone, Adam Sandler walking down corridors, Adam Sandler in blue suit, Adam Sandler being Adam Sandler. But what is the film about? Magnolia wasn't about anything in particular, sure, but at least it wasn't boring. And this one is. It's a boring film, plot less, unfunny, and not even thought provoking.
Unless I'm missing something. Because it seems everyone else here thinks it's brilliant.
Go figure...
Insignificance (1985)
Brilliant film
Yes, it's flawed - especially if you're into Hollywood films that demand a lot of effects, a purely entertaining or fantasy story or plot, and you can't actually think for yourself.
Roeg's films are for the intelligent film-goer, and Insignificance is a perfect example.
The characterizations are brilliant, the story is excellent, but, like all Nic Roeg's films - it has you thinking on every level about aspects of reality that would never have dawned on you before. His films always make you think, and personally, I like that in a film.
So don't expect to come away from watching this film and feeling all happy-happy, because it's likely you'll be disappointed.
But I think it's excellent.
Crank (2006)
Awful film from start to finish
Who on Earth watches and enjoys this kind of self indulgent, ego-tripping, way-too-gratuitously violent codswallop? This is a film for morons of the lowest order. Violent, but violent in absolutely nothing like an intelligent, well thought out way. The storyline is ridiculous, the acting is laughable, the script must have been written by a couple of ten year olds who have watched too many video games.
The lead character, a British hit man, is supposedly drugged with some kind of lethal cocktail that will kill him within the hour, and he decides to chase and kill his own murderer within the hour. Then follows the silliest of chases across Los Angeles.
If this utter nonsense had been played tongue-in-cheek a little more effectively, maybe it would have warranted an extra star. But as it is it's so unintelligent, so badly and crassly worked, that it's funny for the entirely wrong reasons. All it ends up as is an offensive, but bad, movie for idiots only.
Slipstream (2005)
One heck of a bad film
This could have been a good film. The whole paradox thing of time travel's always interesting, and so often it's possible to get a bit more mileage out of an idea, and if this had been written properly it could have done that. But what we have is a very badly written, abysmally acted and terribly directed film.
The camera tricks, for starters, are just so overdone it's silly. This director's never heard the expression "less is more", obviously. Silly, silly camera angles and corny slow motion.
Then there's Vinnie Jones, who just comes across as an ignorant buffoon, not because the character is one, but because his acting skills are less than non existent. Then there's the bad accents. Where are some of them supposed to be from? The plot itself is utterly, utterly ridiculous. Accepting the actual plot of time travel, the central plot, and what the characters do, is impossible. The characterisations themselves are just absurd, too. One minute Jones is a psychopath, murdering in cold blood with no remorse, then next he's almost some jovial hero. But it's all done with a shocking lack of consistency, wit, and intelligence.
A truly bad film. Use your two hours more constructively: have a nice nap.
A Sound of Thunder (2005)
This is one abysmal film
That's all I can say. It's an abysmal film. Special effects are laughable. Story is terrible. Why these actors are in it is beyond me. The one thing is has going for it is the idea of a "time wave". That's what gets it the 2 points. The inconsistencies in plot are amazing. A child could have written a better script, I'm sure. Who on Earth put the money up for this piece of garbage I really don't know, considering films are turned down by the thousand in LA all the time.
This is one heck of a dud. Save your money, and watch something on the SCi Fi Channel. Anything has to be better than this. I'd recommend The Butterfly effect - a far superior film.
The Rapture (1991)
Bizarre film
This film's worth seven out of ten just for the peculiar subject matter. The idea of "rapture" in the Christian sense is such nonsense and, I'm sure, responsible for the kinds of demented action of many of the misled Christians we hear about who murder their families, or end up like David Koresh and his people at Waco. If it was the story of a demented, lost woman who's trying to make sense of her life, or trying to find some meaning then that would be great. What it is, though, is some nonsensical Christian rubbish aimed at the naive and shallow thinking. How it got itself made as a regular movie and not just some Christian channel low budget thing is beyond me.
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Brilliant
Some people didn't like this film, and I can't understand why. It was panned by the critics when it was released, but it's such an original film I can't understand why. It's violent - and it covers some very difficult and uncomfortable subjects such as paedophilia and incest, child porn and homosexual rape - but the way it looks at the indeterminate nature of reality is exceptional. The actual sci fi element of the story was, to me, secondary to the idea that each event that happens to us is so often defined by pure chance; and that any one of us is as much a product of chance events as anything.
For example in the movie all the characters' lives hinge on one event that - had one person not made one brief, momentary decision - been completely different. As an allegory for the effects of our own belief systems affecting our entire lives, it's a far more powerful vehicle than even "It's a wonderful Life" ever was.
Watch this film, and watch the alternate ending versions. You have to be pretty dim to not see what an excellent film this is.