VinceGambini Reviews

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

Never Go Back (and Watch Again)

[1/10 · 17 November 2023]

'Jack Reacher: Never Go Back' is a mess marked by continuous violence and the absence of any likeable characters. It is terrible to watch movies where Tom Cruise and others permanently beat up and shoot people while the plot leaves so many questions about what's actually going on. If you ever wondered what is behind all these horrendous mass shootings in the US, perhaps it's movies like this one that make gun use look like just normal and acceptable. Besides, this film is also way too long and losing viewers halfway or earlier. The acting and the soundtrack don't stand out either. Bottom-line: I will indeed ' Never Go Back' and watch this one again.

Crash (I) (2004)

It's a crash indeed

[1/10 · 19 September 2023]

Crash has attracted some of the best actors. And it got some high rates from viewers right after its release. But watching it today - 19 year later - raises many questions about that 7.4 rate. The plot is confusing and it's even hard to follow this ever increasing number of characters and understand how all this is supposed to make sense. A simple test is to check whether you can remember names while watching that movie. I could not remember them. So who is who and why are they acting the way they are? The constant aggression makes it also unpleasant to watch. It's a pity as Paul Haggis is surely one of the greatest screenwriters and directors but this is not his best film.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

A horrible waste of time

[1/10 · 12 June 2023]

Not sure how Mulholland Drive got so many 10 star reviews. This is clearly the worst movie I ever watched. An annoying mess based on a deliberately confusing script, characters with changing names, and others that contribute nothing of any value to the story. Plus this constant screaming and violence, and these disgusting sex scenes.

I did not skip watching it because the production value and camera work were okay, and I thought at some point the dots would get connected. But that never happened. Claiming it's about "dreams and reality" does not repair the damage either.

Good movies make sure you care about the characters right from the start. That's not the case here. I was surprised as David Lynch directed some great movies decades ago. And I like the great composer Angelo Badalamenti (RIP). But even the soundtrack did not deliver anything. So, to wrap it up: this was just a waste of time.

Parker (2013)

Parker delivers

[9/10 · 14 November 2021]

Taylor Hackford got it all right with this one. And so did Jason Statham. I won't even hesitate to call it one of his best movies. It's a great story turned into a perfect script, with great lead and supporting actors, great direction and excellent camera work (which is something worth noting in the age of crazy shakycam action movies like World War Z or Jason Bourne 2,3,4,5). Everything works well here. Not one minute of boredom. Parker delivers on all accounts.

Last Chance Harvey (2008)

This is how good movies were made in the past

[8/10 · 4 October 2021]

I was pleasantly surprised by Last Chance Harvey, a movie which has a lot more to offer than what you'd expect when you hear about the story, which frankly can be explained in 10 seconds. It's a return to a time when character development was at the core of good movies. LCH thrives on exactly that: a good script and great actors - a combination that makes this film very captivating and absolutely relatable. Great soundtrack, too.

The Ninth Gate (1999)

Ridiculous

[1/10 · 14 September 2021]

Johnny Depp ... the so-called 'rare-books expert' who treats his hundreds years old book like some Readers Digest trash, browsing through them with no gloves on and always with a burning cigarette in his mouth. And then he wraps it in a dirty towel and stuffs it in his old carry-on bag, which he carries in every scene of this movie. Yes sure. And nothing in his face suggests he is surprised to see those lethal and paranormal events unfold around him. I highlight this to let everyone know, this is Roman Polanski's worst. Don't waste your time like I did. It's ridiculous beyond belief.

The Mountain Between Us (2017)

Better than Expected

[6/10 · 30 August 2021]

TMBU is more about character development than the plot itself. Thanks to great actors like Idris Elba, Kate Winslet and 5 mins each for Beau Bridges and Dermot Mulroney this strategy works. The only downside is that the eventual outcome is somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, it's good entertainment. No regrets watching this film.

Shutter Island (2010)

No folks, this is not a 10 Star Movie

[1/10 · 17 August 2021]

There are bad movies, boring ones, ridiculous ones, and then there's Shutter Island: a league of its own. It's hard to believe this is a film by one of the greatest directors of all time. This 'psychological thriller' is strangely overrated, badly written, dragged out and utterly boring. "But, but, but the twist at the end". Yeah, the twist. It's foreseeable for at least an hour. I never read the novel but would judge it's simply not movie material. Why Scorsese touched this remains a mystery. The script is packed with way too many characters no one cares about. The most annoying of all: Leo Di Caprio. It's all so slow moving and sleep inducing, made worse by that lame soundtrack. And everyone in this movie seems bored. No wonder.

Thirteen Days (2000)

Brilliant, just brilliant

[10/10 · 1 August 2021]

It's simply one of the best movies about the Kennedy era. While the plot is dramatized one cannot help but admire how JFK knowingly stood up to the military, many of whom despised the Kennedys. Great direction, brilliant acting across the board, captivating dialogues with a lot of memorable quotes, brilliant camera work (no shakycam here). This movie is timeless and outstanding in how it makes you want to read up on history and how close the world came to a nuclear war. Highly recommended.

Grizzly (1976)

Wanna be Jaws of the Woods

[1/10 · 9 July 2021]

Grizzly managed to cash in during the heyday of disaster movies in the mid seventies. But as I even noticed as a teenager back in 1976, it fails on all other accounts. The poor script, bad directing and acting and sub-standard special effects are a recipe for disaster, just not the kind they had in mind. The opening helicopter flight scene is copied from The Towering Inferno and after that it's an overt attempt to be the 'Jaws of the Woods.' Most annoying: the actors don't take anything seriously. The constant smirk in their faces, the ridiculous dialogues - all contribute to the only sensible audience reaction: you won't care about any of the characters. Forget Grizzly. Calling it a B-movie would be an insult to B-movies.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

Wtch MB today and learn about the history of racism in the US

[10/10 · 6 July 2021]

Watch MB and you can't miss the many parallels to the widespread racism and white supremacism in today's MAGA USA. Even the terminology "this country was built on Anglo-Saxon values" comes up - the same line that Republican congress members are repeating today. A brilliant and captivating although very shocking history lesson and one of Alan Parker's best movies. The cast is outstanding and the script brilliant. Highly recommended.

Jason Bourne (I) (2016)

Bad Style over Substance

[1/10 · 21 June 2021]

Identity was brilliant. Supremacy and Ultimatum still okay although the shakycam wasn't helpful. Legacy: not really a JB movie to begin with. And now this: Jason Bourne, the sequel that destroyed the franchise. The script is ridiculous, not in line with JB's character and also feels like an endlessly dragged out side plot. The directing is extremely poor as most characters seem detached, showing the same facial expressions for two hours. All is made worse by the horrendous cinematography: shakycam as a style choice even when there's no car chase or fight scene. And last not least: the crazy editing. I thought I might get motion sickness from watching this. In essence this film is all about bad style over substance and lacks everything that made the first Bourne movie so great. You don't care about Jason Bourne (the character) anymore and neither seems Matt Damon.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Boring

[1/10 · 29 March 2021]

I highly recommend this to anyone with sleeping problems. That's it. That's the full review with all detail required.

Rain Man (1988)

One of these unwatchable Tom Cruise movies

[2/10 · 3 March 2021]

Tom Cruise is simply unbearable. A horrible character that somehow is a perfect fit for Mr Cruise. It took me less than 10 min to know that I'm not going to like this film. Even Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is bad. Glad it's off my list for good.

Heat (1995)

Style over substance

[4/10 · 20 February 2021]

Overrated, overhyped, overacted, with a plot so outlandish that it beggars belief. And way too long. Can't remember any other film with such a great cast that disappoints in so many ways. The high rating here is a mystery to me.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Unwatchable to the extreme

[1/10 · 14 February 2021]

This is simply one of the most horrendous remakes ever made. A ridiculous storyline full of laughable plot holes and twists, annoying characters and dialogues, terrible camera work and too fast editing, a horrible cast of actors who should have known better, a cheap and cringeworthy musical score and zero suspense. The list goes on and on. This whole thing is so stupid, it won't even impress a ten year old. You know after 3 min what you're in for and it doesn't get better. You will hate yourself for sitting through this nonsense. Best to walk out or turn it off as quick as you can.

Ocean's Twelve (2004)

Worse than 11

[1/10 · 27 January 2021]

A mess. The jazzy soundtrack is as bad as 11. The story even more ridiculous. All that talk, that constant bla bla bla. And of course Brad Pitt is eating. The whole thing is boooring. Probably Steven Soderbergh's worst.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Overrated

[2/10 · 27 January 2021]

The all star cast robs this film of any credibility. The jazzy soundtrack is annoying and renders the whole thing pointless. And the story, my god. That's all. That's my review.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

The Coen Brothers' Worst Movie

[1/10 · 25 January 2021]

Some movies make you uncomfortable from the get go. This one of them. Violence and an unrealistic story, terrible casting.... It's hard to believe that the Coen's could get this so wrong. Nothing enjoyable here. Felt the same when I first watched it back then, in 2007. Not. Good.

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Unwatchable

[1/10 · 24 January 2021]

High production value can't make up for the endless boredom this movie exudes. I remember feeling like that when I gave it a first shot in 1995. Nothing has changed 25 years later. Unwatchable in the extreme. That's it. That's my review.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Yeah, it was fun back then

[5/10 · 19 January 2021]

Watching DSS for the first time in 20 years I thought it hadn't aged that well. The acting and the soundtrack are okay and yes it's very 80s, like time travel to an era that is long gone. But the plot is thinner than I remembered it to be and that doesn't help to make this worth my time. A girl flick, fun in some way but not a film I am going to watch again.

Dunkirk (2017)

A disaster movie - I mean this movie is a disaster

[1/10 · 7 December 2020]

A Christopher Nolan film. Boring like every other movie he's written and/or directed. No surprise. Dunkirk is particularly unwatchable. Poor acting (I blame most on the terrible script), a whole bunch of uninteresting characters whose names you wouldn't know and never care about either, zero character development, slow moving, appalling camera work (the handheld effect once popular in the 2010s), and even the great Hans Zimmer didn't seem to know what to do with this material. His film score is a non-score (and I love The Thin Red Line soundtrack). Overhyped, entirely forgettable and even worse: this a masterclass in how not to tell story. Did I say this was boring?

The Way We Were (1973)

Hmm... the way this was... it wasn't working

[2/10 · 1 December 2020]

Of course they weren't going to make it. Not sure why this film gained so many positive reviews. Okay, great actors, a wonderful score, but the plot is surreal while also predictable. And then all the other actors that no one cares for. It's just painful to watch how this drags on for two hours. It's incedibly boring. I expected more.. Muuuch more.

Empire of the Sun (1987)

A missed opportunity

[3/10 · 29 November 2020]

I missed out on this film when it was released and then it pretty much disappeared. I can now see why. Empire of the Sun is one strange movie. Reviews are remarkably varied and that suggests it did work for some people. But many also felt what I thought: it's all so disjointed as if two directors struggled to decide what kind of movie this is supposed to be. In the end it turns out too long, with no sense of storytelling or drama. This is war but all characters remain detached from reality and that is quite something for a director with Spielberg's track record. Even the great John Williams seened to be confused, not knowing what to do with this material. I let others write long reviews. My point: it's one big disappointment. Watched once and will forget it soon.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Very Nineties and very good

[10/10 · 22 November 2020]

Great story, perfect cast, wonderful character development and excellent acting, beautiful music. This is one movie you won't forget. Everything works in this gem from 1995.