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Reviews
Upgraded (2024)
Mash Up Rom Com that is enjoyable
Nice mashup of the Devil wears Prada with any number of the rom coms in which the main character is lying. The fun of this movie is seeing Ana, the intern, battle through and use her brains and wit to get ahead and promote her career. Which of course leads to the conflict plot, and then another counter twist. Marissa Tomai does a great job very convincing and shows that she is still an excellent actor. Couple of potential funny items were completely missed by the director, but these are small points. The pace is quick enough to be entertaining, the dialogue is believable, the situations, while a bit predictable, are still funny.
Worth the time to sit back and relax and watch a modern romcom.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
A pace that is painful
Am a fan of dystopian movies, especially end of the world events. So started this with high hopes. Alas, shortly into the movie I realized the pace of the movie was so slow it was painful to watch, but watch I did. Plenty of suspense, pretty good build up to the obvious conclusion. Ethan is completely convincing as an emasculated male who can't figure east from west. Julia Roberts plays a perfect Karen who hates everything and everyone. At the end of the movie, it wraps up well. But I was left unfulfilled. Would multiple foreign countries attack the US? Maybe, but the economic damage would spread world wide. So I did not run to a Prepper site and stock up.
Expats (2023)
Kidman is not the right choice here
Update to my original review. We watched episode 4 and both agreed, "we out". It has gotten that bad. Kidman's character borders on insanity. The other actors all overplay the roles to the point of being a soap opera. The book may be intriguing, but the director seems intent on treating this like a film studies project, trying to prove how talented they are and instead missing the mark.
A provocative show, with multiple lives intertwined. But so hard to get past Kidman trying to play a wife ten years younger than she really is. The extensive plastic surgery is obvious and she over acts trying to be the mother of two elementary school age children. This is a distraction, and it becomes more apparent when she has her "moments" with close ups. Will keep watching, because the script is tight, but some of the acting is over the top. Another reviewer compared it to a soap opera. Not quite that bad, but it pushes the limit. Some good local scenery, and expect the plot lines to intersect and make it more enjoyable and understandable.
The Holdovers (2023)
Soul searching
Incredible script and acting set the stage for an memorable movie. Not really a comedy however. Set in a boarding school, the movie weaves a complex story of human nature. And while it presents multiple scenarios of the leads, it is not judgmental. Rather, the script delves into the importance of luck in our lives, both good and bad. Privilege is correctly presented as something that is personal, impacting the individual, not an entire class of people. And privilege may be present, but so can anguish and adversity at the same time. Finally, the importance of action, moving oneself and others forward, is revealed on. Sorry for the vague descriptions, but don't want to include spoilers.
Gran Turismo (2023)
Well executed movie to merge two worlds
Recommended by a friend, this was much better than expected. It could have been a CGI fest for two hours, instead it told the story incredibly well and blended the Sim world of gamers with reality. The character development is great, as is the Master and Apprentice bond, with the shift from over confident Apprentice and skeptical Master, to a believing Master that is able to encourage a doubting Apprentice. The use of CGI is creative, highlighting when the racer is able to bridge the void between his gaming console and reality. Well worth a watch to understand why auto racing using sims extensively now as part of their operations.
The Covenant (2023)
Very well done
Captures all of the nuances of fighting a war on foreign soil. The duality of Afghans is well represented. The Taliban are a minority, but have the guns. Lots of action mixed with a deep plot. Parts seem to drag on, but then you realize the sacrifice made to save the American. An atypical war movie, but thought provoking and heartbreaking at the same time. The only spoiler is we know we abandoned our pledge to the interpreters when we pulled out unexpectedly and left the country back in the hands of the Taliban. A dark moment in US history. Gylenthal captures the deep intensity of the Covenant.
Asteroid City (2023)
Started interesting, then boring
Paid money for this based on reviews. But once you get past the quirky filmmaking, which is engaging for about 30 minutes, the movie becomes predictable and to be honest, boring. The alien scene, the big moment, is ho hum. Every character delivers their lines as if the fate of the world depends on it, way over acted, and honestly the actors could have swapped roles and made now difference. The relationships are odd with no chemistry. I realized the broad cast of A players was meant to bring top talent. But when direction fails to create relatable characters, and the script can't hold up once the "documentary" gimmick is worn out, I feel like my pocket got picked. Save your money and more importantly your time.
The Last of Us (2023)
Slow, boring, a little predictable
Tuned in with excitement. But was underwhelmed. Pascal has one mood, solemn. It gets boring. I didn't realize he had a connection to Tess for a long time. And The Walking Dead has throughly explored how humanity devolves at an apocalypse. Nothing new here. Will continue to watch, but not sure expecting a lot in theme development. I am not familiar with the video game. The creatures are interesting, but again, TWD has gone way beyond what Last of Us has shown. I'm thinking that Zombie movies/series have reached their apex and are on decline. Find the original Night of the Living Dead and you will see we have reached the end of an era.
Being the Ricardos (2021)
Poor casting?
Neither actor is capturing the essence of the characters. Kidman is uptight and cold. It is difficult to watch. Didn't they watch any interviews or footage to understand the people????