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City of Lies (2018)
Clear-eyed, truthful, on point
It's timely as hell. It was ready to be released in 2018. But so many lines seem like a direct response to the way the conversation around BLM and policing has changed in this past year 2020-2021. In fact, this movie was made in 2017, so slightly ahead of its time, ready to finally talk about this before all of the US really was. It does so pretty gracefully, especially when compared to how royally these topics have been mucked up recently. Russell Poole dedicated his life to this event, and tried to make it right, as well as he was able. A great example for us all.
The Libertine (2004)
Potential
I was bored during the middle of this movie, so I started doing something else with it on in the background, thinking I would finish it that way. But then the scene where Rochester returns home to his wife, ill and tortured, started, and that hooked me back in. I've never seen Depp act like that. Depp and Pike were spitting and raging, it was incredible acting, and incredible as an art form, putting real humanity on display. Lizzie told Rochester she wanted the audience to feel the way I felt watching that scene. So it came full circle in that moment for me.
All of the acting was excellent, costuming, sets, music, script, scenes, etc. The reason I got bored in parts, and am giving this a 7, is that it didn't really explain the arc very well. I'd never heard of Rochester or the play this is adapted from, and it seems like the editing assumed I would. Since I didn't, it felt a little random. Scenes didn't always change in a smooth way. Time wasn't very well explained, and overall it felt like there were just emotional gaps, like I was meant to care about things I hadn't been given a reason to. And that made the very strong and passionate acting seem overkill at times, because it didn't seem to fit. In retrospect, the problem was editing and in storyboarding, or whatever it is they do to decide where scenes start, stop, and how much exposition and narrative flow they put in.
As a last point, if you've ever considered your own meaning, mortality, or futility, this is a story you might want to watch. If nothing matters, including you (except maybe your anger), where will you end up? It probably won't be somewhere romantic. And you're not the only one who will be hurt at the end. The Earl's potential mattered, and he threw it away for some reason.
Tenet (2020)
Easily earns 10+ stars, top 10 ranking
This movie is AWESOME and is now in my top 10. Wasn't sure what to expect what with all the reviews about it trying too hard or being too dense. I'm happy to report that I found those reviews utterly untrue. I loved it!! The only way this movie could be improved is for Christopher Nolan or an acolyte to remake it better in the future, tbh. Heh heh.
It is definitely very fast-paced as far as plot explanation goes; I think this was not only to drive the urgency of the story but also to ensure no important details would have to be cut out for time. Otherwise, the plot and rationale seemed pretty airtight to me.
Some have reviewed that the plot was scattered--I actually found it to be structured like levels, leading the viewer to understand concept 1 first, then concept 2, etc., building the complexity after first demonstrating an idea. Not all the events that took place had a real 'point' or the outcome the characters wanted, because the character(s) were learning/exploring, to some extent. Can't say much more on that without giving spoilers.
The tone of the acting from all the cast was somewhat straightforward, not full of huge gestures; but I didn't mind this at all, as this is one hell of a huge story trying to burst out into being and the most important thing was for it to be told right. Plus this made the more subtle craft of the leads all the more noticeable, for example Robert Pattinson slipping between personas when undercover, John David Washington's emotions toward the end.
My only grievance would be the casting decision of having Elizabeth Debicki in the role she played. There were too many similarities with her role in the Night Manager--it's a recent enough series that I kept thinking about that plot and getting distracted. She did a great job, but it was like seeing Tom Cruise in a Bourne movie. Confusing.
Casting overall was very, very good though. Diverse/inclusive, great characters, great looks. Robert Pattinson is so good in a role like this, and John David Washington can eat 007's heart out. Kenneth Branaugh was kind of unrecognizable, in a good way. The action and fight scenes were so natural and believable, sometimes bordering on graceful or casual.
I love that Christopher Nolan has such enthralling stories to put up on the big screen. He makes use of cinema as an industry and creative medium, to use to introduce incredible sci-fi (maybe futuristic?) ideas to us. I'll be happily rewatching this one for pleasure and looking forward to his next.
Chocolat (2000)
Excellent
A++ film from start to finish. Classic, confident, cheeky, romantic, perfect. Lasse Hallström is the very, very grounded filmmaker behind this! Juliette and Judi are so incredible--they are rock solid performers and have earned every bit of their accolades.
Now i have to focus on Johnny Depp. He is a class act! He knows and loves his industry, and he collaborates with others, with so much respect. He's like the late, great Mac Miller in that way: he's so sweet and talented, humble and powerful. I thought his dancing scene with Juliette showcased this especially. He said this about her: "if art is possible in cinema, I think she comes as close as anyone can."
Pair all of that with what looks like expert chocolatiering, a fabulous supporting cast, river-gypsies, and the family lore of grandmere et grandpere, and you have a rich, delicious story.
Dark Shadows (2012)
Moody and charming! - then tattered and flat.
This movie started out so moody, atmospheric, and groovy! I was totally enamored. I loved the first hour of character building and scene-setting. Unfortunately once the plot started to thicken, things started falling flat. Gaps between scenes, weird reasoning, plot jumping around, bad makeup/effects, glacial pacing during the climax, using bad shots of the actors for some reason. I think the overall plot, and all the actors, were so good! The difficulty was in the editing toward the end. Johnny Depp is so adorable, I just wanted him to have more screen-time in character! As was Helena Bonham Carter. Same for all the characters, honestly. Too brief on each. But, that editing at the end really did it in. Hate for this rating to reflect on the cast, but the latter half was that disappointing. It's the beginning that holds my rating up at a 7; it's worth watching on its own.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Great cast and effects; bad overall delivery
The cast/effects/design people gave this their all--the artistry was really lovely, from acting to costumes to sets. The script seemed fine to me. So why is the movie so bad and glacial? Seems like a disconnect between the creatives and the packagers. Too bad, because it looks really expensive and it has stars who we want to see and love. Johnny and Helena's hair/makeup are soooo good (as are they, in general).
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
Fantastic but slow
Effects and cast are solid, but the overall movie and storyarc are clunky. Awkwardly paced. However, I love that we got to delve in to the Hatter and princesses' back stories. Time was cool. Johnny Depp's makeup lewk was seriously amazing.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
Johnny Depp
He seemed not all there in this one, but of course now we know what he was going through during filming. I can't believe he's being written out of any future POTC films, as the franchise is essentially his character. Now that JD's in a better place, the Elizabeth and James characters have reunited, and we've uncovered more and more clues as to Jack's godliness throughout the 5 POTC movies, it is inconceivable that we will not be getting an epic wrap-up film starring JD and the original trio plus the longtime Black Pearl crew. Disney is royally screwing up on that decision. As far as rating goes, the first POTC was brilliant, and the next 4 were mechanical. The cast and effects are always so great, but something about the editing, the way the plot and scenes got stitched together, the overall package, gave way from brilliant to blah over the 2nd to 5th films. But while none of the sequels have been nearly as good as the first, JD has always always shone and carried the story with the character he created. Can't just erase that. And, I'd love to see more of Jack! Played by the one and only Johnny Depp, of course.
Finding Neverland (2004)
Lovely
Johnny Depp really sank into the role. I didn't see him, just this magnetic, far-seeing author who finally found a way to communicate the way he saw the world. What a steady presence. And the underlying message was so nice. It's a good thing to have movies that are so gentle yet deep. Sure, there are some weird things like people saying 'How are you?' and "Most definitely" in a period piece. But it was all delivered really well, so it honestly didn't matter. Dustin Hoffman is great! Kate Winslet is effortless. The other well-known actors in smaller roles did a great job too.
Secret Window (2004)
good stephen king adaptation
Stephen King adaptations come in across a whole spectrum of quality. This one's on the good end. The music is by Phillip Glass! And Johnny Depp is an excellent lead. He's so natural and relaxed in the role; he makes it look easy. Overall, the film does a good job at disguising the real plot behind soapy thriller themes; when you realize what's been going on all along, you realize it was a better movie than it seemed; the plot gaps are a part of the plot. Tricky to make this come off well in a movie, but I think they got it right.
SPOILER:
I'm going to spoil it now, but I just have to add: the reviews that complain that the movie is overwrought, cheesy, film 101...they are missing that that is Mort's writing style, not the actual movie's. For example, when he shouts 'I'll get you for this Shooter!' and you just hear his voice ringing through the twilight forest: the awkward timing and stereotypical clunkiness are MORT's version of how this scene happened. Because he is writing this story in his head, this is how he rationalizes 1 side of reality. We're watching MORT's unfinished rough draft sketch of events. So yeah, that's a hard balance to get right for the filmmakers. I think they did well.
Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)
Subtle restrained sweeping tragedy
Well-acted, very well filmed, very very well written. Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson's roles were brief but good. Mark Rylance is the real focus, with
Gana Bayarsaikhan supporting. The magistrate and the girl had a really interesting relationship that Coetzee's screenplay allowed to be as ambiguous as it would probably be in real life. There were a lot of nice subtle literary details that would normally be removed for a screen adaptation, but which were kept in here by Coetzee, which is what really gave the movie its luster. This was a well-done tragedy, and the magistrate's plight really sucks beyond actual measure. Not to mention the plight of the nomads and villagers. :( :( :(