Really thought this was going to a respectful movie about the work of Father Amorthe. He Seemed to be a good priest and devout Christian. This movie is a joke, Russel Crowe is a caricature of him. This is truly a horror flick along the lines of 80's-90's slasher, Freddy Krueger style. In fact that actually rip off a scene from the 1985 ish movie! Foul, ugly, banal, cliched boring. Had we not bout large beers we would have walked out. Apparently the majority of the budget was blown on Crowe's salary - because every other actor is bottom of the barrel. Fortunately, it was $5 Tuesday - and the large seats are like a bed. Should have taken a nap.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Nefarious
(2023)
Surprisingly good
27 April 2023
Went as a favor with friends. I don't usually like 'Christian' films as they are usually cheesy. This was NOT - the acting of the possessed inmate made Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Hanibal Lecter look amateurish. Dialogue was good considering it's like Dinner with Andre set in a prison. It was a 'Hell' of a lot better than anything I've seen (save Top Gun Maverick) in the last oh 10 years. Definitely worth the time and ticket price. Got to laugh though looking at the metrics - seem suspiciously skewed low compared to reviews. Anyone with rudimentary stats class knows somethings wrong here. Nice try -
Back to School
(1986)
Pure 80's perfection - thanks Rodney for the laughs.
16 March 2023
Saw this at the theater in 1986, was a college student myself. And my lord, did this movie capture the fun, the fads, the fantasy that was the 80's! Bursting with optimism, a multi-millionair dad joins his son at college - why? Because he can. Buys out an entire dorm-floor turns it into a penthouse for his son and his room-mate. Dad parties it up as well as any youngster and cheats at a higher level, having the authors of required books, i.e., Vonnegut write his essays, NASA complete his astrology, and being a business mogul works to prove the prof of Business Theory is a numbnutz. Like any guy on campus, he's on the hunt for a lady friend who he finds in his Lit class - the teach herself playfully played by Sandy Kellerman. Her Brit boyfriend gets his tweedy self in a knot trying to fight for her affections - but alas.
Ok. Now the negs. This movie offers THE MOST EGREGIOUS casting errors in cinematic history hiring the flaccid what's his name - when Robert Downey Jr. Was standing right there!!!! Clearly someone's agent was friends or relatives of a higher up. But beyond that- this movie is a classic. Had the casting been corrected this would be iconic, on par with Breakfast Club and the likes.
I am sooooo thankful that movies like this are available to pull people out of the depressing duldrums in which the viewing public has been immersed this last decade. LAUGH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! After all, he made laugher - cause it's healthy. And never more needed than now.
Ok. Now the negs. This movie offers THE MOST EGREGIOUS casting errors in cinematic history hiring the flaccid what's his name - when Robert Downey Jr. Was standing right there!!!! Clearly someone's agent was friends or relatives of a higher up. But beyond that- this movie is a classic. Had the casting been corrected this would be iconic, on par with Breakfast Club and the likes.
I am sooooo thankful that movies like this are available to pull people out of the depressing duldrums in which the viewing public has been immersed this last decade. LAUGH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! After all, he made laugher - cause it's healthy. And never more needed than now.
What's Up, Doc?
(1972)
Under 80? Skip it. No spoilers so don't worry.
13 February 2023
Ok. I'm all about days gone by. Worked for and with an antique dealer for 20 years. I love old things, even while I was young, from humans to humor. But this is some type of Psyop, like calling every 'gawdam', and 'all that' in Catcher in the Rye clever. Not sure if this was ever associated with a high profile offing, i.e. Reagan, Lennon, heaven forbid. But this is a sub-genre who's days have come and gone. And good-riddance. No. I'm not dumb. I've had it checked - IQ 147. No genius mind you, but no fool. This was some sort of Rorschach test identifying those descendent the Astrakhan plains, known for trophy carp, asps, and watermelons; aka the steppes of Hell. This was the nightmare borne of some sort of Nyquilota, ketamine, melatonin, spritzer. I fear for what remains of my brain post exposure, as it was clear 'complete destruction' was the object here. Dear Lord God, heal me, I pray, I beg in the name of your Son. If I can prevent anyone from this torment and its side-effects, these words were well worth writing.
The Mark
(1961)
This is disturbing on 973 different levels.../Spoilers
25 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I guess somewhere in an underground bunker a cabal gathered around a table discussing where they were going to take society after divorces were passe. Interestingly, about 3:45 into the movie, a character opens a window complaining about the heat stating, "I'm sure the climate is changing. They say it's due to the..." she doesn't complete her sentence - I guess they hadn't concocted a reason yet. But that's nothing. Brace yourself for a deeply sympathetic take on pedos.
The main character is recently released from prison for attempted r*p* of a 10 year old and is on probation after 3 yrs. This apparently was before the psychiatric arena understood it is the only incurable, non-treatable mental illnesses on planet earth. (maybe because their victims have their childhood violently eradicated for life (just my op having witnessed its horrific effects)).
Somehow, a simple call from the psychologist to a mega-corp CEO was all that was necessary to land a high-paying job with infinite upward mobility. Yah doan't say! Despite the fact he hasn't practiced in his field for 3 yrs, he's somehow a wizard at facts/figures. Manages in the blink of an eye to get the CEO's attention, affection, gratitude, despite the boss knowing the nature of his crime. In fact he's sooo good at his new role, the previous quasi-partner of several decades gets the boot for the newb. Yah doan't say!
The single, 42 y.o. Irish psychologist, who likes to drink and uses it to relax patients, believes he's cured after some group therapy amongst other criminals. These sessions are disgustingly portrayed. Apparently the doc never instructed the pt. To reveal criminal background to dating partners even with under-aged children. In a session the character/pt admits to stopping at a playground to look at kids - doesn't seem to bother doc at all - cause he's 'cured'! In fact, the only reason he's stuck going to sessions is because its mandated for parolees.
They actually dramatize the crime - and GET THIS!! -the doc lays part of the blame on the kid! Making the claim "Even a 10 year old girl can seduce a man." Of course the kid they show did not, and was traumatized by the attempted crime. But the poor guy threw up (vomitted), threw himself on the mercy of the court, and was really, really sorry.
Anyway, after convincing himself he's not a homosexual, he earnestly dates a co-worker with an 11 y.o., who - you guessed it - is absolutely crazy over mom's new love interest! Anyway, a nasty journalist snaps a pic of him holding hands with the kid, despite the fact no law is mentioned that forbade him close contact. Needless to say - he's SOL, or is he? Girlfriend finds out his crime - eventually feels he's worth the risk, despite the fact he hid it from her to begin with.
There is no coincidence that Lolita came out the following year to glowing reviews. Well, 60 yrs later and 17/17 reviews are great! In fact in 1961 thee lead Mr. Whitman was nominated for an Oscar - Yah doan't say!!! Out of the four raving reviews on the poster - 3 are from NYC outlets - Yah doan't say! There's a reason they let this one sneak out now. The day is coming.
The main character is recently released from prison for attempted r*p* of a 10 year old and is on probation after 3 yrs. This apparently was before the psychiatric arena understood it is the only incurable, non-treatable mental illnesses on planet earth. (maybe because their victims have their childhood violently eradicated for life (just my op having witnessed its horrific effects)).
Somehow, a simple call from the psychologist to a mega-corp CEO was all that was necessary to land a high-paying job with infinite upward mobility. Yah doan't say! Despite the fact he hasn't practiced in his field for 3 yrs, he's somehow a wizard at facts/figures. Manages in the blink of an eye to get the CEO's attention, affection, gratitude, despite the boss knowing the nature of his crime. In fact he's sooo good at his new role, the previous quasi-partner of several decades gets the boot for the newb. Yah doan't say!
The single, 42 y.o. Irish psychologist, who likes to drink and uses it to relax patients, believes he's cured after some group therapy amongst other criminals. These sessions are disgustingly portrayed. Apparently the doc never instructed the pt. To reveal criminal background to dating partners even with under-aged children. In a session the character/pt admits to stopping at a playground to look at kids - doesn't seem to bother doc at all - cause he's 'cured'! In fact, the only reason he's stuck going to sessions is because its mandated for parolees.
They actually dramatize the crime - and GET THIS!! -the doc lays part of the blame on the kid! Making the claim "Even a 10 year old girl can seduce a man." Of course the kid they show did not, and was traumatized by the attempted crime. But the poor guy threw up (vomitted), threw himself on the mercy of the court, and was really, really sorry.
Anyway, after convincing himself he's not a homosexual, he earnestly dates a co-worker with an 11 y.o., who - you guessed it - is absolutely crazy over mom's new love interest! Anyway, a nasty journalist snaps a pic of him holding hands with the kid, despite the fact no law is mentioned that forbade him close contact. Needless to say - he's SOL, or is he? Girlfriend finds out his crime - eventually feels he's worth the risk, despite the fact he hid it from her to begin with.
There is no coincidence that Lolita came out the following year to glowing reviews. Well, 60 yrs later and 17/17 reviews are great! In fact in 1961 thee lead Mr. Whitman was nominated for an Oscar - Yah doan't say!!! Out of the four raving reviews on the poster - 3 are from NYC outlets - Yah doan't say! There's a reason they let this one sneak out now. The day is coming.
The Last Picture Show
(1971)
Yah doan't saaay!
9 January 2023
Well what do we have here??? It's 1971 only 20 years after the year this film is said to represent. Aaanndd,
What do we have here? A glimpse into the hopes and goals of the ilk (dare I say cabal?) behind the camera eye. All the characters set in this small town in the Bible belt are stupid, lonely, drunk, ready to drop any and all mores, standards, morals of their youth and education.
Ahhh, What do we have here? People portrayed as engaging in behavior they themselves engage PROJECTED like the movie on a screen. Loveless intimacy, group intimacy, drugs, inappropriate relations, the depression that ensues when living only for self, living without guidance, living without consequences, or helpful, healthy goals, - living without hope. (I have already been reprimanded for 'profanity' for my first review by simply stating what is filmed! Go figure.) As a Gen X'r who grew up seeing this plan in action for oh, my whole life, and seeing where we are now, I do not find this entertaining. But I do find it very telling.
So here we are 52 yrs later and all this has already occurred and far worse. This is not entertainment, it's a 'Picture-show' of their social planning committee.
As another reviewer beautifully noted, what's missing from this film is that in small towns like this, then as now, there are many people living happier lives in the service of God.
Ahhh, What do we have here? People portrayed as engaging in behavior they themselves engage PROJECTED like the movie on a screen. Loveless intimacy, group intimacy, drugs, inappropriate relations, the depression that ensues when living only for self, living without guidance, living without consequences, or helpful, healthy goals, - living without hope. (I have already been reprimanded for 'profanity' for my first review by simply stating what is filmed! Go figure.) As a Gen X'r who grew up seeing this plan in action for oh, my whole life, and seeing where we are now, I do not find this entertaining. But I do find it very telling.
So here we are 52 yrs later and all this has already occurred and far worse. This is not entertainment, it's a 'Picture-show' of their social planning committee.
As another reviewer beautifully noted, what's missing from this film is that in small towns like this, then as now, there are many people living happier lives in the service of God.
Little Women
(2019)
Shocked!
31 December 2022
I love old movies (1930's to 1965). I love old romances, i.e. Jane Austen, etc. But Little Women has always managed to escape me; from the Katherine Hepburn version to Winona Rider, I think I've seen them all. Yet, they have all managed to elude me. This movie gave me hope that all in Hell's Wood is not rot. The characters are so extremely relatable, realistic, cute, funny,...with one exception. Laura Dern's agent must have a relationship with the producers, because she is woefully miscast! Does she suck at the job? Absolutely not! She just isn't the best fit. Who doesn't love being a fly on the wall observing the intrigue of a loving family with its own set of problems and remedies? Excellent work to all! Bought the DVD and watched it 3 times in a row - yes - that good!
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