Change Your Image
steve-83-602015
Reviews
Giant Little Ones (2018)
Too Violent for Me
Ballas had six orgasms in one night with his girlfriend. Sooooo, he's very sexual. This is why my first take on this movie was wrong: Frankie didn't make a move on Ballas, Ballas made a move on Frankie.
People could be sympathetic if Frankie made a move on Ballas but not the other way around. Frankie is a Literature class character who a writer can work a narration and readers can learn something. Ballas is a take-no-responsibility, image-centered character who has nothing to teach.
How a friendship can turn into lying and violence is not entertaining. For no one to give advice to Frankie that he was being mistreated by Ballas is a poor situation.
At first, I thought Franky was bisexual, but he is not. He is just friendly, helpful, and good-natured.
On a different topic, when he tries on the jacket his father bought for him, that seemed to be so authentic. It took away all of the distance a viewer may have thought there was between son and father.
The Accompanist (2019)
As a writer, I give this film 8.762. Personally, I give this film a 10.
The subject matter of Jason's powers are salvific and that is important to share with a willing audience. (I'm writing this while listening to Grigory Sokolov playing the Rachmaninoff Piano Conerto #2.)
Subject matter 7/5.
Read The Energy Cure by William Bengston, as I have, to appreciate this subject matter. You can also watch the youtube video: iclif. Energy Healing Dr. Bill Bengston.
Powerful Moment, Wisdom Thought Passed on to Audience, not even a sentence: Leaving the children you loved, leaving them at their graveyard (tragic life experience to go through)
Powerful seconds of powerful ballet classes - In 1983 I had powerful seconds of ballet classes as an elective at NYU where my fellow students learned important lessons of alignment, balance, strength, and serene movement.
Powerful soundtrack of classical music
and the talent of the accompanist, Jason, and the talent of the dancers in that class.
The arc of Adam portrayed by Aaron Cavette
The height of his arc was sufficient but the length of the arc lacked gratitude.
I did not agree with. Brandon portrayed by. Ricky Palomino when he said Jason couldn't say he loved him when Jason evidenced his loving care for him throughout the movie.
Tár (2022)
7.714 out of 10 stars
Kate Blanchett 10/10
Other characters in the movie 7/10
The Movie: 6/10
Script: 5/10
Length of Movie: 6/10
Movie Experience & Entertainment Value: 7/10
One rehearsal scene had the last note/moment of a movement go on too long.
Some of that jogging was unnecessary.
Well let me stop the playing of this YouTube video:
Jessye Norman "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" Ruckert Lieder 5/5
and concentrate a bit more.
Is Mahler's 5th better than Mahler's 9th?
I'm likely to judge by the Adagio movement. I don't know the 9th's Adagio movement.
No, I'm not connected to the 9th's Adagio.
Supposedly, James Levine and the Met orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Mahler's 9th was nice. It sold out quickly. But back then when I was trying that, there was no YouTube for me--maybe HMV and Penguin Guides to Classical Recordings (86th and Lexington Ave., northwest corner).
Someone said, you better throw in the 4th.
Let me try the 4th's:
YouTube Video:
Mahler : Symphonie 4 : Poco Adagio - BPO /Karajan*
That's more my style. Beautiful.
Of course the Adagietto from the 5th is sublime.
Gutteral Scream! ! !
YouTube:
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Adagietto) / Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker
Berliner Philharmoniker
470K subscribers.
When I moved to NYC, in my early years there, I went to Rizzoli's on 57th Street (maybe 1984) and picked up a double casette of Adagios. What a revelation ! ! !
How different would Tar be if it were set in 1984.
I didn't appreciate the back of the head shot when Tar was being interviewed at the beginning of the movie. It was annoying.
Google this:
Mahler 4 vs. Mahler 5 vs. Mahler 9 - what do you recommend more strongly?
When I heard there was criticism of Bach in Tar, I didn't want to see the movie.
I needed this YouTube video to "get" some of what I didn't "get" about Tar.
TAR Ending Explained Full Movie Breakdown, Easter Eggs, Cancel Culture And Hidden Ghosts
YouTube Channel: Heavy Spoilers.
Shared Rooms (2016)
I Liked It.
Movies are supposed to be a wholesome diversion. For me, this was just that. It was on the pleasant side. I needed that.
Story 1: a gay couple without a child.
Story 2: a gay man has company over.
Story 3: a roommate needs a place to sleep.
That is less revealing than the Hulu description.
I can aspire to all three stories. There is humor in the movie.
Sure, I can put my movie reviewer credentials on, but I will not. I hope to meet nice men like the ones in this movie and that is the meaning this movie gives to my heart.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Dolemite Is My Name Reviewed by a Black Man
Eddie Murphy portrays the African-American, late 1950s, 1960s, 1970s comedian Rudolph Frank Moore known as Rudy Ray Moore who sought to star in and produce his first film, Dolemite. Wesley Snipes performs the role of Dolemite film director, D'Urville Martin.
The story and characters were a multi-faceted screenplay that, for me, earned a score of 5 out of 5. The casting was excellent, giving us Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, Keegan-Michael Key, Titus Burgess, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, to name a few.
Costume Design and make-up brought the audience back to the 1960s. Eddie Murphy's acting was excellent and Wesley Snipes was surprising. The technical merit and production design need to be credited in reproducing movie equipment and special effects of that time. Worthwhile effort was made to give an authentic look to the era of the film.
The subject matter of the film falls short of being tasteful but that is appropriate for the subject matter of this film. It was also appropriate to tell the story of the realities of a man determined to be a success. A struggle for success story has cross-cultural appeal and meaning.
Unlike the film within the film, Dolomite Is My Name is a quality production, directed well and edited well. I give the Artistic Value of the film 4 out of 5. It should have a favorable impact on audiences.
I looked forward to seeing the film but I think its viewing audience is larger with Netflix than with a theatrical release; still, the movie experience and entertainment values are high. Because this film is too good for personal viewing (home theater, television, computer, tablet, smart phone) but probably not a blockbuster, I score it between 3 (Watch it on video) and 5 (Go to the movies) at 4 out of 5.
In total, I give it 91 out of 105 points, 8.6 out of 10, 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you.
Judy (2019)
Judy The Film Reviewed by a Black Man
The screenplay did not build, there was no vertical lift. I also question opening the Zellweger vehicle with a close-up on Darci Shaw who played Young Judy.
The casting was very good.
There was no cross-cultural appeal with this movie. I went to see the movie because I was born in 1962-still a child in 1968 when the film takes place-and I love great singers. I enjoyed her movies as a child. I loved her torch songs. I own a CD of her April 23rd, 1961 Carnegie Hall performance. I do not see this movie appealing to people much younger than myself. I do not think the film had cross-cultural appeal, but the band director did have an afro. (And the band did sound good and with the right song, energizing.)
I would not be surprised if the film earns award nominations for costume design or make-up.
I would be surprise if it did not earn award nominations for acting. Renée Zellweger was a 10 for acting and a 9 for singing. Roles of other actors were not substantial for rising to nominations for supporting male/female actor.
With strong production design, set design, and cinematography, the screenplay lowered the score of Scenes from 4 out of 5 to 3 out of 5.
I did not find the movie tasteful, appropriate, or meaningful. Yes, part of Judy Garland's biography did lack taste, with the drugs from a young age, the alcohol, dysfunction, career and life pressures. They were on display but I did not find the time span of her life chosen appropriate for a film. Her powers as a performing artist were dying and she / died six months after the point where the film ends. (Light bulb.) Did the film need two or three original footage videos or audio clips, from Judy's greatest triumphs, not Renée but Judy, singing, performing?
The quality of production was very good. The directing and editing were good. The artistic value was better than good, given the subject of the film, the production design, the acting, cinematography, and more; but, the impact it had on me was just average.
It is not a position of strength to sell a movie as a Renée Zellweger vehicle (I still have not seen the 1992 film Chaplin, starring Robert Downing, Jr.)-Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland-and then in so many flashbacks, having Darci Shaw playing the young Judy Garland, a role unsubstantial for a supporting actress nod. And, with cross-cultural appeal lacking, mentioned earlier, marketing must suffer.
I do not think this film was a good movie experience value. I was entertained by its strengths. Personally? I had to go to the movies. Maybe, in some way, I am like her two die-hard fans in the film.
I give this film 66 points, 6 out of 10 stars, 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Interesting.
Stylized.
Modern Greek Tragedy with bleeding eyes and all.
The movie opens with
Franz Schubert - Stabat Mater D383: I. "Jesus Christus Schwebt am Kreuze"
Stabat Mater: a medieval Latin hymn on the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion
6.2 out of 10 stars
3.1 out of 5 stars
Darkest Hour (2017)
Seeing Darkest Hour Was an Excellent Movie Going Experience
I don't think it should win BEST PICTURE (I do think this movie is better than Lincoln) I can see it winning an Acting Oscar.
I liked the CINEMATOGRAPHY.
The COSTUME DESIGN seems to have been good.
I'm not sure it should win BEST DIRECTING.
FILM EDITING? I'm not sure if one can judge only by looking at the film.
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING - maybe an Oscar nomination MUSIC - No PRODUCTION DESIGN - Yes, I can see an award for this.
Sound Editing - No Sound Mixing - No Visual Effects - nomination at most, not a win Writing - Not a winner (I'd be surprised) = = = * Contains Spoilers * Obviously, the subject matter is meaningful. The movie had a strong impact on me. It pulled on my heart strings in a strong way.
For some reason, the halls of power in London were so affecting for me. Following the Prime Minister into the underground rooms of war planning made me feel I was seeing something very up close--in a way, I felt the way Churchill's typist felt--exposed to unbelievable access to where power was in operation.
Yes, we get this with Spielberg's Lincoln but for some reason, I cannot quite identify, this had a higher "You are there" score. Was it the sympathy for war efforts without computers, without Information Technology? I was so afraid for the soldiers and the people of the island. Hitler was really! scary. The movie helped the audience feel the fear of a more advanced military. I wanted to cry for the soldiers lost at Calais.
I was torn by "Call FDR" vs. the tragic disappointing help the US could provide at that time.
Was it unbelievable that France was getting defeated by Germany--was it right to sympathize with Churchill that the German advance against French military defenses was unbelievable and that it put France up against the wall? It pulled on the heart strings when the king, although friend to Churchill's antagonist, reversed and became Chruchill's friend.
Oh, I really wanted the film to keep going. I wanted these players to keep telling the story.
What the Health (2017)
Important Criticism of What the Health Documentary
What the Health Documentary Your documentary is very misleading, especially the comment that Dr. Peter D'Adamo's Blood Type Diet is like astrology. I suggest all of you pick up his book on cancer and see what he says about eating lean organic meat for Blood Type Os. You all are probably eating any kind of vegetables whether it is good for your blood type or not.
"Meat products are a source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which can be a potent anticancer agent for Blood Type O. Animals that graze one pasture have from three to five times more CLA than animals fattened on grain in a feedlot. Synthetic CLA has about half the cancer-fighting potential of CLA in grass-fed meat." p. 52 of the book I am recommending to all the authorities and the narrator in your documentary. Cancer: Fight It with the Blood Type Diet by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo
Babel (2006)
Drama Overkill
Movie Review of Babel: Drama Overkill
The movie brought us many places. The film was international and multi-cultural. The international cast was amazing. For these reasons, I am very grateful.
The acting was excellent. There was one scene where the director was showing too much hair acting by Cate Blanchett.
There are a number of story lines in this movie. As drama has an arc, each of these dramas has their own arc. By the time we get to the climax and resolution of them all, I felt the overall impact was lessened due to drama overkill.
I give this movie a score of 91 out of 100.
Godzilla (2014)
Although I (age 52) brought a lot of enthusiasm to the outing, it was the worse movie I've seen in a long time.
The script wasn't good and the movie was hard to follow. A big bomb was promised but we didn't get it because the director had to let the monsters fight. We also didn't get the monsters eating the biggest bomb and getting even stronger than they were. Why even foreshadow that? I got bored with the movie. The audience was not moved by anything in the movie. Godzilla was too big, too long, and too bulky. I thought the movie was in bad taste in reference to showing the womb of the female monster and a bit too much bodily fluid. I didn't get enough on where the male and female monsters came from in the insect world, but, in their defense, they are massive, "unidentified" terrestrial organisms--not even a "they're a cross between..." After a good introduction to Aaron Taylor-Johnson and the character he portrayed, inevitably, I couldn't empathize with the human hero of the movie. He gets on the train with a kid who gets separated from his parents and he says meet us at the next stop--what a long ride before the next stop! Did we really need two little boys in this movie, his son and the boy who got separated from his parents? The boy who got separated from his parents either wasn't a good actor or the script and the director didn't serve him well. Elizabeth Olsen was good.
The climactic fight scene between Godzilla and the two monsters (MUTOs) was something to see--for a moment or two. It didn't rouse me or the audience. It didn't elicit any cheering.
Transcendence (2014)
The 10-star version of this movie would have been great.
A human is a three-part being: 1) a reincarnating spirit or a spirit capable of reincarnating, 2) into a body, (it has chakras and an aura); it is incarnated into a society, so it has cultural and societal layers and 3) traveling with limitations, roadways, barriers set by the Solar System (Chinese Astrology, Western Astrology, and Locational Astrology, Astro-Carto-Graphy, specifically). All this is reduced in the movie, Transcendence, to the question: Are You Self Aware? The movie was not self-aware of its depth, its holiness. Kubrick, Verdi, Leonard Bernstein, somebody help this movie see its greatness and lift it all at least four out of ten notches higher. The movie doesn't take itself seriously enough for my taste. Doesn't this movie have enough to be as weighty if not more so than Spielberg's AI? Maybe the married couple were presented as the millionaire couple next door who look like their HH income is $120K, when in reality, their HH income is probably $225K. The partner maker of an AI data farm or what have you could be understated and geeky, but I was only getting understated. I like Johnny Depp a lot (I met him at a junket years ago) but this screenplay was a little flawed. After he gets shot and comes out of the hospital, about two minutes later, he's just looking too "nothing happened" such that his wife says, "He just needs some rest." Transitioning from the hospital to that scene was done well.
The character portrayed by Morgan Freeman didn't seem too powerful either given the simple desk and chair where he is found. He's a developer partner of a great AI computer? Okay, if you say so.
The dead man comes alive in the computer. Where was the music? Is this really a major love story? Ho-hum. It's not a major anything. "Get out!" she yells at the friend (co-programmer of the AI system) the dying man charged with watching out for his wife (Jesus to John the Beloved). Such a heroic act, having victory over death, but where's the music, the operatic pause.
Exponentially more god-like than a judge or a surgeon, the computer programmer become all knowing as he goes beyond the hardware into the world wide web. His wife builds him a home to live and grow. He does fine. He does excellently. How he's doing is exponentially beyond expectations. The morality of the programmer removes the Artificial in the AI. The lame walk and sight is given to the blind.
Was the stage set at the beginning of the movie of the history of this couple's diligence at keeping their relationship together? No. The drive of this man to love his wife, not to be himself but to assist in fulfilling her every wish (I'll give the talk more at your convincing than mine) was not written along the way, but it becomes the surprise in the denouement. (As an aside, the dripping water under the copper latticework did not move me.) The betrayal of a friend partly due to being beat up by antagonists and some ego stroking could have risen to a higher occasion. It could be seen as unfortunate that we do not get the Johnny Depp character confronting his antagonist with reason before the attack. Because the antagonist defeated the protagonist, we have a tragedy here.
Was the Johnny Depp character really the protagonist? Well, he did dehumanize what I say in my introduction constitutes a human being. However, this goes back to my days before I wrote The Greatest Bible Study in Historical Accuracy by Steefen. Back then I was interested in Human Evolution, in wonder of the different hominids that co-existed for millions of years (the Australopithecus line and the Homo line in human origins). The morals of the Johnny Depp character made co-existence within reach--X-men and Humans, BUT humans repairing to superhuman incarnation. But, not to die and free oneself to the heavenly realm of discarnate entities would have to be resolved such that the repaired super human would be allowed to die and the computer programmer himself would have to be allowed to die. Was the Morgan Freeman character correct? No: the morality of the Johnny Depp Jesus figure was sufficient--or could have been written to be even more acceptable and therefore more tragic since he did not attack and kill as his antagonists did.
Frankie & Alice (2010)
It didn't rise to the level of film, but it was a good movie.
When a co-worker asked me today how was my weekend, I answered perfect. Friday 7:45 a.m., Halle Berry was on the Steve Harvey Morning Show (radio). 7:05 p.m., I'm at a cinema buying a ticket to see the movie. I go to Eatzi's in Plano, TX and I'm walking into the theater exactly when the show begins, 7:55 p.m. Flashback: at lunch I reflected on what I heard that morning, more than one personality possessing a body. It made me wonder if Jesus healed this condition or would this be a psychiatric case, not involving religion, not requiring its intervention.
Frankie and Alice is only a movie, it's not a "film." It wasn't a cinematic experience. Well, can the same be said about Arbitrage (Richard Gere) or Birth (Nicole Kidman)? Birth is my favorite of the three, and it was a film, not a movie.
I would like to mention two things that weren't right for me. I thought the home of the psychiatrist was a bit rich, too rich. The movie showed a connection between Frankie and Alice but Frankie's connection to "Genius" was not developed. In addition to "Genius" orbiting wide, the kind neighbor who appears in the laundromat scene also orbited wide. These characters were expendable.
I think six to eight stars is a reasonable score for this movie.
Lincoln (2012)
Was it a movie for Freshmen high school students?
I give it a 9.2; I expected 10+.
How did I feel watching one part of the movie: uncomfortable How else am I supposed to feel in a racially mixed audience when actors are portraying people who are protesting that the 13th amendment would "N word-ize" the union?
One really gets a feel for the Lincoln family. Beautifully done.
The movie didn't move me emotionally at all. The biggest emotional reaction I had to the movie was feeling uncomfortable being Black in a racially mixed audience, in a red state, in a county that voted red.
The movie didn't have an epic treatment and, as a result, did not call for or get an epic soundtrack.
It didn't pull on heart strings or on the neurons of the brain.
The scene where Mary Lincoln was in her most beautiful dress seemed like an obligatory scene for a costume award nomination. The scene had strong writing but we didn't have the context of why she was in her biggest and most beautiful dress.
Why the movie didn't have any scenes in B&W is a good question I'd like to ask--if I ask so myself. More than 10 years ago, I was at 5th Avenue and 93rd or 94th Street in Manhattan where the International Center of Photography used to be. I saw B&W photos of Abraham Lincoln. Why Spielberg didn't choose some artistic rendering in that direction makes me wonder. He did show Daguerreotypes (I believe) of slaves for sale.
Maybe I grew up on Gandhi, Amadeus, The Last King of Scotland, The Last Emperor, Elizabeth, All the King's Men (hardly no comparison but still more engaging). Lincoln did not fill both of my hands--it didn't give me a handful. It was chosen to be that way. Case in point, unlike All the King's Men where Sean Penn has to give an emotional speech, we get in Lincoln a speech that is two sentences: I'm here to raise the flag. Let's raise the flag. (Lincoln is finished reading from the paper taken out of his hat.)
Was it a movie for a 9th grade American History class?