Change Your Image
mpolans
Reviews
The Outsider (2018)
Undeveloped Potential
When I first heard about this movie, I was really excited about and looking forward to seeing it. It had an interesting story about an American joining the yakuza, a gaijin joining one of the most insular institutions in a relatively insular society, and it was a period piece to boot! Unfortunately, the movie never lived up to my expectations.
The beginning did virtually little to explain the back story of the main protagonist, Nick Lowell. We just suddenly see him in a Japanese prison, with no explanation as to why. When I first started the movie on Netflix, I thought I accidentally skipped ahead. Eventually we see how becomes friends with Japanese gangster Kiyoshi and becomes a made man in the Yakuza.
However, so many sub-plots seem unexplored or under-developed, including the story behind the rivalry with the other gang, the development of the story between Nick and the love interest in the movie, the evolution of Nick's relationship with the boss and the other members of his gang, and even the resolution at the end of the movie, particularly since at that point it's not just about him, but also the gang he joined, to a degree.
Furthermore, while the Japanese actors were great (accents, Osaka dialect, gangster slang, etc), I thought it was pretty disappointing that Jared Leto's character (Nick) barely had to speak any Japanese in the movie...frankly he barely spoke at all. There was so much about his character that was underdeveloped; why was he in prison? Why would he want to join a Yakuza gang? Why would the gang grow to trust him?
While this was definitely not one of Jared Leto's finest roles (though it could have been!), there were other actors who did their characters justice in every scene, particularly, Tadanobu Asano as Kiyoshi, Kippei Shîna as Orochi, and Min Tanaka as the boss, Akihiro.
Rather than discourage making similar films in the future, I hope future directors and producers will look at the disappointment of this one and see how it could be done better.
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (2022)
Definitely Worth Watching!
Intriguing story about the crazy, chaotic, meteoric rise of Uber, fueled with partying and a win-at-all-costs mentality. It details how CEO Travis Kalanick pulled some highly unethical if not outright illegal shenanigans to make it happen, up to and including blackmail. Fantastic acting by most of the case, with some particularly notable performances by Jason Gordon Levitt as Travis Kalanick, Kyle Chandler as Bill Gurley, and Uma Thurman as Ariana Huffington.
Curiously, I think Kyle Chandler looks more like what Travis Kalanick looks like now rather than Bill Gurley.
It features a fantastic soundtrack comprised of classic Pearl Jam songs.
I definirely recommend checking it out.
Metal Lords (2022)
Fun movie, with great acting from some relatively unknowns!
This a quirky sort of coming-of-age movie with almost a foreign movie feel to it at first, centering around teens finding friendship, love, and metal. Its got some drama, some comedy, and some decent music. The acting is *really* impressive, particularly from some younger relatively unknown actors. Jaeden Martell is good as the lead, and Isis Hainsworth and Noah Urrea both shine, but Adrian Greensmith (in his first movie!) is the real story here. Greensmith displays an intensity and wit reminiscent of Judd Nelson's John Bender in "The Breakfast Club."
It's not going to win an Oscar, but if you like fun movies that aren't total knee-slappers, you might find this enjoyable.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
A documentary that tells a great baseball story!
An inspiring story about a man who sought to accomplish a dream...to start a minor league independent professional baseball team. The way it happens and the folks who played for the Portland Mavericks reads like something out of a Hollywood script...an interesting cast of characters!
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this is an incredible documentary that tells an amazing story. It really deserves to be made into a feature film, in the vein of "Major League." Heck, Kurt Russell is a little on the older side, but could still play his dad, Bing Russell. I'd love to see it.
The Politician (2019)
As if Wes Anderson Made a TV Series
"The Politician" is an entertaining deadpan comedy. It's got the quirky characters and vivid dialogue of "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," with the freedom of having a multi-episode series format to explore more plot twists and turns. It's definitely got that artsy, dark comedy vibe to it.
The Big Show Show (2020)
For what it is, it's pretty good!
First, this is family-friendly fun comedy; temper your expectations and don't expect any Emmys. It's light-hearted fun, and the cast is pretty good. The Big Show is no Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but he's not bad, either. The rest of the cast aren't bad either, except Juliet Donenfeld, who plays the youngest daughter, J.J. She has impeccable comedic timing and steals the show! As long as she can stay away from drugs, I expect her to have a bright future in Hollywood.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Classic with a fun twist!
This was a unique concept that was well acted and well executed. A truly amazing cast that took the material and really brought it to life. Love the mix of the original dialogue set in a contemporary world.
Hill Street Blues (1981)
An amazing show that stands the test of time.
Simply put, this is one of the best shows ever aired on television. It has a perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama. It had a capable cast that played their parts well, from Daniel Travanti as the even-keeled and competent Capt. Furillo to Bruce Weitz as the tenacious Det. Belker, to Michael Conrad as the always eloquent Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, among many, many others, with several now well-known actors making appearances early in their career. For an excellent example of an episode with Alfre Woodard showing signs of brilliance early in her career while making a guest appearance, Season 4, Episode 5 "Doris in Wonderland."
This show could probably be re-aired today on network television and still win awards.
Resisting Enemy Interrogation (1944)
Despite being made as a training film, stands on its own as a dramatic movie
Interesting to see some of the comments here, questioning how realistic the movie is. The movie is an excellent depiction of the very techniques used by the very real-life WWII German interrogator, Hanns-Joachim Scharff. Scharff, who originally wasn't even supposed to be an interrogator, found the traditional ideas of using brutality distasteful and ineffective. The methods shown in the movie, such as making small talk, pretending to know all the details, a change of scenery, etc are all very well-documented, and are still recognized interrogation approaches taught to this day. Incidentally, Scharff (who's notoriety I can only suspect inspired this training film) emigrated to the U.S. after the war and became a big time mosaic artist; some of his artwork can be seen on Disney properties.
MacGyver (2016)
MacGyver in name only
Compared to the original one, this one absolutely sucks. The action is pretty good, and some of the characters (save MacGyver) are interesting, but MacGyver seems like a robot.
Most importantly, one of the coolest things about the original MacGyver was that when using his knowledge of science to improvise things and foil bad guys, MacGyver would explain what he was doing and how/why it worked. Furthermore, the scientific principles, while frequently exaggerated, where correct. To me, that was the key to what made the original MacGyver show great TV.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Call the Cops, This Movie Was Robbed...
The fact that Beasts of No Nation, Abraham Attah, and Idris Elba weren't even *nominated* for Oscars is criminal. This was a moving story that shines a light on the sort of things going on with child soldiers in Africa. While set in an unnamed fictional African country with fictional characters, it clearly draws inspiration from the fighting in Liberia and Sierra Leone. In fact, at one point, Commandant call a soldier "SBU," possibly a reference to the "Small Boys Unit," a child soldier unit of the Revolutionary United Front militants who fought in Sierra Leone. Commandant also has similarities to Joseph Kony of the Lord's Resistance Army.
While Idris Elba is the big name and was extremely convincing as Commandant, it's Abraham Attah as Agu who stole the show. Attah's strong and nuanced performance, particularly in light of the emotionally difficult material, was mesmerizing. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of him in the future.
To the Academy, shame on you for overlooking this movie and its performers, particularly Attah and Elba!
Into the Badlands (2015)
Horrible premise for a show...
Future society regresses to a point where seven barons control everyone and successfully outlaw firearms resulting in folks fighting with swords and hand to hand combat??? You've got to be kidding. Heck, states and even whole countries with large police forces and technologically advanced communications and surveillance gear haven't been able to successfully remove guns from the hands of a large segment of society (especially the outlaw elements)...these folks look worse off and are successful? Guns and ammo are so easy to make, you'd think in a society where they're so rare, the black market would be thriving! It's waaay to contrived. If you're going to dumb a society down to the point they have to fight with fists and swords, just make it happen in the past.
The Onion Movie (2008)
If you liked Kentucky Fried Movie, you'll love this movie!
This movie is mostly a collection of shorts laid over a background of a large parent company taking over a TV news network. The shorts are mostly presented as either TV commercials, public service announcements, or straight news stories. It spoofs a variety of pop culture people and ideas. The humor is ranges from low-brow, to intelligent. With the exception of Steven Seagal, the movie contains a cast of largely unknown folks but is very well acted. I really can't think of any other movie like this other than "Kentucky Fried Movie" (and possibly "UHF," but I haven't seen it). I'd say it isn't as crude as Kentucky Fried Movie, but it has high production values. Definitely worth checking out. And if you liked this one, definitely see Kentucky Fried Movie!
Devil's Pond (2003)
Poor attempt at a psychological thriller
The movie has been summarized to death already, so I'll try to be brief.
Tara Reid's character has to be one of the most pathetically stupid heroines in recent memory. She had dozens of opportunities to get away and end her torment, which she screwed up time and time again. By the end of the movie, I was cheering the psycho on, hoping he'd kill her before she had a chance to breed and thus noticeably bring down the average IQ of humanity. I admit, I didn't have high expectations and only saw it because my girlfriend wanted to see it, but I was floored by how weak and stupid the main protagonist's character was written. She was probably the weakest, most useless character since the wife in the original "The Shining." I would highly recommend you avoid this movie at all costs unless you enjoy watching about an hour and half of one stupid act after another. Maybe you could turn it into a drinking game, every time Tara Reid's character does something you think is stupid and you would do something different, take a drink. I guaranteed you will get absolutely plastered.