rusoviet's Reviews

The Highwaymen (2019)

9/10

25 December 2023

Didn't know what to expect but it had the three legs of a dynamite film - 1. Director, 2. Script and 3. Actors - all there.

Harrelson is a very good actor - in Midway he played Adm. Nimitz and here a recovering alcoholic retired law man. The real surprise was Costner - he gave a stellar performance as a tired and angry lawman fed up with the, just emerging, 'poor misguided raised wrong felons' mindset esp the scene when he discusses Clyde's upbringing with Clyde's father.

Worth every minute - amazingly not a second of film wasted. Find the predator and take it down before it preys on another.

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Frontier: Wolves (2016)

Season 1, Episode 4

3/10

Had some heft until....

27 September 2023

.....the girl Clenna's arrival. Now the plot went straight to 'soap opera' with all the trappings of the besotted young male and the crafty targeted female whose arrival brings so much more fodder to dig more post holes to waste 2 more seasons.

I found the acting decent but the plot is sparse and as noted injecting the sudden arrival of a long lost romantic partner in 1730's Hudson Bay fails to pass the credulity test.

It's a shame because this may have merit but I lost all interest - better to have detailed the history of the Hudson Bay Company - why this quasi-govt/pvt corporation was created and how it kept expanding..

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Medici: Old Scores (2018)

Season 2, Episode 1

6/10

Unlike Season One, there are far....

28 August 2023

Too many 'pretty boys' as leads in this Season 2. Save for Matteo Matari (Francesco de Pazzi) the rest have a direct impact on the 'connection' to the script which was not the issue with any of Season One's episodes - it was solidly cast and drew all viewers in. No explanation, save in the brief noting '...the late Cosimo', is given for 'Cosimo's' (Richard Madden) absence from the script This is a huge omission and it seems a whole new team of script writers have replaced the first. Lastly the initial episode is more 'formula' than engaging. The script one only hopes the rest is worth watching but it also seems to dragging a source for 'Romeo and Juliet' as a subplot.

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Touch of Evil (1958)

10/10

Considering the time stamp (1957)

15 November 2022

...the script is very authentic. It was all shot in Venice, CA showing the state of the suburb over 65 years ago. The decay kept metastasizing until the past 15 years of repair. Welles 'Quinlan' plays the 'gone to rot' police detective and the patois of contempt he brings to any object or subject that crosses hie eyes - Mexicans, women, uppity foreign law enforcement, local hoodlums - everyone is suspect but the best is the joy he gets in making all understand what he thinks of them.

It is a masterful performance by Welles both in front and behind the camera as he is in full 'flagrante' of excess - grossly overweight, recovering but slipping alcoholic, badly in need of a haircut, shave and a change of clothes - all of which makes his ruthless menace more cunning than violent until the violence explodes for no one is out of his range of fire if he deems they merit it.

A great performance most of all because he played his part to a 'T'. The rest of the cast is outstanding esp. Heston who many have mocked having him cast as a Mexican police detective. We all have Heston to thank for suggesting the producers get Welles to direct the film as well as star in it.

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My Darling Clementine (1946)

10/10

Most underrated performance was by...

12 October 2022

Warning: Spoilers

Walter Brennan. He'd already won 3 AA as best supporting actor when he began filming this masterpiece and it is not only for John Ford's direction but the cast assembled and the script provided. The real gem is Walter Brennan playing the scion of the Clanton clan.

Old Man Clanton (Brennan) first appears astride a horse aiming his malicious animus towards Wyatt (Henry Fonda) Earp. Earp has just discovered his cattle has been rustled and he suspects Pa Clanton and Pa knows it.

He then bullies his sons to be more careful so as to not leave any clues only to find one of his sons has gotten into a gun fight at the saloon in Tombstone. The son flees with Virgil (Tom Holt) Earp in hot pursuit. A shoot out ensues outside the Clanton compound with the son stumbling dead inside the door. Earp then ascends the stairs enters and offers an apology but the justification for the shoot out. Old Man Clanton then says he understands and shoots Earp in the back, as he leaves.

The scene where Old Man Clanton rips into one of sons for failing to kill one of the Earps is indelible as he loudly says. "When ya' pull a gun, ya' kill a man!"

All the actors/actresses nail their parts but this is one film where the affable stumbling goofy Walter Brennan turned viewers perception of him on its' head.

Victor Mature has always been a butt of jokes even hi own, unwarranted and his portrayal of 'Doc Holliday' isn't meant to be historically accurate as it is to show the decline of a man who knows his life is heading to an end and embraces it.

Fonda's laconic demeanor is laser sharp and oh so focused when he is rocking in a chair on a Sunday morning or when he asks bluntly "...who gave whiskey to the indian?"

The film is stunningly indelible, in black and white by John Ford - a director few really liked but none ever gave anything but their best effort.

See it a true masterpiece you won't see coming.

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The Offer (2022)

3/10

Amazed no mention not a word about 'Carlo'...

4 May 2022

Aka Gianni Russo. He made some incredible claims of his deep involvement with making these two films possible through his lifetime friendship with Frank Columbo.

You tube.

How Gianni Russo Got In The Godfather Movie: Gianni Russo Interview 12th September 2020.

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Old Henry (2021)

7/10

Man's film 'ladies' A well acted - tight script

21 February 2022

.....enjoyed it from start almost to finish.

Entire cast was 8 speaking parts and some extras. The 'key' is well done.

This account rings very true of just how 'wild' America still was in 1906 just as OK was entering the union. Very few with automobiles and family settlements 'sections' (full square miles) from one another.

Matches up nicely with the scene in 'No Country For Old Men' Sheriff Tom Bell speaks to Ellis, Bell's father former deputy. Ellis relates a story at this same time as 'Old Henry' early1900's of a group of Indians, on horseback, coming up to a law men's ranch and shooting him and his wife burying him the next morning.

This is a film worth seeing.

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Dune (2021)

2/10

This is the 3rd attempt at filming the

31 January 2022

Science fiction tome 'Dune' and it is the most sleep inducing of the three. Acting is decent but the script is not as bad as the sets are - cheap with little explanation of what the viewer who has never read the books, has a clue what is happening.

I kept waiting for the film to finally get air borne but no and with a 'part deux' in the wings can't wait for the 'global warming' canard to arrive.

Boring meandering lifeless.

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The Undoing (2020)

5/10

Great cast good script but then

27 November 2021

....regrettably, the final payoff 'explanation' isn't there.

Some other issues - use of the 'f' word over and over especially by females and even the young son of the Grant character.

There is unnessary nudity and that's a shame.

Acting is good even by Kidman save this is all she can do - high end wealthy high maintenance female used to deference and the rigid caste system she inhabits.

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Wrath of Man (2021)

5/10

First hour gripping but then....

12 August 2021

.....it goes full formula which is a shame because it had a decent start and a great cast with solid direction and script.

Once the 'other side' is 'uncovered' it flatlines i.e. As much as this wanted to be 'Heat' it's not even a close 6th - the one thing that always amazes me is how few, not saying none nor all, but too few of the shoot em' up scenes rarely have either side shoot at the others legs/feet.

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Calvary (2014)

2/10

Great cast coupled with a...

8 August 2021

.....lousy script. It reminded me of a French existentialist play Jean Anouilh or Becket - there is no hope. We open with a priest in a confessional being told by a supplicant he (priest) shall be murdered a week hence not for anything he's done but what another cleric did. That's not a bad start but quickly the script veers into the extreme vices and self-destructive behavior with no resources with which to forestall the inevitable doom. In fact believe the original scene because if that does indeed happen there is no one left with a shred of concern for all one sees.

It is a shame because there was a good cast here but poorly served with a lousy script intent on a meandering mess of immorality, indifference and abandonment of faith.

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The Immigrant (2013)

3/10

A great film needs three things....

14 May 2021

1. A solid cast 2. A great director 3. A credible script

I had no connection to this film.

This film had a solid cast but a 'Hallmark Cards' script. The director was meaningless he failed to take charge. The acting is good but frankly it's boring and predictable even when the hero Renner appears and Renner is good. Acting isn't the problem - it's the mechanical clumsy script. I had no empathy towards the.female Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard) lead. Her character was not consistent i.e. From weak to strong to weak and her tale of woe was very soap opera in tenor. Let's face it from the very start- she chose to be morally corrupt . This was a very bad script.

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Crown Vic (2019)

7/10

No subtitles?

5 April 2021

What executive thought that was smart? Wonder what the foreign market are going to do.

The sound is muddy at too many key moments.

The women leads using 'F' bombs just another marker on the decay of women in 2019.

Film is slow but it builds nicely to the scene that brings the self-destructive woman and her horrible choices to resolution as the other parties to her choices suddenly become clear. Worth a watch.

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Sinister (I) (2012)

2/10

Gets a 2 only because Vincent D'Onofrio is in it.

14 March 2021

The acting decent but the plot is a waste but worst of all is using little children to be the center of what the film entails. I have no idea of what the impact long-term is on these kids but it is the same as seeing scenes where adults use coarse four letter words or 'infer' sexual acts.

I watched it because also Fred Thompsons and Ethan Hawke has imporved a bit as an actor - not a good product and one has to wonder about what the writer and director of such 'think' about as worthy of asking finaincing.

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City of Ghosts (2002)

9/10

Good cast and direction....

9 March 2021

......the script solid. You have Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård and Gerard Depardieu. The plot is credible but the setting is very off-putting. Post Khmer-Rogue Cambodia that has seen better days (before 1954). All one sees is the reality f the '3rd World' but once one looks deeper at the kind loyal driver 'Sok' (Kem Sereyvuth) there is decency and love for his family and his oh so sad land. The plot twists are good and the contrast btwn the ruthless hoodlums and the youthful females intent of restoring aging Buddhist shrines is well done.

Never seen it before and saw it listed tonight (March 2021) very glad I did but I must say not sure I would watch it again.

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Get Carter (2000)

7/10

Held the eyes....

3 March 2021

Sly Stallone has slowly transformed himself into a good actor. This was a re-make of the original released in 1971 and Michael Caine has a role in this remake. It isn't as gritty as the 1971 was but Stallone was solid as an avenger. The draw grows as early in the film, his counter while seated, to Michael Caine's rising to confront him was laser. From that point on Stallone held the eyes. The niece gave a good performance and Mickey Rourke is proof positive most actors aren't acting - you're just looking at what the casting director saw.

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Grudge Match (2013)

3/10

Stallone gave a decent solid

3 March 2021

Performance. DeNiro's was telling - he has slowly morphed into a foul mouth lecherous bullying slob. This is a waste - listening to adults use foul language in front of a child and worse having the child rehearse a scene where one of the leads is having sex with a bimbo in the back of a car. You'd never get Stallone to act that scene but DeNiro? Not a problem.

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Miss Bala (2019)

8/10

Good film - good acting....

15 February 2021

.....good script. This was worth the watch and the direction was solid. A new look at the real crime wave in the 21st Century - Baja CA and Norte CA. A bit over-the-top in the final scene but the rest was good.

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The Grand (2007)

3/10

Had a great cast but a waste for nearly an hour....

1 February 2021

.....this film had some great actors but it was wasted on cutesie filthy language 'skits' introducing each of them. Fast forward to the 50 minute mark and then watch.

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The Tax Collector (2020)

9/10

A good ride flat out is....

22 January 2021

....the film was lambasted in the papers esp. The LA Times for being continuously violent. The film was well cast and the plot was engaging to the end.

Shia LeBeouf 'Creeper' came in for harsh ridicule by reviewers. I kept waiting for the moment when it was apparent but nothing....he gave a decent and credible performance of a ruthless enforcer for Bobby Soto 'David' as did Jose Conejo Martin 'Conejo'.

Film rang true about 'LA' so many come there and have no idea how truly dangerous it is compared to the east coast contempt mocking it as '...laid back'.

Was strange watching 'people of faith' engaging in narcotics.

Worth a see and another as well - good film.

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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

2/10

The casting was good and the script was 'not bad'...but....

10 January 2021

...the last 30 minutes were the predictable 'new age' nature paganism. Isn;t it funny that all have a visceral loathing of snakes and most serpents - were hard wired to flee when we encounter such and yet who comes to the rescue but a 'serpent' and man not just a small one but one big suckah and, thankfully, a nasty piece of work at that. The message of this film and others - Harry Potter, Witches, Jo' Momma Strikes Back,....is to get us to 'believe' we can approach the serpent and not be harmed....it's our new god and it so wants to cuddle with us.

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The Padre (2018)

5/10

It held me until nearly the...

27 December 2020

Final scenes. I found the rationale of the need to take that which was sacred an affront regardless of the use it was made - I saw no remorse and that was key as to why the plot would have been better served by a promise to restore what was taken.

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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

If you like throwing away 2+ hours watch on....

3 December 2020

The plot was decent at first but it steadily went into the absurd - this was a 18th Century horror film. The script was so thin there were numerous 3 - 4 minute 'scenes' with a scene just to stretch out the run time. If anyone took a % of the earnings rather than a straight paycheck they're out. Don't waste your time.

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The Drop (2014)

8/10

Great film....

17 November 2020

Tom Hardy never ever disappoints. Alas the same bullying thug hump Gandolfini performance. Reality with nearly all actors that are praised but give the same performance over and over - they're not acting. The casting director knows this.

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1917 (2019)

7/10

I enjoyed the story line....

10 November 2020

.....these were the recollections of Mendes maternal grandfather. Not sure how credible the encounter 2/3rds through with the child and female but all in all a good story.

Captain Smith (Mark Strong) insightful advice to Corporal Schofield (George Mackay) was a laser sharp piece of advice.

One question - why didn't General Erinmore (Colin Firth) order a plane to drop the orders to Colonel MacKenzie? That makes the story somewhat suspect especially the horrific odds of successfully completing the mission.

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