Change Your Image
carolecooper
Reviews
The White Lotus (2021)
Completely Naked
This was not only raw but naked! All the warts were showing, raw emotions, screw ups, and sadness. This is what makes people squirm but it's so honest. It helps that the story is a slice of lives at pivotal moments. So many bad decisions, yet so many revelations all with future consequences that you know will be regretted. I wanted to jump through the screen and shake a couple of people screaming "DON'T DO THAT!!" It would take a run on of spoilers to itemize them and I hate reviews with spoilers.... Test your metal and watch this, it will raise your BP and your interest. The acting is real, raw and superb. I can see how it will polarize people but good art does that!
American Son (2019)
Love It or Hate It!
Kerry Washington does a superlative job of being an annoying, raging jerk! Considering the fact that her 18 year old son is missing, one is prone to forgive her aberrant behavior, lack of judgement, and race sensitivity. She pushes, nags, screams and rails at the one person who could share information ... little realizing, as her estranged husband later says, "you get more flies with honey than vinegar." Her estranged husband is positive his West Point bound son is fine... and not caught up in a predictable black kid/white cop tragedy. Kendra (Kerry Washington) is flawed, damaged and hurt from a failed marriage. Her husband left her and in so doing incurred the enmity of his son who questions all his father stood for...acting out in rebellion. For every mother who was/is moaning and mourning the misunderstanding that guides a frightened finger on a trigger THIS IS REAL! It is gut wrenching, painful and heart breaking. If viewers found her annoying, she was! It adds to the reality. Her husband is in another polarity and therein lies the rub! It upset me to my core and reminded me that every mom of every son stands on a precipice of disaster if their son is misunderstood...it is unforgiving!
Downton Abbey (2019)
Disappointing
I am a HUGE fan of the television series! It was full of breathtaking cinematography, beautiful music, award winning set design, and splendid fashions and costumes. All of this set the tone and backdrop for a story full of interesting characters whose lives were riveted by tragedy, war, love found, love lost, betrayal, class distinctions and money blues! Character development is a luxury that can be explored in depth in a television series with lots of seasons and several episodes, I get that! However, it's no excuse for a movie that cannot stand on its own! You should not have to have seen the television series to understand and enjoy the movie! Watching Downton Abbey on tv...I laughed, I cried and my heart was heavy during the last episode as Crawley & Company faded to black. This movie though was flat, even feeble attempts at humor were forced. The big drama was a royal visit? I refuse to make excuses for lack of character development, life altering issues, real drama and no tears shed here! This isn't real and quite frankly an insult to the television series so brilliantly portrayed. All these "10" reviews make me wonder if I saw the same movie. Disappointing and quite frankly forgettable!