lectureral Reviews

Shadow of a Wheel (2023)

Very interesting documentary

[9/10 · 4 December 2023]

I do like stories about people and here you see the participants as young people going through a tremendous experience and reflecting upon it 40 years later. I thought it was fascinating. The individual stories were well told and the whole adventure made me want to have been one of the ones who took part.

Just a couple of years later I moved to the US and worked for 5 years in a National Park (Yosemite), a time which was very precious to me in my life and where I made good friends and had some great experiences.

This is a very different adventure in many ways but similar in some.

Please do ignore the one negative comment - this documentary is not political at all and you'd have to be super sensitive to call it "liberal".

Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (2021– )

A very good documentary about our recent history

[8/10 · 10 August 2021]

Viewed objectively this is a very good documentary about an important part of recent history and the 1 star reviews are ridiculous and obviously politically motivated - as some other reviewer said, I am doubtful that many of them watched it at all.

There are so many false tales about Obama - that he "was the worst president ever", that he was "selected by the establishment" etc - and this documentary shows them for what they are. I guess some people do not want to have their prejudices disturbed.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

A fun ride

[8/10 · 29 November 2019]

Obviously the ones giving this film 1 star are being silly and/or have an axe to grind. It's a clever film, well worth watching and Pitt, Robbie and DiCaprio are outstanding.

Country Music (2019)

Wonderful

[9/10 · 27 November 2019]

I have enjoyed country music at times but it's never been a passion or something about which I have been knowledgeable. I found this documentary fascinating and so moving. Quite spellbinding in places and I have a new-found respect for country music. Brilliant.

Jack Ryan (2018–2023)

Season Two - what a drop in quality

[1/10 · 7 November 2019]

Oh dear - Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan just turned into more sad, predictable, gung-ho, Hollywood-style nonsense.

The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)

Very overrated at anything over 7

[6/10 · 29 October 2019]

This has to be the biggest gap between rating and reality I have ever seen - it barely deserves a 6. I like Milo in This is Us but here the limits of his acting ability were exposed. The dog musing about his soul was just ridiculous. There is no way this is a 7.

My sub-teen kids did enjoy it.

Zomboat! (2019– )

Not as bad as some reviews, not as good as the others

[9 October 2019]

Only 1s and 9/10s at the moment both of which are obviously wrong. It is certainly not a 1 - it is a bit of silly fun and quite watchable. On the basis of the first episode I would put this in the 6.5-7 range. I'll be tuning in for the second episode.

One Dollar (2018)

Excellent

[10/10 · 3 November 2018]

Having now watched the whole show I can confirm that the reviewer "Sandowl" is either confused or malevolent - in any case there is no bashing of dogs, not even a hint of such. Just nonsense.

The show is v well acted, has a strong story line and some great characters. It should be running well above 7.0 in the ratings. Not quite sure why it isn't. Maybe not enough action or too reflective for some viewers.

Anybody who enjoys a good story and some great acting should watch this.

Sweetbitter (2018–2019)

Slight but quite promising

[7/10 · 7 May 2018]

A familiar story of a young girl heading to the big city to find herself and grow a personality. Ella Purnell is the sweet girl who has not yet revealed the bitter but shows hints of a steel core. She is taken on to train at Howard's (Paul Sparks - last seen in Waco) posh restaurant and her future family (one guesses) is there in the kitchen and front of house. Speaking as a former restaurant manager, she is given a surprising amount of freedom as a probationer (scoffing oysters in the cold store while quaffing champagne?) but I guess that can be called poetic licence. All told I will be giving it a chance to grow on me.

Bumblefuck, USA (2011)

Meandering but endearing

[7/10 · 24 July 2012]

There is very little information here on this film so here is a bit of a summary.

Alexa (Smits) is a naive but direct girl, in the Scandinavian tradition (blonde, attractive, matter-of-fact in relation to sex). She flies from Amsterdam to a small town in Iowa (Bumblefuck is apparently slang for the middle of nowhere), the home of a friend (the extent of their relationship is never made clear), Matthew, who committed suicide after coming out as gay.

The film is interspersed with Alexa's interviews of gay men and women talking about such subjects as their first kisses, coming out and suicide attempts.

Along the way Alexa has casual and unsatisfactory sex with a guy she meets in a cemetery, before falling for a gay artist, Jennifer (Heidi M. Sallows) and tantalises her lonely landlord, Lucas (John Watkins).

I must admit to liking this film. Some of the sentiments in the interviews were a little mawkish for my taste but the story rang true and it is worth watching just for the introduction to Cat Smits.

Please Remove Your Shoes (2010)

A look at the reality (and failures) of air passenger security

[6/10 · 11 April 2011]

Anybody who has been through airport security with a critical mind must have wondered just what is the point of frisking the 80 year old lady in front of them, what danger a bottle of water actually represents and whether there is really any point in removing one's computer from its case.

The answer this film gives is, as a lot of people suspect, that this is all security theater - designed not to increase security but rather the perception of security. It's main concern is to give the traveling public reassurance rather than actual safety.

Narrated by former TSA agents and air marshals, this film gives an alarming insight into the reality of airport security. The testers of security (red team) who were beating security so often that they were withdrawn - they made the agency look bad. The focus on whistle-blowers rather than the real concerns which they illuminated. In one case the screeners caught the water bottle at the top of the bag, removed it and passed the bag back to the red team member with the assembled bomb still in place at the bottom of the bag.

This film is a damning indictment of the bureaucracy that is the TSA. It also should be a real worry to anyone who is planning on flying anytime soon.

The Tillman Story (2010)

He served his country honorably - unlike his leaders

[7/10 · 28 January 2011]

This movie should make the viewer angry. As an American who has lived in Europe for over 20 years I have often defended my country (eg after 9/11 when some, incredibly, believed the attacks were orchestrated by the government). This film, however, and what was done to the Tillman family totally undermines those who would defend America. To see Rumsfeld in front of Congress failing to remember when he heard about the friendly-fire incident ties this story in with the other ways in which that administration did so much harm to the US while waving its flag vigorously (torture, extraordinary rendition, starting a cynical (and probably illegal) war). The attacks faced by the Tillman family (it's because they are atheists - really?) and the way in which Congress failed totally to hold those who were at the top to account brings shame to both the US military and government. I do hope that the family find some resolution and hope in getting Pat's story out there.

Alabama Moon (2009)

A simplistic little movie

[6/10 · 13 December 2010]

At the time of writing this movie has an IMDb rating of 8.1 I guess those most closely associated with the movie (and their Mums) tend to get the first votes in and rating slides thereafter. By rights this should settle in the low 6s. The storyline is a little misleading - Moon Blake's father is a survivalist and he does die but Moon does not then "learn how to make a home in the modern world" but rather is captured by the law, imprisoned, escapes and goes back into the wild before beginning the process of making a home in the modern world. The law, in the form of Constable Sanders, is poorly played - anyone who ever saw the Dukes of Hazzard will know what to expect. It is fun to see John Goodman, albeit in a slight role. All in all, a very forgettable movie. My 3 year old daughter was quite caught up in it though.

Stay Cool (2009)

Too stupid

[5/10 · 8 September 2010]

I got this movie on the basis of its IMDb score and the one big name - Winona Ryder. I have to say - IMDb voters, you let me down this time. No way is this worth 7.6 (edit - my faith is restored in IMDb voters - the rating has dropped considerably, now) .

The premise is reasonable and could have been made into a really good movie but, oh dear, there are far too many stupid plot lines. Henry McCarthy goes back home to give the commencement speech at his old high school. He is picked up by his two best friends from the airport (one of whom is Josh Holloway - I didn't like him in Lost and I really didn't like him here) and then come the clichés: served coffee by one of his former classmates, stopped by the police while drink-driving - guess what, another former classmate who lets him go with a pat on the back.

The idea that the principal (Chevy Chase with a plaster on his nose (why??? - it wasn't funny)) would treat his former pupil turned important author as a naughty schoolboy was stupid. So too was the fact that Scarlet's boyfriend, the coach, acted like a jealous 18 years old. Stupid, also, was the police involvement after the prom - is there really an offence of having a private party with underage drinking in the States (maybe so, but surely not one of being a 38 year old man in the company of an 18 year old girl). And so it went on (do they leave show houses open at night? If his Dad was so keen on his car why didn't he run it through a carwash before returning it?)

When the commencement speech and dénouement with Scarlet did come they were both underwhelming.

All in all I think this film's rating should languish in the sub 6 territory (my personal watershed for whether a film is worth watching).

The Book of Eli (2010)

A lot of people are being very silly about this film

[8/10 · 22 June 2010]

I am no Christianist - not in the slightest. My position is that Richard Dawkins has got it pretty much right in The God Delusion. However, I do feel that I have to come to the defence of this film. It is simply not sensible to give this film 1 star. On a number of counts it is a spectacularly good movie. The post-apocalyptic scenery is excellent, the action scenes are very good and. although the theme is not new, it is an original film. As for the "christian message" it did not offend me at all. Truth be told it is not pushed that hard - there are no angels or clear miracles. In fact there is nothing that points to the absolute truth of Christianity; if you want to view the believer as misguided (and that's my preference) then the film gives you room to do that. I thought it was rather like an updated version of the American television series that starred David Carradine, Kung Fu (1972–1975). Go for it grasshopper!

Against the Current (2009)

Great film

[8/10 · 28 May 2010]

It is so nice to see a thoughtful film made for adults. The performances of Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk and Elizabeth Reaser were all excellent - considered and lacking in histrionics. Fun to see cameos by Mary Tyler Moore and Michelle Trachtenberg.

Some people might find this slow-paced but it held my attention throughout. The scenery down the Hudson River was a revelation.

* * * SPOILERS AHEAD * * *

The subject matter of suicide was handled very well. The two issues of whether someone has the right to take their own life and the reality of the pain of emotional, as opposed to physical, damage to a person were treated deftly and with subtlety.

All in all this is a wry, adult film which will linger in the mind long after the titles cease rolling.

Bad Day (2008)

Fair action thriller

[6/10 · 27 May 2010]

This film has a reasonable story and is a decent enough action-filled romp.

However, the dialogue is truly awful in places.

The casting of Donna Air as a policewoman was a truly awful decision.

She did not look at all believable in this role.

Some of the acting is third rate.

Victoria Broom and the police chief's performances were particularly poor, I thought.

Claire Goose's performance, on the other hand, was very good and really quite believable.

A 6 is pretty generous here.

Lectureral

Shutter Island (2010)

Taught psychological thriller

[8/10 · 27 May 2010]

I was surprised at the number of negative reviews of this film. A number of people mentioned the trailer, which I had not seen, and spotting the twist early on. I find that I usually spot twist early on but I did not see this one coming at all - so I guess it is not that obvious. As for the trailer I cannot comment because I came to the film without a preconceived view.

I thought the film maintained a high level of tension throughout - I was watching this in the dark with earphones on when my wife came up to me and touched my arm - I nearly leapt out of my skin.

The acting was first rate - thoroughly believable.

Overall, I thought a good 7.5.

Lectureral.