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larrybud2004
Reviews
Cunk on Earth (2022)
Just trying too hard
It's not original, the concept has been done a million times. Think Borat, but not nearly as funny. Tries to be a mix between Borat and an Idiot Abroad, both which are brilliant, with actual "history" thrown in here and there.
The concept is simple: Act like an idiot asking people in the "know" dumb and "out there" question about real history.
There were a couple of funny lines in the first episode, but it was the same thing over and over. E.g. Ask a Roman historian his opinion on whether Romans "invented" or "perfected" something.... "Roads", "writing", "anal bleaching". Hilarious... no, not really.
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
The ending makes the original Dexter ending look like a masterpiece
Ok, I'll ignore the ridiculous woke ideology: Your token gay character, your big bad oil tycoon, your climate change activists, your terrible firearms knowledge (um, when Deb pulled the bullet -- along with the entire CARTRIDGE out of her to show what Dexter did to her?? You're not even really trying).
And I'll even forgive the clear plot holes and cameos by non-important characters spread through the show.
But you completely blew the ending, and in fact, I don't think you could blow it more by trying. Hollywood sucks, not one good thing has come out of that place in 10 years.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Good satire
It was nice to see all sides being hammered upon in this flick, especially the ridiculousness of social media. The difference in how each spent their last hours on Earth was very good.
However, they easily could have chopped 1/2 hour off this movie and the pacing would have been much better.
American Horror Story: Cape Fear (2021)
Let's put this show out of it's misery, please
Just hot garbage. Another vampire-ish tale where we go out and suck the blood of people? Completely unoriginal. I *want* to like this show, but if anybody thinks this holds a candle to Asylum or Freak Show, I don't know what they are smoking.
Let's be honest, AHS should have ended on a high note when Jessica Lange left. Since then it's just been God-awful.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
Amazon needs some production help
Amazon has great writers, and so far this show (2 episodes in) is no exception, although I'm getting weird vibe from the siblings. If they end up hooking up, I'm out.
However, like many Amazon productions, this one needs help. Most Amazon shows have terrible sound. The mix just is never quite right. They finally get that OK here, but guys, what's up with the subtitles? Any time subtitles (the burned in subtitles when speaking Spanish or Italian) are on a lighter color background, they are UNREADABLE.
I'm not talking about the user optional subtitles which you can turn on with the firestick, these are burned into the video. They are unchangeable.
The font is too small, but mainly the background, well, there is no background to the text. So you have white lettering on sometimes white background, and you literally cannot read what is being said.
Richard Jewell (2019)
Every bit deserved
The media love their drive by reporting and after they beat you up they move onto the next story. Like a bull in a china shop.
Eastwood does a terrific job bringing the events of Atlanta to the forefront, and the aftermath of an innocent and a literal hero to the big screen. He shows the FBI and media for what they are and continue to be.
You also have to put these timelines into historical context. The US Federal agencies were on bad run in the 90s. The Waco siege happened only 3 years earlier, and the FBI murdered Randy Weaver's wife and kid a year before that. This is just in another long line of abuses of power.
Combine that with the crap media, and we have Richard Jewell.
The pacing on the move is excellent, and the entire cast is spot on. Rare to see a movie come out of Hollywood like this one, and Eastwood is one of the few who could pull it off.
We never got to know the real Richard Jewell, and he died in 07 at age of 44. Would love to see a documentary on the rest of his life.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Good but something lost in translation
Literally.
First, I always give pause for Cannes films since it's generally over pretentious "film-viewers" who think way too deep. It's a freakin' movie.
As a US viewer, the cultural differences, not the class differences, is what got lost in this movie. Some of the social aspect which seemed such taboo are just "meh" in the US.
I think if there was an "Americanized" version of this, it might ring more true, but I have 0 faith in Hollywood ever making anything good again.
The Report (2019)
Mixed bag - Historically inaccurate
As a historical account, it's lacking and gives a "I'm above the fray" angle to Feinstein and the Democrats. The Senate Intelligence Committee knew about the enhanced interrogation, and signed off on it, until the political climate changed. The movie completely whitewashes this fact and pretends Feinstein was just this innocent who *shockingly* finds out later. She was part of the SIC, after all.
Jose Rodriguez (CIA Chief) briefed Pelosi and the Senate Intelligence committee in *2002*, and they were cool with what the CIA was doing. Rodriguez gives specifics as to who was there and when this occurred.
Whether you believe the CIA was right or wrong in what they did, to pretend the Democrats were innocent in this is complete BS, and is revisionist history.
I think these facts have to be taken into account in the rating of a movie like this. Either it's accurate, or it's not. After all, part of the movie is in the writing, and if the writing isn't accurate in a "true story", then it's not a true story.
As far as the movie itself, it has decent pacing, and the actors portraying the politicians are very good, however you end up leaving a bit unsatisfied. The so called whistleblower is completely glossed over and details are completely lacking, and I think it's pretty obvious as to why that is.
Us (2019)
Who made all the red outfits for the "zombies"?
There are enough plot holes in this movie to drive a boat through. It ends up just being a chase movie... the "zombies" are chasing the people.
Unbounded (2018)
Ah, the naivety of youth!
Hat off to the inexperienced hikers who managed to not get themselves killed. Pretty surprising, really. Beautiful photography in this journey, harsh jungle, I can't believe someone didn't at least turn an ankle.
We were all once young and stupid I suppose!
They talk about how things should just remain the same in many of these desolate areas to limit progress, while mooching off the inhabitants because they didn't pack enough food. Back to the real world kids!
Dead to Me (2019)
Same ol same ol
Bash half your viewers, great idea! BTW, this is under "comedy"? I don't get that part.
But on a strictly entertainment value, it fell short. The last 2 episodes were awful. We're supposed to believe that Applegate's character, who is so torn over her husband's death, just gives up after a 10 second conversation with the most useless detective to ever grace this planet when trying to tell her that someone confessed to the accident.
Just really boring, sloppy, predictable writing. My wife and I were heckling the TV in the last 2, completely predictable, and formulaic.
Free Solo (2018)
Two movies in one
First off, I don't know jack about climbing. Never heard of any of these guys, never climbed on a climbing wall let alone a wall made of stone. But I was captivated and mesmerized by Alex's singular focus and goal. The filmmakers put us there, and it felt like we were on the wall with Alex. An incredible achievement that I compare to Felix Baumgauter jumping out of a capsule 24 miles in the atmosphere to land safely on Earth. Literally do or die.
The last half hour is riveting. I felt the pressure the filmmakers felt, even though I already knew the outcome. I can't imagine trying to film this when every step could be this man's last. Great shots, great music, my heart was pounding the whole climb!
The second part of the film which is often pounded on, and in a way, rightly so, is the "relationship" between Alex and Sanni. I say rightly so because why do we want to see this relationship in a movie about the greatest climbing feat in the history of man? After I thought about it for a while, Alex's achievement is doubly impressive while this woman is in his life. She nearly got him killed twice in a month while climbing with her. He clearly wasn't thinking with his big head when doing something like this. To bring a rank amateur with you when training is just nuts, not to mention needing the focus to pull this off. The fact that you did this with her around and not killing yourself is a testament to your skill and mindset.
Alex, a word man to man: This girl is no good for your passion. Some guys want to settle down, have a family, and chill out, and that's ok. But you have a passion only few can understand, and *that's ok* too. Sanni doesn't understand it, and she's out to change you with ever fiber in her being, even though she says she doesn't. You don't owe her anything. She knew what she was getting when she met you.
I wouldn't be surprised to see her "accidentally" pregnant in the near future. The film takes place over about 1.5 years in their lives, and you can see her whittle away at Alex. Throwing little comments out there, trying to get him to buy a house (the scene of her measuring everything while he just walks around sums up her entire existence), and one of her last comments was "you did it, you're done".
Whiplash (2014)
Just not realistic
So much potential here. Great acting, great music, terrible script. The behavior of JK Simmon's character is just so unbelievable that it nearly ruins the rest of the movie, however the acting and some good music saves it so at least it's entertaining, at least if you like jazz.
This isn't Full Metal Jacket, and Simmon's isn't a platoon sergeant ready to lead his troops into battle. He's a freakin' music director.
What's really sad is that they really could have made a GREAT movie here. A mentor pushing his students, a family dynamic that fawns over the quarterback of the family rather than the musician who at his age is nearly top of his game, yet unnoticed.
But no, we have a psychotic music director who everyone seems to put up with, nary with a complaint. Just the way it is, I guess. lol.
Then we get to the final competition, and the kid forgets his drum sticks... as if there isn't any other drum sticks in the hall, then he gets into a car wreck, sideswiped by a mack truck, and he stumbles away to still try to play. Just ridiculous.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Completely unrealistic
So we are supposed to believe that in Ebbing, you can be a cop and throw someone out a window and beat the hell out of someone (with several witnesses) , or firebomb a police station, or set fire to billboards, all without any repercussions.
Well, I guess that's why the rapist/murderer got away with it.
Killing Eve (2018)
Just an awful ending
The premise is great. Female assassin of an unknown organization, and the investigators trying to find out who are doing the killings. However, we are lost on a number of things: We never learn who or why "The 12" are, and what their motives and missions are.
Two, the end is just terrible. Are you trying to catch this assassin or not? Eve stabs her, but then has remorse about it, after all this, now they're buddy-buddy? How stupid.
9-1-1: Pilot (2018)
This is a "Police Academy" parody, right?
This show is awful. Completely unrealistic scenarios, completely unrealistic responses to those scenarios. Angela Bassett is better than this.
It saddens me that it had a rating above 5 on IMDB.