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Reviews
Men of a Certain Age (2009)
Where did it go?
This was a refreshing new show that was well written and well acted so naturally it didn't last long. It's a shame it never caught on the way it should have. I didn't think Ray Romano could handle a role that wasn't straight comedy but I was pleasantly surprised. It was also good to see Scott Bakula back on the little screen again. And Andre Braugher was great as usual. It's too bad that television that doesn't fall into a specific pigeon hole doesn't stand a chance. Anything that's new and inventive and pushes the boundaries of televisions spoon fed masses doesn't last very long. Such a shame.
JFK: The Smoking Gun (2013)
An intersting story, that is all.
There is much to examine in this piece but to be blunt, it's not factual. First of all the idea that George Hickey shot Kennedy with and "AR 15 assault rifle" is ridiculous. First of all "assault rifle" is a term that wasn't used in 1963 in fact it's only come into the lexicon in the last 10-15 years. Secondly the AR 15 wasn't even accepted as a weapon by the military until 1963. The military does the field trials on weapons before the federal government adopts them for use. Secondly the author of the book that this is based on assumes facts that aren't in evidence. The program is an interesting watch but very loose on facts.
The King of Staten Island (2020)
Oh my God.
The nicest thing I can say about this film is that I watched it for as long as I could.
Downsizing (2017)
A poorly marketed masterpiece
If you're looking for an eco warrior movie you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for a sci fi film, you're partially right. If you want to see a beautiful film about the struggles of a man trying to figure out what his life is really about then you will fall in love with this film. So many have commented that it's 2 films in one and if lost focus. That's not true. Like so many of us Paul (Matt Damon) is trapped in his life. It's not unbearable but it also doesn't bring him much happiness. His wife (Kristen Wiig) Wants to buy a bigger newer house that they can't afford Paul finds himself at a fork in the road. He decides to take the brave step of downsizing himself so that he can give his wife the life of luxury that she desperately wants. From there the film takes a turn. Paul is now face with a new set of circumstances and must adjust, as has happened to most of us at one time or another. That's when Paul starts down the road to discovering what life is really all about. He discovers that life isn't about possessions is about passion. Paul finds his passion in Ngoc Lon who shows Paul that even though his life hasn't turned out the way he expected it to, there is more to the world than just his life. This is a wonderful story, expertly executed about a man coming to terms with his life. If you saw it and disliked it because the trailers mislead you I don't blame you, it was very poorly marketed but see it again in a different frame of mind and you'll love it. This film is in my top 5 and I will see it again.
Boyhood (2014)
Completely unwatchable no every level
SPOILER ALERT! It's awful. The fact that that it took 12 years to film would be much more impressive if they had filmed something worth watching. The 7 hour run time is a little much as well..........only 2 hours? Really? The Story itself lack any kind of substance. It's suppose to depict real life. Do you know what people don't want to see when they go to the movies? Real life! We have real life every day, we go to the movies to escape that. Also the mother is depicted as a needy desperate woman who marries two of the same man, with equally disastrous results. I think that plot device was to create sympathy for her but it just made her come off as desperate and stupid. There is no story arc. The film starts off with the same emotion as it ends and plays that same note through out the entire film. The novelty of the 12 year shoot quickly loses any meaning at all when nothing happens. How this film got nominated for anything is a mystery. Patricia Arquette winning best actress was the biggest mistake in the history of awards.
Baskets (2016)
I love the different
I hope this show has a nice long run because Louie Anderson is so amazing in his role. His performance is so perfectly understated. The rest of the cast does a very good job but Louie really makes the show. It gets a little frustrating at times because it isn't the usual cookie cutter programming we have come to expect and I like that. I also like the peculiar characters who feel more like people from real life than in main stream sitcoms.
Fort Tilden (2014)
So many missed opportunities.
The movie's premise is something with some potential. The characters are good in that they are similar in some ways and polar opposites in others. The dialog is good and it is well acted. However, it never captures the viewer. It always seems like the movie is going to pick up and then it never does. There were so many opportunities for great comedy that were just completely missed. The bike stealing scene for example could have been turned into something rather than simply having the characters stare blindly as their bicycle is stolen. It felt like the movie went on forever and the premise got thinner with each passing minute. I wish I could recommend this film because I love independents but it just simply never got going and the director, where as it was very well shot, really let some good opportunities slip away.