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graciejoy66
Reviews
Napoleon (2023)
Not thorough
This should have been a miniseries. So much of his life and legacy was glossed over or left out. It's hard to cram such a historical figure's life into two hours. I'm so used to binging that lately I've noticed that movies - that were historical fiction, for example, just barely cover the material.
The acting was weird too. Phoenix talks with an American accent, Josephine was British (played by the outstanding Vanessa Kirby,) and the entire French army was British too. There are so many talented actors that are native to a film's subject matter that would do just as fine of an acting job. I found the movie to be incredibly disappointing all around..
The Pharmacist (2020)
Nothing new
I have seen dozens of docs/news stories about the opioid epidemic over the years - especially Oxycontin abuse by both patients and doctors alike. (The doctor's abusively prescribing them.)
I found the first episode about the shooting death of the pharmacist's son while purchasing crack a gripping story, but it didn't need to be a precursor to the other three episodes that deal with addiction and bad doctors. The common thread is that the pharmacist grieves addict son while later - after a pharmacy customer dies from Oxy - wants to help other addicts, seeking redemption of some kind, and generally being a pain in the ass to the DEA and FBI because of his annoyingly, self-admitted obsession with busting this one doc.
The documentary is dated as it chronicles the infancy and development of Oxycontin (1997-2003), but haven't we all seen on TV or read news articles about this many times before? I know I have so I was a bit bored. Good production quality, and for your sake, hopefully this is new news.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
From Amazing to Horrible
This show has gone consistently WAY downhill since Stabler left. What I really dislike about it now is that everything seems to revolve around Olivia. Her character portrays herself as a saint, week after painful week predictably fighting for the victim in this annoying holier-than-thou temperament. It's the same lines over and over and over and over: To the victims: "You didn't do anything wrong." "You"ll feel better if you testify and stand up to your rapist." "You have nothing to be ashamed of," etc. ad nauseam. In every courtroom scene: Cut to Olivia in the gallery with the same four expressions on her face: anger, disgust, fear, shock. Since when did a Captain have that much time to spend in court? And forget about court, when did a Captain ever have that much time to spend each case one-on-one with a victim? Ever since Hargitay became executive producer this series has pathetically revolved around her. When Christopher Meloni was on the show it was more of an ensemble cast. Or at least it felt like one. Now everyone just goes to Olivia. They have no personalities except as they relate to her. Sometimes I don't even know why I keep watching because it's so painfully predictable. And don't get me started on the forced, and in my opinion, unnecessary storyline with her son Noah. Why does he have to pop-up all the time? The kid is not even a compelling actor, and adds nothing to each episode except...oh I know...to show Olivia's growth. See, again...all about her. This is a police procedural. Keep it that way and let's not have family issues getting in the way of serious rape cases. Also, every show must have a bold, in-your-face statement and lesson, as evidenced by a recent episode where protesters were standing outside the courtroom holding signs supporting a victim. We get it. #MeToo is front and center these days, but don't preach to me. So why do I keep watching? Well, my husband and I finished last weeks episode and I looked at him and said, "Let's just be done with this travesty of a show and take it off our Hulu list because all we do is groan and moan and interrupt like the robots on Mystery Science Theater 3000." And he turned to me and said, "We've come this far, we may as well watch it out until the end." I just may leave him to it. Without me.
First Man (2018)
Snoozer
All I can say is I was so bored I had to forward through some scenes. Won't waste any more time on this movie. Very disappointed!
Room 237 (2012)
Awful
The theories these snobbish intellectuals pontificate are absurd. I did NOT see a Minotaur in the ski poster - it was a man skiing- probably in the middle of going down a slalom course. Being Jewish and extremely educated about Nazi Germany and the Holocaust I see no parallel whatsoever. And don't get me started on the fake moon landing.
Who are these people? Are they respected film critics or just selected "intellectuals" pontificating like idiots about what ISN'T there.
Den 12. mann (2017)
Unbelievably Amazing
I loved this film! It's an outstanding, yet excruciating, film to watch. The acting is spectacular! I felt like I was right there with Jan on that harrowing journey.
If you're not a fan of torture scenes or watching a person almost freeze to death then this might not be the film for you. I can't believe that this movie was filmed in the Norwegian winter because there are scenes of different characters wading in the fjord!!! The scenery is beautiful but imposing. The pacing was a little slow, but that pulled me into what must have been Jan's struggle and desperation to reach Sweden.
Watch this film. It's incredible!!!!
We Belong Together (2018)
Incipid
This was a poorly acted, predictable, badly written as directed film. Draya Michele needs some more acting lessons- her portrayal of Tracy was stiff and didn't creep me out because...we'll...she's not an actress. She should stick to reality TV. Charles Malik Whitfield earned the two stars because his performance was as good as it could be considering the bad script, and not great direction. He did the best he could with what he had to work with. The supporting characters were fine. The whole story was predictable and stilted.