luann-lewis Reviews

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

DiCaprio looked odd, hard to believe

[4/10 · 29 January 2024]

His underbite was distracting and so fake looking that it took me out of the story often throughout the long three hours. I was glad to learn about this historical time, but it could have been tighter - and his face... well, it worked against his acting. It often seemed as if they cut the interesting scenes too short and stretched the tedious scenes too long. It also seemed to lack a certain nuance that one would expect between these characters unless Ernest was really that stupid, but maybe he was but more likely he allowed himself to be manipulated out of greed and a desire to belong. That would have made for a more believable story.

Gunther's Millions (2023)

Weird and overall rather boring

[3/10 · 18 February 2023]

After the first couple of episodes, I started fast forwarding because it just wasn't interesting enough. Sure, the overall story was fascinating and took great twists and turns, but it could have been told in about two episodes. It got very repetitive VERY REPETITIVE and tedious to watch. Whoever made the editing decisions must have been too close to the project as the same analysis of the main character was repeated as well as sections of the dog trust, etc etc. Now I'M getting repetitive but IMDB won't let me post this review until I have 600 characters. This documentary doesn't have that same excuse.

You People (2023)

I thought it was a sweet and funny romance movie

[7/10 · 18 February 2023]

I thought it was a sweet romance movie between two people who didn't look perfect. Their interaction as a couple was delightful. Then we had the families. In a way, the movie itself was a little racist because it made black people appear very racist and close-minded, unacceptable of white partners for their children and I haven't found that to be necessarily true. Most parents of all races just want to see their child happy. Then it depicted the Jewish / white family as really ignorant and trying to use their black daughter-in-law to be as a showpiece for their progressiveness. That was a little more realistic to be honest. The point was, however, to make viewers laugh at awkward situations that COULD be and I DID laugh at some of them but not all, just some. It didn't live up to its potential but it wasn't bad and, as a couple, the whole romance part was just great.

Red Rose (2022)

Enjoyable - interesting and creepy

[6/10 · 18 February 2023]

Because it was a series, they were able to develop the characters quite well. The beginning was dark a realistic with a nightmarish quality that warrants a trigger alert. After that it twists into a more typical horror scenario that requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. Still, I really liked some of the little twists and the overall reveal (which comes surprisingly early) is very creepy. The problem with the story is that short of Scooby Doo, no kids would be as un-cautious as these guys, but then there wouldn't be much of a story I guess. The best part of this was the convincing characters. The acting was great and there were some very endearing moments, particularly involving a boy named Antony, who had a side drama all his own, delivered poignantly. This was more nuanced than the typical horror mystery but got a little two dimensional toward the end.

The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

Not about gay or straight... about love

[9/10 · 4 February 2023]

This episode was about the universal theme of love and intimacy between two people in a lifelong committed monogamous relationship. It was authentic and relatable. Watching this you saw two people living a life of love. People get hung up on gender and I don't believe that was really the point here, the creators just took this opportunity to paint two gay gentlemen as real human beings and not stereotypes but these could have been any two people of any gender in love and been as authentic because love is love - no "agenda." The twist through time was brilliantly done with short scenes displaying the types of interactions that couples of any type might have and yet the poignancy of dystopia added a profound depth to the story.

The Voyeurs (2021)

So not sexy for an erotic thriller

[6/10 · 20 June 2022]

Sydney Sweeney was gorgeous, very innocent throughout and the twists were good as was the ambiance, but the cold, scumball neighbor was such a jerk, it was impossible to find him sexy, although, Sweeney did a good job of convincing us SHE did. This was definitely not a romance by any means. And it definitely qualifies as a thriller. It had twists you see coming and one or two you don't. One for sure that makes your jaw drop a little bu no spoilers!

Collateral Beauty (2016)

What a beautiful movie

[9/10 · 1 June 2021]

This was so lovely, touching, and poignant. I enjoyed it so much. It had a phenomenal cast. The script was one that could have failed given lesser actors as it is a stretch, but they carried it off so beautifully.

The Clovehitch Killer (2018)

Tension, Great Acting, Suspense

[9/10 · 8 May 2021]

At first I thought this movie was going to be too much like Stephen King's Good Marriage but it went even more deep than that and was much more frightening. Somehow these characters struck me as more realistic. The suspense was incredible and the little twists were wonderful. I loved the structure from start to finish. It wasted no time and kept the tension high. Loved it. And the acting was phenomenal.

Creep (I) (2014)

What the heck did I just watch?!?!

[9/10 · 1 January 2021]

This movie is what Blair Witch SHOULD have been. The "found footage" method has now been totally overdone after the success of Blair Witch but then we get a piece of film like Creep. I picked this out for a quick afternoon watch, not expecting much but on the edge of my seat start to finish. The use of this style was great, the acting phenomenal, and the simplicity added to the suspense. Not to be missed!

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

"Majestical" - An Experience

[8/10 · 12 December 2020]

A wonderful, heartfelt fun touching movie that is a delightfully unpredictable journey.

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

You'll either LOVE it or HATE IT. I LOVED it

[9/10 · 13 September 2019]

If you're a child of the 60s, how could you NOT love this tribute to the special tinsel flavor of the time? QT captures the essence of all my young teen dreams. I especially adored the Playboy Mansion party scene where the people I wanted to be back then, gathered together in just the ways I imagined were so wonderful (and so sublimely ridiculous) and partied like it was 1969. This movie yanked me right back in history and the acting was phenomenal! There was tension, character (or lack thereof), a feeling of relief that my dreams never came true (although I've had that many times before) yet a delightful reminiscence and affectionate trip back to a fairy tale time in our culture. It would be hard for anybody who didn't grow up in that time to appreciate the genius QT used in constructing this movie so I expected it to be panned and disliked by the vast majority of movie goers. I was surprised to see so many 9s and 10s! The addition of the Manson crew lent a chilling reminder of how the times changed.

Killing Jesus (2015 TV Movie)

Pros and Cons

[3/10 · 27 April 2019]

In terms of acting, I thought this was one of the best portrayals of Jesus I've ever seen. The movie is raw and realistic and gives you an idea of what it must have truly have been like. It was great to see this on the heels of a trip to Israel and, again, the actor was phenomenal.

The cons - well, anything miracle or supernatural element of Jesus' life on earth was ignored completely as was his resurrection. Yet, a fictitious miracle of Peter catching fish was added at the end as if they'll allow miracles if the miracle can prove Jesus really didn't rise from the dead. This was disappointing and frustrating. They ended up making it look like Peter was the basis of the church, they didn't even mention Paul in their follow up at the end.

If you're willing to be pained by all that, it's still worth watching for the way it draws you in to the realistic earthy aspect of the life of Jesus. This portrayal reminds you that he WAS flesh and blood who felt pain and was physically fragile and that the abuse he took and death he died was horrendous. This movie brings it home in a more powerful way than even The Passion did. I found myself sobbing during the scourge.

Session 9 (2001)

Creepy psychological thriller well acted and well directed

[8/10 · 8 February 2019]

This one'll keep you guessing throughout so I won't give any spoilers, but I did want to leave a review (rate for me) as I was unusually impressed by the depth of the acting. I thought I was going to be dished up a little Friday afternoon cheesiness in my quest for a bit of horror. Instead I got a fully mature and complex film carried by the acting and directing because I don't believe for a minute that this script could have carried itself. I don't want to give details but I will say that the final scene is played so poignantly that it rises above ordinary and pulls you into the characters tortured heart. The acting made the film

Perfect Sense (2011)

Poor title for such a profound movie

[9/10 · 2 January 2019]

I had seen this a few years ago but decided to watch it again after seeing Birdbox. There is a dystopian heaviness that hangs over each of those movies. This one is not exactly a thriller. It is a gut wrenching sci-fi love story. It is also a lyrical commentary on humanity. The music is lush, narration is poetic. The plot is nightmarish with a jarring edge of realism. It is not especially fast paced so those who want crossbows and zombie blood will not like it. This is the "thinking man's" end of the world type flick.

How It Ends (2018)

Wish I knew how it ends!!!

[3/10 · 16 July 2018]

Actually was kind of exciting... and the acting was superb.

SPOILER ALERT! This movie kept me wondering and waiting for so much resolution - then none came. Okay, so maybe the point of not knowing what happened to Ricki was to show us how this new world was a big question mark but, come on, all of us want to know something about what caused this thing and will they or will they not survive it. Arghh

Tarzan and His Mate (1934)

Ridiculous and Wonderful

[7/10 · 17 March 2018]

The Turner classic version is not the one I remember watching on Saturday mornings as a child but it's just as wonderful, even better! This one includes a nude scene of Tarzan and Jane swimming in the Amazon river! This movie is so ridiculous and so delightful with Tarzan being better than a superhero. Back in the days when women could be "fiercely independent" as well as completely dependent LOL Jand is wonderful and flirtatious. Tarzan is all man ;-). So silly but so great