floydreese Reviews

Cocktail (1988)

One of the lesser Tom Cruise films but still worth a watch

[5/10 · 11 October 2018]

Cocktail reminds me of the days films were innocent and were made to entertain an audience weary of their real-life concerns. If nothing else it is a reminder of the type of films the late 80s churned out. Tom Cruise, at the height of his superstardom plays a bartender who is coached by Bryan Brown in the big apple and then relocates to Jamaica. This is a good one time watch (preferably with a drink) and the locations and characters are innocent enough to be enamored with. If you have nothing to do on a lazy afternoon you can slip a disc of Cocktail in your player and get lost in not too heavy handed nostalgia.

The Matrix (1999)

Take the red pill

[8/10 · 12 September 2018]

The Matrix is a great science fiction film filled with amazing action sequences, great production design and some of the earliest use of CGI. Keanu Reeves is Neo- our archetypical hero who is sucked into a world from which he will never go back to normalcy. The Wachowski's really hit the ballpark with The Matrix and it stunned the world upon release. Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Ann Moss and others look cool in black spandex and even cooler with their fight moves but beneath all this are many underlying themes which have been studied intensely. The Matrix needs to be watched by anyone who likes good films.

Sky High (2005)

Solid entry in the superhero genre

[7/10 · 10 August 2018]

Sky High is set in a time where superheroes are likely to be your neighbors and classmates. William Stronghold is not a top tier superhero, just a minor one which would be alright except he is the son of Commander and Jetstream- the most awesome Superhero pair(played with grace by Kelly Preston and Kurt Russell). The film is well paced, funny and heartwarming and involves all the tribulations that high school kids suffer from- rejection, bullying, popularity, infatuation. The young actors are all good and the special effects are not so flashy they become centerstage and yet good enough to be believable. Sky High is a great superhero movie which surprised me. You should definitely check it out if you like fun and heartwarming movies with a dash of humor.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

One of the greatest WW2 film ever made

[8/10 · 6 July 2018]

This is a tour de force feature film which netted Spielberg his 2nd best director award. It is thoroughly deserved. The opening battle sequence alone is worth the price of the ticket and the entire film only compliments it. This is a juxtaposition of emotions and prowess unlike very few films you'd have seen. All the actors are amazing but the direction and cinematography take the cake. Saving Private Ryan is a film that will be remembered for ages to come and if you haven't then please see it at any given opportunity.

Blood Simple (1984)

Great Coen debut

[7/10 · 23 June 2018]

This was where the illustrious career of the Coen Brothers began. Blood Simple has all the ingredients of the brother's style right from the small town setting to strange offbeat characters and a plot that cannot be predicted until the end credits start to roll. Featuring a young Frances Mcdormand this is one movie that you need to see if you want to start watching directors that are mainstream yet offbeat.