Dolemite Is My Name

POSITIVES…

  • Eddie Murphy is so very fantastic as Rudy Ray Moore. Couldn’t be more charming and entertaining and dramatic as well. Really makes you connect with Rudy’s story here.

  • The rest of the cast are also excellent. From Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Keegan-Michael Key, Tituss Burgess, and Craig Robinson.

  • There are some fun cameos too!

  • It’s funny. There are jokes in this that will make you laugh. You’re going to have a good time watching this film.

  • At the heart of this movie is the premise and story, that is honestly one of the best feel good tales of that classic American dream of making it big. It’s hard not to root for Rudy Ray Moore here.

NEGATIVES…

  • As with all comedies, jokes are subjective. There were several here that I couldn’t find the humor in.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Netflix

A Hidden Life

POSITIVES…

  • Terrence Malick and beautiful cinematography goes hand in hand, and this movie is no exception. Really knows how to bring locations to life.

  • Due to the way the narrative is told to us, there’s an undeniable sense of immersion that brings us closer to what the main characters are going through.

  • August Diehl as Franz gives us a powerful performance of a man who has to keep his anger in check as he stands up to his own moral principles against everybody that defies him.

  • Valerie Pachner as Fani gives us an even powerful performance of a woman who has to stand by her husband Franz’s resolve, but has to carry the weight that is put on her mentally, physically, and socially, because of his actions.

  • The chemistry that Franz and Fani have with each other is admirable. Even when they are not together, that love is still very much there by the voice over monologues of their written letters to each other.

  • While it’s a very simple premise with very little plot, that sense of heartbreak and inspiration to what happened is powerfully strong. Especially considering this is based on a true story.

  • The message of this real life story is truly one that everybody needs to learn. Especially in these modern times.

  • Have to also mention that this movie has a standout beautiful soundtrack.

  • Memorable, relevant, and poetic. Excellent film.

NEGATIVES…

  • Can I please get english subtitles for dialogue that isn’t spoken in english? I feel like I’m missing out.

  • It’s two hours and fifty-four minutes long, and I don’t think it truly justifies that running time.

  • Felt like it meanders or repeats itself too much.

  • There are many moments of obvious improvised scenes of over indulgent earnest acting that kinda felt a little off to me.

  • The editing in a Malick film that make scenes look like they were cut up like montages is not for everybody.

P.S….

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Uncut Gems

POSITIVES…

  • Gotta hand it to Directors Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, they know how to make a movie going audience really feel the anxiety and the tension of somebody having a really really really bad week.

  • There’s a certain skill of having the proper pacing, tone, and editing, for a movie to make you really go through an emotional rollercoaster while watching somebody go through an emotional rollercoaster on screen.

  • Writers expertly knows how to make bad situations get even worse, and then piles on more bad things. That’s the point of the movie I guess, but the unpredictability is something to applaud.

  • Several moments while watching this in a movie theater, I had the urge to leave early because I was starting to think I was going to have a panic attack from what was happening to the main character. He’s a hateable kinda man too! i should be relishing in his life coming undone! Kudos to the Safdies Brothers for pulling this trick off.

  • Adam Sandler is fantastic as Howard Ratner. That hateable annoying lying slimeball kinda guy who is going through the whole ordeal in this story. He goes through so much; that is mostly his fault too, and Sandler really was the perfect actor to take on a role like this.

  • Supporting cast are great too, from Julia Fox, LaKeith Stanfield, Idina Menzel, Eric Bogosian, to Kevin Garnett.

  • That’s right, NBA athlete Kevin Garnett. If you’re a Celtics fan, this movie will reward you for being one. It’ll also spoil a major plot point of the story, but I think you Celtics fans won’t mind.

  • Final act and ending was just the perfect way to finish the story. Bravo Safdies!

NEGATIVES…

  • Considering the premise and what happens, this is what one would call a rather unpleasant and obnoxious movie to watch.

  • For some people, this is going to feel like a very long movie to put up with.

  • At a certain point, you’ll probably be thinking that it’s getting too indulgently contrived with all the unfortunate plot points that happen.

  • I hope you can stand ALL THE YELLING IN THIS!!! SO MUCH SHOUTING!!! LOUD NOISES!!!

P.S….

lovedit ”ENJOYED” IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

1917

POSITIVES…

  • As a World War I action thriller, this is a solid experience that’s pretty darn immersive.

  • There’s a simplicity to the premise that is actually appreciated, considering the vision of this movie.

  • The vision being that this near 2 hours movie is presented to look like a long continuous shot, with only one obvious cut. Impressive film making here.

  • Visually, there are some amazing cinematography here to marvel at.

  • There’s a particular set piece involving flares and moving shadows inside a mostly destroyed village, that was just a wonder to watch.

  • Certain small moments in the narrative can only be described as being beautifully told.

  • Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay do excellent engaging work being our audience surrogates for this dangerous journey that they have to travel. Stellar physical and emotive work by these actors.

  • Supporting cast are also excellent in the brief moments that they get to appear, to help expand on the main protagonists as well as adding to the world building of this movie.

  • As exciting and thrilling as this movie is, there are some dramatic heartbreaking moments that will definitely not be forgotten.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s seriously a barebones story that doesn’t really have a lot of depth.

  • There are several conveniences and coincidences that exist purely to move the plot forward, which keeps those events from feeling like they organically happened.

  • Said conveniences and coincidences can also just be called “stupid moments,” that might cause some eye-rolls of the obvious plot manipulations by the story telling.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Little Women (2019)

POSITIVES…

  • Greta Gerwig knows how to make the narrative bring out to the open relevant themes within the stories itself, as well as how they relate to our modern times. Masterful direction.

  • The screenplay is also magnificent in bringing us the insightfulness of the story, the emotional drama, the fun sense of humor, plus all the clever lines found in this story that just come at us in all the right ways.

  • Really knows how to make the successes and failures of regular day lives come alive, that makes the experience watching this feel like you’re witnessing a real life family.

  • Memorable. There are many scenes in this movie that are quite memorable, just like what we consider to be big memorable events in our own regular lives of successes and failures.

  • One of the most important strengths of this story are the sisters, and how connected they are to each other.

  • Saoirse Ronan gives us this incredible energy to her character of Jo March, and has some wonderful monologues to enlighten us. It’s easy to think of Jo as the heroine of this story that you absolutely want to root for.

  • Florence Pugh is phenomenal in this, by bringing us fascinating subtleties to her character of Amy March. With the narrative flipping back and forth between younger versions and older versions of the characters, it’s Pugh who impresses with being the most convincing in conveying the differences between her past and present ages in this movie.

  • At the heart of this story is the Jo and Amy relationship, as it’s one of the most engaging plot threads to follow. Then throw in Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence into the mix and watch out!

  • Timothée Chalamet absolutely shines in this, with his explosive take on Laurie. How he interacts with the other characters in this movie is superb, and happens to always be in several of the best most memorable scenes.

  • It’s also got a wonderful supporting cast that includes Laura Dern, Chris Cooper, Tracy Letts, and Meryl Streep.

  • Gotta appreciate how the movie concluded.

NEGATIVES…

  • The relationship plot lines involving the potential male suitors isn’t exactly my favorite plot threads in this movie. Gotta say too, that two of those relationships in particular felt very half-cooked.

  • Sometimes the flipping back and forth between the present time and the flashback can get a bit confusing.

  • Is it fair for me to say that Emma Watson was just okay in this movie? Or is it just not her fault that she is completely outshined by Ronan and Pugh?

  • There is a very female-centric feel to the whole movie, which some men might not find any connection to.

P.S….

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The Two Popes

POSITIVES…

  • While this film is mostly inspired by, than just being a work that’s purely historically nonfiction, the topics it covers are very much a conversation about this real world. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this.

  • The whole movie are mostly just sequences of two characters having a conversation, and wow was it all very engaging to watch.

  • Insightful, provocative, and emotionally moving.

  • Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce are phenomenal in their roles of Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio / Pope Francis, respectively. Both are simply amazing.

  • Has a well written script, that is able to pull off some really clever lines of dialogue.

  • For a relatively serious film with important subject matters, it’s not above having a sense of humor.

  • Several of those clever lines I mentioned this movie having, are of the humorous variety. Expect some running jokes.

  • There’s a joke regarding how many people don’t know latin anymore that pays off in a way that I found hilarious.

  • Just for the fact this movie has a scene that introduces the uninitiated to “Kommissar Rex” gets a whole lot of kudos from me.

  • The bonus sequence that plays during the end credits is just perfect.

NEGATIVES…

  • While this film focuses on real life people, it does have a story that’s more fiction than nonfiction which might perturbed some people.

  • It’s a talking heads movie, which is a type of film that isn’t for everybody.

  • Sometimes it feels like it’s holding back with certain subject matters, and sometimes it feels like it’s saying too much.

P.S….

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Watch It Now On Netflix

Klaus

POSITIVES…

  • An impressive showcase at why 2D animation should not be completely replaced by CG animation. Wow, what a visual treat this is.

  • The character designs are also quite charming, and fit perfectly well to this kind of story.

  • While there are many alternative origin stories of Santa Claus, this one felt really special, and had something to say that we can all relate with today.

  • I love the idea that this origin story involves a Postman as the main character, since a lot of us nowadays order gifts online that need to be delivered via mail.

  • There are some touching and emotional moments in this, and goes to show that Pixar doesn’t have ownership of making animated movies that make people cry.

  • The comedic scenes. Gotta love it’s sense of humor.

  • Fantastic voice performance by Jason Schwartzman as Jesper the postman. He absolutely brings his character to life, and is the perfect audience surrogate in this tale.

  • Other voice actors are also great, from J.K. Simmons, Joan Cusack, Norm MacDonald, Will Sasso, and Rashida Jones.

  • This is a new instant classic of a Christmas animated movie. You might just be better off watching it.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s not necessarily an unpredictable story.

  • Does have some familiar plot tropes.

  • One plot point involving a particular character seemed so unnecessary. So very unnecessary.

P.S….

LOVED IT enjoyeditlikedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Netflix

Bombshell

POSITIVES…

  • An “info-tainment” movie about the sexual harassment that occurred in FOX News, is a premise that deserves a look for sure.

  • Some cleverly directed scenes and interesting narrative choices throughout.

  • Charlize Theron is amazing as Megyn Kelly, and there’s a lot of intrigue in what she does in this movie.

  • Nicole Kidman is good as Gretchen Carlson, and has some good scenes to play in.

  • Margot Robbie shines as Kayla Pospisil, and is arguably the most fascinating character here.

  • John Lithgow as Roger Ailes. Simply phenomenal in the role.

  • This story itself is captivating, but it’s the actors who make this movie worth checking out.

NEGATIVES…

  • How enjoyable can a movie really be, that covers such a sensitive and serious subject such as sexual harassment? Turns out, not that enjoyable.

  • Oddly seems to want us to do the real world research about certain characters and situations, because the movie doesn’t really fully give us that information within the movie itself.

  • The narrative can feel disjointed at times, and that feeling of missing gaps can’t be ignored.

  • Some of those makeup work to make the actors look similar to the real life counterparts can look pretty rough.

  • Seemed a little incomplete in the story telling overall.

P.S….

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Star Wars : The Rise Of Skywalker

POSITIVES…

  • If you’re a fan of Star Wars, then go see it. It’s the finale to the Skywalker saga, so go see it.

  • Visually looks great.

  • The designs of the creatures, characters, and locations, are all top notch here.

  • The lightsaber stuff are good in this movie. Pretty good.

  • The use of the Force were pretty cool in this movie.

  • Some fun action adventure sequences here.

  • Loved just about every scene Rey and Kylo Ren are together on screen. Easily my favorite parts of the movie.

  • Among the cast, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac, are especially excellent in this.

  • Shout out to Anthony Daniels as C-3PO though, as he provided some good humor to the story.

  • Pace and narrative moves at a breakneck speed. You should not get bored watching this movie.

  • Expands and concludes ideas found in previous Star Wars entrees.

  • The fanservice is strong in this one, prepare to get your nostalgia fed to the brim.

NEGATIVES…

  • The fanservice is indeed strong in this one, to the point that it feels like it’s pandering to the audience.

  • There are a handful of very eye-rolling moments for me.

  • Felt like two movies crammed into one movie. Very plot heavy, and exposition heavy, that I hope you don’t get crushed by how dense everything is that’s being thrown at you.

  • The narrative can get pretty unwieldy.

  • Goes for the obvious plot directions and tropes, which felt a bit way too predictably conventional for my taste.

  • Can be easily accused of having spectacle just for spectacle sake.

  • Some of the things that happens just seemed stupid.

  • There is exactly one scene between Rey and Kylo Ren that I absolutely disagree with. Absolutely!

  • Betrays continuity on some of the ideas that were set up from the Prequels, Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Last Jedi.

P.S….

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The Report

POSITIVES…

  • Adam Driver continues to demonstrate how he is one of the best actors today. Gives the needed gravitas and importance to the role of Daniel Jones.

  • Annette Bening shows us a restrained but powerful performance here us Senator Dianne Feinstein.

  • Supporting strong ensemble cast helps carry this movie as well.

  • As an investigative political thriller about the attempted cover-up of the CIA’s use of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (AKA torture), this is a fascinating movie to watch.

  • The themes about government oversight, accountability, misguided patriotisms, corruption, and political maneuverings, are important lessons that are rightfully brought up in this movie.

  • Some lines of dialogue here are just bitingly and insightfully well written. Just one of the high points of watching this film.

  • Senator John McCain.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s a bit of a slow burn.

  • This is a political story that mostly consists of talking heads. Not exactly action-packed, which means this isn’t going to be for everybody (although it should be).

P.S….

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Watch It Now On Prime Video