jmccrmck-65172's reviews

The days of independent 'arthouse' movie theaters are, sadly, mostly a thing of the past unless you live in a market that can support one. This film would certainly land there if there were any. I was rapt with the story , cinematography . . . And . . . Acting. Some of the shot set ups are remarkedly artistic and original. The main character, a young child is in practically every shot and scene and could not be more believable in that portrayal and you are always seeing things from her point of view and nothing is ever hyped or remotely artificial. I hesitated to give the movie eight stars only because I reserve that for only the very best and special kind of movies but this one is at that level because everything and I mean everything works and it is great story on a deeply human level. No one is pigeon holed , you can relate to anyone of them. Not Hollywood ,studio fare, best movie I have seen in quite some time.

I was watching this and thought to myself , oh, damsel in distress tied to rail road tracks.

Some of it pretty predictable . A real pleasure seeing Cillian Murphy and and Rachel MacAdams. I came to write a review because The Jason Bateman Netflix movie ' Carry-On ' which I saw before this one is, and I think fair to say, a 'reboot' of this film. The lesser characters are cliched and they are amply mocked and satirized and the dialogue from them is humorous. There is suspense and tension and humor at the same time. It is a cartoon and that is not a criticism but praise when it is pulled off in an entertaining fashion. I wish I could give it 6.8 stars. I liked it , enjoyed it and it carried me along in every moment of the it's 90 minute length , producers , take note movies need not be 2 hours long , especially when you can tell the story in an hour and a half.

My title speaks for itself , those are some really big names and so I was anxious to see it and they both, Jackson , Brosnan deliver. But the the script is tacky, no, cringe worthy. Predictable and sappy. I thought I was watching a bad soap opera despite all the mayhem, killing and violence. The story at first glance should have had lots of suspense, like you can't look away, I couldn't wait to get away, no suspense here dear reader. The production design was not even at an amateur's level. I do not know the budget for this film was but somebody somewhere must be feeling some buyer's remorse : I know I am for the time and money . . . I . . . Expended. Steer clear.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and it is in that niche where the jokes, put ons and dialogue come at you so fast you can't possibly absorb all of it in one go. That is not a fault but a feature . Never subtle and mostly outlandish.

Did you ever wonder why all these 'A' listers are in Wes Anderson's movies ?

They surely are not getting the money they get for other movies they are in and some in minor rolls: you don't see them taking on such work in other movies.

At times you will be disoriented and unsure if you are 'getting it' but please please mark my words the the script will have laughing out loud and the delivery is as deadpan as it could possibly get. The sets , art direction and cinematography are 1st rate better than movies with bigger budgets I dare say.

My take : a whole lot of fun coming at you from every corner.

I was very much looking forward to this movie and I was not disappointed I was ready to give it seven stars after only watching the first 40 minutes and in my opinion the trailer , as is often the case, would not give one a fair idea of what the true nature of it is. Sure there's plenty of comedy, but it is really a character study of the difficulties encountered in human relationships and it does that with genuine portrayals of those relationships , couples and parent / offspring, the out in the open and the repressed. The acting and story is gripping and I think you will find yourself totally immersed in them and as unlikely as some of the events may seem, the film never struggles in getting them across, comedy , yes but it deals much more with emotions and there are so many satisfying scenes where that is the primary subject.

Seven point nine stars, script acting throughout, not one person outshines the other and equal weight is given to all of them IE well written, I loved it.

As with any film of this nature you have to suspend disbelief and watch what happens.

And what happens is a story taken from a well written novel made into a movie with some of the finest talent in the business. The screenplay and adaptation of the novel, did not read it, BUT the best movies always start out with a story already written for the film maker and the execution from that story IMO was nothing short of brilliant . Of course it was two hours long , seems to be the minimum these days and in that two hours there was not one moment of boredom and the characters and the dialogue spring to life.

Nerd geek intelligence analyst seeks to avenge the random killing of his wife seemingly without the skills or wherewith all to do that and yet he finds a way against all the odds . The plot and sequence of events is intricate and still easy to follow. A movie about some one in intelligence field that was made with great intelligence. Best , entertaining movie I have seen in a while it will keep you amused and engaged.

It is too bad that the film could not merit a higher rating than the six stars I give it. The current rating of six point eight stars is, I think , exactly what it deserves. The locations and cinematographic ( a strained word if ever I encountered one) composition were really good and carried the movie along nicely. The characters in every case are well developed and used sparingly, just the right level of their involvement in the screenplay. Naomi Watts never falters in her delivery, really superp. With all of that said so much of the movie lacks the impact it might have had had it been 1.) shorter than its two hour run time , it needed a better editing and 2.) the story is at its root less about the dog and more about emotions of grief and loss. The dog is played up too much but it's what some will come to see the movie for. The dog is a metaphor for something different. I will let you see the film and decide for yourself. However there is a scene in the last twenty minutes that me find the film more than worthwhile.

OK I read the book and this movie is only very loosely based on it. But that is never a knock on a film for me ; they are two different things. Is it true to the book ? , well maybe not. I can tell you this, despite its shortcomings this film gave me a much better understanding and appreciation of the point of the book , movies can do that sometimes and this one, for me at least, did that.

I refer you to the many other reviews here and for the most part the ratings are fair minded( certainly not Ten Stars ) and the reviews are for the most part capture what the film is like. To be very clear myself the movie is very entertaining and the dialogue is well written. The casting could not have been better ; the characters are well developed and all of them have significant roles and the acting is absolutely top notch. There is genuine suspense because you are not really sure at any point whose side anyone is on , if they are a traitor or not. But in the final scene of the movie which is a meeting of all the players in the principals' dining room the entire movie ,all the subplots are tied up into a neat little package with a bow on it and that is where I found it to be lacking, like after all you have seen is just explained which I found to be , well , lazy. It, the final scene did not even come close measuring up to the rest of the movie. I enjoyed it very much and it is much better produced than so many films on offer these days but I couldn't rate it Seven Stars which is regrettable for a move that is so well made and thought out until the final scene.

To say the makers of this movie 'mailed it in' would be an injustice to any one who uses the postal service, they didn't write the letter , they didn't put in an envelope and they most certainly did not give it to the mailman.

Now it is one thing to see a movie you don't like but one can understand how another movie goer would like it, love it , even rave about it. I can't believe I actually sat through it.

Important point here: Bill Murray, Ed Harris and Pete Davidson , can't be too bad , right? Do not be sucked in by the talent because there is no talent that could redeem this movie.

The 'mayhem' is gratuitous and never even makes any sense, the screenplay is simply dumb at every moment of the film.

A fair description would be that the movie is trying to be' The Irishman' ( a fairly good movie I would say ) with some comedic twists. Absolutely cannot believe the aforementioned talent would associate themselves with a project with no artistic or entertainment value.

Steer clear and watch ten minutes when it comes to some second rate steaming platform , you will . . . See . . . What I mean.

The movie scores high on nostalgia , a good thing. They were undoubtedly an original innovative rock group with a sound , strictly, all their own. All three intstrumentalists great musicians and , what I did not really know is what a musical genius Jimmy Page is. So you learn a lot you might not have known.

The movie could have been between 50 minutes and one hour ten minutes and told the same story . There are hits which don't even come up in the movie, I won't say which ones ( no spoilers) and that was a disappointment. This film really belongs with one of the streaming platforms and not in a 'theatrical' release

I have to say I saw it at one of the major chains that do not maintain their equipment and so the sound was terrible but I have no doubt the sound track is good I listened to the trailer at home on decent equipment so if you plan to see it in a theater make sure you see it in one that does have a decent sound system that is properly maintained.

After seeing this I could not help thinking about 'The Last Waltz' and 'The Wall' and while those two films are in genres all their own, this film on an artistic and , yes , entertainment level cannot and does not begin to approach them. Worth a watch , yes , but don't get your expectations up too high.

The movie is a respectable effort in the art of Cinema although, even if it is filmed in color it is very nearly 'film noir' , muted colors and lighting throughout sometimes in the extreme; a scene in a classroom with the lights turned off ? The plot is too intricate and character's relationships to one another just seem a bit too cute to be plausible but there to tell the story and then you get more of their backstories as you get deeper into the movie. Look the acting is great and it explores an age old human dilemma where things are not what they seem and people act on their assumptions when when the facts are uncertain. I saw 'The Teacher's Room' which was outstanding this movie is similar in some respects but is not ' knitted ' together very well . I am glad I saw it but would be hard pressed to recommend it , if I had been streaming it at home I would not have finished watching it. The movie is just not straight forward in it's delivery and that is too bad; it had much more potential with drama and acting that def. Is present in the film.

Jason Bateman playing the unflappable fixer / criminal /middleman, sound familiar ? Maybe you never saw 'Ozark' and IMO, your loss if you didn't. How many holes could you punch through in that series' plot lines ? And it was riveting. Is this offering on the level of 'Ozark'. Decidedly not. But the movie is entertaining and suspenseful throughout. How is either character going to get out of this one? I don't go to see the Marvel movies , except 'Shazam' and I liked that. So the action / super hero movies are ok but this one is 'lame' ? I think not. What about 'Hijack' with Idris Elba ? Was that any more realistic ? Sometimes you have to suspend your disbelief and just roll with it. I 'landed' on this movie because of an Apple movie that was not yet available for streaming and with the inauguration happening today I really was looking for an escape. This movie was a' Great Escape'.

The movie has no actual, realistic flow once you are a few scenes into it. The characters do not seem to have any palpable emotional connection to each other. And the whole persecution angle is so overplayed that you think YOU are supposed to feel guilty. Look , it feels like some one delved into his previous generation's history , and made the movie from its scrapbook. Why film in vista vision ? Some sort of gimmick or hook I guess, another nod to a bygone era. The art direction and cinematography are first rate and Adrien Brody does a marvelous job acting the role and for those two elements I give the movie five stars. I have read some other negative reviews here and believe them to be legitimate and considered, read them. You may not like a movie but that does not necessarily make it a bad movie. This movie lacks needed editing , believable, realistic dialogue and, overall, decent acting. I thought I should take the time to review it because I was looking forward to it after the Golden Globes and was roundly disappointed. See for yourself if and only if you have time on your hands.

This movie has a scale and scope unlike any movie I have ever seen , it is so ambitious and yet delivers beyond any expectations you might have. Easily in my top ten movies of all time and I could not say that about any movie I have seen in a . . .long . . . Long time. It is like a Greek tragedy from classical literature and it is being 'classified' as a musical. Well there is music in in a Hamilton sort of way but it is so much more than that. The movie is captivating from the very first moment until the end. And the performances , the music and character development are absolutely stunning. This movie blew me away. The subject is not transgender , this movie is transformative in the cinematic arts, enough said and please forget the Imdb rating , they are coming from a philistine's perspective.

I cannot believe Clint Eastwood had much to do with the making of this 'TV' drama other than putting his name on it.

Shall I mention the good movies he has made and I really enjoyed Gran Torino, Jewel , The Mule ? This is like a Dick Wolf production of 'Law and Order' and not a good one at that.

Why ? Clint Eastwood has such a good body of work from the comedies 'Every Which Way but Lose' to the movies I mention above and I cannot believe the ratings rendered here. This movie is rendered from a a schleppy script mundane dialogue and acting. Take the money and run , there is a good movie title and . . . IF . . . Eastwood actually produced it I am sure it would be good. Watch just ten minutes and you will see and like me you will wish you did not get sucked in by his name being associated with the movie , steer clear.

1.) it was just great to relive all of Dylan's music in a chronological fashion and whether accurate or not to get an idea of his development. 2.) Chalamet's performance seems so effortless and certainly worthy of awards nominations if not winning them. 3.) two hours twenty minutes run time always seems too long but it wasn't in this case , I was never bored or impatient , there was a scene here or there that seemed unnecessary but perhaps the film maker was going for historical accuracy. 4.) Drama , acting and the , sorry to say it, nostalgia (music) will provoke really strong emotions for anyone who came of age in that era. I looked forward to seeing the movie and was not let down. I saw 'Amy' and 'One Love' and liked both of them this movie is their equal or probably better.

It is indeed a are motion picture that captures the emotional state of a character so completely and that with imagery , visuals and merely facial expressions of the actor playing the role. And you can say as much for the the deft composition of frame after frame telling the story. One picture and and the expression on the faces segues perfectly and seamlessly into the next. And then the absolutely brutal character and nature of The mother superior of the convent portrayed by Emily Watson will leave you breathless looking at how ruthless ,imperious and , yes, conniving by one who, superficially, is a leader in her church and community. A story rendered so subtly and beautifully in images , brilliant acting and a seamless narrative arc. Best movie I have seen in quite some time and I go to the movies every week if there is anything remotely worth seeing. Truly a gem.

Make no mistake this movie is extremely well made as far as production values go .And the work of Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren are completely without fault and the movie develops quite nicely with genuine pathos that is not overwrought And the two actors (Orlando Schwerdt and Arilella Glaser) playing the adolescents in the film are truly a marvel to behold ; could not be better. But it felt Disney like in the beginning and the skewed toward Lifetime / Hallmark as the film reached its conclusion. Imagine a damsel tied to the railroad tracks with an oncoming train in the frame. My conclusion, make no mistake , the screenplay starts out OK and dithers into predictable cliche. A film can never be any good , esp one like this without the most essential element : a story that approaches plausibility. And a footnote, I wonder if Anderson and Mirren had a contract with the studio to make this film in order to headline in some other movies. Can't imagine they thought the screenplay was any good.

A movie certainly worth seeing if only for the very poignant moments so deftly and evocatively delivered by Saoirse Ronan. But the narrative does not seem to be well thought out and the story is not told in sequence AND there's nothing wrong with that . The scenes still need to make sense and the movie goer should have a good idea of what is going on. Some of them(scenes) feel like they were just thrown in and still the movie had a very good hold on me. Much of the dialogue is well written , touching, humorous, sarcastic , cynical ,pretty much the whole range what humans can feel in the face of addiction and the strains put on their relationships. The characters of Ronan and Daynin are well written and acted extremely well but the rest of the movie does not measure up to what these two actors deliver.

Ah, a movie about a theater critic from film producers, not hard to guess where that will lead us. The script for the most part is well conceived and it will hold your attention throughout. Sadly some of the plot devices are 1.) unnecessary and 2.) just plain old cheesy. And that is most unfortunate. The main character is venal, craven, self interested and most certainly immoral (and I am not referring to any sexual orientation) which would easily describe one half of the people in the entertainment business. Ian McKellen was just devastating in his 'deliverance' of the role of the critic and the supporting cast did him justice . My criticism is the unnecessary elements in the plot and how they don't really fit , IE you could have just as easily told the story without them. I recommend the movie without reservation ,(it isn't action or fantasy) McKellen's performance alone along with the witty dialogue from his character make the movie highly entertaining and I promise you will not be bored or impatient watching this movie.

This movie needs a trigger warning for anyone with any adult sensibilities . I was watching it and thought of the line from 'The Godfather' : "leave the gun , take the cannoli." " take the children, leave the adults " If you are under 7 years old AND you would not be reading this if you were, you could really enjoy this movie. Jean in the lead role Reno was actually quite good, no, the only and best part of the movie. And the Penguin is of course quite charming but otherwise the movie is off the charts on the 'groan meter' Cellular phone communication on the beach in Patagonia ? The acting and script is just plain old lame. Look, it is a heartwarming tale 'inspired by' , what ? Something that actually happened, true enough but the dialogue , acting and narrative are more implausible than you could possibly imagine. One feels embarrassed for the people in the movie. The Penguin was absolutely the star; he didn't have to say any lines.

I am glad I saw the movie because it tells such an important story and one that is, sadly, all too familiar. I did not know the story or how it ends and I did find myself looking for redemption at the end. The movie however does not fully redeem it self. The last forty minutes are the best part with some dramatic tension you can feel and make no mistake : Jay Hill and Mary J. Blige portray their characters in THEE most authentic way possible, truly the bright spots in the film.

The movie is not very well knit together, it does not flow naturally and does not draw you fully into it like a good movie should. Plainly put, most of the other characters with the exception of an academic advisor( very small role ) and catholic Headmaster mentor are like furniture in the scenes, they may even have some lines but are they in the same movie ? Some great moments of drama in a meandering film which does not make the cut.

The movie is filled with genuine suspense with no gimmicks. A decidedly European film. Suspicion whether warranted or not, Where virtue, IE ,wanting to do the right thing can have unexpected, unintended consequences. When I say the story line can be ambiguous it is with praise for the movie that I say that. Life can be a very messy affair and having been in a work setting where children figured into it I cannot emphasize how much I found this movie to be true to life. If you are a professional in education, no matter what level, the circumstances will seem familiar I suspect. One small event and the false accusation and suspicions and recriminations that come with the event can upend one person's life or many lives. This film was edged out by 'Zone of Interest' at Cannes which was an excellent film. 'The Teacher's Lounge' is even better. I was wrapt in the story from beginning to end, story, acting, the most palpable tension you could expect in any film you might see and all based on a plausible real life circumstance. I streamed this at home because there were no movies at local theaters I cared to see, so if you go to movies often and can't find one to see at the theater by all means see this one.

Where to start ? A foreign film, Icelandic with that language and Japanese and sub titles. If it is getting a moderate release here in the States it is worth a try since it is not a fantasy or action movie. The story in the beginning is pleasant and interesting to watch and the actors seem genuine , real. And you will get wrapped up in the characters and the story will pull you along . . . Until . . . You get to the last forty minutes of a two plus hour movie where it becomes 'sadly' predictable and, as others here have noted , cliched. It ends all too predictably , the loose ends all tied up in an OVERLY maudlin sentimental way. I would recommend the movie to you if you like a Hallmark sort of movie, otherwise I think you will be ,as I was, disappointed.

A romantic comedy, check , the lead characters a tad stereotyped, check, overly long as so many movies these days are , check. Art direction, character development, a pretty seamless narrative arc and great performances by , guess who, Scarlett Johansson, Woody Harrelson and Ray Romano check. Check. Check. And. Check. It is just plain and simple very entertaining and come on , lots of movies these days fail on that score. But the kicker for me, and maybe I was a little bit thick, is by the second half of the movie when I thought it was overly long I saw that the whole thing is satire and that, in the end and at the ending is what makes this movie such a blast. I was laughing at jokes others in the theater weren't getting. And some patrons were chanting 'USA . . . USA . . .USA. At the ending. They clearly weren't getting the joke but they liked it too. The movie delivers on so many levels, Glad I saw it and enjoyed more than most movies I see..