brontebrowning Reviews

The World to Come (2020)

Not Really A Same-Sex Saga

[9/10 · 3 March 2021]

This film (as another viewer noted) is incomparable. It is unlike any film I've ever seen, or you may ever see.

Although the central story focuses on a growing friendship and romance between two women, it's not the true core of this rough-hewn, authentic and unique yet timeless tale.

The themes are universal: a quest for love and deep understanding, the alchemy of two persons that coalesce into something greater than themselves, the need for leaving a mark - legacy - and the desire to rise above the quotidian to something that resembles the divine.

Cinematically, I feel the film is perfect. It's visually austere yet stunning, the sound editing is exceptional, and the unusual, offbeat clarinet-suffused soundtrack will sneak up on you and make a home in your memory.

All four actors turned in perhaps their best performances of their respective careers. An especial hat-tip to Casey Affleck. He was born for this role.

This filmed moved me in ways I can't fully iterate. It's a subtle masterpiece that brings a certain magic. It's more than a movie, it's an experience, and it's an experience that's changed me.

MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Happiest Season (2020)

So Very Lame

[2/10 · 25 November 2020]

I know, I know, there are a lot of really schlocky Christmas movies already out there.

But just because this is a LGBT Christmas tale - and thus "quietly groundbreaking" (or whatever) - doesn't give this flick the right to be THIS god-awful.

It sucks in every trope-y, contrived and cringeworthy way possible, as well as blazing new ways to be bad.

If anything, this film should have been written as a cut-above, since it's forging into new territory and attempting to build a new tradition.

Honestly, the only redeeming scene was Eugene Levy's short soliloquy about the relativity of different coming out experiences. That's IT!

Also, I felt that the two female gay leads were portrayed as excessively girlish and asexual. Their depiction was way too cutesy and sophomoric to be credible, and IMO it was actually offensive.

It's as if the film makers felt they had to neuter this lesbian couple to not offend mainstream viewers.

Well, that offended me!

And again, this movie was just SO terrible in all the aforementioned ways.

No matter what your sexual orientation may be, this film deserves a HARD PASS.

Maybe next Christmas will serve up some better LGBT offerings.

That's MY 2021 Christmas wish!

Fishbowl (2018)

Impressive, Haunting Indie

[9/10 · 11 November 2020]

This is one of the best films I've seen all year, and I view at least one movie daily.

To think how little was spent making "Fishbowl" is a reminder it really does come down to the writing. Yes, direction and acting are vital to be sure. Nonetheless, a story has to have good bones to soar above the rest.

This little movie really delivers! Yes, it's flawed. Yes, it could have been edited with a bit more finesse, and tightened a tad for time. Yes, some of the supporting actors were weak (although every major player was top-notch).

But this is an unforgettable story, well told.

The plot's already been explained, so I won't reiterate here. Just put it on, sit back and let it take you on its journey.

RECOMMENDED.

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Maybe It's Just Me...

[3/10 · 7 October 2020]

But I found the entire premise of this documentary to be self indulgent.

I felt like the filmmaker held herself out as the only adult to lose an aged parent.

I kept internally muttering "enough already" before I finally just turned it off.

The Lie (2018)

Pretty Awful

[3/10 · 6 October 2020]

Yes, you'll probably watch this because you're sequestered at home and aching for new video content, so go ahead.

The problem is, "The Lie" is pretty awful.

A great cast, good acting, at-times striking cinematography and excellent sound editing won't save this loser. The writing stinks to high heaven.

Anyone can see the plot twist coming from the absolute very beginning, and it just goes downhill from there.

So watch it you must. I did! But don't say you've not been warned.

Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning (2020 TV Special)

Best Comedy Offering of 2020!

[9/10 · 1 October 2020]

This Netflix stand up comedy is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious from start to finish!

Sam Jay turns in a totally solid one-hour set which is almost flawless. (One star deducted for a couple of clunky transitions and when Jay chuckles at her own punchlines- I hate that).

If you're offended by continuous n-words, f-bombs and just pure nastiness, then this comedy special is not for you. You've been amply warned.

I'm often bored or simply put off by constant swearing in comedy sets, as it seems to lack finesse and deeper creativity, but in this case I grant Ms. Jay a total dispensation! It just works.

This woman has got it going on, and this year review is coming from a cis, straight, white older woman.

I read that she snagged a half-hour weekly show and boy, DOES SHE DESERVE IT!

Give it a try, and you might be pleasantly just how fresh and funny she is.

Ratched (2020)

Trashy, Schlocky Eye Candy

[3/10 · 18 September 2020]

To avoid disappointment:

Just put "Ratched" on mute and watch the amazing costumes, set design and colorization fly by.

It's visually stunning in every scene, so put on some music, have an adult beverage and just take in the pretty pictures.

The Devil All the Time (2020)

Simply Sordid - Shower After Viewing

[2/10 · 17 September 2020]

I'm a mature movie goer who can accept film violence in context. However, this piece crossed the line.

Great cast, solid acting, visuals and soundtrack delivered.

But this film was gratuitously violent for violence's sake. To me it was like watching torture porn, and left me feeling much the worse for viewing it.

I am so very, very sorry I watched this film.

I feel emotionally stained by it, and it's going to take some time to feel clean again.

Coastal Elites (2020 TV Movie)

It Preached to MY Choir

[10/10 · 15 September 2020]

When you-know-who was elected, I was actually one of the people who left the USA.

Four years later, I can say it's absolutely the best life decision I ever made.

Captain Cheeto is a madman, and every sane person knows it.

So you know this film pushed all my buttons in the best possible way!

Some of the writing was a little overdone and didn't always ring authentic. However, each of monologue performances were commendable.

The last act left me in tears.

RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE over age 12-13 (language).

Unpregnant (2020)

Abortion Road Trip Movie Extraordinaire!

[8/10 · 14 September 2020]

OK, first things first.....

A woman always has the right to choose. No government, religion, family or partner has the right to decide what a woman can do with her own body.

If someone is against abortion, then they should absolutely not have one. But no one should ever tell ME what do do with my own body! (Actually I'm 64, so it's kinda a moot point, but you catch my drift).

So one last shout out to PRO CHOICE FOREVER!

Now onto the movie...

I didn't expect to love, love , love this film! I kind of fell in love with in an unexpected way.

I took off two stars for unnecessary tropes and plot predictability, but these things can be kindly overlooked.

This film, as another poster pointed out was IMPORTANT and NECESSARY, and I couldn't agree more

Why wasn't this film made 20 years ago? I have to scratch my head over this, but conclude most studios wouldn't want to touch this hot topic laden with such a pro choice slant. There were no victims here, no heartbreaking regrets. Probably not box-office gold.

Thankfully some people got together and made this movie happen!

This film treats abortion in an objective, kind manner. The clinician's explanation to Veronica about what would exactly happen during her abortion was affirmative, and frankly information every woman should be aware of, irrespective of their stance on abortion.

I could say much more, but rest assured this movie is properly entertaining, not politically heavy, and truly showcases the plight of a young scholar who chooses not to derail her life due to an avoidable pregnancy (her boyfriend knew he'd possibly impregnated her due to a broken condom, and selfishly didn't tell her. If she'd known she could have opted for the morning-after pill, but she was robbed of that choice).

Lastly, a big shout out to the talented and wonderful Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad...remember Gus Fring?). What a great portrayal of someone living off the grid and on the fringe.

If you're soundly anti-choice, don't watch this movie. Otherwise, I simply cannot recommend this overdue film enough.

WATCH THIS MOVIE!

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

Truly, Truly Terrible

[1/10 · 4 September 2020]

Don't get me wrong: I'm a moderate fan of Charlie Kauffman. And I can roll with meta, existential/nihilistic themes, surrealism and general weirdness with the best of them.

But this film, good god, is pure dreck.

Where do I start?

Overwrought dialogue, for starters. So prolix, so studied, so BORING.

Bad acting on every actor's part. I've always thought Jesse Plemons was overrated, so I can't say I was surprised to find him punching above his weight here. The actress who played the part of the girlfriend was too "actorly," and I found her difficult to watch. Even Toni Colette turned in what may be her worst performance to date. Poor Toni Colette: part of the problem was the terrible source material, but she still played it way too over-the-top. What's more, I found her recycling some of her previous film/TV personas here. Not a good look for Ms. Colette.

Overall this film lacked cohesion, focus and purpose. And somehow Kaufman's (I'm projecting/opining here) sense of arrogance and self-importance coupled with absolutely contrived dialogues/monologues (kind of reminds me of David Mamet in that way), coalesce to form an ego-heavy, pretentious, pointless exercise in futile film making.

TRUST ME. You can definitely give this a hard pass. I know most you will watch this anyway, given it's on Netflix during the pandemic, with few new offerings springing up.

But remember, you've been warned.

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

Really?

[2/10 · 11 February 2020]

What are we sinking to as an audience?

"Locke and Key" may have had a big budget and some good special effects, but that doesn't make it even remotely watchable.

Firstly, the source material is a comic book (or should I say graphic novel"). I know there have been many worthwhile graphic novels, but on the whole, this is a red flag that the material will be sophomoric.

In a superhero franchise-watching world, maybe this type of mediocrity has become our new norm, but folks, this isn't something we should be proud of.

At best this series might have appeal to fairly undiscriminating young adult viewers.

But for us grownups, we deserve much better from Netflix and other streaming services, and we should start demanding it.

A Fall from Grace (2020)

OK, It Was Garbage...

[2/10 · 27 January 2020]

But was it really much worse than the everyday dreck that's aired on the Lifetime Channel? Or other network and streaming-service offerings?

Yes, it's a new low for Netflix as an original production, and I personally loathe Tyler Perry's work, but stuff this bad is put before us every day.

I recently saw a new, original Amazon movie ( the title alludes me) about a rag-tag Girl Scout - type troupe, and it was at *least* as bad as this Tyler Perry mess. But people gave it unearned kudos on IMDB.

If we're going to rag on this film, let's call other bad streaming-service schlock!

We're paying for this content, and we all deserve better.

Virgin River (2019– )

Just Awful

[1/10 · 14 December 2019]

Couldn't get through the first episode.

Predictable, trope-laden, wooden, mindless junk.

Perfect fodder for the viewer hooked on Hallmark schlock, however.

Mrs. Fletcher (2019)

Promising

[8/10 · 28 October 2019]

Based on the merits of its premiere episode, I'm cautiously predicting "Mrs. Fletcher" to be a potential winner.

The critics who've viewed the entire limited HBO series (based on the eponymous novel by Tom Perrotta) seem to be giving it restrained praise, so we'll see.

My brief take is thus:

It has a tight half-hour format, fresh premise (dual stories of a sexually curious, middle-aged empty-nester mom and boorish, un-woke college freshman son simultaneously "coming of age"), realistic dialogue and nicely drawn secondary characters.

And it showcases the ever-wonderful Kathryn Hahn. God, I love that woman! I could watch her do her taxes.

My only wish is that "Mrs. Fletcher" will live within the confines of its limited series format and won't overreach for more episodes- even if it rates well with viewers.

Because sometimes less is...perfect.

This series will hopefully ripen in its subsequent episodes and leave us with completed sense of satisfaction after its brief stint.

But this is Tom Perrotta territory, so we might end up with vague and uncertain conclusions...

But as long as this short-run series stays lean and avoids the bloat of tacked-on future seasons, I'm wagering it will be worth the watch.

Jenny Slate: Stage Fright (2019 TV Special)

Painfully Bad - Literally

[1/10 · 28 October 2019]

I like Jenny Slate.

That being said, she should never be given a standup platform like this one ever again.

I say this in the spirit of public service.

This "comedy" special was beyond cringeworthy; it was physically and psychologically painful to endure.

Her maniacal screaming, cackling, meandering and meaningless riffs (that she continually laughs at herself), combined with uninspired and banal video clips made this patently unwatchable.

I tried to plow through this, but I had to stop. It was literally migraine- inducing. Seriously, I had to medicate.

The screaming...so much screaming.

Hopefully she can put this debacle behind her and get back to what she does best: stellar voice work, and niche roles that showcase her extreme neuroticism in a comedic manner.

Do yourself a favor and don't even turn this on out of curiosity. It could seriously sour your opinion of her going forward and induce PTSD from her hair-raising vocalizations.

And if you disregard this cautionary advice, proactively turn the volume down before you start, and have two Advils at the ready.

You've been warned.