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Reviews
Nancy (2018)
SO disappointing
Really had high hopes for this one based on other users' reviews and the cast. But it was not a slow burn, it was a NO burn. The actors were fine, but the pacing was stagnant and the payoff was ... well, nonexistent really. It's described here on IMDb as a mystery/thriller, but the mystery is never really resolved. Does she really believe she's the couple's daughter? Is she delusional? Could she actually be their child? There's a DNA test, but while it's implied that the results are not a match, it's not directly addressed. As for a thriller, that is completely misleading. There are angles that lead nowhere, like the hunting accident. It only seems to be included to show that she knows how to deal with a medical emergency, which is neither here nor there. AND THE WIG. It is so bad and so obvious, yet we are supposed to believe it's her real hair since we see her covering a few grey strands with dye early on. My partner and I shared the same reaction at the ending: "WTF!?!"
Risen (2021)
Unbelievably bad
This sounded like an interesting premise but devolved into a slow, spiritless, slog of a film pretty quickly. I can't recall ever seeing a lead actress as bereft of personality or charisma as Nicole Schalmo. Her performance was absolutely leaden and her expression never changed. It was actually painful to endure her scenes. It left me hoping that the destruction of mankind would hurry up and get it over with, since not a single character was worthy of empathy and I was actually rooting for the aliens, who were much more likeable. I watched until the end, hoping against hope that the glacial pace might pick up, but it never did. This was 1 hour 49 minutes of my life I cannot get back, don't make the same mistake.
Unspeakable (2017)
LOVE Indira Varma, but...
I am SO TIRED of movies and series that have no satisfying conclusion, they just stop. This seems to be a trend and it seems like lazy storytelling. Why develop a plot, establish characters and make the audience relate to them and care about them, if there is no ending to the story? Why deliberately frustrate viewers by denying them any sense of completion? That being said, Indira Varma is a treasure and I would watch her stand motionless in an empty room, so this otherwise disappointing film does have her going for it. Actually all of the actors gave excellent performances - it's just a shame the material they were given to work with was so unsatisfying.
Asteroid City (2023)
An Artistic Masterpiece!
I was absolutely astounded and left open-mouthed with wonder after seeing this new Wes Anderson film. It is a master class in color, composition, and attention to detail. The wit and complexity of the script was breathtaking and each actor nailed the intense monologues that comprise most of the dialogue. The cast was perfect. I will want to see this multiple times because there is so much to see and hear, one really cannot grasp all of it with just one viewing. It might not resonate with some because it is a true art movie, not the typical vapid, cartoon-based formulaic pap that fills most screens these days. But for anyone who appreciates true artistry, this is a truly wonderful experience!
La noche más larga (2022)
Well, there's six hours of my life wasted!
I couldn't have been more disappointed and angry with this series. After trying to follow the increasingly complicated plot, getting invested in the characters and anticipating what would happen to them, it just ... STOPPED. There is no conclusion, no answers to myriad questions, no resolution of anything. It is NOT a limited series, as those generally wrap up the story at the end. This was clearly meant as a first season but there doesn't seem to be a second one, which frustrated me to the point of rage. Netflix does a disservice to viewers by passing this off as something it is not - a contained story over the course of six episodes which ought to have a satisfying ending. Don't waste your time like I did, unless the second season does eventually drop. And even then, I suspect it will end just as frustratingly.
Huesera (2022)
I know others loved this but...
I had such high hopes after reading all the glowing reviews, but was terribly disappointed. It just wasn't scary to me at all, and I'm a mother so I should have been able to grasp the concept of fear related to pregnancy - maybe it's a cultural thing and I just missed it, but I really wanted to be chilled and never got there. I thought Natalia Solian had one expression throughout the entire film and I could not develop enough empathy with her character to buy into her distress. I did enjoy peripheral elements like the Mexican punk scene and the thematic use of color (pink), and there were a couple of genuinely creepy scenes, but it never truly scared me. I don't want to be a hater because obviously a lot of people loved this film but sadly, I was not among them.
The Ravine (2021)
NOT a mystery, NOT a thriller!
Don't be fooled, there is absolutely no mystery and not a single thrill to be had. This is a Christian movie, and not in a good way. There is no real action as the entire story is just a compilation of excessively long monologues. Might just as well listen to an audiobook. The score is overbearing and trite. Poor Leslie Uggams is stuck in a wig that doesn't even try to look natural and she is far too iconic to suffer this indignity. And worst of all, the motivation for the crime turns out to be, essentially, "the Devil made him do it." It's cheap deceitful crap like this that gives Christian movies a bad rap.
Tata muta muntii (2021)
SO Irritating
I don't think I've ever disliked the main character in a movie so much! The title and plot summary give the impression that the father is a selfless, sympathetic hero who acts out of love. But no, he turns out to be a narcissistic, entitled bully who puts his own interests ahead of the lives and safety of everyone else. I kept wanting to root for him but it just wasn't possible. It isn't even about his son or their relationship or love at all, it's just him and his ego and his obsession. I hoped the ending would provide some rationale, some justification, but it was just as unrewarding as the rest of the movie. Sorry Romania, but this was a big nope for me.
What Lies Below (2020)
Just whenI thought it couldn't get worse...
What. Even. IS. This! If it's not the worst movie ever made it's certainly in the top five. Just godawful. Don't go into it hoping it will be explained in the end because there really is no ending, it just stops. Nothing is explained. I don't even know what I just wasted the last two hours of my life on but I regret it deeply. Save yourself and run far, far away from this mess. The worst boredom on earth is better than watching this atrocity. Mena Suvari, girl, you got some 'splainin' to do. AWFUL movie!
I Care a Lot (2020)
Outstanding!
Great story, great acting, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right up until the final moments. It's rare to find a really creative and original idea anymore but this qualifies. Kudos to J. Blake son for this innovative and effective thriller!