casch0101 Reviews

Muted (2023)

Real garbage reel!

[3/10 · 27 May 2023]

The script is very, very stupid. The actress impersonating the young psychiatrist could have easily been played better by a robot. The very end, horribly written. The rest of the crew, comic-like. You better miss this one. The whole plot is just ridiculous. Some characters were left fully unpolished, such as the Argentinian pastor and his wife. In fact, they didn't matter for the whole mini series. The music is much too cliché, obvious and poorly descriptive. I'm very sorry to have spent these hours watching the six episodes. In summary, you may well miss the whole mini series and keep time elsewhere.

That's Amor (2022)

Please, miss it!. It's unnerving at least...

[4/10 · 11 October 2022]

Is it a comedy?. Not really. Is it a farse? Utterly no. It's nothing. And what's worse, it is conspicuously gayish-smelling all over. Original cooking recipes are WRONG, actors don't look Spaniards, their Spanish doesn't sound Spanish. Probably one of the worst ill-structures scenes of all time is the lead actor's entrance wearing a (supposedly) Spanish skirt used by cooks.

Nowadays (2022) even children will dismiss this movie. If LGTB+ issues are (?) to be present, do it rightly!. There is no passion here, there are no real men, no real women, no real life, no nothing. Only the lead actress' mother character survives.

Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso (2008– )

No rating posible. Puzzled.

[10 March 2022]

Frankly, this was a huge and long production effort. However, it's matted story and script makes it difficult to comprehend its tone. Dramedy? Comedy? Terror& mystery for teens? Serious criminal acts depicted? Love and hate? Revenge?. Actors: Some are awful, others, lame trending to comics. The worst, the "Jota" character actor with gayish mannerisms and an excruciating "Donald Duck" voice. Both here and villain are played by very good actresses, as well as beautiful women. Carmen VillaLobos and Májida Issa. Another excruciating bad actor plays Dr Santiago. Speaking of medicine, there are enormous holes there which remain unexplained properly. The latter, in spite of the careful scenarios and make-up regarding murders, burnt people, injured in hospitals, home surgery, et al. The third season turns the whole plot into a black magic terror for kids B-movie. What,? Still (I don't know how) the series make you addicted to the chaotic mishmash and hold me awake late at night. Things and do clumsy that your brain send to think "ok, what's next?". The depiction of drug dealers and corrupt public officials in charge of a whole town in Colombia is as good as it gets.

Ibiza (2018)

Awful film eskewing Jacobs' beauty and comical side

[3/10 · 17 July 2021]

EVERYTHING is wrong in this film. It's unbelievable how a bad script, bad direction, etc can spoil a brilliant Gillian Jacobs such as in Dan Harmon's "Community". Even when she's so beautiful, fine actress blessed with charm, she's not worth the time lost watching such an unhealthy mess.

The Suffering (2017)

Stunning bad acting, poor dialogue, as warm as plastic

[3/10 · 11 June 2021]

The script is a cold clone of one too many other similar movies. You can check out the series "Who killed Sara?". However, here actors look like life-less mannequins. All voices sound like whispers, whichever the scene is. The dialogue is too bland. Technical mental illness talks between psychiatrist and psicoanalyst are forced and rather imposed to sustain the very simple thriller plot. Direction is mediocre, was well as scenarios. Awful film.

Vexed (2010–2012)

I liked Season Two the most. Subtle English humor.

[8/10 · 17 May 2021]

Fantastic performance of both main actors. I preferred Season Two, as characters were already well defined, and Miranda Raison a better (and lovelier) match to the lazy detective. Great subtle English humor (black humour, mostly).

Oxygen (2021)

Wonderful piece!

[7/10 · 17 May 2021]

This is a very clever and creative proposal for a sci-fi film. Basically actress Melanie Laurent caries al the performance weight to a fine script. Some back flashes here and there to suggest the vote of the story, and the robotic voice of software MILO, which keeps the whole story going on without the slightest emotion whatsoever helps to contrast the very human survival instinct of the main character. Special FX are great (not a novelty nowadays). Recommended.

A Good Year (2006)

Unbearable predictive script with awful Crowe's acting

[3/10 · 9 June 2020]

When I found out this was directed by Ridley Scott I couldn't believe it. A very light, skimmed redundant story, paved by an awful acting by Crowe, a very mediocre overrated actor, anyhow. Not funny, histrionic, speaking out loud when alone, obnoxious laugh-intended gags. NOTHING happens at half the movie duration. In spite of two lovely actresses (Cornish and Cotillard), I couldn't help it but swiped off the site. Don't lose your time and get nervous thinking why and how did they film this.

Unauthorized Living: Sacrificios (2018) Season 1, Episode 8

A powerful series, that slips to cliches in this chapter

[6/10 · 20 July 2019]

When I watch a 2-car persecution sequence, and the road into the wild is conveniently without any traffic or soul at all...Mmm. The script has been very good so far, however this episode stumbles with cliches, that force fine actors to overact almost as if in a comics police strip. Some non-previously hinted at events also occur.

The Boarding School: El exorcismo (2008) Season 4, Episode 5

Intrusion of supernatural elements in script

[7/10 · 11 June 2019]

In around this chapter, script writers introduced elements of dubious supernatural powers on some characters. This came up as a random solution with no actual meaning, into what had been a very interesting police mystery so far. Once you throw in supernatural cookies, you can go from Superman to E T.. However, that was not included in the original premise. However, the series is still watchable due to fine writing -- nevertheless -- , fine acting and great casting. Some rather cartoonist characters also show up. Very good looking girls and women actress carry a high weight percentage on accepting the new events, without being bothered.

The Last Runway (2018)

Great depiction of cárteles in Paraguay

[7/10 · 4 March 2019]

Fine first Paraguayan film in NETFLIX. Very life-true depiction of drug dealers and the corresponding Secretariat (Ministry level) in charge of combat them. The North of the country is affected, mostly. Fine performances, good script, if rather cliched, and good direction and cinematography.

I Know Who You Are (2017)

Great mystery, police thriller, spoiled by bad casting

[6/10 · 4 November 2018]

Were it not by a misleading casting of one character, this could have been a wonderful thriller. I am sorry, but the actress performing the Judge Castro character displays such a profound lesbian look and persona, that makes it impossible to swallow the several hetero flirting scenes she is on. She looks like a man (in fact, she has performed on theater stage as one many times). For a sweet and warm mom of a boy and a young girl, who is also a stern Judge and terribly unethical and cinical woman, the character asked for Laura Linney, or Meryl Streep or Glenn Close type of actress. All scenes with this actress are somewhat disturbing because of the paradox of watching a manly person acting as if a nice and cute milf. So, the above mentioned scenes look amazingly fake, and it weakens the whole story.

Volley (2014)

A fine Argentinian South-American oriented dramedy.

[8/10 · 22 July 2015]

The young filmmaker Martin Piroyanski wrote and directed this comedy based on his own experience twenties (29 years old). It is a painting quite precise of youth today, including friendship, with and without benefits of sex, free sex without emotional ties, love, drugs (marijuana, basically) and alcohol, etc. and real love also. The casting has some mistakes, probably because of the simple filmmaker friendship with certain players. The first time features (I guess) Justina Bustos, is not as attractive as the screenplay intends and she is a very poor actress. Moreover the "Chino" Darin lacks twice the age of his great actor father (Ricardo) to learn a third of what it means to actually act. Still, thanks to very good script and adept handling of the actors who play very natural the director takes the comedy afloat and one is left with fond memories for quite some time afterwards. They renamed this style as "dramedy," a comedy with features or dramatic touches, a mix of drama and comedy. Best of Movie: Violeta Urtizberea, who besides being very cute and attractive is the best actress for large, along with the director. in fact, I think the friend "femme fatale" should have been performed by her and not Bustos, although it's hard to think who could have done Violeta's own character as well as she did. The music of the film is emotionless and hackneyed in style.

Savages (I) (2012)

Terrible, awful-could-have-been-good film

[3/10 · 7 November 2012]

Stone is stone wrong!. Blake is wonderful to look at, but has a poor voice to be the story teller, and not a good actress. The two blond guys are no better either. Hayek overacts. The script is a mess. Starting with soft-porn sex scenes, next going to very gory scenes (decapitated Mexicans). Add some "humor" scenes as coming from comics. Just look a the first 10 user reviews and they say it all.

The proposal of the romantic (?) or love (?) situation of the three main characters is preposterous. The maternal side of the cartel boss is preposterous. Only Del Toro stands out, however overacting also.

Everything is senseless in this film. It has no definite way nor objective.

Margaret (I) (2011)

Powerful depiction of life as it is.. I hope it gets every Award

[9/10 · 26 July 2012]

This is a quasi masterpiece!. I see some negative reviews which read that the film makes no sense...in fact, it is their reviews which make no sense nor bear any sound statements whatsoever. I saw this film in DVD and under personal depressing and hardship health and economics situations and yet, I found it wonderful. One talked about bad editing...*no*!...It *is* precisely the seemingly rough and careless editing which adds to the main character's (Lisa Cohen, brilliantly played by Anna Paquin)chaotic teen feelings mixed with a very tough mature situation she bumped into. The script is brilliant, and the dialogs most real and natural. Most of the main actors(including the quasi-cameos)deliver wonderful impressive performances. This is a "no_no" for any followers of hideous the Potter or Crepuscule sagas (for God's sake!), no matter the number of either audience or income. It should be impossible to stay impervious to emotional pain in the last scene. For actual good films buffs...don't miss this one!.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

An unlikely great mix of sci-fi, melodrama, thriller and horror

[9/10 · 24 December 2011]

I am not a great fan of Almodovar, especially so of his first period of films. But this film knocked me out!. It took him a long time to arrive at this stage (coming from "Broken Embrace" and "Volver"), and rendering a great but unlike mix of sci-fi, melodrama, thriller and horror movie. His icon star Antonio Banderas is impeccable and with a very strong performance in this film. The script (loosely based on Thierry Jonquet's short novel "Mygale" (entitled "Tarántula" in Spanish), is brilliant, since it includes an also brilliant twist that is not in the novel. The music, though stereotyped, is very well written and played and is eventually very effective. Actress Elena Anaya is superb, and delivers a great emotional performance as required, including a lot of her body exposure. The overall cinematography is excellent and the use of on-screen notes on dates (due to several flashbacks and forward, as well as some characters in the film resembles 50s horror/amazing stories movies. This is a shocking film but, hopefully, to be enjoyed and remembered.

Love for Rent (2005)

Very attractive, entertaining and even moving film

[8/10 · 14 May 2011]

Surprisingly, this is a *very* well written script from a well-thought idea for a story as well. The result is one of those "feel good" movies. There certainly are some stereotypes related to this type of romantic comedy, but, with non-stereotyped ending for each case. The difference here, however, is the "salsa" thrown in the pot, stemming from great Colombian actress Angie Cepeda (lovely, very natural and fine actress)and certainly helped out by a fine casting as well. The Latin flavor (and feelings, and life style) is present throughout the film in the two South-American girls from "...down there someplace...", as stated by Nora Dunn's character at some point. Here at IMDb below this reviewing window I got five "recommendations", all American, all very poor and certainly quite below this film's level. It also is a quite long film, which you don't notice because of the fine script and its great rendering by the actors.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

Great direction, script and acting, somewhat lacking deeper emotions

[8/10 · 24 December 2010]

Allen is no doubt one of the great film directors/writers of all time. He manages to surprise us in every new movie. He has the knack to find "new" actors/actresses and make them act wonderfully (Lucy Punch and Frida Pinto, both perfect castings and do a very fine job). What!...? Anthony Hopkins in an Allen movie and in the humorous scenes of it?. Great, as usual. Naomi is more beautiful then ever and maintaining his notch-top acting skills as usual. Gemma Jones is impeccable, and holds or her shoulders the whole movie story, actually, and succeeds. The film ends as if real life was passing by, not like "in the movies". (If you don't get along well with *your own life* you won't probably like this ending). The "worst" acting (if any) comes from Antonio Banderas...but then, this was a shrewed casting and clever writing of Woody for the character, based as surprise considering Banderas' usual roles and his real life story.

Carancho (2010)

Extraordinary film!

[9/10 · 5 October 2010]

I consider Ricardo Darin is one of the best actors in the world. Period. He has been approached to become a "hollywood star" "a la Banderas and Bardem", but refused to. He is very OK in his native Argentina, and has been in four movies during five years. Trapero is a top-notch scriptwriter and director. Notwithstanding the emotional anxiety or even repulsion that the story itself and some scenes may convey, this is a phenomenal work of art film, cinematography, acting, direction, design and clothing. The romance between these two souls (one, dishonest, the other, weird and low self-esteem)is believable, and adds some suppleness to an otherwise very twisted and somewhat creepy story.

Splice (2009)

Beautiful original sci-fi film

[8/10 · 3 August 2010]

To e_baker: Well, maybe you should try to figure out why most people found this film to be (as least) a good one, and not "horribly written, and horribly everything " like you thought. Granted, the end has been seen profusely in other horror/scifi films. Granted, not every detail concerning the lab was taken care of. But..this is a movie!...And a movie is not always real life (those are called documentaries, BTW). To everyone: This films succeeds in delivering an amazing blend of humor, science, special fx (very, very well done), sensuality, biology, suspense, entertainment...how about that?. The very great and creative design of the creature (and its development from early age to further in time) is already a call to watch something NEW and very creative and artistic. I never really cared too much for Adrien Brody (I am rather sick of his hairdo), but Sarah Polley is a first-rate actress and here she remains in her standards. The cinematography, color, general sceneries and digital effects are beautifully done. The core of the story (though not original) has some twists here. Still, there ARE implications in the script as to where are molecular biology and genetic manipulation going to. In this little almost bed-time story, there's a lot of food for thought concerning the latter issues, and concerning the various ways (around nine, right now, I guess) a child can be born *wihout* any sex nor emotional and/or physical connection between their parents involved. This is certainly gruesome!. I saw many metaphors in the film related to what I just said. All in all, this is a wonderful "have-to-watch" and later on discussed on film.

The Widows of Thursdays (2009)

A very good film, portraying decadent so-called "high class"

[7/10 · 17 July 2010]

I don't agree with "santiencalidaddeque", and with other negative reviews. I wonder how old he is to better judge him. In colloquial conversation within closed friends. especially so among an all-female or all-male group, genitals ARE verbalized with their more common and vulgar names, notwithstanding how gruesome or shocking they may be. Most supermarkets, gyms, malls, shopping centers ARE certainly called exactly like that, IN English, not only in Argentina, but also in Paraguay, where I live. There are lots of jokes traveling throughout the Web mention that what we used to call "gimnasio" is now called *gym*; almost every English term I mentioned has a translation to Spanish...yet, somehow, these days urban society chose to say them in English. The acting is overall very good...including young Mirtha Legrand's controversial niece. I have yet to read the book, which should probably be much better (that's already a sort of "classic", abbreviated and not-too-good transferrence of novels or stories to the screen, with very few exceptions).

Crazy Heart (2009)

Mediocre film, great (as usual) acting by Jeff Bridges

[6/10 · 13 March 2010]

This is not an Oscar worthy film per se. Jeff Bridges is such a great actor...but he should have been awarded an Oscar long time ago, and not particularly for *this* boring movie. Maggie Gyllenhall is quite good and she looks lovelier than usual to me here. Robert Duvall is a total waste (great actor, very poor character).

Bridges has been wonderful throughout the last 15 years or so, both in comedy (with BarbraStreisand) and drama, and even action. Colin Farrell's character could have been played by anyone!.

The story has been told lots of time, the script is acceptable, the total product is finally a mediocre one.

Agora (2009)

Beautifully crafted great film

[10/10 · 18 February 2010]

I fully agree with luisgmnz. The only thing that puzzled me is why Amenabar did not write the music score himself, since he is a great symphonic composer as well. (Notwithstanding the fact that the music is also wonderful). I am a professional composer/arranger/pianist/jazzist/music educator from Paraguay (you can read my profile at Wikipedia, in Spanish (en español), Carlos Schvartzman). I am also an avid reader of (besides all music subjects, of course) science, math, medicine and psychiatry and psychology, and had learned about Hipathia some years ago. The story is fascinating not only in terms of this very special and outstanding woman, but also in terms of the introspection she arouses with her ideas, opinions and acts, as well as the introspection and reflexion Amenabar proposes us through his film in terms of tolerance, humanity, human rights, morals, et al. Rachel Weisz is so great she is capable of, her performance-wise, have us love the character and remember her in spite of the outcome (at least for those like me who had already read about her character in history or math and science history books). Alejandro is unique.

Up in the Air (I) (2009)

Good film...period.

[7/10 · 8 February 2010]

This is a good film. It's certainly not a "wow!" film, but does OK. The women are marvelous. Farmiga was already great in "A Moment of Truth" along with Kate Beckinsale. However, Clooney...mmm. I still don't get what is it with Clooney! (Do his head tilting and eyelashes almost feminine waving have something to do with?) He must be one of the most unexpressive actors, probably only surpassed by Bill Pullman or Bill Murray. Jason Bateman is pretty unexpressive too (his face simply won't allow him to grab any strong (boss) character unless disguised with lots of make-up and special clothing). C'mon!. And then, I don't think this is a "comedy"...no, no, no. (It does contain some witty and sour humor). This is a great (dramatic) portraying of a guy who wants to hang out and have sex with women without getting emotionally involved, taking advantage of his continuous flying job. He despaires when finds out he did fall for this one, particularly for the one whose game rules where just exchanging sexual pleasure with no strings attached!, and was shocked to actually see her in her family context (husband, and her children running along through the house, etc.).

The Lovely Bones (2009)

It's a no, no, no, Peter Jackson!...

[4/10 · 16 January 2010]

Just *what* is this film, actually?. It's a sort of "Mystic River" meets "Alice in Wonderland". Some scenes are quite disturbing as if from a Harvey Keitel cum James Gandolfini sadistic duet movie, along with some Disney-like "life is beautiful" ad. Everything in this movie is wasted: Beautiful (and great actress)Rachel Weisz could have been a Ms. John Doe here...; monkey-faced Whaldberg keeps on confirming he cannot act!; the actress playing Susie Salmon is very pretty, and lovely and good actress...however she can't do much with such an awkward and erratic script. Whenever we are drawn to (finally!...) a detectivish thriller, we are next deviated (with no reason at all) to "wonderland". I even consider this film to be perverse as it toys with the idea of a teen girl being kidnapped, eventually raped and later killed, along with the overused cliché of magical "in-between-life-and-death" people communicating with the alive. Some scenes look like coming from any youngster playing with software such as Paint and Photoshop...Oniric scenes mixed with real-life deal disturbing police scenes. I just don't get it!. Where are people going when they even nominate an erratic film as this?