Change Your Image
scootmandu-662-305600
Reviews
Interview with the Vampire: In Throes of Increasing Wonder... (2022)
A pleasant surprise, after my adjustment to the era change
I am a huge fan of the Anne Rice novel. It is one of my favorite works. When the movie came out, I thought it was simply okay, but it was hard to do justice to the book.
Because I have such high regard for the novel, I almost did not want to see this turned into a series. And, at the start, I felt a bit jarred that Louis' story origin takes place in 1910 as opposed to the late 18th Century.
But then, I just decided to keep an open mind and settle into the changes, which certainly seemed to be in the spirit of Rice's original work. She obviously was involved in the project before her recent passing, because she is credited as Executive Producer, along with her son.
I am glad I stuck with this. The performances are mesmerizing. The 2 leads are quite good, but the actor playing Lestat is absolutely incandescent. His final scene and moment are crackling with ferocity and electricity.
The violence is a bit shocking, a couple of times, but in the context of the character, the casual brutality makes sense.
Looking forward to see where this series goes from here.
The White Lotus: That's Amore (2022)
Stunning, in every sense of the word
I have enjoyed "The White Lotus" very much, and this season even more than the first. However, it wasn't until this episode that i truly grasped what is making this as special as it is.
First of all, this is, for me, hands down, the most visually stunning cinematography I have ever seen in a series. It's not just the settings. It is the lushness of the way each frame is filled, the artistry that intermeshes one scene into the next. The musical selections are sheer perfection. And then, on top of that, you have all of these interesting story lines coming together. We almost forget that the initial episode starts with a tragedy and this is just a flashback to it. One never knows where it will go to next. I will say, though, that I did anticipate what this episode's final sequence was going to be.
I can't remember a show getting this much better with every passing week. And this one started out strongly to begin with.
Mike White's artistry is on full display here. I have liked his work since I discovered him back in his early days ("Chuck and Buck"). I never realized that he would continue to grow and evolve into such an incredibly accomplished writer and director. I watched tonight's episode unfold almost not wanting it (or the series) to end.
Everything from, the superb cast, to the nuanced, multi-layered dialogue that seamlessly transitions from English to Italian and back again, to the magnificent opera house, was a sheer delight to watch. Even the quieter moments, like the "That's Amore" performance, is just exquisite.
I guess if I had to define this particular episode and series with one word, that would be it...
Exquisite.
The Pig Farm (2011)
Disturbing and inept. On many levels.
I had recently heard about this serial killing case on a recent podcast and had recalled seeing the title on Amazon Prime. So I checked it out.
This is how you know how awful the producers of this documentary were in putting this film together. From the beginning of this film they played clips, over and over again, from an audio diary this murderer had created in 1991, apparently before the killings (that we know of) were committed . I get it. They wanted us to hear a serial killer speaking, in his own voice, so we would understand how ordinary he sounded discussing his philosophy of life. Unfortunately, this useless plot device kept getting replayed. To what purpose? It would be like watching a documentary on Charles Manson, only to be subjected to having to hear all his music throughout the documentary.
On top of that, it is literally infuriating to see some of these 'farm employees' and friends fawn over what a good guy Pickton was, at times. Did we really need to see the stuffed animal (minus the voicebox) that Pickton gave to a friend's daughter? Or to see some of these women blatantly cover up what were obviously some of their own roles? One woman, in particular, who lied about a murder scene she had seen, led to 11 more victims dying over the next 2 years. And yet, she goes free, because she finally told the truth at the trial. And she behaves in this documentary as if she has absolutely no sense of shame.
It is also very apparent, from what we are being told, that Vancouver law enforcement totally bungled this, but the documentary makers present no resolution or sense of accountability for any of it. There were a couple of people that sincerely seemed like they were trying to get to the root of what was happening, but it was equally clear that many others were trying to blame other circumstances for the failure of their investigation.
Worst of all is that this documentary, instead of focusing on the victims and their plight, seem more intent on celebrating the killer. I did not want to hear his folksy philosophy of life, ad nauseum, or hear the accounts of how kind he was to others.
This is one of those films that does not enlighten, but just leaves you with a feeling of bleakness and sadness.
All Hallows' Eve (2013)
The Atrocious Final Act of All Hallows' Eve
Hey, I know the whole Art the Clown violence from the "Terrifier" series is amazingly creepy. I respect that they pulled off the realistic gore. I also do not think the acting was especially bad. So, I had checked out this film from Damien Leone on TUBI because I knew it incorporated his earlier work.
I was prepared for the gore. I thought it was interesting as a low-budget indie. And, like many, I thought the weakest link was the alien in the 2nd part, which just looked like a truly bad Halloween costume. But there were genuinely scary moments initially.
But then I got to the final act by Art the Clown, which was sick beyond words.
It wasn't just the gore. And the way he killed the 2 children was just simply amateurish and unnecessary. Fortunately,, they did not show that killing and the heads on display did not look remotely real.
It was what he did to the still living woman, carving obscenely, misogynistic words into her body, along with cutting off her limbs. That was beyond sick. And it angered me that he would present something so sadistic and mean and, sorry to say, unredeemable.
It is the sole reason that I lowered the rating (from an initial 7, to a 3) and the reason I would never recommend this particular film to anybody. It was not the gore so much as it was the accompanying hate speech. That was just plain vile.
Black Bird (2022)
Excellent performances.. 1 minor flaw.
The acting of both Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser make this a must see. Supporting performances were mostly good as well, with a poignant appearance from Ray Liotta, who passed away after the series was completed.
My sole problem is with the section of the story that was "based on true events." I normally have no problem with that, for the purposes of dramatic license.
However, in this series they spend an inordinate amount of time on a subplot involving a corrupt prison guard that was apparently trying to extort money from the protagonist James Keene. They also make it a point to make the woman psychologist the villain for putting Keene in solitary for 2 weeks.
Naturally, when the film was over and we are told what happened to the people in the real story, both of those characters were left out. From what I read online, that guard did not specifically exist, but was allegedly an amalgamation of the guards he interacted with. But I saw no verification of the extortion. And, despite a passing reference to the fact that the psychologist was somehow going to answer for what she did, in the actual story, nobody seems to be able to recall why Keene was placed in solitary confinement for 2 weeks. So why make us care about very specific subplots that we will never get a satisfactory resolution of?
Otherwise, this is a powerful and compelling story. I highly recommend it.
Oranges sanguines (2021)
Don't look at the trailer first.
I came into this movie knowing very little, outside of the fact that it was streaming on Shudder. So I got that there was a horror element. Still, I had no idea what to expect, but was mesmerized by the way that what passes for ordinary discussion and debate, was portrayed. It wasn't just the competing cacophony of voices in a judge's debate on a dance contest, or the hypnotic camerawork and metronome infusion into an otherwise standard conversation between a debtor and a bank.
What I found jaw-dropping was the sudden right turns this movie makes, starting fairly subtly with a way too frank discussion between a gynecologist and her young patient. That was the relatively tame part. And then circumstances beyond our control step in, and worlds are altered.
This is not your parent's slice of life movie.
I watched the trailer afterwards and it gives way too much away. It is much better to be seduced by the knowingly ironic and cynical dialogue that many of the characters pepper each other with. And then watch as quirks of fate that suddenly can intrude on life, cause the bottom to drop out.
Personally, I thought the acting, writing and direction was crisp and thrilling. There was not a single moment of boredom in this one. But it is certainly not for everyone. If you are easily offended, steer clear. Otherwise, fasten your seatbelt. You are in for a treat.
Uncoupled (2022)
After 3 episodes, my husband gave up on it. I'm still watching, but not sure why.
It was bad enough as a gay New Yorker to watch gay life portrayed by some of the most stereotypical characters we have ever seen. Hey, we're not kids ourselves, but all I could think of was, thank God my husband and I have each other, because this cannot possibly be what the landscape is for older single gays today. Shallow isn't the word.
But what really caused my husband to decide to stop watching (he described it as torture, where I just thought it was bad, but maybe fun to hate watch), was Neil Patrick Harris' gay fantasyland episode (episode 3). All we could both think of was 'what an ego!" What preening and posing.
It made the entire thing look like an excruciating vanity project, and he even thought it necessary to show an 'alleged' pic of something we absolutely did not need to see. Harris seemed like he did not possess an ounce of self-awareness.
About the only really worthwhile element of the show is Marcia Gay Harden. But she is not on screen enough. Even his straight, female co-worker comes off as an insulting parody. It is demeaning.
I will watch this through to the end, without my spouse. If I see it improve,. I will revise my rating. I do not have high hopes.
Love, Victor: Fast Times at Creekwood High (2022)
PFLAG deserves so much better than this
I am just writing this review to spotlight a major flaw of this particular episode. PFLAG, is a support group for "parents and friends of lesbians and gays." It is a group that is not supposed to judge others. In fact, one would think this group is being highlighted in this show for parents who want to be supportive of their children. One would think.
So, that being the case, why, in this episode, does Victor's mom decide not to share anything about her relationship with her son, because she witnesses one mother who apparently just took seconds to accept her son's sexual orientation, and then get adulation from the other attendees? And then, it never gets resolved, as if his mom would have no plans to attend in the future?
If I am wrong about that, I am sorry. However, this show gives the impression that PFLAG is not the place to go if you took a longer time accepting your child for who they are. What a terrible disservice to PFLAG. It is a wrong-headed message to be sending to people who may know nothing about the organization. There is no way that any PFLAG chapter would ever give that sort of impression. If anything, this episode would discourage parents from attending. Thus the rating for this episode.
The Orville: Mortality Paradox (2022)
Getting its rhythm back
We had been waiting for the return of The Orville for so long, but while the first 2 episodes were okay, they were missing something. The technical effects were there, but the heart, brains and soul had been a bit lacking. It had certainly been okay, but it just wasn't the show we looked forward to watching in the past.
With this episode, The Orville takes a giant leap forward. It was interesting, intelligent, and generally fun to watch. Almost like taking a ride on a roller coaster. One fun scenario after another. I think the initial self-consciousness of the characters returning is now gone, and they are free to just have fun with the roles more. There is a more comfortable chemistry onscreen, overall.
Just one quibble, I am glad that I did not read the title of the episode before watching. Sometimes, the less you know, going in, the better.
Old (2021)
110-minute film aged me 10 years
I really wanted to like this film, but the writing and the acting made it impossible.
At first, I thought maybe I just had to get used to some of the unusual accents that some of the characters had. But it wasn't just the off-center dialects. I find it hard to believe that this movie is rated even as highly as it is, considering some of the performances were just so hard to watch. At one point, I thought it was intentionally campy. But, no, it's just bad.
At the end of the day where they see most of their traveling companions die, mom and dad enjoy a good-hearted laugh with the kids, whose growth cycle has mysteriously slowed down, along with that of virtually everyone else. Did the writers forget that they were supposed to be gradually aging these people throughout the film? I guess that would have required hiring more actors. There was virtually no continuity to be found.
I know there are some veteran performers in this cast, so I have to attribute the bad acting to some really awful writing and direction.
Some of the plot developments were astoundingly stupid. For example, how do these people watch one person commit murder and then do nothing to restrain him so that he can repeatedly attack again? People die and the reactions of people around them to the deaths are often calm and nonchalant, as if they had not just seen somebody die a brutal death.
One of the worst things about this film is that if somebody has to make a decision, they invariably made a stupid one. All the characters come across as so shallow and unsympathetic, that you don't build any empathy towards any of them.
The length of this movie was 110 minutes. It occurred to me that I may have lost 10 years in the 3 viewings it took me to completely finish this film. So maybe there is something to the story after all?
Chapelwaite (2021)
Classic gothic horror makes a comeback.
After seeing the first 4 episodes, I am happy to report that "Chapelwaite" is one of the most satisfying gothic horror series I have seen in some time.
I was worried about how Emily Hampshire would make the transition from comedy to drama after "Schitt's Creek," but she is truly excellent. From her narration monologues, with just the right amount of breathiness, to her scenes with the impressive Adrian Brody, Hampshire has been a joy to watch. Even her occasionally awkward body language is perfectly suited to her character.
Not just the 2 stars, but the entire cast, are extremely strong. Not a weak link in the bunch.
I especially like the consistent somber, and grim, tone throughout, and the way "Chapelwaite" languishes over these brooding moments to capture the mood. For those who like a ton of gore and a rapid pace, this may not be for you. However, there are enough scary moments to keep you locked in.
I also think that it is a plus that this series tries to be socially conscious, as well. Let's face it, "The Crucible" was an attempt to equate the Salem witch trials to McCarthyism, so it is not out of place to include social commentary in the story-telling. And no, they don't hit you over the head with it, either. Where it comes into play, it makes sense.
Bottom line....this is a fun series for anyone who liked to settle in with a good old-fashioned horror tale. While I read "Salem's Lot," (one of my favorite King works), I had never read the "Jerusalem Lot" short story that this was based upon. So I do not have to spend any of my critique worrying about how it may have deviated from the script. I am just judging it on its own terms.
For anyone who has ever curled up with a good scary, gothic horror tale, punctuated by vampires, specters, and a touch of madness, you are in for a treat.
Please Like Me: Eggplant (2015)
Amazing episode of an outstanding series
I only discovered the series this year (2021) and binge-watched it quicker than virtually any other series I've watched. I will write about the series elsewhere, but wanted to point out that the last part of this particular episode was just remarkable to me. Without giving anything away, let me just add that it's amazing what a great script can communicate with just a minimal amount of dialogue. To say that this was emotionally powerful is an understatement. Kudos to Josh and the cast for the exquisiteness of this. The writing and direction were top-notch.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Based on a true story? This was exploitation.
I like horror movies, and could even deal with a couple of the earlier "Conjuring" films, although the mythology of the Warrens is a bit much to take, at this point. But this film, for anyone researching the case is an insult to the victim....both Arne Johnson's victim, Alan Bono, and the allegedly possessed boy, David Glatzel, and his family.
However, even worse than that was the stilted script, which was rehashed, cliched-exorcism speak, crossed with way too much theological infusion. I felt quite bad for Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for the words of faux piety they had to continually utter. And who knew that this was really just the Warren's love story, after all?
Virtually every scare in this movie was delivered by way of Jump Scare. You could literally predict when it was going to happen.
Dramatic tension? Nah. Just a feeling of sadness that a man's murder was used for exploitation. While they may have taken part in the murder defense in 1981, almost nothing else shown in this film ever seemed to occur. Even the number of stabs was changed from 5 to 22, to put forth a theory, involving another alleged killing, that never apparently happened in real life, but was used as a prime plot device in this film.
Disappointing.