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chicitysue
Reviews
Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974 (2009)
Shallow, slow, dingy,
Some reviewers really liked this film. I have seen it twice (the second time to find out if my first impression was right), and just cannot like it.
I found no characters to like, even the so-called investigative reporter. The lighting in the movie was dark and locations were obscured. There was a lot of unnecessary non-action like meaningless sex and smoking. And if you are an American you will probably not understand the dialogue easily due to heavy accents.
The story plot has potential: an investigative reporter finds connections between abductions of young girls and is stonewalled by the police.
The only scene that had real action was a torture scene, and the outcome of that was not believable to me. It went back to the dark smoky scenes with a confusing, meaningless ending.
Buried (2010)
Tedious account of an American contractor kidnapped/buried for ransom
Personally, I found this one of the most tedious movies I have ever seen. I empathized with the character, but basically all that happens is a repeat of what he has already tried. The acting is good.
Some viewers enjoyed this movie, and I almost did by imagining how it would feel to be in the character's predicament and feeling enough empathy to strongly hope for success at every attempt to get rescued.
You really may like it, but to me it is less interesting than "Open Water" in which two scuba divers were accidentally left in the ocean for many, many hours after their diving boat left.
In each case, of course, the viewers want to know how the characters got in their predicament and what the outcome is, but the plot in between the beginning and finish of the film(s)seems like endless monotony.
The Contract (2006)
Good action, confusing plot, some interesting roles
I was entertained by the action, the scenery in the mountains of Washington state, and the comic mini-scenes that were part of this movie. I very much enjoyed Morgan Freeman's character. There were quite a few scenes where there were ironic quips and mishaps, such as when the cop "accidentally" spilled coffee on a snobby FBI agent.
However, I couldn't quite figure out the plot. I'm not sure the exact details matter anyway because there is enough there to enjoy without exactly knowing who is supposed to assassinate whom.
If you like action movies and enjoy Morgan Freeman's acting, I believe you will at least like this movie. In terms of simple entertainment it was worth my time.
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Basic idea good, but execution was full of extraneous scenes
Like another commenter, I found this movie extremely annoying, though most critics thought it was wonderful.
The story should focus on the relationship of Kym with her family members, Kym's handling of her addiction, and the reason Kym probably hangs on to her addiction. Yes, I realize this was a party so everybody basically would have ignored her "specialness," but there were way too many distractions. The handling of the story line was superficial, but had much potential. I appreciated the music.
1. Having about 20 musicians hanging around the house in their self conscious "artistic" dress, noodling away at their music for what seemed like a week was just too contrived.
2. It was hard to determine what some of the roles of the cast were. For example, while I was watching the movie I did not know who the wedding planner was, he seemed like a groupie, dressed in his informal clothes and attractive scarf (he's in the cast list). There just seemed to be too many "hangers on" self consciously having "fun."
3. I thought Sidney was supposed to be originally from Jamaica but he had an American accent. His mother certainly did. His glasses were so big an unattractive, they looked like they were from a bygone decade.
4. I think a reference was made to Sidney's job, but it certainly wasn't clear. If he was a musician's agent, still, how could anyone afford to pay so many performers for this wedding? I guess the bride's family was extremely wealthy.
5. I certainly loved the dog, and enjoyed watching people play with her, and marvelled at her manners, but to whom did she belong? Most family dogs spend SOME time in the house.
6. As the camera was giving us views of the rooms of the house, one was filled with exotic musical instruments. I saw no indication that Rachel or her parents were musicians, so what was the point?
Etc.
Jesus: The Complete Story (2001)
Through scholarship and archeology examines life of Jesus
The version of this I watched was narrated by Tom Hodgkins.
I agree that the commentators are Christians. That aside, the discussions they have on the social situation of Mary, Jesus' mother, the archaeological evidence for what the Roman and Jewish world in Judea was like at the time with virtual reconstructions and many other situations was very enlightening.
For example, they point out that the High Priests were appointed by the Roman government and were filthy rich. This shows that they certainly would be very threatened by the ideas of someone proclaiming he was the messiah with a popular following.
The whole movie is filled with facts as well as ideas on interpreting the meaning of events portrayed in the Bible and by other writers.
By the way, one of the theologians, N.T. Wright, is very well known and respected. I was very surprised by his interpretation of the betrayal by Judas. It might not have been the kind of betrayal we have been taught to believe, but Judas may have handed Jesus over with Jesus' tacit approval. The sad part is Judas' hanging himself if it was all prearranged.
No one has to believe all that the scholars say, but this is one of the most interesting movies I have seen discussing the life and historical and social situation of Jesus.
These commentators have nothing to do with the Jesus Seminar as far as I can tell. Any odd comments quoted by reviewers were taken out of context.
Io non ho paura (2003)
A summer surprising and suspenseful
I personally really like movies that portray childhood the way I remember it--kids doing kid-like activities and adventures, summers with free time to wander and explore, and seeing the way kids think. They don't quite see things as adults do. The kids in the movie were quite realistic.
I think that Michele, the main character has more awareness and sympathy for people than most kids as evidenced by the stories he writes and reads to his sister. After he finds a child in a hole in the ground he writes a story about a child hidden away. Yet he reacts like a child in that he doesn't realize that there is something illegal going on, at least at first. The story unfolds slowly but steadily.
Because this movie is about kids and some suspicious people (Michele's father and friends)and the story is not written with a formula, there is an added dimension to the element of unpredictability.
I truly was inspired by the cinematography showing the idyllic scenes of the summer and wheat fields of Italy, including the insects and wildlife. I really liked the scene with the three threshers approaching Michele as he was crossing the fields. This scene also made us aware of the passing of time and probably summer soon ending. Also, there is, as there in many neighborhoods, a grumpy scary person (the hog farmer) who adds to the atmosphere of unpredictability.
The music is absolutely wonderful. And it is not just the music, but also listen to the skill of the musicians. Just because it is a string quartet playing, don't think it's boring.
In summary, this is a suspenseful, beautiful movie.
Clerks (1994)
Some funny scenes, but most dialogue on adolescent level
Note: I am over 45 years old and a female.
I can see why this would be very funny to an audience of males under 26 years old. It does have humor. The script is well-written, but that doesn't mean you will enjoy it. I also only watched a half hour of the movie because I wasn't in the mood to waste my time.
In my case, I have to relate to the characters in some way to enjoy a movie. These people acted very immature. I think that is the point of the movie, but I also believe that this would not appeal to most audiences over 40 years old.
The movie got very good ratings, but beware, ratings are not enough. Know yourself. Evaluate the reviews ahead of time to see if you think the topic or type of characters would interest you.
In Her Shoes (2005)
This movie has drama, comedy and pathos
This movie is about family relationships but especially that of two sisters, Maggie and Rose, who grew up together under difficult circumstances. Their mother died and naturally they had an unloving stepmother. The father did what he could, I'm sure, but we can see that his loyalties were divided between his daughters and his new wife. However, the movie is about much more than that, in fact it is about growth of wisdom.
There is office romance, best friends, changes in lifestyle and growing realizations about what is of value in life. This sisters go through a lot of unpleasant experiences when the youngest, Maggie, is kicked out of her father and stepmother's home with good reason, unemployment and drunkenness being two reasons. Eventually, Rose kicks Maggie out, too, as Maggie breaks rules. When Maggie leaves she doesn't tell anyone where she went, but we know she is fine. Rose's life moves along positively, but she misses Maggie deeply.
This family grows in positive and amusing ways as they handle their difficulties. In fact, I recently saw "Junebug," and the family in this movie, in contrast to the one in Junebug, leaves us with hope, not despair about them.
In addition, there are wonderful scenes with dogs and "Honeybun II," who plays a symbolic role in the movie. In the DVD be sure to see the special feature about the casting of "Honeybun II."
The Boys from County Clare (2003)
With competition in the All Ireland as the focus family drama ensues
The All Ireland music competitions, called "Fleadh Cheoil" (Flah Keeole)(Music Festival) are still being held every August in the Republic of Ireland. Even though the fleadh in the movie took place in 1966, the depictions of the fleadh are realistic with the streets full of people, the presence of people who have nothing directly to do with the competitions coming to the festivities, competing musicians from overseas,and the musicians playing in sessions.
There is a lot of humor in this movie, but also some family drama. The focus is the Ceili Band competitions with the bands of two brothers, one from rural Clare in Ireland and the other from Liverpool, who have had had a feud for over twenty years.
I enjoyed both the comedy and the realism of this movie.