josantoddi Reviews

Wrath of Man (2021)

Not a bad film

[7/10 · 5 January 2022]

I admit that I only watched this film because I love Jason Statham. Another good action/heist film with a twist.

However, the plot had some rather large holes in it. I imagine those bits ended up on the editing room floor. A couple of major viewer questions never get answered & the film suffers for it. Otherwise, the plot is pretty predictable. It's just the "why" that isn't always clear.

And a pet peeve...please Guy, in your next film get better voice coaches for your Brit actors who you want to sound like Americans. And while I love Andy Garcia, I couldn't for the life of me figure out if his accent was supposed to be from New York, Jersey or Boston! He was all over the place. Come on, Andy! You could have just used your own native accent. It would have been less distracting.

If you like Jason Statham, I recommend the movie. He's great.

Pig (I) (2021)

Loved it

[8/10 · 3 January 2022]

I paid to play on this one because I love Nicolas Cage. He gives such intense performances.

It's a movie about love, loss, truffles & pigs. Worth the watch for sure.

The Girl in the Yellow Jumper (2020)

So UNDER-RATED!

[10/10 · 3 January 2022]

A really excellent film that is so UNDER-RATED. If you enjoy action/thriller movies, you'll love The Girl in the Yellow Jumper.

This film is as good as any Tarantino flick. I started watching this movie out of pure curiosity. It drew me in as it was riveting & full of interesting twists. A good watch.

Dig Deeper - Das Verschwinden von Birgit Meier (2021)

Not just the story of a crime

[10/10 · 1 December 2021]

Don't be fooled into thinking this is your run of the mill true crime story. It's so much more. Everyone should be loved as much as Birgit Meier.

I like to think that my family would have looked for me this hard. Honor to the family & loved ones of Birgit Meier.

Rust and Bone (2012)

A sublime Cotillard

[9/10 · 23 November 2021]

Great story. Great cast. Great acting all around. This film grabs you & doesn't let you go. It batters you about until you get the analogy.

And Marion Cotillard nails this role. Her performance was sublime. Her co-star was also very good in his role. I've seen him in other films, but can't remember which. He's very easy on the eyes!

Great film making.

Invisible Life (2019)

Intensely beautiful

[10/10 · 21 November 2021]

Intensely beautiful film about love & loss & the quiet, invisible lives we all live within our heart of hearts. A film about longing & the immortality of love, in all its forms.

This is a great film. Watch it.

A Perfect Day (I) (2015)

Liked it

[8/10 · 18 November 2021]

Two of my favorite actors, Benicio del Toro & Olga Kurylenko, in the same film. The plot had some loose ends, but the performances by all the cast more than made up for that.

The film just confirmed two ideas for me. One, war is stupid. Two, man is the same the world over.

Passing (I) (2021)

Never got off the ground

[6/10 · 10 November 2021]

I thought I would like this film much more than I did. I had the expectation that it would be more realistic. Instead, it was more of a melodrama. Even the characters' speech was stilted. I guess they were going for a 1920s look & feel.

My parents were born in the twenties. So I found that aspect intriguing.

The film had an interesting premise, but the plot never really got off the ground.

Black Tide (2018)

Not bad

[7/10 · 9 November 2021]

Vincent Cassel was good in this film. He's convincing as a slimeball, wacked out cop trying to solve a disappearance.

It was a thriller with lots of twists & turns. I didn't always find the plot particularly convincing. Some stretches of the imagination are necessary.

The Wall (2019)

A very Polish film

[7/10 · 8 November 2021]

Dark, cryptic, slow, sad & packed with atmosphere and symbolism. The photography was beautiful.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it.

My only criticism would be that it leaves me with the impression that Polish men are jerks. Was that intentional?

Odette Toulemonde (2006)

An absolutely beautiful film

[10/10 · 3 November 2021]

I'll watch anything starring Catherine Frot, who is simply divine. This film is surreal & moving & everything I was looking for when I watched it.

It's the kind of film I could watch again & again. Frot made me care deeply about her character. I highly recommend this film.

Chaos (2001)

Catherine Frot is devine

[9/10 · 3 November 2021]

I really love films starring Catherine Frot. She's so wonderful. So beautiful & talented. I especially loved her performance in "Odette Toulemonde".

This was a fast paced story, purposely chaotic I imagine. Hence, the title.

I loved that the most important characters were women. So refreshing. Women should rule the world.

Well worth the watch.

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Liam Neeson. Reason enough to watch.

[7/10 · 2 November 2021]

Love Liam Neeson in any film. He makes almost any character believable.

The movie's plot got lost about half way through & the dialogue was sometimes lame. But I like these "get the bad guys" films.

Last scene...reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting.

Solace (II) (2015)

An almost superb film

[7/10 · 28 October 2021]

This could have been a superb film. It was almost there....then Colin Farrell showed up. His character was underdeveloped & his interpretation was unconvincing. Farrell was miscast. Someone less famous would have been a better fit. He hijacked what could have been a really great film.

Aside from him, this film was entertaining. Hopkins never disappoints. And I really enjoy J. D. Morgan. He's so underrated.

The Trip (2021)

Great comedy/horror

[9/10 · 19 October 2021]

I will watch any fim starring Noomi Rapace. Period. She's fantastic. In this film her co-star is Aksel Hennie who is also a great Scandanavian actor. This movie is both dark and hilarious. I enjoyed it so much. Two thumbs up.

Dave Chappelle: The Closer (2021 TV Special)

Love me some Dave Chappelle.

[10/10 · 16 October 2021]

He can joke about whatever he likes. No topics barred. He has mercy for no one: pedophiles, white folks, & others. Highly recommend this special because it's very funny. Right, Clifford?

Knight and Day (2010)

Entertaining film

[7/10 · 11 October 2021]

I was entertained by this film, and I'm not even a Cruise fan. The first half was fast-paced and humorous. The second half was a bit predictable. Overall, a film I can recommend. Love Cameron Diaz.

Security (I) (2017)

Surprisingly good!

[7/10 · 11 October 2021]

Great shoot 'em up film. My favorite genre (and I don't even like guns!). Ben Kingsley was his usual, excellent self. And even if I'm not fond of Banderas, & consider him over-rated, I must admit he played his role well. I actually cared about the characters in this film. That makes for a good film!

A Decent Man (2018)

Life's Complicated

[7/10 · 8 October 2021]

I liked this film. It was rather slow, but I persevered. Unfortunately, it leaves a lot of loose ends & unanswered questions, but that's intended. It's like life itself. Full of complications, questions & loose ends.

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018 TV Movie)

Amazing survival story

[8/10 · 6 October 2021]

Lisa McVey was and is an amazing, intelligent and resilient woman. This is her true survival story.

Moon Hotel Kabul (2018)

Haunting & nostalgic film

[8/10 · 3 October 2021]

I really liked the atmosphere created in this film. So simple and real. The plot isn't complex, but this isn't a movie that's trying to impress. It causes you to reflect instead. It draws you in with its simplicity, evoking universal feelings of love, grief & nostalgia. I found it hauntingly beautiful. It's hard to put into words. When the final credits rolled, I didn't want it to be over. That's a good film.

The Guilty (2021)

Great remake

[9/10 · 3 October 2021]

This is an excellent remake of a Scandinavian film I'd already seen. I recognized it immediately. They were pretty faithful to the original, both the plot & the dialogue.

Gyllenhaal carries the entire film so skillfully. He's intense. I highly recommend this film.

3 Days to Kill (2014)

Enjoyable

[7/10 · 1 October 2021]

I enjoyed this movie. A lot of action & some entertaining dialogue. Costner was convincing as the lead. He's consistently good in everything he does.

Unfortunately, Amber Heard was miscast. Although she's lovely to look at, she didn't pull off her character.

Paris was the backdrop for this film. I have a special link to that city as it's where I met the love of my life 36 yrs ago. Just another reason to like this flick.

A Most Violent Year (2014)

Perplexing

[6/10 · 26 September 2021]

A gangster movie about a guy who isn't a gangster. Had the plot & dialogue been better, I would have rated this film higher. However, both were lame. All six stars go to the gorgeous & talented Oscar Isaac.

The Fall (I) (2013–2016)

Great series thanks to the female lead

[9/10 · 23 September 2021]

Gillian Anderson is just brilliant in this tv series. She carries the whole thing. Great actress and so beautiful to look at. Loved her posh accent, too!

I would have given the series a 10 rating had there not been so many inaccurate medical facts & behaviors. They needed a better medical consultant on the film.

Otherwise, I found the series riveting.