Change Your Image
lindabrown-01437
Reviews
Shrinking (2023)
HAD PROMISE BUT FAILED
I tuned in to this when I saw it got Critics choice & Emmy nominations. I am also drawn to shows that go deep - character based, quirky humour, therapy, truth telling. I love all that. This started off like that when the main character told his client with marriage problems that "you should leave your husband, you don't have any kids." I wish therapists would tell us what to do like that, haha, because otherwise we never change anything and keep going to therapy for 20 years! Anyway after episode 5 out of 10 I was done with this. It didn't go deep at all. So much skirting around the issues trying to use humour and swearing all the way through. There was also so many inconceivable happenings and quotes that people would never say in real life. And as for Harrison Fords character in it- it added nothing, his Parkinson's diagnosis added nothing and it was one of his weaker roles. Overall I felt I wasted my time and glad I fast forwarded through a lot of episodes 6 to 10.
Medena zemja (2019)
IT'S STAYED WITH ME
All week I've been thinking about it. Some people on this planet have so little. People with more have less gratitude and are less in tune within nature. I loved the simplicity of it. A documentary without interviews or narrative- just the cameras rolling. Hard to believe it wasn't scripted. I heard it was filmed over three years Beautiful cinematography, raw characters. I love how Hatidze was not stung by the bees.
There's a lot to be said about conserving nature and what happens when that intersects with the requirements of the world to survive and provide. I was also interested in the unwritten rule that the last-born female child stays with the parents until their death. Worthy of its Oscar noms.
High School Musical (2006)
CRINGE
Fake and cringy singing, fake and cringy storyline. Zac Efron doesn't even sing. Lip syncing! All the American high school cliches. Schmaltzy songs. Can you imagine these lyrics being sung -
" Doolulu Doo doolulu lu doo
Woa-ah-ah-oh
Doo doolulu Doo doolulu lu doo
Woa-ah-ah-oh"
What about the acting. So fake. Ashley Tisdales character is called Sharpay! Like the Shar Pei dog but spelt more stupidly.
So many lines make me want to vomit eg "I want to pop and lock, is that even legal". How about this lame one - " "In my other schools, I was the freaky math girl. It's cool coming here and being... whoever I wanna be."
Worst musical I've ever seen.
Elvis (2022)
TOM HANKS IS UNWATCHABLE
I seriously wanted to fast forward every time Tom Hanks' Colonel Parker spoke. It was that bad. Tom Hanks worst performance and I've seen them all. Austin was quite good as Elvis. Let's face it, Elvis is so iconic with such an aura that no one can do him justice. However Austin did well. If the film is titled "Elvis" you just wanted & expected way more Elvis in the film. And more songs. This has that Baz flair but there is no feeling. I couldn't feel any emotion. You won't learn anything about what makes him tick. Why make a film about Elvis' manager when filmgoers are crying out for a film about Elvis. It's as stupid as making a film about Serena Williams dad. They might as well make a Madonna movie about her cleaner. I will give a film 1 star if I hope to never sit through it again.
Doraibu mai kâ (2021)
NOTHING HAPPENS
This was on my watch list as it was nominated for Best Picture Oscar AND i like slow burning character studies. There was no character development, only the slow monotone script remained. I've watched 9 of the 10 best pictures in the last month. This one was the worst.
Nitram (2021)
BEST AUSTRALIAN FILM I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME
I wondered how this character study could be achieved without excusing heinous behaviour. This movie delivers- it doesn't glorify violence, and it doesn't make you sympathise with the main character. It gives insight into all the factors that led to this train wreck. Brilliant acting from Judy & Caleb. The directing was superb.
Don't Look Up (2021)
A SATIRE THAT'S NOT CLEVER OR FUNNY
Here is just one line from the film to highlight a poorly written satire. This is from Ariana Grande's character: "You guys found a comet. That's so dope. I have a tattoo of a shooting star on my back".
Naomi Osaka (2021)
Not enough insight
I love documentaries on famous people. But not this one. There is very little insight into what makes Naomi tick, how her childhood might've impacted her feelings today and nothing on her feelings about anything that went down at the 2018 US Open. I want raw honesty and revealing true character showing through. This leaves more questions than answers. This was made too soon. It definitely needed to be made after the Olympics and possibly not for many more years - for the ups & downs of her life once she knows herself.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
One of the worst kids films I've seen
The cinema was full and for 2hrs not a single laugh. Dead silence in there. Poorly written and could've been so much better. LeBron James should never act again. However after all that, my kids said they liked it! If you're an adult that remembers the wonderful Looney Tunes characters, i feel you'll be so disappointed. Get your partner or babysitter to take the kids and dodge this.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
No romance and no comedy
How can it be that "When Harry Met Sally" is in my top 3 rom coms and Sleepless in Seattle" is in my bottom 3. And both by Nora Ephron. How can one film be so witty and endearing and the other so predictable, unromantic and unfunny.
What the Health (2017)
I'VE SEEN ALL THE HEALTH DOCUMENTARIES- this one biased
I have been asthmatic for 50yrs.
First 20yrs of my life - standard western diet including meat
Second 20yrs- vegetarian diet
Next 5yrs -vegan diet
None of those helped my asthma.
Until i cut out the SUGAR. Asthma gone. Inflammation gone. Now i eat meat, eggs, some days vegetarian as long as i keep the sugar/processed carbs low.
It's dangerous to promote one way of eating for the world. Some people do well on vegan, some do well on carnivore, some can eat dairy, some can't - but everyone would probably do well with less sugar.
This documentary has some good points re big pharma and industry sponsorship etc but overall it has an agenda.
Honey Boy (2019)
OSCAR WORTHY ACTING
Noah Jupe is the finest young actor I've seen in a while. Shia LeBeouf playing the role of the father was brilliant. Heartbreakingly beautiful movie.
Yesterday (2019)
I've seen 60 new films this year- this one was the worst.
What a great idea for a story and what horrible execution. The lead has zero charisma and the script is dopey. If you think a mobile ringtone going off in the middle of Let it Be might be enjoyable, then you go watch it and enjoy. I can't believe this came from the director of Slumdog (a great film).
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
Worth watching for Richard E Grant
Yes it's slow and understated but the performances are very good and you do want to see how it all ends. Richard E Grant is quite fabulous and believable. I'm glad I watched it.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Rom com - not romantic, not funny
I didn't laugh once for the entire movie and i have a great sense of humour. Everything about this movie was a cliche.