A movie that feels like it should have been made in 2006. It tried so hard to be in the camp of Old School or Superbad its just the writers are so out of touch they forgot to update their movie for 2016. The script was probably written in 2006 and turned down so many times over 10 years until it finally got greenlit. So their solution was to shove as many D-list actors and hack comedians into their film to get the masses to see it. They just didn't take into account literally no one could care less if Marc Maron is in your film. Are they truly utilizing these actors/comedians for actually comedy or just to shoehorn as many familiar faces they could get at a cheaper rate to get others to watch their derivative movie? The biggest mistake of all is they forgot to vet their lead actor before shooting. I guess they can get a pass since his father is a veteran director whos been rubbing shoulders with film industry people since the 80s. To actually think Chris D'elia deluded himself into thinking he was going to be the next Tom Cruise while operating his own teen harem is just hilarious. You reap what you sow!
Reviews
6 Reviews
Blonde
(2022)
Bold and heavy take on tragedy
30 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The style and cinematography was very well done. It was clear and direct statement on the filmmakers part to shoot it this way. The combination of color, saturation, vignette and the variety of aspect ratio was very interesting. Its a combination of manic/depressive and claustrophobia while goin at light speed. The use is brilliant in transporting you into that time period and capture Norma's constant abuse, like peeking into a kaleidoscope of her memories while suffering from tunnel-vision. Mirrors play a huge part in this film where she is just lost in her reflection, lost in Marylin and what she has become.
For how gratuitous or graphic the film may be I must commend them for their incredibly pulling no punches in adapted Oates' portrayal the best they could. For how the Industry was at the time, sugarcoating it would have done the viewer a disservice. From act 1, with her mother they set the stage of abuse and dysfunction in Norma's life, which was a common theme throughout. Some would argue it was unnecessary, but they are dealing with 1950-60s women in show business, which prided itself on being cut throat. Ana de Armas is phenomenal.
For how gratuitous or graphic the film may be I must commend them for their incredibly pulling no punches in adapted Oates' portrayal the best they could. For how the Industry was at the time, sugarcoating it would have done the viewer a disservice. From act 1, with her mother they set the stage of abuse and dysfunction in Norma's life, which was a common theme throughout. Some would argue it was unnecessary, but they are dealing with 1950-60s women in show business, which prided itself on being cut throat. Ana de Armas is phenomenal.
End of the Road
(II) (2022)
End of the Road for quality Netflix films
12 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
These survival thrillers are all so formulaic and End Of The Road does not sway from that statement one bit. We are coddled into getting to know this family, money issues, the uncle smokes weed, the daughter does as well and has a tendency to wander off while the son is simply a plot device (hey lets witness a murder, steal some money, get threatened for said money, leave the money somewhere then go to the tourist attraction and leave my son alone).
We are thrust into middle America, the open road, the desert road, where the meth flows like water and apparently racists are everywhere. Its very stereotypical and where I do not want to ignore the fact that there are bigoted people in this world the display End Of The Road put up was something out of a cartoon.
The action sequences felt set up by a guy who choreographs for the play stage. It felt like Shudder quality like they filmed the chase scenes at night in a some guy's backyard. "Hey lets just drive in circles." There are odd choices in lighting where in place of headlight for a car it looks like they just shined a flashlight in actors faces.
Toward the end heres this purple lighting that illuminated the whole environment which was cool, but doesn't help the shoddy pacing of this painfully bland film. Like they really could care less for the viewer here and I really cannot speculate what the hell their demo graphic was - teen girls who have never seen a survival thriller? Wrong Turn, U-Turn, The Hitchhiker, Jeepers Creepers, Road Warrior, Breakdown - When you compare to other films with the same set up and premise that did way better I can only ask myself if these filmmakers even cared.
End Of The Road feels like it was shot in less than a week, stuck in post for a month until they gave and just farted it out on Netflix.
We are thrust into middle America, the open road, the desert road, where the meth flows like water and apparently racists are everywhere. Its very stereotypical and where I do not want to ignore the fact that there are bigoted people in this world the display End Of The Road put up was something out of a cartoon.
The action sequences felt set up by a guy who choreographs for the play stage. It felt like Shudder quality like they filmed the chase scenes at night in a some guy's backyard. "Hey lets just drive in circles." There are odd choices in lighting where in place of headlight for a car it looks like they just shined a flashlight in actors faces.
Toward the end heres this purple lighting that illuminated the whole environment which was cool, but doesn't help the shoddy pacing of this painfully bland film. Like they really could care less for the viewer here and I really cannot speculate what the hell their demo graphic was - teen girls who have never seen a survival thriller? Wrong Turn, U-Turn, The Hitchhiker, Jeepers Creepers, Road Warrior, Breakdown - When you compare to other films with the same set up and premise that did way better I can only ask myself if these filmmakers even cared.
End Of The Road feels like it was shot in less than a week, stuck in post for a month until they gave and just farted it out on Netflix.
Rubikon
(2022)
Dull and uneventful
5 July 2022
Saying its been done before is an understatement. It manages to capture your interest with the disaster events happening on earth but as for any POV of that experience it's short lived and through a radio. The bulk of screen time is wasted on three crew members bickering on moral dilemmas, secret military missions, and keeping algae intact. It could have been a tight thirty minute short film and still would have managed to bore audiences.
Invasion
(2021–2024)
Had potential, but settled for TV tropes
13 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It starts out so odd. I think they were trying to tackle the actual invasion at all angles and different point of views, but got too caught up in individual character's problems all too much along the way.
We got mom/doctor and her hubby cheating. They handled it OK just felt odd and awkward dealing with a love triangle all the while the world is going to crap. Its just felt like an excuse for the father to typically submit to self sacrifice. The only thing I was surprised about is they milked it for so long, however this show indulges itself on milking weak plot points.
Then we got solider or uhh operator, the last survivor, who points his massive gun at literally everyone willing to help, who gives up in a bar after finding out he can go home, who could care less about the world ending, more about shouting his rank at everyone and trying to get back to the states. The scene with him on a pay phone talking to an answering machine for what felt like 30 minutes was completely ridiculous. Just felt like filler, padding out that run time where they could have used that screen time for some reveals and the uhhh.... invasion.
Then we have seizure kid who can communicate with the aliens. His trek with the bus seemed way too long and the whole bully B-plot felt unnecessary. Maybe for like 2-3 episodes but it was drawn out way too long. Like many in this show its a plot point that should have wrapped by episode 5. Like they focused more on these kids troubles on getting along than the actual invasion and the fact people are getting killed on a massive scale.
They shifted the focus on the ground level, forcing the whole invasion to be character based and all filtered through their perspective. It left the viewer with many question and the plot suffering from not really explaining anything except that they are aliens, they invaded, they are hostile and... yeah thats really it.
We got mom/doctor and her hubby cheating. They handled it OK just felt odd and awkward dealing with a love triangle all the while the world is going to crap. Its just felt like an excuse for the father to typically submit to self sacrifice. The only thing I was surprised about is they milked it for so long, however this show indulges itself on milking weak plot points.
Then we got solider or uhh operator, the last survivor, who points his massive gun at literally everyone willing to help, who gives up in a bar after finding out he can go home, who could care less about the world ending, more about shouting his rank at everyone and trying to get back to the states. The scene with him on a pay phone talking to an answering machine for what felt like 30 minutes was completely ridiculous. Just felt like filler, padding out that run time where they could have used that screen time for some reveals and the uhhh.... invasion.
Then we have seizure kid who can communicate with the aliens. His trek with the bus seemed way too long and the whole bully B-plot felt unnecessary. Maybe for like 2-3 episodes but it was drawn out way too long. Like many in this show its a plot point that should have wrapped by episode 5. Like they focused more on these kids troubles on getting along than the actual invasion and the fact people are getting killed on a massive scale.
They shifted the focus on the ground level, forcing the whole invasion to be character based and all filtered through their perspective. It left the viewer with many question and the plot suffering from not really explaining anything except that they are aliens, they invaded, they are hostile and... yeah thats really it.
Brendan Schaub: You'd Be Surprised
(2019 TV Special)
The only thing I am surprised about is they gave him a special
16 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This guy did not deserve a special. He somehow got to jump over several years of honing in on the craft. Have it be friends with Rogan or whatever, this man should not have had a special. It consists of like 5 main jokes with filler in between. All of it really lacks any engagement or charisma. There is nothing to take from this "special."
If you like an MMA fighter ramble on fabricated stories to embellish his mundane life and outdated Asian impersonations then knock yourself out.
If you like an MMA fighter ramble on fabricated stories to embellish his mundane life and outdated Asian impersonations then knock yourself out.
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