rjfromtoronto Reviews

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)

Pure garbage, not amusing and on par with a college film.

[1/10 · 19 May 2023]

99% of the cast are amateur professionals, didn't have a single feeling for any of them, it was predictable at every turn, and why the guy didn't store his disc at work in a secure news office rather than his apt in a cheap locking drawer was the worst offense, and driving like a maniac back to court with an official police car chasing then lighting him on fire infront of a bus? Pfft. I only mention that one because it was as stupid as the same detective doing donuts around the ADA in the parking lot later. The whole thing was a bore.

So now since I have to blab 600 words I'm going to say I have loved film since I was a kid, my uncle used to take me to see the 007 films of the early 70s and watched Dracula and horror movies on a black and white tv when he babysitted me at 4 and scared the heck out of me and gave me nightmares I will never forget as long as I live, 52 yrs later I can still remember 2 that were better than any horror film made, assault on precinct 13 from the 70s has nothing on my imagination.

Out of the Blue (II) (2022)

So many different individual fails as a noir fan.

[3/10 · 20 March 2023]

It's bad, you know the second they reference The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity right at the start it's not going to be good. Then by the time the Detour scene comes in It's like a dead dog stinking up the joint and you just want to bury it humanely. I know Kruger from her role in Inglourious Basterds, and a few other flicks out there where she did a decent job. She's got talent. This was not one of those roles, none of the actors did a passable job from the sheriff to probation officer Azaria, the daughter, husband, boyfriend/thief, they all stunk, people reference Lifetime and Hallmark, this is not even on that level, there isn't even a believable love or lust scene or dramatic bit in the movie. This is CBC quality, aka Canadian Broadcasting Corp stuff here, we're talking The Beachcombers or Littlest Hobo type 70s stuff here. The ending was a blessing, of course she ends up with the daughter lol, so predictable and 2022, the bore is over at least, not a chance I will ever watch this again.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

The only thing he makes are mistakes....

[6/10 · 25 January 2023]

Picked this one up in a Charity shop for $1, it was worth every penny lol. Like everyone else says, Sidney is annoying, unlucky, disturbing, childish and a boor. As much as I wanted to turn it off and did just after the pool scene. I came back and finished it the next afternoon, it is funny, quirky, not so much a romantic movie as it is a toxic comedy like Employee Of The Month, Good Luck Chuck, Grandmas Boy, and the like, only Sidney tries really hard to not have you on is side. The cast was solid and a nice surprise, locations were great and me of all the different places we visited in N. Y. C, so it was worth it just for that, cinematography was crisp, all around funny, annoying and different. Worth a watch on a snowy night like tonight.

The Box (I) (2009)

I liked this premise that everyone has considered at one point or another

[6/10 · 24 January 2023]

I originally saw this back in day on one of the movie channels we had back when we paid for cable lol. I thought it was a pretty good premise back then, it was suspenseful, kept you wondering right from the start. You knew it wasn't gonna go smooth by the vibe and look of the film. The scenery and sets were pretty accurate for the period, you had that 70s feel watching it, I liked the story line which dealt with morality and piety, Arlington Stewart was a great protagonist, one to not be messed with, it was crazy how many people were in on it. And the fact the human race hung in the balance over the push of a button and easy greed? Crazy and thought provoking, the only thing that didn't make sense were the "masters of the the lightning" the whole water column thing, choose 1 of 3 and for what purpose? It made no sense to give him an out to go home, other than to broker justice later I suppose. It was good, I would watch it again on a rainy day. Other movies to watch in the suspense/thriller genre that are also good that deal with morality? The Usual Suspects, The Sixth Sense, Diabolique, Alpha Dog.

The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000 TV Movie)

Filled with inaccuracies and fluff

[5/10 · 19 January 2023]

Hewitt did a good job imitating Hepburns dialog and inflection, the sory was supposed to be based on recorded information on her life but failed to mention her mother was a Hitler sympathizer who wrote glowing reviews of him in publications before the war, she was also a baroness. Her father was not out of her life, in fact later on in his years she paid for an apt and his finances for yrs before he died. She didn't start professional dancing until 1947 in Holland but implies she was a professional student during the war and before in boarding school and after. The fact she pretty well accepted every marriage offer from men and had the reputation as a chaste woman in the public eye kind of disgusts me, they pummeled Marilyn endlessly and ended Barbara Paytons career because she was too hot to handle and a vizen as well for what Audrey did with married men like Bob Hope, Grace Kelly was another actor that got away with what Marilyn was accused of and derided for yet walked away scot free untarnished though she slept with Bing Crosby in the room next to where his wife was dying of cancer, she too slept with Holden and Gary Cooper, Sinatra, and all of them in Hollywood yet had no repercussions just like Audrey did too. This story was so 80s made for tv and made up, the facts were all mixed up or made up, the story was discombobulated and lacking. I'll give Hewitt credit for being able to talk awkwardly and act like Hepburn, she did a good job at that despite other reviews to the contrary.

Knight and Day (2010)

Missed it originally, worth the wait 12 yrs later

[7/10 · 18 January 2023]

I liked this movie, lots of action and guessing involved, stunts were great, locations were great, cinematography was top notch and it was a great action comedy romance combination enough to keep everyone happy. I am not the biggest Cameron Diaz fan out there or Tom Cruise but they both hit this one out of the park. I don't like that I have to keep writing to hit a minimum but I think it's the kimd of movie you could watch a few times even though some of the scenes were a bit much with the disbelief factored in. How many times can a machine gun miss Knight? Lol how many impossible situations can a couple get out of? Wild crazy and action packed, give it a watch if you can, and Cameron in a bikini? Fughettaboutit lol. Both of them were in great shape, Cruise doesn't seem to age much even now in 2023.

Gone in the Night (2022)

3 stars for Winona, 2 for the story

[5/10 · 18 January 2023]

This is not a headlining movie, more like an independent you would see on Netflix, b movie written all over it. Other than that it was an interesting premise, the boyfriend was annoying and I felt nothing ror him, the 2 warehouse kids? Why he would want to party or do anything with them? That was the part that made no sense, a 35 or older man wanting to rave out in the woods and ditched dinner guests to experience new things as he later stated in the flashback, Reminds me of the movie Midsommar, with the guy who wasn't interested in his girlfriend but then chases her to Sweden to experience Midsommar Festival and ends up the same way as this guy because he made rash decisions in the interest of fun and partying. Only the end and the second end were a surprise really. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you like W. R or D. M and want to see their next flicks. The young guy from IT and the girl are pffft as is everyone else in this depressingly shot blah movie.

Wisegal (2008 TV Movie)

Cliche, overacted, frivolous, a hot mess, but it's got Alyssa and James and Toronto.

[5/10 · 14 January 2023]

Based on a true story, thought it was a 90s film by the look of it, picked it up off ebay, didn't know it was a made for tv but Alyssa isn't known for top shelf studio ware. Just finished Poison Ivy 2 and Embrace the Vampire with A. M so didn't much from this one other than she looks good and does the job. This wasn't too bad for a made for tv flick, most of it was shot in Toronto and made to look like Flatbush, ie: College St and West end locations used for the bike ride to school, her apt, obviously the harbour and skyline and ship casino scene. It was worth a watch, former Special Agent Joe Pistone of Donnie Brasco fame produced it. Extra features show scenes shot in Toronto like the bike scene at Dovercourt.

Laura (1979)

Good old time coming of age French style.

[7/10 · 14 January 2023]

I was 12 when this came out, saw it later in the 80s and currently picked up the dvd at a charity shop and watched it again as an old man lol. It was nice to see something you saw as a young man and look back and realize how simple yet complex being young was in those days, we were kids but thought we were adults at 15, (Dawn was 17 in real life) most of us were experimenting or well past at that age, or at least my crowd was. I remember a few girls in grade 8 that looked 18 that were carrying on with our gym teacher on lunch breaks in his van doing the cheech and chong and get naked routine, (yes Julie L I'm referring to you ha ha)

As far as the movie goes it was all over the place and though it didn't seem to be put together well, it made sense. Some people have commented why the mother sent pics but wouldn't allow him to see Laura, well she wanted him to remember her and tempt him back using Laura's beauty since her marriage was dead. She wanted him for herself until she realized he only loves illusions of women. That's why she wasn't angry at her daughter or Paul when she allowed the daughter to say goodbye to her "ballet friends" but saw him instead before being sent away to school or wherever, mom knew it would be good for her to close that chapter and Paul was innocent enough. Another comment was how did Paul just walk in the ballet class and not get questioned? Well his helper was in the class and invited him along to see the girls, simple. As far as the age gap, looking at it with North American eyes it may seem a little too much, but in France you can drink wine at 12, date older men and it's nothing to look twice at, I think it was a nice slice of coming of age and reminding us we were all nubile and young at one point, we never change totally, just grow older.

The Bad Pack (1997)

One for Roddy, two for the blond and one for Eastwoods son in law Gonzalez Gonzalez.

[4/10 · 9 January 2023]

Might as well watch an episode of the A Team or Knight Rider, it looks so late 90s cheese action made for tv movie though it probably wasn't, think TBS on a Sunday afternoon type B movie. Roddy Piper did a fun job, Davi was his usual self, the Austrian guy I can't put a finger on, maybe he was in Beer Fest with the Super Trooper guys circa 2000s. It was a silly frivolous cheaply made quickie with chessy bad guys, a few familiar faces and the usual poor Immigrant folks who need help lol. Watch it for a laugh, I paid a $1 for it at a charity shop, worth about 50 cents of that but you can't beat cheese, it's no Tango and Cash, or Expendables or 7 Samurai but it is old school silly fun for 80s kids. Late night or Sun afternoon if nothing else is on. But 12 reviews says it all lol.

Tiresia (2003)

Visually stunning and shot well.

[8/10 · 9 January 2023]

So watching this you ask many questions, why did he kidnap Tiresia? What was his motive? In the end I deduced he was just a sick man who likes to observe and gain trust before he lashes out and destroys that that entertains him. The Hedgehog was a metaphor for what he was capable of, watch, feed, observe, and when he tires of you? He's a twisted sick man, the depressing tone of the movie parallels his and Tiresia's pain and outsider status. It's funny how he has to kill or think he killed and T has to be savaged and blinded to come to terms with who they really are and what their calling in life is. Then they meet again, how Tiresia doesn't recognize his voice is beyond me, he had her locked up for weeks at least and was a bit psychic, or maybe he/she did know amd ignored it because life was better as a blind sage who was looked after. And how he just stumbles on this village is again a stretch if he wasn't a father while imprisoning her, are we supposed to believe he is anyone other than who he is? Other reviews suggest it's a different character, but isn't it funny he runs the male version of Tiresia over at the end if so?? There's two crazy people running around the same countryside or one mad Padre, I think he dumped his victim(s) there because he is familiar with the place and works there, he just didn't expect to find her alive when he came back from his absence or sabbatical and decided to finish off the threat realizing T is a clairvoyant or gifted. All in all a cinematographic masterpiece in the use of light and shadows, like a Carravaggio painting. The plot was weak, the premise was weak and I know nothing about Greek mythology so can't comment on that side. Worth a watch for the visuals and interesting cast, other than that? Watch Chocolate for the visuals and story line if you want big scale 80s independent cinema or Manon Of The Spring from the 90s instead, the latter being french language with great cinematography as well as a decent story.

Poison Ivy: The New Seduction (1997 Video)

A good 90's sexy thriller, 2 stars for the movie, 3 for J.P, 1 for Merete Van Kamp for the 2 mins she was on screen.

[6/10 · 29 December 2022]

What do you say? The series just keeps getting better, watched them all as they came out in my 20's and we had an explosion of girls we grew up watching on tv becoming women, first Drew, then Alyssa and finally Jaime, well Jaime just came out of nowhere I think. All of them did justice to P. I. they were all very good looking and passed the sexy factor to pull the movie off hyping up the old men. The plots were always silly and fairly predictable, Violet goes way past the other 2 in showing skin, Pressly was not afraid to drop her garments back then before Earl, it's an 8 out of 10 just for Jaime alone lol, gotta love these old 90's cheap sex thrillers lol. Thrills, chills and a bit cable soft porn. Not as good as Wild Things, Basic Instinct, Cruel Intentions or that big budget type, but went all out on sets, backgrounds and scenery, cast was unknown but good. This one has Megan C Edwards as Joy and Shanna Moakler the Playboy Playmate to add to the mix of up and comers. Meghan did Tracing Cowboys, an independent film that was highly lauded for it's haunting theme and landscapes, just watching it now lol.

The Pumpkin Karver (2006)

At least it's the Minka Kelly spotlight

[6/10 · 24 December 2022]

This is a $1,000,000 straight to video release, nothing to write home about as far as B movies go, for what it is It's a throwback to the early 80s teen slasher genre type stuff, nothing to invest in and you don't really care when they get kicked off and sliced and diced. It had the whole subset of Scream rules played out, the promiscuous, the bad, the dumb and the plain stupid died first. Minka shouldn't have died according to the rules, nor should the sister, but I guess they were trying to impress and surprise us with their cunning plot twist. Silly, frivolous, dumb, and the band played how long? Lol, the 3 Jeeps, 1 with Rodney Bingenheimer KROQ LA stickers on the rear, the other with a hardtop and no stickers lol, and the first with the newer front grill. Amd what's with the old lady cast as the sister? Googled her and he's now 52. Which means she was 36 playing an adult partying with kids that could be her kids if they were underage teens as stated. This was Minkas first movie I'm guessing, she had snaggle tooth back then which she no longer has since getting them fixed, I kind of like her with that look, all her movies and parts are pretty much the same, from FNL to Searching for Sonny, Papa in Cuba, The Beach House and other Hallmark movie, The Roommate which is probably her best known role, she always does well playing sweet and good natured. Luckily for this flick it was the Minka Kelly Showcase, otherwise it would have been a 1 or 2 stars. 1 for effort, 2 for the cast, and Tony Little the exercise guy as the cop at the end holding the sandwich bag evidence bags? Lol his late night Gazelle ads and workout stuff that served as expensive clothes hangers in lonely chubby ppl's homes who liked QVC and Shopping Network more than exercising irl.

You Can't Hurry Love (1988)

Silly 80s sex comedy that got lost in the shuffle

[5/10 · 22 December 2022]

Picked this up at a church sale for $1 because I never pass up obscure 80s fun, Don't remember this movie coming out, and this one isn't anything to write home about, it came out the same time as Twins, Big, Beetlejuice, Naked Gun, Heathers, and Cocoon, its no wonder I never heard about it, should have come out in 84 and it might have had a chance lol. So except for the fact it has Herb Tarleck, a couple of the Empty Next tv show stars, a young Brigette Fonda (see her in Jackie Brown or Point Of No Return) and the surprise cherry on top Marete Van Kamp, of Princess Daisy, Osterman weekend (opening scene) or Poison Ivy 3 as the Beverly Hills mom at the start, playing a sexy nymph who falls for the lead. Watch it for old 80s Hollywood and L. A scenes you will remember if you were in LA back in 87 like I was, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Blvd, downtown, good clean fun, Don't expect much just enjoy it for the innocence of the time and happy go lucky hold back on reality types of films of that era. Silly and fun, good for a Sunday Aft after you watch Funny Farm with Chevy Chase lol.

Barbarian (2022)

Should have been named another Justin Long failure. No way this is more than a 2 to 4 stars

[2/10 · 11 December 2022]

There's no way this is a 7.1 out of 10 movie, the whole thing is juvenile at best, she makes silly choices right from the start, who in this day and age doesn't street view when they are renting a place, especially the dilapidated streets of Detroit, then lets assume like every other young person out there that she wouldn't phone Mom or a friend or somebody and say there is a weird guy here at my rental, what should I do? So she stays like any female would do right? Lol, then hears weird stuff and her door is open at night and she's still ok with that and gets up in the AM and finds out she's in a dump but doesn't grab her belongings and just beat it after the interview like any other human under 80 in the whole world would do let alone a Z or Millennial female.

And why exactly would she be staying after her meeting? Wouldn't you go back where you came from and wait to hear the outcome? You think you're starting next Monday or something and should stick around? Lol. Then you get the K guy getting smashed out, her being trapped for the 2nd time until old Justin Long shows up, another oblivious tool who does the exact opposite of what any normal person would do who had rental house in the middle of a war zone, measure the place and search Google to see if the creepy basement adds value to your $50K house among $1000 houses. Sure, makes sense.

None of it makes sense, then the silly flashback to the 70s, the homeless guy saving her, warning her and then going back because she has to save that unknown guy, lol, as if. Total failure and it's as ridiculous as saying a Hallmark Movie represents real life. Bad acting all around except the Skarsgard guy. Long fails again like he did in Drag Me To Hell and Jeepers Creepers, they should just let him stick to comedy like Idiocracy or Accepted where he can be just average and nobody cares. He's a 1000 lb anchor as far as horror movies go, and this was a dog of a movie. Stick to The Conjuring universe or a classic horror thrillers rather than waste your time on Barbarian, the creature? Hilarious and laughed so hard at it, wish I could say the movie didn't make me laugh as well.

The Change-Up (2011)

Has tinges of Big, Freaky Friday, This Is 40 and Harold and Kumar.

[8/10 · 5 December 2022]

I don't know how I missed this when it came out but it's pretty funny and has the right amount of laugh out loud moments when you don't expect them, more than a few good one liners by Mann, Reynolds and Bateman, the head banging, winking kids lol, I always think of Justine when I see Justin acting funny enough, he's a pretty laid back guy who plays himself in every movie literally, like Reynolds, neither is strecthing themselves in any way, All in all a good funny flick, has a few slow points but overall was a decent waste of time. A few moments and jokes that would never happen now just a few yrs later, which is a shame, like the movies of the 80's, random silliness and blurts are part of the charm of these buddy buddy movies, we want bawdy and ignorant, otherwise how would we see character growth, it had a little Big Daddy feel to it at times, a bit Big, a bit 17 Again, maybe that's what makes it likeable, it's familiar and the ending is happy like an 80s flick. What's not to like? Good cast, decent premise, enjoy and have a laugh on a Sunday afternoon.

Girls Against Boys (2012)

Good B movie revenge flick if you suspend your beliefs

[5/10 · 5 December 2022]

Right from the start it was a pretty good representation of art imitating life, pretty girls party with guys they meet at a bar and it goes wrong pretty quickly, a few cliches with the straw sucker and the annoying ex (played by the Russian gangster guy from Limitless) doing his best bad guy once again. This movie kinda reminds me of the premise of Promising Young Woman, take advantage of a woman and you may get away with it 1000 times, pick the wrong victim and you're history and you didn't even see it coming and if you're lucky? It's just an Urban myth that keeps you straight and moral in your interactions with people. If you're not? Scissors or swords or maybe a 9mm to the upper body. Worth a watch, it's no I Spit On Your Grave or House at the End of the Street but it's a light and quick flick you will probably enjoy if you like Indie type flicks that suspend reality (ie: no cops, no repercussions, no questions, just blind justice.

Nocebo (II) (2022)

Good independent horror drama that keeps you wondering.

[6/10 · 27 November 2022]

This was surprisingly good for a movie I didn't expect much out of or care too much about the characters, the protagonist does a great job of appearing to have the best intentions and but if you look back after can see there were obvious signs, Christine not remembering she hired Diana (because she didn't) the husband accusing Diana of practicing something that uses fingernails, hair and blood, yep, pretty obvious if you have ever seen similar movies that it never ends up well, good job of redirection though lol, that's what made it interesting and watchable, good for a rainy day or if nothing is on the tv. Not too long or short and a decent ending that ends up being a two-fer lol.

Maine (2018)

Immature troubled woman on a hike plays with a lonely slacker of a young man.

[8/10 · 27 November 2022]

She's cute and pretty, that's what gets the positive reviews for the most part, pretty lost girl in need of saving syndrome, because other than her looks she is pretty annoying with the hot/cold thing she has going with the beta male that just keeps hoping and wishing she will notice his good heart and intentions and pick him. She's the wife of an engineer, which by proxy would assume is a straight forward methodical type of husband, financially stable more than likely and not childlike or wishy washy like the trail companion she can't seem to push off. Her and her hiking companion seem immature and reminded me of grade 8 relationships, passive aggressive silly conversations, childish play instead of romance, the fact that she never discloses what she did for a living but looks down on him is frustrating, kinda like real life I suppose, do nothing and expect everything or I will walk off into the morning sun and find another to satisfy my frivolous follies and carnal needs, the fact that he liked her and she was somewhat interested in him and won't be intimate beyond a kiss or two with him but hooks up with slacker greasy guy who actually has no passion and lives in a motel says it all. "Youth is wasted on the wrong people" as was said by porch guy in "It's a Wonderful Life" (1945) I'll take a Mary in a Hydrangea bush over a Bluebird on a trail any day. So other than seeing a 33 yr old woman with a nice butt, cute smile and nice hair, it's a pass mostly.

Away and Back (2015 TV Movie)

A nice family movie

[8/10 · 18 November 2022]

Bought it for Minka Kelly and wasn't surprised, she hit it out of the park again, she's always so nice and wholesome and likeable, been a fan of hers for a little minute, watched most of her movies and FNL in the last few months, and am a fan of hers now, there's not much she can't do, Searching For Sonny as the protagonist, The Roommate as the victim, Papa Hemingway as the quiet put upon girlfriend. She's great along with the whole cast of Friday Night Lights in her tv debut, hope Hallmark does a few more with her, I think she's looked over a little which is a shame, who doesn't like her? Have The Beach House with her and Andy McDowell to watch in the coming days, Hallmark is a nice surprise to enjoy as opposed to my usual thriller, drama, crime and film noir tastes.

Jason Lee did a decent job, every time I see him I think of Enemy of the State, Dreamcatcher, IT, he annoys me from time to time but does well here playing the father and widower, it doesn't get too deep or depressed, the story is pretty lightly done, simple and kept you interested for the most part, a nice family or safe bet for kids to watch on a quiet day and a nice happy ending as usual for Hallmark.

Drive (I) (2011)

Good typical broody dark Gosling performance with a few interesting casting choices.

[7/10 · 18 November 2022]

Good surprise flick I had sitting around for a while without watching, saw it on a preview a few days earlier and remembered I had it kicking around so pulled it out and watched it. It started out quick enough and settled in nicely to the Man with No Name premise, the silent reserved cool character that you know just is going to do the right thing and when you cross him you'll be surprised at his violent responses, he really doesn't make sense as the tough guy but when you look at Brad Pitts character in OUATIH you get the drift stunt men are a different breed, the whole nice guy, tough guy, mans man who isn't scared or threatened by most situations before him. Albert Brooks does very well as a bad guy, Beauty and the Beast guy/Hell Boy/SoA dude is his normal tough guy annoying self and in character. Mulligan is ok at portraying the misshapen innocent mom to Benicio, some of the movie is a bit here and there but overall, a good revenge, gangster type shoot em up with a good dose of new ways to do somebody in if that's your thing. Watch if you like stylish neo noir or broodish moody action, Gosling has that down lol. Plays the same guy in every movie except Blue Valentine and La La Land.

To the Wonder (2012)

He's boring, she's a bohemian.nice cinematography.

[5/10 · 11 November 2022]

Well shot, one of the best jobs at ethereal cinematography I've seen in a while, but to put it plainly, boring, you got a guy who seemingly is a romantic who has the ambition to visit France and woo a beautiful, vibrant and happy go lucky Parisian with a child, who thinks building a beautiful home in a boring community is enough to offer his love, he's selfish, immature and boring, obviously burnt out from his job doing environmental research into pollutants, just going through the motions kinda like his life and love life, he's the epitome of has it all and nothing too. He seems to like kinky or weird sex like 9 1/2 weeks with Mickey Rourke, but doesn't seem to know how to involve himself with a passionate woman who loves him, he can't even fool her child who is happy to ditch mom for allowing herself to be involved with him at all. I can see why he picks his old flame after being left behind, she's easy and doesn't question anything. What surprised me most was he did all the passionate stuff with the woman who wasn't craving the passionate fun, romantic stuff, she wanted a savoir and a husband to save her ranch. Both picked wrong, and both smartened up quickly enough and left him realizing he couldn't love, only offer moments of fleeting passion when he wanted it. Proving the boring guys with money to build or do whatever they desire get the beautiful talented artistic women, the guys who appreciate it and nuture it get nothing.

One More Time (2015)

I think it was actually one of her better roles

[6/10 · 5 November 2022]

I've watched about 20 of her movies since the court stuff last summer, wanted to see what she was up to besides the usual stuff everybody's seen her in, Never Back Down, The Informers, Pineapple, Machete Kills and London Fields.

Most of her stuff is the same old thing besides being the hot girl object in the movies, the same thing Anton Yelchin said she was guilty of in Love Antoshka (the doc on Yelchins career), playing her roles one way and not trying out a bunch of different ways to do it like him when they were talking during filming of The Beaver, she was surprised he tried a bunch of different lines when shooting and wanted to try another after a scene was shot, she said "I only do one way" and it's done, he said "I can tell" and laughed, she said he changed her way of doing roles after that though I'm not sure it changed anything, she plays the same role every time I've seen her, and I watched 21 of them in the last few months.

I thought she did ok as the lost daughter in this one with Paul issues as she refered to her father played by Walken, it had that kind of Mixed Nuts feel to it, the Steve Martin X-mas movie from the 90s, slow and drawn out til they realize what the real issues are and address them. I wasn't bored or watching the clock like some others say, it was an independent movie and showed, unlike most of her flicks that concentrate on her in underwear or looking good as the tease or bad girl. I think it was a decent flick with a good cast of unknown to me players, Amber did a decent job, some people complained there was no character development elsewhere, it was a movie about a father and daughter, not everyone or anyone else. If you're a fan of Amber or Walken being Walken, watch it.

Confess, Fletch (2022)

All these excuses it's not meant to be a comedy, not in the same vein, whatever. Not an 8, maybe a 2 as far as Fletch goes.

[2/10 · 18 September 2022]

There's 9 reviews so far, and what I find hilarious right from the start is how many people have seen the originals, say it isn't the best and give ot a higher rating than the original which was witty, hilarious and bust your gut laughing, yes there were serious parts as well in 1 and 2, which is what some folks on here so far are calling this rendition a pseudo detective movie not a comedy. It's trying to be a comedy, don't know how anybody missed it, wonder if these reviewers actually really watched them and read the book like they say.

This is trying to be Fletch, trying to be funny, that's what I see from the mannerisms, dialog and way they act, they thought they nailed Chevys charm and insoucant attitude. Fail, it's a failed redo with a new story, funny but not funny, if it didn't have Fletch in the title none of us would have watched it be honest.

And for the people saying the originals weren't that great? Try being 18 and seeing them in the theater back in 85 and 9, whole different ballgame sorry, the soundtrack was tight, characters were tight and well played, have no clue how this is rated higher than both with lackluster comments and high review numbers, 8 out of 10 and mediocre? And one guy says he is an elite reviewer? I'm a nobody who likes movies, not fancy but I collect everything and live for the classics, Summer Rental, Uncle Buck, Planes Trains, Fast Times, Easy Money, Blues Bros, Heaven Can Wait, Super Bad, Grandmas Boy, etc etc and watch everything no matter the budget, this is Netflix or Hulu at best and right up there with Birdbox as a future classic (sarcastic and kidding), maybe Hamm should have put on some Levis, told a few ball bearing and maybe sang Zippity Do Da a bit and realize Fletch was as serious as it was funny and it might have been less of a " its not trying to be like the others" movie and been one.

American Gigolo (2022)

So far so Gere

[7/10 · 13 September 2022]

Bernthal does a good job channeling Julian, if you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about, the walk, the gestures, when he tries on his new age early 80s suits that were all the rage back in 1980, he even gives a nod to Breathless 1983 with the broken heart tattoo on his chest, ala Jesse Lujack, aka Jesse Burns aka Jack Lee Burns, the moola is in the coola, lol. The MG convertible nod to Breathless this one being Oxblood Red vs the Candy Pink one in Breathless.

He has put in his work and it shows if you know what to look for. It's refreshing to see the back story especially with the Swedish madam now Asain, it all makes sense why she was upset with Julian in the movie, she feels she gave him his new exciting life and it's hers to destroy, the daughter Isabelle should be interesting to watch, mom was ruthless and cold, as ruthless as Leon and Madame Malibu were in the movie. And as far as people complaining about frivolous things like the Mercedes now being a Jag, the music, that's what happens in interpretations of a movie 42 yrs old, why not update and change a few things, the Mercedes is only a $14K car now vs $100K plus for an E type Jag so I'm glad they switched it up lol. There's not much to dislike, as it goes along Emmett Walsh comes in, character development and more protagonists than a bad dream with good plot twists to the story and Gretchen Mol, O Donnell and Bernthal? Need I say more?