wolcottalexander Reviews

Field of Dreams (1989)

An unusual, and magical, film

[10/10 · 7 April 2024]

I wish they made more movies like Field of Dreams. I think anyone can appreciate it, but this one is truly special for many men of a certain age. It is a layered and complex and powerful film. Very emotional. People can pull out the pieces that resonate with them and their own life.

I found it to be about the second chances that are impossible, but we all wish we had. The chance to relive moments from earlier in our lives with the wisdom we gained in our later years. Or the chance to right a wrong with someone who isn't here anymore and be redeemed for our shortcomings. The chance to show our parents the appreciation they deserved when they needed it most.

Of course we don't get those chances in real life. But I think Field of Dreams is also about what you can do going forward with the wisdom gained from that realization. Somewhat lost in the story of a man who dreams of reconciliation with his dead father is the story of a man who chooses to do something incredible and transform his life. He isn't afraid of what everyone else thinks of him for doing what he believes in and in time he makes believers of them too.

The score is wonderful and enhances the emotional experience of the film without being sappy or overdone, a fine line to walk. The cast is excellent. Just an all around magical film. There aren't many like it. And as a son and as a father it really touched me on a lot of different levels. If you are an adult man who would be uncomfortable if seen crying during a movie, I recommend you watch this one alone.

Oblivion (I) (2013)

Quality Sci-fi with Some Mass Market Appeal

[8/10 · 3 March 2024]

Beautiful visuals. Great score and sound effects. Good story. Good stunts and special effects. Very entertaining. Strong ending. Smooth and consistent. Tom Cruise brings star power and credibility to the project and is his usual self. Andrea Riseborough really shines and does a wonderful job as Victoria. Every scene she is in is just terrific. Olga Kurylenko's character didn't do it for me though.

If you're looking for purist-level sci-fi you may be a little let down in spots as Oblivion certainly drifts off into "mass market appeal" mode in a few major scenes that I don't think really needed to be there to tell the story properly but overall this is one that most sci-fi fans will enjoy and it will also satisfy a lot of viewers who don't normally go for this genre.

The History of Time Travel (2014)

10 Star Student Film

[4/10 · 5 December 2023]

But I don't watch or review student films, I streamed this on a service I pay for. So 4 stars for this one and that's probably generous. I assume/hope all of the actors were unpaid friends and family of the director. Production value is several notches below a typical History Channel documentary.

Clever-ish idea and cute-ish format and it has its moments where it all works. But ultimately it is predictable and the "mockumentary" playbook executed on a student film budget just gets tiring after a while. The casting and acting are all really bad (within the context of a professionally made film) and obviously amateur/hobby level which kinds of takes you out of it. Most of them were just way too young to be credible.

But assuming this was made by students with virtually no budget or experience, it is really cool.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Similar to the Last Couple MI Installments

[8/10 · 24 July 2023]

If you liked the last few installments in the series then you will like this one too. The stunts are awesome and overall there is an epic scale to the action. Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise, the dude is a legend and knows how to make a great movie. There are beautiful women but without the clumsy sex and romance scenes that serve no purpose except interrupting the story and making families uncomfortable. So that's appreciated.

It's not a perfect movie, it does fall back on well-worn action movie tropes and plot devices at times. They're executed well but still, not creative. It's also very long at 2hr43m, though it was enjoyable throughout. There is a nebulous artificial intelligence villain lurking in the background that probably doesn't make much sense if you think about it but I didn't feel any strain in suspending my disbelief.

It's part 1 of 2 but it definitely works as a complete, standalone movie and you feel satisfied at the end. It doesn't leave you hanging with some horrible "to be continued" (1 to 2 years from now) style ending. Was a great watch at the theater and lots of effort was put into the audio effects to make use of that environment which was cool. Tom Cruise knows what's up. Looking forward to part 2.

Annihilation (I) (2018)

Great Sci-Fi/Horror/Mind Bender

[8/10 · 17 July 2023]

Surprised at the low ratings. Love it as a unique sci-fi movie, held up in a 2nd viewing as well. If you sit down and think about it then there are plenty of "plot holes" but I don't feel that way during the film. Very engaging and satisfying. Takes a bit to wrap you head around the ending but it's good. Uses flashbacks throughout and those also take a bit to wrap your head around but it all makes sense once you do. The theme is self destruction/self annihilation. Lots of awesome visuals and sound effects. I don't see how a sci-fi fan wouldn't love this one. Has a horror feel to it. Natalie Portman is great.

The Accountant (2016)

So-So Action Thriller

[6/10 · 13 June 2023]

I think this film would have benefited from using a lesser known actor in the lead role. Ben Affleck is generally a decent actor but he's too familiar for me to fully buy into his performance in The Accountant as someone with Aspergers. Most of the time it seems like he is... Ben Affleck.

There are a few more characters and plot lines going on than I think the movie really needed. Gets tedious at points as they try to weave everything together. Has a couple of decent twists and turns though. The best parts feel like they're out of a 7 or 8 star movie but for every one of those there is a part that feels like it's from a 4 or 5. Averages out to a 6. Leans on some very cliche action thriller plot devices that just feel lazy. And of course all of the "accounting" scenes are basically just Ben Affleck muttering to himself about depreciation and earnings while furiously scribbling numbers on a white board, because that's totally how forensic accounting works.

Overall it's OK and a decent enough way to spend a couple of hours. Has some good action and a good collection of supporting actors. Not in the same league as The Town though, which I strongly recommend.

The Town (2010)

Worth Re-Watching Every Few Years

[9/10 · 8 April 2023]

Great movie, I enjoy it every time. Really good entry to the heist genre. I'm normally not a huge Ben Affleck fan but he deserves a ton of credit for The Town, it's a damn fine movie from start to finish. Nice blend of action and drama.

I give it an 8.5, rounding up to 9. The extended cut is worth the extra time. Having seen it a few times I can't imagine cutting any of it for the theatrical release. Jeremy Renner and Blake Lively both give memorable performances and take the whole thing up a notch.

Hard to articulate exactly why it's so good but it all just works. So much better than the average action/heist movie.

The Equalizer (2014)

Denzel is Denzel.

[6/10 · 8 April 2023]

Action is action. Not much more to say. I thought it might be a slow burn with a violent burst at the end but the action starts early and is consistent throughout. Without a star actor in the lead role this movie is probably a 5 but Denzel is Denzel and carries the day. Very violent movie. Some good performances from the supporting actors.

Overall, a solid entry in the action genre but nothing special. I give it a 6.5, rounding down to 6. If you like action movies and you like Denzel Washington then sit back and enjoy. I wish my local Lowe Depot was as clean and well staffed and well organized as the fictional big box home center shown in the movie, and I wish Denzel Washington worked there.

The Final Countdown (1980)

This is Your Dad's Sci-Fi

[7/10 · 7 April 2023]

If you want to watch F-14 Tomcats take off and land on aircraft carriers but Top Gun is too "Hollywood" for your taste then The Final Countdown will be right up your alley.

I watched it in 2023 and obviously it's an old movie at this point but overall it holds up well. The footage of the USS Nimitz and her aircraft is excellent and basically documentary footage from 1980. There must be a dozen different aircraft from that period in action. Very cool. The story isn't anything ground breaking, nor is it action-packed, but it's effective and I enjoyed it.

There is a scene with two Tomcats and two Japanese Zeroes which is probably the highlight of the film.

xXx (2002)

Early 00's Action, Great Stunts

[7/10 · 25 March 2023]

If you liked the original Fast & The Furious (also starring Vin Diesel) then you will probably like XXX. I would give it a 6.5, rounding up to 7. It's not a particularly noteworthy addition to the action genre but I think it's Vin Diesel at his best and some of the stunts are legitimately awesome. Has a few computer generated parts that don't hold up but most of the stunts are real and still look great 20 years later. Puts it one notch above the average action movie. Unique rock and metal soundtrack, a fun cameo or two. It's a dumb action movie but I enjoyed it for what it has to offer. Has some good laughs, especially the "cheesy-but-cool" lines from Diesel. Similar to the quotable lines from The Fast & The Furious like "I live my life a quarter-mile at a time." Corny, but, makes you smile.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

What You Wanted Episode 1 To Be

[9/10 · 25 February 2023]

Rouge One is a perfect addition to the original trilogy and captures the spirit of them in a manner that the second trilogy never did. It is a touch "grittier" but they didn't go overboard with it. Overall it retains the right fantasy-adventure feel and doesn't attempt to turn Star Wars into serious science fiction.

The third act is exceptional, featuring an awesome combined arms battle viewed from every level of the conflict. There are some short-living but stunning views from the cockpit of an X-Wing fighter that really stood out. Special effects are terrific throughout, though I disagreed with some of the decisions on CGI powered characters (a more subtle approach would have sufficed in my opinion).

Empire Strikes Back remains King because it is so enduring but if you remove that from consideration, Rogue One is the best Star Wars in my opinion.

The Gray Man (2022)

Pointless Mega-Budget Action

[5/10 · 8 January 2023]

You have seen it all before. The invincible black ops CIA super soldier (haunted by his past but who still has a heart), the hopping around "exotic" cities like prague that exist only as wallpaper, the rogue CIA management who is tired of the law getting in their way, the endless black SUVs full of tacti-cool agents who exist only to be shot-stab-punch-exploded to death, the pointless CGI stunts, the roided up guys exchanging karate chops and spin kicks, etc.

It's the latest installment in the genre and it has its moments, you could do worse, but it's pretty shallow. They obviously (and desperately) set it up for sequels, all of which will almost certainly be bad. Sorry, your super soldier chewing gum and winking and repeating lame jokes isn't enough to start a franchise character. Ana De Armas and Chris Evans help salvage things a bit. Everyone is very attractive but there weren't any of the pointless "sex scenes" you expect in this genre which was a relief. Somewhere between 5 and 6 stars is about right.

The Last Blockbuster (2020)

At Least 1 Hour Too Long

[3/10 · 11 October 2022]

There is about 15 minutes of content stretched into a full length documentary. The good parts are the history of the company and industry and some interviews with some executives who were there during the downfall, as well as a look at the last few stores including the "last Blockbuster" in Bend OR. It was very shallow though and glossed over most of the "boring details" in favor of Hollywood C-list fluff interviews. A few of those are appropriate and capture the nostalgia but this documentary was entirely too dependent on them. I don't need a string of 6 different interviews discussing what a Blockbuster Video smelled like inside. Even worse, there were interviews with random blockbuster customers. One of them featured a very drawn out "play by play" with a scripted reenactment of how he goes to Blockbuster Video and rents videos (so I start by grabbing my house keys, then I walk to the store, then I say Hi when I walk in, then I....). Very pointless.

If warm fuzzy nostalgia about the video store is enough to carry you through a full length doc, go for it. But if you're looking for anything more than that, I would pass.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Enjoying it so far

[7/10 · 2 October 2022]

I'm 6 episodes in and it's pretty good. It's not as good as the original series but let's be honest, not much is. The nerds will complain about absolutely everything of course but I have been enjoying it. There is only 1 plot line really unlike the original series which had several parallel lines that were destined to collide. So it is less sophisticated than the original in that sense. HoTD also skips forward in time basically every episode (so far at least) which is a little confusing at times but does advance you through lots of events at a good clip instead of spending a whole season on one point in time, which I think is a plus considering there is only the 1 plot for the most part. The 1 star reviews on here are comical, I don't see how you could give it less than a 5. Nothing is for everyone and HoTD certainly isn't perfect but if you loved the original series then there is plenty of things to like in this new one.

Belfast (2021)

Self-Indulgent Art Project

[4/10 · 23 August 2022]

Belfast is in black and white (eye roll) except for select scenes which appear in color. Maybe some people think that's artistic but it felt like amateur hour over at the film department of your local community college to me.

For much of the film I felt very aware of the fact that I was looking at a set, almost like I was watching a play. Not necessarily a bad thing for this type of movie, just kind of odd.

Belfast tries really hard (you guessed it, too hard) to be "art" but I could just never get there with it. My take away was self indulgent award show bait. Branagh really wanted us to know how humbling it is to have been raised by such strong, brave, tough (and beautiful!) people I guess.

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Quality Action-Thriller Sequel

[8/10 · 30 July 2022]

The original is always the original but this is a quality sequel, which is rare. If you enjoyed The Bourne Identity then you will almost certainly enjoy this follow up. The shaky-cam is a bit too shaky at times in my opinion but that's the style the film was shot in. It works.

Very good story, pacing, cast, acting, and action. It's a Hollywood action-thriller so of course there are plot holes but it's made well enough that you can suspend your disbelief for most of it. This was review was written in 2022 and the movie holds up very well. Highly recommended for fans of the first film in the series.

21 Bridges (2019)

Standard cops and robbers action thriller

[7/10 · 27 July 2022]

Well made film with great pacing and the right amount of action. Chadwick Boseman did a fine job as the detective in the lead role. Overall, nothing new and fairly predictable but it does have a couple layers to it. Fans of the genre who are looking for the latest installment will probably enjoy it. Not a must-see for those who aren't though. As of my writing this the IMDB rating is a 6.6 which seems about right. I rounded up to a 7.

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Similar to the 1st Installment

[7/10 · 19 July 2022]

Has the same qualities (good and bad) as the original for the most part. I enjoyed both similarly. Unique story, great use of sound, good acting. Very tense. A good horror movie for those of us that don't really like horror movies. I will watch the next one when it comes out.

The main issue is the same level of "why don't they just..." problems that the first one had. This issue plagues the genre in general but it is as bad as ever here. Critical thinker/problem solver types can easily disillusion themselves. There is really nothing about the alien creatures that makes any sense and it seems like humans would have defeated them pretty easily in the initial war.

But you know, it's a movie. None of them ever really make sense, though it seems like with a little more effort they could have plugged some of the obvious plot holes and made this series even more compelling. That holds it back from getting a top rating. Still good though.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Unique, tense horror-sci-fi-thriller

[7/10 · 18 July 2022]

I enjoyed it and plan to watch the sequel. Very good acting, unique concept, great use sound.

If you are a critical thinker/problem solver type then you will struggle with plot holes if you allow yourself to go down that rabbit hole ("why don't they just...") but you know, it's a movie.

Bill Maher: #Adulting (2022 TV Special)

Familiar If You Watch "Real Time"

[7/10 · 14 May 2022]

The first half of it is basically the "greatest hits" from the last season or two of his HBO show "Real Time." It's funny and current with the times, it's just nothing new if you watch his show regularly. But if you like his style of comedy and don't keep up with his show, you will like it a lot. The second half picks it up a lot and is fresh content though. True to form, he pushes the limits in a few spots and is a professional.

Apollo 13 (I) (1995)

Excellent Drama, All Star Cast

[9/10 · 14 May 2022]

Watched again in 2022 and still holds up great. The story, cast, and acting are terrific. The Apollo 13 mission is a truly inspiring story and you really feel it when you watch this movie.

By all accounts, it is an accurate representation of the actual events by Hollywood standards. The contributions of multiple real people are compressed into single characters in a few instances, some events are dramatized a little for effect, and there are some minor scientific inaccuracies around what they would have seen outside the window and whatnot. It's a drama, not a documentary. Some principle people that were involved have verified that the main events are presented correctly and most of the character portrayals are well done though. The movie seems to be well liked by most of the people who were close enough to the real life events to have reason to think otherwise, and that's as good as it gets for a drama based on a true story.

Very inspiring and highly recommended.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Blockbuster Sci-Fi Action

[8/10 · 14 March 2022]

Very entertaining. Great cast, great special effects. Lots of action and the aliens are downright scary in certain parts. It's a blockbuster/popcorn movie so prepare to suspend your disbelief. This is not one of those time travel movies that tries to "make sense." The whole "family man" angle was actually more compelling than it usually is in this type of movie. I think Chris Pratt did a fine job overall.

My wife and I both really enjoyed it from our couch on a Sunday night with a couple of beers but if you're looking for a faithful adaptation of a Robert A. Heinlein novel, this ain't it.

Fred Armisen: Standup For Drummers (2018 TV Special)

Unique, Weird Side Project

[6/10 · 13 March 2022]

Not your typical comedy special. I got the impression that this was a collection of drum related humor that he had come up with over the years that made him laugh but he couldn't use at the time because it was too esoteric. I don't know that to be true, it's just what it felt like. Kind of random and disjointed.

I am guessing Fred Armisen knew this would not be particularly popular but did it anyways as a passion project. I think the results were mixed. If you like Fred Armisen or the drums (preferably both) give it a shot.

Count Me In (2021)

Standard Music Doc

[6/10 · 8 March 2022]

If you think drums are cool and would enjoy listening to some professional drummers from a lot of great bands share vignettes and anecdotes from their careers, their first drum kit, when they knew they were going to be a drummer, who their influences were, what made so-and-so such a great drummer, etc. Then this is a solid 80 minute music doc. It is not a comprehensive history of the instrument or of every great player there ever was but it has some good stuff in there. The focus is rock drumming but has some bits and pieces about other styles. It has a very good set of interesting and talented guests and overall they kept it pretty light and fun.

Suffers from the standard music doc pitfalls like over-dramatized footage of people playing in slow motion (look, we sprayed water all over the kit!), shallow praise of other musicians (he was amazing, just SO good, you have NO IDEA, simply the BEST), and cliches about how dreams really do come true. But overall it was fine.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Not at all what I was expecting.

[7/10 · 9 January 2022]

I liked it. It's not what you would consider a western by any stretch though. Instead it is kind of a cerebral psycho-drama that just happens to be set on a ranch in 1925. Very ominous and tense. Cumberbatch was great and built a terrific and layered character. The movie gets pretty twisted as it goes along and is not going to be what you would expect. The other characters were OK, though I didn't get much from Dunst's character, which kind of held the whole thing back for me.

I'm sure this will film will do great on the awards circuit, but it's definitely not for everyone. The first half is very slow, some of the subject matter will make some people very uncomfortable, and the whole thing gets pretty dark. I found it to be pretty ambiguous in terms of the morality of what happens, which makes it all fairly disturbing. It's definitely unique though.

I would give it a 6.5. Rounded it up to 7 for this review.