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kianmcallister
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Who Shot Pat? (1989)
The brilliant train wreck
Everyone starts out young and ambitious. This film was actually used in one of my studies classes as what NOT to do. The sound is terrible, the acting is sub-par, the editing and continuity are flawed .. yet, all to great ends.
And yes, the story and characters are not much to attach to. However, it did bring some of the cast and crew to new levels and that is what makes this worth watching. See the process and the evolution of skill from the lows (this film) to the highs (look where they are now).
Did I like this film? No. It was a train wreck as a stand-alone picture. However, if you appreciate the art of filmmaking, you see this as a milestone of accomplishment for everyone involved. I applaud this film for what it did for some of those involved - and poo-poo it from every other aspect.
What a fantastic business is filmmaking ...
David Brent: Life on the Road (2016)
Ricky brings the switch again
A theme in all of Ricky Gervais productions is the blindness to awareness. And while this is the standard (which he sets) of painful to watch, he attaches the human realization of self into everything. You're in an hour of hopelessness and then turned around into the redeeming qualities of all people.
This was not so much the driving force of After Life, obviously, but still brings the same concepts to light.
I love this guy and all he brings to comedy - from belly laugh to painful giggle, and finally to tears. Another of his works that makes me wish I could just sit and have a coffee with him. Just 30 minutes, Ricky. Give me 30 minutes to appreciate the guy behind this slug-in-the-gut genius.
I'll buy the coffee.
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012)
This is NOT stand-up!
I see a lot of reviews where people don't find this show funny. Personally, I find it very funny, but not for the typical reasons that I find the comedians funny. It's funny because this is them just being themselves and having Jerry mess with them to bring out what made these people comedians. I absolutely love seeing some reality behind these people and you get to see a lot of personality that is never meant to be shown on stage. Different lifestyles, different viewpoints, different aspects in all areas coming together over simple coffee and food with people who share similar careers. I just find it entertaining.
The fact that Jerry is such a car guy and tries to match a car to the person is awesome. There's just a realness to it that makes it feel like anyone could share a drink with them and experience the same things.
Don't watch it if you're looking to see these guys do stand-up. Watch if you want to see some great interactions from the lifestyle. I have mad respect for the concept and execution.
From the really comical to the serious, it's just a pleasure to see some non-scripted interactions and get some glimpses into the lives of people who have had an impact on my life and brought a lot of laughs, tears, and everything in between. Big thanks to Jerry for doing this.
No One Will Save You (2023)
Misinterpreted Brilliance
I had a lot of thoughts about this one and ultimately decided it was brilliant, yet easy to see how people would misinterpret it or poo-poo it.
Kaitlyn Dever: fantastic and believable in this role which has zero dialogue. The layer of her character, especially when going into town and dealing with the people who cannot accept her existence, to the final reality of her living as she imagined, is a great contrast to the terror she faces when dealing with her horrible past and traumatic events to get to a place of realization.
The story is a dark view on the human condition and incorporates a lot of the angst that accompanies trauma and what atonement means to a lot of people. I loved the alien as the conscious self-penance and the light humor was nice and well placed.
The effects were very well done and the music throughout was great. Editing really put it together both in visuals and audio.
I heard a lot of people (that I watched it with) say they didn't get the ending and because of that it wrecked the story for them. I could understand why they felt this, but I did not feel the same way. I thought the transition from avoidance to acceptance (or surrender) made it a great commentary on guilt and suffering.
Overall I loved it. I rated it an 8 for several reasons: Dever's performance, Duffield's underratedness, and one hell of job by the effects crew and editing. Dark, fun, and.germane enough to speak to a large audience.