Cate1956 Reviews

The Monuments Men (2014)

This Was Not a Trivial Pursuit.

[3/10 · 10 February 2014]

This film, written by George Clooney, produced by George Clooney, starring George Clooney gives the movie-goer the illusion that this World War II mission was accomplished by a bunch of buddies on a European romp. Not disrespectful enough? Add Clooney writing himself eye-rolling soliloquies, soliloquies that trivializes the person he is portraying, rendering him disingenuous. Clooney seems to have forgotten that the men on this mission were real people, not characters from "Ocean's Eleven."

Such a shame that the memories of these men would be mangled by a monumental ego, an ego on a quest for his own monument. A monument named Oscar. Who better to sculpt it but himself?

Avoid "The Monuments Men."

Instead hope that this brave and wonderful story is later told in the proper manner, as a documentary. For this is a story that needs to be remembered accurately, not only for the men that preserved the monuments, but also for the memories of the monumental lives that were so callously and tragically stolen.

The Challenge: The Ruins: Wes Side Story (2009) Season 18, Episode 1

Tonya on the Wrong Reality Show

[3/10 · 28 October 2009]

If this Challenge show is a portrayal of these people as they truly are, Tonya is on the wrong reality show. She should rightfully be featured on A&E's Intervention. Being intoxicated on the level that Tonya exhibited on this season's "The Ruins" shows a woman with a very dark problem. Her drunken antics were not funny, nor were they entertaining. Hopefully,watching herself stumbling on TV will be a wake up call for Tonya. For watching the deterioration of a beautiful, engaging, talented young woman is heartbreaking for the audience, who for better or worse, have watched her grow through the MTV years. Though there are many others involved in these challenges that have displayed similar symptoms of alcohol abuse, Tonya's is the most evident and pervasive. Perhaps it is best that next MTV take on a real challenge and offer help to someone who seems to desperately need it, rather than making Tonya another statistic like Adam Goldberg, who offers help and redemption to those abusing substances from deep within his grave.

Surviving Suburbia (2009)

Agony!

[1/10 · 6 April 2009]

Though I love Cynthia Stevenson, I must throw aside my loyalties to her to say that given a choice of watching "Surviving Suburbia" or Steve Wozniak on "Dancing with the Stars" I would have to opt for "The Woz." Bob Saget delivers his one note befuddled and bemused Daddy routine in his usual fashion, heavy on the dry staccato, light on the bumbling. Throw in a couple of precocious kids, an annoying best friend, some sexual innuendo and a heavyweight, hormonal neighbor and you have every other TV show Bob Saget has "starred" in. Given all of that, if you are able to live through the canned laughter, the predictable shtick and the less than funny scripting, then you truly did "Survive Suburbia!"

Wife Swap: McGoldrick/Noel (2008) Season 4, Episode 10

Flask Full of Vodka?

[1/10 · 20 October 2008]

Mrs. McGoldrick appeared blasted throughout the entire program. Does she carry a flask of Vodka with her at all times? If that were/was the case, perhaps another starring role on A & E's Intervention is in line? Kudos to the hissy fit though, that was classic TV.

With the reactions of Megan, who seemed a very lovely young lady and Mr. McGoldrick, who seemed unhappy with the whole experience, it does make a viewer wonder why they agreed to take part in this show.

Wait! I know why! The money! Yes, kids, ABC pays the Wife Swap participants. Last I heard it was $20,000.00.

My condolences to Edward for having to endure 3 days (yes, kids, 3 days not 2 weeks) of Sue Ann. Menopause has never looked so intoxicatedly bad!

C

Downfall (2004)

When Belief Became Madness......

[10/10 · 10 May 2007]

..Nazi Germany was born and when belief became madness, Berlin fell at the hands of the Allies. In the craze of the Fuehrer's final days, "Downfall" lets us see into the souls of men that allowed the madness to rule their compassion, their judgment. As the fate of the German people becomes bleaker and bleaker, as Berlin is invaded by the Russians, the men who cower in their Bunker to lead them into doom refuse to cease the madness of Hitler, instead allowing him to fill the country with false hope while pointing an accusing finger at his Generals and laying the blame of defeat at the German people who so mistakenly followed him into power and mistakenly believed in a cruel false prophet.

A story of the final days of the Reich as lived in The Bunker, "Downfall" is a film of amazing performances, a gripping drama where the end is clear and historically known, yet still draws you in and takes you to a place so dark, so evil; you wish you could find another ending.

Sadly you can't. Innocent children still die at the hands of their mother, Hitler dissolves into a gray, stooped, frenetic, trembling mass of insanity, Eva Braun still dances gaily and smiles through the end of a war that took an awful toll from the heart of humanity.

When watching "Downfall" you quickly forget you are watching a movie, you forget the people on the screen these are simply actors (amazing, gifted actors), who make magic with a compelling script.

If you watch one foreign film this year, make it "Downfall." You will walk away baffled, at the lengths blind loyalty will go; at the immense sacrifice one country made to follow an impossible, imperialistic, hateful, hedonistic dream.

Yet because of a movie like "Downfall" you will learn that not all Germans were Nazi's and some Germans were just people that simply loved their country and the people in it.

The lesson of Downfall is...may we never again see a "Downfall" as wrenching as this one, for in the film lays a vivid warning for the entire world to see, for the price the German people paid in the end of WWII was very, very steep.

Music and Lyrics (2007)

Pleasant and Predictable

[6/10 · 17 February 2007]

Pleasant and Predictable, "Music and Lyrics" is everything you would expect out of this type of movie, with a little heart and soul and a touch of love and laughter added in. Perfect fare for your little tween queen, "Music and Lyrics" offers Hugh Grant dancing in tight pants, Drew Barrymore acting cute and quirky, and Brad Garret as the pragmatic, befuddled manager of Hugh Grant's has-been 80's rocker teen "dream".

You will be tickled with the silly dance sequences and the satirical references to Britney Spears are gentle and comical, without a spirit of mean. Kristen Johnson (Third Rock from the Sun) adds sparkle to the movie as Barrymore's loving, no-nonsense older sister.

Just don't expect any surprises and you won't be disappointed. While "Music and Lyrics" won't make you sing it's praises, neither will you leave the theater feeling robbed and cheated of the price of your ticket.

Great Sunday matinée fare, perfect for dinner and a movie, "Music and Lyrics" is a flick best seen with all of your favorite chicks.

The Sentinel (2006)

No Secrets .......

[3/10 · 18 January 2007]

I will do you a service with this movie...there are no secrets when it comes to Plot when watching "The Sentinel." In fact, the plot is as old and tired as Michael Douglas.

But if you buy an aging denture wearing, toupee sporting, prune juice drinking government agent with the charisma to charm the underpants off the first lady and Eva Longoria, the guile to elude the entire Washington Police force, then "The Sentinel" is the movie for you.

For the rest of us non-believers, "The Sentinel" is just one more visit to the every familiar celluloid land of the predictable. A celluloid land where good guys live, bad guys die, tough guys kick a dying man while he is down, and First Ladies call the governmental shots, and everyone lives happily ever after, except the first lady, of course, whose pants will always be hot for the studly aging agent, who sets her soul on fire but ends the affair for the good of the country.

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwn.

That Michael Douglas is completely invested in his own PR shines through in this humdrum, run of mill movie that isn't even worth the watch or the money you may have to pay to rent.

Masters of Horror: Pro-Life (2006) Season 2, Episode 5

The Point of the Story.....

[5/10 · 2 December 2006]

Is the hypocrisy of radical pro-life fanatics that justify taking lives to save lives....with a whole lot of gore thrown in.

This Masters of Horror testament is not for the weak of stomach. Beware an abortion scene that will change your mind forever about the impact of the horror genre on social mores. To his credit John Carenter is effective in keeping his politics safely in check, allowing the viewer to judge for themselves who, in this setting, is more evil, Ron Perlman with his misdirected obedience to God, or the physician, who has his own demons to answer to.

Yet, John Carpenter sends his point home. Could it be the devil made him do it or was an angel guiding him to the end??

Perfect Prey (1998 TV Movie)

Decent

[5/10 · 3 July 2005]

For those that think "Perfect Prey" was better cinema than "Witness" this movie is the "perfect fare" for them. Well acted, the grizzled Kelly McGillis does take her role seriously, and for that we thank her. D.W. Moffett gives a splendid performance, but the true star of the show is David Keith. Never have I seen an actor take such demented delight in smearing red lipstick all over his characters sick, depraved lips. The storyline is decent, with an ending that borrows liberally from "Silence of the Lambs." Great cinema for that Saturday evening when Mom has to wait up for the teen that is out for the night with the family car. "Perfect Prey" is intriguing enough to keep the mind off worry, yet mindless enough that a viewer doesn't have to think as the clock nears one in the morning. For those that love a good storyline that offers a little more bang for the buck, try "Witness." Definitely Kelly McGillis at her finest, if only for the classic scene with a younger and sturdier Harrison Ford where they dance alone in an Amish country barn, a scene where McGillis truly sizzles and smolders with implied sexuality and Amish girl heat.