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mckeesbird
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Reviews
Dark Places (2015)
Missed opportunity
I've read through many favorable reviews here so let me be the flame thrower. First and foremost, the most glaring mistake was casting Charlize Theron in the lead. I am not a fan of Theron's to begin with, I find her an actress more of presence due to beauty and stature than of serious talent. In her many roles she is intense yet there is a remarkable lack of emotion in her eyes and facial expressions, and this role is that taken to an extreme. Her one-note portrayal of Libby Day paints her as relentlessly hostile, selfish, and manipulative with no nuances of hurt or vulnerability to redeem her. The result is a totally unsympathetic and unlikable character so off putting I almost quit after 20 minutes into the movie. I agree with another reviewer who said Theron seems to walk through her scenes, waiting for it to be over and then collect her paycheck. Indeed. Her acting was offset by the actor who played her brother as what she lacks he more than made up for. Now onto a puzzle in the plot. In the movie, the man who told Libby's mother that he may have a solution to prevent the family farm from being foreclosed on told her at one point that he thinks about her and prays for her. Really? He prays for her then calls her to offer her this dreadful solution that is at the heart of the movie? No parent I know with 3 children and a clearly loving, supportive sister would ever consider such a thing. Maybe it was innovative but it was also stupid. Last, the cinematography was stark and bleak to mirror the dark subject matter and I think it made the movie devolve into just plain morose and unpleasant. Altogether, even with the obvious plot hole, could have been way better.
Little Red Wagon (2012)
Inspiring and encouraging movie
Watch this movie. Especially if you've gotten a bit world weary and jaded about our fellow humans. Inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging this film follows the true life story of a little boy who ups and takes some serious action to help the survivors of Hurricane Charley in Florida 2004. This little fellow's dedication and compassion for other people, especially children, is something to behold and I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come. Also, there is a subplot involving a young woman and her son that well illustrated the issues homeless families face. A family film I highly recommend parents watch with their children as it has a great message; it shows how one caring heart, no matter how small, can make a huge difference in the lives of others.
The Dyatlov Pass Incident (2013)
Pleasant surprise
After sitting through the previews on the DVD, I thought this was going to be another cheesy scary flick I'm going to wish I hadn't ordered from Netflix. Especially in light of being a found footage film. I hate all that bobbling around but this flick is more high quality than most. Well filmed, well acted and a story line that surprised me with its' uniqueness and inventiveness. I really enjoyed films based on real life unsolved incidents and this one was one I had never heard of. While the film could not offer a confirmed answer to the mystery, it offered a way out of the box explanation that showed some serious creativity. I rarely come across a film that surprises me as this one did. Since IMDb covered the story line I will just recommend it and leave it at that.