objviewer Reviews

The Holdovers (2023)

Just not good fiction

[4/10 · 19 February 2024]

What has happened to the ability of professional critics to evaluate fiction?

This movie, in so many ways, is mediocre at best.

The characters are a series of cliches with the psychological depth of a Hallmark commercial. The attempts at adolescent angst ridden, yet amusing, dialogue at the beginning really aren't that amusing or insightful of anything. There are no character arcs except for the expected - the troubled young man and troubled curmudgeon will start out at odds and then, oh so sentimentally, come to appreciate the other in a completely formulaic plot. (Bet you can't guess if the father isn't really dead, but in prison or an insane asylum - I knew it had to be one or the other). And the heavy black woman whose son died in Viet Nam? Yeah, that sums up the character in one sentence. There's pretty much no more. That description and a scene of her angry has to be enough to summon up the anticipated maudlin response in the viewer.

And the Angus character not only looks too old for the part, but also his acting is terrible. Found many of his closeups to be actually embarrassing, his facial expressions look so fake and forced.

Paul Giamatti ably delivers his series of clever one-liners. But all the ailments stuck on to the character don't add any meaningful layers to his unoriginal crusty sarcastic teacher persona.

I can envision this story line being conceived in a board room of movie business executives: "I've got an idea for an audience pleasing commercial success, and will probably get nominated as well".

It's just so boring and predictable. Not art. Not insightful. Not, for me, even entertaining.

May December (2023)

Flat, unsubstantial

[5/10 · 1 February 2024]

I normally like psychological dramas, character studies, movies that show everyone has a different "truth" - but despite good performances this just seemed flat to me. Too many holes in the character's lives to feel invested in them. We get it, the two women are, in different ways, narcissists, and harmful to those around them. The 36 year old man who had in his youth married the older woman who committed statutory rape on him when he was 13 is portrayed as sweet and stunted, but not really a very well developed character - kind of empty.

As I watched the movie, one perhaps petty question kept nagging. How, HOW, did they afford that beautiful expensive property on the water? How were they so rich? She served time in prison and now sold cakes, he seemed (from one scene) to work as an X-Ray technician, they had 3 kids (with barely defined bland personalities).... This didn't seem like real life, which took me out of the story.

Movie had one idea - the continuing effects of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation, but it was not really explored. And the plot gimmick of the visiting actress just seemed too contrived as a way to dramatize that idea.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Yawn - same old, not done well

[3/10 · 11 December 2023]

So many movies have done the "end of everything" much much better. In this, we have stereotypical characters, making for contrived tepid conflict.

But really, why would deer be upset there was no cell phone signals, satellite communication or internet?

This movie might have worked better as a parody of apocalyptic movies and survivalists. Not much point to any of it - no laughs (like in Zombie Land), no drama (like in The Road"). Maybe we're supposed to enjoy rich people being upset by the loss of all they have. Don't know why such great actors were even in it. Maybe there is supposed to be a message here, but the only one I got was that money will always be spent making movies that rehash audience-pleasing predictable plots with big name stars. $

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Disappointing in its wide shallow swath

[7/10 · 30 November 2023]

Disappointed. I feel the movie was spread too thin. If it had just focused on the development of the bomb at Los Alamos, or just the security hearings and persecution of Oppenheimer or just Lewis Strauss and his hatred of Oppenheimer or on the character of Oppenheimer - would have been a better movie. Had some hope at the beginning when showed scene of putting the poison in the apple, but then Oppenheimer just seemed to disappear into this pale, bland presence. Ok, he was a womanizer, a sometimes Lefty, well, why? So what? Robert Downey's portrayal of Strauss had more drama and impact.

And the scenes to show, I guess, what Oppenheimer was thinking; the nude sex scene in the meeting, the audience burning like in a nuclear fire - were so gimmicky and out of place that they took one out of the narrative and thinking "gee, how clever of Nolan", or "gee, how lame".

Compare this portrayal of an eccentric genius with an impact on the world to "The Imitation Game" about Alan Turing, a narrower focus, but a more interesting character study.

And Nolan does like that loud beating soundtrack for effect. Makes the walks shake with that bass. After a while, it's just annoying.

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Not only dumb and boring, offensive.

[1/10 · 30 July 2023]

After watching the ridiculous "Signs", where aliens capable of space travel couldn't figure out how to open a door, I vowed never to watch a Shyamalan movie again. But then, in all fairness, that movie wasn't supposed to be science fiction, just popcorn horror. And this one was free.

To go over the nonsense plot turns, and failure of logic is too arduous a task. Those don't matter if a movie hits home emotionally. This movie seemed to me to be in a category of religious/ torture porn. And to try to make it profound (if that was the intent, though intent is usually $) by having a persecuted gay couple asked to make a sacrifice for the humanity that had abused them, was just manipulation without substance.

We never get to see the god, or supernatural whatever, asking people to kill each other, guess this was some kind of a take on a Bible story (Abraham). If I were religious, I'd be offended at the crass use of this story for a stupid horror flick.

And to make it worse - the dialogue was incredibly banal and dumb, and really, really boring. Had a kind of written as a high school drama class exercise feel. Doesn't help that the character with most of the dialogue was dead pan (maybe that was supposed to make him sound deep). The four home invaders were milquetoast stereotypes, barely noticeable as having any internal psychology.

And then of corse, there are the overlong, melodramatic scenes, with the spooky music, that add nothing to the plot or character arc.

Seeing a trend here.

Clearcut (1991)

Maybe an attempt at an issue movie? Maybe not?

[3/10 · 12 July 2023]

I don't mind if the special effects and fight segments aren't so good. Like obviously fake blood spurts out, then you hear the shot. That's not important to me. Now acting and dialogue is. With the exception of Graham Greene, acting is pretty acting class level (I guess).

But there are attempts at thoughtfulness. But they never amount to much. Seem worn and simplistic. Yeah, yeah, Native American representing spiritual life in sync with the earth angry with white men cutting down trees. Big boss logging guy argues how life improved.

But why the kidnapping, why the violence? Is it supposed to be an expression of Native American anger? Is the Graham Greene character some sort of vengeful spirit? Or just a violent sociopath? Who knows. No meaningful connections.

And one of those movies where viewer constantly asking "Why doesn't he?". Why doesn't the lawyer guy do anything logical?

Don't see how the murders or torture add anything to the story (yeah he's vengeful, we get it), just makes it all unpleasant. Fails as a movie with a message, and fails as an engaging thriller.

If you want an excellent horror/thriller with a message, watch "Wolfen".

The Artifice Girl (2022)

Downhill from beginning

[5/10 · 9 July 2023]

Yet another sci-fi movie that has an intriguing premise, starts off good with an examination of that premise - but then, just doesn't have much dramatically to add. I get that the movie tried to look at consequences to it's premise, but really there's just one consequence they could come up with - AI little girl is sad she didn't get a normal little girl life. And then there's one minor reveal about creator's childhood, that isn't much of a surprise, and doesn't have much impact as character not developed enough to care about.

And the last 15 minutes of the movie, with its talky lame pop psychology, and bad acting, is just embarrassing. And, just a suggestion as a more interesting direction movie could have taken, why in 50 years couldn't a super-duper super-intelligent AI with access to all the expert's knowledge, instead of trapping child predators, come up with an understanding of the psychological seeds of the behavior and how to end it?

Is it that hard to make a fictional depiction of an AI that appears smarter than those depicting it? They didn't manage here.

For a much better child AI movie, watch Spielberg's AI.

FairyTale: A True Story (1997)

Watch a different movie

[3/10 · 1 July 2023]

Maybe I wouldn't have rated this so low if I hadn't seen a far superior rendering of this story. Despite some great actors (Peter O'Toole), and pretty scenery, FairyTale: A True Story is syrupy, lame, full of banal dialogue, and just plain boring. Movie sticks in plot points (someone died) to try and flesh out characters, but that's just how it feels - a plot point stuck in with no development.

Watch instead, "Photographing Fairies". A movie that achieves a tone both of mystery, and the sadness and grief that propels some to want to believe in "something more" , and others who feel their bitterness and cynicism is justified.

Problem is, I can't find "Photographing Fairies" anywhere to watch.

Yellowjackets (2021– )

Lost a good psychological thriller to a mediocre black comedy.

[5/10 · 5 April 2023]

Starts out with an interesting premise: Lord of the Flies with teenage girls, the display of human primal nature in a survival situation. The characters are watchable and we're curious how each of them deals with life and death dilemmas and their effects on relationships. Also, the story moves between the time in the wilderness and 25 years later, looking at how the impact of the trauma and the actions they took fester in the psyches of these adult women.

But then . . .

Seems psychological drama not enough. Story just had to introduce lame supernatural elements. Yet it gets worse, what seemed to be a decent thriller is ruined by pivoting to ghoulish black comedy, so now, not a particularly good thriller or black comedy.

Too bad, a premise with such potential.

High and Low (1963)

Something I didn't like.

[6/10 · 26 March 2023]

Yojimbo is one of my favorite movies. It occurred to me some of the themes in High & Low similar to Yojimbo. Powerful man (Yojimbo, fighter; Gondi, business genius) honorably sacrifices everything to help milquetoast ineffectual little guy (villagers, chauffeur) against evil guys (Gondo's business associates with no honor, and evil kidnapper who's evidently eaten up by jealousy of the superior rich people).

And yeah, I get the lighting is cool, the characters movement in the scenes is cool ....

But the dialogue, particularly the police dialogue is corny. And a lot of the police conversations don't make sense. They're going to hold off catching the kidnapper because he'll only get 15 years? He's murdered 2 people and they wait till he murders a 3rd? Found the movie's attitude toward the murdered drug addicts rather ugly. Almost seemed like murders not important because these people were drug addicts. Why isn't the last scene the mother of the girl the kidnapper overdosed confronting the murderer, instead of Gondo who just lost money confronting him?

And the motivation of the kidnapper? Well, money, but I guess he was of poor character because he was jealous of those with money and success.

I don't know, maybe just a crime thriller and I'm reading too much into it.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Poor shallow attempt

[3/10 · 30 January 2023]

What was best about GOT was the character development and complexity: viewing a character's motivations through their history and experience, the character arc, the character's evolution. HOTD writers evidently confuse inconsistency with complexity. None of the characters are terribly interesting. They don't exist in any kind of world that's presented. There is no realm. We see mostly claustrophobic scenes of bickering families, like in a soap opera, except with some anonymous knights standing around, and occasional graphic violence.

And the banal, predictable dialogue: "That's your father talking", "My father's dead and he chose me as his successor". What I wouldn't give for a Littlefinger rapier monologue.

Scenes that should create tension and suspense, like when they're looking for Aegon to be crowned, don't, because- who the heck is Aegon? Just a name of a character we don't care about because he's not formed.

Too bad because first episode seemed promising; strong independent young woman becomes a leader. But then turns into promiscuous mother fighting another mother over whose kids gets what. Never clear what difference it makes who is in charge. They all seem kind of the same.

Just rewatch seasons 1-4 GOT.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

If Hallmark made an action movie

[3/10 · 1 January 2023]

So specially talented pilot Skywalker, er I mean Maverick, has to blow up the Death Star, er I mean a Uranium Enrichment Plant, avoiding attacks from the faceless Imperial Guard, er I mean some faceless soldiers from another country.

Not to make too much of that comparison, because this cliche-ridden music video movie doesn't even have the character or plot development of a fun fantasy like Star Wars. And why is Jennifer Connelly even there? She's a blank, a set piece, a cardboard cutout to fill some visuals with "the girlfriend". Actually, all the characters were rather wooden in their acting - but what can you do with dialogue that mostly consists of insipid platitudes?

I think as a music video to match the songs in the soundtrack it's pretty good - as a movie it's pretty predictable and vapid. Gee, I wonder if Maverick will live, especially after it looks like all is lost. Oh, the suspense. Well, there is the fun in watching actual humans drop bombs on another country's territory.

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

Season 1 - lost opportunity

[7/10 · 24 December 2022]

Have just watched S1.

Once again another sci-fi series/film that starts out with some fascinating premises, but the writers just don't know how to explore the ideas, so it all devolves into plot silliness.

Religious wars on earth lead to separate factions colonizing another planet. You'd think that in itself would lead to some thoughtful examination of the role of philosophical/spiritual beliefs in war, technology and human interactions. But no, their plot has to come up with weird sinister spooky forces in the pits on the planet, with "ghosts" , people hearing voices ... whatever. OK, one interesting source of drama down the drain (or haunted pit).

The other really interesting idea: can AI (in the form of a couple of androids) be programmed to be good parents to human children and save humanity. First couple episodes were good with regard to that. Even the sort of "Scenes from a Marriage" performed by androids was interesting sci-fi speculation. But that thread didn't last long and had to give way to graphic violent action sequences, I guess to keep adolescent viewers interested.

And what the heck is it with Ridley Scott's fascination with icky things burrowing ("impregnating") bodies? And androids leaking white fluid and getting all sad and confused? And some sort of pseudo- religious spiritual creepy force emanating from human-related aliens who really don't have much intelligent to say about anything? Geesh, enough already!

Cinematography is fantastic. But why can't we have a decent, intelligent, sci-fi series that explores sci-fi ideas without all the claptrap? WHY?

Nope (2022)

So many ways it was bad.

[1/10 · 19 November 2022]

You should suspect a movie is really bad when so many positive reviews say, "you didn't get it", or " you didn't see the message"; but they don't say what "it" actually is, or what the message is. I'd go so far as to say I'd guess many of the wildly positive reviews were written by someone who didn't even watch the movie.

Another hint the movie is bad is when there are constant references to the director's past work - should make you ask what would they think if this was the first movie by this director.

Let me take a stab at the "message". Hollywood is mean. Hollywood eats people up and spits them out. Hollywood isn't sensitive and respectful - well, you get the idea. If I'm wrong positive reviewers, then tell me what the message is. If that is the message, it's very poorly executed. And there are many movies that do that message way better.

And there can be a pretty good movie with a simplistic shallow message. This isn't even that. The actors have no chemistry with each other. Each of them speaks their lines like they are the only one in the room, there's no interaction between personalities. The plot is nonsense, but we're not supposed to care because of the little hidden messages in the scenes. Yawn.

And what is the much touted twist? That the big ballon like monster thing in the sky is an animal? And don't forget, Hollywood uses animals (as in the weird chimp side plot).

I'm done paying attention to critic's reviews.

Bring back IMDB message boards.

A Lonely Place to Die (2011)

Started out so promising.

[3/10 · 18 October 2022]

Beautiful cinematography at the beginning in the gorgeous Scottish mountains. And seemed like perhaps a story about character relationships and conquering fears in a survival drama.

But only seemed that way. The last decent scene was when they heard the human voice in the distance in the woods, that was haunting. After that, the whole thing just degenerated into the bad guys picking off the good guys in violent graphic scenes. Really no character development or interplay other than the bad guys were really bad and the good guys were really good. Bland filler dialogue like, "See what your compassion got you". And new characters thrown in toward the end that really should have been integrated into the plot sooner.

Compare it to the survival thriller "The Descent" with the cavers, and instead of armed human monsters were the cave monsters. But "The Descent" is far superior because we see the more complex interesting psychology of the characters and how they relate, and the cracks in their persona that emerge in the life and death situation.

Wish Bezos would allow the IMDB message boards back.

Crimes of the Future (2022)

More of the same pointless Cronenberg plastic gross stuff

[2/10 · 15 October 2022]

There should be a word better than "pretentious" to describe a movie/story that on the surface makes a pretense to examine some complex concept, like art, evolution, technology; but actually just tosses the words around without any true thoughtful exploration of the ideas. If there is, I don't know it.

But once again we have the icky squishy plastic fake-looking stuff for human innards and organic tech, or whatever, like from Videodrome, or Existenze, and the graphic grossness like in The Fly (much better story) - all, to what end? Well, evidently humanity is evolving so as able to digest plastic - that's the big sci-fi idea. OK, good! That would be great, good for the environment. But this plot seems not to know what to make of that idea, except in usual Cronenberg science-hating style, put weird freakish cults around it.

I'm a fan of "History of Violence", "A Dangerous Method", "M. Butterfly", and other Cronenberg movies. But not this. And I wonder if "Crimes of the Future" were someone's first movie if it would even be made.

Many say, but the acting is good. Just didn't see that. Seemed to me Stewart doing her Princess Di in a whisper, and Mortensen a one note bland tired, passive, weak freak/celebrity.

Wish Bezos would bring back the message boards on this site.

Red Rock West (1993)

Should have been a comedy.

[4/10 · 8 October 2022]

Seems like a 90's attempt at crime film noir in Wyoming. Absurd, ridiculous plot turns and character decisions. Someone should have told the writers that throwing in facts about the characters (a veteran - how deep), with trite juvenile dialogue doesn't count as character development.

Cage's facial expressions entertaining, but not much else. Lead female looks the part, but otherwise bland.

Sooooo dumb. Perhaps could have been better as more of a straight comedy. Maybe watch while you're doing something else.

When will I learn to ignore critic's ratings.

Watch Fargo or Double Indemnity again instead.

The Old Man (2022– )

Shallow stereotypes

[3/10 · 3 September 2022]

Honestly only made it through one and a half episodes because life is too short.

So imagine a 9th grade film class given the assignment to write a script about a retired elderly rogue CIA agent - you'd probably get better dialogue and character development and plotting than you have here. Having the twist of a senior citizen being the Bourne-like lethal killer doesn't make any of this unpleasantness interesting. It's all sort of embarrassing seeing John Lithgo and Jeff Bridges, two great actors, speak the hackneyed dialogue. OMG, the phone call with the daughter was predictable and interminable.

I could be wrong, but really doubt it gets better in later episodes.

Prey (I) (2022)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

[5/10 · 31 August 2022]

Just for those complaining how ridiculous it was that Mr. Alien Predator couldn't beat those primitive weapons seem to have missed the plot point that predator, compulsive Hunter that he is, sort of only uses weapons equal to what he is hunting. So fights bear with just his "hands" and arrows with his super arrows.

But who cares. Main character was a flat stereotype. All the characters were really. And too many superhuman feats that make no sense. Beautiful scenery though and a cute dog.

Why can't they come up with something new and interesting in this Predator series? Like an anti- hunting predator follows predator to earth to protest hunting.

And BTW, why did Jeff Bezos take away the IMDB message board? So wrong. Bring it back.

Nobody (I) (2021)

Pointless and unpleasant

[2/10 · 18 July 2022]

This is a contrived lame plot in the service of unpleasant "cool" graphic violence scenes set to music, with some of those funny post killing one-liners.

I think maybe the makers might have been "inspired" by Cronenberg's "History of Violence". We have the milquetoast family man with the secret past as a super assassin. But, unlike "History", there are no interesting characters, or thoughtful takes on types of violence, and the human reactions to those types.

And I think the makers tried to makeup for the lack of ANY meaningful substance to all the grotesque killing by trying to add a little tongue-in-cheek humor - doesn't work. I usually like Bob Odenkirk, but he is all wrong here (not that any actor would be right).

I have no problem with the depiction of violence in necessary service to a good story, but this is just a hollow contrived "story" in service of violent action sequences.

Foxtrot (II) (2017)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 18 July 2022]

I would describe why I thought this movie was so good, except the review below by Bertaut says it so much better and more completely than I could (how I miss the message boards).

Would add I was at first annoyed with the movie with the distorted time line. Father has demanded son be brought home, then we're watching son come home with the graphic novel he wrote, then back to parents at some point in future when they're divorced and son evidently dead as father reads novel - then back in time again. But then I see how this enhances the themes of confusion, war, deception and grief.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

Bland happy formula

[5/10 · 1 July 2022]

I'm not exactly a Trekkie, but the original Star Trek with Shatner and Nimoy is a big part of my nostalgia.

This syrupy series seems to me like Star Trek rendered as a Young Adult coloring book. The writers so miss the mark of what made the characters from the TOST so great.

Having Spock repeat the words "fascinating" and "indeed" does not make a complex, interesting Spock. The Spock Leonard Nimoy so wonderfully played, in addition to being brilliant; was sarcastic, bitter, repressed, emotionally conflicted, isolated, and seething with inner struggles.

The supposed main character, Captain Pike, is so bland, that he really doesn't add much by even being there.

Just goes to show well written complex characters and dialogue, even with cheesy special effects, make for more involving drama than all the fantastic CGI money can buy.

Night Sky (2022)

Good start, but then

[3/10 · 26 June 2022]

First couple episodes interesting and poignant. A psychological family drama with a sci/fi fantasy element. Thought maybe that element might be there as a metaphor for the character's inner reality (like in Melancholia).

But then it got lame, with some silly, hole-filled plot about these violent 'guardians", and a potentially good drama was ruined. Laughable, cliche, dialogue and characters. Funny when mother and daughter riding along in the van, with a ruthless murderer tied up in the back and daughter says "can we go to Disneyland?" and they smile. Awful, awful, writing.

Only redeeming element, of course is Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons. Too bad they weren't given something better.

Obviously end was a setup for a next season, but who cares.

No Time to Die (2021)

Terrible even by Bond movie standards.

[3/10 · 16 June 2022]

Don't expect great writing or depth of characters in a Bond film, but this was really bad. Makek's ridiculous mannerisms and overacting didn't even give us a decent villain. All seemed like a forced mishmash of dumb ideas whose only purpose was to lead up to the last scene.

The Father (I) (2020)

Every caregiver should watch this!

[10/10 · 15 May 2022]

Many movies about the heartbreak of Alzheimer's or dementia are told from the viewpoint of a family member or caregiver.

This is mostly from the viewpoint of the person with dementia. It portrays the confusion, anger, developing paranoia, and ultimately grief, as people, circumstances, the past, and even time itself no longer coalesce into anything understandable.

Everyone who gives care to someone with senility or dementia should watch this.