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irobrandall
Reviews
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
I wanted to like this cheesy movie far more than I did.
After just finishing watch this movie I feel compelled to write a quick review about it, since all I've seen is reviews about how it's one of the best war films of all time, and how realistic it is. I feel like I saw a totally different movie. The dialogue was extremely cheesy, the battle scenes were fine, but not realistic or emotionally effective. There's a scene where a soldier picks up a limbless torso and uses it as a shield with one hand, as he's running and firing a large assault rifle. Another scene has Desmond dragging a wounded soldier across the battlefield on a sheet as the man mows down scores of enemy soldiers. Seems more like something from a John Wick or Rambo movie if you ask me. The acting is good, nothing special, Garfield seems to lose his accent in a few scenes, Vince Vaughn is great as always but sort of out of place here. It's much more of a Hollywood action flick than a serious war film. I didn't hate it, but I'm utterly confused at all the praise it's getting.
The House That Jack Built (2018)
Bold, fascinating, and unforgettable.
I just got back from seeing the directors cut of The House that Jack Built, and man, it was quite the experience. First and foremost, if you don't have a strong stomach for violence and generally aggressive behavior then this probably isn't going to be for you, however I'm not sure how much of what I saw will be in the rated R cut. This is a nasty movie, about a nasty man. It is quite graphic in some scenes, though none of the violence ever felt out of place or just there to shock. The acting by everyone involved is top-notch, the writing and direction is absolutely fantastic, as well. This movie can be surprisingly funny, from time to time. The cinematography was very well done, although some scenes are less memorable than others due to not being as unique as they could have been. There is a review here on IMdB who states this movie had no meaning, and also says they didn't even watch the whole movie. I'd definitely suggest getting through to the end and making your own decision on that. All in all, if you're a fan of artsy movies, underground horror, true crime, or extreme cinema in general I highly suggest seeking this one out.
Maniac (2018)
Wow. Can't even really describe just how much this show means to me.
I'll keep it brief, because I believe it's best to go in about as blind as you can. This show is fantastic, totally unique, and brave. The themes explored are very important, and overall touching. This show means a great deal to me, and I can't praise it enough. Highly suggest it. It is fantastically written and the characters are awesome. The style is very unique and it's a great show to look at, with some really interesting shots.