I agree with other reviewers (in different forums) who commented that the dialogue, as written, was spotty but the acting is so good it nearly covers it up. And it's not just the acting, the story is enthralling even if some of the scenes and plot points feel amiss.
Maggie Gyllenhaal may not have much experience as a director, and it does show in spots, but you can feel that this was her story to tell and that she had a strong emotional connection to the subject matter (she's also a career-focused mother of two girls). My gut reaction was to scoff when I saw that she cast her own husband as "the other man" but actually Peter Sarsgaard was perfect for this supporting role and he played it brilliantly.
A very good film on the verge of being great. I would have preferred European actors in the place of Damon and Affleck who both failed to disappear into their roles. I could maybe say the same of Driver, though he seemed better suited to his character despite being much younger than the actual Le Gris.
If you're looking for an excuse to get back into the movie theater, TPotD is a film that really needs to be viewed on a large screen with surround sound.
Slow burner would be an understatement. The plot thickens deliciously but it takes its sweet time getting there. If you're a fan of breathtaking cinematography and Western locations/characters, you'll have plenty to stimulate you in the meantime. And if you can appreciate the Terrence Malick brand of florid realism and natural pacing, you'll enjoy Jane Campion's direction.
For acting, cinematography, writing, and plot, I give TPotD a strong score. My only marks against it are a few overly sentimental scenes which slightly disturbed the vibe (for me).
I can't believe this was Pixar. Did their interns make it? This felt like D-tier storytelling and B-tier animation. My kids didn't notice the difference, but I definitely did. What a let-down!
I feel so bad for all those girls but especially for Maggie, who was robbed of not only her innocence but her Olympic dream and career.
Larry Nassar is the main monster here and yet I find myself just as angry if not angrier at Steve Penny and the entire fucked up system he upheld. You don't have to go far back in history at all to find evil mainstream systems going unchecked right under our noses.
An intriguing premise badly executed. Sound design isn't something I usually pay attention to when watching a movie unless it's so bad that it's distracting, as was the case here.
Mulligan was excellent. I'm a fan of Burnham but he was out of his depth in this role. Other performances were hit and miss. The writing didn't help.
Despite all its flaws, this one had me entertained from start to finish.
Starts off slow. Escalates to some truly hilarious moments. Then gets slow again. I love this kind of stuff but it's not peak Eric Andre from beginning to end and not on the same level as Jackass or SBC.
Very dated, and not just thematically, but in most aspects. Too much word salad and melodrama. The nice parts to me were the little glimpses of San Fran in 1967 (the ice cream parlor, the butcher delivery, the art museum, etc.) All fake of course but still good fun!
I thought I liked Judd Apatow. This was a mess. I virtually/symbolically walked out of the theater at the midway point when I realized the plot wasn't taking me anywhere I felt like going.
There's so much genius here yet Magnolia doesn't make that much of an emotional impact on me. Rewatching it all these years later, I realize why that is:
Had to pause halfway through and read the novel just so I could understand what the fuck was going on. Definitely makes you wonder if the Coen brothers are Pynchon fans too.
Pro: I could hang out in the atmosphere of Inherent Vice all day.
Con: You can totally tell when words were written for a book and not for the screen. It just feels like the characters are reading, not speaking. Only during certain scenes.
I was skeptical Vinterberg would be able to make something unique and compelling out of such a novelty premise, and although I think he mostly succeeded, Another Round is not top-tier storytelling on the level of The Hunt (2012).
I think Vinterberg's intention was to make something completely accessible to mainstream audiences, to hell with the judges at Cannes. And that's fine. Another Round is conventionally shaped but with plenty of interesting details.
It's rare with me, though it does happen that aspects of a movie are objectively bad cinema but I'm so emotionally hooked I don't care. I can't think of too many films more heartbreaking than AI.
I was expecting a smarter script and a more subdued execution, something like Michael Clayton or Promised Land. But then I note that this was directed by Michael Mann and it makes sense. Skip this one, go watch something directed by George Clooney instead.
This documentary has caused quite a stir in my extended family, as my great-grandfather makes an appearance. He's the cheeky gent who talks about his bum getting thumped over and over again by the French prostitute. What the doc doesn't mention is that he returned to Armentières some years after the war and married that chubby bum-thumper: my great-grandmother, Colette.
Comments 26 - 50 of 522
Movie comment on The Lost Daughter
devilsadvocado
I agree with other reviewers (in different forums) who commented that the dialogue, as written, was spotty but the acting is so good it nearly covers it up. And it's not just the acting, the story is enthralling even if some of the scenes and plot points feel amiss.Maggie Gyllenhaal may not have much experience as a director, and it does show in spots, but you can feel that this was her story to tell and that she had a strong emotional connection to the subject matter (she's also a career-focused mother of two girls). My gut reaction was to scoff when I saw that she cast her own husband as "the other man" but actually Peter Sarsgaard was perfect for this supporting role and he played it brilliantly.
Movie comment on The Last Duel
devilsadvocado
A very good film on the verge of being great. I would have preferred European actors in the place of Damon and Affleck who both failed to disappear into their roles. I could maybe say the same of Driver, though he seemed better suited to his character despite being much younger than the actual Le Gris.Movie comment on The Power of the Dog
devilsadvocado
If you're looking for an excuse to get back into the movie theater, TPotD is a film that really needs to be viewed on a large screen with surround sound.Slow burner would be an understatement. The plot thickens deliciously but it takes its sweet time getting there. If you're a fan of breathtaking cinematography and Western locations/characters, you'll have plenty to stimulate you in the meantime. And if you can appreciate the Terrence Malick brand of florid realism and natural pacing, you'll enjoy Jane Campion's direction.
For acting, cinematography, writing, and plot, I give TPotD a strong score. My only marks against it are a few overly sentimental scenes which slightly disturbed the vibe (for me).
Movie comment on Luca
devilsadvocado
I can't believe this was Pixar. Did their interns make it? This felt like D-tier storytelling and B-tier animation. My kids didn't notice the difference, but I definitely did. What a let-down!Movie comment on Kicking and Screaming
devilsadvocado
I hated this movie so much I watched it all the way through to the end just to see how truly awful it could get. Spoiler: it got all-the-way awful.Movie comment on The Trial of the Chicago 7
devilsadvocado
Wow, that ending seemed contrived. Is that how it really went down?Movie comment on Athlete A
devilsadvocado
I feel so bad for all those girls but especially for Maggie, who was robbed of not only her innocence but her Olympic dream and career.Larry Nassar is the main monster here and yet I find myself just as angry if not angrier at Steve Penny and the entire fucked up system he upheld. You don't have to go far back in history at all to find evil mainstream systems going unchecked right under our noses.
Movie comment on Promising Young Woman
devilsadvocado
An intriguing premise badly executed. Sound design isn't something I usually pay attention to when watching a movie unless it's so bad that it's distracting, as was the case here.Mulligan was excellent. I'm a fan of Burnham but he was out of his depth in this role. Other performances were hit and miss. The writing didn't help.
Despite all its flaws, this one had me entertained from start to finish.
Movie comment on De rouille et d'os
devilsadvocado
As disjointed as the bones in that guy's hand.Movie comment on Baby Driver
devilsadvocado
I have never cared so little for a protagonist as I have for the dude who collects iPods. Weak film, weak plot, weak characters, terribly weak ending.Movie comment on Bad Trip
devilsadvocado
Starts off slow. Escalates to some truly hilarious moments. Then gets slow again. I love this kind of stuff but it's not peak Eric Andre from beginning to end and not on the same level as Jackass or SBC.Movie comment on Seungriho
devilsadvocado
Linguistically over-ambitious. A muddle of bad acting and foreign languages/accents. But I was still totally hooked.Movie comment on Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
devilsadvocado
Very dated, and not just thematically, but in most aspects. Too much word salad and melodrama. The nice parts to me were the little glimpses of San Fran in 1967 (the ice cream parlor, the butcher delivery, the art museum, etc.) All fake of course but still good fun!Movie comment on The King of Staten Island
devilsadvocado
I thought I liked Judd Apatow. This was a mess. I virtually/symbolically walked out of the theater at the midway point when I realized the plot wasn't taking me anywhere I felt like going.Movie comment on Magnolia
devilsadvocado
There's so much genius here yet Magnolia doesn't make that much of an emotional impact on me. Rewatching it all these years later, I realize why that is:Movie comment on Inherent Vice
devilsadvocado
Had to pause halfway through and read the novel just so I could understand what the fuck was going on. Definitely makes you wonder if the Coen brothers are Pynchon fans too.Pro: I could hang out in the atmosphere of Inherent Vice all day.
Con: You can totally tell when words were written for a book and not for the screen. It just feels like the characters are reading, not speaking. Only during certain scenes.
Movie comment on John Wick
devilsadvocado
Mad Max: Fury Road is a good lesson in how to do "silly over the top action that is great fun to watch."John Wick not so much. Poorly executed from script to screen. I don't understand the hype around this one.
Movie comment on Mad Max: Fury Road
devilsadvocado
From the creative mind of Happy Feet and Babe 2: Pig in the City.Movie comment on Druk
devilsadvocado
I was skeptical Vinterberg would be able to make something unique and compelling out of such a novelty premise, and although I think he mostly succeeded, Another Round is not top-tier storytelling on the level of The Hunt (2012).I think Vinterberg's intention was to make something completely accessible to mainstream audiences, to hell with the judges at Cannes. And that's fine. Another Round is conventionally shaped but with plenty of interesting details.
Movie comment on A.I. Artificial Intelligence
devilsadvocado
It's rare with me, though it does happen that aspects of a movie are objectively bad cinema but I'm so emotionally hooked I don't care. I can't think of too many films more heartbreaking than AI.Movie comment on The Insider
devilsadvocado
I was expecting a smarter script and a more subdued execution, something like Michael Clayton or Promised Land. But then I note that this was directed by Michael Mann and it makes sense. Skip this one, go watch something directed by George Clooney instead.Movie comment on Little Rural Riding Hood
devilsadvocado
The bitchute link isn't working so here's one that should: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjs3URA26BOdCWUriMim-duEPg_VKtJD/viewMovie comment on Dow Rahehal Baraye yek Massaleh
devilsadvocado
Even at four minutes, it took me 5 1/2 minutes to watch this film (got a little distracted by Twitter).Movie comment on Red Hot Riding Hood
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Back in the good old days, when you could be a suicidal hornball furry without anyone passing judgement.Movie comment on They Shall Not Grow Old
devilsadvocado
This documentary has caused quite a stir in my extended family, as my great-grandfather makes an appearance. He's the cheeky gent who talks about his bum getting thumped over and over again by the French prostitute. What the doc doesn't mention is that he returned to Armenti̬res some years after the war and married that chubby bum-thumper: my great-grandmother, Colette.Showing items 26 Р50 of 522