Incredibly entertaining documentary about the “Black Woodstock” that took place in Harlem, during the same summer as Woodstock, that didn’t get any press at the time and then forgotten. The surrounding footage of the social issues in the ‘60s is very fitting and seamlessly fits well with those talking about their experience at the festival. Be sure to watch the post-credits scene of an unrehearsed moment with Stevie Wonder!
I like these old, yet outdated, documentaries about Old Hollywood. They remind me of the 20th Century Fox TV series “That’s Hollywood”, narrated by Tom Bosley. Guess I’m just a sucker for this sort of stuff.
I was an admin’ for a few years, but I’m not a female and it wasn’t in the Entertainment industry, so I can only relate so much, but enough to appreciate what the filmmaker has done, here. A day in the life of an unappreciated admin who also witnesses an abuse of power by her sexual predator of a boss. There’s very little dialogue and especially very little interaction with other people in the movie (which is the point). It was really great to see Julia Garner in a completely different role than foul-mouth, red-hot, redneck Ruth on Ozark. Bonus points for having three actors from Succession.
So many guns pointed, so few triggers pulled. Dumb. Dumb as hell. All style and no substance. No plot. Just a simple revenge story that takes well over two hours for some reason, along with some dumb twist that makes us want to sympathize with the villain. Up until that point, he was a ruthless killer
who murdered a child’s mother and father in cold blood right in front of him and then carved a cross on that child’s forehead.
And at the end, we’re supposed to be shocked by his big reveal and feel remorse for his fate? What a joke.
The cast is great though, especially Jonathan Majors, which makes it more of a shame that the film is such trash. It’s clear they’re having fun, but maybe too much fun, as it always felt like they were playing cowboys in a stunt show - flashy clothes, gold guns, and fresh paint on the buildings.
I like modern westerns with more grit (like Old Henry), but I can handle the flashy stuff and even modern soundtrack as long as the story is good (like Django Unchained). This is not. Just flash. Disappointing.
Wow. I was already loving this, but then as each clue was revealed, it became one of my favorite westerns of all time. If you know your outlaw history, you’ll know sooner rather than later as you watch it.
Underrated western. Far better of a story than The Searchers, which I think is a fair comparison, considering the main subject matter. Seamlessly combining five different characters’ storylines, all gathered together on a journey to deliver a wagon full of ammunition to the army, while fighting off an Apache tribe who want the wagon for themselves. Sidney Poitier was the main reason I wanted to watch this, but he’s in supporting role, which is fine, since there’s so many stories to tell. James Garner’s story is the central focus, and he’s always a joy to watch. Highly recommended for classic western fans.
If it was about 20 minutes shorter, I would have loved it and it might be my favorite movie of 2021. Really liked it a lot, though. PTA fans won’t be disappointed.
A mixed bag of a documentary, which is mostly an MGM clip show. There’s some interesting behind-the-scenes clips about the making of movies, but it mostly focuses on the history of MGM, starting with a live auction of some iconic props from classic films and some footage of the deteriorating backlot. It’s an easy watch, though, at less than an hour, so I’d recommend it for die-hard movie history buffs, especially MGM fans. The best thing about this short documentary is that it (presumably) inspired the much longer, better, and better-looking That’s Entertainment series, in which the first one premiered two years later.
I'm a huge Christmas movie buff and I don't normally do dark Christmas movies (like Bad Santa), so I was prepared to hate this movie, especially after seeing the low scores on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, but I'm a huge fan of both Pauls, so I decided to see for myself. I didn't hate it, and in fact, I actually enjoyed it - although I'm not sure WHY. heheh. Paul Giamatti's character is a no-good thief, but that's what was interesting too me - he can't change and doesn't REALLY try to, even though he keeps saying he has (to his estranged wife), but he truly loves his daughter, so he's not ALL bad. In the end, the screenplay isn't very good, the joyful Christmas soundtrack often doesn't fit the dreary scenes, but the three main actors, Paul, Paul and Sally Hawkins are all very good. Paul Rudd still struggles in the drama department, but this MIGHT be the best I've seen him with it. Recommended for fans of the actors and/or dark Christmas movies.
If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, watch this instead. My wife and I laughed out loud enough to call it a decent comedy. Only one actor (the brother) was really bad, everyone else is totally fine, IMO. It borrows form several Christmas rom coms, but it also makes it pretty obvious. It’s predictable, but what rom com isn’t? 7/10
I enjoyed it MUCH more than Dracula - only comparing for obvious reasons, not that the two movies are similar.
It’s all about Boris Karloff’s performance. He’s phenomenal. If it were released today, he would receive an Oscar nom. He, Colin Clive and Dwight Frye (Fritz) are the only ones who can act. Everyone else’s performance is Amateur Hour, early-talkies crap (especially Frederick Kerr as Dr. Frankenstein’s father). The screenplay is also crap, although the monster’s story was surprisingly intriguing. That is, until he randomly attacked Elizabeth. From his creation up until that point, I was enthralled with how tragic his story was. After the monster’s interaction with the little girl (which is the best part of the film, IMO), it just takes a left turn with too many questions as to what the monster’s agenda is.
: And the ending is terrible - Dr. Frankenstein should not (and would not) have survived that fall. It should have ended with the windmill burning. Oh well. It was 1931. Whattayagonnado?
Stanwyck is one of my favorite actresses of the Golden Age, but she did overdo at times. Back then, her performance in this was on par with how her peers graded a great performance, hence her Oscar nomination. IMO, she’s best in this film when she’s reminding everyone else around her that she’s rich and in charge. Overall, I was disappointed with the film. There’s a LOT of exposition and a lot to cover. At the end,
I didn’t understand why she was still killed if the bad dudes were already arrested or being arrested. And who wanted her dead and why?
Entertaining, great cast interviewed, could have been funnier, maybe, but worth watching if you’re a movie buff. Just be warned there are spoilers - specifically death scenes, especially classic horror movies. Although one major complaint is that one of the cliches is the hero’s motivation of “You killed my father” and they DON’T include Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. That’s sacrilege.
Very well done. It’s a bit long, but didn’t FEEL long, so that’s a major plus. I had no idea about Joe Pesci’s (small but very significant) role in the Four Seasons’ success! Must-see for fans of Frankie Valli.
I agree with user ymmv, and while I do agree Eastwood should retire from acting, I don’t think Eastwood should retire from directing - Richard Jewell is a great film with great performances, and that was only two years ago.
Absolutely agree with DerekFME’s review. Perfectly cast, with two iconic powerhouses from the ‘30s who were known to play strong/tough characters who stand their ground here for entirely different reasons, yet both noble. Great screenplay. No hokey romance to cheese it up.
I didn't hate it, but I also didn't really like it, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. If this were a student film, however, it would be amazing. It tried to be funny, but it was about a lonely kid whose dreams go nowhere.
Phenomenal documentary. I’ve only seen Tig’s stand up a few times, at most, on late-night talk shows, but I’m a huge fan now. This film is an extremely personal look into her life after her iconic stand-up act at Largo in LA in which she joked about her being diagnosed with cancer. This film also dives into her personal relationship and is also front and center as she tries to have a baby through a surrogate. Very well-made; funny and also heartbreaking at times. Highly recommend.
Absolutely loved it. IMO, it’s the best MCU movie and that’s saying a LOT, coming from me. It’s original, has a great story, good screenplay, excellent fight scenes WITH the actors (not stuntmen), the villain has a unique agenda (not just to kill the hero or take over the world), the origin story is told perfectly, the superpower (the rings) is really interesting, and the music is fantastic. It finally bumped Iron Man down to #2 on my MCU list.
Comments 1 - 25 of 106
Movie comment on L'ennemi japonais à Hollywood
TomReagan
Aka Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood (2019)Movie comment on The Slugger's Wife
TomReagan
Dog shit. Absolute dog shit.Movie comment on Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
TomReagan
Incredibly entertaining documentary about the “Black Woodstock” that took place in Harlem, during the same summer as Woodstock, that didn’t get any press at the time and then forgotten. The surrounding footage of the social issues in the ‘60s is very fitting and seamlessly fits well with those talking about their experience at the festival. Be sure to watch the post-credits scene of an unrehearsed moment with Stevie Wonder!Movie comment on Inside the Dream Factory
TomReagan
I like these old, yet outdated, documentaries about Old Hollywood. They remind me of the 20th Century Fox TV series “That’s Hollywood”, narrated by Tom Bosley. Guess I’m just a sucker for this sort of stuff.Movie comment on The Assistant
TomReagan
I was an admin’ for a few years, but I’m not a female and it wasn’t in the Entertainment industry, so I can only relate so much, but enough to appreciate what the filmmaker has done, here. A day in the life of an unappreciated admin who also witnesses an abuse of power by her sexual predator of a boss. There’s very little dialogue and especially very little interaction with other people in the movie (which is the point). It was really great to see Julia Garner in a completely different role than foul-mouth, red-hot, redneck Ruth on Ozark. Bonus points for having three actors from Succession.Movie comment on The Harder They Fall
TomReagan
So many guns pointed, so few triggers pulled. Dumb. Dumb as hell. All style and no substance. No plot. Just a simple revenge story that takes well over two hours for some reason, along with some dumb twist that makes us want to sympathize with the villain. Up until that point, he was a ruthless killerThe cast is great though, especially Jonathan Majors, which makes it more of a shame that the film is such trash. It’s clear they’re having fun, but maybe too much fun, as it always felt like they were playing cowboys in a stunt show - flashy clothes, gold guns, and fresh paint on the buildings.
I like modern westerns with more grit (like Old Henry), but I can handle the flashy stuff and even modern soundtrack as long as the story is good (like Django Unchained). This is not. Just flash. Disappointing.
Movie comment on Old Henry
TomReagan
Wow. I was already loving this, but then as each clue was revealed, it became one of my favorite westerns of all time. If you know your outlaw history, you’ll know sooner rather than later as you watch it.Movie comment on Duel at Diablo
TomReagan
Underrated western. Far better of a story than The Searchers, which I think is a fair comparison, considering the main subject matter. Seamlessly combining five different characters’ storylines, all gathered together on a journey to deliver a wagon full of ammunition to the army, while fighting off an Apache tribe who want the wagon for themselves. Sidney Poitier was the main reason I wanted to watch this, but he’s in supporting role, which is fine, since there’s so many stories to tell. James Garner’s story is the central focus, and he’s always a joy to watch. Highly recommended for classic western fans.Movie comment on Licorice Pizza
TomReagan
If it was about 20 minutes shorter, I would have loved it and it might be my favorite movie of 2021. Really liked it a lot, though. PTA fans won’t be disappointed.Movie comment on Hollywood: The Dream Factory
TomReagan
A mixed bag of a documentary, which is mostly an MGM clip show. There’s some interesting behind-the-scenes clips about the making of movies, but it mostly focuses on the history of MGM, starting with a live auction of some iconic props from classic films and some footage of the deteriorating backlot. It’s an easy watch, though, at less than an hour, so I’d recommend it for die-hard movie history buffs, especially MGM fans. The best thing about this short documentary is that it (presumably) inspired the much longer, better, and better-looking That’s Entertainment series, in which the first one premiered two years later.Movie comment on All Is Bright
TomReagan
I'm a huge Christmas movie buff and I don't normally do dark Christmas movies (like Bad Santa), so I was prepared to hate this movie, especially after seeing the low scores on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, but I'm a huge fan of both Pauls, so I decided to see for myself. I didn't hate it, and in fact, I actually enjoyed it - although I'm not sure WHY. heheh. Paul Giamatti's character is a no-good thief, but that's what was interesting too me - he can't change and doesn't REALLY try to, even though he keeps saying he has (to his estranged wife), but he truly loves his daughter, so he's not ALL bad. In the end, the screenplay isn't very good, the joyful Christmas soundtrack often doesn't fit the dreary scenes, but the three main actors, Paul, Paul and Sally Hawkins are all very good. Paul Rudd still struggles in the drama department, but this MIGHT be the best I've seen him with it. Recommended for fans of the actors and/or dark Christmas movies.Movie comment on Love Hard
TomReagan
If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, watch this instead. My wife and I laughed out loud enough to call it a decent comedy. Only one actor (the brother) was really bad, everyone else is totally fine, IMO. It borrows form several Christmas rom coms, but it also makes it pretty obvious. It’s predictable, but what rom com isn’t? 7/10Movie comment on Captain Fantastic
TomReagan
Breath of fresh air. Loved it.Movie comment on Frankenstein
TomReagan
I enjoyed it MUCH more than Dracula - only comparing for obvious reasons, not that the two movies are similar.It’s all about Boris Karloff’s performance. He’s phenomenal. If it were released today, he would receive an Oscar nom. He, Colin Clive and Dwight Frye (Fritz) are the only ones who can act. Everyone else’s performance is Amateur Hour, early-talkies crap (especially Frederick Kerr as Dr. Frankenstein’s father). The screenplay is also crap, although the monster’s story was surprisingly intriguing. That is, until he randomly attacked Elizabeth. From his creation up until that point, I was enthralled with how tragic his story was. After the monster’s interaction with the little girl (which is the best part of the film, IMO), it just takes a left turn with too many questions as to what the monster’s agenda is.
Movie comment on The French Dispatch
TomReagan
As of now, my least favorite Wes Anderson film. Extremely uninteresting stories.Movie comment on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
TomReagan
With the title, alone, I knew exactly what to expect - totally ridiculous, but entertaining. That’s what I got.Movie comment on Sorry, Wrong Number
TomReagan
Stanwyck is one of my favorite actresses of the Golden Age, but she did overdo at times. Back then, her performance in this was on par with how her peers graded a great performance, hence her Oscar nomination. IMO, she’s best in this film when she’s reminding everyone else around her that she’s rich and in charge. Overall, I was disappointed with the film. There’s a LOT of exposition and a lot to cover. At the end,Movie comment on Attack of the Hollywood Cliches!
TomReagan
Entertaining, great cast interviewed, could have been funnier, maybe, but worth watching if you’re a movie buff. Just be warned there are spoilers - specifically death scenes, especially classic horror movies. Although one major complaint is that one of the cliches is the hero’s motivation of “You killed my father” and they DON’T include Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. That’s sacrilege.Movie comment on Jersey Boys
TomReagan
Very well done. It’s a bit long, but didn’t FEEL long, so that’s a major plus. I had no idea about Joe Pesci’s (small but very significant) role in the Four Seasons’ success! Must-see for fans of Frankie Valli.Movie comment on Cry Macho
TomReagan
I agree with user ymmv, and while I do agree Eastwood should retire from acting, I don’t think Eastwood should retire from directing - Richard Jewell is a great film with great performances, and that was only two years ago.Movie comment on These Wilder Years
TomReagan
Absolutely agree with DerekFME’s review. Perfectly cast, with two iconic powerhouses from the ‘30s who were known to play strong/tough characters who stand their ground here for entirely different reasons, yet both noble. Great screenplay. No hokey romance to cheese it up.Movie comment on Film Geek
TomReagan
I didn't hate it, but I also didn't really like it, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. If this were a student film, however, it would be amazing. It tried to be funny, but it was about a lonely kid whose dreams go nowhere.Movie comment on Tig
TomReagan
Phenomenal documentary. I’ve only seen Tig’s stand up a few times, at most, on late-night talk shows, but I’m a huge fan now. This film is an extremely personal look into her life after her iconic stand-up act at Largo in LA in which she joked about her being diagnosed with cancer. This film also dives into her personal relationship and is also front and center as she tries to have a baby through a surrogate. Very well-made; funny and also heartbreaking at times. Highly recommend.Movie comment on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
TomReagan
Absolutely loved it. IMO, it’s the best MCU movie and that’s saying a LOT, coming from me. It’s original, has a great story, good screenplay, excellent fight scenes WITH the actors (not stuntmen), the villain has a unique agenda (not just to kill the hero or take over the world), the origin story is told perfectly, the superpower (the rings) is really interesting, and the music is fantastic. It finally bumped Iron Man down to #2 on my MCU list.Movie comment on Imagine: Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
TomReagan
Pointless.Showing items 1 – 25 of 106