roberta_young Reviews

News of the World (2020)

Johanna's story is compelling but too many implausible elements to the film

[7/10 · 24 May 2022]

I liked this movie when I first saw it, but having watched it several times now, its faults become more obvious with each viewing. After having read a book about white settlers who were taken captive by Comanches in Texas, I was interested in Johanna's story. I don't mind a movie being slow-paced. It's essentially about the growing relationship between the girl and Captain Kidd, and that takes time to develop. The scenery was beautiful, even if it wasn't filmed in Texas. Many excellent Westerns were filmed in locations other than those that the stories took place in. I thought the young German actress was wonderful in the role, although why a German actress had to be chosen for the role, isn't clear to me. She doesn't speak much German in the film at all. Is this the new norm in Hollywood now? All actors have to belong to the specific subgroup of their character to play the part? If that's the case, they should have picked an actor from Texas for the role of Captain Kidd. I normally like Tom Hanks, but he wasn't believable in the role. Can't he do a Texas accent? Someone commented that an actor like Robert Duvall would have been more believable. He's obviously too old to play the part now, but an actor like him or Tommy Lee Jones or would have been preferable, or any actor who could do the accent correctly. When Kidd rides like a rodeo champion at the end of the movie, it makes you lose all suspension of disbelief, because Hanks looks inexperienced for most of the film. The villains all seemed cartoonish, interchangeable and forgettable. The boss of the town in Erath County kept insisting Kidd read his newspaper, so I googled Erath County to see what had been going on historically there to provide some background about this town and why everyone seems afraid of the leader. There was no answer there. Was the point of this scene just to have Kidd talk about having "choice" in the news? Or just to create some suspense for the movie? The young male character who keeps smiling is incredibly underwritten. He saves Kidd and Johanna, but the only explanation we have is that he "likes his stories". Was there a lot left on the cutting room floor there? At the beginning of the movie you see Johanna in the rain calling out to a Native group across the river, as if she knows them. Yet later we hear her Kiowa family are all dead. Kidd happens to meet an old friend who happens to speak Kiowa. But there's no background to her story. How did she come to learn this? It's not that easy to pick up a language. She's apparently just there to allow Kidd and the audience to learn a bit more about Johanna, and give a hint of some estrangement he had from his wife, I suppose. The stop at Johanna's empty home with blood-stained walls was powerful and the music was beautiful, but it was so implausible that they should happen to be near it. The encounter with the Native group after the sandstorm seemed bizarre. Most of them are walking, and include elderly people who don't look like they're in great shape, yet they have a free horse to give Johanna? There are just so many implausible aspects to the film that detracts from it. I think this movie could have been so much better.

Full of Grace (I) (2015)

Beautiful contemplative depiction of the experience of being mother to Jesus

[9/10 · 24 December 2021]

Some of the 1 starred reviews here are either by atheists or Protestants who have a gut-level revulsion at the name of Mary, which seems pretty insulting to Jesus if you ask me. Their ridiculously low rating does not reflect the caliber of this film, and was just intended to drag down the average rating. While I was tempted to give this a 10 star rating to counteract their biased ratings, I'm more honest then they are. It's not a perfect film. While the film takes a leisurely, artistically filmed approach, which I mostly found very meditative and wonderful, parts of are extremely slow, and I suspect were timed to just match the musical accompaniment. The film is beautifully acted by Bahia Haifi and Noam Jenkins. They really do convey "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding". Few films ever ponder what the experience of Mary was actually like. However, I did wonder at a few aspects. Shouldn't Mary have been living with John? I wished the portrayal of Communion at the end included more of Jesus' words from the Gospels.

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

This is not the Waltons, but it's a compelling family drama

[10/10 · 16 May 2021]

It must be disheartening to be Glenn Close and Amy Ryan and give such wonderful performances in this compelling family drama, and then see the results trashed by critics. Only ten years ago this film would have been highly praised and the actors given numerous awards. But times have changed. There's no way a movie about the addiction and poverty among white rednecks would attract critics' sympathy now. Some of the critics gave their bias away by specifically comparing the characters to Trump voters. To depict "beneficiaries of white privilege" as living in poverty can't be allowed. When I read that JD Vance was a Republican, their animosity became even more clear, because after all everyone knows that conservatives are evil and deserve to be cancelled. The fact that the grandmother displayed sacrificial love in giving more than half of her Meals-on-Wheels meal to her grandson, wouldn't sit well with feminists who have raised selfishness to a virtue. Vance's reaction in changing his behavior, working hard, doing his homework, and seeing the results in improving grades reminds me of Ben Carson's story of moving from the bottom of the class to the top, when his mother insisted he do his homework and stop watching television and to read books. Liberals absolutely hate the notion that individual choices and actions can result in change for the better. Nothing less than abolishing the capitalist system is capable of bringing about change in their eyes. As a Canadian, I could just watch the movie and experience it for what it was, which was a memorable and moving depiction of family dysfunction.

Emma (1996)

I loved this version of Emma

[10/10 · 20 April 2020]

It's been a long time since I read Emma, and I didn't much like the character at the time, but I loved this version of Emma. I've seen every other version of Emma, but this is my favourite. I don't know why it's not more highly rated. I suppose people wanted Emma to be more unlikeable? She does act cruel at times, but Paltrow does convey a complex version of the character, whose motives for the most part are good. And she does grow in wisdom. Jeremy Northam is fantastic. There couldn't be a better Mr Knightly. I absolutely loved this movie.

A Quiet Place (2018)

This should be more highly rated

[10/10 · 19 April 2020]

This is such a suspenseful film, and yet it manages to portray a loving family, attempting to survive an apocalyptic environment. I highly recommend it.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Powerful

[9/10 · 19 April 2020]

I've seen the original and the recut version and recommend the recut version. There's a little less gore, without lessening the impact of the film. The film was controversial when first released, because it mainly stuck to the Gospels with the Sanhedrin wanting Jesus executed. Political correctness in the modern age has meant that became controversial, even though Jesus Christ Superstar has the same account. Jim Caviezel was outstanding. One of the best Jesus' ever. The whole cast was excellent.

Knives Out (2019)

It was good, not fantastic though

[7/10 · 19 April 2020]

Daniel Craig was the best part of this film. It had a great cast, and an interesting storyline, but ultimately you tend to forget about it after watching it, compared to Gosford Park, which I've seen numerous times and loved.

The Martian (2015)

This movie grew on me with repeated viewings

[9/10 · 19 April 2020]

I've seen The Martian now numerous times, but the first time I watched it I was underwhelmed. The reason being that having loved Apollo 13 and having seen numerous documentaries about a real space emergency, I found it hard to suspend my disbelief with The Martian. Watching documentary footage of real people both in NASA and among the public becoming tearful at the successful landing of Apollo 13, just made me so aware that the scenes of the public anxiously waiting for Mark Watney to be rescued weren't real. It took a number of viewings for me to finally develop that suspension of disbelief to enjoy the ending. But every time I've watched it I like it more and more. Matt Damon is fantastic and so likeable in the role. He made the movie, but I also liked Jessica Chastain, and the whole cast really.

First Man (2018)

What an immersive movie

[9/10 · 19 April 2020]

I loved this film. It puts us right in the rocket, giving us the experience of being blasted into space. The Gemini takeoff in particular really made you realize how precarious space flight was, and how much courage was required. I liked Ryan Gosling in the role. He was understated, but conveyed the inner thoughts of Armstrong, which is no mean feat. The ending was a downer however, which is why I can't give this film 10 stars. I know the Neil and Jan Armstrong eventually divorced, but it was after 38 years of marriage. I really think she might have been a little happier to see him when he returned. In fact, seeing documentary footage, it's clear she was. I really think that ending, prevented the film from being more popular.

Apollo 11 (I) (2019)

Just an amazing film!!

[10/10 · 19 April 2020]

I'm a space junkie, and will watch anything fictional or documentary about space. So I've seen a lot of documentaries about the Apollo 11 landing. But this one was so different and moving and suspenseful, that I've seen it multiple times since I first saw it. The music is a great part of that, but the director also manages to make certain critical points in the mission suspenseful. Most films can make the launch and landings suspenseful, but this one also makes the Lunar insertion and the burn to return to earth exciting. I loved the movie "First Man" but this far exceeds that.

The Waltons: The Baptism (1976) Season 5, Episode 4

Over-the-top representation of the preacher

[18 September 2018]

I'm not a Baptist or a Pentecostal so I haven't ever been to the Revival type meetings portrayed in the show, let alone in the era depicted in the show. But I have been to some Catholic charismatic prayer meetings. I do understand how people can be inspired and have a religious experience, even if I didn't experience that particular type of religious experience (too introverted or something I guess). I doubt the director or actor had any religious leanings at all, so the preacher just comes across as a screaming maniac. I understand Olivia's feelings. My mother must have felt the same way, seeing most of her children become agnostics.

Risen (2016)

Great movie - don't believe some of the low scores

[9/10 · 31 May 2016]

I saw this movie on DVD, and was very pleasantly surprised. Frequently Christian films just aren't well written or acted. Even in cases where they have established actors such as Greg Kinnear in "Heaven is for Real" and Jennifer Garner in "Miracles from Heaven" and the acting is fine, there always has to be some "churchy/preachy" scenes which alienate non-Evangelical Christians. This movie was not like that. Even as an agnostic I loved "Ben Hur" and "The Robe" when I was young, and this takes me back to those movies. Joseph Fiennes is great in this film. He portrays this war- weary, jaded Roman so well. When I saw a picture of the actor playing Jesus I was surprised by how ordinary-looking he was, but he managed to persuade you that he would have attracted followers. He does a good job. The Apostles were refreshingly different from other portrayals. Bartholemew was startlingly gleeful, but when you consider what he has experienced, it's understandable. As for critics here who have given this movie a 2 or lower, that's purely anti-Christian bias. They would have given Ben Hur a 1 too! I don't think some people are capable of watching a movie like this without their biases and prejudices getting in the way. The only reason I don't give this a 10, is that there was some dialogue which was spoken so softly, that even when I replayed the scene, I couldn't figure out what the character was saying. I'm also not fond of the Gladiator-style fighting scenes, with the closely shot scenes which make it feel like you are no more than a foot away, and quick cuts which are a bit dizzying. But otherwise it's a great movie.

Amazing Grace (2006)

Uplifting and inspiring!

[10/10 · 30 April 2007]

This is an uplifting and inspiring movie about a great man and a worthy cause. I have seen it three times and plan to buy it when it comes out on DVD. Most movies leave your mind two seconds after you leave the theatre. But not this one. Unless you have a heart of stone, you can't help but root for this underdog, fighting for this noble but seemingly lost cause for so many years, a struggle which took so much out of him. How could you not be moved at the end? All the actors were wonderful, especially Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, and Benedict Cumberbatch. I wish there were more movies of this caliber. I'd be going to the movies far more than I do.

The Snow Walker (2003)

Loved this movie - it stays with you after you finish watching it

[9/10 · 1 August 2006]

I loved this film. The main character played by Barry Pepper is the kind of brash guy who seems initially rather unlikeable, but you see him grow as a person, acquiring humility and compassion as he recognizes his dependence on this young Inuit woman, and helps her through her illness in return. Their relationship was touching and very believable. The poem "High flight" by RCAF Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee who was killed in 1941, was an odd choice to accompany heartbreaking scene on screen, but it worked surprisingly well, particularly with the beautiful musical score, and gorgeous cinematography.

That last scene is unforgettable, and speaks volumes about our need for each other. Western culture often emphasizes a "look out for number one" attitude, the classic male image of a "lone wolf" riding off into the sunset by himself, but this film shows so clearly that "no man is an island complete unto himself".