crimeagainstcreation Reviews

The Company You Keep (2012)

Certainly Not a Thriller.

[3/10 · 9 May 2024]

The Company You Keep - already in the title you start wondering what this film really is about, and throughout the plot you come to realize that it's about Robert Redford urging to produce, direct, and act as the main character - again. And that's probably the main problem. I wish he kept to only producing, most of all because he drags a maintained personality as the same character that he's been in all of his films the last 20 or more years. It's as if the same person is living multiple lives. He doesn't have to be Gary Oldman, by no means, but putting a baseball cap on your head, like he does to become 'anonymous' in this version, just isn't enough. Moreover it's silly, and like with just about every other character in this film, it gets flat and not very interesting. The exceptions are Shia Labeouf as the journalist and Jackie Evancho as the daughter, mainly because their charcters get a chance to develop. The others seem like just thrown into a bleak mystery when ever they are needed. It's not working in total, and that's Redford's responsibility, because he thinks he's got a such steady hand and even is the best main cast. He is not and this film is a drama, certainly not a thriller.

M*A*S*H (1972–1983)

Important Part of History.

[9/10 · 5 January 2024]

It probably takes some nostalgia to eventually comprehend and realize that even a TV series has made a true impact on you. Now, 25 - 35 years after becoming familiar with the series and finally watching all the episodes, meaning some 150 for the second or even third time, I'm eventually old enough to find a deeper emotional feeling to it. Like old songs with one's favorite artists, it's as if I know the main characters personally, and that these basically fine acting performances weren't fiction but real events and people. That's when you know how good a drama really is.

Still, there are a number of episodes that could and should be better written, as well as characters who tend to lack some development, and become somewhat tedious at times. However, at its best M*A*S*H is nothing but television art, one of a kind.

Let Him Go (2020)

Non Credible Characters

[4/10 · 8 December 2023]

The problem with Thomas Bezucha's Let Him Go is not that it's too slow and probably neither too long, the ending, or the cinematography. It's just not easy to believe in the characters, as it's hard to tell whether it's due to overacting, poor dialogue, mistaken direction, or basically that much seems forced. This shines particularly through with Diane Lane as Margaret Blackledge, who fundamentally is supposed to build the plot. Probably it's a sum of all these factors, together with a seemingly lost intention in several of the scenes and the dialogue. Also, despite the very nice cars from the 1960's, the main characters appear to be actors pretending to live in the 1960's, and I simply don't believe they are real.

Voyage of Terror (1998 TV Movie)

Direction of Terror

[1/10 · 28 November 2023]

May Brian Dennehy rest in peace, but one migt wonder if he or anyone else in the acting crew ever came to peace with this film. I must admit that his death made me watch it, and I'm sad to say and sorry to see that this must be the low point of his amazing career. This is simply incredibly poor, and it's written, directed and edited on the level of a medieocre high school project. Everyone is over acting or just come out bad now matter if they try very hard not to. How did they get actors like Dennehy, Martin Sheen and Lindsay Wagner into this parody of a film? Naturally this was a another had to be made Hollywood project in a string of the public fear exploiting productions after several Ebola outbreaks in Africa from 1989 and through the early 1990s, peaking with Outbreak in '95, which is another overrated film on the topic. Is there anything similar about Malaria - like Mosquitos of Horror?

The Hateful Eight (2015)

6 Stars, But Only For the Musical Score.

[6/10 · 14 November 2023]

Unlike Quentin Tarantino the legendary film musical score composer Ennio Morricone didn't try to repeat himself. On the contrary, he did seek to avoid it, and even if this film's director hopefully didn't expect another timeless stroke of new inventional genius like in Sergio Leone's masterpiece, the iconic The Good The Bad And The Ugly, he probably didn't quite expect what he got, regardless. However, The Hateful Eight is far from a masterpiece, and not even a fully fitting musical score from the very best can make Tarantino's study of western clichés, and his signature hyper violent final into a great film. Nevertheless, just listening to the Maestro's music is much more interesting. Still, I wish that Ennio Morricone would get his well deserved Oscar for Cinema Paradiso instead, like he should.

Taxi Driver (1976)

Basically Overrated

[5/10 · 9 November 2023]

Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver from 1976 is supposed to be a masterpiece among films within post new realism, and a neo noir artistic peak. There is little doubt that it contributed to bringing actor Robert de Niro to stardom, and his portrayal of ex marine and taxi driver Travis Bickle's showdown with moral decay and inner demons is not bad, it's just not very impressive. Also his character occasionally gets less credible as it is building towards a crescendo, and the plot easily becomes predictable. However, then 13 year old Jodie Foster is amazing as the way under aged prostitute Iris. Her acting performance truly stands out and is the highlight of the film. Taxi Driver probably had a fundamental purpose as a reaction to the Vietnam War and the 1970's morally withering society, but in retrospect it's not timeless.

Deadwood '76 (1965)

1.150 Dollars For a Cat

[1/10 · 4 November 2023]

Deadwood was a mean town, and no one was meaner than the brothel mama. She didn't care even for the world's most expensive cat, because she had enough problems with her whores. One day Billy Boy came to town, a sweet kinda Swedish looking fellow who really was Billy the Kid, riding along with a mouth harp swingin' old timer who had this genius idea of selling extremely overprized cats. People in Deadwood were preetty stupid, and one even gave 40 dollars for one of them cats. Today that would be some 1.150 dollars, but in this town the rats were bigger than even the biggest gold nugget, so it was worth it I guess. Sam Bass was also there, and naturally Wild Bill Hickok. The latter thought it all was just too stupid, so he left, maybe to find Calamity Jane. However, Billy the Kid had found his dad and a ridiculously looking native girl, daughter of Chief Spotted Snake. Did I mention that the brothel mama had been longin' for some hangin'? Oh my, she was mean, just like the wild west.

The War (2007)

For the Ages

[10/10 · 14 September 2023]

The fundamental factor making the documentaries from Ken Burns so highly interesting and engaging, but also important, is the use of photographs and footage going along with the stories, whether they are being told by real people who took part in the historical events, or it's a brilliant narrator or retelling actor, headhunted for the occasion. From the groundbreaking series The Civil War (1990) to The War, Burns basically uses the same formula, and there's no need to change it because it works perfectly, and has become his trademark. The stories are told by actual survivors and there is an equal and versatile blend of perspectives, all the way from daily life or family plunders in the homeland to the most extreme horrors in combat or war prisoner camps, and the veterans are allowed to share their critical view on for instans military leaders and post war society. Regardless, the fundamental factor is how futile and damaging war is and always will be. Some reviewers claim it's only viewed from an American perspective, but Burn's documentaries are always about US history, and even though it was a global war, this series is not a patriotic clisché, but a historical document for everyone, and for the ages.

The Missing (I) (2003)

Dusty and Sentimental to the Bone

[8/10 · 29 August 2023]

The Missing is one of the best traditional American westerns made since the turn of the millennium, up there together with Hotiles, the Homesman, and Open Range. What they have in common is a fundamental top artistic craft, from plot and direction to cinematography and acting performances. If you're not tired of Tommy Lee Jones again practically being some kind of version of himself, the general cast could probably not be better, and Cate Blanchett is almost too good as the heroin Magdalena, who with her lost and detested father sets out to find her captured daughter. The setting is full enough of death, blood, dust and indigenous shamanism, with Eric Schweig as a perfect Apache villain. Also Val Kilmer has a surprisingly small role as a US Cavalry lieutenant. It's all very good, but could even become perfect if it were a little less sentimental and predictable, and there were no logical or technical flaws. The music is very nice, but it just doesn't match the cruel and dusty scenery.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Precarious Direction

[3/10 · 16 August 2023]

This allegedly original and legendary film version of Agatha Christie's arguably best and most famous novel, Murder on the Orient Express, is partly miscasted, but moreover it suffers from what must be some kind of precarious direction. Particularly Albert Finney in the leading role seems to still struggle hard finding his inner Poirot, lacking a well worked out set of both ways to speak and behaviour in a credible manner that truly suits the character. It actually shows in his eyes that he's far from comfortable. Such a fine actor had deserved more time to prepare for this act, and to even think he was nominated for an Oscar for the performance is bizarre.

At times several of the actors don't know where to look or to focus. The only ones standing out from the lot in a positive way are Lauren Bacall, who actually fits her character, and John Gielgud, who as always knows how to make it perfectly simple as the butler. The others more or less become like parodies who radiate various levels of uncertainty, and it's not due to their characters' funtion. Ingrid Bergman being honored with an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress must have been a misunderstanding, as she hardly does anything notable other than talking her own language. Other than that, the cinematografy is not on a level one should expect from a top 1970's film production, where the best factor is that one feels how crampy it can be on a real train. The production design is pretty fancy, though. Regardless, in total this is not worthy of what should be a classic.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Deficient Direction and Bad Acting.

[3/10 · 13 August 2023]

The visual effects are not perfect, but generally fine, the cinematography and sound are okay, and most of the casting is fair enough, while the plot perhaps is a bit thin and quite predictable Then why does the direction have to be so absolutely deficient with silly and unrealistic reactions from some of the actors, sometimes beyond overacting? It looks like this production is meant to capture the type of kids and less mature adults who enjoy movies like Dumb and Dumber 3, where silly screaming and horrible oneliners are just fantastic. It's obvious that the type of audience who enjoyed the quality of the original from 1993. Is this really the level Spielberg was looking for?

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Jeezus, Wazzup, Bro'?

[6/10 · 5 August 2023]

Oh yes, the CGI and particularly the under water scenes are delightful to watch, but with 13 years since the original super success, it's just not that impressive anymore, like so much of modern cinematic visual effects. By all means, the team behind Avatar 2 are probably among the best in business, but now the general impression might be a warning of what this venue is developing into with AI taking over. No wonder the Hollywood actors are on strike, and maybe the CGI crews also soon. However, sound engineering will hopefully still remain an artform. So, what with plot creation and story writing? James Cameron brought in some writers younger than himself, Amanda Silver (60) and Rick Jaffa (only 58), perhaps so he didn't have to pretend to catch up with a younger audience to secure the franchise running. But this is supposed to be for kids of all ages, or timeless. However, somewhere in the writing they managed to shallow out the magic from the original, and much of the dialogue is not too engaging. In total, it's a mixed bag, but regardless I automatically tried to catch my breath in the final. Wazzup, Bro? I think it's that way.

Stranger on the Run (1967 TV Movie)

Just Another Western

[3/10 · 31 July 2023]

Sorry, all fans of Henry Fonda, but if any, this time he might just have reached a low point. Not that he ever makes a poor performance, neither here, but this western is so uninspired that not even his iconic appearance can save it. It's quite incredible to think that he is the villain in one of the best westerns ever made just a year after this rather forgettable effort. Occasionally this might look like a Leone wannabe project, but let's call it just another western, a production made for the case of it, and a misused opportunity to play a basically superb cast.

It starts out quite well, with a fine interplay and brilliant dialogue between Fonda's and Walter Burke's character, probably improvised, but as soon as the plot gets going it all becomes highly cliché, with occasional parodically stereotypical lines and dusty stereotypes, as well as some annoying overacting, like a 1950's B-western. However, the perhaps worst part is the general cinematography, and amateurish light setting. This smells low budget and left hand production all the way to the end.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Like an Endless Trailer

[5/10 · 25 July 2023]

The character assassination of Julius Robert Oppenheimer is a much described and debated subject, and it's basically also what this film is about, I think, and little about nuclear bomb making. Nevertheless, though it's nearly three hours long, director Christopher Nolan still tries to fill the plot with more than is possible, and the results is that it stylistically appears like an endless trailer, where the editing and the jumping in time looks more like a long music video than an epic film. At times it becomes distressing to watch, and it's a great relief when this cannonade of pictures takes breaks in a few longer and slower sequences. If the intention has been to illustrate the main character's inner life during the process, it's perhaps reasonable, but this great topic would probably fit better as a mini series. However, Cillian Murphy makes the very best out of it as Oppenheimer, and despite the aggressive editing he manages to build a credible character. Sadly it doesn't work too well for several other characters, who also are more or less miscasted.

Good Bye Lenin! (2003)

Engenious Timeless Perspective

[10/10 · 11 July 2023]

Good Bye Lenin! Could very well be mandatory in history lessons for students from age 12, particularly when the subject is the world during the Cold War era, though it's probable that you just have to have experienced the Iron Curtain to fully understand it. In today's world there still are totalitarian regimes, but are there still people who live almost totally blocked from reality in the rest of the world. Absolutely. Despite people having more general access to information than ever, the world seems to be even more polarised and fanatism getting stronger. It's not about political systems, but the brainwashing effect of totalitarianism, issues that sadly remain important. Regardless, this brilliant film should give an engenious timeless perspective.

Catch-22 (2019)

The Absurdity of War

[9/10 · 7 July 2023]

Having seen the 1970 film Catch 22 a long time ago, without yet doing it again, and not having read what must be a brilliant novel, I don't comprehend how this series is such a poor performance, like some of those who strongly emphasize the two 'origininals' point out. The brilliance of the basic plot is still there, with the absurdity of war and the miliitary system intact. The cast is great, the acting performances mostly brilliant, and the cinematography top notch, as are the rest of the technical and artistical factors. Though it might not be that satirical and certainly not a comedy, this modern series version of Catch 22 is a very good production, only that the book is such a damn masterpiece.

The Hitler Home Movies (2023)

A Shallow Standard Presentation

[2/10 · 19 June 2023]

With the title The Hitler Home Movies one should at least expect a more thorough display of some footage that rarely or hopefully even never has been presented earlier in the vast amount of documentaries about the Nazi leader. In stead we just get to see the regular clips from his private resort Berghof in Obersalzberg in the Bayern Alps, film clips that have been shown hundreds, if not thousands of times before. Some clips are shown twice, and just a few rare scenes and photographs come in between the regulars. It's all being combined with some historians telling us about his devotion to the German people, affection but strict official distance to mistress Eva Braun, and the course of the war. There's almost no other information about the people we see in the footage, which neither would be anything new for that matter, and much of it isn't from Hitler's private life at all. If this so called documentary is good for something, it could work as a steandard presentation for beginners, such as school kids.

Sad Hill Unearthed (2017)

A Sacred Tribute !

[10/10 · 28 May 2023]

Desenterrando Sad Hill is one of the best documentations ever made of what passion for great art is all about, and it is a true testament of the admiration for the film maker Sergio Leone, very deservedly so. Alone, the story about the exhibition where the one and only poncho used by Clint 'the Man With No Name' Eastwood appeared to have become like a religious relic, says a lot, and it shows that taking on the hugh task that it obviously was to have this most iconic film location come back to life, is a sacred act, and in so many senses, and for so many, even for someone who didn't participate in the project. On top of it all, getting greetings and praise for the achievement from Ennio Morricone, Clint Eastwood themselves and others who made the film, makes it all a sacred tribute to probably the greatest western ever made.

Love Again (I) (2023)

Relaunch of Céline Dioooooooon!

[1/10 · 11 May 2023]

Love Again is a boring, nonsense, romantic cliché, that is not heartfelt but basically a filmatic product type platitude effort to relauch the career of romantic song diva Céline Dion, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988, which she even mentions in the film, and it of course got its launch date just before this year's ESC in Liverpooool. Dion has in addition co-produced the mishmash and naturally also stars in it . It's almost as if the brilliantly talented Mo Collins from MadTV had made a new parody. On top of this charade most of the user reviews here, which all give 10 stars, are obviouslly either written by the same person, or at least they are all some kind of replica posted by a number of people have been paid to do it, possibly by a someone earlier mentioned. Finally it's adequate to ask: how thin can a soup get before it must be regarded as water?

Homeland (2011–2020)

Between Political Thrill and Irrational Balderdash.

[3/10 · 17 April 2023]

There is a lot with the poitical thriller Homeland that is exciting, and as with so many dramas in film and TV series it starts out well, with a bright plot idea. However it doesn't last very long before it starts falling apart, not that it isn't fundamentally realistic, so why ruin it with nonsense and irrational balderdash? Several of the characters have a reasonable function, and are necessary for the plot to work well, but still there are too many illogical aspects and sidekicks, some of them either annoying or even laughable. Several acting performances are basically of high standard, but the actors on occasions seem to struggle with the writers' and director's ideas or demands, making it hard to believe in one's own character. Particularly the main roles get into unreasonable outbursts that pull the credibility of the total off the scale.

Unforgotten (2015– )

Standing Out

[9/10 · 7 April 2023]

There is an immense quantity of British crime series, but dejectedly the quality does not always quite follow up, and many times far from it. A number of series in this production load are overrated, and some heavily. Not so with Unforgotten. It's amazingly well written and basically avoids the classical who done it aspect, but instead the plot captures one slowly as it tangles one into what part each character plays within the plot. It also seems fundamentally realistic when it comes to the investigation part, at least for a subjective viewer, and the investigators seem human, much thanks to a very talented cast where no acting performance is anywhere near poor. In fact it's all standing out from the lot.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Another One of a Kind

[10/10 · 4 April 2023]

Ever since the first time I saw it, and through the following four or five, I have considered The Big Lebowski one off the best and most original American films ever. It has strong competition from its own follow up, and though they are no triology - Fargo, the Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou? - is a brilliant series of films where the Coen Brothers have worked out their very best story writing and directing performances, and in the latter they even manage to make the so often too perfect George Clooney seem funny and some kinda ordinary, which is a wonder alone. The journey of three escaping convicts through a most hilarious fabel of Mississippian redneck culture and draped in an unforgettable musical backdrop is simply another one of a kind. I know that now after watching it for the second time.

Murder Mystery 2 (2023)

Embarrassing Obligation

[1/10 · 31 March 2023]

Netflix making a lot of mediocre content for the masses is far from new, and the first film Murder Mystery almost made an art of putting in an absolute minimum joint effort from big names to get away with. Four years have gone since producers and stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler delivered the highly forgettable first version of what seems to be yet another Hollywood franchise effort, and the sequel emphasizes that it by no means is long awaited. Screenwriter James Vanderbilt continues from the first film, credited for the screenplay along with Sandler and director Jeremy Garelick. The latter has previously written the Aniston film The Break-Up, and directed The Wedding Ringer as well as the Hulu film The Binge, not that any of them are particularly to be recommended either.

Beck: Quid Pro Quo (2023) Season 9, Episode 2

Overrated Norwegian and Lost Touch

[2/10 · 17 March 2023]

Beside Wallander with Henrik Kristersson the Swedish crime series Beck is one of my Nordic favorites, or at least it used to be. Peter Haber is basically brilliant and a perfect match, but also a balanced contrast to his rough and unconventional colleague Gunvald Larsson, equally well portrayed by Mikael Persbrandt. Sadly the latter decided to leave the series after season 6, and maybe the producers should have realised when enough is enough and to create something new. But they just had to squeeze the success melon again, and with another three seasons, but also bring in the ever so bearded Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju. He may be perfect as a viking type in a medeival like fantasy series, but that does not make him a good actor. On the contrary. Hivju is probably the most overrated screen actor in Scandinavian film and TV. I got to watch only about seven minutes into Quid Pro Quo before he managed to prove me right, and distinctly so. Sadly his stiff performance seems to have a negative influence on other actors too, or is this simply due to poor dialogue and bad direction. The only one who still hasn't lost his touch is Peter Haber.

Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (2021)

Uneven and Overplayed

[4/10 · 21 February 2023]

The basic story about Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher is an exciting tale from the time when the West still was so called wild and there was a frontier to conquer. Typically and necessarily there are rustlers and indians involved, but this is based on true historical events about Montford Johnson, an influential half indigenous pioneer, his family, neighbours, friends and their struggles. The setting should be right for a thrilling and epic drama, but due to several factors the creators fail to realise its intensions. First of all it's hard to fully believe in the characters, like with Martin Senmeiser in the main role. Compared to the real Montford he's just too Hollywood handsome, and together with several of the cast, he neither looks like a poor starving and extremely hard working rancher in the 1870's. Many simply appear as modern people dressed up in oldstyle gear. Moreover, even though the villains got better and more dirty makeup, their wickedness is clearly exagerrated and there's an obvious overacting. Generally the performances aren't very impressive. However, there is an important sidestory, and letting the conflict between the indigenous peoples, settlers and the US Army have a more indirect role, where historical events and characters merely pass by as news, or certain people are coincidentally included as the storyline moves on. This may have a good intention, but even a crucial setting fundamental for the final is barely given any focus. Also, like with some peculiar timeholes in the basic plot, basic connections are't worked through well enough, and we never get to know the characters. Maybe this would be better off as a mini series, or at least a film longer than 95 minutes. A more creative building of characters, where the historical context got a more direct and intensional interplay, together with a more thorough screenplay and editing plan, this could have been a good historical western.