jsmallshaw Reviews

Burning Bush (2013)

Spellbinding

[10/10 · 25 July 2023]

We decided to watch this HBO Europe mini-series because we admire the work of Agnieszka Holland.

My wife and I were teens when this took place, my wife was in Poland and I was in the US. I remember watching the invasion on television and wondering why no one was coming to the aid of the protesters.

This film is expertly done and the series captures the feel of post invasion Prague. We were absolutely captivated by the series and my wife said it was accurate portrayal of life behind the Iron Curtain.

A lot of people don't enjoy films with subtitles but if you can beyond that you will be absolutely captivated by this masterpiece.

Magic Mountains (2020)

Dark Psycho Drama

[8/10 · 15 July 2023]

We really enjoyed this film, but we mainly watch Polish and European movies. I would guess the people that did not like this film probably prefer American films where everything is neat and tidy with a happy ending. We didn't know what to expect in this film, and were surprised by the ending. The cinematography is amazing, I can't even imagine how difficult it was to shoot. So if you like cinema noir, you might enjoy this film as we did. But if you prefer Hollywood productions with movie stars and a tidy ending this is not the film for you. We would recommend it to anyone who has a taste for the slowing, more dramatic European films.

The Scarlet and the Black (1983 TV Movie)

An Amazing Story

[8/10 · 6 May 2023]

Put aside the fact that this was a Made-For-TV film from the 1980s and you have a pretty incredible, almost unbelievable, story. It features a host of stars from the era including Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. Peck plays Irish priest Hugh O'Flannery who, while based in the Vatican, saved the lives of thousands of escaped allied POWs and Jews. The story seemed just too incredible to be true so we "fact checked" on Wikipedia and other sources. The film is actually very accurate which makes one wonder why the heroic life of Father O'Flaherty isn't better known. A great story, just remember that this film was made for TV 40 years ago and overlook the fact that the movie looks quite "old". It is spellbinding.

Nefarious (2023)

A Spellbinding Film

[10/10 · 29 April 2023]

We went to see this movie based upon the recommendation of an online critic and weren't disappointed. The story line is incredible and both Sean Patrick Flannery and Jordan Beifi are amazing in their roles. One might even draw comparisons to "The Exorcist", while certainly not as crude nor dramatic, captures a man in the grips of demonic possession. People may dismiss demons as a fantasy of fairy tales but anyone who has visited Auschwitz or Tuol Sleng prison in Cambodia can certainly attest to a feeling of the presence of evil. An excellent film, hopefully it will receive some well deserved Oscar nominations. Highly recommended.

Small Group (2018)

A Bit Disappointing

[4/10 · 28 April 2023]

After reading all of the positive reviews for this film, we had pretty high expectations for "Small Group". But after seeing "The Jesus Revolution" and "I Can Only Imagine", we felt this film fell short as a Christian movie. Of course, the ending is predictable but we were a little taken aback by all the farting jokes and a portion of the film which was really rather violent. You expect jokes about passing gas in a Bevis & Butthead kind of film but not one that supposedly has a serious spiritual message. We also felt the violent scenes on the missions trip were really out of place for what I would guess was supposed to be a feel good film. Sorry, not recommended.

Jesus Revolution (2023)

A Film For Everyone

[10/10 · 25 February 2023]

We went into this film not really knowing what to expect. Sometimes Christian movies suffer from under funding in terms of scripts, direction and acting.

I was 14 in 1969 and remember the Jesus Movement well. It swept through our school in Wisconsin and I ended up on a missions trip just three years later. This was a wonderful time for us.

This is simply an amazing film; the story, the sets, the costumes, the action and direction take you right back to this time and place. Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Roomie, Joel Courtney and Anna - Grace Barlow turn in first class performances capturing a time that probably only Mr. Grammer remembers.

This is not a preachy feel good Christian movie. The characters are flawed, as we all are, and there are some tough scenes to get through. But we thoroughly enjoyed this incredible film and believe it has something for young people, boomers and everyone else in between. Definitely go see it.

I Never Cry (2020)

A Brilliant Yet Sad Film

[10/10 · 29 December 2022]

An amazing, yet very sad film, following a young Polish girl as she travels to Ireland to retrieve the body of her estranged father who was killed in an industrial accident. It is a gripping movie with first class acting, in particular Zofia Stafiej in her first major role. The film also highlights the depressing and challenging life workers from the eastern countries within the EC face working in the more developed nations. The acting is brilliant as is the direction and cinematography. Highly recommended if you enjoy serious films with a strong message. We rated it five stars, available with English subtitles on Prime at no charge.