memiskowski Reviews

Maestro (I) (2023)

Pretentious

[2/10 · 22 March 2024]

Working my way through watching all ten of the best picture nominees for 2024.

Wow, this was disappointing. I expected to be entertained at least a little but this was a total snooze fest. I was unable to get interested in the characters or even care the slightest about their story. Actually there really is no story, it was like a reality show about an uninteresting person. What made it even worse was the acting was the very definition of pretentious. You can't watch without thinking it's Bradley Cooper trying to act to win an award. Actually the whole movie feels pretentious in the same way. No need to even check the box for spoiler because there is nothing I can say that would be a spoiler. Only Poor Things keeps it from being the worse of the 10 .

The Holdovers (2023)

Tremendously acted

[9/10 · 20 March 2024]

Working my way through watching all 10 of the best picture nominees for 2024.

Of the 7 movies I have watched so far this is the best, a strong contender for best picture.

The story is not necessarily a new one but it is done in a very effective way. The message is relavent in any time period but I really like the setting and time period of this one.

I am sure most people got the main message, but I came away with maybe an unintentional second message of the importance of family. The 3 main characters come together in almost family like way and are better for it. That was the heart warming part for me.

All 3 of the main actors did a tremendous job and I only saw the characters not the actors which is optimum. I have read other reviews complaining about what was NOT in this movie and that's just fine with me, there are hundreds of other movies addressing the other current PC storylines, it wasn't needed here, which I found refreshing.

The Zone of Interest (2023)

Part of a movie

[5/10 · 20 March 2024]

Movie #7 as I make my way through watching the 10 nominated movies for best picture in 2024.

The topic of the movie is not one I would seek out to watch if I weren't watching the ten. I generally watch movies to be entertained and going in I did not expect that to happen and indeed it did not.

Watching for what is was which was to provoke thought and reflect on a horrible period of history, it was well done in a unique way. In this way it was tremendously effective. Here is the problem I had however, it felt like the entire movie could have been a scene or two of a larger movie with an actual plot. This was more a documentary than a movie. I gave it 5 stars for how well the "scenes" were done.

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Back and forth who done it

[7/10 · 18 March 2024]

This is movie #5 of my reviews of all 10 Oscar nominated pictures of 2024.

The movie pretty much kept my attention throughout even though it is quite long for a movie which ends open ended. I think the best part of the movie for me was the fact that I switched my opinion of what happened several times before it ended. Unlike the usual who done it there was enough evidence on both sides to keep me wondering. On a whole it was a good movie but maybe not good enough to be considered an Oscar worthy Best picture. I was glad to see Snoop won some kind of award for best acting by an animal and he actually played a very pivotal role even in the symbolic ending.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Wasted opportunity

[4/10 · 15 March 2024]

Let's start with the positive. Ryan Gossling steals the show in an ironic twist since the movie is basically a sermon on woman impowerment. Another movie like American Fiction where the performance of one person makes the movie worth seeing. I also loved the set and scenery and colors, but that's where the positive ends. I believe this movie could have made its point in much less angry and overdone way. The underlying anger just didn't fit with the feel of how the movie looked. I felt that the movie was demeaning to both men and women and especially the audience, as if we couldn't get the message without being beaten over the head with it. I wish there could be a do over with someone else doing the movie using the same actors, except Will Farrell who I am tired of seeing portraying basically the same character over and over. See it for Ryan Gossling and the cinematography.

American Fiction (2023)

Mixed bag of a little of everything

[6/10 · 15 March 2024]

This is movie #4 as I watch and review the 10 best picture candidates of 2024. The movie was advertised as a comedy and there is indeed some comedy but it's not overt. There is more drama and various serious issues are sprinkled in through out the movie. There is satire and there is a message. It was a bit hard to switch from thinking serious to comedic to thoughtful. In the end I did get the message, but I don't think the movie on a whole was as meaningful as I have it talked about by others. The ending was a bit muddled for me but interesting. Much of the six stars I gave it come from Jeffrey Wright's performance. He indeed belongs in the best actor category for this movie and the movie is worth watching just to see his performance. I will go as far to say if any other actor was cast in this role I may not have liked it at all.

Past Lives (2023)

Refreshing

[8/10 · 15 March 2024]

Working my way through watching all 10 of the 2024 Oscar nominated best pictures. After seeing Barbie and Poor Things it was refreshing to see a movie that didn't force the standard politically correct topics of the day down my throat. This movie is done in a way that you can actually think on your own...how refreshing! There were several themes to consider, throughout the movie and the deliberate slow pace allowed me to think about them. With the fast pace of everything now a days, I loved this about the movie. The other thing I particularly liked was all the characters are likeable, there is no antagonist which is almost never seen in a movie. The movie left me with a bit of sad but also satisfying feeling at the same time if that makes sense. Definately Best picture worthy and very well acted.

Poor Things (2023)

1 star for cinematography

[1/10 · 13 March 2024]

I need to preface my review by saying I generally do not like any movies that are up for best picture but I thought I would give this years 10 films a try. I got through about 2 hours but felt more nauseous as it went along. I am sure there was a point that was trying to be made but the point I got was how demented people who think they enlightened, really are. I generally try to find something in a movie to say something good about but I am really struggling with this one. I like dark comedies but this was just dark, I failed to find anything remotely comedic in this move. The only redeeming thing about it was the cinematography which would be the only category this movie should have been considered for receiving an award.