nobrun Reviews

The Confession Killer (2019)

A lot more that the title suggests

[9/10 · 25 February 2023]

I've watched several programs about serial killers. I almost didn't watch this series because to me, the title suggests it's just another doc about a serial killer. Wrong! It's not. The title is limiting. This is one of the most interesting crime docs I've watched. New documentaries can be made based on topics only briefly touched upon in this documentary. It's amazing how much more information gets left out during every day reporting, or is scattered everywhere, until a documentary like this comes along and puts it all together. This isn't just about the serial killer but everyone connected, even unconnected, to the cases.

Reacher (2022– )

8.5 out of 10? Seriously?

[3/10 · 9 February 2022]

No! I'm a fan of thrillers. I have watched many. Reacher does not impress at all. Main characters like Jack Reacher and Roscoe Conklin come across robotic and scripted. The series is made up of scenes that are chopped up and put together to create episodes. Pure amateur. Both the conversations and actions are not fluid. If you have watched '24', Reacher will not impress you. There's also another 'Jack' running around somewhere that's better than this - Jack Ryan.

Zero Days (2016)

A must-watch

[10/10 · 3 February 2017]

Great documentary. Very informative and enlightening (not for the Pixar crowd). Very honest and surprisingly propaganda-free. The film maker went to great lengths to find credible, knowledgeable and highly qualified people to interview for this topic. Kudos.

"To make a documentary on such a complicated, far-reaching subject and maintain a common-sense perspective requires formidable organizational skills and a steady narrative hand to keep the movie from straying into any number of theoretical byways. It takes the imagination of a science- fiction writer to make it coherent and entertaining enough to hold your attention. Mr. Gibney has demonstrated all of these qualities..." Stephen Holden, The New York Times.

Soul Power (2008)

Great footage

[9/10 · 27 March 2015]

What was so surprising (to me at least) is that this footage existed. The fact that it wasn't put together/released until 2008 is secondary. This is NOT a movie about a concert. It's a documentation of an event process, meaning there's more to it than guitars, drums and singers. It was filmed in 1974 in Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo). To expect anything different, fit into one-and-a-half hours, is ridiculous. There's enough material to make 6 hours worth of documentaries. Although the movie does eventually give us the names of the major players in credits, it would have been nice to flash those names once the actors/participants first appeared on the screen.

Total Recall (I) (2012)

You've seen this movie before

[4/10 · 7 August 2012]

It is a patchwork of movies you have seen before. It has a 'Bourne' character who's traveling in floating cars from 'The Fifth Element' while being chased by an uglier version of robots from 'I,Robot'. It's embarrassing - a futuristic movie where a bad guy wants to replace oppressed workers with robots and thus emerges the resistance (oh boy, where have I seen this before?). Memory loss (or memory replacement if you want), lots of gunfire, an individual evading every possible attempt to catch him...did I mention 'Bourne'? An inferior version though. While the 'Bourne' series and the 'Terminator' had a sense of large spaces and time, 'Total Recall (2012)' was filmed almost entirely in buildings and tight spaces - yes, it's cheaply made.

Takers (2010)

Poor imitation of Heat (1995)

[4/10 · 10 August 2011]

If you watched Heat (1995), you've already watched this movie; a much better version of Takers. They took Heat, made a few changes (worse) and used different actors. That's it! A hot-shot crew led by Gordon (remember McCauley?) makes a precision heist. They need to do one more job but a brilliant investigator, Jack, gets in the way (remember Vincent?). The only person missing here is Waingro (smart move) otherwise the movie would have been an exact duplicate. I gave it a 4-star because it has an interesting story line involving blood brothers. I have no beef with the actors. The movie is acted well and the actors are believable. If Michael Mann could grab these exact actors and create a project for then, they'd get 10 stars.