cliew5473-107-917925 Reviews

Poor Things (2023)

Brilliant!

[1 March 2024]

I think you need an open mind to appreciate this film. Is it perverse? Yes. Is it twisted? Gloriously. Is it entertaining? VERY. It is an incredibly unique film. I can't even think of any other film to compare it to. If Emma Stone doesn't win an Oscar for this, I think it will be an insult to the world of acting in general, because her incredible acting in this film shines through in every way possible. It's as if the role was made for her. She is so incredibly versatile and talented -- one of the very best female actors of today, in my opinion. Not many other actresses could pull off this challenging role the way she has. This is one of those films you have to just sit back, open your mind and enjoy the ride with. It is... for lack of better terms... refreshingly unique!

Split (IX) (2016)

James McAvoy is brilliant

[8 February 2024]

The one thing that stands out for me, above all else, in this film is James McAvoy's superb acting. I don't know when the last time is (if ever) that I felt so incredibly impressed by someone's acting while watching a film. If McAvoy has not won any awards for his role in this film, that would be a tragedy. As for the film itself, it's a breath of fresh air in the horror genre in that it's not quite your yawn-inducing, typical horror film. It is clever and original and entertaining. Anya Taylor-Joy's acting in this film is also outstanding. Her expressions, everything. There was just something very believable about her to such an extent that it generated my empathy for her and the bizarre situation she found herself in. Indeed, she is not just a pretty face. She is also an amazing actor and one that is very believable and convincing. I would love to see McAvoy in more dynamic roles such as this one, as it's quite clear that he is an incredibly talented actor (and I feel like the word "incredible" is an understatement here). We have yet to watch the follow-up (?) film, "Glass," but perhaps we will watch it tomorrow. I definitely look forward to seeing him play more of this same character. :)

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

The acting falls flat, as does the plot

[7 February 2024]

I don't want to name names, but a few of the lead actors in this film just seem flat to me, with not enough emotion invested in their characters to be believable or even interesting. The plot started out interesting enough but then quickly became a downward spiral with an increasing amount of ridiculousness. There were quite a few moments where I literally felt like it was an insult to my own intelligence, particularly in the second half of the film. The one thing I did appreciate about the film was its ending, which poses an interesting moral dilemma for the main character as well as viewers, if they think about it enough. So all in all, it's worth the watch as long as you're willing to overlook some of the ridiculousness in the story line. It's another one of those films that seems to have a twist at the end just for the sake of having a twist, regardless of how unbelievable that twist is. So it's fine for watching on Netflix when you can't find anything else to watch, but it's certainly not a movie that I would pay 20 bucks to see at the cinema.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Much better than we expected -- Think about the underlying theme of the film before you judge the ending

[11 December 2023]

My husband and I both really enjoyed this film. It was even better than we were expecting. An understanding of the underlying theme of the film requires a bit of thought and intelligence, but once you understand it, then the ending makes perfect sense, really. And when you really think about it, it was the perfect way to end the film because nothing else could have happened in the film to give it a better ending (i.e. Nothing else was really plausible). I'll try to not give any spoilers. But when you watch this, just think about the ways we, as a society, have become too dependent on technology AND how that dependency and addiction to technology acts as a distraction from the real world AND how we intentionally use it as a distraction. This film gets that message across subtly and in a non-condescending way. The film is also quite funny at times, which helps keep it entertaining. I'd love to see more films like this emerge, as so much of the stuff that's put out these days is so empty and requires no thought, etc.

From (2022– )

A great series that keeps you guessing... and guessing... and guessing...

[8 October 2023]

One thing I really like about this series is the dialogue. There are quite a few scenes in which the dialogue was refreshingly "intellectual" and well thought-out. The plot has many levels of increasing mystery, which kept me fully intrigued and always craving more pieces of the puzzle. I did notice what seem to be a few minor "goofs" but nothing major. For example, when Sara kills the guy in the bed (who had been in the car with Jade), for some reason no one in the town ever asks who killed him or why he was killed, even though it clearly wasn't "the monsters" that had killed him. But that ends up being completely irrelevant to the plot, so it's no big deal. Just something I noticed. There are also a few other scenes that don't make much sense, but leave you hoping that they might come to make more sense later. I've finished season 1 and 2 and am really hoping that the planned season 3 will start to put more pieces of the puzzle together and perhaps even provide some answers. I'd hate to see this otherwise wonderful series become another one of those series where the plot is just dragged out for the sake of making another season -- to an extent that it begins to feel boring and/or redundant. But so far, this is a great series that both my husband I really enjoyed. We're looking forward to the next season.

Hereditary (2018)

Wait for it...

[23 July 2023]

I know a horror film is good when I can't seem to get it out of my head for a few days afterward, and that's been the case with this film. When I go to bed at night, I keep imagining someone hovering on the ceiling in the corner, watching over me. Lol. The majority of this film seemed a bit slow at times, but it was nonetheless intriguing, and the last 20 minutes or so of the film is where everything suddenly explodes into pure unimaginable chaos, and you're left wondering what the ___ you just experienced. The acting was great in the film, and it's important to pay attention to every scene and every bit of dialogue because little "Easter Eggs" are scattered throughout the film and some scenes explain a few things that are otherwise not directly explained but allow certain elements in the plot to make more sense later. The title of my review is "Wait for it..." because it's a reference to the ending. Much of the film is a bit tame, in terms of horror films, but then it's like everything is condensed into the last 20 minutes or so when "all hell breaks loose." Watch this only if you don't mind feeling disturbed.

Beau Is Afraid (2023)

I really enjoyed the first half of the film and then it became awkward

[16 July 2023]

My husband I both enjoyed the first half of this film, which was for the most part, quite hilarious and bizarre. But then somewhere around the middle of the film, it took a strange turn (with animations, etc.) and the entire "vibe" of the film changed completely. It just felt out of place and awkward, and there were some long scenes that just felt more like "space filler" than anything else, and in general, just a bit "cheesy" or corny. The ending was odd (as is most of the film), and it wasn't until about an hour after the film finished that I finally realized what (I think) that scene is supposed to represent: His conscience. Anyways, if you're in the mood for some twisted entertainment, you should enjoy this film -- or at least the first half of it. But stay through to the end at least to find out what happened with his Mom.

The Wonder (I) (2022)

Slow but worth it...

[15 July 2023]

I really enjoyed this film -- more so than I expected to. Although, admittedly, I did go into it without any expectations. So I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Florence Pugh is one of my favorite actresses now, and she never seems to disappoint. The plot is a bit slow, but it builds over time and draws you in, to increasingly wonder what is really going on beneath the surface. The ending was satisfying but refreshingly unpredictable. I appreciate that the film deals with underlying themes of religion/faith and the indoctrination (brainwashing) of children into one's own beliefs, etc. This film does require patience. As long as you have that, it should not disappoint.

Midsommar (2019)

Brilliant but disturbing

[9 June 2023]

My husband and I both thought this film was genius for the horror genre. It's certainly NOT your typical horror film. And it's certainly NOT for someone who can't stand feeling disturbed while watching a film. The "horror" aspect of it was subtle rather than being the typical in-your-face type of horror and was more psychological than anything. Because of that, I appreciated this film (whereas I do not like most horror films). Visually, it's a gorgeous film. The fact that it primarily takes place in sunlight adds a strange surreal feeling -- a stark contrast between a gorgeous sunny day and what is actually going on beneath the surface in the film, which results in a strange dichotomy and a sense of cognitive dissonance for the viewer. Again, I thought this was genius. The plot was also not annoyingly predictable like so many other films are, which only adds to its genius. Again, I do not like most horror films, but this film is one of those rare gems that I can appreciate on all levels, including its plot, its complex psychological elements and its visual artistry. One of the very best "horror" films that I've ever seen. I hope to see more films coming from Ari Aster in the future.

Servant (2019–2023)

Started out good but then the plot was dragged out too long

[11 May 2023]

Season one was good, but then as so many others have mentioned here, once I was into season two, it just began to fall apart and feel like they were dragging out the plot just to keep the series alive. (I've noticed quite a few series have done this before). I began to feel like there was no more intrigue or mystery left, and the plot's attempts to create mystery just began to feel ridiculous and forced. It went from a thriller type of show to something that was more comical and ridiculous. Although, with that said, I will give the writer(s) credit for using some clever and genuinely funny humor in this show. If you watch this with the hope of being enthralled and on the edge of your seat, you'll probably be disappointed. But if you watch this with the expectation of simply being entertained, you might not be let down.

Unhinged (I) (2020)

I expected this to be bad, and it was

[16 April 2023]

This film does have a lot of tension and quite a bit of violence, but that's about all it is. The acting isn't anything spectacular, and even though it is interesting to see Russell Crowe in this role, that just wasn't enough to carry the film. There were also some bad plot holes (if you want to call it that), including the fact that she didn't park her car in the garage at Grandma's house to hide it, which made no sense, unless she was deliberately wanting to be found. Also, I think some more character development would have made this film more interesting, especially for Crowe's character. We only get a very small glimpse of what has pushed him over the edge. If you're in the mood for some mindless entertainment with a bit of tension and violence, it's not so bad for killing some time as long as you don't go into it expecting much.

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Great film with a great plot, but one thing doesn't make any sense...

[28 February 2023]

My husband and I both really enjoyed this film. The one thing that doesn't make any sense to me, though (and this is a spoiler alert) is why the "four horsemen" would kill or sacrifice one of the other "four horsemen" in order to trigger a "plague." I mean, if they're good guys -- as they are portrayed to be -- then why wouldn't they just choose to NOT kill or sacrifice one of the other four horsemen and then NOT trigger a plague? Couldn't they have just prevented the plagues by not killing each other? That part made no sense to me, but perhaps I am missing something??? All in all, though, this was a very good film with a very original story line, and both my husband and I enjoyed it. It's not a typical M. Knight ChakaKhan (I can never remember how to spell his last name :D) film, but it is in the sense of how original its plot is. I hope he continues to make films, as I think he's one of the more unique writers out there, at least in terms of mainstream films... even if some of his films are better than others.

The Menu (2022)

What a disappointment

[25 February 2023]

I was hoping for so much more in this film. I guess my expectations were too high. The first half was okay, at least in terms of trying to build intrigue, but then it just falls flat. As another reviewer mentioned here: "Nice Try, But the Satire Doesn't Land." And that's exactly how I feel about it as well. I get it -- it's supposed to be a satire, but it doesn't do a good job of really getting the message across. There are so many things in the film that you think will come to have meaning at some point but just never do. And in the end, I felt like I was left with nothing more than trying to make sense of the ridiculous. If you watch this, you might enjoy it more if you don't make the mistake of having high expectations like I did.

Beneath (I) (2013)

How could anyone expect a movie about a killer catfish to be good?

[19 February 2023]

My son and I watched this movie just to see how bad it really is... because come on, how could a movie about a killer catfish possibly be good? :D Well, just as we expected, it was AWFUL. But in a funny kind of way because 1) The acting is sooo bad, and 2) The huge catfish is hilarious. We were joking that some guy must have dressed up as a catfish to make this movie. The only good thing about this film was the cinematography at times. Just don't go into this movie expecting it to be good because in that case, the fault is your own for thinking that a movie about a huge, killer catfish could possibly be good.

The Devil's Hour (2022– )

Interesting ending, but too many things still don't make sense

[7 February 2023]

This series does a good job of building up the mystery and keeping you wondering what exactly is going on. However, once I finished the final episode and "the big secret" was finally revealed, I realized that there were still too many things that didn't quite make sense. For example, at the end, it shows the neighbor family (with the little girl) being burned by a fire in what had been Lucy's house in a different life and in a timeline where Isaac had never existed because Lucy had never had him. But it was Isaac who had started the fire, so why would this other family have also experienced a fire in a life where Isaac doesn't even exist in order to start a fire in that house? Who started that fire? It just doesn't make sense. Secondly, if everyone's lives "loop" as the man at the end states, then why doesn't everyone experience "deja vu" as strongly as Lucy does, or in other words, why doesn't everyone have flashbacks of their other lives like she does? The police guy certainly doesn't, and nor did his partner. So why did Lucy have them so strongly? Again, this film does a good job of building up the mystery and keeping you waiting for the resolve, but it still leaves too much that doesn't really make sense, in the end.

Windfall (2022)

Refreshingly unpredictable

[22 March 2022]

I really enjoyed this film and am surprised to see that it hasn't received a better overall rating here on IMDB. The tone or "vibe" of the film is often uncomfortable and awkward and a bit quirky, but in my opinion, that's what makes it so interesting and unique. Jesse Plemons is perfect in this role, because his acting just adds to the strange "vibe" of this film (a bit similar to how his character in Breaking Bad was -- just a bit strange in his demeanor but you can't quite explain why or how, with words). I was so curious how this film would end and definitely wasn't expecting it to end the way that it did. So in that regard, it was refreshingly unpredictable. Cheers for that!

Vivarium (2019)

Loved it !!!

[7 February 2022]

I found the film to be refreshingly original and unpredictable, and I appreciate the way it allows the mystery to unfold and then for the truth to finally be revealed but not in a direct manner. It still keeps you guessing. This is one of those films that requires patience at the beginning, and then slowly, the film becomes more and more interesting and engaging and bizarre. The acting was quite good. I was especially impressed by the acting of the young boy. If you like The Twilight Zone, I think you might also like this film. But one cannot really accurately judge this film unless they watch it with an open mind and stay through to the very end.

The Lost Daughter (2021)

It builds up the intrigue and then completely disappoints

[2 January 2022]

When this film ended, I was left wondering what it was exactly that I just watched and felt like I was trying to find a deeper meaning within the film that I'm not even sure is really even there. Throughout the entire film, I was waiting for something to happen that would tie certain scenes together to make the story line more cohesive and make more sense and provide some sense of closure in regard to the plot and the actions of the main character. But at the end of the film, there I was... still waiting. There were scenes that were completely irrelevant to the story (for example, the scene with the hikers). I kept waiting for that scene to become relevant later in the film, but it never did. It was just "filler," I guess. As far as the acting goes, it was fine, as was the directing. I think the main failure of this film is the plot in general. Basically, it tries to build up a lot of intrigue (and does a decent job at that) but then in the end, you're still left struggling to find meaning and relevance and make connections that don't exist. And because of that, the film comes off as a bit pretentious due to its failed attempt to explore the main character's complex psychological state but even in that, it barely skims the surface.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

A good film, but a bit too rushed and lacks good character building

[4 December 2021]

I enjoyed this film particularly because of the ending, which I wasn't expecting. However, I felt that there was insufficient character building for some of the characters and also that the escalating tensions between Rose and Phil could have been portrayed better and built up more strongly. Perhaps an additional scene in which Phil had psychologically bullied Rose more severely would have resolved that. I felt that the plot was a bit rushed in order to make the story line progress (for example, some of the relationship that developed). I found that some of the characters were a bit flat and lacked psychological depth to allow me to develop much sympathy for them or to have any kind of strong emotions toward them in general. However, with that said, the acting itself was excellent. Kodi Smit-McPhee did an amazing job in his role as Peter, and I hope to see him in more films in the future. All in all, it is a good film and one that I think someone couldn't properly judge unless they watch it through to the very end. But I do think it could have been even better if the tensions had been built up more and if the characters were portrayed with more psychological depth.

You (2018–2024)

Genius in its complexity

[27 October 2021]

I just finished season three, and I think it may be the best season yet. In this season, the character of Joe is explored in more depth and the line between antagonist and protagonist becomes blurred. It is genius in its complexity, in that regard. This series does require a dark and rather twisted sense of humor to enjoy. If you watched seasons one and two and thought they were at least "okay," I think you will be in for a much better treat with season three.

The Guilty (2021)

Superb acting by Gyllenhaal and the significance of his character's inhaler (for asthma)...

[12 October 2021]

I suppose this is only a theory, but I noticed in the film that the camera would often focus in on Joe's inhaler, implying that it had some kind of significance or deeper meaning, in the film. Then as the film progressed, it is revealed that Joe has problems controlling his anger and is even having to go to court the following day due to a past incident in which he admitted that he was unable to control his rage. As an asthma suffer myself, and someone who has used corticosteroid inhalers, which increase cortisol levels (the stress hormone), I think that his heavy use of his inhaler, as shown in the film, may be the cause of his fits of rage. Corticosteroid inhalers used for asthma are known to increase users' cortisol levels, causing them to often feel a sense of rage for no really obvious reason. This effect is even nicknamed "roid rage" (roid being short for steroid). So I do suspect that the camera was focusing in on "Joe's" inhaler so often as a means to imply that it is the hidden / underlying cause of rage.

The Goldfinch (2019)

Cause and effect...

[11 June 2021]

This film may seem to start off a bit slow, but it becomes much more interesting (and entertaining) as the plot develops and as other characters are introduced. This film does require patience to enjoy. And maybe it's a sign that I'm aging (I don't know), but I seem to prefer films that take their time rather than having to bombard viewers with constant action and suspense. The one thing I did notice about this film, in regard to acting, is that once again, Nicole Kidman comes off as being overly self-conscious in her acting... as though she is always thinking in the back of her mind: "How do I look?" accompanied by the typical, pretentious mannerisms. For that, though, I suppose she was perfect for this role. It would just be nice to see her in a film where she plays someone more real and more relatable for a change. Anyways, this is one of those films that I decided to watch because I wasn't able to find anything else on Netflix, and not having read the book, I had no idea what I was getting myself into in terms of plot, etc. So it was a very pleasant surprise. Another one of those "hidden gems" that you sometimes find on Netflix when you don't have anything else planned to watch. It is a wonderfully intriguing film that deals with the theme of cause and effect and in many ways, therefore also fate.

Behind Her Eyes (2021)

Gets weird... with an unexpected but then expected twist

[20 May 2021]

I had no idea what this series was really about when I started watching it, but I gave it a chance after a friend had said it was good and I couldn't find anything else to watch that looked interesting. The first 4 episodes managed to pull me in, as I was curious about the "mystery" I guess, although it was a bit slow. And then boom, it suddenly got into some supernatural stuff and gets weird. As soon as I figured out that a "switch" was possible, I figured out what the final "twist" was even before it was shown. This series is not bad when there is nothing else good to watch on Netflix, I guess. I do like the premise of the film but wish there had been more "clues" to foreshadow it that I could look back on and think "Ahhh so that makes sense."

News of the World (2020)

Wonderful film!

[6 March 2021]

I really enjoyed this film. As always, Tom Hanks' acting is impeccable. There is something that I just always find so simultaneously believable and entertaining about his acting. It's difficult to describe, I guess, but he is one of those rare actors who can portray a character that I can easily "fall into." I thought the girl who plays Johanna was a wonderful actress as well. The plot is at times somewhat predictable, but that doesn't in any way negate how wonderful the story is, how enjoyable it is to watch and what a great film it is in general. I also very much appreciate that they kept the gore to a bare minimum in this film, which also helped make it easier to watch. I think some films really overdo it in that regard. But this film is one of those rare beauties that doesn't rely on a lot of heavy violence and gore to try to keep viewers' engaged. If you're in the mood for a film that will leave you with a warm heart afterward, this is one of them. :)

Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021)

Interesting and informative but also a rather biased portrayal of the "crack epidemic" of the 80s and 90s

[22 January 2021]

I enjoyed this documentary and appreciate that I actually learned a few things from it. However, I find myself feeling rather conflicted about how I feel about it, overall, due to its portrayal of crack dealers and crack addicts as being victims and focusing more on that than on crack abuse itself and all of the senseless violence that has resulted because of it. I feel like much of the documentary and the people in it were blame-shifting, essentially -- trying to find something external to themselves to blame for their own bad choices. The film also portrays the "war on drugs" as being a bad thing, although I think it's quite clear that something needed to be done in order to make people's neighborhoods safe again -- particularly black communities. It even shows black communities gathering and begging the police to step in to help make their streets safer due to the gang violence and crack dealers, etc. during the "crack epidemic." So this documentary's overall message seems rather self-contradictory in many ways, but perhaps that is in part due to the fact that the issue is so multi-sided and that there are people to 'blame' on all sides.