handsome_devastation Reviews

Daisy Winters (2017)

An Unexpected Gem

[10/10 · 3 December 2017]

I knew nothing of this film other than that Brooke Shields was in the cast. I like to see films, particularly independent films that I know nothing about occasionally. This film succeeds on many levels: interesting story full of twists, turns and keeps you wondering what will happen next; excellent acting by all involved; and packs quite an emotional whallop at times. The choice of songs scattered throughout also add much to the atmosphere. Brooke Shields and the young actress who plays her daughter are standouts, but all of the players are perfectly cast and make an impact. Truly, an unexpected gem. 10/10 for what it is-- an indie surprise!

Jane (II) (2017)

A must see for those interested...but be warned-

[10/10 · 15 November 2017]

This is an excellent documentary well worth seeing for those with an interest in Jane and her fascinating life. I would encourage that it be seen in a theater as the footage is spectacular on the big screen and the excellent musical score and sound mix are incredible! A warning-- some of this is quite disturbing and intense (life and death in the jungle) and may trouble some younger or sensitive viewers. However, a sense of awe and admiration at Jane's determination and dedication to her work leave one with a sense of joy. 10/10

Loving Vincent (2017)

WAKE ME UP Before I GOGH GOGH To Sleep!

[1/10 · 5 November 2017]

My goodness, what a B O R I N G experience seeing this film was! I thought this might be interesting-- WRONG! Thought it might be visually stunning--WRONG! The visuals actually made me feel dizzy and slightly sick, and I'm a fan of found footage films like Blair Witch Project and don't find those films to make me feel ill. The only thing good to say about this experience-- I didn't know the details of of Gogh's demise. But really, it all plays out in such an uninteresting manner. I found myself tuning out the dialogue and looking away from the screen. I congratulate myself for not only seeing this in its entirety, but staying ALL THE WAY until the final credit had rolled to see who performed the mediocre cover version of the song that was playing. And now for something that will most assuredly anger those who LOVED this film-- I can't help but think this would have been less tedious had it been live action and not a cartoon (yes, I know... lovingly hand-painted animation frame by frame.) Just thinking about this experience is making me want to have a nice nap.

A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

Presenting the WORST movie of the year!

[1/10 · 31 October 2017]

Loved the original, paid to see it three times at a theater. This is (for me) the WORST film of the year. The characters, particularly Hahn and Sarandons are repugnant, repellent and even I am embarrassed for them. What a waste of a terrific cast! I laughed ONCE (a joke about Sarandon's characters name) and that was it. I was really looking forward to this, but sadly, it seems as if the first film was a fluke or just dumb luck that it turned out as well as it did. I love raunchy R rated comedy but this Bad Mom is one BAD MOTHAH! 1/10.

Breathe (I) (2017)

Well Made But Depressing and Oddly Cold

[6/10 · 24 October 2017]

Well acted, gorgeously photographed and competently directed, this depressing true tale is oddly cold and sterile. Garfield and Foy are excellent but the end result is sadly forgettable. The great Diana Rigg shows up in a why bother 3 minutes or less cameo. Good intentions on the filmmakers part and a fascinating true story make for a film lacking emotional impact.

Earth: One Amazing Day (2017)

Joyless and unnecessary

[2/10 · 10 October 2017]

The same old formula for this type of film is trotted out with a "why bother?" result. Various life forms on planet Earth are shown in various stages of peril/battle/life threatening situations. Between these dark, lovingly photographed segments are scenes of "cute" animals performing silly antics with jolly music. Really? We all know animals must hunt to live, may freeze/starve to death, etc but why dwell on it? With the budget and resources these filmmakers had, why not throw caution to the wind and make a celebratory, joyous TRULY amazing film? Robert Redford delivers uninspiring narration with some real cringe-worthy lines at times. Avoid! Rated a 2 for the scenery/photography.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

Elton John Steals The Entire Movie!!

[4/10 · 22 September 2017]

I had seen the trailers for this multiple times and had zero interest in seeing it. I knew nothing of the previous film and didn't care to play catch up. A friend asked me to attend a screening last night and I obliged only because I'm a casual fan of Elton John and thought it might be a kick to see him do a one line cameo in the film. I was SHOCKED what a large role Elton had, and how hilarious it was! He stole the whole film! The audience was laughing out loud at his antics and some were howling with laughter! Overall, it's a stylish and well-filmed flick that required no concentration of any kind. It was like a mindless ride that unfortunately lasts about twenty minutes and one fight sequence too long! I enjoyed Juaianne Moore and Elton's performances. The rest were okay, but Jeff Bridges was totally useless other than as marquee value. What a waste of his talent! Elton gets a 10/10 but only a 4/10 for this silly, well-made, but instantly (other than Elton) forgettable live-action comic book.

It Comes at Night (2017)

Good Acting and Atmosphere-- NOT A HORROR MOVIE!

[7/10 · 20 June 2017]

After reading several headlines saying this was the scariest film of the year, I was eager to see ICAN since I'm a huge horror fan. I knew NOTHING about it other than the title, and the headline claiming the above statement. The premise, while nothing original (and done much better in Cloverfield w/John Goodman) still maintains tension, mystery and some emotional drama. The actors are all very good, especially the young man who plays the 17 year old son who is the focal point of the film. Good direction, music, and a nice pace as well. Other than a a couple of dream sequences and one jump scare jolt, THIS IS NOT A HORROR MOVIE. I'm glad I saw it but would never want to see it again. I cannot imagine it has much rewatch value. It's all very well done, quite tightly paced and, once again, has interesting characters, mystery and good acting/direction. It is not a horror film or even a thriller. I will say that now that I've seen it, I have read reviews from IMDb posters who didn't like the ending. I thought it was perfect as is. 7/10 but forgotten by me for now as I move into some real horror film territory.

The Recall (2017)

Cliché Ridden Snoozefest--Avoid! Possible Spoilers...

[1/10 · 7 June 2017]

Possibly the worst sci-fi/horror film I've ever seen. Every cliché from the alien abduction genre is trotted out to dull effect. The acting, if you can call it that, is below the level of a third rate high school production. This was like a lower tier SyFy Channel production with a curse word and tiny bit of skin thrown in with a few splattery gore (mild) f/x to get that R rating. The projection gimmick was an afterthought and added absolutely nothing to the viewing experience. I can honestly say I didn't find one positive thing to say about this very mediocre effort. It's a shame someone with vision, talent, and an original idea didn't have the resources these filmmakers did to turn out something really incredible. An embarrassment for Wesley Snipes. Avoid!

Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981)

One Long Zombie Attack!!

[10/10 · 23 February 2017]

One of the greatest living dead films of all time, Burial Ground The Nights of Terror delivers on every level a zombie fan could hope for. Made in the great era of the Italian living dead/gore genre, BG is a non-stop zombie attack filled with insane dialogue, bizarre characters, and takes place in a beautiful yet eerie mansion. The make-up effects range from crude to excellent, with lots of carnage shown in great gory detail. Some of the zombies are truly memorable, such as "old one-eye" and the zombie that has maggots falling from its eye sockets. These zombies don't play games, they use weapons and will stop at nothing to get what they want--tasty warm flesh! I've watched this countless times and it delivers with every viewing. The wonderful Peter Bark makes a spectacular appearance as the unforgettable Michael, a young man who loves his Mama...perhaps a bit TOO much. The musical score also adds much to the atmosphere and bizarre visuals. The don't make'em like this anymore!