blanchjoe Reviews

The Plot Against the President (2020)

"Normies" Be Aware - The Alternate World View.

[1/10 · 19 March 2023]

This is a quality Documentary. While not FRONTLINE or INDEPENDENTLENS this obviously had deep pockets, it is well well edited with a well developed story-line.

Then there is the content. Not as acrid as a North Korean Propaganda Documentary, it did have the feeling that the film was yelling at the viewer to "...wake up..." and pay attention.

The 10 Ratings for this Documentary are not all "plants". Instead they are serious heartfelt responses to the material presented. The larger issue is the "belief" in an Alternative World View, and herein lies the more fascinating aspect about this film There is a percentage of the American public who firmly believe this perception of their World, and this Documentary is a confirmation of that belief by underscoring that view.

Final: The Rapture (2013)

Final: The Indiferience!

[2/10 · 27 June 2021]

So if you are a Pentecostal, or Southern Baptist, or a Fundamentalist Christian then you will love this film as it "roughly" story-lines a group of individuals caught up with the last things or what some call The Endtimes. Without getting into a Biblical discussion, the concept of "Rapture" was never spoken by Jesus The Nazarene, or any of his disciples, nor does it exist in the New Testament, however it does appear in Saul of Tarsus's First Letter to the Thessalonians ( the Apostle Paul has got a lot to answer for in Catholic and Christian History ), however if you are an Agnostic, or Moslem, Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic, Jain, Hindu, or any other faith, then this film will be confusing at least, and well boring at best. In essence this is a relatively well written, well acted, well made film on an obscure, highly imagined, and debatable subject, it will fail to convert anyone, and inspire those already aligned to this belief methodology. It is a. Propatainment Film, meaning it has a specific message, and wants to entertain you at the same time, doing neither very well.

Arrival (II) (2016)

Unusual work on an unusual subject

[9/10 · 22 March 2021]

A stunningly well made film, well written, and perfectly acted. Few stories have as much potential, and are as often poorly presented, as the now classic First Contact story. As a writer how does one portray something truly "Alien" without becoming overly simplistic, or intentionally horrific? The writer must imagine the impossible to imagine, what it means to be a non-human, even a non-mammal, the writer must understand a being that emerged from a completely different evolutionary pattern, and then have them interact with us. Most stories use an easy route, the Alien is humanoid, allowing the writer to create the story and move on, such as still wonderful and well made "The Day The Earth Stood Still" for example. However in "Arrival" the writer adopted a little known aspect of our own human unconscious actions ( the tendency of how language determines the thought process ) and explores what it would mean if a completely alien species approaches us with no common forms of communication, and we are forced to understand theirs, just as they are forced to understand us.

12 Angry Men (1957)

12 Good Men And True.

[10/10 · 23 January 2021]

Perhaps few films are a credit to Television, Stage and Film as well as 12 Angry Men.

A masterpiece of screenwriting, this is and should be required viewing for all students of cinematography, screenwriting and acting.

Many words have been written about the writing, direction, and acting and I doubt I can expand on any of that material, other than to underscore the already glowing respect this film has earned over the years.

At its heart this is a peculiarly American Film.

While the presentation of an all White Male Jury seems dated in today's eyes, it was on key when it was written in the early 1950's urban America. This is the story of social and economic poverty, violence, racism, cultural divides, and crime. It is also a story of doubt, fairness, intellect, heart, and as Lincoln noted, it is about "...the better Angels of our nature....".

Twelve ordinary Men, who normally would have little to do with each other, or exist in each others orbits, are required to make a judgement on the life or death of a young 18 year old man-boy

The fact that this is twelve middle and upper middle class White Men judging a Porto Rican Teenager is a "quiet" racism that is an undertone throughout this film.

As in many times in its history the idea of what it means to "be" an American, and what direct is the future of America, is at play here, the Porto Rican boy is the future, the now is an urban scene of poverty, immigrants, crime, street gangs, and violence.

To the men who are in this court, this is just one more newspaper article and one more example of American urban life ( read White Male American life ) eroding by forces they feel are beyond their grasp, and yet here is an apparent cut-and-dried crime they feel is understandable and something they can do something about.

It is a film about the wonderful part of America, the part that is its true difference, not its strength, not is power, not its culture, but instead it is a film about a system of laws and governance where the ability of people to understand each other, and themselves, can take place, and where one individual can make a difference for the good of everyone.

Trump Card (2020)

An Insight Into The Minds Of A Portion Of America

[1/10 · 14 November 2020]

I want to forget the content for a moment and just review this as Cinema. Of course this is not a work by FRONTLINE, or 60 MINUTES as a result there is little research into any opposing viewpoints, the only information you will receive here is the information from those espoused by the creators, so be aware that this work was not meant to be a Documentary.

There is very poor editing, writing, cinematography, and was very obviously made on a shoe-string budget. In other words a serious cinematic work this is not, nor was it intended to Be. Stats by VOD Rental ( because of COVID and lack of interest by distributors, this film never made it into theaters ) show by the third week "Trump Card" had dropped sixth and eighth spot and falling since with a Rotten Tomato score 198/ 74 ).

Perhaps the writing is the worst, quickly I become bored of the "screaming" at me to wake up and realize that America, our Lives, our Future are in peril, without actually telling me what that peril was!

The word term Socialism is used extensively, however my mothers food subsidies, health care and social security are blatant socialism, so I was confused what the terror was supposed to be? More Unemployment Insurance, More Social Security, More Health Coverage, More Food Programs?

Some have used the term Propaganda to define this work, and that is too Fascist a connotation, however "Trump Card" is an Info-Promo-Political-Advertisement, so the words Preaching To The Choir came to my mind. If you believe in this world view, then this Film will underscore everything you already adhere to, there is no new information here that could not be found on the net in minutes.

If you do not believe in this worldview, then this Film is a fascinating ( albeit disturbing ) insight into the thought processes of people who DO believe this content. The sense of anger and fear permeates this work, and the individuals who created this material cater to this emotive content. So perhaps unintentionally this work IS a valid documentary, just not the one that the creators intended.

Death of a Nation (2018)

Ahhhhhh, Hmmmmmm, well OK.

[1/10 · 29 April 2020]

First lets talk about the film, the Writing style is Vapid, Storyline Poor, Filming technique Cinematically it is average ( at best ). Forgetting the content for a moment, the film is poorly made, and a very poor Documentary. Technically it is not a Documentary any more than "Triumph Of The Will" was a documentary.

If your political inclinations are slightly Left of the Breitbart News Network then this documentary will be tiresome, repetitive, and unsubstantiated. Ken Burns The Civil War this is NOT, but then in honesty it was never meant to be, this is more correctly a Diatribe, prolonged critical discourse designed to promote a specific viewpoint, regardless of counter argument or facts.

Film cost over 6 Million to make and world Wide Gross is 5.5 Million. So lets see why this is such a poor creation. Quality Flix a label of the Christian faith-based film company "Pure Flix" released this documentary,. The creator of this film was Dinesh Joseph D'Souza who the BBC describes as an Anti-Secularist Indian-born American author, filmmaker, pardoned convicted felon, conspiracy theorist, and Far Right "provocateur", a contributing editor for "Policy Review" a magazine created by the Washington DC Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation and was a minor policy adviser in for Ronald Reagan between 1987 and 1988.

But all of this is not an excuse, the rabidly Pro Conservative Racial-Seperate-and-Unequal white Male Pro KluKluxKlan film "Birth Of A Nation" was a cinematic masterpiece compared to this So with the vast financial resources available to the Far Right, funding could have been acquired to ( assuming they would work with the material ) hire real talent that could have created an interesting film regardless of the Content, fascinating to watch, perhaps even informative, but they did ( or could ) not. Instead this film was nominated for four parody-style Golden Raspberry Awards, winning a "2".

Serial Experiments Lain (1998)

"...Is there anybody in there....."

[8/10 · 12 November 2019]

Lain represents a merge of Art, Artificial Intelligence, CyberMind Exploration, and a Philosophy. On the surface it is one story, in reality it is several all speaking to the viewer at the same time. While we watch a small girls struggle to understand her disjointed experience, we as the viewers are exposed to ideas about the nature of where reality and the virtual breed something else.

In many ways it is a visual tome-poem, the "Koyaanisqatsi" of Anime. More than a TV Series, it is a work of art, disturbing, beautiful, and unnerving all at the same time.

Penny Dreadful: The Nightcomers (2015) Season 2, Episode 3

The Adept and The Devotee

[9/10 · 1 February 2019]

While this story is tangential the main arc, it is perhaps the best written and emotionally the deepest of all the episodes of all three seasons. Throughout this episode the most interesting content is the dynamic between the main characters, often incorporating aspects of the classic student / teacher, or perhaps more accurately, the Adept / Devotee relationship. Such relationships are not designed to "fulfill", can be painful, and hard work, but the results are heart rendering deep.

Young Boss (1965)

The Good, The Bad, and The Yakuza

[6/10 · 7 October 2018]

While not a classic, the writing, set design, and acting were well done. The editing was in the mode of all Japanese films of the period, clipped scene and location changes that leave audiences not experienced in this film style scratching their heads wondering what is going on. As typical all he Female characters are willowy Feminine fillers. This is a film that upholds the concept of the Yakuza living from a code of honer, one that is ( theoretically Buddhist ) but primarily Bushido. This "Robin Hood" concept of the Yakuza as Samurai was a common theme in the postwar culture, and this film is of that genre. The more contemporary Yakuza films portray this oddity of Japanese culture as ruthless, ignorant, power driven, and violent with little "no" code of honor.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Cold War Mole Hunt and a Powerful vehicle for Charlize Theron.

[8/10 · 14 July 2018]

While Atomic Blond ( not the best title ) is "not" a true trade-craft based classic, such as Tinker, Tailor, Solder, Spy, it is a well developed and complex story that requires the viewer to not make too many snap judgements in plat or characters. What this is besides a great story, and a good Hollywood Film, is at its heart a powerful acting vehicle for Charlize Theron to stretch her acting chops, and well worth watching solely for this reason.

Red Sparrow (2018)

Classic Cold War Thriller

[8/10 · 18 April 2018]

While there does appear to be an overabundance of GRU funded FancyBear negative reviews on this film ( and it is easy to see why ), it is actually a very well made Spy vs Spy Thriller in the classic John le Carré mode, not quite the cold distant calculation of a George Smiley, and not quite the cartoon quality of a James Bond.

Some feel this film creates a caricature of the post Soviet Russia, and this is not fully true, while modern Russia is not the Soviet State and few if any of the individuals we see in this film are "average" Russians, it is instead an interesting window into an Oligarch Mafia-State that tightly controls all forms of dissent and communication, in that sense the portraiture of the individuals in power is not far from the Truth.

Well worth watching.

Revolver (2005)

If you Know this Film, you do not Know this film.

[9/10 · 26 November 2017]

Under the guise of a standard "shootem-up" action movie, even going to the point of hiring standard well trained action movie actors, this is instead, and in actuality, an exploration into the nature of the individuated-self sense, and the meaning of how we perceive.

For those seeking entertainment, or a well directed action movie, you will be confused, frustrated, and disappointed. This is not a conventional film, and it is dealing with a wholly unconventional subject, one that the vast majority of viewers will not understand.

The hero of this story must completely awaken from the dream of his conditional existence and the limited individuated egoic "self" cannot be accomplished by "one's-self".

That which supports and maintains perception accomplishes that process, and the process requires the complete transcendence and dissolution of the egoic self, via absolute surrender of the process of attention away from the individuated self sense, onto that which support, sustains and is "not" the individuated self sense.

In many ways this film is a Luc Besson / Guy Ritche modern Koan.

Checkmate.

Mr. Turner (2014)

A Film of Elegant Simplicity.

[8/10 · 20 April 2015]

Culled from various materials and sources of the artist's life this is a simple, emotive, and an elegant piece of cinematic work, much like a Turner painting itself, as it is momentary selections of time shown to us in their intimacy of a man's life. Shown against the backdrop of the Victorian world of the emerging middle and upper classes of British society, and it's often well mannered yet banal concerns, and like so many lives, there is no high drama, no chase scenes, instead this is a film devoted to viewing and perhaps understanding the life of the late 19th century's most distinguished, explorative and prescient artists whose work has often been described as a precursor to the development of both the impressionist, and perhaps even abstractive future schools of art.

Smiley's People (1982)

Perhaps one of the best film series in existence

[10/10 · 16 September 2010]

So much as been already said about either Tinker Tailor or Simleys People that my addition is small, however in a film world driven by special affects or minimal story content, these two film series represents some of the foremost screenplay, editing, acting and cinematography to date. This film does NOT cater to the viewer, it demands you pay attention, even small details have far reaching ramifications later in the film. This is dense story that for some may require seeing the film two or three times to understand and appreciate. The star of this story is Alec Guiness giving one of the most powerful and interesting performances of his wonderful acting career. It is a film whose only poor quality is that it does not go on longer to enjoy.

One Night with the King (2006)

One Night - One Waste!

[3/10 · 22 March 2007]

I was not happy with this film, and I did give it a chance. Fundamentally the best actors were in supporting roles, it was almost a crying shame to see Omar Sharif complete wasted in this film. Sumptuous settings with attractive sets, and believable costuming, the most basic problem was trying to feel interested in these individuals. The actor who portrayed the King did such a great job of appearing aloof and royal that he became flat and insipid, in fact it was the complete lack of dimensionality to the main characters that really hurt this film. Nor was the story line well developed. Why did the Persions attack the Greeks initially? How and why did the Jews get to Persia? The screenplay was developed as if it was assumed that everyone was a Pentacostal Christian who reads the Old Testament every Sunday, and ignored a wonderful chance in exploring an entire historical period. To be kind I gave this film 4 Stars, but it deserved a lower score.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

A true masterpiece of storytelling

[10/10 · 11 January 2006]

This is not your usual spy / action story, . . .this is a story of ordinary men within an extra-ordinary world that few, if any, of us will ever be exposed to.

This is a thinking person's film, there are no setups, no story voice overs, you are required to really "watch" this story as it unfolds.

This story is an exploration of desire, anger, hatred, fear and respect, . . .it is a story of belief and manipulation, it is NOT James Bond.

This is "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" many, many years later, after a bitterness and loss have become a way of life.

This is one of the best films you will ever see.

Solaris (2002)

One man's search for meaning.

[9/10 · 9 December 2005]

What does it mean to be? Is the sense of individuated existence, that sense of being an "I" over and against and within a universe of things and processes that are not "I" real or is it an illusion? In both versions of the film Solaris this subject is explored.

Solaris is not a discussion upon the classic What Is Reality inquiry, but instead does a wonderful job of examining the question of what does it mean to be ourselves, and what is it about ourselves that is unique or even real? The planet Solaris becomes an artistic representation of the true Unknown, and the unknown is that state in which we all exist in, but in which we create forms of meaning to encapsulate the mystery of this moment within the illusion of the Known.

Solaris presents through its actions and its very existence a format for the characters, and the viewers, to examine what it means to live safely within the illusion of the Known, but where the reality is actually an existence in which the Known is not a possibility.

Do not approach this film with the intention of understanding some final conclusion, for like life itself, it is the writers intention that we question our assumptions about this movie, and possibly about our own lives as well.