BigEasyFlickerFan's stats
- Review count90
- Helpfulness votes11
- First reviewJune 2, 2008
- Last reviewAugust 2, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.9
Overall rating
4
/
5
Very grim prison drama
PostedApril 29, 2010
This movie is long, at 2 hr 30 min, and unremittingly grim. It almost all takes place in a French prison. A young man, Malik, about 19, illiterate and without family, is sent to prison, where he is quickly introduced into who has power and how it is enforced. He becomes the tool and the servant of one of the prisoner bosses, an older Corsican. Malik lives in an in-between world, being allied with and in fear of the Corsican, but himself a Muslim and an Arab, prison adversaries of the Corsican gangsters. It is a story well told, but so grim that I could never enjoy myself.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
2
/
5
A dud from Scorsese
PostedApril 4, 2010
This is a very atypical Scorsese film. It feels so mechanical and manipulative. There are cliche scary-movie elements -- someone dashes recklessly down a dark and threatening corridor -- that surprised me from this usually polished and tasteful director. Forbidding music, unmotivated conflicts between the hero and the other characters ... on and on it goes, up to the surprise ending. It wasn't worth the 2+ hours of my time. Martin, snap out of it!
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
1
/
5
Dreary, dreary
PostedMarch 31, 2010
This is a dreary, dreary movie. I expected a comedy of some sort. Instead we watch Ben Stiller be a morose, unpleasant man, very self-absorbed, fresh out of the mental hospital, failing at life, lacking people skills, attempt a half-hearted affair with the young housekeeper of his brother. The acting isn't bad, but the very s-l-o-w story is not enjoyable at all.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Appealing historical character study
PostedMarch 10, 2010
This movie depicts the last months of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, and in particular the conflicts with his wife Sophia. In later life Tolstoy "radicalized" and wanted to practice celibacy, and give away his property (he was wealthy nobility) and his copyrights. This dismayed his wife and was the source of ongoing conflicts in what had been a happy and physically passionate marriage. The two principals in this movie, Christopher Plummer and Helen MIrren both give fine performances, especially Mirren. All in all, a fine study in characters and relationships.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Incredible! Wow!
PostedMarch 4, 2010
This movie is a landmark. The illusion of a third dimension is seamless, perfect. Well, a little exaggerated, but you don't perceive multiple overlapping images, like 3D from years ago. This is a fantasy movie, so its story line is simple enough and not really nuanced. But the look of the movie is fabulous. It's daunting to imagine the man-hours that went into creation of the computer generated images that are so full of detail and full of imagination. There are imaginative critters. Motions, of flying, walking, running, etc., are all naturalistic. This movie is a technological marvel, and an entertaining tale as well. Not to be missed!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Musician on the skids meets an angel
PostedFebruary 18, 2010
Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a country musician whose star has faded. Nowadays he occupies himself with drinking between crappy gigs. A budding journalist, single mom Jean (Maggy Gyllenhaal) asks for an interview and soon enough is romantically attracted to this too old, alcoholic, chain-smoking train wreck. That alone was too improbable for me. I am fans of these two actors, who put in good performances. I enjoyed Maggy Gyllenhaal's work more that Jeff Bridge's. She is radiantly, beautifully sweet. On the downside, the movie is slow, and its stages recover the same ground too much. Worth a viewing, but not a stellar movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Warm, uplifting family story
PostedFebruary 18, 2010
This movie is based on true events. Michael Oher grew up black in the Memphis projects, son on a drug-abusing mother. A chance meeting brought him to the attention of the Touhy family and its force-of-nature mother Leign Anne, played by Sandra Bullock. This well-to-do white woman and her family took Michael under wing and nursed him through high school and on to a football scholarship. The story is full of touching moments and also humorous moments. A feel-good movie that many can enjoy.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
A very fine movie, but melancholy
PostedJanuary 28, 2010
This is a very fine movie, but it is a melancholy one, and one with a stately pace. Colin Firth plays an aloof college teacher in early 1960's California, who is still in deep grief about the death of his gay partner, from a car accident. The movie observes his sad plod through joyless days. One of his male students seems to care a lot for him, even trying to befriend him. Julianne Moore is almost unrecognizable as his old London friend, and a restless, fading would-be femme fatale. The movie is directed by fashion designer Tom Ford, and its scenes are artfully composed. This is an excellent character study, but not a movie for everyone.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Nifty vampire movie
PostedJanuary 9, 2010
This is a vampire movie with a novel premise. Vampires vastly outnumber humans; only 5% of the latter remain. So, where is the next meal coming from?! The race is on: find a substitute for human blood before the supply runs out. In its own way the movie makes logical sense. Gets a bit bloody .... natch!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Terrific "small" movie
PostedDecember 10, 2009
A 16-year-old English high schooler gets her head turned by an man twice her age, who offers her wining and dining experiences that are a revelation to her. She should know better! She has school to finish and is shooting for acceptance into Oxford University. 24-year old Carey Mulligan plays the 16-year-old and is utterly believable and utterly adorable. All the actors are fine, in this plausible tale of ill-fated attraction. It's such a pleasure to see a fine movie that relies on a good story and good acting. versus special effects eye-candy. This is a small movie, but an excellent one.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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