pileated's stats
- Review count34
- Helpfulness votes2
- First reviewMay 4, 2008
- Last reviewDecember 23, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.8
Overall rating
2
/
5
Unremitting
PostedAugust 8, 2010
You really want to stand up about halfway through this and yell, "Get a life!" The first thing to say is that this is really not a movie. It is a series of set pieces that feel like they are taken from an avant grade acting class.
In "Happiness" there was at least some laughter and a smile or two. Here the director is simply unremittingly bleak, with characters playing to a dead deadpan. And this is truly a shame. The actors are for the most part outstanding performers asked to play down and dour - with the exception of Ally Sheedy and Charlotte Rampling (to a lesser extent).
But the movie is not a movie and like a number of characters suicide seems completely appropriate. It was a huge waste of acting talent. I wish I could say the same for the director.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Too long, too complicated, and way too much explan
PostedJuly 17, 2010
The movie is about 45 minutes longer than necessary. The level of complication is silly. The level of explanation is insulting. what is the point of making a movie with a complicated premise - implying some respect for your audience and then spending endless minutes (hours?) explaining it to us in minute detail. We get it. It wasn't that hard!
The acting is what it is, but it's a shame to see some fine actors wasted. Does Michael Caine need this cameo? Ellen Page can actually act - why not give her something to work with?
Yes, there's lots of action sequences. Some of it's fun, although there are precious few fun moments. If it was severely cut down it could make a summer movie worth seeing.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Superb!
PostedMay 14, 2010
This is the best movie i have seen since "Talk to Her". It is superbly crafted as a mystery, a love story, and in parts a comedy. The language and day to day interactions are so authentic that you completely lose yourself in the story and lose all sense of time. Bravo!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
hard to watch
PostedMarch 28, 2010
It is easy to be conflicted about this movie. Stiller gives a wonderful performance, but his character is one you would likely run away from in real life. Too self-absorbed, too angry at the world, his life choices, Starbucks, airline seat leg room and just about everything else.
Two things redeem the movie. One is the scene at the party where Stiller tells the 20 somethings how much they scare him. It's the only scene with real energy and it works amazingly well. The other and more important salvation is Greta Gerwig. She steals this movie with a breakthrough performance. She is a revelation and worth the price of admission.
But this movie is 'hard to sit through' and it would be nice if they had at least one more scene to break up the depressive atmosphere. See it, but be warned.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Totally Enjoyable
PostedNovember 22, 2009
This is an extremely clever, wry,and simply very funny movie. While Clooney plays against type, it's a lovely turn. The critics show a remarkably shallow appreciation for the movie's talent and our intelligence. This is destined to become a cult classic, appreciated after its time and for many years to come.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Close, but just missed
PostedSeptember 27, 2009
The storyline is adequate for the genre, the acting passable, The special effects good enough. The reason the movie didn't work for me was that it is relentless. there is no time to catch one's breath, just one pace - break neck. I realize that doesn't sound so bad, but the plot is simple and therefore the 'action' is incredibly repetitive. Basically, the good guys run away from the bad guys and run and run and run. The music is relentless as well. You have to change the pace once and a while to build some suspense. Too bad. It almost made it.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
2
/
5
Bad Story, Bad Script, Bad Direction
PostedSeptember 26, 2009
SF movies require some internal logic to allow the viewer to suspend belief. This movie fails to make internal sense. The backstory is lame and the direction, if not the acting, slow and laborious. It makes 12 Monkeys look like Gone With The Wind and Minority Report seem like Citizen Kane.
Bruce Willis doesn't even get a chance to be Bruce Willis. Not good enough for late night TV.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Damon rules
PostedSeptember 20, 2009
This is a small (if you forget the locations) delightful movie. Matt Damon does light comedy better with each outing. This is his movie - he's on the screen in just about every scene. He's perfect as a bipolar ADM executive selling corn to us, the FBI, and his superiors - who may or may not know when he's telling the truth. The fact that this is based upon a real story and a real sociopath makes it all the more juicy. Enjoy!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Well done
PostedSeptember 6, 2009
Finally, QT managed to hold himself in check. Admittedly this is a case of exceeding expectations. Going in to this movie, knowing the basic plot line, and the director's penchant for gross out violence plus a two and a half hour run time, I was nervous. But this was extremely well done - a tight plot line, well acted, and only as much violence as the story demanded. In the end it was a graphic novel, perfectly executed (no pun intended).
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Sandler Gets Dark
PostedAugust 2, 2009
When Jerry Lewis did "King of Comedy" you understood the darkside of comedy and of the man. Adam Sandler has decided to let us see his darkside in this overly long, loosely edited, mixed bag of a movie. To the extent that the sight is disturbing and genuine one can't help but applaud. Sandler's performance is too convincing not to contain a heavy dose of truth. I suspect it will be hard for him to return to the kind of movies which made him rich and famous after this one. It was a courageous role. I wish it had been in a better movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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