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mdesantis98
Reviews
Barbie (2023)
Bad on Many Levels
Barbie is 65. So am I. She is holding up much better than I am. The movie, however, was like a trip to the dentist for a root canal.
Costume and set decoration-maybe an honorable mention at the Oscars, but beyond that, this movie is more worthy of a Razzie than an Oscar. It fails as nostalgia, it fails as female empowerment, it is neither funny nor heartfelt If you want female empowerment, watch "RBG", "Norma Rae", "Hidden Figures" or "Erin Brokovich". I am sure that Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Reah Perlman. Ann Mirren and the rest of the lot will continue to have fruitful careers. Just please do not make a sequel! If you want to sell more pools, Corvettes and Dream Houses, make a few good commercials and air them near Christmas. There wasn't enough novociane to numb me during this presentation. Save your money and re-watch "Toy Story, "Despicable Me" or "Frozen." Don't say I didn't warn you........
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Exceptional, Outstanding, Phenomenal!!
.As stated by others, I started to watch this series and I had to watch it all the way through in one binge! The Academy can save time and give the Best Actress Oscar to Anya Taylor-Joy for her portrayal of chess prodigy Elizabeth Harmon. I played 7th Board on my high .school chess team which meant I was not very good.
The story is compelling and the characters are genuine. Through Beth's journey, we witness the trials and tribulations of obsession, isolation, dependency, friendship and sacrifice.
In The Queens' Gambit, I believe Netflix has created a classic film which rivals the likes of "To Kill a Mockingbird" Treat yourself to this amazing film!
Premature (2019)
Old Story With a Fresh Look
"Premature" is a film with a theme that has been brought to the screen many times. Nevertheless, the movie works because the story is timeless and the characters are as real as you and I. Zora Howard gives a standout performance as 17 year-old Ayanna. She is tough, yet vulnerable, a child and a woman, but most of all, a person whose growth is measured throughout the movie though her highs and lows of an unrequited love. Ernesto Green does a stellar job of directing as the rough and tumble, yet beautiful backdrop of New York City is intertwined with Ayanna"s friends, family and paramour.
It is always refreshing to watch a film where people of color can be who they are and there is no need to fall back on the mindless racial stereotypes too often presented in cinema. This is a nicely constructed act of storytelling and well worth one's time to sit back and watch the story unfold.
Workin' Moms (2017)
A Pleasant Surprise
Catherine Reitman has created an extremely funny, clever and heartfelt comedy of the roller-coaster of the ups and downs of parenthood, family, friendship and the constant tug-of-war between our attempt to balance our worth at work against our value as a parent and spouse. The supporting cast (Dani Kind as Anne Carlson, Juno Rinaldi as Frankie Coyne and Jessalyn Wanlim as Jenny) are fantastic, all able to make you laugh out loud and then go 180 and offer poignant emotional angst as they face their challenges.
I hope Netflix will bring us the 2nd and 3rd seasons so I and many other can continue to enjoy the exploits of these ladies as they continue to juggle the precarious imbalances that so many of us face trying to balance our professional lives with our personal relationships. As a working dad of a special needs child, I totally "get it".
Keep up the great work!!
PEN15 (2019)
Funny, Clever and Heartfelt
Those 10 episodes are not enough.Maya Erskine as Maya and Anna Konkle as Anna are absolutely fantastic retracing their teen-age angst. These ladies are hilarious and underneath all the frivolity, slapstick and gross-out humor there lies a touching and tender tale of two young bff's on a roller coaster ride from childhood to womanhood, warts and all.
Maya and Ann have made me laugh to tears and spun me 180 degrees to tears of empathy in a mere 30 minutes. The supporting cast is awesome and I hope Hulu continues to bring us along with these talented actresses for many more episodes. I am hooked on Pen15 and loving it!!
A Dark Song (2016)
Engaging Movie Due to the Acting and Dialogue
This film was not the cookie-cutter gore and body-count horror movie. The score was creepy and fit the mood of the picture.
The acting of Catherine Walker and Steve Orin was exceptional and they locked me in to following their perilous journey. The dialogue and interaction between the main characters, Sophia Howard and Joseph Solomon was spot on. These are emotionally flawed and vulnerable characters and their pain seems real.
The climax of the movie could have been a bit better laid out, but all in all, I was engaged by this movie on an emotional and intellectual level. I am eager to see more roles by both Ms. Walker and Mr. Orin. Again, they took a mediocre plot and acted the "Hell" out of it, pun intended.
Ozark (2017)
I Really Enjoy it, but not for everyone
I enjoy the tension, the clash of cultures and the portraits of dysfunctional families. At times, the show is a bit too clever for its own good, but it is fun to watch the twists and turns in each episode. Plenty of irony to go around. The acting is excellent and I enjoy seeing Harris Yulin, Peter Mullan and Jordana Spiro give outstanding performances in their supporting roles.
This show is definitely dark and violent, not warm and fuzzy-so it is not for everyone. Still, I think the story line and the interactions of diverse characters are compelling enough to make this series a winner and I hope it gets a few more seasons on Netflix.
Inherent Vice (2014)
A Very Tough Watch
Understanding that this movie was from the viewpoint of a drug fueled private detective, a smattering of incoherence could be anticipated.
Unfortunately, I could have looked at paint peel or the static on a television screen and have been as enlightened and entertained as I was by this film.
Certainly, there were many talented cast members and Joaquin Phoenix is very capable of playing an offbeat character, but you gotta go somewhere at some point and this movie took me nowhere.
Aside from a few humorous moments such as the massage parlor menu and scene, Doc's scream at the photograph, Bigfoot barging through the door of doc's pad and munching on pot leaves, and a suspicious death by trampoline, pretty much everything else is forgettable. The only other memorable exception was Katherine Waterston's beautiful pouting face and super-hot body on display. My compliments to Sam Waterston Lynn Woodruff.
As a 10-minute highlight reel, I can recommend this movie. For the other two hours and eighteen minutes, I want a refund on my time "wasted"-pun intentional.
Boy Meets Girl (2014)
An Unexpected Gem
I was browsing through Netflix and decided to give this film a spin. I am so glad I did! "Boy Meets Girl" is funny, poignant and heartfelt. The characters, particularly Ricky (Michelle Hendley), Robby(Michael Welch) and Francesca (Alexandra Turshenbrought) compellingly displayed the angst, conflict and ultimately courage, compassion and humanity of what it means to be loved and accepted for who you are even when the likelihood of the pain of rejection for not conforming to "traditional norms" could be the price that is paid.
This is an uplifting and inspirational movie which handles some very profoundly charged themes in a warm, witty and upbeat manner with a cast that absolutely aced it with their performances.
All this middle-aged traditional heterosexual married fella has to say is "Bravo, Well Done." And my Mrs. offered to share the Kleenex.
La vie d'Adèle (2013)
A Modern-Day LOve Story
"Blue is The Warmest Color" depicts a modern-day love story with excellent portrayals by two gifted young actresses and a fine supporting cast. I found this film to be an honest look at love, passion, coming-of-age, human frailty, pain, forgiveness and acceptance. I even felt my eyes tear up unexpectedly at the meeting of Emma and Adele in the diner late in the movie. Their performances were strong enough to involve me on an emotional level. That is confirmation to me of stellar performances by the actors and director.
I believe that Adele's journey into womanhood and her conflict over her sexual identity was "spot on". The movie was beautifully filmed and while some of the sex(love) scenes were intense, they purposely reinforced the special bond Adele had with Emma and how even the strongest bond is only as strong as the weakest link. I had mixed emotions about the ending, yet I am glad it was not a cliché and it allowed the viewer to ponder the next steps in Adele's journey. All in all, a fine piece of work.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Silver Medal
Jennifer Lawrence is the new Meryl Streep of filmdom. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence display the kind of chemistry in this movie that sells the entire story and the supporting cast is top rate.
A beautiful portrayal of the awkwardness and insecurity of two damaged people who are down but not out and who together find that silver lining. Excelsior!!
If you are looking for a romantic dramedy you should definitely make room for "Silver Linings Playbook". Keep the 3-D glasses in the closet and sit back and enjoy! Of course, the fact that I am a life-long Eagles fan is just icing on the cake here for me. Maybe one day, Pat and Tiffany will dance us to the Super Bowl Trophy!