Post by Martin Stett on Jan 14, 2019 17:03:07 GMT
Biutiful (2010) -- There are half a dozen decent movies in here, but the lack of focus hurts them all. 4/10
Hoop Dreams (1994) -- As someone who spends a lot of time around high school sports, this doc is spot on. It's disheartening, but spot on. 8/10
Zombieland (2009 rewatch) -- This movie is like an old friend that has made me laugh and seen me cry so many times that it is easy to take for granted. There are no surprises here, no deep insight into the human condition. Just sincerity and hope. 10/10
Spartan (2004) -- What immediately struck me was the lack of orientation. This is a sink-or-swim sort of movie that tosses the audience in without any guidelines. And although the action-spy plot itself is pretty straightforward and conventional, the approach is refreshingly intense. 7/10
There Will Be Blood (2007 rewatch) -- I admire the craft more than I love the movie, but it's impossible not to be awed by the ambition of PTA on this one. 9/10
Custody (2017) -- A movie that hides things from the audience that the characters already know, in hopes of tricking the audience with its reveals. Unfortunately, those reveals are still blatantly obvious from the very first scene, and all Legrand succeeds in doing is alienating the audience from the motivations and inner lives of his characters. 4/10
Hoop Dreams (1994) -- As someone who spends a lot of time around high school sports, this doc is spot on. It's disheartening, but spot on. 8/10
Zombieland (2009 rewatch) -- This movie is like an old friend that has made me laugh and seen me cry so many times that it is easy to take for granted. There are no surprises here, no deep insight into the human condition. Just sincerity and hope. 10/10
Spartan (2004) -- What immediately struck me was the lack of orientation. This is a sink-or-swim sort of movie that tosses the audience in without any guidelines. And although the action-spy plot itself is pretty straightforward and conventional, the approach is refreshingly intense. 7/10
There Will Be Blood (2007 rewatch) -- I admire the craft more than I love the movie, but it's impossible not to be awed by the ambition of PTA on this one. 9/10
Custody (2017) -- A movie that hides things from the audience that the characters already know, in hopes of tricking the audience with its reveals. Unfortunately, those reveals are still blatantly obvious from the very first scene, and all Legrand succeeds in doing is alienating the audience from the motivations and inner lives of his characters. 4/10
