Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Continental (2023)
Let Down
Ever since Winston shot John Wick at the end of JW3, he became a villain as worthy of John's revenge as any in the universe.
But JW4 and this show make the mistake of making him the protagonist.
Why are we rooting for him again?
Because his criminal brother kills dozens of former coworkers and friends to ineffectively steal from his long time boss, and gets justifiably taken out?
Keep in mind that Gibsons character is in the same role that Winston eventually ascends to, doing all the things management of an international murder cabal is expected to do.
Why would Charon betray him? How does this demonstrate the loyalty to the Code he eventually embodies? Why not just kill Gibson the many times they had the chance? (Sniper) How was the plan for Winston to fall down a garbage chute, be ambushed by Gibson, then shot by the cop who happened to overhear that he ordered the random house/family to be burned? Winston did it.
They missed a rare opportunity here.
They could have expanded their universe, showed Continental hotel in Osaka back in the 1950s. The Casablanca Continental in the 1940s, the Rome Continental in the 1960s. NY and the Bowery in the 70s. Explore John's history with Sofia, the Russian Gypsies, and/or Aurelio.
How and when did the High Table originate?
The characters and story they chose were bland and contrived.
Wasted potential.
The Burial (2023)
Ineffable.
Once I shed traditional methods of comprehension, and began to experience this work as the brazenly tone deaf vapid misdirection that was, I was swept away.
I could MST3k this piece scene after scene, it is sheer chaos of contrivances and dialogue so inane, I was moved on a metaphysical level.
Why?
Why did they bring OJ into this?
Why didn't anyone watch at least one courtroom show or movie other than A Few Good Men?
Why would Willie agree to take this case?
It never became a class action, just a (pretty cut and dry imo) contract case that he inexplicably raised the asking to $100.
Who learned a lesson? The evil corporation that raised its prices? Sweet, now sue my cable company. The dottering old man (poor TLJ) who clearly has no business sense, or one capable supportive child out of the 13. Ran his legacy into the ground, but somehow could afford a team of high end lawyers. How did this man deserve five hundred million dollars?
Did Willie learn a lesson in humility? Was he in over his head? Nope. He was awesome at everything if you ask him, but his "friendship" with O'Keefe consisted of a high five over a song, his Tom Cruise "I want the truth!" Moment consisted of him asking a billionaire how much his boat cost...four times, and his epic closing argument consisted of...cut for time, apparently.
Consider the 2 breakthroughs the young lawyer makes, one a waitress who claimed the corporation raised prices when they took over by some "crazy amount". Case closed right? No- don't settle yet, we have an elderly black gentleman telling our lawyers about slave graves without headstones. Smoking gun.
I'll tread lightly on this one, but it feels like this blatant pandering attempts at tying race- indeed almost the entire civil rights movement- to an ineffective white South Carolina small businessman's contract dispute with a Canadian funeral home conglomerate might have done actual damage to our progress.
It all would have been so very painful, if it wasn't one of the most existential movie experiences of my life.
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Into the depths
It's become a hobby of mine this past year to watch IMDb's top 250, AFI's top 100 and all Oscar winning (and most nominated) films. I've seen over 100 films in just the past year alone, but I am struggling to think of a film that I enjoyed more.
The performances are outstanding. All of the characters- including the city itself - are filled with depth and ambiguity. Like a previous post mentioned, Amy Ryan did a phenomenal job as Helene, not only do I know many people like her, I'm related to some. I didn't even recognize her from her wonderful performance in the Wire.
The questions that this movie asks as it unfolds do not get answered in by the closing credits, and they still aren't answered as I type. Who was right? Is there a right answer? Morgan Freeman- the greatest actor alive- and Ed Harris give standard upper echelon performances. But I was surprised by Michelle Monaghan and especially Casey Affleck. He didn't flinch, and he didn't compromise his ideals, but in the end compromised nonetheless. I hope he gets a nomination.
Ben Affleck lost my favor somewhere around the time he began to cry in Armageddon, and I haven't taken him seriously since. But his achievement here, the pace, the mood, the spot on capturing of the desolate neighborhood, and the overall story leads me to anxiously await his next directorial effort.
The best film I've seen in years.