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Withnail33

recommended to me by a friend. Grew up during the early 90s and never heard of the movie. Fun concept, great visual gags, and lots of references. The cast was solid and John Ritter is hilarious. I recommend giving it a watch if you're in the mood for some 90s comedy.
5 months 2 weeks ago
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Withnail33

This movie was really all over the place; an inconsistent tone like it couldn't decide what sort of genre to be. They also could've dialed it back with the use of music. I love 80s music but every two minutes a song was playing.

The one redeeming quality of this movie was the ending. I totally did not expect it to end on such a down note, and you don't see many 80s teen sex comedies do what American Virgin did. I was expecting a sort of happy resolution but it was replaced with harsh realism, and I really appreciated the film doing that.
6 months ago
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Withnail33

Not a perfect movie but fun and much better than the disaster that was the other Suicide Squad movie
2 years 7 months ago
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Withnail33

I was a fan of Cumming's "Thunder Road" so I was interested in checking this one out. This time around, Cummings gives his own comedic spin to the horror genre as the story revolves around a small town sheriff (Cummings) investigating a handful of grisly murders that seem to be at the hands of a beast-like creature.

I think Cummings was able to hit this on the mark; balancing the line between horror and comedy well. The horror parts are good and are pretty gruesome which took me by surprise because I did not expect that level of explicitness from a comedy director. He is also able to instill his type of humor (semi stream-of-consciousness monologues, long takes, etc.) into the movie but it's a bit more subdued. And It has to be in order for his comedic style to work with this type of genre and plot.

The reveal at the end was a bit weak. It won't take you long to figure out what's going on when the scene unfolds but I thought the resolution was satisfying.

I think if you're a fan of Cumming's comedy and his types of characters, you'll enjoy this one. He did a good job of mixing in his humor while still maintaining a suspenseful, creepy tone. If you're not familiar with his work, you might find his character a bit annoying but I think the story and the action sequences will keep you engaged.
3 years 3 months ago
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Withnail33

"The Quiet Earth" could've easily fallen into typical tropes you find in many "last-man-on-earth" films but it doesn't; especially during a decade filled with cheesy horror flicks and action movies. What helps this film deviate from other films of the time is its focus on it's characters and their relationships with each other as they try to survive. The movie isn't just about exploring how and why - it touches on themes of spirituality. It comments on class system and race. Yes, our protagonist is figuring out how to solve a mystery but he is trying to figure out who he really is as a person as well. The sets are fantastic, the story is intriguing and the small cast is great (especially Bruno Lawrence). They really worked well off one another.

The one nitpick I had was the introduction to Joanne (Alison Routledge) where I thought that instant connection between her and Zac felt very rushed. They wouldn't be weary of each other? No one asks questions first? I also wanted more of a backstory with her so I could connect more with her character. I sympathized with Zac and Api but didn't really feel any emotion toward Joanne. And the part where spoiler was just comical and sort of ruined the tone of that scene.

Overall, this was a good sci-fi movie that offers audiences with much more than solving a mystery. It explores themes you don't normally see in 80s sci-fi films and will have you thinking about it even after the credits roll. Its one that really feels like it was ahead of it's time. I recommend checking this one out - just don't expect a Night of the Comet/The Last Man on Earth style narrative.
3 years 3 months ago
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Withnail33

Ho boy...this one started off decent and then completely spiraled into awfulness after the second act.

Here's the few things I liked: the opening plot was great and really hooked me. The film sets an eerie atmosphere and pulls you in with some intrigue. The couple (Rita and Dennis) are decent actors and felt believable. Once we are introduced to Nate, this is where the film lost me.


I don't want to write page after page of the film's cons so I'll make a list of the things I did not like about this movie:

-Nate's acting was not very good. It felt stilted and hammy.
-the actions taken by Rita and Dennis (spoiler) were unbelievable and took me out of the moment.
-the movie spoiler in an attempt to make the movie's story interesting. It does not and ruins the pacing of the first act.
-the plot proceeds to start spoiler which starts to become confusing and it felt like I was watching two different movies.
-the movie proceeds to give Nate his own backstory which is unnecessary and makes the plot more convoluted
-the entire tone of the film is confusing and inconsistent like it didn't know what it wanted to be: horror? thriller? drama? What?? There is a montage of spoiler which COMPLETELY comes out of left field.
-finally, we end with spoiler....


This is a classic example of a bad film which starts out good for the first 15-20 minutes and then hilariously falls apart. Confusing story editing, inconsistent tones and a seemingly unfinished ending which makes this movie just...bad. I would skip this one.
3 years 8 months ago
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Withnail33

I enjoyed this one. The performances were fantastic (subtle, yet powerful) and the plot, although simple and slow, kept me enthralled. Having worked in entry level roles in administration, the film really spoke to me and I easily connected with the main character. I was really impressed at how well Kitty Green portrayed office culture with all of it's politics and power dynamics hidden under the surface. But this time, it's shown through the eyes of a young, naive assistant.

The look of the film was great and I loved how Green framed shots and used cold colors to really portray a sense of rigidness and (you could even say) imprisonment. I also loved the use of squares and rectangles in many shots that helped to convey Jane's rote, unchanging work routine.

The message I got from the movie was something I learned over the years of working: sometimes you have to go with the flow. As idealistic and imaginative as we are, that stuff doesn't fly when you start a 9-to-5 job. We go in, we work, and we leave. Rarely do we get a chance to show our true skills and personality. The main character is conflicted with this because she wants to do what's right but she realizes that in order to succeed, she has to suppress her feelings and just go with the flow. And as depressing as that sounds, that is, unfortunately, the reality of it.

Overall, I appreciated Kitty Green's subtlety and her handling of the how things were conveyed. We aren't hammered over the head with overt social commentary. We aren't spoon-fed information about where Jane works, who is who, etc. She trusts her viewers to be smart enough to understand what is going on. Not a lot of movies do that nowadays.

I recommend this if you've worked in administration or as an assistant- this'll really speak to you. If you like slow, subtle dramas I think this movie would be right up your alley.
3 years 11 months ago
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Withnail33

Interesting plot; story will keep you guessing and on your toes. The ending was surprising and I was not expecting it at all. Solid thriller and one to add to your Netflix queue if you like a good mystery flick
3 years 11 months ago
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Withnail33

This one was very meh. A plot and a narrative done in many other body-horror/sci-fi films (some better, some worst) and this movie doesn't really do much to deviate away from the norm. Effects were sub-par (in some scenes you could tell a 3D ocean was added..) and the creature design was very bland.

I will give the cast a thumbs up as the acting wasn't bad (nothing too over-dramatic or exaggerated, solid delivery of lines) and the characters were believable (I could imagine a crew like this in real life). However, there is a little to no background given to some of the characters (even the main heroine) which makes it hard for us to really care what happens to them.

Not worth putting on a "to-watch" movie list - there are a lot of better body-horror films out there to watch.
3 years 11 months ago
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Withnail33

great cinematography but other than that, it's just okay. The plot adds nothing unique and it hits all the tropes and all the same beats of a standard war movie. The film has a lot of familiar faces but they start to feel like cameos. There's been a lot of hype over this "one-take" style but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The scenes where they traverse through no-man's land and the scene in the ruined village work very well for the one-take. Other scenes where they're just walking through the trenches or talking in the truck makes the movie drag (I get that they can't edit those because that would ruin the "one-take").

I give Sam Mendes an A for effort. The film looks good and there are some great scenes but if this was done without the one-take, it turns into your run-of-the-mill war movie.
4 years 2 months ago
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Withnail33

I really liked this one. I knew nothing about the story and went in completely blind. The plot was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat. I love movies/tv shows with a mysterious atmosphere that keep you guessing - this was a perfect example. Vincento Natali does a great job with directing. Good pacing, interesting camera work and he keeps it simple, yet effective. The cast was good and I was surprised at how well the child actor did (child actors usually annoy me but the boy wasn't bad).

I also liked how there was little to no back story for the setting or it's antagonist. They don't explain how or why which makes it even creepier. Many horror movies are ruined when a motive is given - there is none here and that adds to the eeriness of it all.

My only complaint was that some of the exposition was kinda clunky and I wish they were a little more subtle with some of the back stories.

But if you're looking for a solid mystery/horror flick, definitely check out "In The Tall Grass". It will keep you engaged and entertained the whole way through.
4 years 3 months ago
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Withnail33

Knives out, vomit spout
4 years 4 months ago
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Withnail33

Wasn't expecting too much going into this film. I LOVED the stories as a kid and really wanted to see how the film handled them. What I felt I ended up with was a typical young-adult horror film trying to reel in viewers based on nostalgia. Throwbacks are all the rage in movies now...

I was really disappointed the way the stories were handled. Unfortunately, these are not film versions of each story - the stories (and the book itself) are part of a larger narrative and are (sort of) the antagonist of the film (ala the Goosebumps movie). I think the only way properly show "Scary Stories" would be through a kind of tv/anthology series showcasing the individual tales. The way it's handled in this movie, viewers don't really grasp the true creepiness and horror the stories gave readers. The scene where spoiler really took me out of the movie and felt like I was watching another film.

Then there were your typical tropes which peppered the movie as well: the misfit group of teens, the highschool bully, the evil spirit, etc etc. which didn't bring anything fresh to the movie. And I'm confused as to why politics had to be brought into the movie. Nixon and the Vietnam War are mentioned every now and then but this added nothing to the overall plot.

But there are things I liked. The actress who played Stella was decent. I also commend them for using practical effects for some of the creatures and that it wasn't totally computer animated.
I also commend André Øvredal and the studio for pushing the limits of the PG-13 rating. There are some scenes which I considered quite violent/creepy for children. But I have no problem with that. As a kid, my dad would always allow me and my brother to watch his movie collection despite the ratings. That's what got me to love film and helped "toughen" me up when watching R-rated movies. This would be a great "gateway" film to show children if you want to get them into the horror genre :)

Overall, a little disappointed with how the book was handled. If you were a fan of the books, I recommend checking it out to see how some of the stories are shown. Also, a good film to show to kids who are interested in getting into horror movies. If you're looking for a good horror flick yourself, I recommend passing on this one.
4 years 4 months ago
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Withnail33

Slow and subtle is how I would describe this one. The first act is Scorcese's signature "how-I-came-to-be" montage/plot but it turns into a very personal and almost intimate look into the protagonist's life in the third act, which surprised me. Themes of human mortality and loneliness are explored and it's something you don't see in a lot of crime-mob films. Violence isn't too over-the-top (which is something you normally see in mob movies) but I wish Scorcese went the traditional route and used squibs, blood bags, etc. The 3-D blood was very obvious and really took me out of the moment.

Overall, I liked this one. Hits all the marks you would expect in a Scorcese film while adding a few themes that make this movie unique among films of the genre.
4 years 4 months ago
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Withnail33

The trailer made this seem like it had a lot more suspense and action than what I saw. This was pretty tame for an Eastwood film and a little below-average compared to his other work. Clint Eastwood has some great "grandpa" moments with his un-PC insults and unfiltered dialogue. A handful of familiar actors extends the cast (Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne) but play very toned down and generic characters.
I think the film might have symbolized the hanging of his acting/directing hat - he's getting pretty old.

If that's the case The Mule is not what I would consider a strong farewell piece - I think he's got one or two more in him and he is capable of doing much better.
5 years 3 months ago
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Withnail33

Fantastic acting by Melissa McCarthy. Her and Richard E. Grant have great chemistry and are an entertaining duo from start to finish. Fans of the British film "Withnail and I" will catch glimpses of Withnail from Grant sometimes. Story was solid and entertaining as well. Some parts did drag a little but McCarthy's performance is the main draw of the film. Recommended for fans of McCarthy; maybe people who have worked in the publishing industry.
5 years 4 months ago
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Withnail33

This movie was just bad. It tries to be a stoner comedy and fails miserably. Unfunny, little to no plot, and annoying, badly written characters that I could not root for. And I really wanted to like the two main female leads but I just couldn't. Put these two girls in the hands of a competent director and a good script and I feel they could do very well.

Not recommended; feels like it was written by a high schooler. If you need some kind of background noise while you're doing something else, maybe put this on.
5 years 5 months ago
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Withnail33

A very dark young adult film - I went in knowing nothing about the movie or the book it was based on. Started out very mediocre and it felt like a bad Harry Potter rip-off. I was pleasantly surprised when the second act came around and things actually started to get interesting and creepy; as if H.P. Lovecraft wrote a young adult novel.

But like the previous comment said, the final act is a mess. It felt jumbled, rushed and in disarray as if the movie kinda gave up and needed a way to resolve the story. And the odd shifts in tone really confused me - you go from horror to small bits of comedy to sympathy all in a span of 10 minutes. Very confusing.

An interesting take on the young adult genre and the second act is very well executed but this is not worth going to the theater to see. Definitely not for younger children as it is pretty scary and dark.
5 years 5 months ago
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Withnail33

A lot of Tarantino influence in this one. Goddard's new film starts out good and is quite entertaining for the first act. But the film loses steam as character's backstories are delved into for too long and it starts to get predictable once Chris Hemsworth's character shows up. The film jumps around too much in terms of settings when it really needs to focus more on the El Royale.

The character of Darlene Sweet was, in my opinion, a little too simple. I wanted to see her have an ulterior motive or a dark past. She has a great voice and Goddard wanted to display this but I feel it was a bit overused at times.

None of the cast members really stood out to me. Jeff Bridges was alright and Cynthia Erivo (Darlene) was good but there wasn't really an actor that elevated themselves above the rest.

An entertaining movie but a concept and plot that has been done numerous times, some even better than this. Give it a go if you want a decent movie to watch or if you are a fan of Drew Goddard which is why I went.
5 years 5 months ago
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Withnail33

I went in knowing nothing about this and was pleasantly surprised.

With a simple premise and a small cast, director Quinn Lasher executes everything well. He sets the tone of the movie quickly and convincingly creating an eerie atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The movie strays away from the constant jump scares that you see in many horror movies today and sticks with the basics. It is the pacing and the atmosphere that will give you chills when watching.

The only complaint I had was the look of the film, specifically the color palette. Not sure if I got a bad copy or if it was my computer but the footage looked very pale and muddied. I would've liked to see a little more color. Also there was this one badly edited part that was very brief but took me out of the film for a moment.

A good horror movie with solid acting and a chilling atmosphere that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Definitely one to watch during Halloween!
5 years 5 months ago
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Withnail33

This film was a surrealistic joy. A little Terry Gilliam, a little Spike Lee.

Boots Riley delves into many themes including gentrification and exploitation of Black people within the genre of sci-fi/fantasy - and it works brilliantly. The main cast was strong; Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson played the leads very well with their abilities to portray characters who were realistic, yet irregular.

The final act comes completely out of left field but it works due to the bizarre atmosphere and tone the film sets from act one. This movie could have worked well without the spoiler at the end but I think it helped to give the film that extra layer of "offbeat-ness".

This is a movie worth checking out if you are a fan of offbeat, indie movies. If you enjoy the occasional surreal sci-fi/fantasy film every now and then, definitely put this one on your list to watch
5 years 7 months ago
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Withnail33

A unique take on the werewolf horror film. Many elements such as the transformation scene and the Lycan backstory were subtle and deviated from conventional tropes of the werewolf movie. Bel Powley was very good and Brad Dourif gives a solid performance.

I did have a few complaints: the chase scene at the end where the editor seems to have lost his mind. The time continuity was so confusing due to the constant switching from day to night and vice versa. I couldn't tell if this scene took place within one day or within a longer period of time.

Also Liv Tyler is not believable as a small town sheriff. Her calm, soothing persona seemed to contrast with her role. She would have been more suited to play a therapist or, perhaps, a doctor. I believe the sheriff role required an actress who could portray more cop-sternness and who looked like they would be from a rural town (Jennifer Jason Leigh would have worked well imo).
5 years 7 months ago
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Withnail33

A 3D horse...why..

The first 15-20 minutes of the film was quite interesting. The plot was simple yet enthralling - a burglar attempts to rob a wealthy man's house and finds a woman tied up. He then must decide whether to rescue her or bail. An interesting premise and nothing flashy or complex.

But after the first act the movie takes a real dive. The plot begins to get really complicated with multiple conflicts and problems arising one after the other. I wasn't sure what to focus on. It also felt like the film's tones kept shifting back and forth - like it was deciding whether it wanted to be a crime thriller, a revenge/action movie or a psychological thriller. It seems as if they tried doing too many things at once. If they took the "home robbery-rescue" premise from the first act and extended on that, this would've been a good film.

The acting wasn't too great - the main character's Irish accent seemed really out of place and the antagonist was really hamming it up, almost making some of his "angry" moments laughable.

And that terrible CGI horse in the beginning immediately lowered my expectations for the movie. Why couldn't they have just used a real horse??

Overall, an okay film with the first 15-20 minutes being decent. One of those flicks to watch to kill time but not nearly good enough for a second viewing.
5 years 7 months ago
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Withnail33

Your typical action-revenge plot with slick visuals and a sleak production design. Action scenes are good with Keanu Reeves doing all the stunts himself. Almost felt like a throwback to the action flicks from the late 90s early 2000s. If you are looking for an action movie to past the time, John Wick is a solid pick
5 years 8 months ago
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Withnail33

"If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours..."


The first half of the movie, I was scratching my head wondering why this film was so highly praised. Plot points and characters were typical of those coming-of-age movies. The two awkward friends, the first crush, the big prom, the popular girl etc etc. I was a little bored, wondering where exactly the story was going.

The second half is where it started to pick up. Plots that you normally don't see in teen films are discussed, characters and their relationships are complex and intimate. Emotional moments in Christine's life are subtle and never drawn out; we get quick but effective cuts that mimic how fast and unpredictable life can really be.

When it ended, everything made sense and I felt complete as a viewer.

This is Gerwig's love letter to her hometown of Sacramento and her story of growing up as a teenager. The audience is treated to an intimate look at Christine's/Gerwig's life; superbly acted (believable dialogue, not a hint of melodrama). As a male viewer, there were a few parts that I couldn't really connect to but the relationships portrayed are things anyone will be able to connect with and will definitely tug on your heartstrings.

If you are a fan of coming-of-age films, this is one to check out. Recommended for those who are looking for something a little different in the female-teen-dramedy category.
6 years ago

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