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Reviews
Emilia Pérez (2024)
Zero stars would not recommend!
Trans people have a hard enough time without Hollywood depicting them as cartel leaders, so disgusted with their murderous, crime filled life before we meet them, that they must have a sex change to escape being caught and prosecuted, thereby living "authentically" but falsely. This is a musical? The score sounded like it was written by someone with no idea how to write music or understand rhythm or harmony. Was no one supposed to sing in key? The audience seemed to be laughing at the characters and not with them. The way the characters burst into song, made this film seem like a really long Family Guy episode. I'm shocked it won any awards.
The Bear (2022)
How The Bear jumped the shark.
Episode 8 is about childbirth. I could care less. This season is about the supporting characters taking up way to much story real estate and the restaurant becoming a bit player. The first 2 seasons were amazing and apparently, everyone associated with the show got full of themselves and forgot why it was great. As I began to dread swimming through the molasses of this slog of a season, I began to realize what someone trapped in quicksand must feel like when they realize there is no way out. The bear is bear-ly recognizable mostly in the episodes where the actors think they are directors. I haven't been this disappointed since Mrs. Maisel became unmarvelous.
The Gentlemen (2024)
Ringtone
It's the priests ringtone being Belinda Carlisle "Heaven is a place on Earth" for me. It's only a few seconds and when it began I wondered where I'd heard the tune before. It's an elevator music type version so at first I couldn't sus out exactly the tune, but by the time he answered the call, I felt like Lisa Kudrow, cause, well... I got it! The irony and the shade was not lost on me as Belinda and that very song was sung and then pointed out as an extreme irritant for a certain Queen of Pop whom the director may or may not (but probably did) possibly maybe be throwing a dig at. Either way, the show is great.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
A successful gay rom com...
...all without the heavy media push of that other trash, and no Bully Eichner around to shame us for caring less about his ego. There is a lesson to be learned here by comparing and contrasting the actual content of this film with that other steaming pile of failure. This film is watchable, with engaging characters that, even though one is royal, are more relatable. No stereotypical tropes here and not 1 person goes to Fire Island. It is a love story, which can be pedantic when we are much more than this one storyline, but at least these characters are like-able, good actors, believable and actually hot. Makes it so much easier to get carried away.
Glamorous (2023)
And just like that...
...you lost me at the club, drag shows in Ep 3. Until then I was willing to overlook the wretched acting by everyone besides Kim, but this "appearance" was beyond unacceptable. Y'all made Bushwick nightlife a mess when it can turn a party like no other. The writing is just bad, but that doesn't mean the acting has to be. The character interactions are forced and the Devil Wears Prada references are heavier than pancake foundation covering stubble. All the tokens are here, from Fire Island to Wig, so be prepared to gay gasp at the never ending tirade of yaaass queens and stereotypes and boogers, Oh My! Kim deserves better. The community deserves better.
Chrisley Knows Best (2014)
This is what happens when...
A gay man can't be his authentic self so he pretends to love a woman, have a family and kids, hiding his true feelings, which manifests itself in unrealistic life choices and criminal behavior. Any given evening in whatever town he lives in, I bet you could find him tolling apps for Benji, a new "business associate". How in the world this fake man with his fake family and his fake tv show continue to profit from this fake life is unimaginable, Any network with an agreement to air this show should stop immediately. Who would even watch and find entertainment now knowing they are headed to jail? No thank you.
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
A slice of real life, lived extraordinarily.
When this pandemic is over, I hope each and every one of us, finds the ability to do something to elevate the meaning of our lives and of those around us, including animals. As a sometimes overworked editor, I too have thought I never wanted to see an edit bay again. But when the universe chooses you to tell such an incredible story, you must. I hope to one day be able to tell stories such as this. We need more positivity in film and this doc delivers massively.
Pose (2018)
Not an accurate representation at all.
Rich white man tells poor black stories... again. Paging Jennie Livingston! I am glad the trans community has representation on tv, but that's it for the love from me for this nonsense. NO ONE is ever voguing in the park and approached to be in a house. That's not how it works, not now, not then, not ever. Also, Billy Porter needs to take several seats with that, "Without us Madonna would be nothing!" ish... queen please! She was someone long before you, vogueing or POSE! Season 1 regularly rated out of the top 25, how it got renewed is a mystery, just like life. Everyone must stand alone. I hear you call my... you know the rest.
Madonna and the Breakfast Club (2019)
No, she can't act!
I had such high hopes for this project because I met the actress playing Madonna and she is such a lovely person. But it's not her that's bad (my headline is taken from a review of Madonna in "Speed The Plow"), it's the writing, the directing, the downright horrid pacing of the story, or better yet, the lack of pacing, and the utter misuse of music. I think this is a completely disrespectful film to Madonna herself and there is no reason whatsoever for this film to have been made, not now nor after M's death. I hope Madonna never sees this. The information provided is not that new, however the photos and early voice recordings of Madonna and Dan are the only things of any interest here. This film could have been boiled down to just those bits and been a 10 minute short. It's clear that Guy Guido has little to no editing or directing experience and as the film slugs on, it feels like you are stuck in a bad film school project. The hardcore Madonna fans will gush that it's great, but no-one else.
Roma (2018)
HATED IT!
I just wasted more than 2 hours of my life watching this horrid vanity project about nothing with way way way too many panning shots. Boring doesn't begin to encapsulate this insulting "film". Don't get it twisted, I am not a a Hollywood blockbuster film watcher. I'd rather see an indi film, foreign film, low budget anything than sit through anything with pyrotechnics. But this story of a maid and the family she serves, should have never even got past the, "WTF were you thinking?" phase after a first draft script reading. The acting is great but how burdensomely dull is it's content. Slow and wandering are not great adjectives when describing a story but perfect for this bland picture about characters that never get to a point where you care at all what is happening to them. I've never wanted to walk out before a movie was over before, but I ran out of the theater when it finally was. This is a failure in every aspect. Zero stars.
The Salt of the Earth (2014)
I loved this movie!
Very touching and beautiful doc about life, love, loss, despair, redemption and it shows how, by sheer faith, you can build a forest. Literally. The beautiful photos tell a troubling yet touching story that will make you angry at mankind. By the end you will find yourself believing again and hoping that one day you could be so humble as to reflect on the negative influences in your life and thus be able to change those nativities into positive reactions . You are probably not doing enough for the world around you and when you see how easy it is to make real change, hopefully it will be a call to action. If a picture tells 1000 words, then this film tells 1000 stories.