Category: Drama
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Another Look: Full Metal Jacket (***)
“In total, this film means the same thing to me that it did back in 1987. It’s schizophrenic and frustrating. In the effort to make mirror images of life before and after being honed into the “full metal jacket” they forgot to make the story a believable one. It might have been more effective if…
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Forgotten Gems – Lone Star(*****): John Sayles is still the king
“This is just the tip of the iceberg that goes down into the depths of a deep sea of the human condition. If there is one film that shows a completely honest viewpoint of life on the border of so many things.”
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The Circle (**) is ever closing
“What possible strengths the story could have are undermined in its own ridiculousness. Two great performances by the late Paxton and Headley seem out of place when contrasted by the rest of the cast. ”
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Golden Sombrero – God Bless America (*) They were asking for it
“It wants to be a statement, but it’s not quite a sentence.”
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Stan & Ollie (****1/2) fills the soul of memory
“There is very little to criticize in this film. It’s purpose is to give us a close up view of the duo at a crucial time so that we could get an understanding of what it is that made their relationship seem so magical. The film is a joy, ultimately, even if we know its…
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Eighth Grade (*****) – If you could only see you…
“…I cannot attest to how accurate the portrayal is from the perspective of a teenage girl. I can only say as the father of two he’s done a magnificent job of showing us – rather than telling us – how it feels. ”
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The Favourite (****) Rabbits on the loose
#thefavourite “The placement of rabbits looms large in this film. She who pays attention to what they signify may be rewarded, even if they still don’t belong on the loose. They belong in cages, not running lose in the castle.”
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Vice (****) – It’s more complicated than that
“Much of what the film consists of is somewhat armchair knowledge of the events for the Cheney / Bush first term. It helps to put things into perspective, especially more than sixteen years later. This man viewed himself as a patriot, sure. He was also a very calculated opportunist who saw dollar signs at the…
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Roma (*****) – Share the Well
#roma “It’s a tough viewing, to be sure. It is also incredibly rewarding. It is so much higher a level of movie making that one is used to seeing. It’s not the kind of film that everyone could make it through, but it’s the kind of film that is utterly the point for art itself.”
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Creed II: (****1/2) gives us time to breathe
After an engaging round one that saw Jordan move into the role of fighter and Stallone gracefully filling the role of trainer, Creed II gives us a development not only worthy of the series, but in better than most of the other films.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 