Category: Ratings
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Netflix’ Eurovision Song Contest…(***1/2) is spectacularly regular
Director David DobkinScreenplay Will Ferrell, Andrew Steele based on Eurovision Song Contest by EBUStarring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens, Melissanthi Mahut The first surprise when watching the newest Will Ferrell film is that EuroVision Song Contest is actually a thing. It’s easy to speculate that the phrase, EuroVision Song Contest was googled…
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You Should Have Left (***) doesn’t stay long enough
Written and Directed by David Koepp based on the novel by Daniel KehlmannStarring Kevin Bacon, Amanda Seyfried, Avery Essex, Geoff Bell, Lowri-Ann Richards You Should Have Left is a good story that could leave one wondering about the basis of one’s reality. Bacon is Theo Conroy, a widowed writer who takes his second wife and…
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Forgotten Gem: Hud (*****) Horseman, pass by
Hud may take liberties with the original material, but the greatness of the story shines through. It’s a remarkable story that feels timeless. If you want to understand humans a bit more, you should give it a try.
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Timeline (*) is out of sync
This is what happens when one takes B-Level material by a good writer with a director who is kind of through with the hassle of being a director.
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Forgotten Gem: Slap Shot (*****) is as good as it gets
The real surprise and the definite treat of the film are the Hansons. They have such an innocence and exuberance for the game of hockey, they carry whatever portion of the film that is not being driven by Newman.
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Criterion: The Bad Sleep Well (****1/2) Pigs on the Wing
Like anything Kurosawa does by now, it’s completely worthwhile and a keeper for the memory book. No one has better control of the images one sees through lighting, angles and dialogue. He controls the mood of the viewer at his whim. It’s hard to imagine a better film maker from his time.
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Criterion: Muhomatsu, the Rickshaw Man (****) – Life in your own lane
See this film if you want to smile, but don’t expect to go away with the idea that stoicism is easy. Even if Mifune makes it seem that way.
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Uncut Gems (***1/2) – Even the losers
The Safdie’s are not breaking new ground, but it covers familiar territory like Velma looking for her glasses, in Scooby Doo. We know she’s going to find them, but someone else will get the credit for the win.
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Underwater (***) holds enough air
If you expect this to be a version of 10 Little Indians, you’d be right. It is handled about as well as one can imagine. It didn’t feel like a waste of time, and it made us curious enough to look up Cthulhu.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 