FilmNut

"Horizon" starring Kevin Costner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:56:00 +0000

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 ... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 "𝐧𝐢𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦" 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲, 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 ... 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡. 𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 - 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 ... 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 "𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬" ... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 "𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞" 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞 ... 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 Horizon 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧.

"Civil War" brief review - Tom Eggebeen

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:40:00 +0000

Yes, unique and fresh ... well acted ... and the purpose of photo journalism - "get the shot" - it's the shot that will tell the story to others.

I thought the music was some of the best I've heard - it's fit with the images was seriously moving, unnerving, heart-pounding.

The play between Kirsten Dunst (the hardcore veteran) and Cailee Spaeny, as the youngster who wants to be a photojournalist is powerful - both revealing what war does to the soul.

A shoutout here to Jesse Plemmons - one of my favorite character actors - he portrays the "true American." Ha.

But politics take a backseat in the movie ...

It doesn't focus on the civil war, which was a smart move, I think, but on the journalists covering it - and, I thought, they didn't arm the journalists, which some action movies might have done - here, take a gun; guns will solve the problem.

In some ways, it's an anti-war film ... because war is terrible, and does terrible things to the soul.

Yes, a very good movie; thought-provoking. I give it a 20 - my point system:

Excellent: 20 - 17

Very Good: 16 - 13

Good: 12 - 9

Fair: 8 - 5

Poor: 4 - 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 12:45:00 +0000

Goofy movie, that's for sure - a mishmash of Indiana Jones with his fedora, and all those dinosaurs roaring the bellowing (in place of a plot), and everyone screaming, all the time. Was this a horror movie? Special effects were great, but they can't make for a movie. Fun to see everyone, but this was pretty much a bunch of moments in search of a story. I didn't really care about any of the characters; found myself mostly bored by it all.

"Belfast"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:08:00 +0000

A fine piece of story telling - the pathos and pain of Belfast, the poverty, the conflicts, the power struggles and violence - Protestants and Catholics - background to the life of a young boy - a child full of hope and love, surrounded by a kindly neighborhood, and a family, caught up in its own struggles.

Father, Grandfather, the Boy

The young boy is a cheerful bundle of energy; but sensitive to the times, and to the family undercurrents.

Fascinating use of Van Morrison music and Country Western.

Fine acting, great script - some really humorous lines, but it's not comedy.

I was the only one in the auditorium, so I missed what might have been audience-reaction.

The dedication at the end says it all - to those who left, to those who stayed, and all those who were lost.

The showing I attended had captions; helpful for the music lyrics, and some of the Irish brogue. But if captions aren't your thing, the sound quality is such that everything was clear. I closed my eyes a time or two to listen rather than "watch."

Yes, this a movie to see.

"In the Heights"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 22:56:00 +0000

Incredible - story, music, dance; every human emotion: joy, delight, inspiration; sadness, sorrow, tears; hope, laughter, love, and then some ... and some surprising SFX ... music, dance, everything, superbly done. Yes, yes, yes ... and yes, again. Don't miss it.

And, and, and ... a post-credit trailer ... I mean, post-credit ... right at the very end ... a lovely little moment!

"The Tribes of Europa"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:26:00 +0000

Finished the series yesterday - wow ... so very good ... lots of commentary about the present state of affairs in Europe ... and some darn good story telling - it's all about power, what we do with it, how it affects us, how some go crazy with it, while others know how to limit its allure. In the midst of it all, family - it is, for better or for worse, our origin.

Yet, we have other origins, too - our tribe.

Special effects, superb. Cast, terrific. Violence? Of course - life is violent, but here in this series it's handled well. It's all part of the story, like it or not. It's the kind of world in which we have to live and work, and find our way.

At the end, I was hooked on the three main characters, siblings, separated from another, striving to be a family again ... each with their own story ... I cared about them, wanting to know more, wanting to see how it works out.

There has to be another season.

Don't miss it.

"The Last Word"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:26:00 +0000

Finished first season of #TheLastWord, a terrific German #Netflix "comedy" that deals with death, grief, and just about anything else we can throw at the wall. Superb cast, scripting, acting. It's all here.

Hope there's a Season 2.

"Biohackers" - Netflix

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 18:25:00 +0000

Biohackers ...

All the elements of a thriller are here ... it caught me, and got inside of me, disturbed, unsettled me.

A story well conceived and well done.

A story of young lady putting her life together, to challenge the self-anointed righteousness of the powerful and the wealthy, convinced as they are of their own place in the sun, believing they alone know the truth and can break the law at will because they, and they alone, are entitled to govern, and when given their due, they will offer to humankind a perfect world, a world determined by the few and not the many. Democracy be damned.

The acting is superb; Luna Wedler is thoroughly convincing, innocent, yet never naive; her character is bright, and utterly devoted to justice - not revenge, but justice, because justice liberates. This young actor captures the heart of the story and brings it to life.

The rest of the cast, terrific. Jessica Schwarz is evil to the core - strong, intelligent, visionary, and completely dismissive of life, all in pursuit of her self-righteous dream to create life without disease.

A great story, good music, excellent cinematography ... a story utterly relevant for our times: when Democracy strives against Oligarchy; when the voice of the people is threatened by the voice of the few.

The ending is dramatic, with an unexpected twist; left me breathless, and hoping for Season Two.

"Birds of Prey"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 21:49:00 +0000

Perfect DC movie - darkly comedic, comedically dark ... it all worked - great acting, music, fight-scene choreography nothing less than fantastic, IMAX sound worth it. At the very end, after all the credits, a bit of joke ... not exactly a post-credit trailer, but fun.

"Bad Boys for Life"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 18:43:00 +0000

the story was better than I anticipated ... more than just fast cars and mayhem ... a real story of family, loyalty, religion. Martin Lawrence was terrific.

"1917"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 17:42:00 +0000

A remarkable story - common soldiers, stuffy brass, and a whole lot of folks caught up in a story none of them wanted, but for which they suffered and died. As a war movie, it's an anti-war movie - and from the perspective of the trenches, with all of their blood, gore, filth and disease ... when killing the "enemy" is the only thing that counts. The cinematography is, of course, fantastic - long, long, shots without cutting ... some of the most elaborate sets ever, the trenches. And lighting - flames at night, flares ... and in it all, what soldiers seem always to say: they end up fighting, not for a cause, but for one another.

"Ford v. Ferrari"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:27:00 +0000

This is a very fine film ... perhaps the best when it comes to racing, and, oh yes, the sounds - I'm a racing buff, and if there's anything that thrills me to the core of my being, it's the sound of fine engine at high RPM ... or just sitting somewhere on the tarmac, rumbling away, waiting, waiting, for someone to get behind the wheel and make it perform.

And, a story - it's a terrific story - superb acting, full of suspense and tension. Bale and Damon are terrific together, and display all the wonder and craziness of two guys who love one another, but see the world often in very different ways, and often caught up in the craziness of the industry - Bale the driver, Shelby the manager, but also a real car-man.

Ford Motor Company is portrayed as I know it from 16 years in Detroit - all the companies were bogged down with layers of administration and engineering, with everyone looking out for their own well-being, never daring to step out of line with an idea. Mediocrity became the safest route to follow, and that's exactly what they did, and that really comes through in the story.

There are so many wonderful, powerful, moments in this film, I'd be guilty of giving away too much if I were to note any of them. I laughed and I cried.

As a long-time racing buff, it was pure pleasure for me hear the names of Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Lance Reventlow, Walt Hangsen ... as a kid, I saw them all race at famed Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

If you love racing, as I do, you'll love this one ... and if you love a good story, as I do, you'll love it for that reason, as well.

Cinematography, music, sound, all terrific.

This gets a 20 from me, the top of the heap - vroom vroom and zoom.

"Terminator: Dark Fate"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 02:38:00 +0000

Sure, of course, no academy awards, but as a movie, it did what it needed to do to review the franchise story, offer new elements, maybe even more movies. All-in-all, I was satisfied, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Linda Hamilton was awesome, so was Arnold, MacKenzie Davis, Natalie Reyes, and of course, the Terminator, Gabriel Luna.

"Jojo Rabbit"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:14:00 +0000

Ok, one of the best - an extraordinary to capture what Hitler must have seemed like to a ten-year old boy ... enthralled with the Nazi movement, and his ever-present "companion," and a hatred of Jews - all bundled up in little boy who wants to do what's right. His loving mother, his absent father, and someone hidden upstairs, a town, a nation, all caught up in life and death moments.

Handled with delicate scripting, the story turns dark, and, sooner rather than later, the little boy comes face-to-face with the truth. All the children are incredible actors; a wonder to behold.

The questions here are profound. The cast is superb and brings it all off with unparalleled skill - from ironic humor to the darkest moments; with lessons for all on the power of a demagogue who, in the minds of the vulnerable, appears as a savior.

This is a movie not to miss.

"Judy"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 17:17:00 +0000

Brilliantly done, Zellwegger is beyond good in her portrayal of Garland - it's the last years of her life, so the movie is "hard" to watch - I cheer for Garland, but self-destruction seems inevitable, rooted in the evils of the studio system when she was introduced to drugs, to maintain her weight and then help her sleep while filming The Wizard of Oz. It's quite the story, and a movie worth seeing. And she does her own singing, too, and it's remarkable; she really embodies Judy Garland.

"Joker"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 15:42:00 +0000

The darkest and saddest movie I've ever seen ... yet utterly profound, telling a hard story, with so many mistakes, missteps, along the way ... the failure of a society, the failures of people ... the cruelty of so many ... Joaquin Phoenix delivers an incredible performance ... along with music and cinematography, and a stellar cast.

Certainly, one to see, but expect to come home drained and disturbed.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 21:07:00 +0000

Just finished the 6 episodes of season 1, Netflix - excellent cinematography, imposition of social media on the main screen, capturing the social media world and its constant interface with these teens ... and how youthful decisions, which make so much sense at the time, can lead to some might dark and deadly places.

"First Reformed"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 May 2018 14:49:00 +0000

So very well done ... with minimal, but accurate and biting, commentary on the times in which we live, the state of religion, the influence of money, the loss of hope, the rise of despair.

Ethan Hawke is amazing, and portrays a minister more realistically than I've seen previously. His character's story story is sad, his integrity deep, his sense of the faith, embracing, his struggles profound and agonizing.

It's a dark story, for sure: St John of the Cross, "The Dark Night of the Soul," or Joseph Conrad's "The Heart of the Matter."

I was pulled into the story, mind, body and soul ... yet without sentiment (thankfully).

One profound moment of imagery, the cross (with Amanda Seyfried, whose portrait of a young mother-to-be is profoundly moving) and a quick ending, with "Leaning on the Everlasting
Arms" in the background. I'll not say more.

But see this film - not for entertainment, but for sobriety, and a reminder of God's grace incarnate, and some hints and bits about the goodness of God (but no Hallmark here).

Hats off to Paul Schrader for such a finely crafted film.

"Train to Zakopane"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 May 2018 11:58:00 +0000

Profound story, true (the filmmaker's father), with tragic twists and turns ... originally done as a play, the film was mostly the play filmed ... simple sets, some scenic footage inserted, some inaccurate "details" as a 1928 setting - a train whistle, costumes, cigarettes (I'll not say more; you'll have to catch these yourself) ... and all dialogue, as with a play, but sometimes tedious as a film.

So, as a film, flawed ...

As a story, enlightening and sad: 1928, a train, across Poland ... a chance meeting, a successful Russian businessman, a nurse in the Polish army, and then hate, love, and always ignorance ...

Poland's "original" sin, if you will, anti-Semitism, and role of the Catholic Church in promoting and perpetuating anti-semitism ... and survival, but at what cost?

In light of the history that unfolded with Herr Hitler, and our own present struggles, this is a story that needs to be told, and a film that needs to be seen. Excellent for groups.

"American Socialist: the Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 May 2018 15:29:00 +0000

Thoughtfully done ... lots of information, good footage and stills ... informative and provocative ... Debs was a man of compassion, kindness, intelligence, determination, and faith. He understood history, and knew the heart of America, and cared for it, as few have done. He was willing, at all the turns of his time, to put himself on the line, and pay whatever price was demanded of him

This was a chance for America, but big money went to work, as it has always done, sullied the word "socialist," hounded and jailed men like Debs, violently broke strikes, and did everything that big money can do to alter perceptions and change the course of history, and that was that.

Dazzled by the glitter, America chose another path, and what a price the American People have paid.

A very discouraging docu for me ... just how stupid we are, with our silly self-reliance delusions, and our willingness to throw one another under the bus, along with our environment.

Believing that Big Money really cares about us.

While Big Money laughs all the way to the bank, because the wealthy will never allow anyone or anything to diminish their wealth.

If you want to be disturbed, in the best kind of way, check out this terrific documentary.

That God would grant us leaders like Debs.

Oh, LORD, I pray.

"Black Panther" & "Call Me by Your Name"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 17:09:00 +0000

Two movies this week ... "Black Panther" last night and "Call Me by Your Name" on Wednesday. Each, in their own way, offering a perspective not ordinarily given in mainstream film.

"Call Me by Your Name" - a gay coming of age film, reminding me of "Summer of '42" (1971, a boy and an older woman).

"Black Panther" - a story, a hero (not always super, but full of integrity and struggle), a nation, technology, hope - from the heart of Africa ... not the "heart of darkness," but the heart of light and promise.

"Call Me" dragged a bit ... a 30-minute film stuffed into a two-hour bag, or so I thought ... but perhaps the time is needed to represent the slow and uncertain movements of love and discovery, in that fine summer time in Italy.

"BP" was a bit disjointed at times, but it's a gigantic story well told, with so much promise for future Marvel tales ... and, of course, always fun to see Stan Lee's cameo. Be sure to stay for the mid- and post-credits scenes.

Both films open new doors to the audience ... doors much needed, because on the other side, a whole world awaits.

"Hostiles"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 17:11:00 +0000

One of the finest films I've ever seen ...
mature, candid ...

the frontier cruel to the bone, for everyone ...
death everywhere ... no one was free from it's chilled hand ...

scoundrels survive until their end; soldiers do their job ...

souls harden; spirits collapse ...

can there be any form of goodness in such a setting? No angels here, no clean hands ... but can there yet be some hope?

Can D.H. Lawrence's quote that sets the stage for the film yet be undone by better angels?

“The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted."

"Suburbicon"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 17:15:00 +0000

I "loved" it ... but it's no joy ride; more like going through Dante's hell ... the evil we do unto one another ... all cleverly hidden beneath the surface of our "nice" lives - the image of a 50s suburb.

It's a study in evil, corporate and individual ... lust and hate ... racism and desire ... acting is superb, music, cinematography ... and the little boy, omg, what a fine actor.

And in spite of a tour through hell, it ends on a hopeful note ... I'll not say more, but this gets my highest rating.

A bit surreal, as it should be ... sometime metaphorical, and deeply ironic - those who would do evil unto others must pay a price.

Definitely see in a theater ... and if anyone is part of a discussion group, have at it on this one.

"Gold"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 15:01:00 +0000

A riveting story ...

Gold-fever.

Wealth, power and foolishness.

Lies and more lies ...

The foolers and fools.

Drunk on dreams, and drunk on booze.

In the end, was he or was he not?
Did he know, or did he not?

Hee hee ... enjoy.

---------

Men and women who would destroy everything for their own gain. Who have fallen down at the feet of Mammon, thrown away their humanity, willing to eat one another for breakfast, wiping their mouth and their hands, on to the next feast.

"The Founder"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 13:56:00 +0000

This was a fine peace of work, and Michael Keaton, wide-eyed and determined, reveals the ligaments of dreams and power - it's all a mixed bag - wreckage left in his wake, an empire built, families disrupted, and in the end, money - money given to the Salvation Army and NPR (go figure).

The entire cast is superb - the costumes and settings capture the feel of the times.

And I learned that Grand Rapids, MI was one of the very first in the new chain, and it was in GR, when I moved there in the fall of 1959, I remember my first trip there - going up to the window, the 15-cent burgers and 10-cent fries - I remember standing there and eating. Wow. I was 15 and in 10th grade.

Enjoying the story, feeling some of Kroc's enormous frustration in trying to find himself, and the constant anxiety of going on a limb, I found myself encouraged - persistence is the key, always. And clear-headed thinking and goals, too.

But, in a sense, woe to those who achieve their dreams. The feel of the movie is morally ambiguous, which is pretty much the whole of life.

A movie for the times ... live and learn.