The Upside

broderic on February 6, 2019

What? A new year? A new set of movie reviews to sit in my queue and not get done until three weeks have passed. Here’s the first one for 2019, for The Upside. It’s the Kevin Hart vehicle that wants to make him a serious actor. Yet, the film had been categorized as a comedy. There are laughs, but it isn’t a Kevin Hart comedy.

Actually, there were chuckles and bemused smiles. Laughs, gut-belly laughs, were hard to come by. It was about a paraplegic needing to connect with living again. Kevin Hart was supposed to be the one to do that. A tough inner city dude showing the rich how to live. Is that how it works? Maybe in film. In real life, I’m sure that’s complicated.

This film was based on a foreign film about a true to life friendship. I should seek out the original and see if it was a comedy, too. Or because of Kevin Hart’s attachment did the remake become one in the US.

3 of 5 stars.

Second Act

broderic on December 31, 2018

Second Act is an American movie starring Jennifer Lopez. Funny thing is though it’s crazy Filipino.

There’s the love angle. Then a fantastic job with benefits. Then they throw in a curve with a long lost daughter. Then the love angle goes away, but comes back at the end like a long, lost puppy dog. Then she becomes a success even though she was exposed as a fraud. Stuff that happens in a normal Filipino drama.

3 of 5 stars.

Aquaman

broderic on December 31, 2018

DC has some catching up to do with Marvel. They are trying to rectify their lagging behind. Aquaman is a start.

It’s a film done by the director of The Conjuring, James Wan. He’s gotten more money this time and he’s thrown a ton of things into the movie to see what sticks.

It’s a fine try. Maybe they’ll get better at it as they expand the DC Cinematic Universe. But until then, make mine Marvel.

3 of 5 stars.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

broderic on December 22, 2018

Ralph Breaks the Internet should have the same alliteration as its predecessor. Shouldn’t the title flow nicely: Ralph wrecks the internet? Yeah? I know. I guess it has to match those memes of things that “break” the internet. That’s how it goes.

This movie was a quite different in mood than Wreck-It Ralph. It was sadder. They would have to explain how if she stays away from Sugar Rush, then why wouldn’t it be unplugged? Some holes in plots are left to your own imagination to fix.

3 of 5 stars.

First Man

broderic on November 17, 2018

First Man is an intimate portrait of the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.  Intimate is the key to this film.  It’s not an epic like The Right Stuff or mission movie like Apollo 13.  It’s a film about how Neil Armstrong felt being an astronaut.

We really don’t get into his head though.  We get up close and personal.  The director chooses to frame his subject in close up most all the time.  The spectacle around him barely shown.  We are in his personal space.  We are close in.

I found the film slightly frustrating because of this choice.  I wanted spectacle.  I wanted a focus on the mission.  I wasn’t prepared for the personal.  So it rubbed me the wrong way.  I was bothered, but that is me.  The movie is good.  I say watch it again.

3 of 5 stars.

“You don’t actually have to LISTEN to them. Just pretend to. It helps to create a more harmonious group energy.”

broderic on September 23, 2018

The Nun

I write this in the dark of the Sunday night.  I should’ve written this in the bright day light to avoid thinking about that demon dressed as a nun.  But then I think about it and wonder how much it looked like Maryln Manson and now it doesn’t even scare me.  Much.

This film was better than the second Annabelle, but no where in league with its forbearers, The Conjuring series.  It’s got some creeps, but there was a lot of fun and funniness going on.  Like it knew that it was ridiculous.  

I will watch this when it’s on TBS, but I will only do so in the bright light of day.  

3 of 5 stars.

“Is this something you learned from that stupid book on Japanese management techniques?”

broderic on September 23, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians

I like me a romantic comedy.  I’m not sure of the comedy in this one.  It was more a drama with some funny things tacked on.  Or was it a light comedy with some romance put into it?  Whichever it is the comedy was light and not like the rom-coms of the 90s-00s. 

It was good to see Asians as the romantic leads.  And it was nice to Singapore which is really rich, but has more complications like class and race issues and immigration.  Like the US, but in Asia.

I can’t wait to see the sequel though…

3 of 5 stars.

“Did I hear someone asking for stories about Ted?” “Yes.” “Then right this way, my friend, for some Ted-bits of fun, some Ted-memberances.”

broderic on September 7, 2018

Perfect Blue

This is the second time seeing the movie.  I liked it then.  I like it now.  Still a really fascinating introduction into the anime world for Satoshi Kon.  Still a very raw film.  You can see the rough edges.  They smooth out over his short career.  Kon was taken from us too early.  He would’ve made more interesting films.

One thing, I’ve gotten deeper into the idol world.  My love for Nogizaka46 knows no end.  Will I be Me-mania-san?  Not really but sometimes this obsession is unhealthy.

4 of 5 stars.

“The coffier where we make coffees? That doesn’t even make sense.”

broderic on September 7, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians

You know if there’s an Asian in the movie I’ll be happy to watch it.  That’s how I ended up watching Crazy Rich Asians.  Also, because I like romantic comedies.  But that’s something that I don’t know how this one is really called one.  

There’s romance, but I’m not too sure about the comedy.  More dramady than comedy. More drama than laughs.  Of course there are a few.  As there are a few of drama.  That mother vs. mother-in-law battle will be interesting  in the next movie.  As is the deal with that girl at the end.

But as you can tell, I’m just filling in words.  I really only saw it when it first came out last month and now I am trying to blog here.  As you know it is NewsRadio Quote Month, the best month of the year.  There’s plenty of quotes still left.  The one above is just a small snippet of a zany conversation.  You should see the show.

But back to the movie.  As a single guy, it wasn’t for me.  But I loved the location, Singapore.  I’ve been there and it’s just as amazing as it looked in the film.  Of course, I didn’t go to the crazy, rich Asian places as I’m sane and poor.  But the place is amazing.  Another country I would love to go back to.  Some day…

3 of 5 stars.