Change Your Image
rashadund
Reviews
Keep the Lights On (2012)
Seems like a film project
I feel like the beginning of the film was rushed so it was difficult to see how each event weighed on the lives of the character so that they may develop or become more exposed as it progresses. Almost immediately, he has sex with the guy who says he has a girlfriend, then the next time we see them they seem to be dating, having regular sex and doing drugs together. I think it wouldve added some value to see the progression of their relationship or at least a motivation behind whatever need they had possessed in order to be together despite the deterioration of their own individual lives. I was hoping that there was a reason for the escalation of the relationship but it just kept leading to the same place; mostly sex scenes and then abandonment from drug use.
The film would have improved for me had I been able to understand what was at stake by the time their relationship and lives deteriorated. I didnt finish the movie because I felt that what I was going to see wasnt going to be much different that what I had seen in the first 45 minutes.
I'm a Virgo (2023)
Creative, Current, and Cool
How the story is told is my favorite part of this series. The way it is shot, the references to comic book storytelling in the lighting, color, and some montage-like shot sequences, are all incredibly creative. As a result, it has the general atmosphere of being cool and current.
The content of the story is aimed for a young audience who indeed talk about the pitfalls of capitalism in real life. Since they are the generation who will likely have to face the negative effects rather than its benefits, it is not inaccurate to show young, black teenagers in L. A doing it. However, the topic is not over-exhausted; nor does it take any of even the most radicalized characters seriously enough to use their solutions as a panacea; nor do they surprise you by "taking a turn on episode 4".
One of the reasons why the storytelling is so good is because it exposes people's objectives from their intentions which is a representation of us all irrespective of what our individualized beliefs are.
The show from the beginning has a clearly articulated perspective that reveals itself more as the events evolve. Any discerning viewer will observe that the show poses more questions on social ills (and its responses) than it would give any answers.
The Whale (2022)
Incredible Acting w/ Strong Weaknesses in Dialogue
The acting was moving from the entire cast but unfortunately dampened by superfluous dialogue and irrelevant side quests.
The intention is so obvious in the film by makeup, the fat suit, grotesque eating scenes, dim lighting, and even the boxy aspect ratio that we dont need to be asked by Fraser whether "you think Im disgusting" that many times to feel claustrophobic. We get it. Moreover, how many times do we need to underscore the resentment behind him leaving his family? Its the same resentment which is articulated the same way every time. His teenage daughter is rebellious and misunderstood because she plays a rebellious and misunderstood teenager - but also, that is what her mother said. The boy, I dont even know why he was written in at all. He had an obstacle that had nothing to do with the overall story. The film seemed like a stageplay where every word aims to reassert what we see so that we are especially sure what's happening. It's not necessary for anything that I can pause and rewind.
The apogee of the film is the discussion between Fraser and the young man (who could have been anyone), and that's where I think the film finally comes together after nearly 2 hrs. And it is a decent payoff. He has become disgusting and the physical embodiment of the guilt and shame that he feels after the death of his lover. With so much revolving around religion, his profession and even Moby Dick, it felt like so much could have been left out.
The Menu (2022)
A 2022 Movie Gem - Best in its Category
This movie categorized as a thriller comedy horror demonstrates how all of these can intertwine harmoniously without losing focus. Although the story possesses many unexpected turns, it somehow reveals itself in a very organized way; without losing pace, and concluding in an appropriate amount of time . At the end of it all, you get the message and you are satisfied with what unfolded.
The movie is social commentary, and although youre aware of what it is saying, it somehow stays clear of becoming too preachy or exhausting us with messaging. Because it is also funny and eery, even those who are not at haste to enroll in a social studies class will be entertained.
There are few film that can tell a story that is as succinct as this one while also attempting to be socially relevant and comprehensible as a horror thriller comedy. This movie is the best of its category.
Red Rocket (2021)
An already long movie prolongs
After committing an hour to this film I wasn't sure what it was telling me that would have left me feeling better for knowing it.
Most characters were unlikeable with no development or major obstacles that would have made them more complex. The main character was scheming from the beginning, and when I turned the movie off he was still scheming. By the time we re aware of his plan, everyone, even Strawberry, is so irredeemable that you dont really care what happens to them.
Overall, I did not believe that the acting was that great from anyone. I felt that there were moments that the cast and/or script could have really pushed humor to the edge if its intention was to be a dark "comedy". My best example is the hot sauce scene. If we are having to witness dialogue about where a bottle of hot sauce is, why not make it so absurd that the humor is evident and adds value to the story? Instead, we have a pretty lengthy scene on hotsauce that doesnt seem to be useful. Like many scenes, it doesnt push the story forward, it doesnt reveal anyone or anything. The entire movie felt like that conversation about hot sauce: it is awkward, uncomfortable to watch, and long, without any major payoff after more than an hour.
On Strawberry, although Texas law may have adulthood pegged at 17, you are not sure that the girl for whom there are multiple explicit scenes is even that age. She mentions after much hesitation that she was turning 18 in 3 wks, but you realize quickly that she is capable of lying and may be even less reliable than the main character. Finally, her "birthday" never comes. This makes the film uneasy to watch because it puts some effort in doubting her adulthood then abandons the topic entirely after showing multiple explicit sex scenes with her. Rather than the audience being relieved with some penalty after a clear violation of ethics, we are bombarded with the same violation, pressured to watch it, accept it, and move on too.
Again, I stopped the movie after more than an hour which would leave a huge gap in what I would know about the end of the movie. However, if a film doesnt reveal itself after more than an hour I have to move on.