Saturday, February 13, 2021
The Meg (2018)
A group of scientists exploring the Marianas Trench encounter the largest marine predator that has ever existed - the Megalodon.
As much as it tries to emulate Deep Blue Sea this shark monster movie never quite achieves its humor and campiness (and tries to top it with even more stupid science), but is nevertheless mildly entertaining.
Friday, February 12, 2021
The Conspirator (2010)
Mary Surratt is the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. As the whole nation turns against her, she is forced to rely on her reluctant lawyer to uncover the truth and save her life.
Made in good taste and excellent
period detail and with a capable cast ensemble, this historical drama
focuses on an interesting aspect of the Lincoln assassination, but
without much suspense or giving the story the importance it actually
has.
Maltin**1/2: "'Historical drama never achieves the urgency it should, but McAvoy's impassioned performance is worth seeing."
First Lines: Tana French - The Secret Place
There's this song that keeps coming on the radio, but Holly can only ever catch bits of it.
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Idiocracy (2006)
Joe's life changes when he is chosen to be the guinea pig for a secret hibernation experiment, but when he wakes up from 500 years of slumber, he realises that he is the smartest man on the planet.
Sci-fi
satire has a great premise (and seems quite prescient today) doesn't
give much depth to its criticism of American society, but nonetheless is
quite entertaining, albeit on a more simple level.
Maltin**1/2: "Smart, funny ideas by Judge and cowriter Etan Cohen can't keep this scattershot movie afloat, but it's got some laugh-out-loud moments."
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Everything and Nothing (2011)
Two-part documentary which deals with two of the deepest questions there are - what is everything, and what is nothing?
Compelling and inquisitive investigation of current's science's knowledge (and open questions) on the essential aspects of our universe, but mainly aimed at an audience still unaware of this science.
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Casablanca (1942)
A cynical American expatriate struggles to decide whether or not he should help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape French Morocco.
A true masterpiece of Hollywood cinema has perfection in
all departments putting together a heartfelt and moving melodrama of its
time and yet has become timeless work of cinematic art.
Halliwell****: "Cinema par excellence: a studio-bound Hollywood melodrama which after various chances just fell together impeccably into one of the outstanding entertainment experiences of cinema history, with romance, intrigue, excitement, suspense and humour cunningly deployed by master technicians and a perfect cast."
Maltin****: "Everything is right in this WW2 classic of war-torn Morocco...Rains is marvelous...and nobody sings "As Time Goes By" like Dooley Wilson...Our candidate for the best Hollywood movie of all time."
Monday, February 8, 2021
Une rencontre (2014)
A family man's encounter with a beautiful woman develops into a mutual fascination.
Slight romantic drama is mainly remarkable watchable for the good performances by its two stars.
