Author: Damien Riley

This is a Netflix original movie that takes place in the car of a driver for a heist. It’s Frank Grillo from Saw sequels and The Purge and he does a great job in this pseudo action film. I call it that because it takes place almost entirely in a getaway car.

The director has done minimal indie type projects. His name is Jeremy Rush and he’s done a great job with this film.

There are a few other known actors besides Grillo including CaitlinCarmichael and Garret Dillahunt. It’s a great story though and that overshadows any one great performance. It is likely a challenge to sit down and write a story like this. We see The lead character get taunted as in most heist/getaway movies. The bad guy weaves a web it’s sometimes hard to follow but always keeps you on the edge of your seat. They know how to get to him and we feel it as we identify. As in most films like this, they get to hm where it hurts: his family. There are a few places where it kind of drags and doesn’t explain what’s going on well enough. This was at times frustrating for me. I found some of the characters to be implausible. Still, it was time enjoyed, Netflix has done it again.

I’ll give you no spoilers but simply say I think this is a great Netflix movie, even though I am not the biggest heist film fan, and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

7/10

Brigsby Bear is a geek film and watches that way and it won’t appeal to everyone, not by a long shot. Still, for the brave watchers with open minds and a nerdy sense of humor, this will work. I should know, it worked for me.

I like weird films, especially when they use their oddness to send a message outside of mainstream convention or conscience. It’s weird and has potential messages to subgroups across all demographics.

Brigsby Bear (2017)
PG-13 | 1h 37min | Comedy, Drama | 21 September 2017 (Australia)

Brigsby Bear Adventures is a children’s TV show produced for an audience of one: James. When the show abruptly ends, James’s life changes forever, and he sets out to finish the story … See full summary »
Director: Dave McCary
Writers: Kevin Costello, Kyle Mooney
Stars: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams

There is some mystery to the story I don’t want to wreck for you. Then again, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before, with some caveats. Picture Room meets Star Trek documentary. The director has some different things on his resume. I’m most impressed with SNL writing. He appears the geek, which makes sense. This may be his life’s ambition, time will tell. This one may have been better if it wasn’t quite so geeky, not sure though. Spoilers ahead.

My favorite scene is when Andy Samberg in the mental hospital offers his handmade role playing weapons.

What I got from this film is that when you get lost in art it’s hard to stay resentful and bitter. We could all use an obsession like Brigsby Bear to make it through all our fucked up pain and hurt.

9/10

Men and women have mixed things to offer a film of course. When men have exhausted their ego and character, it’s refreshing to have females to keep ones interest and vice versa I think. Thor: Ragnarok is too long and the ladies below are the highlights of the film.

PG-13 | 2h 10min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | 3 November 2017 (USA)

Imprisoned, the almighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.
Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle | 4 more credits »
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett

I’m 48 and I know I’ll be dead in a few years. Still, I can pay for a ticket and therefore I think my opinion still matters. This comic book investment of Hollywood must stop. None of it is original and they keep blowing millions on uninteresting unentertaining films.

This is a hodgepodge that never goes anywhere and never finds any sense of completion. A few jokes are funny but nothing to justify its high scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and even among my own Twitter tweeps. What is up guys and gals? Wait to watch this on on video. It’s a million dollar snorefest. Having said that these women are beautiful. They kept me awake for the blistering 2:20 runtime. Besides them though, it’s literally nothing new. I’ll refer you to the summary above since I wish to expend no more writing calories on this.

5/10

Mostly I was struck by the deadpan comedy of this show. Watching Rachel Bloom play this goofy, cute character with such total investment is a laugh a minute. Before too long, I could see it was a periodic musical. I usually don’t like those unless they have amazing tunes. The tunes here are good but the humor is what holds it all together and makes it a behemoth.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Cast

Rachel Bloom, Vincent Rodriguez III, Santino Fontana

Directed by

Steven K. Tsuchida, Alex Hardcastle, Joanna Kerns (multiple more directors)

Created by

Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna

Other Info

Comedy, Musical
31 episodes ( As of time of writing this) – 41 min

I always run to my blog when I find a great new show to binge watch. Today it’s Crazy Ex Girlfriend streaming on Netflix. This is not a spoilers review but rather a preview. Rachel Bloom is tons of fun to watch for both myself and my wife so I know she’ll appeal to may viewers. Her self-deprecating humor makes the show entertaining but the music and sketch sets make it a wondrous journey to and from the insanity of love.

In the series, Rebecca Bunch leaves her posh, successful law practice to follow a high school crush (Josh played by Vincent Rodriguez III) to West Covina California where she takes a lesser paying job. She is okay with his because her over-reaching goal is to win the heart of Josh! Meanwhile, she develops a platonic relationship with Josh’s best friend Greg, played by Santino Fontana.

I am sure as the episodes play out we will see a love triangle between Greg, Josh, and Rebecca. She’ll be back and forth a hundred times between the two. This is predictable but always fun when there’s good solid comedy and music in the mix! And not just music, but self-effacing music the lead girls sings and dances to. It’s a riot, Rachel Bloom is a delight and highly entertaining. At time of writing this, the first season is streaming on Netflix. My wife and I are looking forward to binge watching the rest of the first season and then checking out the show as new episodes unfold.

The Salem Witch trials show us how the mob mentality can mindlessly harm a victim. The Hunt shows us what the mob mentality does to a good man when accused of sexual abuse. Even after the very child admits it didn’t happen, the stigma and prejudice remains. Are there some wrongs to reputation that can’t be righted?

The Hunt (Jagten)

Cast

Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp

Directed by

Thomas Vinterberg, known for directing ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’

Written by

Tobias Lindholm, Thomas Vinterberg

Other Info

R | 1h 55min | Drama
Riley’s Rating:

The mind of a child is a wonderful thing but who can know it or analyze it. Some of us told fibs when we were kids and sometimes they had consequences. Sometimes kids say things for attention that amplify elements of the truth to make a new lie. This is usually innocuous as part of the process of growing up. Sometimes however, the innocent lies of a child can kill.

In The Hunt, Lucas played by Mads Mikkelsen, is a kindergarten teacher. This is somewhat out of the ordinary, in this country anyway, because usually men aren’t teaching this age. He appears to be likeable and the kids feel comfortable around him. One day, however, that changes. Klara, played by Annika Wedderkopp, kisses Lucas on the lips.

He scolds her and says that is only for mommy and daddy. For all intents and purposes, he does everything right but that can’t stop the tsunami of trouble that comes his way. Klara shares that Lucas did lewd things to her, revealing his genitals. The movie consists of Lucas being accused and never being forgiven by the town. It’s all presented in heartbreaking realism. At one point, Lucas cannot even buy food at the local grocery store because the manager has banned him. This is after Lucas has been exonerated by the police investigation.

Lucas is having a lot of trouble in this film. Before the sexual accusations occur he is an a match with his ex-wife to get partial custody of his son who is an older teen. Lucas’ son is the most reasonable person in the whole town. He screams at the people who are trying his dad in the streets without having all the facts. He even spts in the face of Klara in the presence of her parents. The bottom line is that he loves his dad and believes in him in spite of the virtual sentencing the town has forced upon him. There is some forgiveness but throughout the film and in the last scene especially, on a hunt, we are led to believe that Lucas will never be safe as long as rumors remain. This film lost a star with me because it didn’t develop the relationships at work and with friends enough. It seemed illogical they would respond this way.