RatedRex

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

My primary problem with "Europa..." is the underwhelming lead performance. He pranced around way too fidgety to be seen as heroic or as a member of the master "Aryan race." His obvious nervousness would have given away his underlying secret, especially during his time with the Hit ler Youth. Without the strong lead performance, a film like this loses its believability.

"Disclosure Day" seems dated. Spielberg borrows too much from past movies. Even the score, by John Williams, seems borrowed. The first 50 minutes were intriguing, but after that it was redundant until it got to its underwhelming conclusion. I was disappointed.

There are not many good WWII movies anymore. However, every couple of years, someone has a story to tell about an important historical event from WWII. This year, the story is "Pressure." A well-made film about the weather conditions potentially affecting the D-Day landing. "Pressure" isn't going to win a lot of awards, but for war buffs like me who love good war films, it will do. 8 out of 10.

When "Sweet Sweetback..." came out in 1971, my friends and I ran to see it. We were in 8th grade. The theater in our neighborhood would let anybody in, no matter how young. My friends thought it was cool. I didn't like it. "Baadassss," on the other hand, is a much better film. There are a few shortcomings, but overall, the writing, direction, and production are more sophisticated. A bigger budget helped, too.

There was something different about Michael Jordan. I swear to God, I noticed it right from the start. Sonny Vaccaro, basketball guru and Nike agent, noticed it too. Good performance by all involved, especially Viola Davis and Chris Tucker. The entertaining saga was surprisingly emotional.

Frances Farmer is such a dramatic role that I'm not sure whether Jessica Lange's performance is truly exceptional or if the role itself is so compelling that any talented actress would shine in it. Regardless, Jessica Lange is the only thing in "Frances" worth watching.

In this day and age, I think "Citizen Kane" is revered because of its reputation, not because it's a great cinematic experience. Folks feel compelled to like "Citizen Kane" because they feel they are supposed to. But quietly, most of today's viewers don't think very much of it and usually ask, "What is the big deal?" I gave "Citizen Kane" another try a couple of weeks ago. It is my 4th viewing over the last 50 years. I still don't think it is worth the fuss.

"Michael" never felt like a film with continuity. It felt like rehearsals. All the scenes played out as they were written, directed, and acted; however, I didn't see real life. Jaafar Jackson had the look, voice, and moves down to a tee, but his performance didn't have a soul. I actually thought the young Michael, played by Juliano Valdi, did a better job of conveying what was inside a person so full of talent. This should be a 4-hour-long movie or mini-series. There is so much more to tell. But I can't imagine anyone picking up the movie where this left off. Who wants to see that horror story?

I was amused, but not quite entertained. Meryl Streep is perfect for her role. I would love to see what makes her tick beyond the clothes, glamor, and attitude. Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Gucci are good, too. But I wasn't captivated. I never forgot I was watching a movie.

"The Departed" is Martin Scorsese's 5th- or 6th-best film. It is also his 5th- or 6th-best directorial achievement. The movie was so over-the-top that it bordered on being a parody. Jack Nicholson's over-performance was the perfect example of how far the film was from anything realistic. To me, "Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, "Goodfellas," "Casino," The Last Waltz, and "The Wolf of Wall Street" were better films. I also think "The Departed was the 5th or 6th best movie in 2006. I thought "Children of Men," "Casino Royale," "Pan's Labyrinth," "The Lives of Others," "United 93, and The Prestige" were better. But it was Scorsese's year. They weren't going to let him get passed over again. The other films had no chance. Actually, I'm happy he finally won Best Movie and Best Director. An artist as great as he deserves to be recognized, even for something that wasn't his best.

There is never a dull moment in "Run Silent, Run Deep." It is a harrowing submarine tale about revenge and dedication. Burt Lancaster and especially Clark Gable are at the top of their game. It is one of the top 25 war movies of all time.

A decent, but standard submarine movie. It is probably a tad overrated. After a while, it became redundant.

Venessa Kirby's acting mannerisms have grown tiresome. Jude Law can't find a good role. Why even make a film like this? I only watched it to see Ana de Armas. But even she was underwhelming. "Eden" was poorly constructed. I don't recommend it.

This realistic presentation is an underrated gem. I found it to be very engaging.

It's a good, sophisticated film, but it isn't great. A little too long, and a missed opportunity for a great ending. This will probably show better on the 2nd viewing, which will clear up a few things we may have missed the 1st time around. "Project..." will get a handful of Oscar nominations, and may win 2 or 3.

The first time I saw "Shakespeare in Love," it was better than I wanted it to be because I was so loyal to "Saving Private Ryan." I decided to revisit the film, only to discover that I still like it better than I should. It is not better than "SPR," (too much kissing and poetry), but it is a good movie and a worthy contender.

Christopher Nolan's films are always so overwritten, non-linear, and busy. There is too much going on for me to involve myself enough to care. I feared there would be an unrealistic twist at the end (I was right). I also suspected some of the other strange happenings along the way (I was right about those, too). Nolan tries too hard, which makes his films unnecessarily stressful to watch.

I'm not sure what possessed me to watch "Babe" alongside my sons 30 years ago, but I'm glad I did. I even had to hide my face from my youngest son, who thought he had detected a tear or two at the end. LOL

"Chicago" is a musical with a lot of energy. The dance and singing sequences are very well done. Catherine Zeta Jones is smoking hot. Renee Zellweger is perfectly cast. Queen Latifah is at her best. Even Richard Gere is surprisingly good. "Chicago" probably could have used one more grand dance scene to help balance out the strong first half. But as it stands, it is still a fun production worthy of its accolades.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

There was nothing special about this movie at all. I don't understand all the high ratings.

A sick-minded film for its sick-minded audience. A couple of the scenes in this film are beyond what cinema should be. But that's probably why so many sick-minded people like it.

I felt spiritually connected to Adrien Brody's character throughout much of the film. It is amazing what unspeakable things humans will do to each other simply because someone tells them to. "The Pianist" chronicles the story of one human being but also serves as a symbolic example of the human race as a whole.

"Hair" tells the story ****. It is my favorite musical ever. It helps to have grown up during the era of "Hair." If you had, you would better understand the music, the lyrics, and the culture of the 60s. The movie is actually better than the Broadway production.

I grew up reading The Amazing Spider-Man. Marvel Comics is embedded within my entire being. I hated Dr. Octopus when I was a kid. I still hate him to this day. But I loved the movie. Spider-Man 2 is the best Spider-Man movie of them all. And maybe the best superhero movie EVER.

A decent movie. Kind of strange. Unrealistic plot twists. Horrible musical score. Lots of blood. You will need your closed caption. Rebecca Ferguson was good as always. Cillian Murphy played his usual solemn self. It is worth a peek. But it won't win any awards.

It was the first nostalgic film of its kind; thus, the critics and suburban folks over 30 went a little overboard on it. "American Graffiti" was okay, but it isn't as great for those who can't quite relate.

This didn't do it for me when it came out in 1989 or now. The negative stereotypes are alarming. No one in the entire community seemed to work except Spike Lee's character, who was always late. I think this film gets more praise than it deserves because, surprisingly, it shows great sympathy for the white characters.

I liked "Logan" way more than I thought I would. The slashing blood and guts got a little excessive, but it didn't take away from my overall cinematic experience. One of the top 5 comic-book movies ever.

"Blade Runner 2049" is a slow-moving, sophisticated, cinematic masterpiece. The story, cinematography, atmosphere, and direction are top-notch. Watching "Blade Runner 2049" was a greater experience the second time around. Ana De Armas is outstanding.

This could have been so much better, but there are too many slow sections that make the movie drag. Goslin has the same facial expressions and demeanor in almost all of his films. A little more energy would have made "First Man" 10% better.

"Manhattan" is Woody Allen's best-written film, best-directed film, and best film overall.

"Hannah and Her Sisters" is Woody Allen's second-best film. Only "Manhattan" was better.

One of the great science fiction movies of all time. Blade Runner made me feel uneasy when I first saw it in 1982. Now I see it as an ingenious idea with a somewhat flawed presentation. However, the flaws are not so profound that they detract from the great cinematic experience the film created.

A slow-developing film that allows the viewer to get to know all the characters involved, including the horse and the wolf. I wasn't sure I liked the first 90 minutes of the film, but it picks up steam from the midpoint on.

Maybe the best dramatization of the final days of the Third Reich. I think "Downfall" is a monumental achievement in acting, direction, writing, production, and editing.

It's hard to believe that I once thought "The Longest Yard" was entertaining. 50 years later, I see it as one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It is sexist, racist, stupid, poorly written, directed, and acted.

Just because a story is film-worthy doesn't mean it should be made into a film. "The 24th" is too doom and gloom to really enjoy. For me, seeing it only reinforced how hateful and cruel we humans can be.

"Midnight Cowboy" conveys the grittiness and weirdness of New York better than any movie before 1969. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight are Oscar-worthy in their roles. But the Academy was hell-bent on handing the award to an undeserving John Wayne for "True Grit. Midnight Cowboy isn't necessarily a great movie, but it's one every film-lover should see. It is still the only X-rated movie to be awarded the Oscar for Best Picture.

"To Sir, with Love" is the first film depicting a Black person overseeing White people. However, Sidney Poitier's character is not portrayed racially. He is simply a teacher in charge of a classroom of young students. Any Hollywood star could have played Poitier's character word-for-word without changing anything in the plot. The classroom and the viewing audience accepted Poitier from start to finish, without question. That is one of the main reasons the film is such a classic. The song helps, too.

One of the great war productions of all time. "The Longest Day" takes on the monumental task of retelling the story of D-Day. It doesn't get everything right. And the acting is often too whimsical. But it does a great job in conveying the enormous undertaking of the invasion. I watch this film about once every 3 or 4 years.

Back in the late 70s, "Grease" was the rage. It was fun, nostalgic, and had a great score. Today, some people think the plot is sexist and mean-spirited, and I can see why they might think that. However, my opinion of it hasn't changed. It is still my favorite musical of all time.

Gene Hackman plays one of the great characters in one of the greatest thrillers of all time. I have been watching "The French Connection" every 5 years or so since it came out in 1971. It is Still a masterpiece,

I liked "Wicked: for Good" more than I liked "Wicked." But it still felt overwritten and maybe a little overproduced. The last 20 minutes felt like forever. One too many songs and one too many goodbyes proved to be the film's downfall after such a rousing start. On the positive side, the performances were great. And the costumes and sets were a wonder to behold.

The animation is A+++++. But the story is a little too convoluted, especially for kids. Also, the story's premise didn't have to be so diabolical. You don't always need evil villains. Sometimes the problem can be a simple misunderstanding, resolved with a dramatic solution.

For the first 90 minutes, Nashville is a masterpiece with great performance, lots of humor, and a sense of Americana in the 70s. But it peters out by the end. It has one or two too many songs, and a climatic scene thats extremely unrealistic.

Where did they get the gas, food, electricity, clean water, soap, guns, bullets? What business is still making that stuff, and how do they get it to the surviving people without getting hijacked? A complete waste of time.

"Marty Supreme" is a cross between "Anora" (which I hated) and "The Wolf of Wall Street." It is loud, obnoxious, mean-spirited, and completely unrealistic. Timothee Chalamet is a good actor with a wide range of emotions, and he embodies his character. He is the primary reason to see this movie.

"Hamnet" beats the same drum, the same way, all the way through. The acting was good, although a little overcooked. Chloe Zhao's direction was heavy-handed. I can hear her telling the actors, "I want more emotion, more passion, more, more, more..." At one point, more became too much. However, I would still recommend "Hamlet" to viewers interested in a serious, adult drama.