Reviews written by registered user
in1984

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258 reviews in total

7.5 of 10. While not quite up to the original Bad Santa (2003), Good Neighbor definitely does for Halloween what Bad Santa did for Santa Claus Day.

Rather than conventional horror, you get a mystery based in reality that takes advantage of the characters' both known and unknown beliefs in ghosts and the paranormal. Blood, violence, and sudden loud sounds still play a critical role, but without the directionless excess that recent big studio horror releases rely upon to the point of tedium.

Caan fortunately plays a more laid back role to a film that really doesn't need star power. It succeeds through a well-crafted story and exceptional casting of relative unknowns in all the other roles. Then when you don't expect it, things stay lively with a surprising and enjoyable soundtrack.

9 of 10. For me, the only significant missing part was Pfc. Bradley (Chelsea) Manning's and other earlier whistleblowers influence on how Edward Snowden decided to go about whistleblowing. Other than that, this film fills in all the gaps you want from a film based on a true story that's following up on documentaries.

One of the surprises involves Shailene Woodley's addition of sex appeal to the story. She added the emotional and relationship context expected, but, while it's not what I was looking for, I'm sure many will appreciate the flesh she adds.

Definitely a much needed and inspiring telling of the NSA and general government military spy ops that too many people might otherwise not spend the time they should thinking about. While John Oliver's "dick pics" added some humor and awareness, I think Oliver Stone provides a lot more known, non-hypothetical variants that drive the same point home, sometimes with humor, sometimes with sex, sometimes with sadness.

2.5 of 10. Rounded down instead of up. Given that there's a desperate need for more documentaries or even portrayals of fascism as it happened historically, the 1 remarkable thing about this film is that it completely fails to capture any unique element of fascism or fascists.

As a film on the spoiled brats of leaders in general, it's not bad. Not original and not insightful either. It's more like the writer and director threw a tantrum together.

It's not the worst possible rating essentially because the acting and music are entertaining enough to keep the film from causing your head from bouncing off the floor, but that's about it.

8.25 of 10. I found the first a disappointing attempt to do a film like Ocean's Twelve and 13. This creates it's own space and provides a more fitting role for Woody Harrelson to fit in. The nature of the film, however, will disappoint young, naive magic fans who came for Daniel Radcliffe.

What makes this different from a magic or tech film is that it combines the 2 and goes further, mixing in international intrigue and national security issues. As a result, we have something like Edward Snowden meets David Copperfield (who is a co-producer).

Whether there's a trilogy now or not, this fulfills the promise of the first film and can leave us content with the series.

2.3 of 10. Nothing like a river in its style. Though the title and the story do eventually connect, that's about the only connection you feel from this. The thrills/suspense all feel artificial, forced without anything to be of a concern. The running looks more like jogging.

Maybe the lead actor's connection to a Hollywood star is what gets this some free publicity, but it's not the story or his acting. This would be better setup as a tragic comedy about a naive American in a foreign country, but nobody involved seems to recognize it and you end up with a film taking its actors far too seriously.

I wouldn't recommend this on any level. It tries to provide some meaningful commentary on international problems, but even that feels concocted within this film.

2.9 of 10. If there was a ranking of horror film categories that are the worst types of horror film, this wouldn't be the worst type, but it would be in the top 3. It's about as scare as a child sneaking up behind you and yelling book as you walk into a dark room. That's also pretty much the extent of what this film does, and thus the film title, which is the best part of the film.

Imagine you use your smartphone camera to film your son/daughter/little brother/sister wearing a long-haired wig backwards while they sneak through a dark house and wait for someone to turn out the lights and go to bed. Then they walk into the room as you hit play on a boombox with a loud, disturbing sound plays. Well, you'll get more entertainment out of that then this film, and that's pretty much all you can expect from this film, without having the benefit of having an amusing home video to play back.

9.5 of 10. It's tempting to give it a perfect rating. This is the kind of film that should win an Oscar. Genius story telling combined with perfect social timing.

With grunge-era people now in full family mode or just escaping it, it fits that there should not only be a film set in a grunge utopia but complete with the filthy, tragic, painful aspects of life that grunge art is in large part dedicated to portraying.

One of the few drawbacks was its placement of Bikini Girl's "Rebel Girl". It's a great song that should be in the soundtrack, but they missed a few more ideal places for it. Otherwise, the soundtrack is a key part of keeping the film moving along.

3.4 of 10. If having a bird crap and vomit on you is your idea of a good time, you may enjoy the green pork and white eggs this film offers. I'm not sure how they coaxed Sean Penn into this. Maybe a favor for a friend. The rest of the cast isn't surprising or add anything to it. Probably just happy to get a good paying Sony gig.

The animation and drawing is solid, more natural and better than a game, so game and cartoon lovers might get some enjoyment out of that. But beyond the technical visual and sound aspects, the story and characters are disappointing and poorly thought out.

About the only story element that I enjoyed involved how communities openly trusting and welcoming of traveling carnival acts passing through town are likely to be conned and lose heavily in the deal.

8.75 of 10. It's a rare trilogy that the last film is both the best and smartest of the 3, and this is one of those rarities.

After suffering a dropoff with the second, Anarchy, from the first in the series that created a world we wanted to see and know more about, we're back to wanting to see more. On the other hand, this completes the series perfectly, or as close as it may ever get to it, and they should let it end here.

Once again, this is not sci-fi. That hasn't changed. What we have is an expansion and development of the dystopian, modern-day alternate reality the first setup so well. We also get a longer film with more plot and character that doesn't attempt to rush through it like a conventional action/horror flick.

6.5 of 10. Whereas we frequently get comedies of errors, and this certainly has that, this is primarily making comedy out of fearful and even horrific situations. I imagine this will be a favorite among social workers and psychologists.

Besides the frequently referenced farting and massive piles of bear poop, this treads in a lot of areas people would prefer not to talk or think about - not just because they are gross. The highly unusual if not unique element is the fear and crazy combined into humor. I can't think of anything that's not psycho horror that combines the elements of this film into something intriguing to watch.

Unfortunately, there are more than a few clichés and well worn melodrama for losers that hurt the originality of the story, plus some unexplained shifts in clothing/appearance that take away from the immersion.

Not a theater film, but worth seeing, secretly with your stuffed raccoon, or with your friends and biggest bear.

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