Category Archives: Imperfect

2014, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Bloody scenes, Dancing, Dystopia, Gloomy, Human spirit, Imperfect, Pessimistic, Sci-Fi, Somewhat ridiculous plot, Suspense, Thought provoking, Violent

Automata (2014)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

This futuristic thriller stars Antonio Banderas as Jacq Vaucan, an insurance investigator for a robotics company. While looking into a case involving a robot malfunction, he uncovers a massive threat to all of humanity.

Despite enough logic holes to sink a space ship, a lot of imagination went into this intelligent sci-fi dystopian thriller. Moreover you get to watch a bald Antonio Banderas playing what for him is a very uncharacteristic role. He even gets to dance with a robot.

Plot and action are important, but the underlying theme is very thought provoking: Would the universe care if human life, owing to its self-destructive mentality, ceased but a more intelligent race of self-creating robots survived?

Who were the heroes and who were the villains? You might notice that your loyalties shift by the end of the film.

Note that this film got poor reviews. Nonetheless I was glued to the screen without any idea of how this plot could ever end. But end it did with one symbolic gesture that for me was one of those gooseflesh moments.

Not perfect, but quite passable.

1990, Complicated, Conspiracy, Corruption, Imperfect, Lawyers, Mediocre, Murder, Murder Investigation

The Two Jakes (1990)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

World War II is over, and an older, wiser Jake Gittes still works divorce cases in this sequel to Chinatown. Developer Jake Berman asks Gittes to get proof that Berman’s wife is cheating on him — and wants other things Gittes doesn’t yet know about.

Hopefully you remember “Chinatown” because 16 years later Jack Nicholas is back as one of the Jakes, J.J. ‘Jake’ Gittes, along with Harvey Keitel as the other Jake, Julius ‘Jake’ Berman.

For my money this film is not the classic that “Chinatown” is. Moreover the plot seemed to me to be a bit complicated, if not downright contrived.

If only for the sake of film history you might want to see this film, but there are so many other films calling to you.

2014, Amusing banter, Art Treasures, Comedy, Crude Talk, Farce, Imperfect, Possible a put-on, Satire, Trains

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Leave a comment

Fron Netflix:

Between the world wars, Gustave H, the concierge at a prestigious European hotel, takes a bellboy named Zero as a trusted protégé. Meanwhile, the upscale guests are involved in an art theft and a dispute over a vast family fortune.

Despite some great sight gags, the constant tongue-in-cheek patter is a bit overdone. Perhaps as a conciliation prize we get to watch a constantly changing series of often exaggerated scenes and situations. At times the scenery, if it is real, is breathtaking. Much of the constant and rapid movement is hilarious probably because it is unlikely in not downright impossible.

Is it a tip-off that the film is imperfect when there are so many notable walk-ons? Besides Ralph Fiennes through most of the film, we also get to see Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, and Edward Norton. Not only was some of the acting (more precisely, script reading) not very good, but why was it that for me in this film the American accents sounded so flat?

Maybe I am over critical or expected too much. But I did get a few good laughs.

2014, Classical musicians, Imperfect, Not Recommended, Nothing special, Suspense, Violent

Grand Piano (2014)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

A pianist returning to the stage five years after a public meltdown learns that a sniper will shoot him and his wife if he plays just one wrong note. But the gunman’s twisted motives go far deeper than anyone suspects.

Although the idea behind the story is novel (some say ridiculous), the film itself was nothing special. Critics panned the film.

After the film was over I still did not know the motives of the killer. Even Wikipedia offered no clues.

Try some other film.

2013, B-movie, Comedy, Corny, Feel Good Not For Children, Imperfect, Melodrama, Optimistic, School Teacher, Sex Scenes, Teenagers

The English Teacher (2013)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

Devoted small-town English teacher Linda yearns for love. Enter Jason, a former student whose career as a Broadway playwright didn’t pan out. When she persuades him to stage his play at the school before giving up, love — and controversy — arises.

Nathan Lane, Julianne Moore, and Greg Kinnear join forces to give us a film which is both a comedy and a somewhat corny melodrama. Thank goodness for the surprising belly-laughs. Although you might give this film a B+, there are some interesting plot turns. Moreover, the events are all too possible (“What! A high school teacher having inappropriate sex! Impossible!”) . Several of the principle characters do have some bad moments, some soul searching, and experience some happy changes.

However, that high school play seemed too lame for the audience to be so excited. But then parents can appreciate just about anything positive.

Since I am not really raving about this film, I feel I can offer a small spoiler: there is a happy ending.

2005, Animation, Comedy, Could be boring, Could Be Sad, Drama, FilmReview, Imperfect, Several languages, Short Films, Talking Heads

Shorts: Vol 3 (2005)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Good things come in small packages, as evidenced by the 16 award winners showcased in this collection, which represents the best short films screened at Cannes, Sundance, Telluride, Tribeca and many other film festivals. This international collection includes Johan Brisinger’s “Passing Hearts Sweden,” Kathleen Na’s “L’Entretien,” Shawn Ku’s “Pretty Dead Girl” and many other superb shorts. Extras include extensive commentaries by the filmmakers.

These supposedly Award-Winning Film Festival Shorts are not very good, excepting for the poignant “Passing Hearts Sweden”. Instead try 2007 Shorts.

Shorts included are:

  • “Hyper” Oddly enough, concerns a really hyper young man. [Funny]
  • “Gowanus, Brooklyn” So slow I gave up watching.
  • “Passing Hearts Sweden” Slow, warm story about boy in 8th grade. Somewhat of a mystery until you understand the sadness behind the story. [Swedish with English subtitles]
  • “My Name is Yu Ming” Adventuresome Chinese student visits Dublin. He spent 6 months learning Irish only to discover that almost no one in Ireland understands Irish. [Mandarin with English subtitles]
  • “Seventeen” Grotesque depiction of young man who cannot find a sexual partner. Explicit sexual drawings. {Netherlands] [Drawn animation]
  • “Loose Ends” Two twenty something young men arguing about “Star Wars” [Norwegian with English subtitles]
  • “L’Entretien” Young man receives strange invitation to join the “Good Life”followed by a strange sequence of events. [French with English subtitles]
  • “Confection” Little girl has fantasies while holding onto a sweet from a bakery.
  • “Colorform” Little girl makes a mess with finger paints. Has a harp lesson with an Italian teacher. Throws spahetti at dinner. Etc.
  • “Date” Demanding girl friend changes her attitude.
  • “The Fridge” Tale of a mysterious refrigerator. [Greek with English subtitles]
  • “Clay Pride” The difficulty of being Clay in America. [Animated Play Dough]
  • “Pretty Dead Girl” Off-color hospital song and dance routing.
  • “Climactic Death of Dark Ninja” Kids in the woods.
  • “Archipelago” Acceptable short drama on a beach. [Spanish with English Subtitles]
  • “A Ninja Pays Half My Rent” Young man tries to get along with his new Ninja roommate.
2004, Barely Acceptable Trash, Car Chase, Grim, Imperfect, Serial Killer, Suspense, Violent

Highwaymen (2004)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Wheelchair-bound serial killer Fargo (Colm Feore), whose tricked-out green Cadillac serves as his deadly weapon, rages loose on the highway, and the only man who can stop his rampage is Rennie (James Caviezel), the husband of a woman he’s murdered. When Rennie teams up with a survivor of one of Fargo’s rampages (Rhona Mitra), the pair vows to stop him before he flattens anyone else. Frankie Faison co-stars in this deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

In this car chase film the only novelty is that one of the chasers is an automotive serial killer who runs over people for the fun of it. If this sounds like a film to skip, you are absolutely correct.

You might recognize Rhona Mitra as one of the temporary employees in “Boston Legal”.

Try another film.

2012, Clever Plot, Complicated, Crime, Gangs, Imperfect, Mayhem, Plot Twist, Sci-Fi, Violent

Looper (2012)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In the year 2042, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a Looper, a hired assassin for the mob who kills people sent from the future. But what will he do when the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination?

Bruce Willis should not attempt to cry in a film. In a B-film this is probably not the end of the world. In no way does Joseph Gordon-Levitt suggest a young Bruce Willis. Never mind the acting.

“Looper” tells a potentially complicated story about time-travel, although it lets its narrator looper explain slowly and carefully what looping is all about. If you need help with the details you could read the Wikipedia explanation.

What adds interest to the film is not so much two instances of the same person trying to kill each other, but the human interest involving Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the narrator: Is his life really pointless? Will he find love?

For me the most fascinating part involved Sara and her son Cid. Pierce Gagnon is one of the best child actors I have ever seen. IMDB does not give his age. At times I could not believe that so seemingly young a child could express so much in a role. His vacillations between rage and a childlike composure were something to watch.

Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the plot.

2011, Acceptable Trash, B-movie, Frenetic, Horror, Imperfect, Mayhem, Mediocre, Occasional gore, Plot Twist, Satirical ultra-violence, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Unusual, Violent, Zombies

The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In this twisted thriller from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, five friends arrive at a secluded cabin with clear instructions for their anticipated mountain getaway. But when the rigid rules are broken, punishment is swift — and everyone will pay. Kristen Connolly, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Chris Hemsworth and Brian J. White star with Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford in this surprising spin on a classic horror setup.

At some point while watching this acceptable piece of horror trash you will probably wake up and say “This is really stupid”. But hold on … Granted that I do not watch many horror films, as in “seen one, seen all of them”, this almost-stinker is probably one of the most original horror flicks I have seen. Following the usual script of “a bunch of friends travel together to a secluded location when all of a sudden …” in fact ALL OF A SUDDEN the film takes an unexpected turn which caused me to say “Wait a minute: is this really a horror film or some sort of a satiric prank?” Lo and behold there stand Richard Jenkins (the father ghost in “Six Feet Under”) and Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman in “The West Wing”) in a different setting. You will spend the rest of the film trying to figure out what is happening. Along the way you get to see the usual assemblage of zombies, slashers, creepy monsters, nightmares come to life, etc. That part (the ghoul parade) is the ho-hum part. Rather the interesting part is the juxtaposition of two seemingly disparate story threads. In addition, the dialog is tongue-in-cheek and sometimes funny.

Sigourney Weaver must really need the money. Her walk-on towards the end of the story is ludicrous. In fact, the hypothesis of the entire film is ludicrous. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford must also be desperate for acting work. Chris Hemsworth plays Chris Hemsworth.

Because I am retired, I can waste the time watching this silly but somehow intriguing farce. Can you afford to waste your time?

2012, Acceptable Trash, Imperfect, Psychic Phenomena, Suspense, Violent

Red Lights (2012)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Professor Margaret Matheson and her assistant, Tom Buckley, set out to debunk claims of paranormal activity. During their investigation, a legendary psychic comes out of retirement, and Buckley becomes obsessed with proving he’s a fraud.

Give this almost-dud a B minus. Sprinkled here and there in the midst of all the psychobabble claptrap are some fun moments.

Why does Cillian (pronounced “Killian”) Murphy usually play weird parts? Is it because of his unusual eyes? This time his character Tom Buckley is more obsessed and desperate than strange. Sigourney Weaver is adequate as Margaret Matheson.

Initially the story introduces the professor and her assistant in a series of almost boring episodes in which the pair debunk so-called psychics. Only when Robert De Niro enters as the blind psychic Simon Silver does the plot thicken and take on a sinister feel.

To avoid spoiling the film (if that is possible), I can only tell you to expect some real surprises. If you do guess how the film ends, just drop me a comment.