Category Archives: Imperfect

2010, Feel Good Not For Children, Imperfect, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Mediocre, Quiet, Sex Scenes, Slow

Last Night (2010)

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From NetFlix:

During an evening apart, married couple Joanna and Michael encounter tempting opportunities to cheat on each other: Michael spends time on a business trip with his sexy colleague, Laura, while Joanna crosses paths with a former flame, Alex.

Imagine a film in the 21st century about marital fidelity! In fact, it was a pleasure watching the subject being taken seriously. Unfortunately the writing at times was either stilted or just plain amateurish.

Keira Knightley is beautiful (and possible anorexic) and reminds me of young Audrey Hepburn. Her smile sometimes seems to me somewhat less than genuine.

Sam Worthington projected an air of uncertainty that I found realistic and appealing. In addition his remorse towards the end of the film was well-done. He keeps his Australian accent during the film.

Alex is played by Guillaume Canet, a French heart-throb.

How realistic the scenes between Knightley and Canet were (they spend the night sleeping together fully clothed) I cannot say.

Although I give the film a “B+”, it was an adult feel-good, something increasingly rare these days.

2009, Ballet, Based on true facts, Detective, Disturbing Image, Imperfect, Mental Illness, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Psychological Thriller, Sex Scenes, Suspense, True Story, Unusual

In Her Skin (2009)

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From NetFlix:

When pretty 15-year-old Rachel (Kate Bell) goes missing, the police dismiss the incident as a runaway, but her parents don’t believe it. Soon everyone suspects envious 19-year-old Caroline (Ruth Bradley), a heavyset, acne-ridden daughter of a domineering father (Sam Neill). Simone North writes and directs this Australian drama, which is based on a 1999 news story. Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto also star.

Why does it seem that almost every Australian film I watch is somehow out of the ordinary or even a piece of eccentric originality? “In Her Skin” fits this description even though it is oddly imperfect in certain aspects.

Stay with the film because the beginning seems like a dull, ordinary film about a missing girl. What held my attention was the fact that the story is a true one based on a 1999 news story. You meet many familiar Australian film stars:

  • Guy Pearce (Rachel Barber’s father) is currently in “Prometheus” and “Lawless”. He has here a somewhat secondary role.
  • Sam Neill (Caroline’s father) plays an aloof, ego-centric, uncaring father. He was 62 during the filming. When he was a mere 30 years old he played Harry Beecham in “My Brilliant Career”, which was the first time I ever saw him.
  • Ruth Bradley (Caroline) was 22 at filming. She OWNS this film. She delivers a believable and utterly chilling portrayal of a psychotic who craves the approval of her cold fish of a father. In fact one thread that kept me interested was to see how and how soon her clever plot would unravel. This film is NOT a mystery. You get to watch Caroline’s unraveling in detail. Expect one ugly murder scene.

    If you look for Ruth Bradley in IMDB you see a photo of a very attractive woman. Somehow in this film she is anything but attractive. Conceivably she put on weight just for the film just as Robert De Niro did in “Raging Bull”.

Unfortunately the film drags on after the climax. We have to sit through a funeral, family grieving, and Caroline’s continuing fantasies in prison. However, at the very end the screen text tells us a bit about the Barber family.

One irritation for me was that the skeptical police who refused to investigate never seem to be admonished in the film. But then the film and story itself is more than enough of a reminder of their abject failure.

Worth watching if only because it is somewhat unusual.

1999, Acceptable Trash, AIDS, B-movie, Basically Sad, Crude Talk, Disturbing Image, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Gloomy, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Sex Scenes, Unusual

The Velocity of Gary (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Though they’re rivals for the love of a bisexual porn star named Valentino, an aimless hustler and a volcanic waitress must find a way to set aside their differences as Valentino gradually succumbs to the AIDs virus.

If you are a Vincent D’Onofrio fan, then you are already used to abnormal behavior. In this poorly written film you get to see known stars at an early stage in their careers: VinceD’Onofrio (“Law and Order: Criminal Intent”), Thomas Jane (“Hung”), Salma Hayek (“Desperado”), and Ethan Hawke (“Gattaca”).

This review of a poor film is NOT a recommendation. But if you really want to see D’Onofrio and Jane engaging in French kissing, be my guest. Who would have thought?

2011, Based on a Book, Basically Sad, British, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Melodrama, Not Feel Good, Orchestral Music, Quiet, Sex Scenes

The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

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From NetFlix:

This remake of the original 1955 film, adapted from a Terence Rattigan play, stars Rachel Weisz as a wedded woman who falls hard for a younger man. Her determination and emotional obsession lead her into tragic conflict with the morals of the day.

Up to a certain point good acting made the story interesting enough to watch. But in a pub scene disappointment set in. Have you ever seen an amateur production in which the actors are unable to deliver a strong emotion without recourse to yelling? At this point my opinion of Rachel Weisz as an actor fell quite a few notches.

Both Simon Russell Beale as the affectionate but dull husband and Barbara Jefford as his insufferable, snobbish, and cruel mother did a wonderful job.

Tom Hiddleston, the lover, you may recall as Loki in “The Avengers” or as Capt. James Nicholls in War Horse (2011).

At least we had the sobbing violins to tell us when something sad was happening.

Try some other film.

2009, Basically Sad, Crime, Detective, Imperfect, Italian, Love Story, Nudity, Plot Twist, Quiet, Sex Scenes

The Double Hour (2009)

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From NetFlix:

In the wrong place at the wrong time, Sonia takes a bullet to the head during an art robbery. She survives, but later finds herself haunted by visions. Her mysterious past, meanwhile, comes to light under the watchful eye of a suspicious policeman.

Unfortunately the plot of this Italian film (with non-optional subtitles) is somewhat flawed. Sonia’s double life does not really work or even matter to the film except in some trivial details. For the following reasons this film might be worth viewing:

  • There are some surprise plot twists.
  • All the actors do a good job at their craft.
  • Ambivalence and an underlying sadness lend some urgency to the plot.
  • Listening to an easy Italian is fun.

Nothing special, but I enjoyed the film.

2011, Based on true facts, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Imperfect, Mostly About Sex, Psychological Drama, Sex Scenes

A Dangerous Method (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In this David Cronenberg-helmed biopic, Viggo Mortensen stars as Sigmund Freud, whose relationship with fellow psychology luminary Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) is tested when Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), one of the first female psychoanalysts, enters their lives. This World War I-set drama also stars Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross, a disciple of Freud, and Sarah Gadon, who plays Jung’s psychoanalyst wife.

Although the story is interesting (and let’s hope somewhat historically accurate), the dialog is at times rather stiff. At a few points in the film I was a bit bored (but that is very subjective).

Keira Knightley as Sabina Spielrein starts out exaggeratedly hysterical only to suddenly appear as a cured patient about to become a famous psychoanalyst. Whatever happened to believable transitions?

You will hear quite a bit of academic psychological discussion that at times seems almost didactic.

Do you suppose Carl Jung actually engaged in S&M sexual practices with his patients?

Personally I found this film to be not terrible but still somehow imperfect. Sorry.

2011, Flirting, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Sex Scenes

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) discovers that his wife (Julianne Moore) wants to end their marriage, he reluctantly faces the unwelcome prospect of single life with the counsel of the younger and smoother super-bachelor Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Meanwhile, Cal’s adolescent son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), has formed an unquenchable crush on his 17-year-old babysitter (Analeigh Tipton) — but is she more interested in Robbie’s recently unwed father?

Steve Carell belongs in this shallow, unlikely, but possibly acceptable tale of love complications and family problems. His history in “The Office” and “Saturday Night Live” fits the bill.

But Julianne Moore can and has done much better: “Far From Heaven”, “The End of the Affair”, “The Shipping News”, “An Ideal Husband”, etc.

Most of all Ryan Gosling should be more careful in choosing movie roles. After such successes as All Good Things (2010) and Blue Valentine (2010) to say nothing of Lars and the Real Girl (2007), why choose lesser parts ?

Perhaps you can accept the plot, although I couldn’t buy it!

2011, Horror, Imperfect, Mayhem, Mediocre, Supernatural, Suspense

Insidious (2011)

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From NetFlix:

After moving into a new home, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) confront terrifying tribulations when their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a coma and his body starts to attract malevolent forces from a mysterious netherworld. But when the family decides to move again, hoping to leave the evil spirits behind, they realize that their problems are just beginning. James Wan (Saw) directs.

“Blair Witch Project” meets “Ghostbusters”. Patrick Wilson must be desperate to be in a film, any film whatsoever. What value could there be in watching this poorly made farce? Answer: it is so bad, it is funny. Perhaps the filmmakers ran out of money when it came to creating Chief Devil. To cap off the damage, the ending is somewhat daring. You would do better to shop for some other film.

2011, Ballet, Complicated, Could be boring, Fantasy, Flirting, Imperfect, Love Story, Religious Theme, Suspense

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

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From NetFlix:

A congressman (Matt Damon) who’s a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story “Adjustment Team.”

Matt Damon comes across as a nice down-to-earth person. For years I have tried to convince myself that he can act. I am still trying. It is true that his flirting conversations with Emily Blunt come off as being very authentic and natural. Perhaps he was chosen for this role because there is a lot of running involved, something he does in many of his films (example, the “Bourne” movies). At 41 years of age I suppose he can still run.

Based on a pseudo-religious gimmicky idea, for me the film got tiresome if for no other reason than there were just too many doors to open. Of course, there was no way David (Damon) could explain his behavior to Elise (Blunt) without showing her all those doors.

Finally, I really did not need a final sermon on free will (of which I am a big fan despite the film).

Emily Blunt was another Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada” and was also “The Young Victoria”.

John Slattery, who played the angel Richardson, for me will always be one of the “Mad Men” of HBO fame.

An acceptable film on a night when you just don’t want to exert any effort thinking.

2009, Drama, Fantasy, Francis Ford Coppola, Imperfect, Nudity, Plot Twist, Psychological Drama, Sex Scenes, Unusual

Tetro (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Francis Ford Coppola writes, directs and produces this captivating drama that centers on the relationship between Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) and Tetro (Vincent Gallo), two brothers who reunite in Buenos Aires after a 10-year estrangement. Maribel Verdu, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Carmen Maura and Rodrigo de la Serna also star in this moving tale loosely inspired by Coppola’s own experiences growing up in a creative Argentine-Italian family.

Wikipedia tells us that in February 2007, director Francis Ford Coppola announced that he would produce and direct the film Tetro, based on a script that he had written while editing Youth Without Youth. There is no mention of whether the plot has anything at all to do with events in the life of the director.

While at times a bit “artsy-fartsy”, the story is compelling and includes some plot surprises. Filming is in black and white except when a character (almost always Tetro) is having a flashback or when some unusual entertainment is happening. Those colored episodes are theatrical, often strange, and involve opera or ballet acting out fantasies or flashbacks.

None of the actors were familiar to me. Alden Ehrenreich was 20 when he made the film. As a smiling, naive, virginal young man he is appealing. After the plot twist he does not seem to carry his part well. In fact for me the last part of the film somewhat fell apart.

At the very least I do not regret having seen the film.