mjpetro-smtp's reviews

I'm going to have to read the book from which this film emerged, but I'm assuming that the screenplay is in good faith. Aside from the outstanding satirical performances from an outstanding cast of actors, this film cuts deep and clearly into the sickness that we are all faced with today.

I posted a positive teaser on Facebook while in the middle of the film, and then went on to write more stridently about it after Meryl Streep's diatribe at the end.

(Just Google "1209 North Orange Street," mentioned in this movie, to get a taste of what I mean.)

Speaking of the end, if only there was an end to these practices on the horizon. We can do this.

I came to this show because of Marc Maron. I've followed him since the early years of his podcast, and even came out to see his standup a few times. What struck me about Maron is what strikes me about this series: An honest take on human psychology vis a vis real situational human circumstances.

A situational comedy on steroids.

I remember M*A*S*H making me tear up occasionally, but this mfer manages to make me cry at some point in every episode, especially Season 3.

A most unlikely favorite for me (I could give a crap about professional wrestling IRL,) but the writing and performances, and the *commitment* of the cast to the story is extremely moving and revelatory. I'm in love with everyone who worked on this drama.

It's like Short Attention-Span Theatre up in here.

I found the film human, and riveting. If Michael Mann had shot this (and there seems to be an obvious influence,) people would be predictably raving.

The raw dialogue was smart and voyeuristic. And the driving around was soothing and familiar. The slow build of the phone calls, escalating to the climax, was genius writing.

I'm just glad I ignored these other folk on here and watched it anyway. I could watch it again.

Two thumbs up, Aisha!

Absolutely brutal, and I'm taking a half-star just for that reason.

Kidding (mostly.)

Tarantino really pulled one off this time, and that's saying something for a guy with films like "Pulp Fiction" & the "Kill Bill" series under his belt. His other films, written or directed, never quite reached those apexes, but were still good popcorn fare. He's back and definitely flexing his chops with this one, and he, and his excellent cast (Jennifer Jason Leigh nearly out-boxed Samuel L. Jackson! Nearly.) Complete with signature snappy dark comedic dialogue.

Don't know if I'll revisit it - the violence really is off-putting for me - but it *is* worth a revisit.

Yea, I could probably nick a half-a-star or more off of this for trivial reasons, but goddammit this was highly entertaining.

The characters are circumscribed well, if a bit cartoonish, but they are played with real commitment and so anyone with heart will go with that aspect.

The "physicist" among them was charming and manic and had a great close-out in the end credits.

I liked this as much as I did "Coherence" and "Chronicle" (and others like "Primer,") with the bonus that the superhero and the time-travel conceits were included in one movie.

If you're just looking to get your fantasy stroked, this movie will do just fine.

This film is like that moment when you are shaving - or, alternately, putting on make-up - and you suddenly take a hard, unexpected look and see that you are ugly, and there's not a damned thing you can do about it.

No morality tale here, except maybe in the sense of how to stay in your skin when your morals have decayed beyond... Redemption. There is a touching fragility to these flawed characters, even the brutal protagonist, played brilliantly by Statham. Yes, Jason plays Jason for the most part, but something deeper peeks from beneath that Neanderthal brow, and I respect that this didn't require of him the Full Metal Thespian reject of his action hero stereotype.

There were a couple of stereotypical wrap-ups in the voice-over at the end, but they were incidental to the overall emotional force of the movie.

It was moving, from beginning to end.