Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Friday, January 26, 2024

The Power of Few (2013)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Leone Marucci
Cast: Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, Q’Orianka Kilcher
Time: 95 minutes

 


The lives of various characters intersect around a series of tragic events that happen in New Orleans.

From the get-go, this film had a true low budget feel to it. It is raw a little dirty, many characters are very weird, but the acting was pretty decent. The story was not without some interesting elements, but it all got a little convoluted at times.

 Rating: «««

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Green Lantern (2011)

Genre: Superhero
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard
Time: 114 minutes


 

Hal Jordan, a test pilot still having a hard time coping with the loss of his pilot father years prior, is chosen as the first human to be part of the Green Lantern intergalactic police force. He is given superpowers to be part of a team fighting off an evil being that threatens the balance of the universe.

There is so much wrong with this film, from the script to the acting, the tone and the special effects. It is comical and pathetic. Just so bad in so many ways.

Rating: «

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

After Earth (2013)

Genre: Science-fiction / Action
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Smith
Time: 100 minutes


 

Around 1,000 years into the future, humans have evacuated Earth following a massive catastrophe. Father and son Cypher and Kitai Raige go on a mission together and end up crashing to Earth with their crew. The young son must go on a dangerous trek to find what is needed to save his gravely injured father. 

What a horrible movie. I imagine that getting slapped publicly in the face cannot feel as bad as watching this. A pointless and boring story that plods along aimlessly, with absolutely wooden acting. I tuned this one out in no time.

Rating: «

Monday, January 22, 2024

Lay the Favorite (2012)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Cast: Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vince Vaughn
Time: 94 minutes

 


Beth is a stripper living in Florida. Bored with her life going nowhere, she moves to Las Vegas, hoping to become a cocktail waitress. Good with numbers, she gets involved with Dink Heimowitz, a businessman involved with gambling. 

This film is based on the memoirs of the same name written by Beth Raymer. Such a boring and uninspired film. Bruce Willis is pretty good in his role, but the rest of the cast is much weaker. The characters are one dimensional and the story lacks structure and interest. It just goes nowhere.  

Rating: ««

Effroyables Jardins (2003)

Genre: Franco / Drama / Comedy
Réalisateur: Jean Becker
Distribution: Jacques Villeret, André Dussollier, Thierry Lhermitte
Durée: 93 minutes

 


Jacques est instituteur, mais, dans ses temps libres, il fait aussi des spectacles de clown. Son fils Lucien a honte de son père et se demande constamment pourquoi son paternel se ridiculise ainsi. André, le meilleur ami de Jacques depuis toujours, prend le fils à part et lui raconte les événements qui ont mené son père, durant l’occupation de la France par l’Allemagne, à vouloir divertir le public en faisant le clown. 

Je suis un inconditionnel de Jacques Villeret ; je l’adore dans tous ces rôles. Ici encore, il a réussi à être drôle et attendrissant à la fois. Les autres comédiens et comédiennes ont fait du bon boulot pour raconter cette histoire touchante à l’écran, avec l’aide d’un réalisateur de talent. La réaction finale de Lucien est un peu surjouée, mais, somme toute, j’aime beaucoup ce film.

Rating: ««««

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Genre: Film Noir / Drama
Directed by: Alexander Mackendrick
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison
Time: 96 minutes

 


J.J. Hunsecker is an influential and sleazy newspaper columnist and radio host using his influence, mainly with the help of up-and-coming press agent Sidney Falco, to break-up the relationship his sister Susan has with Steve Dallas, a musician he does not deem fit for his younger sibling.

While it was poorly received at the time, this film has aged quite well and won some recognition with the years passing. Lancaster and Curtis are great as sleazy characters trying to get their way. It was quite a stretch at the time to have natural heroes play bad guys. The cinematography and script are also solid aspects of this classic. All things considered; this is a great piece of cinema.

Rating: «««««

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Behind the Candelabra (2013)

Genre: Biographical / Drama / Comedy
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Dan Aykroyd
Time: 118 minutes

 


This is a dramatized version of the last 10 years in the life of famous pianist Liberace and an account of his relationship with Scott Thorson, who was young member of his entourage with whom he was said to have had an intimate relationship. The movie is based on the book of the same name. 

As you can imagine a movie about Liberace to be, it is flamboyant and camp. This film is carried by strong performances from Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. It is amazing that such a strong cast and director were involved in what basically was a TV movie. Very entertaining.

Rating: ««««