Categories: Movie and Series Reviews, 2.5/5

Woman of the Hour (2023) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Crime, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery

Woman of the Hour tries to tackle a real life story, and in that regard it falls on its face. In trying to tell a specific story, the film makes up characters, completely reinvents others, and ultimately ends up downplaying the serial killers degeneracy and, like so many of these, give him a smoothness that is inaccurate to history. (the real life character Kendrick played never went anywhere with him, noting he was “creepy”)

The other issue is that Anna Kendrick herself comes across very contemporary and feels out of place. Wardrobe, dialogue, and acting choices could have done a lot to make the character more believable to the period.

I get what the goal was with focusing around Kendrick’s character, her relationship with men at large, and the show, but I think the movie would have been better served without her prominence. It all felt a bit heavy handed and like it took up too much space. There is a more gripping story here, and it is the real one.

Blink Twice (2024) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Thriller

Everything felt like it needed better execution. The first bit on the island also drags on a bit too long, similar to a lot of teen movies where viewing the excess is… in excess. I get that there were little things to hook on to occasionally in these moments that would come full circle but they just weren’t super catching for me. Then the time bomb goes off and it is exactly what you expect to happen. The scariest thing is our main character initially being drawn to the tech billionaire and what that all means.

This all being said, I think some people will like this movie a lot more than I did and I wouldn’t blame them. I can appreciate it, even if I did not connect with it.

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Action, Comedy, Crime, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller

It felt odd for the movie to not have Lisa Eilbacher as Jenny in some capacity. I think it would have worked better if Axel stayed with her while in town rather than the whole shakily done house acquisition thing that didn’t really deliver the laughs.

II Has sometimes transcends parts of the original, but it has trouble maintaining any momentum it gets. The dialogue gets sloppy, with characters repeating information the others would already know. The villain has an actual motivation but it is not leaned into so instead of Casino Royal we get mustache twirly.

Rosewood is fun to see escalate but the last ten minutes of the movie goes too hard and the action is very sloppy. It is really the ending that shaves off another half star. Sloppy action can be said for most of the movie though, it really is the whole way the finale was written. Too quick, too little, and too much somehow all at once.

Having said all that, I don’t regret watching the movie. I think there is some strong moments in the earlier half.

The Watchers (2024) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Fantasy, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Thriller

This felt like a Shyamalan film, and it turns out it was. The biggest twist of the film.

Characters reveal information and others ask no follow up and it makes the end feel cheap and predictable. When I watch a Shyamalan film, I hope to not know the ending up front.

The dialogue is a little off at times and there is a goofyness to how it all wraps up.

Atmosphere was neat, even if they showed too much in my opinion, and the overhead shots do a good job at evoking an enclosure.

Sweetwater (2013) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller, Western

It felt like it wanted to do a lot of things but without much planning. This left a lot of beats feeling shoehorned in purely “because.” The few things it does well are fun to watch but its a movie where the cast largely drag it to its better moments. If Jason Isaacs, January Jones, and Ed Harris weren’t here, I think it would be immediately forgettable.