mattmav45

So fucking stupid, but I'll be damned if I didn't have fun watching the levels of absurdity on display here. The first hour was pretty brutal. It wasn't for lack of trying, as you could tell effort was made to build tension, suspense, and character. Sure, it failed miserably and was as lifeless as the current Nazi movement, but the effort was there. Let's be clear, this is the type of film that gets more ridiculous as it progresses. You can almost pin-point where the film-makers got desperate and starting throwing nonsense up against the wall. It's almost like they said "Fuck it" when they realized nothing was working, and started taking hits of acid. Well, everyone knows that being a user is more enjoyable than a spectator role. Simply laughable in its execution.

Lordmandeep is a bit simple-minded in nature, so the "boring" comment is somewhat expected from him.IMO.

Simply a damn good film. Let's face it, nobody does dramedy quite like Alexander Payne. Dude is simply a master at finding the perfect balance of hilarity and genuine drama. This quiet and personal film is a return to form for Payne after the mediocore Descendants release a couple years ago. I was surprised at how funny the film was. Let's be clear, this is the funniest movie of 2013. For me, there's nothing funnier than situational comedy so this was right up my alley. Just how funny is the Mom here? Talking about all these men wanting to get into her "bloomers" and such. In the end it is the small details that make this film great. The nuances at play here are so well-defined and every character feels genuine. It's one of those rare films that succeeds in unabashedly wearing its heart on its sleeve. One of the most enjoyable films of 2013.

For the most part, simply boring as fuck. In the end what we have here is your typical contrived hack-job Hollywood drama. There's nothing really worse than a film that plays it so safe that it's not bad enough to be fun and is instead simply dull to its very core. It's kind of equivalent to studying the origins of the universe and only reading about creationism. Brutal. Plain and simple.........it's the kind of film your Mom will leave the theater raving about. Enough said.

Well, at the very least this was interesting. I get the feeling that Rob Zombie is a good film-maker. He certainly knows his way behind the camera, as there are some alternately beautiful and haunting shots here. The atmosphere is downright impressive at times. Unfortunately, the story, or story execution more specifically, tend to be a big deterrent for Zombie. The film is simply downright silly at times, and consistent bad acting zaps any kind of possible tension or suspense. When you have narrative and acting issues it's really hard to pull off a slow-burn satanic horror high on atmosphere as what is attempted here. That's not to say it's not worth a watch. On the contrary, at the very least it was made with genuine effort, and that alone makes it worthy of analysis. Still, at times it's best to just let all hell break loose, if you know what I mean.

I can understand why you liked it, and your interpretation makes sense. That being said, there's no real way of knowing if it's correct, there are countless viewpoints and interpretations that differ online. I can see why it's loved by many, but as I stated, I simply didn't dig taking the role of the storyteller to this extent here.

Let's be honest, in reality nobody really knows just what the fuck is going on here. That being said, this was destined to be the type of film in which hordes of people proclaim they "get it." Outside of some themes of nostalgia and yearning for the past, I'm not sure there's anything to "get." Make no mistake, there is nonetheless cinema gold to be had here, and as a result it's an immensely watchable film. There is clear talent on display which made it all the more frustrating for me that I just couldn't get into it. I typically don't mind open-ended storytelling and the like, but this was a bit much to me. I enjoy watching film to be told a story and/or have an experience of sorts. In this instance I kind of felt like I had to take the role of the actual storyteller. I can see how this may work for some, but it was a mixed bag for me. Perhaps your enjoyment of the film is dependent on how down you are with the following statement: There are two kinds of people in this world.....those who are pretentious as fuck, and those who wish they were.

I must say that I'm a little surprised at all the bad hype surrounding this. Sure, it's destined to be a bit divisive, but nonetheless I'm surprised at the outright dismissal that seems to be the norm for this film. This film is more interested in creating a mood and overall atmosphere that drive the film rather than the story, and it largely succeeds. I've heard a lot of "style over substance" claims regarding this movie, and i have to say not only is that off-base. To truly be style over substance, there has to be no substance to the style, and I simply don't agree with that here. In my opinion, in this case the style is the substance. Substance can be found in the silences, the shots, the expressions, the mood, etc. Now, even with that being said, I still felt a bit cold here. In a way, this was a somewhat frustrating and uneven watch for me. There are scenes of pure cinema gold here amidst some mediocrity, but in the end the cinema gold is well worth it. It's not perfect, and maybe even a failure in some regard.......but damn it, at the very least it's a fascinating, ambitious failure not to be so quickly overlooked.

Wow....easily the biggest and best surprise of 2013. Typically, my reviews tend to consist mainly of the reflections and overall impression a film had on me. It's basically how I remember every movie I see in my mind. I tend to not remember details but over-arching moods and feelings. Well, Short Term 12 is simply the best kind of film there is. For me, there's nothing quite like a drama that immerses you in its mood and atmosphere. This was a draining watch in the best kind of way possible. Amazing that a film as emotional as this didn't resort to manipulative mechanisms in any way.........at least in my opinion. Could very well be the best of 2013.........powerhouse drama, plain and simple.

Simply fantastic, and overall a celebration of power of creative imagination. In all honesty it's hard to find many faults here. It simply oozes creativity, and almost all of it works. One of those rare films that throws everything at the wall, and 99% of it sticks. Special mention has to go to the ending. Not only does it re-inforce the film's basic mantra, but it also provides an emotional core that ties it all together. It's hard to imagine anyone not having fun with this. A blast to watch, creative film-making at its best.

First off, my only knowledge of the actual happenings going on here is basically surface level at best. That being said, the film makes quite clear right away that it opts for style over substance, any semblance of real, genuine drama be damned. Look, the art and costume design is very good. This would be a great film to show to an Art Design class in college. Unfortunately, nothing feels real here. The stylistic choices Wright takes are questionable at best, and don't mesh well with the story at all. Everything is so damn theatrical and melodramatic that you can almost see the script jumping out off the screen. In the end, to say that the film fails to leave any kind of lasting impression would be an understatement.

Very good drama focused around true events. Look, there's no doubt there's some story manipulation going on here. That did not bother me in this case as I guess it is to be expected. Michael B. Jordan and Octavio Spencer for the most part carry the show. There is a strong sense of realism at hand here, particularly during the last hour. I suppose it goes without saying that the inevitable conclusion hits pretty hard. In the end I'll remember this film as being a good drama based on true events.

I simply don't have much to say here. It's a remake of a film that was already pretty damn ludicrous to begin with. Infer from this what you will.

I simply don't have much to say here. It's a remake of a film that was already pretty damn ludicrous to begin with. Infer from this what you will.

Gomorrah (2008).

Let's be real here, at times this film is quite a bore to sit through. In fact, you could say there are moments in which the film is simply boring as fuck. And yet, this remains a damn good survival film. This is the type of movie that thrives off the sounds, facial expressions, and camera shots. The sounds are loud and immersive, the facial expressions are intense, and the camera shots are epic. The three work together to create the all-encompassing atmosphere the film needs to succeed. Of course, Robert Redford is great here, able to convey more than enough emotion without having to say a word. In a way, whether you like this film or not turns on the fact on whether you are down to immerse yourself with Redford in this world and go along for the ride. I resisted for the first half hour, but quicky gave in thereafter. Damn good survival flick.

The only thing more depressing about the current state of modern horror has to be the reliance on remakes. In fact, the only horror remake of late I've enjoyed has to be Alexandre Aja's The Hills Have Eyes. In this case, one has to be reminded of just how good the orginal Carrie was. I view the original to be a slow burn character study high on tension and atmosphere. It's really more of a drama than anything else, and showcases one of the best examples of sinister foreshadowing I've seen in film. The last 30 minutes is simply powerful stuff, and one of the best half hours horror has to offer. In this case, the remake does try to make its own mark in some ways. Unfortunately, the film to me lacked the subtlety of the orginal. In some cases some patience can go a long way. In the rare instances that the film tries to make its own mark it simply doesn't work. In a way, it's a disservice to Moretz to try to take on this role. She isn't necessarily awful (no doubt she's miscast here), but there's simply no taking over an iconic role such as this. To me, Sissy Spacek is and will always be Carrie. In the end, yet another failed and for the most part uninspired horror remake. Aja's The Hills Have Eyes this is not.

Double post.Still, this list is popular as fuck.IMO.

When Spielberg is the #1 director on this list and Nolan is in the Top 10, it's fairly obvious that popularity is the main factor driving this list.IMO.

Nolan is maybe top 25, but top 10 at this point is pretty laughable. Spielberg would be top 10 for me, but I can't really argue with him being #1. While a shell of his former self, he did make some great films.

The story and humor are so forced that we may as well be talking about rape here. I usually don't mind watching films even if I don't like them, but this was simply fucking brutal.

Thanks for that rec, I'm going to check it out. These sites are ideal for reviews and tend to have less of a focus on teenage dominated fanboy films. @Tele- I don't believe so, but it's not really a problem for me. I just tend to add a review after I watch a movie, so it will likely be a slower process for me regardless.

It is what it is. I'll never be one to consider this a classic as some do. It's simply too damn dense and grating of a watch at times. That being said, there are moments of random and bizarre hilarity and the film is consistently fun. If anything, it was actually coincidentally refreshing and depressing that this film likely took more chances PC-wise than many others would even attempt in this modern age. Simply put............sit back, get inebriated, and bask in the complete and utter ridiculousness.

Who uses this? It's a pretty damn slick site and makes it hard to venture over here. IMO.

I thought this was a film that suffered from a slow first half and then transcended into a touching and at times funny drama. John Hawkes and Helen Hunt are both strong here in filling their characters' roles and acquiring the essential chemistry that is not near as easy as they make it look. Sometimes there's nothing like two characters just sitting in bed and opening up to each other. The drama here is very organic and tends to flow quite smoothly. In the end, this is the type of film that uses low-key and subtle moments that add up to a greater whole. I will say a downside is it's almost too light for its own good. At the absolute least, this film is an easy pick for good acting, naturalistic drama, and a positive mood after viewing.