VierasTalo added 1 item to VT's episodemeter list
Episodes: 8
Seasons: 1
A very fascinating story with terrific acting (including from Bill Pullman of all people!) that doesn't quite pull off the Fincher/Lonergan -feel of the first few episodes for the entire series as the mystery takes precedence over the very, very bizarre relationships these people have.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
It's a shame I stopped using half stars because this is an exceptionally well written, smart, raunchy AF, perfectly acted comedy that has a lot to say about psychologically abusive relationships that is just brought down by the overall experience being super studio-like in terms of music and editing that I can't give it four no matter how hard I want to. It's so good it makes me angry that it's pulled off from the audiovisual side like a boring Lifetime-drama. Guess I should be glad the director of fucking Scary Movie 5 didn't fuck this up any worse.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
Flanagan continues to make optimistic, upbeat and harsh horror movies with his most refined one yet.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
The story in this movie is the most bag of dicks -level nonsense I've seen in ages and the way it's told is on like a two bags of dicks -level. It manages to involve you by the end but getting to that point is rough. The action feels super wobbly and the choppy editing is sometimes just used to hide cuts in "long shots" which is very obvious and breaks the flow, but both of those you kind of get used to since the movie uses them very consistently throughout. The actors in this movie are great which is real tough with some of the material!
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
There's hardly anything mind-blowing here but a charming cast carries it well. Wish it went a bit more Final Destination than it ends up going. The end credits song is so on the nose it makes me want to give this *.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
My biggest gripe with "It" is that Muschietti showcases his fantastical monsters with the same methods as he does a .5 second New Kids on the Block -gag. If the movie had scared me once - and I mean that literally - I would be willing to forgive so much more. It's made like a movie intended to go at 110% in regards to the scares but struggles to reach 40 with the way they're shot. I can see why everyone loves the projector scene - it's the one scare with a visual twist and not entirely shot center-frame.
The lack of scares or intensity just kills it. The framework built to support the horror is wonderful from casting to the perfect nostalgia. But when they don't pull off the spooks it reveals how light the narrative content of the film is. It does little honor to King's themes by opting to go with the scary scenes instead. If it had succeeded this would be the finest studio horror since Conjuring 2. It doesn't so it's... well, it's more like an Insidious 2. But it has oodles of charm with the cast, gags. It's nostalgic towards childhood the overall concept of being a child, rather than a cultural era of time despite being set in one. Can't deny the stellar craftsmanship behind all effects, it's just a shame Muschietti can't either and obsessively shoves them in our face.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
A bunch of American indie comedy stars apparently wanted to make a horny adaptation of some Decameron-stories and turns out it's pretty good and earnest. The ending is heart-warming.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
So, here's an example of the emotional, romanticizing old-timey countryside -paranormal thriller. Unfortunately it's very stupid and predictable. It seems fine until like the hour mark when they introduce some psycho-sexual nonsense into the mix and it just becomes porridge in movie form. The one good thing is Marton Csokas because he's basically lewdness in flesh regardless of the movie or TV-show he's in.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
I'm being very loose giving this two stars but it has the perfect fake mall with a food court restaurant called HAMBURGERS so I have to.
7 years, 4 months ago
VierasTalo added 1 item to Film Journal 2017 list
Though this is totally fine and looks great which is rare for underwater movies, I can't help but wonder how much better this would be as a horror movie if it actually used the concept of being at the bottom of the ocean for something other than, you know, sharks and weird diver diseases.
7 years, 4 months ago