Author: richardfleming
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“Bad Moms” Is Bad
Bad Moms Sometimes, I’ll treat myself to an absolutely shitty film. I mean the kind of rubbish that would send others to line up shots of bleach. But the world is a meaningless void of despair and anguish, and the only way I can fill the existential hole in my life is to reaffirm my…
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“Wonder Woman” Is Anything But Wonderful
Wonder Woman The best kinds of feminist works are produced by men. So, when trying to conceive of a great feminist story, it’s almost essential to have three male writers exclusively on the project. They just have an outsider’s perspective that makes their assessment of socialisation against women more poignant and insightful, apparently. And if…
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The Night of the Hunter: A Classic That Doesn’t Age Well
The Night of the Hunter This film is the precursor to the slasher genre. Much of what it did was the very first, and Robert Mitchum’s portrayal of the psychotic preacher influenced media ranging from David Lynch’s filmography to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” I understand all of this and recognize its place in film history.…
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How Could You Do This To Us?
How Could You Do This To Us? How Could You Do This To Us? Staggeringly idiotic, I can’t fathom the good reviews this film is receiving – anymore than I can fathom how they approved the “twist” ending. It was something that I’d expect to see out of M. Night Shyamalan’s reject pile. I love…
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“Arrival” Director Apparently Didn’t Know How to End His Third Act
Arrival Based on the trailer, this wasn’t a film I had a particular interest in seeing (although there’s a lot of appeal to “mood” films). However, it isn’t fair to hold the marketing against it because the majority of trailers today make no fucking sense. There are a lot of perks to this movie, but…
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“Marvel’s ‘The Punisher’” is Actual Torture
The Punisher As the title of this review suggests, I have suffered. Some at the hands of what I consider subpar storytelling and character development, but with the occasional graphic action treat. Some at the hands of myself, and my compulsion to finish this show because I can’t stop ripping it apart. It’s a little…
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America, America (1963)
America Probably Kazan’s greatest directorial achievement, it is also his most personal – recounting his uncle’s trek from Turkey to the United States. Using a mix of nonprofessionals and up-and-coming acting talent, this film contains some of the most radical, emotionally charged performances I’ve ever seen. The commentary provided on the DVD prefaces each scene…
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“Bird Box” is Typical, Lazy, Trope-filled Garbage
Bird Box I don’t know why I expect films that set up a difficult “Why” premise to ever answer it. It never happens. Why did aliens from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) arrive, and what did they look like? Why did the hitmen in Pulp Fiction (1994) feel so adamant about protecting the…
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“The Peregrine” is a Masterclass in Writing
The Peregrine Sublime and beautiful, violently poetic and gently observant, J. A. Baker weaves an unsettlingly fervent non-narrative account of the deadliest and fastest hunters of the sky. His almost stoic language stands as the absolute greatest nonfiction prose I’ve ever read. The Peregrine isn’t about birdwatching or nature; it’s about the shame and disgust of…
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“The Secret Language of Film” – How Carrière’s Theories Still Hold Up Today
Beautifully crafted essays by French film theorist Jean-Claude Carrière, who was himself a highly prolific and successful screenwriter – working for the likes of Buñuel and Volker Schlöndorff. And the man has a certain command of language that is equal parts moving, inspiring, clear, and devastating. This book not only covers the vast distance of…