Did you all give high ratings to make a point? Half way through the movie I could not keep my eyes open. Seriously... 8.7 / 10 in IMDB. Crazy!
Everything fell apart when they introduced that stupid fucking rocket with the bombs. How did they even get the bombS up in space in the correct spots and then get them to stay in that location? Not looking forward to season 2 tbh.
I have been unlucky enough to watch some truly terrible TV shows, and I have to say this makes the top 5, perhaps even the top 3 worst shows ever to grace the small screen. Emma Stone…? Is this the best you got now?
This is a story about the most shallow, despicable, reprehensible, zero morals, zero ethics people who are so far beyond phony that it’s not funny in the least. You will hate everyone, and I do mean everyone, in this show. The most dislikable person is the lead actor who is also the creator, the writer and the director.
There is absolutely nothing funny about this show. Seriously, there is no comedy whatsoever, it’s about people you cannot find a single redeemable quality for and if you don’t like the players then why watch the play? For the message? The message is terrible too.
Your time is better spent vacuuming your carpet - one fiber at a time with a microscopic vacuum cleaner than it is spending even a single minute of this insanely stupid show.
The acting is on par with a play put on by three year olds.
Do yourself a favor and forget this show even exists.
People will look back at Southland Tales after Trump and say Richard Kelly predicted the entire decade, and them some. Those who don't get the film just have low IQ's and can't see the brilliance of it. A hitman with amnesia, a reality television president, the bs conspiracies and angry vets while Tech Companies create an elite political class existing off human capital a midst a climate apocalypse (followed by a nuclear one); welcome to 2020.
But this was made in '06. Right it was, and it belongs in the canon of "Idiocracy", almost serves as a prequel. You've got all the elements of the sh-tstorm we're in from Q-Anon to Reality Television presidents to traumatized Iraqi vets on a mission to Facebook dictatorships and mysterious foreign interference's communicated through bizarre corrupt Homeland Security type organizations.
This movie is about the overall dumbing down of America before the apocalypse but after what we thought in 2006 a post-911 world would bring us to -- Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, represent this playing a hitman with amnesia throughout the story. A guy who doesn't remember what he's fighting for. People just use the word "Freedom" to justify their neurotic sadism and greed throughout the film. Justin Timberlake, an Iraqi vet, who predicts Jaoquim Pheonixs' Joker performance, plays an insane militia vet in his self-cutting musical numbers. It's a cinematic masterpeice and Timberlakes greatest paradoxical performance.
Warning : The "conservative media" is a central character in itself this film and if you don't understand how FOX news is hate speech propaganda you will, right off the bat, not understand the premise of the movie from scene 1. Instead of seeing how each character is either being manipulated by the media or is making the media that manipulates others you will just see moving pictures you wont understand. Unfortunatley, this is because your brain doesn't understand that media is created and since Kelly doesn't spell out to the inept audience what each characters motivation is, you would have to think that out. Which for 42% of Americans is very difficult to do. If you actually believe one single solitary ounce of Q-Anon or InfoWars BS you won't see the cutting humor of this film. I feel sad for you because you are stuck in a rabbit-hole by people who watched this movie in 2006 and created their little BS cultspracies. This movie teaches you how to mess with people and how politcal sides are all horseplay. Only culture-makers understand what this film is saying because Richard Kelly, the director, thought his Donnie Darko audience was smarter. Followers of conservative media who actually see the world through FOX news absurdity are numb to the profound absurdity of SouthLand Tales -- because it's talking about you easily reactionary freaks who see the world like Dwayne's character -- paranoid, amnesiac and scare sh*tless of terrorists. Meanwhile, he's the central terrorist. It's a genius judgement of domestic militant Americans today.
The people who don't see this movie as a prophecy, including a great performance by Kathy Griffith as this muscle bound feminist liberal ripping political heads (something she ACTUALLY did in 2016 much to her professional shigrin), are blind to prophetic cinema. Then again, the word Republican/Conservative are now synonymous with Corporate Environmental and Human Right annihilation, Cult Racism, White Supremacy, Sadism and greed -- so anything against that is considered anti-fascist. Don't get me wrong, If there ever was an Antifa Manifesto that American Nazi's couldn't interpret because of their traumatic FOX induced brain injuries, this movie is it. I doubt they even understood that sentence. My only contention is if this was a prequel to Mike Judges' classic comedy"Idiocracy", where the future of American is beyond stupid, I wonder what film could END the trilogy.
Southland Tales is about the fall of America by paranoia, media manipulators and toxic masculinity (even in women), who carry out the apocalypse dictated to them by elite's, literally in a bubble. I won't give away the ending...but hint, hint -- look outside your window.
In this mocumentary you will learn that 1+1=7 and that there is not a conspiracy theory that MAGA people won't fall for!
Let's be real here. This isn't a good film. And it's flawed from the get-go.
The casting. Dreadful. Hanks is a creation from Batman Returns. Priscilla has none of her beauty. And the most fundamentally unforgiveable issue - Elvis doesn't look like Elvis. Who signed off on an actor to carry this film where the eyes nose and mouth are absolutely incorrect?
The editing. Horrendous and overdone. There is barely a moments peace from the onslaught. However, for this catastrophe of cinematography to only cost 85 million USD is a triumph.
The pov aspect. Why in the hell would you base this around the ridiculous story of Colonel Tom Parker only to then leave out half of the facts? And it's not short on time at 2hr 30.
And finally, the pacing. When Elvis is washed up prior to the 68 Comeback special we haven't been fed enough of him at his peak for the rise and fall to make sense. When he passes, the bloatedness isn't shown and then arrives unexplained but for a single line of voice over. Periods that needed to be shown are glossed over and periods of relative unnecessity are dragged out.
But the real crime is the music. I counted 2 uninterrupted performances. The rest were manic collages or mixed in with - wait for it - modern hip hop... What egotistical mind decided that was a good idea...?
I watched. Now I'll hope to forget. And for anyone who wants an actual representation of Elvis from an actor who actually looks like him and tells the actual story, look for the Jonathan Rhys Meyers TV miniseries biopic.
To paraphrase a Bill Burr routine... Elvis was the first to be a major superstar. He made all the mistakes because he had nobody who had led the way.
Why is that not spelled out?
The 'theft' of black music. The 'child' marriage... I get that 2022 eyes see the world differently but a film like this shouldn't pander to the modern trend for rewriting history. It should provide perspective.
If Elvis hadn't grown up surrounded by black culture and organically witnessed that music, he'd be Pat Boone. But he wasn't. He was a true child of the musical influences. If he hadn't had his career, then it might have been another 20 years before black music found white ears... And it wouldn't have been a black artist who brought it. That's the sad truth. There needs to be a conduit and Elvis was that.
To labour this point... Tom Hanks being cast as a gay man afflicted with HIV (Philadelphia) opened the door to films of that nature being mainstream. Nowadays a gay man must be cast in that role. But you don't get to where we are without Tom Hanks being the conduit. That seems to be lost on people these days.
Progress is a series of incremental steps.
And look at the Priscilla marriage. The age of consent and the times and the location were all a world away. Don't be outraged at this, be outraged at Jerry Lee Lewis or Chuck Berry.
How sad the film was so overwhelmed by its desire to create ridiculous camerawork that it failed to deliver any of the impact of the first major superstar.
5/10
Cheap cop out way of writing an ending. The intended effect Safdie was going for was everyone will wonder, “why all the gentrification themed - non-magical realism 9 previous episodes?” They’ll think he’s a genius but realize theres little rewatch value. For this ending? Nah. Safdies character was cringe, the episodes were cringe. Stone and Fielder made the experiment slightly watchable but I see this series as sealing Safdie for me as having gone beyond his expertise. It seems he was given an opportunity by the studio with the seed of an idea that never really grows up - rather it just evaporates.
As someone "smart" Saul is easily the dumbest person on the show. Why did they write him like this?
Am I crazy or did some of the dialogue audio get messed up in this episode? Almost like something very slightly muffling the audio of Jin and the shooter.
guys don’t miss They Cloned Tyrone! it sucks that Netflix released on Barbenheimer weekend but genuinely a great film all around and the main cast is so good, all their banter is top notch, sharp social commentary and a real retro throwback to the 70s
Didn't think I would say this on a film about a farting corpse... but it was kinda beautiful. Dano was terrific and Radcliffe has never been so alive on screen. A quiet gem.
Trash movie about trash people with a trash ending.
I really enjoyed this series, it's kooky humour and eccentric mannerisms from people trying to cope with a terrible truth as a society. In spite of it's sunshine moments, I did feel very melancholy while watching this though.
I haven't read the book and I really don't like the movies. This movie just feel soulless with flat and bland characters where their motivation is unclear and with a hollow plot.
When it comes to the pacing and action, yes action, is was just so boring. The chemistry between the two leads is just non-existent.
Some of the editing was also really weird.
Paul ventures out on a solo quest and all of the sudden they attack an spice harvester.
I really don't understand why some people say it is intensive, epic, spectacular and a masterpiece.
The visuals and acting from some of the cast (Butler) saves it from a lower score.
The standard for what constitutes a quality movie has plummetted so badly in recent years. Dune 2 is another example. Yet another movie that focuses on psychosis, pornographic violence, and very little else. The chemistry between Zendaya and Timothee is nonexistent, not that it matters because their relationship, as is in most cases with superficial films that inject a love story, is as inauthentic and if anything adds to the lack of substance of the film as a whole. What is all the fuss about!?
This was a huge waste of time. Boring af.
The only scene that was worth a damn was Paul's speech at the Circle; the rest of the movie felt like watching a trailer for a graphic novel adaptation of the book. The dialogue for the most part was atrocious, especially for the Harkonnens. Zendaya's line delivery and mannerisms were too "American", compared to the other Fremen, breaking the Middle Eastern-inspired atmosphere.
In 2024, conflating the terms "psychotic" and "psychopathic" is inexcusable. How the fuck did none of the story editors/producers pick that one up?
This show tries to kill you by boredom or depression. It’s a waste of my time and clearly of money for the producers.
2 episodes and i still don’t get why i didn’t stop after the first one.
Weak character, weak storyline, flat narrative. Avoid at any cost!!
The real curse is having to watch this show.
Safdies and Fielder - not exactly an incredible combo. He should of done another season of The Rehearsal or his og show. The “Nathan” we know and love isn’t plugging and playing quite the way we wanted here. Emma stone gives tho.
Way too many writers trying to emulate a goofiness and sensibility of a bygone era. A giant line of famous faces and aspiring "comedy world people" scurrying to rub elbows with Mel Brooks. Or, at least the idea of Mel Brooks. Is it attempting to be transcendent and/or higher-budget satire? Is it absurdity for the sake of it? I think it's that so much is punching you squarely in your nose that there's no room for an organic laugh to find room between "Yeah, I get it" thoughts and wincing. What is the joke and where is the punchline? It's like watching "The Characters" which was like watching an hours-long cringe-worthy later-season sketch from Saturday Night Live. Then you have so much 4th wall breaking looking for like meta self-awareness? I wonder if the cast just felt dirty in between takes or obligated and trying too hard to keep the mood up.
I recently watched the first episode of "History of the World Part Two" with high expectations. Unfortunately, I found the episode to be quite disappointing due to the bad acting and poor writing. Despite my initial excitement, the lackluster performances and uninspired writing left me feeling underwhelmed.
While I may give the series another chance with the second episode, based on my experience with the first episode, I am not hopeful that the quality will improve. I value strong performances and compelling writing, and "History of the World Part Two" failed to deliver on both fronts in its first outing.
Meh… third Haneke film i’ve seen and third i’ve given a 5/10 rating.
Might be disturbing to some ppl but there’s films out there a lot more disturbing (im looking at i Gasper Noe).
Tbh it’s dreary and kind of boring.
I see a lot of positive reactions so I’m probably in the minority here but I don’t think the show earned this ending. I was definitely surprised and there was a level of emotion, but the ending mostly just made me mad. The conclusion felt rushed, and it just feels like Alan went through all this and put up with everything all for nothing. I understand that he went on his own internal and reflective journey with his relationship with his son and that was paid off at the end, so it technically wasn’t all for nothing, but I’m not a fan of how the end played out. The emotional weight with Alan’s kids should’ve hit so much harder than it did but they were barely even characters in the show so it falls short because I feel no real connection to them. So for me this finale was more annoying and frustrating than the captivating tragedy they were likely going for.
01x02 - Path of the Dead: 7.8/10 (Impressive)
The cinematography is stunning, and some stills are works of art in their own right. It was this aspect of the episode that pulled me in, combined with the almost poetic dialogue. The two leads, Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer do a fine job, and the episode’s portrayal of conflict and societal commentary is handled artistically while remaining grounded. It lends nuance to everything instead of simply being black and white, which I like. “Path of the Dead,” the second episode, is a solid follow-up to the debut and masterfully lays the setting for a gripping tale, even if we don’t know where it’s heading just yet.
A quite charming oddball comedy with a little touch of splatter, but with a plot this bonkers it really should have been a whole lot more fun. It constantly throws jokes at the viewers that ranges from quite funny to plain cringy, and perhaps tries to juggle too many tones but sadly fails at it a bit more than it succeeds. I liked the eccentric lead, and the bond between him and his mother, but there are so many issues with the execution and the failed tone-juggling wasn't to my liking. Could've done better if it just committed to its darker tone.
Jennifer Connolly plays Virginia, a single-mother in the middle of America with psychologically traumatized past. Come for the sexually charged scenes with Ed Harris, as a cheating Mormon sheriff running for Mayor. Watch Connolly stun in PG rated sex scene looking as good as ever clad in full dominatrix gear taking it hard and heavy. Stay for her performance of Virginia, a broken woman played to with an intimate desecration as she arranges last minute heist to leave her son something before her failing health takes hold.
Dick Tipton (Ed Harris) is a ridiculously arrogant alpha male Sherrif without a shred of responsibility towards Virginia or her son. He's only in it for the pooyani. Film legend Yeardley Smith plays the over-concerned social worker with a convincing southern drawl that makes you yearn for more. Connolly overalls feels lost in a sacred time towards an afterlife fantasy as she attempts to make up lie after lie, raise her son quite unsuccessfully, and manipulate her life around the few sex romps she has with the Sherrif.
The film is framed through her sons eyes. The actor playing her son is forgettable which is the only loss this film suffers from. It's a pretty big loss though, considering how much screen time his part of the story has.
Scenes of him casually in the house while Connolly get's railed by Harris make up the first part of the film. The second part is a series of vignettes between the son and a local girl, possibly Harris' characters daughter, with interdispersed scenes of Connolly breaking down or getting boned by Harris in various ways. I felt the sons story with his pals had a weaker dynamic playing under such a heavy talent load on top. I would of liked to see more of Connolly on top of Harris as well. The film could of been carried by Connolly and Harris' sex scenes, like a Wild Orchid meets Mother hybrid, instead it became a sidestory against a cops and robbers meets dazed and confused tragedy. The third act, is entirely this, complete with a rebellion, a Taxi Driver type of "campaign" bombing and Virginia's poetic stand-off.
The story overall invokes a tinge of Tennessee Williams "Baby Doll" meeting notes of Brie Larson's unconditional-love-under-extreme-circumstance performance in "Room." It falls short due where the bulk of scenes are given to a young actor who simply does not serve the overall momentum. Virginia shines when Connolly is on screen and simply put, due to her single performance it could of been added to what has become "The Fallen Single Mother" canon. It fails in its vision. When you have Jennifer Connolly as a blonde southern girl you want Cassavetes not Paul Thomas Anderson. They should of focused on her under the influence of knowing her own mortality was arye and the story taking place around that. It's a better way to understand the film if you're going in fresh. I hate to do this to Sarah from Labyrinth but this is a 6.5 out 10. :face_with_raised_eyebrow:
Beautiful, subtle, beautiful. I wouldn't have changed one second of this film.
Premiere was a riot. Couldn't be happier Nathan is back to dissect our minds
I tolerated the first episode, but honestly this second episoder is pure cringe. Elizabeth Holmes is portrayed not as a grifter POS but a hip-hop loving nymphomaniac who breaks out in dance every five minutes. And the rest of the cast has suddenly become terrible versions of a Judd Apatow movie.
Terry Gilliam you are a fuck lunatic, but I rather prefer the Brazil movie!
