Don't Look Up

 

Don’t Look Up 2021

• Director: Adam McKay
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Timothée Chalamet, Melanie Lynskey
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• LD, JL, MS, CB – many
• Rob Morgan – Unforgettable
• Jonah Hill – Hail Caesar, Wolf of Wall Street, Django Unchained, The Invention of Lying
• Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall, Ready Player One, The BFG, Twelfth Night, Richard II
• Timothée Chalamet - Dune, Little Women, Lady Bird, Interstellar
• Melanie Lynskey The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Shattered Glass, Ever After
• Why? The cast. Sounds good
• Seen: 6 April 2025      

             A comet is going to crash into Earth in six months. Extinction is certain, if we don’t deflect, which would be possible.

            The film is classified as a satirical comedy. The funny part is that that nobody believes or cares. Ha ha.

            So obviously it’s all about today’s reality and the environmental catastrophe that is going to destroy everything if we don’t take immediate and extreme action. And we don’t care. Some of us don’t believe it. We elect Trump, we consume and consume and consume. We poison our planet.

            So funny isn’t the first word that comes to mind. But it is kind of…funny. The satire is so bitingly realistic that it hurts. The actors are superb,

            Depressing but oh, so brilliant.

 

5* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uglies

 

Uglies 2024

• Director: McG
• Seen by this director: Terminator Salvation
• Based on the book by Scott Westerfield
• Cast: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Laverne Cox
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Laverne Cox – Promising Young Woman
• Why? Dystopia
• Seen: 4 April 2025      

             Before the age of 16 everyone is an ugly. At the age of 16 everyone is operated on to become a Pretty. Tally (King) is 15. Her BFF Peris (Stokes) turns 16 and becomes a Pretty and no longer wants to have anything to do with her. She comes in contact with rebels.

            Many viewers mention liking the book better. I haven’t read it so I can only judge the film. If you’re about 12 or 13 you might like it. My 13-year-old self kind of likes it, even though it’s contrived and simple-minded. But only kind of. It’s been a very long time since I was 13. But David (Powers) is awfully cute and the visuals are strong. 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grand Budapest Hotel

 

The Grand Budapest Hotel 2014

• Director: Wes Anderson
• Seen by this director: Moonrise Kingdom, Darjeeling Limited, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Ralph Fiennes, F Murray Abraham, Jude Law, Adrian Brody and many more
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• All of them – many
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 1 April 2025    

             It’s only because of the cast that I’m even watching this. Wes Anderson is not my fave. This one received top ratings. That’s no guarantee.

            My main problem with Anderson is that he’s not as weird and quirky as he thinks he is. I find his humour pretentious. I have lost friends over this attitude, but then they probably weren’t such good friends, right?

            OK, I’ll stop babbling and watch the film.

            1. I don’t like narrated stories. 2. What’s the point of this film? 3. What a waste of good actors. 4. This is just silly. 5. This is boring. 6. Almost everybody disagrees with me.

            Never mind. I like the purple uniforms. They themselves are worth 

1* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martha Mary Macy Marlene

 

Martha Mary Macy Marlene 2011

• Director: Sean Durkin
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Hugh Dancy
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Elizabeth Olsen – Avengers etc
• Sarah Paulson – Run, Glass, Bird Box, 12 Years a Slave, Mud, Down with Love
• John Hawkes - many
• Hugh Dancy – Jane Austen Book Club, Daniel Deronda
• Why? Good reviews
• Seen: 31 March 2025 

             Martha (Olsen) escapes a sect and is taken in by her sister Lucy (Paulson) and brother-in-law Ted (Dancy). The sect is like sects are, charismatic leader (Hawkes) who rapes the women etc. Martha is disturbed and damaged but it’s unclear why.

            I’m not fond of dual timelines and this is no better than most. I was expecting better, considering the subject. 

2½ * of 5