courtjes

IMDb member since June 2002
    Lifetime Total
    100+
    IMDb Member
    21 years

Reviews

True Detective
(2014)

Could McConaughy's smoking distract any more?
McConaughy an ok actor but smokes his way through movies and shamelessly promotes specific products. That aside the storyline is good, even with some slow points when there is pontification about philosophy. The investigation into the murder makes the show wothwhile to watch as the mystery slowly develops. Its never boring and the acting is good. Some of the over the top reviews are well written but this is not Breaking Bad or LOST excellence. It is better than many crime dramas, and the camera work great, really catches life in Louisana. Overall at least Season 1 is good. Kelly Reilly always good to watch but doesnt show up until season two.

Feud
(2017)

over the top smoking and acting
Who underwrote costs of this movie? Tobacco companies? Its annoying and distracting and beautiful women like Naomi Watts' skin will look decrepit in a few years from all those cigs.

It's difficult to follow who is who and really, who cares if Capote has antagonized the beautiful people? Capote's character has no redeeming social value and the portrayal of the wealthy elite women is fascinating but predictable. This movie will be forgotten quickly, a well deserved analysis. In Cold Blood was superb, the book and the movie. Here it's just some wealthy women complaining about trivial issues while they smoke up a storm.

The Pacific
(2010)

Usual Hanks Spielberg "lighter up" production
So many good things to say: acting, photography, storyline all excellent.

Problem is how Hanks and Spielberg promote cigarettes, as does most of Hollywood. ET, Big, movies they made aired at kids have key characters light up. Irresponsible.

That said, the Pacific captures the tragedy and horrors of war that young men were forced to cope with. If only respected and talented Hollywood leaders like Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg would end their love affair with big tobacco. They must know they are influencing children to smoke,maybe thats the deal they have going.

No question their movies are great. They don't need to pander to the tobacco companies.

Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood
(2019)

Typical DiCaprio smoking way, sleepwalking through movie
DiCaprio's acting ability in a movie consists of lighting up a cigarette every 30 seconds and tying to be a Brando or Pacino. The movie itself is more like a cigarette commercial than a movie. It's surprising Brad Pitt, who is a quality actor, and Tarano, a quality director, would allow their names to be associated with such a horrendous movie. The only subplot that kept the movie from being turned off were the references to the Manson family, but even that subplot went up in smoke, albeit not cigarettes. It's difficult to recommend this movie as when its over one just stares at the tv thinking, I want that time back that was spent on this wasted of a movie.

Maid
(2021)

Good, not great
This series truly shows what it is like for women who have taken care of kids and did not stay in job market. The lack of understanding most people have about the legal system is shown and the advantages the man usually has. What is no clear is why didnt Alex simply get a job waitressinh or bartending for better pay and better working conditions. The maid job is not for her and she had many other options. The baby obviously makes her more vulnerable and the dad I not really as bad as so many meant who an abuse their wives. The acting is good but Alex is a little too naive and wide eyed an out everything gong on around her.

The plot is realist and show the challenges a woman in that situation faces.

Glitch
(2015)

Fun until Season 3, then AWFUL
The weak link actor is James, he has no depth, always has same sad look, even when emotional it is so low key it is insignificant. Season 3 writers dropped the ball big time and seem to have thrown it together just to have another season,

The ending is a huge disappointment even for a sci fi show. Understanding that in a show like this the viewer has to go with the flow and suspend belief, not expect logic, there should still be some homage to all the time the viewer has put into watching the developments and at least give the viewer the semblance of connecting the dots. Here the writers just pieced together a boring last season.

The best acting is by Emma Booth and most of the others except Charli and Chi, who sleep walk through their part like James.

Rita
(2012)

could Mille Densen be any more over the op?
Densen doing her best to promote a brand of cigarettes, should just come out and say the name instead of passing the cigs around so much. What a role model for the school kids, always lighting up or showing off her sexual side.

Too much! The character is tiring, annoying. She does have some good sarcasm, though. We watched until middle of episode two and gave up on it. Usually we like the shows from Denmark, Sweden and that area, there are some great ones. Nothing original about the plot, single mom, dysfunctional relationship with her own mom, the kid in school who can't relate to the others, the goofy parents who want to ban sugar at the school. Even the new teacher who is offbeat and tries to inject herself into Rita's life. The camera work is good, the school itself looks like.a fun place.

The White Lotus
(2021)

Visually stunning!
Camera angles in Sicily are amazingly beautiful. Waves crashing, wide angle pictures of Sicilian landscape. Backed up by wonderful Italian music. Taormina town views are awesome and the interior scenes in the hotels and palazzo are inspiring. Cannot say enough about the filming. The plot itself has slow spots, maybe its an episode or two too long, and the ending is unsatisfying. Acting is fine and it is fun to watch the relationships change and change again. Overall, its not the type of binge watch show as others, its more like watch and episode or two, then come back to it later in a night or tow. Definitely worth watching though.

Boston Strangler
(2023)

Good story but in a haze of cigarette smoke
Acting is fine and story intriguing. Some surprises in the plot that encourage the viewer to do further research on the real life Boston strangler story. Not sure why Knightly had to light up a smoke every two minutes, its distracting and makes her unattractive. Overall the movie sheds light on some of the people involved in bringing the story to the public. The newspaper that broke the story showed a real concern for the public right to know and the editors didnt rush to get the news out at the expense of the truth. They made certain all the articles were confirmed by a source. Very surprising at the ending will not ruin it by commenting in detail.

Killing County
(2023)

slow moving, repetitive
Not really a documentary, the story correctly points out the terrible actions of some police officers but goes on to generalize negativity toward all law enforcement. It finds prejudice on every street corner and ignores the hard working people who work, raise families and pay taxes. It is more of a political viewpoint than a documentary and that is not surprising considering the production company. The cinematography is decent enough. The interviews appear disjointed and again express a point of view rather than simply put forth facts. Bakersfield scenes are well done and the town itself looks like a nice place to live. I do not recommend this show though if one is sensitive to political posturing.

Closer
(2004)

Julia Roberts and company are awful!
If Roberts didnt fire her agent getting her into this a dog of a movie with no real plot, abysmal acting and juvenile dialogue, its her problem. My wife and I just shake our heads and wonder why she would be part of such a not-even-Lifetime quality.

One of the worst movies ever. Ever. I lost respect for Portman and Law also for being included in this piece of junk. Whomever wrote it should find a new occupation. There is absolutely no redeeming value to this movie, no reason to recommend it. My wife and I watched it only because the remote wasn't nearby.

And to top it off the cigarette smoking scenes were like ads to promote the tobacco companies.

The Good Nurse
(2022)

Good movie, tragic storyline.
Refreshing to see a movie that doesnt pander to the tobacco companies. Virtually every movie showcases cigarette smoking within first five minutes but here the actors and producers showed some independence, unlike most of Hollywood.

Jessica Chastain is awesome, as is the rest of the cast. Ms Chastain is a versatile actess and give many changing looks in her movies. Kim Dickens great as usual and character is far removed from her Fear the Waling Dead days.

There are many close-ups but rather than becoming annoying they add to the character reactions and the drama of the moment.

One of the better movies, the streaming services dont seem concerned about quality.

D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?!
(2022)

A greedy Tom Colbert stars in an awful show.
It is frustrating to watch Colbert violate the civil and privacy rights of Robert Rackstraw, who did his time and got his life together. I wonder how much Colbert got paid.

Secretly filming Rackstraw, constantly hounding him, ruining his family name. Colbert has no credibility and hopefully the Rackstraw family talks to a good civil rights lawyer. I felt so sorry for Mr. Rackstraw who was just trying to enjoy his senior years.

Other than watching Colbert's sad and unbelievable obsession with D. B. and probably making money off this sad attempt to convince the public he solved the case, I came away just shaking my head at Colbert's insensitivity to the Rackstraw family. All for money I presume.

Advice: if you didnt see it, dont waste your time. I skipped the entire next to last episode and missed nothing. All assumptions, biased look at what the cold case team calls "evidence."

The Offer
(2022)

Excellent, Juno don't ruin your beautiful appearance.
Great production, acting, cinematography, script.

Now that I have seen it I will watch The Godfather (still another time) to see the nuances referred to in The Offer.

Sadly, one can already see the damage to Juno's skin that cigarette smoking is doing, Excellent actress, needs to take better care of herself.

Overall, A+ series.

Montana Story
(2021)

Painfully boring.
A few panoramic shots of Montana, nice background score kept this from a one star.

Nothing personal with actors, its the writers who make this the Boring Movie of the Year.

At least there was only awkward homage to the tobacco companies. Every movie has to showcase cigarettes but this one was really out of place. Not like Spielberg/Hanks shameless promotion of smoking.

Predictable too, every step of the way.

A Very British Scandal
(2021)

Claire Foy stinks.
Foy and the others give us one long cigarette commercial.

How about character development and plot instead of lighting up every two seconds? The smoking is so distracting it ruined the show.

I guess they get nice stipends to promote cigarettes.

1883
(2021)

More Taylor, more pleae!
Another Western please! Yellowstone and now 1883 are special. And SO much better than the nonsense on all the channels, including the streaming services.

Once again Sheridan has given us great writing, drama, outstanding acting, superb photography and the ability to capture the spirit of the West, both in the past 1883 and contemporary Yellowstone.

While awaiting another season of Yellowstone and just finishing 1883 all we can do is hope Taylor Sheridan will give us another compelling story of the West.

As a fan of country music stars McGraw and Hill's music I was astonished at their acting ability. And Isabel May is on her way to super stardom.

Do not miss this truly excellent show.

Greyhound
(2020)

Hanks still panders but not as extreme.
In Hanks' movie Big, aimed at children, as usual he had a principal character light up and every one of his movies showcases cigarette smoking. Why? At least in Greyhound the smoking is background.

Other than his pandering to the tobacco companies Hanks is one of the greatest entertainment artists every. Greyhound was excellent!

Yellowstone
(2018)

Season 5 Taylor Sheridan and Yellowstone cast perfect ten
Everything about Yellowstone is perfect.

Acting, cinematography, plot, direction is all done as good as can be.

Sidenote: Costner and Sheridan not beholden to Big Tobacco like most others in movie business, like Spielberg and Hanks.

Inventing Anna
(2022)

reporter and lawyers ethics?
Is the real reporter so calloused to blow off her pregnancy and baby?

Did the real lawyer interfere with a plea bargain?

Did the real lawyer let the reporter see the case files he got from the prosecutor?

The reporter is portrayed as annoying, unprofessional and even committing crimes like trespass.

The lawyer knows the case is more complicated than his one man firm could handle.

They are both worse than Anna.

Oh the story, could have been done in four or five episodes, too much slow time.

Reacher
(2022)

Fun! Another season please!
Yes its predictable, yes it can by syrupy.

But its entertaining, great acting and action scenes.

And a big plus, none of the usual gratuitous pandering to the tobacco industry like most of the Hollywood elite.

Thanks Reacher! Fun series!

Being the Ricardos
(2021)

Excessive smoking distracts from story
Whats good: it encouraged my wife and I to watch old I Love Lucy shows, remembering a lot from our childhoods.

What awful: yes we know the sponsor was a cigarette company but showcasing the constant smoking turns it into a cigarette commercial.

Kidman gave a rare good performance while the actor playing Ricky was only ok.

I recommend watching the old tv shows instead of this movie and reading online background if interested in the Riccardos.

We Were Soldiers
(2002)

Bad decisions by higher ups
The brief video of LBJ reminded of me of how of touch he and his Generals were and how their incompetence led to the deaths of so many brave young Americans.

Insult to injury Vietnam is a tourist destination.

The movie is upsetting because it is so realistic. Great cinematography, acting and production.

A Quiet Place Part II
(2020)

Krasinski more ethical than Hanks and Spielberg
One of the few movies that doesn't promote young people cigarette addiction. Did you ever see a Hanks or Spielberg movie without cigarettes, even movies aimed at kids like Big and E. T. have main characters light up. Good to see an ethical director/actor.

As to the movie, good suspense, great acting and direction. Krasinski has done it again, congrats to him!

Only issue is the kid actors not talented enough to carry their roles.

The Sum of All Fears
(2002)

Philip Morris commercial portrayed as a movie
Movie starts out slowly then picks up the action. Tom Clancy always delivers in books or movie adaptations.

Movie practically screams "use Phillip Morris" cigarettes though. A vending machine scene slowly shows all their brands.

So sick of Hollywood taking Big Tobacco money to push addiction on viewers.

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