leedesi56 Reviews (5)

The Last Full Measure (2019)

I'm glad I didn't go to film school!

[9/10 · 10 February 2020]

This was a beautiful picture, and a story that needed to be told. It was particularly great to see the veteran actors assembled here, and it appears that it was Peter Fonda's last movie. I'm glad that I didn't go to film school, because I don't understand the seemingly spurious critiques that I've seen here. I was able to enjoy the movie, unencumbered by the faults that some experts perceived. One review complains about the cutting to flashbacks and duplicated scenes. I would guess that that reviewer would really hate Rashomon, then.

The Kill Team (2019)

A Timely Story of the Fog and Derangement of War

[9/10 · 10 January 2020]

There's a lot of squawking here about the message of this movie, and frankly i don't understand the outrage. As a Navy veteran, I can attest to the fact that most of our servicemen and servicewomen are decent and honorable, but there is sometimes the soldier or sailor who is there for the wrong reasons.

Why would good soldiers defend these indefensible monsters?

In the news these days is Chief Edward Gallagher, an example of such a monster, who has brought dishonor to Seal Team Seven. These heroes have been punished for daring to speak out about Gallagher's crimes, and the Secretary of the Navy has resigned in the aftermath, because a draft-dodging phony of a president sides with that psychotic murderer.

As with the police, the good actors need to expose the bad actors.

As a possible war with Iran looms, people need to see this movie.

Mayday (II) (2019)

Execrable!

[1/10 · 2 October 2019]

Make it go away! My contempt for this movie rivals the contempt the movie makers must feel toward their audience. An affront to all that is decent. Surely there is a circle of Hell lower than any of Dante's reserved for these people.

Lost River (2014)

Not Bad for Gosling's Directorial Debut

[7/10 · 10 October 2015]

As a freshman director, Ryan Gosling shows promise here. This is a quirky, Art-house film (of which there aren't enough, lately) with Lynchian elements (Blue Velvet; Lost Highway) Some of them work, others don't ("Dave" singing "Cool Water" was a bit silly).Casting was OK, with solid performances from Iain De Caestecker,Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, and the beautiful Eva Longoria in particular. Landyn Stewart is adorable! Where did they get this kid? Matt Smith's performance was appropriately over-the-top, and scary. Overall, I'd recommend 'Lost River,' because it consistently held my interest, and had a great story-line. I look forward to more Gosling-directed efforts, as I see great potential there. I'm rating it a little higher than the average, because I'd really urge people to see it, and, as I said earlier, there should be more movies in this peculiar genre.

Untraceable (2008)

Propaganda Piece Disguised as a Suspense Thriller

[1/10 · 27 September 2009]

This movie is a propaganda piece against net neutrality. Diane Lane is (or rather was) a favorite actor of mine, and I am disappointed that she would participate in a piece of garbage like this. Beside the fact that "Untraceable" is a shameless hit piece against net neutrality, it is also tasteless in its display of extreme cruelty, the kind which makes one wonder about the screenwriter's mental health. Shocking scenes notwithstanding, the movie is filled with clichés and archetypal characters, played by actors who outclass the hackneyed script. Was it necessary to utilize Diane Lane and Colin Hanks when the latest Playboy centerfold-turned-actress, and, I don't know, maybe Chuck Norris or Steven Seagal could have easily fit the bill?