hansmoleman-519-633342
Lifetime Total
10+
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1+
Lifetime Image
1+
Lifetime Title
1+
IMDb Member
11 years
Reviews
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (2010)
An above average Behind the Music style documentary
As a long term Rush fan, I was looking forward to watching this.
After finishing it, I wasn't particularly satisfied, but I am honestly not sure what the filmmakers could have done - as the group themselves admit (slightly tongue in cheek of course), they are 'boring'.
And this is true - and this is not at all meant as a critique of the band, they simply do not have the typical rock and roll craziness in their history. They worked hard, didn't do anything particularly crazy, but made some really great music.
Perhaps Rush simply are not a good candidate for a documentary film. I suppose what might have been more interesting for me is to delve deeper into some of their songs. After they hit it big with Moving Pictures, their subsequent albums are really quickly mentioned, basically just the synthesizers or no synthesizers argument, and that's about it.
There are so many great songs in that time period (mid 80s to today), would have been interesting to hear thoughts from the band on songs like 'The Pass' or 'Dreamline' or...
Not everyone 'gets' Rush, and I am not sure if this film helps explain to someone who doesn't really know the band what makes them so special.
After finishing it, I wasn't particularly satisfied, but I am honestly not sure what the filmmakers could have done - as the group themselves admit (slightly tongue in cheek of course), they are 'boring'.
And this is true - and this is not at all meant as a critique of the band, they simply do not have the typical rock and roll craziness in their history. They worked hard, didn't do anything particularly crazy, but made some really great music.
Perhaps Rush simply are not a good candidate for a documentary film. I suppose what might have been more interesting for me is to delve deeper into some of their songs. After they hit it big with Moving Pictures, their subsequent albums are really quickly mentioned, basically just the synthesizers or no synthesizers argument, and that's about it.
There are so many great songs in that time period (mid 80s to today), would have been interesting to hear thoughts from the band on songs like 'The Pass' or 'Dreamline' or...
Not everyone 'gets' Rush, and I am not sure if this film helps explain to someone who doesn't really know the band what makes them so special.
I Saw the Light (2015)
Excellent performance by Hiddleston in an otherwise superficial film
Tom Hiddleston provides a performance that is an uncanny depiction of Hank Williams, and was an excellent choice for this role (as there was the expected backlash against casting an English actor for this role, but this backlash was, in my opinion, without merit).
The pity is that the movie is quite superficial - it is meant to be about the relationship between Hank and Aubrey, but it never truly uncovers the nature of their relationship. Quick scenes that aren't given time to develop make the movie a bit difficult to follow, and does not truly understand what made Williams such a big country star. The songs are great, of course, but what made Williams so special? The film does not quite answer this question.
Still, though, when Hiddleston is on the screen the film is compelling, but otherwise the film is a bit mundane at times.
The pity is that the movie is quite superficial - it is meant to be about the relationship between Hank and Aubrey, but it never truly uncovers the nature of their relationship. Quick scenes that aren't given time to develop make the movie a bit difficult to follow, and does not truly understand what made Williams such a big country star. The songs are great, of course, but what made Williams so special? The film does not quite answer this question.
Still, though, when Hiddleston is on the screen the film is compelling, but otherwise the film is a bit mundane at times.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Atrocity after atrocity - but difficult to get through
Beasts of no Nation, meant as a grim and accurate depiction of the brutality and horror of an African conflict, is visually striking but difficult to watch (not just because of the atrocities, but also due to not having much of a plot).
The movie reminded me a bit of Full Metal Jacket (all scenes after the training camp), in that it jumps from location to location and is image after image of brutality, but without a particularly defined plot. In Beasts of No Nation the viewer follows a band of marauders that murder, rape, pillage in the most gruesome ways possible.
I don't think anyone would argue against that war is all hell, and the savagery in African conflicts can reach unspeakable levels, but more than two hours of brutal violence is perhaps more than necessary.
The movie reminded me a bit of Full Metal Jacket (all scenes after the training camp), in that it jumps from location to location and is image after image of brutality, but without a particularly defined plot. In Beasts of No Nation the viewer follows a band of marauders that murder, rape, pillage in the most gruesome ways possible.
I don't think anyone would argue against that war is all hell, and the savagery in African conflicts can reach unspeakable levels, but more than two hours of brutal violence is perhaps more than necessary.
Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
As depressing as you would expect, but raises more questions than it answers
'Hot Girls Wanted' is an intimate look at the 'amateur' porn industry, and is about as scary as you would assume - the 'industry' grinds up young girls really quickly and then leaves them with barely anything, and most likely ruined lives (pursuing another career at this point is difficult, considering that it is inevitable that your online work will be discovered).
What the film doesn't conclusively answer is why these (and so many other) girls sign up for this. The girls usually say that it is because of the easy, quick money, the opportunity to travel, etc. That may be true, but one would think that even a tiny bit of research would reveal that this industry is dreadful and not worth the quick money (which I assume is one of the goals of the film- makers, to have this out there so young girls can see it).
Unfortunately, the end result is that the girls come across as, at best vapid, at worst, just really stupid. It is also very difficult to feel any pity for the girls, as they do this of their own free will, and no one forced them into it.
Tressa, the girl from Texas, for example - looking at her life - one still cannot comprehend why she did this. Her family seems stable and caring, she has a loving boyfriend - granted she was probably bored to death in her home town but why this dramatic leap? Was it really just money/travel? This remains unanswered. What should her parents have done differently to have prevented this? Travel more? I think many parents might watch this and be horrified, but not have any idea of what to do.
The one avenue that could have been explored further is the rise of abuse porn sites, which really is disturbing. Still, though, as the girls participate of their own free will, there is not much that could be done.
There will always be people in the world who are shockingly irresponsible and short-sighted. Not sure if a film about them was really necessary.
What the film doesn't conclusively answer is why these (and so many other) girls sign up for this. The girls usually say that it is because of the easy, quick money, the opportunity to travel, etc. That may be true, but one would think that even a tiny bit of research would reveal that this industry is dreadful and not worth the quick money (which I assume is one of the goals of the film- makers, to have this out there so young girls can see it).
Unfortunately, the end result is that the girls come across as, at best vapid, at worst, just really stupid. It is also very difficult to feel any pity for the girls, as they do this of their own free will, and no one forced them into it.
Tressa, the girl from Texas, for example - looking at her life - one still cannot comprehend why she did this. Her family seems stable and caring, she has a loving boyfriend - granted she was probably bored to death in her home town but why this dramatic leap? Was it really just money/travel? This remains unanswered. What should her parents have done differently to have prevented this? Travel more? I think many parents might watch this and be horrified, but not have any idea of what to do.
The one avenue that could have been explored further is the rise of abuse porn sites, which really is disturbing. Still, though, as the girls participate of their own free will, there is not much that could be done.
There will always be people in the world who are shockingly irresponsible and short-sighted. Not sure if a film about them was really necessary.