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Old April 13th, 2014 #13
Alex Linder
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Movie Thumbs

By Alex Linder [index]

April 13, 2014

Thumbnails of most of the movies i've seen so far in 2014 (that i didn't write serious reviews of). My goal this year is to see all the '70s films i've missed that are any good. I've already gone through all horror films and can say they all suck, that is a completely played-out genre. In chronological order...

American Hustle (2013) - typical 5/10 movie roughly about ABSCAM which only those over 40 will vaguely remember. For all the ink spilled, there really isn't anything to say about this movie, it's not bad, there are ok scenes, but it's not particularly coherent, nor is the story that interesting. More effort into look/feel of movie (vintage 70s clothes, let's say) than anything else.

Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - White nationalist point of interest: jew wearing horn rims with clear lenses to look more WASPy. Wife is his cousin. "I'm not going to let someone else fuck my cousin. If anyone's going to fuck her it's going to be me. [...] 60-65% chance the kid's going to be retarded." decent movie, far from great, 6.5/10. I don't find DiCaprio convincing as a dominant man. Did you know he speaks German fluently? The main character is a jew, Jordan Belfort, as is his sidekick, but he adopts a WASP cover and appearance for his investment firms, in the usual jewy way, just as Shleppy Cheatowitz becomes Bill Ross or Mike Greene. This movie has garnered much praise, but it's overrated because it's derivative; nothing in it that hasn't been done earlier and better in your Scarface (1983), a 10/10, and Goodfellas (1990), 9/10.

We're The Millers (2013) - degenerate sex (big black cop - Aniston) dovetails to porn fetish category. Has some really funny stuff but overall annoying because of wimpy-white-man meme. 6/10, because it has some genuinely funny stuff, particularly at start. a clever idea, fairly well but politically annoyingly executed.

Nebraska (2012) - savagely dreary movie shot in gray and white about the midwestern mentality. A rating doesn't make sense for this movie, watch it only if you want to learn how midwesterners act and think. It's overdrawn, but a caricature only works if based on elements actually there.

The Barrens (2012) - Forgettable. Jersey jejune, let's call it. I don't understand why people make movies that don't have anything interesting or new in them. Oh wait I do, it's money. The base of the human pyramid demands little, so this movie will keep getting made, even though it's devoid of any original or interesting horror twists. That goes for the horror genre, not just this movie. Only good use of this movie is rereading up on the origins of the Jersey Devil, and becoming reacquainted with the word cryptid. 4/10.

Sleepwalk With Me (2012) - basically the backstory of comedian Mike Birbiglia. Not terrible, not great, classic 5/10 movie.

The Descendants (2011) - dir. by Alexander Payne, perhaps the best director going. This is a good solid 7/10 featuring George Clooney and Hawaiian setting and interesting story.

Pontypool (2008) - not that good mock-zombie movie. Idea os interesting: virus spreads through words. Much could be done with that, but not literally as here. not worth watching. Good example of movie that is overpraised for its concept yet viewer's left shaking head, 3.5/10.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) - Philip Seymour Hoffman, the late. Decent movie, not great. 5.5/10.

Paris, je t'aime (2006) - vignettes about Paris from maybe 15 directors. only really good one is Alexander Payne's. Not worth watching.

Miami Blues (1990) - good, young Baldwin, very Aryan, when he was young and quick, instead of stout middle-aged. Worth watching. Didn't even recognize the female lead, she was so young, but she's well known. Jennifer Jason Leigh from the 10/10 Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). give this a nice 7.5/10.

Cutter's Way (1981) - 6/10, with Jeff Bridges. Fairly interesting detective story.

The Driver (1978) - decent, with Bruce Dern, see him many decades later in Nebraska, aging sucks.

Breezy (1973) - decent movie, big '50s star Holden hooks up with hippy chick. This shit would never be made today, would be considered too close to pedophilia. you dont see adult men like Holden anymore anyway, 6.5/10. watch Holden and Kim Novak in Picnic (1955) if you want a good movie.

Prime Cut (1972) - mob battle between Chi-town micks and cornfield towhead cow- and womanflesh peddlers. Decent, with Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman, a big star back then. 6/10.

The Killer Elite (1975) James Caan and guy from Back to School (1986) who was in half the '70s movies (Burt Young). Ninjas. Not great not terrible, 5/10.

Across 110th Street (1972) - decent gangster flick about Italian mob vs niggers.

Klute (1972) - only reason to watch is to get a Dennis Miller allusion - not very interesting detective story featuring Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda, 4/10. Skip it.