Best Picture Nominee Movie Catch Up: Dunkirk

Dunkirk (2017)

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan

Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Tm Hardy, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy

Christopher Nolan's movies as of late have been more misses than hits for me. There is a disconnect about what Nolan wants the audience to feel than the audience trying to understand what he is conveying. I was not hooked in from jumpstart.

Taking place during a week from May/June of 1940, the Allied forces are stuck at a beach in Dunkirk by the Axis, waiting to be rescued.

My biggest question was who was this movie made for. People have been bashing on this movie for the lack authenticity with what happened at Dunkirk. Why did this story need to be told?

The characters are one dimensional. You have no idea who that person is. You are following this one generic white boy with dark hair to another generic white boy with dark hair. Then, you taken to some fighter pilots with blue eyes. Next, you follow an old guy in a dinky with more generic white boys. Lastly, you can't forget the officers on the dock that appear, disappear and re-appear again.

Who are is supposed to be the anchor of the movie? I don't know. I didn't care about the characters at all. If they died, oh well.

I read that the movie won for Best Sound Mixing/Editing and Film Editing. I will give credit to the sound. It was loud. Seriously. Do not wearing headphones for this movie. It was decibel piercing loud.

Rating: 5/10

B.A.D. Movie of the Week: Life Like

Life Like (2019)

Written and directed by Josh Janowicz

Stars: Drew Van Acker, Addison, Timlin, Steven Strait, James D'Arcy, Mark Famiglietti, Nicholas Baroudi and Akaash Yadav

This was supposed to be one of the movies that I was going to review for Pride Month, but never got around to watch it. Now watching the movie, I can see why.

Newlyweds James and Sophie (Van Acker, Timlin) try to adjust to a world of affluence when James's father dies suddenly. The father leaves his business and sprawling mansion to them. Sophie being the bohemian that she is fires the kitchen staff. Without them, general chores become too much. They go to Julian (D'Arcy) to set them up with a robot helper, Henry (Strait).

Full disclosure. I tried to watch this movie earlier and turned it off quickly. The biggest problem with this movie is Sophie. In the first twenty minutes of this movie, she is insufferable. She is this shrill woman that thinks she knows everything. She's probably a hipster. 'I'm so cool. Look at me liberating you. I'm so great.' I hated her. I wanted her off the screen.

I thought the movie was going to be about this robot integrating into this couple's life. It's not. The movie becomes this sad disintegration of a marriage. I kept yelling, "You don't need a robot helper. You need a fucking therapist." It was infuriating.

The movie was shot in 18 days. It showed. The editing was choppy. There were ten second scenes that didn't need to be there.

The biggest "fuck you movie" moment was at the end. I hated the ending. Not the epilogue. Why was that there? I didn't care for that M. Night Shyamalan twist. Eye roll.

Rating: 2/10