Change Your Image
ArmandoManuelPereira
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Roma città aperta (1945)
Only Barely Passable As Entertainment. I Lost Interest Before The End, And Found It Too Sentimental For My Tastes.
I try and approach every movie I watch with openess, but never blindly accepting what others have said about it. Even movies that are considered great, or timeless, I approach with openess. Though maybe a little more caution where so-called great movies are concerned. Rome, Open City, in my opinion, is only passable, as far as it's entertainment value. Sure, there are a few cool street scenes, and some sharp dialoge at times, but I eventually lost interest in the movie, and found it too sentimental for my tastes. My 5 rating is meant to say it's ok, not horrible, but you will not lose much for skipping over it.
Les quatre cents coups (1959)
Underwhelming, And Far Less Great Then I expected. Made Worst By Awful Music.
I had fairly high expectations for this film. I had long heard how great it was, and how it's considered one of the classic essentials of the French New Wave.
I was a little surprised to find a film that underwhelmed me. Not that it didn"t contain some potent scenes, or moments of cinematic genius. I just found that I wasn't drawn.in to the story as I would have hoped.
The young actor who.plays the main character, I admit does a pretty decent job of portraying a delinquent on the rise. At times an excellent job.
Still, his acting is not enough to lift the movie to a level of real greatness.
Then on top of everything else the movie has awful music. I wondered if anyone else has ever commented on it. It's bad enough in places that it actually distracted me, and made some scenes less enjoyable.
I'm giving it 5/10, because it's decent enough to deserve a viewing, but is in my opinion, overrated and not all that exciting a film.
Jesus Revolution (2023)
Starts Off Compelling And Fairly Enjoyable, Then Progressively Becomes Boring And Pointless
My sister who is a Christian believer asked me to go with her to watch this film at a theatre. I was open to it, though I realized it might be no better then other faith based films I had seen.
As it turned out it was slightly more better. Partly because of the production values, and partly because some of the actors were decent.
The thing is though, I found only the first half really compelling. Or only that part of the film where Frisbee is the main focus. It was just so fascinating to see a movement birthed that promoted simplicity and love, as opposed to the sterility of organizrd church.
Then when the focus shifted half way through the movie to the character of Greg Laurie it slowly became less interesting, and finally boring and pointless. As if things were becoming sterile all over again.
I gave the film 5/10, because it's about half decent. Half flakey.
Nomadland (2020)
A Bittersweet Film That Is Not Only About The Modern Nomadic Experience, But About Simplifying Our Lives, The Quest For Independence, And America's Wondrous Landscape.
I thought of maybe giving this film an 8/10, but then I realized that after watching it three times, I cannot deny that it really moves me. So despite its flaws, I feel it's right to give it a rare 9/10. What I mean is I very rarely give a movie anything more then 8.
It's not only a film about the modern nomadic experience, but it's a film about independence and alternative living. It's about simplifying our lives.
It is also about the beauty of the American landscape, which is revealed in many of its scenes. In one sense the film is like a love letter to America's natural wonders.
Lastly, it's about one womans quest for self expression, and the journey she takes towards the centre of herself. In the process she clearly needs inner healing, though we are never quite sure where she is in that respect.
So again, despite its flaws, I have decided to rate it high for it's memorable and emotional story.
À bout de souffle (1960)
Unusual But Interesting Camera Movement And Editing Style, Which Doesn't Distract From Its Story Or Make The Film Overly Pretensious
It was my 2nd time watching. I thought that I might not like it as much as I did the first time, but was mistaken. I enjoyed it almost about the same.
It's a peculiar film in many respects. The camera movements and the odd editing style; but none of that completely detracted me from the story. If anything it enhanced it in a way I can't really explain.
I read that some regard the film as very ameutetish. But again, that to me does not work against it. Instead, it gives it a certain character, that I personally find entertaining.
I did puzzle over the stoicism of the main female character. I wondered a few times if maybe she was just a bad actress. Then I just accepted it as a personality trait, and combined it with all the films other oddities.
Maybe that's it. The film is odd, but not to the point of making it overly pretenious.
8/10 reflects my opinion that the film is worth watching, and worth watching even more then once.
Swing Time (1936)
Poorly Written Story, With Two, Or Possibly Three Really Good Dance Sequences
Poorly written story, with two, or possibly three, really good dance sequences.
Seriously folks, everything between the dancing, will make you either snore or cringe. It's really that awful. Almost insulting to our intelligence.
I know some people who would agree with me, would say that the singing was nice as well as the dancing. I personally though didn't like either the story, or the singing.
Then when you throw in Astaires horribly stupid solo dance, which he does in blackface, then I feel justified giving this movie 3/10. The fact that it's the weakest of the dance scenes is inconsequential.
I rarely give anything less then a 4. I reserve my 2s and 3s for terrible movies, that have a reputation for greatness. This is one of those.
Do yourself a favor and skip it. Just watch the dance scenes on YouTube instead.
The Time of Your Life (1948)
Not Absolutely Satisfying, But Better Then The Flop It's Been Called
I wasn't certain at the start whether this would be my type of movie. As it unfolded though I found myself drawn in by the odd characters, and the eccentric storyline.
Not so much a movie with a plot, as a gallery of stories, all intersecting. The main characters name is Joe and is played by Cagney. He appears to be the ultimate people watcher, occasionally waxing philosophical, but ultimately as strange as the people he observes.
I gave the movie 6/10, because its far more amusing and enjoyable then the flop it's been called, but not absolutely satisfying either. Or otherwise I may have given it a 7.
In any case you won't feel you wasted your time watching, I feel confident of that. It's fun, and incorporates music and dance quite nicely.
London Town (2016)
Not Strictly Terrible, But Low Grade And Forgettable
Not strictly terrible, but low grade and forgettable. It aims at being intense, but didn't arrive there, in my opinion.
I was drawn in to borrowing it from the Library, because I mistook it to be a film about Joe Strummer, who I'm a fan of. I didn"t realize that it was a family drama, with Joe Strummers character, coming in as a sort of punk angel.
Whike watching it, I found myself distracted over and over again, and checking my Facebook. Which is a sort of red flag as far as a movie, and whether I find it interesting.
I gave it 4/10, which is my way of saying, not horrible but not worth watching either.
The Lobster (2015)
At First Interesting And Subtle, Then Progressively Becomes Inane And Pointless
At first interesting and subtely funny, then progressively becomes inane and pointless. Convulted even.
I don"t generally care for absurd films. I thought at first this one might prove to be the exception, but it only proved the rule correct.
I confess that sometimes I have wondered why films like this are even made. I do not wish to sound unfairly critical, but their is something too indulgent about movies that have ridiculous plotlines, and seem to provide little in the way of memorable emotion, or don't really entertain.
I have given it 3/10 so as to encourage people to avoid wasting their time with it.
Unless, you love the pointless and absurd, of course.
Big Little Lies (2017)
Arguably A Flimsy Premise For A Series, Yet still Quite Dramatic And Emotional, And With A Powerful Finale.
The story is built upon an arguably flimsy premise, but never the less it becomes quite dramatic and emotional, with a powerful ending. Worth the time to watch.
I'm supposed to add more characters, yet frankly I have nothing more to add. Except maybe to say that you will probably be impressed with the performances. No one truly stands out, as they all take turns in the spotlight.
Oh my gosh! Still not enough characters? Really? The show is above decent! What else would you have me say? It will make ypu cry, if you are the crying type. Of course if your action movie person, then stay away We are talking lots of dualogue here folks!
Derry Girls (2018)
Uneven, And Dreadfully Over The Top At Times, But With An Ultimately Uplifting, Emotional Ending.
Uneven, And Dreadfully Over The Top At Times, But With An Ultimately Uplifting, And Emotional Ending.
I would say generally it's an ok series, but I would hardly call it a great one. I wonder if the fact that it's set during the time of The Troubles, maybe caused folks and reviewers to over praise it, and disregard its flaws.
I'm sorry but the young actors are simply not that great. Amateurish sometimes works in a movie, but I would say it didn't help much in the case of Derry Girls.
Possibly with some better acting, the show could have been a bit more enjoyable,
And what's up with the F bombs? Hey I'm ok with the use of them on TV, but at times it just sermed a bit much. Almost as if the writers were trying for shock. On the other hand I have been to Northern Ireland, and they do curse a lot.
Prisoners (2013)
Starts Off Tense And Suspensful, Then Becomes Inane By The End.
Starts off, and for some time, as a decent, tense, suspenseful, quasi- horror, flick. That eventually by the end loses its suspense, and becomes a less then satisfying story. In fact, it becomes quite inane. Honestly folks its not as good as its 8.1 suggests. Though I must admit I do enjoy watching Glynehall do his eye blinking thing. Seriously, it's a pretty interesting performance.
.
Don't Look Up (2021)
At Times Cheaply Conceived, While At Other Times Remarkably Poignant.
At times it seems cheaply filmed or conceived while at other times it is remarkably poignant. By the end though you feel that a deep lesson about our present age, and its unprepardedness for disaster has been made. For that reason, it is worth watching.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
An Overlong Family Melodrama/Horror With An Ending That Fails To Satisfy
This is an overlong series folks. The satisfaction I hoped to find at the end never quite materialized. I had hoped that if I persevered through the family melodrama, and the moments of suspense that I would be rewarded with a remarkable twist or something to redeem the time I had invested in watching it. Unfortunately, I was not. Please do not waste your time with it, but find something more clever.
On further reflection I decided that the ending actually revealed some cleverness I hadn't considered. Therefore I am raising my score to 5/10. Which makes it a little better then don"t bother watching.
Midnight Mass (2021)
At Times Promising, Even Profound, But Ultimately A Dissspointment.
Their were moments in the earliest episodes when it appeared that things were tending towards a promising and profound conclusion. Then the actual conclusion came, and my rating dropped accordingly. Too bad, because they could have created a classic horror, if they had only maintained the religious nuance, that was its most intriguing element, and avoided the caricature that it became. Oh, and the twist ending? Meh.
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
Just Barely Worth Watching, But With An Amusing Deadpan Performance By Driver.
Just barely worth watching, but with a amusingly deadpan performance by Adam Driver. Murray is also deadpan, but we already expect that from him. Buscemi once again has little to do and is wasted. This is not a great zombie film folks, so you ought to look elsewhere. (Though the ending is somewhat enjoyable.)
Yesterday (2019)
A Delightful Fantasy And A Sweet Love Letter To The Beatles.
Maybe not a top notch film, but still it should tug on your heart. Especially. If you grew up in the era of The Beatles or simply love them. Most everything here works, the music, the acting, and most of all the deep sentiment. Maybe a bit uneven towards the end, which might be expected from a movie with a single dominating concept but overall fairly entertaining and satisfying. Worth watching I would say, and maybe slightly better then its rating suggests.
Maudie (2016)
Sweet, Quietly Powerful Film, With Memorable Performances From Its Two Leads.
A sweet, quietly powerful film, romantic and deeply sentimental. With really good and memorable performances by its two leads. It falters, in my opinion, a little in the last part and that caused me to lower my rating from 8 to 7. Still, I have watched it three times and have yet to not gain some enjoyment from it. Yes it's a small film, but it's small done right, with the added benefit of a lovely landsxape filmed beautifully.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Uneven and Unnecessarily Long, With A Remarkably Convoluted Ending.
Leone attempts something epic, but in my opinion it's ultimately uneven and not so interesting. The ending especially is remarkably lengthy and convoluted. I was tempted to give it a 5/10, for its fantastic sets and period details, but then I wanted to discourage people from wasting 4 hours of their lives. Honestly folks, this one is mostly overrated.
The Lighthouse (2019)
Starts Off Brilliant, then Ends Up Incoherent And Pointless.
Starts off brilliant and nuanced, but unfortunately ends incoherent and pointless. Too bad, because at times the cinematography, and acting is great.
Chernobyl (2019)
Well Made, And Sobering. Though Maybe Falls Short Of The Masterpiece We Have Been Led To Believe That It Is.
I cannot speak to the accuracy of what is presented in Chernobyl. All I can attest to is its entertainment value. The series should leave you sobered and saddened. Episode 5 is especially powerful and emotional. Overall it is quite well made, though it maybe falls short of the masterpiece we have been led to believe that it is.
Ronin (1998)
A Crummy, Mindless Film, With One Fantastic Car Chase Scene
This is a crummy, mindless movie with a fantastic car chase scene. I would suggest just skipping forward to it.
Lady Gangster (1942)
Above Average B Flick, That I Actually Found Entertaining, Despite Being Such A Silly Story A Times.
This was the final film in my 8 movie Gangster box set. A collection of B movies from the 1940s. It was definitely one of the best. Entertaining in fact. Though also a fairly silly story at times. But enjiyably silly. It also posseses a pretty decent three bad guys trying to take on the good guy, in a fight. Not quite Jackie Chan like, but decently done. As well as a final car chase which I also enjoyed. Anyways, I found it above average, and worth watching.
The Boss of Big Town (1942)
Mostly Sluggish And Dull, Despite Some OK Performances.
Mostly sluggish, and dull despite some ok performances, and a enjoyable romantic angle. I was certainly glad it was a short film.
Baby Face Morgan (1942)
A Poor, Ridiculous Film, That's Just Barely Entertaining By The End
For the first half I was convinced that I would give it a 3/10. It was that ridiculous. But by the end I was entertained enough to give it a 5.