You are here:  Ronen Recommends

Ronen's Rating System:

***** A must watch
**** Worth seeing
*** If you must watch a movie and there is nothing else out there
** Don’t bother
* It’s so bad its almost good... not... These are films I walked out on, or just fell asleep
(K: stars) Rating by my children. As they are easy to please, would typically be higher than mine...

Entries

From monthly archives: January 2009

We are pleased to present below all posts archived in 'January 2009'. If you still can't find what you are looking for, try using the search box.

Movie Review: (500) Days of Summer (2009) ***

I can credit this film for being honest about love and relationships, that its sort of a mystery and that ‘boy loves girl’ for being the “one” does not mean girl will love boy back, even not at the film’s end. But that’s about it. Decent acting and directing do not save this film from becoming tiresome after a while. There are funny moments and there are some interesting moments. But neither the going back and forth in time nor the out of context jump to documentary-like black and white footage late in the film, save it from having nothing left to say that was not already said in the first 20 minutes or so of the movie. And for heaven’s sake, adding God voice (the narrator, that is) to a movie is a big no-no and needs a real good justification. If you need someone to read to you what the character is thinking then it means something is wrong with the movie or that the filmmaker is not trusting your intelligence to get it yourself...

Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people

Movie Review: District 9 (2009) ****

This film curiously combines so many different styles and genres in a manner that almost works. It is a fictional documentary-style sci-fi, with traces of horror, Kafkaesque characters, fugitive plot, corporate conspiracy theme, socio-political agenda, some shreds of romance, and even a final, Western-inspired, standoff/shot-them-all…
Did I miss anything else?
Yet, unlike so many of the films being made these days, this one does actually have something to say. Actually not so much to say as to attempt and create an experience of transformation – transforming the audience’s perspective of the less privileged. Not for nothing it is taking place in South Africa of all places. Sci-fi is just used as means to an end. The less privileged, in this case, is an alien race captured in fenced guarded slams apartheid-style.  The aliens, resembling the insect from Kafka’s Metamorphosis, are indeed disgusting to the human eye, both in appearance and habits. It is the filmmakers task to transform this disgust into sympathy. And the vehicle is the main character -- a human caught in between these two races. Gambling it all on that main character is a risky business. And despite excellent performance on the part of Sharlto Copley, the sympathy and related transformation only partially take place.
I give this film 5 stars for what it attempts to do but only 3 stars for what it achieves, resulting in a total of 4 stars.

Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people

Movie Review: Julie & Julia (2009) ****

One Yum too many… This film could have been even better if it was not a Nora Ephron smothered movie… Like Tarantino to violence, is Ephron to kitschy romance. Yes – your second husband left you for another chick, we get it. We got it already several films ago – right with Heartburn. Now move on! Okay, maybe its only me, but whenever an Ephron movie comes out, it always seems to have the same style of chewy romance, of how she would have liked things to be. And judging by her success, I guess she has her following… Oh well…
What saves this movie and actually grace it with a 4-star level for me is definitely Meryl Streep. Just can’t get enough of her. A lot was already said about her brilliance as a performer. The joy of watching her makes it all worth it. She flirts with her role and it shows. She doesn’t need to prove anything anymore to anyone and can just have fun. Unfortunately for Adams, who is also a delight and a very promising rising star, Streep unintentionally overshadows everyone around her as a sun would even the brightest star. Julie Powell’s story is a sweet Cinderella-style tale with a few twists (e.g. the prince being her web audience), making it fresh. And as a fellow writer I complement her style and am glad at her success. I do detest though the Lobster cooking scene. Funny as it may have seen in the film, cooking lobsters by throwing them alive into boiling water, despite the known disclaimer of “no animals were harmed….” is simply disgusting.
Now where is that chocolate desert?

Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people

Inglourious Basterds (2009) **

Tarantino is in love with his characters’ endlessly blubbering his scripted dialogues. And then there is this obsession with senseless violence for the mere sake of violence.

Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Pages: Previous1...34567NextReturn Top

Search

Archive

Bookmark and Share

Subscription

Get the latest film recommendations by email! (we NEVER share or sell emails to marketers)

Featured Entries

Game Night (2018) ****

Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, to a screenplay by Mark Perez, Game Night is a comedy-action thriller, that delivers jokes while...

The Last Jedi (2017) ****

If I had to sum-up the experience of watching this film in one word, it would be: impressive. Although, not without hiccups. The Last Jedi counts as ...

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) ***

A bio-drama, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women tells the story of psychologist William Moulton Marston, and the two women in his life. Martson, a...

American Made (2017) ****

Life is stranger than fiction; this paraphrase of a Mark Twain’s famous quote may come in mind, when watching American Made. It is a film based on true...

Far Western (2016, Japan, USA) ****

Who would have guessed that in Japan, especially post-WWII, American country music, including Bluegrass, will have not just fans, but actual talented ...

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) ****

Blade Runner 2049, or BR 2049 for short,  is a 2017 neo-noir sci-fi film, directed by Denis Villeneuve to a screenplay by Hampton Fancher and Michael ...

Maudie (2016) ****

An indie bio-drama, Maudie follows the life of Nova Scotia painter Maud Lewis. The film, a Canadian-Irish production, shot to a small budget of $5.6mm...

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) ****

The Guardians Vol. 2's storyline is as thin and infantile as a young twig, yet it serves one purpose – delivering perfect punchlines. And yes, the special...

Frantz (2016, France-Germany) ****

Franz tells the story of a German woman named Anna, beautifully portrayed by Paula Beer, who, in post-WWI Germany of 1919, while grieving Franz, her fianc...

Logan (2017) ***

Directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Frank and Michael Green, Logan is based on a story by Mangold. Logan introduces us to...

Authors

Latest Comments

    Re: Logan (2017) ***

    I agree about the relationship with Logan and Charles - added a lot of depth, especially with the next...

    -- ed

    Re: Eye in the Sky (2015, UK) *****

    Great Review Ronen!

    -- Scott

    Re: Top Five (2014) ***

    wonderfully expressed review and very accurately describing the movie...

    -- Zoes mom

    Re: Begin Again (2014) ***

    such great performers - would have expected more of.... very disappointing to hear....

    -- mother of four

    Re: Waltz with Bashir (2008) *****

    Stunned. Speechless. This is a powerful movie. Its objectivity and lack of judgment IS its power, and...

    -- Monroe Movie Lover

    Re: Inception (2010) ***

    Special effects are more than ever present even in drama movies, its almost normal that an action thriller...

    -- Alvaro

    Re: The Real Dirt On Farmer John (2005) ***

    Interesting though i was expecting more of the film.

    -- rondnor

    Re: Midnight Run (1988) *****

    great movie indeed

    -- rondnor

    Re: The Bounty Hunter (2010) *

    wont bother then

    -- superair

    Re: Stardust (2007) *****

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie :-)watching Robert De Niro in a dress what could be better.Enjoy

    -- YRD

© 2024 RonenRecommends.com, All Rights Reserved. Site Developed and Maintained by Progressive Element, Inc.