(DIRECTOR’S CUT)
Almost impossible to imagine now, but many were disappointed with this film in its initial release. I have a distinct memory of being in the bathroom after a screening and seeing a a random audience member saying, to no one in particular, that the movie sucked. He then emphasized his point by giving a strong pull on the urinal flusher and turning away with a spin move that wouldn’t be out of place in Michael Jackson’s repertoire. He…
So vanilla, and not really the French style or any tasty gourmet variety. More like Kroger’s Vanilla.
I was hyped beyond belief for this film in the Summer of ‘91; retro-styled pulp adventure always sucked me in, and the impressive Art Deco-style poster lit my imagination on fire.
Then I saw the movie.
It was okay. Nothing more than that. The problem with me is that I always hold everything of this nature against Raiders of the Lost Ark, and…
I'm gobsmacked.
I feel like I was smashed in the psyche by a three-hour unlit bomb of mediocre emo-goth Batman texture porn. With one (unnecessarily gargantuan) film, Matt Reeves has cashed in all of the goodwill I've afforded him and made a hacky David Fincher "homage"/Se7en and Zodiac ripoff with nothing at all to say, even if it does give DoP Greig Fraser a chance to shoot some pretty pictures that have the feel of pastel-colored stained glass windows nestled…
Things learned or reaffirmed while watching Candyman (2021):
1. The race and sex of a writer/director has zero bearing on how good/bad a film will be.
2. Based on a lot of modern "critics", there is a profound difference between what they consider good and what I consider good. I'm aware that a lot of modern critics have almost zero frame of reference for the stuff they watch (which means they shouldn't even be critics, but try arguing a case…
