10s Movie Review - Shimmer Lake

Director: Oren Uziel
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 86 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Benjamin Walker, Rainn Wilson, Ron Livingston, Rob Corddry, Stephanie Sigman, Mark Rendall, Wyatt Russell, Matthew Evans Landry, John Michael Higgins

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 36: A CRIME MOVIE

Description: A crime thriller told backwards – reversing day by day through a week – following a local sheriff’s (Benjamin Walker) quest to unlock the mystery of three small town criminals and a bank heist gone wrong.

Review: The crime film “Shimmer Lake” tells us the reverse story of a bank robbery. The end of the film is the beginning and the beginning the end. Sheriff Zeke Sikes investigates the robbery, in which his brother Andy is involved. He gets help from his assistant and tow FBI-agents who prefer to do something else.
The plot isn’t original, but the way the story is told is. Otherwise it would be just another crime story. But sadly, it still is. Because the film isn’t all that special and very forgettable. Although it has a good cast, the acting isn’t that great and the dialogue feels like dialogue, instead of actual conversations that people would have in real life. It’s to scripted, if you understand why I mean.
I actually found the film rather boring an uneventful and I wouldn’t recommend it. The film could have been so much more.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 120: Office Christmas Party

Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Kate McKinnon, Jennifer Aniston, Jillian Bell, Courtney B. Vance, Rob Corddry, Vanessa Bayer

Description: When his uptight CEO sister (Jennifer Aniston) threatens to shut down his branch, the branch manager (T.J. Miller) throws an epic Christmas party in order to land a big client and save the day, but the party gets way out of hand...

Review: Who doesn’t enjoy the Christmas festivities at work? The party they have planned in “Office Christmas Party” is a little wilder than you might want.
We’ve seen it before, party movies like this. Everything revolves around this party and it’s up to the makers to create as many political incorrect situations as possible. But in this movie, that epic Christmas movie is not as epic as you might expect. People copying their privates on a Xerox machine, swinging from Christmas lights, lots of co-workers making out, some booze and drugs. It’s all been done before.
Because of the many subplots, it’s hard to create a solid unity. It’s silly Christmas movie entertainment. Funny at times, mostly thanks to Aniston and McKinnon. But it’s not a very memorable movie.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 25: In a World...

Director: Lake Bell

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 89 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Lake Bell, Rob Corddry, Alexandra Holden, Eva Longoria, Ken Marino, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, Michaela Watkins, Geena Davis, Stephanie Allynne, Melissa Disney, Olya Milova, Corsica Wilson, Yelena Protsenko, Carly Chaikin, Kanicza Bravo, Jason O’Mara, Talulah Riley, Erin Soto, Mara Lane

Description: The underachieving voice coach Carol (Lake Bell) finds herself competing in the movie trailer voice-over profession against her arrogant father (Fred Melamed) and his protégé (Ken Marino).

 

Review: On September 1st 2008 Don LaFontaine dies. Maybe that doesn’t ring a bell, but you might know his voice. LaFontaine was one of America’s most famous voice actors, who voiced for 5.000 movie trailers and 350.000 commercials and videogames. He opened the trailers by saying the words ‘In a world…’ Actress Lake Bell decided to direct her first movie with the concept of voice actors.

Bell, who also wrote the script, plays leading lady Carol Solomon, a voice coach who dreams to do what LaFontaine did. But that’s not that easy. First, the world of voice-overs doesn’t have any room for female voices. Second, her own dad Sam Soto is the man of the hour in this business. And then there also is Gustav Warner, an upcoming voice-actor, who stands in her way.

The angle of “In a world…” is original and brave. That Lake Bell was ambitious is clear. And she succeeds in a way. Hollywood criticizing Hollywood, it has been done before. Bell does it very subtle and it’s unmistakable, but you have the feeling there could have been more. The movie is carried by strong characters. The somewhat chaotic Carol is the centre of your attention, but also Fred Melamed as her dominant father Sam.

It’s a good directorial debut by Lake Bell and I enjoyed this movie.

Rating: 3,5/ 5