IAmThatIAm

Wow. I am NOT even done yet with the movie but feel so strongly to write here what a powerful statement this movie makes. What hits me is the level of extreme violence, arrogance, and hubris that is prevalent in ALL fields: music, show business, art, government, culture, education, and on and on. The human that wants to be among "the greatest" or "to be the best they could ever be" is all about the doing and NOT about the understanding of the beauty and joy of being. This is the seed of every nameable suffering. [SPOILER ALERT] The scene in the beginning where Fletcher 'pumps up' Andrew right before Andrew takes his very first moment playing in the band speaks volumes as to how the rest of the movie will be playing. The fact that only minutes before, Fletcher felt it was acceptable/justified to behave full throttle psychotically towards Metz (who sobbed as he was walking out the door, ) gives the viewer the sickness in the mind which believes this environment can be justified. This movie reminds me a lot of "Black Swan", the psychotic addiction to the illusion of career perfection. Violence begins within and then witnessed without (as above so below, as within so without). I am looking forward to finishing the movie. There is ONLY room here to see the progressive degrees of self-inflicted violence so that eventually the mind wakes up and sees the choices it is making. As long as there is a belief in the mind that the world can give me my worth then so shall I believe that the world can take away my worth. In the end, the fact that Andrew finally faces his self-doubt, talent, shame, commitment, and courage to own ALL pieces of himself, by getting back on stage and performing his heart out (he no longer needs/wants validation fr someone who he once idolized, was terrified of and then, villainized), is perhaps a beautiful ending to the journey all of us go through in our lives.

I expected to laugh a lot from a lighthearted movie filled with actors I admired from different genres. Turns out, I was only half right -- this movie is deeper, wiser & more profound than it appears to be. Yes, I laughed but, though this can be viewed as a 'lighthearted comedy', it is way beyond that. This satirical script is as sharp as a Samurai sword. I had to watch it twice (back to back) to see how he did it -- a scalding, scathing satire with an equally epic heart. I literally fell in love with EVERY character; not a single one was a caricature (yes, even with Dwight Yoakam, our hillbilly warden). Admittedly, when I saw the lineup of actors in this 'light' movie, I was baffled. Having seen it twice, I understand. It is a thinking movie masterfully, subtly appearing like a non-thinking one. I laughed, cried (in a few places), and it made me SEE -- - my prejudices and judgments - the military is present at the Charlotte Motor Speedway at something called, "Coca-Cola 600", and fighter jets fly over it during the opening ceremonies - many military men hold a gigantic flag of the USA as part of the 'Coca- Cola 600" opening ceremonies - there are condominiums built above CMS - some little girls who join beauty pageants (and win) know more about man tools than I do as an adult woman bec they have an amazing relationship with their father who treats them as being smart enough to know these things (for the record: mine did NOT) - some hot-looking ladies with very long nails & who work in a beauty salon know more about human nature, loyalty, trust, faithfulness, generosity, and common sense things that would blow my mind - god knows how much of my past prejudices had to have kept me from seeing some pretty remarkable things about the people around me. In general, I find satirical movies unpalatable bec of how they vibe in the domain of dogmatism/fanaticism. Often the storyline is also written in such an extreme manner (Borat comes to mind here)...the heart gets lost along the way. Not Logan Luck. In fact, I will even dare to say, it is heart first and head second. I am truly grateful & glad to have found it. @Bitchuation, thank you & you rock.

[SPOILER ALERT] The script is clever (for 1999) and the acting is very good. I had only seen it once many years ago and had forgotten a lot of it. I felt to see it again and somehow remembered it was a story about a man who didn't realize there were two personalities in him. This movie is as violent as violent gets. It is summarized by some sites as being a story about anti-consumerism, anti-establishment, etc. Seeing it now, some twenty years later, it is a glamorization of someone who is in a full on psychotic break. The comments about the ills of society and the witty ways in which is spoken of in the script is clever and therefore makes this movie more than what it is. The degree of violence in it is actually quite appalling and it just continues to excalate as it goes on. There are many, many five star reviews of this movie and it is somewhat of a cult classic. In a way, this does NOT suprise. It is quite possible that most people living lives of inner rage, feeling victimized by all kinds of things which are perceived as subjugating them into hopeless, helpless, empty robots would find this movie a kind of cathartic-escapism to fantasize what they wish they could in real life. If however, one comes from an enlightened perspective (see Byron Katie's works), this movie is an expression of the most degraded aspect of humanity...in every way. To each his own. I fully respect and honor that. It is not surprising that when I researched the writer of this story, Chuck Palahniuk, the level of violence in the lives of his grandfather and father are fully represented in this book/movie -- seems like it is a kind of homage to it. One wonders if the level of artistic success in making a movie like this can justify its justification of violence. I would give it zero stars if it would let me...

FANTASTIC. I watched this with close captioning so that I wouldn't miss a word bec right out of the gate, in the opening lines, I knew I would NOT want to missa word. [SPOILER ALERT] First off, I am a fan of Zoey Dutch. It is a thrill to see her here. Dylan O'Brien was freaking amazing as a bratty, loud mouth, egomaniacal son of a Don who does not have the chops to match his bravado. He was so good in this it took me a bit to realize who he was! And Mark Rylance, WOW. Johnny Flynn is just amazing in this role. Hard to believe he is actually English! He is smart, scuzzy, ballsy and nasty but NOT one dimensional at all. Finally, Mark Rylance, standing ovation. He played so many aspects here which were all fascinating. I confess that I suspected all along that he was just as nasty as his mob customers. He played it SO SICKENINGLY well that you had to pay real close attention to see just how well he did. His story and Mabel's are mirrors of each other. Both were pretending to be something they were not but, only Leonard knew what was truly going on. Makes sense bec he has many years of hiding, pretending as a means to do so. Eventually, we CANNOT run away fr ourselves. This is as true for Leonard as for Mabel. She is the daughter of a mobster and has no qualms about whose life or lives she puts up for "sale" as long as she can go and travel elsewhere. But, if Leonard's life is any indication, she will meet herself and will have to face that....at some point. The scene where Leonard is finishing off Francis, when the darkness comes out for a moment, is masterfully done. Like, WOW. There are many nuances to this movie. And Roy Boyle character is truly well done as well. I had never seen him before but boy, I am a fan. Needless to say, Graham Moore is on my radar now bec this is a beauty of a movie. This would also make for a great stage play. Overall, the impact of this movie reminds me of "A History of Violence" -- unforgettable.

I was interested to watch this ONLY bec I saw Ali Wong was in it. I began watching the 1st episode and I found myself fast forwarding on a lot of the scenes. The parts with AW were the best parts. The lines in which the 12-yr old kids have are...not very good. As one reviewer here said, it is all very cliche. I WANTED to like the series but I found that the development of the characters and the acting (Sophia Rosinsky) so over the top, lacking in subtlely...like being clobbered on the face. After two episodes her character is repetivie & grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. I don't know anything about the comic book so I am only speaking for the show itself. Maybe this is how the comic book has it and if that's the case, I guess the show is just not for me.

This movie made laugh (A LOT), made cry and also, contemplative. I did NOT even think there would be low reviews for it bec of the impact it had on me but, it has quite a few. In hindsight I can understand how poorly it could be seen -- it SEEMS like it is a lighthearted piece bec of the way it is presented (narrator voice, the humor in it, etc). But, this is the kind of movie which needs to viewer to be deeply mentally & emotionally engaged & committed to watching. It is not so much a romantic dramedy; it is a movie about self-acceptance and self-awareness. [SPOILER ALERT] The process by which the inner awakening happens is by way of a trust fund baby (who is an adult man in his late 30's) losing access to his funds and unable to determine how and if he shall have access to it again. During this time period, his ideas of himself, his life goals, his relationships/friendships, all come through a drastic evolution. As he gets in touch with his feelings and his heart, the clarity in which he sees himself and his role in the world are beautifully mirrored in the lives of his BF, Dylan, and former lover, Beatrice. Jason Bateman was, I thought, well suited for the role. His deadpan, nonchalant vibe fits the way that one imagines trust fund babies behave about life, in general. Olivia Wilde was perfect for playing the muse and Billy Crudup as the true friend. I just finished watching it for the second time and caught other points which I missed the first time. Seeing again also made me appreciate the other subtle nuances which were in it. The vibe of this movie reminds me a lot of Woody Allen's, "Vicky Christina Barcelona". That is a very deep piece as well though seemingly lighthearted/funny on the surface, This is easily on my the list of top 15 movies. And, yes, it is quite romantic...

Really well done. It felt quite balanced bec it shows a variety of perspectives. When this case was hitting the media and through its development in the next of couple of years after, I went fr prepping to move into & live in a spiritual community, living there for 1.5 yrs and then leaving it. I had no idea till I saw this that Bikram Choudhury had committed these acts and also had been convicted guilty. This documentary is equally as well done as the "John of God" movie in Prime. I mention it only bec the similarities are quite remarkable. Both have hundreds, perhaps thousands, who attest to the "healing" that these men provided for them and have a difference in their lives. Bec of this belief, the deification attributed to these men inevitably created an environment rife for opportunistic intentions. The same can be said for Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. Overall, watching the methodology he uses in his classes, it is very much like the "breaking" method used in the military (insult, degrade, use violent language) or the method in EST classes (fr the 70's, yelling/screaming, can't leave the room for very long hours, etc). It is interestng how someone who is from the East figured out the violent, insult-them, put-them-down, make-them-suffer, approach is going to attract and maintain a strong following in the West. I have not experienced what these women did. What is familiar to me is how I have chosen to be in situations which I would NEVER want my younger sibling or child to go through. Perhaps when things seem 'cloudy' or there is a lack of clarity, the best & easiest way to discern if an environment is acceptable is to ask myself -- Would I want my child or young sibling in this relationship? If the answer is no for them then the answer is no for me.

I read some comments on my feed that this was terrifying to watch. Based on the some of the comments I was sensing what this was about. [SPOILER ALERT] Overall, the way in which her life was presented was respectful. It was NOT terrifying at all. I watched it via close captioning, no sound and so whatever effects were used (if any) to arouse/heighten emotions was not there. About 1/3 into the movie, whatever was going to be the big reveal was fairly obvious to me already. I took off a couple of stars bec it felt very much like it was "dragged out" for dramatic effect. I appreciated the efforts of all parties who dedicated themselves to identifying who she truly was and that is the "happy ending". For me what was interesting was that her personal world was so complex, confusing, far from ordinay, painful, terrifying, disturbing, etc and yet....it was ALL that mixed bag of a strange life which provided so much warmth for all those whose lives she came in contact with. The life of her abductor/father/husband before he ever met her was a life that human nightmares are made of. And from this inner sense of rage, hurt and victimization, he picks up a child who then, despite her upbringing, is the source of so much love & affection for others. The universe of consciousness is a very complex mechanism and this documentary is testimony to that. (PS In reading some of the reviews, it is true that indeed it was filmed LESS as a documentary and more focus on creating the effect of "drama". The movie did NOT make clear WHO Michael's father is. The fact that it was such a pivotal aspect of the case and then to not "close that loop" somehow is a "miss/incomplete".)

No, I have NOT read the novel therefore my review is for the movie itself. I was intrigued to see Dakota cast in such a role so I decided to try it out. I did not expect much but was plesantly suprised that it was lovely. DJ sounded believable enough for my ears. Most of the characters are somewhat "caricaturish" but, it made me laugh and so I didn't mind it all. Perhaps somewhat only slightly not quite believable is the character of Frederick Wentworth. I do not know if this is bec of the actor or bec of how it was written but, for someone who has the kind of leadership & courage out at sea, on land he did embody those qualities at all, as far as I could see. There are beautiful lessons/reminders in this movie. What I didn't expect was laughing out loud in a few places. DJ, to me, did a terrific job and it is unfortunate that it looks like, by the reviews, the large majority (thus far) are in disagreement with me. Quite alright. It will be enjoyed by those who are meant to.

I have read the many poor reviews this movie has garnered. In a way, I suppose, I am not surprised. Is it authentically accurate to the legend of King Arthur? I don't know. I have seen a few versions both in movie and in series. Does it matter? That depends. The entire saga of King Arthur is meant to be, fr my understanding, a mythological tale that is based on a historical figure in Britain. He works with and against supernatural forces in order to maintain and rule his kingdom. The whole lot of it is most helpful to the reader if it INSPIRES to bring about the ability and the courage to see how this tale is meant for each one of us to claim our own inner kingdom of what our true identity is. This much I have noticed with Guy Ritchie -- he is VERY aware of the power of mythology as a means to awaken ourselves fr the deep sleep of identifying with our body, name, personality as who we think we are. The greater and true identity takes a tremendous amount of trials and suffering before it can be embraced -- very much like EVERYTHING which Arthur Pendragon goes through fr childhood orphan, raised in brothel and then to king. [SPOILER ALERT] There are so many DEEP & PROFOUND lines in this movie spoken of by Uther, the Mage, the Syrens, finally Arthur himself. When Arthur finally awakens after being knocked unconscious in his final battle with his uncle (and it may very be interpreted that he BRIEFLY died), he FINALLY is able to fully see what he couldn't all his life. The message of his father the king saying to him, "You don't have to run anymore. You can look now. The sword is yours." is PROFOUND. This whole entire sequence is POWERFUL when taken in the context of our inner awakening. I would recommend listening to the youtube recordings of NEVILLE GODDARD to fully understand what context I am speaking of here. And when Arthur takes the hand of his uncle and then BLESSES HIM!!! MIC DROP. And he continues on to acknowledge the role in which they were each brought for each other -- no hatred, no animosity, no victimization, no revenge. JUST GRATITUDE. This is EPIC, just UTTERLY EPIC for writing this mythology in a way which has NEVER written before, as far as I know. This is the invitation in which life is CONSTANTLY bringing into our awareness. Everything is happening FOR us and NOT to us. I am now a 100% fan of Guy Richie and whatever it is he creates and puts out. He is in the same league as Christopher Nolan in my experience of movie makers who have the vision and power, courage and inspiration, artistry and mysticism to deliver the Message we all are deeply yearning to hear and live as Truth. For some of us, we will see the many many symbologies which are used in this movie. Myself, I am watching it for the 2nd time and, like the 1st time, I have the close captioning on so that I do NOT miss any of what it being said. There are many inner shifts taking place as I watch this, aspects of the subconscious which are becoming integrated into conscious awareness. Every single one of these characters are both an aspect of the inner self and also, represents a person in each of our lives. Being able to see and experience these with clarity is a gift of tremendous worth. I will be watching this many times more and from a place of deep inner listening, a kind of meditation I grateful beyond words for this masterful movie making from Guy Ritchie.