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Unknown, a review by Dr. Hasslein

Unknown



Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Year:2011
Running Time: 113 Minutes
Rated: M
Genre: Action/Thriller

PlotMy Thoughts

(From Unknown on February 18th, 2011)

La sagrada familia, a review by Danae Cassandra

Where We Are:  Chile
wikipedia

What We Watched:


La sagrada familia (The Sacred Family)Overview:
A dinner guest turns a family's Easter weekend upside down in this sophisticated comedy drama from Chile. On Good Friday, college freshman Marco brings his beautiful new girlfriend Sofia to meet his parents at their house on the beach. Sofia quickly charms everyone, but her impulsiveness and honesty hint at her disruptive nature. When mother is unexpectedly called away and the trio are joined by another three of Marco's friends, Sofia's flirtatious, manipulative ways soon expose latent frictions, sexual tensions, and the unspoken rules that tie the family together.

My Thoughts:
Hand-held camera, improvised dialogue, three day shoot; this is a film that shows its low budget and revels in it, using it to achieve a look that is like watching a home movie.  It works well for this film, as it wouldn't for others.  The cast all do their work very well, each inhabiting their character believably.  Nonetheless, there's a distance between them and the viewer that makes it hard to care about them.  The film is sort of raw and real, but also rough and in parts a little poorly finished.  Transition in one scene in particular is very poor and jumpy, leaving the viewer confused as to how and what exactly happened.  The ending is the same, while Marco comes of age and finds his truth at the end of the film, and there is some closure, his actions before that don't make a lot of sense either way one interprets them.  Interesting film, however, but only recommended if you're a fan of art films.

Bechtel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From Around the World in 86 Movies on September 10th, 2012)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Popular: Season One (1999/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 968 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:
Inside the walls of Kennedy High, there's a war being waged for the most elusive prize of all...popularity. Get into the heart of the battle as Nicole, Josh, Sam, Mary Cherry and all the characters you love (and love to hate) fight to claim their rightful place on the popularity scale!

Experience all 22 episodes of Popular's sensational first season. It's innovative and addicting television that the 'San Diego Tribune' calls "poignant and true."


Popular
1.01 The Phantom Menace
Writer: Ryan Murphy (Created By), Gina Matthews (Created By), Ryan Murphy (Writer)
Director: Brian Robbins
Cast: Leslie Bibb (Brooke McQueen), Carly Pope (Samantha 'Sam' McPherson), Tamara Mello (Lily Esposito), Christopher Gorham (Harrison John), Sara Rue (Carmen Ferrara), Bryce Johnson (Josh Ford), Tammy Lynn Michaels (Nicole Julian), Ron Lester (Michael 'Sugar Daddy' Bernardino), Lisa Darr (Jane McPherson), Scott Bryce (Mike McQueen), Leslie Grossman (Mary Cherry), Sydney Forest (Sydney Forest), Darryl Theirse (Mr. Vincent), Diane Delano (Miss Roberta 'Bobbi' Glass / Nurse Jessi), John Caponera (Coach Peritti), Hank Harris (Emory Dick), Natasha Pearce (Lady T), Chad Lowe (Mr. Luke Grant), Anel Lopez Gorham (Poppita 'Poppy' Fresh), Kelvin Yu (Freddy Gong), Samuel L. Elliott (Stone Cold Fox Boy), Brooke Bloom (Teen Girl #1), Betty Okino (Teen Girl #2), Kelly Miyashiro (Japanese Teen), Corvet Villa (Edgy Latino Boy), Derrex Brady (Hassad (uncredited))

This series is created by the same guy as Glee. Maybe this is why I enjoy both series. It even has some similarities. Like the football captain trying out for the school musical in one case and in the other for the Glee club.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 24th, 2012)