“The Damned” (Horror: 1 hour, 29 minutes)
Starring: Odessa Young, Joe Cole and Lewis Gribben
Director: Thordur Palsson
Rated: R (Bloody violence content, gore, suicide and strong language)
Movie Review:
The Damned is a story by Thordur Palsson. His directorial is steeped in mythos. It is an inviting horror with plenty of intense scare tactics although the ending inconsistently gels with everything before it.
Eva (Odessa Young of “The Order,” 2024), a young widow, is the authority figure of a 19th-century coastal Icelandic fishing village. When a foreign ship crashes not far from the village’s coast, Eva decides not to aid the survivors. The harrowing decision is too great a burden for Eva and her fishermen. Soon, a malevolent entity haunts the six men and two women. The group believes the eerie stalks them for their ill-fated decision to allow the crash-wrecked sailors to perish at sea.
For its short runtime, “The Damned” is an effective movie about superstitious traditions. It has a genuine approach. That believability exists because the cast creates persuasive personas.
Jamie Hannigan writes this screenplay based on Palsson’s story. The movie contains much horror-based folklore. Hannigan’s story is straightforward with plenty of old-school jump scares. Some elements are nonsensical bits, especially the abrupt ending, but the movie is an invitingly entertaining script.
Grade: B- (Despite some flaws, the damned delivers a movie not doomed.)
“Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” (Documentary/Music: 1 hour, 36 minutes)
Director: Mary Wharton
Rated: NR (Some drug references)
Movie Review:
The recent passing of President Jimmy Carter at 100 prompted this documentary to air on television again on CNN, cable television and some online platforms. With the president’s passing, I reviewed “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” in September 2020. It is worth watching for moviegoers and history connoisseurs who missed it in cinemas.
This documentary covers the 39th President of the United States through his appreciation of music. From Carter’s term as Georgia’s governor to his time in the White House, music, along with his Christian faith, played a big role in Carter’s political career. This movie captures another part of Carter from people who were a part of his administration and his celebrity music friends.
A 1976 New York City is the setting for the start of this movie. We see Governor Jimmy Carter preparing to run for President of the United States. In the next scene, audiences see Carter in 2018 in his early 90s in Plains, Georgia. This documentary captures Carter’s life primarily from 1976 to 2018.
Audience’s treat is the appearance of numerous big names of music. The Carters have multiple contacts that include: Willie Newson, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Greg Allman, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Bono. The majority of these people are avid supporters. They tell plenty about Carter, and they do not hold back. Meanwhile, multiple genres play in the foreground and background, including country, rock and roll, jazz, classical and gospel. President Carter’s tastes are broad.
Viewers also see people from the Carter Administration and the President’s family. Scenes also show his wife Rosalynn Carter with President Carter planning events and greeting dignitaries, politicians and musicians. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Ambassador Andrew Young and Jimmy Carter’s son James Carter offer candid remarks about President Jimmy Carter. His son tells some of the best stories about his father that are enlightening and give unique insight into the former president. The narratives make Jimmy Carter more endearing as the moments make him accessible as a down-to-earth person.
Carter remains ever-present in the minds of many for his work post-presidency. This movie shows how the politician used music as part of service to humanity. It is an enjoyable trek through Jimmy Carter’s life via nice music. The scenes move quickly during enjoyable moments without giving one time to enjoy the music and the more interesting elements of President Carter’s psyche as a leader.
Some of the stories are richly enjoyable and one wishes the movie captured more of those candid moments from Carter’s friends. The president becomes the first U.S. president to openly embrace rock and roll. He suffered for liking the music and for associating with those who performed it.
The movie shows Carter as forgiving, kind and nonjudgmental. This reminds one that political figures can have a deep sense of faith wrapped in decency. It also reminds us that public servants are human, and the ones in touch with citizens are the better angels of political elites.
Some scenes involving those who opposed Carter’s presidency and how Carter handled the events would have been nice. Also, more from other members of Carter’s family could have increased what we know about Carter’s personal life. However, this documentary offers enough to make an easy recommendation.
“Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” creates nostalgia for the serene politics and leaders of yesteryears.
Grade: B+ (Rock on, Mr. President.)
