First, the writing here is top notch. The nuanced and overt writing was very good. Second, the acting by the two leads was fantastic. The range of emotions by both was very spot on. Third, the soundtrack here was also fantastic. Every song fit into the range of emotions that was being conveyed in the story. Fourth, the series was both funny and sad. The writing exhibited a balance with both comedic and serious overtones that didn't make slight of the nature of the story. Every episode was very good though it was tough watching the episode that set up why the main protaganist had the feelings he had. The series is one of the best I've seen on Netflix and is very much worth a watch.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Crooks
(2024– )
A entertaining series held back by too many implausible plot devices.
14 April 2024
Lets get this out of the way. This is a entertaining series. If you come into this expecting a lightweight by the numbers affair full of the usual cliches, you can't be blamed. It starts with the simple title of the series "Crooks". How can that be really entertaining? It surprises you with the fact that it is entertaining.
Its still a pretty much by the numbers affair but its done very well. I'm not dissappointed in the worn out cliches that are on display. The directors and producers actually took the usual cliches and made it entertaining and suspenseful. I'm disappointed because the series is held back by some very implausible plot decisions. It could have been better. That problem aside, the on location filming and musical scoring kept things moving along very well. The series is worth watching.
Its still a pretty much by the numbers affair but its done very well. I'm not dissappointed in the worn out cliches that are on display. The directors and producers actually took the usual cliches and made it entertaining and suspenseful. I'm disappointed because the series is held back by some very implausible plot decisions. It could have been better. That problem aside, the on location filming and musical scoring kept things moving along very well. The series is worth watching.
Kaleidoscope
(2023)
It felt like about 20 producers were involved.
1 April 2024
It felt like about 20 producers were involved because there were about 20 different producers involved. This was evident in the change of tone and uneven writing. A couple of the episodes were well written and a few were horrible. Overall the writing suggested that the series never really knew where it wanted dto go. The non linear plot paralleled the non iinear production ideas. You combine that with unlikeable characters and you had a mess.
Giancarlo Esposito has yet in my opinion found any material worthy of his stature since Breaking Bad. If you take him out of this series it becomes a total loss. Add this to the latest series that Netflix mailed home.
Giancarlo Esposito has yet in my opinion found any material worthy of his stature since Breaking Bad. If you take him out of this series it becomes a total loss. Add this to the latest series that Netflix mailed home.
The Gentlemen
(2024)
More overrated material from Guy Ritchie
10 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
If anybody has ever lived off of their past accomplishments its Guy Ritchie. The well worn forumula he used in his early films (smug, intelligent, mumbling characters, fast cuts, etc.) has thoroughly been played out in his projects.
"The Gentlement", his 2019 movie was bad enough and now Netflix gave him the keys to flesh it out into a TV series thats as bad as the fillm. Guy Ritchie fanboys say otherwise but there is nothing here...except... Giancarlo Esposito who doesn't get enough screen time. (At least through the first 4 episodes because I stopped watching somewhere around the 4th episode). The yardman has gotten more screen time than the best character in the show, Mr. Johnston, played by the always debonair and erudite, Giancarlo Esposito.
The lead character (don't even remember his name) is the first part of the new problems. He goes from being a police officer to being dropped into the criminal world instantly, no backstory of his character, no explanation on why he would do that other than " I want them off my land". The whole affair is one implausible situation after another with captioning overlaid across the screen to again remind you of how smug and cute the director and his material is trying to be.
I've wasted enough of my time reviewing this. Its not a must watch.
"The Gentlement", his 2019 movie was bad enough and now Netflix gave him the keys to flesh it out into a TV series thats as bad as the fillm. Guy Ritchie fanboys say otherwise but there is nothing here...except... Giancarlo Esposito who doesn't get enough screen time. (At least through the first 4 episodes because I stopped watching somewhere around the 4th episode). The yardman has gotten more screen time than the best character in the show, Mr. Johnston, played by the always debonair and erudite, Giancarlo Esposito.
The lead character (don't even remember his name) is the first part of the new problems. He goes from being a police officer to being dropped into the criminal world instantly, no backstory of his character, no explanation on why he would do that other than " I want them off my land". The whole affair is one implausible situation after another with captioning overlaid across the screen to again remind you of how smug and cute the director and his material is trying to be.
I've wasted enough of my time reviewing this. Its not a must watch.
Champion
(II) (2023)
A British version of the American TV show "Empire" done better
19 January 2024
You can't help but see the similarities of "Champion" with the American tv series "Empire". Both shows are centered on families involved in the music business. Both feature sibling rivalries and other external problems that both hamper and make their music better.
Where "Empire" got tiresome with the constant implausible family feuds, Champion brought more believable issues to the table and executed those issues very well. The writing is soo much better here. There is depth to the characters here. The music is fabulous also.
Overall I feel this is a very watchable series and I hope there will be at least one more season of Champion.
Where "Empire" got tiresome with the constant implausible family feuds, Champion brought more believable issues to the table and executed those issues very well. The writing is soo much better here. There is depth to the characters here. The music is fabulous also.
Overall I feel this is a very watchable series and I hope there will be at least one more season of Champion.
War: Wrath and Revenge
(2023)
Not good
11 January 2024
I'm on a big "African" foreign film kick right now. War: Wrath and Revenge is my latest foray. I come into these movies aware that the production and acting MIGHT not be on par with film industries that have existed for far longer and have bigger budgets in other countries outside of Africa.
That being said, I'm normally not that hard on the resulting product. In this case I have to go hard. This is bad in my opinion. Everything came off as low budget Hollywood. The acting wasn't good with some of the actors. The action scenes were worse. The main theme was ok but the execution was totally off. I don't recommend this movie.
That being said, I'm normally not that hard on the resulting product. In this case I have to go hard. This is bad in my opinion. Everything came off as low budget Hollywood. The acting wasn't good with some of the actors. The action scenes were worse. The main theme was ok but the execution was totally off. I don't recommend this movie.
Blood Coast
(2023– )
Starts with a bang and goes downhill
29 December 2023
I don't usually watch crime/gangster television shows that are told primarily from the point of view of law enforcement. The reason is there is the usual Hollywood cliches involved in the writing. Blood coast didn't fail to do exactly that.
That problem aside, the series got off to a good start by building up what should have been a epic showdown between the villians in the series. There was a huge build up of events that left you anticipating the climax, then the writers went in other directions. This leaves me to believe they might be setting it up for another season but it derailed what they had already done. Worth watching but not on repeat.
That problem aside, the series got off to a good start by building up what should have been a epic showdown between the villians in the series. There was a huge build up of events that left you anticipating the climax, then the writers went in other directions. This leaves me to believe they might be setting it up for another season but it derailed what they had already done. Worth watching but not on repeat.
Shadow
(2019)
Very Underrated
18 December 2023
I've been checking out a lot of South African tv series and movies over the last few months. Shadow is one of them. The series starts a little slow as you adjust to the characters and the premise. It gets really going though and draws you in. The stoies themselves are fabulous. As a few viewers have said, the show has a lot of heart. I found myself emotionally drawn to the last two episodes in particular. The acting is very well done. The location filming is also excellent. The music is superb also. Its a must watch tv series. I really wish they make another season of this fabulous tv show. It has room to continue to grow with fun and very likeable characters.
Queen Sono
(2020)
Interesting premise, confusing plot
16 November 2023
I really wanted to like this series. I've gotten into South African cinema and really enjoy it. Queen Sono has excellent visual appeal, music and interesting characters. The problem for me is a disjointed, confusing plot. Everything seemed disconnected. To complicate the situation, Netflix didn't renew the series. Nothing was resolved in this series.
For some viewers the fighting scenes with Queen Sono herself might seem a little off. I thought so at first but then realized that her movements were more likely what would it would actually look like in real combat. There was no smooth over the top Hollywood style antics going on with her movements. Its hard for me to recommend this series because it left a lot on the table.
For some viewers the fighting scenes with Queen Sono herself might seem a little off. I thought so at first but then realized that her movements were more likely what would it would actually look like in real combat. There was no smooth over the top Hollywood style antics going on with her movements. Its hard for me to recommend this series because it left a lot on the table.
Turn of the Tide
(2023– )
Uneven but watchable
29 September 2023
I found the plot kinda uneven, even pretentious at some points. The first episode starts off very good. You are then taken to some character development with some of the main protaganists that felt like plot filler instead of being necessary to tell the story. Some of the actions of the main protaganists were repeated over and over and became annoying. The next problem is the main protaganist is waay too knowledgeable and slick about how to handle every situation that he incurs. The highlights are some good plot twists toward the end and some fantastic location filming. Taken as a whole the series is very watchable and recommended.
Gangs of Oslo
(2023– )
Better than the negative reviews!
19 September 2023
I really like the foreign made gangster/crime genre whether it is movies or television. Most of the "Hollywood" formula is absent from these productions which is a good thing. Gangs of Oslo is no exception. It starts slow. In fact I couldn't really get into it until about the 3rd episode. It takes off from there and brings the nuance I like from productions that are outside of the normal "Hollywood" fare. Its not a over the top gangster show that tries to bombard with you with constant improbable moments which are suppose to surprise you and keep you engaged. No, its very well written. This is a must watch for cinemaphiles who look for nuance and fantastic writing.
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