Change Your Image
benbraddock-51767
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
What We Do in the Shadows (2019)
Try an episode
Basically, it's genius. Genius casting, genius acting, genius writing, genius Baron, genius mood, genius familiar, genius setting.
I totally understand why you would not like this. Totally, and that is fine. But if you do like this then you are probably watching this more than once, more than twice. This is Father Ted level funny.
I want to write this without spoilers which is easy, because it is all funny. Pick any episode, dive in at any point, and it will be hilarious. However, you will have wasted your time because you should start at the beginning.
Now I would like to talk about Colin Robinson. The thing about Colin Robinson....
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006)
Rapier Dialogue; Cheesy Sanctimonious Cheesy Cheese.
I loved this seventeen years ago. Thought it was the best thing ever cancelled. Rewatching it in 2024 it has not aged well. I still mark it highly because when the dialogue is as good as this often is? It deserves a watch.
Unless you think about the Bechdel Test. The Bechdel Test may annoy some, but this show kind of proves its point. There are several cool, intelligent, sexy, savvy women in this. All of them demonstrably better than the men with whom they interact. Yet they only exist in relation to the men.
Sorkin does try and write for people not like him, and he does a far better job than most. But if you are Bradley Whitford you are set. If of a different gender, ethnicity, gender etc you are not. And I genuinely believe it is not through the lack of trying. Over-confidence maybe? Imagine if he had Gervais or Whaller-Bridge with that Brit savvy? Less Star-Spangled-Coloured Glasses, more Stoicism.
Into the Badlands (2015)
Dystopian Martial Arts Hit and Miss
The first two seasons were ok. I found the third a bit of a slog. There is a lot of fighting. A lot of very heavily choreographed (at which even Jackie Chan would blush) fighting. As it is fairly obvious who will win every fight I tended to fast forward through them.
The plot is of secondary importance and does not withstand too much scrutiny. Which is a shame because there was some potential underneath the silliness. Individuals constantly change sides and beliefs seemingly at random. Sometimes they appear indestructible destroying swathes of opponents; sometimes a situation they would typically overcome with ease does for them.
It is the massively varied acting that provides a lot of the entertainment. Sunny and M. K. are comically wooden. The Widow, Lydia, Veil and Jade are good. Lorraine Toussaint was the worst thing in Orange is TNB, and her Cressida is very nearly the worst thing in this. Fortunately for her Martin Csokas's Quinn is one of the most bemusing performances I have ever seen. Surely someone must have said "maybe a bit less Martin, and when you have done that maybe another thousand per cent less"? It is like watching a deliberately hammy panto pirate that has had a few too many. Pilgrim is also in the same hammy, we really can tell you are acting zone (also known as the Forest Whitaker zone). And for some reason Nick Frost turns up in series two. He is the action hero you never knew you needed; he is also the only comic relief. It is almost as if he wandered in from a different production and could not be bothered to wander back.
Last word is on the accents. It is supposed to be set in America 500 years in the future. Apparently by then the British accent will be dominant. I appreciate that there is a high proportion of British and Irish actors (even higher than usual) and that some of it was shot in Ireland but by season three no-one is even bothering. Best example is Clare Higgins who plays Ankara - she is from Bradford and that is the accent she is sticking with.
Withnail and I (1987)
Most quotable film. Most dangerous drinking game.
Even before the silly money that they spend on films and tv shows these days £1.1 million was a bargain for 1987. Being (a large) part financed by George Harrison just adds to its cool. And it is cool; effortlessly so. Everything about it is good, tight, unimprovable.
If my favourite film is the one that I have seen the most then this has already won should I never see it again and live for another sixty years.
Richard E. Is a force of nature, Richard Griffiths steals every scene he is in, and Paul McGann is excellent underpinning the flashier characters.
Despite dozens of memorable 'Withnail' quotations running through my head I have deliberately not mentioned anything that was said or anything that happened.
You should discover about the weight of Geoff Woade's head all by yourself. Or firm young carrots, or getting in the back of the van. Or, or, or...
Andor (2022)
If you do not like Star Wars? Do not.
I am of an age where / when Star Wars is culturally significant; quotable; known. I thought 'A New Hope' & 'The Empire Strikes Back' were good (good, not great), I will watch the next one. The next one - Return of the Jedi - was awful. But I kind of went along with the whole 'Star Wars is great; important part of my childhood thing'. Easiest thing to do - a lot of other people seemed really excited by it.
Then: Phantom Menace. Hilariously terrible. Surely that must have killed the whole franchise (before franchise was the thing it is today)? Apparently not. So we end up with endless attempts to make money with films and series.
Andor? The lead is lacking in charisma. The special effects klaxon keeps going off (it looks expensive therefore we do not need to bother with a script or direction or...). Getting a load of English actors does not make something good. I would have given it five stars because of Fiona Shaw, but then Forest Whitaker. No one has ever made acting such a painful thing to watch.
The Bear (2022)
The Unpleasant People Shouting Show
If you enjoy unpleasant people shouting this is the show for you. If you do not then go outside and look up. Better? Better. Glad to be of service.
This is a critical hit. And this is what bugs me about critics. I have yet to meet anyone that has watched the second episode. Some watched all of the first episode and did not bother with the second. Some did not manage all of the first episode.
So why is it so raved about? No, seriously? I have no idea. Is it post-modern? Post-comedy (if there is such a thing)?
My review would have been much shorter, but for the weird six hundred characters thing.
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
Please give Cara Delevingne modelling jobs.
This is way better than you would think it is. The plot - which is the most important thing - is good (not Agatha Christie good, but good).
Steve Martin (always the most tolerable of the look-at-me I'm funny North American funny people), is really good, because he is not playing it for laughs. Martin Short is obviously irritating, and obviously not a good actor, but I think that is the point of Martin Short. Selena Gomez is good; I like her.
The supporting cast are great, as are the sets, and the rest of it.
Except Cara Delevingne. She is, literally, the opposite of acting. Personally I do not find her attractive. But, apparently, there are enough that do. So please find her modelling work, please tell her that she is beautiful and does not need to act. Please. Her appearances have gained enough attention that she is on Graham Norton. That is too far. Please stop Cara Delevingne.
Please.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
The most five out of ten film ever made.
If in 1986 you could have written a follow up to Top Gun? This is it.
The dialogue is either hilariously tongue in cheek or the laziest, most inept piece of money-grubbing cynicism you will see.
It is awful. Of course it is. You knew this before you even thought about watching it. I have not watched Cruise in a while, but I thought he was better at acting than this. He is awful (or hilarious, but I think awful).
There are a lot of American flags on offer; which as a non-American I take as a bad sign. I was going to say that very little good comes from seeing an American flag, but then I could not recall a single example of any good being associated with an American flag.
I am only half way through the film, but I think I know it from here. I think we all do.
Shooter (2016)
Is what it is.
Well worth your time. Nine out of ten for everything (which is why it gets an eight). Shantel van Santen is a stone cold stunner. And if you were wondering? It's Julia Roberts.
Goliath (2016)
So good in so many ways (not so in one).
This is really good. Especially season 4. And seasons 1 and 2. Also season 3, but less so. The surreal / fantasy moments added little and annoyed to the extent that Amazon's lack of fast forward navigation became irritating.
Cut the surreal flights of fancy or commit to going the full Fellini. And do not do the latter - this is good. Billy Bob gives a beautiful, understated performance that allows those around him to perform.
The permanent rain during the Rear Window homage that was season four was fun.
See (2019)
Imagine spending this much money.
I know that it takes a great deal of training, intelligence and perspicacity to understand the labyrinthine complexities of any given country's tax regulations.
I mention this because surely this must be a write off in some column somewhere? It serves no other purpose; certainly not as a form of entertainment.
WandaVision (2021)
Don't get it
Apparently this cost 25 million dollars an episode. Having watched it I am not sure how.
I suspect it would have been a lot better on two and a half million dollars or less. Maybe more script, not so much (many) special effects?
Hitchcock, Lean, Scorsese, Ford-Coppola - maybe story telling is the thing? Maybe an eye, an edit, a cut, a thought, an imagination?
Goodfellas (1990)
It's Goodfellas
When you talk about your favourite film of all time or the best film ever made? In either discussion if Goodfellas is not mentioned? Then you either haven't seen it or you are so pretentious you shouldn't have an opinion.
The Sandman (2022)
More Script, less fx.
Typical Netflix. Throw money at something - that will nail our algorithm. Equals more; more subscribers; more numbers no-one ever sees; more things I do not not understand.
This is OK. It's a seven. Watchable, but meh. Imagine spending a tenth of the money you spent on special fx - on writers?
Not quite sure what the lead actor (Dream) was going for.
Formulaic? Yep. Remembered in three years? Nope.
Wayward Pines (2015)
Silly.
Making Matt Dillon share screen time with someone as accomplished as Toby Jones seems cruel. Jason Patric, is not much of an upgrade. Shannyn Sossamon remains staggeringly beautiful (at least as beautiful as she was in a Knight's Tale). More so.
I do not like to pick holes in things - usually I leave that to people more pedantic than me. But? But, none of this made sense. There is no way the children (no matter how heavily armed) would have been in control.
UnREAL (2015)
Ironically meta (I suppose, probably)?
Season one constantly fluctuated from good to really bad. From minute to minute the writing and/or acting could be good or awful. Script plausibility stretched and stretched again.
Then; season two (which is where I am now). All of the females are a version of Cruella or helpless bimbo. By their gender, because that is the only thing. Men are the bad guys, and women only exist in their interactions with men, or how they compete against women. It is almost like there was a competition for sixteen year old boys and the winners got to 'do' season two.
Surprised writing like this got through when it did.
Not great. Really.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
It just is.
If you have seen it you will know why it is ten out of ten.
If you have not seen it then watch it.
That simple really.
I wish they made films this long today.
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Underrated or overlooked?
I never understood why this film is not mentioned more often. I worry that if it were not in the repertoire of Daniel Day-Lewis it may not be mentioned at all.
Really good film. Emotional topic, well (if inevitably, not entirely factually) handled. Superb performances from Pete Postlethwaite and Daniel Day-Lewis (obviously - you rarely get two actors this good together). Emma Thompson is obviously excellent, as ever.
Seinfeld (1989)
Is this American funny?
Really? Is this funny in America? Somehow SNL is still a thing; so maybe? Friends is better than this, and Frasier is different class. But really? This is dull, obnoxious, obvious, boring.
Literally: Here is the funny thing - the set piece - the humour. Here it comes. Did you enjoy it? Well you should have. Shame on you if you did not.
The Morning Show (2019)
Meh.
At best it is ok. Television would happily continue without The Morning Show ever existing. Maybe Reese Witherspoon is a genius, because I watched both seasons? Something or someone had to carry Jennifer Aniston. It was not the script, and I am not sure why Steve Carell was in the second season.
I would not normally comment, but two million dollars an episode for doing a (spot on) Rachel from Friends impression? Good for you Jennifer, I suppose.
CODA (2021)
Joyous
It is a coming of age drama about a teenage girl. She has family problems, boyfriend problems, future problems.
Also, she can sing like a beautifully broken angel.
It is formulaic. Nothing you haven't seen before. Family situation; then adversity; then happiness; all works out in the end. Probably.
Except? It is really good. The deafness probably propelled it to awards season. But the acting is great. The script is tight and funny. Actually funny.
Troy Kutsur, deservedly, got the awards - he was brilliant in every scene. And the recognition is due. But he was not the highlight.
The core of the film, the heart and soul of the film is Ruby. Emilia Jones is beyond extraordinary. She is in the majority of scenes. Whatever else may occur - a seventeen year old was the star of the best picture of 2022.
Wynonna Earp (2016)
Chemistry.
Great series. Hope there will be more.
If you like high budget, special fx (effects?) this may not be for you. Go do Marvel - there is a lot of it.
This is a budget well spent. The costumes are great. The acting is superb.
The script is tight and witty. The characters endearing.
Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna) has the charisma of ten charismatic people. She is the lead, the core, the soul. She is expectational.
Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Waverley) is the younger sister. She is adorable. Central in the two greatest love stories in the show. That with her sister, and that with Nicolle.
It is the chemistry. Every relationship is developed and believable. All of the actors have chemistry with each other.
Wayhaught is a thing, a ship. It should be. I have never seen two actors so in tune with each other. Even without the understandable LGBTQIA+.
Father Ted (1995)
Perfect
If you think Father Ted is funny I could get along with you. If you do not, I could not. I think that would be an ecumenical matter. Yes. I think that would be an ecumenical matter. Yes.
If I was allowed one IMDB Spinal Tap 11? Father Ted. Easy -11 days a week.
The Leftovers (2014)
Superb
This is it. This is the apotheosis. The test. If you understand that television has more opportunity; more scope. Why would you make a two/three hour film when you can make this instead?
Soundtrack perfect. Acting perfect.
Breaking Bad (2008)
I would love to love Breaking Bad,
But I can't. It took two attempts to get through it. The second time was pure perseverance; only because I thought I should (and had a lot of time). It is boring. It just is. None of the characters are sympathetic. Some of them are interesting, but only in an 'I dislike them so much I hope they die soon' kind of way.
The acting is often good - sometimes very good (Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn); sometimes not so good - Aaron (three Emmys) Paul. Changing volume and over-reacting is not acting.
Cranston, good as he was, winning awards ahead of Hugh Laurie's House is, frankly, silly.
If they had condensed the 62 episodes into 18 it may have been great. Or at least good. But no. Lingering shots of nothing. Taking eight seconds on a shot when two would have done. Repeatedly. Which may have been good if you were lingering on (e.g.) Scotland or Italy. Not Albuquerque. Although kudos for thinking you could get away with such a nothing of a location. (You could not, and did not, by the way).
There is a lot of self-satisfied editing, and a lot of self-satisfied direction.
If I was interested in such things I would have given it a 1 rating to drag it down. I am not. I would say - give at go. You may like it. Or, if you have never watched Buffy, Deadwood, The Sopranos, Father Ted, The Wire or The Leftovers maybe give them a go instead.