ratka79 Reviews

Feud (2017–2024)

Review for season 2

[6/10 · 2 February 2024]

I have reviewed season 1 - which I absolutely adored - and gave it a 10. I thought it was a masterpiece, perhaps because I love Bette Davis so much or because, quite simply, it really was a great series!

Season 2...not so much.

First of all, 7 years in-between seasons is way too long but since the story is not a continuation, but a different one, sure, why not. I was glad that they decided against Charles vs Diana, which has been done so many times recently (Crown, being one example) so when I read that it was going to be about Capote and his women I was excited. Had no idea what the backstory was but the ensamble cast and the trailer seemed promising.

Having said all this, and after watching the first two episodes, I was bitterly disappointed. It is nice to look at but painful to watch. There's not much to the story, no real feud actually, just an article he wrote that alienated him from the women in his life. It becomes a bit depressing and even though Hollander is excellent as Capote (you really get the urge to punch him in the face - a sign that the actor has done his research), the rest of the cast is pretty to look at but there really is no...I don't even know what. That something that makes it interesting to watch! Episode 1 was far more engaging than episode 2, but it could have been done as a movie, really, I don't see it as enough of a storytelling for 6 episodes.

As a side note, Molly Ringwald is just not that great in this, you get to see her for the total time of 5 minutes and just doesn't deliver, I could write something ruder but since I like her, let's just say she's the weakest link here. So far.

Morderczynie (2023– )

Second season, please.

[8/10 · 26 January 2024]

I usually like Polish crime series and do not mind the subtitles so I binge-watched this one as well (The Woods still being my favourite, though - watch it!) I pretty much knew from the start who the killer was (or killers) so there were no twists or turns here for me but since the actors are doing such a great job, I didn't mind the predictability at all.

I mean, let's start with the name of the series first - there's the clue right there! They basically tell you that whoever has done it is female, and it turns out to be the case for both investigations.

The main actress looks so much like Kate Mara at times that it is a joy to watch her! The ending itself, although satisfying, leaves everything open for another season.

Watch it, it is so much better than anything American-made these days!

Monsieur Spade (2024)

Not for everybody

[10/10 · 23 January 2024]

If you expect to see Bogart in Owen, you won't. As much as I love Bogard as Sam, this is something else entirely and the way Owen plays the character is fine with me.

This being said, Dashiel Hammett (if you read his novels) tends to have a slow plot so this series being described as slow by some reviewers is spot on - because it is supposed to be. It evokes the spirit of Hammett, reimagining his world, and is doing so really well.

I don't mind the subtitles (why is that even an issue?!) but, unfortunatelly, since this series is not aimed at general audience, it will get a low rating and fade into oblivion.

The Detective from Beledweyne (2023– )

Hope there's a 2nd season!

[8/10 · 29 December 2023]

I am not sure why there are so many low reviews for this really refreshing series and I, for one, would love to see the 2nd season. After watching the first 2 episodes, you might think that the leading female charachter is unlikeable and obnoxious (which she is), but as the series progresses one gets to understand her more and kind of root for her, as well.

As for the leading male character, he's just great and the way the actor portrays him is very, very touching indeed. The whole series is excellent, I binge-watched it in a day and highly recommend it.

I would love to see these two work together on cases, as well as on each other, because this is where the writing is clearly headed to - to their mutual change in behaviour and views, something of a rub-off effect, I would say.

So, 8 stars for this, realistically.

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)

Brings back memories...

[8/10 · 9 December 2023]

I have watched all of Monk's episode and was a huge fan, I loved the ending to the show so, so much that I was fully satisfied with it not coming back.

Although, I have to admit, I was hoping for a movie (Psych did it, so why not Monk?) And the movie was basically an extended episode of Monk.

I liked the story and the old characters, perhaps they could have added some well-known faces there as well. I couldn't rate it a 10 because there was something missing, not sure what exactly....but it was a terrific watch and I highly recommend it to all the Monk fans.

What I disliked the most was that the changed the actress who played Molly, I understand that she had prior commitments, but they should have used somebody who, at least, had blonde hair and a somewhat looked like the previous one, didn't much care for her....which is a shame.

Archie (2023)

Archie, or what it should have been called: Dyan

[6/10 · 7 December 2023]

I have loved Cary Grant in all of his roles and have a sweet spot for the man, I admit. That is why I actually read his biography by Marc Eliot a couple of years ago. I expected to see it on screen.

However, what I got was Dyan Cannon's version of events where we see mostly Dyan. There is no mention of his leading ladies in movies, his marriages before Dyan waltzed in, it is so very superficial and has nothing to do with the man we all love.

Eliot's biography, on the other hand, clearly paints his bisexual tendencies and friendships (real friendships) he had with all of his leading ladies, especially Grace Kelly. This is not even mentioned here, or just in passing.

After seeing that the series was based on Dyan Cannon's book, it's no wonder that it's all about her. There are so many historical inaccuracies here that it is laughable, to say the least. And it is also sad, because we may never get a proper movie about this one in a million actor and a human being.

Jason Isaacs...really, of all the people? He doesn't even resemble Cary! I am disappointed, to say the least, but not surprised...

A Murder at the End of the World: Chapter 5: Crypt (2023) Season 1, Episode 5

Absurd!

[1/10 · 6 December 2023]

First of all, we're talking about Iceland and a storm. No heating. Does nobody wear a jacket, cap, gloves, anything?! Darby walks around in her underwear, goes out in a blanket.

Then, she randomly tells whatever it is that she "figured out" to anybody who wants to hear, never, ever questioning if that person is a suspect! Naive or stupid, or both.

As if that is not enough, she walks into the room where that Sian (Sean) whatever her name is lies and when asked for a glass of water, she just walks into the bathroom never once, ONCE, thinking that the woman in bed is going to pull the plug and kill herself! That was so obivious!

And then, as if all of this is not enought to prove what an idiot Darby is, when asked for a secret randevouz by the pool, she actually goes INTO THE POOL, so surprise, surprise when the cover is pulled over and she is unable to exit.

I mean, seriously?!

At this point, I keep watching just because it's one of the worst crime shows I have ever seen! And I fully expect Bill to be alive somehow at the end.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Superb!

[10/10 · 5 December 2023]

When I saw this movie for the first time, I was left speechless. And in tears! I was convinced that it was the best movie I have ever seen.

As a King's fan, the fact that Darabont directed it made it even better because he is the only one who is capable of making King's novels (or novellas in this case) seem even better on screen than on the pages.

So, I made it my mission to watch it once a year.

It's been about 20 years now. And I have just watched it again.

All the feelings were still there and even though I know how it ends, even though I know it by heart and quote all the lines, I still love it and would still give it a 10.

This is a masterpiece! Timeless, profound, superb piece of film making. Next year marks its 30th anniversary and I sure hope it will get all the attention it desevers! And that it will remain reigning supreme here on IMDb.

A Murder at the End of the World: Chapter 4: Family Secrets (2023) Season 1, Episode 4

That big reveal at the end - not a reveal at all!

[2/10 · 30 November 2023]

This was so predictable! I knew the reveal from the 1st episode.

Other reviewers pointed this from the very beginning and sure, here it is...who was shocked? Nobody.

Also, apart from that, nothing happens in this episode, it's just a filler.

I kept watching because when I start, I tend to finish even though I don't have any high praise for this.

Pretentious, artificial, superficial and who dun it? I can tell you that as well. I mean, it is so glaringly obvious but sure, let's pretend that it is not. I can also bet that somebody who died hasn't died at all - this is how these things usually turn up. If so, not only is this poor, rehashed writing, it's also pretty badly done at that.

A Murder at the End of the World (2023)

A Girl with a Dragon Tattoo gone wrong

[3/10 · 17 November 2023]

I had no idea what this was, nor have I watched any of the previous series from these writers, but when it was marketed as a new-age some sort of an "and then there were none" Christie vibe (kind of), I said sure, why not.

Then I see the main character, reminding me of the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo with her hacking skills and tattoos (obviously) so, again, I say to myself sure, why not.

And that is when it stops. The story makes no sense, if there is a story. That Lennox song in the car, the whole song - why?! Then there was one shot of Darby in the resort showing her breasts - why?!

The guy who plays Ben can't act. Everything is so wooden, so over the top, so mysterious yet I bet it's simple and very predictable. Things are there, then things are not there and the heroine doesn't seem to realize, being the great detective that she is, that her book, for example, is missing from Ben's room...what?!

It's like some sort of Nancy Drew with tattoos, not sure what this is but all these ratings of 10 are obviously paid for. This is barely a 6, not even that.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Predictable, too dark and...boring.

[5/10 · 23 September 2023]

Of course, as we all know, this has nothing to do with the original book.

However, I gave it a shot and it was a dud.

Too dark, music too loud, dialogues atrocious but what the biggest let down was, was the fact that half way through the movie I knew who the murderer was.

And that is never fun - when I read the books, I never knew. When I watched Suchet, even knowing, it was a brand new experience.

This one, though, was just a mediocre written movie and Branagh still comes nothing close to Suchet and never will.

I am not a purist, I liked Branagh in his other movies but I feel that the success of the first two movies (Orient, Nile) were due to ensamble cast and not Branagh himself. There wasn't an ensamble cast here, at least 2 or 3 known names do not make it so...in any case, like I said, he should stick to making something else.