liverbird28 Reviews

Missing: Dead or Alive? (2023– )

Awful

[3/10 · 19 May 2023]

Within the first few minutes I was puzzled as to what this was meant to be. Are they real cases? Certainly they're not filmed in real time - or are they? Three police offers find a door barred by a plank of wood and say they need a search warrant to break it open - but they'd already gone into the house without one. Next time we see them in the house they pull off the plank which must have been attached with a pritt-stick, and once again it was night time and they were using their phones to light the way. Did they try the light switches first? Not that I could see. And why did they go back at night instead of in broad daylight? I carried on for a while longer then gave up. Absolutely awful 'true crime'. Sky do a far better job so I'll stick with them.

Unhinged (I) (2020)

Unhinged for sure

[6/10 · 8 May 2022]

The craziest thing about this film was that after a vicious beating by the crazed madman, mother and son got into the car and drove home seemingly unscathed. No post-traumatic shock, no need to be questioned, no necessity to be checked over at the hospital even though mom was whacked around the head hard enough to sustain a serious injury. Nope, let's go home and get on with our lives, oh and clean up the bloodbath from the brother's beating (who, after being set on fire, was declared to be 'ok' ) and from his fiancée's gruesome murder. Russell Crowe delivered as always, but it's not a great movie.

Maid (2021)

Why is nobody talking about the child?

[9/10 · 11 October 2021]

We enjoyed this series, although as others have said, it could have been a few episodes shorter. We were frustrated by the main character, Alex, as she desperately needed help but turned down genuinely kind offers that could have helped her. We were, however, enchanted by her adorable little girl who was in almost every scene and acted her socks off by playing the role so naturally that it was hard to believe she wasn't actually the real daughter of the actress who played her mom. Maybe she is.

It was depressing at times yet compelling, and extremely well acted by the entire cast.

Plebs (2013–2019)

From ecstasy to agony in five series

[6/10 · 4 September 2021]

One of the funniest and cleverest comedies I've seen but they should have stopped after series 3 when Joel Fry left. The 'actor' who replaced him can't act and I'd love to know who auditioned him. He turned one of the best shows into the worst. Series 4 was painful to watch and I didn't bother with series 5. Such a shame. Love Tom Basden as both an actor and a writer but S4 was simply cringeworthy. Ah well, I still have my box set of S1-3 and I will wipe the rest from my memory. 10/10 for the first 3. No points at all for the rest.

Dark Waters (2019)

Bill Camp is the star of this show

[9/10 · 4 September 2021]

Powerful, terrifying film which everybody should watch. Good solid lead from Mark Ruffalo as always, but the name above the title should be Bill Camp. This man is head and shoulders above every other member of the cast and I don't understand why he isn't mentioned more often in reviews. Perhaps he doesn't crave the limelight, but he deserves to have it. Well done to everyone involved in the making of this film.

Every Breath You Take (2021)

Oh dear

[2/10 · 23 July 2021]

Well firstly what was that hideous monotonous sound effect masquerading as music, playing right through the film? It was hard to hear the dialogue, not that it mattered very much. A stupid title that had no bearing on the content, Casey Affleck sleep-walking through the entire movie in his usual deep depression and an almost unrecognisable Sam Claflin playing the psycho. What's he done to himself? Huge weight loss and apparently new teeth. If you didn't guess he was a baddie from the first minute we saw him, you must have been asleep.

Lovely setting though.

Time (2021– )

Superb

[10/10 · 8 June 2021]

Three powerhouses - Jimmy McGovern, Sean Bean and Stephen Graham - what a combination. Brilliant writing and believable characters, a portrait of everyday prison life with all the stresses, miseries and fears acted out by an excellent supporting cast (Oh hello Tommy Hunter!). Thank you Mr McGovern, and thanks to the entire production team for this gem of a drama. It was over too soon.

Viewpoint (2021)

Viewpoint, should be Nopoint

[1/10 · 30 April 2021]

After much eye-rolling during episode 1, we embarked on episode 2 in the hope that there would be fewer plot holes and better acting. Alas, it was not to be so we gave up halfway through. I was going to say ITV might as well lock up and go home, but they did give us Unforgotten so I guess they can get it right on occasion. Viewpoint is one of the most ridiculous, badly written dramas in years, that even Phil Davis couldn't rescue. One star because 'nil point' isn't allowed.

This Is Us (2016–2022)

Would have been a 10 if season 5 hadn't happened

[7/10 · 24 April 2021]

We loved this show until season 5, during which it has deteriorated in almost every way. Episode 13 is the last straw. Kevin goes to see Randall and we have an hour of absolute boredom, where even the actors themselves seemed to have lost interest. I don't know how many episodes are planned for this season but we won't be watching any further. The character of Randall has sucked the life out of it and that's down to the writers, who, incidentally have also bombarded us with Covid-related scenes and dialogue to the point where escapism and enjoyment have gone out the window. So sad for the actors; it was delightful up to the end of season 4, and Jack is one of the most engaging characters ever.

To Olivia (2021)

Nice enough way to pass a couple of hours

[7/10 · 25 February 2021]

It's an emotional story but jumps from scene to scene in parts which I found annoying. The young actress who played Tessa was excellent. Hugh Bonneville was fine as Dahl. Keeley Hawes, my absolutely favourite British actress, is a quintessential English rose and the American accent didn't suit her and wasn't very good. It's often the little things they get wrong that ruin an otherwise good film for me. The 2-year old boy appeared randomly, silent and unmoving and was barely mentioned.. When Roald threw a clod of earth at the window to attract Pat's attention, that clod moved about several times in the scenes that followed, sometimes disappearing altogether then returning in a different place. Don't they have continuity editors any more? Other than that, it was pleasant to watch with a decent storyline but I got a sense of a film that they'd rushed to get finished.

I Care a Lot (2020)

6.3 rating?

[1/10 · 21 February 2021]

I am utterly mystified by the 6.3 rating given by IMDb. It was the rating that persuaded us to watch it and right up to the last minute we were waiting for something to happen that might redeem this horrible film. But - nothing. It's rare for a movie to have not one single likeable character. Even the usually fab Peter Dinklage couldn't drag it out of the gutter. I care a lot too, I care about spending my time doing something worthwhile and this was two hours wasted.

The Vanished (2020)

What on earth ....?

[1/10 · 6 February 2021]

It could have been a decent movie with different actors but it was painful to watch. Uncomfortable pauses where they were presumably trying to remember their lines, a ridiculous sequence of events, too many to quote, but one that sticks out is the wife calmly breaking open a chocolate bar in the store whilst perusing the collection of videos. Well who hasn't gone out to look for entertainment when their child has vanished into thin air? At this point I went back to my crossword while my husband carried bravely on to the end. And this movie, for some inexplicable reason, is or was in the Netflix top ten!

One star for the scenery.