graham0227 Reviews

Wanderlust (2018)

Emotionally honest

[10/10 · 14 January 2023]

Executed with precision. Writing, acting, direction, cinematography, editing -all of done perfectly to tell the story of troubled honest people dealing with life. Toni Colette is visceral with her emotions. The blending of storylines for all of the characters is simultaneously true-to-life and amazing well organized. To think that all of the characters complete their own full story arc in six episodes is amazing, many other shows struggle and fail to accomplish this with double the screen time! I'm glad this is readily available to stream in North America. I am a little late to the party, but awfully glad it's still here.

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

Rarely a show like it!

[10/10 · 5 April 2022]

On its own (forgetting for a moment that this show is a prequel of sorts to one of the best TV dramas filmed to date) this show is a compelling, character driven story; to the degree that at times the plot doesn't even matter because this show follows the two real rules of story (that I am aware of); characters that I am made to care about doing things that are true to themselves. The casting is great. I can not say or think too many good things about Better Call Saul. Watch it, I challenge you think otherwise.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

A buddy gambling movie like another, but better.

[10/10 · 5 March 2022]

This movie is OBVIOUSLY an ode to California Split. Not just the script, but the less casting was cut from the same cloth. Ryan Reynolds was not over the top, he's not trying to steal every scene or blow up the movie with antics, he did his job and did it well. Every character that entered a scene had a back story and I could feel it. These people are not redemptive, their actions are not those of personal growth and feel-good emotions. These are people that are dirty and grinding, just not good people and they felt real. The shooting locations and ESPECIALLY the soundtrack helped. Watch this movie! I'm sorry if you don't like it, but that is your problem.

Music Box (1981– )

Classic 1980s PBS kids show or of Ontario, CA.

[7/10 · 8 December 2020]

Still memorable, quality at the time. An interactive grahamaphone with the dutiful assistance of it's human taught the fundamentals of music. After my seven-year-old son built a Lego record player with a large bell speaker, this show was the first thing I thought of. Not many videos from this show have made it VHS to YouTube.

Easy (2016–2019)

Totally underrated!

[9/10 · 4 March 2020]

Real. Relatable. Engaging characters that don't seem to beer over acting, just being adults in adult situations in today's world. The story lines covered in this anthology all makes sense. Watch it! Straight through Or hop scotch around by storyline. Either way is a win!

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Beautiful but on the whole missing something.

[7/10 · 16 January 2019]

The cinematography was amazing! 4 out of 6 of the stories were satisfying Ave engaging to the end. All of the characters served complete and vivid in their depiction. Enjoy.

Bright (I) (2017)

Action with fantasy -enjoy!

[7/10 · 3 January 2018]

Tolkiens Middle Earth was basically real. We live there. Time has past. Picture a contemporary setting for contemporary action story with fantasy characters and driving elements.

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Not a good play or a well written book, this is a GREAT movie.

[10/10 · 28 September 2017]

Multiple viewers have stated that they turned-off the movie after the first 30 minutes, the second 30 minutes is where characters start to shine. We really need to get to the third act, that is where the meat is and the actors shine in their roles. I have watched and re- watched this movie over the years since release (sometimes starting at minute 24, the entrance of Dustin Hoffmans character).

It was ahead of its time with the integration of H.U.D.-like CGI elements to explain our main character's inner monologue.

Will Ferrel is evocative as becomes Harold Crick.

The relationships in no way feel forced for developing in under two hours, the characters are real, as are the emotions they feel for us by the actors.

Give the movie a chance it should not disappoint.

*And its a got a great soundtrack that adds to without distracting from the movie.

Legion (2017–2019)

Tip of The Iceberg

[9/10 · 23 March 2017]

No spoilers. No plot points. You do not need them in a review of this show. Watch it and feel the performances.

Dan Stevens is a force of nature, in this story he literally is & his screen presence is a growing maelstrom. I first knowingly crossed his path in The Guest & have not looked back since (comparable with Matthew McConaughey in Killer Joe). The story is vague & intriguing from the beginning with growing enchantment as the episodes stack-up.

Sure. I'm a comic book geek from the 1980's, but Noah Hawley seems like he has more than his ducks in a row for this project. As SONY/Fox has often mis-stepped with the X- Men and its creative use of characters and story lines, LEGION seems to be avoiding the potholes, while creating a new amalgam of story from the past to forging ahead with a cohesive story.

Aubrey Plaza's performance is delightfully off-beat and maniacal.

I could list the positives for every actor and their character, literally the casting (and execution) seems perfect at this point (through episode seven).

Love it!