echerian Reviews

The Accidental Tourist (1988)

one of my top ten movies of all time and the book is even better

[10/10 · 18 February 2023]

This is one of those stories that stays with you your whole life. It will come to mind so many times over the years, at the most unexpected times. WIlliam Hurt is just amazing in his highly understated performance of a man dealing with the ultimate pain, Kathleen Turner plays the ex wife so perfectly, and Geena Davis gave hands-down one of her best performances ever. The layers of eccentricity are just yummy. But don't stop here - READ THE BOOK. Anything by Anne Tyler is amazing, but this book truly is her tour de force. The book will make you laugh, cry... and you'll want to run out and get a Corgi immediately.

Your Honor (II) (2020–2023)

Cranston's chronic overacting and contrived 95YO face

[1/10 · 1 February 2023]

What on earth do people see in this guy? I see all the reviews about the kid, but how can people stand Cranston and his over-the-top overacting and ridiculous face? Who told him that making the face of a 95-year-old toothless man equals anguish? This guy is just awful. I've never understood why people think he's good and this series really underlines it. In addition, what is the point of Hope Davis and her boring and stoic Morticia Addams impersonation? I really don't get why Showtime renewed this massive pile of garbage. There must be something I"m missing but I've watched the whole first season.

A Perfect Getaway (2009)

One of my guilty pleasures

[8/10 · 30 June 2022]

Was trolling various streaming services today and this popped up. I have it stored away on DVD, and I find that whenever I stumble across it I'm compelled to watch it again as I multitask. Jojovich and Zahn are both great in this film - far better than their normal fare, actually. And Olyphant, what can you say... he's always fantastic. Been in love with the guy ever since "Go" when he stole that flick. But the funnest surprise was Kiele Sanchez' character, so spunky and funny, and she played it perfectly. Prior to this I only knew her from her (really great and underrated) brief stint on Lost. The two of them together made me want to hang out with them, they were so engaging. And the final minutes of the flick between the two of them... well, I know this is such a girly thing to say, but that was just the fun and funny icing on this cake.

Outer Range (2022– )

T.E.D.I.O.U.S.

[2/10 · 22 May 2022]

As others have said... Good grief, get some lighting. Impossible to see what's going on. The only thing I thought was enjoyable was the one character launching into top-of-his-lungs singing (and pretty darn well). Since that was my fave part of this whole thing, that should tell you how substandard this whole effort was.... what a shame, given that the core premise could have become something outstanding.

The Gilded Age (2022– )

ick! Julian Fellowes one trick pony

[1/10 · 27 February 2022]

How bad this is... where to even start? Take the Downtown scripts and characters and reuse them first. UGH. Christine Baransky is no Maggie Smith and giving her pithy lines will never make her cute or funny. The usual overacting on her part -- and now others acting in kind, so disappointingly. And playing little arcs of cutesy music after different lines is so sickening - like "here - this is so cute!!". UGH. So sad to see talents like Carrie Coon in this - she's simply awful in this part through no part of her own.

I can't believe anyone spent a dime on this thing in times like now when so many people are in need. The whole thing is garbage.

Mare of Easttown (2021)

Liked it, but TRULY LOVED the superior original it is based on - Happy Valley

[8/10 · 19 January 2022]

As I watched this I kept saying to myself "man, this is a total ripoff of Happy Valley". Grandma cop, raising her grandkid, relative living with her to help out, kid (child's parent) committed suicide -- like COME ON! Then I learned that it actually IS "partially based" on that BBC series. So, as I guess the "american version" of Happy Valley, this is fine. I mean, we've certainly "based" countless shows on prior British ones, going all the way back to the 70's and All in the Family.

"Happy Valley" has stuck with me ever since I streamed it on Netflix (now it's on DiscoveryPlus). The storyline is far more riveting and edge-of-your-seat than Mare. DEFINITELY watch this show!

Plus it's got Siobhan Finneran as one of the main characters (The ex-addict sis who lives with her - a role that won her the british emmy), who previously played the evil maid O'Brien on Downtown. I seek out and watch most anything she's in. Sarah Lancashire is outstanding in the lead, as always (even moreso than Kate Winslet). And if you find you like HV... then go stream "Last Tango in Halifax" over on Netflix to see Sarah in another Sally Wainwright series that's wildly different and funny - plus it also stars Nicola Walker as the icing on that cake.

So.... go watch Happy Valley (which is rumored to be filming the final season in 2022)... then go stream Last Tango in Halifax after that :-)

Having been raised in NJ and lived in eastern PA a bit as a kid... I really enjoyed the setting of Mare. I hope they decide to have another season.

The Split (2018–2022)

As usual, Walker is fantastic

[9/10 · 18 May 2021]

Loved this... probably because I've come to love pretty much anything Nicola Walker does. Discovered her first in "Last Tango in Halifax" which I've probably seen now 10 times over the years, where she's just so brilliant and funny. "River" also blew me away... now this. Being in the US, I don't have access to see a lot of her work but always looking forward to more.

Stephen Mangan did a great job too... wasn't sure what to expect, having only seen him in Matt Leblanc's comedy ("Episodes"), but liked him here in a non-comedic role.

Halston (2021)

Too shallow for me

[2/10 · 18 May 2021]

Thought it would be great... but bored me, I literally fell asleep. Granted, I couldn't make it past the 3rd episode. Seemed terribly exploitative to me, particularly the scenes of Halston getting banged - really, was this necessary? It wasn't titillating as one reviewed suggested, to me it stereotyped him and implied that if you're gay, it's your sex life that defines you apparently. And that's such hogwash. If he had been straight, would this have been portrayed in the same way... I highly doubt it. I'm an over-50, straight woman and I thought damn, this is just crap. Don't care if it got better as it went on... there's no way I'd watch the rest of it. 2 stars only, for Ewan and the gal who played Liza.

Clay Pigeons (1998)

Dark and unexpectedly funny and fun

[9/10 · 18 April 2021]

Have seen this numerous times over the years, and it's still fun every time. Phoenix was perfect (as usual) as Clay in all his wonderful naivete. We knew then he was destined for greatness (between this and "To Die For"... it was more than obvious).

To me this was one of Vince Vaughn's best roles (IMO there are very few), and was a tour de force on his part. It's actually how I picture him to this day, this role.

Finally, Janeane Garafolo. What can I say... she was perfectly cast. To this day I picture her admonishing the deputy to stop doing something (I won't say what here, it's just so deadpan and perfect)... I think this role was one of her best.

I have this on DVD in a box somewhere, and now I'm going to dig it out and re-watch... again.

Go (1999)

Still love this movie, it was so unexpected

[9/10 · 18 April 2021]

Lost count how many times I've seen this over the years, and I still find it so funny and entertaining and such a slice of life at the time.

Particularly any scenes involving Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr and anything with William Fitchner - I laugh out loud every time, all three were priceless.

But the icing on the cake was Timothy Olyphant, particularly a scene in a diner when he references a much loved/hated comic strip over the years - and summed up my feelings exactly far better than I ever could.

That alone is worth the price of admission.

I'll probably see this 10 more times in my lifetime, because I can't resist it any time I stumble across it.

Cop Land (1997)

Still one of Stallone's best, and fun Sopranos-spotting

[10/10 · 18 April 2021]

So here I am watching Cop Land again, because I was surfing and there it was. I can't seem to not watch it when I stumble across it.

Even after all this time (I'm a 59-yo woman), I still consider this one of Stallone's very, very best performances. I know he has said that, in retrospect, it really hurt his career... but I'm so glad he did this movie. It changed how I regarded him as a thoughtful, versatile, and talented actor.

It's also kind of fun to see all the future Sopranos (whether significant Sopranos or recurring or minor) in this movie before they hit their fame :-).

Being born and raised in exactly that part of NJ years ago, I was thinking about such movies and shows, whether about cops or the mafia. And it turned out this is my #2 fave (after GoodFellas). TV-wise, The Sopranos is in a league of its own, of course. I still can't stand any of The Godfather flicks, which bore the crap out of me.

So, Sly, I'm really glad you did this movie that's brought me enjoyment so many times over the years. And the Springsteen songs they chose were SO spot on, it was the icing on the cake.

Web Therapy (2008–2014)

Awesome then, even better now in 2020

[10/10 · 11 October 2020]

Not long ago I was wondering why I couldn't see this series streaming anywhere, especially what with the pandemic and everything occurring online like work, school, and telemedicine. Then lo and behold today it appears on IMDB via my Amazon prime account! YAY! It's just as much fun now as it was years ago on Showtime. Now if I could only get my hands on the series "Head Case" with Ali Wentworth all would be great in the entertainment world. Lisa Kudrow always manages to make shows I love, whether it be this, or The Comeback or even "Who Do You Think You Are". Keep bringing it, girl!!!!!

Bleed Out (II) (2018)

One must question the full truth presented in this film

[2/10 · 9 January 2019]

As a person in their 50's the biggest thing that bothered me was more than the healthcare issues exposed. It was this: why were the only options (a) Mom in some facility or (b) Mom at home with a full time worker to care for her? We easily saw there were family members, most of all the SON making this film, so why was it never an option for Mom to live with them? THAT is by far the most disturbing aspect of this entire film. What is happening in this society that someone would make such a film and that never even came up throughout? It should ALWAYS have been Plan A. Always. For me, it seriously detracts from the validity of this film and its credibility in my eyes. Selective information at best, rating it low as a result. Sad, because the other issues raised might have been able to be taken more credibly. But given that intentional omission, I conclude that all the information in the film is selective.