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Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Zoey's Extraordinary Dad (2020)
Extraordinary episode of an extraordinary series
Yes, we all knew what was coming and if there's a slight weakness in this otherwise stunning episode it's the fact that from the first song we can all be pretty sure what's going to happen.
But when it does it is so beautifully handled and the episode up to that point contains some wonderfully warm humour and terrific songs (I think that there are more songs in this one than any of the others by a long way) that nothing can spoil it.
The closing number is the best 5 minutes of TV I've seen in years and I can only imagine how much work it must have taken to get it so note-perfect (pun intended).
I wasn't sure about this show for the first one or two episodes, but it's gone on to be my favourite new series this year.
I can't wait to see more and I'm so delighted that it's been picked up for a second series.
An Emmy, if you please!
Dracula (2020)
A worthy update
I have always seen Dracula as probably the least scary character in all of horror, and it's only the style and atmosphere of the films and the supernatural goings-on that draw me to watch them.
Frankly, I didn't think the world needed yet another take on the story, but given the authors I thought I'd give this a go.
The first episode managed to have enough different about it - thank you Dolly Wells! - to make it a good watch, and the claustrophobic second part was a surprise that made me wonder where things would go next.
I have to admit I was totally surprised by the ending of episode 2 and the subsequent third part but also delighted.
I loved the performances - Claes Bang manages to be friendly yet menacing at the same time and Dolly Wells was a great counterfoil to his Dracula.
Moffat and Gatiss have managed to give us a Dracula for the 21st century and I'd love to see more!
Dracula: The Dark Compass (2020)
Dracula for the 21st century
After the surprise ending of the second episode left me laughing and excited, I was delighted by this Moffat/Gatiss Sherlockian update of the story to the present day.
The style is recognisably that of the excellent Cumberbatch/Freeman Sherlock tales but there's a lot more talk than action, which is perhaps this episode's main failing.
But when that talk is between two such excellent players as Dolly Wells and Claes Bang, ably augmented by Lydia West and Matthew Beard, it makes it gripping viewing.
There are a couple of nods to the classic Draculas, first of all in the ironic reference in the cemetery, which made me laugh out loud, and in the final 'showdown' between Dracula and Dr Helsing, which has a fun throwback to the original Hammer version of Dracula, albeit with a twist.
The ending manages to be fitting and moving.
But of course, Dracula is never REALLY dead, is he?
Mark Gatiss is the champion of bringing classics to a new audience, what with his horror documentaries and updates of MR James, and I would love to see more of this character in the 21st century.
Mrs Wilson (2018)
Brilliantly acted, fascinating story, bitterly ironic
An incredible story that, if it was fiction, would probably be accused of being too far fetched.
There's an incredible iron, though, in the fact that, ultimately, the woman who found out here entire life was a lie, ended up swallowing the biggest lie of all - that there is some supernatural being who will make everything all right.
I suspect that the writers didn't intend that meaning, but as a devout atheist it makes the drama even more poignant and powerful than the 'God fixes everything' mythological ending that I suspect was originally intended!
Sleepy Hollow: Blood and Fear (2015)
Desperation?
OK... hands up who figured out who the 'figure from the past' was before Ichabod and Abbie? Really??? Jack the Ripper? AGAIN? How many supernatural shows have mined this particular vein? This plot line should be banned from use on pain of cancellation! It saddened me that they had to trot out such a dated old trope in a show that can do so, so much better. Still, after this I'm hoping it can't get any worse. But to my mind it still has a long way to go to get back on form after losing the superb John Noble... Or maybe he'll be back? I'm not convinced by Pandora as the season's Big Bad so far... All she seems to do is pull some old monster out of her magic box, which then completely fails to defeat our heroes. You know what they say, love - if you want a job done properly...
American Horror Story: Checking In (2015)
More freaky than 'Freak Show'
Over-the-top, gory, bizarre, shocking, disturbing, crude and very stylish, in an hour my faith was restored in the AHS brand after a fourth series which I felt never lived up to its potential. There was more freakishness about this opening episode than about the vast majority of the Freak Show series - with the exception of the evil clown, who was the best thing in it. Yes, there are some wince-inducing moments in this opener, as if Ryan Murphy was pushing the envelope to see just how far he'd be allowed to go. I'd be intrigued to know if he had to rein in any of what he wrote. As for what the hell is going on? Based on a scene with the young children near the end relaxing in a room, apparently playing some very old videogames, I was reminded of the excellent 'Cabin in the Woods'. But whatever the explanation, at last AHS has returned to some good, freaky, and occasionally supernatural horror and is on course to maybe even eclipse 'Asylum' as the most ghoulishly atmospheric series so far.
The Country Bears (2002)
Great for children and inner children
I'd never heard of the Country Bears before - even the Disney attraction - and picked up the DVD for half price as a 'stocking filler' for my 8-year-old. I was pleasantly surprised - it's great to see something so innocent and good hearted that isn't packed with the sort of mawkish sentimentality that often finds its way into kids' films. The bears are the stars of the show, with some excellent costume puppetry and some great characters (my favourite is Zeb, who plays a mean fiddle). The story is a simple one, and you know how it's going to end. And I usually hate country music, but enjoyed the rocky tunes that punctuate the movie. This is the sort of thing that will keep most kids amused for an hour and a half - and any adult who can let their inner child out for a bit will get a kick out of it too. I'd be happy to see more of the Country Bears...
The Impostors (1998)
A little gem of a film with a continental flavour that may not appeal to all
The fact that a film like this can be made in the US is almost enough to restore one's faith in Hollywood. The writing and direction are reminiscent of a continental movie, with the director (Tucci) owing a debt more to films like Waking Ned and other similar 'gentle' films than the zany antics of Airplane or The Naked Gun. Yet there is a lot of original and self-referential humour in here, too, with one of the best moments a scene where one of the characters finds out what a foreign character is saying by reading the subtitles! The setting, apparently the 1920s or 30s, is perfectly captured, yet when the two leads are on board the ship there is little attempt made to disguise the fact that this is a movie set. This is taken to the extreme during the closing credits
A real diamond of a movie that stands out from the crowd - but lovers of fast-paced action/sex comedies may be advised to rent There's Something About Mary again
(Personally, I'm going to track down a copy of Tucci's first film as writer/director, Big Night).