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mickjohnson-08371
Reviews
Beef (2023)
Starts well then goes totally American, b grade schmaltz
Great start, quirky, funny and quite different, with a bunch of interesting characters. Then it remembers that it's American and descends into a typical American, Adam Sandler type melodrama. Ho-hum emotional flashbacks to childhood and really really lame, straight to video, soap opera mediocrity. Complete with totally ridiculous, over-the-top, melodramatic, b grade action movie ending. The only thing that is somewhat unique is that both main character's turn out to be quite unlikeable which I guess is somewhat different from most American b grade cinema. I suggest watching a few episodes then finding something else to watch.
The Blacklist (2013)
Cliched childish cop show trash. Plus James Spader
Everyone in this show except James Spader is a B grade, American television, beyond simplistic, boring, cliched character played by an even worse actor. Think CSI, NYPD Blue etc etc. But worse than that. And every single episode follows exactly the same predictable American TV formula. The only thing that makes this watchable for a few episodes is James Spader. But if you're over 18 and and finished high school you're not gonna watch more than half a dozen episodes. So enjoy seeing James Spader again but don't get excited that you're onto a multiseason show. If you like James Spader go watch reruns of Boston Legal.
DOSED (2019)
One person's moving story
This is a touching personal story about a young person's attempt to cure their friend's addiction. It's strictly a personal anecdote about one person's use of psychedelics, and not in any way an analysis of the benefits or the science. As such it has some mildly annoying pseudo-science (repressed memories for example). However it was made a few years ago before the current mainstream research interest in the area, and as a true story movie it's very moving.