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Reviews
The Regime (2024)
I can't put my finger on this one
I've been patient, I gave it time and space, hoping some things will fall into place and, at some point, start making sense.
Kate Winslet is superb, there is no doubt she is the best part of this whole thing, whatever this was. And I think that is the main problem: this show isn't sure what it is or what it wants to be. I get the references, I'm from a former communist European country, but this adds absolutely nothing to the whole picture. If only it was funny, I could've lived with the lack of any real content.
I felt no real attitude here, no real viewpoint or even real criticism; whatever was there, it somehow got lost in the attempt to be a satire, and I think it failed at that too.
You don't really care about the characters, and the one portrayed in a positive light doesn't make it alive and no one, not even Winslet's character ever mentiones her after her accidental death. I get it, she was just a servant and Elena is a selfish person, but the whole thing was done stupidly. I can only say the same for Hugh Grant's character.
I sort of understood the Elena - Butcher link, but this also feels very sloppy done.
The acting is amazing, and so is the production, but the script is... How can I put this? If a high school drama class got together for the first time and decided to write a political satire, I think something like this would be the final result, although, they may be more successful.
Such a shame...
I'm giving it a six because of Kate Winslet, otherwise it would be maybe a four.
Beautiful Disaster (2023)
Why the hate?
Have you seen After? Have you seen any of the sequels? Sadly, I've seen some. And just with that in mind, let me be clear: compared with After, Beautiful Disaster is freaking amazing!
I haven't read the book so comparing is not an option, but just as a movie, it worked for me: I laughed throughout it and although they went too far a few times, it's nothing I can't forgive.
This movie doesn't take itself too seriously, and I for one like that.
If you enjoy a relaxing hour and a half with likable characters, this could be the one.
And I have to say, I don't understand the 'Dylan Sprouse can't act' conclusions. Again, have you people seen After? Hero Fiennes-Tiffin can't act. He could've learned a thing or two from Mr. Sprouse.
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Where do I begin?
Overall, I think this would work way better as a TV series; too many questions left wide open after the big twist isn't really how good movies usually work. And that's just one of a few problems here: motivation is left unclear for most of the characters while many scenes make no sense whatsoever (Jack tapdancing for example) or they just don't get explained.
I quite liked 'the matrix' idea inverted here; virtual reality as an escape that gradually takes over our lives is something I can totally accept as a real possibility. It's a shame this was only tampered with for a split second.
At the same time, we face themes such as love, devotion, sacrifice, manipulation, consent, feminism, but the script goes nowhere with every single one.
Logic doesn't seem to be working here either, witch I could put aside if we got any kind of chatarsis or at least some sort of plausible conclusion.
I do think the story would've worked much better with only April's character being there involuntary. Knowing that all those women, or at least the majority of them, are kept there by force is just plain disgusting and some of them would've experienced the same problems as she did, sooner or later. That is a huge unnecessary risk for those who run the whole program. Why do it at all? I guess consent is the subtext here, but a lot of basic logic was sacrificed for it without any real results.
I saw in other reviews that many didn't get why Shelley killed Frank in the end. From her words: "You idiot. Now it's my turn.", I think she saw him as a man who made a mistake with Alice (He toyed with her and I loved their interaction at the table. As did Frank, I expected more from Alice there.) and perhaps with the program flaws as well. So she eliminates him and decides to take over. I see her as the next boss, and let's assume the writers want to emphasize she will be a far better one.
All in all, there are better movies out there. If you do take the dive, try not to think. That could help.