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Poor Things (2023)
I thought it was funny
I don't know why everyone's getting so bothered about it. It's just a satire about sex and relationships, after all. Sure, it's quite graphic, but it's funny and I didn't find it gratuitous. The one thing I didn't like was the hybrid animals, but maybe that was indeed the director's intention.
I really enjoyed the great steampunk fantasy sets, and the dynamic cinematography is a masterclass. I'll certainly look up who did those and other things they've done.
Credit must go to the cast for some fearless performances, especially Emma. I am in awe of you and your dancing skills. Mark and Willem were also captivating.
So, yeah, it might not be one for the whole family at Christmas time, but give it a shot. You might enjoy it.
True Detective (2014)
Season 4 is, well...
This is all just my opinion:
Season 1 was some of the finest drama and acting I've ever seen.
Season 2 was somewhat maligned, but I was very impressed.
Season 3 was slower, but also a fine production.
Season 4. Right...
Lucy Man-gun in the Guardian gave it full 5/5 after the first episode. Because the leading roles are female. Yep. She actually wrote that Season 1 was woefully male-heavy and therefore Season 4 was already the best season of True Detective. As usual, where Ms Man-gun is concerned, I suspected it would be the complete opposite of how she rates absolutely everything.
Season 4 of this farce of a TD series shows another thing I've thought for a while: Jodie Foster is pretty mediocre. She thinks grimacing is all she needs to do. Oh! What a misogynist I must be.
So, cast gender to one side. The story line of TD S04 is simply ludicrous. How on earth did this ever get approved? Talk about how to destroy a legacy. It's a turd in the pool.
Oppenheimer (2023)
A most challenging listen
Most challenging - not because of the subject matter, rather due to having to guess the dialogue behind the deafening soundtrack. Which is also extremely challenging to listen to: in fact, I can't remember the last time I heard such melodramatic unpleasantness. This is what happens when you do your audio editing and previews in facilities with the world's most expensive sound hardware. It probably sounds impressive in their studios. However, anywhere else and it's a joke.
As for the acting, well, as most of it was essentially mime, it was had to tell. Matt Damon did seem to be overdoing it a bit.
Finally, I must mention the nudity. It was so gratuitous, it was hilarious.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
Hmm. What a cheap way to cash in.
I can only imagine the scene when this script got pitched.
It's enough to make my skin crawl at the depths some people will go to to turn a buck. No class, no respect, no decency. Just pure dollar signs.
Had the author decided to try and write something along the lines of Cain and Abel clearly must've engaged in fornication with Eve, their mother, I wonder if the main financiers would've backed it. I doubt it. It says as much about them as it does about the English author. But hey, nothing ever stopped a son of Abraham from knocking out a good Christmas tune.
I truly hope that this film loses as much money as possible for all stakeholders..
Black Bird (2022)
Becomes less plaisble by the episode
Having just struggled through episode 4 out of sheer boredom, I won't waste any more time on this poor production. There's nothing beleievable about any of it. Anyone comparing this to True Detective needs to have a serious think.
The King's Man (2021)
I have never seen such a poor film in my life
This morning I woke up wondering if it was all a very bad dream.
No, this film is actually real.
It manages to insult just about every nation on earth and any viewer with half a grain of intelligence. I can only marvel at the 15 year old who wrote this one afternoon.
To the 3 big stars in the production, hearty congratulations! You've really achieved cinematic immortality now.
The Curse (2022)
Where to start?
Probably with The Guardian. I don't know why I haven't learnt yet. If they give anything a glorious review, it's going to be poor. Really poor. Once again, no exception here. What was it they liked? Ah, yes. The assistant detective character.
Everthing is out of time, the clothes, the cars, the music, the behaviour. Add a completely unbelievable scenario and cast, and you'll wonder why you ever thought it might pick up in the later episodes.
Industry (2020)
Outstanding script and acting, but the sound...
Even the music is excellent, but just too damn loud. The sound quality is really a disaster, sadly. This is what happens when you don't master audio for consumer television sets. Not all of us are listening on Genelecs in sound-treated studios..
As a result, the excellent dialogue is practically impossible to understand at times. I had to watch with subtitles, and I'm English.
However, the plots are brilliant and I was very convinced of this series' authenticity.
The acting was absolutely first class. I'll be following all these actors' careers.
A highly-recommendable watch, but get subtitles.
Perry Mason (2020)
Gripping slow burner. Sure to be a long runner
Boy, what a great show. All of it. Story, casting, acting, production. All the cast put in stellar performances, but I have to single out Matthew Rhys' as particularly outstanding.
This first series has ended satisfactorily, but it's set up Season 2 perfectly. Who knows how far the corruption theme could go. There's sure to be a hell of a finale in store if the writers can keep this standard up, and not flog it to death.
Bravo, all concerned!
The Deadly Affair (1967)
So glad films are good these days..
This movie hasn't aged well. The 60's must-have love interest grates terribly. Inspector Mendel surrounded by,,, rabbits, an effete and bumbling Control, and as for Dobbs/Smiley.. Compared to Alec Guinness..Oh dear. The music is also totally superfluous. I'm guessing it isn't one of JLC's favourite adaptations of his amazing book.
It is worth watching however for some great street scenes of 60's London roads, cars, buses, even Victoria Station - which hadn't changed at all by the 80's, last time I was there.
Dark Crimes (2016)
It's a difficult watch
The story is first class, but Jimmy might've bitten off more than he could chew here.
He gets his pants acted off him by the rest of the top cast, especially Charlotte Gainsbourg. His accent's wandering all over the place and he seems nervous.
The guy is one of my favorite actors ever, but this genre's maybe a step too far.
Ready Player One (2018)
A hurried time-waster
Like Spielberg's last release, The Post, Ready Player One is rushed, bereft of inspiration and predictable.
Any one of the Spy Kids movies knocks this out of the park, so many years later.
A money spinner with no value.
Manifesto (2015)
Breathtaking performances and production
Congratulations to absolutely everyone involved in this truly outstanding piece of work.
Cate Blanchet's acting talent simply left me open-mouthed. What incredible performances.
It's not an easy watch, so don't even try if you're tired. But if you're up for some real cinematic art, this is a gem.
The Post (2017)
Hurried and lacking depth
This bland account of the Pentagon Papers story is rushed and does not do its subject matter or characters much justice. There were so many angles to approach, but it ends up a muddled piece of moralizing.
The script is over-stylized and at times unintelligible. I found the directing bordering on frivolous, even irritating. The saccharine score almost made me laugh at times. However, very nice printing press scenes provided occasional welcome breaks from the rest of the action.
The Keepers (2017)
Truly disturbing viewing
I noticed one reviewer here declaring this story has no factual proof for the claims it makes! Well, you can lead a horse to water.. How there can be any doubting the sincerity of these brave individuals' accounts of the horrors they suffered as children, is simply beyond me.
Away from the subject matter to the presentation: I found the seamless narrative, jumping back and forth chronologically to be very well done. I would deduct 0.5 for the music, which at times I found too loud and a bit heavy-handed. I could not understand a word of what DeepThroat was saying, either.
In all, a gripping documentary. Kudos to Netflix and the whole production. Much heartfelt sympathy and strength to all the victims.
Järven tarina (2016)
Nice shots of Finnish nature
The video quality of the film is excellent throughout. I'd never seen such clear underwater footage from a Finnish lake before. I found it interesting to hear the Finnish folklore tales of the lakes and their inhabitants, but I would like to have seen a little more human interaction.
On the negative side, I found the music score to be tiring in the extreme. It practically never stops, and rather than hearing the amazing occasional sounds of the vast nature one is subjected to this never-ending pompous pseudo-classical muzak. A huge missed opportunity. For me it ruined the movie and I won't be recommending it, sadly.
Rise of the Footsoldier: Part II (2015)
Gripping account of a man trying to get to grips with his life
(I've not gone into great detail about the plot, but some of the story is outlined below.) The first part of RotF was ultimately the story of the Rettendon Murders in the mid-90's as it unfolded around the life of young football hooligan, and later gangster, Carlton Leach, played masterfully by Ricci Harnett. RotF Pt.II is how Leach tries to come to terms with being the survivor of the gang, his ensuing drug addiction, divorce, criminal activities and part-redemption. Well, personally, I found this second movie to be even more absorbing than the first one. The character portrayals were so well-done I had to remind myself I was watching actors at times. Carlton's and Shawn's parts were played stunningly and their minimal dialogue was delivered straight as a bullet. If you're at all interested in English gangland activity, I can't recommend this and the first installment highly-enough. Full marks to Ricci Harnett for directing PtII, as well. Guy Richie he most certainly ain't.
The Company (2007)
Outstanding performance by Keaton
This is a master class by Michael Keaton. Though I never knew James Angleton, I've read plenty about him and Keaton absolutely nailed it.
This little mini-series was OK. A bit unlikely with the love-interest parts and highly unlikely with the re-union scene in Austria. The CIA's involvements in certain major events are simply left out. I'm thinking East Asia, South America, running drugs etc, but hey, let's not get too uncomfortable.
Was it worth watching? Yes. Would I watch it again? No. It's nowhere near the BBC's original Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, but worth it for Keaton's Angleton.
Shameless (2011)
Not a patch on the original.
I don't see the point of this version of Shameless.
It's a rather sad clone of the British version, just with American accents and frankly, poorer acting.
William H. Macy may seem an untouchable national treasure to many in the US, but he doesn't hold a candle up to David Threlfall when it comes to playing Frank. Sorry, USA. You are missing a true acting master class.
Are Americans incapable of trying to understand English spoken with a Manchester accent? You really had to remake it? I mean it borders on cultural arrogance. Your loss.
Dumb and Dumber To (2014)
Talk about trashing your legacy
In all my years, I have never seen such a terrible sequel to any movie. What on earth were Carrey and Daniels thinking about? Well, it's cash, isn't it... Hard to believe, but it can be the only explanation. The original was one of the greatest comedies ever made; just about every line and scene memorable. The original was more than two idiots. It was also about loyalty and real friendship - joyous, uplifting and triumphant - and superbly acted. This latest offering has nothing but box-office unashamedly written all over it. Flat jokes, lame situations. Just going through the motions of trying to relive "funny bits" of the original. What a way to trash your legacy, boys. You too, Farrelleys. It's about as funny as drawing glasses and a mustache on a classic. No, I take that back. It's not even in the same league as that. So, congratulations. You've killed Harry and Lloyd forever. I doubt I'll ever be able to watch the original again. ZERO stars.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Like a school play adaption
If you've read the Smiley/Karla trilogy, you might wonder whether the director of this production had. Smiley - goes swimming and is fit. Westerby - is a Liverpudlian with a thick scouse accent. Connie Sachs - Mother Russia - can barely speak English. Guillam - is gay. Esterhase - is now called Esterhaus. Prideaux is sent to - Budapest. Control takes all his documents home to his flat - where they are still lying around weeks after his death! I'm sorry, but this was a terrible film. How on earth they ever thought they'd come even close to the BBC series, I don't know. The characters are quite unsophisticated and the plot has been lost. If you are a leCarré fan, you'll probably check it out. Prepare to be underwhelmed.