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Momaqns
Reviews
Deadloch (2023)
Dreadful
Apparently, there is only one sentient being in Australia. That would be the Sergeant. Everyone else is an idiot. With a kernel of an interesting idea, this moronic series camouflages it behind a weighted blanket of silly dialogue and irritatingly stupid characters. I honestly cannot say that it redeems itself later on because I couldn't get through the first episode. For those that actually had the fortitude to carry on, I give you props for patience. I am relatively sure that the Australians can come up with a series that is funny and clever. This POS is most definitely not one of them. Save your sanity and skip this dreck.
Wolf Hall (2015)
History belongs to the winner
I can't truly fault the quality of the cast nor production values. My problem is with its revisionist history. Thomas More is portrayed as a cruel disloyal papist and Cromwell as a humanist, reluctant to resort to torture to obtain a "confession". Everyone used torture as a tool of interrogation in those times. My guess that both men did what they felt was necessary to advance themselves. Thomas More just seems to be the more steadfast in his faith.
At this point in his career, Henry was known to be very handsome. The debauched, obese monarch more familiar in portraits would emerge later.
No one really knows if Anne was guilty of her crimes or merely unlucky to have become less desirable to this cruel and corrupt monarch. He would repeat this behavior in various ways three more times. The last queen avoiding this by outliving him.
However, I would certainly recommend this production but as entertainment, not historical fact. But that would be true of almost any bio drama.
Taken Down (2018)
New territory
While I agree that this production could use a bit of tightening up, the acting is excellent with special attention to the two leads roles, Abeni and Jen. There is a problem with European countries absorption of asylum seekers but this series takes the time of the agonies experienced by the immigrants that caused them to leave their native countries and the challenges faced by them in their adopted home. We first meet Abeni when she lands on the coast of Italy. Her husband died from chemical burns on board the boat and she must now face an uncertain future as she raises her two sons and try her best to provide for them and keep them out of trouble. Crime and corruption are always a danger. I stuck with it and I'm glad I did.
Will Trent (2023)
It's all about Betty
This began as an "oh well, I'll give it a try." I never heard of the books so I had no preconceived expectations. Ramon Rodriguez does a fine acting job but he needs serious work on his Southern accent. Sometimes it comes across as a bad Southern accent, then a whisper of his Puerto Rican background slips through and the rest of the time it's just a Standard American accent with has no regional trace. The rest of the cast is OK. The real star is Betty. Chihuahuas are my least favorite breed of dog but the "actor" playing Betty is real star. Irresistibly cute, I'm a fan. Betty deserves a show of her own.
Treason (2022)
Not based on any thing near factual
I can see why this is getting dreadful scores. It is dreadful. How gifted actors could have attached themselves to this trash is beyond me. I can only surmise that they owed money to their bookies.
I have know connection to the intelligence community but I think I'm right when I say that no spouse of a agent would try to pry intel from their partner nor would such agent divulge that intel. To make it even more unbelievable, this clueless wife expresses her concerns to her friend who she knows to be a CIA agent. Then she records a conversation her husband is having, listens to it and gives it to her CIA pal. She continues acting as an asset, tailing her husband and taking pictures.
This crap is so annoyingly unbelievable that this is where I bailed. Only the truly clueless will find this crap entertaining. This is an attempt to save you from wasting your time. You're welcome.
The Chosen: Unlawful (2021)
Yet more fiction about the Magdalene
Sloppy "historical " fiction. Mary Magdalene was NOT the woman Jesus saved from stoning. She was a wealthy woman who, in all likelihood, funded Jesus. Mary aka Miriam was a very common name then as now. This whole calumny was begun by some old misogynistic clergyman in the Church. As usual, women have marginalized and denigrated for centuries by the Church. They have done nothing to correct the history of the relationship between Jesus and this noble woman. Mary wrote a gospel, which was unsurprisingly labeled gnostic by those ancient women haters. Read it and be enlightened and enriched. That's just one flaw in this sloppy production.
The English (2022)
Extraordinary if your patient
The acting and cinematography are key here. The narrative is thoughtful and unrushed. If you're looking for a shoot'em up, this is not the series for you. Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer were terrific. My only problem was the overuse of folksy music which, for me, was a distraction. I would also take this opportunity to clarify the closing credit song, "American Tune" which Paul Simon continues to take credit for but the music is a steal of J S Bach's St Matthew Passion., tract 21 and used throughout the piece. He's lucky he lifted it from a 350 year old masterpiece lest he be sued for plagiarism.
Babylon Berlin (2017)
How it all began
This is a brilliant series which gives the viewer a view to post WWII era Germany and a brief foretaste of the emergence of nazis. The acting is tops, especially the two leads. And the production is first rate. If you loved "Cabernet", Babylon Berlin takes one step further into decadence. It's one of the best police dramas ever. Certainly binge worthy. You need to catchup now before Season 4 arrives. Go for the subtitles and get that really Teutonic flavor. Great news, in season 4 the great Meute is the house band. If you've never heard this great techno band, you're in for a treat. Can't wait.
Falls Around Her (2018)
Z-z-z-z fest
Tantoo Cardinal is one of my favorite actors. She seems to have become First Nations version of Judi Densch. However, this film is so unbearable slow to start that it would be easy to give up on. I get it, Natives find a dichotomy living in two worlds and the main character leaves the fame and fortune to get back to her self. But really do we have to spend so much time watching her put fire in her stove, water trickling and falling snow. The best part for me was the women singing, beautiful. The last half suddenly became a political statement. At least she finally got a pet to keep her company in her isolation.
Peaky Blinders (2013)
Only one fly in this ointment
I can only repeat what has been said before about this brilliant series. Cillian Murphy again mesmerizes us with his otherworldly beauty and brilliant acting. The cast is stellar with special performances of Tom Hardy and the late Helen McCrory. The only criticism I have is the casting of Anya Taylor-Joy. It is laughable that she could convince us that she's some irresistible femme fatale. She has all the electricity of a spent D battery. Don't get me started on the two worst Boston accents in cinema history, Taylor-Joy and Finn Cole. But overlook that and treat yourself to a truly wonderful series.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Please explain
At best this is a two hour movie. Instead it's nearly seven hours stretched out into boredom. I'm not sure what all the praise for Taylor-Joy is about. To repeat a comment by a long ago critic, she runs the gamut of emotions from A to B. And please tell me why this movie takes place in Kentucky and yet not a single character has a Southern accent?