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drchevalier
Reviews
Doctor Strange (2016)
Very well done, immensely enjoyable
The big difference between Marvel Studio productions of Marvel characters, and the other studios that do Marvel characters, is that Marvel Studios get it and do a really great job.
Benedict Cumberbatch initiates his role with a superb presentation of the egotistical, narcissistic and arrogant Stephen Strange. Rather than the evolution of the character being, as so many are, instant transformation, Cumberbatch's Strange demonstrates the ongoing battle with his inner unlikeable self and the person he will become.
While there was much uproar with the casting of Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, if you can drop the default from canon argument, she does her usual high quality work.
The story remains interesting and moves along at a good pace. While there is no dearth of kaleidoscopic CGI effects, the effects do not dominate the film. It is also filled with a number of truly funny moments. For Marvel fans, who know the Marvel pantheon, there are plenty of Easter eggs, but unlike some films they do not splatter into your face, one needs to be on the game to catch them all.
I really enjoyed the movie, as did my spouse who is not a superhero movie person at all. She doesn't care for Cumberbatch generally but gave him high marks for his acting. The Mordo character was well played, but more could have been done with him to increase the overall dimensionality of the film. The Mads Mikkelsen character well played well was a bit flat, and that was a bit sad, as Mikkelsen has much more capability than was leveraged in my opinion.
The Accountant (2016)
Fascinating story, very well acted
Ben Affleck is superb in the role of the protagonist Wolff. His portrayal is both awkward and centred, an accurate and respectful interpretation of an individual with autistic challenges. JK Simmons is, as he typically is (i.e. Whiplash), a deliverer of three dimensional characters that is developed over time from an initially dislikable two dimensional generic mean boss, to one with human strengths and weaknesses and a level of self honesty that is very well done.
As the film progresses, Affleck infuses more depth into his character, the whole thing builds like the paintings that are are first glance ancillary but as we watch become mirrors for the characters.
Anna Kendrick does a decent job in her role and I for one am grateful that the director did not do the expected thing with the young female role. This decision lessens her participation but makes the character more memorable and likable.
Without spoilers, I didn't guess about Bernthal's character until very close to the reveal and the final other character reveal I will not go into because it is brilliantly done, and extremely subtle.
This more mature Affleck is really turning very high quality, and I think he has more in him.
Van Helsing (2016)
Bleeding Awful
Sorry to all those who are fans. Enjoy the show. I've really tried but have given up. This plodding mess is redundant, steals from bad predecessors in TV and film, is badly written, acted woodenly and the characters are universally intolerable.
It will probably run for years given the mass appetite for vampires and zombies in any form whatsoever, but seriously, Walking Dead and Van Helsing aren't even in the same solar system.
Another challenge is the to this point lack of connection between the title of the series and the character Vanessa. When you read the prefaces, there is allegedly some linkage to the character of Abraham Van Helsing. We have learned that the principal character is called Vanessa. Is she Vanessa Helsing, Vanessa Van Helsing, Van Vanessa Helsing?
When the show is lame, the answer appears to be throw more gross out factor in. Bored now.
Moving on...
Conviction (2016)
A waste of talent ruined by bad writing and unlikeable characters
I started watching the series because I think that Hayley Atwell has talent and she has done some very solid work. She is doing a good job playing an unlikeable character, not particularly a good route for series longevity.
Sadly the writing is weak, the plots weak, the characters flat and the whole thing both boring and rushed. It is very much the hurry up and run in circles until the aha moment, only ever discovered by the protagonist. The sequencing lacks continuity, is jumbled and is not believable.
I get it that a goal is to show a strong woman in a leadership role. Atwell could certainly make that happen, if she had a character to play that wasn't such a polished turd.
Sadly the show is shot and lit to highlight her wardrobe and her shoes as much as it is the plot. The inter scene switch with the overlaid scenes is both jittery and headache inducing.
Sometimes a show is recoverable. Too much would have to change to save Conviction. Hopefully Ms. Atwell's next series will offer her the opportunity to show how good she can be.