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lbradley6966
Reviews
Hello Tomorrow! (2023)
Hello Retrofuture! Or is it?
I have watched 3 episodes and my review score of 7 reflects this, although it may change over time. Already we are provided with a mystery. Is it our Earth or somewhere different? The world is recognisable as it is filled with 1950s Americana, representative of the era's image of 'The American Dream', yet we also have the American salesman who symbolises the omen of its associated nightmare. Only the robots and hover cars tell us that this is not our world.
I say American. There is nothing to prove that it is a version of the USA except the snippet of the US national anthem played at the future style baseball game. The flags fly in the distance but not in focus, and no mention of the USA, a 'Cold War', racism, or anything else recognisably 'American' so far. Already the absence of mentioning known US cities or states, or anything else from Earth, leads me to sense a twist ahead. In fact there is nothing to link this 'retrofuture' world with the one that we know, except the existence of The Moon and American fifties stereotypes. It could be an alternate now, or a million years in the future. We just don't know. At least not yet.
After the first three episodes the story is already frustratingly light in exposition. We know that the salesman is not quite what he seems, the lifestyle idyllic but with a dark foreboding shadow. The people still need to escape to a new life. The salesman has something to fear, but we do not know what that is yet, except we know from the beginning he excels in deceit. We also know he is morally conflicted, but still not sure why. We have plenty of hints teasingly offered to us but nothing of substance yet as far as I can see. The salesman is selling a dream, but whose dream is it?
Satires on 'The American Dream' are plentiful and I hope this provides something new to the genre. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some of my questions get satisfying answers, and that the pace is not slowed down too much. There is plenty of potential, but I'd like to see it fulfilled, just like everyone else. In fact, wasn't that what 'The American Dream' was all about?
La migliore offerta (2013)
Intriguing but...
I have indicated that there are spoilers in this review. But let's be fair... the title is the first spoiler and carries on from there.
There is plenty to like about this film. A central character that is successful but neurotic and lonely, who through a bizarre set of circumstances, forms a relationship with a reclusive and beautiful young woman. The central character is involved with his own of deceptive scheme to amass his own private collection of portraiture, and after being contacted by the woman, attempts to gain her confidence while obsessively trying to discover her appearance as she hides away in the family home.
It has to be said that this is a unique film based on a world of high art and wealth that most people rarely see. The plot moves slowly as the protagonist gains the woman's trust in order to find out if she is superior to the portraits of women in his collection. The cinematography is excellent and the tense atmosphere brilliantly built up. However...
As I said the title is the first spoiler. Something along the way is going to be wrong and of course, through a series of bizarre plot twists we get to find out how widespread the deceptions are. The plot is definitely intricate and contrived, as we meander through the complex narrative and learn more about both the protagonist and the woman in the house.
I think many people who watched this film will wonder why the barman in the bar across the road didn't just say "Why are you so interested in her house?" This one question , if asked near to the beginning of the film, of course would have negated the entire plot, so it was just left unsaid. The film relies on you believing that this local barman would show no curiosity in the behaviour of his new customer and his obvious obsession with the house opposite. A house owned by a woman that we learn the barman and regular bar customers knew very well. But if you can forgive this and several other obvious plot holes, then you may possibly enjoy this semi-mystery for the atmospheric and intriguing film that it is.
Mr. Corman (2021)
This requires patience, but it's worth it...
This is not your usual TV show. David Bowie apparently remarked that a creator meets their audience halfway, and the audience has to do the rest of work. In the case of Mr Corman, the audience probably needs to meet the creators three quarters of the way, but in my opinion it's worth it.
It has to be said that the central character is difficult to like. A good teacher, resentful of how life has panned out and very capable of annoying his friends and loved ones with his judgemental behaviour. I should imagine many switched off after a couple of episodes, however I stuck with it and was glad I did.
There is no set format for each episode, which starts in pre-Pandemic California. As the episodes move on we are gradually given details about the characters, and introduced to others who contribute their often eccentric behaviour to the story. One episode was totally devoted to the housemate, while another devoted to the myriad possibilities of different possible futures that might have happened if past decisions had been different. And then we have the tense penultimate episode when the alcoholic father re-enters his life after years of absence. That episode in my opinion was brilliantly done. For many who have lived with at least one alcoholic parent, it's not only the disappointment and broken promises that cut deep, but also seeing a part of yourself you don't like reflected back at you.
This is most definitely a slow burn series, with a lot of experimentation, and smart observation. Some of it worked and some didn't ( the dance routine with his mother didn't work for me). But if you take it as a whole I felt it was a worthy, complex creation that deserves your patience and attention. We may not see Mr Corman again, but I expect we will see more interesting things from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
On the Move (1975)
A method of teaching adults how to read through drama
This was part of a campaign to teach 1 million UK adults to read during the 1970's and Bob Hoskins played a character that needed encouragement to learn to read. This was the first time that Bob Hoskins came to my attention on a British TV programme that appeared to be a 'Sesame Street' for adults. Soon after he had the lead role in 'Pennies from Heaven' and his career took off.
If anything this series showed that the skills of an actor are not just for entertaining but can be educational and inspirational. And if people followed Bob Hoskins characters example and learnt to read, then it must count as one of his most successful jobs in his long career.