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Reviews
Better Call Saul: Smoke (2018)
Brilliant cinematography
The scene, where we learn that Chuck has died, on its own deserves a 10/10. Who watched this episode I think knows exactly why I feel like this. The rest, as always, is just brilliant.
Nightcrawler (2014)
Divisive & controversial
A brilliant performance by Jake Gyllenhaal. It really was a masterpiece
I think his behaviour, his natural instinct and sudden reactions should be taught. He plays it so naturally you really do believe what you're seeing is the truth.
Enough said about the protagonist. The film itself was amazing. It is controversial but this is what makes it so great. The fact it divides people means there's something to talk about. This is where this film wins. Memorable performances and serious moral issues make this film a cult classic.
Columbo: Strange Bedfellows (1995)
Not one I enjoyed
Honestly, this was an episode I simply didn't enjoy. I felt it boring, dragged out and really unrealistic. It just didn't feel like an episode that belongs to such a great series.
Something that was odd for me was the fact that the Lt. had less screen time, at least that's what I felt compared to previous episodes. Now, it was more focused on the killer and his actions, not how Columbo debunks a mystery. Also, the story with the clam and how he reacted to it all was lacking the humour I got used to. The murder was dump, so was the murder. Just didn't find a single thing enjoyable in this episode. Maybe the time, the murderer tells Columbo there's not gonna be just one more thing. That was a wee bit funny.
Columbo: It's All in the Game (1993)
It's all in the game
Anything is possible. We are all human beings, just like Lt. Columbo himself. We all make mistakes, sometimes willingly, just like Lt. Columbo. To make an honest review, I would have to spoil the episode, something I just cannot do. It was such a great, well-written episode it wouldn't be fair to spoil it. Just watch it. Never thought Peter Falk could write so well, but I guess after starring in so many episodes it was just natural that he writes one of the better episodes. Hats off and watch it!
Columbo: A Bird in the Hand (1992)
Brilliant, just brilliant!
I cannot praise this episode enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole structure and the mixture of facts we saw and those we didn't.
Usually, in A Columbo episode you have murder. There is the occasional second murder when one of the killers friends or relatives has some sort of evidence in their hand, or the killer just wants to get rid of any unnecessary problems. But here we have three murders and oh boy do things get complicated.
As any other gambling addict Harold has money issues. He's seriously in debt and the loan sharks are getting very angry. What does he do? He of course goes to ask for money from his uncle, the famous Big Fred. The response is expected: rejection. Dolores, his secret lover and Big Fred's wife is next. The woman, however, has some dirty secrets only Harold knows. She wants to put his husband away and she accomplishes it. Things get complicated, though, as Harold also wants to kill his uncle.
Now comes the fun part. Harold rigs a bomb under his uncle's car but the victim is the gardener. Poor guy just tried to move the car. This is probably the only murder that wasn't on purpose as we can see Harold clearly saddened.
Now we have two murders and finally Columbo gets involved and on the case. The Lt. is back to his usual self, brilliant and conical. There are so many funny scenes in this episode, there's just no time for you to get bored.
Finally, after a while Harold tries to get money from Dolores once more, but, after she rejects him, he turns angry and threatens to spill the beans. Afraid she might get into trouble, Dolores kills Harold. But the murder is so bad, she leaves so much evidence for Columbo to just come in and solve the final case easily.
The ending is really masterful as well. When Dolores asks the Lt. for a motive, he gives her one. Then she obviously asks for more evidence to prove the murder. But Columbo's response is brilliant. One is enough. Yes it is! Perfect! Better then some of the 70's best episodes!
Columbo: No Time to Die (1992)
Not a Columbo episode!!!
This is not a Columbo episode. Nobody has the right to say that! How can it be? Firstly, what must happen in every Columbo episode is a murder occurs, usually we see the suspect and the way he did it, and then our Lt. tracks him down and catches. But if you watch this episode, you'll be very surprised. You'll be searching for the whole 90 minutes for the murder to happen but wait, this isn't a murder case. Bloody hell! This would have been a good movie, a movie I'd have rated at least 6 stars. But not a Columbo episode. Not even Peter Falk is his usual self. And he never meets the criminal, never talks with him. I liked the episode, but gonna give it 1 star because it shouldn't be a Colimbo episode!
Columbo: Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo (1990)
Unique, but strange
'Wow!' is what I said after watching this episode. It was so very strange, strangely unique or maybe uniquely strange.
There was the use of a new method in moving the plot, developing it bit by bit that struck me. The title suggests something bad and that's exactly what we see. A funeral and a depressed Lt. Columbo. We aren't told but we realise it might actually what we think it is. Then we get bits of information from the attending people's thoughts. I would call this retrospective foreshadowing. We expect to learn things before the Lt. solves the case. Yet, we never see his wife or what happened to her, we are only told. Where in every episode we see things from the Lt.'s point of view, this episode is more from the point of view of the killer. We never fully know that Columbo's wife died, we just think it happened.
The murder itself was poor. You would expect a better planned murder. But it is understandable, as we later learn Mrs. Dimitri might be a bit psychotic.
There were killers who wanted to kill Columbo before but the Lt. was always a step ahead of them. He toyed with them, made them think they were going to kill him. In this episode, the same happens, as Columbo quickly realises what Mrs. Dimitri wants to accomplish. You can call it genius, but she leaves so much evidence, even an average person would quickly understand her motives. The episode is constructed in a way that we are made to think Mrs. Columbo had really died, but I think I wasn't the only one who knew at the very beginning a thing like this just cannot happen. Columbo solves the case about half-way through the episode, the only thing holding him back is the clear-cut evidence. This is why he plays into Mrs. Dimitri's plans. This is I guess the only smart thing of it.
All in all, it was an entertaining episode, but I think it's just useless. It doesn't add much, the murder is just a bit too meh. It's just not worth watching for me. I only rate it this high, because some parts were really exciting. But for me this episode is closer to Last Salute to the Commodore, in terms that it wanted to be something else, a bit different, but it didn't manage to get there in the end. It was a bit better, but not worth watching in my opinion!
Columbo: Agenda for Murder (1990)
Brilliant McGoohan
There are two actors I really love, who played killers in Columbo: Robert Culp and Patrick McGoohan. The fact they played in multiple episodes means they really did put in masterful performances.
Patrick McGoohan returns to play in and direct his last episode in the series. The last time it was controversial: we all remember the episode Last Salute to the Commodore. This time, however, he is once again brilliant. His character is so smart and a touch arrogant, the perfect enemy for Lt. Columbo. He keeps evading him, there is no evidence against him. The murder looks like the perfect one. Even the only probable evidence is destroyed, when his coat is washed. But then the cheese and the bite. We, the audience are just as surprised as the killer is. We are also satisfied, as he is. It's just brilliant. McGoohan is defeated but he accepts the loss. It seemed a perfect murder, but there is no such thing. Lt. Columbo had to work really hard on this case but it payed off, as always. Brilliant, just brilliant!!!
The Revenant (2015)
Great movie
This was a brilliant movie, though it was stuck in fantasy world! I like the story itself: a hunter who defies the odds and comes back to kill his son's murderer. But there's just no way that a man, who is destroyed by a bear, to just get up on his feet in such a short time. He was bleeding from his entire body, especially his neck. Stitches don't heal those kind of injuries. I'm not gonna be too critical, however, because it's just a movie after all. It made for an entertaining watch, despite me being sceptical before watching it. Enjoyed it, but wouldn't watch it again.
Columbo: Try and Catch Me (1977)
A heartwarming episode
This is a great episode of the series, one you must try and catch! Falk and Gordon go back and forth throughout the episode once trying to outsmart the other. They both idolise each other which makes for some entertaining encounters between the two of them.
The high point of this episode without a shadow of a doubt is Columbo's speech at the club. The fact that he personally tells his feelings on the job is great and really develops the character of Columbo. The things he says there, while some would have thought were true anyways, still make for a memorable moment.
Despite all the praise I didn't enjoy Gordon's character. I thought she was too over-the-top, too ambitious. Also, unlike some killers, she just gave away herself on too many occasions.
Another brilliant part of the episode is when Gordon thinks she's safe but then Falk comes back to haunt her one final time. The way in which he discovers the murderer is brilliant. One by one he pieces together the puzzle and at the end he is as baffled as Gordon. He knew, yet he couldn't believe it either. This pleasant and funny granny really did commit such a terrible act. He really did like her by the end and, despite her cry for not being convicted, she is politely taken away by our detective.
The end is in many ways heartbreaking. A murder is an unforgivable act of crime, yet we grew so close to Gordon and we kind of understand her reasons. It's sad, but criminals do have to pay for their crimes. The same applies to the first victim: the nephew who killed Gordon's daughter is taken care of, just as Gordon is at the end. Yet, I feel as though the murderer will not be convicted, she is very old, weak. It just won't happen. Some sort of reward, I guess.
Joker (2019)
A superb superhero movie not actually about superheroes
This is the greatest Joker film I've seen. Like every other Joker, Joaquin Phoeinx added a unique touch to this great and controversial character. He is not overacting, he is not too crazy. He is consistent throughout the movie and a joy to watch. His laugh is absolutely brilliant, no wonder he had to practice it so much. Totally worth it, great job.
But enough of Joaquin's praises. Time to move on to the story itself. I came into this movie totally unprepared, ready to watch another Joker film. This wasn't another Joker film, this was the Joker film. So many things can be said about what was presented to us, especially Joker's origins. I'm not going to spoil it, it's just not worth it. You must go and watch this piece of treasure.
Also, forgot to mention, that this movie doesn't just tell the Joker's story but criticizes our current society and its deep rooted issues. If you are attentive enough, you'll realise that and you'll sit down and really think things through. Believe me.
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
An instructive Cold War movie
This film has got everything a great Cold War movie about Soviets must have. I watched this after Chernobyl and oh boy. It's really fascinating and mind-blowing what the communists were capable of for serving their country. This movie tells the story of the K-19 crews' lives on the ocean and presents us how a few brave men risk their lives to save all the other 120 men on board. It's quite unique and full of twists. Not gonna spoil this for you, highly recommend watching it.
Death Note: Desu nôto (2006)
Great series
I'm going to start off by saying I don't watch animes. I don't like them at all. This one was suggested to me and at the beginning I was quite sceptical. It took me some time to sit down and watch it.
But then, after all this fear, I couldn't put it down. It was so enjoyable, full of suspense. There was no real action, fighting scenes or shooting, but that didn't bother me one bit. Why would have it, when the plot makes up for it. You never know what will happen next. Just when you think 'That's it, he got him' you say 'Wow, another twist'. That is what makes this series stand out for me.
Despite its praises, though, I feel that after L's death the series took a dip. From there on it's too rushed and things don't happen in the manner they used to. Near (or the new L) just realises things to quickly and easily. L, who is clearly a better investigator and character, would never have come to conclusion that easily. Also, the inclusion of Mello is useless, he doesn't add anything particular to the series.
This doesn't take too much away from the series, though, and I would still highly recommend watching it. Great series!!!
Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore (1976)
One strange Columbo episode
This one is a really shocking episode, mainly because it's out of the ordinary. Columbo episodes all start out with the murder taking place then we follow Lt. Columbo in his quest to solve the case. Yet, this time we never see who committed the murder and we follow Columbo cluelessly. This wouldn't even be a problem, as I enjoy shows like this, having read many Agatha Christie novels.
However, what bothers me is the way Peter Falk acts throughout the episode. He just looks as though he is a stupid, drunken investigator. But it seems like he is not the only one. Apart from Diane Baker, I guess even Robert McGoohan was drunk behind the scenes having thought that this episode was any good. Especially the scene where Columbo finds the dead body of Mr. Clay raises a lot of questions. Who in this world thought that cutting away from that scene by zooming in on Peter Falk's head was a good idea? Oh, and let me not get started on Mac and Sgt. Kramer. Why does Columbo need do be followed around by these guys is just a mistery to me.
All in all, this is one strange episode from the Columbo series, one that I personally feel doesn't fit the picture. This, however, is just a personal thought and I recommend everybody to give it a shot and wach it. Probably this is the most divisive episode of the series.