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kate-harvie
Reviews
The Buccaneers (2023)
Haters, don't think so hard. Because, characters and reality.
The first time, if memory serves, "The Buccaneers" was made into a TV short series was 1995. The BBC saw to make a four episode program that started Carla Gugino, Mira Sorvino, Allison Elliott, Rya Kihlstedt, Greg Wise (yes, Emma Thompson's husband), James Frain, and a slew of exceptional English actors. It was good, and perhaps its shorter length enhanced the intensity and imparted more feelings of drama. I adored it, and it's not because I lived in England for a year.
This eight ep series is, dare I say, better. It has been modernized not only in soundtrack, but in character creation and development. There are more likable characters who possess depth, real time was spent in crafting positive and negative character attributes that appear consistently, two leads are Black, the four Buccaneers aren't glammed up, and the unlikable characters aren't stereotypes.
You'll see many negative and meh reviews here. Ignore them.
Watch this. Remember when you were young, when you were single, when you were the subject (and/or object) of a fix up, shiddoch, or arranged marriage.
Watch this. Appreciate how love is a feeling, a necessity, a philosophy, and it can be a commodity.
Fire Masters (2019)
Can Food Network EVER make something new?
As charming as host Dylan Benoit may be, two of the "judges" on this program are described with their first attribute as a "Food Network personality." That says as much about the commerce-driven, reality TV non-creativity that fuels most network television as it does about what viewers (sadly) seek. This is a filmed outside, three contestants instead of four, condescending game show bit that has kept "Chopped" on the air for however many seasons. While ego is a huge part of cheffing and restauranteur'ing, legit cooking is about joy, learning, and culture as it is about "look how great I can do this". We don't need more competition shows.
Criminal Minds: Unknown Subject (2012)
Characters' names are borrowed from "Charade"
While the stories have nothing in common, several of the guest stars' characters are named for those in the incredible movie starring Cart Grant and Audrey Hepburn, directed by Stanley Donen, "Charade" and remade by the late Ted Femme with Thandie Newton and Mark Whalberg, "The Thing About Charlie".
A Star Is Born (2018)
5 stars for soundtrack, 2 stars for movie
Full disclosure: I have seen every version of "A Star is Born," and that includes the original 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Frederic March. I grew up on and with Streisand and have that soundtrack on cassette somewhere.
I'm a legit fan, though not a Monster, of Lady Gaga and I think Bradley Cooper is a better actor than the majority of his roles evince.
So my expectations for this film were high. Really high. And I have only myself to blame for being woefully disappointed.
Like most studio pictures these days, this one is too long by half. Unlike most studio pictures, you can see, hear, and feel what was probably intended by its creators (which, in this case, was Bradley Cooper as director, co-writer, producer, and responsible for the musicians who were involved).
So it is with real disappointment that I advise people to arrive at this film with low expectations, the suggestion that they watch the movie for what it is (a high budget studio picture starring marquee names and superb supporting actors and when Lady Gaga is singing, a terrific soundtrack), and to see it before 12pm so the ticket costs half its full retail.
This film begins and flows beautifully, authentically, and emotionally until almost midway. I won't reveal where it turns, and anyone who is paying attention will observe it. A real head scratch here: we were going one way and all of a sudden we're in a movie produced by the people who make the nonsense that airs on E!, today's MTV, Lifetime, and WE. Such a bummer.
Initially it seems that this movie is happening 20 years ago, before social media and the resulting opportunity for everyone to be famous, if only in their own minds. When it becomes a commercial mess, one can only wonder if the studio got its hands on it and decided to turn it into a "blockbuster."
That's a shame. Happily, you can enjoy the soundtrack.