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deano221
Reviews
Help (2021)
Beyond harrowing.
Good Lord, this one hits hard.
The subject matter here is still so raw and the utter hopelessness and frustration of the care sector work force in the UK during the pandemic, is abundantly evident and most likely a very hard watch for anyone who lived through it, and there were thousands. Just to complicate matters further the film also deals with early onset dementia.
The disgraceful UK government should watch this and feel total shame, but they just don't care about care homes and that has been blatantly obvious as the months went by. This is tough going, but would recommend it anyhow, even though it brought me to tears of anger, sadness and frustration. Topped off by heartbreakingly realistic performances from two of the best actors on the planet right now, Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham.
American Horror Stories (2021)
Just not good....so far.
Wouldn't normally review anything until I'd watched the whole series, but anyhow this is pretty bad. The original AHS series has been running out of steam for some time and they really need to put all their efforts into that series, rather than making a totally pointless spin-off. Almost everything it is meant to be, it isn't. There is no sense of tension and it is beyond cliched. The dialogue is really bad, the 'stunt' acting does not pay off and what is supposed to appear creepy just comes off as over the top camp.
The lead character is annoying.....maybe this was the intention. I get it, moody teenager but you just don't really care about her. Thank God for Matt Bomer who elevates anything he is in, but some of the dialogue between the 2 dads is embarassing. I think at this point Ryan Murphy/ Brad Falchuk et al, are churning out way too much content lately and some of it isn't great. I'll try maybe 1 more episode before I completely give up.
The Underground Railroad (2021)
So much potential, but ultimately flawed.
The first 3 episodes of this series are outstanding on any/every level. Gripping storyline, engaging characters, beautifully filmed and obviously because of the nature of the story, some very difficult scenes to watch. I really thought this was turning into one the best shows of recent memory and then, the next few episodes were so disappointing as it just lost it's way. Some episodes had very little relevance, others confusing, others with back stories that made little sense. Some scenes were so dark it was almost impossible to see what was happening, some of the dialogue was barely able to be heard and my total bug-bear......needless reaction shots when other characters were talking. Some scenes were so slow it was painful and others were rammed home so blatantly.
I can't remember being so disappointed by a show after having such a powerful start.
On the subject of Barry Jenkins. Do I think he is proficient storyteller and do I believe he is telling stories that need to be heard. Totally yes. Do I think Moonlight was the masterpiece that many others thought it was. No I didn't, but I enjoyed it, although certainly overrated. I feel almost the same with this show, although the last couple of episodes picked up some steam, but still underwhelming.
I have to give massive credit to the lead actress Thuso Mbedu, who is outstanding and managed to hold the whole piece together. She is a force to be reckoned with. Others actors making impressions, some with limited screen time include Aaron Pierre, Sheila Atim, William Jackson Harper, Chase Dillon and Joel Edgerton. Although Edgerton's character Ridgeway was the one I had the most problem understanding his dialogue.
I would have loved to give this a better rating, but ultimately it was an opportunity missed. I was ready to recommend this to everyone after the beginning but after watching the whole series now not sure I can subject folks to the meandering in the middle.
Luca (2021)
Totally Hits the Spot.
Perfect to watch on a Sunday afternoon. Stunning animation, which is now at another level and so uplifting. No real surprises storyline-wise but it doesn't need it, with lovable characters, a stupid villain as per and everything looking stunning both underwater and above.
The actors voicing the characters were all spot-on and I would find it hard to fault almost anything about it. In these crazy times this is the perfect escape for all ages. Love the cat too. Pixar triumphs again.
Rocks (2019)
Stunningly Realistic
Although I have zero idea of how a young black girl in London lives, I'm sure this movie portrays this in the most realistic fashion. At last a film that shows in both joyous and glaringly shocking detail how underprivileged youth in inner city London survive. Kudos also that the film makers portray another side of London and how mutlicultural it actually is. Although in the UK everyone knows this, it is rarely shown in any TV or film like this.
Rocks is almost docu style, but less so than Nomadland for example, and this suits it well and the performances are so realistic and therefore more heartbreaking in the more harrowing scenes. I'm sure some of the scenes were improvised. A touching moment between Rocks (Bucky Backray) and her best friend Sumaya (Kosar Ali) where Rocks tells her she doesn't need her is beautifully played by both young actors and seems even more heartfelt because the words feel so unbelievably real. Definitely worth a look and Bafta voters were right to reward it.
Snowfall (2017)
Most underrated show on TV
Just binge watched the full 4 seasons and was mesmerised by the whole show. How this show hasn't featured at any of the major awards shows is staggering. Great storylines, engaging characters, beautifully shot and written and brilliant soundtrack. The first season kicks off following three separate and seeming unrelated storylines around the cocaine explosion in the early 80's and the characters in each don't really have any connection until their arcs intertwine. The series mainly set in Los Angeles, but spreads as far as Mexico, Panama & Colombia is sprawling in a way reminiscent of a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, with a mix of characters coming and going as the story demands.
The two main characters have so much life in them and are superbly played by the extremely charismatic Damson Idris as Franklin, the street kid with big ideas getting into the business and Carter Hudson as the tortured war vet Teddy now working for the CIA and in up to his neck. The characters around the two leads are uniformly excellent and all contribute to the storyline in major ways and are anything but passive.
The late John Singelton's involvement in this until his death is everywhere. But this is a major step up from Boyz In The Hood, as there are similarities between the two. The series certainly hasn't dipped since his passing and as the characters become more developed they become more realised and unlikable. Couldn't be happier that Season 5 has been announced and could not recommend this show enough. Emmy's take notice.
Them (2021)
Impressive and Unsettling
Such an impressive show and would have loved to have given it 10/10 but some of the supernatural elements could have been left out. Otherwise stellar acting from all corners, gotta shout out Alison Pill though, that smile almost cracking numerous times and just such a scary character.
I think the polarising reviews here reflect how society views the current climate of the issues portrayed in the show. It's sad to think that in the 70 or so years since the show was depicted that lots of issues remain. Whatever the viewers opinions on the subject matter are, no-one can take away the astonishing acting, cinematography and score. I also learned a lot more about the treatment of black families in times that were meant to be game-changers for them. Also the references here to American Horror Story....well, as the least few seasons have gone way downhill, this is what Ryan Murphy can only hope to achieve.
Kidnapped (2006)
So enjoyable but a real shame.
I've just finished watching this excellent series and cannot believe that it was cancelled mid-way through it's run in the USA, and after the ambiguous end to series 1 it is not been picked up for another series. It has been a while since there has been such an intelligent, complex and well acted show on TV. This show could have run and run in the same way 24 does, as the premise is quite similar. All of the actors involved were exemplary but hats off to Jeremy Sisto as the anti-hero Knapp and what I believe was the best acting seen on TV by an actress this year in Dana Delaney....every single word she spoke rang true from the off. Ultimately very disappointed but happy to have seen the one series available. Thnaks Channel 4 in the UK for airing a show they knew had been cancelled.