Change Your Image
cfourie6
Reviews
White Lines (2020)
A series full of bizarre and entirely unrealistic plot manipulations
If you enjoy watching shows with really stupid people doing incredibly stupid things then you should watch this. Its almost painful at times to see how dumb the characters in this poorly written series can be and if there was an Emmy award for dumbest characters in a TV series then both Zoe and Marcus would walk away with the prizes (although they would probably trip going onto the stage). This is one of those shows where you are unable to have any empathy with or sympathy for the main characters. A series to be avoided!
Mr. Jones (2019)
Astonishing story of another example of how ethically bankrupt the human race has been and continues to be....
One of those rare films that makes you realise how little we know of history and how people have been so cruel to other people. Its about power and fear, a mixture that is a violent cocktail of how poor our world really is in terms of kindness, truth and basic human decency. This story makes you want to seek some form of retribution of those who created such a tragic situation - and then you realise its still happening today all over the world - that we are still living in terrible times and that we are definitely not doing enough to stop destroying ourselves. Outstanding performances from the cast with some excellent cinematography bring this tragic story to life - one to watch again but not until I've recovered from the sense of helplessness - which didn't stop brave men like Gareth Jones from doing what's right - even at the risk of losing his own life. A must watch.
Escape from Pretoria (2020)
As always the South African accents are terribly done.
I don't know why filmmakers persist in making South African films using actors who are seemingly incapable of getting the accents right. Once again, the accents here are not just off, but completely wrong which makes it difficult for someone from SA to take the film seriously. I guess the rest of the viewers don't know any better so the accents probably sound fine to them. Ian Hart in particular fails miserably in trying to sound like an Afrikaner speaking english, its quite painful to watch.
Designated Survivor (2016)
This series should have been cut before it was ever filmed - embarrassingly awful
I guess this White House makeover with a President who has integrity and is honest, his family all too perfect, the WH staff all shiny and saying the right things, is what the writers thought America needs right now to offset against the reality of Trump's administration. Sadly it would have made for more interesting viewing if the Trump saga was aired instead. This show lacks substance on every level, the acting, the pop-up plots that get resolved each episode, the over OTT jingoism and American Gung-ho-ism....its all too much.
No idea why its rated so highly? 7,8? WTF?
Are viewers really so stupid and easily pleased?
If ever a series deserves to be cancelled this is it....please spare us.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Almost no substance to the dialogue
This movie is hugely disappointing, the actors deliver their lines almost by rote, without any depth or substance. The plot starts out relatively interestingly but plunges in a mire of confused behaviour and muddled dialogue. The characters say things that people would never say and sometimes keep quiet when a real person would almost certainly react.
Farrell and Kidman should be choosing their roles a bit better. This film is a waste of time and not worth watching.
Ray Donovan (2013)
Writers have lost the plot in S5
Looks like the writers have run out of ideas in the 5th season reverting desperately to continuous flashbacks to when Abby was around. Ray seems to have run out of real clients as well fixing mostly his own and his family's problems. Hoping the season picks up after Ep 4 as its massively boring to watch now.
Ray Donovan (2013)
Writers have lost the plot in S5
Looks like the writers have run out of ideas in the 5th season reverting desperately to continuous flashbacks to when Abby was around. Ray seems to have run out of real clients as well fixing mostly his own and his family's problems. Hoping the season picks up after Ep 4 as its massively boring to watch now.
StartUp (2016)
Series of Substance
This series is really well done, a decent story, full of twists and turns, quirky but believable characters, interesting & yet still annoying at times, especially the Morales character who manages to evoke no sympathy whatsoever with her egocentric totally selfish nature. Best part is that of Edi Gathegi who is mesmerising to watch with his intensity and depth. one of the few current series worth binge watching.....
Flaked (2016)
Should be called Flaky
Seems like its fashionable in the US to make shows about people who have no direction or purpose in life, no ties or even a proper job and this is supposed to be funny or touching or what? Its about a bunch of flaky guys who float around doing nothing of any meaning. If that does it for you then, by all means, watch this utter nonsense..... Will Arnett is trying desperately hard but this show lacks any substance whatsoever. If there are people in the world (or the US) like this then clearly they are to be avoided. Making a series about such losers is a waste of time and insults the intelligence of people looking for intelligent, proper comedy.
Get Shorty (2017)
Classic Elmore Leonardesque yarn
For a lifelong Elmore fan this series has been a massive pleasure for me to watch, almost to the point where I've delayed watching each new episode to savour the moment. The cast is perfect, both individually and as a unit, almost as if they all fully understand (and are fans of) Elmore and his wonderful dialogue and character style. Some of the lines made me laugh out loud which I'm not the type to do....the plot and diverse story lines that take you to places you don't expect to go with some cool moments of casual humour that is so natural it could be from the pen of the great man himself. Wonderful final episode....bring on Series 2 please!
Sandy Wexler (2017)
Sandler seems to be going for as Stupid as possible in this role - not funny in the least
Not sure whether Sandler actually watches himself in these awful films he seems intent on making lately. The premise seems to be: find the stupidest character with the most annoying voice you can, get a weak and pointless story and make a movie that should not even go straight to TV. Netflix needs to be a bit more selective with their film choices.....what a load of absolute rubbish!
Pink Floyd: The Final Cut (1983)
Waters album Final Cut as a final adieu to Pink Floyd
This short is best enjoyed if you have listened properly to the full album, Final Cut, which is a story in itself listened from start to finish. Contrary to the other two reviewers on this link who clearly have little knowledge or appreciation of the album. Its a definitive work and was the final turning point for the band, highlighting as it did the way the individual band members had grown apart both personally and musically. The Fletcher Memorial and Gunner's dream are both individually brilliant. Highly recommended to all Pink Floyd and Waters fans.....but listen to the album properly as I said before commenting to appreciate this short fully.
Certain Women (2016)
A tedious and pointless film, quite literally, about NOTHING....
I was massively relieved when this film finally ended, after having endured the director's apparent reluctance to edit out any parts of long pointless film sequences of snow melting (or not melting), horses being fed, people saying little or nothing at all and then having no real end to speak of. If this was intended to be a film about three very uninteresting women with boring lives then it succeeds. To be avoided.....