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Reviews
Little Women (2019)
Puzzling Adaptation
While I wasn't in love with the Winona Ryder version of the movie, I honestly didn't care much for this adaptation, either.
The non-linear storytelling was a great device for telling a well loved story. Jo March rules the show and the costumes and hair (especially) definitely deserves all the lauds they got.
As far as the characters are concerned. Jo's character is brilliantly portrayed by Saorsie. Timothee Chalomet is not used to the full extent of his talent as Teddy. Meryl Streep does a creditable Maggie Smith. Laura Dern is meh! The rest of the cast are forgettable.
There are three big issues with this adaptation
1/ the character development is non-existent except surprisingly Amy's. Why Meg and Jo fall in love with the men they do is baffling! We don't see enough of John or Freidrich to make sense of their choices.
2/ it's too long of a story (Little Women and parts of Good Wives) to be condensed into 2 hrs. Why were some of the tenderest and most brilliant of the scenes scenes cut out (e.g. Teddy and Amy's declaration of love in a boat is brilliant as written - here we get an awkward kiss with zero chemistry between the two) and terrible out-of-place modern day dialogue included? Weren't Louisa Alcott's words adequate? Did Greta feel she wrote a better love scene than Alcott?
3/ the harsh monologues by Jo and Amy regarding women's rights were jarring. The handling was abrupt to say the least.
One feels the sense of the adaptation being rather rushed and trying to tell a long story in a short time. It's a dissatisfying feeling.
Backstabbing for Beginners (2018)
Missed the Mark
The story is based on true events that happened in 2004, and is based on the book by the same name.
The movie was tagged as a political drama/thriller. It's neither. The story doesn't meander, it stays on track. However, the track is very linear.
The movie wanders the thin line between black and white. And the colouring reflects this monochromatic sense and is one of the key beauties of this movie.
Ben Kingsley carries the movie even though Theo James is ostensibly telling the story. Pasha's character gets a huge boost from Bens crazy as "Fak" portrayal of Pasha.his chemistry with Theo is extremely good!
Theo James' voice over - Theo has a voice and delivery that makes for a soothing backdrop. However as versatile an actor as he is, he gets little opportunity to flex his acting muscles. It's a straight up character with barely any nuances or growth
Jaqueline Bissett is completely wasted in her role.
The script and editing lack any tightness or tension. I really couldn't understand the unnecessary introduction of the romance subplot, especially as there's no chemistry between the two. And Theo can deliver chemistry in spades!
All in all, it's a pretty mediocre movie that had a lot of promise but doesn't deliver as much as one would want.
Sanditon (2019)
An unfinished Jane Austen story is now an Unfinished series
Sanditon is Andrew Davies tribute to the 12-chapter unfinished novel. This series start where Austen left off.
Charlotte Heywood comes to the town of Sanditon with Tom Parker and his wife Mary. There she meets a cast of characters that have their own agenda, some overt and some secretive. Among them is Sidney Parker, Tom's younger brother, rich, a bit grumpy, man about town, and his cronies Lord Babbington and Mr. Crowe - the perennially sloshed gentleman.
Tom is obsessed with making Sanditon into a popular sea side resort. To that end we get to see regatta, sea bathing, cricket matches and a short trip to London.
Sidney is struggling to support Tom through his financial trials. And then there's his rich and "difficult"Antiguan ward Georgiana Lambe (Austen's first black character)
There's Tom's main contractor, Stringer - who also has his eye on Charlotte (in a good way).
Lord Babbington, on the other hand is taken with Eliza Denham - who along with her half-brother, Edward, and Clara are vying to be Lady Denhams heir. Lady Denham who happens to be the chief investor in Tom's plans for Sanditon.
And then there's the incredibly sizzling simmering attraction between Sidney and Charlotte
What follows is a rich story full of twists and turns and unlikely alliances, love and betrayal. Beautifully filmed, with a lovely soundtrack, this series brings period drama to whole another level. The entire ensemble cast headed by Theo James as Sidney, Rose Williams as Charlotte and Kris Marshall as Tom, are brilliant. Their cohesiveness as a cast is a tribute to the script and direction.
Unfortunately the series was cancelled after one season leaving the view with a literal cliff hanger.The producers would do us a favour and let us off this cliff top by bringing about a second season. Please.
Yeshu (2020)
Just stop with this Travesty
Watched half an episode and I was ready to throw up. It's a really terrible show
Technically it's horrible. The acting, costumes, CGI, script is awful. I mean Herod is like a bad Bollywood villain.
As for the story - Ugh! It's PURE FICTION.
Who greenlighted this project?
This show should be canceled because it's just BAD!