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liddylewis
Reviews
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
***Big Spoiler Warning!***
Banshees of Inisherin was beautifully filmed, brilliant acting--but JFC! What an absolutely sh... premise for a movie. "Yes, please, I beg you, make my life as f...... miserable as possible!" The fingers were gruesome, but it was so upsetting when Jenny died from swallowing them!!!! And that old woman...she was sort of a soothsayer, but mostly just a nosy damn neighbor with piercing eyes and a walking stick. The actor who plays the policeman was a passive-aggressive wimp in The Clinic, so it was interesting to see a different side of him. Yes, the cinematography is exquisite, the actors are beyond brilliant, but WHY???? Why did anyone think this could possibly be a good idea?!
The Clinic: Episode #7.8 (2009)
This is maddening!
I had to hunt for half the episodes. I finally found them on an odd little channel. Just watched the final one in series 7. After all the depressing stories and ridiculous scenarios, which I watched because I kept rooting for some of the characters, it ended. That's it. A chaotic final episode, stories whirling around and then: NOTHING. A complete nothing burger. AND WORST OF ALL there was Dan, the most obnoxious, self-serving, terrible character of all. How I wanted him gone ages ago. BUT NO! He was right there up until the last scene. There were two characters in medical distress that we never get to find out about. Just great. If you read this before you watch the entire series, heed my warning: You will walk away disappointed.
The Wonder (2022)
Walking Knee Deep Through Mud
Only to discover that when you finally get through it, you're too exhausted to be relieved.
This movie hurts my brain.
I read several reviews, which were on a vast continuum, which lead me to believe it's an uneven movie, but there's promise.
Turns out, any promise at all lies in fabulous acting, particularly by the lead, Florence Pugh. Too many other marvelous, seasoned actors were woefully wasted by their meager parts.
As much as I wanted it to, all the great the actors in the world could not hold up this mess on their own.
If I could rename this one, I'd call it, "Little Surreal on the Prairie," because in the end it's not much more than superstition and a really bad story pretending to be an art house movie. Just because it's abstract, that doesn't mean it's good.
The end is simply preposterous. Sadly, the entire movie is simply preposterous.
After Life (2019)
I'm not crying, you're crying
I didn't want to watch this. I thought it would be the usual Ricky Gervais snark fest. Well, there is some of that-he just can't help himself. But, much more than that, this was one of the most cathartic, moving, lovely things I've watched in a very long time. I really did laugh and cry throughout the entire series. If Gervais never does another production in his entire life, he's done himself as proud as anyone can be. Ok, yes, I'm gushing and it's disgusting. Let me put it this way, if you're ever going through some things and you need some stark reality combined with laughter, poignancy, and a few really gross things (really gross-especially those two guys), I cannot recommend After Life enough. Thank you, Ricky Gervais.
Inside Man (2022)
Intriguingly Awful
Really?!! How I wanted to love this! I mean come on, David Tennant and Stanley Tucci should be a no-brainer that we are about to watch something superb. It's been stated by others: great cast, starts out as many such stories do, unfolding, twisting, turning-quite beautifully...but then, the story goes off the rails. Was the writer trying to be edgy or avante-garde? It's the kind of show that I'm either going to have to watch again 3 more times to finally get it, or I'm just going to walk away forever in disgust. The build up is great, the actors are sublime, but please! The last episode is terrible. What a shame!
Persuasion (2022)
I Had My Reservations
But, curiosity got the best of me, and now I'm glad. While it surely is sacrilege to modernize Jane Austen, this is not a bad attempt. The script is tiresome, the writer trying to be as clever as Jane. However, the cast and director pull it off. Most notable, of course, is the deliciously over-the-top Richard E. Grant, who has taken too many mediocre roles to pay his tax bills. He's better than that. I thought, surely no one could possibly satisfactorily compete with Corin Redgrave's Sir Walter Elliot (1995 version), but Grant does do the role proud. Dakota Johnson carries the modernized Anne well; no easy task, as this modernized character has become too jaded and vile, as to drown any aspect of romanticism in her nature-both Amanda Root and Sally Hawkins had better scripts to work with. Her paramour, Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis) is not nearly as steamy as one would like (see, again: the 1995 version, Ciarán Hinds). For Britcoms fans, it was fun to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Bale (Janet Henfrey). Overall, it's quite the diversion, if not taken too seriously.
Annika (2021)
A Good Maritime Detective Yarn
There is precedent for suspension of disbelief, as in talking to the audience. It's a technique that works well in this case; partially, IMHO, because Nicola Walker is an actor of extraordinary subtlety and skill. Annika is isn't as noir, nor as cozy a mystery. It's somewhere in between. The often utilized plot line of detective moves and struggles to begin anew with colleagues and troubled kid(s), could become tired, however this series handles it well through engaging direction and dialogue. It's worth watching.
The Larkins (2021)
I thought I would hate it!
After all, how can you top "The Darling Buds of May"?! Despite all the negative reviews, I watched anyway. It stands on its own as a delightful, escapist tale of a large and boisterous family who endears themselves to almost anyone they encounter ("almost"- no spoilers, except to say she ends up a 2-fisted drinker). It's for anyone who needs a laugh and a few warm, over-the-top small village tales.
Benidorm (2007)
Funny, but...
Every American who thinks the Brits are Downton Abbey needs to watch this. Having spent time in England and welcomed visitors from there here, I can testify this is a more accurate portrayal. The show is funny, but with one dimensional characters, and painfully embarrassing situations, it gets old fast.
Offspring (2010)
Well, that was good-and then I cried
When it was all over, I was thankful for this series, and yes, I did tear up. I'll miss those characters in all their flaws and missteps, but mostly for the lessons they learn. These characters, each one of them, matured and in turn represented real life lessons. Nina, with all her messy romances and foibles; Billie, always running, scattered in the wrong direction; Jimmy, from slacker, to dad, to proud business man. Those three siblings, plus all the friends, family, and coworkers surrounding them are multifaceted/terrible/wonderful/warm. I'm grateful that in the end, so many things were stitched together well. I walk away from this binge watch knowing it will always be one of my favorites.
On the Rocks (2020)
Wow! So much hate
I thought this was charming. Bill Murray a low-key, flirty, interfering dad with lottsa money. Rashida Jones becomes his sidekick in this misadventure. They race through Manhattan and Mexico to find out the truth about her husband. Some funny, silly moments. Tender ones, too. I don't mind the way it wrapped up as so many others did. People are so jaded.
The English Game (2020)
Looks promising but...
...without subtitles I can't understand what those British people are saying. To bad. I'm sure I would have liked this in many ways. Especially since Julian Fellowes is one of the writers for this series.
Curtiz (2018)
Bad choice Netflix
I do think I'd enjoy this movie a whole lot, as I am a movie buff-and what movie buff doesn't like "Casablanca" and the idea of a fanciful movie about the making of? But, would it have been so difficult for Netflix to provide subtitles for the lengthy Hungarian portions of the movie? Simply stupid.