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Young Royals (2021)
Absolutely incredible!
This show is absolutely amazing! It is cast incredibly well with teens or near-teens rather than adults as seen in similar shows. The characters Wilhelm and Simon come from different worlds and are beautifully portrayed by Edvin & Omar. Their on-screen chemisty and off-screen chemistry is amazing and makes this better than any other similar series with the same subject content. Anyone will fall in love with the show and their characters and leave you waiting in anticipation for season 3. If you've seen the show and loved it - make sure to seek out interviews and candid stuff. These actors are incredibly talented and multi-faceted. Wise beyond their years.
Tokyo Vice (2022)
Time to watch a show you've heard little about? Make it this one!
I heard about Tokyo Vice while watching the FIFA World Cup in Australia. It is about to be released on free-to-air TV here. As a person who hasn't been to Japan but used to be a regular at a Japanese bar in Perth, where my group of friends formed great friendships with the staff, I immediately wanted to watch the series. People I know have travelled to Japan and have shared their experiences and from what they've said, this show is exactly how I picture it to be.
Tokyo Vice seems so authentic from the outset, as we see Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) inserting himself as a westerner into Japanese culture. It focusses on the true story of a young Jake, who moved from Missouri, USA to Tokyo to teach English as a second language and later, apply to work for the country's biggest newspaper, as a fluent Japanese-speaking westerner. He begins as a low-level crime reporter and quickly starts finding out about the distrust of westerners in Japan and the blunt inaccuracy in journalism.
It is shot beautifully, providing an insight into Jake's early Japanese life, where he is working long hours and travelling from place to place in a hurry. It sheds light on the nightlife and importance on career and family.
After a little time, Jake starts making a name (not necessarily positive) for himself at the paper and later, finds himself thrust into the underworld of Tokyo's Yakuza. He quickly finds out that he can't necessarily trust those around him and that everything works on a transactional basis.
The series is so entertaining to watch. It is easy viewing, with a lot of action scenes and a lot of pleasant in-betweens. You'll find yourself intrigued as to what Jake will be up against next as he develops relationships with the staunch-with-a-friendly-side Sato (Shô Kasamatsu) and police detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe.)
I had trouble stopping watching all of this series in one sitting. You want to see what happens next as you become akin to the very likeable Jake and the people that surround him.
Overall, the show presents a great overview of what I imagine is an almost-authentic Japanese cultural experience.
The show was renewed for a second season in June 2022 and can't come quick enough!
One note: Show is mostly in English subtitles - if you're not a fan of subtitles, you may struggle.
We Are Who We Are (2020)
Set to be another Luca masterpiece
In true Luca fashion, the directing is amazing and the scenery is stunning.
The first episode follows Fraser (played by Jack Dylan Grazier) and his family moving into a US military base in Italy.
Fraser is a quirky, troubled teen who we get to learn a bit about. His interactions and journeys around the base and outside of it make him a loveable and curious character.
The soundtrack, like in Luca's Call Me By Your Name, is extremely brilliant.
While the episode doesn't seem to have any particular direction, once I finished it, I wanted to watch more. Can't wait for the rest of the series.
The King (2019)
Timothee Chalamet shines as Henry V
This Netflix-produced movie is a standout with brilliant casting of Timothee Chalamet as Henry V and Joel Edgerton is superb as well.
The screenplay, writing, historical accuracy and violence of battle make the movie a treat to watch; but Chalamet's portrayal of a young Henry V is definitely what makes this film. Even the slow parts and dialogue show his natural acting talent and depth if character. He brings passion to the role as well as vulnerability and as people already know, he is one to watch for big things in the future, already having established himself as a household name in Hollywood at such a young age.
The film mixes betrayal, friendship, political and emotional connections very well, and pieces it together in an aesthetically pleasing film. Watch it, it's long, and you'll probably learn something about history you never knew. You may not rate it as highly, but you'll be the better off for seeing it.
The Handmaid's Tale: Liars (2019)
Incredible! Best episode of the series!
It's been feeling recently like this season had lost pace, though this episode makes up for it; and then some. The series is quite heavy generally, but in this episode, there is some payoff for the victims in the series. It sets the scene for the upcoming episodes to end out the season. If they are anything like this, it'll be incredible!
The direction, scenery, dialogue and screenplay in this episode alone is superb. It has it's horrifying moments like some other episodes, but you'll end up just wanting next week to get here quicker!
Then Came You (2018)
Asa Butterfield shines. An emotional ride.
I recently decided to watch this after having seen Asa Butterfield's role in "Sex Education" on Netflix and thinking he was an amazing actor. His work in this film is no different.
The story lacks substance in some parts, but throughout the movie, you grow attached to the relationship between Butterfield (Calvin) and Maisie Williams (Skye.) The story is cheesy in parts and at times Williams put me off, but there's no denying Butterfield's depth of character in that he conveys emotion so well, albeit awkwardly at times and makes the viewer fond of him.
The film contains some great heart-warming moments, some which we can all identify with while still providing the occasional laugh.