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Reviews
Safe (2018)
Long and drawn out to its detriment
Netflix decided to stretch this series to eight episodes when it could have been condensed into two! Michael C. Hall was wasted on this tripe. The plot goes round and round until it comes to its conclusion, by which time it did I had lost the will to live. Very disappointing. It's almost impossible to say anything positive about it to bulk out the review, apart from the fact that Michael C. Hall chose badly when he accepted this part after Dexter, which was his crowning glory. There are so many series streaming these days, but I can't recommend this one. It's eight hours wasted in my honest opinion.
The Resort (2022)
Absolute tripe!
I had great expectations after reading some of the reviews but this was just a load of tripe. It wasn't remotely funny nor entertaining, just a concept that went nowhere. I watched the whole 8 episodes too....waiting for something to happen. The acting was mediocre and the storyline implausible. I can't understand why it would get such high ratings. People must have low expectations of what constitutes a good movie these days but I can't even think of anything else to say about it to fill in a 600 character review. It was that bad. Moral of the story, don't go pot holing in the jungle. Do yourself a favour and give this one a miss.
Under the Silver Lake (2018)
I watched it and wished I hadn't bothered
Usually art house films are interesting and this had a slow but promising start but it was confusing, meandering and very disappointing, particularly at the end. The only thing I could say when it finished was WTF?!
The Wrong Patient (2018)
Scraping the bottom of the barrel
Don't waste your time with this badly acted movie. The plot is weak and the acting hammy. It makes 'Acorn Antiques' look like an Oscar winner. Never heard of any of the actors in it and for good reason.
Evidence (2013)
The Blair Witch Project knock off
This film is abysmal. Apart from the shaky camera work reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project, it lacks any credibility or depth. Poor acting and script. It gave me motion sickness. Not recommended.
The Undoing (2020)
Noma for an Emmy!
Worth watching if only for the outstanding performances of Noma Dumezweni and the master of his craft, Donald Sutherland. Both set a flawless high standard but Kidman and Grant we're wooden in comparison and not so convincing. A good binge watch though, especially for a rainy afternoon.
Destroyer (2018)
Underwhelming performance from Kidman
Nicole Kidman was totally miscast in this movie which required a more gritty and convincing actor in the lead role. As others have said, her wig and make-up were awful, coupled with a wooden acting performance, this was a very disappointing film. As she ages, Kidman's acting ability is overshadowed by her lack of facial expression which is entirely due to the cosmetic work she's had done. A character actor like Charlize Theron would have been a better choice.
World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji (2020)
Over-long and repetitive
This series could have been reduced to five episodes without missing any of the action. Whilst the film showed Fiji off to its best (and worst) and showed how gruelling the race was, it didn't feature many of the teams involved and disappointingly failed to show the final results table. It also left us wondering if the injured contestants made a good recovery. Having said that it was good to see the tenacity, strength, agility and camaraderie of the teams involved and the scenery was spectacular, but it would have been a better series cut to half the number of episodes. There was too much repetition on the stages and it was badly edited. The winners were revealed by episode eight making the last two episodes just a quick round-up of the tail-enders. All respect to the contestants though....they were magnificent.
Boomers (2014)
Oh dear....
This was like an American sitcom but without the canned laughter. The idea was good....a group of boomers venting their spleens at one thing or another but the script was dire and the acting left a lot to be desired. You could almost envisage their cue cards off camera prompting the (delayed) punchlines. A shame really. Re-runs of 'One Foot in the Grave' would be a better choice.
The Trouble with Maggie Cole (2020)
Truly bad all round
This series showed promise in the beginning but ended up a farce. It's all been said in other reviews....a poor script, implausible and cliched storyline, which does nothing for Dawn French's career, because she always seems to end up playing a parody of herself and it's wearing thin. She just isn't funny in this drama, nor is her character endearing. Even her husband (Mark Heap) is a parody of Hugo in the Vicar of Dibley series. The exterior location shots were wonderful though, but it's not enough to prop up what is nothing more than a very silly PC Am-Dram production.
The Lightkeepers (2009)
A perfect setting is not enough
This has to be the worst film of Richard Dreyfuss' career. The Cape Cod setting is wonderful but the storyline is pedestrian and the acting is particularly bad. Mamie Gummer tried her best with the little she had to work with, but as for the rest....such a shame.
Godfather of Harlem (2019)
Rapping in the 60's?
Not a patch on 'American Gangster', though it tried hard, but the rapping soundtrack didn't help. Even Forest Whitaker looked bored after the first few episodes. A bit disappointing, as this was a good story with some die-hard mob actors. Having said that there were some superb performances from Nigel Thatch (Malcolm X) and Giancarlo Esposito (Congressman Powell). An interesting look into the roots of NOI and BLM.
Bosch (2014)
Totally watchable
Titus Welliver owns Bosch! This is a great series and one of the better crime dramas I've seen in recent times. Good characters, well acted and the cinematography around LA is spectacular. Each season has a different storyline but is centred around 'Bosch' the leading detective, his colleagues and family. So many good performances from the cast, who portray their individual characters perfectly and the soundtrack is a bonus. I loved it.
Rome (2005)
Up Pompeii?
I had high hopes of 'Rome' after reading the reviews but was very disappointed after watching the first episode which was poorly acted and relied on the shock factor of nudity and sex scenes. It is showing its age and with so many more historical dramas on offer, I decided to not waste my time. I switched to 'Medici', which was different kettle of fish altogether and well worth watching. If you invest your time into a multi episode series, then choose wisely. A drama has to grab you in the first episode and sadly for me, this one fell short.
Truth Be Told (2019)
A good idea but poorly acted
The actual storyline was good but some of the acting was appalling, particularly 'the twins' played by Lizzy Caplan who really should go back to acting school. The split screen filming didn't help but her acting was wooden compared to Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Michael Beach and Ron Cephas Jones who all gave credible performances. The casting director should have chosen another actress to play the twins because Ms Caplan was less than convincing in both of her roles and the result was not much better than an average Hallmark movie.
Defending Jacob (2020)
So, so slow.....
The storyline for this drama is good but in reality it is spoiled by the script and lack of pace. It would have been better made into a movie as the series was very long and drawn out. Michelle Dockery tried her best, but it wasn't enough to carry what in the end was a below average whodunnit.
This Is Us (2016)
It had such promise....
This Is Us started out well and I was hooked until midway through the first season when the storyline became repetitive and tediously drawn out. I found myself thinking I couldn't care less what happened to the protagonists in the end. Some great performances by Sterling K Brown and Ron Cephas Jones, but it all got too pedestrian and I gave up before I lost the will to live. A shame because the story could have been great had they wrapped it in one season or around 10 episodes.
Save Me (2018)
Just dire....like watching paint dry
Lennie James is a brilliant actor but was wasted in this series which had the pace of a snail. The storyline was absurd and the series inconclusive. Very disappointing because it had potential, but the writers let it down.
The Windsors (2016)
Nothing to laugh about
Just awful, hammy acting and unfunny....I couldn't even finish the first episode.
After Life (2019)
Gervais at his best
This is a brilliant and sensitive portrayal of bereavement, with a smattering of irreverence thrown in. Gervais is a master of insight into the human condition. Just watch it and see.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
Disappointing....but hooray for the dogs!
Better to sit and play a computer game for two hours as this movie turns out to be just another repetitive and boring shoot 'em up. Kung Fu is so old hat and Keane Reeves is wasted in this. The best scenes were the ones involving the dogs, who were brilliant.
Marriage Story (2019)
Very pedestrian
Watching this movie was like wading through treacle. Despite the best efforts of Adam Driver I kept clock watching. I think Scarlett Johanssen was miscast in this role and Laura Dern seems to play the same 'character' in just about everything she's been in, so no surprises there. Just disappointing. The moral of the story ....when it comes to divorce, the Lawyers are the only winners.
Trial by Fire (2018)
Thought provoking
This was a well acted and thought provoking film which should challenge anyone's opinion of the death penalty and the serious flaws in the justice system. It was quite a long film, but worth watching.
9-1-1 (2018)
Ham and cheese
Great special effects but the acting and storyline are unbelievable and straight out of the Ham and Cheese Playbook. Too many cliches and too PC for my liking. You can fill the screen with big names but it doesn't always translate to reproducing good drama. Very disappointing.
The Stranger (2020)
Confusing and implausible
This series started out well....a wee bit 'am dram' but then it got progressively worse, not helped by the complex storyline and the hammy acting. It was full of holes and so disjointed it was hard to follow. There are explanations on the Internet....it sounds like the book is better than the Netflix series. Summed up....it's a Suburban Whodunnit meets The Famous Five (teens)....with a very implausible and poorly acted storyline. Not recommended.