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rundmc1234
Reviews
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (2023)
Everyone's A Liar
I'm giving this series an 8 not because it's actually that good from a storytelling or filming POV but b/c it's "can't look away" tv. It's like a slightly more cerebral Jerry Springer show that goes on and on but is endlessly fascinating. Literally, almost NO ONE in this story is sympathetic and it seems clear that almost EVERYONE is lying or just a fantabulist.
To those who think Natalia is an abused, disabled person - I do believe she was abused. She is clearly disabled. But, so sorry - abused disabled people can still be liars and sociopaths. Virtually everyone who encountered her either wanted nothing to do with her after a short period of time and/or seems to be making up stories about how sweet she is (and that's only a few people) for the cameras or (like the Mans family) because they are possibly looking for a payday through civil suits down the way. The way she denies doing/saying things that numerous people have claimed (including many people with no reason to lie), then when confronted with other witnesses starts fake crying and deflecting was super suspect. And, yes - fake crying. She makes the motions of crying throughout this series but there are no tears. It's just weird.
Then, the Mans' as her new adoptive family - who claim she's the sweetest kid - but seem to get flustered when it's pointed out that they tried to dump her at a hospital too when she attacked their other kids. "No; I never said that; someone (like her former adoptive mom who had no reason to even know she was in a hospital until contacted) must have made that up." Hmmmm.
The Mans family is just odd. I'm really hoping they aren't con artists but there is something just off about them. And, no - it's not because they have a bunch of other adoptive children. It's mostly because they seem to be dissembling every step of the way. (Also, I have no problem with people who are deeply religious but chasing someone down the street saying they need to find God is an immediate "weirdo alert" in my book).
I won't repeat everything other posters have to say about Michael Barnett except to wholeheartedly agree that he's a histrionic buffoon. He seems completely unreliable about virtually every single thing he says. "Nuff said.
The so-called "legal expert" in the show was almost as insufferable as Michael. For one thing, I'm a lawyer but I don't know what a "legal expert" is. Is she a lawyer? Is she an LLM? A professor? I've never heard of someone who's a "legal expert" who isn't a lawyer. But, the one thing I do know is that she's trying to style herself as some kind of non-lawyer expert on the law and she gets an awful lot wrong about it but is also clearly an advocate for Natalia. That's all fine but don't try to say you're some unbiased "expert." Just say you're an advocate for disabled kids/adults. Whatever she was, she had FAR too much screen time and added nothing to the overall story.
The only people I could stand in this series were Michael Barnett's attorney who seemed super competent and had his head on straight and Jacob, the Barnett's son, who seemed to be as truly abused in his household as Natalia claimed to be.
Of course, the wild card is Christine Barnett. Wisely, she decided to steer clear of this train wreck which says something for her judgment. There is clear and documented evidence of questionable behavior on her part in the past but since we don't know her side of the story from her own lips, I reserve judgment on her.
I'm sure there'll be more to this story which is clear just from the very last scene alone. Despite the tabloid aspect of it, I'll still be watching.
Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed (2023)
Incredibly Poignant Documentary that Leaves One Wanting More
I cannot even fathom the torture that Roy Rosello and I'm sure other members of Menudo suffered for years. It also provides credible first person testimony that leads me to believe the Menendez brothers' stories in the original trial about their parents. (Not to mention that they had other people corroborate their story of rape and abuse at the first trial). This is a doc that just came out earlier this year. I'm hoping for the sake of all the boys who were tortured and raped by these monsters that it spurs others to come forward. That is why this is one of those rare documentaries that, I hope, will be an ongoing story.
I'm disappointed that others who reviewed this have focused on production values of the doc rather than the tragedy these boys endured. I know other reviewers have mentioned the sadness of the pain and terror these children suffered at the hands of monsters, but to spend so much time complaining that - Horrors - one has to "read too much" because of the Spanish dialogue or that the subtitles weren't to someone's liking (I thought it was very easy to read and follow - and I don't speak a lick of Spanish) is really the definition of losing the forest for the trees. And, in this case the "forest" is years long, repeated child rape. I mean C'Mon. Also, how far has our societal intelligence fallen that someone finds it a chore to read particularly for a story as chilling and gripping as this one. Sigh.
Can't recommend this doc enough. It's very tough to watch; but is one of the more important movies I've seen in a while - fiction or non fiction. Because I came away thinking - how many children are out there today suffering at the hands of powerful people in this industry and others?
Falling for a Killer (2023)
Come On Now Lifetime
Why, Lifetime? Just Why? I don't understand why they consistently set up a strong, smart, accomplished female character and then have her do all the dumbest things that even a person of mediocre intelligence wouldn't do. Let me count the ways that the central character - a "Yale educated ADA" acts like a moron:
1) Announcing in front of the whole family that her sister's fiance is a murderer without a) any evidence; not even any pictures or background of the person(s) who's allegedly murdered two other random people; b) without using the considerable resources of a DA's office to investigate someone she suspects of a crime - which she can do without conflict if she hands it off to someone else, aka, her colleague who suspects him too.
2) After being shot by the killer and surviving, she runs to save her sister - knowing that he is over at her family's house to kill her sister because (of course) he informed her that's where he was going in a long monologue before shooting her. She doesn't try to contact the police on the way there because of course, why would an ADA with a dad who is a highly regarded attorney in town call the police who would have been at her house in seconds given who they are when she can just drive all the way over there herself and fight a psycho alone?
3) Even though her family's house seems to be full of guns, she runs up on the psycho - having the benefit of surprise because he thinks she's dead - with what looked like a paper towel holder to hit him over the head. Um - really??!! Couldn't even have grabbed a heavy iron skillet?
4) Remarkably, when that seems to actually stun him and he drops the gun he's threatening her sister with, she doesn't grab the gun, she tries to run out of the room with her sister. Oops - who would have thought that wouldn't work? Again, this is an ADA who's supposed to work all day long with law enforcement..... To be fair, the "I'll hit you over the head and stun you but not grab the lethal weapon you have while you are out/on the ground" is pretty de rigeur for Lifetime movies.
5) Then, after an interminable time of stupid, the two dimwitted sisters finally manage to inject the psycho with a vial of poison he has (I know, I know), but again when he falls to the ground, they don't grab his gun. They also don't grab the antidote to the poison he TOLD THEM he has which of course he then uses on himself. And, this woman was supposed to have gone to Yale Law School? Then, again - probably IRL would be top of the class at Yale.
5) The main sister character is shot in the arm and in the chest (although not fatally) and the psycho killer stomps on her wounded arm and kicks her in the ribs, but dad says at the end hey - it's ok - she can go to the hospital in the morning. I mean, what's a little shot through the arm with a wound that's also been stepped on repeatedly; not like it's going to get infected or anything. Just take an advil and see the doctor in the morning - or not - maybe just walk it off.
6) Then, the evil brother of the psycho appears at the end and, of course, works for her dad at his law firm now. Do NONE of these high-falutin lawyers know how to conduct background checks on anyone??
7) A small thing but the outfit she was wearing at the end of the movie was entirely inappropriate for a DA. NO female DA would wear a skirt that short and think they'd be taken seriously. Sorry, I know it's 2023, but it's true.
Sheesh - I recognize the directors of these movies often mail it in because their names don't really get recognized. But, you'd think some of the actors would raise their hand and be like - "Um; my family and friends are going to see me in this. Can you tweek this script just a tad so I don't come across as such an absolute moron?"
Law & Order: Camouflage (2022)
I know it's fiction, but the L&O team used to do their research
Ripped from the headlines?? I have loved L&O since it first started. Watched every season. I'm catching up on this season and love Donovan on the show but this episode made me throw up in my mouth from the first 5 minutes. Could the writers or producers maybe check all the FBI stats from the last, oh I don't know, decade or so. They would find that white on Asian crime - of all kinds, including hate crimes - is infinitesimally low. Asian on white crime is similarly low. Guess what the FBI's own stats (which are based on national numbers) show with respect to violence against Asian people? I'll give the writers and producers 3 guesses since apparently they don't seem to know. (Although, frankly, I'm sure they do; they just decided to do their own part to contribute to misinformation).
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Gang's Still in Ireland (2021)
Love Sunny Always - But, C'mon
With the covid. Particularly the plotline that Dennis got it because he was unvaccinated. They don't let you into Ireland if you didn't get the injection. So this made no sense. (Maybe intentionally???) The funny thing is I bet virtually all uninjected people know that but the injected don't seem to be too aware.
30 Monedas (2020)
It's ok so far; we'll see
I am trying to stay with this series, but I have to admit that I'm having trouble staying interested. The whole "global conspiracy" foreshadowing just feels so done to death and I'm rolling my eyes. But, will keep watching unless it really goes down a rabbit hole.
And, to all the reviewers who just have to inject politics or rail against the "stupidity" of Americans or English speaking people - geez - let it go already. (How in the world does not liking this show having anything to do with the Capitol for example??!) Art is SUBJECTIVE. Just because someone doesn't like what you like or are currently obsessing over, doesn't mean they are dumb. It also may not have anything to do with their political views. They may just. Not. Like. What. You like. Thinking that a difference of opinion over a tv show tells you something about another person's intelligence or ideology says way more about your reasoning abilities than theirs.