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Reviews
Citadel (2023)
Health Warning
This has to be the worst television production that I have ever seen in my 60+ years of enjoying tv drama. There are no redeeming elements to give this anything higher than the generous 1 out of 10 that I have given it. It is simply an insult to mans intelligence to expect us to make any sense of storytelling within this concoction of time warped mini events. I had to watch the complete series fully in order to confirm that what I was watching over a few days was indeed a "spy" drama and not a 21st century remake of Leslie Nielsen's NAKED GUN. This series had been recommended to me by an old friend, so I can understand that there are people out there who are desperate enough to find solace in this form of entertainment. I can only take comfort in knowing that I still have the ability to separate dross from art radiating from my fifty inch tv at the age of 73 years. I worry for my fellow man today when this level of entertainment becomes a common theme that pervades our senses.
Babylon (2022)
Elephant was hilarious
The elephant deserved best actor oscar as he/she produced the best laughter response from me at a critical part of this movie. He/she brought a new meaning to the modern form of streaming entertainment. This movie along with Everything Everywhere and ..whatever has convinced me that these movies only succeeded at picking up awards because there were no worthy competitors out there and they had to give the awards to somebody. Armed with that knowledge I can safely continue to avoid waisting time browsing those movies made post Hitchcocks passing. One can only await the renaissance of movie storytelling.
Rooney (1958)
A Coincidence or Not??
My mother brought me to a Dublin cinema to see this film in 1958. Aged 8, I came away with the strains of that theme tune, Rooney O in my head, only to haunt me for six decades, searching for that film until now. For anyone growing up in Dublin in the 1950s, these scenes of old Dublin will stir wonderful memories of a different time.
As an aside.... I found a comment here on IMDb in reference to the opening scene voiceover given by Barry Fitzgerald in relation to the unchanged O'Connell street scene. It had grabbed my attention also and I wondered if it had been an observation that was added in a later re-release of the film, post Nelson Pillar demise in 1966.
' - - - the dawn broke over the old city and everything was pretty much as it was the night before - and Nelson's statue still stood in O'Connell Street - - - .'
The combination of B&W film footage and a simple honest story will always enhance the imagination.
The Death of Stalin (2017)
New form of Satire??
If you thought this movie was comedic, then you haven't experienced real satire like Monty Python. I am over 70 and I found this new form of very dry satire quite challenging to enjoy. Maybe it's a my generation thing, but I did try to embrace it's style and I did find myself laughing at it in parts, particularly Jason Isaacs role. I did think that the comedy element was below the frozen surface most of the time overwhelmed by the repetitive scenes of rounding up of traitors to be shot which did labour the Stalin point somewhat.
I am a die hard Monty Python follower as are my two sons, which is why they bought me this movie, given that Michael Palin was involved in it, but one python does not make for a comedy season, I'm afraid. I did feel that the underlying satirical attempt had failed in the script due to it's writer following a tried and tested 70's/80's formulaic recipe, which does not translate in the same way today. I would not recommend this movie to those who grew up in the early years of Python or to those who belly ached over Frank Drebin's antics or overdosed in character comedy of Neil Simon's Murder by Death. This movie sadly just got lost in the wilderness of Stalin's Russian Steppes.
His Dark Materials (2019)
Ruined by the last episode.
A wonderful multifaceted series that holds your attention throughout its two and a half seasons. Excessive story stretching ensues midway through the third season and then it falls into the abyss when it bolts on that final episode. Not only does it hobble the complete storytelling, but it leaves you with a horrible gut feeling of sadness and loss. My advice is to simple ignore the last unnecessary final closure as it will leave you feeling very cheated and not as you might think, leaving it open for a fourth season. It could not have ended on such a dark note, ensuring you would not want to return for more. You get a sense of completion during the final three episodes and wonder if the budget had to be spent one way or another ruining the overall enjoyment of the production.
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Last Vegas (2013)
Another wasted talent
Great opening scene with the only genuine comic in Kevin Kline. The best part of this movie, whereas all the remaing footage is a forced failed attempt at directing those once great artists with such an abymal script. I will make it a point of avoiding all these actors less the aforementioned KK when considering their roles in movies after 2005, as a matter of course. I did enjoy Mary Steinbergen's role and how well she sang, and looked, devoid of any visual cosmetic surgery, a rarety these days.
My overall impression of how this story was hobbled together reminded me of the frenetic antics of those once great characters of yesterday cinema, the Marx Brothers. Had it been done in B&W, it would have been a great homage to that bygone era. As it finally came to an end, my suspicions were realized that a followup was afoot and Im hoping that these comments are taken into account before another lame duck is added to the soup.
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2022)
For Evans Sake
Stop making these drawn out mini series that try to encompas the contents of a book, resulting in a mess of screen written confusion, Some stories translate well to the screen, but this one is a total failure. Over acting due to poor directing draws the attention away from the storyline. Havent read the book, means that I will not be in any hurry to do so due to this mess. Hugh Laurie...stick to acting.
Ted Lasso (2020)
Awkward and forced acting.
I find my senses being assaulted by this form of entertainment. Yes, I stook it out and watched from the sideline while my partner found some value in watching the first season, but I could not find anything of value in this form of comedy.
I may be a highly critical devotee to the genre of comedy for over 60 years but this a travesty of acting.
The Kominsky Method (2018)
Self Distruction Writing
Why oh why would the producers destroy the premise of a great story by killing off Alan Arkin, the foundation of a great friendship/the essence of this story...I'm baffled! The End.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Misleading Video Clip
Lead to believe that with the main cast of actors this would be a comedy. Turns out it had sinister undertones and no comedy at all, at least up until an hour into the movie. Gave up watching due to lack of any story or direction. To those who insist on explaining the story to other confused viewers, please let us try and work it out for ourselves. Again, i say, if it doesnt work for the average viewer after 15 minutes, then it has failed to capture its audience. Movies should stand on their own and not need a manual.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
Gave up after an hour.
I have to keep reminding myself of the old adage, if it doesnt capture your imagination within the first 15 minutes then abandon it. Believe me that works most of the time. With two top actors in it from the start, I allowed it a longer leash, but gave up after an hour. Im from the sixties and enjoyed all that it had, a start, a middle and an end. This movie was like a broken record, just skipping back and forward, not going anywhere. Pity!!
The Highwaymen (2019)
Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful
You can bet it will be a snoozfest once Kevin Costner has a hand to play in its production and you can be guaranteed it will never let you down in the yawn department.