stan_tee2 Reviews

Marcella (2016–2021)

Huh?

[1/10 · 19 June 2018]

So it seems there are perhaps only 20 people in London, England, and they're all connected to each other. The spoiled rich guy employs the boxer whose sister works for the nursing home that houses the brother of the murderer who's the mother of the detective's kid. The detective's ex husband is living with another nurse who also works there. Meanwhile, for some obscure reason, the wife of the spoiled rich guy is using the boxer and the guy next door to the murder house to blackmail her husband. And the same wife is sleeping with Marcella's boss, and Marcella is also sleeping with him. And that's not all of it. There's more.

As thecrearofman has noted, the storyline is just plain stupid. All the red herrings that lead nowhere are discarded in favour of the least plausible, most unbelievable denouement imaginable. In fact, the only thing I would disagree with thecreatorman about is whether or not to watch any possible season 3. No. No way.

Carnage (2011)

Disappointing

[4/10 · 4 January 2012]

I expected so much more from this movie. But where was the scintillating dialogue? Where were the zingers between speakers? It was all so basic and obvious. That said, though, the performances were spectacular. Jodie Foster, especially, was wonderful. From the moment we see her on screen, we appreciate how tightly-wound she is, how hard she's working to keep up appearances of being one half of the "perfect couple". Her disintegration is spectacular.

Next, kudos to Christoph Waltz. He is at his best when he's cynical, but the scene where he loses "everything" is a bit overplayed. While he certainly carries off the image of little boy lost without his toy - his lifeline - I think it was too much. I blame Polanski - or perhaps the playwright? - for this.

Finally, the ending ****SPOILER ALERT***. Too pat, too Hollywood. Did we really need that feel good denouement?

In short, great performances, but an overall disappointment.