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Reviews
The Miracle Club (2023)
Depressed? You will be.
3 stars of wholesome appreciation for the technical lighting and the grace of Laura Linney, who was beautifully portrayed throughout.
Otherwise, only a few moments of light hearted relief at the start showed promise amidst an excruciating journey of Irish Catholic toxicity. (I can say that).
Watch and enjoy this film if you have no experience or bias towards the systemic cruelty of Catholicism in Ireland in the 20th Century and its pervasive integration into later generations who continue to bear the cross.
If on the other hand, you are of Irish Catholic descent and are all too familiar with the cruel ideology of shame that was thrust upon "inappropriate" pregnancy and its outcomes, then do not watch this film if this matter is emotionally charged for you.
If you will be triggered by the impact of Suicide, fear of Breast Cancer or feel upset by the questionable portrayal of ASD; then do not watch this film.
Similarly if you are triggered and still trying to heal from Catholic guilt, misogyny, shame, and the ritualistic bullying that is inherent within the somewhat incestuous matriarchal cliques by the altar, then please believe me, stay at home.
I am really serious. The frivolous billing of this film is erroneous.
Detectorists (2014)
The most beautiful series ever made
Oh my God. Let me mourn, for it is over. Mackenzie Crook has written, directed and starred in the most beautiful and gentle series about human compassion, friendship, love and unrelenting respect for life.
It's a delicate gift to us, with woven stories of hope, frustration, jealousy, inadequacy, joy and adoration; we are just content to be pleasantly present as wildflowers along the roadside to observe it unfold.
Through each episode, we share and care about the layers of lives lived, past and present.
I usually belong in the grip of gruelling thrillers and deep psychological dramas; but this series instead, continues to soar into warm summer air to consume me, even after its completion.
You simply cannot watch the Detectorists:
You become a detectorist; so graciously embedded within their fragments of beautiful humanity, where it's summer all year long in the briar and brambles.
I loved it! Please watch it. You'll love it too, I promise.
Nope (2022)
Nope. The only horror is that I persevered.
Honest to God, this film is sparse, misguided, incongruous, infuriating, flatulent and teeth pullingly painful. The total combined dialogue would fit on a postage stamp. The abrupt chapters collided instantaneously to negate all meaning and the feeling overall at the conclusion, was as though I had eaten a rotten walrus when I'd been promised a Mr Whippy. What the hell. I don't think I've ever hated anything so much. I gave 2 stars however, for the aesthetically pleasing imagery in the last 5 minutes. The rest of it will remain with my memory of having a gastroscopy without sedation. Horrific.
The Watcher (2022)
Exhausting
Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the talent of everybody involved from the cast through to production. It's just that the story is so ridiculous that it leaves you feeling dissatisfied. It could have been 3 episodes shorter, by cutting out irrelevant dialogue and dead ends. I just feel annoyed and cheated!!
The copious swearing in it is visceral and relevant: unusual for the genre, but appreciated.
The pottery stuff is irrelevant, and there are too many loose ends such as the dumb waiter, the pigtails, the unnecessarily angry policeman, the dead animals, the satanic cult, and the letters. The plot felt like it was written as a school play with great actors obliged to carry the chalice.
Pieces of Her (2022)
Jesus suffering christ
My god it is like pulling teeth or getting blood from a stone. There are 1.5 likeable characters out of 20 or so. Pointless dialogue ruins poignant moments. Depressing, stiff, irrelevant tripe and yet I watched it to the end. I've only got myself to blame.
The Outsider (2020)
Jesus
Agh I'm so exasperated!
I sat all the way through that; expecting some kind of medal via a satisfactory ending, that would make up for the tedium of 10 hours. Alas, no.
It's dark, slow, pointless, and
nonsensical in the face of logic. I'm so mad at myself for sticking with it.
Taineun Jiokida (2019)
Brilliantly horrific
Throughout most of this, my hand was over my open mouth. It's utterly shocking and terrifying in a way that's similar to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film.
I've watched (and loved) tonnes of k dramas and Korean films and this has the narrative punch of Oldboy, none of the innocence of Mr Sunshine and the familiar frustration of an overall inept police force.
Absolutely incredible cinematography, soundtrack and casting. I absolutely loved it (but I had to watch it in the morning only with tea and toast because it was so disturbing!!!!) Aggggghhh the twins and the pervert. Mother of God! I shudder....
Don't miss this.
Us (2019)
Ignore the low ratings if you're intelligent
This film is a work of art. The cinematography, sprinklings of humour, moments of utter terror, suspense, alternative theories... Oh and the musical score combined with breathtaking acting made this a film worth its 10/10 rating.
My daughter and I almost changed our plans by falling for the low ratings and negative imdb reviews - but the metacritic review was high, so we went to the cinema anyway. Thank goodness. If you're intelligent and creative then go and see US.
Miseuteo Shunshain (2018)
Unmissable
I cannot believe how incredibly rich this Korean Drama is. As others have said, the first episode seems confusing, but stick with it and it quickly falls into place. It's more profound than Shakespeare and all of the characters will become part of your heart as the show takes you through the heartbreaking and brutally cruel narrative of the Righteous Army, cultural hierarchy, friendship, love and war in Korea at the turn of the last century.
The Exquisite cinematography is captivating and powerful. So too is the directing, acting, writing, costumes and music throughout the 24 episodes. You'll be fluent in Japanese and Korean by the end.