gabriellekatz Reviews

Untold: Malice at the Palace (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

Yes, this was VERY informative.

[10/10 · 26 November 2022]

Although the number of times news reports in this called the black players "thugs" drove me crazy bc white kids wd be called "punks" - at worst. The fans were totally out of line. I remember when the is happened as well - but seeing as they only showed limited/edited footage - I thought the players were in the wrong. I'm so glad I watched this docu and got the real story. I found it to be very moving, showing a maturity that a bunch of black kids from the poorest ghettos are not going to have innately. Like when the guy says "why can't they learn how to act normal?" I'm thinking you mean white suburbs normal or do you mean Detroit fans-normal? Bc they're from the ghetto - it's a cultural difference!

Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul (2022) Season 2, Episode 4

Worst of the series

[5/10 · 25 November 2022]

Letting this schmuck defend himself & lie (although some counterbalance is given to his lies, it isn't always) is offensive. I hated this guy when he got caught - I hate him a million times more now. He's a total scumbag - and delusional liar - who admits he started betting long before he started giving picks to shady bookies who worked for the Gambinos. So when he suddenly claims he "never fixed a game" he's so full of it! And he's mad that his longtime friend - who got subpoenaed- was halfway honest with the grand jury (after he tried to cover for Tim & got charged with perjury). Scumbag of all time.

ALSO how did he only get 15months? He really thought he was only going to get probabtion? I get that he blames the higher-ups like NBA commissioner David Stern but he is such a sleaze-bucket. And when he gets asked if he earned more money than he reported to the gov't he answers, "I don't know."

Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson - American Crime Story (2016)

Better-than-expected docudrama of the "Trial of the Century"

[10/10 · 10 September 2021]

I am old enough to have lived through the original events - and therefore did NOT expect to enjoy this partially fictionalized series. However, with the exception of Cuba Gooding Jr as OJ Simpson (terribly miscast, much too slight & lacking charm), every other actor was exceptional! Courtney B Vance knocks it out of the park as Johnnie Cochran, as does Sterling K Knight as Christopher Darden, and the rest of the ensemble. Even the actor playing Fred Goldman was smack-on! I gave it 10/10 stars, despite the fact that Gooding really never sold me as OJ whatsoever... not in body-type, nor in personality. However, the ensemble cast made up for this!

Bling Empire (2021–2022)

Notice that ev bad review on here says they only watched 1-2eps

[10/10 · 18 February 2021]

And everyone who watched the whole thing loved it - b/c there really is a lot of personality & character development"... I despise the kardashians, real housewives - I'd rather eat glass than watch even a minute of those shows, but THIS show was highly enjoyable. Also so many ppl calling everyone ugly - yes, the older woman, Anna, has fillers but guess what? It's not easy getting older. I thought the show had a ton of heart. I'd like to not see Awful Andrew the Toxic Monster again - but otherwise come on with season 2!!

Billie (2019)

I scored it a 6 to encourage further docus about Billie; not bc this one is very good at all.

[4/10 · 6 January 2021]

Every bit of video or audio of or about Billie is amazing but this docu is so oddly and awkwardly put together with so much focus on this Jewish New Yorker woman who compiled many interviews and meant to write a bio but died before its completion. The amount of screen time spent either on billie's drug use or on this unknown writer woman made for one heck of a disappointing experience. More Billie!!! Not the least bit insightful and this writer's family must've insisted much (MUCH) of the film center on her. Which, when we're talking about Lady Day, is a criminal waste of opportunity. I wdve scored it lower except that I want to encourage more works about Billie Holiday - and if this film gets scored very low that might scare future projects away.

Billie (2019)

Too focused on this woman who meant to write a bio before she died, not enough focus on BILLIE!!

[4/10 · 6 January 2021]

I don't know whether it's interesting or not that this intended writer of a bio on Billie - starting out just because she was a fan - like the rest of us - is white, Jewish woman but the amount of time this docu/biopic spends on the writer, who never completed the work before dying, is ridiculous and uninteresting. Way, Way too much screen time devoted to this other woman's life - which, when you've got footage and interviews of and about LADY DAY BILLIE HOLIDAY - it's mind-boggling to devote so much time on this one woman's attempts to write about Billie. Very odd style and underwhelming - which only left me desperately wanting to see and hear more of Billie and much less of this other distracting stuff. Badly done. R.I.P. TO THE LATE, GREAT BILLIE HOLIDAY.

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

1st of 3 Paradise almost films - but users know you must then watch a stunning FOURTH!!

[10/10 · 17 December 2020]

After you watch these three Paradise Lost films, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF to find a follow-up film called "West of Memphis" that you will simply not believe. I put off watching these films because I wanted them to have as much closure as possible - and I remember when these crimes happened - although they barely made the national news back then. What a wild, WILD ride. Unbelievable in so many ways. It was only after finishing the Third "Paradise Lost" docu that I found "West of Memphis" and it is equally jaw-dropping.

Twisted Sisters (2018–2020)

No go for you, Greedy Kardashians. Please go away.

[1/10 · 28 November 2020]

Badly done bc the kardashians are only ever in anythg for their looks or their bottom line. Let's stop supporting these people's greed and delusions. Do better.

Effie Gray (2014)

Surprised they didn't show more about this true story

[8/10 · 25 November 2020]

Effie went on to marry Millais and together they had EIGHT children. They style and mood of the movie was lovely, just so much left out - most of all nods to it being a true story (or notes at the end explaining their later marriage - (Effie & Mallais) or the many portraits of her and of her younger sister Sophie, who is also featured in this film. Just fell slightly flat and definitely a bit short.

Callas: A Documentary (1978 TV Movie)

Unbelievably unflattering, as if a woman's only bad, horrible ex was able to write a bio of her whole life from his ugly perspective

[1/10 · 15 November 2020]

UNIMAGINABLY DISRESPECTFUL. Shockingly rude, terribly bad. The things the men and snobbish women say in this documentary were so ugly, so unflattering and hideous about her, if not about her "ugly" singing voice than about her BODY ("like a pachyderm" "a body which CERTAINLY NO ONE WOULD WANT" "born ugly" "obese, disgusting" and then, when she loses 80lbs in a year (while still a TEENAGER/young woman)"loose flesh now hanging about her like a bag" (while showing her looking beautiful and amazing throughout), "she tried everything to reabsorb the flabby skin - but never succeeded entirely" "her ankles were never to be saved"... on and on. FOOTAGE FROM THIS FILM DISPROVES EVERYTHING THESE HORRID PEOPLE ARE EVEN SAYING! oh, I was so furious I couldn't finish this. It was repulsive! Rude, disrespectful, the absolute nerve! And UNTRUE - all of it!! Having previously watched a different documentary right before this one, one without bias and generous and kind but truthful (READ: respectful but honest) - she never has bad ankles, she's thin her entire life apart from a few photographs of her in her late teens slightly chubby - but having gone through more trauma and sadness in her life with abandonment of father, mother's love, husband's love all hanging on her success - and all of that is before Aristotle Onassis! A female costumer even goes so far as to say that her middle-aged loser of a first husband was the genius behind trying to make the best of a bad situation with her body and face - and that callas should be grateful. Absolutely ridiculous and to hear from snobby women and clearly unattractive men for 2hours about how hideous this BEAUTIFUL CREATURE WAS - I could not be left more befuddled or repulsed. I screenshotted nearly every frame bc no one wd believe the actual dialogue in this man-splained and RUDE bio. (And I have never noticed "man-splaining" before - until some man in this explains why callas' first marriage was very good and that he did all of these things for her own good - as if her own opinions on the subject are worthless!!! ABSURD. TEN THUMBS DOWN!!! WATCH ANY OTHER DOCU ON CALLAD AND WATCH VIDEO OF HER (in color elsewhere, B&W in this) - singing beautifully (her voice called ugly over 20x in this movie) and being radiant with the most expressive eyes ever seen and an absurdly slim body her entire life, right up through wearing bathing suits in her 40s and looking 20-years younger and being thin as a ballerina until her death at 53. This film is slander and couldn't be meaner-spirited if it was made by a disgruntled ex- that she mistakenly overestimated.

Amanda Knox (2016)

SO biased towards Knox (& cruelly indifferent to the real victim) that it must be a PR-dream

[4/10 · 2 October 2020]

I'd surprised by other comments here that she is some leftist cause célèbre - I am extremely liberal and I cannot stand this girl, her narcissism, her wealthy defense team and obvious PR crew - and I was VERY disappointed they did the actual VICTIM, Meredith, much attention at all. Amanda Knox is no hero, perhaps ppl find her attractive and cannot reconcile that with what she seems very obviously to have done. A less biased, less Amanda Knox-centered narrative would have been very interesting. I, for one, will NEVER forget her being in the police station regarding her murdered roommate and turning CARTWHEELS. I cd've been convinced either way as to her role - but I found this Very Knox-centered (and 'poor-me attitude') along with the lack of compassion for the true victim extremely off-putting. A good documentary is unbiased and searching for the truth. This was honestly like a PR film from Amanda's wealthy & popular support system. A girl was MURDERED. She deserves more focus, more explanation as to Knox doing cartwheels in the police station while "finding out" or even processing that your roommate was MURDERED- and I felt it was Off The whole time, only to learn that it really was set up by Knox's team. If she is looking for sympathy - it just illuminates her narcissism & perhaps sociopathy. So little respect given to the girl who ACTUALLY DIED - in a terrible way. I hadn't seen much compassion from Knox in small interviews before, but this film shows that she wasn't just reacting oddly, as many ppl do to a traumatic event, but that she truly is THAT self-centered, narcissistic, & sociopathic at the very least. For a PR stunt, I hope more ppl see past her average-to-pretty face and see her for what she IS.

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)

SOMEONE WORTH KNOWING ABOUT! Great biopic of an amazing & very fascinating woman

[10/10 · 10 September 2020]

I love coming across & learning about super-fascinating people whose stories are sadly undertold/unknown... So many people led remarkably interesting lives that just don't make their way into the history books - truly fascinating & amazing people whose lives & effect on the world get lost in the sands of time... Madame C.J. Walker is EXACTLY this kind of person - a true hidden gem - a woman who made such a HUGE impact on the world really, but whose life story unfortunately became little-known & rather obscure. She is someone I was fascinated to learn more about - played to PERFECTION by Octavia Spencer - and fabulously brought to life in vivid color & detail. Coming across people exactly like this - and "meeting them" - as a good book or history or biopic enables you to do - is one of my absolute favorite things. This is definitely one of those stories that you wish more people would stumble across - and that I wish more people knew about her & her story. So many unsung, brave, fierce, exceptional people are lost to history - and I love that they made this series, & brought attention to this little-known, but remarkable woman & her very cool story & accomplishments. It's a shame when you know a person or a story is just so niche & obscure that most people will never learn about them - so I love that they highlighted this fabulous, strong, INTERESTING & well-worth knowing person. I thought it was very well-done, colorful, vivid and full of life, and it's an amazingly good match for Octavia Spencer. It's one of those stories & portrayals that you wish MANY more people would watch than probably actually will. So ANYONE WHO LIKES "MEETING" an under-known, interesting, and unsung figure from history, pop culture, era- & boundary-busting - PLEASE GIVE THIS A TRY! Highly entertaining & one of Octavia's best performances. The colors & LIFE in living color really jumped off the screen for me. Tell a friend!

I Am A Killer: Released (2020)

Horrible Man; does not deserve this 2nd chance

[5/10 · 1 September 2020]

Manipulative, self-pitying liar. Extremely unlikable. I watch a lot of Innocence Project-type shows and always go in with a great deal of sympathy for both sides, but this man managed to become more reprehensible with every episode. Finds ways to totally justify his horrible actions and the entire show was infuriating to watch. Very bad example of someone getting a rare second chance - and I know all the ways the justice system can be awful. I could not STAND this man. I was curious by the end.

The Family I Had (2017)

Spoiler - information shared after this documentary

[10/10 · 22 May 2020]

The mother admitted in a book published recently (and after this documentary) that the son, Paris, violently sexually assaulted the little girl before killing her to cover up the crime. There are also disturbing revelations about the act - but it was extremely violent and sexual in nature - which wasn't revealed in this documentary. Paris had watched hours of violent pornography & snuff films before attacking his sister, and there is physical evidence that he did sexually attack her while stabbing her "slowly & methodically"... It also turns out that after the murder, Paris first called a friend and spoke to them for 6minutes BEFORE calling 911. These are things Paris has apparently admitted to. Lastly, Paris says that he chose not to kill his mother because her pain would be over faster, and that leaving her without Ella would prolong her suffering. He also apparently attacked Charity during a visit after this - slamming her into a concrete wall and choking her, releasing her only to get a better grip & smash a table into her, choking her again. She says that Paris is "a monster"... Chilling.

Taking Fire (2016)

Heart-stopping real coverage during combat

[10/10 · 29 January 2020]

I've seen many documentaries about various wars and battles, but with a couple of helmet-cams and one of the deadliest locations in the region, this show might be the "realest" one of all. I love "Restrepo" and many others; I SO admired the war correspondents & journalists filming in such danger - but this isn't at all buffered for the safety of the camera people. This unit gets fired at, bombed every single day - no safe place to hide - and bc you're watching from the helmet of an active participant, you run, you hear gunfire and can't tell where it's coming from, you turn and suddenly see a buddy injured or worse. It's not close to the action, it's IN THE ACTION. Highly triggering for anyone with PTSD, but for those who don't - I consider it must-watch bc the very least we can do is be as close to what these soldiers felt and faced day-in and day-out. Journalists have to have some sense of safety - they're so valuable - even though obv many die... but I've never felt the adrenaline & fear & REALNESS as I did watching this excellent show. Just from watching 5 episodes, you get a small sense of how daunting, torturous, terrifying & psychologically affective & damaging being in this situation for 24hours must be, much less for months on end. It is as close to the real feelings and heart-pounding moments and frustrations and faces as a 5-episode piece could be - and I was grateful for the chance to watch it. Most of us can never really imagine what war is like - or even different wars (Vietnam vs Afghanistan for example) - but this was the closest experience to it & it quadrupled the awe (and reservations) I have for the kids & men sent into a battle like this. Heart-pounding and VERY well-worth watching. It's kind-of the least a civilian can do, and humanizes troops and forces in a way few docuseries have.

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

DEF best viewed as a companion piece to the highly-detailed 2011 book "Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century"

[7/10 · 27 June 2017]

While the film blends reality with imagination - the 2011 book "Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century" is an extremely detailed and thorough telling of the story and an invaluable source for more specific details as to the events depicted in this film. The film is lovely and full of imagination, but the book's straight-forward details, and the less-fantastical and astonishingly true-life events as they occurred, is required reading for any fans of this film or of the writer Anne Perry.