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Brad's Status (2017)
Could have been great, but...it wasn't
I am a HUGE fan of Mike White's work; writing, direction, and production. His segments in Freaks and Geeks were astonishing, and Freaks and Geeks was one of the most perfect television shows ever produced. Brad's Status is very much like a Woody Allen film, characterised by a self-absorbed, angst-driven and narcissistic protagonist's self-pitying reflections on his grievances and inadequacies. Furthermore, Ben Sloan is a repellent creep who hopes for the imminent death of his in-laws to facilitate payment of his son's private university tuition. The main problem is that Ben Stiller was the wrong choice of lead actor. No matter what role he plays, he is basically the same character, Ben Stiller, whether it is Meet the Fockers, Zoolander, or Curb Your Enthusiasm. And speaking of which, Larry David would have been fantastic as Ben Sloan. Sadly, he is too old..
Saltburn (2023)
Act Three makes absolutely no sense
Are we expected to believe that Elspeth carried a torch for Oliver for 14 years? And that Oliver wouldn't have created his own life and family in that time? And that he was completely free to go to live at Saltburn upon Elspeth's invitation, with no other obligations? And that he somehow engineered it for her to have a terminal disease? And that Elspeth, a former model, would have inherited that massive historic estate, with all its furnishings and treasures, to do with as she pleased?
And, going back a bit, that hateful Farleigh wouldn't have exacted revenge on Oliver, for having sodomised him and then ruined his life? And that Venetia and Elspeth would have ever been attracted to a repulsive little troll like Oliver?
It beggars belief.
Uncoupled (2022)
Very worthwhile, if you like Darren Starr
With a Darren Starr offering, you know what to expect. A number of people have dismissed this show as unrealistic, but it's not meant to be a gritty slice of life. There are certain elements which ring very true, ie the human reactions of someone in middle age who's been unexpectedly and inexplicably discarded by a long-term partner.
Other things are implausible - Harris would not be able to attract sexual partners of that calibre so readily; Michael's grieving process would take a lot longer than depicted; he would be unlikely to be able to afford the Grammercy Park apartment on his own, and the grubby reality of current New York City is not shown at all.
But the show is well-written, enjoyable, and worth watching. One very funny aspect is that Harris' lines seem to be coming directly from Woody Allen!
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Good movie that quickly fell off the rails
Darryl McCormack was a delight to watch...but the delight ends there. Although I imagine it was quite unrealistic for a sex worker to be so patient and compassionate with a client, I loved seeing Leo's suave skill at his job. Unfortunately for me, the film became preachy in its sex positivity message and also quite unrealistic. Nancy admits she rejected older potential lovers in favour of Leo's youth, beauty and sexual prowess. As other reviewers have pointed out, if the sexes were reversed, the same message would be distasteful and unacceptable. An interesting side note is the drama that ensued when Nancy breached Leo's boundaries by cyber-stalking him and later offering to intercede with his mother!!! The last scene with the former student/waitress was just embarrassing to watch.
Ten Percent (2022)
Embarrassingly bad
The French series is so polished and the characters are so well-drawn that this one, which might have seemed better, otherwise, really suffers in comparison. Jack Davenport's Jonathan Nightingale cannot compare to Thierry de Montalembert's Matthias Barneville. Despite his lying and manoeuvering, he just seems like a man bumbling his way along, lurching from crisis to crisis. (And his chainsmoker's voice is really grating, as he draws out his vowels.) The London setting seems drab and nasty compared to central Paris.
Go back and re-watch the original.
The White Lotus (2021)
Mike White is clearly a John Waters fan
Edited to add - Judging from episode one, season two is going to be great! Some very dark comedy here, beautiful sets and art direction. Fans will be pleased. Hopefully no gratuitous shocker-disgusting scenes!
This is one of the best-written, -acted, and -produced series in recent memory. It deserves all the accolades it has received. Special mention to the musical score and Murray Bartlett's performance.
But for me personally, the rimming scene and the defecation scene were two bridges way too far and added nothing good. John Waters would have been thrilled.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)
A brilliant film
Watch it and think about what Woody Allen is saying. Our lives are a cosmic dance; an interaction between chance, timing, reality and our often delusory beliefs.
Woody Allen is a master film maker.
Fedeltà (2022)
Stylish, interesting show that goes downhill
This is a classic tale of a faithful wife who is betrayed by her husband. But it gets a modern spin because the betrayed wife goes on to have a more fulfilling life after her marriage breaks up, whereas the husband ends up lonely and regretful.
Nice cinematography of Milan, convincing actors. However, I was very put off by Margherita smirking her way all through the last episode to show that she was doing fine.
Lots of gratuitous sex.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
The good, the bad, and the ugly
The good - The set design, the costumes, the lighting, Rachel Brosnahan's beauty, Marin Hinkle's performance,
The bad - The writing, the hammy overacting, the completely unfunny 'comedy.'
The ugly - the belligerent foul-mouthed gargoyle Alex Borstein who is given far too much screen time.
Being the Ricardos (2021)
A disappointment
As I am sure other reviewers have pointed out, there is much that is wrong with this film - too long, poorly edited, not much of a story - in a word, boring. Most disappointing of all was Javier Bardem's performance as Desi. Desi Arnaz was handsome, charming, magnetic. Bardem just looks old and tired.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
This is not actually a vampire film..
I have read about a dozen of these User Reviews, categorised as most helpful. Out of all of them, only one got the point - this is not a film about vampires. The characters' portrayal of vampires is only a metaphor for the real story - the reality of living with a serious drug habit. Jarmusch shows every salient aspect of addicts' lives - the tedium, the secrecy, squalor, disorder, the alienation and lack of connection to any other reality but their own, with only their own kind; a life punctuated by violence, danger and death. Above all it is dominated by their ever-present hunger for their drug of choice, and the difficulty of obtaining it. Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton and John Hurt do a brilliant job in their roles; the cinematography and lighting are very effective and the locations are perfectly chosen. For me, the only negative was the endless reference to various artists and scientists which I thought was pretentious and unnecessary.
The Revival (2017)
An interesting premise that was taken too far
This film just went too far, with the gruesome slaughter scene at the beginning and the vicious attack at the end culminating in murder. A lighter touch, eg, the church henchman just tying up the helpless drifter and putting him on the bus the next day, would have been more effective.
Shelter (2007)
An Enjoyable Gay Cinderella Story
There is a lot to like in this film...if you like Cinderella/Pretty Woman stories. Despite having gone to an elite prep school on a scholarship, Zach has a bleak future of service jobs and family obligations ahead of him. All he has is his art and surfing to compensate. He gets to know gay Shaun who offers him a way out and a chance to realise his dreams.
But there are some problems that are not addressed in the film. First, although we are shown that he is bored with his on again-off again girlfriend Tori, there is no indication whatever that he has ever been emotionally or sexually attracted to men.
Although they share a love of surfing and Zach basks in Shaun's validation, how much of his decision to live with Shaun as his lover is motivated by his need to escape his terrible life? And isn't Shaun just a little bit creepy exploiting Zach's need for rescue?
What will happen to Zach and Jeannie's disabled father with Zach and Jeannie gone?
When Jeannie returns from Oregon, with or without her loser boyfriend, will she want Cody back?
Given how needy Zach and Cody are, how will Shaun extricate himself if he decides he doesn't want to continue with Zach?
Also - I personally disliked Zach placing his artwork on public and private property. Street art=graffiti.
The Serpent (2021)
So much is wrong with this series...all unnecessary
The main fault has been pointed out numerous times, namely the repeated breaks in continuity, so that it becomes almost impossible to follow the story. It serves no purpose except to annoy and confuse the viewer.
Second, the character of Knippenberg, who is supposed to be on the side of justice and morality, comes across as a deeply unpleasant monomaniac in his obsessive quest to hunt Charles Sobhraj down.
Third, although I realise that people smoked a lot more in the 70s than now, it is repellent to watch almost every character smoking heavily in nearly every scene
Fourth, Jenna Coleman. Although she is a competent actress, her terrible French accent and numerous close-ups of her wide pudding face and lumpy skin are annoying.
5/10
Rifkin's Festival (2020)
No, just no
Wallace Shawn as a romantic protagonist is utterly implausible. Too old by (very) far, unattractive mentally and physically.
Gina Gershon paired with Louis Garrel is only slightly less implausible.
Murphy Brown (1988)
So incredibly lame!
80s-style sitcom with lame jokes about current topics. Even has a laugh track. Blechhhhhhhhhh....
Trois couleurs: Rouge (1994)
Ridiculous premise and a moral wasteland
Despite the accolades and awards, despite Jean-Louis Trintignant's acting sills, this is an incomprehensible film. The elderly protagonist Kern is a twisted stalker whose sole occupation is spying on his neighbours, and who has no concern for his injured dog. The other protagonist, Valentine, exercises no judgment over this and is seen raising a glass with Judge Kern. I gave it a four star rating for excellent production values.
Silicon Valley (2014)
Still a great show, but desperately misses Ehrlich
Unless they bring Ehrlich back, this show is going to die a quick death....
Younger (2015)
Much the same story as Sex and the City, but even less plausible...
Any show by Darren Starr will be stylish, entertaining and very much of its' time and Younger is no exception. Like its' predecessor Sex and the City, this show features a plain, average Everywoman who achieves success in New York City by dint of hard work, luck and good friends.
Like Carrie, Liza is very relatable. And like Carrie, by the end of season 5, Liza has beaten all her competitors and carried off the prize, a wealthy successful publisher who adores her, and two companies competing for her services.
We are on Liza's side, because she has been so cruelly excluded on the basis of her (not very) advanced age. But some things do not add up, and you really have to suspend disbelief when watching Younger or switch off entirely.
Such as - how could anyone think Liza was 26, especially other 26 year olds? Why was Sutton Foster given the role?
How could Liza not be bored rigid by Millennials Kelsey and Lauren, and especially needy, dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks Josh? And why did the Milllennials choose to spend time with Liza and Maggie?
How could she work in such a high-profile field and not be exposed immediately?
How did she not have a network of friends and family with claims on her time?
Why did Caitlyn have to attend an uber-expensive college like Vassar if money was a problem? Or, why couldn't she get scholarships and student loans?
Pauline threatened revenge against Liza; why didn't she dig up Liza's past and expose her?
How could anyone be attracted to an inked-up loser like Josh?
Why is each segment only 22 minutes long?
Having said all that, Younger is quite entertaining!