Change Your Image
bwestbroker
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Chicago P.D.: Doubt (2019)
Halsted should be gone
Halsted is the only character I've never been able to stomach. From his first episode the temper tantrums.and suspicions of everyone on the team just keep escalating. Kept hoping it was a learning process but he never learns. He just keeps fighting everyone on the team..keeps choosing another team member to hold in front of the group as suspicious. As much of a controller as their boss is I doubt he'd have lasted 2 days let alone 6 seasons and he's never improved. I've watched The entire series several times and have grown to realise Halsted character more each time. By the time they finally got him off the show I was so suck of his childish tantrums I've given up watching. Since its ending I'll have to make an attempt to watch all the way through. Bet it could have lasted longer if they'd either disciplines him by rewriting scripts to improve him or just killed him off. He's NOT missed.
Chicago Fire (2012)
Hanako Greensmith has finally come out as gay
Once Hanako Greensmith finally came out as gay..instead of trying to force her into relationships with men who obviously never are able to create any kind of realistic response from her on screen..move ahead and find a woman partner that can join the firehouse even if its as clerical staff. Maybe as an open gay actress she can create a more realistic role than she has so far. I think they have often missed opportunities to be a lot more inclusive with their characters.
The other actress I was relieved to.see gone was Gabby. Either she had the WORST writers or the intention always was to.make her the most obnoxious woman alive. Nothing about her made sense..especially her relationship with Matt Casey..real fish out of water stuff there.
Cold Case (2003)
Such a terrific series with such a "nothing" ending?
I loved the characters in the show and loved how they never just dumped everything out in one lump but allowed their stories to filter out without interfering with whatever.the current show is presenting. My only actual complaint was the last show surprised me..it seemed to NOT be an ending. Was it handled that way because they were hoping for renewal or am I just not intelligent enough to understand what this ending was about? Unless these characters had commitments to new shows I don't understand why it seemed to be left.unfinished. If they knew it was done why not really tie up all the loose ends ?
From the Terrace (1960)
Can't really connect with this movie...feels like it's all over
Only movie I remember that had Joanne Woodwards hair and makeup done in a really attractive style. My problem.with her was always her really heavy.stomach rolling Southern accent which was in this movie at least smothered. Never understood the connection Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had but this movie made it believable for awhile. Paul Newmans second involvement seemed to appear out of nowhere just like his sudden.walking away from the business he'd poured himself into. Lots of beautiful clothes and scenery but not much connecting of the dots. Why his Dad couldn't accept him..when his Dad died.. he quit seeing his mom...no attempt to develop that storyline which seems odd. Feels like a story written by a first time writer..no development skills.
In Plain Sight (2008)
Why use Mary McCormack???
The show had great stories, great support cast but why the flock did anyone think.a cow like McCormack.with the kinds of lines she had would be a good thing? Trying to pretend she would appeal to ANY man was an astounding leap. On her best day she has the personality of a constipated cobra. Believing ANY.agency top heavy with men would promote or even let her work there is beyond the realm of possible. This was just a mind blowing example of really bad casting. Having her become SO.enormous during pregnancy and so obnoxious about food ALWAYS was inordinately distracting but emphasized that she had NO.qualities that made her beneficial to this show. Have made it a point to ignore anything with Mary McCormack in it.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Michelle Dockery was miscast
Loved the show and bought each year of the series but I never understood why Michelle Dockery was cast as Mary. Her accent was more pronounced than anyone else in her family..so that never made sense. They kept trying to present her as some BEAUTIFUL?? Intriguing woman who .is SO much in demand that it became ludicrous. Present a story line for her that makes sense or hire someone else for the role. She was a character with a position, the heir to an impressive estate but there is NO way this character SHE represented could ever be regarded as some in demand outstandingly beautiful woman. She WAS a woman who would inherit an estate,we were TOLD she was intelligent although nothing in her dialog or story supports that but most of the time she has a face that looks like her corset is tied too tight. Sybil actually WAS the beautiful smart daughter. Edith was kinder and smarter than Mary but constantly gets shoved aside for the character they want us to believe is the smart "beautiful" one. Finally Edith was allowed to shine..but never for more than a few seconds because for some reason were supposed to believe Mary is the "best" mother?,has the "best" marriage and is the one who deserves the most attention? So glad this movie finally took the focus OFF Mary ..if only slightly and made the story somewhere else. Although oddly they still try to turn the movie story around to recreate the fantasy "beautiful" unattainable Mary🙄Give it up! If we have to keep seeing her..make her a "person"..not some fantasy that simply isn't supported by how she looks.
Grimm (2011)
A longtime favorite
I enjoyed the way they handled "crime".. not too much nitty gritty like most crime shows but enough to keep the story flowing along. The ONLY character I had hoped would be written out was the awkward moving stone faced Juliette. Always wondered if she had been exposed to too much botox but that wouldn't account for her equally awkward way of walking across the screen. Never been able to figure out what the casting director thought she might add to the show because whatever they thought..never happened. When she became a robot that was the only time in her career that we actually seemed appropriate for the part. If she actually HAS a personality.. she certainly hides it well.
Les combattantes (2022)
Better tan expected..but.
For a French production this show was really brutal about French people in general. The primary characters were all interesting, great actors but there seemed to be very little caring about other neighbors outside what was demonstrated by the main characters. Discouraging to watch a show where the enemy is only slightly less brutal than what the French army and the various French neighbors were to each other. Hoping I can find the book tis came from to see if it's just as hard on the French as what this movie was. I've learned to accept that visitors to France often see them as cold distant people but tis view was new to me and hard to ignore while trying hard to like this movie.
The Crown (2016)
Seemed fairly accurate and clarifies so much
I've never liked Charles and despised his stupid infatuation with Camilla but seeing how off center he was his entire life made that easier to understand. Camilla was the mummy he always wanted and she wasn't any more attractive than his mummy. His ongoing verbal brutality to Diana was his first chance to BE the abuser the way he felt he had been ignored and abused by everyone except his equally ugly sister. Seeing this also clarifies why Harry really IS better off keeping distance. Considering the way their mother was treated Williams complete switch around to being Daddy's minion and letting his relationship with his brother be destroyed by his wife and his father is the one regret I have. Had Diana lived I believe the boys would not have been torn apart by the pettiness of these relics of humanity. Hoping Charles dirty deeds catch up to him before his first year is up.
Grace and Frankie (2015)
Graces oldest daughter gets less likable with every episode
This oldest daughter character bears no resemblance to her on screen parents and every time I watch.the show I find myself hoping they'll kill her off and make the show more enjoyable. Given her lack of jobs after this show wrapped apparently she wasn't very popular . I really wonder if she was related to someone on this set ..because nothing about this character or the writers who wrote the script exhibits anything about this character.that I could manage to find even slightly likable. By my third viewing of the series this character became the single most obnoxious and unwatchable person on this show.
In & Out (1997)
Loved everything except Joan Cusack
She's an odd looking person but many of us are and eventually she even appeared "attractive"....but only when she was SILENT. That "VOICE" is a whole other problem. I love the movie but what was amazingly painful is that soul shattering squall that comes out of Cusacks mouth. Why was it so essential.to.have one person among so many terrific actors who makes you want to mute the movie or simply shut it off. Are there awards for those who survive her soul shattering screeching and make it through the whole movie? I'm learning...now Ill search for cast first and make sure I NEVER.have to hear that voice again.
Providence (1999)
Why haven't they managed to provide ALL.the episodes for sale?
Despite the obnoxious Joanie ..this show is worth having in its entirety.... yet they haven't after all these years managed to put the complete set together to offer it for sale? What is the point to offering 12 episodes out of 90 plus that actually were part of this series? The acting isn't the best except for Mike Farrell but little kids don't really seem to care. They're fascinated and involved with the animal stories and although many don't understand the people issues at least they aren't seeing people being abused or hurt. Instead they're seeing people acting oddly,being noisy,being overdramatic...but generally not unkind..and that's worth having as a complete set for kids to enjoy.
Ghost Whisperer (2005)
Great idea...really poor wardrobe choices
The show had some great stories and great potential but some how got hijacked by someone who decided to create a show to demonstrate that despite Melinda Gordon's fat hips and chunky legs...she had breasts that NEEDED to be displayed ALL the time. This was a small town setting...with a woman owning and running a business ...where you really don't expect to see a woman wearing low cut dresses ,night gowns, no coat in the dead of winter.... God forbid... couldn't cover up the boobs! Appropriate that her next big role WAS playing a hooker but its sad that the powers that be allowed this show to be run off the rails because they seemed to believe no-one would tune in WITHOUT having Melinda breasts hanging out 24/7.
Any Day Now (1998)
Annie Potts voice
I loved the stories covered in this series but was constantly cringing over the sounds coming out of Annie Potts mouth! The younger versions were more tolerable but suddenly we have the screeching mind numbing grown up ME and the suddenly overly pompous black friend who was also over projecting her voice as if they were on stage in a cornfield! The quality and topics of the stories in this series WERE so terrific and so far ahead of most television offerings that I kept trying to find ways to tolerate the awful noise created by their lead actresses. Annie was just as bad in Designing Women but by 2020 seems to have finally found some cintrol .
Torn Curtain (1966)
The story has potential..lead actress choice was a fail.
Using Julie Anrews really bollixed this up. She looks and sounds the same no matter what the story is..same hair..nothing changes. Hate redos but this one might benefit by having it.
Grantchester (2014)
I've stayed through all of it..
Makes no sense to keep seeing these vicars constantly drinking ..and the smoking??Gummed up the first vicar by having him dump his long time love to run off to America with a black woman? Now the new vicar is involved with and in bed with some tramp he met in a bar who's engaged to his friends boss? The writing just makes no sense. It s like an ongoing demonstration that English vIcars really have NO idea what their jobs actually are and are only interested in women who won't fit in with the vicarage life. This series had such potential...like Call the Midwife. They stretch their boundaries but they don't lose sight of how to get back. Such a shame...love the characters..love the area...the potential for long term was there....but Grantchester just can't find the path.
Not Since You (2009)
Great cast...had potential
Kathleen Robertson has such a plastic unrealistic face .. SO much makeup it's a shame they made her the focus. All the other actors feel and look like real people.
The Calling (2014)
Tacky show.
Why did we have to see Sarandon always eating?? When I could get past the ugly eating scenes ...there seemed to be a story but the roadblocks they put up were.astounding. Sarandon as a slovenly character...with an ugly attitude.. I can live without.
The Time Traveler's Wife (2022)
Great male lead...female lead is a dud
I enjoyed the book and the first movie. The male lead is terrific but the female lead doesn't look...walk..or .sound like some well bred young woman...more like a last minute fill in for some other actress that was supposed to do it. She's a bit. TOO "rustic"for this role.
When the Bough Breaks (1994)
Why were there hands??
The premise is find out who the hands belong to..but never addressed WHY hands were cut off or why they were sewn on the twins. Were they both born WITHOUT hands? All the time wasted.on scenes in the hospital yet even at the end...NO explanation about why HANDS were being cut off and sewn on these two chikdren.
The Time Traveler's Wife: Episode #1.1 (2022)
Hoping for better
The story was worth watching but not giing for snither episode. They failed to find a good female lead. The female lead is like someone from a remote farm in Iceland...not some woman raised with endless money. She still plays like she's a wild thing on Game of Thrones. The first movie also failed with their choice of female lead. Last I checked..there still are actresses that can play intelligent ..without screeching...and... not look like farm hands. Shame...I enjoyed the book.
Queen of the South (2016)
Switch from Brava
This show needed better exposure.. hate to see it dropped.
A Golden Christmas (2009)
Completely stupid movie
As several have already mentioned..the dogs have little to nothing to do with this movie and the lead actress is a person I had absolutely no ability to "find" an affinity to.The two lead characters were completely mismatched for this movie since she ALWAYS seems to have a "edge" and the male lead was just a nice,simply guy. SPOILER ALERT!!!!! The other thing that confounded me was having the dog be pregnant.and yet NO ONE ever noticed?Then this dog gives birth..out in the woods...supposedly in the snow..and the two "leads" look up and SMILE instead of packing her up and taking her home??THEN we have the stupidest ending EVER...the "dog"...who has given birth to pups...simply goes outside and they WATCH her run off into the sunset??? WHO the FLOCK comes up with such inane,unconnected movies and tries to pass them off as "family" movies??
Anything But Christmas (2012)
Horrendous
This movie is so tedious and idiotic...and NOT in a "funny" way.It's as if none of the actors were given full scripts to work from..no one speaks in complete,understandable sentences and WAY too much time is wasted on ....what I PRESUME.... is supposed to be funny spots?Conversations never seem to come to any clear conclusion.I have actually watched it in its entirety..hoping there would be SOMETHING worthwhile at the end....but there was no tie ups...no explanations for the lead actress's very odd behavior and little more to explain the lead actor's hatred of Christmas.
To make it worse.... the lead actress LOOKS and SOUNDS like Nancy Grace which is just too much for anyone to HAVE to tolerate for over a minute.A complete waste of a movie.