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Reviews
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Read the book
Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the very best books I have ever read. Consequently, I was pleased to Iearn years ago that it had been optioned by Scorsese and looked forward to the finished product. I may be misremembering but I thought the initial intention was to film it as a limited series. Unfortunately, the finished product is far too long and quite poorly edited. Additionally, an inexplicable decision was made to mess with perfection and completely invert the focus and propulsion of the source material. I had to wait to screen it at home as I could not physically sit through something this long in a theater without an intermission. On the plus side, this allowed me to yell at the screen whenever I felt compelled to do so in the privacy of my own living room.
I cannot recall any previous DiCaprio performance that I did not enjoy. Perhaps this one is the exception that proves the rule. He is woefully miscast and makes some very distracting choices. For example, the visage he adopted continually reminded me of the village idiot character who appeared in numerous Monty Python sketches. The original plan to cast him as the lead FBI investigator would have been a much better fit. But then the screenplay was rewritten and he switched to Ernest - a truly disastrous decision that contributes massively to the failure of the film..
My 7/10 rating is for the elements that do work exceptionally well: the cinematography, set design, and soundtrack. Beyond that, I consider the film a missed opportunity to present a shameful moment in American history in a meaningful and memorable way.
The Noel Diary (2022)
Location location location
I was hoping this would be a cut above the Christmas movies Hallmark cranks out every year. I've also lived in Connecticut for most of my life and was interested to see how local sites would be incorporated into the story. Other reviews delineate the story flaws so no need to pile on. However, the first time Bridgeport was mentioned I was hoping it was some other Bridgeport because I had a feeling Bridgeport CT would be misrepresented, and I was right. Using a Westport house to represent a home in Bridgeport because the towns are in the same county is ludicrous. I've seen this happen in other films and it is laughably inaccurate as well as distracting for anyone familiar with the area.
Bad Sisters (2022)
Trigger Warning
Bad Sisters is mostly enjoyable and the performances are as good as can usually be expected from UK-based actors. Although I was able to guess whodunnit early on, getting to the big reveal was still entertaining. However, one thing I always appreciate about UK productions is their mastery of succinct storytelling. This one was uncharacteristically bloated and did not need to be stretched over ten hourlong episodes. I found myself becoming impatient with the pacing and the series of near-misses. And for those of us who have learned to worry when a pet turns up onscreen, that dread is well-founded here.
This Is Us: Saturday in the Park (2022)
Confused
Kate refers to her 70 year old mother on what is supposed to be the 10th anniversary for Rebecca and Miguel. So they didn't marry until she was 60?? If that is the case, Kevin's occasional hostility toward Miguel makes even less sense because Rebecca would have been unmarried for at least 15 years after Jack's death. It seems as if somebody dropped the continuity ball.
Ordinary Love (2019)
Painfully realistic
During the last months of her life, I helped one of my dearest friends transcribe her cancer journals. I completed the task for her after her death, and I recognized so many of her experiences in this film. The details of navigating one's personal relationships while enduring the poisonous effects of cancer treatment were among the truest I've ever seen depicted in screen. Bravo to everyone involved in putting this project together.
The Outsider (2020)
Too many episodes
This series starts out incredibly strong and comes to a satisfying conclusion. However there are too many episodes in between that are slow and somewhat aimless. If their plot points had been combined and presented more efficiently the show would have easily earned a 10-star rating. Top-notch performances from both leads and most supporting roles.
This Is Us: Strangers: Part Two (2020)
Siblings can be vicious
I've always said that no one can hurt you as deeply as a sibling can. They know you so well that they can place the knife precisely where it will do the most damage. As a sister with two brothers, the down and dirty exchange near the end of this episode felt appallingly realistic to me, and so did the intimation of forgiveness. It's a primal love/hate thing.
6 Balloons (2018)
Authentic
As the older sister of a heroin-addicted brother, I identified with the relationship between the characters in the film. Not fun to watch but worth it.