matthewconnell-60609 Reviews

Best Interests (2023)

Aligning one's ethical compass

[8/10 · 21 June 2023]

I'm a single guy with no kids so there's no way I could ever truly empathise with these parents.

What I can comment on though is how incredibly well the core characters have been crafted, warts and all. I found myself swinging from loathing Sharon Horgan's character to rooting for her and her unrelenting quest. She is not a martyr though. She is flawed - like all of us - and her character can be so polarising at times. However, at the core is a truly brilliant performance. Michael Sheen is great as always and T'nia Miller (uncredited???) continues to show her brilliant acting chops. I'm obsessed with her charismatic performances.

What I loved most about this limited series is the fact that sometimes we, as the audience, are not meant to view in black and white but instead feel squeamish, sympathise,, hurt deep in the gut, be angered and unsettled, take sides, lose faith in those sides, reposition our own compass and, at the end, leave with soulful wonderings after the credits roll. This is what top class storytelling is all about.

It's not a 10 for me but damn, this is fine viewing.

Succession: Connor's Wedding (2023) Season 4, Episode 3

This Episode Will Stick With Viewers

[10/10 · 12 April 2023]

I've watched this episode three times now over the past two days and the impact it has left on me is overwhelming in all senses of the word.

In a time where audiences are rarely shocked and entirely engrossed, along comes S04, E03 of Succession. I keep checking in on the update of the IMDB rating to make sure it is still a 10. I'm willing viewers to keep it this way!

Upon reflection, I come back to the title: Succession. It's more than fitting that the remaining episodes in this landmark series will catapult us into the thrilling stakes of what this will actually entail and I have no doubt there will be some brutality along the way.

I know for sure I'm along for the ride and I now wait with trepidation to see how it all plays out.

A truly tremendous episode that will go down in tv history as one of its very finest.

Moneyboys (2021)

Not Great

[6/10 · 9 April 2023]

I tried so hard to stick with this film, needing to watch it in three parts.

As other users have said, the cinematography is beautiful and it has many redeeming productive value features.

What is critically lacking though is any real reason to get behind the main protagonist Fei. Although he is claimed to be selfless, this really doesn't translate to the film.

Fei is often moping and locked in his own spiral of melancholy. It's difficult to root for a character who doesn't give the audience much to work with!

While not a bad film by any means, at times it can be a real drag to watch and invest in.

Queen (2022)

What this world needs now is heart warming :)

[9/10 · 3 July 2022]

Boo to the haters. I'm a gay expat living in Poland and I know with confidence that this is what the country, if not the world, needs more of. Bravo on all levels: The music, writing, acting, cinematography, accurate depiction of the grittier aspects of Polish life and most of all the humour are all on point. Superb!

This Is Us: The Train (2022) Season 6, Episode 17

Ugly Face Crying

[10/10 · 18 May 2022]

I pretty much sobbed throughout this whole episode that I had to pause it several times to get through it all. What an amazing penultimate episode to a series that has kept us putting puzzle pieces together for years. I so hope this will be always be ranked up there with the highest rating episodes of any series for years to come. A masterpiece.

The Thing About Pam (2022)

Not for me

[4/10 · 23 April 2022]

I don't know what it was - because I really stuck at watching this series week after week. Maybe it was the production value, maybe it was (naively) wanting to see a better outcome (again naively because I know it is based on true events), maybe it's just a lack of belief of R. Z's performance... this series just didn't respond with me. It happens!

An American Hate Crime (2018)

It's a 4 and please let's be real, we know it is

[4/10 · 27 December 2021]

As a gay man watching this - and let's overlook the poor acting - it's been dumped with every possible cliche in the dialogue and storyline. There's no argument from me that the message in this story is relevant and powerful however as a film, it falls short on too many levels which leaves it, in my very humble position, as a poor execution of a very real issue.

This Is Us: Brotherly Love (2021) Season 5, Episode 13

The episode that needed to happen...

[10/10 · 14 April 2021]

Great writing and great acting. We - as the long-standing audience - needed this episode that would cut to the heart of how Randall and Kevin both were really at. Even if they resolved their feelings towards each other and their upbringing to a partial degree, it was a start for finally understanding each other at a deeper level we have ever seen before. Love these actors for the vulnerability, sensitivity and beauty they have shaped these characters to be. Brotherhood wins.

Servant (2019–2023)

Lauren Ambrose :( x :(

[6/10 · 6 December 2020]

As Claire in Six Feet Under, Lauren Ambrose nailed her role and if it typecast her in the certain moody post-teen-angst tole, then there has been loads of time to pass between now and then. Servant is a disturbingly gripping series with most leads turning in great performances. Strangely enough on the meldromatic stakes, of the four leads, Lauren Ambrose (the only American) has the most ridiculous delivery of accents and lines. When checking online to see if I was delusional and the only one to think in this way, I couldn't find much to think otherwise... So I guess I'm alone in thinking her excruciating performance has let down the kind of dark and disturbing scenes that are those thriller series are made of. Interested to know if others are on the same train of thought!

The Big Family Cooking Showdown (2017–2018)

Downhill...

[4/10 · 3 March 2020]

I'm three episodes into the second season and I think I'm going to pass on the rest. I enjoyed watching the home cooks in the first season however these current ones seem to be in it more for a laugh then bringing real talent to the table. A let down!

Restaurants on the Edge (2019–2020)

Fresh and Feel-Good

[9/10 · 29 February 2020]

I just gone done binge watching this first season and it has left me feeling really happy! There are a lot of great travel and food shows out there and this one has a unique flavour. The hosts have great chemistry and they all flawlessly add their areas of expertise with creative sensitivity. Give it a go and you won't be let down :)

Dracula (2020)

Bad... really bad...

[1/10 · 6 January 2020]

I, like many other reviewers, can't understand how this mini-series has been rated so highly.

From the awful acting, snail-like pace and poor writing, this is a disaster.

Please avoid!

Noblemen (2018)

Cruel and Horrific...

[1/10 · 23 December 2019]

I'm almost speechless... I have to agree with many of the other reviewers. I find it really difficult to find anything redeeming about this film. Do yourself a huge favour and avoid it.

Happy Endings Sleepover (2019)

Bad... so bad (but I kept watching!)

[3/10 · 7 December 2019]

I really wanted to love this film because the premise sounded interesting. While certain aspects have been well-made, obvious and careless dialogue coupled with incredibly wooden and amateur acting let it down.

I wanted to love you "Happy Endings Sleepover" and I rooted for you and your sweet characters throughout, but ultimately, the production value and questionable acting failed you. :(

The X Factor: Celebrity (2019)

Cringe!

[2/10 · 2 December 2019]

This really has been an embarrassing season and I have to agree with everything the other reviewers have said. For long time fans of the X Factor... this incarnation really is an insult to the senses... how are we meant to believe that the judges have stood behind many awful performances for the sake of ousting some pretty decent ones. Sorry Simon... this has been a farce and I'm pretty sure you know it has been as well!

Castle Rock (2018–2019)

Better & Better...

[9/10 · 20 November 2019]

Each episode just keeps getting better and better! Painstakingly beautiful writing which holds true to the Stephen King canon and brilliant performances... wow... I wondered how Season 2 would measure up to Season 1 and I'm continually blown away with what a top-notch and clever show Castle Rock is. It's rare to find such perfect casting and the creators have nailed it. Thank you!

The Walking Dead: The Damned (2017) Season 8, Episode 2

I refuse to stay silent any longer

[3/10 · 30 October 2017]

I'm p*****d off...

Today I created my account here after having read loads of reviews for many programs, films and episodes for so many years. TWD is almost at my top of favorite series I religiously watch.

So... what brought me to writing this review today after so long, especially Episode 2?

I'm tired of the condescension that the producers and writers put us - the most loyal of fans - through. They promised a massive Season 8. The cast even backed them on that.

What we got here was a watered down time filler. Seeing Marvin "Mouth" McFadden (Lee Norris) from One Tree Hill in the opening scenes soured this episode for me from the very beginning.

And it went from bad to worse. When did Tara become so entitled to bully and bemoan everything? I watched Alanna Masterson on the 100th episode version of the Talking Dead and paid close attention to her body language while other cast and crew spoke and what I saw rang true of her portrayal of her character. Pompous. Enough said.

Tom Payne's Jesus reigned supreme in this episode for me. His acting, vulnerability and most of all his bad ass comeback make me respect his arc even more... If this follows some sort of cannon... maybe Jesus and Aaron will find each other soon... albeit at the loss of a poorly written Eric who, I guess just wasn't built for that world, despite a huge last ditch battle effort.

Please TWD.... treat us long time fans with respect and don't feed us with this kind of drawn out... inconsequential back and forth....

Pop a massive plot spoiler and let us savor in Negan's Saviours being reduced to rubble quickly in Season 8 so we can enjoy how Rick, Ezekiel, Maggie and their broods conquer then rebuild.... instead of drawing it out for an excruciating and fan-disrespectful amount of time.. Just saying'