Reviews
The Terror (2018)
Some Yes, A Lot of No
I love and hate tales of exploration and daring. They often end up poorly managed, full of prideful ignorance, and harm the lower classes and Indigenous folks (who often try to help the crew and get exploited or killed for it). This tale is incredibly slowly pace, includes "inscrutable" Natives, and has a monster that adds very little to the plot or themes. Got worse as it progressed, wasting some good actors for little payoff. Too predictable and too slow for me. After listening to many an episode of The Dollop, reading ample historical memoirs and historical fiction, and seeing the tense brilliance of a film like The Lighthouse, this show just couldn't hold its own.
Granite Harbour (2022)
Sadly Dull
Another reviewer likened this program to a paint-by-numbers version of art. That is just how I experience it. There is some potential for the lead character and his cultural and family issues to become interesting, but they don't. There is no real tension or depth...to anything. No life in any of the secondary characters; all are predictable types, and mostly poor acting. Then there are the central crime plots: unoriginal, drawn out, and uninteresting to solve. Predictable dialogue and scenarios. No feel for the city either, an underused element of an overall dull series. Wondering if it's written by AI.
Catch Me A Killer (2024)
Perhaps I need to read the book
Glimpses of interest in most episodes, particularly the impact on the protagonist. The plots do grow increasingly simplistic, the episodes formulaic. I imagine this is true to life in some ways, though the statement that we must see the killers as complex is offset by the portrayals that are simplistic and follow generally Freudian patterns (oral or anal phase) and abuse stereotypes (killer was abused, got no love, system let him down, etc.).
Given this scenario - which may or may not reflect the book's details - the details about Micki's life need to lead us into her own psychology over time, case by case. She gets stressed, chain smokes, has nightmares, loses her handsome mellow boyfriend, etc., but no "portrait" is ultimately presented. I don't need closure that artificially ties everything up with a bow, but some ending that clarifies how she will cope as she goes on after being shot would have been more than welcome. Does she find something, like the mass shooter's gun, that makes her feel safe enough to continue without ending up hospitalized or catatonic? Instead, she gets worse and worse and then...it ends. I suppose that is like life, but I did wonder if training others ultimately helps her to stabilize, knowing she is not alone.
Perhaps I just need to read the book and this series should have been a documentary about Micki instead.
The Color Purple (2023)
Just didn't need to be a musical
The talent is great, as is the original novel. Like the 1985 film, subtlety and complexity is lost, as is the reenvisioning of faith that Shug teaches Celie. Their desire is also downplayed in the original film and turned more to innuendo and a single scene, The challenges Nettie faces are represented in this film, but superficially. But all in all, both films give some sense of Celie's struggles and triumphs.
The big problem for me in this film is the abundance of songs. Some fit nicely into the story, such as young sisters singing a song and all of Shug's numbers. The rest feels imposed, distracting, and more about showing singing talent than addressing the plot, character, and themes that make The Color Purple important and powerful as a Black woman's novel about the generation that came before her.
I just don't think this needed to be a musical, and I wish it had just been a film with a few songs.
Shetland: Episode #8.6 (2023)
Astonishingly bad ending
I did not predict how poorly paced, drawn-out, and implausible this season would end. Forget about missing Perez and company (which I do). The problems here stem mostly from a badly written murder mystery. Generally, I found terrible writing, unbelievable psychology, and dropped plotlines without resolution (drug dealing, blackmail, etc.). No way do I buy that the siblings had sex while mourning their father's death. It just doesn't jive with sibling incest realities or even good fiction. Beyond this, I utterly reject that the father (biological or not) would kill his daughter. Then the episode just went on and on, tying up too few loose ends too slowly.
I did not expect to love the show with a weaker lead and a grouchy new character, but I did think the writing would be solid. And it wasn't.
Shetland: Episode #8.1 (2023)
It's ok.
Well, I don't dislike it entirely, but I don't really like it. At least not an of episode 1.
I can see where new tensions will play out with a new character connected to the area with her own complicated past.
But the tone is quite different. More intense, pacing is faster and more like other cop shows, and character content/context is lessened.
The program's mood drew me to it, and I'm hoping a richer mood might return, but with the loss of main and recurring characters and the addition of a more fiery and typical female officer type, I'm doubtful.
Will be watching the next episode to see where we go...but I'm not enthusiastic.
Linoleum (2022)
Unexpected ride
The biggest adventure is life itself, Linoleum posits. To me, comedy is not the label for this film, any more than it is a fitting label for daily life. I do like how science is worked in, but this isn't science fiction. Not a tragedy either, It's mostly about the brevity of life, the importance of human connection, the decisions we worry over, and how lucky are those who are loved. Quite touching, even if a few elements are drawn excessively when a lighter touch would have sufficed. The film's ending is bittersweet, especially for audiences past their youth. Though I went in expecting absurdism or fantasy, I am not disappointed with the bittersweet ride I got.
From: Choosing Day (2022)
Iffy
I'm enjoying the show so far for its fun horror premise and nice building of tension and suspense. The acting varies from good to mediocre, but there is enough variety in characters and interpersonal situations to keep me watching. Looking forward to seeing if there's going to be something creepy about Colony House.
Gotta say, though, The Box is just ridiculous. There's a threat over everyone in town to make them do the right thing: monsters that eat your face and torture you to death! There's just absolutely no need for The Box.
Hope we get more character intrigue and learn more about the zombie-like monsters, the random talismans, and the chickens and cows.
This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
Surface over depth
Some good actors and chemistry is perhaps all this film actually offers. Nostalgic emotions provoked by the scenario feel fake and forced and do not substitute for presenting relationships that feel real and a film that feels freshly purposeful. The Jewishness feels entirely superficial and relies on some stereotype, mostly related to privilege - everyone has enough money to lose jobs and enough stability to hyperfocus on relationship neuroses.
(I might have preferred to see the "events" of this film from brain-injured Horry's perspective, but only if his world was actually given space instead of telegraphed by throwing a wrench and how his ex-girlfriend is sad about what she lost.)
OMG: Oh My God! (2012)
Critique of organized religion, not of belief
I was wrongly told this film is a satire that leaves the question of the existence of deities unresolved. I should have known the "satire" would attack false prophets but validate "God." It definitely encourages understanding across most major religions (Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, though not Judaism or others). And that is valuable in a country such as India. But for those of us hoping for a glimpse of atheist acknowledgment (e.g. Do good deeds and spread love and compassion), it was quite a disappointment.
In short, I am the wrong audience for this film, as are all agnostics and atheists.
It's also too long. A good editor could have gotten this down to a tighter 90 minutes. But that also shows I am not the right audience here.
Doom Patrol: Pilot (2019)
Move on
I must say I wanted to enjoy this pilot more than I did. As someone who remains underwhelmed or put off by the humorlessness of the DC universe, I was looking forward to the humor of The Doom Patrol. And I like the casting. (My opinion also comes from not having read the comic.)
Ultimately, I found the characters in enjoyable and the villain overblown. Jokes fell flat for me.
But rather than go on about this, let me hasten to my final thought: Keep Watching. It gets better. The characters develop backstory, the world gets wilder, and Mr Nobody gets (somewhat) less annoying in the process. From Nazi puppets to chaos magic in only a few episodes, I'm now thoroughly a fan.
The Sinner: Part VIII (2020)
what a mess - SPOILERS
The handsome neurotic privileged guy encouraged by a sociopathic friend was a good premise. Good actors for the roles of psycho and friend. But this should've been a 2- or 3-parter. Stretching to 6 led to unbelievable, poorly conceived complications and ridiculous pacing that make Ambrose act in implausible and stupid ways. Add a random romantic interest for Ambrose, an actual "psychic" (!), and a vulnerable grandson to this mess and you have a recipe for just. Plain. Terrible. Writing.
A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001)
Amazing production
This series honors the Nero Wolfe novels with care, precision, and wit. I love the use of an ensemble cast and the attention to detail in set, costume, and tone. I pull out the DVDs every now and again to enjoy this treat of a program, and hope it comes to streaming somewhere, someday. Chaykin will always be Nero Wolfe to me.
Grace: Not Dead Enough (2022)
Enjoying...and then
Complex plot, strange coincidences, multiple threads. And then...old trope becomes even less believable and guilty party spills all in an unconvincing and silly ending. So unfortunate.