Change Your Image
kristynhall
Reviews
Sister Boniface Mysteries: Song for the Dead (2022)
It had potential
Pushing 2023 mores on the early 1960s is just tired and silly. It's lazy writing to take a show set in a particular era and make it a commentary on current events. It was more appropriate to the time that there was an issue with female cops, but given Peggy Button's blubbering and inability to remain impartial ("They're lovely!") you almost had to side with the captain. The "Beatlemania" vibe was also appropriate to the era and the costuming was on point. But then a habited nun says "love is love" and the whole effect is spoiled. Someone should remind the writers that there are plenty of crime and mystery shows set in the current day, and that they're writing for nostalgia lovers.
North & South (2004)
Beautiful and thought provoking
Elizabeth Gaskell was ahead of her time, in that she could faithfully portray the perspectives of both labor and management. I give this BBC version a 9 instead of a 10 because the alteration of Mr. Bell's character was unnecessary and detracts from the story. However, it is perfectly cast and the cinematography is stunning. The contrast between colorful, glowy Helstone and dark, dirty Milton make the cities seem like supporting cast characters themselves. All the contrasts are beautifully portrayed; the two mothers, the two cities ("North and South"), the "masters" and the workers, etc. Characters like Higgins and Thornton make it possible to sympathize with both points of view. It is worth four hours, and the book is definitely with reading.
Free Guy (2021)
Almost perfect
Without the handful of inappropriate jokes (of the lazy writing, low hanging fruit variety) this would have been a perfect end of summer movie. It had those familiar "Who am I and why am I here?" elements of The Truman Show, Wreck it Ralph, The Lego Movie, and even Groundhog Day... But it went in its own direction and asked its own questions. I took my sons (13, 15, 17, and 20) and we all enjoyed it.
Hidden in Silence (1996)
Inspiring family movie
This is based on a true story and unlike many WWII, Holocaust themed dramas, you can show this one to your kids. Very inspiring.
Out of Shadows (2020)
Wait to make up your mind...
...until you watch it. It is worth your time. We have been manipulated by a shadow partnership between the government and the entertainment industry, even while they pretend to oppose each other with phony censoring and the posturing we see at every award show. The question is not IF it's happening, but WHY. It is time to uncover our eyes, unstop our ears, and give the ugly truth our attention.