andy-gilligan Reviews

Halloween Kills (2021)

Juat stupid

[1/10 · 15 October 2021]

When the hell are they (everyone) going to learn. Stupid world unites and dies in tandem, its starting to become farcical now and that end was embarassing, it really is a waste of time and effort. Anyway heres some more text to make the review minimised.

Blah blah blah blah.

The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

A complete disappointment

[6/10 · 3 October 2021]

If the names of the characters were changed, it wouldnt have any assocation or resemblance to sopranos, or was that their intention?

Either way, its a disappointing story and prequel.

Even the cinematogrophy is lazy.

Positives

Decentish acting

but overall, its a total let down.

Kate (I) (2021)

Jo(anne) Wick

[8/10 · 13 September 2021]

Its pretty much scene for scene JW but with a countdown.

However its still a bloody blast thanks to MEWs kickass performance.

Worth a watch fo sho.

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Indiana Johnson and the Last Cruisade

[5/10 · 30 July 2021]

Its like a film trying not to be another (ahem) film or films, but failing so hard because its whole premise is to erm, be that film but not.

The music and action choreography are always hand in hand from the offset, and are fast paced but a little too fast paced and unnatural.

The characters are fine but its got elements of The Mummy in its chemistry between the 3 main leads (Fraser/Johnson, Weisz/Blunt, Hannah/Whitehall) and when the pace slows down its much more fun and less similar.

You even have contrived 2d villains, just like IJ in terms of nationality/awkward accents on show. Easy targets for their era I guess..

The CGI seems to cover the screen 80% from start to finish and makes star wars look like a documentary.

If youve never seen IJ or Mummy films, thrn it will work and entertain but it felt so Deja Vu I just struggled to get past their similarities.

Honest Thief (2020)

Surprisingly good

[8/10 · 14 December 2020]

What you expect from Neeson with good support, a script pretty well written, a few twists that surprised me and above average for what felt like an S2DVD .

Its an easy going movie that will entertain at best.

If you like Neeson, worth watching.

The Irishman (2019)

A bloated gangster movie

[6/10 · 28 November 2019]

Its such a shame that this highly anticipated gangster epic from King of the Genre, Martin Scorcese, was so dragged out beyond necessity. If this had been compressed into 120 minutes, it would be more highly regarded by the reviewer.

Also, it felt like some if De Niro's scenes were given the odd on acceotable takes that 30 years ago, would have been canned. Pacino is excellent however, giving a powerhouse perfornance as the stubborn, yet ill fated Jimmy Hoffa, whom De Niro's character befriends.

Pesci feels quite limited here (by self choice) but still worthy of anyone's time.

Alot of the characters here seem wasted also, specifically with the calibre of Keitel on show. Paquin is another who is almost muted in terms of script dialogue.

The story wears itself out by the finale, with what I felt to be an anti climax and very disappointing overall.

I can always tell if I like a movie or not by whether or not I would watch again.

On this occasion, sadly not.

Joker (I) (2019)

Best Actor 2019 and best acting Perfornance of all time

[10/10 · 13 October 2019]

Simply astonishing acting, a wonderful story and showing us all how mental illness isnt something to ignore. Nolans prequel to Dark Knight that he could have only dreamt of.

Give Joaquin all of the awards now. Its in the bag.

Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019) Season 8, Episode 6

The 1/10 reviewers need to grow up

[9/10 · 20 May 2019]

It was a befitting ending and felt quite satisfying in my opinion.

All of the people complaining need to stop this hate filled battle against the show and appreciate what it is; great television.

I enjoyed it as it didnt do anything too unexpected, but unexpected enough for a finale, and it is wrapping everything up as it needed to do.

In the end, the Starks get their revenge and get to live their lives how they wanted to live them.

If the haters need to vent any negativity, aim it at George RR Martin for not completing the books to provide the show with better source material.

Game of Thrones: The Bells (2019) Season 8, Episode 5

Im numb

[10/10 · 13 May 2019]

Well that was tough going!!! predictions and expectations went out of the window and you have a very good feeling how the next one will pan put, but hey, this is game of thrones so all bets are off!!! Bron, where are you dude??

Tin Star: Wild Flower (2019) Season 2, Episode 8

Stunning television

[10/10 · 27 February 2019]

Redemption, Regret, Forgiveness, all here and highly built up tension all the way through to the inevitable finale. Best follow up season I have come across.

All performances are immense, especially Tim Roth who thrives in a very complex role. Supports all deserve a nod too.

I highly recommend this show which is cruelly going under everyones radar given the high volume of shows that now surround us.

The Heavy (2009)

So bad but the last 30 minutes almost redeems it!

[4/10 · 26 October 2010]

I had high hopes for this movie. The plot was a man out of jail working as a debt collector for a local business who was asked to do one last job, in order to get out of it all!! then you have his brother Christian (played by an awful Adrian Paul from the Highlander TV series) who was responsible for putting him in prison who wants to make amends for what happened. When i say "make amends" it certainly doesn't pan out in that way. More on this character later.

Gary Stretch who plays the lead character Mitchell Mason, has a good on-screen presence, but he is not a leading man. He is surrounded by some heavyweights and some seriously bad "lightweights" that actually make him look like Robert De Niro at times (no offence Bob). He tries his best but even Vinnie Jones as the corrupt cop makes him look like a cardboard cut-out as he hams up the "bad cop" role like a spit-roasted pig.

Christopher Lee and Jean Marsh are on show (yet i can't see what possessed them to want to be part of this?) play the parents and some of their scenes are so painful to watch as they are put in scenes with such awful acting that you feel embarrassed for them!

Stephen Rea does his best as an upper class bad guy but you still cringe watching the drivel script he has to deal with. Then you have Sadie Frost as a local Bar Owner (i'm not sure what this part of the film's purpose was, as it was pointless).

Then you have the worst acting I have seen in a long time. Hang on, 2nd worst!

Adrian Paul who plays Mitchell's brother Christian, simply CANNOT act, and that is an understatement. I have seen dead people show more emotion and talent than this guy. I think the director actually did him a favour in hiring the actress to play his wife as she is even worse, and that must have been tough. The acting by these 2 characters would've been perfect in an Olaf Ittenbach horror movie. Yes, its that bad!!

The storyline is all over the place as it tries to be cool and modern by going back and forth in the timelines. I think the film would have worked better if they had just done it from first date to last. I think new directors must think this works in gangster style movies but in this one it fails.

On a plus point, the scenes with Shannyn Sossamon (Claire) are the high points of the film. If only they had put more into this than they did, it could've actually been a good film. There is definitely a chemistry there between the 2 characters and they should have focused on this a lot more. I would say Shannyn's performance is one of the better ones overall.

The last 20-30 minutes of this film are actually not bad, if you can endure the first 70 minutes. But don't expect anything special with this film. You won't get it!! Best thing to do? go and dig out Going Off Big Time. Similar film but better acting, script, plot, etc.