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TomV196112
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Fargo (2014)
S01 appointment TV - S05 playback speed 1.5
The first two seasons are amazing and for me were literally appointment TV. No politics, interesting and fun story lines with more than a few twist to keep me on the edge of my seat. But by season 5 I just wanted it to end and actually cranked the playback speed up to 1.5. In fact I never bothered to watch the last episode as the politics became such a big part of the story I thought I was watching a CNN documentary. I will never understand why so many shows go down this path. Is it because all the original talent leaves and all that's left is actors reading brain dead scripts written by whoever will work for peanuts?
Last Sentinel (2023)
good acting wasted on an unbelievable and silly story
I recently watched a sci-fi movie called "The Last Sentinel" and was disappointed by its execution. While the acting, set design, and music were commendable, the plot was far-fetched and unbelievable. For instance, the movie is set in the year 2063 where Earth's oceans have risen to such an extent that only the mountain range for Mount Denali remains above water in North America. This degree of ocean level rise is highly improbable and detracts from the overall believability of the story. Despite its strong production values, the film ultimately falls short due to its poorly conceived narrative.
P-Valley (2020)
you come for the T&A, you stay for social commentary
I recently started watching season 2, and I was struck by how it provided a poignant commentary on the impact of pandemic policies and lockdowns on society. This show challenged my previous belief that modern societies would be immune to the type of societal pressures that resulted in "Good Germans," as it honestly portrayed how people were ostracized and vilified for expressing differing opinions on what constituted safe behavior during the pandemic.
The second season is a powerful reminder of how the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing divisions in society and demonstrated the harm that can result from a lack of empathy and understanding. However, I believe this is an important first step to healing and reconciliation.
Overall, I highly recommend this show for its thought-provoking commentary and its ability to prompt important discussions about the role of community, empathy, and understanding in modern society.
P-Valley: Pussyland (2022)
first honest depection of how the pandemic tore us apart
I recently watched the first episode of season 2, and I was struck by how it provided a poignant commentary on the impact of pandemic policies and lockdowns on society. This episode challenged my previous belief that modern societies would be immune to the type of societal pressures that resulted in "Good Germans," as it portrayed how people were ostracized and vilified for expressing differing opinions on what constituted safe behavior during the pandemic.
The episode was a powerful reminder of how the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing divisions in society and demonstrated the harm that can result from a lack of empathy and understanding. However, I believe that the episode is an important first step to healing and reconciliation.
Overall, I highly recommend this show for its thought-provoking commentary and its ability to prompt important discussions about the role of community, empathy, and understanding in modern society.
The System (2022)
silly action movie goes political in the first six minutes
Why do filmmakers often choose to include political themes and viewpoints in their productions, even when it may potentially alienate half of their audience due to its political bias? The depiction of Republicans being blamed for the city's problems in the movie is both inaccurate and biased, as Republicans are no longer elected in large cities, making it feel more like a political advertisement than a movie.
Furthermore, the depiction of professional wrestling in the ghetto is a unique concept, but the execution falls short. The acting is average, but the stunts are performed adequately.
Overall, this movie does not live up to its potential and is not a recommended viewing choice. The political bias and lack of clear creative vision detract from what could have been an entertaining movie experience.
Leopard Skin (2022)
erotica without the porn or at least mostly without the porn
At 28 minutes per episode, the pacing is much tighter than the normal TV series which makes binging easy and pleasant. There is a lot of female nudity and one lesbian sex scene that is truly erotic without being overly pornographic. The build-up to the sex scene is masterful as the screen chemistry between Carla Gugino (Alba) and Gaite Jansen (Batty) is something special. In particular, Gaite's submissiveness is very well acted and shows she did some serious research for the role.
The action part is well done but not central to the story and is more of a backdrop for telling the story of the four women who are kidnapped. The killings are done realistically and I especially liked the proper trigger discipline when the professionals were handling a gun.
Hope there is a season 2.
Crimes of the Future (2022)
navel gazing taken to the next level
An overly artistic film that obsesses over the meaning of life as we approach the singularity. Besides still desiring sex, there isn't much the film has to say about what will happen as evolution takes the next step except the age-old desire to control others will conflict with the new order. The directing, performances, and cinematography. Were excellent and the only reason I watched to the end. If you are a student of the arts you'll enjoy this, otherwise, it is all technique without substance.
Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)
men behaving badly, women being evil
This is a he said she said rape case where the accused and alleged victim both plausibly believe they are in the right. The testimony scenes allowed each side to fairly present their case which is critical for an entertaining criminal trial.
Unfortunately, this tail of courtroom drama falls apart when it is revealed 2/3rds into the movie the queen's council (aka prosecutor) lost her virginity to the accused at a drunken college party where consent was also questionable. This extremely unlikely coincidence is excused by 20 years of separation and the prosecutor changing her name but is so unbelievable it fatally distracts from the story and turns it into a weird and unsatisfying tale of one in a billion happenstance.
What happens next is pure evil where all the women decide to take justice into their own hands and proceed to destroy families, careers, and even an elected government by telling half-truths.
We Own This City (2022)
Republicans bad, Democrats are just victims
As this miniseries is based on true events, it is disappointing that the political subplot is told in such a dishonest way. The last Republican mayor of Baltimore was Theodore R. McKeldin who left office in 1967. No Republican has even gotten over 25% of the vote since then. In the closing of the last episode, the newly elected Democratic mayor and her police commissioner are both convicted of tax evasion.
Given the systemic corruption of the police and the mayors, it is disappointing that the only politicians to have shade thrown on them are Republicans Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions.
For a documentary to be impactful, it needs to tell the truth which unfortunately didn't happen here.
The one saving grace was a full-throated roar against the drug war. If the documentary had been as honest with the extreme levels of corruption in Baltimore's Democratic politicians, it could have started real change.
Suspicion (2022)
way to woke
This "thriller" relies on a 1995 research paper being suppressed by an oil company that then blames economic turmoil and global mass refugee migration on climate change. Whether you believe climate change is an immediate threat or not, ignoring the stupid US wars in the Middle East as the main cause of mass migration of refugees into Europe is re-writing history to serve a woke narrative.
Very disappointed as I was liking this series a lot until episode 7 when the woke nonsense took center stage and ruined it.
Do not recommend and will not be watching season two.
Ultrasound (2021)
phenomenal acting + original script + excellent directing = 9 stars
It is so rare to watch a film with an original concept that was very well made despite being a low-budget effort. The ending is very satisfying as it takes a political slant but in an intelligent way that is nonpartisan.
The Way (2021)
two competent actresses, surrounded by mediocrity
The acting in the movie is disappointing, except for the scenes featuring Jane Arcs (played by Eli Jane) and Master Xin (played by Joan Wong) who deliver strong and impressive performances.
Despite good direction, editing, cinematography, and story, the casting of the movie is flawed.
Eli Jane stands out in her strip inspection scene, turning what could have been a cheap and unnecessary T&A moment into a powerful and dominant display of her acting abilities, even while being fully naked.
Venus as a Boy (2021)
girl toy wants to be an artist
33 year old attractive black man wants to be an artist but winds up being a serial girl toy for successful women. After some soul searching, he finally starts producing art and begins getting noticed for his work instead of his looks.
The acting, direction, and scenery are all well above average. The story was just okay.
Nomadland (2020)
can't have a good movie without a good story
The acting, cinematography, and music score are outstanding. Just wish their had been a good story to go along with all the fine performances.
The Tangle (2019)
a post singularity love story
This movie does with dialog what other sci-fi movies try (and mostly fail) to do with CGI. Of all the post singularity movies this is the most successful in fleshing out a believable world and then telling a story within that universe.
Don't watch when you are tired as this will grab your full attention.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020)
America First = Nazism
The American public of 1938 was largely opposed to getting into yet another Great War in Europe as World War I was less then 20 years ago. The America First Committee (AFC), which was founded in 1940, opposed any U.S. involvement in World War II, and was harshly critical of the Roosevelt administration, which it accused of pressing the U.S. toward war. At its peak, it had 800,000 members across the country, included socialists, conservatives, and some of the most prominent Americans from some of the most prominent families. There was future President Ford; Sargent Shriver, who'd go on to lead the Peace Corps; and Potter Stewart, the future U.S. Supreme Court justice. It was funded by the families who owned Sears-Roebuck and the Chicago Tribune, but also counted among its ranks prominent anti-Semites of the day.
So given this mixed history of "America First", this show decides to have a German American dressed as a Nazi brown shirt use the phrase during a speech in a park. This blatant attempt to throw shade on Trump and his supporters makes me think I am watching a CNN hit piece and not a TV show.
Not worth my time and not worth yours' either.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
should have been titled dumb and dumber
While some suspending of reality is required to watch almost any movie, there is only so much you can put up. Only way to make this movie watchable would be while dropping acid as only then would anything make sense.
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Like Donald Trump
Why does every Hollywood movie and TV show have to take a swipe at Donald Trump? In this case the insane mass murder is compared to Donald Trump. How does making this movie political improve the movie?
Another Life (2019)
A Drama for Millennials, a Comedy for the rest of us
This attempt at a space opera drama is so bad it comes out as unintentional comedy. We are talking believing professional wrestling is real level of acceptance to take this show seriously so my suggestion is don't. Instead treat it as a parody of Millennial culture and then everything become much more enjoyable.
The Twilight Zone (2019)
Jussie Smollett's interpretation of The Twilight Zone
Unless you believe Jussie Smollett was attacked by by two black guys in white face wearing MAGA hats , this series is not for you. The political correctness is so in your face the episodes come across as campaign ads. I suppose there is a market for this in today's fractured demographics but it isn't me.
For the correct way to interject politics into a show, please watch Rod Sterling's "A Town Has Turned to Dust" instead.
Absentia (2017)
Season 1 was good, Season 2 is another White Man Bad story
I gave this series a try because of Stana Katic and Season 1 did not disappoint.
What starts as a bizarre situation is resolved with the bad guys getting what they deserve. Season 2 is completely different and opens with a plot taken from today's news but with a Hollywood White Male Bad twist. The bad guys wear traditional patriotic symbols while the police are embarrassed to be seen with the American flag.
Bird Box (2018)
Why does every movie have to be political?
When Douglas (John Malkovich) says "Make the end of the world great again." I literally tried to change channels because I'm tried of everything being about Trump. But my wife wanted see how it ended so we kept watching. By the time we got halfway through we were both laughing at how ridiculous the whole movie was. The funniest line we came up with was 10 out 10 blind critics recommend this movie.
Do yourself a favor and watch A Quiet Place instead.
iZombie (2015)
With all the shottem up scenes, why go hard Left?
While there is certainly a market for politically left leaning shows, I fail to see the why an escapism comedy would ever get political. I'd guess at least half the audience where pro 2nd Amendment but as soon as they started depicting talk radio as a bunch of ignorant gun nuts they lost me. Hollywood seems to think it is their sacred duty to oppose Trump supporters at every turn but it has reached a level that the show became unwatchable.
Extinct (2017)
Another Lost that substitutes constant cliff hangers for a coherent story
Finally made it through the last episode and I'm sorry but I'm not investing any more time on this. Only reason I lasted that long was because Orson C. Scott is the creative talent behind the show but besides a tangled plot of never ending story lines I didn't see anything to indicate a writer of his talent was involved.
My biggest gripe is the flash backs to previous versions of each of the main characters so unless you are keeping a score card you are sure if the is the evil version, good version, coward version, smart, dumb, etc. If they had limited this to just a few characters it would have been fine but not the whole cast.
Travelers (2016)
Way to hard left for me
This is one of those shows that goes out of its way to portray anyone on the right as a fool or down right evil. Here a few examples:
Anyone in the military spends all their time breaking the law as that is the best way to promote your career.
The only Christians shown so far are an end of times cult that is about to all commit suicide.
If you support the hiring of Americans over immigrants, you also happen to be a serial child killer.
The only cop character is an abusive, alcoholic, boyfriend who doesn't pay his child support.
I could go on but you get the point. While I am sure there is a market for this show it isn't my cup of tea.