miaharpr Reviews

The Delinquents (2023)

Who did they pay to rate this high?

[2/10 · 31 December 2023]

Predictably one of those slow burns with a blah ending. The first quarter was actually intriguing and had me glued to my screen, but the pacing gradually disappoints throughout the film's progression. I understand that it's supposed to have a deeper commentary about life, but they didn't need to spend 30 seconds per shot to show how profound and thought-provoking of a film it is. Literally the two people I was watching with fell asleep, and what made it more excruciating was seeing "End of Part One" and "Part Two" on screen. It was such a struggle to finish it. We had to eventually start fast forwarding scenes because we learned that a whole chunk of the dialogue was not crucial to the plot. If you like slow burns, go for it. I don't like Transformers for those who think I'm just hating, I just didn't enjoy this particular bedtime story.

Prison Playbook (2017–2018)

Sooo boring

[2/10 · 19 March 2023]

This has been on my list for a while, and I'm so disappointed. Somehow I'm still sticking around. Watched the first two episodes full, then I started to watch while multi-tasking. I'm currently at a point where I'm fast-forwarding scenes, and I can still understand what's going on even though I don't watch the whole episode. So dull and monotonous. The dialogue's repetitive and I just cannot stand the flashbacks *yawn*. They're great when done right-not in this case. Nothing's hooking me to watch the next episode. I don't care for any of the characters except his ex-gf and Captain Yoo. If you're new to k-drama, don't start with this. I'm just hoping the last two episodes will redeem the show.

Watcher (I) (2022)

Okay, I'm affected

[8/10 · 5 September 2022]

It's been four nights since I last saw this film, but I'm still thinking about it. Like some reviewers mentioned, this is reminiscent of Hitchcock, and while the story is neither new nor groundbreaking, Okuno was able to skillfully create and intensify her own blend of terror and dread within the viewer. I could feel the main character's (a compelling performance by Maika Monroe) stress and anxiety build, and at times I felt I was her myself because her emotions were so palpable that they were leaping out of the screen. Burn Gorman was equally a scene-stealer with his bone-chilling performance (his face is all I see now when I close my eyes). But outside the actors, it was what was not explicitly seen or heard-what was lurking in the shadows and hiding in plain sight-the unnerving silhouette shots, talking walls, dreary colour schemes, claustrophobic to exposed space transitions-that terrified me the most. I appreciated that Watcher did not rely on jump scares and allowed me to read between the lines. It gave me permission to use my imagination and didn't spoon-feed me panic and fear; instead, it left me breadcrumb trails of information, keeping me on my toes, and rendering me a bundle of nerves, to the point where even a shot of someone's feet would make my heart skip a beat. The film overall paid tribute to the purest elements of its genre in the subtlest ways, not a feat I often see nowadays. It is a slow burner with a rather quick ending, but it worked as a whole. I think the mark of a great horror or thriller is when it impairs the viewer's functioning in the real world...I'll definitely be hyper-aware of my surroundings from now on and staying away from windows for a while.

Echoes (2022)

On the fence

[6/10 · 4 September 2022]

On the one hand, I understand the negative reviews; it had a messy start, a convoluted plot, some holes in the story, and an ending that could leave a lot of viewers dissatisfied, not to mention vapid to hammed up acting from the supporting cast. On the other hand, I can appreciate what the show wanted to be. I'll also be the minority and say that Michelle Monaghan played a difficult role and despite a shaky start, she gradually was able to immerse herself into her characters and give a complex performance (again, I'm the minority on this). Indeed, the show felt like a Lifetime production. It didn't seem to have a high budget, and it's most evident in the last episode, where the special effects were used with the faintest subtlety...I overall thought it was an easy watch, cringy at times, but I got through it-I am an Echoes survivor...and I closet-enjoyed the show.

Emily in Paris (2020– )

Sex and the City's Granddaughter

[7/10 · 7 November 2020]

And Gossip Girl's daughter. Speaking of Gossip Girl, there is a major spoiler near the end of Ep.6, so if GG is still on your "To-Watch" list and you're anti-spoiler, just giving you a head's up.

Emily in Paris is everything I expected it to be, and it's good and it's bad. It's good because I can just curl up in bed, indulge and binge-watch it because it checks all my boxes; it's bad because the show is fairly predictable. I feel like the show's creators just grabbed all the stereotypical Parisian things it could find and tossed it in a pot et--Voila!--we have season 1. It's a nice excuse to display the most popular French songs and wear chic clothes, though, so I'm not complaining.

The show overall is amusing to watch and I do enjoy living vicariously through Emily. It's like reading my favourite chick-lit and having a huge grin on my face the entire time. What I will say that I didn't really like is the acting because sometimes it was a tad exaggerated. Lily Collins' portrayal was a hit and miss for me, but ultimately she was Emily and owned her role. The biggest stand out for me was the actress who played her boss. She gave Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada a run for her money. I thought she was such a natural--a natural female dog. Loved it. I also adored the small guest appearance from Victor Meutelet who I've had a huge crush on since The Bonfire of Destiny. Also, the main guy is HOT. I definitely cannot take the heat, so I need to get out of his kitchen.

I didn't particularly like Emily sleeping around, but I guess people do, do that in real life, and like grandmother (SATC) and mother (GG), like granddaughter and daughter...c'est la vie haha. I can't put my finger on it, but show somehow felt disrespectful to the Parisian culture...but I'm just here for the fantasy of it...the show does get funnier and finds it groove near the end of the season. It's not outstanding or groundbreaking by any means, but it's still feel-good and entertaining.

Hotel Del Luna (2019)

Didn't like the show. The cameo was everything.

[5/10 · 9 September 2020]

I think those who are in the kdrama circle know who the special cameo is at the end, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone else. I watched the entire show for that final 1:15 mins. That part was worth it-the show itself was not.

The good: 1. Visuals- Two great-looking leads and IU's wardrobe deserve praise. 2. Atmosphere-cinematography, soundtrack, eerie/fairy tale feeling. This show definitely had a unique look. 3. The Cameo- I just need to stress this.

The Bad: 1. Story development-if I were to draw a line graph of the plot progression, it would be flat and stagnant. It's not a heavy drama. I don't think it was trying to be; at the same time, it was not engaging to watch because it lacked eventful moments. Almost every episode they show a ghost and the story behind their death. It felt too formulaic, predictable, and honestly...boring. I wanted them to elaborate on IU's story more and her relationship with the male lead. I liked the flashbacks, but the writers didn't utilize them to their full potential. A lot of the script didn't make sense to me. It seemed like they were trying to come up with deep dialogue, but it was sometimes confusing because they kept adding new information about ghosts and the spirit world, so it ended up sounding like they were making everything up as they go with no clear direction. 2. Acting- I love IU and there are moments I find she really understands the characters she plays. She has a subtle way of acting; she acts with her eyes. But for this show, I couldn't connect with her character. Her acting was pretty flat here. She and Yeo Jin Goo were a nice pairing, but they lacked chemistry. I couldn't fall in love with their relationship, and when they said their "I love you"s I couldn't feel it. They seemed more like friends than lovers on the show. 3. Not enough camera time for the cameo.

Birth of a Beauty (2014–2015)

Could have been done in 12 episodes

[4/10 · 9 September 2020]

Wow, that was a tremendously long and cumbersome drama to sit through. It tormented me to watch it from beginning to end, and I can't believe I stuck with it, but I invested so much already, that I felt I needed to finish it. The plot is quite different, actually. It had so much potential to be something bigger with all the scheming and twists they were introducing. The biggest flaw for me was the pacing and sequencing of events. For instance, the female lead's life was already in danger, yet they still had time to be romantic in between these tense scenes. Too many lovey-dovey scenes that are misplaced or wrongly timed. I appreciated the lead actor-very handsome and funny. I had no major problems with the lead actress, either. I just couldn't find myself to root for their love story. I wasn't feeling their chemistry. If the series were shorter I think my rating would have been higher, but there were too many flashbacks and unnecessary scenes. It would have benefitted from some heavy editing.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

A lot of fanservice and too much hype

[5/10 · 12 August 2020]

I love Kim Soo Hyun, let's get that out of the way first. He's the reason why I watched this show. He's a remarkable and versatile actor and devastatingly handsome. I've followed his career since Dream High and loved every one of his dramas...except this. I can see the premise of the show, and it was actually promising at the beginning. As someone who suffers from mental health issues, I could relate with that aspect of the show, although as one of the reviewers mentioned, it glamourized mental illness...that part of it I didn't like. I do appreciate the healing side of the show and how the characters eventually experience growth and transformation. I also liked how they related every episode to a fairy tale. The concept was there, the execution, not so much. Sometimes the acting was too cheesy. I even felt KSH hammed it up in certain scenes. I liked the Sang-tae actor, he deserves an award for his portrayal. I also liked the secondary characters like Juri, Jae-Soo, and Manager Lee. KSH and Seo Ye-ji did have chemistry off screen (I watched BTS too many times to know), but I personally felt something was missing from their on screen chemistry. The plot was predictable-I already knew, for instance, in episode 2 or 3 who her mother was-and the script was pretty basic. It didn't give me anything new or something to ruminate on. It was literally just a CW show with Korean actors, and one of the reviewers on here actually mentioned how the appeal of kdramas is that they are for the most part more chaste...this was pretty daring, I must say. Very Hollywood, indeed...and I guess that's the effect of kdramas becoming more internationally known, and with the Netflix crossover, one can definitely feel the Western influences on the show (e.g. music soundtrack which I felt didn't match the show's mood). There were many ship-worthy scenes, which I would like to go back to, but the beauty of Gang-tae and Moon-young's relationship was "the chase". Once it got to ep. 15 and 16, where the two become an item and do their business, it lost its appeal for me. It seems like the show knew what the audience wanted and gave it regardless of whether the quality was good or not. Some scenes could have been done differently or left to the imagination, but I'm obviously the minority on this. Then the villain which **spoiler alert** the show built up to be this super evil and scary witch-once she makes her reveal, she's eliminated in the same episode like a pesky fly lol a little anti-climatic. I laughed because she waited, what was it, 25 years? To have her revenge. It would have been better if she just tormented her daughter from afar. She got caught by the police so easily and wasn't much of a threat. Finally, never in real life would I buy a book by Moon-Young for a child lol what crazy parent would? And ep.16 was unnecessarily long...even felt longer than the Lord of the Rings 3's ending.

She's So Lovely (1997)

They're both crazy

[5/10 · 26 June 2020]

I don't know what to make of it. I'm not totally hating on it, but I'm not over the moon about it, either. Regardless, it's memorable because I haven't seen too romantic many films like it (if you'd call it that). At first it felt like I was third-wheeling a relationship I didn't want to be a part of and the movie dragged, but eventually halfway through the movie, the story picked up. I was about to give up on it, but then John Travolta showed up. He saved the movie for me. The acting's great from all three main leads, but I think the problem for me was really the pacing and story development. It was too slow, and all over the place, and while I feel the characters were realistically portrayed, I personally didn't really like the ending. But, hey, c'est la vie.

Space Force (2020–2022)

Just Alright.

[5/10 · 15 June 2020]

I've been hearing about this for weeks. I like the cast, and I have not really seen any shows about space, so I thought I should give this a try. For me, the story wasn't interesting enough, and nothing pulled me or intrigued me to keep watching intently. I watched the first four episodes fully, then skipped a lot scenes from Ep. 5 onwards. I like dry humour, but this fell flat for me. They also had a lot of jokes that tried too hard to be relevant, and some polarizing dialogue like dismissing God and flat earthers. It just shows how TV can program us into thinking and believing in specific things and they do this through "comedy". One of the generals commented on the congresswoman not wearing any panty. I guess we're supposed to laugh at that. Was this written before the #metoo movement? Anyway, bottom line is, even if it played on controversial topics, it just wasn't funny or executed well enough. I'll probably just rewatch The Office or The Orville because Steve Carrell and Space don't match.

Jo Koy: In His Elements (2020 TV Special)

I liked the intention and it was entertaining enough

[7/10 · 12 June 2020]

Jokoy is in the special, but he's mostly emceeing. He told jokes that I've heard from him before, but they're still funny. For me, it was too short and I felt like they could have shown other aspects of Filipino culture-maybe showcase top Filipino chefs in North America, fashion designers, singers, etc, but they only had 55 mins, so they did what they could. I think he also tried to be as current as possible with the people he featured, but some of the jokes went over the audience's heads, I felt, and the green jokes didn't get the reactions that they probably would have with a more westernized audience. The second comedian was very funny, though. I'm giving this special a 7 for the milestone it achieved and for pushing the diversity and cultural envelope and still being a fun watch.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

The scariest movie for me

[9/10 · 13 March 2020]

Someone gave this to me as a birthday gift, and when I first watched it, I wasn't impressed. I was underwhelmed because it came out around the time Asian horror, like Ringu/The Ring and Ju-on/The Grudge, was making a scene in the North American market, and ATOTS looked like a poor man's version of those movies. That's what I thought after first viewing; I was watching it passively, but I did have questions because it confused the heck out of me. After reading some analyses on the movie, I decided to give it another try, and it was unforgiving. It didn't let me sleep for...I'd say 2-7 nights. I have seen scary movies from all decades. You could give me a top 100 horror movie list, and I would most likely be able to check off 90% of what's listed. But out of everything I've seen, nothing has terrified me more than ATOTS. I guess it depends, too, on the viewer's overall mental state. If you're more on the neurotic side *points to self* there are aspects of this movie that you're going to relate to (i.e., guilt and regret) and that would also be the source of the terror. It's not going to jump at you, it's going to creep into your psyche and linger...like a ghost. The cinematography and score are the most memorable part about this movie. I would only need to imagine hearing those piano notes playing, and I would get chills down my spine. Hauntingly beautiful. As someone mentioned in their review, this movie is like poetry. It has many layers that you would need to dissect to be revealed upon multiple viewing. When you see the movie for what it was intended to be, and all its subtle details, that's when things gets real scary.

Better Man (2016)

Great from start to finish!

[8/10 · 4 March 2020]

The only other Taiwanese show I've seen is Meteor Garden, but Better Man revived my interest for Taiwanese dramas. It's less intense than Meteor Garden in terms of plot development; the path to each character's love is more smooth sailing. There were maybe one or two arcs that gave the show dramatic depth, but the whole focus is on the brothers' journey to love and it put a lot of emphasis on creating memorable ship-worthy scenes. It had a lot of funny and silly moments, but it also had a nice balance of serious moments. I liked all the couples because their personalities really complemented each other, and I discovered how handsome Taiwanese actors are. I have a crush on all three male leads. Jolin Chien and Hope Lin's storyline was a standout for me, but each couple took turns stealing scenes throughout the series. Supporting actors were also superb. I particularly liked the assistant instructor who was hilarious, and the two female leads' dad. I could feel the sincerity in his acting. I thought the progression of the story was well paced and executed. Some parts dragged, but overall, everything I wanted to happen, did, and they weren't too rushed or prolonged, so I'm not complaining. I'm having withdrawals right now.

Uncut Gems (2019)

Watch with earplugs

[1/10 · 31 January 2020]

"F- this. F-that. " That's all you hear from this movie. At least that's the only audible and comprehensible parts of the story. Starts interesting. Kevin Garnett's there. Acting's pretty natural, then the rest of the movie is Adam Sandler yelling non-stop (which is typical of an Adam Sandler movie, but this is x10) and I literally got a headache watching this. I looked at my progress. I was only an hour in. I guess if you want to torture yourself, go ahead, but I don't understand the high ratings. On the plus side, it's nice to see Adam Sandler show some dramatic range, but the stress and anxiety I got from this movie is not worth my leisure time.

Parasite (2019)

Do not read reviews or the synopsis. Just watch it.

[8/10 · 22 January 2020]

The best way to view this movie is like the movie Get Out. If you do not know what it's about, it's to your advantage. Enter with a blank mind, and watch it before everyone starts casually throwing the plot and ending around. If you're still reading this, though, I can tell you that it definitely deserves the praise it's been getting. Korean cinema has been overlooked for a while, and Hollywood is finally catching on. Korean cinema has so many great films with unique twists that Parasite gets lost in the sea of them, but compared to all the other Oscar-nominated movies this year, it's a standour-yes, because it's a foreign film, but also because it's not in your face and the same old period, war, biopic, Hollywood-loving-Hollywood movie that seem to get nominated year after year. It's more a subtle, pensive, edgy yet equally humorous and entertaining film that caters to both critics and audiences alike. The cinematography, direction and script are the crowning jewels of this film, but apart from externals, I think this movie deserves more than one view because a lot of themes has surfaced and requires a more in-depth analysis. The characters and their motivations can also be studied. It's a movie you can watch with a bag of popcorn and/or one that requires complete and undivided attention. If you're still reading this, then SPOILER ALERT for you before I write my next line:

I can't stop checking every nook and cranny of my house now. If you know, you know.

Catch and Release (II) (2006)

Yawn-worthy

[5/10 · 2 January 2020]

I usually love Timothy Olyphant's work, but this is not one of them. It could have been a good story, but this was flat out boring from beginning to end. I thought I was already 3/4 in the movie, but it turned out I had only been watching for 20 minutes. I still endured the movie because I liked Timothy Olyphant, but I had no idea how Jennifer Garner's character could like this guy. There was no chemistry to begin with and there was just not enough justification that they would end up together as per the conventions of a romance movie...I guess the movie is trying to be more true to life or showing a slice of life kind of story. It just dragged though. I'm very proud of myself for completing it. Lots of unnecessary focus on secondary characters and the soundtrack almost lulled me to sleep. Basically the guy wanted to be chased by the woman. It was a silly ending.

Cut Bank (2014)

Twin Peaks meets Corner Gas

[7/10 · 24 December 2019]

I don't usually look at reviews before watching a movie, but I was going to watch this with people who get bored easily, so I decided to take a peek. 6 and above out of 10 is a fair assessment. The movie starts off slow, but after the characters and motivations are established, the suspense kicks in and it does pull you in the story effectively. It was well-acted and the character Derby Milton...I don't know who plays him, but he really gave the character life and gave it an almost a cult-like status. The movie itself had a Twin Peaks vibe in terms of how quirky it is with dark undertones. Overall, I agree with reviewers who praised the script. It didn't knock my socks off or anything, but I haven't been seeing too many movie like this in theatres nowadays. Happy to have given this one a try.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Wake me up when it's over

[1/10 · 22 December 2019]

Guys, we don't have to pretend we like this because Quentin wrote and directed it. Maybe it's so brilliant that I personally missed the point of it, but my family and I, we love Quentin's movies, and I kid you not, we all took turns falling asleep during the movie (and we watched it at 6pm-not even bedtime). We now collectively know the cure to insomnia. The only reason we kept pressing on was because we were hopeful that the best was yet to come; unfortunately, the movie was pretty one-note and hardly felt like it belonged to him. I compare the experience to watching The Godfather 3, which I wouldn't even consider part of the franchise. It's just better to believe it never happen. I don't want to say Quentin has lost his touch because as expected, the soundtrack was smashing, the aesthetics were there, but I would say he had a major off-day. It had the right formula of romanticizing Hollywood stars of the past. He could have done so much more with it knowing how creative he is, but he didn't do anything that was impressive or unique. Inserting Leo in old movie/tv scenes was very Forrest Gump. It didn't have the usual edginess and stylishness of a Tarantino film...except maybe the foot fetish. I'm sorry because it's such a dismissive thing to say, but this was truly a waste of time. And I know that Bruce Lee scene was supposed to be some sort of highlight, but it was predictable and just not funny.

The Super (2017)

Did I miss its genuis? (Lol)

[5/10 · 6 December 2019]

This movie hits all the right notes in terms of creating suspense and thrills for the viewer. The acting's not bad and the dialogue's decent...then you get to 4/5 of the movie, and it goes downhill from there. Nothing makes sense. Who killed the teacher at the beginning? If the dad was physically alive, then why was the teacher seeing him like a spirit? And the shadow the blonde girl saw outside of her apartment, who was the man? I get that the little girl is dead, but the dad isn't. Also, why was Violet running away from Walter if he was technically the good guy? And how did the cops not see any evidence of voodoo when Walter had no time to cover it up? What's with all those pictures by the furnace? I'm sure there are other loopholes, and maybe there's a logical explanation for this whole fiasco, but I'm waiting for someone to put it together for me. Nice to see Val Kilmer after a while, but I just don't get this movie or what it was trying to achieve.

A Single Shot (2013)

Sam Rockwell wasted in this

[4/10 · 1 December 2019]

The main selling point for me Rockwell, and he was great in this as the actor, but his character didn't shine. While the movie showed promise at the beginning, the script just droned on and on, and I found myself taking a mini nap two-thirds in. I think the director aimed to create suspense in the right parts, but almost all the time missed. The progression was flat, and there were lots of unnecessary dialogue. I had to fast forward some scenes, and rather than abandoning the movie altogether, I decided to stick it out, out of respect for Rockwell. Cinematography was one-note, and it was just gloomy the whole time. Good plot, but it wasn't executed well.

Ghoulies (1984)

When it's so bad that it's so good

[6/10 · 27 October 2019]

I came into the movie with low expectations, and as campy and corny as I thought it was gonna be, I actually enjoyed it. I think when you watch it from that point of view, you won't easily get disappointed.

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Bo Peep ruined this

[4/10 · 24 October 2019]

I didn't dislike the movie. It was still well-made, but I don't care to rewatch it, either. The main problem for me is the transformation of Bo Peep's character. I get that we're trying to empower women, but it's so in-your- face, as with a lot of tv shows and movies nowadays. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting women-be who you want to be, be strong and independent, and I'm a woman myself-and in the context of the plot, being an abandoned toy and all, I can understand why Bo Peep would change, and people change, so why can't toys? But the whole 180 was such a personal turn-off for me. She was so domineering and aggressive in this that I kept hoping throughout the movie that Woody would just leave her. She didn't seem like good company anyway. I don't understand how all of sudden she became the main character. She even had more air time than Buzz.

I also get that they were trying to make Forky happen, but it ain't gonna happen. Forky was mildly cute at the beginning then got old fast. I actually enjoyed the Gabby toy more. She had more purpose and actually tugged at my heart in a similar fashion as the first three movies. I don't particularly felt this instalment was necessary. The franchise should have ended with TS3...this just feels like they're forcing it to live on. Like Star Wars. You know, to get our money.

Midsommar (2019)

The Wicker Man (1973)+ Hereditary + Suspiria (2018)

[5/10 · 18 October 2019]

If you liked any of the movies mentioned in the title it's quite possible you would like this one. I personally liked The Wicker Man (original and not the remake), but the latter two I have mixed feelings about. I do find movies about cults or the occult fascinating; however, I can only handle too much darkness before I call it a night, so for me it's about striking up that balance between terrifyingly watchable vs. A disturbingly one-time watch. This is a one-time watch for me.

I knew nothing before coming into it, but basically right off the bat, you get that spine-tingling score indicating that it's not a rom-com. It sets up a pretty chilling introduction with the main character's back story and once all the characters get to Sweden...honestly...if any of them ever watched The Wicker Man, they wouldn't even be stepping out of the plane...but, anyway, they didn't, and here we have the story.

The visuals ranged from borderline pretentious to out-of-the-box amazing. It nailed the picture-perfect with an ominous undertone atmosphere-props to cinematography, overall. The first half of the movie had a good flow, but midway the movie slowed down in pacing, and after a while I just kept thinking "yes, it's a cult, I get it, please get to the ritual now." When they do get to the ritual, the scenes just drag. I can appreciate a slow-burner, but I laboured to finish the second half of the movie.

It was a memorable film, I'll give it that, but not one I hope to sit through again.

You (2018–2024)

A very high 8 for me (based on Season 1)

[8/10 · 29 September 2019]

This came out of left field for me. Unexpectedly good. I was just going to watch it casually, but I ended up locking myself in my room just to finish the show in one sitting. Penn Badgley was made to do voiceovers, and it's interesting to see him transition from Gossip Girl to this; in both shows he is likeable-and even in GG I could already see hints of darkness in his portrayal of his character-but in You he just nails the wolf in sheep's clothing persona. It's so creepy, yet so captivating, to witness him squirm and get away with all the lying, stalking and killing. He's an extremely believable actor, a little on the underrated side, actually. Every episode, I'm biting my nails because everything he does I'm always asking "how is he going to get away with this, this time?" And he does.

The show itself is on the verge of being a teen drama, but it's elevated. The dialogue is not cheesy at all, and I find it to be the strong suit of this show. Moreover, for a show that features a lot of books on screen, and since the lead actress (of the first season) is a writer, and he works at a bookstore, it's all too satisfying to see that the show itself to be cleverly written and quite poetic in direction.

Blood Simple (1984)

More a dark comedy than noir

[8/10 · 17 September 2019]

I think if you were expecting a thriller that adheres to genre conventions, this film might rub you the wrong way. I didn't know what to expect coming into it, and I only found out the brothers directed it when the credits rolled. That said, now it makes sense why some scenes that were meant to be gritty had a comedic undertone to them. Bearing in mind the events that unfolded in the movie, "Blood Simple" as the title just makes one chuckle at the irony that it was anything but. It was a case of irrational behaviour combined with misunderstandings that complicated an otherwise easy contract killing. I found myself shaking my head and yelling at the screen ("why didn't you double check, man?") a couple of times. It's definitely a movie with flaws, but I can personally look past them because whatever the film lacked in plot development it made up for with mood and picture quality. There were a handful of memorable frames in this movie, primarily when Marty was crawling away from the car and it's just his silhouette we see, or that bird's eye view of Marty lifeless in the chair. As a side note, Mcdormand's acting was pretty solid in this, and as a whole the movie is still relevant. It aged well.