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jfurler
Reviews
True Detective: Night Country: Part 2 (2024)
Not sure about this
I'm pretty sure this is a comedy and if so I'd probably rate it higher but I think they think it's serious in which case I'd rate it way lower. Either way it's a joke.
It's very hard to add 433 characters just to get my little comment online but I'll do my best. I guess one could say it's a horror show John Carpenter-esque but it's a bit dull and tedious if that's the case. Perhaps it's burlesque.
The acting is work-a-day plodding going through the motions and the result is altogether underwhelming. The scenography is not subtle to say the least and overall makes for a disappointing viewing.
Phew.
Foundation: Death and the Maiden (2021)
Getting worse by the week
I haven't read the books but the shoot out scene in this episode was so clunky like an episode of thunderbird puppets. It's very entertaining reading the reviews of the people who know the books as they know just how disappointing this is. To me it's just bad tv getting worse.
Vigil (2021)
Ludicrous
This is a good idea but laughably implemented. Bit of a shame. The plot is bizarre at times and requires more than the suspension of disbelief. It requires the suspension of all consciousness.
The Father (2020)
Important issue but upper class view of solutions
Great acting and engaging story but an absolutely class-based depiction of dementia as a challenge for individuals, families and health systems. This is a highly sanitised upper class private health care view of dementia care. Having lived through my grandfather and father-in-law dying of dementia and working as a GP in Australia in a disadvantaged community I can tell you the choices and options facing most families are much more acute and problematic than this. This is a well acted sanitised upper class view of dementia as a community anc health system problem.
One Night in Miami... (2020)
A terrific intelligent film
What an excellent film of a play tackling fundamental issues of power. Such a refreshing thing to encounter. Thanks so much to the director, cast and of course to Kemp Powers.
Brave New World (2020)
Meandering and confused
"You thought you'd be dangerous and violent and untamed but your not.... you're just sad" sort of summarizes this appalling one-dimensional series extremely loosely based on Huxley's novel.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
Near perfect
Amazing film, terrific story by Le Carre. Perfectly paced. Burton magnificent. Captures the moral duplicity at the heart of Le Carre story so well
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Seriously bad
Meandering and without significance or meaning or anything redeeming
Operation Buffalo (2020)
Unusual portrayal of an interesting piece of history
I agree that the humorous element of this series seems misplaced and jangling but the basic story line comes through. Maybe the English and Australian key characters are caricatures but maybe not so much given this is 1956. The dispossessed Aboriginal people and presence in the region comes through, as does the unfolding horror of significant radiation exposure. I think give the series a go and some of the reviews are perhaps overly harsh. An important event in Australia's history.
Night Train to Lisbon (2013)
The real culprit here is the script
The actors do their best but this is a terrible script. It's hard to overstate the banality and pretentious self regard of the writing. The historical context to this love story is a good idea but the script really fails to capture any urgency or weight from the history. Lightweight at best.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
A terrific telling of a wonderful novel
Despite the negative reviews I found this a really wonderful retelling of Dickens novel. Having listened to fantastic audiobook version by Martin Jarvis I was looking forward to this but worried about the poor reviews. In fact the movie captures the wonderful characters and emotions of Dickens novel. Obviously some things are omitted but overall this is a satisfying and engaging and artful rendition of a wonderful novel.
After Life (2019)
I could only watch one episode at a time
This show was so poignant, the comedy and the pain, I couldn't binge watch, had to space it out to absorb it. Brilliant.
Sweet Country (2017)
Too slow for my liking
Yes based on a true story, another important telling of white brutality on black in Australian history. Excellent acting by Hamilton Norris and Doolan , but boring predictable performances by old Sam Neil and Bryan Brown, names only it seemed, not really engaged. Beautiful landscape of course, a major feature.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Completely of no importance
Luscious musical score and brilliant portrayal of a hateful person by DDL but really one longed for a deliverance from the unpleasantness, a sense of ambivalence or paradox but no, unrelentingly boring and tedious, with nothing of importance. Tragic missed opportunity to say something of value. Hopefully DDL last movie.