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Killing Lincoln (2013)
The Tragic Story of John Wilkes Booth?
That's a better title for this documentary. Sub-titled: "the death of Lincoln"
There are moments in this story where no one alive can know what was really said or done. Those moments are filled in with heroic dialogue by Booth. Disgusting.
The two stars were for some details I didn't know about.
Sherlock: The Lying Detective (2017)
Why is LYING to John Watson supposed to SAVE John Watson?
And how does Mary know that John will blame her death on Sherlock? She could have been hit by a cab. Manipulating John is the favorite game of both Mary and Sherlock. So lying to John about what is going on in this episode, is what Sherlock does at Mary's direction. In the 4th series John is merely a weak pawn who can't take charge of his own life, but must be lied to so he does "what's best for him".
If I accept that Mary knows how she will die and that Sherlock's showing off will contribute to her death, then why does she think that John will be an empty shell without Sherlock? Why does John need to save Sherlock to save himself? Why did they make him so weak? He could have moved to, say, Edinburgh, and started a new life with his daughter. It was pretty obvious that the show was over. Previous seasons ended with cliff hangers. This season did not. They didn't need to keep Watson and Sherlock together anymore.
The writers changed John so much. No longer a brave and compassionate person with strong standards in the first 2 series. He's a casual adulterer. He only puts himself "in danger" when his opponent is high on drugs and unable to fight back (Sherlock and Wiggins). His only "compassion" is overwhelming self-pity in the 4th series. During this episode he contributes absolutely nothing to solving the mystery. He's just a hanger-on. there to be the object of jokes and to make everyone feel sorry for Sherlock because John in so cruel.
This 4th series makes me so mad at the writers. Watson was my favorite character through the first 3 series. He was flawed, but a strong person with his own idea of what was right and what was wrong.
Belle Starr (1941)
Offensive
This film is so offensive that I can't even begin to judge it cinematically. Willful shallow southern belles are were over done mid-20th century. I kept hoping a stray bullet would hit Belle. Slaveholders are so heroic. Yeech. And slaves loved being slaves too.
I DVR'd this film because of Dana Andrews - one of my favorite actors. I guess until Laura he didn't have much choice except taking these thankless roles. Except for his duty as a northern major, he seemed to be sympathetic to the "southern cause".
I hope that all the actors were ashamed of this film 30 years later.