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Reviews
Altered Carbon (2018)
Season 1 is the only reason I am giving 5 stars
I just got into this show and watched season 1 in December. I was already the show's biggest fan. It was well-acted, thought-provoking, and just plain off-the-rails. Then... season 2. It wasn't just worse, it was a disaster. I don't know who had the terrible idea of replacing Joel Kinnaman as Takeshi Kovacs but Anthony Mackie just isn't a good Kovacs. Even worse was the writing. The entire season was a gooey love story (which just is not what Altered Carbon is about) centered around the worst character from Season 1 instead of Kovacs. But the thing that makes me the angriest is how cheap Netflix makes their shows now. The visuals are actually ugly in Season 2, and it looks like they got homeless people off the street to do the fight scenes for ten bucks. The best parts of Season 2 were the Season 1 flashbacks. I am very disappointed. I still want a Season 3, but please Netflix, bring Kinnaman back and invest more talent and resources into the show.
6 Underground (2019)
Another Michael Bay movie, but with Ryan Reynolds
Michael Bay is a terrible filmmaker. His narratives and editing are all over the place. But his gross sense of humor and thrillingly violent scripts redeem him. Ryan Reynolds' character is not very relatable, but he is funny as always and acts the part well enough. If you don't understand Michael Bay or Ryan Reynolds, this film will horrify you. But if you do and just want to have fun, definitely recommend. Netflix wins again.
V-Wars (2019)
The subplots and evil science guy ruined everything
I enjoyed the pilot, I really did. My hope going into the second episode was that the underground journalist people's screen time would taper off. But they just got more screen time. Then another biker-gang subplot with atrocious acting got started. Then at the end of the second episode when the Slavic science guy fell into that evil professor trope I knew it was over. I'm cool with no-brainer series only if they're good
The Irishman (2019)
The best Scorsese film since Goodfellas
I just finished The Irishman and my heart is still racing. In the first 2.5 hours you have another beautifully crafted, well acted Scorsese mob drama that reunites all-stars of the genre in spectacular fashion. But it's the last 45 minutes that complete the experience. Watching an aging, depressed Sheeran gives you both sadistic pleasure and pure sympathy as he experiences a change of heart after it is far too late. The final minute is the best splice of cinema it's size that I've ever seen. The final scene is aesthetically simple and purely heart-wrenching. The whole film builds for the sole purpose of all collapsing on the protagonist in the final hour. A breakthrough in the genre and a career high for Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. A massive win for Netflix.
Earthquake Bird (2019)
A chilling epic
By far the most beautiful film I have seen in a long time, with cinematography en par with Roma but with far more story to hold your interest. The narrative is a chilling take on the classic archetype of a love triangle which is ultimately what makes it stand out. Alicia Vikander completely sells you on the guilt-ridden Lucy Fly, I don't think the film could have worked without her. My only criticism is that the themes feel disproportionate at the end (SPOILER- Lucy feels guilty over rejecting Lily and causing her death in the final scene but ten minutes earlier she wishes she had been able to kill her, Teiji's victimization of them both could not have garnered her sympathetic feelings because she loved Teiji and never saw him as the monster he was even after his attempt on her life). Nonetheless, this film is Avengers:Endgame for slow-burn and art film fans and I highly recommend.
The King (2019)
A game-changer for Netflix
Netflix continues to get English history right. Everything was en period. The Battle of Agincourt sequences were the most realistically violent cuts in cinematic history. Timothee Chalamet delivers a career-high performance. The ending is so surreal it is still in my mind hours later. I will definitely watch again. The best film I've seen on Netflix in 3 years as a subscriber.
The Lighthouse (2019)
Brilliant on every one
Robert Eggers is truly the Hitchcock of the 21st century. His script is intrinsically phenomenal but it is so much more moving when delivered by Pattinson and Dafoe. The final frame will never leave my memory. Will see again
Dark (2017)
The best show I've ever seen
To be fair, I haven't seen many, but wow this takes the cake. The writers are brilliant, the acting makes it feel real and the narrative is so authentic you believe it. The first season is phenomenal, the second is even better. So excited for Season 3.
Murder Mystery (2019)
Not the funniest screenplay-wise but it has Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston on the same screen so...
I didn't laugh out loud much but Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston sell the jokes just fine. I was more impressed by the twistiness of the plot and the quality of the lead performances. Cinematography was impressive too. I was engaged throughout. If you like the work of Agatha Christie, it is a must-watch.
In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)
More a drama than a thriller but effective nonetheless
If you are easily offended politically then this movie may not be for you. But otherwise, a well-acted, twisty film that has surprisingly human feel towards the end. Note: This is not an action-packed thriller like the trailer advertises. Watch only if you like detective flicks and can stand a slowly-unfolding plot.
Eli (2019)
Solid flick
I expected this to be more of a thriller but was pleasantly surprised by its supernatural element. Good acting, good job of moving away from jump scares as the plot thickened (the jump scares weren't great). The ending was intense, well-acted, and surprising. My only criticisms would be the pace in the first half, the jump scares, and the closing scene could have been darker. Would watch again.