Change Your Image
niged-701-928132
Reviews
Slow Horses (2022)
Daft 1st series
Will persevere with the 2nd series but the first was largely daft: a fancifully contrived main plot completely devoid of any credibility - its unbelievability just made it ridiculous rather than shocking; needless vulgarity in Gary Oldman's character that adds neither humour nor value; unbelievable sexual attraction between Guy and Harper - just no chemistry exists between them and she just randomly accuses him of thinking about sex with no credible reason; some really pedestrian "action" scenes that are laughable rather than exciting, etc. Great potential but so far undelivered due to superficial characters and plot. Classified as a thriller, but few thrills so far.
Barbaric Genius (2011)
Fascinating subject spoilt by documentary maker's stereotypes
John Healy is a fascinating character. A formidable intellect, articulate, a mind so hungry for information that he is well-informed/educated despite leaving school so early. Incredible lows and extraordinary highs in his life. It's amazing that his intensity is such that he could beat grandmasters at chess within a short time of turning his mind to the game having had no previous idea how to play.
But the documentary is spoiled by tired old stereotypes of Irish victimhood. Healy allegedly "hates" London but he doesn't leave it. His sanctuary is allegedly Ireland that he never moves to and is shown meeting relatives that he has chosen not to see for an incredible 45 years. His genius is magnified whilst the despair he has brought to other people's lives is brushed over. His cruel and brutal Irish father beating him at 6 is obviously the source of his demons that plagued his mental health for the rest of his life but the programme makers choose to focus on his oppression being sourced in the reaction to contemporary Irish terrorism. His dispute with Faber after having threatened them makes him out to be the victim yet the programme makers lack circumspection that literally no publisher in the world would touch him for years, not even Irish ones.
There're a lot of warts in his story, yet they are all portrayed to be elsewhere. A more objective account would provide better balance giving due acknowledgment that John was not a mere victim, his parenting was absolutely appalling and it was that that principally shaped him and ruined his life chances.
The English (2022)
An absolute masterpiece
This is one of the most carefully crafted productions of all time and is virtually perfect. The plot, sub plots, dialogue, direction, cinematography, casting, acting, music, locations, costumes, even the silences are outstanding. The charismatic lead actors are superb but equalled by the rest of the cast, especially Rafe Spall as the maverick David Melmont. Simply stunning in every respect, a profound visual experience that makes one feel that one is in the middle of the savagery and lawlessness of the Wild West. I can't speak highly enough of it. It will be studied for years to come. The bar has been raised.
Mammals (2022)
A lot more than meets the eye
I'm baffled by the negative reviews here. This is a very enjoyable series that is well worthwhile. Its style resembles quite a bit of Ricky Gervais's After Life - the jokes, pauses, twists, reflections, etc., are redolent of that superb series.
Mammals' plots, twists and turns and final punchline maintain the pace and interest but there is much depth and many metaphors if you look for them: never judge a book by its cover; fish/whale out of water; animal/mammal primal instincts; 2nd best in life, profession and love life; etc.
Stunningly beautifully cinematography in London, Cambridge and Cornwall. Far better than the naysayers' presumed prejudices.
And Just Like That... (2021)
Cleverer than it seems?
It's difficult to determine whether this is a hopelessly naive wokefest or a clever portrayal of woke hypocrisy. Or maybe both, so everyone can take from it whatever they choose. The remaining 3 characters are all unhappy: Carrie is alone, Charlotte has difficult teenage children, Miranda makes life-changing decisions that end in tears. They're all miserable to varying degrees. All the fun and sparkle has gone from their lives.
Cue the new, central character that is Che: LGBTQ+ hero, liberated, loud, proud, confident, modern, assertive, comfortable in her own skin. A model of modern emancipation. Yet s/he is actually vulgar, obnoxious, one-dimensional, aggressive, offensive, puerile and ludicrously fixated on sex and his/her own sexuality. You don't get a free pass if that's what you are just because of your sexual orientation. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Even if it's an LGBTQ+ duck.
Miranda doesn't want traditional anymore - she just wants "more". And she gets more than she bargained for.
So many metaphors, nods and winks, allusions, parodies, people who typically complain of being offended being offensive. Surely, this is cleverer than it appears on the surface of being an all-in celebration of wokism...?
Sophie: A Murder in West Cork (2021)
Better than Sheridan's effort
This benefits from the French family's perspective that Sheridan's version lacks as the family asked for their content to be withdrawn as they felt Sheridan's version was biased in favour of Bailey. More professional, factual and reveals more evidence enabling the viewer to make a more circumspect assessment of what might have transpired and who was responsible. Difficult to believe that anyone will be brought to justice after all this time but the ingredients to the story are the main reasons why our view of it is so opaque: breathtaking incompetence, lies, false testimony, cheating, corrupt Garda, subjectivity, mental health, a peculiar community of low-grade "artists" and "sculptors" apparently attracted by Ireland's 1997 "artist" tax exemption law, living in "idyllic" west Cork that has been more accurately described elsewhere as desolate as the ends of the earth. None of the characters are likeable, which seems to feed the eerie, weird oddity of the place and life there.
Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie (2021)
Sheridan is the weak spot
Sheridan spoils this documentary with his tedious narrative deflecting from the facts that are readily available. No mention of the shoe print at the scene of the crime. No mention of Sophie's affairs, her planning to leave her husband. Myths that no one locked their doors in Schull before the murder when photos show that Sophie did. Silly narrative about "the devil in the woods" and "Her body is in France; her soul is in Ireland". Schull portrayed as a "cosmopolitan" place when it's a desolate place with virtually nothing, populated by a variety of drop-outs. Explaining Sophie's anxiety via premonitions, seeing a ghost on the lake, etc., when there is good reason to believe her anxiety was due to her visiting Schull to end her relationship with yet another lover. The Netflix version is more dispassionate and factual. The Garda incompetence is breathtaking but so is Sheridan's.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Corrupted storylines spoil otherwise excellent acting
The scenes, CGI, acting and pace of this film are good but it's spoiled overall by the sheer invention that betrays the creation of arguably the greatest novel of all time. A contrived rivalry with Thackeray that never happened in real life; the many incongruous events; the contrivance that Dickens' story was inspired by an Irish girl's Varney the Vampire booklet (presumably required by the Irish financiers to invent an Irish connection to Dickens) when that booklet was published after A Christmas Carol. Authenticity would have better matched the otherwise excellent acting and direction.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Ignore the critics
It's notable that the media rate this film low whilst the public rate it good to high. I saw it last night in 2DX 270 and it was excellent. Malik is amazing - I forgot I was watching an actor after a few minutes. The music is obviously superb, the special effects reproducing Wembley brilliant, the story line genuinely moving in several places and a few deliberate Spinal Tap-isms including "We love you, Cleveland!". Great fun, great music, the only thing not to like are the miserable media critics.