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Reviews
Killer Sally (2022)
Outrageous Miscarriage of Justice
I knew nothing of this case before watching the limited series on Netflix. It was much more infuriating and frustrating than the sensationalized promo pic suggested.
Spoiler Alert:
Perhaps even more upsetting than the verdict and sentence was prosecutor (now, frighteningly enough, judge) Daniel Goldstein's handling of this case - and the misogynistic views that seeped out during the trial AND in the limited series.
Ray McNeil beat this woman. Choked her. Abused her children. And, because she was a bodybuilder and because she shot him twice (after reloading), she was found guilty of 2nd degree murder. OUTRAGEOUS. She would have never been charged and allowed to live out her life in peace with her two already traumatized children. Shame on the cops, the prosecutor, the jury, and everyone involved in charging this woman. Shame on the men in the documentary who laughed and rolled their eyes recounting Ray McNeil's infidelity and the volatile relationship between Ray and Sally. Shame on her abusive father, her abusive stepfather, and her abusive first husband. They all deserve...retribution...too.
Well done to Diane Dimond for admitting they'd handles the case poorly in the media. And to Sally's friends for standing by her side.
In my opinion, the State of California owes Sally Stewart an apology, monetary compensation, and an expunged record. Our judicial system is a joke - especially for women, children, and animals.
I wish Sally, Shantina, John, and their friends and family all the best moving forward.
Endeavour (2012)
Soooooo Sloooooooow.
I am a huge fan of British dramas and crime dramas, but this show is almost unwatchable for me. The episodes are each feature film length and they just seem to drag on and on and on. I usually fall asleep about midway through each episode, which is not great. :/ I also don't care for the 60s time period it's set in, but that's just a personal preference.
I have not watched "Midsomer Murders," so maybe I need to do that before trying this one again. But, as is, this is a Do Not Finish for me.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Not Good, But Not Bad, Either.
This is a very strange show, in that, it really isn't that great...but it's not bad, either. The acting is good, there glimpses of cleverness and humor, but it's not really clever or humorous. It's baffling.
We'll watch season 2, if only to "enjoy?" more of the weirdness.
With This Ring (2015)
Just SO bad.
I don't understand these types of movies, as they seem to serve no purpose. They aren't funny, dramatic, or even absurd. They're just full of filler content that bores the viewer to death. The plot is all over the place, the acting is wooden, and there is no attention holding content. Definitely doesn't belong on Lifetime!
Love by the 10th Date (2017)
Unwatchable.
This movie, in my opinion, is ridiculous, cheesy, vapid, and was - ultimately - unwatchable. The entire "plot" is ridiculous and the acting is amateurish.
I hope Lifetime never replays it. 👎🏽
The Rachel Divide (2018)
It All Makes Perfect Sense.
Rachel so hated her parents and everything they stood for that she wanted to be someone else...and created that new identity for herself. I get that. I think the whole morphing from white girl from Montana to "black" girl from Spokane happened gradually and was mostly due to the abuse she (and her siblings) suffered at the hands of her parents.
I will say, I don't agree with her calling herself "Black." I think she would be much better off saying she identifies with Black culture and immerses herself in it rather than digging her heels in about actually BEING Black. But that's her issue to deal with and I don't think it comes from a place of malice. Rachel seems to be a decent human and I hope she gets another chance to help change the world.
She seems like a great mom and sister and that says about a lot about her character. I hope she can find peace (and a job!) someday. I wish her and her family the best.
Lead Me Home (2021)
Housing is a Basic Human Right.
Perhaps if Republicans hadn't defunded and closed mental health facilities in the 1980s, homelessness in this country wouldn't be quite so prevalent.
Heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking. We need to do better by each other in every way.
Unrest (2017)
This is Nonsense.
I believe CFS exists and I believe some people have it. However, Jennifer Brea is not one of them. From the fake crying to the miraculous "cure" in the desert (why wouldn't you just move to a hotter/drier climate, if it "cured" your debilitating condition?) - this whole film is sus. And kind of a slap in the face to people who truly live with chronic, invisible illnesses.
And now (2020) Brea claims she is completely in "remission." What a shock!
Hopefully, someday, someone with true CFS makes a film and depicts it honestly...because this isn't it.
My Name Is Salt (2013)
Beautifully Understated & Heartbreaking
"I Am Salt" was educational...I had no idea salt was mined that way in India. I really enjoyed all aspects of the film, excluding the main male "character." What a rude, unkind, demanding, thankless person! I was hoping throughout the movie someone would tell him to knock it off, but, alas, it did not happen. If not for his unlikable presence, I would have given the movie 10 stars.
So much work for so little pay...and the children had no say in being forced to work in the desert for 8 month, with no entertainment, comfortable sleeping arrangements, or plentiful food. I wished better for all of them (except for Meanie).
I hope Farida Pacha makes more films; she is talented and can tell a compelling story!
Work in Progress (2019)
I Love This Show.
If you have anxiety, you'll relate to this show. If you're a woman in this world, you'll relate to this show. If you're neurotic, funny, and/or like to simmer in your feels, you'll relate to this show.
I'm not a member of the LGBTQ community, but I think most folks who are will relate to this show on some level.
I laugh. I cry. I learn. Really loving this how and hope it gets more seasons!
After Life (2019)
Gut-wrenching, Hilarious, & Existential Crisis Inducing
Wow. I love the way they wrapped up the series: no forced "emotional growth," no drawn out plot lines, and extremely realistic. Sometimes you don't move on...sometimes you just learn to live a new and different existence, because you have no other choice.
Life isn't fair and it's so incredibly difficult to be a creature on this planet. All that matters is being good to others, enjoying moments whenever you can, and hoping for the best.
Warning: This is an EXTREMELY triggering show, especially to those dealing with loss and grief. I wept through every episode, but I also laughed through every episode. Just a beautiful, tragic depiction of what it is to be alive.
The Starling (2021)
Schmaltzy, Contrived, Wooden, & Poorly Executed
I love MM and Chris O'Dowd (and Timothy Olyphant), but this movie was a real stinker. Very shallow, cheesy, and with no chemistry between the characters at all. Some scenes are downright absurd and others just feel very contrived and forced.
Someone compared this to a Lifetime movie, but they have clearly not watched any Lifetimes movies. Those movies have better plots, acting, and less cheese than this one. By a country mile.
Mom (2013)
Started Off Strong & Then Crashed and Burned.
I enjoyed the first 2-3 seasons, despite the internalized misogyny hidden behind many "jokes." But, once the character "Adam" appeared, I had to stop watching. He is SO obnoxious and having him be a drunk while living with two people in AA is both absurd and appalling.
Additionally, the show became more religious as it went on, with characters suddenly praying and talking about god. This coming from characters who described themselves as not religious at all in season 1.
Hard pass on this trainwreck of a show. 👎🏽
Lilyhammer (2012)
No, Thanks.
I don't find calling someone a "towelhead" or forcing them to shake a woman's hand when it's against their beliefs to be funny. I don't find solving problems with guns and violence to be funny. There is nothing remotely redeeming about the main character (who is as hypocritical as he is bigoted). I'm shocked to see all these glowing reviews...but I guess there is no accounting for taste.
Collateral (2018)
Liberal, You Say? Count Me In!
All of the people slamming this for being left wing "rubbish" convinced me to try it - and I loved it. So thanks for your "warnings!"