I rarely binge anything but I couldn't stop watching. Such a mesmerising and intriguing storyline with so many layers to it and such raw and authentic characters. I have literally never seen a depiction of any messiah on the TV that didn't make me cringe but this one totally blew me away.
Reviews
12 Reviews
The Commons
(2019–2020)
A lot better than I expected
4 January 2020
Yes the storyline was full of gaps and contradictions, and the acting tended toward the overly dramatic at most times. But it was overall enjoyable to watch. This series is not so much about the 'future' as it is about our current times and it was satisfying to see the climate debate played out on the screen. The idea of following a character for 8 episodes while she is trying to have a baby didn't sound like something I'd enjoy but put into context it's about the debate on whether we should even be bringing children into the world, given the impact they will have on the environment and how our current planetary degradation is affecting them mentally. I wouldn't say the writers were entirely fearless in their views but they did well. I'd watch a second season.
The Gloaming
(2020– )
Meh
3 January 2020
You cant fault the Tasmanian landscape or the cinematography at all. There is a really haunting feeling to the whole production which is right on point. But then there is something really mediocre about the acting and script. And it's really surprising because there are some really great actors in it. But all the characters are just so ridiculously clichéd. The storyline had such great promise too; murder, religious cults, family secrets and convict history. What more could you ask for?! But it too was incredibly clichéd and none of the plot twists were even slightly surprising. Overall it was ok. But I had just hoped for so much more.
Secret in Their Eyes
(2015)
So much better without subtitles
29 December 2019
I've watched the original movie twice and it's awesome but it's so hard to follow a movie of that complexity when they all speak so fast and you're trying to follow subtitles. I realised after watching this there was so many layers that I missed. Some scenes I thought were better in the original version but overall I prefer the American version so much more. This is a geat movie. Tense plot, interesting characters and some really great twists that keep you guessing right up until the end. The kind of movie that just draws you right in from beginning to end.
The Fall
(I) (2013–2016)
I deducted 3 stars for the final season
25 September 2019
I would have easily given this 8 stars for the first 2 seasons. It was well written, well acted, fast paced and intriguing. But the final season was so bad I had to deduct 3 stars. It was slow and overly dramatic and so clichéd. I was cringing the whole way through. Wish I'd just stopped at season 2. Heck, wish THEY'D just stopped at season 2.
The Snowman
(2017)
Disappointingly unwatchable
6 August 2019
Such a beautiful and atmospheric film but completely unwatchable due to the breakneck speed that it moves through the storyline. You don't get the opportunity to build any relationships with the characters or to really engage with the story line. This really needed to be at least four episodes long.
Shetland
(2013– )
So good!
2 June 2019
Best detective show I've seen in ages. Great storylines that keep you guessing the whole way through the series. Stunning scenic backgrounds. It deals with some dark topics but at its core it's a really heartwarming show because of the empathy and respect that is shown to all of the characters.
The Society
(2019)
It was just ok
17 May 2019
It's watchable and the acting is pretty good for how ridiculous the plot is. But it's so slow. Most of what you see is the trailer is in episode 1 or episode 9 and 10. In between theres a lot of long slow mundane conversations. If it had the pace of the last two episodes the whole way through the show, it would have been a really great show.
Heal
(I) (2017)
Terrible
17 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
For sure there is a powerful connection between the human psyche and physical health and I would still love to watch a documentary that explores that. This 1 hr and 46 min infomercial is not that. Every person that is interviewed in this documentary makes their livelihood by flogging a book, program or course that supposedly makes you more attuned to this healing energy. There is no exploration of the topic, it's just the same opinion of the topic coming from a range of different people. Yes there are cases where natural therapies have helped some people much more than medicine but there are a lot of people that have had no success with natural therapies and for whom modern medicine has worked best. I expected an intelligent debate about both sides and a weighing up to one side at the end but boy was I disappointed. Lastly, I heard a lot of very questionable stuff coming out of people's mouth but to hear Bruce Lipton say that type 2 diabetes was 100% NOT genetic took the cake. Wow.
The Unknown Girl
(2016)
The importance of work life balance
27 January 2019
Underneath it all, this film is a fascinating study on the importance of work life balance for mental health. The main character works in an extremely demanding work role as a community clinic GP, working long hours with challenging patients and is constantly on call. It's really no wonder then that she is unable to process a small traumatic event and it spirals into an unhealthy obsession that dominates her whole life. If ever there was a call to arms about the importance of hobbies and personal interests, this film is it!
Juste un regard
(2017)
In one word... Ridiculous
25 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Started out really well. Atmospheric, tense, all these pieces to the puzzle. But it came together in sheer ridiculousness. How everyone supposedly knew each other was so increasingly implausible. And the police constantly being one step behind the central characters who are one step behind the kids! Nobody can find this man and this kid whacks out her laptop with the man's name and says to her mum 'I Googled daddy's name with the names of the other people'. Very disappointing.
Tell Your Friends