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Reviews
Apples Never Fall (2024)
Surprisingly Dull
Two award-winning veteran actors, Annette Bening and Sam Neill drag this predictable plot along, supported by their soap opera children. Robert Taylor, Sheriff Walt Longmire that was, has a small supporting role late in the show.
It's watchable enough, when Annette disappears and the family self-destructs. There are a couple of interesting twists in the backstory as the scenes switch from "then" to "now", but that part of the plot is unbelievable in the end. Everyone swearing to do better and the renewed happy family final scene is laughable. Mom was always taken for granted and left cleaning up after her ungrateful spoiled brats of a family. Mom and Dad's toxic relationship DNA has reproduced to some degree in the children. It's a cautionary tale and one probably familiar to lots of wives and mothers. Not awful, just could have been a lot better.
Anne (2017)
Crazed Drama doesn't suit the story
I loved the uplifting simplicity, the cornball winsomeness, of the original series; and the cast was superb. Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth, and Megan Fellowes, hello? All stars.
This is a " what if Charles Dickens wrote this story his way?" and all the extraneous scenes from some hack screenwriter's lurid imagination do not improve it. I will take sticking closer to the books, thanks. It's dark and dreary. Anne is traumatized and ADHD instead of imaginative and optimistic. Some random creepy stranger is trying to kidnap children at a railway station. Eeeuw. And that's just the first two episodes.
I don't understand the hysterical tone. I have no doubt even more horible things happened to orphan children in the 19th century If Lucy Maude Montgomery didn't need to go there, why does this off the rails remake?
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
Dull tv version of a great book
The first season loosely follows the plot of "The Brass Verdict" , a book I really enjoyed. It's weird to hear Anglo lawyer Mickey Haller with a Spanish accent as played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, but he's not so bad at capturing the character's emotions and confidence. There's just the "whoa, Haller is Mexican?" to get past. The rest of the cast is not how I imagined them but they try hard. Not great writing or pacing and the book is so much more interesting. Also compares badly to the outstanding Bosch series. It's an adequate police procedural with a daytime drama talent level cast. If you've got nothing else to watch, you could do worse.
The Diplomat (2023)
Reprise of What? It's Not Hilary!
I loved Kerry Washington in The Americans. Watching her estranged husband played by Rufus Sewell sniff her crotch like an unruly dog does not add to my appreciation of her talents.
This is Madam Secretary with more vulgar language and more realistic casting of unattractive actors as government employees. No Broadway polish here. More ambiguity is better, no neat wrap ups of real world intractable issues. Kerry has chosen the Viggo Mortensen as Aragon messy unwashed hair as character definition but asking her husband to sniff her armpits rather than a five minute shower was a new twist.
Honestly, Netflix, the premise has potential; but Tea Leoni nailed the role of superior female diplomat being groomed for higher office so much better.
Class of '09: Hogan's Alley (2023)
Now just derivative dystopian
I can't really say much without spoilers but this interesting show has dropped into a summer popcorn movie homage mashup of: evil technology/ thug government/ obligatory girl on girl action. There's a nice past segment with compassionate humans winning a training sequence role play but not much useful or original happens here. It's a 38 minute re-cap. Will the name of the crime prevention tracking system be revealed as Hal Jr. ? Where's Agatha when we need her most?
I wonder if they decided an external threat plot was satisfied with enemy construction workers. Hope the final episode delivers.
Karen Pirie (2022)
Modern Crime Thriller
Halfway through the third episode and hoping there's a second season. It's Marsali from Outlander, playing a young, ambitious, detective sergeant investigating a cold case. It's not that hard to guess the villain before she does, and she makes some terrible mistakes, but DS Pirie is still inexperienced and way too kind-hearted as she struggles to find the truth. I haven't noticed a sound problem, streaming on an older Fire tv. I do notice the beautiful scenery and high production values. It's crime fiction, not a police training vid. Procedural errors will happen. Live with it. The principal cast are all solid enough and the podcast update is smart. Well-paced, interesting though not wildly inventive, and totally worth watching.
Mind Your Manners (2022)
Entertaining show full of kindness and positivity
Never heard of Sara Jane Ho until I stumbled on a review of this series, watched it in an afternoon. I hope all her students follow through with the healthy beginnings she made for them. She gets to the heart of the matter it seems, and helps people look for their best selves. She seems sweet and empathetic, stylish and relatable. The short episodes don't go into a lot of depth but are full of positive energy and multi-cultural zest. Her regular etiquette class of older Chinese women join in with each new client, becoming wonderful " aunties" to her lifestyle students, who range from moms looking to regain a sense of self, to a wild child who hides pain under caked on makeup and heavy drink. Worth enjoying for so much human interest. Would like to see a second season.
Harry & Meghan (2022)
So it's all true
It's never easy for glamorous, wealthy people to tell you about their troubles without sounding like self-absorbed whiners, and there is plenty of that. The useful stuff is about the British media, a real bunch of sleazy clickbait publishers; and the relationship between the powerful tabloids and the royal family's PR teams. Keep in mind the message "We (taxpayers) Pay. You Pose". Royals lead lives of luxury and privilege but also are zoo animals on display. I accept that the much of their coverage of Meghan was slanted and racist but I ended the series feeling even more sorry for the family members who remain in the institution, as Harry puts it. Harry escaped. It's unfortunate the family fractured in the process but they've united against the Sussexes under the late Queen's goodwill. They're going to survive.
Bridgerton (2020)
Stop Clutching Your Pearls
This is wonderful, escapist ALTERNATE UNIVERSE fantasy. It's based on a series of romance novels, the most ridiculous and popular genre ever. It follows its own set of rules, just like a Chinese martial arts movie when fighters fly through the trees. Just admit you can't deal with Black people in high social positions and get over it. It's not historically accurate, duh. The costumes and sets are wonderful, women get to enjoy sex, and everyone lives in a silly, strict, social order that is very true. I think it's perfect pandemic entertainment.
Bridgerton (2020)
Stop Clutching Your Pearls
This is wonderful, escapist ALTERNATE UNIVERSE fantasy. It's based on a series of romance novels, the most ridiculous and popular genre ever. It follows its own set of rules, just like a Chinese martial arts movie when fighters fly through the trees. Just admit you can't deal with Black people in high social positions and get over it. It's not historically accurate, duh. The costumes and sets are wonderful, women get to enjoy sex, and everyone lives in a silly, strict, social order that is very true. I think it's perfect pandemic entertainment.
Upload (2020)
Only if you're really bored
Rich people get a better afterlife than the ordinary folks. I'm shocked. Narcissists do really well too. The premise is dark, sad, derivative, and dystopian; so if that's your thing, go for it. The plot is predictable, the acting is daytime soaps level, and it's not much fun. Turns out being dead with a virtual connection to the living is pretty damned difficult, and you paid all this money for them to quit serving breakfast at 10:00. Wendy's waits until 10:30, FFS.
So there are a few mildly amusing send-ups of modern life, and social media. Turns out a completely mercenary paradise fails for 40-60 percent of the gullible marks who bought into the corporate digital con job. Run to the sparkly tower in the forest and meet a humane end.
Downton Abbey (2019)
What every fan needed
If you tuned in every Sunday evening, if you bought the DVDs, you must see this movie. It's all as we remember it, with everyone polished up to their very finest for the fans, oh yeah, and the King and Queen, in 1927. We're back in the dining room, isn't that familiar and wonderful? The ladies' clothing is gorgeous, and downstairs, the staff connives to put those snooty baggages of the Palace household in their places. Team Downton triumphs. There are glimmers of future happiness for everyone, and a set-up for a believable sequel, if that ever happens (please yes!). Ten years on, this will be so interesting.
It runs a bit superficial and predictable, and fans will long for the series format so we can wallow in all those silly, daily dramas of a bygone world. But I got my fix right and proper, even survived the shock of Isabel and Daisy in full makeup. Hollywood.
Three Kings (1999)
Do not miss this one
I agree completely with Rick Desper's comments. This movie was tough to take, painful to watch, yet funny, real, and honest. I recommended it to two Iranian friends because it shows Americans do realize the situation is more complicated and human than "us versus the evil towelheads". It's a great movie, not to be missed. Who knew George Clooney could act?