Reviews
Nobody Wants This (2024)
Fantastic...
...from start to finish - occasionally, just occasionally Netflix hits one out the park and wow have they done that here. Brilliantly cast, not one dud amongst a cohesive and natural feeling ensemble - from the stand out leads of Brody and Bell to all the family members but maybe especially the brother and his deadpan wife with the acerbic wit - who is now my new big crush! Well written, a little daft but in a good way and stays on the right side of cheesy! Terrific musical score throughout the episodes, they just got everything right with this one. Hope they keep it going for series 2 because this has potential to be a big hit...
Skywalkers: A Love Story (2024)
once upon a time...
...kids went to college, got an apprenticeship, learned a trade, became sportspeople if they had the talent or just simply got a job. Nowadays that ain't good enough and to get ahead you gotta go all social media and provide content that is gonna entertain, shock and/or mortify to get a rabid audience in sufficient numbers that you can make a living the 2024 way. This is stunning, impressive, compulsive and horrifying all in one package - yes they've got skill, sure they've got balls but yes they're also breaking the law and one slip and they're dead - but hey, that's just more content eh and sure Netflix will happily make a documentary out of that too, because why not? We're heading towards a dark and dystopian future for generations to come if this is the way entertainment is going - do we really need to give legitimacy to, not to mention glorification of, arguable lunacy..?
Find Me Falling (2024)
Not bad, not great...
Cyprus set romantic comedy - sort of 'ish(!) - about an ageing rock star who returns to the island in semi-retirement and rekindles a long-ago love affair with the girl he left behind on his way to fame 'n fortune. Beautiful location and a reasonable attempt at the rom-com genre, with Harry Connick Jr playing the lead and a decent cast providing the support, in particular Ali Fumiko Whitney. It's enjoyable and watchable if a little clunky and predictable at times, script and dialogue are ok and the run time is about right, it doesn't drag but gently winds its way to the conclusion we all know is coming. An easy going feel good movie that provides enough to make it worth a watch...
The Gentlemen (2024)
Excellent expansion on the original film...
Loved the film so wasn't sure what to expect from this adapted series but thankfully I had nothing to fear - excellent cast throughout, typical mix of madcap, ruthless, daft or calculating Ritchie characters and a seamless flow of storylines that lurch from one disaster to the next with effortless aplomb - again typical Ritchie. The strong leads are supported by many familiar faces, the dialogue is typically smart 'n witty and the whole thing holds together well, keeping this viewer more than interested in seeing how each episodic "situation" plays out and how each "problem" is resolved - so to speak!
Recommended.
Masters of the Air (2024)
A lot to live up to...
Opening credits completely evoke the memory and feeing of Band of Brothers and of course this is going to be hugely compared to that brilliant series from over two decades ago. One of the areas that BoB got so right was the casting - almost flawless with every character and sub story perfectly played and executed. So far and admittedly only two episodes in the casting doesn't appear to have that magic, social scenes not quite there etc Hopefully it will grow and develop as the episodes unfold but initially it feels just a little "forced"... Battle scenes are ok but don't quite have an authentic feel - was really looking forward to this series but right now underwhelmed...
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Gem of a film...
A brilliant, quirky, stylish and stylised crime thriller conundrum of a film with more than a nod to Tarantino and a terrific cast putting in first class performances. Hartnett is fantastic, the chemistry with co star Lucy Lui electric, Willis brilliant as the cold hard assassin, Kingsley and Freeman typically strong performances as the two warring crime bosses, Tucci the cop with a past etc - from start to finish everyone faultless... Yes it's violent but no more than is pretty much the norm these days. It's fast paced, never really slows, twists and turns and unfolds it's story near faultlessly - I loved this film when it came out and never tire of a rewatch every now and then. Always thought there was a great actor within Hartnett - this film proves it, Shame we don't see more of him, and shame that in this day and age of franchises that they didn't run this to a sequel, or indeed sequels. Gem of a film...
World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)
World War2 in colour...
Very good 6 part documentary series on most of the major events of WW2, narrated by John Boyega and utilising original film footage colorised to really bring the imagery to life. This aspect works very well mostly - the events and the horror feel that much closer than the grainy black and white we're used to seeing.
The narration is adequate and tells the story well, yes there are some inaccuracies and some film footage clearly does not match the narration but overall it works well in telling the story as whole of these brutal 6 years of a world tearing itself apart.
There are better series out there, notably World at War narrated by the late, great Laurence Olivier but this one does the job and as said, the colorisation of the film really does bring an added element and makes this a worthwhile addition to the numerous accounts of this period in history and the lessons that should never be forgotten...
All the Light We Cannot See (2023)
Enjoyable.
Engaging and watchable 4 part series telling the tale of a blind French girl, a German soldier/radio operator and, somewhat loosely, the French resistance during WW2 in occupied St Malo in France. Good cast, Hugh Laurie as ever excellent but not convinced Mark Ruffalo was right for his part, some slightly odd accents going on there! Along with the great cast, good cinematography, pacing and dialogue make the whole thing work well if not exactly standout. Just think maybe it could/should have had more of a European feel about it considering the subject matter. Still, it's far from the worst thing Netflix has put out...
The Reckoning (2023)
Amazing from Coogan, very hard watch though.
4 part docu/drama on the life and crimes of one Jimmy Savile - the notorious British DJ, TV 'n radio presenter, showbiz personality, charity fund raiser supremo and serial paedophile with hundreds of victims spanning over half a century.
Steve Coogan plays the title role of Savile and is utterly brilliant - if that's the right word - in capturing the normality juxtaposed with the utter horror of a man who, for a long time, fooled a nation and manipulated those in positions of authority into turning a blind eye to his crimes. Within a few minutes of viewing this you are watching Savile and not Coogan playing Savile.
It's a tough watch I have to say and one wonders what quite was the purpose in bringing this back to screen? That said it makes for compelling viewing but not something I'd ever want to watch again. The various interviews with a handful of Savile's victims in each episode are heartbreaking...
Reptile (2023)
Film noir that doesn't quite hit the heights...
Decent cast and the ever brilliant Benicio Del Toro in a modern film noir that entertains and keeps the interest whilst falling some way short of greatness. I found the music score and incidentals a little intrusive/over the top at times and the film sometimes just feels like it's trying a bit too hard to be clever. Overall It works though because Del Toro is totally watchable and you kinda forgive the film it's failings largely because of this. A lesser actor would've struggled to keep it all together way before it reaches its finale. Silverstone and Timberlake put in solid supporting performances, the writing is decent if a little convoluted.
All in all well worth the watch despite a number of shortcomings...
Colin from Accounts (2022)
Good/Excellent Modern Aussie comedy.
A pretty decent stab at a modern romantic situational comedy with a slightly whacky edge that when it works is excellent, when it doesn't it feels a little forced and/or over the top. The two main leads are really good, the will they/won't they scenario played out well - the neurotic and overbearing mum is great and her b/f Professor Lee in the 'dinner at the parents' episode was wonderfully and supremely creepy...!
Back up cast are good if not especially memorable, the writing in the main is well executed and after a slow 'ish first episode I found myself engaged enough to watch it all the way through. Worth the time, quite sweet in its charm overall and interested to see if they do a follow on series.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Classic.
Great Sam Raimi cheese fest of a western with a terrific all star cast. Loved it when it came out - still love it now. It's not to be taken seriously - it's pure entertainment, a glitzy and irreverent homage to spaghetti westerns and it hits the spot. From Stone to DiCaprio, Hackman to Crowe et al - the cast do a great job of keeping this fast paced tale of cowboys, cowgirls, morality and revenge on track and firing on every chamber. It's a shame reading some of the reviews here that maybe these days people take themselves too seriously, in the process forgetting what it is to just be entertained without necessarily having to be fully immersed and/or having their inner critic satisfied by the most worthy of film projects. Watch this, and remember what it once was to just have fun...
You People (2023)
A few funny moments can't save this...
I love Jonah Hill but this is not one of his finer moments - eventually well meaning filmmakers are going to get the picture (excuse the pun) that they are trying too hard to force feed audiences black/white relationship issues - in this instance what happens when a white Jewish guy meets a black Muslim girl, they fall in love - and then have to deal with how their respective families comically (sort of) do their unwitting best to mess it all up. There are some funny moments but the whole thing just doesn't glue together well enough to be sufficiently believable and to make you care enough about the outcome. Shame, some great talent in there but one day someone will either make a film of this ilk that actually feels real to all sides - or Hollywood will hopefully give up trying.
Your Christmas or Mine? (2022)
Xmas by numbers...
A cast of well known Brit actors including the ever watchable Asa Butterfield, Angela Griffin, Daniel Mays etc do their best to keep this Xmas by numbers film bubbling 'n bumbling along and just about pull it off - but it's by no means a classic. Managing to comfortably straddle the line between inoffensive and formulaic it tells the tale of two romantically engaged students independently ending up at each other's family dwelling for Yuletide - and the obvious 'hilarity' that ensues from this.
And that - along with a number of run of the mill cliches, situations and characters - is about it...
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
Ok, sort of...
A set of 8 different short stories that if you're looking for laughs, gore, horror and diversity to view with a mix of incredulity and hilarity, this will be right up your street - the 8 part compendium centres on tales of morality, revenge, fate, desires, aliens(!) and present themselves unfolding equally in stomach churning, stupid, dark, colourful and at times utterly ridiculous vignettes.. If you're looking for a horror classic, this definitely isn't it - often it's just too daft for its own good - the acting too over the top, the characters too basic, the dialogue too clumsy. I expected better to be honest, but it's worth the watch nonetheless.
I Used to Be Famous (2022)
Peckhams Finest
Nicely acted with solid, if not exceptional, performances all round, in essence this is a simple, human story of friendship, hope and redemption set in and around the wonderfully diverse Peckham, South London. Focusing on the relationship between an ex boy band musician trying to reignite the past and an autistic boy drummer drifting into adulthood, there is a lot of tugging at the heart strings here and it only just about manages to stay on the right side of overdoing the sentimentality. Having said all that, what the story may lack in subtlety and poise, it more than compensates with heart and soul. Rather good.
Eien no 0 (2013)
Beautiful film...
Have watched this a number of times over the years and never fails to enthral me - part war story, part love story it's a tale of an ace Japanese WW2 fighter pilot and his battle to stay alive long enough to see out the war and get back to his wife and child - told from the angle of his grandchildren who embark on a mission to find out about their grandfather by meeting with various other surviving fighter pilots who knew him. It's beautifully told, flitting back and forth in time, has great aerial and naval battle scenes, with excellent CGI, an emotive & rousing score and really excellent performances across the board, the lead being the standout. A must see film...
Murderville (2022)
Watch the original...
Not terrible but not great either, Arnett does ok but watch the British original with Tom Davis as DI Sleet. This Netflix remake just doesn't capture the wonderful inanity of the original.
Toast of Tinseltown (2022)
Toast still great, just.
ToT sees the return of Steven Toast in a new setting - sort of.
The original Toast of London was pure genius and the best comedy I've seen on tv in the last decade. Well, Steven is back but this time he's across the pond - as the title implies - with some of the old supporting cast but quite a few new faces too, some of whom in my opinion work, some don't.
Matt Berry and all the old cast still sparkle but there a few too many dud performances amongst the new faces to make this quite as good as the original series, which is a shame.
Head back to London Toast, you're missed :)
The Outlaws (2021)
Souvenir...
Stephen Merchant, Christopher Walken and Orchestal Manoeuvres in the Dark - an unlikely coming together but with an excellent supporting cast, some typical Merchant one liners and a fair amount of poking fun at modern day absurdities, this is a very watchable and rather sweet comedy/drama. 7/10 plus an extra point for having a true acting legend come along for the ride...
Red Notice (2021)
Enjoyable...
But could've been so much better - a kind of Indiana Jones meets modern heist caper - generic script and not much of a plot, the whole thing really relies on the charisma of the main stars to pull it through - which they just about do. But surely with just a bit more pizazz and thought this could've been a whole lot more....
Father Christmas Is Back (2021)
Not great...
A very British farce but in the manner of a sub standard Richard Curtis effort minus the schmaltz. Love Liz but she really ain't the greatest actress the world has ever seen and the rest of the cast are seemingly struggling with a very so-so script. It's not terrible but it certainly isn't good either.
Midnight Mass (2021)
Salem's Lot for the 21st Century...
Good series, well worth watching with some excellent (and familiar) performances, great cinematography and a well paced story but the climax just left me somewhat incredulous and a little disappointed. It's no Hill House that's for sure...
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (2021)
Self promotion from the absolute King of self promotion
Unfortunately when I watched this all I could see and hear, (apart from an uninspiring documentary and rather annoying music), was a poorly disguised long form Space X/Tesla advert and cloying PR for someone I have zero interest in and substantially less than zero respect for.
In the fullness of time I have no doubt people will see why...
Bitter Lake (2015)
Wow. Heart breaking...
Powerful and at times brutal documentary that lays bare the history behind the current day situation in Afghanistan - from Roosevelt and the Saudi's, the Russians and the Muhajideen, the British and the international arms trade, the global banking system to Bin Laden and of course the Taliban - what an utter mess of failed diplomacy, vested interests, corruption, religion, fanatical idealism, terror and varied international 'meddling' on a grand scale leading to many decades of political instability and human tragedy.
There's no good versus evil here, because other than the Afghan people no one comes out of this with any merit.