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griffinwpearson
Reviews
The Newsroom (2012)
Heartwarming and well written
I just got done watching the last episode of the final season and I have to say I really enjoyed the show. Not only is it well written, and well acted but it feels genuine, and not cynical. I was a big fan of the West Wing, and I was delighted to find another show with a similar vibe but slightly more current. Since they use real events that happened (some of the facts were bent to fit the storyline) it makes the show seem more urgent and significant. I really liked the fast paced dialogue style and the call-backs are nice. My friend described the writing style as "you know when you think back on a conversation and you wish you would've said the right thing? The writing is how you wished you would have said it" and I think that describes it perfectly and it makes me smile.
Dog (2022)
Great movie
Really enjoyed this movie. It's well acted by Tatum (probably his best). The story isn't overly complex but it feels honest and keeps you interested. Music is great and the scenarios are fun. Really amazed by the dog actor and who ever trainer her. It seems like a difficult movie to get right and I think they pulled it off. I also enjoyed the occasional Veterans-meets-progressive and alternative lifestyle people. Always love seeing Bill Burr making appearances (he plays the sarcastic *jerk so well and it's hilarious every time)
Overall, if you want a solid movie that will make you smile and doesn't get political, you will enjoy this movie.
The Terminal List (2022)
Attention to detail, twists and turns, solid acting
If you like Shooter, in my opinion, this is done better. The attention to detail is uncommonly good, especially for this genre and I appreciate it. The acting is believable and the story line is thrilling. It's a great watch.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
Not perfect but a decent watch
Show keeps moving so I stayed interested. Feels like White Collar Solid acting from the main characters, but they did go a little overboard with the leftwing politics... I don't know why a lawyer would say "defund the police" in the context of the scene or why it matters we know that many of the characters gay... there are multiple examples. It's a little forced and makes the script feel unnatural at times. Written by committee rather than following the vision and passion of the books.. all to avoid complaints on Twitter, but it results in a safe script rather than a daring script. Other than that it's a fine watch. I think Goliath had better acting/script and Suits had deeper connection with the characters.
The Walking Dead (2010)
I've watched through season 8. Excellent all around.
Though I haven't watched the last couple seasons, the first 7 are incredible. Character development is really well thought out. The acting is top notch. Action is intense without being too "Hollywood". And of all the shows and movies I've watched, season 7's "Negan" is probably the most terrifying and well written antagonist's I've ever seen. One of the few shows that has made my stomach turn. Somehow he makes life scarier than death and that is down to excellent acting and fantastic writing. This my third time watching and I keep coming back to help me appreciate the life that I live. Great show all around.
Dune (2021)
Chills. Leaves me very excited for the next.
I haven't read the books (yet), but I really enjoyed this first window into the sci-fi universe that's been created. The CGI is great, set design and costume design is super cool, the soundtrack makes it feel substantial, and the director doesn't baby the audience too much into understanding. I feel like I'm the silent new member of a well organized group. Watching and listening closely to understand how things are done, and surprisingly, I'm starting to make sense of it. Lots of questions to swim around my mind until the next chapter. I'm looking forward to it.
Succession (2018)
Peculiar, blasphemous, witty
It takes some episodes to understand that the acting you thought was weird in the beginning is actually the perfect representation of the unique characters the writers are trying to portray. The strong script and amazing acting illuminates a double-speak that is forward, frank, and grotesque on the outside but as you learn the characters, you realize there is a very serious undertone of the 2D, 3D and 4D chess game they are playing with each other. A game of cat and mouse but you don't know who is the prey. They casually talk about drugs/kinks/sex/revenge/blackmail and any other topics that are "beyond the pale" for normal people, but the normal human topics of love/legacy/trust ...the characters painfully struggle and dance around. It's an amazing juxtaposition (sorry for the pretentious words but they are the only ones that work to describe this fascinating show). If you like Mad Men, then give this show a season to catch you. It's an awesome window into a different version of life.
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (2021)
Inspirational Series
I'm a SpaceX fanboy, so I'm usually geeking out on technical side, but this series is really inspirational and I think it brings the space excitement to the masses. It's a well done series without getting too technical. (I'll get my nerdy fix from The Everyday Astronaut on YouTube). Worth a watch.
The Ice Road (2021)
Good action but the writing is pretty trash
I don't write scripts but this seems pretty lazy. I guess I've watched too many good shows and too many hours about big rig winching and rescue to not notice the lazy errors. I liked the feeling they were going for (and the guy getting punched at the end), but ehhhh it could have been a solid 6.5 movie with a better script and better attention to detail. It's like they expect people who would watch a movie like this to have never been around trucks or appreciate solid dialog. CGI was passable for like 10 years ago, but could have been better. (movie smells highly of money grab)
Suits (2011)
This is my favorite show
This show has a mysterious way of pulling you into this complicated and feud rich family, that, at the end of the day, loves each other. They would go to war for each other. It's funny, it's intense, it makes you want to cry, it's make your cheeks hurt with how big your smile is. This is my third or fourth time through and I have to declare it as my favorite show. I'm a Mad Men guy (Breaking Bad, Ozark, True Detective, Blood Line, Sherlock and the like) but this show has gripped me more intensely than any other for some reason. I will be forever grateful for this adventure into the toils crossecting competence with life's ringer and the companions you bring along the way. It's a ride. Huge shoutout to the writers and the incredible actors; this is quite the experience, and I can't say enough about how much of an impact this show has had on my life. Thanks again.