Change Your Image
dwinster-11181
Reviews
Little Boy Blue (2017)
Compelling
If ever there was a reason why my wife and I prefer UK series to any other (with Nordic next) it is shows like Little Boy Blue. Led by Stephen Graham the cast gives an outstanding portrayal of life in the tougher areas of Merseyside. This gut wrenching true story about the murder of 11 year old school boy Rhys Jones and the consequential effect it has on his parents and family is played out amongst a society rooted in anti authority. The callous perpetrators responsible show absolute disdain to anyone but themselves and their parents are no better. Part of their survival is due to the "no grassing" or dobbing in, culture that pervades in these areas. It is only when this is challenged that justice is finally delivered . There are no winners here though regardless of the outcome. Highly recommended.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Not sure what it's all about to be sure
Like the people on the island this film just doesn't seem to go anywhere. I've never been much of a fan of black comedy so maybe I've missed the point here. Colm (Brendan Gleeson) has finally had enough of his drinking mate Padraic( Colin Farrell) and calls it quits between them. Unfortunately Padraic can't accept this and that is the plot, pure and simple. Both end up losing the things they enjoy and love most in life as a result. Creepy characters like the old hag, the priest ,the policeman and his son bring some interest, for want if a better word , but that's about it. Dark and dull like the weather.
Shadowplay (2020)
Irritating
It could just be my age but I found the portrayal of the main character Max McLaughlin as irritating. I doubt very much that a NYPD policeman would have had the contemporary unshaven look and scruffy appearance in 1946 as shown here. Also the frequent use by both sexes of the f word seems laughable to someone of my generation. It just didn't happen that often, particularly by women. Sure post war Berlin would have been no place for the faint hearted so I imagine that's why the screenplay follows that scenario in its attempt make it all the more gritty. The sets are great, very realistically enhanced. Apart from that it just didn't work for me.
Medieval (2022)
Many battles but not much else
If you like scene after scene of pitched battles with blood and gore galore this will probably suit you. To me it became ho hum and then farcical. Also North American accents never have and never will work in historical European movies. Michael Caine is one of my all time favourite actors but not sure what he was doing in this one. Maybe to lift the profile I guess. The latest fad in most of this genre is to film around campfires at night or in rooms in castles illuminated with numerous candles to create a suspenseful atmosphere. That's fine every now and then but it seems to be well and truly overdone. What I'm saying is this lacks originality. If we weren't told at the beginning ( and at the end for that matter) what it was all about I think most would only have a vague idea what was going on. Maybe others would disagree I don't know. Overlong and drawn out.
The Ipcress File (2022)
Very enjoyable
Joe Cole or the original by Michael Caine? Hard to pick as both do a great job in the role of Harry Palmer. Lucy Boynton as Jean Courtney and Tom Hollander as Major Dalby are both excellent as well. I thought the series captured the early 1960's very well also, both visually and musically. When the Brits do it well it's usually very good and this is no exception. Very enjoyable.
Inventing Anna (2022)
Overly long
Julia Garner, no matter how hard she tries, is still Ruth from Ozark with the worse fake German accent I've ever heard. Apart from that the series has its moments, even though a bit drawn out .
Echo in the Canyon (2018)
Uninspiring
If you're trying to capture the vibrancy and excitement of the pop music scene in the mid sixties in either the UK or the US this is not the way to do it. The bland attempts at recreating the particular songs to come out of the valley during that period made me want to turn the TV off. I kept thinking something's missing here. Surely there are better vocalists that could have been used, at the least not appearing to be half asleep. The era deserved better.
News of the World (2020)
A bit of a nothing film
Don't get me wrong I'm a Tom Hanks fan, but this was a rather nothing film. Nothing much happened. It seemed that the scriptwriters made it up as they went along. Helena Zengel put in a great performance ,but apart from that the rest were pretty much stereotyped characters we've all seen in all those early Clint Eastwood movies. Disappointing.