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jenbie
Reviews
Jack Ryan (2018)
Bring back Reacher
John Krazinski just doesn't cut it, indeed, he wanders around most episodes looking rather gormless, definitely not someone you would trust with your life. Some of the acting is so, so wooden. Abbie Cornish and Zuleikha Robinson in particular are just awful. The very poor scriptwriting doesn't help - no pay rise for them. Thank god for Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly and Michael Peña. But even they can't rescue this unintentionally funny and ludicrous show. Such a shame. Series one was actually pretty good. But it has got progressively more cringeworthy from there. It's not cartoonish enough to get away with the stupid and unrealistic violence because it actually seems to take itself quite seriously. It's amazing how often gormless Jack doesn't get killed or maimed even when the 'baddies' have a clear shot. It really is American propaganda. Stop treating viewers like idiots. It's insulting.
Yellowstone: Half the Money (2021)
Actually cringeworthy
What a let down. Clunky script. Bad acting and scriptwriting. Beth is a caricature and she's not the only one. Casey is dull. Costner is so tough - way too tough to stay in a hospital when there's people that need to be killed! No development of plot or character. Boring and unintentionally funny. It took me about two hours to watch this because I kept pausing it so I could do other things.
Nine Perfect Strangers (2021)
Black comedy
I actually enjoyed this as a black comedy. It had some pretty brilliant acting in it. Al the actors were excellent. Stand outs to me were Michael Shannon, Bobby Cannavale, Manny Jacinto, Grace Van Patten, Luke Evans, Regina Hall and Nicole Kidman). The tripping scenes were brilliant especially the miniature Paul Drabble scene with Melissa McCarthy. Entertaining!
One Lane Bridge: Escape (2020)
I was hoping this was where it was going to get better
Too many New Zealand cliche's. Not enough character development. The gay farmhand getting beaten by the four rural homophobes - one of whom is the restaurant owner? Why him? Still don't know what makes anyone tick. Dialogue is minimalist to the point of being laughable. It's such a shame as it looks great and could have been really good. The characters don't seem fully formed. It doesn't matter how beautiful the cinematography is if the script writing is below average. Also Joel Tobeck just does not work in this role - but once again I think this also could be blamed on poor scriptwriting. Example 'You choose sides if you live in this town'. Really? This just falls flat and is unintentionally funny and there's no exposition to reveal who the sides even are or why we should care about them. The supernatural slant seems forced and doesn't add anything. The actor playing the teenage daughter is a stand out. I will keep watching it as I want to support New Zealand's industry but come on... Can you give some other script writers a chance?
True Detective: Now Am Found (2019)
Underwhelming End To The Series
"Yeah ok... glad that's wrapped up then" was my reaction to the final episode. It was all a bit... meh. Dorff's make up was appalling and the scene of him picking a fight in the bar was cringeworthy. As usual, Nic Pizzolatto's female characters were one dimensional and much of the acting was questionable, albeit partly caused by the clunky scriptwriting - don't think he can write women. Mahershala Ali was brilliant throughout but even he couldn't rescue this anti-climactic episode. The dolls were meaningless. What was the point in alluding to Season One, only to then go absolutely nowhere with this thread? Overall a vast improvement on Season Two but nowhere near what Season One delivered. Pizzolatto needs someone to edit him, pronto.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
The critics obviously don't like being entertained...
Brilliant movie, the whole band were so wonderfully played by the actors - fabulous casting. Special mention must go to Rami Malek who was just brilliant. The Live Aid ending was absolutely amazing, I watched the real thing afterwards and was blown away, they captured it perfectly. What a great actor Rami Malek is. Don't believe the critics, go and see it for yourself.
The Breaker Upperers (2018)
Only just managed to not walk out.
This film managed to surprise me by just how puerile it was. But I was expecting to laugh at some point - well I didn't laugh, not once. This film was just...immature - perhaps designed to appeal to 13 year olds? As a NZer I am actually embarrassed that this could be seen as our 'sense of humour' and I certainly hope it didn't get funding but I'm sure it probably did. The first film I've actually wanted to walk out on for years. The only reason i didn't was I thought it might get better. It didn't.