I only review television when it’s truly exceptional. Civilisation is exceptional in its erudition, scope and most importantly its confidence. One of many tragedies of the BBC’s betrayal of Reithian principles is the complete collapse of competent documentary making. This failure is underpinned by an unwillingness to display personal opinion (orally and visually) with confidence. Instead we are incumbered by the same milquetoast mediocrities rehashing hackneyed cliches to declining viewership. It is in this light that the scandalous decommissioning of…
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Anatomy of a Fall 2023
The French legal system is a joke: republican terror in action. However, that is one very clever dog.
For a proper courtroom drama I would refer you to 'My Cousin Vinny'.
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Gangster No. 1 2000
Superb cast and performances held back by some flabby writing. Should’ve let the imagery speak for itself. Bettany’s tortured and torturing eyes strain at their skeletal binding to bore through the screen, intensified by the paranoid nutter internal dialogue. Cumulatively this creates a visually innovative and unsettling version of gangster brutality.
Would’ve been perfect if Glazer stayed on to direct the film. The hints of Sexy Beast are the best part, and you can definitely tell that this lays the groundwork for the later classic.
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Crazy, Stupid, Love. 2011
Just incredibly mid. I genuinely don't know who this is for. What is the target demographic? What is the point? What is the visual profile? Is there a score or any interesting dialogue? I don't remember. I don't understand. Maybe there are things in this world God did not intend for us to understand. This isn't one of them.
It's like if Magnolia was made by JC Penney for people who thought Love Actually offered any insight on the human condition beyond that airport arrivals are busy.
Also 'your other daughter': what an incredibly lame plot twist.
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