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Beamerman
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Reviews
The Pact (2021)
Season 1 - OK ; Season 2 - not great
Quite enjoyed Season 1 - nice set of characters with some well known and talented actors. The story was maybe a bit silly but nevertheless engaging and overall this season was well worth watching. Season 1 would be a 6/10.
Season 2 - an almost entirely new cast for Season 2 and a totally new and unconnected story. The cast were generally pretty good but almost all entirely new to me. The plot however was pretty weak and it lacked the tension of Season 1. Made it through to the end but I'd say give it a miss. Season 2 would be a 4/10 - not entirely without merit but not something I could recommend.
Innocent (2018)
Season 1 - OK ; Season 2 - Give it a miss
Season 1 was quite enjoyable. This review focusses on Season 2. The story is unrelated to Season 1 with mostly a new set of characters although the broad theme is similar. It starts well with for the most part engaging well played characters. There is one character in particular though that loses credibility as the story proceeds and the conclusion of the story is a sudden reveal that deeply disappoints. I would advise against watching Season 2.
Swagger: #RADICALS (2021)
Great Episode
The show really came to life in this issue with a number of themes and issues coming to a dramatic head. Political - yes - but showing the impact of racial issues on the young players was powerful. Exciting game seeing how they struggled through against adversity and prejudice. My favourite episode so far and looking forward to where things go from here.
Chloe (2022)
Started well but lost its way
Enjoyed the first few episodes. Great cast and for the most part engaging characters. Set up a lot of intrigue in where it was going with the story but by the last 3 episodes I was losing interest. A weak ending. In spite of some positive elements I wouldn't recommend watching.
Severance: Good News About Hell (2022)
Elements of interest but overall an underwhelming start
There were certainly elements or this world that were interesting - and certainly very quirky with the retro computers. The two takes on the opening scenes were well done. Overall though it was fairly boring and didn't sustain my interest over the course of the first episode. Similar to Tales from the Loop and Homecoming. Not sure whether I'm going to stick with this. I'll try one more episode though.
The Shrink Next Door: The Consultation (2021)
Good start
A very solid first episode. I had low expectations from reviews but I enjoyed this. Mildly humorous and thus far potentially engaging characters. Will certainly be watching more.
The Morning Show (2019)
Season 1 - 9 ; Season 2 - 3 ; Average 6
Season 1 was great. A compelling overarching topic story line guided the season from a brilliant opening to a satisfying conclusion. Excellent.
Season 2 was a mess. It lacked any main theme or story line. Many of the themes around Mitch and around Alex were without any interest. A few interesting snippets about the "woke" agenda. Mainly I just wasn't interested. It was as if they thought we were all Alex fans and would enjoy just watching here wallowing in self pity. As I watched I had hoped the CoVid storyline might have developed into an interesting theme but whilst it featured in the conclusion it really wasn't in any way interesting.
I won't be watching Season 3.
Truth Be Told (2019)
Another Good Season
Just finished Season 2 - a solid 7 for season 2. Enjoyable story with an engaging range of characters and interesting back story for Poppy. Well produced but maybe not to take too seriously.
For me it was a nice build on the first season which I had rated a 6.
I'll certainly watch another season if we get one.
The White Lotus: Arrivals (2021)
Weak Characterisation and just not funny
The early plot reveal in the first few minutes about the death of a leading character was the only thing that might keep me interested in this series but not enough given all the weaknesses. I'm done with it. I couldn't engage with any of the characters. Too many felt like 1 dimensional caricatures. I was expecting some biting satire from what i'd heard about the show but this was barely evident in episode 1.
Losing Alice (2020)
Disappointing Finale
I generally enjoyed the suspenseful build of the story and characters. The soundtrack grated at times with very on the nose sinister music being overdone. Last two episodes really disappointed. Was expecting more of a pay off at the end than was delivered.
Hinterland (2013)
Almost a success
This review is based on the 4 episodes of Season 1 only. At that point we decided this was sufficient for us.
There are many good aspects to the series. The scenery and cinematography are outstanding. Beautiful landscapes are present throughout and are a wild and moody backdrop to the stories.
This is a series where each episode is long, around 90 minutes, and largely stands alone. Each episode seemed well constructed with a fairly credible story line. It was a times however difficult to engage or empathise with the characters.
The main flaw however was the lack of any development of the leading characters. Typically in a detective series there is a long story arc of the development of the main characters which engages us with them as characters. There was very little of this evident beyond occasional moody glances and hints of a troubled past. With some great actors there was tremendous potential to do so much more than the individual murder stories of each episode.
Total Control (2019)
Excellent
Really fabulous series. Very interesting with a range of interesting and believable characters. A great story line with great acting throughout.
The Bay (2019)
Season 1 and 2 - Both Good - Season 3 also good.
Updated Review after Season 3
I enjoyed season 3 and would recommend it even if it is slightly weaker than the earlier seasons. It follows a similar formula to earlier seasons of a crime investigation coupled with family dramas. The story is solid with a focus on the victim's family. Morven Christie was a real star in Seasons 1 & 2 and she no doubt is looking to other bigger roles. The new lead doesn't have the same charisma and is at times not an entirely sympathetic character. It is a very multi cultural show for Season 3 and also features a prominent deaf character all of which is well handled. Overall I enjoyed it and I'd watch another season with this updated cast.
Review after Season 2
Just finished the second season and continued to enjoy it. The characters are engaging and there are multiple threads to follow in their lives. A nice setting in Morecombe. The ending of Season 2 was slightly weak and seemed hurried but this didn't detract from overall enjoyment. Will watch a Season 3 if it comes.
Servant (2019)
Great Season 1 - Terrible Season 2
Really enjoyed the first season. Each episode in Season 1 was carefully crafted with a clever theme and the mystery and suspense built nicely with a good climax that left me wanting more. Season 2 just dragged with very little story development and little development of the characters. A great disappointment given how good the first season was. I think season 1 is worth watching on its own. I doubt anyone will enjoy season 2. Enough.
Long Way Up (2020)
Very Dull
I've not watched previous series so the duo on their bikes is new to me. The concept is quite interesting and the added twist of electric bikes seemed like an interesting idea. However, the charging issues came to dominate all the episodes I watched and became repetitive. I was hoping for some great scenery but there was very little of this and minimal interaction with local people. Gave up after 4 episodes.
The Last Post (2017)
Fabulous
I'm really surprised by the number of negative reviews on here. The Last Post was a fabulous drama. I can't speak for the historically accuracy of the details but the cinematography, the scenery and the overall picture painted were beautiful and rang true to me.
The story unfolded very effectively over the six episodes giving a mix of the overall political backdrop with a number of more personal dramas each of which was engaging and interesting.
The acting was a delight. Just about every performance was perfect.
Hard Sun (2018)
Poor
This really was very poor. The premise was very promising with hints of Sci Fi and an unusual context for the unfolding events.
Sadly the plotting was confused and confusing with multiple story arcs over different periods but none of them well developed or interesting.
The lead actors were not at all engaging with Jim Sturgess being particularly uncharismatic with his sub-Ray Winstone grumbles.
NW (2016)
Stunning Drama
This was an absolutely stunning drama.
I came to it without having read the novel or indeed having even seen a trailer or review.
The stories of interlinked lives was compelling and very believable with much complexity and subtlety. The acting was absolutely first rate. It was edge of the seat stuff with great tension, fear and sadness as well as lighter happier moments. I very much believed in all the characters and the story dealt with some quick complex issues and multi-faceted characters.
A drama to make you pause and think. I very much recommend it.
Author: The JT LeRoy Story (2016)
Excellent pacy documentary
I went into the theatre knowing nothing about J T Leroy. I hadn't even heard of him. A recommendation from my daughter and a quick watch of half the trailer suggested this would be worth a watch.
This is one of the best documentaries I have ever watched. It is told with pace and energy such that it feels more like a fictional drama unfolding in front of you. The story itself is weird. I empathised with the characters in particular the lead narrator and how she had slid down like Alice in Wonderland into a surreal world of fame and celebrity.
Never dull and full of suspense and interest this is a great movie that I'd thoroughly recommend.
Jagten (2012)
Good solid drama
The subject matter is a difficult area and the film handles it extremely well. The drama centres on false allegations of child abuse and the impact this has on the central character.
The acting is first rate particularly from the young girl at the centre of the drama. The events are carefully and subtly drawn and invite careful consideration of how those in a position of authority, but with no experience in the area, can investigate suspicions of inappropriate behaviour from one of their colleagues.
Whilst the story is told very effectively it feels small and constrained in its scope. The emotional impact on this viewer was limited although it certainly gave pause for though and contemplation.
Tracks (2013)
Quite Good but not great
The story is straightforward - one woman's amazing journey across Australia. I love this type of movie not just for the individual's story but also for the scenery and landscapes and the inspiration the movie may bring to travel and share at least a part of the experience. Wild and Into the Wild were both fantastic in bringing you into the troubled mind of the lead character.
With Tracks I think there are two problems. The motivation and lessons learnt by the lead character aren't clear enough to really understand why she is embarking on such an arduous journey. Secondly, the landscape through which she travels is harsh but it must be said as boring as hell with days on end of unchanging scenery.
The movie is slow and ponderous with little pace and the journey seems relatively uneventful with only small episodes of interest occurring over the extended period of the trek.
Having said all the above it was a reasonably enjoyable film and with relatively low expectations worth watching.
Man Up (2015)
A very nice comedy
So much American comedy films are of the gross out variety with values and language that is just depressing. Their heart and soul is so in the wrong place.
Man Up by contrast is a pleasant, warm, gentle comedy. It reminds me of Cuban Fury which I loved. Pegg and Bell are both great in the lead roles and Rory Kinnear performs a great almost slapstick role.
The film certainly isn't a classic and isn't continuously funny. But it does have enough humour and enough warmth in the characters for you to be rooting for them both. It grows to a modest crescendo in the latter parts with some brilliant tongue in cheek Hollywood style scenes. At 88 minutes it is compact in duration but also in the locations and all the drama played out in one evening.
Very much enjoyed it. 8/10.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
I understand why you liked it but I hated it
I hated this movie. I never got into the world or the characters. Perhaps it was the Mad Max of old and my nostalgia for that world but this was so different and less real than the world of the original Max. Max was leaden. He seemed almost irrelevant and I couldn't care for him. Furiousa was better and brought some interest to the adventure. Nux was just Nicholas Hoult in bad make-up. I don't generally like movies with endless fight and action scenes and this pushed that genre to the extreme. In the end it was plot free, character free nonsense.
But. I can understand the appeal both to the action fan and to wider cinema audiences. The visuals were stunning, the world was unique and the pace and intensity was startling. Immerse yourself in the world and the action and I could understand this could reach 10 out of 10 proportions. I never got there and sadly hated every minute. Just a personal view.