pensman Reviews

Shardlake (2024– )

The first of more to come, I hope

[10/10 · 1 May 2024]

Many years ago on Masterpiece Mystery, the series Cadfael written by Ellis Peters and staring Derek Jacobi was very popular, it ran for 15 episodes. Cadfael was set in the 12th century; Shardlake takes place in the 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII, and this is series I which consists of four episodes. The author of the Shardlake series, C. J. Sansom, completed seven novels and was planning for more, but his death on 27 April 2024 has ended hope for additional novels.

Matthew Shardlake is somewhat crippled due to a birth that left him with scoliosis and a brachioplasty affecting his right hand. The opening sequence with Matthew dressing clearly presents the viewer a understanding of Matthew's condition. Unable to join the church, Matthew becomes a lawyer, and becomes involved with the court of Henry the VIII, initially by serving the princess Elizabeth, but in this series, he serves Lord Thomas Cromwell.

One of Cromwell's men was murdered while looking into the finances of a monastery in the old port city of Scarnsea. Shardlake is sent to solve the murder, but Shardlake's true purpose is to find a reason to close the monastery and forfeit its wealth and lands to King Henry.

This is a well-done series. The cast is excellent and is led by Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake, and Anthony Boyle as John Barak. While the producers make sure to attract viewers by advertising it stars Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell. Bean is there, but his appearance is brief. Hopefully the audience will stay as the location shooting is amazing and the cast is replete with excellent actors.

If you are a fan of mystery, and historical mystery, you will enjoy this production. I hope it stays around to finish up the six remaining novels.

Currently this is running on Hulu. For some reason, I had some difficulty in watching as there were issues with the story jumping around a bit. I had to downgrade my Hulu subscription to with commercials, and that seems to have affected the quality. The commercials may be to blame. Regardless, I recommend Shardlake.

Murdoch Mysteries: Station House of Horror (2023) Season 17, Episode 5

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet! Ha Ha

[7/10 · 23 April 2024]

I have been a fan of Murdock Mysteries since episode one, so I was stuck trying to figure out this episode until I saw the date it premiered: 30 October 2023. This was likely a homage to the Simpson's Treehouse or Horror with its current run of XXXIV episodes as of 2023. Unfortunately, the Murdoch attempt falls flat as none of the episode stories has the humor of a good Simpsons jab. And even the horror tales on the Simpsons have laid more than one bad egg. But the writers, of Murdoch Mysteries and the Simpsons, have over the years succeeded in poking fun at popular figures, real and fictional, and popular movies etc. At least pretend you get the joke and the episode might be more trick than treat. And if you can view this through the eyes of Nelson Muntz then you can end with a mocking Ha Ha.

Road House (2024)

More the Quiet Man bumps into a Road House

[5/10 · 26 March 2024]

If you claim you are doing a homage then read the original script and try to follow it as a guide. Swayze brought some charm and personality to Dalton. I can't blame Gyllenhaal who looks great, and his body no doubt shames a lot of 40 year-olds who are more belly fat then Abs. And he seems to be enjoying himself, but he can only do what he is told to do.

There is a bit of The Quiet Man (a much better movie) here as Gyllenhaal like Wayne's character doesn't want to fight because of what happened in his last professional fight.

Watch this "remake" for a few good action scenes, and there is a tad of sarcastic dialogue for a quick chuckle, but there is little else to recommend it.

Murder in the Music Hall (1946)

Supporting actors carry the film

[7/10 · 23 March 2024]

Murder in the Music Hall is actually an incorrect title for this movie because that's not where the murder occurs. Nevertheless this is actually a good mystery story that is marred by the "acting" of the two lead protagonists: Vera Ralston and William Marshall. I gather Vera Ralston's career can be attributed to her affair and then marriage to the head of Republic Pictures, Herbert Yates.

The film does do okay thanks to the supporting actors like William Gargan, Jerome Cowan, Helen Walker, and Ann Rutherford. And this film is worth watching if only to catch the three minute performance of Mary Field who has the best lines in the picture and the acting chops to make them memorable.

The plot will keep you guessing and their are some excellent suspects, and the viewer will feel they have not been cheated when the murderer is revealed.

Elsbeth (2024– )

Just one more thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[5/10 · 2 March 2024]

Elsbeth was amusing on The Good Wife and The Good Fight but even then if her colleagues found her arriving they took off. Even I would cringe although my wife liked the character. And it takes acting to get visceral responses from an audience whether it be on film or life theater; however, no matter how good a performance is, it's best in small doses.

This show reminds me of Columbo and not in a good way. Meaning no disrespect but watching Elsbeth is like watching a hyper-active on the spectrum child suffering from a sugar high. It's really not amusing. If this show survives then it has reached its audience, but for a large audience Elsbeth is going to have to be toned down or surrounded by a regular supporting cast that can move the plot along without Elsbeth being on camera for the entire show.

We seem to be inundated with shows with damaged of flawed protagonists: The Good Doctor, Will Trent, Resident Alien, etc. It will be interesting to see how Elsbeth does.

The Gryphon (2023– )

Bad dubbing or bad dumbing

[4/10 · 14 February 2024]

Some nice effects but acting is terrible and English dubbing is terrible. I would have rather heard the actual voices in German and read subtitles. Reminds me of old Saturday kids show Land of the Lost, with a nod to the 1953 movie Invaders from Mars. Actually those were better. This is a good movie for Sony Cassette Tape Players and cassette tapes. There is enough roaring and screaming and cackle laughter to choke a horse. Basically the plot is to stop the Gryphon from getting getting the power to travel from his realm into ours. This is meant to keep you coming back to finish all six episodes. I was glad there were only six and that I could use the remote to skip ahead which I did a lot. One thing you can do is watch with friends and make a list of all the movies this series stole from. Better yet, take a pass.

Robbing Mussolini (2022)

Comic Book dubbed in English

[6/10 · 4 February 2024]

As soon as you hear one of the female protagonists singing Paint it Black, you know or should know your leg is being pulled. Gag piles on gag as the story moves from silly to ridiculous. The acting is almost as bad as the dubbing. There have been countless films, maybe not countless, that poke fun at the tropes of war from courage to heroic. I think of Kelly's Heroes for example. Not so much as witty as it is laughable. Need to toss away ninety minutes with little to recall or clog up your grey matter, you have found it here. I didn't recognize any of the actors, and should I see them again, I doubt I would be able to recall any of them.

Monsieur Spade (2024)

Good Sam Spade feature

[10/10 · 1 February 2024]

After three episodes, I hope for a season 2 and 3 and . . . . The cast is superb and the dialogue crisp and sharp. Spade, Clive Owen, and the dialogue feel and sound as if they came from a novel by Dashiell Hammett.

The plot keeps you guessing as to who and what is going on. The many characters who inhabit the film all seem to have secrets. I almost wish the series had been shot in black and white to give it more of a Noir atmosphere, but that would probably cost in in total audience.

There even seems to be a nod to conspiracy theorists with the inclusion of members of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church wanting to run and prosecute their own inquiry into circumstances. Then you can add in some dissident Algerians to the equation. And of course, the local French police don't want anyone on their patch.

If you watch, you won't be bored, just a bit confused. It makes me wonder if the Maltese Falcon does a guest appearance.

A Shot in the Dark (1935)

Clever mystery with multiple suspects

[8/10 · 27 January 2024]

Caught this film on Hastings Mystery Theater (YouTube) and was surprised at how good the mystery was. The only actor I recognized was Robert Warwick who plays Joseph Harris the father of the young male lead Ken Harris (Charles Starrett).

The film has a truly gruesome opening. After an evening out, Ken Harris returns to his dormitory suite on the Dartmouth campus. Ken is unable to open the door to his room, and his roommate doesn't respond to the knocking on the door. Ken goes down a flight and enters the dorm room below his. There Ken sleeps in an unoccupied bed, but he is awakened by the sound of a low banging on the window. Ken goes to the window, and opens it to see the dead body of his roommate with a noose about his neck. He wakes the student whose room he is in. Let's say the scene gets more gruesome as Ken goes to get a doctor while the other student hauls the dead body up. The relative calmness of both boys makes one wonder what is considered normal on the campus.

The university decides to ask Ken's father, Joe Harris, a well-known lawyer with an interest in criminology, to take on what turns out not to be a suicide but a murder.

As the story plays out there are numerous clues and two additional murders. It even seems possible that Ken's dad could be a suspect.

Some bad acting aside, the film provides a good mystery that will likely have any viewer, including me, making several bad guesses as to who the murderer is. Definitely worth a watch.

Blind Spot (1947)

A clever story that keeps you intrigued

[9/10 · 13 January 2024]

While there is an obvious borrowing from The Kennel Murder Case, Chester Morris does an excellent performance as the author-on-a-bender who might have murdered his publisher. Morris' character, who is identified as a novelist who writes intellectual psychological stories, speaks more like noir style detective.

The story is a locked room murder supposedly carried out by Morris who devised the idea, but he can't remember how the murderer did it. And no matter what Morris does to try and remember his solution the more it looks like he did it.

Blind Spot is an entertaining whodunit with a supporting cast of well-known character actors. This is a film to enjoy on a rainy night or while being stuck at home during a winter storm. I came across this film on Hastings Mystery Theater on YouTube, and I was surprised at how good it was as a B+ B movie.

Archie (2023)

We all wanted to be Cary Grant

[8/10 · 14 December 2023]

Sad and gets sadder. I don't know of any biopic that's truthful or honest, so I can't pass then on the accuracy of Archie. But Jason Isaacs interpretation inhabits his character. Dainton Both Anderson and Oaklee Pendergast both turn in good turns as young Archie and teen/twenties Archie, but their impressions are their own as most fans of Cary Grant have no real frame of reference for comparisons.

What we see is a man both looking back and participating in crafting the image of Cary Grant that we see on screen. Dyan Cannon, who has writing and producer credits, is portrayed as somewhat an innocent swept up in circumstances beyond her control; her depiction is sympathetic and fanciful while Grant's image suffers from cruel jabs.

It's well documented that Grant couldn't sustain a relationship, and clearly he was hurt by a father who lied to him about his mother's death and abandoned him without remorse. Thus, Archie Leech felt compelled to create a role for himself to play both in life and on film. Isaacs portrayed gives us as good a sense of the man who wanted to be the Cary Grant he fashioned from images of real people and their alter egos

Is it sad to live the life of a person who never really existed, or was it a triumph to be able to pull it off? Watch Isaacs and see if you can decide.

Blue, White and Perfect (1942)

Mike Shayne foils the Nazis

[8/10 · 25 November 2023]

If it hadn't been for Hastings Mystery Theater, I would have missed this entry. This picture brings Michael Shayne into the beginnings of WWII chasing a theft of industrial diamonds being smuggled into the Vaterland. On Mike's trail is Juan Arturo O'Hara (a younger George Reeves, 10 years before becoming a TV sensation as Superman), but is O'Hara a spy or something else.

A good story that is well-paced and has a series of twists and turns, but the viewer can follow without getting lost. For the most part, the villains are bad and deserve their various ends. However, there was one whose death was undeserved.

Bosch: Legacy: I Miss Vin Scully (2023) Season 2, Episode 7

The tension is brutal

[9/10 · 5 November 2023]

Harry is losing some of his smarts. He gets a sense something is wrong, especially after the Nguyen brothers are murdered, but he misses that his house has been searched and that his car is bugged. Worse, he looks under the front of the car but fails to look under the rear of the car where the bug is. But he is looking into Ellis and Wilson. Unknown to Harry these dirty cops are now working with Maddie and are trying to pump her for info on Harry's case, and also are setting her up to take a fall. Moe meanwhile is thinking with another part of his anatomy trying to impress a woman he knows nothing about, but he does find the tracker Ellis and Wilson put under his car. Let's just say the tension levels are rising and there are still episodes to come.

Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls (2008 Video)

Africa looks good

[2/10 · 21 August 2023]

When IMDB was young, I rated a film a zero, and I was actually contacted because the editors did not believe any film deserved a zero. The ony reason this film didn't get a zero was for a budget of $50,000, You got some great views of Africa. I watched this on FreeVee, and I kept thinking it couldn't get worse, Not only were the guns shooting blanks, so were the actors. You have been warned. The only things that could save this film are a budget, actors, and talent. If anyone is old enough to remember the original kids TV show Land of the Lost, then that series makes this film look cheesy. You don't want to die and try to justify why you spent time watching this.

Heart of Stone (I) (2023)

Gadot is a go

[7/10 · 15 August 2023]

You can add this to the growing number of films trying to emulate the James Bond franchise or Mission Impossible franchise. In this iteration Gal Gadot is Rachel Stone a supposedly member of MI 6 but actually a member of the super spy network, the Charter. The plot is simple, the Charter has a supercomputer-the heart-that allows it to hack into everything which gives its agents an edge in fighting evil everywhere. This does beg the premise if you can hack into everything, why do you even need agents? So someone can double cross you by stealing the heart and using it for evil. It is a weak plot but the movie is entertaining.

Gal Gadot knows she can't play Wonder Woman forever and it's understandable she needs new projects. Gadot is this film, without her there isn't much to care about. But the writers or someone in charge made a huge error. Rachel Stone is building a friendship with two of the MI 6 agents that make up her team: Bailey and Yang. But that relationship is interrupted leaving Rachel Stone without the opportunity for real friends and for the viewer no one to root for outside of Stone.

This might have been a nice niche for Gadot but she was let down by the writers who borrowed too much from other films and came up with something completely unoriginal.

I will rate the movie a 7 because Gadot earns a 9 but the writers get a 0.

Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019)

Dyed and dying

[4/10 · 24 July 2023]

Revenge, killings, karate-Kungfu, minimal plot, minimal plot twists, and Dave Bautista-they are all here, plus Sylvester Stallone, in an action movie of sorts. If you were expecting Goodfellows then you don't know a lot about film.

Easy to see this was shot on a budget as minimal things get blown up. High tech consists of pretty much things a kid could have: laptop, cell phone, night vision binoculars. The armaments, guns, featured are standard with no super-secret government weapons used.

This is one of those movies Stallone churned out while trying to figure out what roles an aging action hero can still fill. Dying his hair black and shouting Abby instead of Adrian did not turn back time; but there is a brief Ramboesque moment as Stallone slides a sharpened stick through a guy's neck killing him instantly. However, I believe Stallone did find a solid niche series In Tulsa King to carry him for at least a second season.

No matter what the ratings, this film did well enough for a sequel, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that enough film was shot for the sequel to be extracted without needing to get the cast back together.

The Judge Is a Woman: Entre dieu et diable (2014) Season 19, Episode 3

Nasty Nuns

[4/10 · 29 June 2023]

The Abbess of a convent believes in giving criminals a second chance but this time the woman she has opened the convent to had been accused of selling children to men with perverse sexual appitites. Some of the nuns are opposed to having this woman among them and have been bullying and harassing this woman brought in with them. When one of the nuns is poisoned, everyone blames the outsider. Only Alice has doubts. We know it's not Corrine but who. During the investigation, we learn it wasn't Corrine who was selling the children.

Who is responsible?

The other subplot is about the captain's abandon daughter who has shown up at age 20 pregnant. She claims her mother has abandoned her. But it's clear she is a liar and a manipulator. She uses guilt to convince her father and Alice to take her in. How many episodes will it take for Alice and the captain to figure out she is nuts.

The Rundown (2003)

Entertaining Chinese Menu Flic

[7/10 · 18 June 2023]

The plot is well known, the novelty is seeing which actor (meaning whose price could the producers afford) would be slotted into which role. Here Beck is Dwayne Johnson, but Beck could have been Arnold, Stallone, Willis, Statham, Vin Diesel, Cruise ,Keanu, Neeson, etc. Actually, Arnold has a cameo that too much is made of. What is surprising is the quality of supporting actors in the film, especially Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremmer, and Seann William Scott. Given the budget of this film, I assume most went to pay salaries.

The film is a good popcorn film to watch outside on a large screen using a projector, or even inside on a big screen TV. There is nothing new, the typical fights and explosions of any action movie. As long as you're willing to be entertained and don't expect much more then you will be happy.

Schmigadoon! (2021–2023)

Not over the rainbow

[7/10 · 14 April 2023]

In Schmigadoon there are moments that you have to smile and laugh, and others are cringeworthy. The series takes some inspiration, meaning a lot, from 1950s musicals Brigadoon, Oklahoma, Carousel, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music (which fits the trope if not the decade). Of course, much of the humor and commentary comes from the clash between 50s and modern (2020) attitudes. Let's say the Do-Re-Mi song has been ruined for me.

Even if you are not a fan of musicals, there are scenes to enjoy, but even fans would likely find this series too saccharine to binge. After all, it's about finding true love. And that means, at some point, musical hating Josh Skinner will have to sing and dance with Melissa Gimble if they ever want to cross the bridge back to New York and today.

The question then is, what will Josh and Melissa be looking for in Schmicago if they already have found true love?

The Core (2003)

Your Kung Fu is not strong

[3/10 · 13 April 2023]

This is a movie filled with actors you immediately recognize, Hilary Swank, Alfre Woodard, and Stanley Tucci, and then there are the actors you recognize but just don't have names to go with the faces: Aaron Eckhart, Bruce Greenwood, Delroy Lindo, Ray Galletti, Tcheky Karyo, DJ Qualls and Richard Jenkins. You have then a B- cast who should be recognized as an A cast because they are all such good actors that you are almost willing to watch this throwback 1950s really bad "science" fiction movie. Think of a mashup of 1959's Journey to the Center of the Earth with Pat Boone and Gertrude the Duck with It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) with Kenneth Tobey and Harry Lauter (who deserved better films). This film is actually worse than you could ever expect with every cliché line and trope gathered together for an epically bad disaster movie. Don't be surprised if you find yourself rooting for the Earth's core to just stop and destroy the planet. The "special" effects are so bad you can tell that matchbox cars are falling into San Francisco Bay as the Golden Gate Bridge collapses. I did enjoy seeing Rome destroyed. The only thing missing from this film is Godzilla appearing to save the planet. I suggest you watch the film with foam beer cans to throw at your TV screen.

Murder at Dawn (1932)

The Seconds are the Firsts

[6/10 · 5 March 2023]

There is only one reason to watch this film: Eddie Boland as Freddie. And possibly for Gertrude (Marjorie Beebe), Freddie's wise cracking wife.

I caught this on YouTube (Hastings Mystery Theater) and watched out of curiosity as the host Randall Scheafer discussed Big Four Productions. The major studios had bought up most theaters in insure their pictures would be seen. But the independent theater owners still needed films. Small production produced films on the cheap: spend a lot less on sets and extras and anything else you could cut. That's how a picture like Murder at Dawn gets made. And if you watch, you can "clearly" see the result.

There is an amusing exchange between the four stars and George Reed ( a fine African-American actor) that relies on stereotypes, but you can't deny Reed's comedic timing.

The plot is as silly as the opening screen credits: a "mad" scientist creates a power source that could provide free electricity to the "wage slaves," but faces a foe bent on stealing his invention. The twist is the heroine, her fiancé, and friends are going to see the scientist because he is the heroine's father and she wants his blessing. Forget the plot, everything will eventually work out. But the banter between Freddie and Gertrude is blistering. And Freddie solo screens as he tipples his way along provide some terrific laughs, or at least chuckles.

The Dummy Talks (1943)

Voy dody oh not a mystery

[5/10 · 4 March 2023]

The film is more of a vehicle featuring British Music Hall talent then it is murder mystery. I'm shocked that someone hasn't done the same for America's got Talent: AGT, A Talent for Murder.

The Dummy Talks may make you consider if the title refers to the "little person" AKA the substitute ventriloquist dummy or Victor Harbord (Claude Hulbert, the ersatz detective. I am going for the later.

Watching the popular stage acts of the time is the best part of this film which makes it a bit of a documentary. Watching the Five Lai Founs spin plates on a stick took me back to my youth in the 1950s when the spinning plate toy was all the rage, second to the Hula Hoop. There are some great popular acts of the period featured including some very watchable acrobats, both serious and comedic.

The plot is pretty standard, ventriloquist star and overall cad Manning Whiley is murdered, and there are a plethora of suspects. After some entertainment from the acts and the bumbling Claude Hulbert, the major suspects are assembled to hear the evidence and most important-to hear the dummy J'Accuse.

Think of this film as more of a Music Hall/Vaudeville piece of history and you will be pleased.

Love Bound (1932)

Old but not out

[8/10 · 16 February 2023]

An interesting film because of the multiple twists and turns. Verna Wilson is a blond seductress who preys on the rich by manipulating them into what seems to be "compromising situations," then takes them to court for settlement. But Vera is really a cat's paw for her lawyers who actually take 90% of the money.

Richard "Dick" Randolph is determined to expose her after she "takes" his father John Randolph for $120,000 in court (about $2,500,000 today 2023).

When Dick learns Verna is about to go on a cruise, he comes up with a plan to expose Verna. But the best laid plans of men go astray, and this is not the case that proves the rule wrong. Actually, after the film ends the viewer has questions left unanswered. This film is more of a Bret Harte trope than murder mystery, but it is worth watching.

Tom Ricketts, the Baron, provides some comedic moments to lighten the mood.

Bones: The 200th in the 10th (2014) Season 10, Episode 10

The Hitchcock in the MacGuffin

[10/10 · 3 February 2023]

In a paean to Hitchcock and."To Catch a Thief" among others, this episode is pure fun (at least for those of us old enough to know the allusions). The plot is almost superfluous to the cars, the music, the clothes, the nightclub, the dialogue, the plane chase, etc. No wonder David. Boreanaz. Wanted to direct. You even have a short scene with. Billy Gibbons removing those trademark sunglasses. I could imagine a younger audience feeling this was a useless, silly, boring departure from the standard pace of the show. If you had no knowledge of. Xavier Cugat and. Abbe Lane the the club scene with the elaborate staging go the. Cao Cao number would be a head-scratcher. If I can borrow a line from The Twilight Zone, then this was an episode for the angels.

Amsterdam (2022)

What a great cast, what a weird yet important film

[9/10 · 21 December 2022]

I saw the trailer for this at a CMX theater and decided the trailer was weird enough to make me see this film. At its start, I pegged it for a comedy in the way Taylor Swift's character, Liz Meekins, was killed, coupled with Christian Bale's glass eye popping out. Although my wife gave me a sidewise look when I laughed.

But about a third of the through, the plot line became serious, and the focused changed to watching a plot unfold that would have assassinated FDR to allow American businessmen to deal with Adolph Hitler and Mussolini so they might enrich themselves.

The cast of this film is excellent with the three principles-Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington-turning in excellent performances, especially Christian Bale who becomes Burt Berendsen.

Regardless of the great acting, I believe the audience lost attention as they became lost in the unexplained plot curve. Even at the end as the credits begin to roll and you see and hear Robert De Niro (General Gil Dillenbeck) juxtaposed against the actual general whose testimony exposed the traitors, Marine Corps General Smedley Butler, speaking the same words, the audience is just left confused and upset.

The film's message is just as important today as it was 1934; but the history it's based upon just isn't known, and I am not sure anyone knew what they were watching. Perhaps if a company is going to make a major film based on a basically unknown piece of history, they need to inform the audience ahead of time.

I hope this film becomes a classic not only for the acting team assembled here; I don't want to forget Rami Malek, Zoe Saldana, Mike Myers, Henry Norcross, Chris Rock, and others who did such great work, but because one message is one we can't afford to ignore: Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.