Too Old to Die Young (2019) User Reviews

Snorting and Spitting

[markleith-75442 · 4/10 · 19 September 2019]

This is so slow and anyone that spits and snorts needs to die bad habit

Like Watching Paint Dry

[markleith-75442 · 4/10 · 19 September 2019]

Jesus move it abit faster i made a cup of Tea and it was still in the same Boring scene im a Londoner i prefer Fast if i was to talk like this my wife would of done the shopping and came back on the second sentence

Weird and too boring in spots

[weinsure · 4/10 · 9 August 2019]

It had its moments but other episodes dragged on and were slow. It was weird at times as well. The last episode was the shortest and was poorly ended in my opinion.

Auteir Demands Disaffected Performances and Other Curious Choices

[mattbry-28956 · 4/10 · 14 July 2019]

Nicolas Winding Refn's latest entry is a TV series and his longest format yet, a streaming spectle for home viewers available in 4K/UHD on Prime Video. Its combination of interminable scenes, incomprehensibly long pauses, glacial panning, inexplicable jewel-toned stage lighting, disaffected characters - presumably the result of explicitly directing actors to monotonically mutter their lines instead of acting, and misogynistic overtones serve as bewildering stylistic choices that distract and undermine the presumably textured plot and thematic elements. Cliff Martinez's continued partnership assured some excellent, original, new, insane retrosynth, but his trademarks jams, though mesmerizing, are just as incongruously applied to this story as the rest of the aforementioned mess. The interesting characters and development are also belied by the shallow affect obviously demanded by Refn, as in his other work. Remember Ryan Gosling's character in Drive? No, he's not autistic, mute, or suffering from PTSD; he's just denied the artistic liberty to act like a real person. In Refn's new TV show, as in his past work, these predilections almost create an intensity in characters. But when it turns out they're just wooden husks, they become cartoonish animatronics moving into the camera's frame to deliver their lines and then, especially with Teller's character, walk away slowly in short, robotic steps. You've never seen someone walk so awkwardly slow - you'll see it in the very first scene.

Regardless of its true status, Refn's sense of his own cult is stamped onto each episode with his new branding, #byNWR. But this auteur's self-styling will have you questioning his choices at every turn. Truly, really: Why?

If you think the first scene is a fluke in its awkwardly crawling pace, think again. You can end it there if you're already losing your mind, and thank me later.

Btw, I loved Drive and, to a lesser extent, The Neon Demon. But those flicks, thankfully, did not compromise style for substance.

Never Too Old.

[davidhill201074 · 4/10 · 4 July 2019]

L i f e t o o s h o r t. I read a article where Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton in a scene from Spartacus trying to decide how long a pause should be. These guys take this to a whole new level. A pause is a pause is a pause!

Deeply Shallow

[s3276169 · 4/10 · 28 June 2019]

"Too Old to Die Young" ought to be called "Deeply Shallow". It starts out with a catchy dash of eighties and nineties styling, with visuals and music reminiscent of groups like Tangerine Dream and films like Risky Business.

This hook has been known to work but only if it has a decent story to go along with it. Yet again, this series borrows heavily from past efforts digging into films like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs for inspiration.

Unfortunately it seems unable to cash in on these well worn tropes, in a new, intelligent and engaging manner. One characters colostomy bag is an apt metaphor for how I felt about this series by the end of episode two.

I'll add I have seen a few reviews that suggest if you don't like it youre not "smart enough" to like it. My advice make your own mind up. i have two degrees and its not pressing my buttons.

Suffice to say originality never goe's out of style. 4/10 from me.

S...L...O...W...Grade F (40%)

[johnh22 · 4/10 · 27 June 2019]

Watch two guys on a street for two minutes. Watch a guy walk down the hall for full minute. Ridiculous pace.

Show does manage to set an interesting atmosphere, but I gave up after 45 minutes, half of which watching a guy staring into space.

Too old to watch this show, I might die of boredom before it ends.

Falling asleep.....

[lewislucchesi · 4/10 · 15 June 2019]

Other reviews have stated this well enough but I wanted to chime in because of my frustration. I love NWR's style: beautifully shot, simple dialogue, relaxed pacing.

But TOTDY is exhausting and I'm only two episodes in and really struggling to get through There are scenes and pick-up shots that never seem to end. Every character is subdued and withdrawn.

I thought NWF producing a mini-series could be the best of both worlds - his style with a clear narrative driving each episode. WRONG. Amazon seem to have given him Carte Blanche and he's given 10 long drawn movies