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Reviews
In Bruges (2008)
Colin Farrell deserved an Oscar
I rewatched this movie very recently, having not watched it since its first release. I had forgotten how funny and emotional a movie it is.
Brendan Gleeson is the straight man to Colin Farrells comedic role and both play them really well. However Colin Farrell steals the show in what I believe is his best ever performance. His childlike, witty humour hits the mark every time and I guarantee there will be lines from this that you will remember for ever.
There is of course a darker side to the movie and this plays out very well, with contributions from not just to two main protagonists, but the entire cast, with Raplh Feines adding that gangster edge.
Its dark comedy will have to rewatching this movie every few years.
American Psycho (2000)
Give it a miss
I've read the book and winced my way through the horrors inflicted on others, but what a book. I winced my way through the movie adaptation for very different reasons.
Christian Bale has to be the most annoying actor around. Himself and Nicholas Cage must have gone to the same acting school, where you learn how to speak with your teeth clenched.
The movie centres on one up manship and the total 80's obsession with image and social status. It does this well in places, but sometimes it's laboured.
The gratuitous scenes aren't that bad and supposedly is a paradox on corporate greed and the lengths it will go to for success. However the movie is all over the place and it simply doesn't work.
I'd recommend you read the book and don't watch the movie as it's absolutely awful.
Vigil (2021)
Should have stopped after S1
Season 1 has it all, suspense, drama and a story line that keeps you engaged. Despite all that, it's a little weak and predictive and gets a solid 6.
Season 2 is awful and possesses none of the traits of season 1 and gets a solid 2. The setting is in a fictitious Middle Eastern country and the storyline centres around a predictable and cliched terror plot. I use the term plot loosely as there doesn't seem to be one.
The pace is pedestrian, the acting amateurish (even for the well known cast) and the plot is transparent, yet they still drag it out for six episodes.
Season 1 is worth a watch, but save yourself six hours and give Season 2 a miss.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
A great story not very well told
I'll admit that before this movie, I had never heard of yet another shameful American history story. The story is a fascinating one and as this movie is based on a book, makes me really I had heard of the book before I watched the movie.
Maybe it's just me, but why do all these epic stories need an epic movie length to tell them. I understand that producers/directors are trying to cram years and years of a story into a few hours, but this doesn't give you license to drag out scenes for no reason, other than to hit the 3 hour plus mark.
If this movie was condensed to less than two hours (something it could have easily done), I believe the story still could have been told, without missing out on the salient aspects of the whole episode.
As with all recent movies that go over two and a half hours, there are a lot of scenes that seem to go on forever, without adding, or adding very little context and value to the overall story.
I haven't read the book, but it's on the reading list and I believe it would be a better way to spend three hours.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
The clue is in the title........it's a fairytale
I can see what Tarantino was trying to do with this movie, he gave us all a big hint by referencing a fairytale in the title. I wouldn't go as far as comparing it to The Naked Gun movies, but it does try to send up all that is Hollywood.
The problem is that if it's a parody or a satirical representation of how Hollywood was/is, it doesn't quite work. Usually these type of movies are funny while being on script (think Spitting Image), but this just doesn't. It's long, dragged out and somewhat boring in many places with scenes played out at length for no apparent reason.
The whole storyline around The Manson Gang and Sharon Tate seems a little awkward at best, not quite sure what its relevance was. Maybe there's a conspiracy theory behind it, but it just didn't work.
It is successful in shining a light on the narcissism that is Hollywood and all that live in that realm and the lengths they will go to, in order to protect their little bubble.
If you're on a long haul flight, maybe watch it, as it will pass a considerable amount of time, but don't come away thinking enlightened or even entertained.
The Revenant (2015)
cinematography doesn't make up for poor film
I watched this on TV, so probably missed out on the hole cinema theatre experience to get the full effect, which I would imagine is quite something. However I can't even imagine that would make up for an overall lacklustre storyline with whole sections of the movie just showing a nice vista.
It's a story of revenge in the face of adversity, which lends itself to good theme, however the movie takes too long to get there and meanders more than the river featured in many of the shots.
This is my second time watching this and it most definitely won't be going on the recommendation list.
If you've a long flight planned, I'd give it a whirl as it will pass nearly three hours, but not one to look forward to of a Saturday evening.
Saltburn (2023)
What a yawn fest
What did I just watch? This is an arty farty film that people will give high scores to, in order to make themselves feel good.
It's an over indulgent over two hour long film that really tries to hard to place itself amongst the classics, but never reaches those heights.
The locations are quite impressive as to is the acting, especially that of Barry Keoghan and Richard E Grant (as always), but this doesn't make up for the lacklustre storyline (taking the telegraphed twist into account).
I'm not a movie expert by any means, but this one was not for me and if you don't like your movies slow with not much happening, then I'd give this a wide berth.
A Spy Among Friends (2022)
Good but drawn out
A great dramatised insight into the whole Kim Philby affair and the paranoia that gripped The Western World during The Cold War. The backdrops are in line with the times and backdrops of old London are remarkably well developed.
The big issue with this production is the length, the story could have been distilled into four episodes and would have been a lot more gripping. Some episodes bring the story on only a short period and for most of that, they can be somewhat boring.
Acting is superb, especially Guy Pearce, he's fantastic in his role as the quintessential English gentleman spy, even nailing the toff, public school accent.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Doesn't feel like a three hour long movie
I'm not really a movie fan and anything over two hours, usually counts me out, but this is an exception.
This is a story that is very well told by Nolan and brought to life by the amazing cast, especially that of Cillian Murphy.
The story does jump back and forth in time, but these transitions do more to clarify the narrative rather than to confuse the viewer. That said, you will need to pay attention to keep up and forget checking your phone or popcorn supply during the movie.
The stunning location of New Mexico add to the cinematographic experience as do those of the university.
Go watch it or get it in 4K UHD to get the full immersive experience.
The Batman (2022)
Yaaaaaaaaaawn
What did I just watch? I seriously contemplated giving up after an hour and a half, but much to my chagrin, I persisted.
It's three hours of absolute drivel, dark scenes, darker dialogue and darker plot line all of which combine only to ironically enlighten the audience to how unbelievably poor this movie is.
I've not seen Robert Pattison in any other movie, I'm tact, I'd never heard of home before, so I can only assume when he read the script, he was just told to copy Christian Bales voice, which means you can't understand him half the time.
If the academy were forced to nominate any part of this movie for an Oscar, it will struggle, while those at The Raspberries would have no such issue.
The Rig (2023)
Slooooooooow and somewhat pointless
Amazon are placing all their eggs in this basket, judging by the amount of ads I hear on the radio plugging it. Unfortunately all the eggs are broken and rotting away.
The idea is good and somewhat unique and the cast is pretty stellar, however the plot is nothing new and it goes nowhere fast, with the exception of the first and last episodes. A lot of the acting is amateur (surprisingly given the cast) and there's nothing convincing about the plot, it's been done many times before (think LOST).
The whole show seems to to aim for the last episode and setting it up for 2nd series, which I will be very surprised if it gets made. If you're looking at this waiting for a nice ending, wrapped up in a gift, then you'll be disappointed.
The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour: A Scandi Flick (2022)
Same old formula is just tiered and boring
I could imagine the production meeting for this 1) set something on fire 2) pretend to destroy public property 3) stage something over the top that gives the appearance of danger 4) eh, erm, well.....let's just stick to 3.
It's the same ole over scripted formula they've been using since the last days of Top Gear and it's simply not funny. They jumped the shark then and they're still trying to pole vault over it, do us all a favour and let The Grand Tour be gobbled up by a great white and don't try and get a bigger boat.
Oddly enough when they ad lib, they're quite funny and very natural.
Time to hang up the fobs.
Top Gun (1986)
80's cliched movie.
I never watched this when it was originally released, I only watched this for context in the Top Gun Maverick movie and it's nearly two hours of my life, I'll not get back. I'm
To be fair it's a typical 80's movie and very much like Miami Vice (TV series), loads of power ballads, dramatic pauses, long scenes to a soundtrack......but nothing actually happens with some sexism and racism (Sundown) thrown in for good measure.
It doesn't even rate for an action movie, lost of swooshes and swishes while fighter jets fly past, but that's about it. That said, the soundtrack is very good and brings me back, but that's about the best thing in the whole movie.
It's easy to say it's trite, but back in the 80's it was probably cutting edge.
Get your finger on fast forward and you can watch this movie in 30 minutes.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
Love it
Great scripts, great sets, fantastic acting and more importantly extremely funny. Stumbled upon this on Amazon and kinda thought it was more for the wife, how wrong I was. Incredibly well written and witty, give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
Alex Borstein & Tony Shakhoub are the stand out actors.
Real feel good TV show.
Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways (2012)
Great show ruined by a condescending oaf
This could have been a fantastic show and in places it is. But what ruins it is the hosts oafness and condescending attitude to everyone and anyone.
'Look at these trains, all brand new and spotless...' when describing trains in Botswana or 'all the trains here are red', describing trains in Lithuania. Couple this with trying to communicate with locals by speaking slower and louder. He's like a Brit on holidays in Benidorm, surprised that everyone speaks Spanish.
He compounds the racial stereotype of a colonial explorer and frankly, shouldn't have made it pass series one.
Dopesick (2021)
Whoa!
This is one well written and acted show. I was aware of the opiod crisis that had enveloped The US, but wasn't aware how bad it was, or of this particual pill.
The scary thing is that this is going on all the time in so many ways (Dark Waters with Mark Rufffalo), but the agencies responsible to protect the consumer and too intertwined with big business.
I was a bit let down at the end, didn't wrap up the whole story and what was the outcome of the investigations.
Tenet (2020)
What did I just watch
I'd really love to know what this was all about and what Christopher Nolan was trying to achieve, but all he ended up with is 2 and a half hours of pure complicated drivel.
The action scenes are good (as usual with CN movies), but the storyline to so twisted and complex, that I bet even he doesn't know what's going on.
I'd say when writing the screenplay, he forgot to number the pages and at some stage, a big gust of wind blew them all over the place and he just randomly put them all back together.
People who rate this movie ten do so to make themselves look good, as there is absolutely no way that anyone could give such a high score and fully understand it.
If you have multiple masters and PhDs and you understand the phyiscs of time travel, then give this movie a miss, as I guarantee even you won't get it.
Atypical (2017)
One of the best and unique shows I've seen in some while
I'm halfway through season 3 and I love it. Unique, funny, irreverent, sad, morose, enthralling, uplifting..........just absolutely brilliant.
American Hustle (2013)
Don't bother, no really don't.
What might have been.
Good premise for a great movie, but it stutters its way through 140 minutes of boring drivel. It's never grips you, no page turner scenes and no cliff hangers. Great cast, but the dialogue is lumpy and it doesn't hit the mark.
I waded myself through the whole movie, when I knew that this was a switch off after about an hour.
This is nearly two and a half hours of my life I wasted, please don't do the same.
The Mosquito Coast (2021)
Turgid
No spoilers are in this review. Because for eight episodes all we see is a family on the run. We don't know from whom or why? It's just 8 episodes of them making their way to Mexico.
Kept waiting for the big reveal, I'm still waiting 🙄
Smother (2021)
Awful
I'm not the biggest RTÉ fan, but to be fair, they have produced some fantastic programming over the years (Love/Hate, Reeling in the years, Prime Time investigates, Scannal, Building Ireland etc.), but this is absolute rubbish with turgid performances from actors that would be more suited to a deli. The only good thing about this show, is the amazing scenery of The Irish coastline.
Do not waste your time on this one, it's simply not worth it.
Schitt$ Creek (2015)
Stick with it, it's good.
Not really one for American sitcoms as I usually find them contrived and forced. Schitt's Creek is all that, but in a satirical kind of way.
The first two episodes I thought I can't go on because of the David character, over acted and hammy. But after a few more episodes, I realise he's now the star of the show. Catherine Deveruex's character is somewhat similar, but again after a few episodes, she makes it.
Leave the brain at the door when setting out to watch this and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
The Father (2020)
That ending?
A gripping movie and sad movie that brings you on an emotional rollercoaster. Anthony Hopkins steals the show, an absolutely fantastic performance.
I have to say I was a little disappointed with the ending. I get why they did it, but still thought it could have ended differently.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
Try and keep up........because it's sooooo slow
Man o man this is slow. I've forgotten what happened in the previous scene, because it was so long ago.
Overall it's just okay, but it's so dragged out and I mean very dragged out, you end up fast forwarding a lot of it.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
Try and keep up........because it's sooooo slow
Man o man this is slow. I've forgotten what happened in the previous scene, because it was so long ago.
Overall it's just okay, but it's so dragged out and I mean very dragged out, you end up fast forwarding a lot of it.