db528 Reviews

The Rachel Maddow Show (2008– )

Great show

[10/10 · 16 July 2020]

I learn a lot when I watch her show. She doesn't just report stories, she also gives background. It's an opinion show, but it's based on facts. I factcheck the stories, and they are factual. With Trump in office, she has a lot of fodder. Her stories are often scoops. She often gets exclusive interviews like she is doing with Mary Trump, the president's niece who wrote a tell-all book about him. She won an Emmy for best news and documentary show. I love her show!

Forever (I) (2018)

Loved it!

[10/10 · 7 March 2019]

It's a wonderful, funny show. I hope it comes back for a second season.

Broad City (2014–2019)

Funniest show on TV

[10/10 · 5 January 2019]

I discovered this show when season 4 was released. It's the funniest show I've seen in years. It should be noted that I watched some episodes from earlier seasons, and they were mediocre, but season 4 was brilliant.

Suburbicon (2017)

Great movie!

[10/10 · 27 October 2018]

I almost passed on this movie because of the reviews. I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It's another great crime story by the Coen brothers, who also wrote Fargo, which I loved. Watching it taught me a lesson; don't believe the reviews. I think many people are turned off by the subplot, but it was based on a true event that happened in Levittown, Pennsylvania in 1957. In this supposedly peaceful suburban town in the 1950's there's evil, but it wasn't the fault of the black family who moved into this "all-American", all-white community. There are twists and turns and surprises, and it's one of those rare movies that I want to watch again.

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Unbelievable, confusing mess

[1/10 · 27 October 2018]

This movie was a confusing mess. I tried to give it a chance, but, with 28 minutes left, I gave up. When I finally found out what was happening, it was so unbelievable and ridiculous, I just couldn't continue to watch. Don't waste your time.

Animals. (2016–2018)

Enjoyable

[9/10 · 29 January 2018]

Scrolling through the series offerings on HBO, I stumbled across Animals, and decided to check it out. The first episode of season one, though strange, was pretty funny. Much to my surprise, I became addicted. I've watched seven episodes of the first season, so far. Some episodes are funnier than others. Episode seven, which is about flies, is touching. I think this show is worth watching.

South Park: Doubling Down (2017) Season 21, Episode 7

Deeper than at first glance

[10/10 · 27 November 2017]

I watched this episode twice. The story revolves around Eric's exploitive and emotionally abusive relationship with Heidi, who keeps insisting to her friends that Eric has a good side, and that her decision to become his girlfriend was not a mistake.

Scenes with Donald Trump are interspersed in the episode. At first viewing, I didn't see the connection. When Ryan, McConnell, and Pence show Trump his tanking approval ratings, Trump says, "It's not a problem. See, I know something about societal psychology that you three turd balls don't. Everything's going to be fine."

Heidi can't take the abuse anymore and finally breaks up with Eric. But when her friends say things like, they are glad she finally wised up, they couldn't imagine how she could have kissed Eric, etc., she has second thoughts.

After watching the episode the second time I realized that the Trump scenes are relevant. Eric symbolizes Trump, and Heidi symbolizes Trump voters. The societal psychology that Trump was talking about was the fact that people don't like to admit, even to themselves, that they made a mistake. And when they are ridiculed for their bad choice, even if they realize it was a bad choice, they double down. It's just human nature.

Mistaken for Strangers (2013)

Amusing but self-indulgent

[7/10 · 25 December 2014]

It was supposed to be a documentary about a band called The National, but it turned out to be a documentary about an amateur filmmaker's struggle making a documentary about a band called The National. The filmmaker, Tom Berringer, is the lead singer's younger brother, and he was hired on as a roadie for the band. Tom expresses feelings of insecurity living in the shadow of his more successful brother, so it's not surprising that the movie was about Tom with incidental shots of the band. To be fair, it would be difficult to find enough interesting material about a well-mannered band like The Nationals to fill a two-hour movie. The film was self-indulgent, but it was amusing, nonetheless.