hrh-dmk Reviews

The Magnitsky Act. Behind the Scenes (2016)

Russian Propaganda pure & simple (Rating= Zero)

[1/10 · 15 May 2022]

This propaganda coming from Putin & his minions cannot be trusted. Thank God smart people prevailed and obtained some small amount of justice for Sergei Magnitsky, by passing the "Magnitsky Act". This Act gives the US government the power to sanction & seize assets of the corrupt, criminal Russian public servants and oligarchs who stole $230million from the taxpayers of Russia, and who falsely accused, incarcerated, tortured and finally murdered Sergei Magnitsky, the hero who stood up to the rampant corruption in post-Soviet Russia. The eponymous act took years to pass through the U. S. House & Senate, spearheaded by Bill Browder, former CEO of The Heritage Fund, who worked with Magnitsky and honoured his legacy of anticorruption. "Justice for Sergei" is the TRUE story if what occurred. Watch THAT.

A New Year's Resolution (2021 TV Movie)

Realistic HAE with Lead Chemistry

[9/10 · 10 January 2021]

Hallmark romance movies are pretty hamstrung in their formulae. Heroine comes into or back to a charming (or her childhood) small town for a short period of time, and must get back to her fantastically successful career ASAP. Usually, although the heroine has everything going for her, she is still (or recently) single, and willing to give up said achievements in a heartbeat once she is looked at twice by the recalcitrant hero, who often has less to offer than she does. Hero is set up as an initial adversary for the heroine. Timing between initial meeting & ultimate clinch (usually accompanied by a proposal of marriage after one or possibly two kisses) is lightning fast. It was refreshing to see a Hallmark film that's a little bit different. This one came without gasps of amazement at the lighting of a Christmas tree (Seriously? When was the last time you craned your neck in a crowd, mesmerized at such a commonplace site? Yet Hallmark trots out that lame trope in every winter holiday flick). The lead actors here actually have chemistry. The supporting characters are believable too. No lame gingerbread cookie or house competition here. No community festival that the entire town can't seem to live without. No children or teenagers breathless with anticipation at decorating for the holiday (rather than whining about being taken away from their video games &/or social media for a chore and tradition they care little about). The hero and heroine here actually seem to get along. The conflict between them is credible (since it was pulled from an actual news story). Granted, the male lead seems more that a bit naive in his faith in corporate executives, but his blinders aren't on for long. And the final resolution, although it seems to have skipped a few chapters from breakup to reconciliation, also didn't stretch the imagination too far. And the actor playing the hero sure knows how to act charming.

Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper (1981 TV Movie)

Factually-based exciting historical tale

[10/10 · 23 September 2020]

Giving this movie 10/10 for the adherence to true historical fact, accurate portrayal of each real-life person involved in this heroic "escapade", brilliantly written script, excellent production values and great acting. It is sometimes difficult to capture the true tension and fear that hostages & their saviours must be feeling while they are in the middle of it. This really happened! People easily forget the tensions people were experiencing in Iran in 1979... most embassies besides the Canadians were not willing to take the risks necessary to get those American citizens to safety. But John Sheardown and Kenneth Taylor stepped up. True valiance, captured beautifully by the writing and the acting prowess of Gordon Pinsent, Chris Wiggins, R.H. Thompson and the rest of this stellar cast. Definitely a keeper (& head-and-shoulders above the fiction "Argo", which those numbnuts in 'The Academy' chose to award an Oscar to. Idiots!). I have a friend who was travelling through the U.S. by car after this crisis was resolved and the Americans were delivered home. Seeing their Canadian license plates, countless U.S. citizens bought them gas and refreshments at service stations, as a thank you to Canada.

Argo (2012)

Pure fiction masquerading as fact. Canadians saved the Americans in Iran -- no other country would help them

[1/10 · 23 September 2020]

Ben Affleck had every reason to look sheepish and expect the audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival (where 'Argo' debuted) to hate him for what he did. Not sure why they applauded. Basically, Affleck co-opted history to create a fiction that Americans saved the hostages in Iran in 1979. NOT TRUE: It was the Canadian Embassador to Iran, Kenneth Taylor, at great peril to himself and his colleagues and family. No other country would help them. If you want to see what really happened, watch the Canadian 1981 television film, "Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper" which dramatizes the cover story for the operation.