pellenbogen Reviews

We Own This City (2022)

Excellent Television!!!

[8/10 · 22 June 2022]

I agree with many of the other reviewer's that the nonlinear editing is difficult to follow. But if you hang with it you'll be rewarded, as it all comes together in the final episode. If you liked the wire you'll definitely like this. Ignore the reviews with political agendas. This is a serious drama with a message grounded in a difficult reality!

Scenes from a Marriage (2021)

Fabulous!

[8/10 · 19 October 2021]

It's really a 10, but it's a tough to watch. I remember seeing the original Bergman series decades ago. From what I remember, this is an excellent contemporary adaptation. Great script, extraordinary acting and rather intense. Ignore all the poor ratings...either they are either disappointed in to comparison to the original or they don't appreciate serious drama.

The Defeated (2020)

I really enjoyed this series

[8/10 · 25 September 2021]

I thought the set production of post war Berlin I was very impressive. I thought it was a very good story, well acted and the different plots mostly hang together. I was not expecting the primary language to be German as it appeared to be an English production. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and I don't usually watch reading movies.

Hit & Run (2021)

Very good...not great

[7/10 · 9 September 2021]

I don't get all the bad reviews. And I don't know what the deal is with the lighting. It was fine. It's not Fauda, but it's an excellent action, suspense mystery with lots of plot twists that mostly hang together. Lior Raz is not your typical leading man, but he co-wrote and produced, so he gets to cast himself. :-)

SAS: Red Notice (2021)

Entertaining if you suspend disbelief

[7/10 · 9 September 2021]

Don't get all the bad reviews. It's an entertaining action flick with a decent body count and lots of stuff blowing up. Some legit actors who may have been miscast. A good Die Hard knockoff. All in all a fun way to kill an evening.

No Sudden Move (2021)

Much better than the reviews

[8/10 · 16 July 2021]

I don't usually post reviews but I felt compelled because of all the bad reviews. Yes its a complicated plot, but if you pay attention there are only one or two holes and I'm not sure about those. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I may watch even it again. The acting was good and the production design was exceptional. Beautifully captured the 1954 period. I would definately recommend this film.

The Angel (2018)

Great story, well told...ignore the bad reviews with an agenda!

[8/10 · 16 September 2018]

This is really an excellent film with none of the gratuitous violence that is typical of too many espionage thrillers. This is a true, old fashion 1970s spy story during an extraordinary period of history. I was totally unaware of this story before I saw this film. It's well acted and not over produced, and unless your an Arabic speaker it doesn't matter how authentic the idioms are.

The Affair (2014–2019)

Channeled Ingamar Bergman at the end

[8/10 · 1 September 2018]

Overall the series was a good if tragic story with some very strong performances and an excellent script. The last episode which I'm assuming is the series finale was really exceptional!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Great story and excellent cast and performances

[9/10 · 24 August 2018]

This is a wonderful film with a touching story and compelling characters from the people who brought us The Exotic Marigold Hotel. If you like WW II period films you can't go wrong with this one.

Secret City (2016–2019)

Great espionage thriller

[10/10 · 5 July 2018]

An excellent series in six tidy episodes. A little slow at times but picks up quickly with some really great plot twists. Good ending with a perfect setup for next season.

Ozark (2017–2022)

Very good but must really suspend disbelief

[7/10 · 2 April 2018]

Jason Bateman and the whole cast is excellent, but there are some really ridiculous subplots/story lines. A relatively tidy ending leading into the next season. Don't know if I'll watch it.