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Reviews
The Night Agent (2023)
Improves in the second half
The first five episodes are frustratingly generic, with one-dimensional stock genre characters and a bag of cliches. The writing was poor, with the FBI trained protagonist showing little security consciousness and surviving through pure luck.
Actually the only refreshing element that offers something different is the love story between the assassins.
The female characters are particularly poorly drawn - the female lead, the Secret Service agent, and the VP's daughter in particular - where arrogance and rudeness seem to substitute for strength and sass; they behave like entitled teenagers and are plain unlikeable.
Thank goodness for Oscar-nominated actress Hong Chau, who transforms herself yet again and brings some class to the proceedings.
From episode 6 the action picks up pace and the characters start to become more fleshed out (a bit late), and the show becomes more engaging (and less annoying).
There's not much chemistry between the two leads, so the romance side plot seems a bit forced (the assassins romance is better!).
The show seems to have done well. So if there's a second season, hope it continues to improve, particularly on the writing.
Blockbuster (2022)
Zero laughs
I wonder if the makers of this show had to pay to use the Blockbuster name. Because despite the premise and setting, the show is oddly non-specific. It could have been set in any business setting. In fact it plays exacrotch like a Superstore rehash. It's a shame as they could've really leaned into the movie theme, which would've provided so many opportunities creatively.
The cast in front of the camera are likeable and talented. It's disappointing that they're given so little to work with. The writing is just not up to scratch. As generic as can be, and simply not funny. Where are the jokes? It's all very pleasant, but I'm still waiting for my first laugh.
Samaritan (2022)
Stallone good. Movie bad.
Love the idea of Sylvester Stallone as a superhero in his 70s. If only the film had been executed with more finesse and vision. The clunkiness is apparent from the opening scene.
The action seems to be set in the 1990s; unfortunately the film also feels dated from that era, from its intrusive music score to all the tired tropes and clichés in the script and direction. It has no humour, even though there are plenty of opportunities for it.
And the kid really overacts - A LOT. If panting a lot can be considered acting.
Stallone did a great job. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to elevate the film to where it needed to be. Hopefully he'll get a film that deserves him in his next outing.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Terrible writing and little quality control
Season 1 was okay and I expected it to improve and mature with Season 2. Instead it's the worst Star Trek I've ever seen. Half the regular characters from S1 were abandoned, and the rest given personality transplants. The quality of writing is terrible, with dialogue that makes one cringe. And the plot is preposterous. In one scene, a character asks the computer to extrapolate a 2D video to 3D, then proceeds to meet in the extrapolation a person who wasn't in the video and has a conversation. Is this sci-fi or Harry Potter? I feel bad for Patrick Stewart.
Reacher (2022)
Less talk, more action please
A solid set up with plenty of room for improvement in the next season (if it happens). With a character marked by his physicality, the show works best in its action scenes which are surprisingly few and far in between. It's a very "talky" show - most of the plot is advanced by characters explaining it in lengthy dialogue. That might work for a novel. But it's TV and they need to show it, not speak it.
Inventing Anna: Cash on Delivery (2022)
Weakest episode yet
Seven episodes in and suddenly we see panels and frames zooming across the screen every two minutes like it's a 24 revival. It's an effect never used before and is jarring and out of place.
This episode is basically about Rachel being distraught that Anna won't pay her back - weren't we there already in episode 6? An hour of airtime that didn't advance the plot one bit.
Also the flashbacks are becoming so recent and so frequent that it's just confusing now.
The Courier (2020)
Solid and conventional
A worthy true story of heroic acts, with strong performances from the central players, especially Mr Cumberbatch. But the film is let down by some implausible scenarios and familiar dramatic tropes. Very watchable but could have been better.
Harriet (2019)
Disappointing
A worthwhile subject with a committed central performance, the film is let down by a clunky script that doesn't ring true. It plays like a telemovie, and features one of the most heavy handed, intrusive musical scores in recent memory. And yes, I'm helping slaves escape through the woods, so a bright red outfit would be perfect! Maybe one day Harriet Tubman will get the biopic she deserves.
The Protégé (2021)
Maggie Q kicks ass
There are some good action sequences in this Maggie Q vehicle that shows off her chops as a movie action star and her beauty. Unfortunately the story and script are rather generic, and the director hasn't made the best use of the exotic locations, with most of the film having a sound-stage feel. Michael Keaton is a great actor, but I found the casting of a 70-year-old white male actor as the love interest of a 40-year-old Asian woman very off. Hope Maggie Q gets the material she deserves one day.
How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
My soul feels polluted
So much nastiness! This show got worse and worse with each season. Sexy, sad and nasty people consistently lie, cheat, scheme and hurt each other, and wonder why they're so miserable. There's not one redeemable character in the series.
Le Miracle du Saint Inconnu (2019)
Beautifully crafted
A whimsical film with a collection of quirky characters, executed with restraint. Visually beautiful with a sparse cinematography style and pastel coloured palette. A rewarding film for people who don't need loud and fast-paced action all the time.
Katla (2021)
Plot is drive by irrationality
Nothing annoys me more than when the story is propelled (or drawn out, in this case) solely by characters behaving irrationally, time and again. They react to the most extraordinary events by... well, not much reaction at all. I am willing to suspend disbelief and accept a supernatural premise. But the characters' behaviour has to be natural and plausible!
Good Doctor (2013)
Such an abusive bunch of characters!
The concept of an autistic doctor could've been executed with more nuance and plausibility. I really hope Korean hospitals are nothing like what's portrayed here. People are constantly yelling at each other, and abusive bullying behaviour towards colleagues and patients alike seems to be the standard.
Lupin (2021)
The writing must improve!
After a promising start to the fun and charming series, Part 2 stumbles on poor writing and plotting. It's still watchable, relying heavily on the charisma of Omar Sy and the city of Paris. But the writing is just lazy. The main character is supposed to be smart, outwitting his formidable opponents. But we see him make one stupid and careless mistake after another, surviving only by pure luck, despite everything he does. It's a miracle he and his family are still alive.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Had good potential but...
With an interesting premise and a cast of fine actors, this could have been a much better film than it turned out to be. As many reviews point out, there are many plot holes and illogical behaviour. Supporting characters are not sufficiently developed, so you're not invested in whether they live or die. I find the film very noisy from beginning to end with little respite, and visually it's kind of ugly. Monster sci-fi can be elegant when done right. Alien/Aliens this ain't.
Superstore (2015)
Annoying lead characters
The writers of this show achieved something quite remarkable. They created an ensemble of quirky and endearing supporting characters that are hilarious. And two lead characters that are very unlikeable and annoying. Neurotic, dishonest and consistently condescending to everyone around them.
When Heroes Fly (2018)
Interesting premise let down by execution
A good cast and an interesting premise that took the story from Lebanon to Israel to Colombia. The pacing is uneven, however, and the flashback device is overused. Even minor characters get their own flashbacks. Illogical details annoyed me, like the guys who kept shouting loudly while trying to hide from their enemies, or the woman who's been held captive for years but still has perfectly plucked eyebrows.
The Prom (2020)
Plastic and cheese
Meryl Streep in an LGBTQ-themed musical! What's not to love? Sadly it's all autotuned singing, plastic colours, gel lighting and ugly cinematography. As well intentioned as it may be, it's difficult to find much authenticity or real emotion in the characters.
A Suitable Boy (2020)
Disappointing
I expected a sweeping epic but instead got a soap opera with little nuisance or subtlety. I'm not Indian but the characters don't seem real or natural to me. They are all one-dimensional.
Gemini Man (2019)
How did this dud happen?
Disappointed and puzzled that master filmmaker Ang Lee, one of my favourites, Got himself involved in this lemon with a terrible script, silly dialogue, clunky action sequences, uninspired cinematography and woeful special effects. Feels more like a 1990s John Woo film than the genius who gave us Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and The Life of Pi.
The Lovebirds (2020)
Disappointing
Unfortunately the efforts of the cast are not enough to make up for a preposterous story and a bad script.
El ciudadano ilustre (2016)
Well written and acted but visually poor
A fascinating tale of a Nobel-winning author's triumphant and sentimental return to his Argentinian hometown, a visit which soon turns sour. Unfortunately I t's also one of the ugliest films visually that I've seen, shot in low quality hand held digital video, with no lighting, colour grading or cinematography to speak of.
Long Shot (2019)
Juvenile male chauvinistic fantasy
Another Seth Rogen movie where a vulgar, loud, unattractive and overweight man with his life in a mess ends up with a beautiful, successful and skinny blonde. It's every make loser's fantasy. Should he step up and make himself worthy of her? No! She must learn to accept him for who he is, ugly clothes and all. Surprise that Charlizr Theron took part in this one.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Crime Scene (2019)
Not hitting the right note
It takes a lot of sensitivity to do a comedy show where the characters are dealing with crime. Finally B99 has tripped up in Season 6. The opening scene with Jake acting giddy with fun and excitement while standing next to a dead man's body because he's at a "dope" murder crime scene is distasteful to watch.
6 Underground (2019)
Michael Bay does John Woo
Mindless fun with beautiful people, a high body count and gruesome deaths. Spectacular OTT action sequences. Oddly old fashioned in its schmaltzy back stories and racial stereotypes. A beautiful woman goes to Asia and immediately wears chopsticks in her hair? Really? In 2019??