camjurd Reviews

Sound of Freedom (2023)

Confronting Cinema

[9/10 · 28 January 2024]

Based on the true story of US Federal Agent Tim Ballard this film tackles one of the most obscene problems of our time.

Director and Co-writer Alejandro Monteverde takes is into the dark world of child sex trafficking with a sometimes confronting but overall gentle hand, ensuring graphic imagery is not so overt as to take away from what is ultimately a story of survival for many of these young children. It does seem concerning that a film of this stature does not gain Oscar attention and that Disney delayed its release by 3 years. Produced by Mel Gibson this story should have people rise up across the globe, but unfortunately that is not the case.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Clever, but .......

[6/10 · 6 January 2023]

6 short stories from the minds of the Coen Brothers. 10 out of 10 for originality and a wonderful cast but at times these tails of trails in the old west lose their way.

They shine an imaginative lens over the way life once was for some with a healthy dose of good humour, classic art direction, cinematography and the usual strong musical score.

The Buster Scruggs story in particular benefits from fantastic music with lyrics sung by Tim Blake Nelson who is just fantastic to watch.

As anthology flicks go this one is solid just a couple of stories that were lacking otherwise it would have been a higher rating.

Big Sky (2020–2023)

David E Kelley misses the mark

[3/10 · 6 September 2022]

Season one of Big Sky runs 16 episodes it could have been condensed into the first 8.

I'm a David E Kelly fan but this series is B grade at best. Predictable in places with few multidimensional characters Big Sky limps from episode to episode with predictable plot and action.

Big Sky is based on the novel by C. J Box The Highway about Investigator Cassie Dewell who is on the trail of a serial killer. There's a killer on the road and he's not back.

Big Sky is not up there with the greats or the middle of the pack for that matter. How do you go from doing Big Little Lies to Big Sky? Lord only knows but hopefully the pendulum swings back for Kelly and Co's next "Big" Production.

Cop Land (1997)

Stallone stands tall

[9/10 · 28 June 2022]

Certainly one of Sylvester Stallone strongest performances. Stella cast with Harvey Keitel, Robert Deniro, Ray Liotta simply a underrated classic from Director James Mangold.

Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)

Outstanding drama

[10/10 · 23 April 2022]

From Director S J Carlson and Producer David E Kelley comes this gripping tail. S J Carlson has taken the short form series formula and cleverly infused a fresh directorial approach. I found this to be the surprise of the year with compelling performances particularly from Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery and Rupert Friend. A must watch for lovers of quality drama.

Invasion (2021–2024)

Slow invasion

[3/10 · 31 December 2021]

This series is a soap wrapped in an invasion story but without the clever writing of a Succession.

5 characters take us through a real time journey as Aliens invade earth. Episode one showed some promise but it was all down hill from there. Not to mention possibly the most likeable character killed off early also.

Best to navigate around Invasion.

Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

A complete surprise

[9/10 · 6 September 2021]

This is a film that is a homage to classic cinema.

This is truly a edge of your seat suspense thriller with strong performances across the board. Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn offer gritty restrained interpretations of jaded LA police officers put on suspension after a drug arrest.

Written and Directed by S. Craig Zahler who based on this we can expect to see more from.

Godless (2017)

Surprise Surprise

[9/10 · 7 August 2021]

I originally thought this was a Michelle Dockery tough girl drama but I was wrong. This is a terrific ensemble peace with not only the engaging performance by Dockery but great performances from Merritt Weaver, Scoot McNairy, Sam Waterston and the menacing Jeff Daniels. This western dispenses with tradition and tells the story of a tough, smart and resourceful group of women who have been widowed by a large scale mine collapse.

One of Netflix best.

Disturbing the Peace (2020)

Terrible

[1/10 · 2 October 2020]

Tuned in because of a Guy Pearce but he could not save this film. So many issue, cheap production, poor editing, sill premise

Ava (IV) (2020)

Promised much delivered little

[5/10 · 6 September 2020]

A solid telemovie. That's what this felt like. Lacked the polish or a Bourne or Bond or Amazons Hanna for that matter. Not Jessica Chastains best work either.

Us (II) (2019)

Not for US

[1/10 · 28 March 2019]

After a genuinely creepy trailer the excitement soon faded. We found ourselves laughing out loud with the rest of the cinema audience when we should have seen scared. This ones not for Us.

Marcella (2016–2021)

Series two off the boil

[5/10 · 2 July 2018]

Really enjoyed series one of this British crime drama, series two however becomes very complicated and I think the script writers tried to be a little to clever. Twists and turns galore, but to many for me.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Disappointing

[1/10 · 25 March 2018]

Sorry guys a lot of plot floors in this one. A disappointing film that we expected more from

Collateral (2018)

Great Production

[7/10 · 22 March 2018]

Quality British drama from the BBC. Well rounded characters wrapped in a people smuggling murder mystery. Hand held camera work and fast paced editing in EP 2 was almost to hard to watch, thankfully it settles down for the remaining two episodes. Worth the watch