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Painkiller (2023)
Not terrible, not great
Not quite a 5/7 though ;).
Like other reviewers, it's difficult not to compare it to Dopesick. Dopesick contained more facts about the FDA approval process and the way they got around it. Also how they managed to get away with lying to doctors.
I'm not sure if "breakthrough pain" was a real term that was used and marketed like it was mentioned in Dopesick, but Painkiller didn't show that at all. They just had the Purdue Pharma Barbies push doctors to prescribe higher dosages. The way that was presented makes no sense. Implying it was all about money. What kind of idiot doctors would do that? Or how many? They needed to explain how and why the increase in dosage was justified. There was just one bit where the injured man and his wife were like "can't he take the same dose more often?" instead of doubling his dose but keeping it to 12 hours. I guess at least it illustrated tolerance. But how the frak was any of this allowed to happen? Oh our drug isn't doing what we said it does? Just take more. And more. Oh and more.
They also only mentioned that letter to the editor in passing. It was a key piece of information that let them get away with all of this in the first place. Everyone was quoting how it was non addictive. Because of something that was bullshirt. That needed to be made in to a bigger deal.
Another reviewer used the term "Netflixification". I'm going to start using that. It's hard to describe how cookie cutter, cheap, half-arsed, formulaic etc etc Netflix shows can be. And then you have all the bots that give their shows super high ratings even though they're not great. I specifically went to compare the imdb ratings of Dopesick and Painkiller.
Netflix ruined this story like Zack Snyder ruined Batman.
But I still love Zack Snyder for his first 3 for 3 (Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen).
But I digress. You also can't "ruin" a true story.
I don't live in the US. I didn't know much about the opioid epidemic until I watched Dopesick. Then you go googling things and reading Wikipedia to see what is actually true. In my ignorance I thought drug addicts will always exist and abuse any drug out there, and that you shouldn't deny pain medication to people who actually need it. I still believe that. But the missing piece was how much this drug was pushed in the US, under false pretences, and how the doctors were lied to, and as a result were prescribing incorrectly (long term). So both of these shows illustrate that.
Trying to be inclusive, Netflix made a comparison to the crack epidemic. From my understanding they were very different. The CIA or some other government agency was ultimately responsible for crack, and it was a racial thing. With Oxy it was some rich old white dudes just wanting to make a tonne of money.
I feel like this show focussed too much on Arthur and Richard Sackler. The former of whom was dead so why the frak was he talking so much to a seemingly nutso Richard?
And what's with the damn smoke alarms??
The Bad Batch (2016)
What if Burning Man never ended?
Despite the cannibalism it looks kinda fun. Put a fence around Black Rock City and let people fend for themselves.
I think people forget that movies are art, the creators artists. You don't have to like, or even understand, everything that's out there. That doesn't make it "the worst movie ever" though.
Read some of the 10 star reviews, people are far more eloquent than me at describing the cinematography etc. But the visuals are beautiful. I loved Mad Max and Tank Girl though so maybe I'm biased. This is slower paced though.
If you like dystopias and desert wastelands then this movie is for you!
I have a lot of questions though. Like where are they getting a lot of their resources from? How do they manage without protection from dust storms? Who dumped that trash that they scavenge? And wouldn't it be freezing at night?
Still I love the absurdity of it all.
They have nothing to lose.
I can't help but feel sorry for any children born in to this world though.
Stowaway (2021)
Realistic human reactions and interactions
I'm disappointed this film's rating is 5.something. I thought it deserved more than that. A lot of haters seem to be criticising the wrong elements. Not everything has to be fast paced and action packed. A lot of space travel would realistically be mundane and monotonous. So I like it when films have that slow pace showing you the boring stuff sometimes.
I like that they didn't go crazy trying to do anything to save themselves. There was a lot of depth to the characters. The film makers could have lingered on some scenes a bit more so we would get more of a chance to feel what the characters were feeling.
A lot of films use obvious and forceful cues like epic music to tell the audience how to feel. This film gives us a bit more credit and instead has a more subtle score and leaves you to contemplate what you just experienced. I just think we needed a bit more time here and there.
Not perfect. Some parts could have done with a bit more polishing, but I don't know how. Maybe the pacing felt inconsistent? The characters do a fair bit of thought processing that's not said aloud. It makes you work a little bit.
And I'm happy for Anna Kendrick taking on a project like this. Good for her! Pretty girls can be intelligent and useful astronauts too.
Younger: Older (2021)
What happened?
If you watch it not knowing it's the series finale it seems like a weird filler episode. I ignored the stuff that didn't make sense because it wasn't written well. I came on here to find when more episodes would be out but was disappointed to learn that's it!
Dead to Me (2019)
I accidentally the season
It was already late when I started with the pilot. I needed to sleep as I had an early morning. I watched the whole thing.
Every episode was so enthralling. The writing, acting, and directing are just a treat! Such believable characters. Even though you think some of the situations they get themselves in seem a bit much, it's presented in such a way that you can understand what the characters are going through; what motivates them, and what they're feeling.
Maybe I relate to the portrayal of grief, and trying to keep it together. The acting was on point. I love layered characters. Nothing is black, and white.
Don't start watching this at 1am.
Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019)
A show that I used to know
To me this episode was boring. Nothing happened. The writing was cheap fanservice. The deaths made no sense. The main characters facing certain death, yet somehow surviving, made no sense.
I can only hope that the reason these last couple of seasons have gone so far downhill is to not spoil the books.
Gamer (2009)
Some of them want to use you...
I will preface this by saying I am not one of those people with a wonderful vocabulary who will paint a colourful image of what this film is and isn't and I'm totally sorry if I don't "do it right".
I think a lot of people want too much from their movies; from instant gratification stimulation (music, CGI, violence, whatever) to dramatic scenes that would make Chopper cry. Take a movie for what it is.
This film isn't a brilliant piece of art, it probably won't move you, it won't make you think all that much - but it will damn well entertain you. From the opening credits featuring Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams" to the end credits I was captivated the entire time. Great soundtrack, very appealing to the eyes and of course I love the concept behind it all. The way we're heading with all this virtual reality bs, it's not too far off, hey? The "sad" aspect reminded me of Surrogates somewhat. Pity it had to have typical Hollywood elements - but you can get over that! If you liked this, check out Series 7. Also comparable to Death Race, I suppose, though I would like to think of a bit higher quality.
... some of them want to get used by you.