Piedreau Reviews

Leverage (2008–2012)

Leverage gets your dose of white hat-black hat conman every week

[9/10 · 23 June 2008]

Leverage might after a first show look like a series replica of Oceans Eleven with even the same generic music attached to some scenes, it fares deeper into a storyline you might expect being left on the cutting room floor of that same movie. Revenge being a large element of the series and changing plots, schemes and situations putting a viewer on the wrong foot this show delivers what all the polish and high-speed actors in forenamed picture couldn't actually deliver: credibility!

Many TV fans were loving a show like Thief (2006) but for the big audience that's called TV this is too grimy and realistic. Don't expect somebody to get actually hurt in "Leverage". The grimy and therefor risky aspect of the show has been rooted out carefully and in comes a storyline that could have been a "A-team" episode. Maybe halfway the season Colonel Decker will start chasing the headliners of this show but until then it's a risk-free show that won't be canceled.

Agreed, whoever thought of this format was far from a genius (the genius invented "Thief 2006") but he'll have a job for that much longer mixing Oceans Eleven, Thief and the A-team together in a show that doesn't offend, hurt, kill or mame people and yet stays funny and interesting to watch.

Leverage is a good TV-show among other good TV-shows but will eventually wind up in decay like other good TV-shows will. In one more season it will be more boring to watch then the new episode of Prison Break. Maybe it will generate the same cult status and devotion with viewers they will keep watching and it survives 2 seasons more. I hope so since this quiche of TV-shows is the most entertaining and relaxing show i've seen this year...

9/10 (won't last 2 seasons)

P.S A delight to see Gina Bellman again after a brilliant role in Coupling. She's a under-appreciated actress if u ask me.

Babel (I) (2006)

Want a decent movie? Watch Crash instead....

[1/10 · 2 January 2007]

This movie is a pity-full attempt to remake Crash with some different story lines barely connecting and some oldskool film-house antics like people feeling the need to appear naked for no other reason then being upset. The shaky way of filming some scenes is an even more annoying attempt at creating a film-house atmosphere for this 'movie'.

The surprises the plot brings are of no real connection to the storyline or the continuance of the movie. Throwing together a few different (some even dull) stories does not automatically make a decent movie however we movie lovers will have to put up with this crap for some time to come since the last few attempts did good at the box office and Hollywood starlets are lining up in rows of ten to do one.

Please let this movie cliché disappear for 10 years to finally return with a decent script, less transparent film-house tricks and a dried up supply of starlets...

Fade to Black (2004)

Already a classic hiphop video

[10/10 · 28 November 2004]

If you're a Jay Z fan this registration is a trip down memory lane. The concert and the backgrounds behind the songs off the Black Album are portrayed and during one last concert at Madison Square Garden the roof is blown off by one of rap's most talented mc's. Starring everyone from Mary J Blige, Beyonce to R. Kelly as guest performers this show has it all. One hell of a concert will give you insights into his music and if you weren't a fan yet, you will be after the credits roll.

Most hiphop or concert videos are done poorly. A few takes behind the scenes of bored band members and screaming groupies tell you nothing your imagination couldn't have figured out for itself. This movie however shows new insights into the way the collaboration with different artists works and yet doesn't distract from it's main purpose: show you the music, send you the vibe people must have had at the concert at Madison Square Garden.

Top notch!

Cunt Dykula (1993)

Darkblue does some astonishing acting!

[4 February 2004]

Darkblue as she is know by friends baffles critics and fans with the mind blowing performance in this lesbian vampire cult flick. Although her posture and facial expression make you think of a bordello castout the singing takes your mind away from the apalling looks. Screeching like a chainsaw on metal producing the most vial sound ever known to mankind. No popidols candidate here, i can assure you! Besides the fact that the viewer is tempted to hate this film by bad camerawork, shady lighting, worst sound ever and a main star (Darkblue) that is uglier than anything you have seen before it catches you in a way that can hardly be described. The horror makes it pleasant to watch even... To remain in the movie's punchline "haha je bent een dikke trol"

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)

It's just not funny...

[23 June 2003]

Expectations were high on the sequel of a funny movie, which was the first part. Then there was a bombardment of commercials making me want to see it, better yet: live up to the release date. Then there came the anti-climax of all times. This movie is not funny, not even once. The actors replacing the original cast just don't bring the extra layer which is needed to pull off fart and ***t jokes. Jim Carrey has the talent, he has the rubber face and knows how to use it. The actor replacing him in this prequel doesn't have the skills or the face to pull it off. Next to the poor acting comes the flawed script. Trying to make dumb and dumber into a highscool movie was a very bad move. The principal is an actor who has proven himself in other comedies but this time he can't even act up to the poor script, lame jokes and boring storyline. This movie is a downright shame!

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Humor Has No Boundaries!

[15 May 2003]

I just saw a screening of this movie and i must say, i laughed almost the entire time. This is not your typical comedy with worn down jokes and misunderstandings that are supposed to be funny. This is a movie that shows the most controversial subject in the world can be a source of good fun. Religion and God are portrayed in a way so ridiculous and funny but also refreshing. Not the paved ways of making a joke but new and fresh angles are brought in to make us laugh. This comedy does what it is supposed to do: make me laugh until i get cramps!

Using Jim Carrey might on forehand be seen as a safe cast; use the guy with the rubber face the audience loves and the revenues will be good. Yet Carrey doesn't fall into the stereotype jokes and faces we are used to seeing from him, the expression on his face and the acting really know to surprise us.

I'd like to thank the people who made this film: it has been a long long time since i had such a laugh!

Down Time (2001)

The worst acting i have ever seen

[3 April 2003]

I'm still flabbergasted by this movie, it totally blew me away! I have seen hundreds of movies in my short life but none as bad as this one

The story begins with a drugdeal gone bad. The following shooting is so poorly filmed that you might think it is a parody. Even the A-team had better and more convincing shootouts. After this horrible piece of acting you will see every cliche the crime movie has ever seen. The racist shouting cop, the junky prisoner and the violence in prisons. Still poorly filmed.

Words can't describe how bad this movie is...

The only purpose this film might serve is to show how good another movie is. Even the movie Freddy Got Fingered looks like a blockbuster compared to this piece of ****

What a waste of time...

The Low Down (2000)

Buy a goldfish, it will give you much more watching pleasure!

[26 August 2002]

I just saw the DVD of The Low Down and it was time not well spent. I'd rather stand in line at the Post Office or buy a goldfish and watch that move around his bowl for a few hours than experience this movie again. There is no story in this movie, other than watching people live their ordinary lives and face their ordinary fears. The main characters are kept very shallow and the viewer has to decide what they are actually feeling. Not a very bad starting point for an intelligent movie if it weren't for the poor acting and even worse camera work. The feeling rises that a few film students have been given a camera and some government sponsored budget to create a picture about how complete losers live their lives. Too bad it was ever released... Rating is a 1 out of 5

Super Troopers (2001)

If you want a lot of laughs, see this movie!

[9 July 2002]

I just finished watching the Super Troopers DVD and was blown away by the simple yet genius forms of humor. Everything you want in a comedy is in there and more. The characters are played convincingly, there's even a suspence and a surprise at the end. Maybe i didn't foresee the plot unwinding like it did because i was rolling on the floor laughing out loud but i don't mind a bit: this is a brilliant laugh. First time I ever heard of this writers group who made the movie but i'm hungry for more, a lot more. Most comedies i have seen the last few years have been winding down the same road of politically correct jokes and clichés. Expect some clichés but also expect them to be brought in an original way and funny as hell! Everyone looking for a good time; rent this movie!

The Cave (2001)

Great movie based on a Dutch novel!

[27 March 2002]

The movie starts in killing suspence and ends in a typical way according to the writer's style (Krabbe). A must see for every filmfan capable of speaking Dutch. The DVD has been released and is worth the effort of walking to the shops. Dutch movies are never a succes unless they are shallow and action-minded and so was this film a total flop.

Broaden your horizon and see this movie!