digdilem Reviews

One Life (2023)

Amazing story, brilliantly told.

[10/10 · 6 April 2024]

I'm a middle aged guy, and I consider myself pretty cynical. I watched this only because the wife wanted to, but ended up entranced and literally cried for most of it.

The story is incredible, and although the film doesn't go into the bigger picture of the war very deeply, it's there and your mind floods with empathy at those who suffered so much loss. The film manages to convey all this without being mawkish or overly sentimental but the facts are terrifying.

I actually remember this episode of That's Life shown at the end - that was incredible too.

Great story, well told. It's absolutely worth watching for any reason, not just because you might feel you have to. This has no agenda that I noticed, it's a pretty accurate representation of an incredible story.

As for the film - Hopkins is obviously brilliant, but there's literally no bad acting in this. The direction is perfect, the score is sublime - really emphasising without being intrusive in any way. The switching between timelines is clever and useful, not dizzying and confusing as such things so often are.

And perhaps most remarkable of all, considering the subject it manages to mostly be uplifting and positive.

The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

Some of the best sets I've seen. Last of Us quality.

[7/10 · 10 November 2022]

Top marks to the set designers, especially in the town environments where everything is meticulously dressed to give both the feeling of a fairly modern British city, with lots of familiar brand names - M&S Simply Food, Barclays, Next, Lidl etc - but all weathered and carefully aged to fit the scene. Also - some typical abandoned cars / vehicles, but all placed well. Not over-done as in so many post-apolocalyptic.

The whole feel of the environment is very similar to The Last of Us games, and that set the standard for such things. It is very believable.

Aside from that, the story starts quite well, and the acting is good throughout. Story and quality puts it in the same bracket as 28 Days Later.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Spends an hour justifying itself and fails.

[4/10 · 3 February 2022]

There are some clever touches - reflections ahead of the story of Neo and Trinity engaged me a lot, and the plot did answer my questions in regard to that.

But overall this was very disappointing and, actually, quite a lazy effort.

Fight scenes for example, were badly done. Nothing particularly new about them, and the wow factor of the original is entirely missing - but in several shots you clearly see the fake punching where a hand misses, but the reaction and sound is that it hits. That ruins the suspension of belief and is so easily avoided in post-production.

Add in some randomly peppered ambushes that add nothing to the story and are clearly there for their own sake, and you are left feeling more irritated than enthralled.

It is an hour too long, mostly because the first half is set setting the stage and trying to explain why this movie exists at all. The key points are delivered well enough, but it just takes too damn long. Once the film does actually get going, then the flashbacks and self-references continue and do detract from the pleasure of watching this.

In summary, there still only remains one Matrix film.

Nobody (I) (2021)

Slow start, but the best film I've seen this year.

[10/10 · 23 July 2021]

A little bit slow to get going, but when it does - wow.

Some genuinely excellent, inventive and wince-making fight scenes and a real rush of excitement all the way through.

Highly recommended.

Bronson (2008)

Magnetic performancy by Hardy, but that's it.

[2/10 · 18 April 2020]

There's only a handful of actors that can convincingly portray the cold stillness of a truly violent man. Gary Oldman is one, Tom Hardy another.

But... The story is weak. There's no significant attempt to understand why he does this or what drives the man, or what he hopes to achieve. Sure - there are glimpses, but nothing comes through in any meaningful way. It's little more than brooding silences and too many fight scenes.

Similarly, other characters come and go. His wife and kid - just disappear from the story. His next love gets married to another man whilst he thinks they're exclusive. That's just taken on the chin and he moves on, seemingly without a backwards thought. There are some recognisable other actors, and some passable acting - but all suffer from weak direction and a strong sense of "making it up as we go along" comes through.

But what really takes away from this is the breakout scenes of theatre and even random cartoon birds at one point and Pythonesque graphics. Absolutely dreadful.

In summary. Good central acting spoiled by a frankly boring story and very poor direction. I wish I'd used the fast forward button instead of watching the whole thing.

Danger on Dartmoor (1980)

Nice scenery, story not so much.

[6/10 · 30 March 2020]

Worth watching for an unromanticised view on Dartmoor in 1980 (not much has changed!) and a classic Police Land Rover Series 3 and Cortina but...

The story is fairly week and predictable, and the ending wraps things up in one convenient 2 minute scene. None of the actors stand out in delivering great performances. Fairly typical 1980s direction and camera work.

But view this for what it is - a lightweight children's TV Film shot on what must have been a tiny budget, and it's fine.

An Ordinary Man (2017)

Good acting, but feel cheated by the ending

[5/10 · 5 October 2017]

I can't write this without a spoiler, so don't read on unless you are prepared.

An unusual film in several ways. The subject is difficult and a period of history not often covered by fiction. The often surreal Yorkshire accent of Kingsley doesn't add to the immersion of the subject and surroundings - everything is in English with English accents and actors. You do forget that though, and the acting is well done, subtle and you do develop a real care for the two main characters and how that relationship deepens.

Which is why the final five minutes makes me feel let down. No attempt to explain why she was shot - it didn't fit in with the tone or rest of the movie at all. Honestly, it felt to me as an excuse to end the film because there was no other way to stop things. The final scene shows Kingsley with a line of bullets in front of him - what's he going to do? Too many bullets for suicide, is he going to kill those who have kept him alive? If so, why?

The viewer is left confused. It's jarring and out of keeping, devaluing the investment in time they've put into caring about these people, only for the entire purpose of the film to be dumped without explanation or even hint.

Banshee (2013–2016)

Starts off a bit jerkily, but settles down into a solid drama.

[9/10 · 10 September 2017]

The first series of this sometimes feels like it's trying to fit in every storyline all at once - there's so much going on, in plot as well as action.

Few dramas have as little down time as this - every episode has action, action with some extra action thrown in. Lots of fighting (fairly realistic), loads of blood (make up is surprisingly well done), lots of gun fights, the odd car chase...

Watching this series pushes a lot of buttons. Sometimes it's quite cartoony in its plot - Bang! Crash! Wallop!, See Bad Man, Shoot Bad Man and somehow the paperwork will get sorted out.

Other times the plot slows down enough to allow some quality acting to take in. The characters appear a little two-dimensional to start with, but either these guys write on the hoof extremely well or a lot of stuff was planned from the start, as they each develop into strong and individual people that you start to care about. The acting itself improves as the series rolls along too.

Ulrich Thomsen as the "bad-guy-oh-wait-he's-a-caring-good-guy-oh-no- he-isn't-wait-what" Kai is very well played - brooding and menacing. Antony Starr plays his part reasonably well - a bit clunky to begin with but he starts to show depth later on. Ivana Milicevic is coldly hot. Matt Servito - someone I've not seen before - turns out to be a solid actor who plays his by-the-book part perfectly.

The writing is fast, snappy and at times seems to be therapy (The show's relationship with the Amish is complicated and not at all favourable). Direction, especially photographically, ranges back and forth from good to sublime - some of the montages and flips between concurrent scenes work very well. (Some not so much, but I like to see people try new techniques)

Nudity is frequent and blatant and honestly, that's okay. This is an adult program. Plus, all the lead women are smokin' hot, and all get their kit off. If you like the men - they're all honed nicely too; something for everyone there.

Downsides: Occasionally the CGI is done badly. (I mean very badly) and breaks the suspension of belief. (Jobe getting hit by the car for example)

And the Whisky: I mean, what is going on? Each series has a brand of Whisky they seem to promote. First series if Chivas Regal (asked for by name, labels on show - turned towards the camera in each shot). Second series it's Jameson. Third series - Glenlivet. It's honestly quite bizarre.

Overall, I like this show a lot.

Water Lilies (2007)

Good but aimless

[7/10 · 20 May 2010]

I liked this. The camera work, acting and studies were very good.

The characters were distinct and true to form throughout, showing young love and the complications that brings. Actual nudity fairly minimal despite the erotic theme, but that eroticism is carried through quite skillfully, never overstepping the mark into porn and maintaining interest in what would otherwise be fairly dull scenes.

Motives are mostly feelings and expressed in the truly clumsy way of adolescents.

My only real criticism is only that it has no ending to speak of. The story is minimal and conveys more of a feeling of a time in peoples lives rather than a story by itself. A snapshot of feelings and in that it succeeds well.

Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

Just sublime

[10/10 · 8 March 2010]

Superb musical montages which tell as much of the story as the rest. Good and detailed plot, tightly scripted and well acted. Directed and edited to perfection.

Manages to capture what feels like a very real sense of brotherhood and what it means to be a man in a hostile world, yet remembers to include the women and their role too.

Avoid if you don't specifically want to see gore, a bit of female flesh and drug use. If you can accept that as part of the plot and appreciate quality TV, you gotta watch it and give it your full attention.

Great story told well. Can only think of a few TV drama series that are on a par with this.

Skins (2007–2013)

Superb, quality all the way through.

[7/10 · 26 March 2007]

I can't stress enough how wonderful all these characters are, all very distinct, deep and you learn to care deeply about each one in a short space of time.

Damn shame series one has ended so soon - but the final episode, especially the final sequence has given me both shivers and tears even on the second viewing - and I'm a grown man in my 30's.

This is NOT just a teeny-drama, it's top quality essential viewing for anyone with an open mind.

Really want to learn more about these characters, I want to share their lives - so let's be having Series 2 straight away please!

Edit:

Series 2 was good, although not as good as 1, still way better than most things out there. I think those who dislike it so strongly probably gave up too early.

Series 3 however - what a disappointment! The writing has gone childish, simplistic and without any of the strong plots of the first two series. Cook - the most dislikable character, is over-used in every episode so far and completely overpowers every other character. It's gone from a great show about the lives of several people, to a badly written situdrama about one character being an idiot, with other people on the sidelines.

Series 1: 10/10 Series 2: 9/10 Series 3: 2/10

Huge disappointment.