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Chernobyl (2019)
So Damn Interesting
This series has offered one of the best television experiences I've ever had and I could not recommend it enough!
The story manages to balance political drama as well a bit of family drama, moral conflict and of course the actual specifics of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster itself with such ease and precision that none of these plots feel dull.
It tells the very human story behind the devastating event and brings to light the sacrifices ordinary people made in order to save thousands if not millions of people. I would often sit and marvel at how interesting the events at Chernobyl were and although the show wasn't 100% factually accurate it still delivered a satisfying and gripping story that pays respect to the individuals involved in the cleanup of one of the worst man made disasters that ever took place.
Captain Marvel (2019)
An Uneven Mess
Uneven really is the best word I can think of to describe Captain Marvel. The film suffers from an uneven story,uneven special effects and uneven sense of direction.
Being a prequel to the other Marvel films like Infinity War it does suffer from narrative shortcomings therefore removing any stakes in the films plot. I cannot fear for the safety of certain characters since I know they have to play a part in future movies events. The film also feels the need to continually force in story revelations that connect to future films and this is often received with either confusion as to why they included it or anger when they choose to reveal the often disappointing way that certain things in the MCU came to be.
While the feminist message of the film comes from a good place and I am in no means refuting the point the films tries to make about the roles of women, the way in which the message is conveyed can ruin your enjoyment of the film. Films like Wonder Women didn't beat you over the head with the idea that women can be strong and capable and so the message is better recieved generally by audiences. The message of Captain Marvel feels forced and cringy at certain points. The film aimlessly treads the line between subtly and obviousness and this can be too jarring.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
A Fun Nostalgia Trip
Overall the film manages to be a slightly interesting look into the career of Queen and an excellent love letter to their music and the film reminds old and new fans of the band of the unique and enthusiastic nature of a Queen performance.
The film seeks to glorify the career of Queen and the hit songs that they created rather than offer an in depth study into the lives of the band members. That being said, a focus on Freddie Mercury takes centre stage but even then the look into the "dark side" of his life is minor and the film instead touches on his sexuality and his family relationship.
The films look into the origins of songs like We Will Rock You and Another One Bites the Dust as well as the titular Bohemian Rhapsody give the non-diehard fans of Queen interesting new information.
The numerous montages of the bands many tours and the lengthy recreation of their famous Live Aid performance are the highlights of the film as these serve to show the audience the amazing performer that was Mercury as Rami Malek perfectly captures the energy and enthusiasm of Mercury as he manoeuvres himself across the screen and stage.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
A Darker, More Vulgar How I Met Your Mother
You know exactly what to expect from It's Always Sunny just from reading the episode titles which range from "The Gang Gets Racist" to "Charlie has Cancer" and to my personal favourite "Pop-Pop: The Final Solution".
The humour is unapologetically vulgar and is delivered well by its lead characters which are played enthusiastically by their actors. Danny De Vito as Frank Reynolds will be forever remembered by TV lovers for years to come. He manages to play a man who tries to keep order in the group but at the same time is unstable just like the others.
The situations that the group find themselves in never feel too exaggerated and are well grounded in reality. The political and social satire is some episodes are hilarious and really show the skill and the genius of the shows writers.
It is hard to talk about It's Always Sunny as it is a show that needs to be seen in order to understand the creative and fun aspects that make the show so great.
The Death of Stalin (2017)
A Hilarious and Gripping Power Struggle
This film manages to juggle comedy and drama exceptionally well. The story does manage to convey the sense of fear and paranoia that was ripe in Russia at the time of Stalin's regime. The darker scenes of the film that depict the murder of innocent people and the abuse of children do stick with you as a viewer.
The Game of Thrones-esque power struggles between the members of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death are equally hilarious and tense as witness every power move certain members make against each other.
The standout performance for me was Jason Isaac's portrayal of Zhukov. His character of a boastful and unfriendly army general delivered some of the best laughs of the film. His use of a northern accent only heightens the humorous aspect of his performance.
Peaky Blinders (2013)
A Near Perfect Gangster Series
The show manages to boast great performances from all of its characters. No performances in the show feel bad. The antagonists that are introduced every season such as Charlie Creed-Miles' Billy Kimber and Tom Hardy's Alfie Solomon's are played expertly and do have audiences genuinely hating their guts at points.
The show has so many memorable moments and is no stranger to delivering some harsh emotional scenes that see the character we have grown to love at their lowest point.
This leads on to the only gripe that I have with the show which is that the time jumps every series manage to affect character consistency. Arthur Shelby can be at the best of times a brutal and funny character and at other times the restraint and dull nature that his character shows can damage your view of him. Polly Gray is another character who started off as a caring and calculating member of the Shelby clan but has now become bound to her character traits.
She Loves Her Son. We Get It.
Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson - American Crime Story (2016)
A Gripping, Insightful Look at a True Story
The main thing that the show does exceptionally well is that it gives all of its main characters the right amount of focus in the story. The show could of simply been all about OJ Simpson and neglected the stories of the lawyers representing him or even the jury but the show delves into these stories and its these that offer some of the emotional and memorable moments of the series.
The story also chooses to focus not only on the trial of Simpson but also on the racial feelings surrounding the case as well as the racial climate that the USA was experiencing.
There is never a dull moment in the show as the various twists and turns in the plot keep you watching. The soundtrack of the show perfectly captures the time period and the use of news footage from the time immerses viewers successfully.
This is a show that needs to be seen not only for the story and performances but also because it shows how TV can be like film without the visual spectacle that shows like Game of Thrones offer. It's just Great.
Locke (2013)
One Man. In a Car. A Different Type of Film.
For me this film is one of the major tests to see whether you are a true Tom Hardy fan. Hardy offers one of the best performances of his career in this film despite the fact that he plays a man that is simply driving his car and making and receiving phone calls.
The film relies on Hardy's ability to carry the movie through its 85 minute run time and he succeeds. He perfectly captures the internal struggle of a man trying to make amends for a problem he caused. The supporting cast despite being voice roles are also good. The phone calls which are at the heart of the films plot feel real and there is never a point where you think that these are being acted.
The only gripe with this film is that it's simplistic plot layout of Locke going from one phone conversation to the other can feel tedious to some viewers and the films ending while a suitable conclusion for the plot can leave people wanting more of a resolution to Locke's story.
The Shape of Water (2017)
A Great Del Toro Passion Project
This film is a great example of when a director truly makes the film that they wanted to. This is the story that Del Toro wanted to tell and it is told exceptionally well. The Shape of Water boasts great performances from its cast with Sally Hawkins delivering an outstanding and passionate portrayal of a mute woman who falls in love with a monster simply due to the fact that it accepts her for who she is and doesn't see her faults. The film's characters however can fall into stereotypes with Octavia Spencer playing a sassy black character and Michael Shannon playing a bible verse spouting badguy but nevertheless these parts are played well. The films also fully embraces its 1960's setting, celebrating the music and TV culture at the time and this adds a feature of charm to the film. In the end The Shape of Water is a charming, well written monster film with only some minor flaws but these do not draw away from the viewing experience.
The Room (2003)
The Passion of Tommy: The Movie
After multiple viewings of The Room there is a sense of passion that springs from the film and I'm not talking about the films numerous, god awful sex scenes. I'm talking about the passion that a director has for his film. You can criticise Tommy Wiseau's acting, script writing and ability to act like a human being but at the end of the day he set out to make and film and he did. His final film isn't the drama that he wanted but watching it you can see how he wanted some of his scenes to just ooze tradegy and raw emotion (Your'e Tearing Me Apart Lisa!!) but Wiseau's execution fails to deliver this. The Room is not the worst film ever made but it sure as hell isn't the best either. It is just one of the most unique films ever made and viewings of it are more memorable and fun than viewings of other more mainstream films.
Black Panther (2018)
Another Basic Marvel film...
It was hard for there to be stakes in Black Panther because the Avengers Infinity War trailer exists. As a viewer you know that the film will ultimately end with T'Challa alive and the country of Wikanda in a good situation because that's exactly what the Infinity War trailer shows. The film does offer good and enthusiastic performances from its cast most notably for me Andy Serkis' Klaue and also showcases the interesting culture of Wikanda but it does suffer from formulaic Marvel trends such as reluctance to kill off major characters and weak villians. While the film does focus on the themes of international relations between countries and racism its attempts to get the audience to think about these matters feel forced and sometimes juxaposes the films sometimes humourous tone. Overall, I feel that the film offers strong special effects, performances and it has interesting story elements but ultimately it fails create any tension or invest its audience during its 2hr 14 minute run time.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Three Billboards. A funny, depressing ride.
Three Billboards manages to be funny while it concentrates on its dark and serious subject matter. The cast turn in amazing performances with Sam Rockwell's Dixon being one of the standouts as his character arc is one of the most interesting in the film. The film reflects the harsh reality of the world we live and while the film does paint the police force in Ebbing Missouri as incompetent, it also shows the hard task that they face when trying to catch killers and rapists. The films premise and story aspects feel relatable as the tragedy that befell Frances McDormand's characters daughter, has most likely happened to someone else and the characters act in way that feels real and their reaction to certain events in the film are justified. Overall, the movie is fantastic and is definitely worth every one of its Oscar nomination's, boasting a powerful story , great performances and genuinely funny and sad moments.