malcolmallsop-04042 Reviews

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Poor choice of director

[6/10 · 25 September 2022]

Lovely to see the cast back again. Script and acting as good as ever. But this film was spoiled for me by the choice of director. In my opinion he just doesn't understand the essential appeal of the piece. Cut, cut, cut.......formulaic and totally out of keeping with the Downtown magic. Such a shame.he has turned this into just any old film rather than embracing the Downton feel. The whole thing feels a bit like a pastiche. Pace is all wrong and it lacks the period feel of both the tv series and the previous film. The whole effect is rather mechanical and lacking in charm which is a real pity.

The Bay (2019– )

If you thought series 1 and 2 were dreary........

[2/10 · 10 February 2022]

Series three is simply dreadful. A dull northern soap about characters you don't care about masquerading as a crime series. My wife made we watch all six episodes until halfway through the final episode she said :" For God's sake turn it off. " So we did. We never found out who did it and do you know - we don't care.

The Long Call (2021)

It's Inspector Whogivesatoss

[1/10 · 26 October 2021]

Dear Lord this plumbs new depths of third rate rubbish. Unrealistic characters, feeble script. A dozen cliches strung together pretending to be a realistic plot. Just dreadful.

The Bidding Room (2020– )

Awful beyond words

[1/10 · 13 June 2020]

Basically the illegitimate love child of Four Rooms on C4 and every other BBC antiques programme. Nigel Havers is dreadful as the host. You are constantly aware he is "acting" . He gushes and fawns over people bringing in their tat . The item is then valued by a very dull man who for some reason wears his hat indoors all the time. I can only assume His that his hair is as sparse as his charm. The item is then fought over by " leading dealers" - an unlovely bunch of people some sporting various bits of metal In their faces. It's contrived, derivative formulaic garbage and the BBC should be ashamed of it. They cancelled Flog It - which at least had the merit of touring the country and had some interesting background features and replaced it with this monument to greed and stupidity . Doubtless commissioned by someone who thinks that a CD player qualifies as an antique. Avoid.

The Trouble with Maggie Cole (2020)

If you think episode one is awful.....

[2/10 · 3 April 2020]

This is without doubt one of ITVs worst dramas of recent years. It starts dull and just gets duller by the episode. The script is cliche ridden garbage which barely moves on from episode to episode. Each show seems mainly to consist of Dawn French gurning her way through an uncomfortable hour. I neither know or care about any of the characters. The plot is ludicrous - an ill judged radio interview where the gurner in chief slags off everyone in the village. No local radio station would broadcast something so totally defamatory. The simple fact negates the whole plot and the rest of the tedious episodes. 1000 piece jigsaw is more fun.

The Pale Horse (2020)

Awful remake of a much loved story

[1/10 · 14 February 2020]

The Pale Horse is one of my favourite Agatha Christie stories. This adaptation is an abomination. Completely lacking in atmosphere, dreadfully directed and with some questionable acting it is just not worth wasting an hour on - let alone the second episode. Don't bother.

Harry Price: Ghost Hunter (2015 TV Movie)

Dull and a waste of 90 minutes.

[2/10 · 30 December 2019]

If you search on You Tube you will find an interview with the real Harry Price. He was definitely a character. Spall on the other hand has all the charisma of a damp cloth. Badly constructed and directed you will soon wish you had gone up the pub instead. The real a Harry Price would have provided rich material for a great movie. Sadly this isn't it. The ending is a set up for a wished for series. Yeah right.

Some Will, Some Won't (1970)

Truly execrable remake of a fine film

[1/10 · 4 November 2019]

Why did they bother? Laughter In Paradise is a classic, charming British comedy. This, almost line for line remake, is just like a bad impressionist on an end of pier summer show. Leaden, dull, totally lacking in sparkle. I can only assume the very good cast were just doing it for the money. A film of zero artistic integrity.

Don't Forget the Driver (2019)

Depressing Rubbish

[1/10 · 15 April 2019]

It's the Toby Jones mystery - why does anyone think he's a good actor and yet he gets cast time after time. Now he thinks he can write as well. Wrong on both counts.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)

So dull

[2/10 · 18 December 2018]

I was forced to watch series one at the behest of my son who raved about it. Oh dear, I really tried to like it but hour after hour of the most miniscule of plots left me bored senseless. Dreary, repetitious and I don't care about any of the characters. As for it being "funny"........