Here are my issues with the episodes:
Ep11: the marriage of Sp Agt Park cannot possibly survive this, unless the husband is fully briefed.
Ep12: the notion of an ‘Underworld Financial Investment / Futures Market’ is insane.
Ep13: not only is technology not at this level, the guy who is a former Tech Bro not knowing about a LoJack-like system is preposterous.
Ep14: this mental problem is probably to some extent real, and that’s really disturbing. (not a problem, it’s a plus)
Recommended to me by someone who really enjoys Edward G Robinson’s work, this picture tells us what matters most in life is simple: love, family, and little else. Period.
A damned shame about the Italian-American stereotypes, however; including a bust of Mussolini in the bank president’s office. Leaping lizards!
All in all, a fine evening’s entertainment.
★★★☆☆
Return to #TheBlacklist.
S09Ep15: Harold reveals a secret altogether too late.
S09Ep16: Aram gets a job he never asked for (and does really well), while the Task Force pull a heist.
S09Ep17: Aram learns just what his programme is capable of.
#TheBlacklist S09Ep18 is centred around an addict and the search for someone from the past. ★★★☆☆
S09Ep19 has a growing conspiracy while Aram goes on a little trip. ★★★★☆
Conclusion of #TheBlacklist season.
S09Ep20 follows the money.
S09Ep21 is where the money leads to.
S09ep22 is the result of that investigation.
All three: ★★★★☆
The dialogue is clunky, some of the performances are too far over the top, and the action is occasionally predictable, but WOW does this picture REALLY COOK!
The thing it misses is Los Angeles with a hard-G.
★★★★★
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If you still wanted a reason to watch this, consider the following:
«The Kefauver Commission, a federal unit dedicated to investigating corrupting influences in the 1950s, singled this out as 1955's number one menace to American youth.»
BEST. REASON. EVER!
A picture about simple people working and living simple lives, and trying to do the right thing as often as possible. Sometimes, other people want to make that challenging. Those people are a problem.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
A very dark tale of losers who cannot win for losing in a very loss-filled situation.
Parallels of your humble reviewer’s life are present.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
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#SlashBack is billed as “Attack the Block” meets “The Thing,” and that’s a great way to get people interested! The French title is better, though: “Horreur boréale” reflects the setting, the plot, and sounds way cooler!
★★★★★
To be honest, I would have liked a bigger ‘final battle’ sequence, maybe involving more people and possibly some BFG-esque weaponry, but that probably would have trebled the budget. Still, a damned good picture! Excellent writing and cinematography.
Highly recommended.
Thinking I hadn’t seen this yet, I bought it on sale via Apple Movies for, I think, $10. A worthy ending to the run of James Bond films, with many inside references.
I would have preferred “007 will return” as a closing.
★★★★★
I was previously unaware of the systemic cluster-fuck that existed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding drug testing lab techs, the AG’s office, and non-disclosure of exculpatory evidence to defendants. Wow!
★★★★☆
A mayoral race in Wisconsin becomes a battleground for the two US political parties’ dominance. But don’t worry; it’s all for a good cause! Someone’s… we’re not sure whose…
All entirely legally permissible.
Alas.
★★★★☆
An incredibly well-made noire from a story by Hemingway. There are some incredible character actors in this, all doing phenomenal work. Do not walk, run to see this.
Highly recommended.
★★★★★
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An interesting interpretation of the previous version which adapted a short story for its first scene. Great performances, but FAR TOO BRIGHTLY LIT THROUGHOUT, owing to it being intended for television.
★★★☆☆
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Despite the problematic nature of the lead actor, this film is an incredible tapestry of an experience. It’s a picture one comes away from asking ‘what just happened?’ and feeling elated.
★★★★★
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Like “The Killers,” this stars Lancaster and is directed by Siodmak. Possibly the original ‘armoured truck heist’ picture. Includes butler to The Bat Man, as well as funicular railway. Lacks Los Angeles with ‘hard g.’
★★★★☆
Two incredible performances are more than worth the price of admission. Why Hitchcock got all the grief he did for making ‘terrifying pictures,’ when •this• got nothing but raves, I’ll never know.
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
An entirely acceptable spy thriller with Finland as a stepping-off point. Oddly, it’s mostly in English! Marketing, I suppose.
BONUS: being introduced to to the shoe company two weeks ago, I knew what ‘karhu’ meant!
★★★☆☆
While I would have preferred just a •little• more ending, or perhaps more twists to the plot, but these are inconsequential matters.
Highly recommended, this sets the stage for many films to come. Incredible!
★★★★★
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I understand why Howard Hughes watched this so frequently: everything is in the right place and supports everything else. As an engineer, he would appreciate that. It’s not exciting, but it’s very well crafted.
Not ‘must see,’ but worth the time.
Solid ★★★☆☆
Damn, is this ever satisfying! I wish I knew how, but this hangs together better than “Noir,” by @TheAuthorGuy which I loved very much and is in the same world. Perhaps it’s easier due to a more linear narrative and less of a necessity of world-building, owing to it being the 2nd. Who knows? Who cares?
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
“Glitch,” or “Geullichi,” or “글리치” (whatever you want to refer to it as) is bananas! Wonderfully, charmingly, unpredictably, uniquely, bananas! Some of the elements are familiar, but nowhere near all of them, and the manner in which they’re employed is so inventive, so whimsical, so fresh, that you have no idea what’s coming next. I’ve seen three episodes, and they’re only just finishing the set-up.
Must see TV.
THIS is the sort of programming that Netflix should be doing more and more of: whimsical, silly, but thought provoking stuff that ‘normal’ outlets don’t produce. It’s weird, it’s confusing occasionally, it’s really well produced and acted, and the writing always clears things up in the end. This is really good stuff. You need to see it. Stop reading and watch all 10 episodes.
★★★★★
Having only finished watching the first two episodes of #Kleo I cannot really review this, but if the other six episodes are anything close to this, it’s the best thing I’ve seen since… well, since #Glitch I suppose.
This is funny, thrilling, and full of surprises. Also, there’s great brutalist architecture and frequently unfortunate wallpaper from the 1970s and ’80s (there were drugs around, so…)
An excellent series blending dark humour, action, suspense, and some incredibly affecting drama. Wonderful art direction, writing, cinematography, direction, editing, acting, wardrobe and fight choreography.
Very highly recommended.
★★★★★
Damned good fun to be had here, mostly at the expense of the US Forces stationed in a village in Norfolk. Michael Caine owns the film (hardly a surprise), despite attempts by Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, & Donald Pleasance.
The DVD supplied by #VPL provided a less-than full screen image, the transfer was made from a dodgy print, & used a less than ideal lens (so people were a bit thinner than normal), but this was still great!
★★★★☆
Twisty story that all comes together in the end.
A solid example of a #noir picture featuring an actual happy ending. Oh sure, some people get killed and others go to jail, but that’s a regular day in a man’s life, isn’t it? Well, sure it is, pally; at least it is if your name is Philip Marlow, that’s for sure.
Highly recommended.
★★★★☆
This arrived in the post today. Also arriving today was word that #PotUS 45, ████ is running for 2024’s election. Thus, this evening’s fare is the Robert Altman / Garry Trudeau collaboration about US Presidential politics in the immediate post-Reagan era. So far, I have seen three episodes. Goodness, what a simpler time it was then. And yet, how so very much things have not changed one jot. People are still as stupid as they were.
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This show paved the way for “The West Wing,” “Irresistible,” “Wag the Dog,” and “Bob Roberts.” The blurring of a line between satire and reality has always been fuzzy at times but here it’s really tough to distinguish.
The acting in this is really good, as well as the editing. Owing to using early ENG equipment, the image is less than stellar, but HBO is to be commended for funding the thing in the first place.
Worthwhile.
★★★★☆
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I’m not sure what triggered this being requested from the Library, but I’m glad to have seen it! It’s funny, thrilling, saucy, and ultimately uplifting. There are too many homophobic jokes (ie: >zero), but it is from 2005, so…
For a story clearly inspired by noir / thriller / detective / tough-guy films, it hits all the right notes and plays a few modern variations in the process.
Well worth your time, especially for a fun Friday evening.
★★★★☆
I’ve seen this multiple times, but DAMN is this ever a great picture! Tonight was the first time I’ve seen the British adaptation (discovered in the BFI’s voluminous collection) and it’s surprisingly faithful, despite lacking the original’s haunting final line.
No matter which, you should see this incredible film.
Mandatory viewing.
★★★★★
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The American Police Procedural — “Dragnet,” “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order [insert variant here],” so on — all owe this single film for their foundation. Some aspects are dated (non-consensual gathering of hair sample, admiration of woman’s legs, etc), but the structure is sound and the story is full of surprises.
While some of the acting is wooden, the writing and action more than make up for it.
Very highly recommended!
★★★★★
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Contrary to expectations, this isn’t a picture about a dozen guys in a bar fight! In fact, there aren’t even that many people who are upset at any given moment.
Except Juror №3. He’s mad enough for everyone in that jury and a few others down the hall as well! Wow is •he• angry!
Jury drama which educates about ‘reasonable doubt’ as well as — like “M” does — examining the justice of Capitol Punishment.
Mandatory viewing.
★★★★★
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This motion picture is full of wonderful characters, action, and plot twists.
Without a doubt, one of most satisfying endings in cinematic history, too.
I’m not sure how Mrs Stroud stays with her husband, as he clearly hasn’t much of a home life. Somehow she continues to stand by him. Lord only knows why.
If you haven’t seen this — or haven’t seen it in awhile — I highly recommend doing so.
★★★★★
I’ve read the novel which was adapted for this film and found it far more rewarding than the picture. There are more twists and surprises to be had there.
Still, there’s little wrong here. Fritz Lang employs his usual long takes involving silences to great success, making the suspense build quite handily. I wish the climax involved more chase and/or answers than we get here.
Recommended.
★★★★☆
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@IanAMartin I know that Lang himself didn’t like Ministry of Fear, but as a Ray Milland fan I enjoy it a lot. There’s some good stuff in it, for sure!
I never tracked down a copy of the source novel. Sounds like it would be worth a read!
Ian Alexander Martin
Sean Frost