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Reviews
All Creatures Great & Small (2020)
Reboot - Saccharine: artificial; Original - Molasses: earthy, smoky, bitter, savory, spicy sweet.
Loved the original - the characters were three-dimensional, multifaceted, believable, and likable. In my opinion in the new version, they are flat, the interactions syrupy. James shows no gumption; Sigfried's irascibility is forced, and not convincing; Helen is bland and faded; Tristan is just annoying and obnoxious instead of charmingly immature. Mrs. Hall has become the near matriarch and center of the family which does not ring true for the era nor is it compatible with the composition of the household. While the revision presents many of the same basic plots as the original their execution is bland and watered down. I find this redux very disappointing and hope for the return of the original to the small screen.
Ordinary Love (2019)
If only we all had this kind of relationship
I feel sorry for the viewers who lack the capacity to appreciate this film.
My spouse had cancer, went through the treatments and ultimately succumbed to it. The couple in the film showed the stages of diagnosis, treatment, care, support, humor, querulousness, that people go through when confronting this reality. The anxiety, fear, need for certainty and predictability. And the tension between the perspectives of the afflicted versus the loving witness. Not all result in the positive relationship outcome seen here.
The actors are favorites of mine. It was good to see Neeson in a non-action vehicle again. I heartily recommend it.
Born Yesterday (1950)
Youth is wated on the wrong people (borrowed from It's a Wonderful Life)
Sometimes I wish that millennials, gen-xers, etc. wouldn't bother watching classic films, at least the nay-sayers writing reviews. They don't get it. Their comments reveal no understanding of context. They self-absorbed seem to expect that films produced before they were born should have been made in anticipation of their 21st century sensibilities (or lack of them), their devotion to CGI, action, and their limited attention spans.
I've been watching a lot of old films lately (most I've seen before having been raised by my parents to appreciate them) and I have been surprised by the kernels of relevancy they may contain; even a not very good Dr. Kildare film has Dr. Gillespie espousing that comprehensive health care should be a right for all.
Watching Born Yesterday again after many years, I see the themes of greed - for wealth, for power, corruption in government, domestic violence, women empowering themselves.
Watching Broderick Crawford's bullying business tycoon Harry Brock, I see Donald Trump.
That's a timely film.
Ten Days in the Valley (2017)
Sisters?
Do not know why some have said this is cancelled. Just watched episode 7 and 8 is scheduled 12/30/17.
I do understand someone going to work - that's what I did when my father died. Keeps the mind occupied.
Don't hate this as much as so many reviewers. Kyra's character is a bit weird, but as series goes on she is clearly driven by the need to get her daughter back, especially since her actions may have contributed to the kidnaping.
But what makes me nuts is the sister. In the midst of a kidnapping she obsesses over Sedgewick having hooked up 9 years ago with the man she would meet and marry 3 years later.
Are real people that self-absorbed during someone else's crisis?
Blackstone (2009)
Disappointing
Found this after looking for Eric Schweig vehicles and really wanted to like it. Currently watching Season One Episode Seven.
The 'shaky cam' is distracting and in no way contributes artistically.
The gratuitous vulgarity feels like lazy writing, which is confirmed by dialogue that is often more stilted than insightful.
A lot of the acting is either wooden or heavy-handed.
The actors portraying villains seem to have studied at the "Snidely Whiplash" school of drama - if they had mustachios they would be twisting them.
There is little subtlety or nuance in the dialogue or acting or plot development.
A rape prosecution relies on a non-witness instead of DNA evidence? Vote out the current chief in favor of the one the community knows is corrupt who stole evidence of his corruption and assaulted a council member in the process? Maybe it's me. Maybe people really do interact as portrayed in this series. Maybe people are as illogical as presented here (heck, there are millions still supporting Trump). If so, the situation is even worse than I understood it to be.
The issues are compelling and real and I think deserve better handling than I've seen so far. Hope the series improves.