Short Reviews 22Q2
Second Quarter 2022
Being a list of brief notes on other culture consumed over the this quarter of the year that I either abandoned or don’t feel needs a longer discussion.
Lightyear - Disney+. This was too long and really dragged in the middle but did get better eventually. The best joke had been spoilered in the trailer and Sox was the stand-out star!
Broadlands - David Blake. Norfolk Broads set police procedural. A workman-like story with nothing to really stand out with in this rather crowded genre, and the "romance" between the lead characters was just cringey.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Sky Cinema. Bio-pic about the wife of a US television evangelist. A well acted movie and a really intriguing story but not something I could watch again
Spencer - Sky Cinema. A slice of the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. A tour-de-force of the film makers art (the techniques could fill a fair few media studies lectures) but not really a particularly interesting story and overall not a great piece of actual entertainment.
The Dropout - Disney+. The astonishing tale of the blood testing company Theranos with a great performance by Jennifer Lawrence. Convincingly acted and totally gripping - surprisingly tense at times.
Death on the Nile (2022) - Sky Cinema. Beautifully filmed, intricately plotted and quite fun - indeed so complicated that I would probably enjoy watching this a second time just as much!
Pieces of Her - Netflix. A Netflix show staring Toni Collette (who seems to be everywhere these days!) She witnesses a violent crime that kicks her mother into equally violent action and opens a family can of worms. This was quite a complex story, but enjoyable, really only being let down by the totally unconvincing setting - supposedly Georgia in the US but obviously Australia! Why not just change the setting!
Bad Blood - John Carreyrou. inspired by watching the above to read the source book you find that the real story is even more complicated than the TV show and extra details make this a worthwhile read.
A Short History of Europe - Simon Jenkins. Listened to as an audiobook - well written engaging history but ultimately I just felt rather sad.
Anatomy of a Scandal - Netflix. A Netflix show about a British MP and secrets from the past. Compelling drama, well acted but I had trouble telling the young versions of the characters apart as they all looked the same to me!
Turning Red - Disney+. I found this passably entertaining, but there was less for adults than usual for Pixar, which is not to say it was bad, just that I didn't really relate to anyone. As always, great animation though.
The Essex Serpent - Apple TV. Historically convincing drama about strange goings on in the Essex marches. Reminded me of 'Howard's End', if these characters could only connect things would be so much easier for them!
The Staircase - Netflix. The ubiquitous Toni Collette falls down stairs lots and lots of times in this confusing true-life story which this show manages to make even more so.