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RainyDaysandMondays
Reviews
Aftersun (2022)
Best if you know nothing about it beforehand.
I had read nothing about the film, only that it's an Oscar contender so I thought I'd give it a go. It's an odd film, not much happens but it really worms its way under your skin. You really are effectively watching someone's holiday. It's normal, like the everyday holiday that we've all been on. And that's why it works for me. I found the film and the ending very charming and I was moved by it.
My advice/ DON'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Because when you do, it makes the film much less enjoyable.
When watched as I did, it's a lovely little film based on normal life and families and not always knowing what's going on with people, behind the smiles, everyone trying to make moments special, families, regret, love and loss. When you read about what the film is intended to be, it veers quickly into being more than a little pretentious and rather obnoxious. It also falls short as it relies on the viewer to make a number of assumptions that just aren't shown, which is irritating. I'm going to try and forget I read any of that and just remember the film for what I thought it was and will rate it accordingly.
Last Breath (2019)
Hmm.
This started so promisingly but is so light on the technical side, it's actually incredibly frustrating. It's very gripping until you start looking for answers and detail...and they aren't there. If a system reboot saved the day, why did they not think to restart the system sooner? That doesn't seem logical. What were the reasons for the decisions that were made? Nobody is interested is getting any form of medical explanation for how he survived. Not even a doctor speculation?! It's just not got enough to it. From Chris's side, he walked a bit, found the structure, sat down and hoped for rescue all the while thinking he was going to die. It's so flat from the point we find out he's alive. You'd think the documentary filmmakers could have created some kind of oomph there but nope. Others have commented about the lack of emotion by the diver that rescued him and I do see what they mean! But you could see the emotion in those Chris was closer to and I thought it was actually quite humorous, the honesty of it all. Much better than schmaltzy OTT nonsense that you get in so many documentaries. But overall I'm irritated because feel like I've learned so much less than I should have from a documentary of this type. I actually paused it early on to Google 'saturation divers' and learned more from that than I did from this documentary. So yes, it could have been much better.
Peaky Blinders: The Road to Hell (2022)
Good grief, this is boring
Was so excited about this series but aside from the two first episodes (which were fab and as good as hoped for), this has been such a disappointment. Slow, melodramatic and self indulgent with poor quality writing...it's like it's been written by different people entirely. One episode to go and I'm just wanting it to be done now. Don't even care what happens at this stage. Grim :(
Shell (2012)
Dodgy medical advice aside, a really engaging film
Please never put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure. That advice is outdated and extremely unsafe. Also, for the love of all that is holy, do not put your hand in the mouth of a person having a seizure. That is just stupid. I do think films featuring medical conditions should have to be approved to ensure the public aren't being given misinformation that could endanger others.
Now that's out the way, I actually loved this film. It was uncomfortable, charming and sad all at once. Great leads who conveyed so much with so few words. Glad I watched it and would probably watch it again.