black-and-gold Reviews

The Lovers (2023–2024)

Pretty terrible

[4/10 · 28 September 2023]

Flabbergasted by all the positive reviews here. I don't post reviews often and am even less likely to give something a negative one because I recognise all the hard work that gets put into these productions. However, the storyline of this series with really unlikeable characters was so unrealistic and full of cliches that I cannot overlook it, especially with all the positive reviews.

There was no chemistry between the lead characters and their inability to communicate with eachother was so immature if not ludicrous. It started off ok but went downhill after a couple episodes. I've seen Johnny Flynn in a few things and normally like him but even he couldn't redeem this. Save yourself the time.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Gripping and moving with brilliant acting

[9/10 · 18 November 2014]

It does not surprise me that this film has been so well received by audiences. With the intertwining story lines of how the British mathematicians are going to break Germany's Enigma code and the challenges Turing faces as a gay man in the 1940s, it strikes a good balance as a gripping thriller that's not an action film and a moving drama that's not a depressing tragedy. The characters were very well thought through, each with unique qualities giving you an idea of what they are like without needing to give much information. No doubt this was helped by the excellent acting from the entire cast. Although Benedict Cumberbatch does a very good job in delivering the complex personality of Alan Turing, for me the more noteworthy performance was Keira Knightley's in what is probably her best one yet. In other films, her performances lack depth at times and it can feel like you're watching the same person again but with this one it is not the case. You actually forget that it is her playing this intelligent and captivating character. The brilliant performances of Alex Lawther as the young Turing and Mark Strong are also worth mentioning considering their smaller yet significant parts.

The film is let down a little by the flow of the story and rapid movements from scene to scene. This may have been a conscious choice to give a mechanic feel to a film about a mathematical mind but it does make the story a bit hard to follow at times. This is not of much significance though as the film delivers in all other areas, not the least of which is the ending. It is hard to get endings right and is often the point at which films disappoint. That's not the case with this one, it's spot on. Don't miss this film.

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Great characters but not the best final product

[7/10 · 25 May 2014]

I don't write reviews often but I feel compelled to write one for this movie because I loved it and I hated it. I loved how much thought had been put into each of the characters. There was a depth to each one of them and many of them were mysterious, causing you to feel like you wanted to know so much more about them. This of course is partly down to the acting. What a great cast! Anne Hathaway is brilliant in the role of Kym, probably the most convincing I have seen her. Some reviews I've read have said that she plays a very unlikable character but I disagree. If you follow the film you actually understand a lot about why she is the way she is and I felt a lot of empathy for her. Debra Winger is fantastic as the distant mother, it makes you want to kick her! The guy who plays Kieran also did a great job as a very likable character. I wish we could see more movies where the characters are this real and fascinating.

Despite all of this I just couldn't get over the things that let this movie down. First of all the music throughout the movie was annoying most of the time, mainly because of the shrill violin. Perhaps this was done on purpose, if that's the case it certainly works but it makes the movie harder to watch. Also some of the scenes are unnecessarily drawn out. I would have much preferred finding out more about the characters instead. I also found the ending unsatisfactory.

Over all, I don't regret having watched this movie. If you like movies that look at the rawness of relationships with in-depth character study you will enjoy it but, you may not love it.

Call the Midwife (2012– )

Faith in humanity

[9/10 · 3 January 2014]

Whether or not this series' depiction of the East End in the 50's is completely accurate or not seems of little relevance to me. The characters are very likable and the acting, even by the guest actors, is brilliant. However, the main reason I love and wholeheartedly recommend Call the Midwife is because it is so well written, without avoiding the harsh realities of life yet filled with hope and incredible human connection. Miraculously, it manages this without ever becoming cheesy. Every episode leaves me feeling proud to be a human being. I don't think many TV series are able or even try to achieve this and it feels especially important in our times when faith in humanity seems to be in decline.

Mildred Pierce (2011)

OK but not great

[7/10 · 7 April 2013]

I watched this series because I quite like Kate Winslet and I usually enjoy the work she does. I knew Mildred Pierce won some awards but I never got a chance to see it on TV. I don't even know if it was shown in the UK.

The production of this series was good and it had a good cast. Kate Winslet was especially good. Nevertheless I couldn't enjoy it overall because I found the plot depressing. The first 3 parts kept me interested but it went down hill during parts 4 & 5. This is not the fault of the actors or production. Just a bad choice of script. It's worth the watch if you're a Winslet fan but don't watch it if you're looking for something uplifting.

I'm actually surprised that TV channels like HBO commission high budget miniseries like this. I watched it because of the cast but I can't imagine it's the kind of thing many TV watchers would watch. Sure enough the ratings seem to prove me right.It does make me wonder how they make their money back even if it did win so many awards. Then again I guess it's a good thing that they are supporting the art of film making and are not only rating conscious.