wsgddvmd Reviews

The Minute You Wake up Dead (2022)

B-class movie, an OK "whodunit" watch

[5/10 · 18 February 2024]

I watched it on a plane where I didn't have access to IMDB, otherwise I'd probably wouldn't. But I liked the trailer. This a classic B class cinema with beginner actors learning the ropes on how to deliver their lines (apart for Freeman). I refuse to believe majority of staff had any acting experience. The dialogs are cliche and spoken without conviction. It reminded me the "straight to "VHS" 1990 movies at times. But I feel the actors were let down by both the writer and director who allowed for the likes of "you don't mess with old Berta" being said over and over. It's hilariously bad at times.

However - criticism aside, I liked the fast pace and the guesswork what's gonna happen next. It was a bit of "Knives Out" style with unveiling mystery. If you're looking for an easy to follow thriller with hot actress and twists, go for it. It now makes me want to shoot a movie myself, clearly you don't need any acting or directing abilities whatsoever if you have the funding from the studio.

Into the Deep (2020)

Underrated gem!

[8/10 · 1 September 2023]

Wow just think about it: in 2017 in real life, a real movie director (Emma Sullivan) contacts a "Danish Elon Musk" (Peter Madsen) to document his journey into space over a course of a year. The man was a self-taught inventor: built three working submarines and a space rocket on a shoe string budget with unpaid interns and donations from the public. He gave actual TED talks and was a real celebrity in Denmark. You can't help to draw comparisons between him and the Oceangate CEO with his Titan submersible. While the documentary progresses, another real-life journalist, Kim Wall, goes missing, last seen on the sub. A sub inventor is suspected of malice and the story quickly takes off from there.

What is fascinating, you are watching real clips giving an insight into the mind of a genius. You then start connecting the dots, revealing dark secrets of a troubled individual. That's putting it mildly. A real life police investigation was able to use this movie, so when you are watching, you'll be looking into the same clues the police did. It kept me at the edge of my seat, and the very last minute of the documentary was a HOLY COW moment. It this was a dramatisation (it wasn't) I would not had believed the words spoken. That minute pushed my rating from 8 to 9/10, and the fact it was caught on camera blows my mind.

My only criticism would be, I would had expected the movie to be dedicated to the memory of Kim Wall. There was very little said about her, but appreciate she was not a focal part of the original documentary - this movie was supposed to be released as a road to glory, ending with a genius man in space. Like a click-bait portal would put it, "what happened next will shock you". It is on Netflix, go watch this.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Amazing movie end to end

[10/10 · 12 June 2023]

I've only given two 10 star ratings ever: Terminator 2 and Top Gun: Maverick. Yes, those movies are on par. Holy cow, what a joyride it has been.

This film is has it all: beautiful cinematography, amazing cast, packed with action, iconic music by Hans Zimmer, few great twists and a perfect ending. The script and dialogs won't win an Oscar but are just right for an action flick.

Yes, some of plot parts are not believable but this is an ultimate American hero story - you have to forgive the creators otherwise the movie wouldn't happen.

Never been a fan of Tom Cruise but you gotta hand it to him, the man knows how to make movies.

Bonus point: there is also zero politics, forced cast choices or preaching, which is refreshing. It goes to show you CAN make a great movie with diverse characters without insulting the audience's intelligence. Perfect movie, will age well. 10/10.

Fall (I) (2022)

Actually pretty good - delivers height frights

[7/10 · 11 March 2023]

I knew what to expect from this movie: two hot chicks climb a tower for the likes. It can't be too ambitious, right?

However - the movie delivers in great cinematography and a feeling of extreme heights, with all the vertigos activated. Don't believe me? Watch few YouTube clips showing real teenagers climbing towers & bridges in flip flops. It's mad stuff.

You really jump out of seat at times and keep telling yourself "it's not real, it's only a movie". It really works and keeps you at the edge of the sofa.

The film has a few nice plot twists also - since there's only so much you can squeeze out of the hopeless situation the girls found themselves in.

Overall I enjoyed it more than I thought I will. Pro-tip: watch the opening sequence, then just fast-forward through the boring scenes until the tower climb. Thank me later.

Glass Onion (2022)

Loved it, on par with the first movie

[8/10 · 3 January 2023]

This is a light-hearted mystery comedy and should be viewed as such. The cinematography is beautiful, the cast are great and everything the actors do is an over the top, parody version of real-life "influencers".

The story is great and I enjoyed the movie just as much as the first Knives Out in the series. You can see where the production money went and it will be hard to top it up in the next one.

The criticism I see in other reviews is they expect a serious thriller, while this was never meant to be one. It's a comedy with clever "whodonit" twists.

I'm glad the trailers didn't give away the plot so simply watch one trailer and see if it vibes with you. If yes, prepare for 2 hours of fun, it's a great date night movie.

Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)

Fantastic mini series

[8/10 · 13 October 2022]

Loved everything about this show: the acting, the directing with original features normally unseen in drama (Matrix style falling down scenes when the character is being given a bad news). It started tad slow but I got hooked from the second episode. You really wonder "who done it" until the end, it kept me at the edge of a seat. I liked the main actor who showed he can really pivot from a government assassin in a Homeland series, into a polished British politician.

It was also refreshing to see a court drama that is not American with such a different, well mannered style of throwing arguments in a court. Everyone is so well-mannered, even when they swear which is something else. Gotta love those scenes when the prosecution and defence both come back to chill out into the same room, joking around, only to be mortal enemies minutes later on the courtroom floor. It's a solid TV with a good crime story, worth to binge.

High Water (2022– )

On par with HBO Chernobyl series

[8/10 · 8 October 2022]

Wow, just wow. Got hooked up and binged all episodes in one afternoon. Terrific acting and marvellous shots of a major urban city hit by the flash flood. It has the vibes of "The Last of Us" video game, and the HBO's "Chernobyl" series, showing incompetence of the government in face of a natural disaster.

The cast are fantastic and really makes you care what's about to happen to the characters, especially later as the story develops. The main female character reminds me of Carrie in Homeland, I don't want to spoil why - played by a superb actress that made me weep in key moments.

I watched the original with subtitles but the English dubbing is pretty good also. An Emmy's on a way, well done Netflix, for once.