Change Your Image
TheSleepyOne
Reviews
Boy Swallows Universe (2024)
Enjoyed it but mostly only for my own nostalgia
It's getting rave reviews and I want to support local Australian productions. The acting, sets, costumes are all great. They work together to trigger memories of my own childhood in the 80s, parts of it spent in Brisbane with family there. I think this is what I mostly enjoyed about this series.
The story and the actions of the characters are not realistic but as a work of fiction, I can accept that. Still, it just seems too far fetched for me at times and had me shaking my head with frustration.
The portrayal of life in the 80s was reasonably good but I think I did partly rely on some of my own memories to fill out what life was like back then. The series did, however, capture the general sense of freedom, boredom and adventure that I feel most kids went through pretty well.
Boy Swallows Universe has me wanting to re-watch series like "The Henderson Kids" (1985-86) which, from my somewhat hazy memory, had more plausible storylines but deals with childhood issues set in the 80s (modern times when produced). Plus it had a stellar 80s cast - including Nadine Garner, Kylie Minogue, Ben Mendelsohn and Annie Jones. Also check out the follow up "The Henderson Kids II" (1987). Those will get your nostalgia juices flowing.
Normal People (2020)
Best of 2020
Normal People was my favourite series of 2020. It invoked so many memories of my own past relationships. The acting and writing was brilliant. I don't know what else to say other than it was near perfect.
I'd give it 11/10 if I could.
Dark (2017)
Brilliant
One of the best and yet complex, time bending series ever produced. The key being that it respects it's audience and doesn't try to hold their hand and then laboriously step through every scene explaining what, when and why. It's more like "this is what's happening. Keep up."
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's an easy 10/10 for me.
Clarice (2021)
I'm two episodes in and enjoying it
Whenever a sacred text or movie is tackled for network or free to air tv, the resulting show is going to come under extra scrutiny. So far, the first two episodes lean on Clarice's history with Buffalo Bill which is understandable. I enjoyed the first two episodes which are primarily for exposition and fleshing out the characters. I'm not sure if it's the writing or acting but the character of Paul Krendler is over the top and comes on as a bit too much. That said, the other main characters of ViCAP are good though. I'll keep watching and look forward to seeing where "Clarice" goes. 8/10.
Clarice: The Silence Is Over (2021)
A good start
For the always tricky exposition episode, "The Silence Is Over" is pretty good. It's the early 90's and Clarice Starling's return to the field as an FBI agent is well portrayed. I thought the character might be too cliched but Rebecca Breeds does an excellent job. The influence of Jodie Foster's Appalachian / Montana accent is clear and, as an Australian, Breeds nails it. Now, I'm also an Aussie, so I'm probably going to miss a few nuanced features of the accent, so maybe take my opinion with a grain of salt.
"You call THAT an accent? Now, THIS is an accent."
I'm unfamiliar with Rebecca Breeds having missed her appearances on "Home and Away" in Australia and her more recent work on "The Originals" and "Pretty Little Liars". I was surprised to discover that she is Australian but I'm glad to count her as one of us. I look forward to the rest of the first season of "Clarice".