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IWasRaisedByTV
Reviews
The Vanishing Triangle (2023)
So good, but the ending UGH (MANY SPOILERS)
All six episodes lead to nothing. I realize the series is loosely based on true crimes, but the reveal of the villain was obvious from the moment Lisa gets in the car with him. I'm too exhausted to look back for clues, it seemed ridiculous. Also, they felt it was important to wrap up the dad in the hospital story, but we never get any closure about the original missing girl, nor what the police concluded about Burkely's shooting. I presume he's dead and his partner lied, but we don't know that.
Perhaps Amy is never found, but it was brushed over. Perhaps Burkely is dead, Brennan lied, and nobody followed up? I guess the Garda circa the mid 90s was the laziest crew ever? They don't investigate the murder of police officers? How about the corrupt Chief Superintendent and Gough? Nothing?
It felt like it was supposed to be 8 episodes, but they suddenly pulled the plug at 6. I'll give it 5 stars because I enjoyed the performances, but the series as a whole really tanked and left me irritated.
Our House (2022)
I was 6 stars worth entertained.
One of my favorite things to do is spend the weekend watching UK thrillers. Our House did not disappoint with its cast of familiar actors. The story was intriguing and I looked forward to seeing how it turned out. I was not satisfied.
As usual, none of this would have happened a) Bram would have kept it in his pants and b) Bram would have simply called the police after the accident and c) Fi would have simply told the truth.
The moral of the story: call the authorities when you cause an accident or kill somebody in self defense. Don't take advice from the neighbor/friend who slept with your husband, and for the love of God, don't try to poison someone with Sertraline (generic for Zoloft). Add some sleeping pills from the neighbor/friend who slept with your husband's stash.
Obsession (2023)
Two horrible humans find each other. A match made in Hell.
The most unintentionally hilarious drama I've seen since the first season of Melrose Place, before they embraced the ridiculousness and went full camp.
Two horrible people betray everyone who's ever loved them in order to have clandestine stupid sex. To be fair, I find Richard Armitrage extremely hot, but were I dating his son, it would never occur to me to go there. Am I perhaps morally superior to Anna? Of course I am. Who isn't? She's clearly, at best, "complicated." She is a provocateur due to her tragic upbringing. Why are we expected to feel for our main character, William, who takes advantage of this?
Even so, IMO, Anna is gorgeous, Anna is sexy, but is she SO irresistible that William would forsake his own child (let alone his wife of many decades) to have sex with her? I guess so to him, but I don't see it. Why am I watching a show where I have to accept this? William is a handsome, successful, rich man who would have no shortage of women willing to cheat with him. If there had been an origin story where we were privy to the witch that cast a spell on Anna's nether regions, making her irresistible to men, that wouldn't make this series more believable, but it would have helped the logic.
There are mortifying scenes (a hotel pillow gets more action than most humans will ever experience), but I appreciate the actors' commitments to their roles. Man, he loved that mattress. It's the material that is weak, not the performances.
Mr. Armitage: RUN to Harlan Coben. Beg him to write you another role. I will watch every second of it. I will never quit you.
Pistol (2022)
Okay, but the casting?
I'm going to mention the elephant in the room. Chrissie Hynde. She's pretty much the female lead, and I know that she wasn't that integral to the story of the Sex Pistols. I'm sure that Sydney Chandler could be good in another role, but her Chrissie Hynde comes across with all the depth of Shannen Doherty in an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Has she actually listened to Chrissie Hynde speak? Sing? Her singing was more contemporary coffee house waif than 70s Chrissie Hynde. It's driving me nuts and so distracting.
Meanwhile, the story is good and the live music scenes in clubs captured the vibe of the day. Some actors- Anson Boone, Maisie Williams, Thomas Brodie-Sangster are spot on. I hope to get to the point where Sid and Nancy come in, but I'm not sure I'll last.
BTW, SPOILER: Rockets Red glare killed Nancy.
The Lie (2018)
What a bunch of a-holes
Every person in this movie is terrible. I mean, the police are just doing their job so I won't count them. From the parents to the kids, I really couldn't care less what happens to any of them be cause they're horrible. My only wish would be to see them all sentenced be a really mean judge who'd berate them about how stupid they all are.
Cheat (2019)
Not Great
I love this stuff. Thrillers about regular people- Lifetime movies, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, etc. what Cheat is missing is one character to root for. Our heroine Leah seems self-absorbed and is married to the worst husband ever. Why they are together at all is a mystery. Meanwhile, our villain, Rose, is such a clearly spiteful brat it's stunning that even one person would believe a word she says about anything. Are people really that taken in by that wide eyed, dopey look? One thing I know is that the UK has CC cameras all over the place. Other than one in the dorm they go back to over and over, the police never bother to check any others, which would easily disprove the liar's story. Lame police. The parents are also awful. Anyway, weak story.
Last Summer (2018)
This film was beautiful.
As a child of the 70s, the plight of the Morris boys is spot on. When tragedy occurred, the powers that be took over. Children's feelings were second thoughts. The prime directive was to get them in a "safe place" and move on ASAP.
If you have any empathy at all, watching the Morrises lose it all as the Davies boys deal with their own trauma is heartbreaking. The actors portraying these young men are absolutely honest and real. I cannot wait to see where these artists end up in the future because they are talented, soulful actors.