connie-baldini-427-561037 Reviews

Outlander: Of Lost Things (2017) Season 3, Episode 4

One of the greatest episodes of any tv show EVER

[10/10 · 4 February 2019]

As you begin the journey of Outlander, you can't fathom a time when anything but the love between Jamie and Claire is all there is. Don't get me wrong, this episode - at its core - is about their love. Except that they're not together. And instead we explore alternate realities. Realities that exist centuries apart. Realities that must exist in the absence of their love. Claire and Jamie are trying to pick up the pieces. And on those journeys, they meet other people and have new experiences. While the life Claire is living in the 20th century is fascinating as she tries to find her way back to Jamie; it's Jamie's life that truly breaks your heart. Jamie is helped by Lord John Grey to obtain a position as a servant at a castle. Having been recently released from prison and living a life without Claire, this isn't the bright-eyed Jamie we've come to love. He's hardened by his heartbreak. While he attends to the daily chores of the Dunsany family, the brutish but beautiful Geneva takes an interest in Jamie and blackmails him into taking her virginity. The encounter produces a son. Because no one can know the truth of the child's heritage, Jamie fathers him without that knowledge. The child only knows him as Mac - the groom who teaches him to ride horses, and has pretty much been with him every moment of his life. Jamie knows that one day, he'll have to leave his indentured life at that castle. He has to make the difficult decision to leave his son behind. I can't say more about the emotion that this episode invokes. Outlander is but just a show about romantic love. There is friendship and family and all kinds of love in between.

Russian Doll (2019–2022)

Absolutely Fantastic - Netflix does it again

[10/10 · 2 February 2019]

These Netflix originals are taking over! Yet another fresh, well-written, intriguing show! I'd never even heard of this show until I saw the trailer on Netflix, gave it a chance, and 8 episodes later in just a few hours, here I am raving about it. In a nutshell, the show follows two people who are living a Groundhog Day style of the day they died. They keep going back to redo the day over and over again, all the while trying to piece together what they can do to finally break the cycle. Natasha Lyonne is her typical ascerbic self with a touch of empathy. The key to breaking the cycle for her is buried in her troubled childhood. And Charlie Barnett's Alan needs to rectify feelings of failure and a fractured romantic relationship. Together, they try to help each other find the clues and right the wrongs. It is funny, the characters are fully fleshed out, and the chemistry between the two leads is amazing. And I must say it's refreshing to see a relationship between a man and a woman that isn't sexual or romantic, but built on a foundation of friendship and genuine compassion. Watch this show, you won't be disappointed

Sex Education (2019–2023)

Absolutely loved it. Tour de force performances

[10/10 · 15 January 2019]

My viewing experience if similar to a lot of other reviews I read; stumbling upon it and giving it a chance. Boy, am I happy I did. I haven't seen something this good in a long time. Every single character is fleshed out and has their own interesting story. It doesn't focus on the kids and leave the adults out either - Gillian Anderson gives an amazing performance and I was into her life just as much as everyone else's. I love that the show didn't grasp onto happy endings. It was real and complicated, sad, messy, and pure joy. All the young actors were amazing but I have to give the most praise to the actor who played Eric. I've never seen a performance like this before. Yes, he's the "gay character" but he's so much more. He is the heart and soul of this show and should win all the things! This show's portrayal of the frankness of sexuality might put some parents off but it's acceptance of people is so wonderful to watch that parents should encourage their children to watch it.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Make Your Lives Extraordinary

[10/10 · 12 August 2014]

So today is August 12th and news has broken of Robin Williams' untimely death. I just felt compelled to review my favourite movie of his. On a rainy day back in 1980- something, my mother sat my brother, sister and me down and put on the movie, Dead Poets Society. Little did I know what a profound impact that movie, and its characters would have on me. The film is bursting with quotable material, and my siblings and I quote it to this day: O Captain My Captain, Carpe Diem, Seize the Day, and of course, Make Your Lives Extraordinary. It's not until we grow older that we can look back on a teacher like John Keating and see what he really meant to us, the chances he made us take, the way he made us feel alive. I look back now on Robin Williams' performance and see one of the most flawless performances of all time. When you watch the movie, it's hard to think of hammy, manic Robin Williams giving such a nuanced and subtle performance. It's almost as though Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting is who John Keating became. And funny how his most subtle performances may be the ones he's most remembered for. When I heard the news of Robin's death, I was taken back to this film and really felt how integral this movie actually was to my childhood. I think it was the first time my 10 year old self was truly "moved" in the way that adults can be moved by art. All I can say is watch this movie. You won't be sorry.

This Is the End (2013)

Guess what? It IS that compelling!

[9/10 · 26 June 2013]

I just saw This is the End with a group of friends and was struck by something I'm sure a lot of other viewers found: these guys are a lot like me and my friends! And that, in a nutshell, is what makes This is the End such a funny, relatable and downright entertaining movie! The movie is full of slapstick, some special effects, and big names, but what it comes down to is the writing. The banter in this film between the actors is so sharp and humorous, that you find yourself sucked into the conversations even more than the plot itself. If you're anything like me, you read up on some behind-the-scenes trivia about the movie and found that about 50% of the movie was ad-libbed. Knowing that made the movie that much funnier. Seth Rogen and his writing/directing partner Evan Goldberg are just geniuses. The way they can take grown men, and reduce them to infantile children is gold. The interactions between the men is hilarious and you feel like the luckiest fly on the wall that ever lived. These actors are some of the biggest players in the comedy world and to watch them take bites out of these roles like they're big juicy apples was amazing to watch. I'm sure Seth hemmed and hawed over whether to make the actors portray themselves, and I tell you, what a difference it makes. You feel like you intimately and genuinely know these people and it makes the experience that much more enjoyable. Without ruining anything, I will say that there are more than a couple stand out scenes in the film and the actors were so good that I couldn't pick just 1 stand out role! OK, I'll backtrack: anything Danny McBride does is absolute genius and this film is no different. Jonah Hill also makes a case for himself to star in bigger comedic roles in the future. (Check out an "explosive" scene between McBride and Franco and tell me you won't die laughing). As always, James Franco lends a cool quality to gross out humour but he stands right up there with the best of them! Craig Robinson is effortless in his timing and delivery and Jay Baruchel plays the straight man to a tee. To me, This is the End marks a new chapter in film comedy. And I'm dying to see what Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have in store for us next.

Amour (2012)

A Quiet Film that Speaks Volumes

[8/10 · 21 February 2013]

Amour is definitely one of those films that doesn't say much, but its message is loud and clear: growing old isn't easy, loving someone isn't easy, getting sick isn't easy. And when you combine these 3 elements, you end up with a film like Amour that doesn't sugar coat what happens when these difficulties are thrust together. To summarize the plot, the film follows an elderly couple in their twilight years who cope with the stroke and failing health of the wife, Anne. Jean-Louis Trintigant plays Anne's doting husband, Georges, and I thought he was was just as good, if not better than Emmanuelle Riva who has received much critical acclaim for her role, including a Best Actress Oscar nomination. What makes Trintignant's role so special is that he not only plays Anne's loving husband, but also her caregiver, voice, and punching bag. A scene I found particularly heart wrenching took place at their breakfast table. Having recently suffered a stroke rendering her paralyzed on her right side, Anne interrupts Georges' meal and demands to see a photo album just because she desires to. Georges' expression is that of frustration mixed with acceptance; he wants his ailing wife to be happy, but not at the expense of his pleasure or mobility. He rises to retrieve her albums, shuffling in a broken, elderly fashion down the hall to retrieve them for her. From this scene, many things are evident: Georges loves Anne; he wants to make her happy, but it's also the first sign of tension in their otherwise calm co-habitation. Does Anne almost take pleasure in making her feeble husband retrieve these items for her? Perhaps...my suspicion is a credit to Riva's superb performance which is reduced to a series of looks and grunts, which convey power in their own way. So, to say that her performance is a 'physical' one may seem odd, but after watching the movie, you'll understand. Tringtinant's performance is also extraordinary and I feel that he was robbed of his own accolades. Not only is he husband, caregiver, voice and punching bag, but he is also her translator. He has to speak to the outside world for her. He knows what every look means and what he must do to honour her -- be it dealing with a lackluster daughter or taking a final step in the name of Anne's dignity -- the scenes that demonstrate both these situations will blow you away. Bonds are questioned, lines are blurred, decisions made...all leading to the conclusion that life is never an answered question, a defined line or a lesson in decisiveness. You're dealt a hand and you play it the best you can.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

So What?

[5/10 · 28 January 2013]

So I just watched Silver Linings Playbook and thought "So what?" I had heard great things about this movie, namely that it had received 8 Oscar nominations. So, I thought, this has to be a great film? Great cast, great director, a recipe for perfection, right? Well, if this movie was a cake, someone forgot to add the yeast, because this sucker did not rise. We start with a very likable Bradley Cooper, who just seemed to be 'acting' too much in this movie. I know that sounds strange, but actors are supposed to draw you in to their performances, make you feel like you could know them on a personal level, like they could live next door. But this just felt like I was watching a performance; albeit a decent performance, by Bradley Cooper. Jennifer Lawrence stars as his love interest and also gives an adequate performance, but that being said, I expected so much more. Without giving too much away, Bradley stars as a man who has got some problems, tries to rectify them, and find himself and love along the way. The feel-good movie of the year? Probably! But not for me. The movie seemed clichéd and derivative. Robert DeNiro is a wonderful actor and a legend in his own right, but a Best Supporting Actor nomination? I just don't get it. What I think makes me dislike the movie even more is knowing the other films it beat out for nominations. Movie like Django Unchained and Argo for Best Director. These 2 films were wonderfully directed and the movies themselves are accomplishments in directing! Big casts, different locations, etc. I felt like I could have directed Silver Linings. For some reason, I got a whiff of Jerry Maguire from this movie: a man trying to rebuild himself, and finding love along the way in the most unlikely (yet most likely) of places. Only, Jerry Maguire was a wonderful film. It had depth and sincerity and still stands as Tom Cruise's finest performance. To say that this felt "phoned in" is an understatement. Was this a good movie? Ya, OK, I watched it and didn't turn it off. But, is that saying much?

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Everything and Nothing

[9/10 · 4 January 2013]

When I had first heard of this film and its 'disturbing' nature, I was hesitant to view it. However, having just seen 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' starring Ezra Miller, who plays Kevin as a teenager, I was intrigued. Ezra Miller is a star. Whether he receives acclaim for these 2 films or not, he is definitely one to watch on the film scene. Before viewing this film, I actually read several reviews which do not do the film justice. Not to sound clichéd, but you must see this film to believe it. I've titled my review "Everything and Nothing" because it's almost impossible to put into words just exactly what happens; what we see on the film, and what is purposely hidden from us. This is definitely a film that will provoke controversy and debate after viewing. Tilda Swinton is astonishing in this role, or should I say roles. We see a woman in different phases of her life, and how she reacts to each phase. Career-oriented world traveler, doting wife, fragile mother. And in each of the 'roles', Swinton's face is better than anything a costume designer or make up artist could use to convey raw, deep, confused emotion. Without giving too much away, Swinton is the mother of a troubled son; married to a simple man, and the mother to a non-troubled little girl. We are told that Kevin is troubled, but nothing in this film will make you jump out of your seat or run from the room screaming. Tense is the best possible word I could use to describe the tone of the film. And heart breaking is the definitely the word I would use to describe Swinton's performance. While everyone in the film did give decent portrayals of their characters, none come close to Swinton and Miller in the dance they do in this film. This film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and during a Q & A, Swinton began answering a question by stating 'well this is a love story after all. deep down'. After seeing this film, try to wrap your head around that statement. If you do, you've definitely seen and understood the movie the way that I did; and recognize how truly excellent it really is.