johnfpfallon Reviews

Blithe Spirit (2020)

Reasonable version

[6/10 · 30 December 2023]

Ignore the poor reviews here; (a recurring theme on IMDB) this is a reasonable version of a good story. It is light and not taxing; however it is a decent rendition. The acting is enjoyed by the cast; the script is true to the story; though trundles on occasion.

Judi Dench is entitled to enjoy herself here; and clearly does so.

The leading roles are well acted in a Noel Coward sort of way. We actually do end up caring about them; and how this light- hearted tale with a difficult premise is successfully resolved.

Watch for yourselves Folks and make up your own minds.

There are too many Trolls in this universe!

Great Expectations (2023)

A watchable adaptation

[8/10 · 11 April 2023]

Hysterical reviews of a modern interpretation of a literary classic should be ignored: watch and make up your own mind! Good acting and costumes, sets and atmosphere make this version watchable.

The plot is essentially the same, though aspects have certainly been added.

Some reviewers have written these efforts off far too prematurely; failing to last one, two or even three of six episodes. Give it some sort of chance at least.

The fights are violent, the cinematography well though out and shot; the script is lucid and the plot is sequential.

I recommend that people who care should make their own minds!

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

A great movie in the Bourne series

[9/10 · 3 April 2022]

This is a excellent movie. The opening mountainous scenes are vast and splendid; the science, technology & Agency personnel are realistic and threatening. The fight and chase scenes are realistic and thrilling. The plot - shot alongside an existing movie - is plausible, tight and credible.

I saw this movie again recently on tv; and enjoyed it so much I watched it again on DVD.

The acting is first rate, compassionate characters behaving rationally under extreme duress.

This is a great movie, one of the Best Ever, and one of my favourites of All Time.

It has never received the recognition it truly deserves. 9/10.

Paris Police 1900: Episode #1.1 (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

High quality period French drama

[8/10 · 28 March 2022]

This French drama is worthy of attention. Slow-paced but accurate, tense and violent in parts, this series can be quite surprising and intriguing in its plot twists and characterisations. Well worth watching!

The Responder: Episode #1.4 (2022) Season 1, Episode 4

Too slow

[7/10 · 9 March 2022]

This is a well acted drama with mostly believable characters; but the Plot is just way too slow; grindingly slow. And in some cases: plain unbelievable. It's a shame. This could have been top notch.

The Man Who Bought Cricket (2022)

A flawed documentary but a damning indictment

[7/10 · 8 January 2022]

This documentary is unnecessarily over-long at 3 episodes, involving multiple repeats of the same snippets/quotes. It could have easily been edited to a 2-parter. It "reveals" the "fraud" perpetuated by Antiguan-based Stanford Financial Group.

After 2 episodes no fraud had been revealed and the only criminal activity demonstrated had been perpetrated by US authorities such as the SEC & the FBI acting beyond their jurisdictions in other sovereign nations. The final episode reveals the evil duplicity of one protagonist over one-time colleagues amid tenuous financial accusations.

Investors ought to be aware of what they are investing in; and prepared to accept credit risk for any such investments.

The US has a really warped sense of Justice and Injustice; given the outcomes of one financial scandal amongst many scandals in the US at that time.

Tragic/Sad/Revealing/Over-long.

Kin (2021– )

Modern Irish crime/gangster drama

[8/10 · 1 November 2021]

A well shot and written modern Irish gangster tv series. The plot twists towards the end kept it interesting. The music is good too. Worth watching. I would recommend this to European as well as American audiences.

Lupin (2021– )

Excellent French modern day Crime Series

[8/10 · 15 August 2021]

Full of twists, tension, good character development and believable acting: this French series is a little gem to watch. There are even some subtle jibes at French Colonialism and racism in French Society. Well worth watching!

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

A wonderful movie

[8/10 · 13 April 2021]

Slow-paced dark depressed and so very much of the time, this is a film that should be obligatory viewing for every student of European Film. Well acted and beautifully shot: quite simply: a wonderful film.

Trackers (2019)

A good series in an interesting South African Cape Town setting.

[7/10 · 6 March 2021]

A good series in an interesting South African Cape Town setting. Racial stereotypes in general are avoided i.e. not all black people are good and not all white people are bad although the Muslim fundamentalists seem to get a bad rap yet again. My criticisms are that the pace needs to be slightly picked up. I would also sincerely doubt whether a South African gangster would speak to the South African police in such a threatening manner I find that very difficult to believe especially regarding South African police. All in all a good series to be recommended; I look forward to finishing it.

Stan & Ollie (2018)

Touching and tasteful

[8/10 · 19 February 2021]

Heartful warming and realistic; well acted and understated. To be recommended.

Terrorism Close Calls (2018– )

Unwatchable

[1/10 · 13 February 2021]

Do not break the truth ... it is not necessary. This is not worth your time.

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Stunning & thought-provoking documentary

[9/10 · 30 January 2021]

This is a must-watch documentary for anyone interested in the boundary between the Human & Animal kingdoms ... & how that boundary occasionally disappears..! This becomes the "Avatar" of the alien underwater World.

Biutiful (2010)

A truly stunning movie

[9/10 · 27 December 2020]

This is one of the best movies ever made. Full stop. The humanity, joy, tragedy, spirituality, beauty ... It is all here. This should be obligatory viewing for every student of Film ... on the planet! This movie is an experience.

Tin Star: Homecoming (2020) Season 3, Episode 1

Anarchic ... Flawed ... Brilliant

[8/10 · 19 December 2020]

Please disregard negative reviews here; watch and judge for yourself: it is worth watching ... even if to produce a response. Anarchic, Flawed, Brilliant. Words to engage the audience. It is worth engaging.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Excellent Sci-fi

[8/10 · 31 October 2020]

This movie stays true to the honest ethos of the series. It is to be recommended. It deserves better recognition.

John Wick (2014)

Very poor film

[5/10 · 17 October 2020]

A very poor film with zero plot and gratuitous violence only throughout. Nothing about this movie can be recommended or endorsed.

Quartet (2012)

Insightful touching comedy drama about the onset of old age

[8/10 · 20 August 2020]

Well acted (and directed!) this movie demonstrates a zest for Life that is both inspiring and touching, as capabilities wane over time.

My only gripe is that the final performance act was cut from the movie. Perhaps it was felt not to have been sufficiently good enough, but even then, it should have been included. The film's audience would have understood; a flawed standard over time was one of the main points of the whole movie. This was a mistake.

Overall: an excellent film in all other respects.

The Confessions of Thomas Quick (2015)

Outstanding and revealing documentary

[8/10 · 1 August 2020]

Outstanding and revealing documentary Highlighting the risk of Group Think within the context of modern criminal psychology and its repercussions in modern Swedish policing. The implications for the families of the victims of unsolved murders becomes unbearable.

Normal People (2020)

Diminishing returns

[5/10 · 31 May 2020]

Flawed writing, poor character development and gaps in an unrealistic plot: I had such high hopes. This is somewhat disappointing. The female lead is very good. An excellent accent. Believable. The male lead is a good actor; but not believable as a writer. I really wish this were better.

Normal People: Episode #1.1 (2020) Season 1, Episode 1

Realistic love story

[9/10 · 30 May 2020]

Well paced (so far) and well shot: the writing is good.

Homeland: Designated Driver (2020) Season 8, Episode 10

Utterly implausible

[4/10 · 27 May 2020]

Who wrote this? Why has believability or rationality been dispensed with, in the creation of this propaganda? I am aware that this is fiction; and written for specific audiences in a style designed to entice and retain the viewer? If potential reality is dispensed with, this type of fiction is not (usually) not worth the effort.

Utterly ludicrous! For example: The notion that in the days after a crucial incident, an Afghan with a truck the size of a small house, loaded arms in the glove box and an American fugitive in the back behind a curtain, could drive unimpeded onto a guarded Air Force base is just derisory.

This is just one example of how plausible reality has been utterly forgotten by the writers.

I do not know or understand why.

Timbuktu (2014)

Beautiful yet tragic

[9/10 · 23 May 2020]

A wonderful, haunting, sad, slow-paced stunning and memorable African movie. Thoroughly recommended!

Hinterland: Penwyllt (2013) Season 1, Episode 3

Good but imperfect series

[7/10 · 17 May 2020]

Good series; but with flaws. Why would a policeman run past his own car and chase an escaping criminal on foot? Ludicrous!

Homeland: Paean to the People (2018) Season 7, Episode 12

Deeply flawed series

[4/10 · 16 May 2020]

Having been a fan of previous series; (for their credibility of story and action; as well as the portrayal of Americans as not always being ultra-good): This series spiraled out of control from early on. The lack of credible actions toward the end of the series is a major problem for the quality of the overall programme. Some of the scenes, events and outcomes were frankly ludicrous and unbelievable. By the end the star-spangled rhetoric was nauseating. I don't blame the directors or actors; they maintained their quality of performance throughout. I blame the writers. They ruined this. A real shame. The writers should be ashamed.