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marienoelv
I have been involved with the film, TV and commercial industries in Seattle for the last 30 years.
I have been in many commercials both local and national, as well as short films. I worked as the 1st AD on the feature film Money Buys Happiness and 2 seasons of the syndicated PBS Series Bizkids and a variety of short films. I have worked both as and actor, writer and producer on many short films through the Northwest Film Forum, Women in Film, the 48 Hour Film Festival, and the Seattle Filmmakers Collective.
Reviews
Justified: City Primeval (2023)
A great disappointment
Darn!
I was so excited for this show to start. After having watched the original Justified over and over again because it is that good, I was extremely disappointed with City Primeval. It is obvious that the writers and casting directors from the original series have moved on because the boring, stupid storyline, dialogue and characters are so below the level of entertainment given in the original that it is painfully underwhelming. The actor Boyd Holbrook is so annoying that after the 1st couple of episodes, I had to mute every scene he was in or fast forward because I couldn't stand listening to him or the dialogue he was given. Just a pathetic, evil and maniacal character with no meat to his story, not enough given to like or dislike just a piece of trash that made watching the entire series difficult. There were good efforts made by some cast members but it is hard to make much of a character with such a predictable storyline using a script with little meat on its bones. And it seemed like there was little left of the Raylan we knew with the interesting and comedic overtones added to the cunning and formidable Marshall, who made every scene he was in in the original Justified entertaining and loaded with witty banter and shrewd ingenuity. I still enjoyed watching Timothy Olyphant, he's a great actor, this just wasn't the best vehicle to showcase his talent. And I find it really too bad that people are coming down so hard on his daughter Vivian who played his daughter "Willa". It seems like this was her first gig and she did not get the guidance or direction she needed. If the seasoned actors were not looking as good as in past roles because of the script and directing what is a poor young girl to do on her first try? Give her a break.
I thought the "Sweetie"
(Vondie Curtis-Hall), storyline was pretty good and enjoyed the scenes with he and his partner "Darrold"(Corey Hendrix).
Judy Justice (2021)
Disappointing remake of Judge Judy from a former BIG fan.
I have watched Judge Judy since it's inception, not every day but found it very entertaining and liked her no nonsense style. She used to be funny, sassy and was not afraid to raise her voice or make her point. I did not always agree with the way that she treated people, but it was real authentic and I really liked the show! I am disappointed that the syndicated version has been taken off the air in Seattle.
Judy Justice is a watered down, slow moving remake that has lost all the pizazz of the old show. And where is Bert??? He was on with her for all those years and gets the boot for the new show? Judge Judy seems to have been put in a box and told to follow some type of show format, almost scripted and the young blonde women(her legal assistant) is panned during the show for her reactions which look scripted and awkward. The young man that took Bert's place is okay, but he is not Bert and does not have the kind of chemistry with the judge that she and Bert had.
If you were a Judge Judy fan I think you will be disappointed of this new version. They have even watered down her personality and it is (BIG YAWN), boring.
Todos lo saben (2018)
Great Acting from entire cast! The movie, eh.
I watched this movie because I am a BIG Javier Bardem fan and like to see he and his wife play their magic together.
Like I said, the cast did a great job. I am an actor and enjoy watching others work.
The problem is with the script, it did not draw me in, there wasn't any big plot twists, the opportunity was there but the director opted out of using interesting or suspenseful happenings. The end just make you feel that you had spent the 21/2 hours doing something else.
The Wilds (2020)
Horrible ending with many questions unanswered.
This show was okay. I had high hopes for it with a 7.1 rating. The cast, makeup and direction were good but the story had a lot of holes in it and there were too many questions left unanswered at the end.
When it was over, I felt like I had wasted 16 hours!
Don't bother.
IMDb on the Scene - Interviews: The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Great feel good movie, a buddy tale of some sort...
This was exactly the kind of heartwarming tales of I needed, to take me away from all the stressors in our country and and all over the globe. Just two guys that meet on the road and become friends.
Low key with laughter, fun a sad moment towards the end but it all works out for all three of the characters.
A Chance in the World (2017)
I liked it.
I liked this movie.
I am a fan of movies based on true stories. This was a sad film but that is a part of like. There was some good acting, the young man who played the lead did a great job.
It is a simple story about a young man's life.
Craith (2018)
Another Great Detective Series from Wales!
I too am baffled that people are surprised and disappointed that this series is getting negative Reviews because they are speaking Welsh. Most shows made in the U.S. speak English, so if you can't handle subtitles then watch Chicago PD or one of the many series made in the U.S. I am an American citizen, lived here my whole and many Americans are so pompous that they think every show should be made specifically for them. These are not the sophisticated type that love to watch films and series from other countries.
I find Hidden to be a hidden gem of a series. I have been watching British, Wales and Irish films for years on PBS, when available, but now with streaming I hardly watch American shows anymore. I have watched at least 50 series so far and Hidden is right up there at the top with my favorites like Vera, Scott and Bailey, Unforgotten, DCI Banks, Luther...
One other reason I like these shows is because unlike the U. S. The actors are made to look like normal people, rather than perfect Hollywood types in full makeup, thin and well dressed( that it not what most people look like.