ordtilthomas Reviews

The Crown: Aftermath (2023) Season 6, Episode 4

Death by carelessness

[3/10 · 24 November 2023]

As a series that from the very outset has been so strenuously strung out between the Royal institution it seeks to portray and the inner workings of the individuals within it THE CROWN has gained its deserved popularity from a (mostly) striking a fine balance between historical facts and entertaining dramatization.

Audiences has long since accepted that this examination of one of the world's most private families will always be almost entirely guesswork. But in the best episodes of the show the private emotional storylines strike as being both humanly recognizable and plausible.

In this regard this episode's choice to resurrect Diana in a series of post mortem epilogues with the main characters is a sad catastrophe. Even the overly dramatic focus on the Diana tragedy is fully understandable in a primarily entertainment series given the actual impact it had on a global scale as it happened - but the directional and writing decisions of this storyline will forever taint one of the greatest series of the golden streaming age. I makes me sad.

Reptile (2023)

Better to try and not entirely suceed, than...

[7/10 · 11 October 2023]

This exact type of film could so easily have been cliched to death like so many streaming endeavors before it - but Grant, Brewer and Del Toro along with the rest of the excellent cast puts great efforts into creating a different point of view relying more on atmosphere and the main character's feeling of being slowly pulled into the swamp, throughout striving for more creative and narrative driven shooting and editing. In some regards the plot and the coherence doesn't quite carry all the way, but it still makes for an interesting and much more cinematic experience than your average streaming detective story.

1899 (2022)

Would someone please remove the crack from the writer's room?!?

[3/10 · 18 March 2023]

It's hard to come up with a sequel to a masterpiece. It's even harder to come up with a more disappointing incoherent follow up to Baran Bo Odar and Jantje Friese's 'Dark' (2017), which was a surprise hit with its original mix of sci-fi fantasy and human emotions.

As tempting it might be to conjure up 'a simulation where nothing follows rules of logic' it rarely makes for a compelling story.

Even Limitlessness must have its limits - or it simply becomes meaninglessness.

Yes, 1899 strong visuals, has good performances and enticing ideas - obviously not expense was spared - but the endless number of incoherences and breaking and bending the rules of its own rambling story universe drags 1899 to a bottomless void of unintended ridiculousness.

Too bad, really.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Dog with no bite

[7/10 · 8 April 2022]

Strong performances and simply stunning cinematography can quite conceal a disapointingly weak screenplay which come up short on character obstacles that's actually happening during the story. The result is a somewhat straight story, that never really makes us root for anyone. Unfortunately, because cast, director and cinematographer are clearly capable.

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)

Off to a promising start

[8/10 · 5 November 2021]

For that kidnapping scene alone, this movie will be worth your time. Early traces of what's to come. A little gem for aficionados of Bong. Everything is still not in its right place, but all the pieces are there and the comic relief is overwhelming at times.

Secret in Their Eyes (2015)

Another Sad American Remake

[4/10 · 30 April 2021]

They're are too often too weak and drained for whatever made the original original - but this disaster is so lifeless and stripped of anything beyond the desperate actors trying to breathe life into this badly interpreted adaptation.

Please watch the original instead.

Unlocked (I) (2017)

LUA - Lazy Unintelligence Agency

[4/10 · 14 January 2020]

This is SO sloppily written and directed. Lots of great talent at hand is absolutely wasted in this patronizing tale of unlikely events. Sad really. I simply don't know how film like this ever see the light of day.

And Orlando Bloom, you really need to talk to your agent (NO pun intended)

Come and Find Me (2016)

What could have been

[5/10 · 14 December 2019]

The proof test of this kind of movie blueprint always lies in the reveal at the end. When done well it's a very fulfilling genre. This one fails miserably at the finish line - too bad, really. Could have been.