starlight172006 Reviews

I Still Believe (2020)

A puzzling viewing experience

[6/10 · 23 March 2024]

I am usually not big on Christian romances and tearjerkers, but something pulled me in and I'm kind of glad it did. If you scratch the superficial varnish of the (flat, there's nothing deeper there than believing for the sake of believing) faith content and forget the sub-par writing that's running straight into unsubtle uses of the genre's clichés, the cast actually does a pretty decent job at convening emotions and giving a little bit of depth to this overused narrative (Love Story, A Walk To Remember, TFIOS to name but a few). It has its touching moments, even if at the end of the movie, a nagging sense of rage may appear at how faith is once again shown as this gigantic make believe system that requires no proof whatsoever that justice so much as exists. Melissa's death seemed to be presented as acceptable because it helped Adrienne, essentially reducing people as expendable toys easy to manipulate by a deity, defeating the supposed initial purpose of this movie. Still, for the actors undeniable alchemy, and for Gary Sinise's moving performance, it's worth a watch.

Christmas with You (2022)

Just a good Christmas movie

[8/10 · 26 November 2022]

It has all you need in a Christmas romance movie, and more : fun characters, true chemistry between the leads, a very good Christmas song, and overall, it's light and sweet and heartwarming, like a hot chocolate with tons of marshmallows and the greatest whipped cream on top of it. As far as Christmas tv goes, this is great. There's even a touch of modernity in how the supposedly enemies behave, which is refreshing. So go sum it up : awesome lead female, fantastic lead male, cute kid, hilarious grandma, great best friend to the lead female, strong story, solid touch of personal tragedy without it to big a downer, and it's the perfect length.

The Big Leap (2021)

Good entertainment but certainly plagued with clichés

[7/10 · 30 January 2022]

It's fun to watch. Most of the characters are compelling and interesting, the actors are pretty good, but it's recycling some tropes that are overused in this genre. Still, very watchable.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Subtle and fascinating take on manhood and its ramifications

[10/10 · 27 December 2021]

This is a slow burn that navigates, not unlike a torrential river running towards an eventual drought, inside the soul of a man and his brother, and how heavy and unforgiving manhood can be. It is raw, disturbing and extremely well built. Benedict Cumberbatch is simply extraordinary as this bully whose layers are to be peeled progressively, sometimes to show a keen sense of torture and manipulation, and sometimes to reveal something far deeper and more complicated. A masterpiece, but could we expect any less from Jane Campion ?

The Pharmacist (2020)

Important subject & catastrophic storytelling

[6/10 · 18 November 2021]

This could have been good but due to very questionable storytelling that focuses on all the wrong things, an essential subject-Purdue's greed that decimated an entire country through the release of OxyContin-gets lost into some odd true crime, quest for vengeance vibe that just gets in the way of the facts. As sympathetic as I am with Dan, the way he kept on getting in the way of the DEA investigation and recorded every single conversation is borderline clinically insane, and I felt immensely sad for his daughter and his wife who just became collateral damages of his obsession. The director truly needs a serious course on how to tell stories and not stretch thinner than thin an important subject.

Ted Lasso: Beard After Hours (2021) Season 2, Episode 9

Alice in wonderland...Well, Beard in London.

[10/10 · 25 September 2021]

I wish this was a one-off on the side, because it feels a little out of place on the season. But it is a fantastic episode, filled with movie references and extremely fun and touching moments. I loved it !

Dug Days (2021)

Adorable

[10/10 · 2 September 2021]

Just a good Pixar hug, with beloved characters in sweet situations. In these troubled times, it feels good to disconnect with something lovely. Sadly, this comes just as Ed Asner, Carl's voice, passed away, so this makes it bittersweet, but still...More sweet than bitter.

Central Park (2020–2022)

Season 1 is fantastic but...

[8/10 · 7 July 2021]

Okay, as a Bob's burgers fan, I have to say I really enjoy the whole awkward-but-loving family backstory and the songs are catchy as hell. Season one had a fantastic backstory / plot that made the whole thing fast paced and truly amazing, but somehow they dropped it in season 2 and even though I love the characters, my sparkling joy has been tainted and is slowly wearing me out. Come on Central Park, find back your soul !

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Part 33 (2019) Season 20, Episode 14

An amazingly different episode

[10/10 · 7 March 2021]

This one is different than the usual SVU flow. Instead of going through a normal timeline, this one revolves around a highly emotional case of a woman who killed her husband and whether she, too, was a victim. All four of SVU agents are stuck in a waiting room prior to testify, and they all wrestle against their own doubts, their conscience and their morality, and what consists a truth in the eyes of the law. The four of them argue heavily, and point at their own biases, giving us the opportunity to dig into their experiences both as cops and human beings. This episode is gripping, fascinating and questions the entire moral compass of the SVU.

Dark: Ein unendlicher Kreis (2019) Season 2, Episode 6

Breathtakingly beautiful.

[10/10 · 19 August 2020]

Words can't truly do justice to this episode, that's just a work of absolute perfection. Everything just becomes so clear and the emotions are almost too raw and intense to be fully comprehended. Jonas and Martha, then Jonas and his dad...The writing is out of this world, and the acting is just as good. This episode will haunt me for a very, very long time. I so wish I could rate it 11 stars. If not more.

Manifest: Pilot (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Promising start !

[9/10 · 2 March 2019]

In a strange yet compelling "This Is Us" meet "Lost" way, Manifest works really well from the pilot on. The core themes becomes clear within minutes, and the emotions are present right away thanks to a solid cast (Josh Dallas and Melissa Roxburgh are both fantastic as Ben and Michaela). It is extremely interesting to drop the sci-Fi side a little (but not too much) to explore the aftermath of flight 828 in a rather honest and grounded way, without ever going overboard with pathos and forced feelings. Characters are pretty well written, and it is easy to like them and forge a bond with them. The plot, even if it is something that modern fiction has observed and channeled for a while (missing planes and what happened to their passengers), remains fresh thanks to that 5.5 years twist, and the supernatural touch isn't phones or overwhelming. A very good start to a promising show !