pennyjune Reviews

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

Couldn't stop watching

[9/10 · 8 May 2024]

Exhilarating, bizarre, absurd -- and a ton of fun. I wasn't sure about this one, at first, but I am glad I gave it a chance. From the beginning when Chloe Moritz, playing a female pilot, arrives at an airfield base to get on a military plane, the atmosphere is slightly haunting. She carries a mysterious, top-secret package, but regardless of the importance of her mission, she finds herself fending off jeers and taunts of the men on the plane, because, well, it was the 1940s. Soon enough, I got caught up in the action and incredible events to follow. Great acting by Chloe and perfect ending. You'll have to suspend your disbelief for this one, but it will be worth it. Recommended for thrills and action.

1883 (2021–2022)

Emotional and nearly flawless

[10/10 · 10 April 2024]

Well, I made the mistake of watching the last episode first, only because I clicked on it like a dummy(!), not paying attention to the fact that someone else in the house had just finished it. Still, not having any up of the back story, I found it mesmerizing, and by the end I was crying buckets. What a treat to realize my mistake and go back and start with episode one!

Imho, this is the best production on tv that I've seen in a great while. Kudos to Taylor Sheridan for the amazing writing and realistic scenes of how the grueling journey west may have seemed. I love it when shows don't over-explain, and this one doesn't. That may be an understatement. The myths and legends of strong, hardened men of the west with few words is probably true. How Sam Elliott pulls out a believable character while using few words is a marvel to watch. Is Clare James' sister? I would guess so, but I don't recall any reference to that, and I thank the writers for not injecting "sis" into the dialog in a patronizing attempt to explain why she was on the journey.

I love the narration, all the acting is top notch, and the background score is perfection. My one reservation, small that it is, is that people in those days did not have fluorescent, perfect teeth. Isabel May is a phenomenal young actor, but she looks a bit too modern with her perfect eyebrows and bleached hair (it looked bleached, to me, maybe it isn't). Same with Faith Hill -- teeth too bright and perfect. But I'm not going to let those little annoyances affect my perfect 10 rating. I'd probably give it more, if I could.

Ripley (2024)

That cat

[10/10 · 7 April 2024]

All eyes are on the "talented" Thomas Ripley, from the gargoyles and statues to that wonderful cat in his hotel. Shot in such a way that you feel you are there, you notice all the supporting pieces (and sounds), like the heavy glass ashtray, the creaky old lift and newspaper kiosks that set the stage and mood of mid-century Italy.

I don't know when I have ever watched such a gorgeous production, and the intrigue is through the roof in this one. Not sure Matt Damon's performance in the earlier version can be topped, but Andrew Scott is a close second. Patience is required, because it is a long series but ultimately rewarding.

I was hoping the scenes in Italy would be in color, because... Italy, come on! But I soon accepted the black and white format and now I don't think of it any other way.

Bravo for a series actually worth watching on Netflix that was made for adults!

Fool Me Once (2024)

Intriguing plot done poorly

[5/10 · 3 January 2024]

I'm probably about three-quarters through, and I'll stick it out just because I want to see how it wraps up. I wonder if Harlan Coben is ever consulted on the scripts for his adaptations. I would be embarrassed if I were him. If you can get past the bad writing in this adaptation and just go with the plot, you'll be okay. You can't blame the actors, who do a decent job. The issues I have with this production are too many to list.

Did the writers deliberately try to make Maya seem uneducated, or did third graders write this: "Me and Lily will be fine." "Me and Judith don't get along." Good grief.

So many things don't ring true with the characters' behaviors, it's ridiculous. What's with the male friend who is always hanging around Maya and her daughter, and why does she just accept that (I wouldn't). How does he get into her house, like he lives there? Why does she go off sleuthing on her own, not sharing clues with the detective, who seems sympathetic? Oh yes, and we have the obligatory gay cop. Gotta get that in there.

I always watch Harlan Coben's adaptations and I do like most of them, but this one is just pretty dumb.

Deep Water (2019– )

I liked it

[8/10 · 2 January 2024]

Once you get past the first episode, which honestly was not so good, the show gets very complex and interesting, and well acted. I thought the script and direction was brilliant once the three women found themselves entangled in their own family dramas which also related to and affected the other two. There would be no way to untangle the mess made by their predicaments, or so I thought. Add the missing child mystery, and I was hooked. Note to British filmmakers: it's really okay to have a straight female cop. Really.

My vote is thumbs up for an interesting script and good actors, despite a few scenes that didn't resonate with me, but who knows what we'd do in their situations. Huge thumbs up watching Roz finally getting the picture without having it spelled out for us. That's good acting.

May December (2023)

Just Okay

[6/10 · 4 December 2023]

The actors do a phenomenal job in this film.

And it has all the makings of a deep psychological drama; however, it never quite gets there. I am afraid the ridiculous music spoiled it for me, and I almost didn't finish watching for that reason.

Most of the movie meanders about for no good reason, and somehow I think we are supposed to care about the characters. I didn't. By the end, I had some sympathy only for the husband, who may or may not have been raising butterflies for the sole purpose of feeling a sense of freedom when he released them.

As for Julianne Moore's character, I tried to reserve judgment, but there's only so much I could stand. Nothing is more frustrating than a person who claims innocence while their actions prove anything but. I just wish the film would have gone deeper and with a tighter script.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Good cast

[7/10 · 27 October 2023]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. I find that convincing and genuinely funny comedies are few and far between. Plus, humor is subjective, just like one's taste in music. I recall laughing at The Producers many years ago, and a recent one with Melissa McCarthy, and that's about it. As a satire, though, sometimes comedy will hit the mark, and this one does.

In a nutshell, two scientists discover that a comet is heading toward Earth, and they become frustrated at the government's lack of concern. I appreciated the heartfelt and human moments of the main characters, played by Leonardo DeCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, while Streep's president and her advisors were clearly ridiculous, and that made for a nice balance.

Could be wrong, but there is a concert scene that I viewed as mocking a certain performer's extravagant, arrogant and over-the-top performances, and deservedly so. What does it matter when we're all doomed, anyway? People think too much of themselves! The final scene was touching and worth staying to the end (it is a long movie).

The Bad Batch (2016)

Strange but Good

[8/10 · 14 October 2023]

I originally had no intention of watching this film, as the thought of canabalism really bothers me. Then I had second thoughts and hit play mostly out of curiosity, thinking that what if the dystopian theme (which I usually love) makes up for any grossness? Nope! Right off the bat, we are treated to one of the most disturbing scenes I've ever seen in film. I swallowed my distaste and kept watching, mainly because I wanted to see what happens to Suki Waterhouse's character, and throughout the movie she kept me transfixed. You feel sympathy for her situation, even though she doesn't appear to be the sharpest tool in the shed. But she grows cannier, sharpened by a strong will to survive.

However, the movie is not all about her. There is a lot to unpack if you stay with it. There is the depiction of a dystopian society of criminals and outcasts living on desert lands where they've been exiled, with no hope of escape or rescue, and the different societal structures they've carved out. Overall, I thought it was beautifully filmed and mesmerizing and deserves a thumbs up.

The Wife (I) (2017)

Good Performances

[17 August 2023]

I suppose I am a bad feminist, because I didn't relate to this movie much. Glenn Close as the wife gave an excellent and believable performance, and I liked Annie Stark as her younger self (Close's real life daughter). Max Irons as their son was good, as always. One issue I had is that the couple's children seemed far too young for these much older, gray-haired parents, and I kept trying to do the math in my head. The one performance I did not like at all was Jonathan Pryce. I felt he over-acted, but then I tend to think he always does (maybe it's just me). I wish I liked the movie overall, but it left me feeling uncomfortable and failing to see the point. The affairs of the husband angle is just too cliche. Should I feel sympathy with the wife? Wish I could, but no. And without that, it left me cold.

65 (2023)

I really liked it

[9/10 · 12 July 2023]

I don't have a lot of patience for boredom; who does? But boring this movie is not! I didn't expect much going in, given the mixed reviews, but it really delivered in terms of suspense and edge-of-seat thrills. I will admit that you must suspend belief for the most part, but let's not forget it is science fiction! Pitch Black is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi films, and if you like that one, you'll probably like this one.

Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt give outstanding performances. The CGI was pretty good. I'm not sure that portraying dinosaurs as "evil" rather than hungry, which is how they came across, seems very accurate, but who knows... we weren't there 65 million years ago. That and a few unbelievable elements (Driver conveniently has everything and the kitchen sink in that backpack) keep me from giving this a ten. I don't see how anyone could not be entertained by this film.

The Rental (2020)

Suspenseful

[8/10 · 18 June 2023]

Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. There is nothing boring about this movie. The acting is very good, and the story, as it moves along, builds to a nail-biting conclusion. I'm not sure why other reviewers had trouble with the characters. It's a horror movie, not The Sound of Music. We don't need to like the characters to become invested in the story. Alison Brie is always so good, and she's no different here. That said, I was a bit perplexed at the casual introduction of drugs at one point, as though it's an accepted form of recreation for vacationers. Really?

Suspenseful thrillers are my favorite genre, and this was done very well. Kudos to Dave Franco. Almost everything about the production impressed me. Eight stars for keeping me watching. Thumbs down on the drug element (although it wasn't a huge part of the film, just unnecessary and a bit unbelievable).

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)

Beautiful and Touching

[10/10 · 29 May 2023]

I have never been a fan of Shonda shows, which I feel are dumbed down for American audiences (or maybe that's just how she writes). However, this one blew me away unexpectedly with the overall quality. (I hope this will be a new direction for her.) I found the love story at the heart of this production to be very well executed. As other viewers have mentioned, the repetitive scenes gnawed at me slightly, but nothing is perfect, and this series is as near perfect as it could be. Add to it that the story is based on history, and I am in swoon mode. I haven't seen anything as compelling since the wonderful Versailles (also on Netflix).

King George is acted very well, and the actor is extremely handsome and, well, hot -- where did they find this guy? Queen Charlotte less so (she reminded me of a pre-teen), so I didn't necessarily buy the chemistry at first -- but she acted her heart out, so it hardly mattered in the end. Every actor was perfection. I especially enjoyed Brimsley and Reynolds.

I can't stop thinking about the ballroom scenes, gorgeous orchestral music and dances. The ending brought tears to my eyes in a happy way. I guess if you are a hopeless romantic like I am, the issues that others have with this series I am willing to overlook, because to me, it's just that good.

The English (2022)

Can't stop thinking about it

[10/10 · 20 November 2022]

Beautiful, brutal, realistic, well acted, heart wrenching ... it gets under your skin. I haven't been this moved by a western since "The Searchers" many years ago. The series has a well-crafted feel. Reviewers who pan it are showing little artistic appreciation, but that's okay, because it's not going to be for everyone. I marvelled at the direction and cinemaphotography. If you have even a little romantic bone in your body, give it a go. I was crying buckets toward the end.

The only slight downside, for me, was that I felt I needed to turn on subtitles occasionally. A few heavy accents made it hard to understand at times, but this is a minor point. Overall, it's the best series I've seen in years. I wish it could be seen theaters for full appreciation of the beautiful cinematography.

Sanditon (2019–2023)

Season Two Disappointing

[5/10 · 6 August 2022]

Not up to Masterpiece standards, I'm afraid. I found season two predictable and lacking in artistry. As much as I loved the characters in season one, they fell flat in this one. Not the actors' fault; it was the writing. However, Anne Reid is a delight, and her role was as good as Maggie Smith's in Downton Abby. The way it ended was like the writers realized they needed to add a wrench to spice things up, but it felt contrived. Sigh. Please do better with Season Three!

Grantchester (2014–2025)

Loyal viewer

[8/10 · 26 July 2022]

I am loyal to the show, and while I understand some of the complaints, I still think it's reliable, easy viewing. My Sunday night comfy chair, if you will. My own chief complaint is that I'm a little tired of the obvious box ticking in terms of cast, much of which adds nothing and serves as a distraction only because it's over done. That said, I do like Tom Brittney as the vicar, even though they try too hard to make him seem edgy. As for Robson Green, always a fan! Leonard is priceless, of course, the best part of the show.

Elvis (2022)

Phenomenal!

[9/10 · 20 July 2022]

I didn't know anything about Elvis's childhood or his start in the business, and that part was mesmerizing. Would have given 10 stars if it focused more on Elvis and less on Colonel Tom Parker. The movie is extremely atmospheric and gorgeous. Maybe a bit frenetic at times, but I think it that's because it tried to pack in too much. It wrapped up beautifully, and Austin Butler deserves an award for a riveting performance.

Love & Anarchy (2020–2022)

Couldn't love it more

[10/10 · 25 June 2022]

I finished the two seasons that were available and wanted to go back and watch it all over again. Loved the two lead characters, whose chemistry was very believable. Clever, funny and heartbreaking all at once. Sometimes it's challenging with subtitles, and especially while watching comedies, since so much depends on facial expressions, but I didn't mind occasionally rewinding. Best series I've watched this year by far.

Young Wallander (2020–2022)

Very good

[10/10 · 30 March 2022]

I'm picky about detective dramas, and this is a good one. Well-acted with characters you care about. I am used to Adam Pallson's accent, having watched him in other Swedish productions. It may have been a bit strange that a Swedish show is done in English, but the storylines are gripping enough that you soon forget about it. I was ready to continue on with season 3, but it looks like there isn't one, yet anyway. Let's hope it gets renewed!

Better Than Us (2018–2019)

Very Good

[8/10 · 20 January 2022]

I enjoyed this Sci-Fi series! Arisa, the robot, is simply wonderful. I became a fan of Paulina Andreevna in the series The Method (or Metod) on Netflix (and wonder when they'll ever show the latest season!). I do feel the episodes could have been tightened up, because the story never seems to end, not that I wanted it to necessarily. But end it does, and satisfactorily. Strangely, the cars, buildings and clothing are all present day, and you'd never know it is futuristic if it weren't for drones constantly buzzing around in the sky, impractical transparent devices and wrist phones embedded into the skin. If the excellent novel by Kazuro Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun, ever gets adapted to the screen, they'll have their lead with Paulina. She's perfect. The other actors are good, as well. Bravo for an entertaining and thought-provoking series with some camp, as well.

The Girl from Oslo (2021– )

Suspenseful and exciting

[8/10 · 15 January 2022]

I don't get the negative reviews here, but maybe I'm just not that familiar with the middle east and how things are over there. Regardless, if you like suspense, this one had me biting my nails. I'm glad it's several episodes, because it gives me something to look forward to in the evenings. There are disturbing scenes and frustrating ones, but I didn't find anything wrong with the acting. I am a very picky viewer and won't even tune into anything if it's not well done, so I honestly don't understand why others didn't appreciate it. Norwegian programs are usually far better than silly American stuff. Try Witch Hunt (with subtitles, of course) for another absorbing Norwegian program, although I did like this one better. Happy viewing!

The Silent Sea (2021)

Gripping and beautiful

[9/10 · 1 January 2022]

Starts off a bit slow but builds momentum. I became hooked. Contrary to some other reviews, I found it the opposite of boring! Do give it a chance. (I always watch with subtitles, never dubbing, for what it's worth.) The premise might seem far-fetched to some, but I didn't find it out of the realm of possibility. After all, we don't know what the future brings. Great acting and effects. Not too much sci-fi mumbo jumbo, like reaching into the air for calculations that magically appear, but the astronauts wear wrist screens that seem more realistic. Another element to a series that I always appreciate is the music, and it's very, very good here. Well done, and thank you, South Korea!

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Excellent

[10/10 · 1 January 2022]

Jane Campion's movies always end up being some of my favorites, even though I wish she'd step it up in terms of pacing. What takes place here is extremely subtle, but if you pay attention and not drift off, you'll understand the ending. Superior acting, especially Benedict Cumberbatch.

Hellbound (2021– )

Different and Unforgettable

[9/10 · 1 January 2022]

Well, I can't seem to get those "monsters" out of my head. I am not a fan of fantasy, superpower stuff, or horror. However, as I got into it, I began to view them not as actual demons, but more as a metaphor for the unknown, for catastrophic events or metaphysical chaos (for lack of a better word), over which we have no control. Live one day, die the next. If you make it several episodes in, you'll recognize the one where I drew this conclusion. I believe it's humanity's insufferable need to "know" that fuels religion, along with egotism, money and power. Stick with it and you'll see what I mean. You have to watch beyond the first two episodes to get what's going on. I would never let children watch, though. I am a grown adult, and it almost gave me nightmares.

Halston (2021)

Okay

[5/10 · 26 May 2021]

One-dimensional portrayal. It doesn't get interesting until the last few episodes when it gets real. Before that, it's all chain-smoking, snorting, chin-in-the-air haughtiness, prancing around, partying, you get the idea. The only glimpse we get of his artistic vision and process, really, is his exclaiming about it. I would have loved to see more of the artist inside, not his superficial affectations. Ewan is a great actor, but this was a miss for me.

Away (2020)

Good Drama

[7/10 · 2 January 2021]

I thought I'd tuned in for a space/sci-fi adventure, but it became more than that. Despite the obvious script faults that others have pointed out (a bit of ridiculous stereotyping, etc.), the acting was top notch and the human drama of the astronaut's lives sucked me in. Not saying it was perfect, but it was several evenings well spent.