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TheSilverStreak
Reviews
Cassandro (2023)
Not my favorite
I must have missed something here. I was able to follow the plot and the main characters, but I kept waiting for an exciting moment to happen that, for me, never happened. I don't know if this was supposedly based on a true story. If so, and if it was truthful, perhaps this gent's story just didn't blow my skirt up. If not, the writer(s) need(s) to consider something with more teeth. Sorry, but as a viewer, I was thoroughly underwhelmed. The performances were just ok. The sets and scenery were brutal, as I'm sure they were intended to be, so I'll give them points for that.
----SPOILER ALERT------
The romance was really cliche and has been done so many times, I yawned my way through it. So the main character is a Boy On The Side and his very handsome, closeted boyfriend chooses to stay with his wife and kids instead of leaving them for a heavy drinking, heavy drugging, pushing-forty-something whose mission in life is to be the Liberace of the Mexican professional wrestling circuit. I'm shocked. It was presented as if the only thing the main character had to offer his boyfriend was a sexual outlet. He never stood a chance. ZZZzzzzz. I really don't get the positive reviews, but to each their own.
Notes of Autumn (2023)
Luke Macfarlane needs a new agent
There are several memes floating around out there, poking fun at a predictable, 'spin the wheel' tool one could use to write a Hallmark movie script in three easy steps. You've seen them. First, you identify the qualifying condition to describe the central character, such as 'career-oriented' or 'recently-single.' Next, choose the career of the central character, such as 'school teacher' or 'artist.' In the film, this person always returns to their hometown for the purpose of (spin the wheel here) 'saving the family business' or 'attending a school friend's wedding.' The character then always falls in love, and here you get to pick their new romantic partner, such as 'the town's gorgeous and strangely-single lumberjack' or 'the newly widowed music teacher.' If you haven't seen the memes, you've undoubtedly seen the Hallmark film. If it's not set during the winter holidays, it's probably during autumn.
"Notes of Autumn" is right down there with the worst of them.
The plot is so predictable and thin, you can leave the room for twenty minutes while the show runs, and come back into the room not feeling as if you've missed anything.
---- SPOILER ALERT ----
The only difference here is that one of the central characters meets a same-sex date. Oh, and they actually kiss. Maybe twice.
Luke Macfarlane is actually a pretty good actor. But his talents are again wasted here. This show wasn't as painful to watch as Bros. You'll just fall asleep quicker here.
The Menu (2022)
I did not enjoy this film.
Ralph Fiennes and John Leguizamo were just okay. Anya Taylor-Joy and Hong Chau were good. The rest of the on-screen talent was wasted.
I felt the script had been chopped up, leaving resulting plot holes. Not sure if this was in the word-crafting and/or editing, but too many times my companion and I looked at one another wondering if we misunderstood a line or if it was just a mess unfolding on the screen.
I'm quite certain the discomfort we sometimes felt watching this was intentional. So mission accomplished there. But I'm an educated, free-thinking adult who is already aware of how cruel people can be and how the class/caste systems of today's society is still unfair to many. If it was the filmmaker's desire to provoke our thinking, they failed. If they wanted to entertain us, double-fail. Don't lecture your audience. It's bad form. Sort of like this film.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Could have been much better
I enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue, but had hoped for more. Right off the bat, personally, I felt there were two major flaws.
First, while he did a fairly decent job, I feel Taylor Zakhar Perez was miscast. I don't know the actual age of the character, but it seemed Perez was playing someone much younger than he looked. And for me, he just wasn't really believable in the role. I don't mean to say that he came off as insincere, but I felt as if I was watching someone 'act'.
SPOILER BELOW!!! -------
The other major flaw in my book was the Sarah Shahi character bursting into the gents' hotel room. That would have never happened. And Shahi's rant was just poorly written and thoroughly unbelievable. A president's adult son was never be treated that way, nor would the Prince of England, by anyone other than perhaps the parents, Royals included, who would never have burst into their room in the first place The whole scene was a mess and broke the film for me from that point forward.
I agree with many others in that this looked like a Hallmark movie. And yes, it's lovely to see lead characters who are LGBT+. But c'mon, can we please try a bit harder next time? Cheers.
Full Circle (2023)
I should have trusted my instinct and not watched it
Full Circle is a mess. I finished the first episode, thinking I'd skip the rest. But my Hub convinced me to sit through each and every episode, assuring me, "It has to get better." Wrong.
I'm not sure of the material's origin. (Read: It was so bad, I don't care.) It seems as if the script was passed around a dozen tweens who each added a page before passing it around the circle. So many plot holes. So much mundane dialogue. It seems to have been (mercifully) shortened from a much longer (read: even more boring) story.
O. K., so the script is terrible. But what's left had me (briefly) wondering whether the direction, acting or casting were also at fault. I can only conclude this: Unless this was chopped to death in editing against the director's wishes (unlikely), the direction was poor. The casting and acting? The only two performances that I felt noteworthy were those of Aida (as Natalia) and Sheyi Cole (as Xavier). The rest of the acting talent was wasted or just poorly executed.
I don't usually spend any time writing negative reviews. But I wasted several hours watching this and thought it would be kind to make a small effort to warn others before they do the same.
The Prom (2020)
Very slightly imperfect, but otherwise wonderful
I don't get the haters on here. Sure, it got a little long in spots, but when was the last time you saw a blockbuster musical film like this? The production was insanely over the top (in a good way) and most of the performances were terrific. We loved it.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)
Just what US and A needs right now
Yes, it's heavily political. Yes, some scenes will shock you. But considering we're days away from what may be the most important election of our lives, I believe this is a great tool to remind us of some of the horrible things going on of which we have become desensitized. Watch it asap!
Breeders (2020)
Hilarious!
It might be a little more relatable for parents (which we are), as opposed to those who have not been blessed with their own little bundles of joy... Exceptionally well written and acted. Perfectly cast. Can't wait to watch more episodes!
Los Espookys (2018)
Hysterically Funny!
This is a completely new brand of comedy that leaves me begging for more at the end of each episode. If you're a fan of "At Home with Amy Sedaris" or John Waters' films, you'll instantly get it. Very creative team of writers & performers. Watch it!