Change Your Image
annbaldwin-55777
Reviews
The Suspect (2022)
COMPULSIVE VIEWING - IS HE GUILTY OR INNOCENT?
Excellent dramatisation of the first in Michael Robotham's series of Joe O'Loughlin stories. As in the book, the series grips you from the start & then keeps you hooked with all the twists & turns in the plot. Aidan Turner gives a powerful & heartrending performance as Joe, who has recently been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's. It's impossible to decide if he is guilty or innocent. But gradually, as the series progresses, other possible suspects for the murder become evident. For all those who mistakenly insist on only thinking of Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark, watch this & think again. As with every character he plays, he totally becomes that person....he IS Joe O'Loughlin.
Life After Life (2022)
Superb Adaptation
Life After Life on BBC2 is undoubtedly the best adaptation/drama series I've seen on tv for a very long time. Superb acting by the entire cast & wonderful production values. Binge watched the entire series on iPlayer & worth the licence fee alone just for a drama like this!!
Leonardo (2021)
Visually Stunning Dramatisation
Visually stunning to look at & Aidan Turner perfectly conveys the sometimes tortured soul of the genius that was Leonardo da Vinci. The chemistry between him & Matilda de Angelis, who plays Caterina, is wonderful. Unfortunately, Freddie Highmore as the detective Giraldi, is totally miscast. It's important to remember it's a drama about Leonardo's life, not a documentary, so don't expect 100% historical accuracy in this series, there are some glaring distortions of the truth. However it is an enjoyable series & certainly worth watching.
The Secret Scripture (2016)
A DARK HISTORY THAT NEEDED TO BE TOLD
Superb adaptation of Sebastian Barry's book. It tells the story of Ireland's dark, and for years deliberately hidden, history with regard to the inhuman attitudes towards & treatment of unmarried mothers & their babies. Excellent performances from all but Vanessa Redgrave is simply outstanding.
And Then There Were None (2015)
BRILLIANT RETELLING OF CHRISTIE'S CLASSIC WHODUNIT
This is a brilliant retelling of Agatha Christie's classic Whodunit that's keeps you guessing right to the end and provides numerous heart stopping moments and red herrings along the way. The cast are uniformly excellent and the scenery throughout is unrivalled. Aidan Turner is particularly noteworthy as Philip Lombard. Totally amoral, brutally honest yet, as ever, his superbly nuanced acting reveals an underlying hint of vulnerability. This imo, is the best of all the recent Christie adaptations, it remains true to the original yet has a wonderful 21st century feel to it.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)
Thought provoking study of Loss, Love, Integrity & Honour
Contrary to some I enjoyed the film enormously. It's not an 'adventure' as some have mistakenly imagined but it is incredibly thought provoking. It's a very cleverly written insight into love & loss, regrets, personal honour & integrity & actually reduced me to tears a number of times. It does leave a number of unanswered questions & I agree there are a few flaws. But, to an extent, some of these 'questions' serve to make us examine our own lives more closely. Aidan Turner is excellent as the young, nervous, diffident Calvin Barr & Sam Elliott equally so as the older, world weary man, with Caitlin FitzGerald very good as the younger Calvin's girlfriend. There's one scene with her which is incredibly poignant. I actually think this is one of Sam Elliott's best ever performances.
Love Is Blind (2019)
Poignant & Uplifting Romance
A truly beautiful & thought provoking film. In spite of the title this is not merely a simple love story. It is delightfully quirky but, just as importantly, it has a wealth of emotional depth & really gets you thinking & questioning your own vision of life. The cinematography & music is beautiful & the acting is superb throughout, especially from the two leads - Aidan Turner & Shannon Tarbet. The characters come alive & you find yourself totally invested in what happens to them. Highly recommended.