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Reviews
Mr Inbetween (2018)
I'll never look at a steel ruler the same again!
This true crime dramedy has some truly hilarious scenes. Mr. Inbetween does suffer from a slow start and a narrative arc that meanders in incoherent ways at points. His brutally honest conversations with his daughter are pure comedic gold. Though, Gary and Freddy are more cringe-worthy than funny. Some of their scenes, while definitely real, are hard to stomach. That said, the show is certainly worth a watch.
Magic (1978)
Gripping Portrayal of a Descent into Madness
Anthony Hopkins shines as Corky, an anti-social entertainer. He desperately craves success; only ironically achieving it by means that doom him. This film is also light-years ahead of its time in its treatment of mental illness. Ben Greene, kingmaker, oscillates from indulgence of perceived brilliance to sheer horror of Corky's psychosis. He astutely observes that Corky's only chance is admitting his failings and seeking help to correct them. However, Greene fails to account for the stigma that will follow Corky forever if reported. Corky tragically misreads this extended hand as an imminent threat to everything he's strived to achieve. Beyond this point, Corky is truly lost. He descends deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of his insanity. Each step he takes he believes he is moving closer to salvation when in reality he is further damning himself. This colorful portrait of mental illness deserves far better than critics' lazy reviews of a ventriloquist "taken over" by his dummy.
The Comey Rule (2020)
Could have been better
The only person this story attempts to understand is James Comey. While no doubt a partisan catharsis, it makes for a poor story. The narrative needed a deeper exploration of its characters' personalities, motivations, and goals. That said, I had no problem with the acting. Jeff Daniels and Brendon Gleeson perform brilliantly. Gleeson, for his part, writes the book on how to act as Donald Trump in this movie. His work puts Alec Baldwin's mockery to shame.