Change Your Image
nicolekapl
Reviews
Black Mirror: The National Anthem (2011)
Skip this episode!!!
This was traumatizing, awful television. I won't bother rehashing the plot, many other reviews do. Suffice it to say, there is nothing about sexual assault that is compelling. I feel like I just watched a sniff film. I'm all for dark, challenging art but this was sick. I will say, one of the reasons it was so upsetting is because the performances are very good. Heartbreaking because they were so genuine.
I started watching this series somewhat accidentally starting with the current season's first episode (Joan is Awful- which was incredible!!). I'll be going back to season 6 now and hope the next ep I watch isn't so disturbing.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Disneys best live action!
A total home run! Casting was brilliant and so thoughtful. Not only in doing so in a richly diverse way, but they also got truly excellent actors and musical theater singers. They didn't fall into the trap of casting for names. Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-Kong are skilled actors with powerful vocals (and sing in the musical theater style which other movie musicals think you don't need).
Rob Marshall's direction was fine with love for the original while also taking it a different, live movie version appropriate. He clearly did not want to go cartoony, so while there were a lot of choices that mimicked the original, there were others that made really smart adjustments to keep it in a more realistic, slightly darker world. There were lines here and there that added so much depth to both Ariel and Eric's character.
It's magical and perfectly executed- from choreography, to diverse representation, hair design, acting, singing, and direction. I can't wait to see it again!
Grantchester: Episode #4.5 (2019)
Best episode of the series!
Hopefully viewers are still watching after the totally bizarre and inconsistent withdraw of Sydney Chambers because this episode is brilliant! From start to finish the story is gripping, achingly beautiful and gut wrenching at the same time and jam packed with story. I can't believe it was only 50 min long.
We get a glimpse into Will's backstory and his life pre-church which was anything but wholesome. The mystery this episode is deeply personal to Will so the clues are put together while sorting through the baggage of his past. Meanwhile, Geordie is putting together clues of his own of his wife's colleague's harassing behavior, and hopefully being the husband and partner we all want him to be.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016)
Completely nuts.
There are some plot holes in the original text, sure, but what this film tries to wedge in and twist around is just BONKERS. In the name of being clever they've rendered the story nonsensical.