Change Your Image
dewberrydays
Reviews
Do You Believe? (2015)
Ham-Fisted Christian Propaganda with Racist Undertones
I say this as a christian and as someone who mostly agrees with the film's message - this film was not good. It played into some really disgusting racist tropes i've seen in other christian films (Black ppl portrayed as dangerous criminals, white pastors "saving" Black criminals from themselves), and i honestly don't know why in the world someone as talented as Mira Sorvino would grace this film with her presence. Films like this one always sacrifice story for the sake of the message, which is why no one outside the faith watches anything pure flix (lol) makes. And even the messaging is so ham-fisted that the only people it will ever reach are people who already believe. Maybe it's good enough for believers who aren't particularly cultured or for those are more interested in a lesson than a compelling story but no christian film like this is ever going to reach the masses. Film is art; this was a bible lesson, not a film. I have only ever seen a few good films that had christian themes. The narnia films, women talking, first reformed, doubt, in the name of, boy erased, and a few others. They were good because they featured compelling stories, deep characters, and the messaging didn't hit you over the head with a frying pan. As it did in this film. It's just awful.
A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019)
anyone else find Amber insufferable?
I love rewatching these films over the holidays each year despite knowing they're utterly mediocre and predictable. The ordinary American girl meets prince of a small country plot has certainly been done before (hello The Prince & Me), but the added mystery element does elevate the films, even if the resolution to each mystery is fairly unsurprising. However, after numerous rewatches, i find Amber to be somewhat insufferable as a protagonist. The films are notably feminist, but it's white feminism and nothing at all new. After all, she's still marrying into what appears to be a mostly absolute monarchy. Parliament seemed to play a role in the first film but in the second it was the King making policy. So that aspect of the films, of Amber being some revolutionary queen, rings really hollow. But it's not that that bugs me. I generally love Rose McIver, but my god. In this film, Amber is super quick to judge her best friend for falling in love with the reformed Simon, and also super quick to assume that Simon must be behind the missing treaty. When she goes into labor and the doctor calls to say she is stuck in the snow, and Richard decides to run to her aid, Amber says, "but the baby is coming!!" like... do you want to do this without the doctor?? Completely irrational. And then there's the curse. The fact that she seems to completely but into the story of the curse over the course of the film, despite multiple mature adults telling her it's just superstition, is alarming. Like come ON gurlfriend.
Anyway LOVE Princess Emily as always.
Five Days at Memorial: Day Five (2022)
Absolutely Devastating Television
Best episode of the series so far. It's the lowest of the low. The pets. The patients who were left behind. The nurses who refused to give up on their patients. Rarely has an episode of television made me this emotional. The performances - especially Jones and the nurses and patients in minor roles - were electric. The moment when the woman was forced to leave her mother to die at LifeCare broke me. And although the euthanizing of pets was heartwrenching, it was even more devastating when the couple who put their dog down realized that other people were being allowed to evacuate with their pets. This is harrowing, powerful, top-tier TV. Extremely hard to watch, but necessary.
A League of Their Own (2022)
Queer Joy
I know, I know. Lotta folks have reboot/remake fatigue. I hear you. I have it too. I was super skeptical of this series. But now that I have watched the entire season (which I recommend doing before reviewing 😬) I have to say that I loved it. It started a little slowly, but after a few episodes I was hooked. I know the original film is beloved, and anytime you have deeply beloved source material, it can be difficult to adjust to a new story within that same world (though, historically-speaking, if you've researched the women's baseball leagues that rose up during WW2, you know that this series is much more true to life than the film was). To me, this wasn't a reboot or remake. Rather, the show highlights forgotten stories that the film dared not tell. It expanded on the original by focusing on stories the film mostly shut out: the stories of queer women and POC. I know, I know. I can already hear folks accusing the creators of "woke-ifying" the story. But it isn't woke. When people (usually white folks) call something "woke" they're typically complaining about the fact that non-straight white people have been included in the telling of a specific story. That's not woke. It's just inclusive. And inclusivity is a good thing. There were many queer women in this league, but the film never told their stories. It's only fitting that those stories get told now, when acceptance of LGBTQ people is at an all-time high. I understand that straight, white viewers might be disappointed that there wasn't more straight white representation, but there's plenty of that in the film and in 95% of all media. You may not know what it's like to not see yourself represented on screen. For once, the stories of queer folks and POC dominate the narrative. When you've never experienced oppression, equality feels like oppression. But this is one of the first television shows I have ever watched to feature this many queer main characters. To see the profound struggle of being gay in that time period, as well as the joy of embracing oneself in spite of bigotry, that has meant so much to so many queer people that I know. If you think it's just woke trash, that's fine. Maybe it just isn't for you. But just know that we almost never get mainstream content that features people who look and love like we do. You get that type of content every single day. So if nothing else, even if you hate the show for other reasons after watching it, just be happy for all of the LGBTQ folks and people of color who are finally getting some more substantial, mainstream representation through this show. Not liking the show for other reasons, that's totally valid. But not liking it because it features a diverse cast? That's just racist and homophobic. It is. It's 2022. All of us need to get used to media with diverse representation, because the tide has turned and we will never go back. We all deserve to see ourselves depicted in media. Especially when it is historically accurate, as it is in this show.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Supremely Entertaining Yet Rushed
As a hardcore Downton fan I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was just happy to see all of my favorite characters back on the big screen. A lot more happens in this film, which is both a good and bad thing. It felt more like a movie while the first film felt like a glorified Christmas special. But given the huge ensemble cast and the numerous storylines, this film does suffer from the same issue the first film struggled with. Conflict is resolved before it ever really gets going (Cora's illness). Relationship development can only go so deep due to time constraints (Thomas + Guy). And nearly every character's storyline plays out over the course of roughly 3-4 short scenes (Edith getting back into journalism, which isn't really a plot; Baxter + Molesley getting together; Mrs. Patmore + Mr. Mason's slightly unbelievable romance). I think this film struggled more with juggling disparate plot lines than the previous one did.
All of this reinforces the notion that Downton simply works better as a television series. Gosford Park worked as a film, but it had a singular narrative through-line: a murder mystery. And it knew which characters to prioritize in service of the story. Unlike Gosford Park, Downton is a collection of separate, interwoven stories, not connected by any single event, and each story needs time and space to be fully realized.
Still, there was a lot to love here, and it felt like a great way to sign off for now (I'd love to see a "next generation" show or limited series one day). I was so happy to see Rosamund, Doctor Clarkson, and even Denker return to the story, though I loathe that woman. Seeing Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter get a scene together, knowing that they are married in real life, was a joy. Watching Mary really come in to her own, managing the affairs of the estate by herself, was lovely. I was obviously thrilled for Tom and Lucy, though I wish their wedding scene could've been longer. And I was deeply moved by the scenes between Isobel and Violet toward the end.
At the end of the day, I loved returning to this world despite the story's structural pitfalls. It's the characters that keep me coming back, and always will.
Outlander: I Am Not Alone (2022)
Outlander is BACK
Everything I've always loved about Outlander is in this episode, which is by far the best of the season. Yes, this season has been slow. It's also been quite faithful to the book, which is nice. But the best episodes of Outlander involve romance, action, and in many cases, a journey. Outlander is always at its best when the main characters are on the move. Even though it was rather faithful to the novel, I felt that the story was beginning to become stagnant, because it rarely left Fraser's Ridge. It was time, high time, for the show to get moving again. And this episode did just that. It's also one of the better cliffhangers in Outlander's history. I am excited to see how they adapt the rest of the book and book 7. As the war gets going, I think that our characters will be on the move a lot more. The show thrives when it is at its most dynamic. I'm interested to see how the rest of this particular drama with Claire's utterly unjust "trial" plays out as well. And I'm surprised they didn't show Wendigo Donner in jail alongside her! The episode does leave you feeling suspended, but in a good way.
Under the Banner of Heaven: When God Was Love (2022)
Very Solid if Unsettling Start!
Yes, there are some cringey scenes, but it's well done. To the folks alleging that the writer has no knowledge of Mormon culture, DLB literally grew up Mormon. In this exact time period. So I trust his vision. Facepalm, y'all. I'll defer judgment to the end of the series but who knows, it might end up being a worthy successor to Mare of Easttown. We'll have to see how the investigation unfolds. Thus far, the acting is strong (Billy Howle is great in this episode), the creepy vibes are real, and it's all very unsettling but in a way that I enjoyed.
A Christmas Prince (2017)
The thing no one is talking about...
Is this movie enjoyable? Yes. It's cheesy and fun. The production value is higher than your average Hallmark film. It's predictable but entertaining enough.
But y'all. Why is no one talking about the fact that Amber has ZERO journalistic ethic? Nor do her friends or the company she works for. Sneaking into the castle and taking photos? Lying to the royal family? POSING AS A TUTOR??? Rifling through secret family documents? Pulling out her stupid phone and taking videos of everything? No ethics. It's a good thing she ended up becoming a queen, because she was a tabloid journalist at best.
The Holiday (2006)
Jack Black Wasn't Miscast
Some reviewers here seem to think that Jack was miscast opposite Kate Winslet. While I agree that no one in the film is on Kate Winslet's level as an actor, I've always thought that she and Jack Black made an adorable if unconventional couple. I thought it really worked. I'm surprised that more folks aren't criticizing Cameron Diaz's performance over Jack's. I think all four of them are appropriately cast, but IMO if there's one semi-weak link, it's Cameron. I love her to death, but she's not on the same level as Kate Winslet or Jude Law. She gets the job done and it's hard to picture another actress in the role, but I don't believe that Jack Black is the film's weak point. No, it wasn't gonna win any Oscars, but the film is a perfect and entertaining holiday flick. And it's also ripe for rewatching.
Station Eleven: The Severn City Airport (2021)
Great Episode, Annoying Arthur
Overall, a very solid episode. But wow, Arthur is deeply pathetic. The actor playing him is brilliant. Caitlin FitzGerald is also fantastic. And I loved the twist ending. Great writing.
Foundation: The Leap (2021)
Strong Finale
Most reviews you'll read here are from disappointed book fans who seem ill-equipped to comprehend that Asimov's works cannot appear exactly as they are on a TV screen. Their perspectives are profoundly colored by their inability to see past the book series. My review will focus exclusively on Foundation as a *television show.* No comparisons to the books. If you want the books, READ THE BOOKS. Otherwise, move along.
This was a shocking episode and a strong finale. Throughout the first season there were episodes that lulled a bit. The Terminus plot in particular I found to be a bit weak. I really abhorred the Phara character, and that entire journey felt arbitrary to me. But the Trantor scenes were incredibly powerful. Brother Dawn, Brother Day, and Demerzel were all incredibly compelling in this episode (and every preceding one). I think Demerzel is my favorite character thus far. Like Day and Dawn, she's utterly complex. The scene where she tears her face off... horrifying. And all of the twists we didn't see coming - like that Day himself might be altered, and Demerzel killing Dawn... just great.
The scenes with Salvor and her mother were also compelling, as were her scenes with Gaal on Synnax. I think we all knew who she was, but the reunion made for some great TV. To think that everyone they know has long been dead by the time they meet is chilling, and I wonder where we're gonna go from here. Clearly, we'll be picking up at least 138 years after the main events of the first season.
Is the show the next Game of Thrones? Not yet. Maybe it could be. But on its own terms, I really enjoyed it.
Twin Peaks: The Return: Part 18 (2017)
It's a Masterpiece. No, Really.
If you were expecting a cheerful resolution or any resolution at all, you are missing the point of Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks' greatest power is its mystery. Do I fully understand what happened? Nope. I don't want to. I want to be able to watch this series over and over and over again, trying to decipher the mystery, knowing that I never completely will. We have seen a thousand revivals and reboots, all geared toward fan service. And every last one of them was mediocre at best. Lynch new that giving us more of the same, giving us what we thought we wanted, would have been the death of this revival. Instead, he took a risk, and told a bold new story, greatly expanding upon the mystery of the original. The ending is not meant to be satisfying. Did you really go into these 18 episodes thinking that everything would be alright in the end? This is Twin Peaks. Lynch took a risk and it paid off in a big way. This revival is just as groundbreaking is the original, and it will change revivals forever.
Foundation: The Missing Piece (2021)
Really Starting to Pay Off
Wow, that scene between Demerzel and Zephyr Halima. One of the most powerful so far. This episode was definitely on the level of the first. The show is best when it shifts between the three different stories but gives us adequate screen time with each of the characters we are supposed to care for or at least identify with. Namely, in this episode, Demerzel, Salvor, and Gaal. But also Brother Day, even though I revile him. I'm excited for the final episodes of this season. I think this show could really take off and be the next GoT (in space) if they learn from some of the soulless episodes in the middle of the season and inject more heart into the show. These recent episodes have done that and it has really improved the show. And O M G that twist ending!! Turns out Cleon didn't have a vision at all. Excited to see where Demerzel's character goes from here. You can't help but think she's going to be instrumental in the fall of the Empire. Or at least that she'll survive it.
Foundation (2021)
Don't Let the Disgruntled Asimov Fans Scare You Away
You will notice that many loyal Asimov fans are upset with this adaptation. What virtually all of them fail to understand and appreciate is that not only is this series "impossible" to adapt, but TV is a *completely different* storytelling medium. What works in fiction does not necessarily work on film. If the filmmakers had made a 100% faithful adaptation, not only would the series not have worked, but the show would absolutely have been cancelled. This show is NOT just for fans of the book series. If you want an exact replica of the books, read the books. The show is a different beast, and rightly so. The changes made ensured that the show would reach wider audiences. And as someone who read the books but works in television, the changes made by Goyer are essential. When you adapt a work of fiction, especially one that "can't be filmed," your only real goal is to remain true to the tone and spirit of the original story. Everything else is fair game. One major change was ensuring that there's a way for our main characters to continue on living in some form through time, whether through cryo or through the Imperial Clones. It's brilliant. Foundation takes place over 1,000 years but in a TV show, you simply cannot constantly introduce new main characters and do away with the old ones. Viewers will bail in a heartbeat. The Chronicles of Narnia are also famously somewhat difficult to adapt for this reason. The show is not the books. It's not, and it shouldn't be. Enjoy the show on its own terms. It is not a disgrace to Asimov. It took necessary steps to ensure that viewers wouldn't bail. As a TV writer, I'm glad they did.
American Crime Story: Exiles (2021)
it's fantastic
I'll admit it, i had my doubts. After all, the first two seasons covered shocking murders. I wasn't sure how "crime-y" this season would actually be. I mean... perjury? Now that we've lived through Trump? Anyway, I was wrong! The first two seasons of this show were riveting. The best network television has to offer. I should have known this season would be up to snuff. Obviously Sarah Paulson slays. She has created a really complex and intriguing character out of someone who has typically been thought of as a caricature villain. She has this line, "that's no good!" when she's having lunch with Monica. It's a response to Monica talking about relationship issues, and Monica takes it as a consoling remark, but it almost sounds as if Linda is actually saying, "that's not good enough my purposes." Beanie and Annaleigh are also both fantastic. Beanie's Monica is just so innocent and trusting. Annaleigh's Paula is so naive and out of her depth. It is heartbreaking to watch these women being manipulated by the powerful people (mostly men) around them, using their stories for personal gain. Paula's husband is particularly atrocious, using her sexual harassment case to further his acting career. Part of me wondered why this story needed to be told now, how impactful it would be given the far more dramatic scandals of the past four years. But because it focuses on these three women, because it tells a side of the story most people will not be at all familiar with, it couldn't be MORE relevant nor more timely, particularly given the #MeToo movement. I also love that Monica is a producer. Finally, she's reclaiming her story. Finally, we're able to watch these events unfold outside the lens of powerful male politicians with hidden agendas. American Crime Story is Ryan Murphy's masterpiece. Much of his Netflix stuff has been just okay, but this show is unfailingly good. I can't wait for the rest!
Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
This Is How You Make A Revival
I completely understand why some people would find the show controversial. We have been conditioned by Netflix and other streamers to expect nostalgia from revivals. The gang getting back together again, and such. Think Gilmore Girls, Fuller House, etc. Many likely expected more 50's-but-set-in-the-90's nostalgia and, well, more Twin Peaks in general. But I truly believe that those people, as valid as that desire may be, are missing the point of this series. This series has redefined what a revival looks like. The main message of the revival is that you cannot go back. You cannot repeat the past. It demonstrates this by being the polar opposite of the original series in almost every way. Although we've come to expect certain things from revivals, the hard truth is that most revivals suck, or are at best mediocre, leading us to question why a certain revival was necessary in the first place (a nostalgia cash grab comes to mind). Most revivals attempt to replicate everything that audiences loved about the original. Lynch understood that that is not how you make a successful revival. A truly great revival must add something new to the story. While there is certainly room for nostalgia, and the series certainly finds space for that, it was critical that the revival differentiated itself from the original. Almost all bad revivals have simply been carbon copies of the original, adding nothing new to the conversation around that particular show. So instead of giving us more of the same, Lynch dares to serve up something entirely new. Gone is the warm fuzziness. Twin Peaks in Trump's America is a cold, dark, lonely place. Relationships have crumbled over the years. Children have repeated their parents' mistakes. The changes that we find in Twin Peaks when we return reflect the changes that have occurred in American society since the show first aired. If people want more of the same, they should simply watch the original. The message of The Return is perhaps exemplified best by Cooper's failed attempt to undo Laura Palmer's murder. To change the past. The Return makes it clear: you can't go back. You can try, but as other revivals have demonstrated, it will never be the same again, and pretending otherwise, or forcing it, is folly. In a way, The Return is a commentary on revivals. In the same way that the original series changed TV as we know it, The Return changed revivals (it also changed TV, again, lol). I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like Twin Peaks: The Return on television before. It's structurally, emotionally, aesthetically, narratively unlike anything I have ever encountered before. And I can only imagine that that is what watching the original show back in the 1990s was like for viewers then. This was one thing that the revival did replicate. Once again, it subverted and transcended it's genre, and it also completely changed the way that we make television in the age of streaming. Twin Peaks: The Return is a masterpiece, with Part 8 being the standout episode, one that I believe will be written about in film and television history books in the years and decades to come. The world spins, and time goes on. You can't go back.
Your Honor (2020)
Ruined by Adam
The premise of the show is compelling! The son ruins it. The actor isn't great, but it's the writing for that character that's truly horrific. The way that he inserts himself into the investigation and undermines everything that his father is trying to do to protect him. The way he couldn't give two figs about everything his father has sacrificed for him, his life and career. He is such a useless POS that it is really difficult to root for him. And by the final episode, I honestly just wanted him to go to jail or be killed by the Baxter's. I cannot with him. And his decisions don't even make sense, like why in the world would he get into a relationship with the sister of the boy that he killed, knowing that her dad is a mob boss? He ruins the show.
Greenland (2020)
It's All the Kid's Fault
If the gosh darn kid hadn't lost his gosh darn insulin, so much strife might have been avoided. It is so difficult to watch a film in which the main characters make stupid decision after stupid decision. You don't have to have stupid characters to create conflict. That's my main complaint here. Apart from the kid's utter stupidity and carelessness, I did like that the film focused on one family's fight for survival as opposed to the whole of human civilization. Narrowing the film's focus to a single family's struggle was a smart move narratively, as many sci-fi epics fail because the focus is too broad.
The Crown: Aberfan (2019)
The Best Episode of the Series
Four wonderful seasons in, I can still say that this is hands-down the best episode of a show that has literally never made a bad episode. Still, Aberfan shines above the rest. It's a defining moment for the show but also for television generally. 10 years ago, I don't think anyone could've imagined but just a decade later, television would look like this. I think this is an episode that will be taught in film and television courses, much like episode 8 in the Twin Peaks revival which I also recently rewatched. This is yet another career-defining performance for Colman and it affirms that this new Queen was the perfect choice to continue Foy's legacy and indeed engineer her very own. Her performance was just as good if not better than anything Foy ever did on the show. Her understated, somber performance reflected so perfectly the likeness of the Queen herself. Brava.
Hooked (2017)
Awful
I mean, I wasn't expecting much. Unintelligent dialogue and sloppy direction. Max Emerson is pretty but that's about all, sadly.