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Reviews
Narcos (2015)
Seasons 1&2- Brilliant. Season 3-Sheer disappointment
I'd give 10 out of 10 for first two seasons that were just great, show that kept the ideal rhythm, never boring, great acting by all, but hovering above all cast members- great Wagner Moura with his astounding performance of Pablo Escobar. These seasons of the show were not only entertaining to watch, this show made me want to explore and read more about Colombia, Medellin, Escobar and history of the country and the cartel.
I was anxiously waiting for 3rd season to go out and what a disappointment is was. Season 3 if so BOOOOOORING: endless narratives, illogical talks and actions, drug cartel bosses acting as brainless idiots (i doubt they were idiot given the size and complexity of their "business", then it is a problem with depicting their actions on screen). Head of Security of a drug cartel watches news report about innocent people dies in gas attack done by cartel with tears on his eyes. Wow! what an unusual thing for a drug cartel to do- kill innocent people,huh? What an unusual thing for a cartel Security guy to deal with! Come on, people! Pena for at least first 3 episodes in Season 3 does nothing, barely talks, just walks around with lit up cigarette and concerned look on his face.
After 3rd episode I've lost any interest to the show. What a pity!
The Americans (2013)
Very entertaining show (with some illogical twists:))-see inside for details
I am a fan of the show. Acting is great. Show is smart as it treats both sides of confrontation with respect, tries to explain their motivations and shows that no choice comes easy.
As in any period piece drama there are some errors in depicting details. For example, there are minor things that I've spotted: 1) When KGB official Vasiliy from the USSR Embassy teaches Nina how to brew a tea. First of all, there were no tea bags available in the USSR in 70s. At the same time, tea was (and still is) no. 1 hot drink in Russia. Nina, coming from Russia, would sure know how to brew tea and how tastes of a freshly brewed tea and a teabag differs. 2) Nina's wardrobe is too diverse and plenty for a junior level staff of USSR Embassy. 3) Russians do not drink vodka in big whiskey-type glasses. It is drunk from small shot glasses (like the ones for tequila). Only alcoholics in USSR/Russia would drink vodka from big glasses, but then, they would fill the glass up to the top, not splash some vodka to the bottom of a glass. In any ordinary home, at parties and receptions vodka would only be served in small shot glasses. Moreover, vodka is usually drunken cooled down (warm vodka tastes horrible), so vodka bottle would usually got misted over. For the same reason and also because alcohol would evaporate from a drink vodka is rarely decanted to a carafe. So it would be more authentic if two Russian agents staying late at work would talk over a bottle (not a carafe) of vodka, just taken out of a fridge, and two shot glasses. 4) In 80s, in the midst of the Cold War, not a single Soviet Minister would ever personally visit an imprisoned person accused of committing espionage and treason, even for the sake of making good for his most beloved son. It would most probably end that minister's career right away. 5) In one of the episode when Moscow view is shown and there is Christ the Savior Cathedral visible. The Cathedral was blown up in 20s after Revolution and rebuilt only in 90s. 6) The interior of a secret lab, where scientist Baklanov is working in Russia is totally extraordinary. There were no office-style window blinds in Russia in 70s. Sockets and light switches are all hidden inside the plastic covers and socket boxes – no way:)
These are minor inaccuracies, visible only to someone who used to live in USSR, and that don't do harm to the show. There are, however, some major story lines which I find improbable. 1) Language issue. Russian- nationality illegal agents speaking fluent, all clear American English. This is hardly corresponds with the Russian agents' legends and stories of their lives. Elizabeth and Phillip grew up in Soviet Union in ordinary families. Level of teaching foreign languages in USSR was rather low. It means they were not exposed to studying English seriously until they went to KGB training. While in USSR they were hardly able to communicate with native English speakers (unless there were secret language classes taught by British and American renegade agents). They moved to US in their 20s and live there for last 15-18 years. So, at best, they have studied English for 4-5 years before they were infiltrated. I know people who have lived abroad longer and spoken fluent English, but one can still spot their accent. This aspect is never explained in the show. Especially this is true to Claudia, who, we are told, even fought in Stalingrad (it was in 1943). How come she was speaking fluent impeccable English. The only explanation that can be used here is if they were somehow exposed to communication with native English- speakers from very early in their lives, while they were still in USSR. For example their parents, or one of parents, or a spouse (in case of Claudia) were Americans or Brits who came to Russia after revolution and stayed there. Otherwise, they would need a different legend to explain their accents, like that they are, say, of Ukrainian, or Bulgarian, or Jewish or whatever descends, but not 100% Americans. 2) Martha's story seems improbable. Even if she's dumb, she should have suspected smth, specifically, after Phillip asks her to help with office talks recording. I know there were cases when agents would marry secretaries to use them as a source of information, but they would actually live with their wives. Whereas here Phillip visits her once a week. 3) Irina's father would not be able to keep passports to hand them over to her son. If she was a traitor that left her service her relatives and friends would be checked out, their apartments would be searched, her father's apartment would be thoroughly searched in the first place. Not to mention a most probable situation that Irina's father would be arrested as well.
Having said of all of above I am still very much looking forward to the next season. It would be interesting to learn how would heroes deal with "Perestroyka", collapse of the USSR and moral dilemma that all of us, former USSR citizens, have gone through.
Belyy Bim Chernoe ukho (1977)
Masterpiece painful to watch
This is an excellent movie, touching, beautifully directed and acted. Film about cruelty and indifference of some people and kindness of other. Moreover, this is a film about a great bond between a man and an animal. The dog is searching for his sick owner meeting different people on his path and sometimes this encounters are hardly bearable to watch. There is no graphic violence, but the realism of situations makes not less impact. On the scale of emotions Hatiko and War Horse are average movies compared to this one. I saw this movie once 20 years ago, but even now i vividly remember scenes of it and still shiver when i think of some of it. I will never watch it again, not because it is bad, because it is too good, a masterpice which is just too painful to watch.