What's in/on Your DVD/VCR/PVR etc

[Matt2112]

Barbie - Looked good and started out quite well until it became preachy crap. I'll give it a 4/10. I'll use my wife's exact description when I asked her what she thought - "Shite".

Yes, an example of influential players in the Hollywood bubble (Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie) thinking they've produced something revelatory, when it's actually way behind the curve - and actually ends up patronising everyone, no matter what their stance on feminism.

Might deservedly win technical Oscars - but that's all.

[Fishy]

Boiling Point

[Matt2112]

Boiling Point

The series I assume? Hopefully will catch the first one tonight.

[Fishy]

Boiling Point

The series I assume? Hopefully will catch the first one tonight.

Yep the series.. watching more tonight👍

[Fishy]

Finished Boiling Point last night.. have to say the audio mix is terrible... couldn't hear half the dialogue in some scenes..

[Matt2112]

Finished Boiling Point last night.. have to say the audio mix is terrible... couldn't hear half the dialogue in some scenes..

A common complaint apparently. Haven't yet started it.

[Fishy]

The Long Shadow

[R6GYY]

Finished The Continental earlier tonight and just now watched Loki S02E01 with was terrific.

Sometime over the weekend we've got S02E01 of the new Quantum Leap to watch.

[Matt2112]

Aftersun

Critically lauded and award-winning British arthouse film from debut writer-director Charlotte Wells (a name to watch).

A father-daughter tale, beautifully portrayed by Paul Mescal (for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination this year) and young Frankie Corio, who was plucked from non-acting obscurity and turns in an affectingly naturalistic performance.

There are many weighty, heart-wrenching themes here, which are sympathetically told but rather heavy on symbolism and allegory - for me this sometimes worked as much against the story as for it. So while I was left quite impressed, I wasn't quite the gibbering emotional wreck by the end as the film presumably intended.

I watched the bluray's Q&A where Charlotte Wells mentions she wanted a two-and-a-half-hour cut, but was ordered to lop at least a fifth off that; however, while I'm certain the longer version would have been a much more affecting experience (and I hope it sees the light of day), the film as it stands is well worth a look.

Rating: ***

[Fishy]

Finished off The Long Shadow then watched Boiling Point (the film) again..

[Fishy]

The Reckoning.. new Beeb drama about Saville

[Matt2112]

The Reckoning.. new Beeb drama about Saville

Watched the first episode.  All seems a bit superfluous, there's nothing revelatory or especially insightful. It just trawls through what is very well known, at least so far.

Coogan seems mis-cast also; I admire the bravery at taking it on, but this won't rank as one of his greatest acting performances.

[pxr5]

Series 2 of Foundation. The scale of it is impressive indeed and it must have cost Apple a fortune to make. Great TV though and an excellent source to use for sci-fi.

[Fishy]

The Reckoning.. new Beeb drama about Saville

Ep2 tonight

[Matt2112]

Finished The Reckoning; I thought the last episode in particular was very well done.

This was never going to be a comfortable viewing experience for several reasons, but it was at least clear that it was made with great care and sensitivity.  It gets the balance exactly right between portraying repulsive acts of abuse, but not so graphically it feels exploitative.

And after four hours of Steve Coogan being in virtually every scene I take back my comment after the first episode that he was mis-cast; he gives a brave, skilled, nuanced performance which very effectively conveys Savile how he was remembered before his public disgrace, and how he's been regarded since.  Coogan somehow makes the segues from documentary footage of the real Savile to the dramatic scenes feel seamless, so in that sense it's a triumph.  I wouldn't put his performance at the same level as his superb portrayal of Stan Laurel in Stan And Ollie, but it's hugely admirable all the same.

Rating: ***