kseniakolchina Reviews

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Massively underrated

[8/10 · 27 March 2022]

There are not that many movies like this these days, especially not on streaming services, so watching it was like a breath of fresh air. Beautifully acted, wonderfully directed, brilliantly scripted. An absolutely gem of a film.

Rebecca (I) (2020)

Poor

[4/10 · 11 November 2020]

Poorly scripted and directed, boring and over-acted

The Stranger (I) (2020)

Mexican soap opera in English

[4/10 · 30 September 2020]

The plot is over-dramatised, cast is good but overact as if it's required by the abundance of ridiculous plot twists. Characters are inconsistent and in the end there isn't a single one to root for. This was intended for binge-watching, so if you're stuck at home on a rainy day this might save the day. But if you're looking for a quality drama, look elsewhere.

The Politician (2019–2020)

Ben Platt - what a talent

[8/10 · 30 June 2020]

Ben Platt is no doubt is the talent to watch out for. He's simply extraordinary on all fronts

Little Fires Everywhere (2020)

Worst thing about the show? Kerry Washington

[24 May 2020]

The plot is gripping, but I am not sure what direction Kerry Washington received in playing this role and I am honestly baffled with what she's trying to portray. Her semi-suffering expression, trembling lips and watery eyes get seriously annoying as this is all you see from her every episode. It looks as if she learnt to play one emotion and she carries on with it through the whole thing, bringing no depth to her character and little contribution to the series. Overall the cast is great, and this blip of an acting really ruins it.

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons (2018)

Undeniably talented

[9/10 · 14 November 2019]

I've seen John on screen before, but never in the context of a stage - and what a discovery that was. The flow and pace of his performance is phenomenal. He overshoots just a little here and there, but his style of storytelling through the prism of many personas and cultures is hands down outstanding.

Rhythm + Flow (2019– )

Great show that needs a judge replacement

[6/10 · 11 November 2019]

Contrary to what some reviews say, I'm not into hip-hop and rap but I enjoyed the show a lot. It can benefit from one improvement next season - replacing Cardi B with a female rapper who actually has something to say. Cardi is a waste of judge chair. Not only was I disappointed in her, but I felt that casting her did a disservice to female rappers who can articulate their opinion and contribute with valuable critique. I see the attempt to increase viewership by inviting her, but she brought nothing to the table.

Succession (2018–2023)

Brilliantly written and produced

[10/10 · 27 September 2019]

Everything about this show is top notch - from the script to casting, to performance, to dialogues, to how it's shot, to music.

I Feel Pretty (2018)

Loved this movie

[10/10 · 8 March 2019]

I'm not a romcom or even a comedy person, and I wasn't Schumer's greatest fan, but this movie is excellent and Amy is brilliant.

I think those who downrate it are simply not the audience. This isn't a feature film up for a critics award, but neither it's trying to be one - what did you guys expect when seeing the poster?

Read a few critics trying to give a deep analysis of beauty bias and whether this movie delivers on spreading equality across the universe - in my personal opinion, those need to cheer up. The movie has some great lines, cringy (in a good way) moments, pretty clever scenes and overall delivers the message very well in a feel good format.

Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable (2018 TV Special)

Relatable not

[3/10 · 27 January 2019]

This special is not a stand up. A subtle humblebrag might indeed be funny, but when throughout the show you're constantly reminded about the person's contribution to the gay community, Hollywood (starting season 16 this year!), vegans, society (she's oh so nice and kind all around), etc. etc. you end up realising that here's a person in front of you, with a very well thought through outfit, a very carefully crafted image, who spends over an hour trying to convince you how superior she is to everyone who's watching. All that, plus awkward pauses every now and then.

I appreciate there was no swearing, rude jokes, explicit stories, laughing at someone's expense - in that sense, Ellen is a classy comedian. But to me personally, it lacked humility and self-irony.