armstrongd_uk Reviews

The Woman in the Wall (2023–2024)

Fabulous series: Daryl McCormack absolutely superb here

[10/10 · 25 September 2023]

We were not expecting much new, having previously seen a number of dramas based on the Magdalen scandal. But this drama series absolutely gripped from the start, all the leading acting roles brilliant, and we all know the unique qualities to expect from Ruth Wilson. But Daryl McCormack was so utterly convincing and natural here in the role of the detective, and immensely likeable and sympathetic. Hadn't seen his work before, but both my wife and I hope to see lots more of him soon. Casting was excellent throughout, and the atmosphere of foreboding around Lorna's house (and wall) develops perfectly. This series deserves awards all round. Stunning.

Litvinenko (2022)

Utterly solid gold - best drama on TV for years

[10/10 · 28 December 2022]

Having spent several years working in Moscow, I began watching through personal interest, but rapidly became hooked by the superb quality of this production on every level, in every department. The whole cast should feel massively proud of what they have achieved with this. They have done the Litvinenkos proud. Marina Litvinenko was beautifully portrayed, and David Tennant did a great job as the man himself. Best drama we've seen on any TV channel for years, including Line of Duty, The Crown, and all the other flagships. This is a true must watch.......hope it reaches the widest possible audience worldwide.

Inside Man (II) (2022)

Story must be believable. Lost in first episode.

[2/10 · 9 October 2022]

I imagine many viewers, apart from diehard Tennant fans, will have disconnected at some point during the ludicrous first episode. I agree the scenes with Tucci were very watchable, but the utterly ridiculous and unnatural scenes with Tennant, the lady and the flash drive just failed to make sense- who would really behave like this? Weird behaviour which can be accepted in a fantasy character like Holmes simply does not translate to a scenario of supposedly normal everyday characters. What a stark contrast to the excellent Karen Pirie showing on ITV, based on that brilliant detective storyteller Val McDiarmid's work. Rating of two is generous....if a screenplay writer alienates viewers through unconvincing scenes and dialogue like this, the audience will quite understandably vote with their feet....

Queen (2022)

Pleasant viewing - fine acting

[6/10 · 5 July 2022]

The trailer coaxed me into viewing this feel-good gem. Seweryn was really excellent - would love to see more of him. Feel it was really a 90 minute feature stretched into a series, unnecessarily slow moving at times. But heart is in the right place - very likeable.

The Outlaws (2021– )

Unfunny

[2/10 · 26 June 2022]

Gave it two chances, as saw a couple of positive magazine critic reviews (should have known better than to give credence🙄).

Classic 'modern British humour' - unfunny, overhyped, unengaging, and at times plain embarrassing. Bring back Gentleman Jack !!!

Toscana (II) (2022)

Promising ingredients, but lacking a recipe

[3/10 · 21 May 2022]

As the opening credits eventually rolled, I was expecting a variation on the 'Love is all you need' theme, especially when Zeuten turned out to be the actor who played the son in that charming film, but this story just didn't hang together. The central romantic story of Theo and Sophia was implausible, and devoid of any believable chemistry between the actors. There were too many contrived moments, when one quietly thought 'yeah, right....you're kidding me', and occasional allusions to some past relationship problem with the chef's father, never made tangible or clear, It's a pity, with the beauty of the setting, and a potentially appealing cast. Promising ingredients, poorly assembled. Disappointing.

Munich: The Edge of War (2021)

Excellent - highly recommended

[10/10 · 23 January 2022]

I was pleasantly surprised that this turned out to be far more engaging and well produced than I had expected. Superb on every level. Jeremy Irons is superb - must be one of his best ever performances. He was so convincing as this much maligned PM, ill treated by history, whose heart was in the right place. George Mackay was also brilliant in this role, and I expect to see much more of him in future. Refreshing for a change to have the Germans played by Germans and Brits by Brits!

My only concern was the casting of Hitler. I suppose we've been spoiled by Bruno Ganz's amazing performance in Downfall, which is the first and only portrayal (in my opinion) to capture the charisma and menace. The menace was there, but physical presence and charisma, not so much.

But overall, the best historical production I've ever seen on Netflix - and head and shoulders above anything else produced over the past few months on any platform, terrestial or streamed. Congratulations to all involved.

The North Water (2021)

Brilliant, beautiful, mesmerising

[9/10 · 25 October 2021]

I suspect this will become something of a cult classic. So different to everything else around. Beautiful scenes and atmosphere. Colin Farrell becomes Drax, this ominous, dark presence. Beautifully written. Best quality period drama series I've seen anywhere for years. Hope it achieves the success and recognition it deserves.

Wilde (1997)

Happy Prince is vastly superior

[6/10 · 15 July 2021]

Rupert Everett, not Stephen Fry, was born to play Wilde. Where the Happy Prince is so movingly and deliciously a labour of love, this is yet another monument to the lead's vanity.

The Little Things (2021)

So frustrating

[5/10 · 8 April 2021]

This could have been a classic, and the three lead actors (Washington, Leto, Malek) were excellent (especially the first two).

But every part of the film has to be 'believable', and the whole 'digging' sequence simply was NOT. This alone spoiled the film, and that's why there are not strings of 9s and 10s. My wife, son and I could only exchange quizzical looks during this scene and say 'what happened to this film.....'.

A great pity. I wonder if no-one raised questions about this sequence (eg the actors?) during the making?

A great shame. Five stars just for good acting.

Namaste Wahala (2021)

Worst ever movie- future cult classic?!

[1/10 · 14 March 2021]

My Indian wife and I managed around 20 minutes before giving up....definitely the most utterly ludicrous film either of us have ever seen. Embarrassed laughter throughout from the first moments. Just dreadful, awful, trash....why on earth was this ever made?! But who knows....maybe this is SO bad that it just might become some kind of cult classic!!

Coming 2 America (2021)

Embarrassingly awful

[9/10 · 7 March 2021]

Failed the 'five laugh' test miserably. Why on earth did they bother to make this ludicrous sequel to a classic. So many uncomfortably unfunny scenes. Curiosity may compel many to watch, but if you have anything else to do with your time, no matter how boring or mundane.....do that!

Bridgerton (2020– )

Lightweight lowbrow soft porn trash from USA

[3/10 · 29 December 2020]

This serial looks pretty, and appeared to promise an interesting new angle on regency period drama, in the same vein as The Knight's Tale and medieval England, but it turned out to have major flaws. Above all the sheer quantity of gratuitous soft porn sex scenes...maybe this works in a certain segment of the US market, but I doubt that it will please a more discerning UK and European audience. I could eventually accept some of the many glaring anachronisms (eg Offenbach's 'Belle Nuit' in 1813?!), but why on earth use the very well known real name of 'Cliveden' with locations which are quite patently nothing to do with that place? Period fantasies can work well, for example the contrast between Bridgerton and the wonderful Harlots series is massive. Hard to believe a second season is apparently to be dredged up. Bright points were some of the acting performances, notably the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, Lady Danbury and the Duchess's mother.

Spitting Image (2020–2021)

Utterly dreadful - not even a pale shadow

[1/10 · 11 November 2020]

This was just awful. Rubbish.

Like other reviewers I decided to pay up to BritBox just to see this, and it was rapidly clear it was a feeble travesty of what used to be the comic highlight of so many people's weekly TV viewing back in the 80s.

Fails in every respect. Puppets and writing are poor - especially B Johnson, whose puppet is much more attractive, confident, coherent and charismatic than he could ever DREAM of being. (Is he in on the act?? ).

Needless to say I shall be cancelling our BritBox subscription.

The Sister (2020)

Dreadful - Neil Cross hang your head in shame!

[1/10 · 11 November 2020]

Utterly dreadful and depressing waste of time watching this. Acting and script poor, in particular Mr Tovey. Basically impossible to care what happened to anyone. Unremittingly unsympathetic characters. The plot had potential - with better quality casting and writing it might have worked.

We had watched mainly on the strength of the association of the writer with Luther, which we loved, but now questioning whether that was mainly all about Idris Elba's (and Ruth Wilson's) magnetism now.....Mr Cross must do better than this!

Never Look Away (2018)

Unforgettable, magnificent

[10/10 · 18 September 2020]

Three viewings have simply confirmed my initial impression that this is simply one of the very best films I have ever been privileged to see. Certainly in my top three. Utterly engaging from the start to finish. Brilliantly cast, brilliantly conceived and directed. So many unforgettable scenes and images. Soundtrack beautiful and perfectly matched. This is a film I shall no doubt watch again, and has enriched my life. Truly uplifting and inspiring.

A Suitable Boy (2020)

Embarrassingly dreadful - Messrs Nair and Davies plumb the depths

[1/10 · 31 August 2020]

I had not read the book, but a number of people I know have done so with pleasure, and together with the big names of Davies and Nair at the helm, this encouraged me to watch this serial with great expectations.

From the start the settings were beautiful, but this travesty was spoiled by the wooden dialogue and amateurish, indeed at times childish, acting by many of the cast. Exaggerated and unconvincing facial expressions at so many times - this was disappointing and uncomfortable to watch, totally lacking in subtlety. Generally hard to care about what happened to any of the characters (even Tabu, whose roles I have usually adored).

Could this really have been directed by the same hand which gave us the Reluctant Fundamentalist and the Namesake?

Seth's monumental work cries out for a memorable, beautifully crafted film version - this is most definitely not it!

Harlots (2017–2019)

MAGNIFICENT! Quality British TV drama at its glorious best! Truly world class.

[10/10 · 10 August 2020]

Just watched Season One - this is the ideal antidote for Coronavirus!!

What a shame this beautiful and irresistible confection had been tucked away on some Murdoch channel or other - now delightfully liberated and released to the free world in its hour of need by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

This deserves all the superlatives. The absolutely finest quality of acting, writing, magnificent settings. Takes me back to the glory days in the 1990s when both Moll Flanders and Tom Jones graced our screens. How fitting that one of the central characters in Harlots should be played by the magnificent young heroine of Tom Jones, Samantha Morton (as Sophia Western).

So many wonderful performances, but standing out among those for me were Lesley Manville's breathtaking tour de force as Madame Lydia Quigley, Samantha's tough but vulnerable Margaret Wells with her heart of gold, and Richard McCabe's delicious alternately corrupt and authoritative Justice Cunliffe, with an honourable mention to Danny Sapani's intense, brooding William North.

I'm delighted to discover there are two more seasons available courtesy of Amazon, and I cannot wait to renew my new acquaintances there (with the exception sadly of Justice C, after his demise in the dramatic conclusion to the first season....)

Cannot recommend more highly.

The Upside (2017)

WHY REMAKE A PERFECT FILM!!!

[25 April 2020]

Do those Americans who do this realise how annoying and mystifying this practice is to us over on the civilised side if the Atlantic?! Is there some fundamental problem about watching English subtitles?

I refer of course to 'Intouchables', but could equally be referring to 'The Secret in their Eyes', or 'La Cage aux Folles'....

Messiah (2020)

All the superlatives - the very Best of the Best - Unforgettable.

[10/10 · 18 January 2020]

I believe that this series deserves every conceivable superlative, and should win every award available for a quality TV series. On every level - concept, production quality, storytelling quality, script, acting, casting, I can honestly say that for me this is simply the best thing I've seen on any screen for decades, and perhaps ever.

Netflix excels itself right now - The Crown, The Two Popes, The Irishman - and now this. But The Messiah is on another level - this moves deeply, this asks hugely relevant, fundamental questions, which these other shows do not even come close to.

I hope it will reach the widest possible audience on the planet, irrespective of their faith belief or non-belief background. I also hope there will be one or more follow up series.

Honestly don't know where to begin with a review apart from - please watch this, whoever you are! The fact that my wife, who is far more sceptical and harder to please than I, was hooked from the first episode and sat through the rest in two days with me speaks volumes.

The casting of Mehdi Dehbi as the central character is inspired, perfect - and for me the other standout character is Tomer Sisley as the Israeli intelligence agent.

I cannot wait to see more of this. And shall definitely be watching again, and recommending to everyone I know!!

The Crown (2016–2023)

Olivia Colman is disastrous

[10/10 · 18 November 2019]

What a shame! I had earlier reviewed Seasons 1 and 2 as 10/10, and I have retained the high overall rating purely based on my enjoyment of those earlier seasons. When I heard earlier this year that Olivia Colman was taking over from Claire Foy in Series 3 I was surprised and rather concerned, but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt based on the amazing standard of the two earlier seasons. But my worst fears were realised yesterday on viewing the first episodes of Season 3. This is not just one casting error among many parts - the whole show hangs around the performance of the actress playing the Queen, and Ms Colman, for all her talents and experience as an actress elsewhere, just does not look, behave, move, or sound like the Queen. In 1964, Elizabeth would have been 38 years old, yet in the two episodes I watched yesterday she looked around 20 years older! Surely it would have been possible, and preferable, to have gradually aged Claire Foy, who was so brilliant in all the earlier episodes. The other changes of actors and actresses would all have been perfectly acceptable, but the change in the central character is an unmitigated disaster, and looking at other comments, I see I am far from alone in my reaction. In my opinion this is a catastrophic casting decision!

Yesterday (III) (2019)

Disappointing - preposterous scenario

[3/10 · 16 November 2019]

As a huge Beatles fan, I really wanted to love this film, but ended up not even liking it. Not only was the basic premise of the collective consciousness of such a globally familiar band and creative force suddenly being erased always going to be too much to swallow, but there was such an absence of chemistry among the leading actors that you didn't really care what happened anyway. The key scene where Ed Sheeran was allegedly humbled by hearing the Long and Winding Road just felt embarrassingly contrived. Simply left me with the feeling I had fallen prey to clever branding by association with the emotive appeal of a topic I genuinely love. Not recommended.

Love & Friendship (2016)

Appalling, dreadful - avoid at all costs

[1/10 · 31 October 2016]

My wife and I rented this film recently, having seen a promising trailer, and a reasonably good IMDb rating. Having now watched the film in its entirety, however, rarely have we ever been so utterly disappointed. I can understand why the IMDb popularity seems to be on a firmly downward trend.

The only positive aspects of this sloppily directed film were the costumes, locations and soundtrack - and OK performances by a couple of actors playing supporting characters, in particular James Fleet. Kate Beckinsale was unconvincing in this role, and Chloe Sevigny's curiously variable accent here was compounded by often mumbled diction. For much of the film, Xavier Samuel appeared to be offering little more than an admittedly pretty accurate imitation of the young Hugh Grant. The story line was disjointed and none of the characters ever really engaged the viewer, and at times the plot appeared to have gaps and non sequiturs - we each wondered if we'd dropped off for short periods, but this unfortunately was not the case.

In many ways this serves as an object lesson in why Jane Austen's meticulously constructed novels are such masterpieces of storytelling - each scene and dialogue fits perfectly like clockwork. We have not had the benefit of reading the novella in question,'Lady Susan', but this film leaves the impression of having been clumsily and carelessly assembled from a series of sketches. Excellent films can be very successfully adapted from little known short stories, for example with The Painted Veil (from Somerset Maugham). This is definitely NOT a good example, and we would advise readers, whether Austen fans or not, to look elsewhere.

Merlin (2008–2012)

The best new family TV drama for many years

[10/10 · 3 December 2008]

Everyone associated with this magnificent production deserve awards - the series is simply superb entertainment on every level. The cast is excellent - although when it started one wanted to see the traditional story of Arthur and Excalibur and Lancelot unfold, the sheer chemistry of the current cast are so enjoyable, that I now dread the demise of King Uther, as Anthony Head is absolutely compelling in this role - by far the best thing I've ever seen him do. Merlin, Arthur, even Richard Wilson as Gaius against all the odds, are all brilliantly cast and played.

In many ways this reminds me of the unexpectedly addictive power of the original Star Trek series when it first appeared - only this is far better acted, far better cast, and far better written.

In my opinion one of the very best new things to hit British TV screens for many many years.

American Masters: Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind (2003) Season 17, Episode 5

Sensational portrait of a genius

[10/10 · 11 April 2007]

I came across a DVD of this profile of Joni Mitchell by chance browsing through the music video section at HMV in London. I'm delighted that I bought it - apart from Both Sides Now I had not been a particular fan, but having seen this I now have the most profound respect for a true 100% musical genius. Countless clips of unforgettable and deeply touching performances by Joni - beautiful juxtaposition of contextual and biographical episodes - and many many insightful contributions from contemporaries, fellow artists like D Crosby, J Taylor and G Nash, friends (and lovers), and of course from JM herself.

Hope to see some comments from JM fans, as I'd love to hear their views. As a visual profile of this kind, I have seen nothing to better this....