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Reviews
Impulse (2018)
A Cliffhanger Series
I read another review (something I do before watching or investing my time in a series) and saw a dismal 1 star. How Sad.
Impulse is not going to be the easiest to watch based on the rape sequence which starts the series. NO spoilers here... it's in the first episode.
So, ten episodes and I'm dying for the next. The acting is good and shows depth to characters and character building as we get to know the players.
Filming and filming locations are rather bleak, but it is a series set in winter and the gray cast sets a tone.
It's a science fiction fantasy but that doesn't take away from the story. Suspension of Disbelief is not a chore when the characters are so strong.
Give the show a chance and you will love it!
The Interview (2014)
Big Gamble Pays Off for Sony
When I heard about the film at first, I was looking forward to a good comedy. Then I heard the film would not be released due to threats of bombings, and I wondered who were the theaters afraid of? North Korean terrorists? OR, could it possibly be a bomb of a movie that would not earn without some additional hype? I watched the movie with my wife, and we both agreed a score of 3 would be generous for the predictable plot. James Franco should be ashamed to put this movie on his résumé. Seth Rogen has done much better work, but I can't really fault his acting in this misfire, but he also takes writing credit for this bomb. Three actors stood out in this film and should be credited for their valiant attempts to make this into a watchable show. Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park and Diana Bang. They gave excellent performances. The action parts of the film were quite acceptable for a comedy, but the laughs for the film were so predictable and so far in between it was painful. This movie would have died a quick death if not for the supposed threats of theater bombings which bought a lot of media attention for no dollars, which is good because it takes little sense to watch this travesty.
The Cultured Criminal (2012)
When good cons go bad
"The Cultured Criminal" is a character driven, historical reenactment of a rather sensational murder mystery, based on the real life trial of con man Reginald Birchall. Birchall had a great con going in Canada, swindling British aristocrats - leaving a big WHY? The film itself is truly a venture in minimalism. The great appeal, for me, is, that like a book, you need your imagination to fill in the scenery and the blanks. The upside is, unlike a book, you see the characters faces and expressions. Also, like a book, the majority of the film is starkly black and white. If your looking for a sensational murder mystery with special effects, flashbacks and all the other gimmicks of popular films, you won't find them here. I'm shy of the term 'art house' films, so I will just leave this as a good murder mystery worth the time to watch, and enjoyed as much for the educational value as the historical.