dalanuch Reviews

Louis C.K. at the Dolby (2023 TV Special)

A Display of Unapologetic Bravery

[10/10 · 2 May 2023]

Louis CK's stand-up show is dedicated to Lenny Bruce for a good reason. Not only is Louis the most brilliant comedian of our time, but he is also the only one who doesn't try to adapt his personal views to cater to the majority, not even his fans. He dives in without a net, and this refreshing honesty is to be welcomed.

Louis gives free rein to his imagination and uses humor to expose our contradictions and make us reflect on the absurdity of many majority positions on current affairs. One great example is his take on the issue of abortion. Rather than simply criticizing anti-abortion positions, he approaches the subject from a different angle, inviting us to reflect without feeling constrained by our preconceived notions. This encourages people to think freely and question their own beliefs, providing a refreshing change of perspective.

In summary, Louis CK's show is like a breath of fresh air in the world of stand-up comedy. It challenges us to think critically and confront our assumptions, all while making us laugh.

Boom! Boom!: The World vs. Boris Becker (2023– )

A Life Less Ordinary: The Complex World of Boris Becker

[9/10 · 7 April 2023]

Boris Becker was one of the most iconic and accomplished tennis players of the 80s. His story, which is a combination of incredible triumphs and tumultuous scandals, is the subject of a fascinating documentary series produced by Apple. This well-crafted and engaging series provides an insightful look into the life and career of this outgoing yet enigmatic sports personality, who was famously coached by the legendary Ion Tiriac.

One of the standout features of this documentary is its overall tone. Unlike some other documentaries on streaming platforms, this one strikes the right balance with its tone, avoiding excessive underlining or redundancies. The result is a clear and engaging narrative that does justice to Becker's story without resorting to cheap thrills or over-dramatization.

The series covers all aspects of Becker's life, including his early years in Germany, his meteoric rise to fame as a young tennis sensation, his struggles with injury and burnout, and his post-tennis career as a commentator, coach, and businessman. Along the way, we are treated to a wealth of archival footage and interviews with Becker, Tiriac, and those who knew him best.

Throughout the series, Becker's personality shines through, and we get a sense of the man behind the public persona. He is at once charming and abrasive, confident and vulnerable, driven and impulsive.

Overall, the Boris Becker documentary series is a must-watch for fans of the sport and anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating and complex personality, and the coaching genius of Ion Tiriac who himself deserves another documentary. Whether you're a tennis aficionado or simply curious about the life of a true sports legend, this series offers an engaging and insightful look at one of the most captivating athletes of the 20th century.

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)

Another disposable Netflix product

[5/10 · 20 January 2021]

As if the facts are not interesting enough, the director insists on dramatizing the crimes in a completely redundant and hackneyed way (like the invitable shot of the bloody hammer bouncing in slow motion against the ground, or the tireless soundtrack indicating what we should feel in each moment). Effective pyrotechnics that ends up hindering a story that didn't need so much adornment.

Another fast-digesting Netflix product, which leaves everything interesting undeveloped (see spoiler): Since the documentary has no other purpose than the ephemeral satisfaction of the morbid drive, many intriguing questions remain undeveloped, such as: why a murderer so violent and cruel, who shows off his evil, did not kill children . Or the disturbing phenomenon of groupies, which only remains in an funny anecdote.

Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)

Decent documentary, awful soundtrack

[6/10 · 13 December 2020]

This documentary series is well structured and achieves the goal of informing reasonably well about the Challenger's disaster without going too deep, as most of Netflix content usually do. The general quality of the film is degraded by a cheap soundtrack that hinders the dramatic flow.

American Dreamer (2018)

Excellent thriller discreetly shelved

[9/10 · 21 September 2020]

American Dreamer is a dizzying and awkward dramatic thriller, brilliantly executed, in which all the pieces work: rhythm, atmosphere, photography, music, performances and most of all the script. It is a tense and haunting story about broken people, without teaching or judging will. Because the industry is shrewd and money rules, its director and co-writer Derrick Borte has escaped unscathed (he will direct Unhinged, starring Rusell Crowe). However, his American Dreamer has been conveniently put away in a drawer, as a dangerous device, I suspect, by the very ones who should have promoted. IIt only has 500 votes on Imdb, less than an experimental short from the Fiji Islands. The events narrated in the film can happen in real life, but never be part of a script, unless you want to get funding, of course. It is a miracle that he could have been shot, but even more miraculous would have been that he had been seen the light of the day.

Get Shorty (2017–2019)

Great series ignored by the general public

[9/10 · 8 April 2020]

Get Shorty, was born with the label of being a remake of a movie from the 90s, and that may have been its burden, because this series has its own merit, and it brings together all the ingredients to be a black comedy that marks an era. However, it has gone completely unnoticed by the general public, and it is a mystery how a third season could be released (although it lasted only 7 episodes). The script and plot twists are brilliant, and they target a restless audience. Although he doesn't achieve the formal perfection of Fargo's second and third seasons, his tone and his respect for the spectator's intelligence are at the same level. They also recall Fargo, the eccentricity of his characters, which have depth and are gracefully played by charismatic and inspired actors; Chris O'Dowd (IT Crowd), Ray Romano (Vinyl), Sean Bridgers (Deadwood) and Goya Robles are outstanding. And the secondary ones are not far behind. Another distinctive note is the soundtrack, by Mexican drummer and composer Antonio Sánchez, which consists of different rhythms of drums and percussion in solo, and works wonderfully.

Primal (2019– )

Three first episodes are masterpieces.

[7/10 · 30 December 2019]

The three first episodes are masterpieces, but everything is spoiled with the fourth where the verisimilitude and the atmosphere are completely lost. What a pity.

Pustina (2016)

Astonishing discovery!!

[10/10 · 29 September 2017]

This astonishing 8-episode Czech miniserie, is one of the few discoveries, along with the Italian "Gomorra" and some Nordic jewel, which can be comfortably situated at the top of a genre usually dominated by the Anglo-Saxons. The reason is that it accomplish the two basic premises: 1. Brilliant Execution 2. It avoids the "underlining" (interpretive, musical, script etc.), that is, not to treat the spectator like an idiot.