andrew_in_uk Reviews

Bloodline (2015–2017)

There's no accounting for taste (or lack thereof)

[4/10 · 9 August 2015]

As some down-voters have mentioned, it's hard to believe (to me) that all these comments about great acting and thrilling plot line could ever be mentioned in relation to this series. If you haven't watched it already, watch the first episode, then skip to number 8- what happens (plot wise) in between is the old man dies- that's pretty much it. I've just saved you several otherwise wasted hours of your life. Pick it up at episode 8 and then watch the only part where things keep moving. You might not miss any plot between episodes 2 and 7, but what you do miss is a whole lot of pathetic. Wooden acting, and I agree with other comments in that I didn't like any of the characters, maybe Chelsea? Or Chelsea's mum/mom, who hated their family as much as I did? I'm most disappointed with Ben Mendehlson. I grew up in Australia a huge fan of him (Idiot Box- great in its time, but I suspect would now look very dated), but not any more. The I-don't-know-where-you-learnt-it American accent- argggh! - was the slurry speech impediment part of his drunken persona or just really bad speech training (or the result of method acting- being drunk for the role)? The other Aussie, the wife of the cop- can't be bothered to click any link to find out her name- let her Aussie accent come through in several parts but overall wasn't that bad I thought. Really really bad, but I watched the whole season. Every episode. I want my money back.

Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017)

Is anything going to actually happen?

[2/10 · 21 June 2014]

Being of a geeky disposition I really wanted to like this show. At the end of the first episode I thought an interesting narrative was being set up. Then I watched episode 2 and what happened? Nothing. Then the third episode.Again, nothing really happened. If you are interested in a show where people get fired, a company loses its clients, people seek venture capital, there's scenes of a frustrated young woman pissing about, scribbling crap down and looking defeated, of a cocky and unlikeable egotist, of a genius coder with no balls, then this is the show for you. There is no 'drama' in the sense of emotion, excitement, surprise. It's just banal events unfolding at a snail's pace devoid of any intensity or emotion. It's garbage!

Top of the Lake (2013–2017)

Didn't appeal to me at all

[3/10 · 10 September 2013]

Not good. Pretty cringe-worthy actually. As other reviewers have commented, the scenery and cinematography is excellent, but its nowhere near good enough to ignore the flaws and utter ridiculousness of this attempt at TV. The word that comes to mind is 'inconsistent'. I suspect that the aim of this was to create a fusion of different elements and hope to come out with something uniquely beautiful and original. It seems that many feel they pulled it off. I don't though. It just jars. You know when something is bad when you keep halting your suspension of disbelief because of a stupid line in dialogue, a change in genre, a change in accent (I'll get back to this, believe me), or any other glaring flaw that keeps nagging you like toothache when you're trying to sleep. The accent. I've read interviews of Ms Moss who claims it was a deliberate attempt to create something unique that people couldn't quite place. Who believes that? Not I. To me it just sounds like a very poor accent from an American actress who can't herself tell the difference between Aussie, Kiwi, English Received Pronunciation (ie. Bridget Jones), or it seems her own American twang. It's not that people can't pick up accents from adopted countries (I say this as an Aussie ex-pat who's lived in the UK for 14 years), but they don't veer one way and another in their accent changing their disposition every 5 seconds. It sounds ridiculous. The markedly higher ratings from north American audiences I can only assume are down to the fact that their ears are less discerning with accents from this part of the world (When I say 'this part of the world', I have to extend the range to Britain sadly). Loved 'The Piano' and Holly in it. Was really looking forward to this, but it's rubbish. At times cheesy, at times unintentionally nonsensical, but at all times inconsistent. I've watched one episode. That's enough I think.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

The girl Lamot is talking to out side the first psychologist's office

[7 December 2006]

OK, I have to know who the girl is sitting on the floor listening to the prof talking about how beautiful a mathematical proof can be and she goes "Wow!" Every time I see her I go "Wow" too, and you can only see her profile.

Who is that stunning long-legged blonde goddess? If those lines really can pull birds like that then I wanna be a maths geek too. She must be mine!

So if anyone has her name or her number or email or home address, I'm pretty sure she's waiting for me to get in touch, so do us a favour.

After all, it's always possible that she's not really after a maths professor but is really saving herself for a broke Australian high school teacher.

cheers

Andy x

PS No one ruin my fantasy, OK?

The Replacements (2000)

Probably not the worst film I've seen this year

[3/10 · 29 September 2006]

Mediocre is my recollection of it. I'm amazed that it is so popular with you all, so I'm gonna have to watch it again to make sure. so many people can't be wrong, surely. Maybe it's coz I'm not American so all the pomp and ceremony over that (to me) sporadic and ridiculous game is lost on me. Anyway, i'll give it another chance. In any event, maybe screwball American comedy isn't my genre. I really don't want to talk about that movie any more so the 10 line rule IMDb have is a bit of a nuisance really. I started to going to the gym about 2 months ago and I never had any problem with eating whatever food I liked without putting on weight but now I can't look at a chocolate bar without my gut popping out. I also think that people who go to the gym have prematurely ageing skin. There, 10 lines at least.

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Pete's Accent! What the hah?

[6/10 · 9 June 2006]

Not going into the finer points of the film, I quite liked it, but nothing world-changing.

What ruined the whole experience for me was the accent of the Pete character, who looked the part but sounded awful! I'm going to say that again, the accent was absolutely dreadful! According to the info the actor playing him is a Geordie so (although the two accents are very different) presumably he's heard a Londoner speak before. Apparently replicating it was another thing.

At times he sounds American, at times he sounds Australian, at times he sounds like an American trying to put on an Australian accent. When I watch him closely I can see him using all his might trying to articulate the words as a West Ham fan might- and fails all the same. If it hadn't ruined the film it would be funny.