Opiniones de tm-sheehan

My Review-All Her Fault Streaming on Foxtel My Rating 8/19

In today's busy world where most parents both work and have demanding and time consuming careers responsible child minding and after school care must be one of the most concerning issues that parents face .

All Her Fault set in Chicago is a very clever title for this 8 part series as it becomes obvious towards the conclusion of this story based on the novel of the same name by Andrea Mara .

The series stars Sarah Snook and Jack Lacey who play what appears to be a happily married couple Marissa and Peter Irvine .

Marissa Irvine arrives at 1800 Crescent Hollow Road to pick up her son Milo from a play date, but the woman who answers doesn't have Milo, sparking a parent's worst nightmare.

A series of events lead to a prime suspect the nanny employed by an acquaintance of Marissa Irvine Jenny Kaminski impressively played by Dakota Fanning.

An investigation begins headed by Detective Alcaras played by Michael Peña who interviews the parents of the missing boy Milo Irvine.

What I found most intriguing about this series is the gradual depiction of the husbands character that I would describe as a narcissistic despot usually defined as a persons need for absolute control taking no blame or responsibility for their actions.

All Her Fault is well worth a look especially for Sarah Snook's fine performance as a mother experiencing the trauma of child abduction and the guilt that she feels .

Well directed by Kate Dennis and Minkie Spiro and adapted for television from the book by Megan Gallagher.

It held my interest especially as we realise that this marriage is not all it seems .

My Review- The Beast Within Me My Rating 8/10

The two stars of The Beast Within Me Clair Danes and Matthew Rhys give outstanding performances my only criticism of the script scenario was Aggie Wigg's (Claire Danes ) illogical behaviour towards the conclusion in episode 8 , the story lost a bit of credibility for me .

Don't get me wrong this is an intriguing and very well produced 8 part bingworthy series .

Since the tragic death of her young son, acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Daines ) has receded from public life, unable to write, a ghost of her former self.

After a rather toxic encounter with her new neighbour about destroying a woodland near her home to make a jogging track for his use Aggie continues to be pestered by his requests.

Nile Jarvis played by Matthew Rhys is a famed and formidable real estate mogul who eventually agrees become Aggie's next subject for her long awaited second novel .

Nile was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance which causes Aggie to be fascinated by this man.

Aggie finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth chasing his demons while fleeing her own in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

This is a well directed series created by Gabe Rotter and while I'd prefer to have Matthew Rhys again playing Perry Mason in the superb two seasons of 2020 and 2023 he impressed me so much in his very sinister dark role in The Beast Within Me.

Claire Danes certainly took on a difficult role in this series her angst and torment certainly show in her manner and face .

Great performances from all in this series .

My Review- Now You See Me: Now You Don't My Rating 7/10

As an escapist Saturday afternoon matinee movie I enjoyed Now You See Me: Now You Don't because of the great cast plus the impressive action locations.

It's what I'd call a well produced heist romp of course it has no credibility whatsoever and why should it ?

It's about magic and magicians after all and doesn't try to be anything other than that.

It's not violent. It's very funny at times and I thought it even had a great message about wealth accumulation and greed and the exploitation of our planet's resources.

It follows in the footsteps of old fashioned vigilante escape movies .

The plot is simple it follows on from the first two movies Now You See Me 2013 and Now You See Me 2 2016 neither of which I have seen yet .

The four magical illusionists known as The Four Horsemen J. Daniel Atlas played by Jesse Eisenberg, Merrit McKinney played by Woody Harrelson, Jack Wilder played by Dave Franco and Henley Reeves played by Isla Fisher are called back for a mission after splitting up due to personal and artistic differences.

Ten years after the events of the 2nd film a trio of young copycat magicians Charlie, Bosco LeRoy, and June Rouclere - stage a fake Four Horsemen magic show via deepfakes and holograms.

They drain the wallet of the corrupt owner of a cryptocurrency exchange and distribute the stolen funds among the attendees.

This catches the attention of J Daniel Atlas the original Horsemen who then recruits the talented youngsters to assist in a plot apparently given to him by the Eye, the secret magic society.

They attempt to steal The Heart," the largest diamond the world. The diamond possession of Veronika Vanderberg, the head of a South African Diamond Company. Started by her father, a former Nazi who uses the business to launder money for war criminals.

Veronica Vanderberg played in a Disney devilish villainess style by the wonderful Rosamund Pike steals the movie for me with her accent , glamour and some fabulous outfits.

I always enjoy Actor, writer producer Jesse Eisenberg's movies he plays J. Daniel Atlas with confidence and flair.

Some great location scenes include the Hungary Museum of Fine Arts , Budapest,a great scene in The Danube river.

Others include the Chateau de Roussillon in France and exterior shots of the Nádasdy Castle, in Hungary.

The thrilling conclusion takes place in Abu Dhabi at Ferrari World Marina Circuit .

I came away thinking as impossible as this plot seems when you think of the recent robbery of the French Crown Jewels from The Louvre in Paris by criminals parking a van and climbing up a ladder to a window it puts it into perspective perhaps the motto of the movie to criminals is "Keep It Simple "?

My Review - What It Feels Like for a Girl Streaming on SBS on Demand My Rating 8/10

I didn't realise today is Trans Day of Remembrance so it's just a coincidence that we finished this very informative and touching 8 part series.

What It Feels Like for a Girl is a British television series based on Paris Lee's coming-of-age memoir of the same title.

Paris Lees is an English author journalist and LGBTQi campaigner she also was the first transgender woman columnist for Vogue and later the first transgender woman to present radio programmes on the BBC.

She adapted her first book written in 2021 What it Feels Like for a Girl into a BBC series for television .

An impressive ensemble cast headed by Ellis Howard who plays Byron later to become Paris in her early formative years coming of age in a small town in Nottingham called Hucknall.

Byron is an intelligent effeminate student who is bullied at school and unhappy until he finds his tribe . They are Sasha, Lady Die and Sticky Nicky played so well by Hannah Jones, Laquarn Lewis and Alex Thomas-Smith.

Byron has a difficult relationship with his parents who are separated however his loving Grand mother Mommar Joe played by Hannah Walters's is always there to pick up the pieces of his fractured life.

The pressures and joys of coming of age adolescence leads Byron into one calamity after another but as my introduction divulges eventually Paris emerges and accepts herself as she really is .

I really enjoyed this informative and uplifting series that is another example of hope for young transgender people who especially in today's world overcome suspicion and prejudice.

My Review - Wicked: For Good In Cinemas now My Score 10/10

To my knowledge there's never been a movie adaptation of an original Broadway musical split into two separate movies .

I'm pleased to report this second instalment really works living up to to the hype and promise of Wicked Part One.

To be really appreciated it must be seen on the big cinema screen as the extraordinary sets and costume detail plus the emotional impact would be lost on television.

John M. Chu who directed both instalments added to the realism of the movie by insisting on the minimal use of CGI rather opting for the building of massive sets . This included planting 9 million tulips to serve as part of the landscape for Munchkinland, although for wider shots VFX was still used.

I can't add a great deal more praise to Wicked :For Good because I'd be repeating much of my comments for my review of Wicked Part One .

I won't spoil the clever twists and turns that segue into the 1939 Wizard of Oz classic movie except to say when you see the back story of Wicked it opens up an entirely different interpretation to the Judy Garland beloved version based on the L Frank Baume characters, especially Glinda the Good and Elpahaba.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande repeat their brilliant interpretations of Elphaba and Glinda in fact I think they are more impressive in Wicked For Good because this story focuses on their emotional relationship .

Wicked 2024 focuses more on introducing us to the characters in their formative years.

Wicked For Good is darker because the Wizard and Madame Morrible's lies and corruption have turned Oz upside down.

Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh as well as Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero have much more dramatic impact in the second instalment.

Wicked 2024 was nominated for 10 Academy Awards winning 2 for Production and Costume design I suspect Wicked For Good will win more nominations and will win a few more major Oscars.

I love all the songs and orchestration in both movies plus new songs written by the original Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz who penned two new songs the film: "No Place Like Home," sung by Erivo's Elphaba, and "The Girl in the Bubble," sung by Grande's Glinda.

I gave Wicked (2024) a top rating of 10 and I'm giving Wicked For Good the same perfect score it certainly had been worth the wait .

My Review- Kiss of the Spider Woman In selected cinemas know My Rating 9/10

I hadn't heard a word about this movie till a friend and fellow lover of Broadway musicals whose opinion I respect suggested that I see The Kiss Of the Spider Woman as he really enjoyed it and it's not showing at many cinemas?

I'm so pleased I took his advice because I agree with him that this is a rare occurrence where an iconic Broadway musical has been successfully transferred to the screen.

Bill Condon who wrote and co directed this version of The Kiss of The Spider Woman knows how to bring a musical to the cinema screen.

He also directed Disney's Beauty and The Beast as well as DreamGirls 2006 plus wrote the screenplay for the Oscar winning musical film of 2003 Chicago.

The professional critiques have been mostly positive for Spiderwoman however the minimal distribution has ensured that this movie is another big budget flop.

I can't think of another musical that successfully combines a tale of pain and suffering with lavish musical production numbers that return to the nostalgic era of MGM movie musicals .

Set in 1983 in an Argentine detention facility at the height of what was known as The Dirty War that followed decades after the death of Eva Peron .

The brutal military regime has taken over and hundreds and hundreds of people loyal to the old regime disappeared without trace .

We are introduced to two political prisoners with totally opposite life experiences who are forced to face their fears and punishment together eventually forming an unbreakable bond .

Both actors give amazing performances in their dual roles combining fantasy and reality .

They are Tonatiuh who plays Luis Molina a prisoner who in today's language might be referred to as possibly transgendered or definitely a homosexual with fantasies of wanting to become the woman of his dreams.

Molina is imprisoned for indecent acts and the warden Oscar Ledesma played by Bruno Bichir hopes Molina will spy on his cellmate to uncover more political crimes.

His cellmate is Valentin Arregui played brilliantly by Diego Luna he also plays Armando the romantic prey of The Spider woman.

The lethal Spider Woman and Aurora is superbly cast and performed by Jennifer Lopez who I had no idea was so talented a singer and dancer.

After seeing Miss Lopez in The Kiss of the Spider Woman how I wished she had been cast as Evita in the 1996 movie , perhaps a new version is due 30 years on?

The story segues seamlessly from the dark brutal horror of this cruel prison to the dreamlike technicolor glamour of a Rita Hayworth style musical (Cover Girl 1944) came to my mind .

Interestingly all the songs that were performed in the prison scenes in the stage production have been left out of the movie.

In my opinion I think that was a wise decision because it keeps the focus and contrast of Molina's movie in his mind flowing . It has more plausibility otherwise it would look preposterous if two tortured prisoners suddenly broke out in song .

I think Chita Rivera who originated the role of Aurora and The Spider Women on Broadway would have praised this new film adaptation.

In fact Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh revealed in an interview that Chita Rivera, was supposed to appear alongside them in the film but unfortunately passed away two weeks into rehearsals.

The Kiss of the Spider Woman movie is dedicated to the memories of Fred Ebb the lyricist and John Kander the composer plus Terrence McNally who wrote the book and Chita Rivera.

The incidental score for the film was composed by Sam Davis and the stunning costumes are designed by Colleen Atwood .

I really think this musical movie is as Oscar nomination worthy as Wicked regardless of its box office success, there had to be another reason why The Kiss of the of the Spider Woman is getting such a poor showing in Cinemas I'm going to see it again .

My Review- All's Fair Streaming on Hulu Disney My Rating 4.5/10

I usually don't review a series till it's completed but I doubt the intellectual or artistic merit of this trashy tribute to Corporate wealthy women is liable to improve in the five remaining instalments.

I'll keep on watching because I think if everything that I watched had merit I wouldn't know trash when I saw it.

Besides sometimes we all need a bit of light relief and cringeworthy entertainment to give us relief from high drama or emotional angst.

When I saw the all star cast line up in All's Fair I couldn't resist watching they include my favourites Glenn Close , Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson and someone I'd heard of but never seen act before Kim Kardashian .

Sarah Paulson plays Carrington Lane a rival attorney who channels every old evil Disney crone imaginable. Her vile tongue drips with vitriol and resentment towards her four rival adversaries who deserted her to set up their own law firm.

They are Allura Grant played by Kim Kardashian, Liberty Rondon played by Naomi Watts , Emerald Greene played by Niecy Nash and Dina Standish played by Glen. Close .

Dina is a Legal Executive and mother hen to this group of women who have broken away from the Legal Company they worked for that was dominated by male power and wealth.

They soon become mega wealthy themselves each enjoying their luxury lifestyles while defending women in high profile divorce cases and bleeding their well deserving husbands dry .

The quality of the script writing is appalling and borders on pantomime but these high profile actresses obviously enjoyed the experience .

Unfortunately though only Rumpelstiltskin could spin gold out of this straw but I must say there is something that compels me to keep watching just not sure what it is though?

All the big stars involved in this series are executive producers as well as Ryan Murphy and Kim Kardashian's father Kris Jenner.

The huge production budget of this series is estimated at around US $69.7 million, and the series received about US $14.1 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission.

Apparently I hear despite the incredibly negative reviews All's Fair is popular in fact the trailer is the highest viewed trailer that Hulu has ever had plus their most watched scripted tv show in 3 years .

What does that say or not say about cinema and television audiences and the quality of the entertainment industry today ?

I'm not sure maybe after episode nine I'll know ?

My Review - Boots

Streaming on Netflix My Rating 7/10

Mmm, how do I review a series that has great merit even though it features emotionally violent scenes which I found more disturbing to watch than any murder or crime thriller ?

It made me realise that personally I literally dodged a bullet in 1967 when I missed out on the National Service lottery ballot that sent many young Australian men to Vietnam to fight a war that now is viewed as a wasted war in which many lives were sacrificed in the name of Glory.

Boots the 8 part series is based on a book by Greg Cope White titled the Pink Marine and adapted for television by Andy Parker.

It tells the story of a gay teenager Cameron Cope played by Miles Heizer who gives an excellent performance as a young man who has been subjected to bullying and wants to change his life by "manning up "to join the United States Marine Corps .

Set when George Bush Senior was the 43rd President with a policy in the Armed forces that if you were gay it was "don't ask don't tell" and if you were found out disgrace and instant dismissal would be your reward for service to your country.

The current President Trump, has criticised the Netflix series Boots for producing what he calls "woke garbage," arguing that the show's focus on a gay Marine's experience distracts from the military's "warrior ethos".

I truly doubt under today's regime in America that it would be any safer or secure to be openly gay in any of the Armed Services than back in the late 1980's

Boot refers to the "Boot Camp." that new recruits take part in to training to become warriors . It's truly a savage and dangerous experience run by authoritarian Captains and Sergeants who brutalise these young civilians with punishment and tasks beyond their capabilities.

Why any young man of any sexual orientation would willingly subject themselves to this emotional and physical torture is beyond my comprehension.

The shouting and bullying depicted in Boots I found very disturbing even the inclusion of a token woman Captain Fajardo played by Ana Ayora didn't change the tone of evangelical bullying to make or break these young men.

Of course being a sensitive new age guy I wouldn't know anything about worshipping my rifle as my best friend and I have no killing instinct whatsoever so I was left with one question after watching this educational and informative series What sort of husbands , fathers and adult males of any sexual preference would this brutality inflict on society once their "warrior" days were over would they become the bullies and domestic violence perpetrators that populate our news headlines today?

My Review- Bugonia In Cinemas now My Rating 7/10

I really did enjoy Bugonia even though in my opinion it would have been a better movie if Yorgos Lanthimos the director cut and reshot the last ridiculous quarter of the movie and changed the conclusion.

Yorgos Lanthimos directed the brilliant Poor Things in 2023 which won eleven nominations and won four Academy Awards including Emma Stone as Best Actress of 2024.

I doubt that Bugonia will achieve anything like the critical acclaim of Poor Things however it has 3 brilliant performances plus an interesting script till it runs off the tracks in its conclusion.

I won't divulge much of the plot as it would spoil the experience I'll just remark that I'm puzzled because what started as a very plausible kidnapping plot engineered by a psychotic conspiracy theorist Teddy played to perfection by Jesse Plemons .

Teddy convinces his intellectually challenged cousin Don with his theories of interplanetary beings inhabiting powerful Corporations and governments.

Aidan Delbis who is an actor on the autism spectrum plays cousin Don and he gives a very impressive performance.

Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, CEO of the pharmaceutical megacorporation Auxolith who Teddy is convinced is from an alien planet called Andromeda .

Teddy's theory is that Michelle Fuller and her company are responsible for many of the woes and calamities on earth today including the destruction of bees which are necessary for our survival. He decides that he must kidnap her and get her to arrange a meeting with The Emperor of Andromeda.

I thought Teddy's character was very believable and effectively portrayed the growing number of people that believe any bizarre theory or conspiracy that the age of social media and fake news throws up.

The title of the movie interestingly enough derives from the Begonia flower plus an ancient Greek word referring to the belief that bees could be spontaneously generated from the carcass of a cow.

Perhaps something got lost in translation as Bugonia is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! By Jang Joon-hwan.

I found Bugonia entertaining and it held my interest however my main criticism is that unlike Poor Things which was pure fantasy escapism Bugonia doesn't know if it's fantasy sci fi or a suspense drama mystery?

High praise however the fine performances of Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone and Aidan Delbis also the two thirds of the story that held my interest.

My Review - Task Streaming on HBO Max My Rating 9 /10

Task for me is a very unique and interesting 7 part series because all the characters are very flawed in their pursuit of acceptance and closure to to the traumatic events in each others life .

While the starring role is Mark Ruffalo who gives his usual excellent performance playing the FBI agent Tom Brandis .

I found the most compelling character that I had most empathy with was the fugitive Robbie Prendergast played to perfection by Tom Pelphrey.

Both Agent Tom Brandis and Robbie Prendergast are trying to get some normality back in their troubled lives after losing a wife and a brother to violent deaths .

Set in Delaware County Pennsylvania the early few instalments got me thinking how every decision right or wrong has a consequence for Tom a former Catholic priest turned FBI agent, the loss of his wife leads to accepting a mission to track down drug traffickers led by a ruthless killer and leader of a rogue Bikey gang appropriately named Dark Hearts .

Their leader and drug trafficker Perry Dorazo is played with vicious realism by Jamie McShane.

On the other side of the law we have Robbie Prendergast who lives with his deceased brothers daughter Maeve plus his two young children .

Maeve who is played so impressively by Emilia Jones and her Uncle Robbie have a very strained relationship .

Robbie Prendergast doesn't expect the train of violent events to follow that will cause him to be a fugitive from the law .

These occur after he and an accomplice break in to a house , what he perceives as a petty crime turns into his worst nightmare.

Task produced and created by Brad Ingelsby who repeats his success after the excellent series 2021 Mare of Easttown .

He has a special talent of creating fully three dimensional characters that even if they are flawed individuals are all interesting.

So many great performances in this ensemble of actors special mention for the other three Police officers on the Task force Thuso Mbedu as Detective Aleah Clinton, Alison Oliver's as State Trouper Lizzie Stover and Fabien Frankel as Detective Anthony Grasso.

There are plenty of of thrilling plot lines in Task and I expect it will be nominated for multiple Emmys next year.

My Review- One Battle After Another In Cinemas now My Rating 9/10

I was amazed to read One Battle After Another produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson was inspired by a 1990 novel titled Vineland by Thomas Pynchon because it looks and feels like events occurring in America today .

However it very cleverly doesn't seem to be set in any particular recent historical timeline, it could be taking place today or even decades ago .

No political party or President is mentioned but the character Stephen J Lockjaw played with superb evil by Sean Penn is invited to join is invited to join the Christmas Adventurers Club, a secret society of wealthy far right supremacists,ring any bells ?

There is a time clue reference to the 1960's hit television series Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, Hooterville Junction" which are lyrics from Gil Scott-Heron's song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which is heard in the film.

This is a classic chase movie that begins with Commanding Officer S. J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) heading a task force to stop immigrants and the far left terrorist group French 75 at the Otay Mesa Detention Centre. Perfidia which is situated in the shadow of a Great Wall.

Perfidia and her lover Pat (Leonardo Di Caprio who is an explosives expert are members of the terrorist group protesting at the Immigration Centre.

After Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn) catches Perfidia planting a bomb, he releases her after she agrees to his demands to have sex with him at a motel.

Later Perfidia played by Teyana Taylor leaves Pat (Leonardo DiCaprio ) after giving birth to a baby girl named Charlene later changed to Willa to pursue her revolutionary activities and leaving him to raise their daughter alone.

Sixteen years later, living in an isolated sanctuary city named Baktan Cross in California Pat now under a new identity Bob slips in to addiction and is stoned and paranoid most of the time until daughter Willa played brilliantly by Chase Infiniti doesn't return home after attending a teenage dance with her friends.

No more plot line except this is where the thrills and action escalate as Bob flees his home in pursuit of Willa with Lockjaw and his DOGE like force in hot pursuit.

Paul Thomas Anderson has directed and written great movies for great actors and actresses like Daniel Day-Lewis , Joaquin Phoenix and Julianne Moore and Leslie Manville to name a few .

His films have won or been nominated for Oscars, including Daniel Day-Lewis who won in 2008 for There Will Be Blood ,plus nominations for Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams for The Master .

A friend urged me to see One Battle After Another on a cinema screen and I'm so glad I did as its impact would be diminished on television.

This movie is the second film of the 21st century shot mostly in VistaVision, following The Brutalist (2024) and that would be lost on a small screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio is magnificent in the role of the ex revolutionary and explosive device expert known as Pat or "Ghetto or Rocketman "then later as Bob Ferguson a washed up addict living with his daughter Willa.

I think it's one of his finest roles and has Oscar nomination written all over it .

I always look for a particular scene in a movie that is Oscar worthy and DiCaprio has a few I particularly thought his addled phone call to a rescue group when he is trying to escape and can't remember the passcode because he's still stoned is brilliant because he gives enough information to prove who he is but the idiot at the other end of the line won't believe him.

Sean Penn is also brilliant in his villainous role and should be a shoe in for a supporting actor nomination.

I also liked the very minimal expressive music score composed by Jonny Greenwood often only on featuring one instrument such as a piano ,guitar or bass.

If you enjoy action, thrills , great chase scenes and a great story that manages to avoid excess violence and over use of foul language and overtly sexually explicit scenes you'll enjoy One Battle After Another.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere In Cinemas now My Rating 6.5/10

The title of Deliver Me from Nowhere, is appropriate for me but unfortunately it delivered me to Nowhere.

Even though Springsteen's music is not my favourite genre I admire his politics and advocacy for democracy.

He of course is a rock icon and legendary American performer and I was looking forward to seeing his story on screen.

However after seeing this small snapshot of his troubled childhood and early rise to fame I came away thinking his self centred ego coupled with depression shut out so many of the people who supported him .

Jeremy Strong is impressive as always playing his friend and manager and I particularly liked Odessa Young who plays his girlfriend Faye Romano I felt so sorry for her by her treatment from Springsteen.

Stephen Graham is excellent as Douglas Springsteen a drunk and a bully to his son.

Many troubled poets , songwriters and artists inspiration was also born out of the angst and trauma experienced in their lives .

However this screenplay written by director Scott Cooper in my opinion spends to much time on the troubled recording session of his 1982 album Nebraska it gets tedious unless you're familiar with its fame.

Jeremy Allen White plays harmonica and sings throughout the movie and gives an excellent performance as Bruce Springsteen and already there is already Oscar talk .

I'm sure Springsteen fans will enjoy this movie more than I did but as entertainment I found it flat and lifeless.

Compared to the wonderful biopic movies about Elton John , Freddie Mercury and Bob Dylan ,Rocketman 2017 , Bohemian Rhapsody 2028 and A Complete Unknown 2024 I was very underwhelmed by Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.

My Review -

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein In Cinemas now My Rating. 10/10

I recently lamented about the quality and attention to detail and originality that some obviously not all contemporary movie directors and screenwriters display today.

Oscar winning director Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro's work has always been a showcase for creativity, originality and attention to detail.

His admiration and inspiration is obvious for his favourite directors that include Alfred Hitchcock Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick ,Martin Scorsese and James Whale who inspired his love of the horror genre.

James Whale in 1931 directed Boris Karloff as the monster in Frankenstein and now 94 years later it's Guillermo Del Toro's turn.

Guillermo del Toro decided to follow up his version of Pinocchio (2022), with the "Frankenstein" story that he has always viewed as two sides of the same conceptual coin.

I agree the concepts are identical whether a wooden puppet turns into a real boy or an ego crazed doctor creates a monster by experimenting with the power of life force.

Both Pinocchio and The Monster discover the cruelty and abuse of humanity .

We all know or have seen different adaptations of British author Mary Shelley's gothic 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus .

Guillermo Del Torro who successfully achieves the movie Trifecta of Producer, Director and Screenwriter has remained largely faithful to Mary Shelley's novel in a similar way to Danny Boyle's superb 2011 stage production for The National Theatre that starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller who alternated the roles of Victor Frankenstein and The Monster.

Australian actor Jacob Elordi gives a sensational performance as the monster and brings such emotion and gentleness to a role that transcends horror and violence.

I read that he was not the first choice to play The Monster ,Andrew Garfield was originally cast as the Monster, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

I think it was a brilliant choice to have one of the most handsome male actors today play the cruelly deformed monster.

In the most demanding role of his career Jacob Elordi says he loved playing the role and spent up to ten hours in the makeup chair for extensive makeup application .

Some days he arrived at the makeup trailer at 10 P. M. and stayed up all night.

To quote Guillermo del Toro "he came to believe Elordi was "superhuman". "Never once did he come to me and complain. "Never once did he come to me and say, 'I'm tired. I'm hungry. Can I go?' And he put in 20-hour days." From the first frames of this movie I felt it was a nostalgic affectionate homage to the Golden age of Hollywood movies the director insisted on elaborate studio built sets rather relying on CGI and this adds to the homage to old movie making.

The superb music score by French composer Alexandre Desplat reminded me of the richness of the past great screen composers Max Steiner and Erich Korngold .

The amazing gothic sets by Shane Vieau who designed Dune 2 and The Shape of Water and costumes by Kate Hawley who also designed Guillermo Del Toro's Crimson Peak add to what I consider perfection in a movie .

Guillermo del Toro's only choice to play Dr Victor Frankenstein was Oscar Isaac and he brings an almost sympathetic quality to what is often portrayed as a crazed villainous character.

The great supporting cast includes Christoph Waltz, Charles Dance and an actress I've never seen appropriately named Mia Goth who is splendid as Elizabeth who in Mary Shelley's novel is the fiancé of Victor Frankenstein but in this version is the fiancé of his younger brother William played by Felix Kammerer.

I loved this adaptation of Frankenstein please see it on a cinema screen don't wait till it streams in Netflix.

I predict many Oscar nominations next year for this superb movie and I hope Jacob Elordi is nominated as best actor.

My Review - The Woman in Cabin 10 Netflix my rating 6/10

A few nights ago I rewatched the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock classic North By Northwest and couldn't help compare this made for television so called suspense thriller to the era of cinema when talent , writing and production perfection flourished in Hollywood.

One would think that 60 years on that the past example of quality cinema writing would have had some influence on today's movie and television writers and producers.

However in the latest era of streaming and exclusive straight to television drama it seems that originality and script writing has taken a back seat .

The streamers big budget productions today attract big box office stars and great technology filming methods .

They ignore the elegant sophistication and superb scripts that the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock insisted on.

You only have to watch the documentary on the making of any of his suspense thrillers to know that it takes much more than big box office names and a huge production budget to make a great suspense thriller.

The Woman in Cabin 10 has a very impressive cast headed by Keira Knightley ,Guy Pearce and great support cast including Art Malik and Hannah Waddingham.

It looks great shot on an actual ship which cost $150 million. The filming team utilised a massive yacht called the Savannah.

You would think a movie set on a luxury yacht cruising to Norway with a mega wealthy passenger list plus a murder mystery would be interesting and have appeal like that other wonderful murder mystery cruise Agatha Christie's classic Death on The Nile Think again , while The Woman in Cabin 10 shows promise at the start it morphs into a melodramatic pastiche of implausible plot lines including one of the silliest conclusions I've seen in a suspense mystery in ages .

Keira Knightley is impressive cast as Laura Blacklock a journalist invited to cover a fundraiser charity event organised by billionaire Richard Bullmer played by Guy Pearce .

Richard Bullmet's wife Anna is terminally ill and has decided to leave her entire fortune to set up a charity foundation to aid cancer research.

The cast of wealthy A list friends and crew on board become doubtful about Laura Blacklock's sanity when she insists she has witnessed a murder on board and a body being thrown overboard.

The script is by a team of four writers including the director Simon Stone and is based on a novel by Ruth Ware of the same name .

It's a pleasant movie to watch but I suspect far too many cooks or script writers spoiled this froth.

Unfortunately the script is full of so many holes that this luxury cruise yacht sunk for me long before it reached Norway and its ridiculous conclusion.

I must commend Keira Knightley for appearing to escape certain death on the yacht and survive a long long swim in the icy waters of a Norway fjord then amazingly manage to turn up to the Charity Gala on an adjoining island to confront her would be assassin.

My Review. Steve

Streaming on Netflix

My Rating 6/10

Steve played well by Best Actor Oscar 2024 winner Cillian Murphy is a fictional docu drama about a documentary television team attempting to film the daily goings on at a boys reform home .

It's told through the eyes of the dedicated staff and the rebellious boys who disrupt the proceedings every way they can .

Steve who has his own mental issues to manage is a headteacher in charge of the school for boys with societal and behavioural difficulties.

Directed by Tim Mielants and written by Max Porter, Steven is based on his 2023 novella Shy.

The film includes a great supporting cast that includes Tracey Ullman ,Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, and Emily Watson.

I can't say much more in favour of this movie as I found it a bit chaotic and dull it's emotional, dramatic and well acted however I didn't think it succeeded in holding the viewers interest.

The character of Steve I thought didn't give Cillian Murphy much scope to work on compared to his previous performances

In my opinion an actual documentary would have been more interesting instead of this fictional account that really doesn't have the impact of reality.

My Review - The Travellers My Rating 7/10 Screening in Cinemas now

Movies today are often overlooked or trivialised if they just portray ordinary families undergoing the everyday emotional experiences that most families face instead of featuring a sensationalised over the top plot featuring intense dramatic action or emotional angst.

This is the first movie by acclaimed Australian director Bruce Beresford in seven years it may not be his greatest movie however The Travellers is an entertaining ,touching and very easy to watch film that deserves a good audience.

Bruce Beresford now aged 85 wrote and directed this film which focuses on two siblings trying to balance their own adult lives and support their strong willed and cantankerous ageing father as it becomes obvious to all except their Dad that he can no longer look after his own welfare and home without help and a major lifestyle change.

Bryan Brown gives a wonderful performance as Fred Seary bookending his acclaimed 1980 performance as Lt Peter Hancock in Bruce Beresford's superb Australian classic Breaker Morant.

The plot is simple but anyone who has experienced the problems associated with their elderly parents declining physical health and cognitive skills will identify with Fred's children .

Stephen is a charismatic internationally acclaimed stage designer and his sister Nikki a wife and mother who both return to their fictional childhood home Yarrabiddy to say farewell to their dying mother then realising that their father is in decline physically.

The impressive real-life filming locations included the towns of York, Fremantle, and Perth, among others in Western Australia .

Stephen Seary played very impressively by Luke Bracey returns from Europe to say goodbye to his dying mother.

What was to be a quick trip descends into chaos, drama, and at times downright funny moments as Stephen navigates family responsibilities, a difficult relationship with his father, old friends and past lovers, all while trying to return to Europe for a major opera contract.

His sister Nikki played by Susie Porter also impressed me with her performance as she tries to coax her brother to stay home for a while to ease carrying the burden of being separated from her family while she tries to settle her Dad into acceptable care and accommodation near her home.

This was a very personal movie for Bruce Beresford who is also an accomplished opera director whose substantial film credits include Driving Miss Daisy, Mao's Last Dancer and Ladies in Black .

I thought his choice of career for Luke Bracey as an opera stage designer added interest to the movie which features scenes from Verdi's La Traviata which were filmed in Sydney as part of the 2025 Opera Australia performance.

There have been some negative reviews for The Travellers hopefully the early box office receipts will be kind because if we don't support our own Australian movie industry at the cinema and wait till streaming we may lose our unique style and the great talent that we have in our country.

It was also interesting to see Nicholas Hammond who's most famous movie role has to be Frederick Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in this movie playing a wealthy Opera entrepreneur Charles Kennelworth.

My Review- Grace Streaming on Britbox My Rating 8/10

I came in late to this crime mystery drama series already in production for series 6.

However it's been a better late than never experience for me and the quality of the scripts and the performances deserve the continuation of this absorbing series.

There are similarities in quality of Grace to the hit series Vera which centred on the investigation of murders by DCI Vera Stanhope and her team set in Northumberland .

Grace is set in the seaside resort of Brighton and the murder investigations of DC1 Roy Grace played so convincingly by John Simm.

I've followed John Simm's long career since the late 1990's when he had great success in various series like The Lakes and later State of Play ,Sex Traffic and Life on Mars and he never fails to impress.

DCI Grace's friend and off sider is DI Glen Branson played so well by Richie Campbell Together that make a very formidable team both showing their vulnerability and humanity along with their expertise.

All 5 series are based on the novels of Peter James each separate story impressed me with great scripts written by a talented team of writers that throw enough red herrings into the complex scenarios that will keep any viewer on their toes.

Crime fiction I think is like telling a good old joke it's all told before thousands of times in different ways but if retold with a fresh twist and interesting character portrayals it seems fresh and original.

Grace like Vera manages to achieve that goal it's well cast ,well directed and the ensemble cast is impressive.

I enjoyed the story thread of DCI Roy Grace's missing wife Sandy from episode 1 through the 20 episodes that each had a separate movie length story also similar to Vera .

My Review-House of Guinness Streaming on Netflix My Rating 8:10

I really enjoy Docudrama series especially when there about dysfunctional famous families.

The Guinness family is certainly one of the most famous Irish families the founder of the Guinness family and its iconic brewery was Arthur Guinness, who established the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin in 1759.

The series begins with the death and funeral of the grandson of Arthur Guinness now the family patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness.

We are introduced to his four problematical children Edward, Anne ,Arthur and Benjamin , nest of vipers with secrets that their enemies can use against them .

Those enemies were the foundation members of The Irish Republican Brotherhood, known as the Fenians .

The mob riot during his funeral, protesting Guinness' business ties with the English, but Guinness warehouse foreman Sean Rafferty employs measured violence to ensure the streets are cleared.

This series has an impressive cast that includes James Norton as Sean Rafferty an ex military strong man and go between for the Guinness heirs. The four children of Sir Benjamin are well played by Anthony Boyle as Arthur the elder brother who later has his political aspirations threatened by his closeted homosexuality, Edward the quieter more sensible brother is played by Louis Partridge.

Edward has big ideas for the brewery and is convinced he should be the one to take the factory forward.

Their sister Anne Plunket is well played by Emily Fairn who has influence despite her frailty due to ill health and a laudanum addiction. The young black sheep son of the family who obviously is an alcoholic is Benjamin and played well by Fionn O'Shea.

It's a very impressive ensemble cast special mention must be made of Niamh McCormack who plays Ellen Cochrane sister of one of the rebels and Edwards lover plus Danielle Galligan who plays Arthur's wife Olivier in a lavender marriage of convenience.

House of Guinness is an impressive well directed and interesting series I only hope there will be a series 2 as the dramatic cliff hanger certainly leaves you wanting to know what happened?

Written by Steven Knight and Ivana Lowell and directed by Tom Shankland and Mounia Akl the series didn't please all the remaining Guinness family .

Not all Guinness descendants are pleased. The Netflix series about the heirs to the Guinness brewing company in the late 1800s, fabricates much of the family's life to tell a more TV-friendly story.

My Review- The Assembly Streaming on ABC My Rating 10 plus

The Assembly is a most uplifting , emotional and inspiring 13 part series hosted by Leigh Sales who mentors 15 wonderful young autistic journalists.

These students were given the rare opportunity of studying journalism at Macquarie University with Dr. Helen Wolfenden and Dr. Tai Neilson. They adapted Macquarie's journalism course, using universal design principles to create a supportive learning environment for the Autistic journalism students featured in the series.

Each episode features the students asking questions of prominent personalities from a wide spectrum including Sam Neil, Anthony Albanese, Delta Goodrem and Adam Goodes.

I can't recommend this series highly enough the bond formed by these students and the intelligence of their questions are amazing .

The reactions of the interviewees and obvious enjoyment and humour in their answers when confronted with unexpected questions put to them are as entertaining as getting to know the students.

No subject is out of bounds, no question is off the table, and anything could happen. These were the three golden rules of The Assembly .

They guided one student Abbey to cut through the spin and directly ask The Prime Minister if he could help her find a job because of her challenges as a young autistic woman with a disability and she received a very positive reply.

I'm looking forward to series 2 and a new class of students there are some very talented new star personalities in this series as well as the personalities being interviewed.

My Review The Pitt My rating 10/10

The title of this amazing and unique 15 part series can be interpreted in 2 ways its location is in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania also its location in the Pitt of the hospital it's set in.

It's entirely set in The Emergency Department of that hospital where the pit workers at the coal face encounter in one long 12 hour day shift .

The drama of each hour takes place in 15 gripping episodes depicting in what seems more than humanly possible in one shift when medical professionals cope with urgent illness and injury despite understaffing , budget cuts and bureaucratic bungling If you are upset by depictions of the blood and gore of an operating theatre perhaps The Pitt may not suit your tastes .

This compelling series is not for the faint hearted however I found the realism and character development both of the hospital staff involved plus the emphasis on the patients was so interesting and revealing.

The Pitt deserves all the 5 PrimeTime Emmys it won last week especially the 3 acting awards for Noah Wyle who won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series .

Noah Wyle is superb in his role of Dr Michael Robinavitch .

His character is barely off screen during the 15 episodes as he steers and supports his team at The Pitt during the amazing and at times traumatic 12 hour shift depicted in each episode.

He achieves hero status despite being confronted by his humanity , personal demons and imperfections .

Katherine LaNasa is also superb and deservedly won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series . She looked so glamorous at the awards ceremony however her character in The Pitt Dana Evans the tough, empathetic Charge Nurse at the Pitt is totally opposite .

Katharine LaNasa has some of the best dramatic scenes in the series as she is the conduit that supports the dramatic journeys between the doctors , nurses and the patients who in some cases wait impatiently for urgent medical attention from the dedicated medical professionals on the other side of the reception area.

There are so many amazing acting performances from this superb ensemble cast including Patrick Ball as Dr Frank Langdon and Shawn Hatosy who won for Best Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama series playing Dr Jack Abbot one of the attending physicians.

This fine series was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmys winning 5 including Best Outstanding Drama Series and I can only praise its creator R. Scott Gemmill and its 8 directors for bringing such an authentic and original tribute to the health professionals not just in America but in all the nations of our very troubled world.

I'm looking forward to series 2 which will stream in January 2026 picking up ten months after Season 1 following Dr. Langdon's return to the hospital after rehab, and will cover the Fourth of July weekend.

My Review - A Big Bold Beautiful Journey My Rating 4/10

I'm so disappointed to be so negative about a movie starring two of my favourite actors Colin Farrell and Margo Robbie but this turkey should be renamed "A Big Bold Beautiful Bomb " in my opinion.

It's also a pity to see Margo Robbie a three time Oscar nominated actress in another bad movie after she starred in the biggest bomb of the decade Damien Chazelle's Babylon which I also rated as a 5/10.

Fortunately the two leads don't appear to be among the Producers list as I'm sure this movie will tank at the box office.

I love a magical mystery fantasy tour as much as anyone if it makes sense or if it's witty and clever .

However a story involving a car rental company headed by two of the oddest characters one known as The Mechanic played by Kevin Kline plus a potty mouthed cashier played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge who send their clients on a trip down memory lane to learn lessons from their past mistakes hopefully to benefit their future is even beyond my twilight zone.

Two strangers David played with quiet Irish charm by Colin Firth and Sarah played with seductive aloofness by Margot Robbie take off in their vehicles and meet at a friends wedding.

After their romantic interaction they leave in separate cars and their lives collide via the persuasive matchmaker satnav in each vehicle.

The satnav directs them to their next destination promising a big beautiful journey where they relive pivotal life experiences from their past .

We see scenes from the couples past like David's starring role in his High School musical How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying then Sarah at her mothers death bed which she had been absent from due to a romantic liaison.

The high school musical scene I could have watched the whole show and Colin Firth should do a stage musical his dancing and singing was the highlight of the movie for me .

My only reaction to the rest of the satnav destination doors which include David's discovery that he was a seriously ill premature baby after a chat to his Dad can be summed up in one comment.

"Are We There Yet !"

Perhaps I'm being to critical , I think not actors of the calibre in this movie must surely read their scripts before they sign the contract?

The award winning director Kogonada and writer Seth Reiss who wrote The Menu 2022 , which I really enjoyed have unfortunately in my opinion totally missed their destination with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey .

If it's meant as a romance fantasy it fails to deliver like modern art I suspect some people may interpret this movie differently that's fine but I just thought it pretentious and silly and total waste of time.

Of the three movie adaptations that followed the 2010 to 2015 original television series of Downton Abbey this finale is definitely my favourite.

Julian Fellowes the creator and screenwriter of all the six series of Downton Abbey plus the three movies amazes me in all his endeavours.

His skill and genius in portraying life upstairs and downstairs in the great houses across two continents as recently seen in his popular series The Gilded Age .

No wonder that series has been commissioned for a fourth series .

The Gilded Age saga of the American self made barons of industry began in 1882 thirty years prior to Downton Abbey which began in 1912 until the new finale movie brings us up to 1930 .

Both series when viewed by some in this so called age of enlightenment and cynicism may seem quaint and old fashioned but not if you enjoy elegance and sophistication.

However many fans like me obviously do enjoy a window into the past as do the millions of fans that appreciate Julian Fellowes creative skills that transport us back to an age of elegance and historical importance .

His eye for accuracy and authenticity coupled with his skill in portraying the emotional issues of those bygone days is unmatched after all he writes what he knows best .

I'm not going to spoil anyone's enjoyment by divulging much of the plotline of Downton Abbey the finale except to say after the death of Lady Mary Crawley's beloved grandmother Violet Dowager Countess of Grantham Downtown Abbey played so memorably by Dame Maggie Smith the entire family plus their beloved ancestral home is experiencing what can only be described by the songwriter of that era Noel Coward in his famous song the Twentieth Century Blues .

Noel Coward an acknowledged genius of that era and beyond is superbly played in this movie by Arty Froushan an actor I don't know . Bravo to Julian Fellowes for adding Noel Coward known as The Master as a new supporting character to the cast.

He was a cultural icon of the 1930's and his character plus his friendship with actor Guy Dexter played by Dominic West and Thomas Barrow played by Robert James-Collier add spice and drama to this movie .

What Julian Fellowes fits in a sublime 2 hour movie that features emotional drama , There is so much entertainment packed into this movie right from the opening scenes of Piccadilly Circus and the West End London Theatre District illuminated with neon billboards advertising the shows of the day from Noel Cowards 1929 hit operetta Bitter Sweet to the famous Charles B. Cochran reviews .

The Grantham family is attending the theatre enjoying the London season when scandalous news concerning Lady Mary Talbot rocks their entire world .

Lady Cora Grantham , Mary's mother has also recently experienced the loss of her American mother Martha Levinson, played in earlier series by Shirley MacLaine.

This causes her brother Harold Levinson played by Paul Giamatti to visit his sister Cora to discuss why her inheritance and fortune has been depleted.

Below stairs all our old favourites like Mr Carson are Mrs Patmore are preparing to retire and hand over their roles in the household to their successors.

I've only skimmed across the plot of this wonderful and sentimental movie which must be seen on a cinema screen to appreciate the superb sets and costumes .

In my opinion Downton Abbey 3 The Finale should be an Oscar contender .

Congratulations to director producer Simon Curtis and Julian Fellowes you have done Downton Abbey proud .

I came out feeling sad and wondering what lyrics Noel Cowards would write if he could to describe our 21st Century Blues now 95 years on from when Downton Abbey The Finale is set ?

While the class system and attitudes to issues like homosexuality have improved beyond what could have been envisioned in 1930 our world today is still plagued by intolerance, conflict and economic inequality where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

My Review - The Residence Streaming on Netflix My Rating 7.5/10

The Residence 8 part series I think is certainly worth a look event though it's slow in parts and far to long but what series isn't these days .

The two most appealing aspects of The Residence for me is The Australian connection and the wonderful performance of Uzo Aduba who brilliantly plays Cordelia Cupp a crime investigator and twitcher or birdwatcher who is very much on the autism spectrum.

The Australian connections are many and include the late Julian McMahon who plays Stephen Roos the newly elected, young, and gay prime minister of Australia.

It's sadly ironic that his second last role was a role his late father Willian played in real life.

It's also sad that the proposed second series of The Residence was cancelled on the day Julian McMahon died.

The other iconic Aussie connection in this zany crime series is Kiley Minogue who plays herself . Kiley is the star entertainment performer at a State Dinner for the Australian Prime Minister and his delegation at the White House .

Even our own Hugh Jackman is often mentioned but he never materialises.

Panic and pandemonium ensue when the Prime Minister of Australia and his entourage visit the White House for a state dinner after the the Chief Usher of the Whitehouse A. B. Wynter played by Giancarlo Esposito is found dead during the lavish reception.

Is it a suicide or a murder ? Only Cordelia Cupp well known super sleuth is called in to investigate and calls for a lockdown when her suspicions are confirmed.

There's some hilarious moments and great supporting comedy performances in The Residence especially from Jane Curtin who plays Nan Cox the dipsomaniac mother of President Perry Morgan . Nan whose permanently pickled in vodka detests the First Gentleman and her sons husband Elliot Morgan played by Barrett Foa.

I enjoyed The Residence created by Paul William Davies and based on a book by Kate Andersen Brower.

In my opinion The Residence would have made a far better feature film as it is to long at over 8 hours it's a shame as I'd love to see more crime dramacoms solved by Cordelia Cupp who is brilliantly played in The Residence by Uzo Aduba.

The Ballad of Wallis Island In Cinemas now My Rating 6.5/10

This movie is based on a 25 minute 2007 short film titled The One and Only Herb McGwyer plays Wallis Island by Tim Key .

It has been stretched out to a one hour 39 minute feature movie with a script by Tom Basden .

It didn't quite work for me for a few reasons one being that Carey Mulligan's character Nell Mortimer and her husband Michael played by Akemnji Ndifornyen seemed disconnected from the story .

Carey Mulligan is possibly my favourite British actress but I felt she was wasted in this movie .

Her character Nell Mortimer was a former musical and romantic partner of rock star Herb McGwyer.

Herb played by Tom Basden accepts a lucrative gig to perform on Wallis Island for eccentric lottery winner Charles Heath played by Tim Key who I found an irritating character .

Nell's husband Michael obviously dislikes the rock star and takes off to bird watch on the island I think I would also.

This gives the rock singer Herb an opportunity to rekindle his romance with Nell and they sing a few ballads and she soon leaves the island so Herb is alone again naturally.

The Ballad of Wallis Island is an ok pleasant little movie filmed on the Welsh Coast but the short 25 minute version would probably have suited me better.