wxgirl55
Joined Sep 2007
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Ratings192
wxgirl55's rating
Reviews10
wxgirl55's rating
I was initially delighted when first watching this tv series. Interesting premise, diverse cast of characters. Yay! All good! Also, as a Canadian who's a regular patron of TIFF, I love non-industry, non-North American film. Plus there'd been a lot of Australian projects I'd watched and loved so I was all in. Their unique perspective made things very watchable.
Okay... so 1st season of 5 Bedrooms - enjoyable.
2nd season - okay.
3rd season - meh.
4th season - why am I watching this again?
5th season - NOPE. Now I remember why I didn't like it.
The problem? NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
These adults did stupid things, said thoughtless stuff, made dumb decisions and never grew as human beings. It's difficult to root for a character, or invest time, in someone who acts like they're still 14 years old and have no self-awareness. Sure their IQ might be decent, but their EQ was zilch.
Such a waste of time, money and talent.
Okay... so 1st season of 5 Bedrooms - enjoyable.
2nd season - okay.
3rd season - meh.
4th season - why am I watching this again?
5th season - NOPE. Now I remember why I didn't like it.
The problem? NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
These adults did stupid things, said thoughtless stuff, made dumb decisions and never grew as human beings. It's difficult to root for a character, or invest time, in someone who acts like they're still 14 years old and have no self-awareness. Sure their IQ might be decent, but their EQ was zilch.
Such a waste of time, money and talent.
I love this film. It's perfect. I would not change a thing.
It's the gem I always hope to discover when I go to TIFF, and it's ironic that the large costly studio films seen earlier in the week fell flat and here's this little two-character indie film shot in just 7 days and it blows the heavyweights out of the water.
Sarah Paulson is at the top of her game. She should be nominated and win many awards for her portrayal of Amanda. Yes, she is that good.
The direction, acting, cinematography, editing, script, music... all coalesce to create this perfect little gem. It is bliss to watch and experience.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
Jim is back in his childhood home sorting through family belongings after this mother's death.
Amanda is back in town to visit with her sister who's expecting a baby.
Jim and Amanda run into each other at the local grocery store and have a difficult and awkward time acknowledging each other's presence. What is making them so uncomfortable? Grab your popcorn and watch their story unfold.
That's it. That's all I'm saying about the film's story line. The less you know, the sweeter the experience of finding out about these two. But I fell in love with both of them.
It's the gem I always hope to discover when I go to TIFF, and it's ironic that the large costly studio films seen earlier in the week fell flat and here's this little two-character indie film shot in just 7 days and it blows the heavyweights out of the water.
Sarah Paulson is at the top of her game. She should be nominated and win many awards for her portrayal of Amanda. Yes, she is that good.
The direction, acting, cinematography, editing, script, music... all coalesce to create this perfect little gem. It is bliss to watch and experience.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
Jim is back in his childhood home sorting through family belongings after this mother's death.
Amanda is back in town to visit with her sister who's expecting a baby.
Jim and Amanda run into each other at the local grocery store and have a difficult and awkward time acknowledging each other's presence. What is making them so uncomfortable? Grab your popcorn and watch their story unfold.
That's it. That's all I'm saying about the film's story line. The less you know, the sweeter the experience of finding out about these two. But I fell in love with both of them.
First time feature-film director Adam Smith establishes much in the opening minutes of the movie.
Our first image has the camera on the heels of a bullet-fast hare being chased and running for it's life through an endless meadow. Chasing, it seems, is a way of life for the backwoods thieving Cutler clan who we're about to meet.
The local British constabulary is usually doing the pursuing.
Chad Cutler (Michael Fassbender) squirms under the thumb of Colby, his domineering father, whose never-ending lifestyle of thievery sees no happy end. With a brother already trapped in prison, Chad looks at his young impressionable son and wonders whether he can offer him a different future.
To create a different path he must reassess Colby as a role model, and contemplate the unimaginable to trespass against his father's wishes and put his own young family's well-being above the clan's. Ensuring an education – something his father denied him – seems to be the only escape route for his children's otherwise ill-fated future.
Colby, played by the indomitable Brendan Gleeson, is an uneducated patriarch whose limited worldview is a creeping cause for concern. His knack for planning successful robberies is now questionable, and he senses growing desperation and worry since it's become apparent his schemes are outdated and flawed. But knowing no other way of life, he hangs on, using whatever resources he can to keep his son, Chad, with him.
Michael Fassbender is an extremely talented actor and makes a powerful presence on the screen. Through him we witness Chad's struggle to be a dutiful son, loving husband and responsible father. With no formal schooling, no ability to read or write, his strongest skill is seen behind the wheel of a car in hot pursuit, he wrestles to make a choice on what kind of future he can offer his young family.
My rating: 76 /100
20 /25 – Overall
11 /15 – Directing
12 /15 – Acting
13 /15 – Cinematography (colour, angle, camera position)
06 /10 – Editing (rhythm, pace)
08 /10 – Script (dialogue, storyline)
06 /10 – Music/score (sound foley, costume, make-up casting)
Our first image has the camera on the heels of a bullet-fast hare being chased and running for it's life through an endless meadow. Chasing, it seems, is a way of life for the backwoods thieving Cutler clan who we're about to meet.
The local British constabulary is usually doing the pursuing.
Chad Cutler (Michael Fassbender) squirms under the thumb of Colby, his domineering father, whose never-ending lifestyle of thievery sees no happy end. With a brother already trapped in prison, Chad looks at his young impressionable son and wonders whether he can offer him a different future.
To create a different path he must reassess Colby as a role model, and contemplate the unimaginable to trespass against his father's wishes and put his own young family's well-being above the clan's. Ensuring an education – something his father denied him – seems to be the only escape route for his children's otherwise ill-fated future.
Colby, played by the indomitable Brendan Gleeson, is an uneducated patriarch whose limited worldview is a creeping cause for concern. His knack for planning successful robberies is now questionable, and he senses growing desperation and worry since it's become apparent his schemes are outdated and flawed. But knowing no other way of life, he hangs on, using whatever resources he can to keep his son, Chad, with him.
Michael Fassbender is an extremely talented actor and makes a powerful presence on the screen. Through him we witness Chad's struggle to be a dutiful son, loving husband and responsible father. With no formal schooling, no ability to read or write, his strongest skill is seen behind the wheel of a car in hot pursuit, he wrestles to make a choice on what kind of future he can offer his young family.
My rating: 76 /100
20 /25 – Overall
11 /15 – Directing
12 /15 – Acting
13 /15 – Cinematography (colour, angle, camera position)
06 /10 – Editing (rhythm, pace)
08 /10 – Script (dialogue, storyline)
06 /10 – Music/score (sound foley, costume, make-up casting)