tm-sheehan
Joined Apr 2011
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My Review- Black Doves
Streaming on Netflix
My Rating. 8.5/10
Remember those great British sentimental Christmas movies like Love Actually and Last Christmas well Black Doves amazingly has a few of those holiday moments in its six dramatic episodes.
I say amazingly because this British espionage thriller has some very violent moments featuring shootings , executions and some very dark moments however these scenes are almost comic like or perhaps like many i have become a little desensitised to violence on television and movies.
Black Doves skilfully directed by Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning and written by Joe Barton stars Ben Whishaw ,Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire all in top form playing very shadowy characters with double lives working together and independently in a quest to solve the assassination of a prominent Chinese Diplomat.
Playing a very different role from anything I've seen him play previously Ben Wishaw plays Sam Young friend of Helen Webb played by Keira Nightly .
These two unlikely trained assassins work for their ruthless boss Reed played by Sarah Lancashire in another splendid departure from her usual Police Inspector roles.
Reed is a real scene stealer in Black Doves as she sells secrets to the highest bidder regardless of any National loyalty.
Black Doves is fast moving with many interesting characters including Helen's husband Wallace an influential and ambitious politician who is oblivious to his wife's double life until the dramatic conclusion.
The other supporting role I enjoyed was played by Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines another ruthless assassin recruiter.
As I mentioned earlier I was surprised by some of the lighter touches of snow scenes Christmas songs and present giving around the tree that I felt added another dimension to what could have been a very dark series.
I suspect and hope we will see another series of Black Doves it's a quality production.
Remember those great British sentimental Christmas movies like Love Actually and Last Christmas well Black Doves amazingly has a few of those holiday moments in its six dramatic episodes.
I say amazingly because this British espionage thriller has some very violent moments featuring shootings , executions and some very dark moments however these scenes are almost comic like or perhaps like many i have become a little desensitised to violence on television and movies.
Black Doves skilfully directed by Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning and written by Joe Barton stars Ben Whishaw ,Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire all in top form playing very shadowy characters with double lives working together and independently in a quest to solve the assassination of a prominent Chinese Diplomat.
Playing a very different role from anything I've seen him play previously Ben Wishaw plays Sam Young friend of Helen Webb played by Keira Nightly .
These two unlikely trained assassins work for their ruthless boss Reed played by Sarah Lancashire in another splendid departure from her usual Police Inspector roles.
Reed is a real scene stealer in Black Doves as she sells secrets to the highest bidder regardless of any National loyalty.
Black Doves is fast moving with many interesting characters including Helen's husband Wallace an influential and ambitious politician who is oblivious to his wife's double life until the dramatic conclusion.
The other supporting role I enjoyed was played by Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines another ruthless assassin recruiter.
As I mentioned earlier I was surprised by some of the lighter touches of snow scenes Christmas songs and present giving around the tree that I felt added another dimension to what could have been a very dark series.
I suspect and hope we will see another series of Black Doves it's a quality production.
My Review-Blitz
Streaming on Apple +
My Rating 6/10
I wondered why a feature movie starring Saoirse Ronan and Directed by British Director Steve McQueen would go direct to streaming without an Australian Cinema release and a very short limited British and USA release .
Now I know it's not because Saorise Ronan who is a favourite of mine is not impressive because she is impressive and totally believable.
Saorise plays Rita the devoted mother of ayoung mixed cast son George played so well by Elliott Heffernan .
Rita reluctantly decides to send George away to safety in the country from the constant bombing of London during the London World War 2 blitz by Germany.
Young George feels deserted and jumps off a moving train to return to his mother in London .
My feeling about the lack of credibility and poor script of this movie is summed up in my review of another review of a Steve McQueen film which he also wrote the screenplay and Directed.
Blitz is better than his 2018 movie Widows I gave that a 5/10 but this excerpt from my review of that movie I think applies to Blitz.
You would think with a cast like this that you'd be in for a good movie? The cast was good the movie was bad a stupid improbable plot that you could shoot canon balls through..
The movie looks impressive with clever CGI depictions of War torn London but I was not very impressed.
I wondered why a feature movie starring Saoirse Ronan and Directed by British Director Steve McQueen would go direct to streaming without an Australian Cinema release and a very short limited British and USA release .
Now I know it's not because Saorise Ronan who is a favourite of mine is not impressive because she is impressive and totally believable.
Saorise plays Rita the devoted mother of ayoung mixed cast son George played so well by Elliott Heffernan .
Rita reluctantly decides to send George away to safety in the country from the constant bombing of London during the London World War 2 blitz by Germany.
Young George feels deserted and jumps off a moving train to return to his mother in London .
My feeling about the lack of credibility and poor script of this movie is summed up in my review of another review of a Steve McQueen film which he also wrote the screenplay and Directed.
Blitz is better than his 2018 movie Widows I gave that a 5/10 but this excerpt from my review of that movie I think applies to Blitz.
You would think with a cast like this that you'd be in for a good movie? The cast was good the movie was bad a stupid improbable plot that you could shoot canon balls through..
The movie looks impressive with clever CGI depictions of War torn London but I was not very impressed.
My Review -Wicked
In Cinemas now
My Rating 8.5/10
I'm a lover of stage and movie musicals and have seen some very poor movie versions of famous musicals .
I must say Wicked part 1 is one of the most successful transfers from stage to cinema.
I had heard some mixed reactions but apart from one or two small criticisms ,one being the casting of Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard , I thought he lacked any charisma at all in contrast to the rest of the cast.
The movie Wicked Part one is skilfully directed by Jon M. Chu who directed Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights .
The movie is an expanded version of the stage version and differs quite a bit musically in the continuity of the plot line.
The movie opens like the stage version with the citizens of Oz rejoicing at the death of the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba .
The two witches are played beautifully by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba the feisty witch rejected from birth and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch who's cloying narcissistic shallowness is more humorous than irritating.
Glinda the Good appears in a bubble dressed in her traditional pink flounces to announce that Elphaba is dead after her reign of terror.
When asked by a munchkin if they were ever friends and was she always wicked Glinda or Galinda as she was known as begins to tell the story of their relationship .
Elphaba was rejected from birth by her parents because of her green appearance and blamed for her crippled sister Nessarose's handicap.
During their time at Shiz university Elphaba Thropp was exclusively tutored by the Sorceress Madam Morrible played by Michelle Yeoh.
Galinda who craves popularity constantly gradually eventually warns to her new reclusive roommate and decides to do her best makeover for Elphaba to be accepted by the rest of the students.
Elphaba encounters Fiyero Tigelaar, a rebellious Winkie with whom Galinda is in love. Fiyero is played by current popular heartthrob Jonathan Bailey who is so good in this role.
A romantic triangle develops when Fiyero becomes an accomplice in Elphaba's efforts to rescue persecuted talking animals who risk imprisonment and the loss of their ability to speak human.
Peter Dinklage is effective as the voice of Doctor Dillamond a wise and learned goat and teacher to the two witches.
The similarities to the rise of rightwing fascism and persecution of minorities in today's world are unmistakable in Wicked.
The set designs by Nathan Crowley are exceptional and should be Oscar nominated .
I thought the influence of Venetian and Russian architecture was very effective.
The costumes by Paul Tazewell are also stunning and also should be Oscar nominated.
I think one of the reasons Wicked succeeds is that Stephen Schwartz the show's creator is an executive producer and obviously was involved in every aspect of the movie including the casting and look of the movie which uses minimal CGI and actual purpose built sets .
My initial thought that the decision to make two movies was odd but after seeing the movie I understand why and look forward to seeing where Wicked Part 2 will take us .
The 2 main stars of Wicked Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as mentioned are very impressive and performed most of their songs live .
It was delightful to see the two original Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel play cameo roles in the movie .
As a tulip grower I was interested to read that 9 million tulips were planted to bloom in the purpose built Oz set .
Wicked the film musical is obviously a labour of love the production cost of both movies as part 2 has been completed is an estimated $310 million dollars that must be the most expensive movie musical movie ever made??
I'm a lover of stage and movie musicals and have seen some very poor movie versions of famous musicals .
I must say Wicked part 1 is one of the most successful transfers from stage to cinema.
I had heard some mixed reactions but apart from one or two small criticisms ,one being the casting of Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard , I thought he lacked any charisma at all in contrast to the rest of the cast.
The movie Wicked Part one is skilfully directed by Jon M. Chu who directed Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights .
The movie is an expanded version of the stage version and differs quite a bit musically in the continuity of the plot line.
The movie opens like the stage version with the citizens of Oz rejoicing at the death of the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba .
The two witches are played beautifully by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba the feisty witch rejected from birth and Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch who's cloying narcissistic shallowness is more humorous than irritating.
Glinda the Good appears in a bubble dressed in her traditional pink flounces to announce that Elphaba is dead after her reign of terror.
When asked by a munchkin if they were ever friends and was she always wicked Glinda or Galinda as she was known as begins to tell the story of their relationship .
Elphaba was rejected from birth by her parents because of her green appearance and blamed for her crippled sister Nessarose's handicap.
During their time at Shiz university Elphaba Thropp was exclusively tutored by the Sorceress Madam Morrible played by Michelle Yeoh.
Galinda who craves popularity constantly gradually eventually warns to her new reclusive roommate and decides to do her best makeover for Elphaba to be accepted by the rest of the students.
Elphaba encounters Fiyero Tigelaar, a rebellious Winkie with whom Galinda is in love. Fiyero is played by current popular heartthrob Jonathan Bailey who is so good in this role.
A romantic triangle develops when Fiyero becomes an accomplice in Elphaba's efforts to rescue persecuted talking animals who risk imprisonment and the loss of their ability to speak human.
Peter Dinklage is effective as the voice of Doctor Dillamond a wise and learned goat and teacher to the two witches.
The similarities to the rise of rightwing fascism and persecution of minorities in today's world are unmistakable in Wicked.
The set designs by Nathan Crowley are exceptional and should be Oscar nominated .
I thought the influence of Venetian and Russian architecture was very effective.
The costumes by Paul Tazewell are also stunning and also should be Oscar nominated.
I think one of the reasons Wicked succeeds is that Stephen Schwartz the show's creator is an executive producer and obviously was involved in every aspect of the movie including the casting and look of the movie which uses minimal CGI and actual purpose built sets .
My initial thought that the decision to make two movies was odd but after seeing the movie I understand why and look forward to seeing where Wicked Part 2 will take us .
The 2 main stars of Wicked Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as mentioned are very impressive and performed most of their songs live .
It was delightful to see the two original Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel play cameo roles in the movie .
As a tulip grower I was interested to read that 9 million tulips were planted to bloom in the purpose built Oz set .
Wicked the film musical is obviously a labour of love the production cost of both movies as part 2 has been completed is an estimated $310 million dollars that must be the most expensive movie musical movie ever made??