Change Your Image
tommitchell-33746
Reviews
Heartland Homicide (2022)
Frustrating, slow, intentionally illogical and deceptive storytelling
In a really misguided effort to dramatize these crimes this series moves at a contrived snails pace, and could easily have been a 1/2 hour show or even less, which honestly may have been pretty decent. But by the time it jerks the viewer around with misleading dramatizations, really poor actor portrayals, and intentionally confusing time and story lines which make little sense, I wasted 45 minutes of my life.
I thought episode one was relatively interesting but progressively worse after that. I had to constantly fast forward through the incredibly repetitive recaps, multiple times during the show. Finally bailing after Episode 10, it was the last straw.
Inside Men (2012)
Almost a great series
This series really captivated me from very beginning. Acting, casting, character development, it had everything I've come to love and appreciate from British drama. I couldn't wait to recommend this to everyone I knew. Then the finale. OMG, did they fire all the writers after episode 3 and start over? I couldn't wait to see how this was gonna end. What a disappointment. Had to google it to understand exactly what I'd just watched. What a waste of really good acting! I gave this a 6 just because of the acting, on the end I really felt cheated. It came so close to greatness but the ending ruined it. Too bad.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Ok, I didn't realize it was a comedy.......
So I found it a horrible mess of really bad writing and a total waste of 4 hours of my life. Just plain stupid. I was, that is, for watching it! I should have bailed out as soon as the kid was killed and eaten by a serial murderer in a prison on 'take your daughter to work day'. Just awful.
Good Time (2017)
Decent lead acting, awful writing, awful movie
I watched this because of user ratings and 'awards'. I can't imagine how it received either. The lead actor did a decent job with a really stupid, implausible, and overly dark storyline, and he's the only reason I rated 3 stars and didn't bail on it before the end. Turns out it was a waste of 141 minutes of my life.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this one.
Landscapers (2021)
An absolute gem
If you ever had a doubt (I did not) about the incredible talent of Olivia Colman, this one should dispel them! She and David Thewlis, are excellent in this drama. Their characters hit you straight in the heart. If you loved Broadchurch as I did, you'll love this one too.
The Sinner (2017)
Season 4- Another example of why US TV is just bad of late
I found this a really disappointing TV series. I wanted to love it, liked some of seasons 1-3, Pullman is a great actor, rest of the cast is decent. But I found the writing absurd and insulting.
Introducing a key character in the last episode? Infuriating. Series is excruciatingly slow, not very logical, or believable mostly.
Dragged a 4 episode story into 8, continually tried to deceive the audience with 'gotchas', and even then, left storylines hanging.
I won't be watching any more of this one, or honestly, probably most anything else made outside of Europe. Do better U. S.
Maid (2021)
Last episode the only decent one
We stubbornly endured this series through 9 slow, frustrating, depressing, and ridiculous episodes, and found a bit of a reward with episode 10, but I can understand if many might give up on it after just a few. Along about episode 7 I struggled to find only 2 likeable characters - one a 3 year old, the other a kind friend whose incredible goodness and generosity got him exactly nothing. Yes, the main character endured and somehow managed a positive outcome in the last episode , but honestly this series was gut wrenching to watch overall. I wouldn't recommend the torture.
Clickbait (2021)
Had such high hopes
...Right up until the last ridiculous episode, which totally ruined it. This series is just plain insulting to mystery and crime drama fans everywhere.
One of these days I'll learn to read reviews BEFORE wasting hours of my life with poorly casted and written shows. Be forewarned!
I Care a Lot (2020)
Could have rated lower, but
I thought Rosamund Pike was great as an evil leading lady. Any time a character evokes that much hate from the viewer, appreciate the talent. The story does become far-fetched however, with ruthless mobsters bungling simple hits and Houdini-like escapes. I thought the first half was interesting and watchable, but probably because I was so looking forward to the ending, which was just so-so. Sure, she does get what she deserves in the end, but not without making an innocent victim a vendetta murderer, and without any just consequences for the mob. Could have been so much better.
Prodigal Son (2019)
Some decent acting, but seriously bad writing
Worst screenwriting of a good idea ever, couldn't stand any more after only a few episodes. Like so many US produced shows it constantly insults the viewer's intelligence. Just too far-fetched. Can't understand the high ratings unless there are just lots of viewers who have no idea about good TV that's generally made outside of the U.S.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
Boy do I feel stupid
What a disgusting waste of time. Paranormal? Mysterious? Baloney. Worst presentation of a documentary ever! Netflix should be ashamed.
Mystery Road (2018)
Giving up on Aussie dramas
Barely managed to suffer through this one, right after suffering through A Place To Call Home, both had a few (but only a few) moments, but both ended up sorely disappointing, unless of course the viewer is more obsessed with white privilege, race, gender and sexuality issues than good writing, casting and acting. Just got worse and worse. Sorry I wasted so much time on these.
Wanted (2016)
Moronic, insulting, waste of time
I really wanted to like the show after an episode or two, but it got instantly silly, unbelievable, and insulting to the viewer. The only reason I stayed with this into season 2 was for the New Zealand filming locales. But it's a steady diet of idiocy, horrible writing, and overacting. Total waste of time. There might be a few some good actors in the mix but I don't think they did their careers any favors. I tried but just couldn't finish this goofy disaster.
Absentia (2017)
Slow, boring, stupid
First episode gave me hope, second episode- not too sure, but third and final for me was painful. Gave up. Not sure how this could have been rated so highly. Writing and acting are poor in this one. Sorry but Euro/BBC shows have spoiled me. Don't waste your time, too much good stuff out there.
Okkupert (2015)
10 stars....until
A masterpiece of quality drama and intrigue with both fine actors and writing, only to be sabotaged by the writers of the finale.
Even though many of the 'evil' characters got their just desserts, Jesper certainly didn't, and should have. The murderous, lying Jesper, whose ends always justified his means, gets portrayed as a noble activist hero in the end, while almost every Russian gets painted as evil as the Nazis. I understand why Russia wasn't pleased with their portrayal in this series.
A really good watch for 23 episodes, but could have been a truly great one with a different 24th.
Fearless (2017)
Almost great
Would've been a 9 were it not for the poorly written finale. Tarnished an otherwise outstanding performance by Helen McCrory.
Jack Ryan (2018)
Pretty good, but....
Just finished binge watching this series, and I thought Kracinski played a surprisingly good Jack. The one thing that really bugged me was the Abbie Cornish character. I felt she was seriously miscast in that role and it bothered me the entire series. Otherwise it was an addictive, action packed, entertaining thriller.
Banshee (2013)
Started ok, went downhill pretty fast.
I found this series insultingly gratuitous, violent, not believable, and poorly written. No idea how this received such good prior reviews.
The acting was only about as good as the script would dictate, although it had its moments of empathy for some of the characters.
But the last few episodes bordered on ridiculousness.