Change Your Image
jmdarden-25102
Reviews
Criminal Minds: No Way Out (2007)
Can't help but see the parallels...
I had a little trouble following this story, the flashbacks threw me off a bit but that's just me, way too literal finding zig zagging time frames difficult to keep straight. But one thing I noticed for sure when the BAU and local law enforcement busted into that torture chamber of a trailer. Can anyone say David Parker Ray? I can't remember the details in terms of year or exact location (other than the Southwest) but a serial killer named David Parker Ray lured an untold number of women to their deaths in a trailer much like the one shown in this episode. I'm not implying any issues with this, so many tv and movie scripts are based on real life characters. DPR had a torture chamber complete with those mirrors on the ceiling, the medical grade saws and other tools for dismemberment - all in all just chilling to the bone - ooh! Probably not the best choice of phrasing here! If you know nothing of DPR and this stuff interests you or gets to you whichever rings your bell, do some internet searches. It's mind-blowing.
Criminal Minds: The Boogeyman (2006)
Everyone but Elle
I honestly don't know how Lola Glaudini kept her role for Criminal Minds as long as she did. If there ever was an ice queen she's the perfect example. In this episode even with the understanding that it's fiction, I don't see how she would keep the job with the attitude she displays, in particular, talking back to Agent Hotchner in one of the early scenes, muttering under her breath. She's a total bee-yatch. When she finally moved on, I said good riddance.
Criminal Minds: Masterpiece (2008)
Meh...
You know, Rossi can be a real dick sometimes and he definitely is in this episode. Jason Alexander does a good job of not being framed as his George Costanza roll which I would not have thought possible. Not a great episode.
Why do reviewers who give episodes a super low rating bother to write paragraph after paragraph in their review? Just say you don't like it and move on.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Murdered at a Bad Address (2019)
Hate to say it, but...
I don't mean to sound heartless but I'm relieved that Benson's brother Simon is finally out of the picture for good. That relationship never felt right and his endless screw ups in his life wore thin years ago. To correct this they could either get him cleaned up and become a contributing player in the series or right him off. Almost every family has a black sheep (mine included) but his repetitive screw ups just got old old old. Since this is fiction and not real life I can comfortably say good riddance...
Bosch: Two Kinds of Truth (2019)
What...?!?
I've enjoyed several of the Bosch series seasons, possibly more so because I have not read the books. Many reviewers seem to find Titus Welliver's presentation as Bosch unbelievable or unconvincing so I don't know. It was almost inevitable that a new series would be based on the whole Oxy epidemic, unfortunately, but it is what it is. But even after watching several of this seasons episodes more than once, I cannot understand the reason these drug dealers pack up a handful of their customers and fly them to some remote place for a few days. Watched it again. No hint. What purpose, if any, does this possibly serve??? I've been reading many reviews, hoping someone may point out something that makes sense of this bizarre plot hole.
Goliath: Of Mice and Men (2016)
Liked most of Season 1 except...
I've watched all three seasons of Goliath but Season 1 is (obviously in my and only my opinion) by far the best and the only one I will comment on. So many great actors, known and unknown to me. William Hurt never disappoints, for decades now. Billy Bob Thornton is great with his depth of character, great physical and vocal presence, his wide range of expression which can be tough without overdoing it but also tender and loveable with his warm and attractive deep brown eyes and smile. I cannot say enough about Nina Arianda as Patty Solis-Papagian whose character very much rounds out scene after scene with her loveable intensity which she manages to pull off without coming across as a capital "B" beeyatch. Love her feisty, outspoken character!! Mario Bello as Michelle McBride was likeable and believable - and surprising for a partner in a big-time law firm - sensitive and thoughtful. Callie was great as a manipulative, conniving lawyer, totally comes across as seeing herself above anyone else in her life except Cooperman. Not a likeable person but certainly a believeable character whose insecurities do reveal themselves towards the end, sort of the even-the-witch-has-feelings thing. The daughter character and her relationship with her father is so-so. For anyone who has also seen the Bosch series, felt like this show was trying to emulate that father/daughter set up and failing to present as genuine. Not bad, just not a real plus. Tanya Raymonde as Brittany had its strong segments but her work should be limited to when her characters are strong and self-confident. The scenes where I assume she intended to appear vulnerable like when she begs in tears for 5 min to talk after her testimony worked against Billy or when she's pulling her sleeves down over her hands to appear nervous/intimidated about being in court came across as just pathetic. Okay, I've got to express my one pet peeve and criticism and that is Dwight Yoakam as Wendell. I love, absolutely LOVE Yoakam as a singer but cannot for the life of me figure out what he's doing acting, esp in a series w some really decent actors. First impression, that bozo-the-clown hair, bald on top, the rest sticking out in every direction does not add character, even weird character, just looks awful. Shave that like the rest of men this day and age, or at least cut it. But more importantly, he's a horrible actor. His facial expressions have ZERO range as does his voice. Try hitting the mute button and see if you can tell what's happening in any given scene. Whether he's telling someone off or saying something more less intense there's never the slightest change in his face (especially his eyes) or voice, just absolute flat affect, not only disappointing but downright irritating. Watching this reminded me of when I'd first heard of Billy Bob Thornton when Sling Blade debuted so out of curiosity I pulled that up and watched it. Wow! Pretty hard to tell now what all the fuss was about other than how well BBT played that main character - it's impossible to tell that it is actually BBT. I'm mentioning this only to say that - oop!- there was Dwight again in that film and he was apparently just as bad back then, has not improved one iota in 25 years. Couldn't believe it. He's obviously got contacts because he cannot be chosen for talent. The actor playing Leonard Letts was similar, a limited range of emotion. He appeared in some episodes of Criminal Minds and was a total disappointment for that same reason - flat affect. Seasons 2 and 3 were, I'm sure, full of overall equal talent and performances, the stories were just less interesting to me and harder to follow, esp all the fantasy stuff in Season 3. Not saying they're bad, they just don't appeal to me. Season 1 of Goliath is worth watching if one can get through the legalise to enjoy the rest. Overall, just one more shout out to Nina Arianda as Patty - feisty, funny (even and probably more so when she's not intending to be), outspoken, doesn't take stuff from anyone. Love that character!!!!
Criminal Minds: Truth or Dare (2019)
Could have been a better season finale...
There have definitely been episodes that were better than others over the years. This one was so so. JJ's "admission" that she's always loved Reid was a surprise but hard to know if it was true or if JJ grasped at a partially true concept to satisfy the UnSub holding them hostage. I read the other reviews and am curious about the references to "ship" or "ships". Is it short for viewership? I'm not being critical or anything, I am genuinely curious. If anybody reads this and cares to comment I would certainly welcome it. There were several comments about Rossi's wedding being out of place or inappropriate but I must be a bit of a romantic. With all the scary blood and guts, mysterious and suspenseful elements to a show filled with and based on violence, I find the romance and previous wedding scenes (like JJ and Will's) and birth of children a bit of relief from the usual tension. I realize the show is total fiction when it comes to real life FBI. I could be wrong but I doubt a small group of profilers is whisked away on a Gulfstream jet at a moment's notice...but the show's enjoyable nonetheless. Again, if anybody has a comment on the "ships" thing, that'd be great!
Goliath: Tongue Tied (2018)
Enough with the blood in your goatee, Billy...
For cryin' out loud, BBT has had that blood-soaked goater for half of last episode and now 12 minutes into this season finale. Wash - or at least wipe - that crap off already...you've made your dramatic point with it. Not that I have any clue what that is like the rest of the last couple of episodes...
Goliath: Two Cinderellas (2018)
Okay...
I thought this series was going to start coming together but w each episode it makes less and less sense. Watching episode 6, probably my last one, gonna pull the plug! So I had the bright idea of reading some User Reviews of the remaining episodes and - yikes! - what a mistake. By the final episode nit one viewer could make sense of the story. I'll admit, I felt a little better...at least, I'm certainly not alone! But sheez, I've ended up binge-watching almost all night, gotta be up in less than 2 hours, so wish it had been worth it. Now I'm just perplexed by the non-story and sleep deprivation...!
Goliath: Fresh Flowers (2018)
Simply too hard to believe, no matter how open minded one is...
Okay, so middle of third episode of Season 2. I always try to be as open minded as possible but this stretch is becoming impossible to sustain. A city council member running for mayor in - of all places - L.A. would seemingly have press if not full-on paparazzi on her 24/7 but not so here. So setting that aside, what is that very upscale budding politician doing getting involved with Billy, a grizzled, burned-out (albeit very good on which this series is based) hard-drinking, smoking lawyer? Speaking of said lawyer, in episode 1, he and his teenage daughter are shown in his very upscale home, a byproduct of the $50 million he won (see episode 1) why on earth would he "entertain" in that slime bucket hotel room nextdoor to his favorite, skanky, hole-in-the-wall bar??? She seems to have not a care in the world about appearances. This are just tips of the many icebergs that could be stated but viewers have minds of their own, which I'm sure they use... but hey, I'm still watching, whose fault is that?!? Hahaha!!!
Sling Blade (1996)
Am I missing something...?
I've recently been binge-watching Billy Bob Thornton in the Goliath series having not watched the series when it first aired. This prompted me to watch Sling Blade. Wow. Having been impressed with BBT in Goliath and remembering all the hype surrounding Sling Blade, I settled in to enjoy - or so I thought - 2+ hours of a BBT creation: writer, director and actor. The first 20 minute showed promise but the whole thing just ran out of steam. I like to read User Reviews, often other viewers point out things that are interesting. I'm honestly surprised by all the 8/10 - 10/10 with only a small fraction of lower scores. So many viewers waxed prophetically about the "brilliant performances" of the various actors such as Dwight Yoakam's. I don't see it. Ultimately the whole production took on a "Movie of The Week" feel - for those of you who remember television in the 70s...you know who you are...haha!!
Criminal: UK (2019)
What did I miss?
I read a few user reviews before giving this Netflix series a try. With all the glowing reviews about edge of your seat, gripping performances, blah blah blah, I thought there must be something interesting going on. Instead it felt more like being dropped in the middle of a film where we've missed the first 30 minutes or hour where we might get some context and the last 30 minutes are cut off. Truly 43 minutes of the most boring stuff I've seen on Netflix. I must be missing something.
Goliath: Full Circle (2019)
What?!
This episode makes absolutely no sense. Period. Yes, I read the description, it's flashbacks from things that happened before episodes 1 - 3 but that explains NOTHING. Whatever.
Mindhunter (2017)
Here's another point of view...
I binge-watched both seasons of this series and have read many of the hundreds of reviews just to hear what other viewers have to say. I totally agree that the focal switch to the Atlanta child murders was laborious and caused the series to lose momentum. However I strongly believe that the purpose behind all of that was to follow the arc of what happened with the then new science/art of criminal profiling. It became political football rather than a straightforward FBI investigation which, if left alone, may have had a very different outcome. I felt encouraged when a new FBI senior agent took over, giving the Special Agents all of the support and leeway they so richly deserved only to show his true colors in that final scene as he boarded the private jet. It's a shame that all these years later so many of the murders remain unsolved because the multitude of cases were considered solved and/or closed. I suggest anyone read John Douglas's book by the same name (Mindhunter) to get a more precise version of what happened with agents (himself and a handful of other agents) who pioneered the whole concept of combining good, old-fashioned detective work with psychology to give criminal profiling it's early, imperfect wings, much like the Wright brothers first few flights.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Another astounding performance by Matthew McConaughey...
Like other films McConaughey Matthew shines in, I've seen Buyer's Club several times. Most recently I've binge-watched Season One of True Detective, a must-see for any McConaughey fan. His versatility is unmatched. But, not to get off track, Dallas Buyers Club is just one of those incredible performances where I, as a viewer, completely lost the thought that I was watching an actor perform, so deep and believable it was almost like watching a documentary. Above everything else, it was so moving the watch a racist homophobe transform to a humanitarian whose goal was to help those who were sick have access to the medications they needed to have a chance to live a bit longer, sometimes a matter of just weeks or months or in the case of the real person he portrayed, a matter of years. It was a sobering, heartbreaking reminder of how little the US government agencies did simply because HIV+/AIDS was a"gay man's disease", brought on by lifestyle choices. Shocking and embarrassing as a country. And it's easy to think how things have grown/evolved, however I shudder to think how it might be handled in todays environment of Twitter rants coming from the White House...not so different coming from a Global Warming/Climate Change denier. Sorry to get off track but just one good and recent example: Trump claims that pollution in San Francisco can be blaimed on the homeless drug addicts tossing their drug infested needles in gutters where they wash out to sea only to cycle back into the city's water supply. A 30 second search taught me that SF's water supply is not based on sea water through a treatment facility...aye aye aye. Has so much really changed in 30+ years?!? Although, thankfully, especially w efforts like Bill Clinton's 100 million effort to help slow the spread and increase the treatment of HIV/AIDS across Africa just one example of success. Again, sorry I'm off track!
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Gridiron Soldier (2014)
Agree that something's suspicious...
I agree with an earlier reviewer's observation that something is suspicious about the ratings of this episode. I find it brave of L&O:SVU to tackle head-on several controversial topics including football's dangerously macho culture, college sport's manipulative atmosphere, homophobia and the prank vs sexual assult issue. It spot-on reveals the true puppet-master/evildoer, the coach who's supposed to be both guiding and protecting young men and women, away from home for the first time. My guess is that the oddly low rating reveals homophobia in and of itself, many viewers uncomfortable with the many layers of deceit, peeled back to expose what is a messy outcome of manipulation gone awry. The episode may be from several years back but shining a light on the corruption enlisted by the coach now reflected by creeps like Larry Nassar of the US Gymnastics. And while the initial protagonist was the young man neing recruited, the surprising twist of the team's QB revealed at the end just made the whole story (what I call) three-dimensional. Great episode handled really well.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Missing (2019)
I don't get it...
SVU has had plenty of nut job characters over the years but usually they are that way intentionally, to play the part of a crazy character. The mother of Emerson (or Kevin Brown depending on where you are in the storyline) is beyond that. She's missing some marbles or something and that exaggerated NY accent with some kind of speech impediment is almost unbearable to watch or listen to. Certainly not sharp enough to kidnap a 6 year old child from a nearby park and keep that under the radar for 17 years. I just don't get the point of inserting such a bimbo character when it could have been played out by someone much more interesting albeit a criminal. SVU has had dozens of great costars over the years - couldn't they find one here??
Lost Compassion (2016)
Important story, terrible presentation
This is a sad story but the presentation is awful. I tried more than once to watch it but could not finish either time. In particular the scenes where written material is shown on the screen with audio of people discussing other aspects of the case at the same time were impossible to follow. My heart goes out to family and friends of this woman. Shame the production of this documentary was so amateurish. Good intentions, awful presentation.
American Horror Story: Chapter 1 (2016)
Anybody?!?
I watched the first few seasons of AHS when they first aired but am just starting Season 6 now, Sept. 2019, a bit behind schedule to say the least. Having read the User Reviews before starting and almost halfway through Episode 1, I am surprised none of the reviews stated the obvious. There are many comparisons and similarities pointed out by other reviewers except for the most glaring one. Can anybody say The Shining....????
Meth Storm (2017)
Not the best documentary, HOWEVER...
This is not a well- produced documentary but is an updated version of the docs 10 yrs ago when meth was being home-cooked in backyard meth labs, extremely dangerous in so many ways. Of course the cartels have come up w a more refined, more potent and cheaper product - simple supply and demand. However why the one reviewer below sits on his/her high horse and simply judges the people (yes, they are PEOPLE, HUMAN BEINGS) caught in the devastating spiral of drug addiction with all its destructive ripple effects, seeing them a losers who "got what they deserved" is such a pitiful commentary on someone who knows nothing about the powerful grip of addiction. Why waste time to "review" when all that person does is criticize these people. It shows complete ignorance about addiction. Get off your high horse and have some compassion- or shut the hell up.
The Boarder (2012)
Watched because the topic interested me
But OMG I didn't make it past the first 15 minutes. The acting is worse than anything I've ever seen, the glorified color (literally, the visual appearance of the obvious digital enhancement) making the scenes sickeningly sweet is unbearable. I thought the topic might be good but wasn't able to even get there.
The Boarder (2012)
Watched because the topic interested me
But OMG I didn't make it past the first 15 minutes. The acting is worse than anything I've ever seen, the glorified color (literally, the visual appearance of the obvious digital enhancement) making the scenes sickeningly sweet is unbearable. I thought the topic might be good but wasn't able to even get there.
Beautiful Boy (2018)
Cannot, does not capture the reality of addiction
Having been on both ends of the spectrum, a sober alcoholic for 15 years after almost dying more than once as well as losing family members and friends to addiction, this film simply did not even come close to capturing the full, three-dimensional aspects, the horror and terror, of the disease of addiction. I've seen better films and documentaries. This felt flat, the flashbacks were inconsistent and like fillers. The best part is the scenery, but how can you go wrong filming off Highway 1 down the coast of CA? Having read both autobiographies this was based on, I suggest sticking w the books. They do a much better job. I kept waiting for it to feel like a drama but it felt more like a Lifetime movie. I wanted to get into it but just never got there.
An Honest Liar (2014)
A very interesting but jumbled production
I'd never heard of James Randi before watching this documentary so I can't speak to its veracity. The only reason I gave this an 8 instead of 10 was I found the production a bit jumbled an confusing but perhaps it's simply because I knew nothing about the James Randi before. What I definitely found was an interesting story about an intelligent, articulate man who changed lanes when he realized that people were being hurt by real conmen like Peter Popoff, the so-called faith healer who blatantly abused people's faith for personal gain and profit. But one thing I took away is that we as humans have to be responsible for what we believe. One person said we will believe not what we want to but what we need to. I find a lot of truth in that concept. I am an atheist and baffled by the millions of people who believe in the bible (among other religious texts) what is to me a book of fairytales that, like all myths and fairytales, comes with potentially significant lessons. I am puzzled by reviewers objecting to the coverage of Randi and Jose's gay relationship (which I figured out pretty early on in this film) and I do not think he (Randi) was deceived by Jose. I think Jose revealed his story in private to a man he loved and trusted, a man whom in return, chose to support the choices made. The love and trust between them is so apparent, I think he knew of Jose's deception and supported it, if nothing else, because he realized the true danger Jose would have faced in Venezuela. Should Jose have taken a different route? Not for me to decide. What I saw was a 25+ yearslong love affair, no more no less. In this day and age, it's easy to forget that Randi grew up and lived through decades of homophobia and Jose fled a horrificly homophobic culture, truly a matter of life and death. Randi had a very public profile and I think it took incredible courage to come out at the age of 81. I was so relieved that Jose was not deported to Venezuela - in which case two lives would have been shattered, irreparably. I admire Randi for exposing liars and admire him more for making his own, probably most difficult personal truth public. I checked Wikipedia and am glad that Randi is still alive and wish the two of them many more happy years together. Bravo!
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011)
What a shame
No surprise this spin-off of CM has only survived one season. I'm reviewing this in 2019, so people probably aren't even checking reviews since 2011 was the only Season but here goes anyway. I'm a huge CM fan and you simply cannot clone the chemistry of the original. For this supposedly "elite team" that is so hot they skip bureaucracy, report only to the director, they come across as a bunch half-baked cops, nothing elite about them or the cases they bumble through. Much of what I'm thinking has already been said so just a couple things: given the incredibly negative tone of some reviews, if somebody really dislikes this show, why do they take time to write ad nauseam, paragraph after paragraph just to say so?!? Who has that kind of time on their hands?!? I've often like Whitaker but here I find him cringe-worthy, seems more like a cheap psychic, dripping with sorrow and naval-gazing pain than a profiler/detective. I thought good detectives (oops, I mean Special Agents) are supposed to remain objective, let evidence lead them. Whitaker's character seems to pull assumptions from his emotions instead, I keep waiting for him to burst into tears, do a monologue on his life of suffering or something. Last thing I'll say, isn't Janeane Garofalo a stand up comedian? What is she doing here? Did she get lost on her way to the comedy club? She should stick w comedy and, clearly, I should stick w "CM Classic"...