This is not an overall bad movie. It is very particular in that the whole story, built up tension, goose-bumpey gruesome moments, surprising twists and (seemingly) complex lead character are destroyed within seconds at the end. With the explanation of the story that the film's ending offers, any need to tell the story in the first place falls away. If its main character is a sociopath then as a viewer you can just throw all the thoughts you had while watching, on his motivation or trauma, out the window. This made me a bit aggressive in the end. Nevertheless the film entertained me well throughout most of it. Also, I am not sure how versatile Barry Keoghan is as an actor but the role he plays here, he plays very well. So it deserves a couple of stars but the lack of convincing overall explanation next to some details that don't make sense is a minus.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Saltburn
(2023)
Ending destroys entire built up suspension and intimacy
20 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Boy Swallows Universe
(2024)
Definitely no must watch. Even a don't watch probably
20 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The show has the occasional stellar moment, for example when they go to pick up the video game console at the rich family's house. That is real upper class arrogance and disgust, and lower class shame that is dissipating through the screen here. Also, some touching scenes. Further, I liked some of the acting (especially Frankie, Robert, and Slim) a lot. Also Gus has a good presence. Eli is overdoing it but he is only a kid who is supposed to carry an unconvincing story imho so he did a good job considering.
Nevertheless I do not understand why this show has such a high review average. It is a weird melange of fiction and reality with an erratic story. I lost track of what was happening a lot because I just did not care to follow the story. Many scenes just go nowhere or just come up one after the other without keeping me focused. Dialogue is slow and would need a stronger story as context to back it up.
The series has potential with regard to the themes covered but I think neither addiction nor ~working class life~ are really depicted realistically or with a lot of value to the viewer except for pity porn. Somebody in the reviews said they don't understand why everyone is so dirty constantly. This is absolutely true, why all the dirt in the faces. And why can't they manage to have the boys visit their mom in jail, like with all the teachers involved no adult ever can organize a visit? Then Eli smuggles himself in and mom suddenly gets off the drugs after seeing him for 5 minutes (while nothing in her routine changes)? From my (limited) experience this is absolutely not how addiction works.
Maybe skip this one or if you watch it at least do not rate it high just because it made you cry pity tears for a working class boy from a distraught family.
Nevertheless I do not understand why this show has such a high review average. It is a weird melange of fiction and reality with an erratic story. I lost track of what was happening a lot because I just did not care to follow the story. Many scenes just go nowhere or just come up one after the other without keeping me focused. Dialogue is slow and would need a stronger story as context to back it up.
The series has potential with regard to the themes covered but I think neither addiction nor ~working class life~ are really depicted realistically or with a lot of value to the viewer except for pity porn. Somebody in the reviews said they don't understand why everyone is so dirty constantly. This is absolutely true, why all the dirt in the faces. And why can't they manage to have the boys visit their mom in jail, like with all the teachers involved no adult ever can organize a visit? Then Eli smuggles himself in and mom suddenly gets off the drugs after seeing him for 5 minutes (while nothing in her routine changes)? From my (limited) experience this is absolutely not how addiction works.
Maybe skip this one or if you watch it at least do not rate it high just because it made you cry pity tears for a working class boy from a distraught family.
Crashing
(2016)
Screaming. So funny.
8 January 2024
I have watched Fleabag and this is similar but less social commentary and way more crass and inappropriate elements. It is really fun. I was screaming out laughing a couple of times and had to pause to calm down. The awkward and funny moments are just so surprising. This makes me happy. True comedy comes from the element of surprise or so they say. Well here it comes in vast amounts. Bonus surprise that the guy from Bridgerton season 2 is in it (Jonathan Bailey). What an incredible range this guy has. Bonus bonus surprise how as a straight girl I really felt the attraction between the three guys, really well done (mainly Bailey). Altogether a very good relief from any corporate job you have to go back to after you started this show at 1 am and binged until 4:30 like I did.
My Life with the Walter Boys
(2023– )
Entertaining if you think about it like a children's book
8 January 2024
I think the series is fun if you watch it the same way I used to read some of the children's books which were my mother's in the 60ies/70ies:
Kids' books are its own genre. You know it's often unrealistic bordering on fantasy/fairytale. You know it's often outdated supporting old fashioned role models. You know it's not reality and never was.
A family with 10 kids on a farm with horses and a mom with two university degrees? Why not. A teenage love triangle between stepsiblings? Why not.
However I was shocked to read the book is only from 2014! It's more like an early 2000's rom com in the way that boys will be boys excuses and a normality of mistreating girls are baked into it. Regressive.
However since I grew up with bad rom coms anyways and am damaged to the core by them (not really but who knows) I could turn a blind eye to that and focus on the emotionally uplifting setting (landscape, horses, simple life, detox) and the hallmark-y feelings this series is set to evoke. Also, the love triangle supported by bad decisions and unlucky circumstance is such a classic and familiar trope that it feels good.
The age of the teen actors is an absurd mystery but I just switched on my fantasy switch and it works somehow.
The diversity feels a little too forced even as a leftist but why not. Only that once again, as usual, neurodiversity is entirely left out and only introduced in the subtext, while you never know if intentional or unintentional. Nathan?? Either the actor Corey Fogelmanis is autistic himself or he plays the character very autistic coded or this is introduced by the screenplay or maybe already the book. (The same thing was discussed in the context of Corey's role as Farkle in Girl Meets World or so I've read.) What is more, Autism and Epilepsy are common comorbidities. Chances to develop the first convincing AND declared autistic character in season 2? Probably not going to happen but I'm here for season 2 anyways.
Kids' books are its own genre. You know it's often unrealistic bordering on fantasy/fairytale. You know it's often outdated supporting old fashioned role models. You know it's not reality and never was.
A family with 10 kids on a farm with horses and a mom with two university degrees? Why not. A teenage love triangle between stepsiblings? Why not.
However I was shocked to read the book is only from 2014! It's more like an early 2000's rom com in the way that boys will be boys excuses and a normality of mistreating girls are baked into it. Regressive.
However since I grew up with bad rom coms anyways and am damaged to the core by them (not really but who knows) I could turn a blind eye to that and focus on the emotionally uplifting setting (landscape, horses, simple life, detox) and the hallmark-y feelings this series is set to evoke. Also, the love triangle supported by bad decisions and unlucky circumstance is such a classic and familiar trope that it feels good.
The age of the teen actors is an absurd mystery but I just switched on my fantasy switch and it works somehow.
The diversity feels a little too forced even as a leftist but why not. Only that once again, as usual, neurodiversity is entirely left out and only introduced in the subtext, while you never know if intentional or unintentional. Nathan?? Either the actor Corey Fogelmanis is autistic himself or he plays the character very autistic coded or this is introduced by the screenplay or maybe already the book. (The same thing was discussed in the context of Corey's role as Farkle in Girl Meets World or so I've read.) What is more, Autism and Epilepsy are common comorbidities. Chances to develop the first convincing AND declared autistic character in season 2? Probably not going to happen but I'm here for season 2 anyways.
A Teacher
(2020)
Remarkable and remarkably misunderstood
21 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This show is written by somebody who understands denial, guilt, pain, and healing.
A teacher seduces a student of hers, in denial about her abuse from the start. The alert audience recognizes her ways of creating an atmosphere of intimacy with the kid and the ways she lures him in. In all of that, she remains relateable to the viewer to a certain extent which makes the process all the more painful to watch. The kid increasingly suffers which is uncomfortably visible in his outer appearance. He is her portrait of Dorian Gray.
While the music creates a little too much fake tension, the story and the acting create enough real tension and tempo to keep the audience on their toes.
We are given a little relief in the end in a scene where the student confronts the teacher about what pain and suffering she caused him and how he only now, about seven years later, slowly starts to heal. It is eye opening how she still is in denial up to this point. This final scene could have been a little more *show, don't tell*, but given the material a sufficient amount of very outspoken *tell* of all the damage she has done might not be the worst thing.
A teacher seduces a student of hers, in denial about her abuse from the start. The alert audience recognizes her ways of creating an atmosphere of intimacy with the kid and the ways she lures him in. In all of that, she remains relateable to the viewer to a certain extent which makes the process all the more painful to watch. The kid increasingly suffers which is uncomfortably visible in his outer appearance. He is her portrait of Dorian Gray.
While the music creates a little too much fake tension, the story and the acting create enough real tension and tempo to keep the audience on their toes.
We are given a little relief in the end in a scene where the student confronts the teacher about what pain and suffering she caused him and how he only now, about seven years later, slowly starts to heal. It is eye opening how she still is in denial up to this point. This final scene could have been a little more *show, don't tell*, but given the material a sufficient amount of very outspoken *tell* of all the damage she has done might not be the worst thing.
The Judge
(2014)
Old trope extremely well delivered with recognizeable cast
21 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Man moves from small town to city, tries to get away from childhood home, works hard, exciting new life but something is missing, then some things go south, some bad news, city kid ends up back home in the heartland. In this case for a funeral. Meets family, is pushed away. Meets an old lover. Meets a new lover. Meets more family, is drawn in, pulls away. Then before he can leave: An emergency occurs. Dad needs help - with the exact same skill city kid acquired in the city and for which he has always longed for his dads approval. Then human magic ensues and watchers are rewarded with a very American, more or less happy ending.
The cast is formidable. Leighton Meester is a highlight in a small role. All the guys do very well. Vera Farmiga is very relateable. Succession fans will see a touching Jeremy Strong as the youngest brother who is autistic coded.
Only major criticism is bad storytelling and a lack of critical reflection both with regard to Hank's apparent egotism in the movie. He is shown as a product of his childhood but takes zero responsibility towards the women in his life. He appears softer in the second half of the movie but the ending doesn't even take his relationships with women into account any more - so why include them in the first place? Might have been better to just skip them. They are mostly just tropes to define and support his character. Eventually a guys' movie but you can look past that.
The cast is formidable. Leighton Meester is a highlight in a small role. All the guys do very well. Vera Farmiga is very relateable. Succession fans will see a touching Jeremy Strong as the youngest brother who is autistic coded.
Only major criticism is bad storytelling and a lack of critical reflection both with regard to Hank's apparent egotism in the movie. He is shown as a product of his childhood but takes zero responsibility towards the women in his life. He appears softer in the second half of the movie but the ending doesn't even take his relationships with women into account any more - so why include them in the first place? Might have been better to just skip them. They are mostly just tropes to define and support his character. Eventually a guys' movie but you can look past that.
I am not moved in any way
27 September 2023
Only recommended if you are a Wes Anderson fan. I am not really and can't appreciate this experiment. The film's imagery is appealing but the fast dialogue is exhausting. According to other reviews, the interesting story and dialogue are fully based off the book so no creative achievement there. The music did not leave a mark on me. You keep waiting for a moment when the movie draws you in but it doesn't come. The acting is good and supports the setup well but the film is not really based on the acting and the actors are not given any room to shine. So even Benedict Cumberbatch or Dev Patel fans can skip this one.
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