Minority Report (2020) Series Review

Even though this show came to America in 2015, here in the UK we have only just had a chance to see Minority Report and I have now finished watching it and here is my review for it. The premise of the show is set ten years after the events of the film of the same title and sees one of the three precogs attempt to return to life while avoiding the people hunting him. 

Main Character

Meagan Good plays detective Laura Vega and she does a decent job in the lead role. She is basically the character looking on from the outside and you kind of feel like her and I thought she did try and give a good performance and that effort is there to see. It is just that her character isn't very interesting and like a lot of things in this show it offers nothing new to the table and I feel like her performance is restricted by the writing for her character. Stark Sands plays Dash and I just couldn't get on board with him in this role, I just found him to be a weak character and I never cared about him for one minute and again that is due to the writing but more so due to me just not liking his performance. 

Supporting Characters

Nick Zano who I know as Nate Haywood on Legends of Tomorrow plays Dash's brother Arthur and he is easily the best part of this show and is the one person actually bringing life into this show. He has the most interesting character and I actually wish the show had been about him instead of Dash as I think the show would have been way better. But the rest of the cast don't do as well Daniel London is back as Wally from the film and it does feel like the only reason he is here because they needed somebody from the film and let's face it Tom Cruise isn't doing this show. They recast Agatha, this time played by Laura Regan and I did not like this interpretation. She is just incredibly hostile and it kind of goes against the film version of her character and she just annoyed me throughout. Nobody else does anything for me whether it be the protagonists or antagonists, you are given very little reason to care and then when they do try it just feels very flat. 

Story 

The story of this show is just all over the place, instead of maybe looking at the life of the precogs it doesn't do enough with that and focuses on this case of the week story which doesn't really work. The characters aren't particularly interesting and the story doesn't do enough to keep you invested, the bad guys are so bland and you learn nothing about them so why should you care and that is what I was asking myself. It's a shame because the ending is actually a bit interesting but the fact that a second season is never happening makes it worthless now. 

Script 

The script is a mixed bag, I thought certain elements of the script are well written and had me intrigued, but I wanted more, the show suffers from focusing on the wrong areas and I just wish these things mainly involving Arthur which again goes to my point as to why he should have been the lead show. Also this show basically forgets the themes of the film and feels like they didn't really care much about it. 

Style 

The style of the show does have some decent action scenes in it and some good use of the futuristic technology that is a bit further expanded from the film and is done pretty well. But this show has a generic case of the week feel and it doesn't do enough for me to keep invested in it or to care about these different cases. There are probably a few too many episodes which just adds more to the feeling of filler and that is the majority of the season. 

Overall

Overall, this is a below average show, this show adds nothing new to the table in terms of sci-fi cop show and isn't worth the time it takes to watch. Stick with the film and just don't bother with this show, especially, with the fact that there is no future for this show. 

Rating - 4/10 

Honest Thief (2020) Review

With the cinemas finally reopening in the UK it means some films that came out around October are now being shown and Honest Thief is one of those and I saw it today so here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a former Bank robber attempt to turn himself in, when he is caught up in a plot involving the police department. 

Main Character 

Liam Neeson plays the main character here and I mean what is there to say other then that ever since he played Brian Mills in the first Taken he has been doing this role and he could do it in his sleep. He is functional and will always have a paycheck but there is nothing new or exciting here, he phones it in and does the minimum which is good enough for only an okay character. 

Supporting Characters

Kate Walsh plays his love interest and I thought they actually had pretty decent and likeable chemistry together, I mean her character has nothing too her but I thought she did a fine job with what she was given. Jai Courtenay is an actor who has an interesting career and I actually think he does a decent job here, he is an egotistical bad guy but he plays it pretty well and he is a guy you just won't like which means he is playing the role well. But the rest of the cast offer nothing, the great Robert Patrick is completely wasted and given nothing to so which makes you wonder why even bother getting him here for this role. Jeffery Donovan plays a cop and this guy was laughably bad, he is such a cliché and just does nothing here for anybody to care about, not even his mum. 

Story 

The story though did very little for me, there is not a unique and new bone in this film's body and it needs to be called out for that. I didn't really believe in Neeson's character and his backstory and the film does nothing to interest you and make you care. The motivations are paper thin and despite some decent performances it is hampered by a weak plot and one that ends with pretty much no resolution to it. 

Script

The script is also very generic and does nothing to it and is probably the biggest thing to blame for the lack of interest given to this film. Again the actors do a better job with pretty poor material and similar to Neeson the people writing these films have an easy job and don't do anything to try and innovate and become interesting. 

Style 

The film has some decent action sequences and chase scenes that at least kept my attention for a little bit more then the rest of the film but there isn't enough. This is a criticism I have with quite a few of these films of Neeson that it takes way too long to actually get to the action and takes ages to build and by the time you get to the action you just don't care. 

Overall

Overall, this is a poor lazy film that will rank low on these Neeson action films for sure. Unless you are a die hard fan of Liam Neeson avoid this film and do something else for 90 mins. 

Rating - 3/10

His Dark Materials Season 2 (2020) Review

For the last 7 weeks, His Dark Materials second season has been on BBC One and now it has finished so here is my review. The premise of the season sees Lyra and Will come together to attempt to find an object to protect them both from evil forces. 

Main Character

Dafne Keen is back as Lyra and once again she is really good in the role. It is just really easy to root for her and want to see her succeed in her quest and I also think she has matured in the role and showing stronger acting ability. Amir Wilson plays Will and I must admit I didn't warm to him at first, whether that was the first season or this season but he bought me around. I really liked the dynamic between Lyra and Will as the season progressed and I actually believed they had a friendship and that it had been developed throughout the season. 

Supporting Characters

Ruth Wilson plays Mrs Coulter and again she is really good here, her character is well developed and unlike the first season I actually believed she cared about Lyra and despite her own personal goals that plays much heavier in this season which is a nice development here. Lin Manuel Miranda and Andrew Scott are the team-up we never knew we needed, for me they are the most entertaining part of the show and really do a great job in adding some fun tot this show while keeping with the depth. However, the rest of the cast didn't work for me, Simone Kirby's character annoyed the hell out of me, mainly because the part of the plot she was involved in and how it just takes away from the mystique that the show has built up. All the stuff to do with the witches and magisterium starts off alright but falls flat and flatters to deceive and feels like a waste of time. 

Story 

The story had me pretty much shaking my head throughout and felt like a weaker element then in the previous season. Yes the relationships between Lyra and Will is well handled and Lin Manuel Miranda and Andrew Scott are a fun pairing but the way they finished these characters arcs this season really disappointed me. So much that it has me questioning whether I even want to bother with the next season. I would say there is more going on this season that isn't connected to Lyra and it just isn't particularly interesting and it makes some of the mistakes of last season while creating whole new ones. 

Script

The show does have some well written scenes in it for sure mainly between the main characters and that does a good job in making them pretty likeable and well done. But this show suffers from weak circumstantial writing, every show is guilty of it but I thought this show suffered with it more and it bogged down the show for me and made it harder for me to get on board. 

Style

The one thing this show has for it is that it looks fantastic, the world looks great and that continues this season as visually the show does stand out from others. Due to the pandemic this show had 7 episodes instead of 8 and there is not much they could have done about that but to me it did feel like there was parts of the show that was missing and underdeveloped which is a shame considering the world that is built through the two seasons. 

Overall

Overall, the second season is a step down in quality and only represents an average show. I think if you weren't convinced by the first season then this won't do much more for you and if they continue like this I do worry for this shows future. 

Rating - 5/10

Tin Star Season 3 Liverpool (2020) Review

I recently watched the first two seasons of Tin Star and thought is was a decent show and now the third and supposedly final season of the show has come to Sky and I have now watched it and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Jack, Angela & Anna head to Liverpool in order to take down the enemies from their past. 

Main Character

Tim Roth is back as Jack Worth and he is just a lot of fun to watch here though I would say this is probably the least entertained I have been by him, I guess that is just because it is the third season at this point. But he is great here and provides a fun lead performance and is one charismatic guy to lead this show. I am looking forward to seeing him in She-Hulk and I hope he can channel some of his character here into that performance, obviously in a moor PG manner. 

Supporting Characters 

Genevieve O'Reilly and Abigail Lawrie play Angela and Anna and these three performers just have so much chemistry together, you can just tell they are having so much fun together and it shows in some good performances and characters that despite the pretty terrible things they do you can root for. But the rest of the cast didn't do much for me whether it be villains or friends I just didn't care, none of them were given anything particularly interesting to do and it's never fully explored why and what were the reasons for the feud between them and the Worths. 

Story

The story sees our main characters return to Liverpool and it is fun seeing these three just go around taking out people in pretty creative ways and having fun while doing it. There are also some pretty intense scenes that build and did have me a bit nervous as to what would happen to the characters. But as I mentioned above it doesn't help when you have boring antagonists and side characters that you don't care about. Since the first season they really have given the idea of just how far Jack Worth went as an undercover cop but the show never gives enough and it feels like there was more of a story to tell. Also if this really is the final season then the ending is pretty terrible and does nothing to make me feel like this was a worthwhile time spent. 

Script

The script has plenty of fun dialogue in there, which the main three characters do a great job of conveying and making there own. But this is probably the weakest script of the show, it does feel like they beat some of the funny lines over the head until they just aren't funny anymore. Also the drama just wasn't there for me, I just never felt like the villains were a real threat to our characters and with all the build up in previous seasons I was disappointed. 

Style

The show has some good and pretty brutal action scenes that don't really hold back which is a highlight. Another highlight is the fact that this is the shortest season with only 6 episodes which makes it a much easier watch then the other seasons. But I can't help but miss Canada, I thought this film used to have a pretty unique style to it but now it is in Liverpool and it just isn't as interesting. Also the choice of music at times is just really jarring and again it feels like a thing taken from previous seasons and just ramped up here. 

Overall

Overall, this is an above average season of television that is just fine. If you are a fan of this show you will like the show but if not it won't change your mind and I would say it isn't really worth the time to go back and watch the previous seasons so you know what is going on here. 

Rating - 6/10

 

The Mandalorian Season 2 (2020) Review

So 2020 has been a terrible year, no doubt about it but at least the 2nd season of The Mandalorian has come to Disney+ and after 8 brilliant weeks the season has come to end and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Mando on the hunt for more Mandalorians that can hopefully lead him to more of The Child's people - The Jedi. 

Main Character

In my Wonder Woman 1984 review I was gushing over Pedro Pascal and that continues here as he is superb as Mando. For a character who's face you don't see he adds so much depth and emotion to the role by just changing the cadence of his voice. You truly buy that the relationship between him and The Child has developed and it is the thing that carries this show and really makes you care about him and this story and real credit has to go to Pascal for that. 

Supporting Characters

The Child was the standout from the first season and he is great again here, it always amazes me that this puppet can be so adorable and make me care so much but it does it. Like I said above the relationship between those two is what carries this show and is really well done this season and that is a great thing to see. Gina Carano is back as Cara Dune and despite her social media issues I think she is a good addition to the cast. I really like her dynamic with Mando and Carano manages to add some layers to the character and she is great in the action scenes as you would expect. Carl Weathers is back as Greef Karga, though he is a much smaller part of the show he is just such a fun addition to the crew and he also directed a great episode so credit has to go to him for that. Giancarlo Espositio is back as Moff Gideon and given a bit more to do and what would you expect is what you get he is revelling his role as the villain and you learn a bit more about him and Esposito is just great. Now there are plenty of new supporting characters, some on the poster above but I don't want to really talk about them as they are something you should experience yourself all I will say is that they are handled really well and it adds more layers and quality to the show. 

Story

The story is better this season, the relationship between Mando and The Child is further expanded and developed and I really felt that connection and that it had been a natural development from the first season. One of the things I criticised from the first season was the lack of overall story but I feel like that was sorted this season. Yes it still has a bit of an episodic feel but pretty much every episode has a point to it involving the main story and it definitely develops at a better rate and has way more meat to it leading to one of the best season finales you will ever see. 

Script 

The script is great, I mean when your main character has his face covered it has to be a great script to make you care and this show does that. It does a great job of advancing the drama and also have that nice addition of humour too. Is their fan service this season? yeah but I am a huge fan so I am serviced and it never felt out of place for me and never took away from the show and actually added to it. 

Style 

The action scenes are fantastic, they are all so fast in pace and feel very unique depending on the episode that you are watching. Also what I love about The Mandalorian is the fact that every episode has a different run time, there is very little filler the shorter stories feel the right length and the longer episodes feel the right length. Usually I complain when shows are streamed weekly but The Mandalorian is the exception to rule as I loved the hype each week and I am just a bit sad that the season is over. 

Overall

Overall, this season is amazing. If you are a Star Wars fan at any level you owe it to yourself to watch this show because you will love it. The show hits all the high levels and is worth every minute of screen time and is a must watch and one of the best of the year for sure. 

Rating - 10/10

Small Axe - Education (2020) Review

After 5 weeks of films we are finally here for the final film in Director Steve McQueen's Small Axe collection Education and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a black school child who is struggling sent to a school for special needs despite having any special learning needs. 

Main Character

Youngster Kenyah Sandy plays Kingsley our main character here and I thought he did a good job. I felt sorry for Stanley, you see he struggles with school and he doesn't exactly have the best role models and influences in teachers and friends so you want him to really get better in terms of both. You see how he is being stalled because of the lack of aid and Sandy does a really good job in showing how Kingsley is bright and if steered on the right path can achieve good things and he just needs help. 

Supporting Characters

The rest of the cast are also good in this film. Sharlene Whyte is really good as his mother and the whole of the family are really interesting and feel like a really close family. You like these people and support the cause that they are fighting for and it really helps in making this film feel better then some of the other Small Axe films. 

Story 

The story is handled well, you do really sympathise with Kingsley and want to see him succeed in his life and during this film. As the film goes on you see how this whole situation affects him and it just isn't fair to see this child suffer for not really any reason other then the fact he is Black and the film does a good job with that. But this film seems to skip over some of the crucial plot points, the film looks at the institutional racism but not enough and it feels like a background thing and the film just rushes through it towards a slower end. 

Script

The script is okay it has some decent humour and drama, I thought the chemistry between Kingsley and his sister was fun to watch and a nice part of the film. But the film doesn't really ever hit the levels that you expect from the narrative, again I feel like if the film was longer it would have had the chance to do this but it missed its chance really. 

Style 

The film's style feels pretty gritty and real. You see the situation that Kingsley is in and it really makes it feel like he is having his young life taken away from him and it feels pretty serious and the way the film is made reflects that. But then again this film is way too short, I felt like this film needed a length similar to Mangrove to fully tell its story and really add depth and context to the film and really rise it to the next level. 

Overall

Overall, this is a good film that looks how these serious subject can affect children and how it can affect their lives. It has its flaws but is a decent experience and is only an hour long so won't take too much of your time to watch. 

Rating - 7/10 

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Review

After months and months of anticipation Wonder Woman 1984 has finally made its way to the UK and I went back to the cinema today to see it and here is my review. The premise of the film is set in the year 1984 and sees Diana Prince trying to get on with her life as new threats emerge to challenge her. 

Main Character

I remember when Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman, most of us out there were like she looks the part but can she act the part and without a shadow of a doubt she is perfect as Wonder Woman and it is the role she was born to play. She brings so much life to this character and you really care about Diana and really want her to succeed, her character takes interesting twists and turns and it feels like an appropriate development from the previous film and credit to Gadot for that. 

Supporting Characters

Chris Pine reprises his role as Steve Trevor and I wasn't sure about this after what happened to his character in the previous film but it really works and is a real highlight of the film. Pine and Gadot have superb chemistry together and it is even better here then it was in the previous film and that is because both of them are having so much fun together and it is really nice to see and works for the story the film is trying to tell. Kristen Wiig plays Barbara Minerva and I thought she did a really good job in the film, I must admit I wasn't sure at first but as the film goes on she gets better and better and her character is one you can feel a bit of sympathy for and you understand the actions she takes and credit to her for a strong performance here. Pedro Pascal plays Maxwell Lord and he is fantastic here, the trailers make it out that he is just a cheesy villain but he is far from that, he is the most interesting character in this film and they do so much to make him a memorable antagonist and one that will be remembered. I think with The Mandalorian we have maybe forgotten just how good Pascal is and this film is here to remind people just how charismatic and amazing an actor that he is. 

Story

The story for this film is fantastic and one of the best in recent comic book films. The relationship between Steve and Diana is really well developed and better handled here then it was in the first film, mixed with the interesting characters of Barbara & Lord provides a fascinating story that feels appropriate in 2020. It really pulls on the emotion and especially in current times it feels like the story people need and one that will resonate with audiences. A film like this shows that sometimes having less characters but really developing them is a much better idea and allows you to really get invested in what you are watching. 

Script

The script is great, this film takes place in the 80s and doesn't hide away from it but it also doesn't cheese the film up too much and feels like the right amount of it. The drama is ramped up and I grew to really care about the characters in the film and the blend felt right all the right through with those deep moments and the lighter moments.

Style  

As I mentioned above the film does a really good job in making you feel like you are watching the 1980s and it is a fun change of pace from what we are used to for sure. The action scenes are also pretty well done in this film even though there is an over reliance of The Lasso Of Truth, that is a tiny complaint. Though I do have a bigger complaint and that is some of the CGI, these were in the trailers so there not spoilers but it is Cheetah and the Golden Winged Armour. They just don't look very good and the action scene teased in the trailer disappoints and fails to live up to the hype. 

Overall

Overall, this is a fantastic film that improves on the first film. If you are a fan of Wonder Woman you will really enjoy this film and this is a film you have to experience on the big screen so when you feel comfortable go out and support cinemas and this film by seeing it.

Rating - 9/10

Evil Season 1 (2020) Review

Despite this show being released last year in The US, we only got this show in The UK recently and I have now finished the first season of Evil and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a psychologist joining a priest in training to investigate mysterious cases and whether they are scientific or paranormal. 

Main Character

Katja Herbers plays Kristen the lead character here and she is fine, I actually think she gives a strong performance and you see that Herbers is a really talented actress that hopefully gets to do some big projects in the future, I just feel like she has been let down with the writing for her character. Her character is just not particularly likeable and it is difficult to really care about her which is a real issue when she is the lead character. 

Supporting Characters 

Mike Colter of former Luke Cage fame plays David and I thought he was really good here, it is interesting to see him as a priest and he does a good job despite the fact they don't delve into his character enough. Some interesting things are revealed about him but never really looked at enough and I just kind of wish the show could have done more with his character. Aasif Mandvi plays Ben and he is the third member of the team and he was fun to watch, I actually thought he and Herbers had good chemistry together and was an enjoyable character on this show. But there are some characters I really didn't care for, Michael Emmerson plays the villain here and he is really over the top and cheesy, I didn't find his character interesting and his whole motivations wasn't enough for me to really care. Then we get onto those damn kids, the on screen daughters of Kristen were so annoying and got on my nerves throughout the show as did Kristen's mother who was a weak part of the show. 

Story

The story has an interesting idea behind it, I thought the three main actors did a good job and most of the cases they come across are interesting and do a lot to keep you interested in watching every week. It eventually looks to build the season narrative and I think there is something there but it takes way too long and feels like it is just a set up to the second season instead of delivering a great first season and hopefully it is worth it next season. There are so many subplots here and the majority of them are super dull and offer very little to this show and one of the biggest sins is that the season finale just feels like another episode and doesn't do enough to really ramp up stuff and feel like a big deal. 

Script 

The script is okay, as I said above the dynamic between the main trio is well handled and well written to be a pretty good group of characters and that should be applauded. But there is nothing to this dialogue, I cannot remember one big dramatic scene or one scene I laughed with and that is a big let down and shows how average it is. 

Style 

The style of the show doesn't really hold back, it goes as far towards horror as it possibly can and does a good job of that which in my opinion does stand out a bit. But there is no denying that this is a very episodic structure and for me a good few of the episodes could have been avoided and get the main plot moving quicker. 

Overall

Overall, I feel like this is a pretty average first season of Evil that doesn't offer too much for me. Though I think a second season could be much better so this might be one I stick with but I wouldn't say you have to rush to watch it. 

Rating - 5/10

Ava (2020) Review

So this film suffered due to the Covid 19 pandemic but has now found its way to Netflix and it seems people are watching it, so I have watched it and here is my review for Ava. The premise of the film sees an assassin hunted down due to her interesting style of work. 

Main Character

Jessica Chastain plays Ava here and she is completely functional in the role, Chastain is a great actress and she does an adequate job in the role. She is good in the action scenes and does a decent job as the mysterious assassin here. But there is nothing unique at all about her character and it is just eye rolling, you are given no reason to care about Ava and when they try and force you to care it fails and falls really flat on its face. 

Supporting Characters 

John Malkovich and Colin Farrell plays supporting roles here and they do well because they are good actors but it is just the shame that the same as Chastain there characters are paper thin and not given anything to work with. The rest of her family troupe are awful and I actually wanted to see them get killed, which doesn't happen too often, I thought Common was terrible and really miscast in the role that he was given. 

Story 

The story sucks, it is so cliché it is unreal. Even now I am still not really sure why the bad guys are after Ava and I am not sure why I should care. This film offers nothing new in terms of storytelling and literally is a tick box of all the generic action stories and does them all really awfully despite a really strong opening 5 mins that is the clear highlight of the film.

Script  

The script follows the story in being pretty terrible, there is no dialogue that is interesting and the story is written so poorly. It is like the writers for this film watched some mediocre action films and thought we can do that but worse and that is what you get with Ava.

Style 

The style definitely has some decent action scenes, Farrell & Chastain (and their stunt-doubles) all do a decent job in the action scenes to make it seem pretty intense and brutal when it needs to raise the stakes. But the film doesn't offer anything ground breaking and new, also some of the action scenes are filmed pretty poorly and that lets the overall film down, I just wish the film had continued the style from the first 5 mins as that is really good but it ends up feeling like an action film you have seen plenty of times before and done better. 

Overall 

Overall, this is a poor action film that offers absolutely nothing new to the genre and it is one of the laziest films you will see. Don't waste your time with this film and go and watch any of the John Wick films instead. 

Rating - 3/10

Raised By Wolves Season 1 (2020) Review

So this show was really the first big show made by HBO Max in the US, now the Ridley Scott led project has hit the UK and I have watched Raised By Wolves and here is my review for the first season. The premise of the show sees a pair of androids tasked with looking after a group of kids on a new planet. 

Main Character

Amanda Collin plays Mother who is the main character of the show and I think she does a good job, she does a good job of playing the android and you see the show really through her eyes and you learn quite a bit about her and I think Collin does good work with it. But I just have some issues with her character, it is hard to talk about it without spoilers but all I will say is that about the middle part of the show she decides to do something and it just didn't make sense and after that moment I just thought her character was a bit dull. 

Supporting Characters

Travis Fimmel is the biggest name on this show and for me he is also the best character on this show. The guy just has so much charisma to him and so much charm and his character has the best individual story on show here. Abubakar Salim plays Father and I actually quite liked him, I thought the dynamic between him and Collin was well handled and I thought it was a nice relationship that they had that was one of the things that was developed pretty well. But the rest of the cast didn't do much for me, mainly the young actors and actresses, I always find it hard to critique young performers but this show requires plenty from there child actors and none of them stand out with a few of them not doing a great job for me. I mean the main one Campion, this kid was so annoying and I just couldn't stand him which made it much harder to care about him or the rest of the kids on the show. 

Story 

Onto one of the most convoluted and confusing stories any show will have in not just 2020 but in many years, first onto what I liked, everything to do with Travis Fimmel and his character, for me it is where the intrigue and most interest came from. There was also some interesting ideas towards the end of the show which sets up an interesting future for this franchise. But honestly a lot of the time I felt like things weren't explained enough and felt very strange and out there. It also feels like Ridley Scott has been a bit lazy here, if you have seen Prometheus then you have seen something similar to this show in terms of its feel and story so if you like that fil then this might be for you. 

Script

The script was a mixed bag again there was some decent drama and intrigue but it was everything involving Fimmel and his storyline and shows why for me it was the best part of this show. But this show is very wordy without much depth, especially when describing the world and the whole android stuff, it thinks it is really interesting and it just isn't. 

Style

The show does have a high budget and a very stylistic manner and for the most part it works and makes this show feel big in the way it is shown that makes it stand out. But as I mentioned above I felt like this show feels a bit lazy in terms of you have seen it before, especially from Ridley Scott which does hold it back a bit. Also this show is paced very slowly and it sometimes feels like a drag which could have done with a few less episodes. 

Overall 

Overall, I thought this was a pretty average show, there are good elements but it feels very heavy handed and dull to me. I think only hardcore Sci-Fi fans will like this one and one others can easily skip this show. 

Rating - 5/10

Prodigal Son Season 1 (2020) Review

So for the last 20 weeks Prodigal Son has been on and I just finished the finale and here is my review for the first season of the the show. The premise of the show focuses on a criminal psychologist who's Father is a famous Serial Killer, which drives his work. 

Main Character

Tom Payne who is best known for playing Jesus on The Walking Dead plays Malcolm Bright and does a really fantastic job. Malcolm is such an interesting character and as you see him work, you see the really interesting way his mind works and how it is so different to the rest of the cast and the rest of the characters. He is a character you care about, but he has way more to him then being a generic good guy and one that is captivating and one that you really want to keep watching. 

Supporting Characters

Michael Sheen plays his Father on the show and you can tell he is having so much fun in his role, his dynamic with Payne is probably the most interesting part of the show and as you learn more about their relationship the more interesting it gets. The rest of the crew that Malcolm works with are great too, Lou Diamond Phillips as Gil, Aurora Perrineau as Dani & Frank Harts as JT, they are great supporting players for Malcolm and they are a likeable crew and one that works very well together as they go from case to case. Bellamy Young plays his mother and yes she overacts quite a bit, but it actually fit her character, she is a different part of Malcolm's life and it works in terms of the story they are trying to tell here. Halston Sage plays his sister and for the majority of the season I thought she was underutilised, but by the end of the season it all makes sense and is really interesting and fully develops her character. 

Story 

The story is good, the characters are given plenty to do and Malcolm is a great protagonist. There are plenty of investigations that the crew have to work on and for the most part they are really unique and interesting and keep you guessing every week. It also does a good job of blending the weekly investigations with the overall plot and keeping that progressing at a nice pace. But there are a few issues with the plot, the main one being that the show chucks some big villain twists in the last few episodes that come out of nowhere and it makes you question why this idea couldn't have been introduced a few episodes earlier to develop it better. Also the show can't quite get over its episodic nature and it does come across that way but the ending of the season is fantastic and does a great job in setting up the next season and keep you invested. 

Script

The script is very good, it does a really good job with its dark humour, you can go from real drama to chuckling along and that is well done. Also credit to the show writes to coming up with these interesting investigations that do feel pretty diverse as the weeks go by. 

Style 

The show has an interesting style, it doesn't hide away from violence and that helps, it makes everything feel bigger and worse, even though it is crazy how much crime there is. The style of the show keeps you interested and its unique feeling and good characters keeps you invested and wants to keep watching. But onto the worst part of the show is that it is 20 episodes long, there is a brilliant 12 episode season but because of American networks they have to have too many episodes and it does hurt the quality of the show. 

Overall

Overall, this is one of the sleeper hits of 2020 and is a great show. It does have an investigation of the week feel but it does enough to keep it interesting and a great selection of characters with a great ending that makes it worth a watch. 

Rating - 8/10

Small Axe - Alex Wheatle (2020) Review

So we are almost at the end of the Small Axe series with the penultimate film Alex Wheatle and here is my review for it. The premise of the film follows the story of Alex Wheatle as he goes from a child to young man who ends up in trouble with the law. 

Main Character

Similar to Lovers Rock this films main character is played by an unknown, Alex Wheatle is played by Sheyi Cole and he does an okay job here. I actually think he shows enough to tell me that we will see more of him and he shows some charm here which is pretty impressive considering this is his first thing ever. I am sure in real life Alex Wheatle was an important and impressive person but this film fails to tell you that, there is nothing interesting about Alex and it makes you not care about this entire film. I mean the film is literally named after him but could I tell you anything distinctive and interesting about his character, I mean no I couldn't and that hurts this film that doesn't really do anything with anybody else. 

Supporting Characters

The supporting cast isn't really filled with any interesting characters but it has some young actors and actresses who fit nicely into the film and are nice to watch, but they are not given anything to do and it doesn't help flesh out this story or the people around Alex. 

Story

The story also doesn't do much for me, I mean this man is known for being really into his literature but you never see him write anything so what is the point. It introduces some interesting ideas and concepts but fails to capitalise on any of them, it goes through his life but never shows anything in particular detail to draw you in and keep you invested. 

Script 

The script is okay, it does show some pretty intense dialogue and moments and makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, I also chuckled a few times. But this films layout of the story structure is really bad and it hurts the flow of the film and it doesn't do enough to rise it to the levels of other films similar to this. 

Style

The style of these Small Axe films are very similar and this one is no different, it shows off the culture and environment around this person and does a decent job of it. But the issue is, apart from Mangrove these films have been pretty short and it kind of feels like you aren't watching a proper movie, it also doesn't help that the film is slow and takes way too long to get going. 

Overall

Overall, this is a below average film that is more like Lovers Rock then Mangrove. Again if you are watching Small Axe this is one that you can give a skip too. 

Rating - 4/10 

Mulan (2020) Review

So this film has been available on Disney+ for an extra fee for months but I am really cheap so I have waited till it is free with the streaming service to watch it and that day is today so here is my review for the 2020 version of the film Mulan. The premise of the film sees a young Woman disguise herself as a man in order to take her fathers place in the Chinese army. 

Main Character

Chinese actress Yifei Liu plays the titular character and I mean she is fine in the role, she feels appropriate for the role and does a decent job in the action scenes which is important for the role and she does an okay job in some of the emotional scenes. But I just don't really know why I did not care about Mulan much in this film, I just couldn't find anything to attach myself too and I found her character to be quite dull and not offering much to stand out in terms of a lead role. 

Supporting Characters

This film doesn't have a particularly great supporting cast but the one who stands out to me is Donnie Yen, his character isn't the most compelling but he does a fine job and you can tell he is easily the best actor in the action scenes and he is a highlight in these scenes. I also thought the actor that played Mulan's father did a good job and sold the emotion of their scenes well together. But the rest of the cast didn't do much at all, I mean Jason Scott Lee plays the main villain but similar to the animated film, he is just a bad guy Mulan has to defeat with no character and no depth to him. Different to the animated film there is an evil witch added here and it seems they tried to give her some character but they failed and she becomes an addition that feels out of place here. Like the animated film Mulan has some allies in the army and they were charming in that film but it doesn't work here and these characters are dull and you really won't care at all. 

Story

In these Disney live action remakes I feel like they are damned if they do damned if they don't. If they keep the story the same they are accused of being lazy and if they change it people go against it so this film kind of does a bit of both. Characters like Mushu are missing and I honestly think this story doesn't work and I will explain why, in the animated film the reason it works is that Mulan goes from this normal girl who becomes a warrior but this film completely changes it and attempts to make her some sort of superhero and it feels cheap and like the film loses all of its heart. The other issue is that I didn't care about any of the characters here, not even Mulan and the film really banks on you doing that which hurt its plot. 

Script  

The film has some okay dramatic moments in it that actually works which is better then most things here. It is just, I am not saying this film should be a comedy, but it takes itself so seriously and becomes a drab watch as the seriousness makes you care less and less about this pretty dull execution. 

Style

One thing the film has going for it, is that it looks amazing. In terms of its visual this is one of the best of the year in my opinion, the backgrounds look great and if the film was scored on the way it looks only it would be a much better score. But it isn't and here we go with another criticism but it is actually a technical one, when the action scenes were taking place there are just so many cuts, the film is cutting all over the place and it becomes so jarring, it is hard to explain unless you watch the film. The only time it doesn't do this when Yen is doing action and it seems like the rest of the cast weren't as strong in the action or the director was just poor at filming them. 

Overall

Overall, this is a below average film that actually upsets me. If people remember back at the beginning of the year, this film was high up in my most anticipated films of 2020 and it just fails to hit those levels and leaves it one of the biggest let downs in recent years. 

Rating - 4/10 

Mulan (1998) Review 

So the 2020 Live Action version of Mulan hits Disney+ at no extra charge tomorrow and because I am cheap I haven't watched it yet so I thought I would watch the original animated film and here is my review for it. The premise of sees a young Woman attempt to save her Father from dying in the military by taking his place secretly by pretending to be a man. 

Main Character 

So obviously Mulan is the main character and for those that criticise Disney's animated films back in the 90s of not portraying strong female characters then go back and watch Mulan as this is a fantastically strong character. It only came to my attention today that the fantastic Ming-Na Wen who I know from Agents Of Shield and The Mandalorian voices Mulan and she is a perfect fit for the role, she is known for her action prowess and she just really fits into the character of Mulan. 

Supporting Characters

There is a good group of characters that Mulan allies with in the film, the main one being Mushu played by Eddie Murphy and he is great and adds plenty of life and energy to the film. I mean it is funny that his voice role here is basically the same as when he voices Donkey in the Shrek films, but it does work here and as I said adds plenty of life to a film that needs it. BD Wong plays Shang her Captain in the army and I thought he voiced the character well and I thought his character fit well with Mulan's story and I thought their dynamic was a highlight of the film. The characters in the army are fine and are good with Mulan, but you can't help but see the stereotypes and generic nature of them kind of makes them a bit paper thin. But when you get to Paper thin we get to the villain of this film, I mean these animated films have great villains such as Scar, Jafar & Ursula but this guy is just really generic, he is a Hun and just wants to take over China. We are not given any interesting and thought provoking reason, he is just a bad guy for the sake of the film having a bad guy which does hurt the film a bit. 

Story  

The story is good, it does a great job showing its main protagonist in a great light and making you care about Mulan and wanting to see her succeed and it does that in an appropriate way, the story also doesn't shy away from some pretty sexist moments and I think it makes Mulan's story better that the film doesn't hide from that. But I feel like this film maybe has an overly simple story, compared to other Disney films I felt like this film had the potential to have more shades of grey in it, like I said the bad guy is just simply a bad guy and I think there could have been more done there, especially when you consider some of the attitudes of the Chinese empire that are pretty bad in this film. 

Script

The script is really good, you have to remember that this is meant to be a family film so it has some of that family humour but it feels appropriate and the film knows when to have its dramatic moments and it is effective in doing so. 

Style 

This film looks fantastic, back in the 80's and 90's Disney had great looking animated films but this one is right up there, it looks stunning and the Chinese backdrop really adds to it and the style of the film. For a family film it does have some exciting moments and some darker moments which sells its war like feeling. It is a really short film barely clocking at 90 mins but that is part of its charm, you can turn it on and watch this quickly and feel like a complete story has been told in the time that is given. 

Overall

Overall, this is a great animated film that maybe is a bit underrated. I feel like when people mention the great Disney animated film Mulan is never mentioned and I am not saying it is as good as The Lion King or anything but I think it is a really great film that deserves to be watched. 

Rating - 8/10 

Tin Star Season 2 (2019) Review

So Tin Star Season 3 hits the UK next week and I am now all caught up after finishing the second season of the show and here is my review for the second season of the show. The premise of the season sees Jack and his family have to survive when something from his past comes to haunt them. 

Main Character

I said when reviewing the first season of the show that Tim Roth was fantastic and he continues that here, mainly because of his dark humour and just how funny he is at times. He continues that and is just so entertaining to watch and you can just tell he is having so much fun here, I mean the emotional parts of his character aren't as present here but I just can't deny that when Roth is on screen he is great to watch and carries this show. 

Supporting Characters

That isn't to say some of the supporting characters aren't good here, I really like the chemistry between him and Genevieve O'Reilly who plays his wife and how they are a bad influence on each other. They have such a great dynamic and she is really fun to watch as well and a good character in her own right, just this season she is more on Roth's side then last season. Now I was pretty critical of Abigail Lawrie for her performance as their daughter in the first season but I thought she worked a lot better here and has good chemistry with her on screen parents. She isn't anywhere near as annoying and isn't always clashing with her parents which makes her a much more likeable character and she does a good job in her own right. John Lynch is a new character here, I mostly recognise him from The Fall and I thought he added quite a bit here, his character is pretty interesting and is a nice contrast to the other characters, he also shows his real acting quality and a great solid performance. But this show still has the issue that it has too many characters and what I mean is that it has characters from the first season that they have no plans for, but they have them here and they take away from the show. Such as Christina Hendricks character who really doesn't do much here and you wonder why they even bothered bringing her back for this season, same for the characters of Frank and Denise who again don't do enough to warrant inclusion. 

Story 

The story is decent this season, I thought having the family members together more helps, it feels like they are more united and together which is much better then them being at each others throats like the previous season. This film also did a good job of setting up a third season and expanding the story, but I also thought this show suffered from that. It spends so much time telling you what can come that it doesn't do enough this season to keep you interested and then puts everything on the last 20 mins which isn't good enough when it has had 9 episodes to do it. Also the show has to deal with the supporting characters from last season to sort them out and it does it in a pretty clunky way which bogs down the story. 

Script

The script is still good, the dark humour is still there and Roth and the rest of the family are funny and really look like they are enjoying themselves on screen and that helps you stay watching the show. But the drama from the first season isn't really there and the pacing of the different stories doesn't quite work as effectively as the first season did which is a disappointment. 

Style 

The show still looks great, it has a great location and is a pretty visceral show to watch that doesn't hold much back. There are some intense scenes and the show does a good job in making you feel like the majority of the characters are at risk the majority of time. But again, the pacing is off for me, it takes so much time to get going and get to the point that it makes me think that either get to the point quicker or have a few less episodes and less storylines going on at the beginning. 

Overall

Overall, this is an above average season of television, it is a slight step down from the last season but is still quite an entertaining watch. I mean if you didn't care for the first season this won't change your mind, though if you are a fan you will pretty much like this season and be excited for the third season. 

Rating - 6/10

Diego Maradona (2019) Review

So last week the world was given the news that Football legend Diego Maradona had passed away at the age of 60 and it has had a big impact on the football world. I am a huge football fan but I think being a younger person I have never fully understood just how important Maradona was, I knew he was a great player and he scored a goal with his hand against England but I neglected everything else and now is my time to catch up. So I started with watching this documentary called Diego Maradona that came out just last year so is a pretty modern telling of his story and here is my review for it. 

So first things first is Maradona on the pitch and this film does a superb job of showing just how talented a player he was, some of the things that he does is outrageous and compares to players like Messi and Ronaldo now. The film also does a great job in showing how football has changed, the tackles he receives is absurd and the pitches are terrible showing just how gifted a player he was. 

Over the last week we have seen the whole country of Argentina and the city of Naples in huge mourning over Maradona and this documentary does a great job in showing why. He basically won the world cup on his own for Argentina and won the Italian League twice for Napoli, you really understand why these people saw him as God, he was easily the best player and he was treated like it. 

The film shows that there were two different people Diego & Maradona and from what we have heard in the last week that was true. Diego was a innocent and nice person who was really easy to get along with but Maradona was the winner, the man who has to push himself to be the best and become the best player that he can possibly be and the film documents that well. 

Maradona has plenty of demons that is clear and the film does a pretty good job and doesn't ignore them. It highlights the difficulties that he has had in his life and how when Maradona takes over Diego it caused terrible things in his life which maybe tarnishes his reputation a bit. 

My one criticism of the film is that it is a bit narrow in terms of its storytelling, I mean it totally glosses over the crazy time he had at Barcelona, quickly covers The Hand Of God and ignores his failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup. Maybe this film could have been better as a mini series of like 4 episodes in order to fully tell the story and flesh out the story which I would have been totally here for. 

Overall, this is a fantastic documentary, looking at one of the biggest characters in Football and the highs and lows of his career. If you are like me and don't think you know enough about Maradona this is a great way to start. 

Rating - 9/10    

Small Axe - Red, White and Blue (2020) Review 

So another week and another film from The Small Axe collection called Red, White & Blue, and I have watched it and here is my review for it. The premise is based on a true story where a Black man sees his Father get assaulted by police officers, which motivates him to join the Police Force and attempt to change the racist attitudes from within. 

Main Character

John Boyega has been in the news a lot this year for important subject matters and he is fantastic here and you can just tell he has lots of passion for this role. He delivers a really strong performance and you really want to support him and see him succeed in his mission which is very just and very deserved in terms with his overall goal. 

Supporting Characters

Steve Toussaint plays his Father in the film and he is really good here, there is an incredibly powerful scene involving him and he is great in this film, the relationship between him and Boyega is portrayed in a very strong way and it is part of the lifeblood of the film. The rest of the cast are great too, everyone whether it be family, friends or the other police officers everybody delivers a really strong and real performance. 

Story

The story does what it intends to, it highlights just how bad things got in the British Police Force in The UK and it does a good job of following this one man on his crusade. I actually thought this film did a really good job in not having every white person be racist, yes there are bad people but there are also good people and that isn't always highlighted and I am glad it is here. I also really liked how when Boyega's character joins the Police, his position changes in the Black community which again isn't something that is explored to often. But this film does have a few plot points that aren't finished off and feel a bit tacked on and the film ends really abruptly and you are kind of left unfulfilled. 

Script

The script is quite good, the script does a good job of putting in the casual racism elements to not make it in your face all the time, also this film does have some nice bits of humour and touching moments to help flesh out a couple of characters. But the script does a bit of a poorer job of balancing the plot lines and I felt like even though the film does the casual racist stuff well, it never hits the dark levels that you would expect especially when you consider Mangrove is in the Small Axe collection too. 

Style 

The film has a good style to it, it just feels very real and authentic in how it is told and deals with the subject matter in a respectful but powerful way. But this film is a bit slow in its pacing, especially in its first act which really takes its time. Also this film has a bit of a timing issue, he literally joins the police and then one scene later he is looking for a promotion, it just seems like a lot happens off screen and the film could have done with a longer runtime like Mangrove in order to tell its full story. 

Overall

Overall, this film is a good addition to The Small Axe collection and is a strong showing for John Boyega in a solid film. I would say this film is worth a watch, but watch Mangrove first as I feel like the two films are good comparison pieces. 

Rating - 7/10

 

The Undoing Mini Series (2020) Review

So The Undoing has been gripping the British public for the last six weeks and it has now finished and I have watched it all and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a woman's life be turned upside down when a friend of hers is killed and someone close to her is the main suspect. 

Main Character 

Nicole Kidman plays Grace and she does a great job in the show. She is the character that we are meant to see the show through and it was done effectively because of her talent, as the world around her gets crazier and crazier Kidman does a great job in just showing how everything is spiralling and how her life is truly being affected by this whole ordeal. 

Supporting Characters

Hugh Grant has really had a great career renaissance the last few years and he is truly superb here, the guy is so charming and likeable but manages to show a real depth and intrigue to make you wonder what is exactly going on with his character. Donald Sutherland plays her father in the film and he is great, he plays the concerned father well but he also has that intensity when he needs it and he just fills the role incredibly well. Noma Dumezweni plays a lawyer on the show and she she does a great job, she is just a great character and she nails it in the courtroom scenes and she has just such a presence on screen, which is impressive when you see the talent with her. Now it has been a tough year for Edgar Ramirez, he has been in some terrible films but he plays a detective here and he does a really good job and it is just nice to see. He plays the detective really well and it is just a role he slips into very easily and he adds plenty to the show especially in the opening episodes. 

Story  

The story is a classic murder mystery and it is executed very well, it keeps you questioning throughout and does a great job having interesting characters that makes you wonder what exactly is all the characters motivation and whether they can be a suspect in this case. But this show has a main issue and that for me is the ending, the reveal is fine and executed pretty well but the show ends so abruptly, it feels like the episode needed 10/15 minutes longer in order to properly wrap up this show as there is no real room for a second season of this show. 

Script

The script is great, the dialogue has a really intense feeling due to the subject matter that is on show. But these characters feel real, they have a bit of humour but tons of darkness and drama that makes you interested and invested in the overall feel of the story and the show. 

Style

The style of the show is pretty full on, it is intense and shows off the indecency of the characters and something that feels very real whether that is violence or sexual. There is only 6 episodes and that feel appropriate, I mean it doesn't feel too long and the episode length feels appropriate. But I felt like the first couple of episodes were pretty slow, I know that it has to build the story and the characters but it does it in a really slow boring way. It does get much better as it goes on but it does take some time to get going and get particularly interesting. 

Overall

Overall, this is a great thriller with a top notch cast. If you are a fan of murder mysteries then give this show a watch as it is a great 6 episode series. 

Rating - 8/10 

The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season 1 (2020) Review 

So after The Walking Dead & Fear The Walking Dead we now have our third zombie show in this universe The Walking Dead: World Beyond and I have now just finished the first season and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees a group teenagers leave their university in order a scientist charged with ending the Zombie Apocalypse. 

Main Characters

Young actresses Aliyah Royale & Alexa Mansour play the two leads here and I am sure they are nice people and hopefully have a long careers but they are both pretty bad here. First Royale, she plays Iris and she is the most annoying character, she acts so much better then all the other characters on screen, even though she is dumber then most of the other characters. The show tries its best to make you care and you just won't, it even makes you question why some of the young males are interested in her when she offers nothing when on screen. Then onto Mansour, she plays your tough generic renegade and she doesn't do it particularly well, I think the main issue with her is that you have seen this type of character hundreds of times before and this show does nothing different with it. The character is poorly written and has a few twists that make little sense and feel contrived just in order to raise the drama because the show can't create natural tension and drama. 

Supporting Cast 

The supporting cast suffers too but there are a few glimmers of okay performances that do enough. Hal Cumpston as Silas is easily the most interesting character on this show, the show does a good job through flashbacks in showing his interesting backstory and I think some credit has to go to the actor for the way he conveys the character. Annet Mahendru plays Huck who is basically the female leader of the group and I thought she did a pretty good job, again the flashback story involving her is something new and interesting in this world and her character becomes more interesting as the show goes on. But then we get to the rest of the cast, Nicolas Cantu plays Elton and this guy is really annoying, he is very clearly positioned as the nerd of the group and it doesn't allow the character to be interesting and he actually comes across as too much at times. Then onto Nico Tortorella who plays the groups guardian, he is as generic as they come and their is nothing about this character that stands out. I mean there is one part of his character that is just beaten over your head even though it would have been more effective if it had been weaved organically and just feels like a cheap attempt at getting sympathy. The group meet a few people and they are annoying and you won't care about them and the main bad guy is barely on screen so again why should you care. 

Story 

It's funny because as I mentioned earlier this show actually does an okay job in portraying a few of the characters and there backstories, the show also does a few things that ties it into the larger Walking Dead universe and it now seems that this show is heavily connected to what is going on in the main Walking Dead show. But this show also has some dull flashback stories that do nothing for characters, I mean one character has multiple flashback episodes for some reason and it feels like they aren't really sure what story they want to tell. I mean at this point we have seen plenty of The Walking Dead and this show does nothing new, the whole show feels like a copy of the other shows and don't get me started on how The Walkers or Empties as they are called on this show are the weakest to date and literally offer no challenge to these novices. 

Script

The script is woeful, the dialogue is cringeworthy at times and as I said above the character development is pretty much non existent and the writing is just poor. The show doesn't make you get invested dramatically and there is nothing to laugh about at all and the actors aren't strong enough to rise above it. 

Style  

The shows style suffers as well, it offers nothing new or unique, it looks cheap and like its The Walking Dead's ugly step sister that they don't care about. The pacing is all over the place, why their needs to be 10 episodes I don't know as it feels like padding and like there are a few episodes where very little happens. 

Overall

Overall, this is an awful show and easily the worst thing I have ever seen The Walking Dead make. But I feel like for the future of The Walking Dead this show is going to play a part in its main story which makes it something to know about. Luckily before the show came out they confirmed that there would only be 2 seasons, so only one more season of this garbage to go, but yes unless you are a Walking Dead nut avoid this show at all cost. 

Rating - 2/10

Small Axe - Mangrove (2020) Review 

So I recently watched Lovers Rock which is the second film in the Small Axe collection on BBC and now I have gone back and watched the first film Mangrove and here is my review for it. The premise of the film is based on real events and sees a group of black people put on trial after a clash with racially charged British police. 

Main Character

Shaun Parkes plays Frank and he is fantastic here, he is the head of the Mangrove restaurant and his character is really interesting. His character has really interesting motivations, you see he is fed up of the police force but he maybe isn't as militant as some of the other characters and it provides fascinating dynamics and he knocks it out of the park. Letitia Wright is a truly phenomenal young actor and she plays the more militant member of the crew and she is so great and delivers such passion here. I mean she is a big name after her appearance in the Black Panther and Avengers films but I think she can be one of the biggest stars around for years and years around and this is probably the best I have ever seen her yet and that is saying a lot. 

Supporting Characters

Malachi Kirby is the third of the main people in the Mangrove 9 and he also gives a great performance, he has a speech towards the end of the film and it is so good and really hits you and credit has to go to him for how great his performance is here and these three in particular give some of the best performances of 2020. Jack Lowden who I first saw in Fighting With My Family plays a lawyer that helps the group out and he is a real nice addition to the cast, he has plenty of charm but he is used in an appropriate way, he doesn't overshadow the main cast but is a good addition here. Sam Spruell plays the main police officer and I thought he also did a great job, he is so disgusting to watch and you just see the lengths that these officers go to just because of racial hate and it makes him an antagonist you just want to hate. Overall, everybody does a great job in the cast and this is one of the best acted films of the year for sure. 

Story

The story is really impactful, you see the injustice that goes on with this society and it just feels very real. The first half of the film does an effective job in setting up the situation that these characters are in and the real brutality of the situation involving the police and these people due to the colour of there skin. The second half of the film is set in the courtroom and I really love these sequences, it shows the injustice in more of a casual way, which makes it even worse. To me these scenes are more uncomfortable as you just see how corrupt the system is and how it affects real people. The film has a great ending and is a real uplifting ending to a really important story. 

Script

The script is really well written, the dialogue is obviously really serious and really strong in terms of the abusive language that it tells and shows, but it feels appropriate and never oversteps the line and uses it for no reason. But also credit to the script that this film does have some funny moments and character moments that make you care and make you want to see The Mangrove 9 succeed. 

Style

As I have mentioned the film has quite a brutal style, not hiding away from the real brutality that has been seen in the past and it uses it affectively and in a way that is pretty respectful. The one criticism and literally the only one is the pacing for me was a bit slow at first, it takes a bit of time to get going but for me it is a valid criticism that bought the film down a tiny bit for me. 

Overall

Overall, this is a fantastic film that really conveys its subject matter appropriately and is effective. This is one of the best films of 2020 with amazing performances and if the rest of the Small Axe films can achieve levels like this then I am on board. 

Rating - 9/10

The Good Lord Bird Mini Series (2020) Review

So this show has come to Sky in the last week and I have now watched the 7 episodes of The Good Lord Bird and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a young slave join a crew of abolitionist soldiers led by a charismatic religious leader. 

Main Character

Ethan Hawke plays John Brown the lead here and he is amazing here, I mean he shouts a lot but it is so intense that it just works and makes you want to follow his crew on his mission. I also think Hawke has a really great grasp of dark comedy, as I found him hilarious at times but also a really interesting character that leads this show so well. 

Supporting Characters

This show basically introduces Joshua Caleb-Johnson as the character of Onion and he is fantastic here, he delivers a great performance for such a young actor. He is basically the person that we see the show through and it is done really well, you really grow attached to Onion and really want to see him succeed with this crew that has been assembled. Hubert Point-Du Jour plays Bob and I thought he was really good on the show and was just a really likeable addition to the cast and had a really good chemistry with Caleb-Johnson and their dynamic was really good. Daveed Diggs from Hamilton & Snowpiercer plays a smaller role but when he is on screen he does a really good job and is just so charming as we have grown to expect from him. The rest of the cast also do a great job and make this a great ensemble cast with great people throughout. 

Story

This show has an interesting story, seeing this ragtag group of people trying to abolish slavery through pretty violent ways is great to watch and you do want to see them succeed in their mission. Seeing the story through Onion's eyes makes it a different watch from usual and seeing the work of John Brown is great. However, this show does suffer from some old fashioned tropes, the main one being the white saviour for the black man, it is really forced down your throat here how John Brown is a saviour and it just comes across as a bit tacky and obvious. 

Script

The script is very good, the dialogue has a great blend of humour and drama. As I said earlier Hawke has such a great handle of dark comedy and he nails the blend between humour and drama and it makes John Brown a great character to watch. The characters develop well and it does a good job in making you care about them and the cause that they are fighting for. 

Style 

The show has a really good show, it does feel like if you played either of The Red Dead Redemption games then you will like this show, as in the way it is presented it feels very much like it is inspired by that show which is good with me. The action is brutal and feels very real and the obvious racism is pretty uncomfortable to watch to an effective degree, also this show has an amazing intro with the music, it gets you right into the mood for the show in a very effective way. But this show probably has a few too many episodes and could have done with 5 episodes to make the story flow better and some people would find it too preachy and it does feel like there could have been a bit more nuance to the characters instead of having obvious protagonists and obvious antagonists. 

Overall 

Overall, this is a great mini series that is a fun watch with some pretty dark moments. Hawke, gives an emmy worthy performance and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves and if you like westerns then this is a show that will be right up your ally. 

Rating - 8/10