Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

BABY REINDEER (2024): The Things I Liked…

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Baby Reindeer is one of those Netflix shows I clicked to watch because it became the most-watched TV show on the streaming platform in the UK soon after its release a few days earlier. And rightly so, because it’s a well-executed biographical drama centred around one man and his stalker.

Written by Richard Gadd; who also stars, along with Jessica Gunning (the stalker) and Nava Mau; the seven-part series has some welcome moments of unexpected humour, but by no means is Baby Reindeer a comedy or in parts, an easy watch.

What we get to see play out is the journey of the type of person who has a far-from-ideal relationship with his stalker – plus the circumstances that can lead to such a predicament.

By the end of this well-paced and acted true story, you will have plenty of interesting societal topics to think about, least of all how the police handle instances of stalking when reported. 

One thing that came up for me as I watched is the idea that we can all be taken advantage of in the worst ways if we’re not careful. And especially given the ideal circumstances for the person looking to do the taking. It’s how many people find themselves in cults, after all. Their vulnerabilities shone brightly for the recruiters who knew precisely how to manipulate them. 

Watch Baby Reindeer because it’s impressive. You’re guaranteed to have plenty to ponder and discuss afterwards.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

DAMSEL (2024): The Things I Liked…

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I’m a sucker for empowered and empowering female characters. No surprise then, when it came to my eagerness to watch Damsel, the latest action/adventure/fantasy from Stranger Things breakout star, Millie Bobbie Brown. 

After watching the trailer, I was excited to witness the young damsel, Elodie (Brown) rise. Especially since Brown has that undeniable quality which more than suggests ‘capable heroine’. 

After agreeing to marry a handsome prince following encouragement from her father, things end up being very far from ‘happily ever after’ for young Elodie. The good news is that what follows is a fun and easy-to-watch adventure. One I may not recommend with the highest level of enthusiasm when asked. Nevertheless, I say it’s worth it; particularly if you agree with the above opening line to this review.

It was satisfying to watch Elodie’s resilience as the story progressed. Even though, for me, the script felt a tad basic in parts. My only other issue is that final walk towards the end. It came across as overly exaggerated in a laughable and arguably cringy way for me. Perhaps I’m just too ‘mature’ for this type of execution. 

Lastly, in case you were wondering, that wonderful dragon voice is courtesy of Shohreh Aghdashloo, a lady, would you believe it? Brava, I say, brava! 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

ROAD HOUSE (1989): The Things I Liked…

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There are two reasons why I watched director Rowdy Herrington’s Road House (1989). Patrick Swayze’s undeniable magic is one reason – the camera seems to just fully love him, right? The other is I’ve heard several men rate the film quite highly. Add to that the recently released remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, (which I’m yet to see), and I had to satisfy my curiosity.

As predicted, Swayze is his usual magnetic self as Dalton, a smaller-than-expected bouncer, hired to clean up the roughest bar in a Missouri town, thanks in part to his black belt in karate.

‘Well-paced with a good amount of suspense built-in’ is one way to describe Road House. I believed Dalton to be as capable as his Karate background would suggest. There are certainly some fun and impressive fight sequences. Nevertheless, my favourite scene has more to do with dialogue than fighting. It’s the one when Dalton introduces himself to his new team and lays down the law. 

There came a point in Road House when I was exhausted by all the fighting and wanted the conflicts resolved. No surprises there, I guess, since the movie is made predominantly for a male audience. I’ll probably still watch the Jake Gyllenhaal remake. After all, he too is talented and magnetic. I will, however, need the music to be different because the rock music in Herrington’s film isn’t my favourite.

If you’re curious enough, give Road House a chance. Especially if you’re into fighting/fight choreography. Lastly, the story is quite romantic – though, mostly not in the lovey-dovey sense. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Adventure, Action, Animation, No Spoiler Reviews

MIGRATION (2023) The Things I Liked…

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The story and message about not being too afraid to expand one’s horizons and see the world may not be delivered in the most non-generic and sophisticated way; but, directors Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy’s animated action/adventure, Migration is still fun to watch.

Starring Elizabeth Banks, Kumail Nanjiani, Keegan-Michael Key and Awkwafina; Migration is joy-inducing, colourful, cute and features some engaging characters – my favourite of which is Delroy the Jamaican parrot, who is played rather well by Key.

Watch Migration because it’s fun, cute, and it’s only one hour and twenty-three minutes long. Also, look out for that ‘It’s about time I went to Jamaica‘ feeling, because it’s coming.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Biography, Crime, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

GRISELDA (2024): The Things I Liked…

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The infamous story of Griselda Blanco is one of a ruthless Colombian drug lord of the Medellín Cartel, a woman who, from the 70s to the 2000s was a pioneer and prominent player in the cocaine-based drug trade.

Having watched Cocaine Godmother (2017), a TV miniseries starring Catherine Zeta-Jones as Blanco some years ago, this story isn’t exactly new to me. As such, my main reason for watching Griselda, Netflix’s 6-part re-telling of Blanco’s story is that I’m a fan of Sofia Vergara, and I wanted to see her excel as Blanco. 

The first bit of good news is that I was impressed by Vergara’s performance. I only had to look at how she moved as Blanco to know that a new phase had begun. Vergara did a good job of taking the audience through her character’s evolution, which wasn’t always easy to watch, bearing in mind the nature of Blanco’s work.

Griselda (2024), Sofia Vergara, Netflix
Griselda (2024), Sofia Vergara, Netflix

The parts of Griselda I enjoyed watching most are those when it was easier to root for her because she was the underdog, a mother, hustler, entrepreneur and a woman doing what she had to do to survive. But then, inevitably, the rude awakening came when Blanco was no longer the underdog, and I remembered British Historian Lord Acton’s famous words: ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely‘. 

What happens after the awakening is still engaging and executed well, even though it was difficult to look at because, I guess, sometimes I selfishly don’t want my protagonists to be that complex. I like to be able to continue liking them. Still, as sensitive as I can be, I wouldn’t change anything. Not that could, anyway, since it’s all based on a true story. 

The other good news about Griselda is that the story edit is clever. We get to see Blanco in the present-day of the film and a series of flashbacks. All while we also watch the authorities in their desperate pursuit.

My main issue with the 2017 Cocaine Godmother miniseries was that it didn’t get the production budget Zeta-Jone’s performance deserved. This new version of Blanco’s story can be seen as the answer to my prayers back then. 

Griselda (2024), Sofia Vergara, Netflix
Griselda (2024), Sofia Vergara, Netflix

Vergara’s Griselda is quite the story of a woman who took her life into her own hands and rose to the very top of her field, regardless of all those who told her she couldn’t, that she didn’t belong and that she was ‘just a housewife’. Such stories always have a special place in my heart. Joy (2015), for example.

Give Griselda a chance if you’re curious, and especially if you haven’t seen Cocaine Godmother. 

Additional key cast includes Alberto Guerra, Juliana Aidén Martinez, Martín Rodríguez, Jose Velazquez, Orlando Pineda and Fredy Yate.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Action, Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

LIFT (2024): The Things I Liked…

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Director F. Gary Gray’s latest action/crime/comedy, Lift, which stars Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Worthington, is the kind of film I watched in two different ways. 

I watched the first half of Lift while simultaneously busying myself on my phone. It’s likely that I would have been okay with continuing to multitask as the movie played, and just considered the film my ‘downtime’ and categorised it as ‘easy viewing.’ However, writer Daniel Kunka’s story about an expert thief and an intriguing plot to steal $500 million in gold bullion from a moving plane became much more engaging once the key characters were on the flight and doing ‘the job.’

Lift (2024), Yun Jee Kim, Billy Magnussen, Úrsula Corberó, Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Netflix

The second half is when much of the cleverness and fun begins. Before then, Lift felt like plenty of set-up that isn’t particularly new. As such, one can get away with only half-watching. 

What just occurred to me right now is that the action sequences in Lift are not quite as memorable after the fact, even though they were engaging as they happened. It’s no wonder that my favourite moment in Lift is the funny, perfectly acted scene featuring air traffic control’s Harry (David Proud).’ ’Poor Sandra’ (Caroline Loncq) is all I have to say about that.

Give Lift a chance if you’re curious. It’s not the best, but perhaps it’s worth a try for that second half.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Magnussen, Yun Jee Kim, Úrsula Corberó, Jean Reno, Viveik Kalra, Burn Gorman and Martina Avogadri also star.

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

SALTBURN (2023): The Things I Liked…

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There’s been plenty of talk about writer/director Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn  since it hit the film festival circuit in August 2023. And I’ve finally given in and watched the comedy/drama/thriller. A film that turned out to be an equally delightful and shocking experience. One that follows Oliver (Barry Keoghan), an Oxford University student who becomes obsessed with his classmate, the charismatic and aristocratic Felix (Jacob Elordi). 

Also starring Rosamund Pike, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan, things soon take quite the unexpected turn once Felix invites Oliver to his eccentric family’s vast estate for an unforgettable summer.

Saltburn (2023), Rosamund Pike, MGM
Saltburn (2023), Rosamund Pike, MGM

It’s the dialogue and performances that delighted me most, especially all the lines delivered to perfection by Mulligan and Pike’s characters. As for the more shocking aspects, let’s just say it has to do with two specific moments that reveal the extent of Oliver’s unsettling obsession and how that manifests.

In terms of my experience of the story, I had the most fun before the dark turn, which wasn’t unexpected considering how I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop for much of the film. The general gist of what Saltburn is about and how aspects of the story unfold may not be new, but the two most shocking events and the super wonderful dialogue are reason enough to see it for yourself. 

Last but not least, Saltburn features a soundtrack of what seemed to be largely hit British songs of the noughties. I say give Saltburn a chance if you’re curious and for all the guaranteed giggles courtesy of the dialogue, particularly once Oliver arrives at Felix’s family estate. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Action, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE FAMILY PLAN (2023): The Things I Liked…

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The Family Plan, the latest action/comedy from Mark Wahlberg may not offer anything new story-wise, but I did find it fun, well-paced and strangely Christmassy.

The Christmassy vibe is because a likeable family is central to the story’s heart. There’s also Vegas, a destination often described as camp as Christmas. 

The charisma and aesthetic that is Wahlberg had all the usual magic to make director Simon Cellan Jones’s film into what I needed. Especially considering that my movie appetite has leant towards less emotionally taxing productions of late.

My favourite thing about The Family Plan is thE aforementioned special Wahlberg magic, including the unexpected dynamic between his character, Dan and Max, his youngest son.

Watch The Family Plan if you need some light action/comedy fun that has an unexpected Christmassy quality.

Lastly and randomly, here’s something fun on the internet featuring Wahlberg, Will Ferrell and Chelsea Handler.

Happy Film Loving,

G