10s Movie Review - Albert Nobbs

Director: Rodrigo García
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

I WATCHED THIS FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 12: A MOVIE FILMED IN A PLACE YOU VISITED
 
Description: Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) struggles to survive in late 19^th-century Ireland, where women aren’t encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man so she can work as a butler in Dublin’s most elegant hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

Review: Nineteen-century Ireland was a poor and sad country. The difference between the poorest and richest was enormous and many people, especially single women, lived a poverty-stricken life. One way for a single woman to live an independent life was to dress up as a man. And that is exactly what Albert Nobbs did. Albert had been working as a butler in various hotels since she was 14. With her breasts strapped tightly under a corset, she serves guests in the hotel like a true gentleman. Her secret keeps her from forming friendships and relationships, yet deep inside she years to live a normal life. Preferably with a partner.

In 1982, Glenn Close already starred in a play based on the short story “The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs”, and it has always remained a part of her.

The film starts with no introduction. The task for the viewer is to observe how the main characters in the film are served. We see Albert’s averted gaze, the appreciation the guest have for him and the staff’s fear of making mistakes. “Albert Nobbs” leans mostly on details and on Glenn Close. She did a wonderful job portraying Albert.

But even though the performance by Close is memorable, “Albert Nobbs” itself isn’t. The plot itself doesn’t manage to captivate as strongly as the protagonist. As a result, feelings of emptiness and loneliness prevail once the credits roll.

Rating: 3 / 5

Book Review - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by TaylorJenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Series: -
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
 
Description: Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
 
Review: Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood icon and she is ready to tell her life’s story. At 79 years old, she decides to hire journalist Monique Grant to write her biography. And in that story, she will include all the great moments, the terrible scandals and all of her seven husbands. And she will reveal who was her one true love. Why Evelyn wants Monique to write it, is yet unknown.
 
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is a popular book seen all over social media. Is it worth the hype? YES! First of all, the story feels very real. It is very loosely based on the life of Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times. Furthermore, the story itself is completely fictional. This story sucks you in from the first page.
 
Evelyn Hugo is probably not the most likeable female character you will even read about, but she certainly is interesting because of her complexity. You read about how Evelyn Hugo made her way to the top and what she had to do and give up for her life as an actress.
The life of a classic Hollywood actress in the 50s and 60s really interests me and I loved reading about Evelyn’s life.
 
This was my introduction to author Taylor Jenkins Reid and I love her writing style. I love how she used three different “voices” for her book: Monique, the tabloids and Evelyn Hugo herself. You follow her life through three different points of view. And I always love that other forms of media, like letters, newspapers or magazine articles, are used in a novel.
 
Throughout the book, you keep wondering why Evelyn asked Monique to write the story. How they wrapped this up in the end, is the only reason I didn’t end up giving the book a 5-star rating. The eventual reveal I liked, I believe they dragged the story a bit too long in the end.
 
I could totally recommend “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” to readers who enjoy historical fiction. The books feels realistic and you go through a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s a true page-turner, with classic Hollywood as it’s décor. Definitely a book that will stick with me and fully deserves all the praise it’s getting.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Perfection

Director: Richard Shepard
Genre: Horror/ Thriller Drama
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Allison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Weber

Description: When troubled musical prodigy Charlotte (Allison Williams) seeks out Elizabeth (Logan Browning), the new star pupil of her former school, the encounter sends both musicians down a sinister path with shocking consequences.

Review: “The Perfection” revolves around events withing a music school, where a former student and the newest musical prodigy meet and go down a sinister path. It would be a shame to reveal more about this plot, because it’s best to go in blind. The film has a few twists.  

Even though the title might suggest otherwise, this film is certainly not perfect. The plot and dialogues are questionable at times and it has some gruesome scenes, which are not suited for the faint of heart. Still, this horror thriller about two rival cellists remains fascinating throughout thanks to a few wacky twists and turns.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Review - Boston Strangler

Director: Matt Ruskin
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Keira Knightley, Chris Cooper, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, David Dastmalchian
 
Description: Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) challenged sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer.

Review: The ‘Boston Strangler” murders and leaves them all the same way, strangled and with a bow around their necks. Loretta McLaughlin sees the connection between the first three victims and wants to write a piece on the case at all costs. Being a woman, however, he boss says she is especially suited to write for the lifestyle section of Record America. When she picks up the article on her own time, the ball starts rolling. Because of her lack of experience with murder cases, Loretta must team up with Jean Cole, and the two dive deep into the case.

This true story of a journalistic quest is carried by Keira Knightley. “Boston Strangler” is as solid as you would expect when her name is attached to a project. Solid, but at the same time at no point exceptional. Knightley and Carrie Coon play their roles convincingly, the premise is gripping enough and the direction is fine. The color palette is a bit on the dark side to evoke extra tension. With all these elements, this film in particular feels like a somewhat bland rip-off of rock-solid thrillers like “Zodiac”.

Occasionally, the script shows potential. Unfortunately, those more unique angles are not fleshed out enough. The script is embellished with the struggles of women in the 1960s in the male dominated world of journalism, but at the same time it abandons that aspect relatively quickly. The effects the murders have on the women in Boston is also touched upon in a few short scenes.

Although “Boston Strangler” comes with a number of twists, its suspense is moderate. Some of the hints are very obvious and strongly indicate the direction Loretta eventually ends up going. It doesn’t bother too much, however, as Loretta is never portrayed as a brilliant journalist. She is persistent, but not without faults, which is particularly revealed in the way her relationship with Jean is outlined.

The chemistry between the two journalists is the heart of the movie. Jean is more experiences and teaches Loretta. Although Loretta sometimes tries to push her away, it is nice to see these two woman in a man’s world helping each other rather than fighting. The likeable main characters combined with an interesting serial killer plot, make “Boston Strangler” a fine film, but one that does not rise above the genre.

Rating: 3/ 5

Oldies Movie Review - Days of Heaven

Director: Terence Mallick
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 1978
Starring: Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 11: A MOVIE FROM THE 1970s
 
Description: A hot-tempered farm laborer (Richard Gere) convinces the woman he loves (Brooke Adams) to marry their rich but dying boss (Sam Shepard) so that they can have a claim to his fortune.

Review: Chicago 1916. Steelworker Bill, after a deadly scuffle, flees to North Texas with girlfriend Abby and sister Linda. When the terminally ill farmer with whom he finds work falls in love with Abby, a cynical plan ripens in Bill’s mind.

The film is directed by Terrance Mallick, and I have yet to really love a movie by him. I some how don’t really understand his vision, but I never seem to enjoy his films. The always look beautiful, the performances are always strong and he manages to get fantastic actors for his films. But somehow, it doesn’t work for me. I found “Days of Heaven” a fairly boring movie actually, but overall Mallick’s movies are just not my taste.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Title: Wrong Place Wrong Time
Series: -
Author: Gillian McAllister
 
Description: Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.

You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.

That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake... and it is yesterday. And then you wake again... and it is the day before yesterday.

Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it...
You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.
That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake... and it is yesterday. And then you wake again... and it is the day before yesterday.
Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it...
 
Review: “Wrong Place Wrong Time” is a title that can go either way. Gillian McAllister has chosen to address the moment. She does so in a very original way.
 
The story starts with a mother, Jen, waiting for her teenage son Todd to come home. She sees him approaching and worse, she sees him kill someone right in front of their house. Jen doesn’t know who this man is, why Todd has done such a horrible thing and she won’t get those answer when her son is arrested and taken to the police station. Jen and her husband Kelly aren’t allowed to speak to him until the morning, so they go home. When Jen wakes up, Todd is home. She realizes that it’s the day before the murder. And every day, she wakes up a day earlier.
 
Jen believes that it’s happening for a reason. The days she returns to aren’t random. Each day teaches her something about the murder and Jen believes she has been stuck in a time loop to prevent her son from committing the crime.
 
Reading a story that goes back in time, requires a few things from the reader. It’s easy to become over-explanatory, trying to explain the given of a time loop or time travel. Luckily McAllister doesn’t do that. There are some moments where this phenomenon is explored, but it’s not the main focus. And even though you’re technically going back in time and Jen is the only person experience it, it’s not that hard to follow. The story somehow goes backwards, but each chapters explains exactly where we are in time, as the day of the murder being day 0. These chapters of Jen trying to figure out this mystery, we also meet a cop called Ryan. It takes a long time before we know how he fits into the story and where in the timeline he is. This just adds to the mystery.
 
“Wrong Place Wrong Place” is a very cleverly written thriller, that would have been very ordinary if it weren’t for the element of the time loop. This makes the story unique and more interesting. The story did have some moments that were less interesting and could have been left out. And the eventual ending wasn’t all that special. But overall, I highly enjoyed this book. Exciting, original and challenging.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - The Killing (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 13
Year: 2011
Starring: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell, Liam James, Michelle Forbes, Brent Sexton, Kristen Lehman, Eric Ladin

Description: A polive investigation, the saga of a grieving family, and a Seattle mayoral campaign all interlock after the body of 17-year-old Rosie Larsen is found in the trunk of a submerged car.

Review: “The Killing” is an American remake of the Danish series “Forbrydelsen”. The eniter first season revolves around one question: Who killed Rosie Larsen? After thirteen episodes, it is safe to say that you have absolutely no idea of who killed Rosie.

The first season takes please over two weeks, which is a very plausible time to not have solved a murder investigation. “The Killing” shows how patient you really have to be as a detective. The series covers the story of Rosie Larsen’s murder through three storylines.

The first is that of detective duo Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder. Linden is the passionate and just too dedicated side of the duo, where here partner is a direct transfer from the narcotics team. The second storyline is that of Rosie’s parents, Mitch and Stan, trying to cope with the loss of their daughter. As a third storyline, there is a political campaign of Darren Richmond. At first the link seems to be there only because Rosie was found in one of the campaign cars. But there is more to it.

You trying to piece the puzzle, one by one. All storylines are very interesting, although the one of the detectives is the best of the three. “The Killing” shows the emotional, political and police sides of the murder investigation. It delves deeply an personally into the characters.

Even though the series first season didn’t provide us with an answer to that one question, reason enough to continue to watch it. A very strong and interesting mystery thriller series.

Movie Review - Luther: The Fallen Sun

Director: Jamie Payne
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Drama/ Mystery
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, Cynthia Erivo
 
Description: Brilliant but disgrace detective John Luther (Idris Elba) breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistiv serial killer (Andy Serkis) who is terrorizing London.

Review: Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Luther is back. After five seasons, Idris Elba may take on the role of the tormented, driven and unorthodox detective one more time. This time in a feature film, where he hunts down a psychopathic serial killer who has his victims picked out by an army of hackers, only to blackmail them with their online secrets and lure them into his sick trap.

That Luther must first escape from a heavily guarded prison to do so is just a detail. In a fairly straightforward manner, he is released, and from then on a multi-level cat and mouse game begins. Luther wants nothing more than to catch the killer, as do his former colleagues. Even though they are also trying to catch Luther, they make clever use of him. Because if they find Luther, then they will most likely find the killer.

This dark thriller does not always excel in credibility, just like the series. Luther always gets away with a lot. And while the entire detective team is still in the dark, halfway through the story he magically sees through the perpetrator’s mindset, motives and next steps. And although Luther is a brilliant detective, it feels a bit too easy, too coincidental.

Still, there is enough to enjoy The atmosphere keeps you on the edge of your seat and the acting is strong. Not only Elba excels, but Andy Serkis also does week as the deranged antagonist. His actual motives might leave you with lots of questions in the end though.

Not a lot of familiar faces return for this film, but since most of Luther’s immediate colleagues and loved ones have died, that’s not such a surprise. But one character I was missing, was Alice Morgan. The interesting dynamic between her and Luther has always been a thread through the series.

“Luther: The Fallen Sun” is probably not the finale that fans were hoping for, but still, it was an enjoyable watch for everyone who has watched the series.

Rating: 3/ 5

TV Show Reviews - The Last of Us (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Drama/ Action/ Adventure
Number of episodes: 9
Year: 2023
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Anna Torv, Lamar Johnson, Melanie Lynskey, Nico Parker, Gabriel Luna, Nick Offerman, Murray Bartlett, Storm Reid, Ashley Johnson

Description: After a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor (Pedro Pascal) takes charge of a 14-year-old girl (Bella Ramsey) who may be humanity’s last hope.

Review: “The Last of Us” is a film adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, a parasitic fungus emerges that turns people into infectious zombies. The disease spreads rapidly and affects Joel as well as his daughter. He survives, she does not. Twenty years later, the remaining society is different; it is not the best. Joel is tasked with smuggling a package from Boston to the western United States. That package turns out to be a girl named Ellie, about the same age as Joel’s daughter. What’s so special about Ellie? She is immune.

I never played the game, but I was familiar with it. And if I have to believe the fans, the screen adaptation is very close to the game. The creators have paid extreme attention to the characters, their stories and emotions.

I think that “The Last of Us” is the best screen adaptation of a video game I have ever seen. This series is packed full of amazing shots, emotion, interesting characters, developments.

I fell in love with Joel and Ellie’s bond. And that’s all thanks to the amazing performances by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. You know, when you have certain movies or series, and you just can’t imagine another actor playing the role? That’s what I felt with “The Last of Us”. Pascal and Ramsey were both perfectly cast for their respective roles and they work well together and apart. The growing bond that develops between the two is the heart of this show.

Even though the show focuses on Joel and Ellie, as does the game, the series adaptation also takes some time to explore other characters. For instance, episode 3, where we meet Bill and Frank. In the game we never meet Frank, which makes Bill’s story so much more interesting now we get to know both of them and their relationship. This episode really made me cry (as did many other episodes).

My favorite episodes were episode 5, where Joel and Ellie are accompanied by the brothers Henry and Sam, and episode 8, where Ellie comes across a vengeful group of survivors. Both episodes have a scene in it, that made me feel all the feels. And I can easily say that these episodes are both some of the best TV moments I have ever seen.

So much praise for this series, I cannot say enough good things about “The Last of Us”. I keep recommending this show to everyone. And you don’t even have to know the game, because I never played it either. I loved it, one of the best shows I have ever seen.

Book Review - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Title: And Then There Were None
Series: -
Author: Agatha Christie
 
Description: First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion.

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.
 
Review: Ten strangers are invited to an isolated island, by a mysterious guest. When they arrive at the island, the host is not there. All the guests get to know each other and soon it’s clear that they’ve all been lured to the island under false pretenses. When they discover each and every single one of them has a secret past, the atmosphere quickly turns darker.
 
One by one the guests are found dead. There is a killer in their midst. But who. A nursery rhyme, that is hanging in each of their rooms, seems to have a pivotal role in these murders.
 
“And Then There Were None” is a dark and mysterious thriller, a classic murder mystery or whodunit. The book has many characters and the story switches between these people very rapid. It’s not like every characters has their own chapter. The way Agatha Christie did this, makes the story very dynamic.
 
Right from the first page, the atmosphere is very present and its immediately sets the tone. The characters are introduced and you’re taking into the story very quickly. It’s very well done how Christie manages to write all these characters and create a solid development for each of them, especially for there being so many of them. Like other Christie books, where for example Hercule Poirot is the main character, there is no leading role in “And Then There Were None”.
 
Locations are always very important for thrillers like this. Here it’s a secluded island and it’s mainly set in the mansion of this mysterious host. This adds to the atmosphere as well.
 
The plot is so strong, it seems obvious and predictable, but it’s anything but that. Christie is the queen of murder mysteries and she proves it with “And Then There Were None”. There are more then one surprise in this story. And I love how, in the final chapters it’s explained what really happened.
 
Agatha Christie’s book are timeless. Once you start reading, it’s hard to stop and you get invested. Christie knows how to create a sinister atmosphere, set on an even more atmospheric location with tons of interesting stories and multiple surprising elements. This is an amazing book, that I would recommend to anyone who loves murder mystery thrillers.
 
Rating: 5/ 5
 

20s Movie Review - Love Wedding Repeat

Director: Dean Craig
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Sam Claflin, Olivia Munn, Freida Pinto, Joel Fry, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jack Farthing, Tim Key, Allan Mustafa, Aisling Bea

Description: While trying to make his sister’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) wedding day go smoothly, Jack (Sam Claflin) finds himself juggling an angry ex-girlfriend (Freida Pinto), an uninvited guest (Jack Farthing) with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and the girl who got away (Olivia Munn) in alternate versions of the same day.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 10: A BRITISH COMEDY
 
Review: Chance can be an asshole. That’s what the voice-over states. In “Love Wedding Repeat”, everything revolves around chance and the capricious twist of fate. Table arrangements at a wedding turn out to be vital. Only one arrangement has a positive outcome for all the guest, but which one? Fortunately, after a big mistake, the characters just get to try again.

The concept sounds like a lot of fun, but “Love Wedding Repeat” makes almost no use of the concept of cyclical time. Director Dean Craig stupidly chops his romcom about parallel universes into two parts: in the first part of the film, the wedding goes disastrously, in the second part, everything goes completely according to plan.  

Unfortunately, there is a very big drawback to this setup. Jack, the main character, is completely unaware that alternate realities exist. And because he lacks this knowledge, he will therefore not try to influence the course of his own future (or that of others). A missed opportunity, because the self-repeating caus-and-effect gam is precisely what makes a “time loop” movie, like for example “Groundhog Day” or “Edge of Tomorrow”, so entertaining.

A whole battalion of idiotic characters are assembled for the wedding ceremony. Jealous exes, a cocaine head, a sleepy maid of honor, and a chatty man in a kilt who is very itchy. They are meant to make you laugh, but they don’t manage. “Love Wedding Repeat” is rarely truly funny, yet many of the situations are very uncomfortable to watch.

They could have done so many great things with this premise, yet they totally missed the mark. Shame, because with talented performers like Sam Claflin and Freida Pinto, it could have been a lot better.

Rating: 2/ 5

TV Show Review - You (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2023
Starring: Pen Badgley, Tati Gabrielle, Charlotte Ritchie, Ed Speleers, Tilly Keeper, Amy-Leigh Hickman, Lukas Gage, Greg Kinnear

Description: A dangerously charming, intenstly obsessive young man (Penn Badgley) goes to extreme measures to insert himself into lives of those he is transfixed by.

Review: It’s always commendable when creators of a film series and television series throw in some good variety and don’t follow the same pattern over and over again. “You” did it, but eventually managed to ruin it.
 
WARNING! THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!
 
It is refreshing that season 4 is done differently. Not only because the battleground had moved from the United States to London’s upper class, but also because for once it is Joe himself who must fear his safety. This is because someone is trying to frame him for murder. The plot creates a new dynamic, although Joe must cope amid a group of very annoying snobs.
 
After the previous season, in which Joe toppled his “partner in crime” and great love Love Quinn, he has assumed a different identity in London. He now is Jonathan Moore, a literature professor, who managed to spin things so that Love was the evil mastermind behind the events and Joe did not survive. He just wants to lead a quiet life now. Mingling amongst the high society of spoiled influencers, uppity artists, annoying rich kids an snobby gallery owners is not really my idea of living a quiet life, but Joe somehow ends up there. And every single character Joe meets is unlikeable, annoying and slap-worthy. Cleverly done by the creators, but also a bit transparent, as this leaves the empathy entirely with Joe. Especially when it turns out that after a night out he is blamed for a murder.
 
Text messages are used to extort the former bookseller and newfound teacher: the culprit knows his true identity and apparently h is not the only one who knows more about Joe.
 
For the first time, a season of “You” has been divided into two chapters dropped on Netflix. The writers did take this new strategy quite literally. There is a clear cut in plot and approach between the first five and the second five episodes. Complete with a sort of interim wrap-up. The writers could have filled the entire season just with the question of who is pressuring Joe so much, more importantly, what the motives are for doing so. But in the second half, the perspective is completely thrown overboard and the course is changed decisively. Except for a few, the many irritating side characters hardly have any function. Moreover, the writers throw it entirely on Joe’s mental state, which is in stark contrast to the man who for seasons has been portrayed as admittedly quite disturbed, but also calculating, cunning and opportunistic. The main character is left reeling and things don’t really work out. With that, I kind of predicted the whole Rhys storyline and that it was eventually Joe himself.  
 
Moreover, more than before, characters from other seasons are revisited. Then the realization dawns that despite the change of environment and tone, “You” is starting to become formulaic.
 
Season 4 of this successful Netflix series is what I would call a “mixed bag”. It starts strong, but loses itself in contrived plot twists and futile attempts to change its ways.  

Book Review - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein
Series: -
Author: Mary Shelley
 
Description: A twisted, upside-down creation myth, Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale lays bare the dark side of science, and the horror within us all. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who plunders graveyards to create a new being from the bodies of the dead - but whose botched creature causes nothing but murder and destruction. Written after a nightmare when its author was only eighteen, Frankenstein gave birth to the modern science fiction novel.
 
Review: Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is the classic tale about Victor Frankenstein who created a “monster” out of body parts of dead people.
 
When most people think of Frankenstein, the think of the big, green monster with bolts screwed into his head, that came to life due to a strike of lightning. But all of that was not what Mary Shelley wrote about. The story follows ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein, who manages to create a living creature. His creation, this his so-called “monster”, feel abandoned by its creator and begins to wreak death and destruction, out of desperation.
 
Frankenstein just wants to create life and beauty and experiments with body parts of corpses. To his own surprise, he succeeds in giving life to his creation, but when he discovers that the creature is hideous and behaves in a very primitive way, he becomes frightened of it and chases it away.
 
Like I stated before, many things that we belief to know about the classic story, weren’t actually in Mary Shelley’s book. He was no green monster, he had no bolts in is head, there was no laboratory where he was created, no strike of lightning to bring him to life, no assistant named Igor. So in that perspective, the story was very surprising to me, because I always assumed that those elements came directly from Shelley’s book. And although these things all sound exciting, I wasn’t missing it while reading “Frankenstein”. The story goes in depth of the character of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Seeing both their perspectives.
 
The big question raised in this book is, who is the real monster: Victor Frankenstein or the creature being called monster? Frankenstein is a very unlikeable character, hard to sympathize with, egotistical, judgmental. The creature created has no idea of the world, doesn’t know how to speak, knows nothing of people and their behavior. He has to learn their ways in order to survive. But because of his appearance, the name “monster” is easily given, so for him it’s only natural to also act like one. So both parties are doing bad thing. But Frankenstein is well aware of what’s good and evil, when his creation is not yet familiar with it.  
 
Even though the book is fairly short, it took me some time to finish it. It’s very slow paced and it need some more brainpower to fully comprehend it. But “Frankenstein” is a beautifully written horror classic.

Rating: 4/ 5
 

Movie Review - We Have a Ghost

Director: Christopher Landon
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Jahi Di’allo Winston, Erica Ash, Niles Fitch, Jennifer Coolidge, Isabella Russo, Tig Notaro
 
Description: Finding a ghost named Ernest (David Harbour) haunting their new home turns Kevin’s (Jahi Di’allo Winston) family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery  of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.

Review: Teenager Kevin and his family move into a suspiciously cheap house. Kevin discovers a ghost in the attic, but is unimpressed with this ghost’s, Ernest, scare tactics ans strikes up a friendship. Soon the rest of the family knows about Ernest as well, including the always chasing easy money dad Frank, who creates a hype on the internet. Meanwhile, Kevin, together with his neighbor Joy, tries to solve the mystery surrounding Ernest, who has no memory of anything.

Director Christopher Landon abandons standard haunted house moments to create a feel-good movie. David Harbour plays ghost Ernest engagingly as he shyly opens up to contact with the living. It’s easy to feel sympathy for him, which makes the ending very touching.

The whole CIA plotline was a bit too much and felt unnecessary to me. And the film is not that surprising, even though it’s not following the standard haunted house storyline. The friendship between Kevin and Ernest is the heart of the film, I really loved that.

An entertaining and enjoyable family film, definitely worth a go.

Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - Zwanger & Co

Director: Johan Nijenhuis
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Lieke van Lexmond, Waldemar Torenstra, Thom Hoffman, Manuel Broekman, Carolina Dijkhuizen, Maaike Martens, Bo Maerten, Matteo van der Greijn

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 9: A MOVIE IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE
 
Description: Merel (Lieke van Lexmond), a singel midwife, is done with men, but her biological clock is ticking inexorably. And yes, she gets pregnant. However, the whole family seems pregnant. Her 60-plus father Piet (Thom Hoffman) has just become a father again with his younger partner and her 23-year-old nieve Eva (Bo Maerten) is also expecting. Merel’s sister Annet (Maaike Martens), who suffers from empty nest syndrome, has a husband (Matteo van der Greijn) who only wants to travel because he thinks he is too young to become a grandfather.

Review: “Zwanger & Co” is a new romantic comedy directed by Johan Nijenhuis. We follow Merel, a single midwife, who wants nothing more then to become a mother. She eventually becomes pregnant through a sperm donor. In the meantime, babies are everywhere in her family and a new man enters her life.

Because the many characters share similar desires and experience almost similar events, but with slight variations, this film comes across as repetitive and dull. The various storyline off the different family members also overshadow each other more than they really work together, which makes it a very messy film.

With that, the movie gives of the wrong messages. They try to be very open-minded, but in short it tells us that a woman without a child is not a woman. That being a mother, is the only reason for a woman to be on this earth. And whenever you do choose a career, but also have a child, the character is portrayed as a selfish, not-caring mother. Merel, who makes the brave decision to become pregnant through a donor, feels like an good, powerful storyline. But eventually she, and the people around her, that every kid needs a father.

Especially as a woman who has no intention of becoming a mother, and with a best friends who is the best mother to her two daughters from a donor, this movie really doesn’t give off the right messages.
This movie sucks. It’s not credible, over-sentimental, sends of the wrong messages and offers nothing good. One of the worst movies I have ever seen.

Rating: 0,5/ 5