Book Review - Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

Title: Rules for Vanishing
Series: -
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
 
Description: Once a year, the path appears in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Who is brave enough to find her—and who won't make it out of the woods?

It's been exactly one year since Sara's sister, Becca, disappeared, and high school life has far from settled back to normal. With her sister gone, Sara doesn't know whether her former friends no longer like her... or are scared of her, and the days of eating alone at lunch have started to blend together. When a mysterious text message invites Sara and her estranged friends to "play the game" and find local ghost legend Lucy Gallows, Sara is sure this is the only way to find Becca—before she's lost forever. And even though she's hardly spoken with them for a year, Sara finds herself deep in the darkness of the forest, her friends—and their cameras—following her down the path. Together, they will have to draw on all of their strengths to survive. The road is rarely forgiving, and no one will be the same on the other side.
 
Review: Once a year, a path appear in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Only people brave enough try to find her, but you have to play by certain rules. A year ago, Sara lost her sister Becca when she went into the woods and walked that path, in search of Lucy Gallows. When the time is here for the path to reappear, Sara is determined to find her sister. A group of their mutual friends gather to walk the path with her, when even most of them are skeptical.
 
The story is set in a small town, with a dark legend haunting them. This already sets the atmosphere. The book is compared to “The Blair With Project”, which I can totally understand, especially because of the unique format. It’s not just traditional storytelling, but also transcripts of interviews, written statements, group chats and more. And I love this style of writing. It reads like a “found-footage” film. You get more and more questions, especially because you have no idea who you can trust. Not even Sara, who we mainly follow.
 
When you throw a bunch of teenagers together in a scary situation, you often predict they will eventually break up or make terrible decisions. But author Kate Alice Marshall manages to avoid a lot of clichés and stereotypes. Instead they make rational decisions, talk about their differences and feel more real. Unnecessary drama is left out, there are no villainous teens and the little romance is kept mostly in the background. Because being in a life and death situation isn’t romantic.
 
I praise Kate Alice Marshall for her creativity and the way she wrote this original horror story. I can totally see this being turned into a movie. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, creepy and well-written. The ending though, would not leave everyone satisfied. I personally loved the twist and don’t mind being left with questions at the end. If you still think and talk about a book after finishing it, you have written a good book.  “Rules for Vanishing” is an eerie story that you should read if you like unique horror stories in a mixed-media-type format. If none of these things appeal to you, this book is not for you.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - A Man Called Otto

Director: Marc Forster
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Mack Bayda, Juanita Jennings, Peter Lawson Jones
 
Description: Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grump who’s given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves across the street, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 17: A MOVIE WITH AN ACTOR YOU LOVE

Review: “A Man Called Otto” is based on the book “A Man Called Ove”. And Tom Hanks pays the titular Otto.

When you first meet grumpy, you would think he is quite unsympathetic. A blunt man who plays by the rules and berates you if you park where you’re not supposed to, for example. When new neighbors movie in on his street, the pretense he puts on slowly subsides. So he helps them (reluctantly) with chores. In return, he gets nice meals, which make him feel a little appreciated again. The film manages to combine (dark) comedy and drama well.

The story follows a well-known path. A grumpy man slowly becomes more gentle and builds a bond with another person. Otto’s backstory is also told, which impressed me. His life was full of misfortune, which makes you somewhat understand why he is the way is. And by the end of the film, you love Otto. Fun fact: Young Otto is played by Tom Hanks’ son, Truman Hanks.

I loved “A Man Called Otto”. It’s funny and heartwarming and in a melancholy way, it is quite a feel-good film as well. Tom Hanks never disappoints and once again the film is carried by him. The path from grumpy man to likeable guy is very well-executed.

Rating: 4/ 5

Rwatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 21

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 

70/ 100: Warrior (2010)
A story about two brothers, both MMA-fighters, who are estranged and both have a difficult relationship with their father. A sports film with emotional depth and amazing performances by Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte. Click HERE to read my full review.
 

71/ 100: The Godfather (1972)
Don Vito Corleone is at the head of his family business, when he wants his youngest son Michael to take over from him. “The Godfather” is an epic, timeless classic, the best mafia movie ever made and an influential film for Hollywood. Please make sure to check out my full review HERE.
 

72/ 100: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Andy Dufresne is sentenced to life in prison in 1947 for the murder of his wife and her lover. Prison life is horrific and violent, but Andy befriends fellow inmate Red and cleverly manages to fall in line with the cruel guards. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman provide excellent counterpoints to each other, the clever script and tight direction ensured that the film is a favorite on many lists. It’s at the top of mine, still, after so many years. HERE is my full review.
 
Still to watch: 28

20s Movie Review - Herself

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Clare Dunne, Molly McCann, Ruby Rose O’Hara, Conleth Hill, Ian Lloyd Anderson, Harriet Walker, Cathy Belton

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 CHALLENGE MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 16: A MOVIE DIRECTED BY A WOMAN
 
Description: A young mother (Clare Dunne) escapes her abusive husband (Ian Lloyd Anderson) and fights back against a broken housing system. She gets out to build her own home and in the process rebuilds her life and re-discovers herself.

Review: We meet Sandra, who escapes her abusive husband Gary, with her two daughters Molly and Emma. While living in a hotel, Sandra is on an endless waiting list for social housing. When Peggy, the woman whose house Sandra cleans, discovers that Sandra is trying to find a way to build her own house. While Peggy has an unused plot of land, she offers Sandra this piece of land and will help her financially. Now Sandra just has to find the right workers.  

Meanwhile, Sandra still has to deal with her ex Gary, who is also the father of her daughters. While he has the right to see them and Sandra has to keep up with her end of the deal by taking them to Gary, one of her daughters refuses to visit her father. She locks herself in the closet and even wets herself. Sandra keeps her with her, but she is in trouble because this way her daughter missed too many visits to her father, which was an agreement. When Sandra is questioned about the abuse, the judge asks her why she didn’t leave Gary earlier. The response that Sandra had really left an impression on me: “Why do you always ask why I didn’t leave him and don’t ask him why he didn’t stop?” This hit me.

“Herself” is a beautiful, warm, empathetic film that will give you a good cry, about female resilience that captures very well the current time and the challenges surrounding affordable housing.  

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Knock at the Cabin

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery/ Horror
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Rupert Grint, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn, Kristen Cui
 
Description: While vacationing, a girl (Kristen Cui) and her parents (Ben Aldridge, Jonathan Groff) are taken hostage by armed stranger who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.

Review: After the success of “The Sixth Sense”, writer/ director M. Night Shyamalan made the plot twist his trademark. It masked his drama for mild drama between character and exceptional camerawork. Moreover, the revelations didn’t always land well, distracting the audience by focusing only on them. Eric and Andrew are on vacation with their young daughter Wen, when four strangers show up. With noticeable reluctance, they hold them captive and present them with a dilemma: one of the family members must sacrifice themselves and be killed by the other tow or the world perishes. At least, that’s what the strangers claim.

This is a film adaptation of Paul Tremblay’s 2019 book “The Cabin at the End of the World”. It’s difficult to get a message out of the film. The plot deviates from the book, so should you have read it, there are still plenty of surprises.

The inconic Shyamalan twist is omitted this time, however these is an interesting reveal that I liked a lot. You’re left with more questions then answers at the end of the film, which I didn’t mind. It makes you think about it and you can conduct your own theory about what happened. But I can definitely understand this will frustrate many viewers.

The tension in the movie is immediately present, right from the start. Dave Bautista, the former WWE-wrestler and mostly known for action roles, is the best part of the film. He shows that he can do way more than he is usually tasked with in his films. He is incredible in “Knock at the Cabin”. No action this time, real emotional acting, which really blew me away. The dialogue is really good and the camerawork, which is also a well-known trademark for Shyamalan, is outstanding.

“Knock at the Cabin” is not one of Shyamalan’s best films, but certainly not in the worst category either. It’s a very solid thriller, that will probably have a lot of mixed reviews. In my opinion it’s a really good film, but Shyamalan made better ones.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Mandalorian (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Action
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2023
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Katee Sackhoff, Jack Black, Lizzo, Christopher Lloyd

Description: The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.

Review: Mandalorian Din Djarin has quite a bit to recover from after taking off his helmet against all rules. To save his honor, he must travel to his home planet for a cleansing ritual. Mandalore is badly scarred and now largely deserted. In addition having to care for Grogu, Din Djarin comes to the aid of an old acquaintance and former enemy in the fight against pirates on the planet Nevarro. Supporters of the old Empire are also still asserting themselves.

The nice thing about “The Mandalorian” is that while there is a large story arc that spans a season, each episode also contains a completed story. Often a mission. This continues on in the third season, but creator Jon Favreau gradually tries to tie in more and more to the larger “Star Wars” universe as well as characters from earlier seasons.

A major factor is Bo Katan Kryze, who has a large and important role in this season. I loved that. Despite the many contradictions Bo Katan and Din Djarin have, it makes for an interesting interplay between the two characters who are clearly matched but also complement each other. And Grogu, cute as ever, is also present. Can’t get enough of him.

Despite the familiar approach, this new season explores a number of separate side paths, the function of which is not always immediately clear. For example, an entire episode is devoted to two defectors from the former Empire trying to find amnesty on planet Coruscant. This episode only gains momentum towards the end . Later in the season, these Mandalorian-less events are given a bit more context.

Totally bizarre and even more self-contained is a trip to a strange planet called Plazir 15, where actors Jack Black and Christopher Lloyd and singer Lizzo make an appearance. It is the most bizarre episode in the series so far, even though I found it highly entertaining. But it’s not the show’s best. The last two episode on the other hand, make you quickly forget about that and are of the high level we are used to. And it has a heart-warming conclusion.

Even though this season wasn’t as good as the previous two, I still really enjoyed it and I can’t get enough of this amazing series.

Oldies Review - The Godfather

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 175 minutes
Year: 1972
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert DuVall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale
 
Description: The aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son (Al Pacino).

Review: Don Vito Corleone, better known as The Godfather, is the head of the Corleone mafia family. When an attempt is made to take his life, son Michael unexpectedly steps into the family business.
For many, including myself, “The Godfather” is an all-time favorite and an absolute timeless classic. It is and remains a great mafia epic and probably one of the most influential films ever made.

As soon as the film starts with the atmospheric music of Nino Rota, you are transported to the past and become part of the Corleone family. The head, Don Vito, commands the screen with his presence. With this, Marlon Brando won an Academy Award for one of the most iconic roles ever.

It is a film completely focused on the Corleone family. Despite all the criminal acts within the world of the mafia, the story also highlights the love, frustration and misfortune within the family. This makes the whole realistic. In doing so, each member also leaves an impression. Daughter Connie who allows herself to be in an abusive marriage, tough brother Sonny with his anger issues and even the more sleezy Fredo, who has a more prominent role in “Godfather Part II” (1974). The film’s lead role is given to the youngest son of the family: Michael Corleone.

This was Al Pacino’s big break, an it is understandable why. We frequently see event sfrom Michael’s perspective, which makes him somewhat sympathetic. Michael’s character development, which begins here and continues in the two sequels, is fairly tragic to see. Someone who had no interest in the family business at first, but unexpectedly follows in his father’s footstep, becoming the head of it.

“The Godfather” is not only a timeless classic, that every person, film fan or not, should see. But it’s also a masterclass in filmmaking. I think it’s every filmmakers dream to create aa masterpiece such as “The Godfather”. After so many years, the praise for this movie is still justified.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Warrior

Director: Gavin O’Connor
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Denzel Whitaker, Frank Grillo, Kurt Angle, Noah Emmerich

Description: The youngest son (Tom Hardy) of an alcoholic former boxer (Nick Nolte) returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother (Joel Edgerton).

Review: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a brutal sport for some. For others it’s the most exciting sport on the planet. If you think “Warrior” is a 140 minute long film about knock outs and bloody fighters, you’re wrong. This film goes much deeper.

Tommy, an ex-marine who fought in Iraq, returns to his home town Philadelphia after being absent for 14 years. There he is reunited with his father Paddy, a former alcoholic and the reason that Tommy fled with his mother. Tommy wants to restore his band with Paddy, by working together. Tommy wants to attend an MMA tournament where he can win 5 million dollars. Tommy’s older brother Brendan has the same idea.

I’m not going to compare it with “Rocky” or “Raging Bull”. That’s not fair,  unnecessary and “Warrior” is great on its own. The three leading men, Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte are all fantastic. Hardy manages to bring a certain intensity to the screen, but there is also some melancholy and aggression. The mixed emotions and him fighting with them is amazing to see. Nick Nolte adds up to that, by playing maybe his best role ever. Edgerton shows the same passion, but with more modesty.
The character development is so strong and there is a real good build up to that final fight. When we come to that final fight, you get chills all over your body. An amazing soundtrack, with a song from “The National” in the final scene, only helps the intensity of that scene.

Although “Warrior” maybe not the most original story, it’s the total package that counts. And that’s way above average. I love “Warrior” and its great performances.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - John Wick: Chapter 4

Director: Chad Stahelski
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 169 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Clancy Brown, Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, Hiroyuki Sanada
 
Description: John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The high Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

Review: After his fall from the Continental Hotel in New York, it is assumed that John Wick is dead. Unfortunately, for a whole slew of individuals, that assumption turns out incorrect. Especially for The high Table. John Wick is out for revenge to earn back his freedom once and for all, but that battle proves no easy one. As the price on his head seems to rise by the minute, he travels the world in search of his enemies and former friends he can still trust.

It is quite noteworthy that an action film like “John Wick”, made for “only” $ 20 million in 2014, is now on its third sequel and we all still enjoy it. A concept that turned into a very stylish action film franchise. But what is especially noteworthy is the fact that not one of the sequels manages to lose momentum.

The fact that this fourth chapter has been given a runtime of no less than 169 minutes is proof that there is plenty of room in the universe surrounding Keanu Reeves’ John Wick. Less than three hours of stylish violence in a world full of assassins. And this film is all gas, no breaks. Director Chad Stahelski uses mainly actions scenes to stretch that, instead of dialogue. And that way, you hardly feel the almost three hour runtime.

On the quality of the scenes there is little to nothing to complain about. The payoffs are creative and spectacular and a joy to watch. During the Arc de Triomphe scene you’re constantly wondering how they did it. And the one scene in the building, where most of it is shot from the top, is the most amazing scene of the entire film, from a cinematographic point-of-view. However, some viewers might find these actions sequences too long and they go a bit too far at times. To thinking that John Wick is some kind of “über-mensch”, where he survives yet another high fall, kick or blunt to the head.   

This fourth installment again introduces a new character high up on the assassin ladder in the form of Bill Skarsgård (known best for his role as Pennywise in “It”), but it still remains extremely vague exactly how the High Table works and who is at the top of the pyramid. The main villain was kind of a let-down, I didn’t find him very threatening.  

Other cool characters were introduced though. Donnie Yen as the blind assassin Caine, even with it being a little implausible at times for him to fight the way he does, was a welcome character. And the so-called Mr. Nobody and his dog were amazing and in the movie for just the right amount.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” shows that there is still more than enough in store when it comes to John Wick and his battle with the High table. The film has a hefty running time, but I didn’t really feel that because it’s almost non-stop stylish action. The John Wick-series is a very good and solid franchise, because all the movies in it are so good. 

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Don't Say a Word

Director: Gary Fleder
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime/ Mystery
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Brittany Murphy, Oliver Platt, Lance Reddick

Description: When the daughter of a psychiatrist (Michael Douglas) is kidnapped, he’s horrified to discover that the abductor’s demand is that he breaks through to a post traumatic stress disorder suffering young woman (Brittany Murphy) who know a secret…

Review: When the infant daughter of psychiatrist Nathan Conrad is kidnapped, the abductors do not demand money, but ask Conrad for a service. He must extract a six-digit code from a mentally disturbed teenager.

The story is nicely put together, but you can’t escape the impression that we have seen all this before. The storyline and plot twists will not surprise a seasoned moviegoer. Director Gary Fleder did much better on “Kiss the Girls”, which did have the tension and surprises we all want from a movie in this genre. Nevertheless, the movie is entertaining enough for an evening of suspense.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - No Exit by Taylor Adams

Title: No Exit
Series: -
Author: Taylor Adams
 
Description: On her way to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets caught in a fierce blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. With the roads impassable, she’s forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside are some vending machines, a coffee maker, and four complete strangers.

Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.

Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?

There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one?

Trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, with a child’s life and her own on the line, Darby must find a way to break the girl out of the van and escape.
Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.
Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?
There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one?
Trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, with a child’s life and her own on the line, Darby must find a way to break the girl out of the van and escape.
Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.
Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?
There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one?
Trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, with a child’s life and her own on the line, Darby must find a way to break the girl out of the van and escape.
 
Review: Darby is on her way to visit her dying mother in Utah, when she gets caught up in a blizzard. With the roads impassable, she has to wait out the storm at a remote rest stop. Four strangers are also stranded there. When Darby is trying to make a call outside, she discovers a parked van that has a little girl locked in a cage inside.
 
Location and atmosphere are very important in this book and you can feel both constantly. They both add to the constant tension you feel, while trying to figure out what’s going on.
 
The beginning of the book is much stronger than the end. The further the story progresses, the more action. “No Exit” is not a thriller with so much trying to find out who is the culprit or with surprising twists and reveals, it is an action-packed, intense thriller. I liked the build-up and you’re constantly on the edge of your seat. This remains throughout the entire book. Even though author Taylor Adams reveals an important part fairly quickly, is does not lessen the tension.
 
This story is all gas, no breaks. Which I didn’t mind. And although the book had one great reveal/ twist, the overall story was quite predictable. Which is okay in this case, because there is only so much you can do in a remote location with only six characters. Managing to still make it exciting for the entire duration, is well-done.
 
“No Exit” is a wild ride, a book I would recommend to people who are looking for an exciting, fast-paced and action-packed thriller. It’s all fairly straightforward, but I had a great time reading it.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Title: The Silent Patient
Series: -
Author: Alex Michaelides
 
Description: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....
 
Review: Gabriel and Alicia Berenson have been married for seven years when Alicia shoots her husband in the face five times. She doesn’t say a thing and Alicia is committed to The Grove, a psychiatric clinic. Now, six years later, she still hasn’t said a single word since that night. Theo Faber is a psychotherapist and applies for a job at The Grove. Theo is convinced he is the right person to break Alicia’s silence that will finally unravel the mystery surrounding the drama.
 
“The Silent Patient” is the debut novel of author Alex Michaelides. In the book we follow three storylines: Diary entries from Alicia, Theo’s private life and the contact between Theo and Alicia in the clinic. And the way these eventually blend together is so well-done.
 
Theo is clearly fascinated by the tragedy of Gabriel’s murder and Alicia’s silence. The contact between Theo and Alicia feels very realistic, this due to the background of Michaelides life as a therapist himself. To better understand Alicia, Theo delves into her past and the discoveries he makes in the process, together with the diary, form a clear sketch of the personality behind the mysterious woman. The main characters are well-developed, the other characters add more mystery to the story.
 
“The Silent Patient” is a carefully constructed story that constantly gives the reader the feeling that something is not right. What exactly is not right remains in the dark for a long time, ensuring that the story becomes and remains suspenseful and ominous.
 
This is one of the best debut novels I have ever read, with a reveal and twist I could have never expected. A new all-time favorite, for sure. I also read Michaelides second novel, “The Maidens”, last year, which I also loved. I will now read anything he writes.  
 
Rating: 5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Undoing (Mini Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2020
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Noah Jupe, Donald Sutherland, Lily Rabe, Matilda de Angelis, Edgar Ramirez, Michael Devine

Description: The life of a New York therapist (Nicole Kidman) is turned upside after she and her family get involved with a murder case.

Review: In this psychological thriller, you follow the lives a Grace and her husband Jonathan. They are live the perfect life in New York, with their son Henry. Until Elena, a mother at Henry’s school, is found dead in her art gallery. It turns out to be a murder and Grace and Jonathan’s life is turned upside down. Especially when one of them becomes a suspect.

You think you know, but think again. “The Undoing” has plot twist after plot twist. And just when you think, you figured it out, things turn again. There moments you believe that this certain person has done it, and then you believe they might be innocent. You go back and forth constantly. It’s like a rollercoaster with a new exit each time. Just when you think you are sure of the culprit, they drop a small hint that makes you question everything again.

“The Undoing” is very America, it’s all very polished. The only thing I would’ve changed, is to make the characters look a less “perfect” all the time.  

The cast of “The Undoing” alone is worth watching. Nicole Kidman plays the lead and she is very strong in her role. The same goes for Hugh Grant, especially as the series progresses. And Donald Sutherland, in his 80s, still knows how to intrigue. Noah Jupe, who plays son Henry, is such a great talent. You might also know him from the movie “A Quiet Place”.

“The Undoing” is absolutely worth watching, it’s exactly that kind of psychological thriller that gets under you skin after watching it. The who, why and how are very interesting questions you keep asking yourself constantly while watching this series.

TV Show Review - The Killing (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2014
Starring: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Gregg Henry, Tyler Ross, Joan Allen

Description: While covering up a secret, Linden (Mireille Enos) and Holder (Joel Kinnaman) are assigned a new case: a brutal case of a family with ties to a military academy.

Review: Season four begins after the terrible events of the final episode of season three. From then on, Holder and Linden must pull out at all stops to keep their lives as normal as possible. Above all, no suspicion must fall on them, and a small mistake lurks.

WARING! THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS I YOU HAVEN”T WATCHED THE PREVIOUS SEASON

Linden is struggling with the betrayal and loss of her lover. Consequently, her feelings are double in the face of his death. This very well portrayed by Mireille Enos. Her relationship with Holder is severely strained and a new gruesome case helps for a while.

Holder takes over the lead for a while and it works. He tells Linden what she should and should not so and emphasizes their position. Holder would, in this case, do everything for Linden. But he is also processing events, and as a former addict, that does not come easily to him. Both deal with a hard time at work, but also in their private lives. The new case weighs heavily on their shoulders.

The case they are dealing with is the family Stansbury, who is brutally murdered. Only the son, Kyle, manages to survive. He is a student at a military academy, and this is now his safe haven. The ice-cold head of this military school, Colonel Margaret Rayne, is one Holder and Linden have to deal with. Rayne does everything to keep Kyle safe.

This season only has six episodes, so not a lot of time to develop the same atmosphere and mystery as in the previous seasons. But still the case was interesting enough. It sadly never reaches the same level as the other seasons, but it has a very satisfying ending for Holder and Linden.

90s Movie Review - A Bug's Life

Director: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Joe Ranft, Denis Leary, Jonathan Harris, Madeline Kahn, Bonnie Hunt, Michael McShane, John Ratzenberger, Brad Garrett, Roddy McDowall, Edie McClurg, Alex Rocco, David Ossman, David L. Lander

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 15: A MOVIE SET IN SPRING

Description: A misfit ant, looking for "warriors" to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.

Review: After Disney Pixar brought us the first fully computer animated film “Toy Story” in 1995, everyone was waiting for the next project. In 1998 they came with “A Bug’s Life”, an animation about the insect world.

“A Bug’s Life” tells the story of an ant colony that is terrorized by a group of grasshoppers. Every year the ants have to give the grasshoppers a large amount of their food in exchange for protection. This year something goes wrong, because of ant Flik. He has to get help, but no one think’s he will succeed.

This clumsy ant, who thinks beyond the ‘ant tradition’, manages to find other insects to help them in their war against the grasshoppers. Flik thinks he is dealing with strong and brave insects, but they are actually a touring group of circus artists.

Like in “Toy Story” the audience is presented a colorful and diverse group of characters, with lots of quirks. The show is stolen by the macho ladybug, a fat caterpillar, a cynical praying mantis and a stick-insect. But also the ant queen. All get wise lessons: believe in yourself. This is brought to us the Pixar way, without any false sentiment.

Although the story is pretty predictable, the style is breathtaking. It has some great action scenes. And the story is filled with visual and textual jokes, that will make children and adults laugh.
“A Bug’s Life” is probably one of the lesser popular Pixar films, but to me a joy to watch and totally worth your time!

Rating: 3,5/ 5