TV Show Review - The Handmaid's Tale (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2021
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Max Minghella, Alexis Bledel, Anne Dowd, Bradley Whitford

Description: Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.

Review: It took a while before “The Handmaid’s Tale” returned with season 4. But Elisabeth Moss, who plays June, is finally back and is great as ever.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO AREN’T CAUGHT UP

This season, June manages to finally escape from the hell that’s called Gilead. After a while, she even manages to end up in Canada where she is finally reunited with her husband Luke. However, in her escape, June did not have the opportunity to take her daughter Hannah with her. She blames herself greatly for this and feels guilty towards Luke about it. Although June’s escape attempt, which she does together with some of the other handmaids, is ultimately successful for her it is obviously not going to be easy. June faces considerable hardship and loss.

So the relationship between June and Luke is what I found most interesting this season. Both are struggling with a sense of guilt about their daughter Hannah who is still trapped in Gilead. June and Luke both deal with it in a different way, but the sadness is very palpable for both of them. Meanwhile, Fred and Serena Joy are still in jail in Canada awaiting the lawsuit filed against them. Fred wants nothing more from his wife, until Serena Joy discovers that she is pregnant with his child.

Season 4 contains a few memorable scenes. Like the speech June gives in the courtroom in front of Fred and Serena, the people who made her life a living hell. But the scene that most impressed me and stuck with me is where June ruthlessly taunts Serena as to why God let Serena get pregnant according to June. Elisabeth Moss should win an Emmy for this scene alone.

But with four season already made, it’s hard to avoid a little bit of repetition. A lot of things happening, we’ve seen before.

But it’s still a great season and I highly enjoyed it. I believe the fifth season, which will come out in 2022, is the final one. Which might be for the best. I really want to know how it ends and what will happen to all the characters, good or bad.

Movie Review - Tick, Tick... Boom!

Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Genre: Drama/ Musical
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens, Joshua Henry, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Bradley Whitford, Judith Light

Description: On the cusp of his 30^th birthday, a promising young theater composer (Andrew Garfield) navigates love, friendship and pressure of life as an artist in New York City.

Review: Death-defying, HIV and dashed childhood dreams. Netflix is taking a gamble with a multi-million dollar investment in “Tick, Tick… Boom!”, a musical film that doesn’t shy away from taboo and heavy subjects. Experts are excited, as was I, but is the general public ready for a musical that plays with the classic expectations of the genre?
On the eve of his thirtieth birthday in 1990, Jonathan Larson is forced to make some existential decisions. From a dreary Manhattan apartment, he has been working for eight years on a musical, a production that should provide his long-awaited breakthrough. However, the great success never came and  in the meantime more and more artist friends exchanged their artistic plans for a job with more security. Larson, who for years believed he would turn American theater culture around, is doubting his talent for the first time.
The tumultuous days leading up to Larson’s thirtieth birthday form the basis for “Tick, Tick… Boom!”, a film adaptation of the autobiographical solo performance with which the composer toured several small venues in 1990. At the premiere of his relatively obscure production, Larson cannot possibly guess that a Hollywood studio will ever pump millions into his work. For the man does become a legend on the American theater scene, only he never experiences it himself.
Jonathan Larson might not be a familiar name for most of you, be he was the mastermind behind the successful musical “Rent”. On the morning of the first preview of this musical in 1996, Larson dies unexpectedly of an aneurysm. Barely 35, he missed how “Rent”, a show that ran for twelve years on Broadway, became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
Larson’s way of ushering Broadway into the 21^st century is also inspiring a new generation of theater composers. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the noted musical writer who is making his debut as a director here, sees his inspiration’s solo performance live during his senior year of college. As a young New Yorker with an artistic innovation drive and a hefty dose of agony, he recognizes himself in the existential issues Larson faces. He became even more ambitious and drew creative inspiration from Larson. Miranda’s successful “Hamilton” is the proof of that.
Though Larson was no saint, he was convinced he was right, he didn’t give an inch. Larson’s stubborn character is highlighted. New scenes came to light after conversations with personal friends. For example, his existential fears make him so self-centered that he refuses to make time for his tormented partner, and he has difficulty empathizing with the point of view of others. This causes conflicts that are often painful to watch. The fact that “Tick, Tick… Boom!” still manages to arouse sufficient sympathy for Larson is largely due to lead actor Andrew Garfield. The man previously garnered praise for his portrayals in films like “Hacksaw Ridge”, “Silent” and “The Social Network”, but retrained himself as a musical actor for the occasion. In his performance, he finds balance between the youthful naiveté of someone who believes he will awaken his contemporaries and the bitterness of an adult who discovers that idealism also has economic repercussions. This is hands down my favorite Garfield performance ever.
In addition, director Miranda gives him and the rest of his ensemble plenty of room to bring credibility to the musical scenes as well. “Tick, Tick… Boom!” uses Larson’s music as a component that is equal to the dialogue. By the end of the film, there is renewed hope that the American movie musical is not dead yet.

Rating: 5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Handmaid's Tale (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Number of episodes: 13
Year: 2019
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Max Minghella, Alexis Bledel, Anne Dowd, Bradley Whitford

Description: Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.

Review: “Praise be”. As a loyal fan of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, these words should sound familiar to you. After seeing the final episode of season 3, called “Mayday”, there was finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
In the first season we were given an image of a future America, now also called a theocracy called Gilead. A group a religious fundamentalists seized power and created a society with one priority: procreation. Fertile women serve as sex slaves (handmaids) of the rich powerful Commanders. In general, it is a medieval civilization with the technology of the future. Women are not allowed to read, write, drive a card, exercise a profession, etcetera, but they should be engaged in household chores. The series tells the story of the protagonist June Osbourne, int the first season as Offred, now Ofjoseph. She tells us her thoughts in the dialogue, since she will never be allowed to express them. The story sounds unrealistic when you hear it, but once you’ve started you will think: ‘but what if…?’
The second season ends with a breakaway attempt by Emily and June’s daughter Nichole, which was made possible thank to Commander Lawrence. June decided to stay, because she won’t leave without her daughter Hannah. After the second season we asked ourselves two questions: will Emily and Nichole make it to Canada and what will happen to June? The third season starts where the second season left us.
June is assigned to a new post in a household that doesn’t act like most. She becomes the handmaid for Commander Joseph Lawrence and his wife Eleanor. Lawrence is one of the founders of Gilead, but now refuses to follow the rules and doesn’t treat his handmaid and Martha’s the way the others do. A clever move for the storyline, it offers a lot of possibilities for new material. Especially since the relationship problems between Fred and Serena, that already arose at the end of season 2.
We get to see new content about the ‘normal’ life outside Gilead and we get backstories to complicated characters like Aunt Lydia. And I liked the addition of Commander Lawrence and wife Eleanor. It’s not exactly clear which side they are on.
What sets “The Handmaid’s Tale” apart from other series is the complexity of its characters. Of course, in a dystopian story like this you have certain protagonist and antagonists, but almost every character is interesting enough to want to know more about them. Serena Joy for example, the wife of Commander Fred Waterford. Despite the fact that she is one of the most mean, sneaky characters of the show, Yvonne Strahovski manages to portray her in such a way that you sometimes doubt that she might not deserve a second change ( and then immediately regret it). And this season she makes some controversial choices.
Another strong point is the credibility of the story. It’s a lot closer to reality as you might think. Seeing how America turned out to be, being reinforced by flashbacks through the episodes. This way you get to understand the world, characters and actions.
The only thing I didn’t really like is what they did with the character of Nick Blaine. It felt a little bit far-fetched and left of center. The third season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” definitely didn’t disappoint and is again of high quality. It’s a series that is so horrible and the same time so wonderful. I can’t wait what happens next, season 4 is supposed to air in 2020.

TV Show Review - The Handmaid's Tale (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Number of episodes: 13
Year: 2018
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Max Minghella, Alexis Bledel, Anne Dowd, Bradley Whitford

Description: Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.

Review: “There is more than one kind of freedom… Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it”.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” had a wonderful start, season 1 was fantastic and very captivating. And season 2 is also fantastic. Although, June’s life isn’t and it’s not getting any better.
There are so many heavy themes this series deals with: child marriage, rape, slavery, abuse, oppression and dictatorship. But the scariest parts is maybe the inability to do anything about it.
There is a constant fight going on. Not only the fight between good and bad, because the show isn’t that black and white. We see the emotional fight of Serena, the fight between Serena and June, the fight between the establishment and them thinking it's so good what they’re doing. The right to self-determination, to decide as a woman what you want to eat, drink, carry and who you want to love.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is filmed beautifully in a dystopian world that used to be America. Gilead is seen through the eyes of the women, wearing red, blue and grey. You can see the children’s faces, that never asked for this and grow up thinking this is normal. And the cruelty of the men and women higher up the ladder, who think they have the wisdom.
Serena's battle is beautifully performed by Yvonne Strahovski. How broken June is, is shown in the fantastic performance Elisabeth Moss delivers. But Fred Waterford’s brute force, which Joseph Fiennes more than excellently portrays, is also a feast for the eye and ear. It’s for a reason that all three have been nominated an Emmy Award and Moss even won a Golden Glove for her role.
Gilead pulls the viewer into the world that seems so far away, but it actually lives around the corner. A world were June is forced to live in, which is cruel and bloody. When you think everything is going to be okay, things get even worse. It seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel and that a world like this cannot become better. Happiness is not a word that describes Gilead. The last few episodes of this season is full of tension and you still have hope, but inside you know it will no
t get better. And I will no longer think that anyone in this series will ever find happiness, as long as they live in Gilead.
This series surprised me so much, it’s daring and doesn’t shy away from confronting situations and themes. And, like its first season, season 2 is strong from start to finish.

10s Movie Review - The Cabin in the Woods

Director: Drew Goddard
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Jesse Williams, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison, Brian White, Amy Acker, Jodelle Ferland, Chelah Horsdal, Tom Lenk, Monique Ganderton, Richard Cetrone, Dan Payne

Description: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

Review: I’m always sceptic when the makers of a movie tell us it’s an unique or innovative film, because they are more often a lie than the truth. I also had that feeling when the makers of “Cabin in the Woods’, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon, told us that. The slogan ‘you think you know the story, you think you know the place, think again’ sounds like any other horror movie. But “Cabin in the Woods” is different, because it is not like any other horror movie. It’s probably one of the better ones of the past years.
At first sight, nothing special happens in “Cabin in the Woods”. Five friends go to a cabin to relax and party. It’s nothing that has never been done before. And then there are the characters. Curt ad Jules are the louder characters, Holden and Dana are more serious and the fifth one, Marty, is stoned all the time. Marty has his own view on the world, which makes him the odd one out and a great addition to the otherwise stereotypical characters in horror flicks.
But something more is going on, because as soon as the group arrives at the cabin they are like rats in a trap. When they enter the basement, they bring some evil spirits back to life without even knowing it. From that moment on the movie takes a different turn. When we think the five friends are going into a long and predictable survival for life, it’s something completely unexpected. And it gets very bloody. Although gallons of blood flows, it’s never disgusting. It’s sometimes funny instead of gory.
If you’re a fan of horror movies, and you want something different for a change, “Cabin in the Woods” is definitely that movie for you. Surprisingly good, with humor and twists. I enjoy it every time.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - The Post

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Tracy Letts, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, Alison Brie, Jesse Plemons, David Cross, Zach Woods, Pat Healy

Description: A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher (Meryl Streep) and a hard-driving editor (Tom Hanks) to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.

Review: It’s a sin to spoil the ending of a movie, unless it’s a film based on historic events. Because you already know the outcome (hopefully). In the last shot of “The Post”, there are hints to the Watergate affair. Due to two journalist of the Washington Post, this scandal came to light which eventually lead to Richard Nixon stepping away from his role as president of the US.
The paper already had a name and fame at that time. And how that happened, director Steven Spielberg shows us in “The Post”, where the journalists get their hand on the so-called Pentagon Papers. These classified documents are proof that the Vietnam war was always doomed to fail. And four presidents knew about it.
“The Post” is still relevant and a nod to Trump. But it also feels like a prequel to “All the President’s Men”, which was about the Watergate affair. But in “The Post” this isn’t as much focus on the case as there was in “All the President’s Men”.
We follow Kay Graham, the first female editor and trying to stay alive in a man’s world. And the fight that the Washington Post is constant battling agains the bigger paper, The New York Times.
When we see Hanks’ and Streep’s character together for the first time, we think that Hanks’ Ben Bradlee is superior to Streep’s Kay Graham. But in fact she is his boss. That was the role of a woman in business back then. People believe she is only boss because her husband died. Even during dinner, the women have to leave the table when the men talk business. Spielberg manages to picture this perfectly.
I wished there was a little bit more focus on the actual story they are trying to cover. Then this movie would have been even better. And I believe that if it wasn’t for Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, “The Post” would have been average.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 74: An American Crime

Director: Tommy O’Haver
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Catherine Keener, Ellen Page, Ari Graynor, James Franco, Evan Peters, Bradley Whitford

Description: The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), who kept a teenage girl (Ellen Page) locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

Review: The call it the most horrible crime ever committed in Indiana. In 1965, Sylvia Likens’ dead body was found in the house of Getrude Baniszewski. Baniszewski was suffering from a depression and she molested and starved Sylvia. And with that, she also convinced her own kids and other neighborhood kids, to hurt Sylvia as well. During the trial, Baniszewski claimed that she wasn’t responsible for anything that happened to Sylvia. Luckily the jury didn’t buy that and she was sentenced for life.
Director Tommy O’Haver took the transcripts from the court case and used it as an inspiration for this film. Sylvia and her sister Jenny are the daughters of carnival travelers. When they have to take another trip, they decide to leave their kids with Getrude Baniszewski. She is a mother of seven and she could use the money. The oldest daughter, Paula, tells Sylvia a secret. Because Paula is afraid that her mother will find out, she tells a lie. Sylvia has to pay for this and she is beaten and starved and put in the basement.
The movie switches between the court room and the flashbacks of the happenings. Towards the end, we get a ‘surprise twist’, which wasn’t necessary. Because we all know the ending already.
The film is strong because of the performances by Catherine Keener and Ellen Page, but also Ari Graynor and Bradley Whitford. We don’t find out about the why and how of the terrible act. Especially why so many good children decide to also hurt Sylvia. As a viewer we don’t get an answer to that question.
Tommy O’Haver managed to tell Sylvia Likens story pretty well, although the film supports on the performances by two great actresses. The film is not explicit and horrific enough to be a horror film and it misses depth to be an intelligent thriller. But the fact that this is a true story, will give the viewer a slap in the face.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 49: Get Out

Director: Jordan Peele
Genre: Horror/ Mystery
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford

Description: A young African-American (Daniel Kaluuya) man visits his Caucasian girlfriend's mysterious family estate.

Review: I think not a lot of people will see “Get Out”. But when they do, they will be talking about this for a long time. “Get Out” is about Chris, a young African American man who is visiting his girlfriend’s family. The family estate is a bit mysterious and he can’t really get a grip on the eccentric family.
“Get Out” is an extremely powerful horror movie, with bits of humor in it. It’s amazing that funny man Jordan Peele created this, because I really didn’t expect it to be this good. It’s actually masterful.
Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford play the parents of Chris’ new girlfriend. They are very creepy and their performances are really good. But leading man Daniel Kaluua is the star. He delivers a great range of emotions in his performance.
Director Peele builds atmosphere and tension. In the end, you have no idea what you just saw. Because it’s really hard to define or put into a box. It’s psychological and mysterious. “Get Out” is original, fresh, not mainstream and it really leaves you in awe.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 122: Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, B.J. Novak, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Rachel Griffiths, Bradley Whitford, Ruth Wilson, Kathy Baker

Description: Author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Review: Walt Disney tried to get the movie rights for the book “Mary Poppins” for twenty years. Author P.L. Travers was afraid that Disney would turn her beloved book into a musical. When she has money trouble and might lose her house, she decides to meet with Walt Disney in Los Angeles. But the happy Walt and the unfriendly Pamela are like water and fire.
To make a film based on a story which outcome we all know, is always a risk. The question in “Saving Mr. Banks” is if the movie “Mary Poppins” will ever be made. We all know that it was a huge success, but not a lot of people know how this movie actually happened. Travers didn’t want to give her character to anyone. Why she has such a special bond with the nanny is something we learn along the way. We see how a young Travers grow up in rough Australia. Her father, a beautiful role by Colin Farrell, is a loving man but he has a drinking problem. Their relationship is very strong, but a tragedy makes sure Travers will always be traumatized.
A movie about Disney, made by Disney. It surprisingly has a lot of self-mockery. For instance the scene where P.L. Travers arrives at her hotel in L.A. which is filled with enormous stuffed Disney animals. Emma Thompson has perfect comedic timing.
We all know that Thompson is a great actress, but in “Saving Mr. Banks” she really excels. She turns a rather unpleasant women into a women you love. Tom Hanks doesn’t look like Disney, but he brings a certain nuance to his role. Disney isn’t only a big kid that makes dreams come true, but also a businessman. Hanks does this very well. Colin Farrell plays a role like never before. I never saw Farell like this and I loved him in “Saving Mr. Banks”. Also Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman were great in their roles.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is a lovely film carried by a fantastic cast. Although we all know how it ends, how “Mary Poppins” was made is such a wonderful story. Humor and emotion are very close and Emma Thompson played one of her best roles of her career.

Rating: 4/ 5