TV Show Review - Dopesick (Mini Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2021
Starring: Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosario Dawson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker, Will Chase, Mare Winningham, Ray McKinnon

Description: The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA.

Review: When Purdue Pharma introduced its new painkiller OxyContin in the US, the opiate was touted as non-addictive. The result was an epidemic of drug abuse that has destroyed tens of thousand of lives since the late 1990s. “Dopesick” charts the epidemic from different perspective.

For people with chronic pain, OxyContin seemed like a panacea: an effective painkiller that gradually absorbed into the body throughout the day, all without the drawback of habitation or addiction. The pills caught on eagerly, and for patients who still felt pain came pills with the double dose. And then pills with fourfold dose, eightfold dose, and so on. Now the drug is used in the US by eleven million people who have no pain symptoms at all, but are addicted to it.

The question, of course, is how on earth doctors, pharmacists and regulators could let this happen. The eight-part series “Dopesick” tries to answer that question, which is not easy. The creators portray the history through the Sackler family (owners of Purdue Pharma) and the sales representatives who convince doctors to prescribe the pills. In addition, we see the doctors and their patients, the cops who see how addiction in turn leads to crime and the drug enforcement agency DEA doing everything in its power to take down Purdue.

What makes “Dopesick” so brilliant is on the one hand the incredible but true story, and on the other the human way it is told. We are introduced to Samuel Finnix, played excellently by Michael Keaton. He is a family doctor in a mining town who initially gets great results with OxyContin, but then sees how addiction destroys lives and families. Betsy Mallum, played convincingly by Kaitlyn Dever, is one of his patients who slips into an existence as a junkie because of the OxyContin. Both actors shine in their performances and Keaton won an Emmy for his role.

Will Poulter also plays one of the better roles, as the smooth-talking salesmen Billy Cutler, who at first picks up fantastic bonuses, but then slowly  falls into conscience. This does not bother Richard Sackler (Michal Stuhlbarg): as boss of Purdie Pharma, he sees the billions pouring in. Stuhlbarg manages to portray Sackler as an emotionless businessman only wanting more. Furthermore, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hoogenakker and Rosario Dawson, among others, play some of the driven agents who want to take the pills of the market. The good fleshing out of all these characters keeps the series from becoming a documentary.

Based on Beth Macy’s book of the same name, the creators of “Dopesick” so not tell the story neatly in chronological order but jump back and forth in time. And it actually helps to see the big picture and connections without confusion.

While watching “Dopesick” you will most definitely feel many emotions and the one most presence is anger. As in how so many people could be so greedy and corrupt to allow this drama of unprecedented magnitude to happen. We never really get an answer to that, which makes it even more frustrating. But “Dopesick” is one of the most intense and realistic mini series based on true events I have seen in a long time. I loved it.

Movie Reviews - The Shape of Water

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Genre: Drama/ Fantasy
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones, Lauren Lee Smith

Description: At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor (Sally Hawkins) forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

Review: “The Shape of Water” is a fairytale, a version of “Beauty and the Beast” and a reverse version of “The Little Mermaid”. Nothing wrong with that, because there is more to it then just that. Guillermo del Toro’s story of the special band between a vulnerable woman and a amphibious creature has so much depth and substance. And the real question here is, who is the actual monster? The mysterious creature we know nothing about, the scientists, the government?
A central theme here is, when you’re different, you just don’t belong. And that’s why the aquatic creature and cleaner Elisa, who can’t speak, feel so connected. They don’t belong, they are the odd ones out in a crowd. They are different.
But Guillermo del Toro goes much deeper. “The Shape of Water” is set in the early 60s. a period where the Russians were the enemies, people look down on the black community and homosexuality is still not fully accepted. And when these elements pass in the film, it strengthens the bond between Elisa and the creature.
Because society is so hard on them, Elisa and her gay friend Giles have to fight even harder. But there is still room to dream. Like Giles, who buys the most disgusting pie over and over again, just to have a chat with that handsome bartender.
Elisa’s friend and co-worker Zelda is her voice. She is sassy and doesn’t leave anything unspoken. But at home she has a man who doesn’t do a thing and she also suffers under the white doctrine.
“The Shape of Water” is at its best when Elisa seeks contact with the creature. It starts with a look in its eyes, then feeding him a hard boiled egg and followed by light touching and learning him sign language.
Del Toro also pays a homage to the golden years of Hollywood. Giles watches and listens to the stars and composer Alexander Desplat composed a beautiful score.
Doug Jones was the man who had to sit in make-up for hours to become the creature in the water. Del Toro was inspired by “Creature from the Black Lagoon”.
“The Shape of Water” is nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, for me not the typical Oscar movie. Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy drama, a fairytale. This is why I love movies.

Rating: 5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 134: Miss Sloane

Director: John Madden
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Alison Pil, Mark Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Lithgow

Description: In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. But when taking on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds winning may come at too high a price.

Review: Who doesn’t know what the work of a lobbyist contains, doesn’t have to feel threatened by “Miss Sloane”. During the opening, Elizabeth Sloane breaks the fourth wall and tells us what lobbying is all about: Lobbying is forsight, anticipate what the opponent is going to do and come with a counter action. The winner is also one step ahead.
It’s a good intro to the hectic political world we are about to enter. Director John Madden managed to create a realistic picture of this abstract world.
The film is fictional. The stakes for this lobbying is a controversial bill named Heaton-Harris, that stand for stricter rules for weapon possession. That’s where Elizabeth Sloane comes in. She is the kind of woman with a strong opinion, extremely confident and relentless when needed. After a meeting with the ‘big guys’ of a powerful lobby company, Sloane turns her back on them. With a small team and under her supervision, Sloane starts the battle, where morals are forgotten.
Why she is so ambitious about this, stays unknown the entire film. No rough childhood and she wasn’t victimized by a firearm herself. Normally the lack of a drive like that can be a negative, but for “Miss Sloane” that’s absolutely not the issue. It is in fact just that absence that makes Elizabeth Sloane so unpredictable.
She isn’t all ice queen though. Her nightly visits from a male escort, where he manages to see an emotional side. And after a defeat, rage escapes her.
It’s a combination of a smart script and a fantastic performance by Jessica Chastain that makes this political thriller different from others in the genre. Chastain carries this movie.
Movies with themes like this can easily become dull and over explanatory, but not “Miss Sloane”. It’s interesting, captivating and there is a tension that doesn’t let you go. This film really surprised me and I believe not enough people appreciate it.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 132: Call Me By Your Name

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Armie hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Timothée Chalamet, Esther Garrel, Peter Spears, Elena Bucci, Victoire Du Bois, Antonio Rimoldi, Andre Anciman, Marco Sgrosso, Vanda Capriolo

Description: In Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father's research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape.

Review: “Call Me By Your Name” is the kind of movie that will make you sit through the credits with tears in your eyes. It’s not a sad movie, it’s a movie about love. And that a beautiful thing like love, can also make your hurt.
Timothée Chalamet is a force of nature. His character Elio will make you live life to the fullest and will make you want to fall in love too. Hopefully we will see more of him in the future.
Armie Hammer is so good in “Call Me By Your Name”. Oliver is endearing and caring, but also sexy and human. He cares for Elio and his love for him is so sincere.
That monologue that Michael Stuhlbarg gave towards the end of the film, really touched my heart in all the right spots. So raw and honest.
I’m really glad I got to see it. I hope more people will, because it’s a fantastic film. One of the best of 2017.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 154: Doctor Strange

Director: Scott Derrickson
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McADams, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins

Description: A former neurosurgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

Review: We all know Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor and the X-Men. They are all famous Marvel heroes. But there are also superheroes that are a bit more mysterious and unknown. Movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Deadpool” and “Ant-Man” proved to be a success by telling the tale behind the lesser known Marvel heroes. “Doctor Strange” is also one of the films, about apparently one of the oldest heroes Marvel has created. Stephen Strange is a neurosurgeon who gets into a terrible car accidents. He is not able to use his hands properly anymore, so he takes on a journey into the world of the mystic arts.
“Doctor Strange” features a lot of dark magic and parallel realities. For the movie there needed to be a lot of action to express the powers of the character. We meet a somewhat arrogant Stephen Strange, a cynical doctor that is the best in his profession. He has a big, luxury appartement and the ladies like him. But Strange is also a distant man, almost irritatingly stubborn. When Strange wakes up after a car accident, his hands are completely fractured and he knows he will never hold a scalpel. Strange does want to find a way to heal and goes to the Kathmandu. There he meets ‘The Ancient One’. She teaches him to use his mind in many different ways.
Benedict Cumberbatch is really good in his role. He adds some scepsism and sarcasm to his role. The interaction between Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams is fun to see.
The décor of the film is fantastic, which sometimes remind you of “Inception”. The action is good as well. It can get a little busy at some points, but it looks stunning.
Doctor Strange is a tough character. He is physically not as strong as some other superheroes, so it will not speak to everyone. What he can do with his powers, needs to be explained.
“Doctor Strange” is a good Marvel film, but probably won’t make my favorites list.

Rating: 3,5/ 5