Movie Review - Scoop

Director: Philip Martin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Connor Swindells, Romola Garai, Keeley Hawkes
 
Description: How the BBC obtained the bombshell interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Review: The Royals, some people love them, some couldn’t care less. Especially when such dark practices come to light as those of England’s Prince Andrew and his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC program Newsnight managed to get Andrew for an exclusive interview in 2019: it was the first and only time he spoke publicly about the affairs. “Scoop” shows the run-up and outcome of this infamous interview by focusing on those involved at the BBC, the royal press and on the Prince himself.

This dramatized version of events is based on the book “Scoops”, written by former BBC journalist Samantha McAllister, who credits herself with a major role in the making of the interview and is also the film’s main character. We see Sam’s journalistic drive, consultations with contacts of the royal family and also catch glimpses of her private life and the impact her work has on it.

It would be east to see Sam, sidelined at one point by the BBC, as the heroine of this story, but “Scoop” takes a nuanced approach to the moral issues. The film pays attention to the motives, actions and especially the shortcomings of all involved. We see the different sides of Sam, from editor-in-chief Amanda Thirsk, interviewer Emily Maitlis and royal press officer Annette Witheridge. The only one who really comes off unequivocally short is Andrew.

Andrew is know as the smooth talker within the Royal family. Annette, who arranges the interview from royalty, is convinced by the prince’s charm that it is a good thing for Andrew to show the nation that he is virtuous and prepares the interview meticulously with him. But the prince, of course, is not virtuous. He is a liar and really just a big child who thinks he can get away with a fabrication of the past.
The viewer’s indignation is directed at Andrew, but also at the press and the team at BBC, who may not have made to most of it after all. The films stirs these feelings, but also continually shows that this whole process is human work. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you’d hoped. In that sense, “Scoop” is not a pedantic film.

Director Philip Martin offers in “Scoop” a meticulous reconstruction of the events, but also does not shy away from fictional interpretation and scenes that serve purely for dramatic effect. The mix of fact and fiction works well, especially for those not exactly in the know about the whole affair, “Scoop” is an exciting as well as understated film.

Billie Piper in the lead role is very expressive. The hot-blooded Sam is vicious toward her colleagues, but like a child excited when she is invited to Buckingham Palace. She deals with disappointments, but also celebrates her triumph. Piper lays it on a bit thick at times, but we feel involved with Sam. Gillain Anderson, as interviewer Emily Maitlis, and Rufus Sewell, as Prince Andrew, play public figures, but their renditions offer enough drama to keep it from being boring imitations.

“Scoop” is a really solid film, which mixed fact and fiction very well and shines a light on a very important news item.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Title: Fairy Tale
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Fantasy/ Horror
Published: 2022
 
Description: Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was ten, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself – and his dad. Then, when Charlie is seventeen, he meets Howard Bowditch, a recluse with a big dog in a big house at the top of a big hill. In the backyard is a locked shed from which strange sounds emerge, as if some creature is trying to escape. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie the house, a massive amount of gold, a cassette tape telling a story that is impossible to believe, and a responsibility far too massive for a boy to shoulder.
 
Because within the shed is a portal to another world – one whose denizens are in peril and whose monstrous leaders may destroy their own world, and ours. In this parallel universe, where two moons race across the sky, and the grand towers of a sprawling palace pierce the clouds, there are exiled princesses and princes who suffer horrific punishments; there are dungeons; there are games in which men and women must fight each other to the death for the amusement of the “Fair One”. And there is a magic sundial that can turn back time .
 
Review: We meet Charlie Reade, our main character and the narrator of the story. He is a nineteen-year-old kid who one day helps the elderly Mr. Bowditch. Because Mr. Bowditch has broken his leg, Charlie decides to take care of him and he becomes friends with him and Mr. Bowditch’s dog Radar. Charlie discovers a shed in Mr. Bowditch’s yard, which is always locked and there are strange sound coming from the inside of it. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie his dog, his house and his money. But also a cassette tape, on which Mr. Bowditch tells Charlei what is in the shed and the instructions he should explore it.
 
I immediately liked Charlie. I’m glad he was the main character. He is a kind, smart, selfless kid and I enjoyed reading from his perspective. Stephen King did a great job with this character. Also with Mr. Bowditch and even with the dog Radar. What King also did, and has always been one of his best qualities, is setting a scene and describing everything. It’s always so easy to form a picture in your head while reading a Stephen King novel. He created an interesting, magical, scary world in “Fairy Tale”. It's a fantasy novel at most and it’s not King’s preferred genre. But it’s excellently done.
 
The story is full of characters and there is a lot of world-building. There is a lot of social and political commentary, as known from King’s other books. And the book had some surprising lightheartedness to it. It didn’t feel heavy, even though “Fairy Tale” also deals with themes like grief, addiction and death.
 
I really enjoyed “Fairy Tale”. It’s a wonderfully imaginative, adventurous book. The only critique is that it was a tad too long and there were some parts in the book that dragged a bit or felt repetitive. I would definitely recommend this to people, if they want to start reading Stephen King.  
 
Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - Fallen

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, James Gandolfini, Embeth Davidtz, Elias Koteas, Aida Turturro

Description: Homocide detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington) witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas). Soon after the execution, the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese’s style.

Review: Thanks to detective John Hobbes, serial killer Edgar Reese is caught and sentenced to death. The man doesn’t seem to care. Remarkably cheerful, he sings “Time is on my side” from The Rolling Stones. Soon after the execution, similar murders start to happen.

“Fallen” is a strong, macabre thriller, that is very overlooked and underrated. I remember watching it for the first time when video stores were still a thing. And it has always been e favorite Denzel Washington. I hadn’t watched it for a long time, but it still holds up and I love it just as much.

It’s a very original film, with some great twist and a fantastic ending. And Washington is, as always, outstanding.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Director: Ryan Coogler
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 161 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 23: A FILM THAT’S PART OF A SERIES OR FRANCHISE
 
Description: The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mounr the death of King T’Challa.

Review: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the long-awaited sequel to the superhero “Black Panther”. This first film was received with mainly positive reviews and earned a lot of awards. Opinions about the sequel vary widely.

The film begins emotional, where the people of Wakanda are saying goodbye to King T’Challa. Actor Chadwick Boseman portrayed this character in 2018, but sadly passed away in the summer of 2020. So, the fact that there is a sequel without the main character is, so to say, very particular. And unfortunately, we could have done without this movie.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” feels like a film made out of respect for Boseman. Which is of course a beautiful thing and there is nothing wrong with that. But because of this, the humor that the first film had, is almost totally absent. Maybe for a fear of disrespect? And you miss Boseman, therefore the reason I believe this movie was not really necessary.

The film is also too long. With its almost 3-hour runtime, it’s too long to stay engaging and interesting.
One thing I did love, is the strong female presence. It’s, for the most part, female characters that carry this film. And Angela Bassett steals every scene she is in. Bassett is the strongest performer in the film.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Aftermath

Director: Peter Winther
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore, Britt Baron, Sharif Atkins, Diana Hopper, Ross McCall, Paula Carces, Alexander Bedria

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 CHALLENGE MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 22: A HORROR FILM
 
Description: A young couple (Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore) struggling to stay together, when they are offered an amazing deal on a home with a questionable past that would normally be beyond their means. In a final attempt to start fresh as a couple they take the deal.

Review: Nathalie and Kevin are a young couple, struggling with the aftermath of an affair that Nathalie had. Kevin never really forgave her for what she did, but they are trying to make it work. Kevin works as a crime scene cleaner, and he can get a great deal on a house that a family was murdered in. In a final attempt to save their marriage, Kevin and Nathalie move in and things start looking up. Until strange things start to happen. First, it’s just objects being misplaced or lost. But later footsteps and shadows that they can’t explain. Is someone in their house?

The movie gets a lot of bad reviews, but it’s not a terrible film. It’s fairly predictable, yes. And some things that happen make no sense. But still, I found it a pretty enjoyable, creepy horror/ thriller film to watch. The film is filled with cliches and a lot of horror overused tropes are in this movie. But still, somehow, I found it entertaining enough to sit through.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review = Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Title: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Horror/ Historical Fiction
Published: 2020
 
Description: After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemi Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find – her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemi knows little about the region.
 
Noemi is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chich gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemi; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemi, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemi digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
 
And Noemi, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
 
Review: “Mexican Gothic” is a mix of a traditional folklore and feminine bravado and has an aftertaste. With this story, author Silvia Moreno-Garcia won the GoodReads choice award for best horror novel.
 
The story is set in 1950s Mexico. It’s a classic haunted house story with all the elements to go with it. An old mansion, a troubled family, secrets and mystery. Noemi Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who lives in this mansion called High Place, with her new husband. She writes she is being poisoned, she hears whispers in the night and believes the house is haunted. Only Noemi can save her, so she sets ou for High Place to find out what is going on.
 
I always love a creepy, gothic setting. This book isn’t very  innovative within the gothic genre; it follows the well-known paths. Which makes it a tad predictable. But Moreno-Garcia does something with the plot, by putting in some nice twists on a classic genre.
 
The atmosphere is very present, you constantly have this eerie, ominous feel. Which is mostly because of the great scene setting in the book. You can picture the mansion very easily. I love a story with a strange family that has secrets, this was very well done.
 
I do believe the book went on a tad too long. There was this really exciting part in the book, that felt action-packed. After that, you still have a big chunk of the book to go. This part feels a bit dragging and that last part could’ve been a bit shorter.
 
Even though the book never really gets scary, the details are sometimes a bit gruesome and gory. “Mexican Gothic”  is a classic haunted house story that colors within the lines, but adds some new elements. The atmosphere is the best part of the book. Although the story is not quite balanced and that last part dragged on a but too long, I did enjoy “Mexican Gothic”. Anyone who likes a nice gothic horror story has the potential to enjoy this.
 
Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - I Don't Need Therapy (and Other Lies I've Told Myself) by Toni Lodge

Title: I Don’t Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)
Author: Toni Lodge
Genre: Non-Fiction/ Memoir
Published: 2023
 
Description: A hilarious memoir of home truths and whatever the opposite of ‘that girl energy’  is, from one half of the hit podcast “Toni and Ryan”.
 
Most of us tell little white lies all the time. Whether it’s ‘I;m five minutes away’ or ‘it must have gone to my spam folder’, most of these fibs are harmless. But What if you realized that you weren’t just lying about the little things, but the big ‘life’ stuff too?
 
When Toni Lodge sat down to write this memoir, she discovered that the lies she was telling herself were hiding some pretty important home truths – about her work, her identity and her mental health. Her dogged pursuit of these truths send her on a brazen exploration of everything from gastro, fame and “Twilight” to funerals, the Dalai Lama and Brazilian waxes.
 
In this hilarious warm hug of a book, Toni exposes the lies she told herself about who she is and what she is capable of, inviting you on a riotous romp that will make you laugh, cringe, cry and utterly rethink the truth behind the stories we tell ourselves.
 
Review: Toni Lodge is known as one half of the “Toni & Ryan” podcast, one of the funniest podcasts I’ve ever listened to. In her book “I Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)” she talks about all the lies she has told herself during her life, for the small things and the big things.
 
Toni Lodge is one of the funniest women I follow online. Together with Ryan Jon, she talks about everyday stuff, which makes all their topics relatable. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books, but couldn’t wait to dive into Lodge’s memoir.
 
Lodge talks about all the lies she has told herself throughout the years. Everyone tells a little white lie every ones in a while, but sometimes you do it for the bug stuff too. And like the podcasts she has, a lot of the things she talks about are very relatable.
 
Lodge is very open about everything that happened in her life. From her massive “Twilight” obsession, to her mental health issues, and that time is her thing making her always be way too early to every location and her meeting with the Dalai Lama. How she talks about her mother, who passed away way too soon, and how she choose to not be a parent.
 
Lodge tells her life’s story exactly like we know her from the podcast. The book made me smile and laugh out loud, but also touched me and made me cry (also out loud). I could relate to many things in the book and it felt like a friend telling me about her life. Especially the part about deciding not to become a parent really stuck with me. How, many people still think it’s an odd choice, to not follow the route that is deemed to be more traditional one by society. I struggle with this myself and I felt like Lodge understood this exactly.
 
“I Don’t Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)” is inspiring, heartwarming and funny, a book I recommend to everyone who loves listening to the “Toni & Ryan” podcast.  
 
Rating: 5/ 5