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Preacher: Les Enfants du Sang (2018)
Cass is the best
I loved the episode very much. It was funny, it progresses the story, and showed us more about who the characters are. For me, the characters are maybe the best part of the show. Cassidy is such a tragic figure who is sad and lonely but enjoys being with people. I guess he craves for belonging. But he is written so well and balanced, and his jokes and lines are priceless. On the other side, we have Jesse and Tulip. They are bad for each other but still care for each other. Maybe they just don't have anywhere else to go. I especially liked how Tulip cares for Cassidy but is "too cool" to show it honestly. The scene when they are talking is fantastic. It really shows Cassidy's pain and feeling of abandonment. No matter he had met and will meeet many more, Jesse and Tulip are his family and he is rightfully hurt by their actions.
Two and a Half Men: Ergo, the Booty Call (2006)
Booty, booty!
This is one of the most funniest bits of television, ever. Alan's explanation of the booty call, plus Charlie's teasing, plus all the actors restraint from bursting into laughter, plus the length of the scene...truly marvellous.
Django Unchained (2012)
A masterpiece from a true cinephile
I watched Django last night for the third time. The first time I saw it, I was not so impressed, it felt too different than the classic Tarantino. The second time I thought it was a good movie. But now, after several years, I think it is a marvelous movie. It was like watching it for the first time and the experience was outstanding. This is what a movie should be like. It is so powerful in every aspect. I have been a fan of QT for more than 15 years and I think that he is just becoming better and better. He is such a complete artist. In my modest opinion, few directors are able to make such an extravagant movie, with the combination of disturbing and hilarious scenes, with ridiculous clothes and mannerisms, and yet so profound and overwhelming. The emotional weight was enormous. Only a true visionary can pack all these elements into an unforgettable experience. Every word, every sigh, every look, every piece of dialogue is masterfully positioned to evoke the viewer's feelings and to enable them to be completely immersed in this epic piece of art. The music and the acting are on another level. I can't even think of how to describe it. With such vision, talent, knowledge, sensibility, and intuition, QT is capable to breathe life into characters and to make them immortal. I have never completely understood Tarantino's words that his dialogue carries emotion, but now I do. Performances are so strong, so genuine, and given with 100% devotion. Because of the ability to bring the best out of his actors, this movie has just established the greatness of Jamie, Washington, DiCaprio, Waltz, and of course, Jackson. One of the most memorable things to me is Jamie's acting when he hears about or sees Hildi's suffering. It so well written, so perfectly executed, it shows how strong is his pain on one hand, and how high is his control on the other. The one thing that ties the whole movie together is the song Freedom. This is one of the best uses of a song in a movie, a stroke of genius. Not only it carries the weight of terrible lives, but it also haunts you and reminds you what hell they had to go through. From an existential and a therapeutic point of view, the song and the movie convey the message of human life itself. How we live our whole lives in some kind of captivity, how we can easily give in and abandon our search for meaning and autonomy. Even though it's a theme of revenge, the movie, and especially Jamie Foxx, shows us the strength and drive that are innate to us, but many times are forgotten. It is not just a story about killing a bunch of people, it is a tale of great suffering that is inescapable, and a tale about how life shapes us, transforms us, and leads us in many unexpected ways. True art doesn't answer questions, it asks questions, it stimulates you to think, and it helps you to experience feelings that stay with you for a long time. For me, this is an example of true art.
House M.D.: Broken (2009)
The highlight of the show
This episode was for me, one of the best episodes of the series, and one of the best episodes on TV as well. After five seasons of selfdestructive behavior, House had come to a crossroad - prosper or perish. It was a perfect timing in the show for this decision.
The episode was superb in all aspects - the writing especially, the acting, direction and of course, the music which is for me, one of the trademarks of the show. As a mental health professional and as a human being as well, I know how difficult it is to deal with our demons. This is what I liked about the episode the most. The inner strugles and the symptoms were portrayed realistically, and the counseling proces was also very authentic. We have two strong personalities (House and Nolan) who are both in the moments of suffering in their lives and who seek help from one another. This relationship, as well as the relationship between House and Lydia and House and other patients, is the core of the healing process. Seeking out help is one of the most difficult things, especially with people like House and that's why it is a very important step in therapy. Allowing yourself to feel, to genuinly connect with others even though you're aware you're going to get hurt and then, allowing yourself to get hurt is a collosal step of bravery.
I was very touched by this episode because it is a perfect embodiement of the significance of therapy and also, the perfect example of artictic expression.
Elementary (2012)
Exquisite
I was evading this show for some time before one of the episodes on the TV caught my eye. Then, I realized it is not just another American crime show. Now, I love everything about the show, even the boring parts. So, these are my observations. First of all, the writing is good. Not great but for the purpose of this show it is well suited. The cases are interesting and they always have something that connects them with the main characters' lives or at least they are there to induce or to encourage some kind of retrospection or inspiration. When it comes to acting, Jonny Lee Miler is exceptional. He transformed himself into Sherlock and his every move, tick, the way he walks, talks and everything else is so good. Lucy Liu is also fantastic and I think it was a great idea to cast her as Watson. The relationship between Sherlock and Watson is another plus for this show. They start off on the wrong foot but over time, their relationship is evolving so beautifully and subtly. He becomes her mentor and she becomes his greatest support. And finally, the greatest gem of this show is Sherlock itself and his process of solving crimes.
Sherlock's unique personality was adapted flawlessly into the modern day New York. We have a chance to see his ingenuity, his brilliance, his wits and everything that makes him one of the best detectives ever. He is so driven and so committed to the work he does. He doesn't care about trivialities, etiquette or obsolete social norms. He doesn't care about things that are slowing down or omitting his case. No matter how cliché it sounds, he cares about the truth and justice. He cares about doing the right thing. He can not be bribed or bought and he is not afraid to face the dangers in the line of his work. Of course, he would never do so without equipping himself with the best strategy and resorts. He may be a type of savant but he is well aware of who he is and the world around him. He is well aware of his choices in life and what makes him great is the fact the he chose to commit himself to the life of solving crime completely. Comparing to the British version of the show, in this one, Sherlock is not a superhero and a playboy wannabe. This adaption is far more grounded and realistic and that is where the series draws its strength.
Black Panther (2018)
Very, very bad
I could easily stop there because basically, there's not much to be said about this movie. But, out of respect for the Marvel franchise, the comics and people who paid to see it, I think that few comments are in place. So, as I said, the movie is very, very, very bad. Everything about it is bad. First of all, it is not a superhero movie which is a little bit strange considering that it is a superhero franchise. The movie is clearly about racial and social issues and that is totally acceptable in some other context but in this situation, it really stands out from the rest of the films and it feels very isolated from the whole franchise. Secondly, these issues were so poorly investigated and presented that it felt like it was a science project by an elementary school student. The acting is quite weak and it seems like the movie was written and directed by an amateur. Also, it was boring. The trailer was far more exciting than the whole movie. CGI was also bad. The relationships between characters felt quite unnatural and forced.
Black Panther was a great character in Civil War but in this movie, it kinda lost everything that made him relevant. Considering how much hype this movie had, how it was praised that it's going to change the future of Marvel and serve as a culprit of future installments, I was very, very disappointed by it. Everything in the movie looks weak, not developed enough, and it is by far the lowest point of Marvel production.
The most devastating effect that this movie had (in my opinion) is that I am sure it has ruined the picture of Marvel for most people, especially for those who were not familiar with Marvel before. The movie was praised more than any other in the MCU which I think is a sign of disrespect for other great movies MCU has delivered.
Annihilation (2018)
Stunning, disturbing, beautiful and brutal
Annihilation left a deep impact on me. First of all, visually, it is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. And this is where the movie struck a chord. This beauty is combined with brutality, destruction and finally, death. One of the central themes, self-destruction was carefully explored through feelings of remorse, grief, sadness and ultimately, the fear that comes from not understanding our place in this world. This other world, or reality - The Shimmer, is tempting to the characters because it offers them a chance to discover something and maybe to give their life some meaning. Regardless of plot holes or inconsistencies, I think that the movie conveys its message very well. It explores the darkest places of our minds and it takes us on an incredible journey. Some of the scenes are a representation of true horror because they are instinctively disturbing and hard for us to process. The idea of a different world, a different life, and different evolution is a very interesting one and I think it was meant to push our boundaries when it comes to understanding life itself. The casting was also right on spot. Portman was more than able to shows us the layers of her grief, regret, and repressed anger. Jennifer Jason Leigh was excellent like she always is. Finally, Oscar Isac, even though he doesn't have a lot of screen time, manages to leave a mark with his subtle yet terrifying role.
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)
More style than substance
Unfortunately, the movie doesn't follow the success of the game. We only get a glimpse of 47' history and background, the character lacks depth and the whole premise stands out of the Hit-man concept. Pacing is not very good, acting is quite poor and so is the script. The plot is not bad but the delivery is flawed. There is a lot of action, fight scenes are naive and there are a lot of errors.Personally, I only wanted to see the movie because of Rupert Friend who gave a solid performance, but I must say it was a complete waste of time.