
grantss
Joined Nov 2003
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Ratings29.3K
grantss's rating
Reviews4.5K
grantss's rating
Detective Frank Drebin is a member of Police Squad, a special detail of the Police Department. Together with his boss, Captain Ed Hocken, he investigates murders and other major crimes. His methods are effective and along the way much hilarity ensues.
The TV series that lead to the Naked Gun series of movies. If you've watched the Naked Gun films you know what to expect: Hilarious, outlandish sight gags and clever word play wrapped around a police investigation featuring Leslie Nielsen. This has a few other strings to its bow too, e.g. The inconsistent episode titles.
The only problem is that within an episode or two you know what to expect so the humour does lose some of its originality and impact fairly quickly. Overall though, a very funny series.
The TV series that lead to the Naked Gun series of movies. If you've watched the Naked Gun films you know what to expect: Hilarious, outlandish sight gags and clever word play wrapped around a police investigation featuring Leslie Nielsen. This has a few other strings to its bow too, e.g. The inconsistent episode titles.
The only problem is that within an episode or two you know what to expect so the humour does lose some of its originality and impact fairly quickly. Overall though, a very funny series.
Elizabeth Holmes always wanted to be a billionaire. Before the age of 30, she was, due to being founder and CEO of biomedical company Theranos. Theranos promised to revolutionise healthcare through being able to run dozens of tests instantaneously on a small machine from a drop of blood. Publicly the company appeared to be delivering on that promise. However, the reality was quite different.
An enthralling, engaging and edifying mini-series on the Theranos scandal of the mid/late-2010s and in particular on its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Quite riveting viewing as the events unfold, especially once things start to unravel.
It isn't always that interesting though. The first three episodes, largely showing Holmes's teen years, Stanford, her meeting Sunny Balwani and her setting up Theranos are okay but quite dry. It's only once the company is in full flight and, especially, when the reality starts to diverge from the vision that things get interesting.
These episodes also reveal the complexity of Holmes's character. Initially she's presented as driven, single-minded and quite transparent but as things progress we see other sides to her.
This complexity is well portrayed by a great, highly convincing performance by Amanda Seyfried as Holmes. Stellar supporting cast - Sam Waterston, Naveen Andrews, William H Macy, Kurtwood Smith, Anne Archer, Stephen Fry, Laurie Metcalf, amongst others - doesn't put a foot wrong.
One disappointment is that the series doesn't cover the later legal proceedings as these provide closure to the story. These were still ongoing while the series was being filmed so the outcome was not known at the time but some of this could have been included. Or a Season 2 added...
If you enjoyed this I suggest you watch Alex Gibney's documentary on the Theranos saga: 'The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)'. This is even more enthralling than the series.
An enthralling, engaging and edifying mini-series on the Theranos scandal of the mid/late-2010s and in particular on its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Quite riveting viewing as the events unfold, especially once things start to unravel.
It isn't always that interesting though. The first three episodes, largely showing Holmes's teen years, Stanford, her meeting Sunny Balwani and her setting up Theranos are okay but quite dry. It's only once the company is in full flight and, especially, when the reality starts to diverge from the vision that things get interesting.
These episodes also reveal the complexity of Holmes's character. Initially she's presented as driven, single-minded and quite transparent but as things progress we see other sides to her.
This complexity is well portrayed by a great, highly convincing performance by Amanda Seyfried as Holmes. Stellar supporting cast - Sam Waterston, Naveen Andrews, William H Macy, Kurtwood Smith, Anne Archer, Stephen Fry, Laurie Metcalf, amongst others - doesn't put a foot wrong.
One disappointment is that the series doesn't cover the later legal proceedings as these provide closure to the story. These were still ongoing while the series was being filmed so the outcome was not known at the time but some of this could have been included. Or a Season 2 added...
If you enjoyed this I suggest you watch Alex Gibney's documentary on the Theranos saga: 'The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)'. This is even more enthralling than the series.
With Episodes 3 and 4 of Season 2 I'd given the show the benefit of the doubt. Episode 3 was the calm after the storm and some regrouping was required. Episode 4 had one great action scene but was otherwise a bit clumsy and contrived but I figured it was setting us up for something fantastic. Surely Episode 5 will reward our patience?
Sadly, no.
Episode 5 continues in the same vein as Ep 4 but just without any spectacular action scene and with even less potential for something great coming down in the pipe in future episodes. It's pretty dull, despite a few action scenes, and is symptomatic of how the dynamic has changed and the engagement and entertainment levels have reduced.
Watching this season has now become a slog, a chore. I can't wait for it to end.
Sadly, no.
Episode 5 continues in the same vein as Ep 4 but just without any spectacular action scene and with even less potential for something great coming down in the pipe in future episodes. It's pretty dull, despite a few action scenes, and is symptomatic of how the dynamic has changed and the engagement and entertainment levels have reduced.
Watching this season has now become a slog, a chore. I can't wait for it to end.