lch100

Short review here. This story line is engaging, compounded by the fact that you really like the main character, a lot. His acting allows you to feel his pain and his determination and resilience. Watch it, and I dare you to not binge this series...at least a little.

This British (mostly)comedy - (slightly)drama is fun and refreshing for a good long time, with lovely views of an idyllic, seaside village filled with rich characters who are entertaining, if unlikely in our real world. But the unlikely relationship between Doc Martin and the school's Head Mistress, Louisa, becomes the focus of the story line. The problem is that it cannot really endure over time. Rife with misunderstanding, the energy in that mismatch becomes old and….well….unpleasant after Season 5. But there are several good seasons to enjoy until you basically start looking for things to enjoy. Have at it. And you may find that you become far more interested in the rich medical information you learn from Doc Martin's madcap "surgery" than their dinnertime chats.

This story of a ruptured line of monarchs seems like a very touching love story where the woman is portrayed as a sacrificing and sincere partner. However, most historical material speaks of a different Wallis Simpson--one who was eternally ambitious and actually never recovered from her inability to serve as Queen. In fact, in her own words, "You have no idea how hard it is to live out a great romance." They did not have the eternal love-flame of romance and it is believed that tolerance on both their parts was a key element in the marriage. History and reality aside, the movie presented a decent story line on its face. Wallis Simpson was no innocent flower. Edward may or may not have regretted his abdication--even to himself--but he became known more for suspected Nazi sympathizing during World War II than any other cause of noble intention. What is probably the best result of the royal mess is that the many interpretations of the love affair and marriage became a magnet for rich and poor alike.

This series is riveting, well directed, fast-paced and informative. The casting is marvelous with one little exception: OJ Simpson!! Cuba Gooding is a fantastic actor, but he completely fails to portray OJ Simpsons incredible charm and charisma that actually enabled him to sliver through years of abusive behavior and the cold-blooded double murder. Gooding is reactive and unsophisticated, while the cocksure Simpson is just missing. This is an incredible failure of casting where the remaining characters are spot on and compelling. Why not Dwayne Johnson or someone with the physical charisma and cool? Travolta deserves great kudos for taking this on, but one has to wonder why he allowed the utter miscasting of the major role. At any rate, this is a worthwhile series to watch and it surely is award-rich.

This movie dispels all the mystery and magic around this star-spun couple, here portrayed as rich drunks in a whirlwind of self-absorbed emotion. However, the diction of Grant Bowler is remarkably Burtonesque while Lindsay Lohan cannot rise above the California valley. Taylor spoke with distinction--slowly, somewhat deliberately, and with a stylishly youthful twist in her young to middle years. Lohan mumbles and sprints through her lines with her now nasal-bound voice. I mostly blame the director for missing this most important feature of the legendary Taylor. This movie is a hot mess that grows worse with every scene. It is surely destined for Saturday Night Live.

Gone is the Angelina Jolie of Lara Croft Tomb Rider. Either the director had no ability to draw the strength that Jolie is capable of, or Jolie herself has just lost it. Put aside the bizarre and phony hairdos, we see Jolie running in the face of danger with arms flailing like a rag-doll, and posture of a way-too-tall teen whose mother is imploring to stand up straight! Where is the Croft-like strength? None of this is compelling--not the acting, not the editing, not the plot. This movie is a total failure, but--to be fair to Angelina Jolie (who has proved herself to be a great actor)--it appears the director's vision is simply uninspiring. Note to Jolie: choose your roles better.

This is a problem often found in films where characters speak with foreign accents. There is a key conversation between Ben Singer (Broderick) and Ibu (Williams) over a chess game earlier in the film. The director didn't have the experience to slow the cadence so that the audience can hear AND understand. Consequently, some of the conversation is lost in the struggle to parse the words. Unfortunately, that dialog becomes key to the most powerful scene of the film which takes place very near the end. So, my advice is to listen carefully Otherwise, it's a good film, though the pace slows enough to suggest it's not going anywhere during the middle of the film.

In terms of editing, directing, acting, writing and casting, this film would be a 10+. But it's just too disturbing--and calling this film "disturbing" is like saying Gone with the Wind is a "nice story". This is a festival of twisted perversity in a Bancock back room. And the depth is unexpected. The subconscious crescendo of vile perspectives is unmatched in film. (This poor writer--sometimes you have to feel sorry for such brilliance when it reveals such scary stuff.) One thing for sure: this is Bill Pullman's performance of a lifetime. And I highly recommend you skip it, unless you can tolerate sweaty nightmares and obsessive checking of the locks on your doors. Pullman is no love-sick 30-something here. He's a cross between Hannibal Lechter and the blue-collar genre of Dennis Hopper, all wrapped up in your worst nightmare. Surveillance is an X-rated movie without the skin.

If you're looking for a romantic comedy that has real warmth of relationships and a sense that something was actually gained by their experience, look elsewhere. Aniston seems remarkably old (save the die-for bod) than the boyish, immature Vaughn, yet her character has the emotional IQ of a young teen. Jason Bateman is the only actor that brings something a bit interesting or unexpected to his role, but he disappears into the one-dimensional background of the film along with all the other split-second characters. These people are generally pretty boring and the lead characters leave us with one rather "discount-bin" message: "Watch this movie because we're both cute and popular stars." I'd like to see Vaughn play a deep and serious, dramatic role and I'd like to see Aniston cross over to a mature role closer to her age--with some real, dramatic depth.