MAY 2016 - FILMS AND TV

9 films from TV and NetFlix, 1 - 4 part TV drama, 1 x 10 episode TV drama and another 3 episodes watched from Season 1 of Peaky Blinders.....

Don't know what Coben book this was based on but my wife and I enjoyed it. 4 adults friends pictured, 20 years before when they were kids they were with the younger brother of one of them in some woods and he disappeared never to be found. A convicted paedophile confessed to murdering the child. 20 years on the presumed dead child's DNA is found at a murder scene! Baffling, interesting, exciting, far-fetched, unbelievable, stretches the bounds of credibility then breaking them, but overall enjoyable and entertaining!

"Fat kids at a fat camp" film, proving themselves to be normal and not freaks. Ben Stiller features. Worse ways of spending an hour and a half, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay for it.

A few laughs had here, even if I spent half the film looking at James Franco, vaguely recognising him and trying to put a  name to the face and remember what I had seen him in before, as opposed to enjoying the movie. A bit of a buddie movie with friendship, drugs, some criminals and a bent cop. I've seen better, I've seen worse.

Excellent. A deaf writer in a solitary location, gets attacked by a taunting maniac in a freaky mask. Preying on her isolation and condition, he's having fun putting the frights on before upping the ante. There's something about masks that creep me out, whether it's US presidents or animals. Kind of clown-like in this instance. My heart rate has just gone back to normal and I watched it about 3 weeks ago!

Great fun, a bit of a road movie. Our main man is in witness protection having crossed childhood friend - the homicidal Bradley Cooper. He breaks cover when his girl needs a ride to LA. Dax Shepard does a passable Owen Wilson impression throughout, with his voice and mannerisms. Maybe they couldn't afford the real thing. That said I did enjoy it. 

Well it was on and nothing else grabbed me. Channing Tatum looks about 12. Overall I did enjoy it, probably seen it before with my girls. I do admire people who can dance with great skill, whether its Patrick Swayze or Danny Kaye. The folks in this one are no exception.

4 part true crime drama starring James Nesbitt.
Based on the Castlerock Suicides in the 90s in Northern Ireland. Click the Daily Mirror link for more details. Excellent viewing.

Episodes 3 to 5 watched from Season 1. Only about 10 or 11 behind! It gets better and better!

Gripping, thrilling, exciting, disturbing. There's something about Eddie Marsan that oozes menace and danger at every turn. A kidnapping of  Alice by two ex-cons. Total cast comprises the three of them. Very good. Probably my best film in the month.

A bit of Arnie, a bit of Gabriel Byrne, a bit of a devil seeking a bride romp which will herald the end of days, should he consumate his marriage before the end of New Year's Eve, 1999. Arnie's done better, but it wasn't too bad. If Arnie was the devil, you would have wondered a bit more about how it was going to play out.

Second viewing and just as enjoyable this time around. Mark Wahlberg is extremely funny when he deadpans Ferrell. I've avoided Ted and Ted 2, but might be tempted, as the guy is growing on me. I'll probably give Daddy's Home a spin before Ted, as he teams up with Will Ferrell again. Ferrell is pretty good as well in this. Not someone I've always enjoyed watching.  

Second time around again for this 70s classic. Seen long enough ago that I only vaguely remembered the plot as it unfolded for the second time. Nicholson was a good looking bugger when he was young. (Possible man-crush here.) There's still stardust about him even today. Jack can act.