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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Nocturnal Animals (2016) in Movies
Jul 28, 2017
Great story (1 more)
Tension & suspense
The best film of 2016
I don't readily give out full 10 reviews (you'll know that if you've seen any of my others) but this was by far my favourite film of 2016 and the only one from last year that I'd give full marks to.
There's some brilliant acting on all parts, it's ridiculously tense and suspenseful, very dark and completely enthralling. Tom Ford does a fine job (I still can't believe the director and the fashion designer are the same person) and Amy Adams is probably my favourite actress right now. The ending was great, I love an unhappy ending and this doesn't disappoint.
I went on to read the book after this, and it was completely different and nowhere near as good as the film. One of the rare times when the film is better than the book.
There's some brilliant acting on all parts, it's ridiculously tense and suspenseful, very dark and completely enthralling. Tom Ford does a fine job (I still can't believe the director and the fashion designer are the same person) and Amy Adams is probably my favourite actress right now. The ending was great, I love an unhappy ending and this doesn't disappoint.
I went on to read the book after this, and it was completely different and nowhere near as good as the film. One of the rare times when the film is better than the book.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Their Finest (2017) in Movies
Aug 30, 2017
Not a comedy, but a beautiful drama
This is not a comedy. I repeat this is not a comedy. So if you read reviews saying that it is, they clearly have a very dark sense of humour. This is rather a tragically beautiful drama about writers attempting to make morale-boosting WWII movie which eventually ends up more pro-feminist than expected. The film is being made under perilous circumstances during the blitz, so there is a high casualty turnout. It is a romantic film, but not in the usual situation.
The cast includes some of finest British actors, with brilliant standout performances from Bill Nighy, a brief cameo from Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant, Sam Clafin (Hunger Games, Me Before You), as well as better than usual performance from Gemma Arterton. I shed a few tears near the end. Hats off for showing women's role during the war effort.
The cast includes some of finest British actors, with brilliant standout performances from Bill Nighy, a brief cameo from Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant, Sam Clafin (Hunger Games, Me Before You), as well as better than usual performance from Gemma Arterton. I shed a few tears near the end. Hats off for showing women's role during the war effort.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Night Life (Nocturne City, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
After skimming some mixed reviews at Amazon, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Night Life. I thought that Luna was a great character; she had the perfect blend of good and bad personality traits, without being a complete b!tch or too perfect, as some urban fantasy heroines can be. Of course there will be some who find her b!tchy, but I didn't and she's what I think Chris Marie Green and Kit Whitfield were each trying for with their heroines in their respective books, The Night Babylon series and Benighted. The other characters: Sunny, Dmitri, and Mac all added to the story and were great also, especially Dmitri.
The plot held my interest and moved at a swift pace without too much action or getting too bogged down with details. I cannot wait until the next book comes out to read what happens with Luna next!
The plot held my interest and moved at a swift pace without too much action or getting too bogged down with details. I cannot wait until the next book comes out to read what happens with Luna next!
Fruit Bat (42 KP) rated The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Recommended reading "The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell "Paperback – 12 Sep 2014 by Amanda Harvey Purse.Â
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.Â
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.Â
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Quandary in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
I have used the term 'over produced' in the past, but never before has it been so appropriate. Quandary is, to all intents and purposes, a straight re-issue of Reiner Knizia's Flinke Pinke - an Amigo game which came in a box no larger than 10cm square and cost about $10. Quandary comes in a big, long box, with good quality components and costs at least three times that - the trade off is that it's generally available. It remains almost the same game, if anything a little lighter than the original, but for all that Quandary was the most played game here over Christmas. It's certainly light, but it works as well as any other Knizia designed bauble - and you'll already know if you can live with these usually punchy, but sometimes rather thin, endeavours.
Critic: Mike Siggins
Read the full review here: http://www.gamecabinet.com/reviews/Quandary.html
Critic: Mike Siggins
Read the full review here: http://www.gamecabinet.com/reviews/Quandary.html
Well here is my review. I never write reviews as I get a bit tongued tied!
I was lucky enough to win a free copy of Matthew crow's `In Bloom` from the good reads giveaway.
I have never read anything from this author before,so I didn't know what to expect,but I can tell you I wasn't disappointed.
The story is told by fifteen year old Francis Wootton who has recently discovered he has leukaemia. Francis is very intellectual and grown up for his age,this could be due to his dysfunctional family( gay brother,absent father,mad grandmother).
During Francis treatment he meets Amber and their love blossoms,crow covers love,relationship,bravery and hardship within this book
I think this book would be classed as young adult,and very much reminds me of sue Townsend's Adrian mole.
I will be looking out for more books from this author.
I was lucky enough to win a free copy of Matthew crow's `In Bloom` from the good reads giveaway.
I have never read anything from this author before,so I didn't know what to expect,but I can tell you I wasn't disappointed.
The story is told by fifteen year old Francis Wootton who has recently discovered he has leukaemia. Francis is very intellectual and grown up for his age,this could be due to his dysfunctional family( gay brother,absent father,mad grandmother).
During Francis treatment he meets Amber and their love blossoms,crow covers love,relationship,bravery and hardship within this book
I think this book would be classed as young adult,and very much reminds me of sue Townsend's Adrian mole.
I will be looking out for more books from this author.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Everybody's Fine (2009) in Movies
Sep 11, 2018
Good Family Drama
Well I'm surprised at the critics poor reviews, once again...funny how they always seem to have a different opinion to the majority?! I thought this was a nice, low key, subtle, touching family drama. A simple tale based on an Italian film of the same name from 1990. A windowed father makes an impromptu road trip to see his kids when they fail to show up for a family dinner. Discovering along the way the truth about their lives they have kept from him as they only use to open up to the mother. It has plenty of nice little touches along the way, it can be sad at times but in other ways becomes a nice reminder about the importance of staying in touch with family. Great performance from De Niro and a good cast line up. Well worth a watch!
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated The West Wing Weekly in Podcasts
Sep 17, 2018 (Updated Sep 17, 2018)
The hosts (7 more)
The guests
The topics
The behind-the-scenes discussion
The humor
The puns
The political history
The social issues
Relive all the best of The West Wing.
Co-hosted by actor Joshua Malina, who played Will Bailey in The West Wing, and Hrishikesh Hirway, host of the podcast Song Exploder. The West Wing Weekly reviews and explores the series episode by episode and shares behind-the-scenes stories with guest stars, writers, producers, and more from The West Wing, along with political figures who discuss the politics and social issues portrayed in the series. The co-hosts are intelligent, brilliant and hilarious. Josh Malina's puns are delightful. They put their own spin on the show and are a delight to listen to. I highly recommend this podcast to all West Wing fans. You won't regret it. Well, maybe. It depends on how much you like or hate puns. LOL
Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated Here to Stay in Books
Oct 21, 2018
This is one of those romance novels that reviews encouraged me to keep on reading. Like everyone else (most probably), I hated Luke at first because I really couldn't stand "the disabled kid being the world's biggest brat" trope, but that quickly changed after I got through the first few chapters.
Sometimes as I read novels, I question why characters get together (like the majority of romance novels), but for this one, I was so happy that they did. For a party guy, Zach is the nicest person I've ever read about in my life. And I feel so bad for Mandy because though I didn't grow up in an abusive household, but I've been in her shoes for taking care of my little sister, too.
I really don't wanna spoil the book, but it really turned in places I didn't expect, and I really hope that people will read this.
Sometimes as I read novels, I question why characters get together (like the majority of romance novels), but for this one, I was so happy that they did. For a party guy, Zach is the nicest person I've ever read about in my life. And I feel so bad for Mandy because though I didn't grow up in an abusive household, but I've been in her shoes for taking care of my little sister, too.
I really don't wanna spoil the book, but it really turned in places I didn't expect, and I really hope that people will read this.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Elizabeth is Missing in Books
Jun 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book - in a heart in mouth, trying not to cry kind of way. It was rather close to home for me. My grandmother had dementia, and I can clearly remember her slide into it. Like Maud, she would be able to reminisce about her formative years, but the present day was a mystery to her. This book was so sympathetically written, and the frustration of family members was so well put across too. The story running alongside that of the present day Maud, that of the disappearance of her sister, was well slotted in to the narrative.
I can see that this novel has has some very mixed reviews, and I can understand some of the reasons, but I'm a great believer in trying something out for yourself. And I'm glad that I did in this case. A lovely, sad, bittersweet novel.
I can see that this novel has has some very mixed reviews, and I can understand some of the reasons, but I'm a great believer in trying something out for yourself. And I'm glad that I did in this case. A lovely, sad, bittersweet novel.