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Darren (1599 KP) rated Our Kind of Traitor (2016) in Movies

Sep 16, 2019  
Our Kind of Traitor (2016)
Our Kind of Traitor (2016)
2016 | Drama, Mystery
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Characters – Perry is a university professor, he is trying to make amends with his wife on a romantic holiday, he reluctantly gets involved in the information trade with his good nature being used by both sides. Gail is the lawyer wife of Perry, she has become distant from him while still loving him and does question his decision to help Dima. Dima is the Russian mafia handling the accounts, but he wants out to help his own children become safe, he uses his connection with Perry to get MI6 involved in the truth. Hector is the MI6 agent that is willing to work with Dima for the information in exchange for the family, he does have his own grudge with the man they are trying to take down too.

Performances – The performances through the film show us just what Le Carre does with his characters, he gives them good moments, without making them stand out. McGregor is good, but you feel a younger up and comer would have been perfect here, Harris is good and doesn’t put a foot wrong, while Skarsgard enjoys his role, shady but loyal. Damian Lewis brings back his true English role which at times does feel weird knowing how often he has been an American character recently.

Story – The story comes from a John Le Carre novel, so instantly we know we are going to get a thriller that keeps us guessing on what everyone’s motivation will be. The idea that a normal couple get mixed up in the middle of an international information exchange is different and does work for the film because it helps us stay on edge thinking and wondering if they do have a bigger involvement. The story does feel like that one moment to make it great is missing, as everything does end up feeling just normal and good only.

Crime – The crime side of the film follows a criminal looking for a safe way out of the life for his family in exchange for bringing down the mafia’s dealings in London.

Settings – The film splits the settings between London, for the deals, Morocco for the exchanges and the final location for the next chapter of the lives, they work because they show how this world would operate.


Scene of the Movie – The escape.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – It lacks the edge of your seat style of Le Carre novels have given us.

Final Thoughts – This is a solid thriller even if it lacks that final factor to make it one of the best ones, it does the by the book material well, but never develops the characters enough to understand the situation they put themselves in.

 

Overall: Simple thriller.
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated His to Love (Fireside, #1) in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
HT
His to Love (Fireside, #1)
Stacey Lynn | 2016
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another novel that I am not sure why I requested it. Maybe because it sounded like a bad girl good guy trope that I have been interested in lately.

I felt the couple naturally meshed well together. Their chemistry was palpable, their conversation realistic and well written. As a whole, the story was intense and well written. I wasn’t ready for such a severe, emotional read but that was what I got. While it was a powerful read, I felt like it was too emotional for me to enjoy. I tend to get caught up in stories, and they wreck me. At this time in my life (nursing school), I am not equipped to handle this.

Overall, there wasn’t a lot action in terms of fighting, shooting, or crime stuff in general. I recommend it to all the Law and Order, CSI buffs out there who are looking for a good romance.
  
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Sue Beynon (7 KP) rated The Favourite (2018) in Movies

May 9, 2019  
The Favourite (2018)
The Favourite (2018)
2018 | Biography, History
4
7.0 (31 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Great acting from Olivia Coleman and company (0 more)
Didn't really understand the ending? (The film just stopped) (0 more)
What was that about?
Contains spoilers, click to show
After my nagging my husband to take me to see this, I was disappointed with both the fanciful plot and the completely mystifying ending - the film just appeared to stop for no good reason, and everyone in the theatre where we were watching this went "Eh?" or "What??!" as one man/woman, because they couldn't understand it either. There were a few amusing scenes but overall, I was expecting so much and was left just feeling confused.
I will probably have to go and get the book it is based on to make any sense of it, from what I have looked at it wasn't really historically accurate in any way, other than the characters existing in real life.
  
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Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives in Books

Mar 1, 2018  
BT
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives
Gretchen Rubin | 2015 | Education, Essays, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
8
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not quite as good as her first book, but well worth the read. I probably should have gotten the abridged version, because as usual I got tired of the anecdotes.

I find her types interesting - there are upholders, obligers, questioners, and rebels. Apparently most people are questioners or obligers (I think - I may be wrong about the obligers). (I'm a questioner, so for once in my life I'm not weird.) Then she classifies people in additional ways, like abstainers or moderators and so on. In fact, there seems to be some sort of classification or label in nearly every chapter!

Anyway, the information in the book is useful, and I am already using it in analyzing my own habits and improving them. Rubin's reading voice is fairly pleasant (I listened to the Audible version), so I don't hesitate to recommend the book.