Thirteen Reasons Why (2017) (TV)

★★★☆☆ - Worth a Watch 

Based on the 2007 young adult novel, ’Thirteen Reasons Why” has its heart in the right place, but fails to achieve the emotional impact it rightly deserves. 

Straight off the bat, there are a number of factors that need to be commended. It’s an accurate and detailed look at teenagers and their problems as they navigate the minefield that is high school. From issues such as depression, sexual identity and the associated guilt and shame, right down to the age appropriate impact of adolescent emotions, there is no sense of trivializing from the creators. The show successfully transcends the mold of angsty teenage TV romances and sets its roots firmly in the drama genre with an interesting premise. ’Thirteen Reasons Why’ is also structurally ambitious in its complexity of intertwining, non-linear plots lines as characters and situations are revealed via recorded accounts on cassette tapes. Hipsters rejoice. 

The biggest problem is the length. As the show struggles to keep the narrative of the novel within the 13 part structure, a lot of filler needs to be created to sustain the roughly 60-minute runtime of each episode. This is unfortunate since the dramatic flow of the story is interrupted and what remains is dull, repetitious and uninspired scenes. It almost feels like you are watching the same episode over and over again. I suspect that this wasn’t a problem with the novel. 

This could be a compelling and effectively emotional story had it been whittled down to a more manageable five or six part mini-series. 13 episodes? Bad. Renewed for a second season? Baaaaaaaad. 

The Handmaiden (2016)

★★★★☆ - Highly Recommended 

Director Chan Wook Park adds to his growing collection of graphic and provocative cinema. This time around he seems to let violence take a backseat to sexuality and what results is a stunningly contemporary and classical period film. It's a thought provoking study on the nature of uninhibited carnal desires and unlike his previous works, both tone and narrative style are quite Japanese in nature.
 There are certain moments in the film that feel sexually gratuitous and unnecessary but these concerns are neatly discarded as the story unfolds and their necessity becomes evident.
  Inspired by a modern victorian crime novel, I don't quite adore this film as much as some of his other works set in the neon and grime drenched streets of Seoul, but I suspect given a few years and a more refined cinematic palette, I just might hold this film in high regard. Regardless of personal preferences, none can deny  Chan Wook Park's uncanny ability of crafting dizzying levels of cinematic art out of the most distasteful of subject matters.

Twinsters (2015)

★★★★★ - LOVE IT!!

 A heartfelt and seriously emotional journey. Much of the success of this documentary lies in the sure handed direction and the infectious charisma of Sam & Anaïs. Couldn't have happened to two nicer people and I caught myself wishing I had a long lost twin somewhere as well.

The Green Inferno (2013)

★★★☆☆ - Worth a Watch

Clearly inspired by 'Cannibal Holocaust', but not quite as unforgettable. This is largely due to some really shoddy acting and piss poor first thirty minutes. The rest is very much an Eli Roth horror picture(probably his weakest) and is for the most part effective, albeit some questionable story choices in the final act. 

Get Out (2017)

★★★★☆ - Highly Recommended 

A furiously original horror film that is also disarmingly hilarious. Had such a great time with this one.

Moana (2016)

★★★★☆ - Highly Recommended

Nearly perfect but gets a little sidetracked with catering to the children in the audience, which is understandable since it's a Disney film. Those grandma scenes destroyed me! Infact, there's quite a few sequences that will leave you all choked up. Sheer visual spectacle from start to finish and the directors' best film since Aladdin. 

Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003)

★★★☆☆ - Worth a Watch

The follow-up to the original 1992 documentary. You can't help but feel sympathetic towards Aileen as we witness a woman going through the last few days of her life. The film makes a deliberate stand that despite her obvious lack of mental stability, the state questionably rules to execute her. 

I am Jane Doe (2017)

★★★☆☆ - Worth a Watch

A good documentary that covers the legal battle of the underage girls exploited on Backpage.com. Be advised, its a tough watch but altogether relevant for shedding light on online sex trafficking.

The Goal: To watch 2 movies a day...(or more)...EVERY-SINGLE-DAY!!

I love stories and this is all a somewhat organized effort to expand my knowledge, tastes and experiences with the realm of storytelling. I'm hoping to write about everything I watch, read or play.  I've seen other blogs that have similar ambitions which inevitably end but my ambition is to keep this going as long as I can without missing a single day. An exercise in consistency if you will.

I don't really expect people to refer to my blog as a review database cause this is just my opinion, and that's no more or less valid than yours. If you don't like anything I have to say, please don't take it personally. If you have any comments or just dropping by to say hi and think you might know something I would enjoy, I would love to hear from you.

Passengers (2016)

★★★★☆ - Highly Recommended

This is one of those films that people are either going to love or hate. It hit all the rights spots for me to the point where I can't believe some of the terrible reviews this film has garnered. It's full of incredible imagery and design, the story is fun, yes there are loopholes but the film is entertaining enough for me personally, not to care. All the references people seem to hate, I adored. Also Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are hella sexy together. This film is the reason why I'd watch a film even if it has the worst reviews. You never know when you might come across a personal gem.