FKDZ

Trap, I am pleasantly surprised with the newest instalment from M. Knight. His movies always offer something interesting in my opinion, whilst not always panning out how you want, he does offer some fun, well made original work that keeps me coming back to his movies. This is no exception and with a great lead we have a really good movie here.

Directing is good, though some framing is quite harsh and feels a bit more messy than needed without any underlying reasoning. The exposition towards the end could've been done better but the first half of the movie is a great little journey. The escalating odds work well. The problem does like in the gullibility of some of the side characters. Whilst social engineering sections were great. Some people were a little easy. That said, it didn't bother me too much. The latter end with the popstar did stretch a bit into some shortcuts and decision making that doesn't really add up. Which is a bit of a shame. There's a bit of lack in consistency.

Acting, uhm, fine acting, but writing. Hartnett is allowed as his character to be a bit off, but a lot of the interactions are so comically intentional that they lack the nuance to be real. The writing is laser focused to advance the story but not in a good way. This is even more apparent when the acting isn't that great and the writing neither when the popstar actress, the directors Daughter I guess, gets to talking. Not a fan. Just about okay.

I've had fun with this, even with it's flaws.

American Primeval, as a western lover, I was ready to love this. But this is as much of a western as it is a mindless zombie film. That's how it felt to watch, that's how the world felt, and how the action felt. There's enough killing, but none if it is impactful, but they make sure it sounds like a slush of blood and guts. It's purely made for the kill count, just racking more because this show is an incredible exaggeration of the wild west.

If you like drab, visionless, messy directing this is it. Feeling like your first youtube short film that you want to have a ''cool and grimy'' look to it and throw on the most disgusting color correction. It feels and looks cheap. And it's too bad because the sets, of which you can barely see anything anymore, are really nice. Instead everything is dark, drab, bleak and devoid of life. Instantly making for a uninteresting world. At least referencing a more recent series, 1883, did this much better.

Violence directing is messy, so messy, CGI filled, going overboard with effects, creating so much fake chaos. This West that they created is like a constant warzone. There's no contrast, there's no rustling plains, no calm. And if they're somewhere less chaotic, the camera will make sure to never stop moving.

I jumped on this series cause Gilpin, having seen Mrs Davis recently which I loved I was looking for more to watch from here. She's fine here but there's not much to talk bout. Besides that, no one is memorable in the slightest, actors and characters are poorly developed, killed off because they need to keep ''surprising'' you and the remainder is just a lifeless husk. I did tap out at the 3rd episode. Due to the many faults mentioned.

All in all, this came out like a rant. But I'm just dissatisfied.

The Penguin, I went into this with pretty high expectations, there was no avoiding it with all the hype surrounding this show and the talk about it being really good. I finished the show, but I doubt I'll remember it for long. It was fine for what it was, but it mainly lacks in story and great character writing for me. Despite the great performances.

Directing, without a doubt it looks the part and is decently well directed, pacing could use a bit of help here and there but that is mostly due to some unbalanced story sections. There was talk of similarities to The Sopranos, besides it being a mafia movie and having a mother in the picture for the main antagonist, they are nothing alike. So don't go in expecting deep, complex characters. It still is, and will be, cursed by it's frame, being based in a comic. Which gives the hard attempts at grime and realism a coat of unintentional plastic shine that never really wears off.

Acting, no doubt great, Farrell's transformation is incredible and the highlight of the show, not always as sold by the dialect as I wish I was though. Milioti is great too. The teen actor, not sure where to put him, lacks a memorable performances and lacks the highs and lows to make a mark. But this is also in due part to the writing. The writing which is just never that great. The whole part of the story with the Mother felt rough, and just a bit dull.

It's fine, but more so, a great show for fans of this comic genre. I enjoyed my time, but that's about it.