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Reviews
The Outfit (2022)
Nicely done - focused on story telling
I found this movie to be a nicely crafted piece of storytelling carried out on a modest budget, without compromising anything. The movie is crafted like a play. The entire story takes place within the confines of the main character's tailor shop. (He's not a tailor, but rather a cutter as he points out a number of times). Everything that takes place outside of the shop is described or related by the characters. Not everything is as it seems, and the true situation is slowly revealed through the dialog. The cast is quite good, but there are no "stars" to command star sized salaries. Congratulations to the film maker, whoever he or she is.
Downton Abbey (2010)
Much better than expected
This is not the sort of show I would willingly watch, but my wife wanted to see it, so I'm along for the ride. The acting and dialog are absolutely perfect. In fact, the show is worth watching just for the character Violet (Lord Grantham's mother) played by Maggie Smith. She has hilarious lines in every scene she's in, and delivers them perfectly. Perfect dry English humor. The automobiles used in the show are amazing. Almost characters themselves. Most of all, this show has inspired me to treat my own servants better. I've been working on learning all their names, even the second footmen. Of course, the show has been the cause of some disagreement in our house. My wife sees the good side of Lady Mary, but I just can't see it (the actress who plays the character does so splendidly, though).
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Second Chances (2013)
Really nice Hallmark genre movie
I gave this a 10, not because it is the greatest movie of all time, but within the Hallmark genre it's up at the top. Really nice premise for a series: postal workers in the (fictional) dead letter office manage to follow clues to get a lost letter to the intended recipient and in the process repair a broken life or heart or love or what have you. In the meantime the postal workers themselves are growing and evolving in their own lives. The dialog is quite clever (you need to pay attention to catch some of the references). There is gentle humor woven throughout some tender and difficult moments in the main characters lives. Oliver and Shane ( the main characters) are delightful. The directing and pacing of the show are perfect. There is a scene (near the end) with Oliver and Shane in the postal watering hole, with Moon River playing in the background and Oliver describing to Shane the last time he saw his wife. That scene was absolutely perfect ... when the movie was over we backed it up and watched that scene again. If you watch this movie, ask yourself "Why did they play Moon River during that scene?" If you figure that out, it will open up other things about the movie. (They give you one for free: Come back Shane!). Whoever made this movie loves good movies, and the craft of making movies. If you got this far reading my review, I'm pretty sure you will love this movie.
Perry Mason (2020)
Nicely Done!
Everything about this series is well done: the script, the acting, the photography, the set, the costumes, etc,. As a kid and teenager I watched every episode of the Raymond Burr series with my mom. I like the little references to that series sprinkled throughout the new series. For example, in the new series Mason imagines he can get the real killer to break down and confess on the witness stand. Burger tells him that never happens. (I won't reveal what does happen, but in the Burr series having the real killer break down and confess on the witness stand was a standard denouement.) Another example: they did a beautiful job weaving the Burr series theme into the music at the end of the final episode. Looking forward to season 2.