Claire Murphy

Probably not a fair review considering I only made it about 35 minutes in… but it usually only takes that long to see if there’s a good script and interesting characters. I by no means needed this film to be a masterpiece, there are modern rom coms such as Plus One and Palm Springs that are funny, romantic and a good time that don’t take themselves too seriously, but every inch of this read as hollow and contrived, I couldnt find a single authentic moment or relationship. I have a lot of time for Anne but this film didn’t give her a crumb of dialogue to work with. It’s a no from me 😬

I can understand why some people may be disappointed by this film - but only because it falls into the trap of not quite fitting into any genre. It’s not a romance per se, not exactly a comedy, a drama but at times too exaggerated to be fully taken seriously. But I do think it’s a little gem of a film. The acting is truly wonderful from the entire cast, and although at times comically exaggerated they all feel grounded in real fears and desires. The story itself is well rounded and just generally enjoyable to watch. I first saw this movie many years ago as a kid and liked it, I wondered re-watching whether it held up and was pleasantly surprised!

A good romp if you aren't majorly invested in the book, or better yet, entirely unfamiliar. The actors all do well with what they were given, but calling this an adaptation of the novel Persuasion does it undeserved credit. The liberties are far too great. Anne Elliot has been completely transformed. There is plenty of fun in seeing a character full of flaws, act the fool and be loved anyway, but for that I kindly suggest watching Bridget Jones. Austen's Anne Elliot is a character of quiet power, a well of compassion and a strong set of morals. In the film she is bent entirely out of shape to be moulded into what the makers must have thought to be "what millennials can relate to". Yuck. On top of that there are so many annoying little changes that simply don't need to be there... No need to go into them. I'm sure they are documented elsewhere. Watch it if you're in the mood, but I suggest using your hand to obscure the title as it flashes up on screen and in your mind giving it an entirely new name, so as not to be disappointed.

I am in full agreement with many of the other comments found here, if you would like to watch an Ariana Grande concert, then by all means this is for you, but if you are looking for an inside look into the inner life of this star than you will be sorely disappointed. In truth it is not a doc per say, instead it is a concert with a couple of “look how human and fun we are” moments. I come out of it with the same level of admiration for Adriana’s work and music, but do I feel any closer to understanding the real her. Sadly no. At the risk of sounding harsh, I feel it was all a little lazy.

Admittedly I was prepared to not enjoy this film, fearing from other reviews that it would fall into the traps some indies can be victim to, a sort of aimlessness accented with decent soundtracks and clever lighting. I was pleasantly surprised to find the quiet confidence of this film. It knew what it wanted to say, and although I’m sure it was disappointing to those expecting an epic love story, the real core of it is in fact something far more complex and relatable. It is not a perfect film, but the story it wants to tell it tells well and concisely. I am in strong disagreement with anyone who deems the lead as “not attractive enough” to carry narrative, whatever the personal preference of the watcher, the story is not about a temptress, or a seducer, but rather someone trapped in a pattern and what that pattern attracts. The dysfunction someone is charm in of itself. I would recommend this film - neither it not the main character are faultless but it is enjoyable, well balanced and worth a watch.

A refreshingly gritty look at reality of teenage life. It’s the small details that really make up the show and truly make it authentic - a touchingly realistic message chain with a parent in lieu of the usual cringe worthy take you so often see, with the casual, cluelessly jovial adult who doesn’t seem to occupy the same reality as the protagonists and instead floats around collecting laundry and offering “back in my day” one liners. Similarly we see real sibling relationships and the extent of generosity between teenage friends, as well as the crushing power that insecurity can have over acts of cruelty. The way it deals with sexual assault is heartbreaking in its reality and is handled with genuine care. This show is not the teen drama advertised in the snippet presented but a real look at the highs and lows that young people must tackle, and continue to tackle.

At the beginning of the show, I was open and willing to understand the change in the plot. The relationship seemed strong and believable. I was surprised at the quantity of bad reviews, it wasn’t groundbreaking but engaging and inoffensive. Unfortunately, the show seems to lose its way by end of episode one, and from there it labors over small scenes, agonizes over any moment where they can pump potential extra tears. You know the ending long before it finishes and yet it insists on limping on. I also believe there was such a large disconnect between the drama based plot points and that of the wider arc. I later learned that the story between the two protagonists is based on the life of the author. I can’t help but wonder if the writers got muddled between a sci-fi story and a biography? The actors did their best, and some of the scenes had great potential, but in the end you would be best using those three hours to catch up on laundry.

I was unable to finish this movie, ultimately the theme was quite problematic and needed to be dealt with a certain amount of nuance in order to be successful. I decided to watch because I am a huge fan of Patricia, however it continuously painted these women as dysfunctional, shallow and boring. I take no Issue with the idea that it can be difficult to let go of some of the roles of motherhood but they consistently cross boundaries and apart from a half empty bottle of booze seem to show no real signs of remorse. Perhaps it improves in the second half, but honestly life is too short for such weak and uninteresting characters. The sons were at least interesting in places- but if you are going to boast a trio of female actors then give us someone to root for.