Karen San Diego

Too idealistic when it comes to friendships and family, though I appreciate how it attempts to tackle real-world issues like death, mental health problems, infidelity, addiction and even the pandemic. It doesn't hurt that since it's rooted in problems some people may be facing in real life, the characters come off relatable and likable. It's soapy but good TV and I'd watch it to see how the characters end up.

It will never live up to the pure brilliance of one of Dennis Lehane's trademark works but Sean Penn's haunting portrayal of a grieving father is still ingrained on my mind as arguably the best acting I've ever seen in a movie.

Rosamind Pike is an excellent actress and she succeeds in delivering a strong performance as the incredible Madame Curie, bringing her intensity and headstrong personality to life, as well as her brilliance. However, I thought the movie as a whole failed to capture the full essense of her achievement and suffered from what I can only describe as "identity crisis" for lack of better term - it didn't know what it wanted to be, it tried different tactics to create a certain picture, of what I'm really not sure, but in the end felt like a failed experimentation of sorts. I appreciated the mild exploration of her marriage and relationships but it failed to capture the profound partnership she described in her book about Pierre and her daughter Eve described in Madame Curie's biography. It could have done with better direction perhaps, or more focused storytelling, or better yet, both. A great story about a great woman not brilliantly told, that even topnotch acting unfortunately couldn't salvage.

This is just one of the very few instances when the screen adaptation is better than the book/s. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger brought Cormoran and Robin to life and the brimming chemistry between them is an absolute pleasure to watch. The plots aren't really that interesting or brilliant but the character development, relationships and stellar acting will make me come back for more.

A satire and a tragedy, with a hugely character-driven plot. Three great performances from the lead actresses (especially by Colman), with no dull moments. Gorgeous visuals, funny dialogue, and a third act that was both depressing and profound.