Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad

Season Review no. 4: Season 4

★★★★☆

5 word summary:

Shit’s starting to get real.

5 sentence review:

I have a confession to make, and this may account for the slightly lower mark for this season than that last…I watch breaking bad while either scrolling through Tumblr or playing random apps on my phone.

This season had a lot of talking, serious talking, a lot of which was also in unsubtitled Spanish (which is probably because I’m not watching this on DVD or TV…) but with such intense conversations either being incomprehensible to this monolingual girl or requiring my full attention, I didn’t get a lot of what was going on.

This season decided to focus on a lot of plotting, it seemed every character was scheming, even Skyler was getting in on the action, and this was enjoyable however it was also confusing because sometimes I didn’t know how much I was meant to know and whether I was only confused because I hadn’t been listening properly.

Everything seemed more devoted to tension and increasing the danger for these characters (which worries me because only one season to go and I’m expecting a lot of deaths) but I miss the old ‘funner’ days with Walt and Jesse, I’m sure this is an intentional affect, because they want the audience to realise that the two have gotten in over their heads, but that doesn’t mean that I still want it to go back to the original set-up.

Another unfortunate thing is that I knew what was going to be the climax of this season, which meant that I was just waiting for it to happen and was not overly interested in anything else going on in the episode because I knew where everything was leading too, this is the main problem with watching an incredibly popular show after it has finished – spoilers everywhere!

5 good things:

1. Jesse being paternal.

2. The final episode (although not a surprise).

3. Skyler being really intelligent and helpful.

4. Hank getting so close to the truth.

5. Giving Gus more of a back story.

5 bad thing:

1. Trying to drag up interest in Marie by having her nick things again.

2. Ted being annoying and Skyler falling for it.

3. Walter Jr. having all sorts of car troubles.

4. Walt sabotaging Hank’s investigations (let the poor guy do his job).

5. A lot of the scenes being in Spanish and yet none of them subtitled (my fault but still annoying).

Kill Your Darlings (2014) – Film starring Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan

★★★☆☆

5 word summary:

Another pretentious Beat poet film.

5 sentence review:

This film tells about Allen Ginsberg’s first years in university, and his encountering the soon-to-be murderer Lucien Carr. Carr and Ginsberg’s relationship becomes strained by Carr’s older lover. We see how Ginsberg struggles with his admiration of Carr while other characters and circumstances get in his way.

I can’t say that I am a fan of the genre of film (such as On The Road) which just present the way these guys lives and worked as mesmerising, which I’m sure it was, because these men are incredibly talented and interesting, but not for a modern cinema audience, because unfortunately we need more than just well read poetry to draw our attention now-a-days.

Another thing I dislike about this type of film is that it is ‘based’ on real events but this begs the question…how much of this is true and how much is just artist licence? Coming from this film I think I know more about Kerouac and Ginsberg and this is now all that I really know about Lucien Carr and this seems slightly unfair to their memories because a lot of this is probably not true, even if the barebones of the story is.

The assembled cast was good, Dane DeHaan is phenomenal (I’m very excited to see him in a big-budget film like Spiderman) although I would like to see him doing a role that isn’t essentially evil, and even Daniel Radcliffe wasn’t as bad as he is in everything else.

The film looked good, Radcliffe’s glasses and hair were a particular highlight, and the way it was filmed drew you into the actors, which makes sense because this is a biopic, you could enjoy their performances without being too distracted with the 1940s regalia (this could be because they couldn’t afford to fill a scene with authentic 1940 scenery).

5 good things:

1. The acting standard was generally high.

2. Costuming.

3. How pretty but gritty the 1940s looked.

4. If you are a Harry/Malfoy shipper then Radcliffe has a slightly graphic sex scene with a blond gentleman.

5. I finally saw a film with Elizabeth Olsen in (although she wasn’t in a lot of it).

5 bad things:

1. How many times Dane DeHaan hanged himself.

2. Not knowing how true anything is.

3. The fact you don’t meet people this passionate in university.

4. The odd scene where Ginsberg is on drugs but thinks he has stopped time in a bar (not sure if I explained that well).

5. Michael C. Hall wasn’t very effective.

Just 5 quick thoughts on 2014 Oscars:

1.       Although I haven’t seen 12 Years a Slave, from what I’ve been hearing it was the best of the rest. I will now be rushing out to watch it ASAP.

2.       I’m very happy Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o won for their best supporting roles.

3.       Evilly I am equally pleased that American Hustle won absolutely nothing because I didn’t feel it deserved nominations anyway, it was a very bland film with a very big cast.

 

4.       I don’t think that Her should have won Best Original Screenplay, because I hated the way it was written, I thought it was clichéd and quite boring.

5.       It’s not a surprise but Gravity definitely deserved all its cinematography, editing and visual effects awards.

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad
Season Review no. 3: Season 3

★★★★★

5 word summary:
Getting better with every season!

5 sentence review:
The threat of the underworld is becoming more present for the characters and there were several moments when you worry about each character, which is brilliant because the best shows are the ones where you have no idea who is going to die.
The changes of Walt and Jesse's involvement in the meth industry is really interesting because they have been elevated to an industrial level, with the help of the sinister Gus, and this means that we see a very different working dynamic between the two compared to when they worked in the RV.
A few characters are being developed more, mostly Hank, Skyler and Marie, but this isn't necessarily a good thing because Hank is obsessive, Skyler is still unforgiving despite being willing to accept the drug money when it suits her and Marie is really horrible to everyone when Hank is in hospital.
A lot of these behaviours can be explained away, and the imperfection of these characters makes the show more believable, however this isn't a documentary, you can write unbelievable but likeable characters.
Overall the narrative progression is drawing me into the plot and I'm fascinated to see where the next 2 seasons take all these characters.

5 good things:
1. Fly episode (made me laugh, made me cry).
2. Badger and Skinny Pete being in it more.
3. Jesse messing around in the industrial meth lab.
4. Saul not being completely spineless and helping Walt and Jesse.
5. Showing rehab as positive and Badger and Skinny Pete not wanting to corrupt them.

5 bad thing:
1. The annoying 'threatening' Moncada silent brothers.
2. Odd drawing of Heisenberg which I don't think was explained (yet?).

3. Odd crawling scene which I don't think was explained (yet?).

4. 'Family is everything' drowning scene...necessary? Or just for shock factor?
5....

Director Focus - Paul Thomas Anderson

Film Review no. 3: Punch-Drunk Love (2002) 

★★☆☆☆

5 word summary:
Couponing can be very lucrative.

5 sentence review:
I need to start this review by saying that I intensely dislike Adam Sandler, I dislike his films and acting and persona and I found it very difficult to look past that when watching this film, so that has definitely impaired my enjoyment.
This was a confused film, I thought it was about a shy/lonely man as he struggled to feel happy, however it was actually about a very angry and violent man who ends up with the nicest woman imaginable.
At the beginning I was very confused as to why everyone was so awkward with their acting, then I realised it was because Adam Sandler was/his character but then I remembered....why is everyone awkward?
All the conversations were stilted and I got annoyed at Sandler's sister for picking on him for being 'weird' when she was equally (if not more) so, and I can't work out if it is the direction, delivery or writing.
The film itself shows some interesting ideas, however this has to be the weakest Paul Thomas Anderson out of the three I've seen.

5 good things:
1. Emily Watson
2. Luis Guzmán (I'm becoming a bit of a fan)
3. Extreme couponing.
4. Only 95 minutes.
5....

5 bad things:
1. Adam Sandler.
2. The script...delivery...direction...? All three? Just one?
3. The weird art-house fuzzy colourful lines.
4. Lack of explanation for a lot of things.
5. Violence/aggression not solve or presented as much of a problem.

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad
Season Review no. 2: Season 2

★★★★★

5 word summary:
Breaking Bad is the drug.

5 sentence review:
This is when Breaking Bad started getting really good for me, it has surpassed simply tom-foolery around two amateurs making meth and has now incorporated more interesting themes.
The most interesting relationship (between Walter and Jesse) is broken down in this season which is disappointing, although I love Jesse and Jane together (Jesse definitely has a lot of character progression from just a boy who says 'yo' a lot).
Walt's movement towards a darker character is fascinating because it is so well written and acted, at no point do you think 'this is unrealistic', instead you are just swept away with it.
Despite the show taking a darker turn there are still moments of comedy and happiness which allow for the audience to relax for a few moments (before tensions runs high again!)
An IMDb rating of 9.6 still seems awfully high, because it means a vast number of people actually agreeing with each other, however it is beginning to warrant its rating (hopefully the next 3 seasons also keep improving).

5 good things:
1. Jesse and Jane
2. Introduction of Saul
3. Introduction of Gus
4. Ooooooh the death at the end!!
5. Character progression

5 bad things:
1. Less of Walter and Jesse
2. Less meth cooking times

3. The season long suspense built up to...a plane crash?

4. Ooooooh the death at the end!!!
5. Walt's evil progression.

Season by Season Review - Breaking Bad

Season Review no. 1: Season 1

★★★★☆

5 word summary:
America needs an NHS now.

5 sentence review:
This is my third attempt at watching Breaking Bad and the third time really is the charm because I'm actually enjoying it and blasted through the first 7 episode season in one day.
I have to say that I didn't find it spectacular, or any other superfluous word that could be used to describe this 9.6 IMDb rated TV programme.
Instead it was well-balanced with humour and seriousness and had very interesting points but I wouldn't necessarily continue watching if I didn't know the hype.
It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is good, and is able to almost masterfully weave the comedic elements with the overly dark themes, this is a testament to the writing and acting on the show.
Although well made that doesn't mean it is enjoyable and there were times when I wasn't necessarily paying attention because there was a lot of talking which seemed superfluous because the action outshines it, hopefully I will become more gripped next season and will be clinging onto every word.

5 good things:
1. Use of a character/actor with cerebral palsy without making it centric to his character.
2.  Using very graphic language and some sex scenes but not gratuitous nudity (except for Mr. White in his whites).
3. The acting/interpersonal acting.
4. Awesome explosion.
5. Learning science stuff.


5 bad things:
1. Lack of diverse ethnicities for major characters.
2. I thought Marie (Skyler's sister) was played by RJ Mitte (Walt. Jr.) in drag until IMDbing her.
3. Making me sad and think about cancer.
4. The title doesn't make a lot of sense (although I've heard it so often that I just accept it now).
5. Doesn't live up to the hype...yet.