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Reviews
Pain Hustlers (2023)
Decent Portrayal of Big Pharma
I found the movie to be very watchable & more realistic than given credit for in other reviews. It's easy to dislike a character whose behavior is unprincipled & likely to harm others, as in the case of all the main players in this film. But in doing so, you ignore the fact that people are complex, usually not all good or all bad. Circumstances can dictate behavior & should be taken into account. Liza Drake wasn't a bad person. She was a smart, desperate person looking for a way out of her dead end job & seized an opportunity that looked promising initially. Pete was more comfortable behaving unscrupulously. I think both Emily Blunt & Chris Evans brought their characters to life in a realistic way. I also feel like Liza Drake was a good mother. The reviewer who was offended by Liza's response to her daughter's fire starting was a minor incident in the story. I found the movie to be quite interesting, as well as a decent portrayal of the pharmaceutical industry. You can't ignore the headlines of the last several years.
Deep Water (2022)
A Different Perspective
As a psychotherapist, intimate relationships such as marriage, are only as healthy as the individuals involved. Vic's & Melinda's relationship was a reflection of each of their psychological needs. Melinda seemed to need male sexual attention to feel alive & worthwhile, while Vic seemed titillated by her flirtatiousness & appeal to other men. It would have been helpful to have had some background info on each of them, but clearly, they were both getting something out of their relationship or they would have considered divorce. Melinda wanted to experience passion & feel alive & although Vic loved her, he was unable to allow himself to "let go" of his calm, controlled outward appearance. Divorce wouldn't solve their problems because they would only repeat the same behavior in their next relationship unkess they gift psychological help. We all repeat our patterns unless we are aware & open to change. Therefore, I found their relationship believable, even if dysfunctional. As another reviewer said, Vic tolerated Melinda's flirtations at first, which in my opinion were intentionally to provoke him and when he realized she was having sex with them, he could no longer control his rage. In a convoluted way, killing Melinda's lovers proved Vic's passion & love first his wife.
Fringe (2008)
Stick With It
Fringe is a bit slow to evolve but in the end, it turned into one of the best scifi tv shows I've watched. Started to watch the show when it was new. Didn't get past a few episodes. Now that the pandemic forced most of us indoors, I was looking for a new series to entertain and look forward to. This time, I stuck with it and SO glad I did. The show builds slowly, but it's worth the wait. John Noble's portrayal of Walter Bishop is superb! His character is a flawed but brilliant "mad scientist", with childlike vulnerability and a passion for his work. Of course, you must suspend your disbelief in the pseudo-science of the plots, but Walter's character is one that you route for and connect with emotionally. John Noble is masterful in conveying what Walter is feeling at any given moment by just a slight change in expression. He is a pleasure to watch. Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and Jasika Nicole are wonderful compliments to Walter Bishop.
You need to give this series a chance to develop or your review is incomplete. I can't wait until I watch each episode (end of season 3) and have forgone all my other interests to do so. You won't be sorry.
Murder in the First (2014)
Binge Worthy
I find this series compelling, well acted & well thought out. Don't know why others would find it slow or boring. Must be used to sound bites & action hero entertainment. Sometimes a good drama takes time to develop and requires a longer attention span than many are accustomed to these days. The main characters find themselves up against those who are financially powerful, politically motivated & subject to public scrutiny. I find this refreshing & realistic. Taye Diggs is a seasoned actor worth watching.
Yes, the prosecutor missed some obvious points in the trial of Erich Blunt, but the plot is complex enough for a tv procedurql to hold my interest.