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Good morning everyone and welcome to Fitzie’s Film and TV Reviews, where your hoddler-in-chief reviews all things he’s recently watches on screens big and small.
It’s been a good while since we had a proper update on this, and I’ve watched a fair amount of television and film lately. I would say I’ve enjoyed most, but few have had a major impression on me.
- Nobody Wants this, series 3: The Netflix rom-com hit starring Kristin Bell and Adam Brody returns to its kinetic pace after a been-there-done-that second series. But it doesn’t come from the leads who star as Esther and Noah, respectively, who settle into moving together nicely after Esther decides to convert to Judaism. At this point in a relationship, it’s a little common for things to be steady, not exhilerating. But fear not, Timothy Simmons and Justin Lupe more than make up for that as Sasha (Noah’s brother) and Morgan (Esther’s sister). The former navigates a divorce, and the second appears a little stuck. The final four episodes bring us back to the heights of the first series, it just comes from a different source.
3.5 out of 5 Fitzies
- Taskmaster, series 22: Even bad Taskmaster is good Taskmaster. I think that’s the case with Series 22, where the tasks felt cumbersome and the contestants didn’t quite seem to gel. This series featured Chloe Petts, Isy Suttie, Matt Lucas, Nina Conti and Richard Ayoade. I really wanted to like this more than I did because I love the show. But after a brilliant three-series run from 19-21, this feels like a step back.
3 out of 5 Fitzies
- Last One Laughing Halloween: Speaking of new series, there was a Halloween special for Last One Laughing. The premise is simple: A group of comedians are locked in a room for several hours and aren’t allowed to laugh. Last one standing wins. There are a few standouts in this special like Jack Dee and the spookmaster himself Reece Sheersmith. I think those two, along with returnee Lou Sanders, engaged with the concept the most. I think a couple other contestants played much more “defensive” which is much less enjoyable to watch. A decent four-episode run, but I won’t be returning to it.
3 out of 5 Fitzies
- Conspiracy: Think 12 Angry Men, but this time it’s a group deciding on Nazi Germany’s final solution. It’s a harrowing and shocking depiction of the process, where the dialogue and points of conflict focused on the morality of killing millions, but the measures on how to do so. Kenneth Branagh and Stanley Tucci were incredible playing the two men leading the meeting, while Colin Firth an interesting foil. Although we of course know his decisions and beliefs were just as deplorable. I sat through the 90-minute film aghast at the coldness in how these decisions were made, and left stunned the film was based on the one remaining piece of evidence it happened.
5 out of 5 Fitzies
- The West Wing: Classic American television and it took me way too long to get into it. I’m currently on Season 5, but have seen enough to weigh judgment. Everyone in this is remarkable, although I find a little humour in the end of every season having some over-the-top dramatic storyline. You think the West Wingers would’ve figured out to stay indoors by the time Episodes 22 roll around.
5 out of 5 Fitzies
- Survivor, series 51: I don’t really know why I’m watching this. It’s mostly background noise at this point. I had some hope after a successful all-returnee Series 50, but I’m sick of people hyping themselves up. It’s still early on so things could get better, but it’s falling flat for something that’s supposed to return the game more to its roots. Two pieces of advice for the show-runners: Go back to the old challenges, and let’s get our 39 days back.
2 out of 5 Fitzies
- Bugonia: I’m not a big fan of Yorgos Lanthimos, but I wanted to watch something a little creepy and unconventional this Halloween. This film stars Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis, two men who kidnap a powerful CEO (Emma Stone) under the belief that she’s an alien come to harm the earth. There is some fascinating dialogue and the torture scenes are difficult to sit through. I think Stone and Plemons did an incredible job in their characters, but for me this is another film where I’m asking what the point was. I understand Lanthimos loves dark humour and dives into absurdities etc, but I don’t really understand the point of that here. Maybe I should just stop watching him as I’m clearly not who he’s making films for.
3.5 out of 5 Fitzies
Ftizie’s track
of the day: I Wanna Rock, by Twisted Sister
And now for your links:
The Athletic ($$): “Were we wrong about Archie Gray not being a right-back?”
The Guardian: “‘In moments of pain, football comes together’: Spain says goodbye to Jesús de Miguel”
BBC: “A bitter end for Ronaldo – the icon who transformed Portugal”
