mviken91's reviews

Your Friends and Neighbours isn't a bad series - but it's not a great one either. It sits firmly in the middle, with moments of potential that never fully materialize. The cast delivers excellent performances, often elevating the material beyond what it deserves. Unfortunately, the writing drags everything back down.

The show suffers from a persistent flatness. It aims for complexity but lands somewhere between cliché and emotional vacancy. Each episode seems to build toward something, yet you're consistently left with the sense that something essential is missing - a void that's hard to define, but always present. It's as if the writers wanted to say something profound about the lives of wealthy, privileged individuals, but in doing so, forgot to give the story an actual heartbeat.

The structure and pacing are competent, and the direction is serviceable. But that only makes the script's shortcomings stand out more. When strong actors are given weak material, you can almost see them struggling to bring depth to scenes that feel empty on the page.

That this show is getting a second season is... puzzling. It's hard to imagine what more can be wrung from a premise that already feels overstretched. A wasted opportunity - not without its strengths, but too shallow to recommend.

Feels like a missed opportunity wrapped in stylish blood and overly poetic dialogue. The concept; exploring the psychological tug-of-war between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham, had enormous potential. But the execution reflects the worst habits of 2010s American TV where everything is dialed up to eleven, with no regard for pacing or clarity.

Instead of building slow, creeping dread, the show rushes to shock and confuse. Major plot developments arrive out of nowhere, characters behave erratically, and the show seems more interested in looking cool than making sense. It's a prime example of "style over substance," where atmosphere replaces storytelling, and nuance is replaced with melodrama.

Maybe this story could have worked better in a different cultural context or time. One less obsessed with brooding antiheroes, aestheticized violence, and far top obviouse monologues. But as it stands, Hannibal ends up being messy, boring and cheesy, rather than engaging.

Brilliant idea. Wrong production time, terrible scripting.

When Headhunters hit theaters in 2011, I thought it was absolutely amazing. A tight thriller, exciting, stylish, and with a pace that kept me hooked. Fast forward 14 years, and my opinion has done a complete 180-this film is garbage.

It feels like a painfully bad Norwegian attempt to cater to an American audience, following a cheap Hollywood action-thriller formula that simply does not translate well. The Scandinavian language and tone just don't work for this kind of over-the-top storytelling, making it feel completely unconvincing. If you're American, maybe this lands as something cool and exotic. But as a Norwegian watching a Norwegian-produced film, it's laughably detached from any sense of realism.

The plot is rushed, the script is atrocious, and there's zero build-up-just a series of forced, unnatural beats trying to manufacture tension. The actors do their job, but the writing is so bad that it's beyond saving. Maybe this would work in some stylized Hollywood setting, but in a Norwegian context, it's utterly ridiculous.

An absolute train wreck. I can't believe I once thought this was a great film.

The Apprentice begins beautifully, both visually and narratively. The film effectively portrays a time when the main character had the potential for vulnerability, only for his own ego to overshadow everything that makes life truly meaningful. He had the chance to be a decent person but ultimately chose himself.

While the film starts strong, its frequent time jumps make it difficult to follow the timeline. That being said, it does a great job of exposing how flimsy Trump's so-called "empire" really is and just how crucial Roy Cohn was to his rise-while also making it painfully clear how little Trump ever cared about anyone but himself.

I recently watched *The Holdovers*, and I absolutely loved it. From how wholesome it was to the humor and the vulnerability, everything about this film clicked for me. The story revolves around a group of characters who are stuck, both literally and metaphorically, during the holiday season. The way it explores their relationships feels so genuine and touching.

The humor in *The Holdovers* is spot on. It's subtle, smart, and really funny without ever feeling forced. The comedic moments blend perfectly with the more vulnerable scenes, making the characters feel incredibly real and relatable. The performances are just outstanding. Each actor brings so much depth to their role, making the characters multi-dimensional and compelling. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, which adds to the authenticity of their relationships.

One of the things I loved most about the film was its attention to detail. There's a particular element that requires you to remember something from the opening scene to catch a subtle reference later on. It's the kind of thoughtful storytelling that really rewards attentive viewers and adds an extra layer of depth to the film.

Emotionally, *The Holdovers* is incredibly resonant. It deals with themes of loss, redemption, and the search for connection in a way that's both poignant and uplifting. The film doesn't shy away from showing the complexities of human emotions but does so with a sense of hope and compassion.

I've read some reviews where people have said the film is pretentious or slow, but I absolutely disagree with that. For me, *The Holdovers* was engaging and heartfelt throughout. I think it might just be a matter of taste; it's not a film for everyone. But if you appreciate a well-crafted story with depth and emotion, you'll likely enjoy it as much as I did.

I hadn't read anything about this film before watching it. I simply discovered it on my watchlist and decided to give it a try tonight. The filming style immediately caught my attention. It masterfully alternated between what seemed like amateur or interview footage and more polished, professional scenes. This unique approach added a layer of authenticity and depth that I found very compelling.

In terms of the story, it initially seemed a bit predictable. The plot unfolded in a somewhat expected manner after the beginning, but just when I thought I had it all figured out, the ending kinda surprised me. It was a twist that I didn't see coming and it added a satisfying complexity to the overall narrative.

I've come across a lot of mixed reviews about this film. From what I gather, some Americans take issue with the depiction of the French legal system, which might not align with their expectations or understanding. Others criticize the film for being too slow-paced and lacking in action. However, from my perspective, the film feels more like a poetic exploration of its themes. It's an experience that you either appreciate or you don't, much like a piece of art.

Was it a masterpiece? No, I wouldn't go that far. But was it enjoyable? Absolutely. The film offered a unique and engaging experience that kept me entertained and thoughtful throughout. It's a film that stays with you, prompting reflection and discussion long after it ends. For those willing to embrace its unconventional style and pacing, it's definitely worth watching.

I quit Billions four episodes out into S6. I left it there and never looked back. Thought of it as a series that never got a good closure. To my surprise Damian Lewis is back for S7, so I jumped on board and watched the first episode. My expectations were low. Bottom low.. I hadn't seen the rest of season 6 and didn't even bother and actually felt I hadn't missed out on anything important that I didn't catch in this episode. But what I noticed is that there is a shift in the series. The writers seem to have understood that Billions without Damian is garbage. This episode wasn't anything but a huge build up for something. But it feels like we're back. Back where Billions should be. I'm a little excited, not too much (the writers killed my excitement in S6). But excited.

I love everything Nolan has directed. Everything. He is one of my top directors, but this was not it.. I was as excited as always to see the new stuff from him, but this time I left dissappointed. It felt like if Christoffer Nolan directed twelve angry men, only in three paralell timelines. I get that Oppenheimer had a fascinating and important story, but this was not a particulary good movie.. It was incredibly made production wise. Probably one of few movies with top tier actors, and delivers. But movie wise it's too thin. The bit that bothered me the most was the editing. So fast paced. Jumping from one conversation to the next one. The whole film kinda felt like a blockbuster movie trailer, and when I watch the trailer - that has a much better pace than the movie. Going to watch it again to see if I missed anything, but at the moment this didn't feel like a Nolan movie. I even liked Tenant which many didn't..

The whole series feels rushed. It's a complex story that needs time, but they just rush through this and that. You don't get time to get to know the characters, and believe who they are. A lot of the things put in feels like it was put in to try to make a complex series, but because «everything» happens in 20 minutes you don't a sense of time. The acting is often bad as well. Lacks clear direction. The main character is lures into a trap, but what did he before? What makes him qualifies for the job? That is the first plot hole to me. And it's a shame because the topic is really interesting. It could have been really good, but falls through. I saw it all the way to the end and it was so straight forward and predictable.. Why can't Norway make good tv-shows. They're always so thin and rushed. Never well made like Danish and Swedish series..

It's a dark noir driven movie which is pretty predictable. I found the fighting scenes to be really good. They didn't cut on the punches, so the choreagraphy look really good (Think Jackie Chan style). The actor playing riddler is perfect for the role. But other than that I found the movie to be pretty flat and linear. No tension and a lot of unesecary moments / fillers scenes. The last 30-40 was probably the most dreadful. But overall the movie isn't bad, but not good either. But not so bad that I didn't enjoy watching it.

Yeah, I'm done. I gave it a good honest try, but doesn't seem like the writers did.. Shame it always goes south with the sixth season. Statistics wins again.

The show starts of pretty mediocre. Mediocre acting, mediocre script etc. But after a few episode it turns into a pretty sad story. No, very sad actually.. It is indeed taking the female side of the story, but as a man I feel that is the side I never actually see. The hit Pamela took. Jezz.. It's a very good portrait series of how a man is so fixated on- and takes what he believes is THE revenge. Justice being served. Without seeing what harm he is causing for the innocent part being unwillingly dragged into this (Pamela).

It's about time to cancel the show. I don't even know what's happening anymore, and there's nothing exciting. This have become another straight up mediocer tv-series. Before I was sort of inspired by the drive in the series. I couldn't wait for the next episode. Today I realized I hadn't seen the last three episodes, and now I feel I could've lived without seeing them.. They should either hire new writers, take a two year break to plan a solid new way, or take a break until Damian Lewis might be ready to come back. All they do now is killing the characters I once loved and hated. Now a days I don't know who's who anymore.

It was a fun movie. But not a great movie.. It was a bit thin and linear. I found the first half to be the best, and the second as expected. Maybe felt to «hollywood movie receipe» due to the lack og surprises. You basicly know what's coming and how it will end from the start. But Statham is fantastic in the role.

The movies is longer than needed. It had elements that I liked, but for the most part it was boring and lang hauled. It also started with 40 min of unecessary camera pans and 180/360 turns and more camera pans which never added anything tl the story, other than making me slightly sea sick. Other than that a pretty mundane movie..

It doesn't rush things. It's well and slow paced, the story is great at the amount of emotional psychology they use is fantastic. I read a lot of mixed feelings around this and came into it with prejudice. After about 30 min in the first episode I was sold. The story is solid! I feel that a lot of shows now a days cast women to even things out. The result is often mediocre end result because they haven't thought it well through (Just to clarify, I'm not saying it would be better with a man. There's a language barrier here..). Well look no further. This have to be the best show in a long time where the amount of details is amazing. Not speaking of set design, but human emotions. The series is emotionally turbulent, well told, brilliantly produced and the acting. My God. Anniston hello!!!