The Kilkenny Observer Friday 04 February 2022
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Terrific movie will keep you on the edge of your seat
5
worth watching 0n Netflix
This gripping crime thriller, whose first season is based on John Meehan, follows the well-known crime case of this pathological liar. The season follows a beautiful and successful Debra Newell, who is quickly swept off her feet into a whirlwind romance by conman Meehan. Drawn into his charismatic lies and manipulation, this drama will have horrific consequences for an entire family. Dirty Money succeeds in balancing the seriousness of the subject matter with great storytelling into individual cases, leaving you wanting to know more.
After losing out on the Olympics due to an injury, former professional skier Molly Bloom turns to the world of high stakes poker and big money gambles in an effort to make a name for herself. Starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, Molly’s Game, is inspired by a true story following the risk and glamour of the poker world and the pitfalls that come with increased wealth. Watch on Netflix. AMANDLA is an Afrikaans word that means power, so when you hear this word, you think about strength, confidence and pride. What makes this movie on Netflix so intriguing is that it does not glorify violence or condone criminal activity. It shows how detrimental crime and violence can be to society and the individual. The film is well cast. Each actor is convincing in their role, especially the two lead actors (pictured above), who are outstanding. Lemogang Tsipa plays his role very convincingly. His performance is exceptional. The entire cast does justice to their characters and portrays them very well. Told with exquisite sensitivity and passion by the filmmaker, Amandla is an uplifting and deeply moving tale that blends suspense, drama, action and romance into one unforgettable cinematic experience. The film is shot and edited exceptionally well. I like the way they used raw scenes
when the protagonists had flashbacks. This made it easier for the viewers to follow what was going on even though he had flashbacks of certain events that happened at a specific time. They also used flashbacks effectively to make viewers understand what happened when the brothers were younger and how it shaped their characters into becoming a gangster and cop later on in life. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their emotional intricacy will strike a chord with anyone who ever had siblings. The movie’s powerful message will make you think about your brotherhood or sisterhood as well as that of others around you. I felt like every character had a distinct personality, which you don’t see a lot in films these days. The film’s pacing was good, and the plot kept me engaged in the characters. The music complimented the film. It helped set the tone in certain scenes.
It was interesting to see how crime and corruption affect different communities worldwide. Amandla weaves its spell quite successfully in the first half as it reveals how two brothers, through circumstances beyond their control, are forced to make choices that will determine their destinies forever. The film beautifully depicts how seemingly good decisions made in haste can lead to disastrous consequences. Amandla paints a powerful portrait of two men on opposite sides of South Africa’s racial divide, yet united by an unbreakable bond. Torn between their love for each other and loyalty to their families, both brothers are forced to make choices that will change their lives forever. Amandla conveys a message about how one’s environment does not determine your destiny; instead, it is your choices that determine your fate. Amandla is a well-researched film with hardly any factual inaccuracies. Al-
though this may be because it was made when many South Africans still had vivid memories in our history, it is commendable that the director did not take any liberties with his depiction of some of the more unsavoury aspects. This movie is full of intrigue and suspense with some pretty graphic scenes. Amandla explores themes of power and corruption. It’s an engaging thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. But it also offers a look into South African society and culture beyond what you see in many Hollywood movies (which are often generic depictions of Africa as some exotic land filled with jungle animals). Towards the end of the movie, there’s a powerful scene between two of the main characters that struck me. The movie leaves one with a sense of hope for the future, which is rare in today’s cinema. It is also not without its comedic moments, as well as its gruesome ones.
Pamela Anderson and that sex tape A SEX tape that rocked the nascent online world is the real-life grist for Pam & Tommy, the Disney + eightpart series about the private bedroom activities of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee going public. Lily James and Sebastian Stan play the then-married actor and musician in what
the streaming service describes as a “love story, crime caper and cautionary tale”. The stolen video of the couple ended up a sensation and a sign of things to come. Seth Rogan and Nick Offerman are among the co-stars in the show which has landed on Disney + with three episodes and the rest of the
season one every week. Meanwhile, Will Arnett plays a homicide detective with cases to solve and clueless partners to help in Murderville, a six-part Netflix crime-comedy series. Each episode has a different sleuth teaming up with Arnett’s Senior Detective Terry Seattle, which is
novel, but here’s the real twist: The succession of guest stars haven’t seen the scripts. Annie Murphy, Conan O’Brien, Ken Jeong, Kumail Nanjiani, Marshawn Lynch and Sharon Stone are the in-the-dark detectives, with Haneefah Wood, Lilan Bowden and Philip Smithey in the cast.
This three-part docuseries follows the epic race to track down conman Robert Hendy-Freegard who stole almost one million pounds from his multiple victims. The kicker? He was posing as an MI5 Agent the whole time... This twisted and harrowing docuseries doesn’t overstretch the subject with the story being wrapped up in three hours. With compelling story telling and a near impossible plot, this series grip viewers with an unexpected ending.
Lord of Scam is a French true crime documentary on Netflix, where a group of scammers con the EU carbon quota system out of millions through financial loopholes. At first, it’s a blissful life post-crime as they enjoy their stolen finances, until bickering begins, friends turn into enemies, and the snitching starts. This docuseries follows these men as they go about their days and proceed to being each other’s downfall. Remember when Full House and 90210 star Lori Loughlin went to jail for a few weeks before resuming her lavish Hollywood life? Well, this is the story behind the elite upper class who got caught trying to pay for their kids to get into college.
You’ve probably come across the many memes that came out of Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, but this documentary is another interesting watch if you love seeing the lives of the rich and powerful slowly fall apart. When one unmissable party draws influencers, models, and more for the time of their lives, not everything is as it seems. Over the course of the documentary, watch as a promised good time spins completely out of control.
