Bill Hader. © 2018-2023 HBO, Alec Berg Inc. and Hanarply. Created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg.
Season 1-3 Review Here!
Watched it on HBO through Max
The Final Curtains... Oh wow. One of the best television shows of all time concludes and it ended in a glorious way. From the start of the show to the end, it was a wild journey. There was a lot to pack in from this intense final season. From the direction of this show to the comedy and even to the technical elements. It's a wild ride and I can say for sure that this season is fantastic from start to finish. Let's go back to LA and return to the theater and crime worlds, one last time...or more time? Story: Now in prison, Barry seeks forgiveness from those he has wronged, like acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) and ex Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg). Barry knows that the road to forgiveness is longer than one phone call from jail. However, his enemies are still hunting him down and Barry must find a way out before his time on Earth concludes. When I first started watching this show for the first time last year, I thought it would be a bleak dark comedy with less drama and more comedic moments. I was wrong. Totally wrong. It balances not one or two genres, but four genres all at once. Drama, Comedy, Crime, and Romance. Those are the core genres that this show carries and every season dives into each one of them in a smooth way. It's brilliant, not with just its visuals, but its writing. Plus, whenever Bill Hader directs an episode, it goes in a crazy dramatic, and dark way. Since it's a comedy, he applies his comedy to dangerous situations that make fun of it or makes it serious through the eyes of the main character. It's done brilliantly and with this final season, he takes everything from the past three seasons into this jaw-dropping final season. It's the culmination of every character who has been affected by Barry in a small or big way. From the first frame to the final frame of the series, it's a huge payoff and this season is the darkest season in this series. It's beautiful, tragic, and emotional. All of the emotions are in this final season As a 30-minute comedy/drama show, the pacing of this show is flawless and there wasn't a single issue with its slow moments or even fast ones too. It sucks you into the story, especially where we left off from the ending of season 3. The story is more tighter now with all of the characters separated after the fallout of Barry. The plot gets denser after a specific episode which changes the stakes and expectations of what's to come next. How the story progress takes its time but it's very well done by going back and forth to each character's issues. It's a very tragic story and it does take a spin with its plot in the opposite direction but for the better of the story and its characters. It's mesmerizing how Bill Hader handles the plot in a unique take that only show has the capacity to do so. The characters here are fantastically written with each actor bringing these characters to life. Each character gets a human moment which is very memorable and sad. I really loved Sarah Goldberg's performance as Sally. She did a wonderful job with her character Fallout and her chemistry with Bill Hader. Anthony Carrigan gives an Emmy performance, especially in the final episode which sold me. There's not even a conversation about Stephen Root's performance as Fuches. He did a fantastic job with his role but what really made me believe his misunderstood character is his overarching arc and by the end, it's a satisfying end to his character story. The side characters are all amazing in this show including some of the smaller characters due to their performances. The one character that still gave this show some comedic light is Henry Winkler's character Gene Cousineau. His fallout is very dramatic but gets more tragically dark yet funny for utilizing Barry to capitalize on his story. It's done in a dramatic yet hilarious way due to Winkler's performance and his arc is unexpected by the time you see him for the last time. Everyone in this show is fantastic but I cannot forget the main star himself, Bill Hader as Barry Berkman. Bill really makes this show come to life and all over the direction in a good way.
Bill Hader as Barry is one of my favorite television characters of all time due to his simple backstory with his unique arc, everchanging personality, and masterful performance from Bill Hader. It's a simple character but filled with every emotion that makes his character stand out. His character is pretty fucked up but his comedic side is where he shines the brightest. Even in the darkest moments, there's some comedy from him. In this final season, his character arc gets more intense yet calmer after a specific episode. Without spoilers, he develops a whole new Barry personality but his old personality is still taking over him, even with the changes. Even if you take out some of the best writing of the character Barry, Bill Hader gives a fantastical performance with his iconic wide-eyes performance, and dark humor monotone. He embodies the character and when we see him for the final time, it feels like a culmination of his character arc, performance, and comedy of this show. The brilliance of his character is so well done due to the writing of the show. I love how we get more time with Sally and the other side characters this season. Everyone gets a shining moment in the film and Bill Hader makes sure that no character should be left behind. Everyone gets a conclusion and it's done very well. The comedy of this show is amazing and while there's more drama than comedy, it's more visual now. Visual gags really help make the dramatic scene more fun or meaningful. It's a beautifully darkly written show that lets the actors be the characters and embody them while giving nuanced material that makes the scenes come to life. All of the writing, performances, comedy, and action, come from the man himself but he directed the entire final season to give that Barry signature.
The directing here from Bill Hader is phenomenal. From his first directed pilot to the final episode, it's a massive improvement with every episode being very unique and engaging. Hader loves to do long takes with wide and close-up angles but it's so done very well. It's very beautiful and realistic at the same time. He lets the characters live in the scene and let the story sink in. It's done very well with tiny directing moments through cinematography, sound design, and visual cuts. Hader lets the scene unravel slowly with new information or information that we think we will get but it's done later. His scenes are slow but it takes time to get us into the scenes and be in the world of Barry. Plus, the amazing visuals on screen, make the story more immersive and grander in scope. The cinematography this season is fantastic with a lot of unique shots, lighting, interesting lens choices, and great visual gags. It's the best-looking season in the entire series. The sound design is fantastic as always with its beautiful gun noises, destruction, and use of dead silence to make it realistic yet informative of the context of the scene. I love the set design of the show this time around because it makes certain sequences have more depth with a particular critical plot moment in the season. It balances reality and comedy. No spoilers, but it works with the characters' situations and arcs. Overall, the technical side of this show is amazing and some of the best I have seen from a comedy show now these days. Plus, while there isn't a lot of action, the violent moments are very impactful and it impacts the feel of the episode whenever violence is shown particularly in this season. I love this approach and it works very well. Overall, the technical elements and directing are very fantastic and it defines what Barry really is, visually with storytelling being the front and center. I don't know how a simple black comedy turns into a dramatic yet comedic show that brings these characters into humans and has it so grounded yet unreal. Every direction is brilliant and the final episode caps it off very well with a satisfying ending for not just Barry, but every character who was affected by Barry. A farewell to the world around Barry. This show really made me invested in more prestige television shows and into more black comedy shows as well. Barry is phenomenal in every layer of television and filmmaking. It perfectly balances drama and comedy while still giving us a story that is impactful and engaging. So far, this is the best HBO show ever, and seeing this show end makes me sad not because it's ending, but what's going to hold HBO in the future. However, I'm hyped to see what will Bill Hader do next in his directing journey. He's a talented filmmaker and I hope his next project is going to be big. This is a show that I won't forget and it will hold a place in my filmmaking heart. What a grand way to end this show. The creative team did a fantastic job and I hope the best for those who made this show spectacular! Now Streaming on HBO and Max. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Cheif/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. © 2023 HBO, Naughty Dog, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions. Directed by Craig Mazin. Show Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
A Video Game Phenomenon Turned Into A Dark Gritty World With No Rules.
Pilot (Series Premiere) Review: I wasn't expecting that one of the best video games of all time turning into a series would be that good. But it sure is that good because of one reason. The reason is that they actually faithfully adapted it from the video game. Not just atmosphere, action, and characters. But the story itself with a person who is a fan of the video game. This is the best video game adaption in film/television ever and there is a lot to discuss. Pack up your backpack because we are about to go to travel across post-apocalyptic America and try not to get killed by clickers. Story: 20 years after an infectious disease has taken over most of the world's population, Joel finds himself traveling through what's left of the US with a girl who may just have the answer to bringing mankind back to life. The only problem is they aren't the only ones trying to survive through these desperate times. It's up to Joel to protect this girl in order to save humanity. As a huge fan of the video game, I was nervous going into this show. But with the original creator and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) behind the camera, I had their trust and faith in adapting this beloved game into a show. But man oh man, after the pilot ended, I knew that immediately this is the best video game adaptation of all time. Without spoilers, the first half of the episode is a recreation of the opening act of the game but with added context. But the new content in this show helps expand the world and get more emotionally attached to these characters. I really love the opening sequence in this show. While it wasn't in the game, it builds up the tension of the rest of the show but also adds social commentary on the virus, health, and society when they begin reacting to some kind of fungus virus. There are brilliant moments in this show that help build the atmosphere and tone of the show. The aerial vehicles shown were haunting and it made the scene a little bit scary. When the infected are starting to kill people, that's when the show starts to show the dread of this virus. While the pacing is slow at first, it's done right to build up the relationship with these characters. When Joel, Tommy, and Sarah start leaving the house, that's where the pacing starts to pick up. The first half of the show is just amazing and it still holds the emotional impact from the first game. What really sold me at the end of the first half was that while I know what was going to happen, I still feel the impact because of the performances of these characters and their relationship together in the beginning. The old common quote "If ain't broken, don't fix it". They kept it faithful but added the style of Mazin to keep it fresh. Craig Mazin really directed the hell out of this show and maintained the core of what TLOU worked. It's beautifully done and the heartbreaking scene still hits hard. But there's more in the second half.
The second half of the show is also amazing and the production design of the show is absolutely masterful. I really loved how the world and society are now just tired and dying. The greenery and brownish show how this world is collapsing. The VFX on this show is incredible for television and I loved how they relied on sets rather than just VFX. It shows that the executive producers really gave a shit about making an actually good adaption and they overachieved it. There are some plot moments that have changed and it's fast-paced in the second half. But those changes really add dramatic tension to some of those moments. For the characters, it added personality and character to what they have gone through. I really love those raw moments when it's people trying to survive for just one damn moment. There are clever directing and editing moments that reshape Joel for the better and it adds to the relationship between Joel and Ellie. The plot is mostly the same as the games but with some new content and altered moments that really help keep this story fresh while being faithful to the original story. This is what adaption should be and they achieved it very well. On its entertainment value, it's very great and I really loved the dramatic action sequences in this pilot. I cannot forget about the performances and cast because the casting director really nailed it. Pedro Pascal as Joel is so fucking good. While he kind of looks like Joel, his performance really captures who Joel really is and I was so into his portrayal of this character. Gabriel Luna as Tommy is the perfect casting choice because of his performance and voice. Literally, it sounds almost like the exact voice from the video game and I bought his personality. Bella Ramsey is also fantastic as Ellie and she captures how Ellie would react and the voice is legit perfection. She really captures the character very well and it goes for the rest of the cast as well. The only actor from the video game that came back to reprise their role in live-action was Merle Dandridge as Marlene. Her performance was so natural and it felt so uncanny at some points because it's the exact character and actor from the original video game. Everyone in the cast did a wonderful job including Nico Parker as Sarah by bringing a powerful performance. I can smell an Emmy nomination for the best guest actor. I cannot praise enough the production of this pilot. The world feels so lived in because of its production design once again. The sets are amazing and I dig the cinematography in this show. I can't lie that the cinematography looked like a Netflix show for a bit in the beginning but once it got to the night scenes in the first half, it looks incredible. I hope in future episodes they go crazy with the cinematography and lighting. While it's just the first episode, I cannot praise the world they have built and I'm happy they are exploring more of this virus because I love when shows or movies explore the creation and lore of this virus. I cannot wait for what's to come into this show. It's going to be a wild ride from start to finish.
I would say the only nitpicks would be the cinematography in the beginning but besides that, I can't find any more critiques. There will be some critiques in the future but I hope they continue to give us a wild faithful adaptation. This is a groundbreaking television series not just for video games but for television as well. It's completely faithful to the original game with heartbreaking performances, beautiful production, and amazing direction to make this show as fresh as possible. I cannot wait for more episodes every Sunday and I hope they make it more heartbreaking because why not. This show is too good. Thank you, HBO for making an actual amazing video game adaption, unlike Uncharted. Big bruh moment for Sony. Now Streaming and on cable only on HBO and HBO Max. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
Jeff Daniels and Brendan Gleeson. © 2020 Showtime, CBS, and Secret Hideout. Directed by Billy Ray.
Watched it on Netflix (A Showtime Original)
Is Loyalty Given or Earned? Miniseries Review: After the 2020 election, everything seems to be normal. Well, America has divided once again but in the Hollywood/Television World, it is a completely different story. We go back in time to one of the most pivotal moments during Trump's presidency and the future of the FBI. From loyalty, trust, violence, and affairs, this scandal really affected not just two people, but a future that America can't clean or brush off. The Comey Rule is a gripping miniseries full of great performances and a story that can be taken in many directions based on what political side you are on, but the filmmaking present in this show is very great. Let's go deep into this real-life story and explore what worked with the filmmaking and what could've been stronger while not pissing both political parties. Unless Abraham Lincoln returns from the dead and makes gambling illegal. Random but political. Story: The miniseries tells the story of two powerful men, whose strikingly different personalities, ethics, and loyalties put them on a collision course. Part one follows the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and their impact on the election. Part two is an account of the first months of the Trump presidency - where allies became enemies, enemies became friends and truth depended on what side you were on. It's a political war that wasn't meant to happen in the first place. First, let's discuss the elephant in the room which is politics. If you are a republican or democrat, good for you. But that doesn't matter to me when I watch any films dealing with real-life events and how they are based on it with the elements of filmmaking involved. Everyone will have a different point of view when watching this show but I can tell this, this show aims to variety of people from both sides and it does it so well. It shows the good side and bad side of the right and left political parties. While it aims more into the left, in its direct core, it's a moderate point of view. I love when shows or films use the point of view from a moderate's perspective. It gives a raw and unfiltered view of a story or issue and makes it as dramatic as possible. This miniseries utilizes it so well and it's an amazing produced series showing the fishy ways of the government and how America can be untrusted sometimes. Everyone has a part to play and the cast in the series is very great. Jeff Daniels does a great job with his lead performance showcasing the truthful and honesty about his real-life character James Comey. His performance was pretty spot on and the character itself written for the screen is pretty great. The supporting cast in the FBI is also pretty great including Michael Kelly. I liked his strong performance and his fear of both sides of the political parties. Donald Trump himself, acted by Brendan Gleeson is absolutely amazing. It's the best representation of trump through film/television dramatization. He really acts like a villain in this series and his performance is pretty scary for a dramatization. It's spot on with his movements, how he talks, and his facial expression. It can be a little bit cartoony at times or look like an SNL skit, but Gleeson really killed it in his role. I loved his performance and I'm glad it wasn't a shadowed performance. The cast did a great job overall but the story itself is pretty good.
I have not read the book yet but after watching this series, I think I will. The real-life accounts of these events are spot on. While it can be slow at times, it catches up with the drama in the story. There are parts that are fictionalized but within its core, it does its job and it's pretty good. I could've seen it as a film but it would've been too long and it could've cut down some of the important pieces in the film. Glad it was a miniseries and the narrative overall is well done. The directing is very solid and during the heavy parts, it was pretty emotional and it got me good. Especially the final episode. The final episode is the best one in the miniseries and it has emotional and dramatic moments that are very strong. Overall, it's a great retelling of these real-life events. The production itself is pretty great as well. I liked the production design of the white house and the makeup & hair on Trump is honestly amazing. I couldn't see Gleeson's face which is a plus. But there are parts where I could see some of his face in the bright shots. The cinematography is quite interesting. It's very blue and dark which is suited for the show and I didn't notice until I rewatched some of the show. The lighting during the Obama days are bright and less blue while during the Trump days, it's grey and blue. It gets darker and darker which is a nice little detail within the editing and cinematography. Overall, the production is pretty great and it didn't feel cheap at any point in the miniseries. There are some critiques that I would like to discuss.
I would say that it felt slow during the second episode or drifted away in the main narrative. I was kind of lost in some parts on who the FBI was accusing. I felt like this show was kind of biased on some points which can be interpreted in many ways. There are some shots that look a little bit weird. Not only that, it felt like an SNL skit at some points which is not good. That's what I had in mind when going into this show. It's fucking hilarious that the SNL thought is in my mind while watching this miniseries. I would say that while you will like or hate this show, you have to be open-minded about the filmmaking parts of it. It's a well-developed show but it's not perfect. It's slow at times and it can feel unintentionally funny at times. There are more critiques to give but with an open discussion. The good thing is that it got its message across and the execution of it was very great. This is a well-made miniseries with amazing performances and great production. It can feel like an SNL skit at times but hey, that's what the media did to us. I'm being political now, shit. Anyways, the filmmaking is pretty great and it got its message across. While there are some parts that could've used more work, it's still a dramatic ride and the final episode really landed so well. I really liked this show and I hope I don't get canceled by giving a positive review. Now Streaming on Showtime and Netflix. Vizeit Score: "B+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
Gael García Bernal. © 2022 Marvel Studios. Directed by Michael Giacchino. Produced by Kevin Feige.
Watched it on Disney+ (Written on Letterboxd)
Quick Review: This is one hell of a good marvel special. It’s one hour and it doesn’t drag which is good. But the strongest element in this special presentation is the directing. The directing here from Michael Giacchino is very strong and it’s an amazing directorial debut from him. A lot of creative directing went into this project and the payoff was worth it. It’s very energetic and fun and bloody which is surprising. They got away with the blood since it was black in white. In which case, the black and white really works here and I wish they filmed it with actual film stock. It’s digital but I still love the cinematography in this special. The action is enjoyable and bloody. The atmosphere is so chilling and while I didn’t feel scared, I did feel what it was going for. It’s a spooky story and it worked. The VFX is pretty great and the production design looks pretty great for this special. The performance from Gael Garcia Bernal is pretty great and it’s nice to see a Mexican lead in a Marvel project. Ahora si mis compadres! The villain was pretty weak but it’s done its job. Laura Donnelly is also great in this special and I liked her character more because of her performance and small backstory. Overall, this is a strong MCU project because of its direction and creativity. This doesn’t feel like an MCU project and I’m happy that I got that feeling. This was an enjoyable watch at midnight and I hope we get more specials like this! Now Streaming Only on Disney+ Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Bill Hader. © 2018-2022. HBO, Alec Berg Inc. and Hanarply. Created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg. Watched it on HBO through HBO Max
You cannot outrun your deadliest past. Mixing two genres is a difficult process, especially for television. But Barry does that in its own way and it captures the heart of the show. It's brutal, funny, dark, bloody, and a good time. This show exceeded my expectations and HBO never lets me down. Once again, this show is bloody fantastic and with three seasons in, there is still a lot in store for the next season. But for now, let's look back at the first two seasons and move on to the third season which is the darkest one yet even though the show is listed as a "comedy". This show ain't a comedy. It's a dark comedy and I love every second of it. Join me into the mind of Barry and explore the world of LA through acting class and drug adventures. Plot: Barry follows Barry Berkman, a U.S. Marine and Afghanistan veteran from Cleveland, who works as a hitman. Lonely and dissatisfied with life, he travels to Los Angeles to kill a target and finds a new sense of purpose when he joins a class full of aspiring actors. But he gets jangled between acting and contract work which leaves some of his friends in danger. A man in both worlds. Season 1: This season is pretty normal and calm than the rest of the reasons. It balances the dark violence and the comedy very well. Bill Hader is fantastic as Barry and his best moment was during the medieval play after he killed a specific person without saying spoilers. He earned that Emmy right at that moment and that's where the show sold me. The side characters are fucking amazing as well. Sarah Goldberg as Sally was so funny and she made this show with more charm. Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank was too good. He's very funny and he doesn't take any situation too seriously. His relationship with Barry is very funny and their chemistry works very well. Stephen Root as Fuches is amazing and his relationship with Barry is in the mix but he wants Barry to be the best. Everyone did fantastic in this show and the comedy was spot on. This show made me laugh and not a lot of "comedy" shows made me laugh so hard like Barry. I don't know how but the jokes are well written and they fit at the right time during comedic and serious moments. The serious and dark moments really made this show uniquely special. It's half comedy and half drama and they balance it so well by not forcing two genres into one scene. It's done so well that you don't even notice it by the end of each episode. The violence is pretty brutal and the cinematography is amazing for television. Plus, the pacing is fast but it doesn't waste any time during the serious moments. This first season was really strong and by the end, I was hooked and I couldn't wait to start the next episode. But your thinking to yourself, what about Mr. Cousineau? Well, Season 2 and 3 really took him off in big ways. Season 2: This season really started to become a little bit more serious with its tone while not shying away from the comedic tone and characters that began with the show. This season is funnier with its edgy and dark humor. Especially during action scenes and serious moments. The episode "ronny/lily" really used both tones and smashed them together. But they use it in a comedic way while making it serious through its visuals. By its writing/screenplay, it's comedic but through visuals and cinematography, it's very serious and bloody. They play it off so well that by the end, you still think it's a comedy show. The pacing is much faster in this season but it wastes no time to get to the main drama or comedy build-up. The violence is more brutal and there are more dramatic scenes than in the first season. Plus, we get to explore the murder of an important character that will haunt Barry throughout the entire show. The side characters are still fantastic including Sally and Fuches. But Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau is absolutely fantastic and he brings a lot of comedic moments and heartful moments into the show. He gets more screentime and we get to see more of his emotional personal life and his relationship with Barry. Bill Hader and Henry Winkler are both the main goats of this season and they really carried the show with their amazing performance and excellent writing. The directing is stronger in this show with a lot of creative shots, action sequences, and beautiful cinematography. The final two episodes really start to make this show less of a comedy and really start to get more serious and it ends with an amazing ending that becomes the main focus of season 3. This season was stronger than season 1 and shit is about to get crazier in season 3. Season 3: This is by far the darkest season yet. While season 2 is the funniest season, season 3 is the complete opposite. Yes, there are more dark jokes and funny unintentional moments, but what really makes those jokes funny is due to the fall down of every character. Barry now has facial hair and he is trying to make work in the television industry while still doing side contract work. Sally has now her own show but the network is fucking her show and her career. NoHo Hank has more problems with a new cartel and Mr. Cousineau is trying to figure out what to do next in his career and maintain his darkest secret that may end up with death or jail. Everyone is trying to find their next step but each step comes with consequences. There is a lot of action and gunfights in this show. Season 2 is bloodier but there's darker violence in this season. There's an amazing car chase sequence that should earn every Emmy just for that single episode. It's called "710N" and it's one of the best episodes in the entire show. Beautifully directed by Bill Hader and it's fucking entertaining. The cinematography is glorious and way too good for television. The production design is much bigger and the storylines are more bigger and serious. The new characters are fantastic and the new "villain" in the final two episodes is amazing. The final episode is legit the best episode in the entire show so far. There's nothing comedic about it and it's totally a dramatic episode based on the visuals and tone. Every character gets an ending to their next journey and it ends with a huge cliffhanger that shocked me even after the credits roll. Brilliant directing from Bill Hader and honestly, I don't know where this show will head next. This is by far the strongest season yet and it has transitioned from a comedy show into a drama show. This show is bloody fantastic and the cast and crew pulled this off very fucking good. I don't know how but they did it very well. Conclusion: From the brilliant cast to the film crew and to the writers, this is one of the best modern television shows I have ever seen. The writing is flawless, the directing is fantastic, the performances are Emmy-worthy, and the production is fucking good. This show is hilarious yet bloody at the same time. This is a show that every filmmaker should watch. It has everything and the execution is well done. This is a show that I will look forward to and I cannot wait for the next season. Now Streaming Only on HBO/HBO Max Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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