Tag: journalist

Spoiler-Free Review of “Stars at Noon” on Hulu: A Powerful Performance

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Things aren’t as simple here as you want to think…”

Stars at Noon premiered on Hulu on October 28th 2022. The romantic drama-thriller stars Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Benny Safdie, and John C. Reilly. It runs for approximately two hours and seventeen minutes.

When a young American journalist is stranded in Nicaragua, she meets a handsome stranger who could help her escape, but she soon learns that their affair may have put them in even more danger.

Here is the trailer:

Stars at Noon tells a powerful story with a strong lead at its core, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Incredible performance by Qualley.

I was completely drawn in by her portrayal of Trish. She was stuck in a horrible situation and yet she still was able to find glimmers of hope and beauty, revealing different emotions along her journey. Her journey felt very real and scary at times, but she still managed to stay strong and driven, which made her such an interesting and layered character to watch on screen.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Beautifully shot.

There was something very simple about the way this film was shot. The setting was dark and hopeless at times, but it was also incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I really felt like I was transported to another part of the world. Even the simple moments of Trish walking down the street were just so well done. The overall tone just worked really well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Not what I was expecting…

I thought I was going to witness some kind of erotic thriller and there was plenty of flesh shown, but I wanted some more thrills to hold my attention. This movie was way too long and things didn’t really start to get interesting until well over an hour. I couldn’t finish this film in one sitting.

I appreciate that the film was going for a more realistic feel, but I wanted something with a little more edge because this film had the potential to be truly spectacular.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

A strong performance and moments of true brilliance, but this film could have eliminated a lot of its unnecessary moments to shorten its overall runtime.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Stars at Noon in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Inventing Anna” on Netflix: Juicy and Intriguing Premise

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Everyone here wants something…”

Inventing Anna premiered on Netflix on February 11th 2022 with nine episodes available to stream now. The drama series based on a true story stars Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Arian Moayed, Anders Holm and Laverne Cox. Each episode runs for approximately 60-70 minutes.

A journalist looks into the case of Anna Delvey, who stole money from New York elites while pretending to be a wealthy German heiress.

Here is the trailer:

Inventing Anna takes a true story and shows the audience different angles on how Anna Delvey became a well-known name. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Showcases gorgeous fashion and settings.

There was so much fashion embedded in this series and I loved it! We also got to be transported to different places, focusing primarily on New York City. The series did a good job of capturing the vibe and feel of each setting, which really helped elevate this series in a lot of ways for me.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Worthy flashbacks.

Julia Garner put forth a valiant effort here and I thought the flashbacks were the strongest part of the series. It was really interesting seeing how Anna did what she did over time, connecting with different people throughout her journey. This probably could have been the main focus of the series because it was that intriguing.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The journalist angle didn’t work…

I just couldn’t connect to this part of the show and I think it forced each episode to run longer than needed. Vivian was not likable at all for me as a character and I think that we spent way too much time focusing on her life rather than the interesting story we actually came to see…

That accent…

I thought I might get used to it after a while, but Julia Garner’s impersonation of Anna Delvey’s accent was so strange and off-putting. I’m sure she put a lot of thought and effort into it and I don’t want to knock her because I think she’s a great actress but it was really distracting.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series highlights an intriguing story worth watching and the fashion pieces alone are definitely worth your time. I personally would have preferred the series to just focus on the flashbacks more because they were really interesting. The episodes are super long and it took me a little while to get through this one, but I’d recommend giving it a whirl because it does have its moments.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Inventing Anna in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!