Nerdy Squirrel Reviews by Pasckie Pascua

“Protection” (Amazon Prime) British crime drama that explores the world of witness protection in the UK from the point of view of a police officer, DI Liz Myles.        Compared with most Hollywood police procedurals, British detective shows are not flashy and less high on political correctness. Premium is on storyline, acting, and a series doesn't go beyond 6 episodes, most are 4.  That'd be regardless of a new season in the works. (Although I am still baffled why British detectives don't carry guns as a fact.)         Siobhan Finneran gets into DI Myles’ body and mind like the character is made for her. Siobhan's Liz is not the typical badass cop but a flawed soul who exudes a stern spirit in her vulnerability and sincerity. 🎥👍📽 “The Madness” (Netflix) action conspiracy thriller . As Muncie Daniels, a media pundit who must clear his name after he accidentally stumbles upon a murder in the woods, Colm...

"Apple Cider Vinegar" (Netflix) Australian drama limited series based on real life. Kaitlyn Dever and Alycia Debnam-Carey are wellness gurus Belle Gibson and Milla Blake (real life Jessica Ainscough), who both used their platforms to promote alternative medicine .         Ms Gibson fooled her following and the world with a fake cancer diagnosis, while Ms. Blake convinced her mother to join her in eschewing scientifically prescribed medical treatment, both of them dying from their real cancers years sooner than would otherwise be expected.         The series focused more on Belle Gibson as she commits fraud by pretending to have cancer in order to promote alternative medicine . She successfully launched a media empire, but soon her lies are uncovered.         I enjoyed the series mainly for the exemplary performance of Kaitlyn Dever , who keeps on improving on each...

“Gladiator II” (2024, Max) historical epic film directed and produced by Ridley Scott that is a sequel to “ Gladiator ” (2000). Featured machos are Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus Aurelius a.k.a. gladiator royale Hanno, son of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), the protagonist of the first film . And Pedro Pascal as General Acacius, a general of the Roman army who trained under Maximus, and Lucilla's husband. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) is Hanno's mother.        There’s the Beavis & Butt-head emperors of Rome: Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla . These guys relished their role to the max, indeed. Crazed and whacked. And then a delight to see. D enzel Washington as the wickedly cool and villainous Macrinus. However, the historical figure Marcus Opellius Macrinu s was not black or a former slave; he was Algerian. He ruled Rome as well but his death isn't the swordplay sequence in this movie's final frames....

“Saturday Night” (2024, Netflix) biographical comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman , about the night of the 1975 premiere of NBC 's “Saturday Night,” later known as “ Saturday Night Live .”         The movie: 109 minutes of matching mostly relatively unknown actors and actresses with real SNL alumni that they were portraying. Oh that is Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Al Franken, Billy Crystal, Dick Ebersol, Milton Berle etc etcetera. There's Billy Preston and Janis Ian, too!         Of course Lorne Michaels is Gabriel LaBelle , although this young dude is also “unknown” somehow. The movie's center is Lorne so you don't miss him. Mr LaBelle earned a Golden Globe nomination for this but, I reckon, a young Billy Crystal would have done better.        At first, I didn't notice. But Matthew Rhys accounte...

“Arcadian” (2024, Hulu) post-apocalyptic action horror . Stars Nicolas Cage as the father of two teenage boys, all trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. The film opens with Mr Cage’s Paul scavenging for supplies in a storehouse and then fleeing through deserted back alleys, with the pandemonium of an apocalyptic event in the background, sirens blaring, sounds of distant explosions, and people screaming. He seeks refuge in a secluded spot, cradling his two infant boys and reassuring them that everything will be okay.        Directed with a focused camera and contained mayhem by Benjamin Brewer, this little movie from current indie marvel A24 Films is big. A briefie on Mr Brewer: He was the lead visual effects artist for huge Oscar winner and A24 breakthrough “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022). I didn’t like that movie though. Of late, Benjamin was the writer of “Reptile,” a Netflix crime thriller almost two years ago.   ...

“Roadkill” (Amazon Prime) British four-part drama thriller, starring Hugh Laurie as the Justice Minister whose private life is under fire from his enemies.         Would you sympathize with Peter Laurence? As Conservative politician? As a gallivanting husband? But Peter is not a cliché as you are prone to pre-judge such a man. Anyhow, Hugh's Peter is cool and breezy as mojitos and Cuban tobacco. That may cloud your reading. Chill a bit. This is a short series. The answer is in the final episode.         Meanwhile, everybody else around Mr Laurence, including Helen McCrory as the Prime Minister Dawn Ellison are jittery, nervous or anxious (though Dawn tries to look restrained).         “Roadkill” was written and created by playwright David Hare , whose best cinema work (according to me) was his smart and witty screenplay of 2002's “The Hours.” That's enough reason to w...