Nerdy Squirrel Reviews by Pasckie Pascua

“Bosch Legacy” ( Amazon Prime) 3 Seasons, police procedural based on Michael Connelly ’s books, sequel to” Bosch ” (2014–2021).         “Legacy” is no different from the previous “Bosch” seasons, only that Mr Bosch (Titus Welliver) had retired as LAPD detective and now works as a freelance private investigator. And Madison Lintz as his daughter Maddie is now a police officer. Mimi Rogers as Honey "Money" Chandler, a high-powered defense attorney , is now a DA. And there's two additions to the regular cast: Stephen Chang as Maurice "Mo" Bassi, Harry's technology expert, who shares Harry's love of jazz. And Denise G. Sanchez as Officer Reina Vasquez, Maddie's training officer.        But “Bosch: Legacy” is an addictive watch due to the crisp, no-fuss script writing of Tom Bernardo and Eric Overmyer from Michael Connelly's original materials. Still, a fine watch despite the absence of bombastic action, car chases,...

“Showing Up” (2022, Amazon Prime). This little movie from indie hotshot A24 is billed comedy-drama but I didn't see any funny sequences at all although I finished watching it.        This movie actually won several awards and was nominated for Cannes’ Palme d'Or in 2022. And was included in 2023's Top 10 independent films by the National Board of Review.        The film follows a sculptor managing the competing attentions of her art, job, family, and friendships. The artist, Lizzy, is always fine to watch Michelle Williams; directed by constant collaborator Kelly Reichardt. Also in the movie is the always fine to watch Hong Chai as Jo, also an artist.        Lizzy and Jo separately work on their craft but in the same building (that Jo owns); Lizzy deals with divorced parents and a kind of weird brother. Meanwhile, Lizzy's cat attacked a pigeon which Jo rescued and Lizzy also took ca...

“The Order” (2024, Hulu) true to life crime thriller, based on the 1989 non-fiction book “The Silent Brotherhood: The Chilling Inside Story of America's Violent, Anti-Government Militia Movement” by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt. The film revolves around an FBI agent who goes after a white supremacist terrorist group known as the Order that was active in the United States in the 1980s .         This is a pretty decent indie movie with fine acting, especially the usually good Nicholas Hoult as Robert Jay Mathews, leader of The Order . Diabolically restrained evil. Jude Law is a hot-headed FBI agent and Tye Sheridan as a young police officer.        This would have been great as an 8-episode TV series so we could get an inner look at Me Mathews’ transformation into a deluded neo-Nazi plus an understanding of Mr Law's fictional character's tortured soul. But as is was fine with me, anyhow. 🎥👍📽 “The Baader Mei...

“A Thousand Blows” (Hulu) Season 1, British historical drama about the Forty Elephants , an all-female crime syndicate clashing with the world of illegal bare-knuckle boxing in 1880s London.         Premise: Set in the East End of London in the 1880s, the series follows the Forty Elephants , an all-female crime syndicate led by Mary Carr, who specialize in shoplifting and confidence tricks , and who clash with Henry "Sugar" Goodson, the self-declared emperor of the East End's illegal bare-knuckle boxing world. Additionally, Hezekiah Moscow, a newly immigrated man from Jamaica with ambitions to become a lion tamer , and his best friend Alec Munroe, fight for survival as they come into contact with both groups.        In the backdrop of old London's grayish murk and underworld hustles, a story that is brutally compelling as it is bruisingly warm.         And remarkable ...

“Small Things Like These” (2024, Hulu) historical drama , directed by Tim Mielants and adapted by Enda Walsh from the 2021 novel by Claire Keegan , based in the infamous Magdalene laundries in Ireland. The Magdalene Laundries, also known as Magdalene asylums , were institutions usually run by Roman Catholic orders, which operated from the 18th to the late 20th century. They were run ostensibly to house " fallen women ,” an estimated 30,000 of whom were confined in these institutions.        Story: Christmas 1985 approaches. Coal merchant Bill Furlong, who is regarded as a fair and hard-working man from the Irish town of New Ross , is a father of five girls. The film basically revolves around Bill, played by Cillian Murphy.         “Small Things…” is an example of an exceptional movie that is also painfully boring. In almost all the frames, Bill is on them, forlorn and sad and almost about to commit suicide. O...

“Boat Story” (Amazon Prime) British comedy thriller. Synopsis: Cocaine is found on a boat by two hard-up strangers, Janet and Samuel, who agree to sell it and split the proceeds. They quickly find themselves entangled with the police, masked hit men, and a sharp-suited gangster known as "The Tailor.”         The story could be a bit usual but the characters are insanely unusual, such as the sinister casanova The Tailor, played in wicked relish and playful contempt by Tcheky Karyo. Then there's the local drug dealer Vinnie, moronic and vile but hilarious. Daisy Haggard as Janet, Paterson Joseph as Samuel, and Joanna Scanlan as Pat are all fun to watch, as is The Tailor's massive simpleton muscle Guy, portrayed in oblivious, mechanical stone-coldness by Craig Fairbrass .        A binge-watch magnet, indeed. A sort of Quentin Tarantino meets the Coen brothers carefree paradox and twisted humor. 🎥👍📽 "Tree on a ...

“Tollbooth” (2021, Amazon Prime) Welsh black comedy crime film . Plot: In Pembrokeshire , a man working solo shifts in the quietest toll booth in Wales hides from a criminal past where nobody would ever look. As his past actions catch up with him and his peace is shattered, he enlists the help of local ne’er-do-wells and oddballs.        There's a female Asian Elvis impersonator , with a mumbling aide whose only comprehensible word is “Whoa!” And rampaging triplets who declare themselves jihadists with Welsh accents. They'd anything from their hold-up victims, including their lunch sandwich.        This little movie is funny and can be sad, too. Depends on your mood at the time of viewing. 🎥💻📽 “The Last Stop in Yuma County” (2023, Amazon Prime) neo-Western crime thriller film written and directed by Francis Galluppi in his feature directorial debut.         At a remote des...

“Appropriate Adult” (Amazon Prime) British crime drama , based on the true story of Gloucester serial killer Fred West and his wife Rosemary West . The year was 1994.         The series was named after the role of Janet Leach as an appropriate adult during the questioning of Fred West. The senior investigator wanted to ensure that there could be no suggestion that West did not understand any part of the process, so arrangements were made so that he had an "appropriate adult" present to ensure this at all times.        This 3-episode series was nominated for eight BAFTA awards in 2012, and won all acting awards: Dominic West (as Fred West) and Emily Watson (as Janet Leach) won their respective leading players categories; Monica Dolan (as Rose West) won the best supporting actress award. All deserving, indeed.        Unlike in many serial killer features, “Appropriate Adult” d...