Nerdy Squirrel Reviews by Pasckie Pascua

“Happy Face” (Amazon Prime) crime drama , adapted from the 2018 podcast “Happy Face” by Melissa Moore, and her 2009 autobiography “Shattered Silence,” co-written with M. Bridget Cook. Plot centers on Melissa Reed, the daughter of serial killer Keith Jesperson, known as the Happy Face killer.         First off, most U.S.-made true crime series, in contrast with British versions, are painstakingly long. Minimum of 8 episodes, compared with the Brits’ 3 or 5. It'd be fine if the back stories offer (investigative) clarity to the eventual commitment of crime or if the added navigation of the criminal mind gives us ample childhood or societal background.         “Happy Face” didn't really present those. Sure, British shows don't do either but since these are true crimes, google helps. Yet to fit all these in 4 episodes is brilliant. Eight episodes become soap operatic, redundant, and mushy. As in “Happy Face.” ...

“Shortbus” (2006, PlutoTV) erotic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell . We know John from his “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001) musical. That talent though isn't visible of felt in this self-gratifying peepshow.         The plot revolves around a sexually diverse ensemble of colorful characters trying desperately to connect in an early 2000s New York City . The characters converge in a weekly Brooklyn artistic/sexual salon loosely inspired by various underground NYC gatherings that took place in the early 2000s.         The movie's obvious come-on variety of explicit scenes containing non-simulated sexual intercourse with visible penetration and male ejaculation. Yup. Says the writer/director: “The film employs sex in new cinematic ways because it's too interesting to leave to porn.” Uh huh. 🎥💻📽 “99 Moons” (2022, Tubi) Swiss erotic drama. Writer and director Jan Gassmann s...

“Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes” (Hulu) British true life drama. The 4-part series documents the killing of 27 year old Jean Charles de Menezes by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service at Stockwell station on the London Underground in 2005 after he was wrongly deemed to be one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts. Two weeks before on July 7, London was shaken by bombings in which 52 people were killed.        The script by Jeff Pope is almost a typical news report. No qualms, no chasers in between. Not fiction or the usual police procedural that we watch on TV, this story is real–and a reason why many have lost faith in police leadership. Meanwhile, the police and their superiors, as well as the five young terrorists in the botched assignment (after the big one) were stripped off their steely armour and presented in vulnerable skins. So we see the guilt there, especially by Met Police Commi...

“The Deuce” (HBO) historical drama series created by David Simon and George Pelecanos , set in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s. Mr Simon is the same brain behind the hit “The Wire” (2002-2008), focusing on the drug menace, shipyard smuggling, and city government corruption in Baltimore. So we know what we are getting in “The Deuce,” derived from the nickname for 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue.        In a largely journalistic, no hero/no villain tact, the series tells the story of the Golden Age of Porn or the legalization and rise of the porn industry in New York City that began in the 1970s. Themes explored include navigating a culture of extreme misogyny , government and police corruption, the violence of the drug epidemic, and the real-estate booms and busts that coincided with the change.         Major characters are twins Vincent and Frankie (James Franco) and porn actress ...

“The Great Train Robbery” (Britbox) British historical true crime series. It tells the story of the Great Train Robbery on 8 August 1963, first from the perspective of the robbers, and then from the perspective of the police.         The heist (during and after) had the trappings of a full movie feature, with its nervous excitement and cocky grit. Yet this is only a 2-part series. Episode one, “A Robber's Tale, details the organization of and successful completion of the robbery. Episode two, “A Copper's Tale,” follows the police investigation into the crime and subsequent arrest of many of the perpetrators.        So if you prefer a weekend respite that isn't so mentally taxing as an 8-episode series with overstretched meanderings and soap-operatic backstories, this short fare is your bag.         By the way, I dig the music direction by Paul Englishby and Glenn Gregory. ...

“The Sixth Commandment” (Amazon Prime/Britbox) true crime drama, based on the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. The tragic story explores the narcissistic manipulation and murder of Mr Farquhar and the death of his neighbour Ms Moore-Martin in Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire , England in 2015 and 2017, and the fall out from these events including the police investigation and 2019 criminal trial of Ben Field and Martyn Smith.        As the unsuspecting elderly victims, veterans Timothy Spall and Anne Reid delivered dramatic restraint that mirrored their helplessness from their tornentor's sinister machinations. Mr Spall, who won the BAFTA best actor last year for this series, is a familiar face in many British movies. Ms Reid was nominated for her role. I remember Anne in 2003's “The Mother,” a similar role, opposite Daniel Craig.        Director Saul Dibb's “soft” treatment of Sarah Phelps’ daytime dr...

“Beauty Mark” (2017, Amazon Prime) drama inspired by true events, follows a poverty-stricken young mother who has to get money from a man from her abusive past in order to save her family. The film explores the interconnected themes of abuse, cycles of abuse, systemic poverty, addiction, and race.        Those are huge subjects to tackle in 1 hour and 27 minutes so writer/director Harris Doran only gave us Auden Thornton to channel Angie Simms as the center. And that's all although the movie still left unanswered questions that usher deeper, lengthier discussion.         A nagging question: If Angie isn't financially desperate, would she still pursue the case? Anyhow, this indie is definitely a breakthrough for Ms Thornton. 🎥💻📽 “The World Made Straight” (2015, Amazon Prime) drama. In a rural Appalachian community haunted by the legacy of a Civil War massacre, a rebellious young man struggles to escape the viol...

“Up in Smoke” (1978, PlutoTV) also referred to as “Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke.” A counterculture comedy that stoners keep on watching at least 15x a year. Shot in Los Angeles and at the Mexican border in Yuma, Arizona , this juvenile classic is all about smoking cannabis, topless women, and frat house jokes. But you simply wanna see again. 🎥💻📽 “Caveman” (1981, Tubi) slapstick comedy film , set during prehistory and revolves around the rivalries between cavemen , and starring Ringo Starr. As described, this silliness is slapstick, which suits Ringo, the unofficial clown of The Beatles.         Story: Ringo’s Atouk is a bullied and scrawny caveman living in "One Zillion BC – October 9th. He lusts after the beautiful but shallow Lana, who is the mate of Tonda, their tribe 's physically imposing bullying leader and brutish instigator. After being banished along with his friend Lar, Atouk falls in with a band of assorted misfits, am...