Rotten Tomatoes Film Reviews

Now that I’ve left you with numerous recommendations and my personal opinions, it is now time for you to create your own. Have you ever been asked for your thoughts on a show and your mind goes seemingly blank?  This post is designed to help you overcome this and organize your personalized opinions for the future.  Or in simpler terms, my goal is to assist you in forming your own movie/TV show reviews.

So what makes a good film review?  Well, according to Glide Magazine, you should shape your review off of tangible evidence you can point out directly from the show.  To take this a step forward, I would encourage you to start with the basics.  Think about the plot and what sticks out to you.  How easily were you able to determine the next event while watching the film for the first time?

Dramatic Movie Characters

Another easy path for a review is to form a base with the characters.  Think about the purpose that each character serves in the film and how well each were developed throughout the course of the plot.  The folks over at Pen and the Pad encourage the critique to look deeper than the role each character plays and also analyze how well the acting portrays the emotions of the characters.  How well did the actors pull at your heart strings and what emotions did they leave you with?  If the answer to these questions are unclear, it’s pretty likely the acting wasn’t exactly convincing.

Next, let’s think about some more background details that may be less obvious than the plot.  This is where I would go back to dramatic pieces of the film and take note of any ‘add-ons.’  This could be anything from dramatic music, dimmed lighting, to intentional silence.  These things are easy to miss the first time through but play such a large role in creating the scene and mood of the piece.  In director David Green’s interview with Fast Company, he makes an interesting point in using music that is contrasting to the tone of the scene.  He also focuses some on editing, another key detail when analyzing film.

Lastly, I urge you to think back to your initial emotions and reactions to when you had first watched or even heard of the film.  Did something about the title make you feel a certain way?  What aspects of the movie or TV show stick out to you the most?  Then think back to what left this imprint on your mind and how the director created this effect.  I like to think about a film in terms of a rhetorical situation, meaning I think about the ethos, pathos, and logos in different points of the show.  How did the characters motives and practices change throughout the movie?

Everybody’s a Critic

With this brain-dump of information, I hope you are better able to understand the insight to my review processes and a new way to develop yours.  I also hope that you come out of these posts with a few new shows you’d like to try or a new lens over the genre of crime drama.  Happy binging, my friends.

While contemplating on what this weeks post should encompass, I stumbled along an article from The Guardian, discussing the possible negative effects crime shows could create by forming a community that often ‘normalizes police misconduct.’  Although I would love to view the genre of crime within TV shows to be 100% amazing all the time, this post really got me thinking.  Crime shows are series that should be enjoyed, maybe even viewed mindlessly, but let’s not forget that whatever we watch is being put into our bodies.

Harry Lenix playing Harold Cooper in Blacklist

One of the main points within the original post by The Guardian, is that crime shows have a tendency to ‘erase racism,’ or forget to include that not all peoples are treated equally within the police force or justice system.  This got me thinking…again.  In one of my favorite shows,  The Blacklist, the leading agent in the FBI group is an African American man.  I feel as though in today’s society this is a strong position of power that anyone can hold based off their capabilities, despite race, gender, or ethnicity.  The Guardian argues that minorities receive less respect within the Criminal Justice System and by placing them in positions of power within shows, the directors are therefore distorting the viewer’s sense of reality.  So now the question is, how do we combat this issue?  Similar to resolving any other issue, we must face it at the root.  According to The Crime Report, the issues of  misrepresentation starts from ‘behind the scenes,’ as there is a lack of African American, specifically female, writers in the crime show world.   This means that the viewers within this genre are only seeing the criminal justice world from primarily white men…do you see the possible issue here?  The Crime Report agrees with the claim that these unfortunate habits are contribution to the distortion of reality in terms of our current criminal justice system.

In a similar light, many articles touch on the presence of police misconduct exhibited in these types of crime shows.  The writers over at IndieWire worry that these portrayals within films are leading to the increase of police brutality and miseducation within our criminal justice systems.

Steve McQueen: British Movie Director

With further insight on common issues within TV’s crime dramas, it’s the responsibility of the viewers to ‘watch with caution’ or maybe just not as mindlessly as we have before.  It is easy to be caught up in the on-screen action without understanding the ties it has to our everyday thinking and lifestyles.

To increase some variety in your crime-show-binging, think about checking out the movie ‘Widows’ by Steve McQueen, an African American director who uses his skill to portray emotional states and issues within society.  In an interview with The Reuters, he explains how he incorporated this motive within the movie, ‘Widows.’

Widows Movie: Directed by Steve McQueen

Dahmer: A Netflix Limited Series

I’m not going to lie, I was struggling on coming up with a topic for this week’s post.  I just kept thinking that I don’t want to overdo the shows I’ve already spoke so much on or run out of references.  So, I picked a new show.  Unfortunately, as a newly-adjusted college student, I don’t have the time to watch an entire season in one day.  This lent me to the idea of a possible new mini-series: First Episode, First Impression, where I watch the first episode of a crime drama series and fill you guys in on my initial opinions.  But that’s enough rambling, let’s get into the juicy stuff… (no pun intended, although this show did prove to be awfully gory).

Dahmer’s Neighbor; Glenda Cleveland played by Niecy Nash

Dahmer.  One of Netflix’s newest releases, inspiration for Tik Tok’s latest trends, and ten episodes of pure crazy.  This series tells the story of Jeffrey Dahmer, an infamous serial killer, and how he ended up mentally-ill enough to gain that title.  If you need a better background on Dahmer, the main character of this biographical/ horror/ thriller/crime movie, feel free to refer to the Crime Museum.

Since the whole point of this post is to deliver my first reaction, let me get to reacting.  The first episode starts off rather quickly as we are thrown into the already gruesome life of Dahmer and his quite run-down apartment.  The first encounter we have of him with another character is a conversation between him and his neighbor.  His neighbor, Ms. Cleveland, inquires about the rather unbearable smell steaming from Dahmer’s room, which he assures her is just some old meat and dead fish.  Now lady, if this isn’t a red flag already I don’t know what is.

Not to give too much away for anyone who hasn’t watched yet, BUT, the first episode quickly spirals and didn’t lose my attention once.  With such intimate moments and a grand level of uncomfortable silence, I felt like even I was holding my breathe sometimes.  The episode introduces what seems to be his last victim as he barely escapes.  The runaway victim is almost arrested due to racial profiling instead of recieving the help he deserves.  I found it incredibly intriguing that the show was able to include elements of systemic racism and allusion to corrupt police so soon in the series and with such a strong influence on the plot.  I’ve also never watched a crime show where the offender is actually arrested in the first episode, so it was nice to see some originality.

Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer compared to the real Jeffrey Dahmer

MovieWeb does an immaculate job elaborating on this aspect of the series and also offers a better look into the future of the plot.

One thing that was so jarring to me as I watched “Episode One” was the skills of the actors.  Evan Peters portrayed the role of a serial killer and sex offender a little too well.  This may be due to the countless hours he spent observing the interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer as expanded on in the article written by Seventeen.  The actor portraying Dahmer’s father, Richard Jenkins, also does an amazing job reflecting the stunned father of a now-known serial killer.  He shows the true pressure to suppress his emotions and hold true to the “man of the family,” even after such a traumatic event.

So aside from all of my rambling, I’m rather impressed with this series based strictly off of the first episode.  I do have to say though, this show is not for the weak-stomached.  There is a lot of gruesome imagery and unfathomable attributes portrayed throughout the film.  If you are able to fight through this aspect to absorb the show, based on true events, I highly recommend the watch.  I hope to continue watching to give everyone an update in the soon future.  Be sure to check out the trailer, and as always…happy binging.

(watch with caution, very gruesome, may be unsettling for viewers)

https://youtu.be/NVHHs-xllqo

Steve Carell playing Alan Strauss in The Patient

Don’t worry guys, our man Steve is doing just fine.  But I can’t wait to fill everyone in on his new show, The Patient, I have recently started on Hulu.  I’m allowing this series to fit into my “crime drama shows” because it’s definitely dramatic and (spoiler alert) the main character is a serial killer.  Differing greatly from Carell’s last series, Space Force, this series is much more eerie in nature.  The show tells the story of a serial killer who kidnaps his therapist in hopes that he could obtain help in stopping his “bad habit.”

Domhnall Gleeson playing Serial Killer Sam Fortner

The Vulture does an amazing job elaborating on the techniques utilized within the scenes to create a feeling of isolation and a narrow-scoped setting.  Unlike other crime dramas, I would describe this show as more of a psychological thriller.  But being the wanna-be forensic psychologist that I am, I couldn’t help but write about it.

The two characters in the show allow for a strong juxtaposition but leaves the audience wanting more outside of the unfinished basement where the majority of the scenes take place.  In an interview with the set director for the show, Lisa Son tells IndieWire about the mission behind the closed setting.  The job of the film is to put the audience in the same space as Alan, the kidnapped therapist, to put the flashbacks he experiences while in isolation into perspective.

The Basement

My favorite part of this interview is whenever Lisa Son explains the role of the basement as a “supporting character.”  With limited outside influence on the duo in the basement, the setting plays an enormous part in setting the tone and moving along the plot.

If you don’t believe this sort of intimate mood is right for you, don’t steer away from all crime dramas.  Most shows in these dramas develop all sorts of characters, with The Blacklist being a strong example of a criminal who knows just about everyone.  The folks over at Seek-a-Critique conduct a solid breakdown on the main character in The Blacklist, Reddington, and how his charisma leads him to having connections across the continents.

But I digress.

Now that we know everyone else’s views on the newly released series, I’m sure you guys are just absolutely dying to know my opinion.  In all honestly, for the first few episodes I couldn’t quit the binge.  Now, with five episodes down, I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish the ten-episode series.  I think I prefer shows where there are more characters and slightly more lively, contrasting the isolated and intimate feel this series offers.  With that being said, this series definitely has a place in many people’s lives, just maybe not mine.

I would recommend this show to anyone who is deeply intrigued in psychological and behavioral roots as the limited characters and intense shots offer a whole deal of opportunities for in-depth analysis on the two personas.  It can also provide a short break for the chaotic nature of most crime shows and a little change-of-pace some may be looking for.

If you’re still not sure if this sounds like the series for you, check out the trailer below!  Happy binging.

https://youtu.be/LpmMxXfBn-Y

Okay guys I know this is a little bit of a stretch and not totally classified as TV show drama BUT still insanely worth the watch.  In 2019 the movie “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” a movie depicting the life of Ted Bundy, was released.  The film features an unexpected lead (or at least unexpected to me), being Zac Efron.  Quite an interesting switch following a Disney musical if you ask me, but hey, he’s got bills to pay.

Extremely Wicked

Although I can’t say I was ever a High School Musical fan, or really a Zac Efron fan at all, he truly did fit into the role. But how come?  According to Looper, the switch wasn’t as easy as Mr. Efron made it seem.  Unlike past acting methods he had adopted, Efron had to totally dissociate himself as an individual to the character he was playing on screen.  Some may find it scary how easily an actor can portray the mannerisms of cold-blooded killer, but as a wannabe forensic psychologist, I find it merely impressive.

This movie biographing the life of Ted Bundy ended up with mostly positive reviews as it caught the eye of many crime (show) lovers.

Our sources over at Common Sense Media reflect on the usage of providing the point of view of Bundy’s girlfriend, Elizabeth.  This shifts the perspective of just seeing a raw-minded criminal to the charismatic façade he had maintained around his girlfriend.   I found this to be one of the most interesting parts of the film as it’s easy to forget just how good some criminals are at protecting their true colors.  This perception also lends the viewer to become frustrated with Elizabeth as I was practically yelling through my TV for her to (in lack of better words) leave his ‘fill-in-the-blank.’                                                                                                         photo source

A slightly less enthused review coming from Western Howl argues that the movie didn’t shed any new light on the already infamous Ted Bundy chronicles.  Although I can agree that all the facts utilized in the film are probably known t0 many, the fictional movie was able to offer a more relatable and thrilling retell of events.

Contrasting the fictional depiction of events from the movie is its antecedent Netflix release “Conversations with a Killer.”  This nerve-wrenching four-part series captured real-life moments with Bundy himself.  This is a spectacular watch before moving on to the newer movie in hopes to get some background of the man himself.  It also makes the charisma of the true Bundy that much more absurd when you have already surrounded yourself with the crimes to his name.

                                                      Spot the Killer

So, to reiterate, I would highly recommend this movie to all crime lovers, specifically true crime.  The film itself isn’t technically ‘true crime’ but your background in the expertise will lend you to an even better cinematic experience.  And if you still aren’t fully sold on the idea, be sure to check out the movie trailer to see if it’s worth your own time.

Some people believe crime shows to be the resource center for all things criminal.  With the inside scoop of what to do (or not to do) in order to quite literally get away with murder, what better place for criminals to find all their deviant information?  Well, in reality, a criminal getting all information from cop shows would have a better chance winning the lottery twice than successfully pulling off their heist (sorry to discourage all of you unlawful citizens of the world).

How accurate are crime shows on TV?

Although many fall subject to the common misconception that crime shows can give too much information to possible criminals, our friends over at Science News reassure us that this theory is far from credited.  If you are interested in this popular, but highly accusative and discredited myth, go check out their cite for more details on what they refer to as the ‘CSI Effect.’

Slightly contradictory to our last source, the folks involved at HowStuffWorks believe that although these shows don’t deliver criminals with an instruction manual with play-by-play steps on committing felonies, the series may open their eyes to the importance of things such as forensic evidence.  But then again, this is really just common knowledge that any delinquent would already suspect (assuming they’re any good at their day job).

So for shows that discuss everything crime related, and one show literally being named How to Get Away With Murder (great series btw, would highly suggest), why don’t they encourage criminal behavior? Good question.  Well for one, these Crime TV Show Dramas are just that.  Dramas.  They are made to keep the audience anticipating the subjects next move and obviously highly scripted.

Day One: How to Get Away With Murder

Digital Spy falsifies all aspects of crime television as they ask a forensic assistant for their thoughts on the matter.  Sophie Harris, the articles interviewee, expresses her frustration with the lack of protocol observed in these popular shows and explains her preference for true crime shows (another favorite genre of mine).  Most police-related series’ are far from accurate since creating a script that follows all requirements of the field would be rather monotonous. 

So if criminals aren’t the target audience of this genre, who is? Why, another good question.

In conversation with my peers, I’ve found that most people who are enticed by the Crime TV Show Dramas are reeled in by the psychological aspects behind the shows. They are people who strive to learn more about the human brain and the triggers for people’s actions.  If anything, the audiences of these shows are more likely to become paranoid that they will become victims of crime rather than becoming criminals themselves.                                                                                         Picture Source

I’m even a strong supporter of this claim.  I love anything crime related but am far from a delinquent myself.  I’m an uptight, anxious, studious young adult who cares deeply about her civic responsibilities.  So it checks out when I’ve used this knowledge and interest of the genre to pursue a career in forensic psychology rather than joining the life of crime.  Guess TV isn’t all that bad anyhow.

Best 4 Crime Drama TV Shows (in my humble, but correct, opinion)

Being the indecisive individual that I am, this was far from an easy task.  We’ve already established my love for anything crime related, especially when it comes to entertainment, but lets narrow my scope of interest.  Below I have summarized four of my top favorite Crime Drama TV Shows and how they have each earned their spot.  Not only is this a great display of character referring to myself, but also a great reference for anyone trying to enter the world of crime show nerds.  All are welcome here.

1. Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds.  An oldie but a goodie.  With 15 seasons and 324 episodes of pure bliss, this series is somehow still always on my must re-watch playlist.  The show holds my attention as each episode stars a new unsub but continues developing the “off-work” drama within the show.  With an ongoing plot between members of the BUA and strong emotions that combine work flings and crime, what more could one really ask for?  I’ve seen the entire series countless times and still find new things to like about it with every episode.  The Insider discovers things even I didn’t know about Criminal Minds in their article that covers topics like Reid’s famous eyewear to JJ’s young actors in the making.  The well developed characters in this show pull at your heart-  strings as you follow them through their emotional struggles that come with such a mentally draining job.  And if that doesn’t sell you yet, Matthew Gubler as Spencer Reid should do the trick.

photo-criminal minds

2. How to Get Away With Murder

This show must have an interesting audience with a title like that.  Much like its title, this show pulls you in and commands your attention.  It highlights the eerie world of unexpected victims (and more so, unexpected killers) as the audience finds out just how much someone is capable of when going through times of stress and irrational thinking.  After all, law school is no joke.  This story is unique as it follows a group of law students as they struggle their way through apprentices, intense professors, and oh yea, did I mention murder?  The plot is injected with steamy dramas and plenty of flings to keep anyone interested.  I mean, they are still college kids.  With a bad boy TA and a sassy teacher’s pet, How to Get Away with Murder is fitting for all crowds.

picture-HowtoGetAwayWithMurder

3) Blacklist

If you’ve never heard of Blacklist, you must literally be living under a rock.  This show is different from others in this genre because you get to work with a real life criminal.  And by real life criminal I mean actor James Spader.  Spader, playing Raymond in the film, carries the humor in this series.  Check out this short video for some of his finest moments.  The fast-paced plot of the film combined with enough cliff-hangers to push you onto the edge of your seat, makes for an enticing turn of events that I can’t even predict.  I do formally apologize to my dad who I ask way too many questions to during our routine Blacklist viewings.

picture-Blacklist

4) Only Murders in the Building

Okay I know what you guys are thinking.  In my last post I said this was my current fav.  And it is, BUT it can’t top my three OG’s quite yet.  First of all, this show starts Selena Gomez. Need I say more?  The Variety shows an inside clips of the three main actors and their plans for future seasons.   In the short video, you can realize why it was so easy for the crew to insert humor into the plot.  This show stands out from other Crime Show TV Dramas due to its immense wit and somewhat absurd story plot. With popular actors and comedy carrying the plot, this show will hold your attention and keep you wanting more.

picture-OnlyMurdersintheBuilding