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Reviews
Just Ask for Diamond (1988)
Nostalgic bliss
I remember seeing this film when i was off sick from school and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it!
It was a classic example of British comedy for family entertainment, with a good story and strong acting. I'm scared that if I watched it again, I wouldn't like it, so I'll leave the fond memories in the past.
The Sopranos (1999)
Hard Hitting Drama
The Sopranos burst onto the scene the same time that US television became regarded as a competitor to the big screen. David Chase's creation was always going to be a hit, what with the successful record of Mafia dramas and their prominence in modern society.
Chase used real events from organised crime in creating anti-heroes to build his story around and manages to mix the next big score and gangland violence with human joy and sorrow, and the distinction between good and bad soon becomes blurred.
Tony Soprano is a forty-something gangster who has risen to the top of of the New Jersey Mafia, but the golden days of the mob are over and the continual threat from the FBI and enemies within are making his family life hell. Suffering from panic attacks and severe depression, he is forced to consult a psychiatrist. In his sessions with Dr Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, he faces up to the fear of losing his family because of the life he chose. He is also aware of what will happen if his Mafioso associates suspect he's breaking the code of silence.
James Gandolfini is superb as the depressed mob boss, able to change from devoted family man to a vicious killer. A complex character of greed and regret, who, despite the fortune, women and fear he commands, is unhappy with his place in today's America.
The first season concentrates on the dangerous life led by Tony, who to keep himself stable for the sake of his family, empties his soul to a psychiatrist. His relationship with his venemous mother is a major stress in his life and his rise to the top has left his uncle Junior marginalised and bitter. When their attempt to have Tony killed fails, and his counselling sessions are exposed, Tony has to take action against his enemies and try to save the only person that can aid his recovery, his psychiatrist.
The show is an ensemble piece and works best when it shows the effect Tony's decisions have on those around him. His wife, Carmella (played by Edie Falco)is an intelligent woman whose anger over her husband's criminality and cheating are surpassed for the comfortable lifestyle he provides. Tony loves his two kids and does his best to keep the truth from them, but when the men he puts to work on the streets are also the ones that come to the house for dinner, the two worlds collide and become a way of life.
Michael Imperioli provides strong support as Chris Molitisanti, who encapsulates the new breed of Mafia soldier. He wants everything to be like the movies and live the gangster lifestyle without working for it. Ignorant of the rules and disrespectful to the bosses, he only adds to Tony's frustration.
His relationship with the sexy Adriana helps flush out his tormented soul and Drea de Matteo should be applauded for developing her character into the heartbeat of the show. For such a loud mouth, Chris's best scenes are when he is silent and reflective. This is best summed up in 'A hit is a hit', when he's sat alone in the club listening to the band he refused to fund, having to deal with the fact that his actions left Adriana's ambitions as a music producer in pieces.
The first three seasons show the highs and lows of life in organised crime. Pussy's betrayal as an FBI informer and the return of the evil Richie Aprille drag Tony into the depths of the underworld where murder is the only solution. These actions keep Tony on top and alive but put him under the FBI's spotlight, jeopardising his desire to distance himself from that world and keep his family safe.
One negative is that story structure does seem to repeat itself: Young wannabe gangsters getting in over their heads and getting whacked is taken from season two as the subplot which led to Christopher's shooting and restyled in the following season without any subtlety. The death of Nancy Marchand who played Tony's mother meant that the third season could not play out the court saga of Tony versus his mother and instead filled the void left by Richie Aprille with Ralphie, a sadistic gangster who spreads tension all through the crew.
Season four didn't meet the high standard set by the previous three, but there were still good episodes. The development of the growing resentment between Tony and Ralphie climaxed in a fierce and believable fight to the death. Joe Pantoliano's portrayal of Ralphie was a loss to the show, but the rising threat of Johnny Sac' and New York was a wake up call to the real danger of life in the underworld.
After the build up of Paulie's treachery; Christopher's drug abuse putting his life in danger and the prospect of Carmine either being whacked or waging war on New Jersey, the season finale could have been one for the history books, rather than a huge anti climax which spent too much time focusing on the breakdown of Tony's marriage.
Season five struck gold with the addition of Steve Buscemi as Tony's cousin (Tony B),and thankfully, Frank Vincent's New York gangster Phil Leotardo, is not one too many actors from the'Mafia films only' casting lounge. The writers concentrated on exposing Tony's evil side, reminding the viewer that he isn't a victim of circumstance but a cold-blooded gangster.
The season belonged to Christopher and Adriana, notably the scene in 'Long Term Parking', where she confesses about being an FBI informant and the aftermath it reaps. The finale justifies the build up to the wild demise of Tony B, with Tony knowing that he has to kill his cousin to remain on top of his empire.
Alias (2001)
Espionage for kicks!
Alias was borne out of the turmoil of 9/11, when the world's superpower had to strike back against the terrorist threat to the American way of life.
Television producers responded to the public mood and Alias, along with 24, created government heroes and affirmative action to entertain and unveil how the US of A are winning the war against their enemies.
The murky world of espionage is the topical backdrop to a world at war, where government agents can never be taken at face value and everyone has a dark secret or ulterior motive.
Jennifer Garner plays special agent Sydney Bristow who discovers that SD6 - the specialist CIA unit she's been working for, is an enemy of the state: a global alliance with figures in the highest echelons of politics. She becomes dedicated to bringing them down after their leader Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin) orders her boyfriend's execution.
Sydney goes to the CIA as a 'walk in' and meets Agent Vaughn (Vartan) where she tells him everything she knows about SD6; only to hear that the CIA are actively working on destroying the organisation. Sydney agrees to become a double agent, but is shocked when she sees her estranged father Jack Bristow (Victor Garber) walking in the halls of SD6 with Sloane. After Jack saves her life, she learns that he is also a double agent and that they'll have to work together.
The consistent quality of acting created a close bond between the characters, who you start to know and care for. Each episode works along a fast moving narrative structure, following the agents from one international location to another; they appear in an array of disguises, armed with gadgets, guns and martial arts to defeat their enemies. The story has a comic book feel with the underlying theme of Rambaldi: a scientific genius from the 1400s whose prophecies of the world's future brings Sydney into danger.
Season one belongs to Garner, whose natural beauty doesn't detract from her convincing performance as a twentysomething woman who is determined to serve her country. The burden of having to keep the truth from her friends Will and Francie plays heavily on her conscience, but after what happened to her fiancée, she has no choice.
Her relationship with Jack is an interesting subplot; he's a man who loves his daughter but too many years in the field have fried his emotions and his daughter's trust. The slow burning love story between Sydney and Vaughn is convincing, with both knowing they cannot afford to let their feelings affect their work.
The veteran class of Rifkin and Garber as men who have seen and done too many things for the American flag adds steel to the show and the exposé of their pasts reveals the truth behind the 'death' of Sydney's mother. Sydney grew up believing that her mother had died in a car accident but the truth is that her mother was a Soviet agent assigned to marry Jack Bristow and learn the secret workings of the CIA . She was a skilled assassin and one of her victims was Vaughn's father.
The first season brings you into the characters' lives and manages to balance the major story elements of the battle against SD6 and the Rambaldi prophecy with the personal journey of Sydney, whose double life tears away at the relationships with those closest to her.
Season one ends with Sydney being captured by a terrorist cell and after almost thirty years, she comes face to face with her mother, Irina Derevko (Lena Olin) who fills the role of a ruthless assassin forced to compartmentalise the love she has for her daughter and the regret of destroying Jack's life.
The second season developed on the strong character arcs and story of its predecessor to deliver a darker and more powerful tale of conflict and betrayal. When Irina hands herself in to the CIA, Sydney and Jack have differing attitudes on the woman who stands before them. Sloane has grown in power and his search for Rambaldi artefacts starts to dominate his life. The season focuses on the reunion of the Bristows and what Irina's end game is.
Sydney and Vaughn grow closer and they are no longer able to resist their desire for one another. The character of Julian Sark, an angelic looking killer played by David Anders is a perfect foil to Sloane's embodiment of evil. Being associated with Sydney brings Francie and Will into the midst with awful consequences for both.
The season ends with Irina revealing that she is still an enemy of the CIA and a vicious no holds barred fight between Sydney and Francie's clone keeps you glued to the screen as they kick each other around the house. We are left with Sydney waking up in Tokyo, not knowing where she has been for the last two years.
The heart of the show is the love story between Sydney and Vaughn and the third season begins with Sydney discovering that she has been missing for two years and presumed dead. She's distraught at the fact Vaughn is now married to Agent Lauren Reed (Melissa George) and Jack's confinement after going rogue to discover the truth behind her disappearance. This marked a change of style for the show, with an increase in graphic violence and adult themes.
Alias is more than just action based entertainment. The show's creator J.J. Abrams has created a snapshot of family turmoil and human drama in a world where good and evil comes in many faces.