Reviews

As I watch this series, I find that my mind is divided between the stellar cast and the trite script. Throughout, there are frequent call-backs to Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie; however, based on this series, the author, Anthony Horowitz, doesn't come close to matching wits with these stalwarts.

The cast, which includes Lesley Manville, Tim McMullan, and Matthew Beard, just to name a few, are at the top of their form. The script, however, demands that they cite the most ridiculous lines. The mystery is prosaic, the cutting between the life within the book and the life in the "so called" reality is hackneyed. The development of the relationships between the main characters is, I must say, the sole redeeming factor.

I love Lesley Manville's work. She's worth the price of admission, no matter the project. The cinematographer has drawn upon her beauty by focusing on her expressive face. She is a strong, intelligent woman living in a male dominated world. She should shine, but the dialogue lets her down. I cringed too many times to give this a higher rating. Looking at the star power of this series, I wanted to love it. However . . .

For those who are familiar with "Strictly Come Dancing" (UK), you will know Amy Dowden. For those who aren't, she is a Welsh ballroom dancing champion, a newlywed, a crohn's sufferer, and (in my opinion) the most positive person in the world.

This new show PERFECTLY reflects her personality. After seeing the first episode (teary-eyed throughout), I love it. It melted my stoney heart. Each episode Amy gives a certain person who has wanted to dance the opportunity to learn. Her joie de vie comes through in every frame. I can't wait to watch more.

Taking people compassionately out of their comfort zones and helping them, lifting them, encouraging them to try, to express themselves, to feel the joy, Amy's caring heart is clearly evident. Caerphilly (Amy's hometown) has every reason to be proud.

"Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan," repeatedly, each season, proves the power of the limited-episode TV series (LETVS) over the relatively shorter format of the feature film. With more time to develop plot and character arches, the LETVS gives the story time to unfold more like the novels from which they evolve.

This series is set before the first Clancy novel Hunt for Red October, so serves as a prequel to the work published by the renowned author, remaining (mostly) faithful to the titular character.

Even if you are not familiar with the books or the films featuring Jack Ryan, this series is worthy of your attention. As mentioned above, the longer format allows time for the tension to build, similar to the novels. But also, unlike so many other productions, the so-called smart people actually ARE smart. They act as smart people would act. Frankly, I'm fed up with characters who are supposed to be smart but act as if they don't have any brains in their heads. "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" is full of people who have risen to the top of their respective professions. They, therefore, should be more than merely competent, they should be superior. And time-and-time-again, the writing and dialogue delivers: smart people acting and behaving smart--as it should be.

So, in sum, the long format allows for the story to develop better than film is able, and the brains behind the plotting and the writing bring us a world where smart people act and behave as smart people should. Both of these prove that his show is a cut above, well above typical TV fare.

But be warned: if you are not prepared to pay close attention to EVERYTHING, you can easily lose the plot. So, take the time. Enjoy the ride. It's one of the best out there.

I don't think I've ever given a television series a 10 before, but this series has earned it. I'm just 30 minutes into the first episode and I am completely blown away with the skill of the author AND the of actors. WOW!

A series starring Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden (not to mention Kristin Scott Thomas) should be good. And it lives up to the hype. The intrigue, pacing, and dialogue all raise the bar for what television can be.

This is not a series that you can watch passively. You MUST pay attention. There's a lot of moving parts. And it's best to pay attention to all of them. SLOW HORSES, the television series is so good, I feel compelled to read the books. And that's saying something!!!

Mick Herron, here I come.

I've been a fan of this Caribbean murder mystery series since it first came out. As a fan of Red Dwarf (highly recommended), I was drawn to see what Danny John-Jules was up to. And what a find! The 'fish out of water' premise continues over the series with a variety of stars filling the role of a UK Detective Inspector stuck in paradise. Though, like oh so many murder mystery series, I am forced to suspend my disbelief at the sheer number of murders on such a small idyllic island (as I write this they are coming up to 100 episodes and 'who knows how many' murders). However, I digress.

While the scenery is scrumptious and the actors (for the most part) are exquisite, it's the humanity behind the mysteries that keep this franchise humming along. The entire central cast are three dimensional characters, each given time to live and grow. We quickly find ourselves buying into the lives of these characters, and missing them when they leave.

Its strengths are the location, the mysteries, and the actors. I particularly like that non-white and/or non-English actors have such opportunity to play real people (as opposed to playing 'the black character' or 'the foreign character'). People of all shapes, sizes, colours, cultures, etc. Deserve real opportunities. And this show provides exposure to English-speaking audiences of people from around the world. Would I have had a chance to enjoy Sara Martins or Josephine Jobert otherwise? So, 'Thanks Death in Paradise' for showcasing such a diverse cast, and for doing so in such a beautifully consistent way.

Yet, another strength is the way each police officer is not just competent, they're all phenomenal police officers. Recently media (newspapers, social media, network news, etc.) have systematically decimated the reputation of the police. So it's nice to see a police procedural where the entire force is GOOD AT THEIR JOBS. Of course, this is television, so the DI is the genius, but the 'feet on the ground' often break the case by finding something most would miss. For me, this is what places this procedural above so many others: knowing that the whole team (not just the DI) solve the case.

I've loved every minute.

I'm in the middle of the third series and I love how things are progressing. In the first two series I was intrigued by the mysteries and the historical aspects of turn of the 20th-century Europe. But, what makes this special is, as the stories progress, the characters are given time to become more three dimensional. But I"m especially drawn to the way the secondary characters, those behind Max and Oskar, are given a chance to shine, and GROW.

For example--don't worry, no spoilers here--Clara, Max's fiancée, in the first series was rather two-dimensional and (to be honest) rather entitled. But as the series progressed, so did she. She continues to grow each story. And she's not the only one. I'll let you discover the others for yourself, as I await, with eager anticipation, to see how each character and each relationship grows and matures.

Vienna Blood is much more than a historical detective drama. It's so much more. I can't wait for series 4.

STRIKE flows from the mind of JK Rowling. Thus, quality is expected. And quality is what you get from the writing. To JK, chapeau. You are more than just Harry Potter.

These procedural investigations in this series are well done, but the main characters are what you live for. Cormorant and Robin are why we tune in. Robin, more than Cormorant (C. B.) Strike, has the best arch of all the characters. She grows. And you (at least I) root for her to grow at the stories unfold.

So, tune in for the (exquisite) mysteries but stay for the burgeoning relationship between the main characters: Cormorant and Robin.

I can't wait for more from the mind of JK Rowling. She knows how to tell a story, I must say.

Seeing the trailer, I thought the premise had potential. I liked the look, the actors, the direction, but the writing let me down, way down. After a couple of minutes, I found myself making excuses for the lack of tension; but after 20 minutes, I was hoping that the dialogue and the approach to the characters improved. It is clear that the writers have no concept of the struggles someone would encounter upon leaving the military. The dialogue continually made me cringe. A good drama (esp. Police procedural) should not make you cringe.

The men are domineering and the women, although often in power positions, are weak. This is surprising since women play a significant role in the production. I expected better. This is not the days of Starsky and Hutch. WE deserve better.

I was disappointed that I couldn't get past the first 30 minutes of the first episode. Maybe it gets better, but life is too short to gamble on that.

I love Maya Rudolph. Now you know why I watched this show. But the brains behind this rubbish should never be given responsibility for any other television show, EVER. The timing of the first episode is SO formulaic and SO over the top that I was embarrassed to be a viewer. Running at 30 minutes, the first episode felt like an hour (a very painful hour). The logic of Maya's character is all over the map. Her character would NEVER allow someone like the charity-head to dictate to her, NEVER EVER. It's mind-boggling. Clearly, television CAN BE (and often is) BETTER, much better.

Boy, my eyes hurt! Almost every scene of Wonder Woman 1984 caused me to roll my eyes in incredulity. Sure Gal Gadot is pretty. If that's your reason for wanting to watch this film, I strongly recommend downloading a picture or three. But, if you're interested in watching a coherent film, an entertaining film, look elsewhere.

AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!

I just finished binge watching "Staged". No great feat; they're only 15 minute episodes--and that's part of its charm. David Tennant and Michael Sheen are two more reasons to watch this series. It's not fair to say that they play themselves. Rather, they're playing caricatures of themselves.

This series watches their interactions as they struggle with cabin fever during lockdown. If you've ever wondered what celebrities are like when they're at home, this is a whimsical glimpse behind the curtain. While the boys are acting like petulant children, the women, all women in this series, are strong, understanding, and intelligent, which grounds the story emotionally. In one scene, David walks in and sits down next to his wife (played by his real-life wife Georgia), smiles, and simply says, "Thank you." She lovingly returns a knowing smile.

The writing is witty but not pretentious. It assumes that the audience is paying attention. There are several plot threads that run the length of the series. If you're not paying attention, or if you don't watch the episodes in quick succession, you're in danger of missing much of the humour and even losing the plot. A lot is left for the audience to connect the dots, so pay attention to everything, including the credits (a running gag throughout). With 15 minute episodes, it's easy to fly through the series in one sitting.

Great acting, great writing, timely storylines, witty, but short and sweet. What more can I say, except: if you like quality, smart, enjoyable television, this one's a winner.

One warning, though. If you're offended by profanity, you'd best give this one a miss.

Let me start by saying that this film is run-o-the-mill, formulaic, predictable. Stephen Merchant (the frequent Ricky Gervais partner) presents a rather pedantic melodrama that does little but lay on the mat for the three count. But let's face it, I'm not a wrestling fan, I'm not the target audience. I've never heard of Paige and don't give a toss about the vaunted WWE. I'm a fan of movies. And this one is just humdrum.

Having said that, there is two, even three, reasons to watch this flick, and they're all about the cast. I'm not going to talk about the always outstanding Lena Headey because everyone knows she's AWESOME. But I'll recommend this film for three other reasons.

First is Nick Frost. He may be familiar to you as Simon Pegg's buddy in such films as "Shaun of the Dead", "Hot Fuzz", "The World's End", etc.). He has since carved out a niche for himself stepping out from under Simon's shadow. As always, his acting is subtle, nuanced, and (most importantly) believable. Instead of going big (which, for lesser actors, might have been the way to go), Nick portrays Ricky Knight as a human being. Nicely done Nick. This film is worth watching for this performance alone,. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

Second, is the break-out performance of Jack Lowden ("Dunkirk", "Calibre", "Mary Queen of Scots", etc.). He put on a stone and a half or so of muscle to play the real-life brother of Saraya (Britani/ Paige--aka the main character). While the direction makes this a rather formulaic presentation, Jack's portrayal of Zak Zodiac allows the audience to become invested in more than just the main character. Put a pin in this one, Jack Lowden is a rising star. He's someone to keep your eye on.

But the main reason to watch "Fighting with My Family" is the ALWAYS impressive Florence Pugh. To be transparent, I have to admit that I've become a fan of this young actor. "Little Drummer Girl", "Lady Macbeth", "Midsommar", etc. But, let's face it, the secret's out. She's in demand; and rightly so. Her work is phenomenal. She's so natural, so real that you forget it's a movie. If you want to see an outstanding actress at work, just check out her filmography. And I mean watch anything--you won't be disappointed. She can carry a film or mini-series, or what-have-you. I STRONGLY recommend this film simply because Florence Pugh is in it. I needn't say more.

So, in sum, the film is pedantic. It's run-o-the-mill, it's humdrum, BUT--and this is a BIG BUT--the cast is well worth it. If you want to watch some really wonderful performances, this film is a showcase of talent. What can I say, Nick Frost is building a fantastic career, Jack Lowden is coming into his own, and--let's face it--I'd watch anything with Florence Pugh's in it.

BTW, if you're a WWE fan, remember, it's a movie. When you're making a film, you don't have time to explain everything. Some things and characters are compressed for time. So, just sit back and relax a bit. And remember, the Knight family are on record saying that their lives are presented essentially accurately and they're extremely happy with the way they're portrayed. So enjoy!