Red Riding Trilogy: '74 / '80 / '83, 2009 (Grade B+)

this is three separate movies all tied together by an original crime

Directors: Jullian Jarrold; James Marsh; Anand Tucker

Any Awards? don't know of any

CAST: Andrew Garfield; David Morrissey; John Henshaw; Anthony Flanagan; Warren Clarke;  Jennifer Hennessy;  Peter Mullan;  Rachel Jane Allen;  Paddy Considine;  Rebecca Hall; James Fox;  David Calder;  Nicholas Woodeson;  Ron Cook;  Lisa Howard;  Chris Walker;  Shaun Dooley;  Jim Carter; Sean Bean; Sean Harris;  Steven Robertson

plot summary:  this sweeping trilogy traces the agonizingly protracted search for the mysterious Yorkshire Ripper and the rampant police corruption that impeded the investigation. Inspired by actual events and adapted from David Peace's Red Riding series of novels, this neo-noir epic that comes close to being great.

sez says:  well done, well acted, a few loose ends in the story --but overall it held together as a real 'who done it' that wasn't obvious--but never strayed from being believable.  Good guys get killed off a little too often--but another good guy always comes along and another thread is found and in the end all is made whole

mjc says  production values and cinematography provided an intriguing telling of a fictionalization of a series of murders on the north of England

Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, 2001 (Grade C+)

Director: Robert Allan Ackerman

Awards? Yes, Emmys for Davis and Blanchard

CAST:  Judy Davis; Victor Garber; Hugh Laurie;  John Benjamin Hickey;  Sonia Smits;  Jayne Eastwood;  Daniel Kash;  Alison Pill;  Aidan Devine;  Stewart Bick;  Tammy Blanchard;  Amber Metcalf

plot summary:  The triumphs and failures of actress and singer Judy Garland are presented in this sweeping biopic, which convincingly depicts her childhood career, breakthrough with The Wizard of Oz, struggles with addiction and failed marriages. Based on a book by Lorna Luft, Garland's daughter, this television film earned leading actress Judy Davis and supporting actress Tammy Blanchard Emmy Awards for playing the same role.

SEZ Says: I love Judy Davis and she, as always, did a fine job.  This is a little long but even so it didn't drag--even at 170 minutes.. Garland seems to be a topic of unending interest. Her life was not an easy one--her talent was large--and she was unstable.  Add to that a never ending problem with drugs and it is amazing that she lasted as long as she did.

MJC says:  Judy Davis was real--production values were limited.

The Jury, 2002 6 part Mini-Series (Grade C+)

Director: Pete Travis
Cast:  Derek Jacobi; Sonnell Dadral; Antony Sher; Helen McCrory; Gerald Butler; Sylvia Syms; Sturart Bunce; Nina Sosanya; Michael Maloney; Nicholas Farrell, Gillian Barge; Paul Reynolds; Sarah-Louise Young; William Hoyland; Connor McIntyre; Billy Scott; Steve Sweeny; Mark Strong.

sez says: It is a treat to see such great acting--and to a person this is very well done. The story--did he do it, didn't he do it, how can a jury member make a decision without evidence that is absolutely certain --is pretty well done too--but at times a little over done (reasonable doubt is after all the standard, so if you can't feel sure than you can't convict.)   High school students / racism / bullying / revenge/ are all topic ripe for a mystery --so that part was good.  And the attempt to weave the personal lives of the jury members was a good idea..but it fell short. The various transitions in their lives were choppy. In some cases we were eventually TOLD why one or another of them did want they did--but in some cases their was no good explanation.  So the STORY fell shot in doing the full job of working these peoples lives into the background of the trial.  Still, it was diverting, and well acted, and a reasonable mystery--so it easily called a 'good' show -- but it falls way short of being a great show. Grade C+

NURSE JACKIE, Season One

Cast: Edie Falco; Eve Best; Peter Facinelli; Haaz Sleiman; Merritt Wever; Paul Schulze; Dominic Fumusa; Anna Deavere Smith; Daisy Tahan.

 sez says-- we like Edie Falco-- so we decided to watch this-- It starts off well--establishing complex characters and a setting with promise .. but then it fizzles. Once we are introduced to the characters, their contractions and demons it is as if the writers don't know where to go with the character  -- so they keep harping on the same things.. Jackie uses drugs, she is having an affair, her daughter is acting out in school so Jackie must worry. Her pals also have some depth --(not as much as she does) but over and over we see Jackie go in the bathroom and take some more drugs, hide her wedding ring, worry over her daughter's drawings...and...and...and we see her take more drugs, and take off her wedding ring (one whole show is about her having trouble getting her ring off) and worry some more about here daughter not smiling. We are not sure this will be worth watching another season -- they have some strong characters..and there is possibility here. but the story needs to go somewhere. Watching the same dilimma every week--maybe be like real life--but it is not compelling to watch --So far C+

Anna Karenina, 2000, Masterpiece Theater (Grade B)

Director: David Blair
Cast: Helen McCrory; Kevin McKidd; Douglas Henshall; Mark Strong; Amanda Root; Paul Rhys; Paloma Baeza; Abigail Cruttendenl Sara Kestelman

sez says: We have watched every version of Anna Karenina  that we can locate to see how the way the story is told changes over time.  This version is well done and has wonderful production values The sets and costumes are marvelous.  It is possibly the strongest we have seen in depicting the emotional aspects of the characters. Part of that is the good acting--but part of it is focus. The DRAMA of the story is the story here. I rather doubt that is what Tolstoy had in mind. He being interested in bigger issues like God and the Social Order--these are woven into this version, but not at the central story. Via camera angle and wobbly cameras (to show a character's disorientation) --and intense close-ups we are invited to experience the feelings of our cast of characters.  An acceptable approach I guess.  But explorations of the characters beliefs, motivations, moral codes in conflict, are of more interest to me. But still well done. (Grade B)

Miss Marple: The Mirror Cracked From SIde To SIde, 2010 (Grade D)

Director: Tom Shankland
Staring Julia McKenzie, Lindsay Duncan; Gene Goodman

sea says: this is part of a Masterpiece Theater MYSTERY SERIES..and it is exactly what you would expect as such--great production values, settings, costumes, acting are all first rate. .. but I just can't get involved in Agatha Christy stories.they seem so, so,,well so tepid. not not--not cold--just flat. So I doubt that anyone could make one that I'd like--SPOILER ALERT- read no further if you don't want to know the who done it --  This one is about a Movie Star, who got the measles when she was pregnant, and thus her child was born damaged -- in an off-chance encounter she meets the person who exposed her to the measles --and so she goes on a murdering spree.  Then, her husband kills her so she won;t have to suffer any more  (Grade D)

Crime Story, 1986 (grade F)

sez says: I thought this old series might be good -- It has some good names associated with it .... for instance Michael Mann directed some of the shows and Miles Davis is listed as one of the actors.. but --SOOOORRRYY--it is not any good. The best part are the clothes and sets. You see some pretty spectacular furniture and set props  (I am not kidding--it has really cool stuff and a nice look) but the stories are stupid and while I thought it was possible that the acting was intentionality kitsch--my partner in Crime argued it was just BAD. Aany we stopped watching about a 1/3 the way through the series --it is was not a hard decision to say enough of this. (Grade F)

WILD PALMS, 1993 (Grade F)

Six episodes starring James Belushi; Angie Dickinson; David Warner; Bob Gunton; Nick Mancuso; Robert Morse; Ben Savage; Kim Cattrall; Dana Delany; Brad Dourif; Charles Hallahan; Robert Loggia
Bebe Neuwirth.

sez says: this 6 episode series started off looking interesting. The costumes were inspired the sets stylish, the dialogue snappy.  But it descended rapidly into schwarmy trash.  The story is about 'bad guys' trying to take over the world via 3-D TV, tied to a pseudo-religious group that would keep people from thinking--as this 3-D virtual (aka false) world would replaced the good real word.   But before long gratuitous violence and unwieldy story twists takes the whole thing out on a limb that it never gets back from.. So it ends with some trite material saying all that matters is family.  Sure family matters--but that is a dud of an ending for what started out looking like a smart and slightly off kilter-artsy show.
I am warning you: Don't bother with this -- if you watch the first episode you will think -- "this is interesting", than you'll find the second episode slips a little but you figure its worth checking out the third episode, which drops off just a little bit further.  By the time you get to the 5th episode you realize you are lost but you'll  feel obligated to watch the 6th.  At that point you get to see not just the story but the acting fall  to pieces. Then you'll remember you were warned to not get started with this one. (Grade F)

Foyles War, Season 6, #3 The Hide (Grade B)

Masterpiece Mystery Presentation
 Cast: Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell

sez says -- we really enjoyed the early seasons of Foyles Wart and were glad to see that they continued itm in this 6th Season of 'After the War' stories.  This one revolves around POW Brits who joined the Nazi to fight the Russians (anti-communists) --and it has a good mystery (what won't the accused young man talk?) that is solved in the course of the story, without introducing a deus ex machina to wrap everything up ( i hate when they do that). There are some extra unnecessary shenanigans thrown into the story (bad guy, greedy developers, and bad dads) But they didn't hurt the story.
This is either the final time we will see  this crew -- or maybe it will continue with Foyle in America--where he is headed --for some mysterious purpose--at the end of this show.  Great production values, great acting. Kitchen is really a great actor but he sure hit his sweet-spot in this show.  (Grade B)

Foyles War, Season 6, #2 Killing Time (Grade C+)

 Director David Richards III
Writer:  David Kane
Cast:
Michael Kitchen  .. DCS Christopher Foyle
Honeysuckle Weeks Samantha Stewart

 summary -- racial prejudice at the nearby American base is echoed in the local community, In the meantime wealthy local men are targeted by a pair of thieves.

sez says: I am always interested to see how racism will be dealt with in fiction--it needs to be dealt with much more than it is.  This is a British version of what American racism looks like --and it looks bad.  But the blacks are idealized and the British hardly have any issue with race at all--except to cooperate with the Americans (which is suggested they shouldn't do--but they do not initiate the behavior---the American's are to blame here--and that is fiction. The Brits are every bit as racist as Americans.). An attempt is made to explore how Blacks cooped-with racism--but it was tepid and didn't ring true. For instance: The primary black character is asked way he would fight for a country that denies him rights at home. He responds that he believes in democracy.  Well--sure--but many Blacks were systematically denied the vote in the US at the time --soooo, if you are going to ask the character that question --then you ought to work a little harder at giving the guy a real answer.  Anyway these are petty complaints. The 'mystery' here is not much--and it solved by telling us the answers --not by any process of discover that makes sense. So the mystery part of this story does not much recommend itself--but on the whole the story still works as an entertainment, and it does try to take on a bigger issue than just a mystery  --so kudos for that.  (Grade C+)

Foyles War, Season 6, #1 - RUSSIAN HOUSE

BBC - TV Mystery Series
starring: Michael Kitchen; Anthony Howell; Honeysuckle Weeks; Julian Wadman; Ellie Haddington; Jay Simpson; Polly Maberly; Caroline Martin; Jay Benedict

sez says: this is not the best of "Foyle's War"-- the earlier seasons were excellent for the genre--and Michael Kitchen does an extraordinary job of creating this character--so it was with delight that we anticipated seeing him back --one more time-- on the job--now, after the war.  But this story about White Russians (who fought with the Germans in WW2) being mistreated after the war was not as good as most of the previous in the series. They even had to throw in a gun chase to try and spice it up--and it just didn't work. The characters are all in tact --but the story is really weak--better they didn't ring-dry a good thing--they should have let Foyle fade away with dignity. (Grade D+)

Miss Austen Regrets, 2008 (Grade B)

PBS - Masterpiece Theater Production based on the life and letters of Jane Austen, tells the story of the novelist's final years, examining why, despite setting the standard for romantic fiction, she died having never married

starring: Olivia Williams;  Greta Scacchi; Imogen Poots;  Phyllida Law; Tom Hiddleston;  Hugh Bonneville;  Adrian Edmondson;  Jack Huston

sez says: this was a  lovely diversion, well acted (esp Williams version of Austen) and nicely produced --costumes etc. were great.    And because much of it is based on  actual letters it provides at least the illusion that you are seeing something of the real life of the author. I enjoyed it. If your taste runs in this direction, you'll probably like it too. But it probably won't win over in converts if this type of drams isn;t your cup of tea to begin with.(Grade B)

The Unit, 2006, Season One (Grade F)

Noted playwright David Mamet created this television drama. So we thought it would be worth checking out. It is a story that follows an elite special forces unit charged with carrying out top-secret military operations for the U.S. government.  While the men live dare-devil-comic book hero lives they also have to live with countless secrets whcih create problems for their families.

Staring Dennis Haysbert; Scott Foley; Abby Brammell and others.

sez says: the first couple shows were ok--becasue Mamet wrote them, but they were just ok , in part because the actor were not up to the writing.  Generally the acting was weak all round--and then the writing got weaker and the stories didn't even hang together.. so we gave it up nad wound; suggest anyone else waster their time on this (Grade F)

The 39 Steps, 2010 Masterpiece Classic PBS (Grade D+)

Director:
Produced By Masterpiece Theater as a Masterpiece Classic
Starring: Rupert Penry-Jones; Lydia Leonard;  Patrick Malahide


PLOT: A spy on the run accosts Richard Hannay, a former intelligence agent, in his London flat. The desperate man gives him a coded notebook and then is shot dead by German agents bursting into the room. Hannay battles the intruders and escapes. He returns with a constable, who sizes up the evidence and decides that Hannay himself is the killer. Hannay is thus plunged into the cloak-and-dagger intrigue that precedes the outbreak of World War I. Pursued by police, but also chased by German agents who want the secret notebook, he makes his way to Scotland, where a German spy ring is executing a plan that will render Britain defenseless against invasion. Along the way, he is joined by combative suffragette Victoria Sinclair, who at first mistakes him for a liberal politician, but is unfazed to learn that he is an accused murderer and, she thinks, a "delusional maniac" on the subject of German espionage plots. Dangers and surprises lurk everywhere ...

sez says: why a remake of this classic? I guess, like me, people want to see what they have tried to do/new with this fabulous old Hitchcock movie.  So you've got something of a built-in audience fueled by the power of Hitchcock's genius.   I assure you --this in NOT a better version. The production values (sets, costumes, etc) are all around really good, but the story is silly and veers from here to there based on happenstance and luck -- and then people who were just in the water come out of he water in dry clothing.  The end is a real cop-out. I won't say what happens but I can say it made me moan and ask out loud, why did they have to do that.  Not much reason to watch this except as a mild diversion when you don;'t want to have to think about wha't going on on the screen. (Grade D+) 

Emma, 2009 (Grade A-)

Director: Jim O'Hanlon
Masterpiece Theater Classic Production --multi-part mini-series
Starring: Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, Jonny Lee Miller, Louise Dylan, Jefferson Hall, Jodhi May, Robert Bathurst, Tamsin Greig.

sez says: well I have to admit loving costume dramas, so it is no stretch for me to like this, the latest version of the perennial classic book, that ever-so-often gets made into movie. At first I didn't think I like Garai's version of Emma--then it grew on me, till I became fond of her take on this famous literary character.  And, what do you think? Did all the right people eventually get married to each other?  OK the down side of these stories is that you always know how they will end -- but I don't care, I love them anyway.  (Grade A-)  

Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (Grade C to C+)

Starring:  Ian Richardson; Charles Edwards

mjc says:  I am always looking for a good mystery to watch (some might say, desperately looking) and so far this small series based on a professor and Arthur Conan Doyle out and about solving mysteries has been enjoyable.  It is difficult to plot a mystery, especially in movie form, that is faithful to the audience.  That is, that presents possible suspects and solutions in such a way that the viewer has a chance to solve it, without resorting to a deus ex machina.  This accomplished that goal and with Ian Richardson driving the scenes he was in it worked as drama too (scenes without him, alas, fell flat more often than not).  For the genre, C+

sez says: the stories in this series are not terribly compelling but the acting is first rate and the set design, staging is excellent -- the sets are superior in every way -- the costuming is strong too --so too bad the story lines are so -- well, so-so.  Grade C 

Unscripted, 2005

HBO Series with 10 Episodes
Directors: George Clooney & Grant Heslov
Staring: Krista Allen, Bryan Greenberg, Jennifer Hall, Frank Langella
IMDB Link:  Unscripted

sez says--this series has a Cinema Verite feel to it. It is not a documentary--but you feel like you are watching people in real life situations struggling to find their way into the the world of professional acting. Much of the story takes place in an acting class--where Frank Langella, as the 'instructor' creates a grossly exploitative character who is also strangely sympathetic. He bobbles around trying to help his students, being jealous of them, and using them (esp the women) -- all the while he struggles to explain what it takes to be an actor and how deeply within yourself you must delve to find the strength and commitment to excel in the craft.  But the class is only one aspect of the series, there is the everyday lives of people in the class--each more compelling than the next. It is real easy to recommend this. It is real easy to watch. And it is real easy to like the characters. You leave it feeling you know something of the soul and the underbelly of the world of the actor--or at least of the aspiring actor.

mjc says:  this  was so simple in its execution and yet delved deeply and realistically  into the struggle of aspiring actors.  I say this knowing nothing about the "reality" of that life, but the series was so persuasive of its point of view that it convinced me of its authenticity.  Powerful piece.

GRADE: B+

The Corner, 2000

Director Charles S Dutton
HBO Mini Series from 2000

sez says --this has a lot of the same cast as THE WIRE (which is a far superior production is every way).  There are 6 parts to THE CORNER -- we only watched thefirst two.  It was too boring to watch any more. And that is saying something--we seldom give up on a series, especially one this short.  But there was nothing to hold on to --or to compel you to want more.  To give it its due, it is an effort at a sympathetic portrayal of people living in a drug infested world.  It demonstrates that these people are much more than drug addicts and street punks and whores. Each person has history and all, except for the most forlorn, have urges toward decency, toward caring for others, toward being self critical, even toward having a sense of humor.  It is true we don't see these aspects of the down and out very often in our stories --- but making this point it is not enough, all by itself, to make a story interesting.   The truth is, it is no big secret that good people get lost in bad situations. GRADE D

mjc says:  Maybe I've just seen too many films about drugs: users, pushers, good cops, bad cops, politicians, but it is time to move on as, from a recent report I saw on LA, the users, pushers, etc seem to be doing.  Perhaps a series like this has contributed to the ability of folks to move on, I hope so but I can't watch any more of this.

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

Director: Paul Seed
Starring: Ian Richardson; Charles Dance

sez says: takes up the question of how did Conan Doyle come to develop the character of Sherlock Holmes? This film purports to tell that story.  It is an interesting peek at English society with all of its hypocrisies, and the mystery is diverting.  Not a great movie, but a nice diversion. GRADE C

mjc says:  this is the "pilot" or introduction to a short series of television mysteries featuring Bell and Doyle called Murder Rooms.  It was a fun time, good plot and above average mystery.

Anna Karenina, 1977 Masterpiece Theater

Director Basil Coleman
Stars: Nicola Pagett, Eric Porter, Stuart Wilson

sez says: we started a project of watching all the different film versions if Anna Karenina, in the date order they were made. We are about 2/3 the way through the project and this is far and above the best so far. But then the others were 2 or 3 hours and this one is nearly 10 hours (10 episodes of 55 minutes each) so a lot more detail is woven into the presentation. This is an adaptation of a deeply textured novel that explores issues such as social hypocrisy, patriarchy and women's rights, religion, love and loyalty, nothing short of the meaning of life and truth are considered by Tolstoy.  These are not things that can be given there due in a stripped down version.  But a serious effort is made to do the novel justice in this version and it is well acted too.  All of that is appreciated. GRADE B+

Rebecca, 1997

A Masterpiece Theater adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel.

Starring Diana Rigg, Charles Dance, Faye Dunaway, Emilia Fox, Ian McDiarmid

sez says: Two parts and pretty long -- a pale version of the Hitchcock classic. Expected Rigg to do a great job of Mrs Danvers but she didn't deliver the goods. None of the acting was very impressive. This version is a little truer to the novel (he really did kill her on purpose) than Hitchcock's version, which was shaped by the Film Production Codes.  And Joan Fontaine's version of the new Mrs. de Winter, stand heads and shoulders over Ms. Fox.  In this version the emphasis on the age difference between Max and his new wife edged up a bit too close to making him look like a pedophile.  The best part of watching this is realizing what a master Hitchcock was...he did the story in half the time and twice the suspense. GRADE C-

IMDB Link:  Rebecca 1997