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