I wanted to enjoy the series. I really did. Unfortunately I was let down badly. The witty repartee, lovable whirl of personalities and hysterical (if pertinent) social insights of the books seem to be have replaced with stilted quasi soap opera scripting, PC overload, and for those who know and love the books, strange twists of the characters, timelines, reference points and history. To pick a cast for such a well loved series of books always leads to criticism. In general I found the acting was pretty good with lovely performances by Olivia Dukakis, Laura Linney and Paul Gross. However, the choice of Ellen Page as Shawna has me completely baffled. It seems that everything I have seen her in is a slight variation of the same character, and that intense, dark, troubled persona that Ms. Page is so good at portraying just doesn't do the character, or back-story, of Shawna Hawkins any credit. The saddest part of the series for me was the ending. Armistead Maupin wrote one of the most fitting demises for a character such as Anna Madrigal - an image that 'Tales' lovers hold dear, and should never have been messed with. To have seen fit to re-write it is pure sacrilege. I wish the series had worked. Not only for myself, but for of Maupin's Barbary Lane fans.
Review of Tales of the City
