Based on the book, "The Shining Girls," by Lauren Buekes, this mini-series is practically a master class of acting. It stars Elizabeth Moss, of Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale fame, as Kirby, who was brutally attacked and carved up six years earlier than the start of the show, and is still suffering several profound and confusing psychological effects. The perp is still at large and plotting his next evil act, and is portrayed with bone-chilling effectiveness by Jamie Bell. A reporter named Dan, played by Walter Moura (who wonderfully portrayed the kingpin of all drug kingpins, Colombia's Pablo Escobar, in two seasons of "Narcos,"), becomes involved when another victim is uncovered. And 5-time Emmy nominee Amy Brenneman subtly plays Rachel. You could do worse than to watch these four to learn the craft of acting. Anybody harboring any doubt about Elizabeth Moss after her turn on Mad Men need only watch Jane Campion's BBC mini-series "Top of the World" to see what a chameleon she is within and across her roles. I'd never heard of Moura before his Escobar role, for which he gained weight and gravitas at will. And so far, after the first episode of this series, he and Moss are both batting a 1000. And I wouldn't bet against their averages continuing.
2 Reviews
Seriously disturbing, heart beating show
moviesfilmsreviewsinc5 June 2022
In the year 1964, Harper Curtis speaks to a little girl and discusses the impending rain. After he lies down with her, he leaves her a small gift. Although she says she doesn't want it, he claims that she will take it as that is what she always does. Moving to 1992, Kirby, who lives with her Mom and works in a job with few rewards, goes to work to find that someone is sitting at her desk. Except they're not, and it seems that Kirby is simply confused. For a while, much of Shining Girls focuses on Kirby, who doesn't really seem to know where she is. Eventually, the story moves to reporter Dan who has a news story after there was a body found in the tunnels of LaSalle. When Kirby hears of the murder, she meets with an older officer who wants her to go through some photo IDs. She won't, though, as she never saw him, which means her attacker could literally be anyone. When Kirby returns home, a dog (Grendel) appears, and it's something that she writes in her notebook. Jin-Sook, a scientist, finds a dead bee in her office before later going outside and finding an abandoned umbrella. Whilst at work, Kirby sneaks into notes related to the murder and finds the address of the possible murderer. She heads over to the house and speaks to the suspect, Pavel. Although hesitant, Kirby steps inside to talk to Pavel. He says that he did not hurt Julia and had only known her for five months. Listening to him, Kirby realises from his voice that he is not the same man who attacked her. . When Kirby returns to the flat she lives in, Grendel is now a cat. And her Mom no longer lives. Instead, Kirby lives there with her husband, Marcus.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
