Reviews

"Madam Secretary", (2014-2019)

This series has cookbook writing that offers few surprises along the way. Not every episode is cut from the same cloth, but most are. This is rather like meatloaf for the eyes; you can sit down and watch it and be very comfortable. The episode opens with a crisis somewhere in the world, and this thrusts troubles and problems upon the Secretary of State played by Tea Leoni with the same dramatic ambience as the scripts. Her husband somehow gets into the mix in diverse ways and helps to save the nation along with his wife Madam Secretary. Along the way we have the 'Partridge Family' subplots with their three children and the interplay with their parents. Though there is some outstanding casting, including Bebe Neuwirth, Keith Carradine and Zeljiko Ivanek, these talented actors don't even break into a sweat with the parts they have. There are never very many substantial edges to the scripts and overall, they conclude with the United States 'saving the bacon' so to speak. Madam Secretary's youthful helpers are like a collection of Shakespearean clowns, and if our foreign policy is influenced by anything like these people, we are in deeper trouble than I thought. Perhaps the producers wanted to offer a mild version of the Danish series "Bergen" without the edges. Well, they did it.

"Eating our way to Extinction," (2021)

This 'documentary' is the 21st century version of a traveling medicine show. It has a bottle of Dr. Horsefeather's Elixir for us and goes on to explain how many diverse afflictions it can cure. This elixir is a vegan lifestyle. The good doctor's medicine show has all sorts of 'talking heads,' some of them accomplished in their fields, then a few hucksters (i.e., Tony Richards). Part of the way, it even offers us a standup comedian. In trying to be an informed audience/reader, I have always been wary of that old rhetorical bulldog "the sweeping generality," and the clever technique of mixing the true with the untrue. It is indeed a disingenuous documentary that will use these rhetorical techniques and expect all viewers to buy their brand of hooey. Eating animal-based food has been going on for over a quarter of a million years. The same for plant based. The problem is not what is being eaten and drank, but the corporate Greedheads that have completely discombobulated the world food system and water cycle for profit.

"Restoration," (1995) Now twenty-eight years since its release, this movie is a grand example of a superb historical set piece. For 1995, the casting was strange, even off putting. Robert Downey Jr., and America's (then) 'sweetie pie' Meg Ryan, are a long way from my favorite actors, but they surprise us here. "Restoration" IMO is both their best movie. The remaining players are splendid. Sam Neill, David Thewlis, Ian McKellen, Polly Walker and a young Hugh Grant make a powerful supporting cast. The story takes place in the 17th century court of King Charles II. Having escaped to Europe during the Cromwell scourge, and after the execution of his father King Charles I, his son is restored to the crown after the fall of Oliver Cromwell and all his Puritans. So old King Charles II pulled out all the stops on having a court of unparalleled lushness and extravagance. Therefore, this movie won Academy Awards In both craft categories for art direction and costume design. To say the production values are outstanding is to understate it. Into the midst of this splendor by sheer chance falls an outstanding doctor who suddenly finds himself in the royal position of King Charles personal physician. Being quite the party boy, he goes bonkers and out parties everybody. So, we follow him from the poverty of being a working physician in Cheapside, London, to his zenith as the Kings physician. And his voyage continues, and I shall say no more. This was a great ride, especially for people who enjoy historical dramas.

The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017)

This international production is the creative output of a Turkish\American corporation. "Lieutenant" tells us the love story between an American heiress from Philadelphia, an American doctor, and a third--the suitor who prevails for the ladies attention, a Lieutenant in the Turkish army during the beginning of WW I. The time and place aren't seen often in American or international cinema. This is because the producers of a film would have to deal with the Armenian genocide of that time. This film chooses to pick around that. It does make it obvious in story content that the conflict between the Armenian Christians and Turkish Muslims was one of lethal proportions. A story like this could not be told without politics and religion entering it, and it certainly does in "Lieutenant". However, I found it an uncomfortable fit between an historical drama and a 'Harlequin'esque' romance. In quite a few places it gets very soapy, at least for my taste. Too many cinematic cliches, including our crazy-in-love couple riding horses across golden fields! There are others. As is the case with so many hybrids, they crossed an edgy historical setting with a Harlequin romance and came out with the worst of both. It could have been the other way around, but in my view it was not.

"To Leslie" (2022) The screenplay for this movie was a good one, and it traveled many roads cinematically (alcoholism & redemption) that were trod before and comes close to the best of them, but not even. There were a few flaws. However, the performance of Andrea Riseborough vaults "To Leslie" into the exceptional. She nails the hard time alcoholic so dead on it is frightening to watch. The viewer finds her so hopeless and self-destructive, that reality jumps from the screen into your lap. In the redemption category, she absolutely equals Robert Duvall in "Tender Mercies" (1983). Though both address redemption from the bottle differently, both actors were masters of their craft in doing so. I did not favor the ending but shall leave that up to the viewer; it certainly didn't ruin the movie! I thought the actor portraying the "nice guy" motel co-owner was a little weak-could have used a tad of roughness. It is Texas. Still, that did nothing to sour this movie. A highly recommended film.

"Victim/Suspect", 2023

A good documentary can take on a very complicated subject and render it digestible within an acceptable viewing time. Sadly, I did not encounter this with "Victim/Suspect". The narrative became more complicated as it moved along, many repetitions and shots of our reporter at airports, in her room, etc. This wasted time. As it went along, her editorial board kept widening the scope, not narrowing it. Also, the reporter assured the viewer how "unbiased" she was going to be, i.e. Sitting as a neutral before all the facts and such. That is a load of horse feathers, plus I don't care if she is biased-who would not be?! The documentary drifted into the tedious zone and lost me. One thing this elderly, male viewer can conclude, any woman accursing someone of rape better have an advocate with her at a minimum (better if they are an attorney)-anywhere in the country. In Alabama, however, they should call in the reincarnated versions of Clarence Darrow and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

"Forever My Girl" (2018)

This movie is a collection of cliches, stereotypical characters, greeting card schlock and many other below the line additives. The reason I watched was I thought they might try to take a few original story lines, but they did not. Various parties invested much time and money into this project, and it is a pity that life never works out as it did in "Forever My Girl." In fact, life doesn't even come close to working out as it did in this movie. On the other hand, the people involved in making this movie seem to support themselves in the business. Perhaps that is where the good time story lies?

"The days" (2023) This eight-part series was superbly made, but it is decidedly Japanese. Over the years, I have written two historical novels set in Japan, specifically about civilians in Japan. I'm guessing that watching this series will be difficult for viewers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. If the viewer elected "dubbing" in English, this would eliminate the actors energy on set and utterly change the cadence of the presentation. Bad enough to dub an Indo-European language into English, but Japanese?! Wowwie! That would be like dubbing a baseball game into a tennis match. The production values and details of this docudrama are on the highest level. I do agree that Part 8 could have been eliminated via the writing staff, because it rather intruded into the artistic flow of the series overall. About all the bowing, pauses, etc,? Japan is a society where social protocols are sealed onto their genes! This series shows us the near global disaster that was avoided part by courage and part by chance. One major criticism--It did not address the issue: "Who had the idea of building a facility like this in harms way of a tsunami? In Japan, for goodness sakes!

"The Wonder" 2022

This movie has very high production values and the same can be said of the acting. It is a period piece from around 1864 set in Ireland; its ambience is that of the great potato famine that struck that country, devastating it. Within this is a religious miracle, i.e. A girl belonging to a poor Irish family apparently can get by without eating. A nurse from a neutral agency is brought in to verify this "miracle" one way or the other. So, this is the story: out in the Irish hinterlands stricken by famine, this ironic incident takes place. The dynamics of the story are the people involved, so this is why it is an actors movie. I can recommend this movie both because of its historical context and cinematic quality. It is not a great movie, but one worth viewing.

I watched the entire series again and have not changed my view that this is one of the best historical dramas in the history of television and motion pictures. I realize that just a single movie could never equal this series, but only a rare movie has come up to this quality. To tell a historical story and to keep as close to historical facts as possible is anything but easy. So, the fiction inserted into real events is done so masterfully by a set of writers who must be given high praise. All the acting is beyond good; to cast that many people so accurately itself is a noteworthy accomplishment. The one criticism I have for those streaming it, is they leave out the historical notes inserted into the original that was aired and on DVD. You had the option of clicking them on or off. But leaving them I learned more about history, and the action on the screen made even more sense to me. Why cannot streaming services offer the same thing for "Rome." Without a doubt I recommend this series for a person interested in serious historical dramas.

"Outlaw King" goes in a thoughtful historical direction showing that in the Middle Ages there was no such thing as a nice guy. Also, times of peace were the exception whereas times of conflict were the rule. The production values of this movie are very high, and I saw very little to criticize in them. The story is delivered with clarity though I am not familiar with the medieval history of Scotland. I am somewhat familiar with the relationship between Edward Longshanks and his son Edward the 2nd. This seems to have been portrayed correctly more or less--Edward the 2nd was a failed king and came to a bad end. I don't think it would have surprised his father. This is a very watchable movie that is respectful to the period, and I recommend it.

"The Longest Day" I assume will be viewed by some to mark the 79th anniversary of the day, June 7th, 1944, "D Day". Made 61 years ago it has aged badly. Cinema had featured D-Day before and after with better success. 'Hollywood' wanted to catch the success of Cornelius Ryan's book of a similar name. They pumped it up with dozens of stars, terribly cliched writing by Cornelius Ryan with help from professional screenwriters who got a fat payday out of it. They depended on sound and fury and very little on acting. The actors short scenes were shot all over the planet then spliced into some slapdash order as the final product. There is little or no energy between actors when it is done this way. The only actor who seemed to catch the energy of D-Day was John Wayne who by this time had done dozens of war movies. This is a failed effort to film the catastrophic energy of D-day.

I watch the first eight episodes of "The Diplomat" in the foolish assumption that at the conclusion of those episodes they would reach something of a denouement. They did not. The producers hung viewers out to dry. But first to the content of the series: a viewer must suspend much disbelief if up to date with world affairs. Furthermore, if they understand the role of diplomacy, they have another hurdle to leap regards suspension of disbelief. The only sphere of human activities they get right, is the absolute unparalleled snarl of American politics, with much of British "politics" tossed in. The writing is postpubescent, or simply put, immature. I do not recommend this series. "Borgen" it ain't.

I have seen the original, and it was so unintelligent that it was one of the reasons the wonderful actress Kelly McGinnis quit making movies. This sequel equals if not surpasses the original in every aspect including requiring a vast amount of suspension of disbelief. It was full of video-game grade special effects for those into that sort of thing. The acting was competent to so/so, and the script was full of so much schlock it red-lined the schlock-meters. Finally, this movie should receive the "Mistress Overdone" award for the most maudlin scenes in recent cinema history. However, anyone weeping during or after this movie, was because they were ashamed of wasting so much time.

In "War Sailor" we have average production values, excellent acting and a documentarian approach to the participation of the Norwegian merchant marine during World War Two. But as a drama it is not a movie one should see when they're not in the best of moods. It is overwhelmingly depressing. I watched all three episodes end on end, and I should not have done that. So, I emphatically recommend that viewers do not "binge" on this mini-series. This is not a war movie that shows the triumph of the human spirit, and in fact demonstrates the absolute darkest corners of that spirit. In fact, this movie seems to say, "Life is unrelentingly harsh, then you die."

All the episodes get high marks for production values, and the great acting-all the way through. I don't think I have ever read Conrad's "Secret Agent", but a visual media must stand of itself, and this does in all departments. The character actor Toby Jones once again gives an "A List" performance, as does Stephen Graham and Vicky McClure. All other actors do very well too, no doubt. It is a dark, revealing production and script, and knowing the history of the times helps. Above all, it is a period/history piece, two monarchist countries, one with an autocracy using a 'lockdown' attitude on keeping it that way. Both were plagued with genuine fears over anarchist, socialists, and other revolutionary groups who had successfully used bombs in their activities. And it is in this social and political ambience that this story takes place. And it does an excellent job. The writers and producers understood this, and it shows. Great stuff!!

Best guess is, that a considerable number of people got in the same room and believed each other; otherwise, how could a colossal blunder like this be made? And I would assume that the group madness that gripped everyone in that room was they knew how to make a western.

They did not.

They took the historical period and disrespected the hell out of it. The principal reason they did this, I'm guessing, is they did not know what they were doing. Now a British writer, director, producer, can make a believable western, but they didn't in "The English". When a movie with an A-list actress cast-in this case, also produced-it is obligatory to have them do their bit as "Xena, Warrior Princess".

Emily Blunt as an action heroine!

You had to suspend a lot of disbelief to watch this mini-series.

"Struggle" is an excellent documentary; it did what a documentary is supposed to do, document a person or event in contemporary and/or historical context. "Struggle" lived up to the expectations of those who still enjoy a good, well researched documentary. It showed, warts and all, the person Stanislav Szukalski . It is my observation that if you give a delusional blow hard enough rope, he/she will eventually hang themselves. And in this documentary producers show him hitting the end of the rope. Most apparently have forgiven him, but many have not, and I am one of those. And for him being the latter-day equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci? The case for this claim fell flat.

I watched this in French w/ English subtitles, to best hear the actor's cadences for their role. From the beginning we had acting of the highest order, with (once again) Audrey Fleurot giving a standout performance, as she did in "The French Village". In fact all the acting was good to excellent. This leaves one with the impression that talent and craft are at the highest level with French Thespians. The production values were OK, though the battlefield scenes seemed lacking. But weakest of all was the writing: It was predictable with an inclination towards the melodramatic, and in some cases extremely so. This was an excellent example of superb acting almost elevating the production from so/so to good. Almost, that is.

First off, I must credit the producers for going forth and making a movie meant for thoughtful viewers-those who appreciate a period piece. There are still many of them around. Also, the cast was nearly uniformly top notch, and the production values were high. However, I am afraid my view of the movie went downhill the longer I watched. Neo-Gothic stuff flew in all directions, and it wasn't long before it formed a Gordian knot out of the storyline. The young man playing Edgar Allen Poe chewed a lot of scenery though he looked a bit like EAP. The other cast members were moved around like checkers on the board. This is the sort of movie that initially appears much better than it is, but time will not do it any favors.

The set design was good for the period. There were a few anachronisms in that department, but not conspicuously so. Whoever did the set design and costumes knew their business. And beyond that, the producers employed the woodchipper method for the script/story: They took three or four periods of late 12th and early 13th century British history, tossed them in the hopper and pressed the "on" button. After so many attempts to remake this quasi-fable, the.1938 Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland version catches the spirit of it the best. All subsequent remakes have just not equaled this screen jewel.

This was a surprise find for me, and subsequent to seeing it I've recommended it to many as prime comedy. The movie is about four fish swimming against a heavy current in northern Finland--the last place (or close to it) where you would expect an ambitious, dedicated heavy metal band. The script is very good--extremely witty and intelligent, yet never takes itself too seriously--always a rare commodity. And part of this, was the director's daring in going off into areas of humor and weirdness fearlessly. I cannot see how "Heavy Trip" intended to sing the praises of Heavy Metal, although I could believe the director and producers did not hold any angst about it. But a send up they did, and I salute them for doing it well. (The Cyclops)

I know this is supposed to be a classic comedy-mystery with two of Hollywood's finest (and with a strong support cast) but it just loses itself on too many grounds, not the least of which is a terrible script. The direction of the movie is just awful--with too many "one shots" of the glamorous Hepburn, I guess selling lines-of-fashion of the times. The numerous rear projections are clunky and look like student work. The age gap between Hepburn and Grant (25 years) shows, and the writers should have shut up about it rather than having so many references in their script. It was unfortunate--once again--to see the Ms. Hepburn caught up in a cinematic fashion show, she was better than that. So, the writing and direction of this movie age horribly, and I'm sorry I wasted my time.

There was major money behind "Crawdads", for this is what happens in the world of mega-best sellers, Hollywood latched onto it and tossed it into the movie-scape. As is usual, the heavy hitting producers got some beautiful people in the cast: Daisy Edgar Jones as Kya the Wild Child, although she looks more like Juliet than a feral child. The former would never have been to a doctor or dentist and had lousy nutrition and winged creatures biting her daily. Then John Smith and Harris Dickson as the almost two-peas-in-a-pod good guy and evil doer, respectively. Daisy Edgar Jones is a capable actress and does a good job, whereas Smith and Dickson rather get along on piano-white teeth and perfect skin. Then these same producers got writers who did not understand and/or research the 1940's and 50's, and that shows-it really does. They did access very good character actors to fill stereotypical roles--an actor as venerable and capable as David Strathairn can do an ersatz Atticus Finch standing on his head! At the very end of my review, I must go out praising the outstanding cinematography, for by itself it almost saved the day, movie wise. Almost.

A capable documentarian could have wrapped this up this topic in one episode, no problem. There is so much repetition and waste of footage that it becomes obvious that someone was purposefully trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. It starts out like it might be a factual look into this disappearance of a young girl, but then it goes haywire with junk theories and horribly impeachable "witnesses", until it finally gives itself away by delving into prophecy numerology. They don't make documentaries like this anymore and thank God for that. This is a waste of viewing, and Netflix should be ashamed of itself for offering such shlock.