Tag: Friendship
Spoiler-Free Review: Broadchurch (Series 1) starring David Tennant
Broadchurch is a marvel. I have never seen a TV drama that explores the emotions of so many characters so convincingly. Crimes are traumatizing. Broadchurch gets this perfectly. Nor have I have ever seen a crime drama that packs a visual punch in so many scenes. The Dorset coast is a character in Broadchurch. It plays its role as effectively as any of the brilliant actors in this piece. And that brings up the acting. You won’t find a weak performance and some are unforgettable. –Excerpt from an IMDB review
As in The Fall and Happy Valley, Broadchurch‘s lead character, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant- using his real Scottish accent), is a troubled individual (a past case gone wrong, mysterious health matter, etc.) He is brought in to a lovely/small town on the Dorset coast to investigate the mysterious death of young Billy Latimer, who was the best friend of Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller’s (Olivia Colman) son, Tom. DS Miller, the local top cop, is (of course) shocked by this death. Also, she thought that she was getting the promotion given to Hardy, which causes tension/awkwardness in the squad room.
The insider, Miller, tries to investigate her close friends and many community members in a respectful manner, but Hardy (the outsider) has an abrasive personality that almost everyone chafes against. The media can be used for good, or cause a LOT of problems, with a police investigation. Miller’s reporter nephew, Olly (Jonathan Stevens, who resembles Hugh Dancy), is eager to learn all the details for the local paper. Olly is a good guy who makes a BIG rookie mistake on Twitter. The seemingly happy/picture-perfect Latimers are NOT all what they seem. Suspicion falls on several individuals, including the recently-arrived/young Anglican priest, Rev. Coates (Arthur Darvill). He was one of the most interesting characters in the show- thoughtful, spiritual, yet also a BIT mysterious.
Writer Chris Chibnall was inspired by two American crime shows- Twin Peaks and Murder One (which I watched and really liked). Unlike The Fall and Happy Valley, this show has a broader scope (think soap opera, but much more sophisticated/intelligent). You get to know about MORE people, several of whom dwell in the gray areas of life. Check it out (Netflix). I just learned that Series 2 (BBC) has Charlotte Rampling and Marianne Jean-Baptiste- WOW!
Spoiler-Free Review: Top of the Lake starring Elisabeth Moss
Three of the ensemble cast: Thomas M. Wright, Elisabeth Moss, & David Wenham
I really wanted to like this show, but alas, it was not to be! I read a BIT about it’s ardently feminist viewpoint (it was co-written by Jane Campion, the New Zealand-based director who gained much acclaim in Hollywood with The Piano). I was interested in seeing David Wenham (also a New Zealander), who many of you know as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here, he plays a detective who somehow manages to dress well, live in fancy house, and sail on a boat.
The premise is interesting- Tui Mitchell, a 12 y.o. pregnant girl, leaves home w/o a word or note for her family. Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss from The West Wing and Mad Men), who is visiting her ailing mother from Australia, gets on board this case, having special training w/ youth. Moss is simply miscast here- she’s the opposite of what I’d expect a cop to be, but she has a few nice scenes with Tui and her mother.
Top of the Lake has been compared with The Fall and Happy Valley, but it falls short for several reasons. Though the remote New Zealand setting can be beautiful, mysterious, and captivating, it doesn’t make up for the one-dimensional supporting characters and dialogue that often seems removed from everyday life. The presence of the guru-type figure, GJ (Holly Hunter), and her group of rag-tag followers doesn’t add much to the story.
As for those looking for romance, you’ll be disappointed, since Robin and her main love interest, Johnno (Thomas M. Wright, who is Australian), have very little chemistry together. We learn that they dated in high school; he’s also one of Tui’s older half-brothers. About 15 years ago, Robin and Johnno went to a dance together, shared a kiss, but then the night took on a horrible turn (especially for her). Robin’s personal history w/ a few of the (not so straight-laced) inhabitants of this insular community cause complications during the investigation.
Tui’s father, Matt Mitchell (Peter Mullan), is probably the most troubled/complicated characters of the series. You JUST don’t know what he’ll do next! Is he a villain or simply a hothead? Mullan (who is Scottish) is a talented actor, but I got the sinking feeling that he was TOO good for this show. As a few critics have written, men are NOT heroes in this story, or even tolerable. Almost every teen boy or man is a coward, violent domestic abuser, rapist, or potential rapist! There is a sense of foreboding throughout the episodes that just gets boring after a while. Worst of all, I just didn’t care about ANY of the characters! I guess this is what happens when a writer’s/director’s “vision” gets in the way of the story.
The Book of Negroes starts 2/17 (BET)
Interview w/actors Aunjanue Ellis and Lou Gossett, Jr.
Peter Travers interviews actors Ellis, Lyriq Bent, & Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Spoiler-Free Review: The Fall starring Gillian Anderson & Jamie Dornan
This show is brilliant, and really made me look at American television women in such a new and terrible light. I had seen an episode of “The Mysteries of Laura” and I know that I am comparing apples and oranges, but was really struck by the childishness and immaturity of women in their 40’s often seen in American TV and the Fall, Happy Valley, Broadchurch (these British shows) are such contrast.
We women live in a world in which we constantly have to think about our safety not only from Spector as the stranger lurking in the bushes stalking us we work on a computer in our home, but also from Spectors- the personal lying, manipulating, abusing us as he did to his wife, neighbor, grief patient, etc.
Obviously, Anderson’s Stella is simply incredible. My second favorite actress on the show? Olivia. Girl is adorable and a straight up talented actress.
–Various comments from Slate readers
Man f*cks woman. Subject: man; verb: f*cks; object: woman. That’s OK. Woman f*cks man. Woman: subject; man: object. That’s not so comfortable for you, is it?
The media loves to divide women into virgins and vamps, angels or whores. Let’s not encourage them.
-Some of my fave lines (from Stella)
Do you love cop shows, but want something w/ a different perspective? Do you love well-developed, multi-dimensional characters, especially strong women? Then, you need to check out this psychological thriller (on Netflix) ASAP! This show is NOT for everyone! If SVU scares you, avoid this show. The Fall contains some (troubling) images/scenes that will linger in your mind for days.
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) from London is flown to Belfast, Ireland (by a former colleague, ACC Jim Burns) to investigate why a certain murder case is taking longer than 28 days. She dresses in silk blouses and black skirts (not like a man) using her brains AND beauty. While Stella is going over routine paperwork and interviewing local detectives, a similar murder occurs. The victim is a tall, brunette, professional single woman in her early 30s. Rumors fly in the media that a serial killer is on the loose, and Stella springs into action.
Archie Panjabi left ABC’s The Good Wife (which garnered her fame/awards) to play a supporting role on The Fall. Yes, it’s THAT good! Almost all of supporting characters are quite strong, and we learn something about each as the eps go on. There is eager/brave Officer Harrington, partners McNally and Martin, and the (female) victims, among others.
As for that Fifty Shades guy, well, he’s a VERY fine actor, too (I was surprised to discover). Jamie Dornan plays Paul Spector, loving family man by day, serial killer by night. That’s NOT a spoiler- we know who the baddie is from the pilot ep! Paul is a hubby, dad to two young kids (Olivia and Liam), and a bereavement counselor working w/ the government. The viewer sees two sides of the story- very unusual in cop shows (Law & Order: Criminal Intent did that a bit). Paul truly lives two lives, fooling people closest to him while carrying no guilt. At one point, I was reminded of the monologues that Shakespeare wrote for his more compelling villains- Edmund, Iago, etc. Those speeches (directed to the audience) makes viewers into (unwilling) co-conspirators.
Knightleyemma 