2004, Acorn TV, Airline pilot, Bloody scenes, British Mystery Series, Clever Plot, Detective, Extramarital Affair, Family Conflict, Father-son relations, Forensics, Mental Illness, Mother-son relations, Murder Investigation

DNA (2004)

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From Acorn TV:

Brilliant but troubled criminologist Joe Donovan returns from a psychological breakdown to lead Manchester’s Forensic Investigations Unit.

From Acorn TV you can stream the five episodes from season one of this British TV detective series.

Personalities, family relations, and personal problems are as important if not more important than the crimes themselves. Joe Donovan is so obsessed with his job that he ignores his beautiful wife which leads to great problems. Notice how often this theme of job versus family occurs in so many detective procedurals. On the other hand the detective gets along well with his son Seth, despite all the family difficulties.

Suspicion moves rapidly from character to character as the well-designed plots keep us guessing.

Besides photo shots of dead bodies there is nothing particularly grim about these stories. Add to this the fact that Joe Donovan has a smiling and calm personality that lends an adult gentile air to the series.

Not at all a waste of time.

2015, Anti-Semitism, Basically Sad, Drama, German, German History, Greed, Holocaust Survivor, Jewish Culture, Personal Betrayal, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Slow, Suspense

Phoenix (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After a reconstructive facial operation, concentration-camp survivor Nelly Lenz tracks down her husband, Johnny, who believes she’s dead. Unrecognizable to Johnny, Nelly befriends him to find out whether he betrayed her to the Nazis.

On a NetFlix DVD in German with English subtitles, this slow-moving and emotionally moving film is somewhat of a mystery whose suspenseful element is what the ending could possibly be: did Johnny really betray her? Will he ever really recognize her? Will his greedy scheme succeed? Let me just say that the ending is PERFECT and quite subtle.

An adult, well-constructed, slow, sad film with just the right conclusion.

1154, Abduction, Acorn TV, Adultery, Ambitious Dirty Tricks, Bloody scenes, British, British History, Bullying, Conspiracy, Contract Killing, Could Be Hard To Watch, Father-son relations, Grisly, Mayhem, Military, Mother-son relations, Murder, Prison, Religious Theme, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Torture, True Story, Unscrupulous drive to power, Violent, War

Plantagenets (1154-1399)

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From Acorn TV:

Out of the chaos, darkness, and violence of the Middle Ages, one family seizes control of England, holding onto power and ruthlessly crushing all competition for more than 300 years. They are the Plantagenets.

If you subscribe to Acorn TV and are a fan of British history, you may well love this 4 episode series streamable from Acorn TV.  The title of the series is really “Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty”. Each episode lasts 45 minutes.  Contents are as follows:

  • Henry II who kills Becket.
  • Henry III battles Simon de Montfort.
  • Edward II lets his obsessions lead him to ruin.
  • Richard II puts down the Peasant Revolt and launches a reign of terror until his cousin Henry Bolinbroke defeats him to become Henry IV the first of the Lancaster dynasty in 1399.

So think of the Plantagenets as running from 1150 to 1400. They spoke French (except when the vicious Richard II lied to the Peasant Revolt in English). Henry IV was the first king in 300 years (that is to say, after the Norman conquest of 1066) to use English.

These episodes are more than mere lectures. Because they are dramatized they become more memorable. Nothing presented is fictional. Children should probably not watch these episodes because the Plantagents were ruthless savages that used torture and murder to achieve their ambitious ends.

Stories as chilling as they are fascinating.

 

2015, Based on a Book, Corny at times, Detective, Fantasy, Frenetic, Mayhem, Religious Theme

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

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From NetFlix:

Putting a new spin on the classic tale of the reanimated monster, this reimagined version unspools through the perspective of loyal lab assistant Igor and his friendship with erratic genius Dr. Frankenstein.

For a PG-13 rated film, this 1hour 50 minutes romp features quite a bit of violent mayhem. At least any sex is minimal to nonexistent. Each time Hollywood tells the Frankenstein story, the special effects are more exaggerated. Have we reached here a pinnacle in cadavers,  arcane iron equipment, lightning, Scottish castles, and a really angry, nasty, two-hearted big monster? Of course, part of the tradition is that the monster must have a flat head.

Daniel Radcliffe  (aka “Harry Potter”) as the loyal lab assistant Igor should feel really at home with all the hocus-pocus. Imagining that Dr. Frankenstein rescues the circus clown Igor and converts him from a hunchback into an attractive adult is a new gimmick in the story. Letting Igor fall in love with a beautiful woman is also a nice touch.

James McAvoy portrays Victor Frankenstein as an ambitious, driven egomaniac of a genius, who is quite possibly a madman.

Andrew Scott (Professor Moriarty of the TV series “Sherlock”) as Inspector Turpin has charge of the theology in the story.

In summary, it is a really good yarn with lots of special effects which you can enjoy as just a fun story as long as you are willing to suspend disbelief at every detail for the entire film.

Catholic Church Corruption, Catholic culture, Child abuse, Docudrama, Emotional child abuse, Gay theme, Pedophilia, Priest Pedophiles, Suspense, True Story

Spotlight (2015)

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From IMDB:

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

For more than 2 hours Kathy and I sat glued to the screen waiting to see if the Boston Globe could get the goods on Cardinal Law. We here in Boston have a more immediate connection with the proceedings and can better appreciate the Omertà (Italian for “conspiracy of silence”) that was Catholic Boston and especially South Boston.  Would the film have been so compelling if the plot had been merely fiction? In my opinion, it is the sad truth of the situation that makes the viewing so powerful. On the other hand, the film could have been poorly done and could have become a boring sermon. Instead the entire construction is flawless. Some Catholics to this day cannot bring themselves to watch this film.

There are NO sex scenes in the film.

When the film is over, be sure to stay for the follow-up history that appears on the screen.  You will be horrified. For example, you will learn that the Pope rewarded Cardinal Law with a prestigious position in Rome which Law resigned when he (Law) reached 80 years of age. If you read the Wikipedia article, you will read:

In May 2012 MSNBC reported that Law was “the person in Rome most forcefully supporting” the Vatican response to Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori‘s petition to investigate and crack down on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a large group of American nuns seeking a greater role in the Church.

According to mere word of mouth, Law once bragged he would be the first American pope. Instead he will probably be canonized as the “Patron Saint of Pedophiles.”

For me one striking visual experience was my trying to recognize the aging male actors from earlier films and TV shows (Rachel McAdams is too young to have changed much) :

  • Mark Ruffalo as Mike Rezendes still looks reasonably young.
  • Michael Keaton as Walter Robinson  is a far cry from his character in “Beetlejuice”.
  • Liev Schreiber as soft-spoken Marty Baron completely fooled me with his beard.
  • John Slattery as Ben Bradlee will always be one of the senior partners from “Mad Men”.
  • Will you recognize Stanley Tucci as the eccentric Mitchell Grabedian?
  • Jamey Sheridan as Jim Sullivan in the past played Captain James Deakins in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”. But do not miss him in “Handsome Harry“.
  • Paul Guilfoyle as Pete Conely will always be Capt. Jim Brass in “CSI”.
  • Do you suppose Len Criou (who plays Henry Reagan in “Blue Bloods”) was embarrassed to play Cardinal Law?

DO NOT MISS this film to remember.

1996, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Acceptable Trash, Amazon Prime, Arson, B-movie, Bad Acting, Conspiracy, Digital Effects, Frenetic, Nasty Aliens, Nothing special, Sci-Fi, Suspense

The Arrival (1996)

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From IMDB:

Zane, an astronomer, discovers intelligent alien life. But the aliens are keeping a deadly secret, and will do anything to stop Zane from learning it.

Interested in a sci-fi film with interesting special effects, a story that kept me involved, and REALLY BAD ACTING? Then why not tolerate “The Arrival”  which you can stream from Amazon Prime ?

Lindsay Crouse, who was once married to David Mamet, is local to the Boston area. We often see her live in plays at the Gloucester Stage. She reads her lines a bit stiffly.

Enough said about the rightfully paranoid Zane, almost played by Charlie Sheen.

As chief alien we have Ron Silver, who died in 2009. You will probably recognize him as Bruno Gianelli from “The West Wing”. He actually gets the part right.

Suspend a lot of disbelief and either enjoy or make fun of this second-rate romp.

2015, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good For All, Irish, Italian culture, Mother-daughter relations, Optimistic, Sex Scenes, Use of Irish Brogue, Wonderful acting

Brooklyn (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After emigrating from Ireland, Eilis Lacey readily adapts to the vastly different New York City, where she falls for a young Italian. But when tragedy pulls her back to her hometown, she finds her loyalties divided between two nations — and two men.

Probably I have become so jaded from the usual film fare of sex and violence that when I watch a film I expect at any moment that something really awful is about to happen. As a real contrast “Brooklyn” is a sweet, gentle film based on the very popular book of the same name by Colm Tóibin. Imagine: no rapes, no untoward sexual advances, the priests are warm and helpful instead of pedophiles, Eilis (sounds like “eye lish”) is helped by friendly strangers and her boarding housemates. What is this world coming to? How can you have a film without a cringe factor?

All the acting was pitch-perfect. Emory Cohen as Tony (Eilis’ Italian love interest) is just right as a sincere, lovable, honorable member of an Italian family.

Saoirse Ronan presents an Eilis that matures as the film progresses. “Saoirse” is Irish for “freedom” and is pronounced “seer-sha”. “Ronan” means “little seal”.

In such a civilized ambience, the homesickness, difficult choices, and genuine love are felt all the more strongly.

Isn’t it nice to end a film feeling really happy? DO NOT MISS!

 

2012, 2014, Abduction, Acorn TV, Adultery, Bloody scenes, British, Clever Plot, Corruption, Detective, Drug Dealers, Extramarital Affair, Police Politics, Police Story, Possibly depressing, Prison, Sadism, Sex With Minors, Suspense, Torture, Violent

Line of Duty (2012)

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From Acorn TV:

Like other police units, AC-12 investigates criminals–but the lawbreakers it catches are police officers working in the line of duty. Martin Compston (Monarch of the Glen), Lennie James (The Walking Dead), and Keeley Hawes (The Casual Vacancy) star in this critically adored series called unmissible by The Times (UK).

Another lucky find!  This really taut British TV series economically keeps the tension mounting from the first police screw-up, through the ever deepening web of corruption and the corresponding undercover investigations. “Cat and Mouse” would be another good title for the series.

Series One from 2012 has 5 episodes. Series Two from 2014 has 6 episodes. There is a 6 episode Series Three from 2016 that Acorn does not yet offer.

For three episodes of Series One I was pleased to recognize Gina McKee in the role of Jackie Laverty.  Long ago in 2002 she played Irene Forsyte in “The Forsyte Saga” which was presented on public television.

NOT QUITE A SPOILER: Just remember that sometimes criminals escape justice.  And just because you watch two seasons, that does not mean that the bad guys are caught.

Today police misbehavior in the USA is a current hot topic. Hopefully this portrait of British police will not make us more cynical.

WARNING: Despite being on the edge of my seat for 11 episodes of a  DO NOT MISS series, I was not happy afterwards.

 

2014, Abduction, Acorn TV, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, Bloody scenes, British Mystery Series, Child abuse, Detective, Eccentric Detective, Mildly Violent, Mother-daughter relations, Nudity, Police Politics, Serial Killer, Suspense, TV Series

Chasing Shadows (2014)

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From Acorn TV:

Reece Shearsmith stars as DS Sean Stone, who has an uncanny ability to identify and predict patterns of human behavior. He knows how people work, but he doesn’t understand them.

Welcome to another “Eccentric Detective” TV Series. Most certainly DS Sean Stone must lie somewhere on the Asbergers-Autism spectrum.  In fact autism in a person often exhibits as extreme ability with patterns coupled with a corresponding inability to understand human emotions.  Needles to say his lone wolf behavior and air of infallibility drive his colleagues to puzzlement,  anger, and exasperation whereas his pattern recognition abilities earn respect.  His superiors want to get rid of him while some colleagues defend him.

Good plots, good acting, and an unusual detective make for compelling entertainment (as long as you don’t mind a nasty serial killer or two).

 

1997, Acorn TV, Bloody scenes, British, Bullying, Coming-of-age, Crime, Detective, Fascists, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Insurance Fraud, Marital Infidelity, Mother-daughter relations, Murder Investigation, Sexual Harassment, TV Series, Violent

The Broker’s Man (1997)

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From Acorn TV:

There’s never a dull moment in the world of insurance investigation at least not when Jimmy Griffin is involved. An affable ex-cop, his cunning and insight are well-suited to the business of exposing the criminals of insurance fraud.

Kevin Whately is Jimmy Griffen in this series from 1997-1998. You will recognize him when he was 36 years old as Detective Lewis the sidekick to Inspector Morse during 1987-2000.  Ten years later he is Jimmy Griffen in “The Broker’s Man”.  Later when he was 58 years old he had his own series as Inspector Lewis in 2011,2012, and 2015.

Whereas “Grantchester” is civilized, “The Broker’s Man” has a bit more graphic violence. People are beaten, sent to the hospital, and look pretty awful as a result.

Series 1 has 3 episodes. Series 2 has 6 episodes. Each episode runs under one hour. Continuing through all the episodes is a thread in which Jimmy Griffen is trying to get back with his kids and with his wife from whom, at the beginning of the series, he is separated.  In fact his family life is a big part of the series. For example, his daughter entering adulthood has social and school problems.

Nothing special, but watchable.