Take 4: Playing Catch-Up
Note: I'm WAY behind. In fact, the review below was written back in early December...I just never got around to sending it out. Add to that the fact that I've got about three more reviews (about 12 movies) I need to catch up on, and I can already sense this is going to be an uphill battle. But I shall push forward and overcome.
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
The Premise: A female police detective in England takes over a murder investigation where not only is the prime suspect extremely hard to prove guilty, but where she is also challenged daily to prove herself within an extremely sexist male police force. Her personal life also becomes a challenge to maintain as she becomes more and more engrossed in bringing the murderer to justice.
Plot Keywords: Murder Investigation; Women; Private Detective; Intimacy; Tense
Familiar Faces: Well-known and extremely talented British actress Helen Mirren, of such hit films as Gosford Park and The Queen plays Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, the heroine of this four-episode series (in Britain, what we call a "season" they refer to as a "series"), as well as the six following series, culminating in 2006's Prime Suspect: The Final Act.
Random Trivia: On the documentary following the second half of Prime Suspect: The Final Act, Helen Mirren notes that Jackie Malton (a UK television script consultant and former senior police officer) and her colleagues gave the first Prime Suspect a standing ovation because they felt it was the first time the police had been accurately portrayed on television. 
And I Quote: DCI Jane Tennison: "So what do you think?" DI Frank Burkin: "About what, sir?" DCI Jane Tennison: "My voice suddenly got lower, has it? Maybe my knickers are too tight. Listen, I like to be called Governor or The Boss. I don't like Ma'am - I'm not the bloody Queen. So take your pick." DI Frank Burkin: "Yes Ma'am."
Curt's Take: Not a Priority - On the one hand, it was a pretty good story, and Helen Mirren does a bang-up acting job. But on the other hand, it seemed like a story that could have been told in one or two episodes was stretched out to four...and the ending was a little weak (in my mind), as if they just needed to suddenly end it. If you like police dramas, and want to see how the BBC handles one, check this out. Otherwise, it wasn't overly remarkable enough to go out of your way to see.
Unscripted: The Complete Series
The Premise: Several struggling actors in Los Angeles travel between casting calls, auditions and acting classes, doing the utmost to live their dream and make it big in Hollywood, with more than their fare share of stumbling blocks making the journey a bumpy one.
Plot Keywords: Acting Lesson; Actor Playing Himself; Acting Coach; Aspiring Actor; Casting
Familiar Faces: Probably nobody you recognize in one of the leading roles (Krista Allen of Baywatch, Bryan Greenberg of One Tree Hill, and Jennifer Hall of Nip/Tuck all play themselves), except for the cameo appearances by such stars as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (when Jennifer is on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Keanu Reeves and Shia LeBeouf (when she's on the set of Constantine) in addition to Meryl Streep, John Stamos, Laura San Giacomo, Jon Lovitz and many other guest roles.
Random Trivia: Many of the "on set" scenes that take place are instances in which the main actors actually had roles in movies and television programs (such as when Bryan appears in Life with Bonnie and One Tree Hill). To that end, the series is an interesting mix of on-set reality and fabricated casting moments...with a nice blend of improvisation and real moments.
And I Quote: Goddard: "Acting is an extremely privileged profession. I know how hard it is, but it is nowhere near as difficult as what the ordinary person has to do to get through life."
Curt's Take: Worth Considering - On the one hand, you've got an interesting documentary-style approach to storytelling, in which the "story" actually consists of real people playing themselves...but in partially fictional situations (peppered with moments of "actuality" from the acting industry). The characters are genuine (which isn't surprising, given that they are playing themselves), and the ups and downs of their lives are wonderfully engaging. On the other hand, if you're not interested in the acting business, or what goes on in the entertainment industry, this probably isn't for you. I'd recommend giving it a shot, though...it's just a shame it didn't stick around for more than one season, so these ten episodes will have to last you.
----------------------------------------------
Typically when I sit down to watch a television series through Netflix, that consists of wading through four or five (sometimes even six) discs of episodes for an entire season. But every so often, a series comes along that manages to contain itself to just a couple discs. In this review, I cover two such series.
----------------------------------------------
Prime Suspect: Series One (1991)
The Premise: A female police detective in England takes over a murder investigation where not only is the prime suspect extremely hard to prove guilty, but where she is also challenged daily to prove herself within an extremely sexist male police force. Her personal life also becomes a challenge to maintain as she becomes more and more engrossed in bringing the murderer to justice.
Plot Keywords: Murder Investigation; Women; Private Detective; Intimacy; Tense
Familiar Faces: Well-known and extremely talented British actress Helen Mirren, of such hit films as Gosford Park and The Queen plays Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, the heroine of this four-episode series (in Britain, what we call a "season" they refer to as a "series"), as well as the six following series, culminating in 2006's Prime Suspect: The Final Act.
Random Trivia: On the documentary following the second half of Prime Suspect: The Final Act, Helen Mirren notes that Jackie Malton (a UK television script consultant and former senior police officer) and her colleagues gave the first Prime Suspect a standing ovation because they felt it was the first time the police had been accurately portrayed on television.
And I Quote: DCI Jane Tennison: "So what do you think?" DI Frank Burkin: "About what, sir?" DCI Jane Tennison: "My voice suddenly got lower, has it? Maybe my knickers are too tight. Listen, I like to be called Governor or The Boss. I don't like Ma'am - I'm not the bloody Queen. So take your pick." DI Frank Burkin: "Yes Ma'am."
Curt's Take: Not a Priority - On the one hand, it was a pretty good story, and Helen Mirren does a bang-up acting job. But on the other hand, it seemed like a story that could have been told in one or two episodes was stretched out to four...and the ending was a little weak (in my mind), as if they just needed to suddenly end it. If you like police dramas, and want to see how the BBC handles one, check this out. Otherwise, it wasn't overly remarkable enough to go out of your way to see.
----------------------------------------------
Unscripted: The Complete Series
The Premise: Several struggling actors in Los Angeles travel between casting calls, auditions and acting classes, doing the utmost to live their dream and make it big in Hollywood, with more than their fare share of stumbling blocks making the journey a bumpy one.
Plot Keywords: Acting Lesson; Actor Playing Himself; Acting Coach; Aspiring Actor; Casting
Familiar Faces: Probably nobody you recognize in one of the leading roles (Krista Allen of Baywatch, Bryan Greenberg of One Tree Hill, and Jennifer Hall of Nip/Tuck all play themselves), except for the cameo appearances by such stars as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (when Jennifer is on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Keanu Reeves and Shia LeBeouf (when she's on the set of Constantine) in addition to Meryl Streep, John Stamos, Laura San Giacomo, Jon Lovitz and many other guest roles.
Random Trivia: Many of the "on set" scenes that take place are instances in which the main actors actually had roles in movies and television programs (such as when Bryan appears in Life with Bonnie and One Tree Hill). To that end, the series is an interesting mix of on-set reality and fabricated casting moments...with a nice blend of improvisation and real moments.
And I Quote: Goddard: "Acting is an extremely privileged profession. I know how hard it is, but it is nowhere near as difficult as what the ordinary person has to do to get through life." Curt's Take: Worth Considering - On the one hand, you've got an interesting documentary-style approach to storytelling, in which the "story" actually consists of real people playing themselves...but in partially fictional situations (peppered with moments of "actuality" from the acting industry). The characters are genuine (which isn't surprising, given that they are playing themselves), and the ups and downs of their lives are wonderfully engaging. On the other hand, if you're not interested in the acting business, or what goes on in the entertainment industry, this probably isn't for you. I'd recommend giving it a shot, though...it's just a shame it didn't stick around for more than one season, so these ten episodes will have to last you.
posted by Curt at 11:43 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home