236. Web-series Reviews – 82

More web-series reviews…

Anatomy of a Scandal – Came out in 2022.  Infiltrates Britain's elite through personal and political scandal, where the truth lies between justice and privilege. James and Sophie Whitehouse live in a blissful, rarified world. A Minister in Parliament with a loving family at home--James' trajectory appears without limits. Until a scandalous secret suddenly comes to light. Barrister Kate Woodcroft has her own trajectory, and her prosecution threatens to tear into Westminster, the Whitehouse marriage, and her own personal esteem

One of the reviews from IMDB...

James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend) is a member of the cabinet, and friend of the Prime Minister, with whom he went to (private) school. His life seems to be going swimmingly, until an affair with an aide is exposed, which hits hard on his wife, and the mother of his children, Sophie (Sienna Miller.) But then Whitehouse and his whole family are plunged into turmoil when the woman at the centre of the affair, alleges a sexual assault against him, which goes to trial. Kate Woodcroft QC (Michelle Dockery) is the prosecution barrister determined to put him away, but does she have a more personal motive behind bringing him down?

In the current climate, with the #metoo movement, and the entitled behaviour of privileged male elites, this hit Netflix series, from director S. J. Clarkson, adapted from the novel by Sarah Vaughn, hits on topics ripped straight from today's headlines. A relevant and topical work, then, with a strong, stellar cast to carry it through. Thankfully, it's also a highly competent and assured piece, that hits all the right notes and will keep you riveted to the end, even if it sometimes feels a little too pleased with itself.

Adapted from female source material, written from a female perspective, and with a female director, it's the female characters who are the main focus, including Miller as the humiliated, betrayed wife forced to put on a false front of unity for her lying, philandering husband, but most notably Dockery as the hard edged female barrister forced to fight it out in a man's world, telling her unflinching accounts to her best mate outside court as tough as a man would. The male characters are portrayed as duplicitous, bottom feeding elks, really shining through during the odious flashbacks to their younger days, living up their privilege and entitlement in all their gory glory. When it's not the gender politics that are distracting you, it's the slick, stylised filming techniques, which sometimes are effective (to wit, a courtroom exit leading into a college dormitory from twenty years ago) , but other times look a bit silly (most notably, the 'flying/falling through the air' segments that the first two end on, which make the characters look like they're in a Matrix film.)

Overall, everything's pulled off as reliably as it could have been, from a strong, sturdy cast, to a powerful script, which doesn't refrain from expletives, to a genuine sense of suspense to find out the verdict, which has so much more hanging on it than a privileged man's freedom.

My Take – An ok watch

 

Two Summers – Came out in 2022. Group of friends get together thirty years after one of the members died in an accident. A relaxing vacation changes into a nightmare, when some of the friends are blackmailed with footage from that terrible week three decades ago.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

As Episode 1 of "Two Summers" (2022 release from Belgium; 6 episodes of about 45 min each) opens, we are in "Silicon Valley, USA", where Peter and his wife Romee live in a palatial estate. Just as they head out the door, Peter receives a message on his phone, containing a highly explosive video of an incident that happened 30 years ago. We then go to "Antwerp, Belgium", where a group of 6 friends get ready to fly out to a private island in the south of France, to celebrate Romee's 50th birthday. At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1. 

Couple of comments: let me state upfront that I hail from Antwerp, Belgium (but have now lived in the US for many years) and when this was suggested to me by Netflix based on my viewing habits, I almost fell onto the floor when I realized that this is an authentic Flemish/Belgian TV mini-series. The "two summers" referred to in the title are the current summer and the summer of 1992, when the protagonists all are about 20 years old. Now reaching 50, it turns out that there are some very dark secrets hanging over their heads. So what starts as a happy-go-lucky reunion among this group of longtime friends, quickly unravels, and I'll leave it at that. The only performer I recognized is Ruth Becquart, one of Belgium's top actors (she was recently in the new season of that other great Flemish series "Undercover", also available on Netflix).

"Two Summers" premiered on Belgian (Flemish) TV in February (with stellar TV ratings), and it recently premiered on Netflix, where all 6 episodes are streaming now. If you are in the mood for a psychological thriller with a twist (or two) and a European setting, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion. Note to Netflix: THANK YOU for bringing this to US audiences. Please stream more such foreign mini-series!

My Take – A worthwhile watch!

 

Under the Banner of Heaven – Came out in 2022. A devout detective's faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder seemingly connected to an esteemed Utah family's spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their distrust in the government.

One of the reviews from IMDB…

As Episode 1 of "Under The banner of Heaven" (2022 release; 7 episodes of about 65 min each) opens, we are in suburban Salt Lake in the mid-80s. "Let's Hear It For the Boys" is on the radio. A guy is playing with his two young daughters when he gets a call from the police station that a gruesome murder scene has been found. The guy, Detective Pyre, goes to the scene... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this mini-series is the brainchild of Dustin Lance Black (Oscar winner for Milk"), and directed by David Mackenzie ("Hell or High Water"). Equally important, this is the TV adaptation of the Jon Krakauer non-fiction book of the same name. So there is a lot of talent involved here. And on screen, Andrew Garfield plays Det. Pyre. Not to mention that rapidly up-and-coming British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones plays one of the series' pivotal roles as Brenda (just a few months ago, she starred in "Fresh", the disturbing movie that is still one of the year's best so far). And yet, based on the initial two episodes of this mini-series that I've seen so far, I am not as impressed as I thought I'd be. Something seems a little off for me. Is it because Andrew Garfield's performance here does not measure up to his other recent performances (in "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye")? Or is it the needless and momentum-stopping history lessons on the history of John Smith and the Mormon church? Or is it simply because the mini-series cannot match the intensity of the underlying non-fiction book? Maybe it's a combination of these, and other factors.

The initial two episodes of "Under The Banner of Heaven" premiered on Hulu in late April, and new episodes are released on a weekly basis. So far I plan on continue watching this. If you read the Krakauer book, or simply are a fan of Andrew Garfield, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

My Take – An ok watch!

 

Innocent – Came out in 2018.  After seven years in a high-security prison, David Collins' conviction for the murder of his wife Tara is overturned on a technicality--or, as is lawyer puts it, an appalling miscarriage of justice. Able to restart his life and begin to repair relationships with his family and friends, David hopes to finally be allowed to mourn his wife's death. As a new investigation is launched, headed by DI Cathy Hudson, dark secrets of abuse, affairs, and money troubles rise to the surface. From jealous sisters to disgruntled lovers, these secrets rip fragile relationships apart at the seams. But one question remains: is David Collins truly innocent?

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Directed by Richard Clark, Innocent is a four-part whodunit that is half by-the-book, paint-by-numbers, nothing-you-haven't-seen-before, and half superbly and realised and expansive family drama. The show begins with David Collins (Lee Ingleby) being acquitted for the murder of his wife, having already spent seven years in jail for the crime. Viewers are never left in any doubt as to Collins's innocence, which does have the unfortunate side-effect of making the characters who are convinced of his guilt seem either naive or antagonistic-by-default. Collins's quest to uncover the truth and learn why people he trusted lied during his trial is never especially gripping, with no real urgency, no major twists, and a decided sense of "is that it?"

Where the show really succeeds, however, is in the depth of Matthew Arlidge and Chris Lang's depiction of the secondary characters whose lives are changed irreparably as the effects of Collins's release ripple outward; his brother Phil (Daniel Ryan), with whom he moves in; his sister-in-law Alice (Hermione Norris), whose testimony that he beat his wife was an important factor in his conviction; her amiable husband Rob (Adrian Rawlins); DCI William Beech (Nigel Lindsay), the original lead investigator, who may (or may not) have suppressed evidence; DI Cathy Hudson (Angel Coulby), the new lead investigator, who also happens to be Beech's girlfriend; Collins's children, Jack (Fionn O'Shea) and Rosie (Eloise Webb), who were adopted by Alice and Rob after the trial; Tom Wilson (Elliot Cowan), Collins's former best friend, whose failure to provide him an alibi led to his conviction; Melissa Wilson (Hannah Britland), Tom's wife, who suspects he knows more than he's letting on; and Louise Wilson (Christine Cole), Tom's ex-wife, who left him after she discovered his affair with Melissa. Each of these characters are given a fair amount of dialogue, screen time, and character development as the show lets the whodunit plot fade somewhat into the background, and it's here where the narrative is at its most enjoyable. It's not going to change your life, but it's worth a look.

My Take – An ok watch!

Cheers till next time😊!

Daffy Definition

Heredity – A thing a man believes in, till his son begins to act like a fool😊!