Sfver Reviews

Political Animals (2012)

It's all in the mix?!

[8/10 · 16 July 2012]

Now this is how a tale should be told, (I had to double check that this was a limited series, as it seemed chock full of plot points that, although quite well paced, in lesser hands would have been dragged out for another 10 episodes).

Even though the tale starts at the end of one story then skips ahead to the second chapter of another, one doesn't get that disjointed feeling of disconnect that usually lets you know that they are hurrying you (and the story), along in order to get to the 'juicy' parts. The story throws in all the usual tropes in a political drama: sex, secrets, back room dealing, cheesy campaigning(no murder/cover-up though), but it does it all without seeming like its treading water, going through the motions, being exploitative or preaching to its audience.

In short, a well written piece of entertainment!

Common Law (2012)

The Odd Couple, Lite

[6/10 · 13 May 2012]

Let's start with the positive; it has potential.

Normally I take my shows in the watch it from start to finish with no breaks (very engrossing). Start and stop, then start again (not great, but not too bad, so I do come back to it). Then there's the start, stop, and probably won't bother watching anymore episodes (and possibly don't even finish the first episode!).

This falls in the middle. I did stop watching at the 13min mark, (slightly wooden dialogue and peripheral characters), but once past that it does pick up again, on an above average pace.

With reference to the 'odd couple' (and the shows' précis) it manages to tread a fine line (will have to watch more episodes to be certain), between maintaining the banter between the two leads, but without dwelling on it too much to make the show work, and thereby irritating you and turning it into a one-track horse run (you know those shows; they find one particular angle that they can lever and keep re-using it, show after show after show, and nauseatingly ad-nauseum!).

So, given the fact that it's an USA network show, we'll possibly be seeing quite a bit more of the new millennium's odd couple!

The Ides of March (2011)

Not what you think it is, or might be!

[7/10 · 7 December 2011]

Based on the "noise" generated by the film, you'd think it was one of 'those' hard-hitting political thrillers of old, where the hard-dealing twists and turns come hard, fast and thick! Far from it.

The plot, or should I say story, (as I'll explain) starts in the usual way slow way, where-upon you expect, sooner or later, for it to start the rumblings of taking off, which it never really quite does! So, almost an hour in, I really lose most of my interest and almost stop watching, but since one has seen blurbs proclaiming 'Oscars all round' for the cast I continued watching. What you then find yourself watching,(or in my case, continuing to watch) are the characters going about the political campaign business, with some dreadfully) minor elements thrown in. So really, no major plot!

This really, when all is said and done, is little more than a soup-warmer of a political thriller, and may as well have been done as a TV movie! Don't get me wrong! It's all well acted, but, especially for me, just didn't turn over, and at the end of the day (movies end) I was left with the feeling of, So What?!

In essence, it's Not Bad..., good (definitely lower 'g'), but nowhere near Great!!