rhkennerly Reviews

War Gamers (2022)

Stay with it; worth your time

[9/10 · 25 July 2023]

I count this as one of the many "clean-up" productions to round out our understanding of the war. Imitation Game for Bletchley, Grayhound for the convoy duties, Women at War for the women dropped behind enemy lines to support the partisans.

War Games is part drama, part history lesson, and superbly satisfying to a wwii researcher.

Initially, most viewer will be skeptical that both the Royal Navy & the US Navy could be so blind to what is obvious now. Anyone ho has ever suffered under the blinkered weight of "that's how we have always done things" will recognize the syndrome

A little didactic in places, but with flashes of verisimilitude.

Inside Man (2006)

A caper movie fan's caper movie

[9/10 · 5 June 2023]

So much fun & so intricate a caper, we watched this film 2 nights in a row. It is a taut, mind-game of a film, fun to unravel. Like all good mysteries, all the clues are there for the viewer to tease out, if they are observant enough & clever enough. Every move is both foreshadowed but also played close to the chest, with lots of sleight of hand misdirection to trip a viewer up. The Blanchard score is brilliant, and unusual. The kind off-beat & catchy music selections that reminds one of the Nina Simone music in the Bronson/Russo Thomas Crown Affair . Be sure to listen for some sampling from the movie Patton, as well.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)

Should have stopped withS5E6, the testimonial.

[10/10 · 21 May 2023]

S5E6 was a solid wrap-up; bitter sweet but few major loose ends to tie. The producers should have quit with the homer while the story was top dead center.

In contrast, S5E7-8 are talky, pointless, sometimes confusing & sinking fast. S5E6 was one of the best conceived & executed show I've ever seen. The after roast round table of stories was a brilliant vehicle. Hoping for redemption with the Finale. I get all the preachy old guy "dark night of the soul," to use a frequent Abe-ism, but all the lessons he learns are the actual theme of the entire 5-seasons of MMM, delivered with a lot of self-pity.

The Diplomat (II) (2023– )

Wow! Russell & Sewell are electrafying

[9/10 · 29 April 2023]

Great cast, great writing, great plot, great acting. No woman can pull off smart, independent, quick-witted like Kari Russell. You wouldn't think a story about a woman assigned as the us ambassador to the UK would have much depth or interest. I was wrong. Wicked-sharp dialog ensures the plot never drags. In fact, you really have to see every episode twice to keep up. Feel free to obsess over this sterling series, I fully expect a 2nd & 3rd season. It reminds me of Night Agent & Bodyguard, but with more humor. No laugh out loud humor but the musing, that's the way of the world chuckle. This is a world many will instantly find foreign, but also familiar. Must see.

Transatlantic (2023)

A really weird story, once you think about it

[7/10 · 15 April 2023]

I began yo feel as much sympathy for the oppressors as the oppressed by the end. The lack of any sense of self-preservation of many of the artists was unfathomable, even though most had already been expelled from Germany or hounded across Europe as refugees. Then there was the hubris of the AERC & it's patrons to value artists & academics over the desperate ordinary people they could have helped (I choked with anger during the montage scene where Fry asks while interviewing Jewish refugees, "are you an artist, politician or have you published in an academic journal?"). Highlights of the series are a spotlight on American attitudes toward the refugees & toward the war. And on the diplomats who worked to save as many as they could (although the Portuguese, Chinese, & South American diplomats saved so many more than the Americans). One super bright spot was Gillian Jacobs' performance as well as that of Ralph Amoussou.

Perry Mason (2020–2023)

Superb-smokey, bluesy, a cinegraphic noir treat

[10/10 · 12 April 2023]

Detractors of this series don't realize that this modern rework is actually closest to the original Perry Mason book series, the first of which was set in 1935. In the beginning, Perry Mason was a bit of a scoundrel: committing burglaries, cheating, concealing or falsifying evidence to ensure a successful outcome in court. The first Raymond Burr television series of Perry Mason that aired in the 60-70's is the anomaly here, not this Matthew Rhyes adaptation. Further, author Erle Stanley Gardner gave Perry Mason almost zero back story in the books (we learn in the 3rd book, The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece (1935), that Mason's astrological sign was Leo. That's about all the backstory Gardner allows in the 80 plus novels & 2 short stories).

This new series actually gives Rhyes' Perry Mason Erle Stanley Gardner's own backstory instead. Like ESG, the Rhyes' Mason never went to law school & took the California Bar on recommendation of the attorney he apprenticed under (common at the time in many states). Like the Perry Mason of this current series, the author ESG, started out in his practice of law defending Latinos, Asians, & other immigrants. ESG also defended indigent individuals wrongly convicted, calling his practice The Court of Last Resort.

People are confused about the REAL Perry Mason in great part because some books were written in the late 30's & then ESG wrote more after the radio & television series took off between 1957 & 1970. In reality, there are many Perry Mason's in ESG's writings, depending on the era (not to mention the numerous-and inaccurate-radio plays, movies, & television series over the last 90 yrs. The first Raymond Burr series of Perry Mason alone contained 270 episodes, none based on the original writings of Erle Stanley Gardner).

Matthew Rhyes was born to play this role. Sit back & enjoy the ride. The attention to period detail, the cars, the ambiance alone are worth the candle.

Ocean's Eight (2018)

We liked it quite a lot

[8/10 · 9 June 2018]

Predictable? Of course, it's an Ocean's XXX caper movie. You know exactly what is going to happen....until you don't.

Liked the women (although I've read some snarky comments about all women shows recently that are more annoying than true). And liked the nods to the older Ocean's shows as well as the return of certain members.

The celebrity walk-on's were fun. The gowns and jewels dazzling. Solid performances from all the principles.

If caper is your thing, you'll want to add this to your watching.

Instinct (2018–2019)

I'm trying to like it, not working

[5/10 · 2 April 2018]

S1E3 - secondary theme of Calib as runaway Amish-ish kid killed in nyc, who had hidden popcicle stick practice piano in drawer, lifted from Bones (that kid had rocks as practice piano instead of popcicle sticks). Copied Bones right down to Amish-ish family keeping video of their son playing at Juilliard.

Every story seems derivative.

The Halcyon (2017)

Downton Abbey meets Foyles's War meets Night Manager

[9/10 · 9 October 2017]

May contain spoilers: Germany attacked London from the air.

I too am puzzled why such high ratings & such negative reviews.

I thought of it as Downton Abbey meets Foyles's War meets Night Manager.

We've seen the entire series twice & love it. Essentially, an 8-hour movie, so it can spool out a bit more slowly & let the viewers revel in the lush videography, near period sepia overtones, & jazz music. Hair & costumes were first-rate.

Sure the story lines are a bit worn, but after 70 years of WWII dramas there isn't a lot of new ground to walk historically, so the characters have to carry the day. The cast are all of the first water, with solid performances. The Halcyon Hotel was as much a member of the the cast as the leads.

If you're a Downton fan, or if you're a Foyle's fan, then you will feel right at home. The show is less intense than Night Manager, but the extreme competence of Richard Garland (Stephen Macintosh) calls NM to mind.