scott_sherwood

This movie tells intersecting stories of imperfect, but ordinary people who experience some extraordinary, unseen power on their lives. How they react and sometimes change is expressed through the actors, dialogue and atmosphere with chilling effect. In particular, the piece does a good job of creating a lonely, dark, doom and gloom atmosphere through the settings and minimal dialogue. In some ways, the film echos Patient 9, which I would argue is one of the great chiller movies of all time. Throughout the film, I felt uncomfortable, not knowing who or what is in control. So again, I would give thumbs up to the dialogue, actors, settings and general filming.

That said, why isn't it a 9 or 10? I do not think it was wise to split the movie in to the 3 view points. It interfered with the continuity of the story telling. I don't know what would work better. I just know there is a good, creepy story here. They did a great job using the film medium to tell most of that story. But in the end, not a good enough job to be a great film. I do recommend it. So a thumbs up. Just not way up.

As this series aired on BBC America, it seems to me it should have been part of the Emmy candidates. However I wonder about that since it received no mention and as a minimum, Tatiana Maslany's performance in the lead character role is one of the best ever in any media. Tatiana plays the multiple clones effortlessly. Whether American, British, Eastern European, anti-social, nonconformist, conformist, straight, LGBTQ I am never questioning the character. I was a fan and regular viewer of United States of Tara, but Tatiana's performance eclipses Toni Collette's. As I watched each week of the first season, I went from mildly entertained by her transformation to completely believing there were multiple actresses in the show. I would watch the opening credits thinking there were missing actresses! Jordan Gavaris is also great as Tatiana's brother. He brings just the right level of doubt yet support to the character. The story lines, settings, direction are also very good. As video science fiction, I think this is one of the best shows I have seen. It explores many different ethic and moral views - personal, scientific and social - with just enough creepiness to both entertain and make me think.