Category Archives: TV news industry

Click Bait (2021)

From Netflix:

Pia Brewer races to find Nick when he appears in an online video, bloodied and holding a sign that reads: “At 5 million views I die.”

From Netflix you can stream the 8 episodes of this mystery thriller. Each episode lasts about 45 minutes.

Who kidnapped and killed Nick?  At first he is shown in an online video, bloodied and holding a sign that reads: “At 5 million views I die.”  As the 5 million viewers constantly view the video he holds other signs saying he abused women or that he killed a woman.

Each episode is from the viewpoint of one of the people involved in the plot such a family members, a detective, and an unscrupulous reporter.  There are several plot twists. Just when you think you know what is going on,  some new game changing fact comes to light. Along the way many people suffer loss and betrayal.

Some editing would have removed a bit of unnecessary footage.  At times the plot veers toward the maudlin.  Still,  it is a clever shape-shifting plot.

Borgen (2012)

From IMDB:

A political drama about a prime minister’s rise to power, and how power changes a prime minister.

From Netflix you can stream 3 seasons of this Danish political drama series. Each season consists of 10 one-hour episodes.  Recent news hints that there might someday be a fourth season. Danish with English subtitles.

In Danish, Borgen, lit. ’The Castle’, is the informal name of Christiansborg Palace where all three branches of Danish government reside: the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Supreme Court, and is often used as a figure of speech for the Danish government.

In the very first episode we see  Birgitte Nyborg become Prime Minister of Denmark.  This first episode is OK but does not begin to compare with the gut-punching episodes that follow.  Can a woman “have it all” is one of the issues.  Birgitte comes off as a morally upright and  sincere woman steering her way through the compromising pressures of political life.   She will pay a personal price for her success.

Surrounding Birgitte are a multitude of characters meaningful to the plot,  some praiseworthy and quite a few sneaky , malicious,  ambitious “villains.”  Quite a few of those characters are members of the news media.  All these many characters are involved throughout the series and often have their own personal stories to tell.

Each episode usually centers around a theme:  health care, peace negotiations,  and many others.  Don’t expect each episode to have a happy ending.  After most episodes Kathy and I exclaim “WOW, how do the writers maintain such consistent excellence?”

DO NOT MISS!

The Code (2014)

From IMDB:

Two Canberra based brothers become entangled in a cover up that involves a remote outback community and key members of the Australian Government.

Acorn TV offers this Season One 6-episode conspiracy thriller.

How am I ever going to find another governmental intrigue series as exciting, well-crafted, dramatic, and spellbinding as “The Code”?

Give a rousing cheer to the Australian actor Dan Spielman who plays Ned Banks  and to the California-born actor Ashley Zukerman who plays Ned’s brother Jesse. They are the center of attention around whom the plot revolves. Ned’s constant caring for his severely Asberger’s disabled but computer gifted bother Jesse supplies most of the drama.  In addition Adele Perovic’s role as Hani Parande, who brings love into Jesse’s life, is stunning. For me the only recognizable actor was the New Zealand icon Lucy Lawless who plays Alex Wisham.

Another twenty well-cast characters provide complexity and quite of bit of drama on their own.

Needless to say, there is an enormous amount of digital displays, computer shenanigans, and other hocus-pocus.  Just believe that the geeks know what they are doing.

Once again it was the evil in the “bad guys” that kept me on edge waiting to see if they received their just deserts.  Not all “good versus evil” plots end with justice prevailing. But then a little ambiguity spices any plot.

Recently I read a comparison of American versus British thriller series. One point made was that the Americans drag their stories on for too long. This Australian series backs up that idea. There was not a wasted piece of writing in all six episodes.

DO NOT MISS!!!!!!!

Network (1976)

From NetFlix:

When a network news anchor loses his mind on the air, his outrageous rants reach viewers at home, boost the ratings and intrigue a pair of cutthroat network executives in this Oscar-winning masterpiece that predicted today’s rash of trash television.

Thanks to a fellow movie fan after reading my review for “Nightcrawler” who suggested that I should have seen “Network” first. Indeed, to borrow from my neighbor again, the depiction of the pandering sensationalist behavior in “Network” was a precursor to today’s trash TV (reality TV anyone?).

In at least one respect, the film feels dated: the speech delivery is loud, almost shouting oratory. It could take awhile to get used to this unrelenting patter. If you think Peter Finch (as Howard Beale) shouts a lot, just wait for the reprimand speech delivered to Howard Beale by Ned Beatty (as Arthur Jensen) whose message is “Money Is Everything”. Another way to put this is to say that the film is preachy.

Another impression for me was that “Network” was a bit like “Mad Men” meets “Nightcrawler”. Much like “Mad Men” we witness the merciless win and lose of jobs, positions, and sanity.

Whether Faye Dunaway (as Diana Christensen) is capable of love comes in question when the aging William Holden (as Max Schumacher) leaves his wife for Diana. In one clever scene she and Max make love while during the entire love-making session she jabbers on non-stop about network business.

In some sense the film is scary, possibly because it holds too much truth. But from a historical perspective, I am very glad I saw this 40 year old film which in many aspects has not aged at all.

Nightcrawler (2014)

From Netflix:

Eager for any work that will make ends meet, Lou Bloom joins the flock of camera crews prowling the nighttime streets of Los Angeles in search of scandal and crime. But before long, Lou finds himself caught in the tabloid limelight.

Jake Gyllenhaal provides a creepy, masterful, unique performance that for all purposes is a solo piece. His character here is like none other that he has created. In the past he was quiet, moody, and reflective. Here his amoral and ambitious character Louis Bloom is a very intelligent, manipulative fast talker. And when I say “fast”, I challenge you to pay close enough attention in order to take in his rapid but amazingly well thought-out spiels. He took my breath away. At the same time he repulsed me because he will stop at nothing to provide sensational and gory news film footage for ever increasing fees. Throughout his ego drive to fame and fortune in the TV news industry he is willing to take advantage of whomever comes his way.

Expect an exciting multiple car chase near the end.

In summary, Jake Gyllenhall unerringly portrays a true sociopath as well as painting an frightening and cynical picture of the TV news industry.

You might be a little sickened.