Category Archives: Drama

2007, Abduction, Acorn TV, Adultery, Alcoholism, Corruption, Crime, Cynical, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drug Dealers, Dysfunctional Lives, Extramarital Affair, Family Conflict, Father-son relations, Forensics, Irish Detective Series, Mildly Violent, Mother-son relations, Murder Investigation, Pedophilia, Physical child abuse, Police Corruption, Prostitutes, Rape, Revenge, Self-Deception, Sex Scenes, Sexual Tension, Small Town Atmosphere, Suspense, Teenagers

Single-Handed (2007)

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From Acorn TV:

Transferred from Dublin to his hometown on Ireland’s windswept coast, Sergeant Jack Driscoll faces challenges he never expected.

Acorn TV offers Set 1 (with 3 episodes, each an hour and a half) and Set 2 (with 6 episodes, each about 50 minutes). IMDB, on the other hand, breaks down the exact same collection into 4 seasons.

For the most part, we humans seem to have a lot of traits in common the world over. But if you are influenced by this series, you will come away with a vivid impression that the Irish are a somewhat dishonest, clandestine group of people that maintain silence over nasty past events. In other words Jack Driscoll must fight an uphill battle to get to the truth in every case.

Jack Driscoll himself is no saint. Even he must be on guard not to adopt some of the rough tactics of his forebears. Somehow during the episodes he manages to sleep with a lot of women. Considering what pieces of work he has for parents, it is a wonder he turned out to be an honest cop.

For me a sneaky, plotting villain motivates me to keep watching and hoping that the evildoer eventually loses.

When my wife Kathy approves of something we watched, then you know we are on to something worthwhile.

DO NOT MISS!

2015, Anti-Semitism, Basically Sad, Drama, German, German History, Greed, Holocaust Survivor, Jewish Culture, Personal Betrayal, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Slow, Suspense

Phoenix (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After a reconstructive facial operation, concentration-camp survivor Nelly Lenz tracks down her husband, Johnny, who believes she’s dead. Unrecognizable to Johnny, Nelly befriends him to find out whether he betrayed her to the Nazis.

On a NetFlix DVD in German with English subtitles, this slow-moving and emotionally moving film is somewhat of a mystery whose suspenseful element is what the ending could possibly be: did Johnny really betray her? Will he ever really recognize her? Will his greedy scheme succeed? Let me just say that the ending is PERFECT and quite subtle.

An adult, well-constructed, slow, sad film with just the right conclusion.

2015, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good For All, Irish, Italian culture, Mother-daughter relations, Optimistic, Sex Scenes, Use of Irish Brogue, Wonderful acting

Brooklyn (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After emigrating from Ireland, Eilis Lacey readily adapts to the vastly different New York City, where she falls for a young Italian. But when tragedy pulls her back to her hometown, she finds her loyalties divided between two nations — and two men.

Probably I have become so jaded from the usual film fare of sex and violence that when I watch a film I expect at any moment that something really awful is about to happen. As a real contrast “Brooklyn” is a sweet, gentle film based on the very popular book of the same name by Colm Tóibin. Imagine: no rapes, no untoward sexual advances, the priests are warm and helpful instead of pedophiles, Eilis (sounds like “eye lish”) is helped by friendly strangers and her boarding housemates. What is this world coming to? How can you have a film without a cringe factor?

All the acting was pitch-perfect. Emory Cohen as Tony (Eilis’ Italian love interest) is just right as a sincere, lovable, honorable member of an Italian family.

Saoirse Ronan presents an Eilis that matures as the film progresses. “Saoirse” is Irish for “freedom” and is pronounced “seer-sha”. “Ronan” means “little seal”.

In such a civilized ambience, the homesickness, difficult choices, and genuine love are felt all the more strongly.

Isn’t it nice to end a film feeling really happy? DO NOT MISS!

 

2015, Action Film, AIDS, Alcoholism, Bloody scenes, Cold War, Communists, Drama, Father-son relations, Gay theme, German, German History, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Nudity, Political Suspense, Sex Scenes, Spy Theme, Suicide, Suspense, Violent

Deutschland 83 (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After U.S. President Ronald Reagan describes the Soviet Union as an “evil empire” in 1983, rising suspicion between the two superpowers prompts a bold move to plant a communist spy in the midst of NATO’s military leadership.

If you want to see this excellent TV series, you can get Season 1 in three DVDs. Discs 1 and 2 contain 3 episodes each, whereas disc 3 contains 2 episodes.

Dialog is in German with English subtitles.

Martin Rauch (played by Jonas Nay) is the center of the plot. He is a young East German whom the East German communists convinced to spy for them as a soldier in West Germany. As he is manipulated by his handlers, he is forced to make moral decisions, something that would never occur to ardent communists. In this series we see unconscionable acts perpetrated by the East, although I would assume both sides got their hands dirty (CIA anyone?).

Suspense is constant as this young, clever, inventive spy does his work. Will he at any moment be caught? Will his masquerades be discovered?

Usually I try not to rave, but this series is a DO NOT MISS!

2014, Acorn TV, Action Film, Alcoholism, Bloody scenes, Canadian Police, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Family Conflict, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Lesbian Theme, Love Story, Murder Investigation, Pedophilia, Personal Betrayal, Police Corruption, Police Culture, Police Politics, Police Story, Private Versus Professional Life, Psychiatrists, School Shooting, Senior citizens, Sex Scenes, Small Town, Spousal Abuse, Suicide, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar, Wife Beating

19-2 (2014)

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Fronm Acorn TV;

Officer Nick Barron (Adrian Holmes, Arrow, Smallville) patrols the streets of Montreal with Station 19’s newest squad member, Ben Chartier (Jared Keeso, Falling Skies, Elysium). Back on the job after a shooting incident, guilt-ridden Nick immediately clashes with overzealous Ben. Absorbing and authentic, with an outstanding ensemble cast, this award-winning drama follows first responders beyond the crime scenes and into their own messy lives.

Acorn TV revamped its arrangement of this series so that now (2016) you can stream 10 Episodes of Series 1 and 10 Episodes of Series 2 and 10 Episodes of Series 3.

Acorn’s summary more or less says it all. Most police procedurals will be somewhat similar and “19-2” fits that description. Taken as a human drama, however, the plot details, characters, and acting are better than average.

Series 1 centers on Ben and Nick and Ben’s romance with Nick’s sister. Series 2 centers on finding a mole in the police department that is responsible for leaks that lead to the death of several officers.

WARNING: Series 2 Episode 1 is consumed by a lone teen gunman running amuck in a school shooting. This episode is long, harrowing and adds nothing to the other episodes in the series. Feel free to skip this episode without losing a beat.

Not a repeat of other police series, and not a waste of time. In fact, the more I watched, the more involved I became. Expect surprises.

2015, Adultery, Alcoholism, Depression, Drama, Flirting, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Nothing special, Philosophic Discussions, Self-Deception, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Thought provoking, Unusual

Irrational Man (2015)

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From NetFlix:

A middle-aged professor at a small Rhode Island college edges close to his breaking point, until he finds renewed purpose in his life after embarking on an unusual relationship with one of his students.

When Joaquin Phoenix is in a film, I will at least start to watch the film. For awhile his character Abe spends a fair amount of time whining about his despairing life even after meeting his student Jill, played by Emma Stone. Indeed the “talking heads” do ramble on about philosophic theories until one day in a restaurant — oops!, no spoilers allowed. “Irrational Man” is somewhat ordinary but good enough that I had to see what happens next, especially after that day in the restaurant — oops!

Eventually you will see that the film is well named. Meantime keep the faith.

2015, Ambiguous Conclusion, Drama, Love Story, Nuclear Survivors, Psychological Drama, Religious Theme, Sex Scenes, Sexual Tension, Suspense

Z for Zachariah (2015)

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From NetFlix:

Believing she’s the lone survivor of a global catastrophe, Ann Burden soon learns she’s not the only human alive when a research scientist shows up. But as the two slowly get acquainted, their relationship is strained by the arrival of another man.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, and Chris Pine make up the entire cast of this survivor story. As you might expect the tension in the plot is the competition between the two men for possibly the only woman left in civilization. Slow conversation, slow moving events, and no action make for a calm atmosphere that is suspiciously too polite.

Without spoiling your watching, I have to at least say that to enjoy this film your must not be bothered by ambiguity.

2014, Adultery, Bloody scenes, Complicated, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, Detective, Divorce, Drama, Drugs, Erotic Thriller, Explicit sex, Grisly, Marital Infidelity, Mostly About Sex, Murder, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Prostitutes, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suicide, Suspense, Violent

The Loft (2014)

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From NetFlix:

Five married co-owners of an upscale loft enjoy their investment as a discreet hideaway for their adulterous pursuits. But when a murdered woman is discovered in the apartment, each suspects the others of committing the grisly killing.

At least titillating, with the addition of a clever plot, a set of new actors present an involving who-done-it with at least one good plot twist.

As far as actors are concerned, I personally recognized only Rhona Mitra whom I first saw in the TV series “Boston Legal” in 2004 playing Tara Wilson.

None of the five friends are especially honorable (they have, after all, pledged themselves to an adulterous pact in their lofty hideout). Nor, possibly, is there honor among thieves. But when the film ended, I found myself wondering how many of the five men got their just desserts.

But I had a lot of fun watching.

2014, Brother-Brother relations, Cancer theme, Could Be Sad, Divorce, Drama, Family Conflict, Father-son relations, Lawyers, Melodrama, Murder Trial, Small Town, Violent, Well developed plot, Wonderful acting

The Judge (2014)

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From NetFlix:

Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.

Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thorton, and Vincent D’Onofrio put together a well-written, well-acted, well-plotted 2 hours and 21 minutes. Potentially a tear-jerker, the dialog was competently restrained to project all the conflicting emotions without adding syrup.

At least Robert Downey Jr. is not a super-hero or super-sleuth. He is, however a super-lawyer who earns hefty fees defending guilty clients. As he puts it, “Innocent clients cannot afford me.” He goes home after many absent years only because his mother dies. Part of the film’s charm are all the clever sarcastic quips delivered by Robert Downey.

As with most films of this nature, as the story develops we learn more about the family history: Why did the father Judge Palmer seem to reject his middle son the super-lawyer? What happened to the elder son who was on track to be a great baseball player? Who will care for the youngest somewhat retarded youngest son? Who is Carla’s father?

Judge Palmer is dying of Stage 4 cancer but still an active judge. One night he hits and kills a man with his auto. Most of the film is about the trial and how that trial is complicated by the family relations, especially the ongoing resentment between Downey and Duvall.

DO NOT MISS this well-done melodrama.

2014, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Based on true facts, Biographical, British, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Human spirit, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, True Story, Wonderful acting

The Theory of Everything (2014)

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From NetFlix:

With his body progressively ravaged by ALS, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking must rely on his wife, Jane, to continue his life’s work as he faces various challenges. This affecting biographical drama centers on the couple’s fertile partnership.

Just the acting alone, and especially Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of Stephen Hawking, is enough to make this film a DO NOT MISS!

Reading some discussion such as that found in Wikipedia will help you understand how historically accurate the film was. In fact, it captures the essence Hawking’s life quite well. Just be aware that the film tries to make Hawking seem less like a narcissistic jerk.

When Hawking dismisses his faithful and long-suffering wife Jane Wilde (played beautifully by Felicity Jones) after many years of marriage and three children in order to marry his new, young nurse Elaine, I have to admit I was disillusioned. Again, be sure to read up on the true story.

Once again – DO NOT MISS!