Category Archives: Ethical struggles

2015, Abduction, Amazon Prime, Bloody scenes, Child abduction and murder, Child abuse, Crude Talk, Detective, Dysfunctional Lives, Ethical struggles, Family Conflict, Father-daughter relations, Male Prostitutes, Orphans in Foster Care, Physical child abuse, Police Politics, Politicians, Prostitutes, Psychiatrists, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Suicide, Suspense, Violent

Bosch (2015)

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Because I am an Amazon Prime member, I could stream for free Season 1 of “Bosch”. Bosch, as you are probably aware, is the detective character who appears in many novels written by Michael Connelly.

Season 1 consists of 10 episodes. As is often the case, throughout the series there are three running themes: The obsessive detective work which destroys Bosch’s family life; The search for a serial killer named Renard Waits; The constant political battles taking place in the police department. Of course Bosch sleeps with one of his female colleagues, which is a no-no according to the rules.

IMDB offers the cast rundown.

Titus Welliver (who played Glenn Childs in “The Good Wife” TV series) plays Bosch, and plays him VERY WELL.

Jason Gedrick (who played George Novikov in the “Dexter” TV series) plays the serial killer Renard Waits, and plays him VERY WELL.

Those two actors steal the show. But there are a zillion other supporting actors. Thanks to the IMDB site for helping me remember that Shawn Hatosy, who played the character Johnny Stokes, also played Terry McCandless in “Reckless” and Detective Sammy Bryant in “Southland”.

TV serials featuring serial killers and lonely detectives are a dime a dozen. But some, such as “Bosch” are done very well.

2011, 2013, Abduction, British, Child abduction and murder, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crude Talk, Dysfunctional Lives, Dystopia, Ethical struggles, Gritty, Netflix Streaming, Pessimistic, Prozac appropriate, Psychological Drama, Psychological Internet Damage, Sadism, Sci-Fi, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Thought provoking, Torture, Unusual, Valium appropriate, Violent, Vulgar

Black Mirror (2011)

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From Netflix:

This sci-fi anthology series in the vein of “The Twilight Zone” reflects on the darker side of technology and human nature.

UPDATE: January 2018. Netflix now offers Season Four with 6 more upsetting episodes. At the suggestion of a neighbor, I have introduced two new categories: “Prozac appropriate” is for depressing stories and “Valium appropriate” is for anxiety producing stories. For “Black Mirror” I would apply both categories. You are warned!

UPDATE: October 2016. Netflix now offers Season Three which is similar to and just as brilliant and disturbing as the first two seasons. Sometimes a known actor appears in an episode. For example in the first episode of Season Three the bother of the main character is played by James Norton of “Happy Valley” fame.

“Black Mirror” is probably the darkest and most disturbing TV series I have ever seen. Both season one (2011) and season two (2013) of this British series offer 3 episodes, all of which can be streamed from Netflix. If not just to be daring or sensational, supposedly the aim of the 6 episodes is to show the mind-numbing effects and other emotional dangers stemming from the internet and especially from our umbilical connection with our smartphones and other technologies. In any case the stories are clever and attention-grabbing.

Let me describe a few episodes in an effort to dissuade you from watching.

Episode 1 “The National Anthem” shows an effort to blackmail the British Prime Minister into saving the life of a kidnapped princess by appearing on TV while having sex with a pig. Of course you never see the sex act itself, but the idea is initially shocking and appalling (undoubtedly the intent). There is a point to the story which makes sense.

Episode 2 “Fifteen Million Merits” is an episode I could not finish because it seemed to show us as numb automatons.

Episode 5 “Black Bear” is just plain sadistic. Here we humans watch on our smartphones or capture film on our smartphones of the mental torture of a convicted killer. But you don’t know what it going on until the very end.

If you have a strong stomach and such entertainment appeals, then you will at least never be bored.

2014, Anti-terrorism, Based on a Book, CIA, Clever Plot, Complicated, Conspiracy, Cynical, DO NOT MISS, Ethical struggles, Father-son relations, International thriler, Spy Theme, Spy Versu Spy, Suspense, Wonderful acting

A Most Wanted Man (2014)

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From Netflix:

A half-Russian, half-Chechen man, brutalized by torture, arrives in Hamburg, where he seeks a British banker’s help in recovering his father’s estate. But the man may not be all he seems to be in this riveting adaptation of John le Carré’s novel.

Warning: you may be seething by the end of this film. Possibly that means that this well-acted film based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré is also written and directed quite well. But what is the point of such skullduggery if there is not some truthful basis to the film? Is it worth being cynical about the fun adventures of counter-espionage because a film pushes a fictional point of view? In other words, I wish the story were “based on true facts” instead of “based on a book”.

Every review I read of this film was a rave. Perhaps that is why I was glued to the screen right up to the end.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is his usual sloppy wonderful self in this his last film before he committed suicide. Rachel McAdams succeeds as a sincere vulnerable young human rights lawyer. And then there is the stunningly beautiful Robin Wright playing a cold deceitful role not unlike her role in the American version of “House of Cards”.

WAS ISSA AN INNOCENT MAN ?

Take a tranquilizer and enjoy this great film. DO NOT MISS!

2013, Action Film, Amputee, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Child abuse, Dark, Drugs, Ethical struggles, Fantasy, Mayhem, Personality or religious cult, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Torture, Violent

Snowpiercer (2013)

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From Netflix:

The Earth’s remaining inhabitants are confined to a single train circling the globe as revolution brews among the class-divided cars. Based on a French graphic novel and set in a new ice age, this futuristic thriller stars a top-notch ensemble cast.

Owing to a failed climate-change experiment that essentially froze the earth, when you look out of a window on this perpetual motion train, you see snow everywhere. Although the idea of a dystopia with a brutal separation of classes is nothing new, placing the only remaining inhabitants of the planet in a train is a novel approach. From a visual standpoint, “Snowpiercer” is one of the more original sci-fi films I have seen. Progress in the story is measured by the struggle of the underclass in the rear of the train to reach the front of the train. Moving through the train offers some wonderful eye-candy.

Chris Evans does a good job as the “hero” Curtis. Ed Harris as the god-like Willford is sufficiently amoral and heartless. But Tilda Swinton as the quirky class enforcer Mason steals the show.

Now for the WARNING: This film is incredibly violent. At certain points the punishments inflicted on anyone foolish enough to rebel are possibly hard to watch.

In all honesty I was mesmerized, but then good guys against bad guys always holds my attention.

2014, Abduction, Addiction, Bloody scenes, British, British Mystery Series, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime thriller, Depression, DO NOT MISS, Drug Dealers, Drugs, Dysfunctional Lives, Ethical struggles, Gritty, Kidnapping, Melodrama, Mental Illness, Murder, Murder Investigation, Mystery Film, Netflix Streaming, Not Feel Good, Police Corruption, Police Story, Psychological Drama, Rape, Sociopath, Suicide, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Wonderful acting

Happy Valley (2014)

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From Netflix:

From the creator of “Last Tango in Halifax” comes this police drama starring Sarah Lancashire (“Coronation Street”) as Yorkshire police sergeant Catherine Cawood, a strong-willed officer coping with the suicide of her daughter and struggling to raise the young son she left behind. When the man she blames for her daughter’s death is paroled, Cawood embarks on a mission to bring him down, unaware that her target is plotting another heinous crime.

Update to initial Season 1 review: Netflix now offers Season 2 of “Unhappy Valley” which continues the story line of Season 1. Season 2 is at least as riveting as Season 1.

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Original Review:

“Happy Valley” is NOT happy. After I tell you what is brutal in this riveting British TV series, I will then try and convince you to watch one of the most spellbinding detective series I have ever watched.

First the ugly news: Years ago the handsome sociopath Tommy Lee Royce raped and drove to suicide the daughter of sergeant Catherine Cawood. He is just out of jail and has joined in with a kidnapping of young Ann Gallagher whom he rapes in captivity. While transporting the kidnapped girl in a van, the kidnappers are approached by a young woman policewoman whom the sociopath runs over and over and over with his automobile. Get the nasty picture? You never see any rape, but you do see some brutal fights.

Now the reasons why you should not miss this drama: Sarah Lancashire is (as the British would say) “positively brilliant” as Catherine Cawood. Here is an incredibly strong woman with a long list of problems. For example, her dead raped daughter had a resulting son whom Catherine raises alone as a grandmother because Catherine’s remarried husband left her when the boy was born. Yes, it does sound like a good old melodrama. But the acting, the complicated personal relations, and the exacting plot details and surprises are well worth the uncomfortable price of admission.

If you can stand the barbarians and their callous behavior, then I feel duty bound to say: DO NOT MISS!

2014, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Digital Effects, Ethical struggles, Fantasy, Good digital effects, Nothing special, Psychic Phenomena, Sci-Fi, Somewhat ridiculous plot, Thought provoking

Trancendence (2014)

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From Netflix:

A husband and wife team of computer scientists work to advance artificial intelligence as a radical anti-technology organization fights to prevent them from creating a world where computers can transcend the abilities of the human brain.

Two hours of digital effects plus some possibly thought-provoking discussions are more or less the content of this not especially important sci-fi film.

As for actors you might recognize Johnny Deep, Paul Bettany (the priest in “Priest”), Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow in “The Dark Knight Rises”), Kate Mara (Zoe Barnes in “House of Cards”), and Morgen Freeman.

In case the plot is not abundantly clear you can always read the Wikipedia summary.

Long and only so-so.

2013, Action Film, Afghanistan, Based on true facts, Bloody scenes, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crude Talk, Ethical struggles, Grim, Gritty, Human spirit, Military, Navy, Navy SEALs, Suspense, Thought provoking, True Story, Violent, War

Lone Survivor (2013)

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From NetFlix:

Mark Wahlberg stars as Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in this action-drama based on an ill-fated real-life mission to bring down a Taliban boss. The stakes get even higher when Luttrell and his unit are ambushed in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.

Photography in this film is very explicitly bloody and violent. Plot is simple: SEALs train hard; SEAL mission ambushed and all killed but Marcus Luttrell; Luttrell reaches Pashtun village which protects him; Helicopters arrive to rescue Luttrell.

As usual the devil is in the details. Whatever your feelings about the war in Afghanistan, you have to admire the courage and dedication of these SEALs.

For me the most notable scene was the moral debate about what to do with villagers tending their goats. Sadly their moral decision sealed their fate.

Be sure to watch till the very end so that you can see the slide show of the actual men and their families. Also there Is some explanation about why the villagers helped Luttrell.

Not easy to watch!

2014, Based on a Book, Ethical struggles, Historical Fiction, Mediocre, Muddled biblical references, Ridiculous plot, Suspense, Violent

Noah (2014)

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From Netflix:

This ambitious adaptation of the story of Noah depicts the visions that led him to voice dire prophesies of apocalypse and to build an ark to survive. As he labors to save his family, Noah asks for help from a band of angels called the Watchers.

Half of this film is somewhat ridiculous. Following a fanciful and jumbled interpretation of the Bible book of Genesis, we meet Noah and his family somehow surviving in a barren middle of nowhere, doing their best to avoid the sinful descendants of Cain (who slew his brother Abel) who have managed to ruin the earth. Due to a series of visions Noah is convinced that humanity will be punished and should be eliminated.

After a forest miraculously sprouts up around him (don’t ask!) , Noah gets help building an arc from a band of outlandishly conceived Watchers who most closely resemble moving rock piles.

We watch in wonder as zillions of birds, snakes, reptiles, and mammals somehow fit into this wooden monstrosity.

So why did I continue watching this Bible-rama?

  • Russell Crowe does a pretty good job as an anguished man determined to do what he thinks is God’s will.
  • As unsubtle as it is, the idea of humanity producing its own demise is all too realistic. (Advice: take swimming lessons)
  • Just how two sons and one daughter-in-law will go forth and multiply is tricky.

Once again, the film was worth watching at least on a seven hour plane ride.

2014, Addiction, Car Chase, Crime, Crude Talk, Detective, Dysfunctional Lives, Ethical struggles, Father-son relations, Good Brother - Bad Brother, Nothing special, Police Story, Revenge, Violent

Blood Ties (2014)

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From Netflix:

When 50-year-old Chris is released from prison, his younger brother Frank, an up-and-coming member of the police force, welcomes him with open arms. But when Chris has trouble staying straight, Frank is trapped between duty and family.

We should probably coin a name for those films featuring two brothers, one of whom is a crook and the other a cop. How about “Good Brother, Bad Brother”? There are an awful lot of such GBBB films. What makes this GBBB film a bit better is the fact that Bad Brother is Clive Owen and Good Brother is Billy Crudup. In this case we might change “Good Brother” to “Conflicted Brother” although that is often the case in GBBB films.

Remember Marion Cotillard who played Edit Piaf in that wonderful 2007 film “La Vie en Rose“? Here she plays a drug-addicted woman sadly misused by Bad Brother.

James Caan is the aged and dying father of the two brothers.

Nothing special, but not a waste of time.

Australian, Complicated, Crime thriller, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drug Dealers, Ethical struggles, Greed, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Plot Twist, Revenge, Small gem of a film, Suspense, Thriller, Trains, Violent

Swerve (2011)

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From Netflix:

This Australian outback thriller brings together the classic film noir ingredients when a man’s cross-country drive is diverted by car trouble. Soon after, he witnesses a spectacular car crash that includes one survivor and a money-stuffed suitcase.

By accident I found this Australian gem that just never lets go.

None of the actors are familiar to me, but all are excellent, especially the trio:

  • David Lyons as Colin. Colin arrives on scene with car trouble, the mere beginning of his troubles. Colin is an honest man accidentally up against the rest of the trio.
  • Emma Booth as Jina is unhappily married to the local sheriff.
  • Jason Clarke as Frank the sheriff is a jealous man with a vicious, homicidal temper.

We are NOT talking about a love triangle. Colin honestly returns the suitcase of money to the sheriff which is when Colin’s troubles really begin. Proceed from there through drug dealers, fighting, murder, bodies dumped in a mine, deception, and a satisfying final set of clever plot twists.

Don’t miss this lucky find!