Category Archives: Father-daughter relations

2015, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Action Film, Action Hero, Cancer theme, Clever Plot, Complicated, Father-daughter relations, Mixed Martial Arts, Sci-Fi

Selfless (2015)

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From Netflix:

Facing terminal cancer, an elderly billionaire undergoes surgery that will allow his mind to be transplanted into a young man’s body. The operation is a success, but now the tycoon is learning more than he wants to about his body’s former occupant.

Finally, Ryan Reynolds plays in a decent film, rather than the duds he so often appears in. This plot is very clever. In fact, I have not seen this plot before in any sci-fi film. Clever, a little contrived, and possibly hard to follow, the plot nonetheless manages to produce a satisfying end.

In addition to Ryan Reynolds, you will recognize Ben Kingsley. But even more of a surprise is Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley of “Downton Abbey”) as Kingsley daughter. You may also recognize Mathew Goode (Henry Talbot also of “Downton Abbey”) as the villain Albright.

Enjoy 117 minutes of reasonable and a bit violent fun.

2012, Abduction, Bank Robbery, Car Chase, Child abuse, Clever Plot, Complicated, Conspiracy, Corruption, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Dutch, Dutch politics, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Horses, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Orphans in Foster Care, Pedophilia, Police Corruption, Political Suspense, Revenge, Sociopath, Suicide, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Well developed plot, Wonderful acting, WWII

Salamander (2012)

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From NetFlix:

As he investigates a bank robbery, a Brussels police inspector uncovers a complx conspiracy with the potential to bring down the nation.

On a par with Wallendar, House of Cards, etc. Tense, complicated but understandable, well-acted, you cannot go wrong watching this series as long as you can stand the suspense. We streamed all 12-episodes of this 1-season Dutch series from Netflix. There does not seem to be a DVD version.

Bank robbers steal the contents of exactly 66 safe deposit boxes from a prominent bank in Brussels. These 66 boxes contain the secrets of 66 well-placed individuals who achieved their status by being part of a powerful cartel called Salamander. In fact the bank robbers are masterminded by a rich former factory owner who is seeking vengeance on the members of Salamander because they were responsible for unjustly portraying his father as a World War II traitor. When an honest and determined policeman gets an inkling that something is amiss (the bank robbery was immediately hidden from the public), he doggedly continues to investigate despite dangers to himself, his family, and to lots of other people.

Read along with the English subtitles and have a wonderful, action-packed adventure. DO NOT MISS!

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.

2014, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Adventure, Astronauts, Clever Plot, Complicated, DO NOT MISS, Father-daughter relations, Human spirit, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Interstellar (2014)

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From NetFlix:

From director Christopher Nolan comes this futuristic cosmic odyssey, which follows a band of space explorers who surmount the limits of interstellar travel, using a recently discovered wormhole to pass between dimensions.

Three hours of tension might sound at first like somewhat of a slog. But the story, presentation, acting, and special effects are so absorbing that time flies (which is almost a pun when you consider what the film is about).

In fact the film is about using time and other hyper-dimensions to save the people on the dying planet Earth. Whatever Matthew McConaughey (as Cooper), Anne Hathaway (as Brand), Michael Caine (as Professor Brand), or Jessica Chastain (as Murph) are talking about flew right over my head. Possibly their gibberish was respectable science, but I would have no way of knowing. However, that does not matter at all. Just follow the tense action and space antics and try to relax.

Although the ending seemed a tad hokey (“magic realism” anyone?), the ending was satisfying. However, I do not plan to do any space traveling, especially through some black hole.

If you have an inner geek, DO NOT MISS!

2012, 2013, 2014, Abduction, Addiction, Alcoholism, American Indian culture, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Car Chase, Cowboy, Crime, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugs, Father-daughter relations, Forensics, Horse story, Love Story, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Race Relations, Revenge, Stalker, TV Series, Western

Longmire (2012)

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From Netflix:

Based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels by Craig Johnson, this contemporary crime thriller focuses on a Wyoming sheriff who’s rebuilding his life and career following the death of his wife.

First review was for Seasons 1-4. See below for later seasons.

IMDB offers a better summary:

Walt Longmire is the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County. Widowed only a year, Longmire is a man in psychic repair that buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife’s death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady, Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic, a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch, an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional life, one step at a time.

“Longmire” is available on disc or streamed from Netflix. There are three seasons: Season 1 offers 10 episodes. Season 2 offers 13 episodes, and Season 3 offers 10 episodes. Seasons 3 and 4 can now be streamed from NetFlix.

Seasons 3 and 4 both end with serious cliff-hangers. Stay tuned for season 5.

Once you start down the “Longmire” path you will almost certainly be hooked. Running throughout the series are themes such as the murder of the wife of sheriff Walt (Robert Taylor), his relation with his daughter Cady (Cassidy Freeman), his friendly rivalry with his deputy Branch (Bailey Chase), and the antagonism between the white men and the nearby Cheyenne reservation.

Plot lines, scripts, acting, and local color are all excellent. Of course there is violence and a small bit of gore (headless horse, anyone?), but after all this is a “modern” Western. Only Walt is the Luddite who refuses to own a cellphone.

You won’t be sorry, DO NOT MISS!

SEASON 6:

Season 6 has 10 episodes, each running between 60 and 70 minutes.

There are two parts to this season:

Part 2 involves several topics:  tracking down heroin dealers targeting the the Indian reservation which involves Jacob Nighthorse and  Malachi Strand;  Sheriff’s assistant Victoria ‘Vic’ Moretti must face up to her father; Walt’s daughter Cady runs into trouble with the tribe and finds a love interest;  Sheriff’s assistant The Ferg has challenges with a bank robber and romance;  Henry Standing Bear plays a major part.

2005, Abduction, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Clever Plot, Corruption, Crime, Dark, Depression, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drug Dealers, Father-daughter relations, Forensics, Gay theme, Interest in dogs, Kidnapping, Lesbian Theme, Made For TV, Marital Infidelity, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Police Corruption, Revenge, School Teacher, Sex Scenes, Suicide, Suspense, Swedish, Swedish crime series, Teenagers, Tragedy, Violent, Well developed plot

Swedish Wallander (2005-2012)

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From Netflix:

Detective Kurt Wallander is an intense, headstrong maverick who’s prone to eating poorly, sleeping irregularly and drinking too much. Wallander relies on instinct and experience and doesn’t shy away from using illegal means to solve crimes.

Kathy and I have just finished stream-bingeing on all the Swedish Wallander episodes of which there are many. Cable TV gets worse each day and we were grateful to have something well-written, well-acted, and gripping to watch in the evening. Thank you, Netflix. “Gripping” is an important keyword (picture Kathy leaving the room during violent encounters).

To be precise about numbers of episodes:

Season 1 comprises 13 episodes.
Season 2 comprises 13 episodes.
Season 3 comprises 6 episodes.

Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander is a dedicated (even better – obsessed) detective whose personal life is one of drinking, loneliness, and coldness to his family. In other words, he is a mess. To his credit, the Swedish actor Krister Henriksson portrays such a man to perfection. However, as in often the case in such types of TV series, as much time is spent exploring his relations with others as in solving murder cases. For example, “Dicta“, which I have strongly recommended is cast in the same mold.

Quite a bit of camera footage is devoted to leisurely scanning the Swedish landscape and waterways. Wallander and his beloved dog Jussi take many walks on the beach outside his house.

During the course of the three seasons, characters come and go, never to be seen again.

Season 3 ends tragically. But I will not say more because that would be a spoiler. If you want to know what I mean, then send me email.

Once again, if you enjoy intense detective procedurals DO NOT MISS either “Dicta” or “Wallander”.

Be aware that there is also the Kenneth Branagh “Wallander” English series from Masterpiece Mystery.

2013, Amazon Prime, Comedy, Complicated, Divorce, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sexual discussion, Father-daughter relations, Feel Good Not For Children, Lesbian Theme, Made For TV, Marital Infidelity, Melodrama, Netflix Streaming, Optimistic, Quiet, Senior citizens, Sensitive treatement of emotions, Small British village, Yorkshire Accents

Last Tango in Halifax (2013)

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From Netflix:

Two widowed childhood sweethearts fall for each other all over again when they are reunited over the Internet after nearly 60 years.

Several sources (Netflix, Amazon) let you stream seasons one and two of this off-beat British TV series set in Yorkshire. We inadvertently started with season two and after getting acquainted with the many characters it really did not matter that we skipped season one.

Expect to find a celebration of multi-family dysfunctionality. Because the circumstances and relationships are so abnormal, you have to call this series a comedy. Of course, it you are willing to take any of it seriously, then you could say there are also sad or serious parts.

Just to give you a sample of the nuttiness:

  • Celia (Anne Reid) and Alan (the wonderful Derek Jacobi) marry in their seventies.
  • Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah Lancashire, who was wonderful in “Happy Valley”) is divorcing the loser John and taking up with Kate (Nina Sosanya who was Lucy Freeman in “W1A”).
  • Alan’s daughter Kate (Nicola Walker who was Ruth Evershed in “MI-5” or the remarkable Helen Bartlett in “Scott & Bailey”) is an impetuous unpredictable sheep farmer who has a complicated relation with Robbie (Dean Andrews who as Pete Lewis in “Being Eileen”) which is not at all helped by the fact that she slept with loser John.

Derek Jacobi’s Yorkshire speech pattern is wonderful to hear.

Because of its unrelenting sexual references, this series is probably not for children. But it does offer a pleasant and funny alternative to serial killers and rape victims.

2007, Abduction, British Mystery Series, Detective, Divorce, Drama, Father-daughter relations, HBO Streaming, Made For TV, Marital Infidelity, Melodrama, Murder Investigation, Race Relations, Sensitive treatement of emotions, Sex Scenes, Violent

Five Days (2007)

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From IMDB:

A five-part miniseries that revolves around the disappearance of a young mother in a quiet British suburb and the circumstances that leave her children abandoned far from home.

From Netflix:

Each season of this innovative crime thriller focuses on the most significant five days in a particular police investigation. The series delves into variety of cases, including missing persons, infant abandonment and suicide.

If your are looking for a British detective mystery TV series that is well-written, well-acted, and has a good beginning, middle, and ending, then “Five Days” is for you. HBO streams the series.

By now, if you have watched enough British TV series, you will recognize many of the British actors:

Matt Wellings (played by David Oyelowo [Louis Gaines in “The Butler”]) has a wife Leanne and three children, the youngest of which is Rosie. One day Leanne and Rosie go missing. Among the police we find DS Amy Foster (played by Janet McTeer [Mrs. Dashwood in Masterpiece Classic “Sense and Sensibility”]) and DSI Iain Barclay (played by Hugh Bonneville [Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in “Downton Abbey”]). Rosie is soon found. But Leanne’s disappearance is a torture for her parents Barbara Poole (played by Penelope Wilton [Isobel Crawley of “Downton Abbey”]) and John Poole (played by Patrick Malahide [Balon Greyjoy of “Game of Thrones”]).

Within the plot are subplots: Barbara and John Poole are whites who disapprove of Matt who is black; Leanne is divorced from a cad but Leanne’s child by him is white and dislikes her stepfather Matt; Leanne was close to her grandfather Victor who is cold to his daughter Barbara Poole; Victor favors his nurse Hazel Betts over his own daughter and that nurse is the mother of another important character Kyle Betts.

Despite the large number of characters, the plot is well-constructed and not really confusing. More than anything the emotional content is what is important.

Well worth your time, in fact DO NOT MISS!

2012, Abduction, Computer geeks, Could Be Sad, Detective, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Father-daughter relations, Father-son relations, Irish, Netflix Streaming, Prison, Prostitutes, Suicide, Teenagers, TV Series

Amber (2012)

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From Netflix:

Recently separated, Ben and Sarah Bailey find their lives turned upside down when their daughter Amber fails to return home one evening.

Because I watched “Hinterland” Netflix suggested that I stream, among others, “Hidden” and “Amber”. “Hidden” has been reviewed.

“Amber” is one season, 4 episodes, streamable only. Never before have I seen used the “time gimmick” in this Irish TV series. As the story progresses, we often see on the screen only a calendar page telling us what day of the search for Amber we have reached. Do not be confused by the fact that the story repeats over and over. Hence, you may see the same day more than once. No, you haven’t gotten the episodes confused. But at each repeat you see some old scenes repeated but with some new addition, giving you the distinct impression of deja vu.

Acting, writing, personal connections and plot are all good. HOWEVER … usually I don’t include spoilers (i.e. giving away some part of the plot). In this case I feel compelled to do so. But I have made this page long so that you should have to scroll up to read the spoiler in case you don’t want to “spoil” the plot.

SPOILER: In season one (the only available season) Amber is never found. Many viewer/reviewers screamed in pain.

But it is definitely worth watching.

2014, Barely Acceptable Trash, Bloody scenes, British, Corny, Crude Talk, Father-daughter relations, Not Recommended, Nudity, Outrageous Behavior, Satirical ultra-violence, Somewhat ridiculous plot, Violent

Dom Hemingway (2014)

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From Netflix:

After finishing a 12-year prison sentence, safecracker Dom Hemingway sets out to collect the money he’s owed by his former partners in crime. When that mission tanks, Dom returns to London to try and gain forgiveness from his estranged daughter.

As a violent tour-de-force for Jude Law, this film might interest you. However, I rate it as barely acceptable trash and outrageous behavior.

In order to dissuade you, I describe the very opening:

Dom Hemingway stands naked in prison. We see only his upper body. He recites a poem of praise for his “cock” while another inmate performs fellatio on him.

If that is not enough to dissuade you, what is?

One outrageous and usually violent episode follows another. Law’s acting is embarrassing at least in one scene when he visits the grave of his much abused and now dead wife.

You are warned.