Category Archives: Journalist

2012, Action Film, Bloody scenes, Boxing, Car Chase, Complicated, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Contract Killing, Corruption, Detective, Extramarital Affair, Forensics, French, French Detective Series, Gypsies, Journalist, MHz Choice, Murder Investigation, Police Corruption, Police Psychologist, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

Antigone 34 (2012)

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From MHz Choice:

Under the pressure of an invisible and powerful enemy, Lea Hippolyte, a police captain and martial arts specialist, joins forces with Victor, a marginal doctor wrongly disbarred, and with Helene, a non-conformist psycho-criminologist. Their investigations on “ ordinary” crimes cross paths with much higher stakes and address universal topics. Filmed in Montpellier in the south of France, this series follows three characters with little in common joining forces to overcome common threats.

From MHz Choice you can stream the 6 episodes of season 1.  Each episode lasts roughly 50 minutes. French with subtitles.

Inside the police headquarters, named Antigone34 for some reason, the atmosphere is always tense.  Principally that tension is due to two detectives who are not only hostile to many of their fellow officers, but also in fact bent. It is no secret in the plot that they are paid by the chief villain to do his bidding.  Adding to the general feeling of suspense are many chase scenes, most of which involve running on foot to catch someone. Although I found the plot somewhat complicated, nonetheless the plot excitement kept me interested.

That there is only one season disappoints me.  Season one finishes  the plot surrounding one police case, but finishes with a major surprise that seems designed to demand another season. Moreover, those two bent detectives are still in the picture, although Lea is sure she knows who they are. But at the end of the season we the audience discover a bad actor that even Lea could not yet suspect.

2001, 2003, 2012, Abduction, Abortion, Abuse of Women, Alcoholism, Bloody scenes, Career Competition, Child custody, Computer geeks, Corruption, Crime thriller, Detective, Divorce, Explicit sex, Extramarital Affair, Failing Marriage, Family Conflict, Financial malfeasance, Jealousy, Journalist, Lesbian Theme, MHz Choice, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Personal Betrayal, Private Versus Professional Life, Psychopath, Revenge, Serial Killer, Suspense, Swedish, Swedish crime series, Terrorist Attack, Thriller, TV Series, Unmarried mother, Violent, Vulgar

Annika Bengtzon (2012)

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From MHz Choice:

Based on author Liza Marklund’s best-selling crime novels, Annika Bengtzon is a journalist and working mother of two struggling to raise her family. Fearless in her search for the truth, she won’t take no for an answer from anyone: not from prestigious academicians or drug dealers or from colleagues inside her own profession.

MHz Choice streams this Swedish TV crime series (with English subtitles) in two seasons. Season 1 includes 6 episodes all of which were made in 2012. Season 2 includes only 2 episodes made in 2001 and 2003.  First watch Season 1 in which Annika is played by the beautiful Malin Crépin.  Season 2 contains “Paradise” which is a prequel that tells how a young Annika fights to be a reporter, and “Deadline” which takes 2 hours and features Annika as a second-in-command at the newspaper. All the other 7 episodes last about 1.5 hours. In season 2 Annika is played by Helena Bergström who is extremely different in appearance from Malin Crépin. Visually, for example in the physical appearance of actors, season 1 is more of a crowd pleaser.

As is the case with many crime shows featuring a woman doing the sleuthing, the theme is how the woman must battle male prejudice while trying to balance her obsessive drive to do her job (here to deliver news stories)  with the demands of her family (here husband and two children). Quite a bit of really NOT boring film footage is devoted to jealous bickering in the newsroom.

Only one episode was somewhat boring. In every episode, however, the suspense is palpable, especially because  Annika’s life is usually in danger.

If you like an intense rush, try these two series.

2013, British, Bullying, Could Be Sad, Drama, Ethical struggles, Gloomy, Journalist, Mental Illness, Military, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Revenge, Sad small town, Small British village, Suicide, Violent, War Veterans

Southcliffe (2013)

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From IMDB:

Following a raft of shootings in an English market town, the crimes are retold through the eyes of a journalist and the tragedies’ victims.

Netflix Steaming offers 4 episodes of so-called Season 1. However, as far as I can tell the story ends with the fourth episode.

After watching the miserable life of the long-suffering shooter so that we understand why he goes berserk, we get to know some of the inhabitants of the sad, small British town Southcliffe. David Whitehead, the reporter who is also a native of Southcliffe and who has bitter memories of the town, is the center of the story as he digs for information and interviews various townies. There are two guilty provocateurs, each with his own reaction to the shootings.

Basically this is a very depressing story with not a bit of sunlight visible, despite the fact that it is very well done. You are warned.

 

 

Cancer theme, Career Competition, Child abduction and murder, Complicated, Detective, Journalist, Love Story, Mother-daughter relations, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Newpaper work, Scottish, Sex Scenes

The Field of Blood (2011)

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From Netflix streaming:

Paddy Meehan is a new kind of heroine. A young, female, feisty and funny trainee reporter, she often oversteps the mark between reporting crimes and solving them – while sometimes becoming part of the crime along the way.

You can read about the story in Wikepedia. Only Series 1 is currently available. There is a second series.

There are only two one hour episodes:

The Field of Blood Part 1: Paddy has a personal connection in the case of a missing two-year-old. As the story develops, Paddy believes it could provide a much-needed break in her quest to advance from copy boy to reporter.

The Field of Blood Part 2: Paddy continues to investigate even after the case takes a dangerous turn. Convinced of the accused’s innocence, she is getting little support from her colleagues, her family, or her fiancé.

Paddy Meehan, a young Glasgow woman, starts as a “copy boy” in a newsroom staffed by cynical losers who disparage her as a “fat girl”.  But our Paddy never gives up her ambition to be a reporter and when she gets wind of two similar murders that the police refuse to consider as connected there is no stopping her. Along the way she alienates her family, gives up a boy friend, and connects with a young reporter.

Good story (pay attention to all the details) and good acting make for two enjoyable hours

2016, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, Comedy, Could Be Sad, Drama, Feel Good For All, Gay theme, Interest in automobiles, Interest in cats, Journalist, Love Story, Senior citizens, Suicide, Swedish, Trains

A Man Called Ove (2016)

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From Netflix:

Despite being deposed as president of his condo’s resident association, 59-year-old misanthrope Ove continues to plague his neighbors with dictatorial demands. But when Ove’s new neighbor runs over his mailbox, the old crank finds he’s met his match.

Beginning December 2016 Netflix will offer the DVD for this Swedish film with English subtitles.

Based on the book by Fredrik Backman first published in 2012, the film adaptation, according to wife Kathy who read this very popular book with her book club, is faithful to the original plot.

Although the film begins when Ove is 59 years old, the films spends a lot of time in flashbacks to his younger years. In a nutshell, Ove has suffered many personal losses in his lifetime, and is now so lonely he contemplates suicide, although his comic attempts never succeed. What saves Ove are all the new neighbors moving into his housing development.

Although the film has many sad points, it also has just as many funny spots.  For example, Ove’s competition with a close friend is based on the fact that  Ove drives  Saabs whereas the friend drives Volvos.

Here is one of those films for the entire family that you could describe as “feel good.” If you want to get away from sex and violence and nasty politics, this is the film for you.

 

Abduction, Acceptable Science, Acorn TV, Asperger's Syndrome, Australian, Australian Aborigine, Brother-Brother relations, Clever Plot, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Corruption, Drama, International thriler, Iran, Journalist, Kidnapping, Love Story, Medical Theme, Mental Illness, North Korea, Nuclear weapons, Politicians, Spy Theme, Suspense, Terminal Disease, Thriller, Torture, TV news industry, Violent, Wonderful acting

The Code (2014)

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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!!!!!!!

2014, Bloody scenes, Car Chase, Creepy, Crime, Crude Talk, Cynical, Dark, Detective, FilmReview, Journalist, Murder, Psychological Thriller, Sociopath, Suspense, TV news industry, Unscrupulous drive to power, Violent

Nightcrawler (2014)

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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.

2013, Bloody scenes, Child abuse, Crime thriller, Detective, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Forensics, Journalist, Lesbian Theme, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Medical Theme, Melodrama, MHz Choice, Mother-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suicide, Suspense, Swedish, Swedish crime series, Teenagers, Thriller, TV Series, Unmarried mother, Violent

Dicte (2013)

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From Netflix:

A crime reporter starts a new life by returning to her hometown, where she finds herself at odds with the police when she tries to solve their cases.

UPDATE: From MHz Choice you can now stream 3 seasons of Dicte. The stories and writing continue to be captivating and suspense filled. Currently (January 2020) there is a new episode of season 3 released each Tuesday.

OLD REVIEW ————————————————————-

No doubt about it, streaming is taking over. Just today (Dec 9,2014) the papers echo complaints that Netflix streaming is threatening cable TV. No surprise there seeing how cable offerings continue to worsen.

From Netflix I streamed 10 wonderful episodes of the only season made of the Swedish thriller “Dicte”. If you loved the Swedish “Wallander” you will be ecstatic over “Dicte”. Dicte is the character name of the lead actress who is a newspaper crime reporter dedicated to uncovering the truth often by using methods not legally available to the police.

More than crime solving, the series is equally if not more concerned with the personal lives of Dicte and all the people surrounding her. In this respect you can call it a melodrama. Expect to see married couples break up, exchange partners, and so forth: today’s operative word is “blended”.

As with “Wallander” the sound track is in Swedish with English subtitles.

DO NOT MISS either “Wallander” or “Dicte”!

2011, British Mystery Series, Clever Plot, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Father-son relations, Journalist, Lawyers, Murder Investigation, Mystery Film, Netflix Streaming, Plot Twist, Prison, Suspense, Violent, Well developed plot

Hidden (2011)

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From Netflix:

When a mysterious lawyer asks small-time solicitor Harry to find a missing alibi witness for a client, he’s forced to delve back into his murky past.

Superb is the word that first comes to mind. After finishing the wonderful TV series “Hinterland” from Netflix, suggestions appeared on our TV screen among which was “Hidden”. As far as I can tell, you can get “Hidden” from Netflix only by streaming. Netflix’s suggestion was appropriate because here is another suspenseful, well-written, well-acted British mystery thriller. Oddly enough IMDB has no entry for this TV series.

What seems to begin with Harry trying to find out who killed his brother Mark eventually turns into a governmental conspiracy story with many well-done characters. Things are not as they seem and there are unexpected plot twists. Once I began the 4 episodes, it was very difficult to stop watching.

British TV you have done it again! DO NOT MISS!

2013, AIDS, British, Catholic culture, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Emotional child abuse, Ethical struggles, Feel Good Not For Children, Gay theme, Journalist, Quiet, True Story, Wonderful acting

Philomena (2013)

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From Netflix:

Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.

If I had not already known the story of Philomena I would have finished watching this marvelous film in a really upset and angry mood. Never mind that this outrageously true story has as happy an ending as is possible given the situation.

Judi Dench (Philomena) and Steve Coogan (Martin Sixsmith) play off one another perfectly as in ying versus yang, as in a Catholic believer versus an atheist, as in simple down-to-earth versus a sophisticated Oxford educated journalist. Much of the charm of the story is seeing each of them change over the course of the film: he softens into compassion, she forgives the evil nuns but finally feels the need to let the world know what happened to all those unwed young mothers.

No more will I say. Just enjoy the plot twists. One surprise (this is not a spoiler) is that at one point seemingly simple Philomena shows that she understands in blunt terms quite a bit about contemporary mores. Somehow that fact just did not ring true with me.

As a culture-vulture side note: Peter Hermann (Pete Olsson) is married to Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order”) who is the daughter of Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. Just remember that for your next game of Trivial Pursuit.

DO NOT MISS!