james.rankin

This is a unique discussion of the talented group of writers and performers who helped to create television comedy as we know it today. Think of the writers on this show starting with Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, Woody Allen, Neil Simon, Danny Simon, and all of them cut their teeth with Sid Caesar shows. This is must see for any fan of television comedy, any of the writers or performers, or just plain talent.

This is an excellent adaptation of a true story of university students reacting to World War II. The population of Holland lived a naive existence, believing that they were not involved. When the war came to them, they were horribly naive and unprepared. The only possibility was to work with the resistance. By wars end, only two of the original group (Erik and Jack) were still alive. The whole story is there: danger, how people were forced into collaborating, how others willingly collaborated, torture at the hands of the Gestapo, death the penalty for getting caught, how Erik survived.

The best Verhoeven movie readily available in the USA, what a contrast to the trash he turned out in the 1990s. Hauer is in top form as Erik. Krabbe is excellent as the fraternity president Guus, so in charge of the games at the beginning, so naive as to the reality of their situation at the end. Their friendship was at the core of this film. Their relationship with authority throughout was complex and compelling.

There are two subtitled versions, the original is far the best if you can find it. The other subtitled version available is a version of the dubbing script for the US version for those parochial people who have to have it in English because they can't be bothered to increase their cultural horizon and listen to a movie in its original language. Stay as far away from the dubbed in English version as you can.

This is the second adaptation by Parker with this cast of one of his Spenser books. The story is true to the book. The relationships between Spenser and Frank Belson are true to the context of the Spenser book series. The Boston police want to have nothing to do with private detectives, especially an ex-cop fired for insubordination who skates the edge of the law too frequently. Sometimes, though, being within the law has too many restrictions. When Belson's wife is kidnapped, Spenser investigates and finds things are not what they seem.

Mantegna is not nearly as pretty as Robert Urich of the old tv show, but much truer to the character of the pages of the books in thoughts, looks, and deeds. The supporting cast with Marcia Gay Harden as Susan Silverman is also good. Fans of the Spenser books will be pleased. I cannot wait for the next adaptation (I have heard there will be six).