kaesye

I had no interest in soccer. My sole knowledge of David Beckham was through watching Bend It Like Beckham, I could not have named a team he played for, yet I really enjoyed watching this. Seeing the story of his life unfold, the ups and downs, with non pre-conceived notions, I was pulled into his life story.

Seeing the little day to day snippets of his life interspersed with a re-telling of his greatest highs and lows as seen, not only through his eyes, but family, teammates, rivals, coaches made it a very riveting story.

If you aren't a soccer fan, do not avoid watching this. Even his own wife admits to having no interest in the sport. It's worth your time.

I was slow off the mark only starting season 1 as Season 10 was airing. First few episodes I was on the fence but by the 4th episode, I was hooked.

James Spader and Raymond Reddington are absolutely spell binding. His mannerisms, his charm, his hat. He is one criminal you can't help but love. Even when he does something seriously questionable, you let it slide. There is nothing Reddington and his crew can't pull, even what appears to be failures, he proves to have had in complete control. Other characters are, for the most part, great too. Who doesn't love Dembe and Aram?

The problem comes with the other main character, Elizabeth Keen. When I first began watching, reading through reviews, I felt people were exaggerating about Keen.... I am currently on season 4 episode 7 and, while integral to the plot, Elizabeth Keen can be freaking annoying. She spends much of her time whining.

Here's hoping plots that are Keen centric are winding down so that everyone can just get back to the business at hand and we can enjoy Red's genius and not have to suffer through Liz's 'why me?' Melodrama.

Sam Manning (Fisher Stevens) is desperately trying to write his next novel but is suffering a serious case of sophomore slump. He's getting nowhere, broke, and engaged to a patient and understanding photographer (Annabella Sciorra). The story is told using a mixture of Sam's day-to-day life, photographs, and Sam's commentary to an off-screen character. Sam's main character seems to be mimicking his life..or maybe it's the other way around...

If you watch this expecting to spend the movie snickering with Fisher Stevens as his usual, wise-cracking, joker (even in a non-comedy role) you will be surprised. There are very few wise-cracks and, don't let the poster fool you, it's not a romantic comedy.

It's a well-done telling of a guy who up to now had been The Man. Success, centre of attention, with the ability to hook women but now trying to pull himself together and failing miserably...or maybe he's not.

It's nice to see him in a starring role, so adjust your stereotypical expectations and you will enjoy it. Bonus if you catch a blink-and-you'll-miss-her walk-by from Mariska Hargitay.