Zen-2-Zen

3 instead of 1 just because Rebecca Ferguson was superb, crystalizing the opinion that she should (have) be(en) next Lauren Bacall except that she'd need a next Bogie (which Hackman is not, pardon 'J' :-) and a real Noir director which is nowhere to be found.

Plus Thandiwe Newton of course. I wasn't sure I'd be able to watch her after so recent and superior Maeve in Westworld but she created so substantially different and mesmerizing character out of thin water (aka amateurish script) that I forgot who was that Maeve after firsts frame.

Hugh Jackman proved that he's not much of (some word :-) and should stick to Wolverine-like roles for good.

If Lisa Joy(less) had brains instead of hubris she would/should have asked Jonathan Nolan to write the script and then guilt his bro into directing and they'd be a 100 mil plus by now instead of 100 mil minus. Sure she wouldn't get to "sign her name" as an "auteur" (with apologies to the real meaning on that word :-) but she'd get a lot of production credit for IQ.

Wouldn't cost much more. All the money wasted on CGI to create flooded Miami looking like (really flooded) New Orleans would be saved and used to pay for quality direction and writing.

Don't know what else to say. I paused it 3-5 times and went to Safeway to buy some food during one of these breaks - that's how "intriguing" and "suspenseful" it was. Someone should make an edit with just Ferguson's and Newton's scenes and release as a kind of salvage short. I'd bet it would collect more viewers as an arthouse release :-) Dare to try ? :-))

I hardly ever watch any Hallmark productions so my expectations were really low. Sure there is a number of cliché and cheesy aspects but the actors are the ones who really gave this production much more than what these kinds of productions normally get for the money they pay. Or maybe Hallmark was paying better for this one?

Bethany Joy Lenz carved out a few almost monological scenes, so one might say that director also deserves kudos for having a ear for a slightly different approach when and actor brought it and not forcing everyone into an "ensemble" routine. Grace Beedie also managed to carve out, let's say a few solos and a few other created sparkling miniatures.

That's what gave this flick the quality that other people called, fun, witty, quirky - the sense of character's individuality which is rare and not usually expected in this kind of production.

Robert Wisden delivered very good support, almost prefect segue for others to shine when they could, and wanted to. A few others were not up to the (unexpected) higher standard. Victor Webster and Paula Shaw, almost unwatchable, Laura Soltis plain routine going on cheesy.

Now I'd like to see Bethany Joy Lenz and Grace Beedie doing something together, but with much better script, direction and production.