Bad Blood

Perhaps it is unfair to evaluate performances and presentation, but mood is lost when we leave a dramatic scene for a yogurt commercial. But beyond that, there is something oddly flat and pedestrian about this effort. It is interesting to examine the true-life underside of Montreal--the U.S. does not have sole rights to mobsters--but the gravitas of The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire is sadly wanting here. The still images in the opening credits, particularly Kim Coates (with that vampire-like hooded,coloured eye business)and Paul Sorvino looking like a menacing bulldog provides unfulfilled promise of true explosive threat and menace thatwe expect out of the principals. They aren't helped by a plain-Jane script that doesn't allow for much layering or nuance. The series TALKS rather than really SHOWS. Dialogue provides by-the-numbers exposition. A lot of the acting comes off as theatrical vs authentic. Certainly there are violent scenes but they don't really resonate. The female characters in particular are ill-served---whether a crusading lawyer or politician or mistress---come off as either overly shrill or whiny, whereas no-nonsense street-wise savvy and seductiveness are non-existent. The males do not get off unscathed either, lacking in depth. Scenes of meetings with other mobsters have groups of guys trying real hard to LOOK tough and mean like movie standees trying to exude explosive menace. Using slow motion whenever Anthony Lapaglia strolls around is to suggest a bigger-than-life cold-blooded ruthless lion but we don't FEEL it. (The same approach was used when Colm Feore portrayed Pierre Trudeau several years ago, much to the same toothless effect--no fault in effort by Mr. Feore.) We want to see more home-grown Canadian productions but to distinguish themselves against non-commercial cable networks is a challenge.

This is just an excellent ensemble of veteran actors who agreed to participate in this six (6) part series outlining the historical criminal events of the Montreal crime family, led by mob boss Vito Rizzuto played by Anthony LaPaglia. After watching the pilot episode my only disappointment was that it ended as quickly as it seemed to just begin and I wanted to see more, a lot more! The supporting strong cast includes Kim Coates (best known for his role as Alexander 'Tig' Trager in Sons Of Anarchy), who plays Vito Rizzuto's confidant and mob muscle. The series also stars Paul Sorvino, Enrico Colantoni, Tony Nappo and the new dark horse to the crime genre, Brett Donahue, who plays third generation son/grandson Enrico Jr. Rizzuto.

Some viewers may say that there is one scene in the pilot episode of Bad Blood which takes place in a bar back in 1981 that may remind viewers of the violent animal rage displayed by Joe Pesci in the 1990 film Goodfellas. The scene shows a young Vitto Rizzuto and two of his cronies going back in time to 1981 in the dead of winter when they are asked by the bar owner Big Mike, to repay a favor owed to his father, and when called upon by passage of the secret word "zoo" Vitto and his two cronies are to proceed to come out of hiding from behind the door and first rough up then rob the three Bonnano mob bosses that will be in the bar with the bar owner who himself is also a mob boss. I will not go into detail other than to say that this particular nights event will come back to haunt the older Vitto Rizzuto three decades later.

If you are not yet familiar with the Montreal based Rizzuto crime family, this six (6) part TV mini-series will not only enlighten you on some factual events but I trust based on the strong showing of this pilot episode and the all-star cast of veteran mobster actors such as Anthony LaPaglia, Paul Sorvino, Enrico Colantoni, Tony Nappo and Kim Coates, you will also hunger for more episodes as quickly as the last one ends, you will want another episode to begin.

I give Bad Blood a superior Badda-Bing, Badda-Boom, 10 for 10 rating.

November 01st, 2018 Update

As much as I liked all of season 1, season 2 is so much better as Kim Coates who plays druglord Declan Gardiner takes over as the series lead role since Anthony LaPaglia's character mob boss "Vito Rizzuto" has bitten the dust. The second season has Declan really taking care of (his) business but he has a few distractions, one of those distractions being his troubled and abandoned nephew Reggie Ross (Ryan McDonald), and another being two ultra hip young immigrants from the old country Italy who have come to do the bidding of their Don father who wants a bigger take of the Canadian drug market. Not if Declan has anythig to say about it though.

Season 2 is fantastic with lots of twists and turns and strategies, and of course a string of deserving murders/executions. Hang in there for season 2 as its twice as good as season 1. Kim Coates shows why he is a star and I hope to see more of him on the big screen in the near future. Badda Bing Badda BOOM!

A couple of evil twins are sent from Italy by the 'Ndrangheta to take matters in hand and soon start trying to muscle in on Declan's operation. But the mad Irishman isn't giving in without a fight.

Season 2 is action-packed, with a lot of edge-of-your seat scenarios. However, as well as being taut and with no unnecessary scenes or filler, it also manages to produce finely-drawn characters who you can actually care about. Let's hope they can keep the high standards for Season 3.

First season was ok, season two was just great. Great actors, story and play!!

Ok so loads of Goodfellas parallel, based on actual characters, first person narration etc. This is solid TV. Some reviews say it's mediocre or typical, but every episode ends with you feeling it ended too soon. Kim Coates is one of my favorite working actors, he's awesome. There's something about the way this is shot though, it's kind of dark and a little overly noir in its look. It loses a little something. Still for all its faults it's compelling t.v. that ends far too fast.