wwoodyard
Joined Jun 2007
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Reviews9
wwoodyard's rating
I expected little from this 'movie' but was pleasantly surprised. After all, it was a made for television mini series originally, it was about politics and U.S. ones at that, it was very long (both episodes were played as one cohesive piece in Queensland). On the plus side, it seemed to have an ideal cast, I like most of Alec Baldwin's work very much, I greatly admire Michael Gambon's work, Donald Sutherland needs no explanation as someone to watch, and that was just the beginning. Furthermore, I had seen the political drama "Nixon" not long ago and was greatly impressed by that (how could you not be with Anthony Hopkins at the helm); so things could have gone either way.
Thankfully, my doubts were not realised and I can safely recommend this saga to any thinking person, particularly those of us like myself who actually experienced those times. I suspect to those born later it might seem somewhat like a 'boring' history lesson unless that moment in history bears any particular fascination.
For Australians particularly it may be interesting as, just like with previous conflicts (World Wars I and II as well as Korea) and all wars since including Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom and currently Afghanistan, we stood shoulder to shoulder with our American brothers in Vietnam, fighting and dying in battle. We knew why we as a nation were there in the thick of it, so it was very interesting indeed to see why America was there in the first place, and this docu-drama provided some of the answers.
Thankfully, my doubts were not realised and I can safely recommend this saga to any thinking person, particularly those of us like myself who actually experienced those times. I suspect to those born later it might seem somewhat like a 'boring' history lesson unless that moment in history bears any particular fascination.
For Australians particularly it may be interesting as, just like with previous conflicts (World Wars I and II as well as Korea) and all wars since including Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom and currently Afghanistan, we stood shoulder to shoulder with our American brothers in Vietnam, fighting and dying in battle. We knew why we as a nation were there in the thick of it, so it was very interesting indeed to see why America was there in the first place, and this docu-drama provided some of the answers.
OK movie, not a world beater but entertaining enough. It has it's good moments even though much of the story is quite pedestrian at times. Surprises are, indeed, far and few between. The story in fact follows a well worn tradition of genre that has appeared in the guise of the western as well as vigilante movies of the 1960s and 70s, gangster movies of the 30s 40s and 50s as well as many many other forms.
But, unlike those films, this version of "a man is made to suffer and everything he holds dear is taken from him 'til he can take no more" does not attempt to drag us through the gutter until we ourselves as the audience want revenge of the worst possible kind. Instead it takes us through a much more personal and human experience and actually manages to explore human nature in a much more solid and realistic way than one might expect from such low budget fare.
At the end of the day we do root for the hero, but not because he is a superhuman, martial arts, special weapons trained, green beret, who was just holding back until we as the audience just wanted our own blood lust satisfied gratuitously, but because he is just an ordinary guy faced with a desperate situation.
Because at the end of the day, in truth, he could be any of us. And though "Menace" may be a tad long at times and has it's faults (though none terminal in my opinion), it is well worth seeing if you're in the mood for a good British made for TV crime drama that won't put you to sleep for a change like all their murder 'mysterys' with pseudo Sherlock Holmes types are beginning to do me.
But as I said previously, you've got to be in the mood for this one, because if you are it'll get you in!
But, unlike those films, this version of "a man is made to suffer and everything he holds dear is taken from him 'til he can take no more" does not attempt to drag us through the gutter until we ourselves as the audience want revenge of the worst possible kind. Instead it takes us through a much more personal and human experience and actually manages to explore human nature in a much more solid and realistic way than one might expect from such low budget fare.
At the end of the day we do root for the hero, but not because he is a superhuman, martial arts, special weapons trained, green beret, who was just holding back until we as the audience just wanted our own blood lust satisfied gratuitously, but because he is just an ordinary guy faced with a desperate situation.
Because at the end of the day, in truth, he could be any of us. And though "Menace" may be a tad long at times and has it's faults (though none terminal in my opinion), it is well worth seeing if you're in the mood for a good British made for TV crime drama that won't put you to sleep for a change like all their murder 'mysterys' with pseudo Sherlock Holmes types are beginning to do me.
But as I said previously, you've got to be in the mood for this one, because if you are it'll get you in!
What a shame. What a terrible shame. The table was set, the candles were lit, the guests had arrived... and then...
... well nothing really. Just pretentious drivel. It could have been great, OK maybe not great, but it could have been very good. All the elements were there but at the end of the day the bottle was empty: NO LIGHTNING! How that happened is a mystery with everything at the director's disposal...
... the story was quite brave although it certainly needed considerable work with possibly several finishing rewrites to fix the story and tighten up the characters a lot (the only thing that was consistently and constantly and unnecessarily tight was the cinematography, but i'll get to that). But the direction was lousy, the acting was just that: _a-C-T-i-n-G_ with a heavy side of cheese and lots of ham, and then the cinematography...
...well that was something to behold! But only if you are in film school's "Cinematography 101 how to never ever use a professional movie camera under any circumstances". Obviously the student had fallen asleep through part of the lecture's introduction and only heard "... use a professional movie camera..." then blissfully back to la la land as the sentence finished off.
What can i say; amateurish and pretentious to the last! I can only see this film meant to appeal as a Chick Flick because it's supposed to be sad, but then falls flat and just ends up being 'sad' (as an excuse for a movie)... so that even those 'Chicks' wouldn't be fooled by this schlockenspiel!
PS. I felt bad for Miss Diaz. She's a lot better at her craft than what this film allowed her to be, even though she was totally TOTALLY miscast. Actually i feel sorry for everyone in this movie except the director and (you guessed it) the cinematographer! I say '1st against the wall for them when the revolution comes!' OK, not really, after all "it was only a movie" but perhaps a good "tar and feather and running out of town" might be more satisfying or at the very least a lot more entertaining!!!
TTFN :-(
... well nothing really. Just pretentious drivel. It could have been great, OK maybe not great, but it could have been very good. All the elements were there but at the end of the day the bottle was empty: NO LIGHTNING! How that happened is a mystery with everything at the director's disposal...
... the story was quite brave although it certainly needed considerable work with possibly several finishing rewrites to fix the story and tighten up the characters a lot (the only thing that was consistently and constantly and unnecessarily tight was the cinematography, but i'll get to that). But the direction was lousy, the acting was just that: _a-C-T-i-n-G_ with a heavy side of cheese and lots of ham, and then the cinematography...
...well that was something to behold! But only if you are in film school's "Cinematography 101 how to never ever use a professional movie camera under any circumstances". Obviously the student had fallen asleep through part of the lecture's introduction and only heard "... use a professional movie camera..." then blissfully back to la la land as the sentence finished off.
What can i say; amateurish and pretentious to the last! I can only see this film meant to appeal as a Chick Flick because it's supposed to be sad, but then falls flat and just ends up being 'sad' (as an excuse for a movie)... so that even those 'Chicks' wouldn't be fooled by this schlockenspiel!
PS. I felt bad for Miss Diaz. She's a lot better at her craft than what this film allowed her to be, even though she was totally TOTALLY miscast. Actually i feel sorry for everyone in this movie except the director and (you guessed it) the cinematographer! I say '1st against the wall for them when the revolution comes!' OK, not really, after all "it was only a movie" but perhaps a good "tar and feather and running out of town" might be more satisfying or at the very least a lot more entertaining!!!
TTFN :-(