sberridge77's reviews

This episode had everything that I wished the series had as a whole, tight editing, dramatic tension, brilliant acting, atmosphere of foreboding throughout, plus the best short scene of the entire series. The encapsulation of the family story made sense at last although there were some omissions about what actually happened to some of the family members, realistic but irritating. I loved it and I think a bit more tight editing throughout would have improved it for me. Probably one episode too many which could easily have been corrected by omitting some of the repetitive scenes in the earlier episodes. Excellent last episode though.

I watched some of the first episode, abandoned it but returned to it after reading excellent reviews. I got through it in fits and starts, not really engaged by it... until the last ten minutes when it really took off, after the Syrian assistant took a quiet persistent interest and the plot gelled. It reminded me a bit of Memento, the plot revealed in time shifting bites. The characters are unlikeable, rude to each other and swear profanely for no apparent reason. The Syrian assistant is the only person who seems to be on an even keel, the police team are worn down by their lack of resources and good leadership. I shall probably watch on but it's unusual not to be gripped one way or another by the end of episode one. I reserve my judgment!

This film starts as if in slow motion and very little seems to happen as we observe the mundane actions of a young woman. I did wonder if I was going to stay the course. Gradually the pace picks up and draws you in to the daily life of the young woman who we learn is the maid, and the life of the family she works for. The ups and downs of life are in this chaotic city are well conveyed with the ordinary and the dramatic side by side. Beautifully shot with every frame counting it has heart and soul and is very moving at times. If it has a weakness it is a lack of narrative drive, it is essentially anecdotal but gripping none the less if you allow yourself to be drawn into this world.

This film is an absolute stunner in its settings, costumes, music and above all the acting. Its brilliance was literal as multiple candles glittered and flickered in the gloom of a pre- electric world, while the brilliance of the three women at the heart of the power struggle was outstanding. The men came off second best in this even though they actually held the power. I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone who appreciates the genius of film making. It never lost pace throughout and was daring in its use of long held closeups of the actors, who seemed to revel in their chance to give us an insight into their inner worlds. It reminded me of Barry Lyndon in the recreation of a period world without losing sight of people's essential humanity, warts and all.

I thought this was terrific the first time around but it's even better on second watching. The sheer horror of the way international crime is carried out, with both brutality to those involved, and the ruin of millions of lives for those who are victims, is brought home in a twisting and turning plot. The acting, particularly by the Russian actors, is excellent, although I found the character of Rebecca played weakly, and the human face of criminal masterminds is also highlighted by the relationships with their nearest and dearest. My only reservation which stopped me giving 5* is the severe cutting from scene to scene, which muddied the plot but was much clearer on second viewing. This should not be necessary and is a weakness.

This film is a curious mix of banality and insight. The first third was the boring part, with characters who didn't spring to life, about whom I did not care and who were not very likable . They were shallow but thought they were important because one of the four main characters was a rock star. Then a much deeper exploration of their characters and motivation as well as the complex relationships between them came into focus and the story took off. They suddenly became real and their hopes and fears made them more human. I stuck with it although it took some doing and ultimately did care about their fate. It is beautifully filmed with a strong sense of place and worth a look.

The story, the cast, the location all promised a lot but the dialogue let the overall standard down. The early story of the growth of the Medici family to the height of influence in medieval Florence was told by switching the setting 20 years backwards and forwards, which made it tricky to grasp who all the characters were and what exactly was going on. The main characters of father and two sons were clear but you really need to know who the subsidiary characters are to get the full story. With that caveat the settings are gorgeous, the two brothers are well cast, Lorenzo in particular is good, and I hope that as the story progresses the other characters fall into focus. Historical accuracy is a bit hit and miss but quite honestly only to be expected.