glilley Reviews

Traitors (2019)

Very tilted to the American point of view

[8 June 2019]

I found this very entertaining but was irritated by the constant suggestion that America won the war. Also the suggestion that the OSS had to step in at the end of the war to save Britain from Soviet penetration is ridiculous. Britain in fact helped the US set up the CIA out of the bones of the OSS after the war. The US was very much junior to Britain in the matter of intelligence and code breaking during the war. This is not historically accurate; for example, reference is made to the traitor Kim Philby being a member of MI-5, he was in fact MI-6 (Secret Intelligence Service). This is an important distinction and not merely pedantic. It's like saying the FBI and the CIA are the same thing

House of Cards: Chapter 73 (2018) Season 6, Episode 8

Will Wright's career ever recover?

[1/10 · 14 January 2019]

Bizarre and hilariously camp, the final series of "House of Cards" leaves the viewer open-mouthed with amazement. Robin Wright's performance as Claire lurches further and further into self-parody. There are hilariously clenched teeth bitchy scenes between Wright and Diane Lane which appear to be straight out of daytime soap opera. This makes Mommie Dearest look undercooked. The fact that the vice president Mark Usher has kept the body of Tom Yates (whom Claire had murdered at the end of series 5) in order to blackmail her, should give a taste of what to expect here. Wright prances around wearing a huge prosthetic pregnant belly looking as though she is about to give birth to the antichrist. That terrible final episode is one of the worst things I have ever seen on television and has a look of "let's just get this over with". In fact the entire final series blights the memory of what has been, on the whole, an entertaining political thriller. In common with most American series it goes on too long, has far too many subplots and just doesn't know when to stop. Everyone concerned with this very ill-conceived sixth series ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. One wonders if Robin Wright's career will ever recover. Kevin Spacey, who was fired by Netflix and is facing possible jail time, must be quite relieved he was not part of this rubbish.

Eye in the Sky (2015)

A little hard to take seriously

[6/10 · 25 December 2016]

s this a satire or spoof suspense, or both? Those evil Brits cajoling and brow-beating poor sobbing, sentimental US officers into carrying out a drone strike which will prevent several suicide bombings but unfortunately also risk the life of one innocent girl. This matter is implausibly debated by the cast while bucks are being passed in every direction. We have all seen the dreadful videos of drone strikes where the concern about collateral damage is precisely zero. If Tom Lehrer was correct "satire was no longer possible", on hearing the news that Henry Kissinger had been awarded the Nobel Peace prize, then this probably finishes the job and pours gasoline on the corpse. A fairly compelling film overall but not one to be taken seriously. It is a pity that Alan Rickman's final performance should be in such a film as this.

Happy Valley (2014–2023)

Amazing to behold

[7/10 · 25 May 2016]

This program is consistently shocking and gasp-inducing. frequent moments of hands in front of the eyes horror, and that's just the overacting by most of the cast with Lancashire leading the way. Time and again she seems to throw down the gauntlet. in a "beat that lads" sort of way. In the first series, she seems to sob in every scene making us wonder how many boxes of tissues were used in the making of this. Somehow, you just can't wait to see what's next. I thought it would be quite a great move if cast of "Line of Duty", the anti-corruption police drama, could be brought in to investigate the actions of this crew. However, since the actor George Costigan appears in both shows it will remain only a dream. There are some pretty odd sub-plots going on too, all with beautiful views of the Calder Valley

Place of Execution (2008)

Anachronisms

[7/10 · 22 April 2009]

At the beginning of the first episode, the mother of the missing girl says her last words to her were; "Hi mum, bye mum". This use of American slang is quite a recent affectation and would have been unthinkable in early-sixties England and certainly in rural areas anyway. I know this because I grew up there at that very time. However, this is all-in- all a very gripping and absorbing thriller, as long as you can overlook some of the stock elements and red herrings that make it resemble the formula style of "Inspector Morse" episodes. The main drawback for some may be the fact that the chilling twist at the end may be looked on as somewhat implausible. Good performances though by a twin bank of actors playing the main protagonists both then and now as the action shifts back and forth from the original investigation to the making of a current documentary.

MI-5 (2002–2011)

Spooks (MI-5) is very entertaining hokum

[7/10 · 17 October 2006]

I love this show but have had the feeling from the beginning that as a representation of the real work of MI-5 it is largely bogus. I am now up to the fourth series on DVD and find that it is no more true-to-life than ever. I may be behind the times but I was always led to believe that MI-5 officers were not armed, furthermore, they do not even have police powers such as powers of arrest. As for carrying out the occasional assassination... would that come under "other related duties" on the job description? MI-5 also do not run agents abroad nor conduct operations overseas. In episode 4 of series 4 an agent is sent to infiltrate a smuggling ring in Turkey!! I new Turkey was joining the EU but I didn't know they were joining the UK as well. This would surely be the province of MI-6. If anyone can enlighten me on these matters I would love to hear from them.

Green Wing (2004–2007)

Grossly over-the-top mugging

[29 July 2006]

Each to his own I suppose. i have been watching the first series on DVD and though I find it quite funny at times some of the absurd mugging that goes on at times really makes me cringe. This is so over the top it makes Little Britain look like Oscar Wilde. I'm thinking particularly of Michelle Gomez as Sue White. Perhaps the second series is better. But I doubt it. People who find someone bending over and sticking their face in a chocolate cake absolutely hilarious need only toddle over to the children's DVD section in any record store in order to fin similar. In some ways it tries to follow the cruel vein of humour found in shows like The Office. This would be a much funnier show consistently if the director were to reign in some of the grossly over-the- top shtick. One gets the feeling that the cast find this all oh so hilarious, finally let loose to chew the scenery as much as they wish and that they are enjoying some sort of private joke.

Green Wing: Tangled Webs (2004) Season 1, Episode 7

Victorian melodrama facepulling

[5/10 · 26 July 2006]

each to his own I suppose. i have been watching the first series on DVD and though I find it quite funny at times some of the absurd mugging that goes on at times really makes me cringe. This is so over the top it makes Little Britain look like Oscar Wilde. I'm thinking particularly of Michelle Gomez. Perhaps the second series is better. But I doubt it. People who find someone bending over and sticking thie face in a chocolate cake absolutely hilarious need only toddle over to the children's DVD section in any record store in order to sate their desires. in some ways it tries to follow the cruel vein of humour found in shows like The Office. Personally i found Big Train much more enjoyable than this .