Two Words, One Answer.
Ariana Richards
 Against Her Will/Wounded Heart $9.95 Stars Walter Matthau (aged lawyer Cobb) and Harry Morgan (Judge Bell) team up again for a second part originating from the early 1990s but taking place in a filmed 1947 version of Baltimore. An astonishing well filmed, well acted, well written, story that is so riveting and emotionally captivating that you will never touch the pause button. The story takes on the 1940s understandings of mental illness and institutions of that period. It's not a light subject but it is professionally produced drama that could almost serve as a documentary of misunderstandings of the times. Matthau and Morgan have become a team, first doing "The Incident" (read my recent 5-star review). The are as perfect together as the odd couple, the Marx's Brothers, or Dorothy & Toto. They seem to naturally fit together. The chemistry works for the first WWII, 1944, POW camp murder story, as it does in this wrongful confinement situation. Both are SO MUCH MORE than crime, courtroom, and police drama. They are emotional family situational drama. The complexity of plot vs characters reminds me of Harry Morgan's days in MASH. Oh, if we only had as many Matthau/Morgan period dramas as we have MASH episodes with Col. Potter. Matthau is apparently supposed to be the main star, but the duo is so closely related in the story that Leading Actor requires both their names. Susan Blakely returns as Billie and is equally responsible for the high standard of work shown in this series. Why this trilogy has not been put into a single set astounds me. I bought all 3. I award 5 stars for all 3 dramas. The third, "Incident in a Small Town" takes place in Cook Co., IL, in 1953. Check out my review of that also--under the 5 star group. Get them all. Watch them in order and enjoy some really well presented American 1940-50s period legal drama. Your senses will be touched as well as your emotions.  Grand Tour - Disaster in Time $14.98 I like time travel stories, alot. This story has a great premise and is generally well executed. There are spots where it drags, but you can see the need to set up the next sequence requires slow spots -- as with any story, it can't all be action and excitement to be compelling and believable, right? So there are a few spots where the dialogue is stilted, but overall it is a quiet little tale told very well.  Tremors $2.99 While the original was the best, all the TREMORS movies are FUN! Somewhat predictable and silly, but pure ENTERTAINMENT! That's what it's all about! |
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