csdcsdcsd2003 Reviews

Midsomer Murders (1997– )

Never to be missed

[9/10 · 17 September 2024]

Midsomer Murders is one of our favorite British mystery series, both books and films - my husband and I have seen and read them all. We love the village settings, eccentric characters and sly humor. My favorite character, other than John Nettles as Barnaby, is Troy with his all too candid blurting-out boyishness. Joyce Barnaby is much missed. We were quite saddened when, after 11 seasons, the entire cast changed but not for the better. Still, we continue to watch Midsomer into its 22nd year- the strange murders, the even stranger murder weapons, the dog . . . And all the village fetes which are never cancelled even as criminal investigations go on full tilt. We own the earliest DVDs and began re-watching some which hold up incredibly well. One of my favorites, on second viewing many years after its first broadcast, is "Written in Blood" re: a writers group guest speaker who had become a publishing success with a novel called "The Faraway Hills."

Bergerac (1981–1991)

Intriguing 1980s Police Procedural

[10/10 · 1 September 2024]

John Nettles of Midsomer Murders was first, as a handsome youth, portraying Jim Bergerac, an energetic '80s cop who relentlessly ferrets out lawbreakers on the island of Jersey. After an evocative Big Band opening theme song, the excellent screenwriters of the short format (less than an hour) get straight to the point which usually ends with Bergerac catching the crooks or watching them slip from his grasp as they fly or boat to the mainland in which case he licks his chops, awaiting their return to his jurisdiction. Many soon-to-be-famous co-stars appear as visitors to Jersey. There isn't much violence - usually Jim is dealing with white collar crime. ~ Bergerac, who usually works alone, speaks a little French, has an ex-family, refrains from alcohol and hosts a bevy of gal pals in his wee cottage, women with interesting jobs - an investment banker, a realtor (estate agent), etc. His ex-father-in-law, a cigar-chomping wealthy tax dodger always on the prowl for the next big deal, is often the butt of jokes - in one of my favorite episodes, he brags about his reliable handyman to his elderly secretary who has a roofing issue. My only problem with the show is Jim's beautiful ex who doesn't have much to do except complain, date useless guys and drink. Thankfully, she's not around much to annoy Jim Bergerac. I love this show perhaps even more than Midsomer Murders.

Arsène Lupin joue et perd (1980– )

Best Actor as Arsene Lupin in "813"

[9/10 · 30 August 2024]

Arsene Lupin, the wild and elusive gentleman burglar, has been portrayed by many actors - mostly French - but my favorite is Jean-Claude Brialy (this review is of the 1980 adaptation of "813" available on MHZ which offers other versions of Arsene Lupin starring assorted actors). My husband and I enjoyed the beautiful 6-episode story of "813" based on the novel by Maurice Leblanc. Here, France's favorite fictional criminal gets blamed for a triple murder committed at a swank Parisian hotel. To clear his name (which is quite atrocious), Arsene goes on a long series of misadventures - matching wits with shadowy figures, devising switcheroos, leaping over walls, falling off bridges, changing his appearance, teasing the police - and more. The only problem with this stunning display is that it was so puzzling that we just had to read the book which is even more intricate for Arsene who reaches a pinnacle of ego and grandiose plans for himself, for others, and for - gasp - the world! If you like 007, you may also like Arsene Lupin.

Middlemarch (1994)

Dreamy Rufus Sewell but -

[6/10 · 22 August 2024]

I was reading the big, scholarly Middlemarch novel (Wordsworth Classics paperback) when I viewed the 1994 TV series if only to see the glorious Rufus Sewell who portrays Will Ladislaw; according to the web, beware, the series has 7 episodes but it has in fact 6 so the sudden, abrupt ending came crashing in on me unexpectedly. I am surprised that many regard this as the greatest novel written in the English language. I like it but can think of many other novels that are its equal or better. George Eliot is praised for dealing with the Industrial Revolution and burning social issues of 1820s England - but not in my reading of this book. It is, in fact, a super slow-moving, microscopic look at well off village people - their attitudes, daily lives, money problems, homey visits, town hall meetings, romantic connections and disconnects. It boils down to the lives of 6 young adults who marry and the ruination of an upstanding older man as well. While I often applaud the author for her insights, I don't see Middlemarch as an earth-shattering miracle. If you plan to read the novel, I advise you to keep your device handy so you can look up the many unfamiliar terms not included with the 286 footnotes.

The Good Ship Murder (2023– )

Sea-sick

[3/10 · 22 August 2024]

Now that I subscribe to Britbox, I'm always on the lookout for interesting programs. I watched The Good Ship Murder against my better judgment - usually 45 minute murder mysteries are severely limited by the number of suspects that can be introduced so figuring out whodunnit is pretty simple but this - why would an ex-detective become a lounge singer at sea? Huh? In order to solve crimes, he has to depend on a room steward to go digging up dirt for him - better the ex-detective became a cabin boy instead of a crooner of mediocre tunes. I do like the ports of call - beautiful. Speaking of beauty, the leading lady has a splendid figure but her full-face photo in the movie "poster" makes her look like a moo-cow. Watch at your own risk.

Monterossi - La serie (2022– )

Murder Mystery set in Milano

[7/10 · 8 August 2024]

My husband and I have watched all available episodes of Monterossi on MHZ. He, like the main character, is a huge fan of Bob Dylan, and was delighted that this music is prominent in the earlier episodes (set in Milan, Italy). I don't see the connection between Bob Dylan and an Italian fictional murder series and am unclear about Monterossi, an elderly bachelor TV screenwriter who does a lot of drinking, eating and flirting with various females. Why is he the main character, as he barely moves the plot along, nor does his TV show, Crazy Love (and Criminal Love, its offshoot). The real star of Monterossi, in my opinion, is. Tomasso Ragno who plays a sardonic cop. Still, I liked the series and will watch more episodes if and when they are available in the USA.

Parigi è sempre Parigi (1951)

Culture Clash: Italians v Parisians

[10/10 · 4 August 2024]

Being of Italian heritage and having visited both Italy and France many times, I found "Paris est Toujours Paris" ("Parigi e sempre Parigi") heartbreakingly true in themes and fictional format: without giving away the ending, we know very soon what each character wants and the first half of this movie sets up the inevitable second half. I found the first seemingly chaotic half hard to watch and I almost gave up but something about it kept me viewing. We see two old acquaintances, an Italian restaurant owner and a French baron, reconnect at the train station as a group of Italian tourists arrive for a short but busy stay in Paris, including a sold-out soccer match. Unlike most tour groups, these folks soon scatter to pursue their various diverse interests: see the sights, visit the Louvre, go on a shopping spree, drink champagne in the cabarets, chase women, indulge in girlie shows and a brothel - but, at the heart of this film, if we listen carefully to a very young Yves Montand, we learn a cautionary truth: due to the French Revolution, people are free to do as they please. This film personifies a philosophical truth: we are lost because we are free. One closing, night time image will forever remain in my mind - what transpires wordlessly in the rain on a steep staircase in Montmartre. "Paris is Always Paris" is a film not to be missed.

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)

Backsliding Monk

[6/10 · 12 July 2024]

Years ago I saw every episode of Monk including the 2-part "ending" which was flawed by not taking into account facts from some of the more menacing episodes regarding Trudy, but still, a conclusion which I vividly recall as a very high note - at long last, Monk solved Trudy's murder but, in so doing, lowered his opinion of her enough to free him of his mental trauma; as he solved the case, he met Trudy's grown-up daughter; he relaxes his wardrobe with a new cooler look and, with Natalie, goes off to tackle a new case. But no - today I stumbled across "Mr. Monk's Last Case" on Peacock which flies in the face of the "ending": Trudy is still hanging around Monk's psyche but her ghost has gained weight while Monk, in his suffocating old wardrobe, is even more bummed about Trudy's death than ever - didn't he reach a new more down-to-earth understanding of the woman? So why does he still need therapy? And also it seems that he has been unemployed all this time and all his friends left him (except Trudy's daughter), only to show up in this recent movie (very nice to see them all together, though). Oh, and I quickly figured out not one but two solutions to the crime involving a bungee mishap - the correct solution plus one that I think is even better, so there!

Il re (2022– )

Justice Italian Style - Il Re

[10/10 · 27 June 2024]

My spouse and I watched two seasons of Il Re on MHZ (16 episodes) - tense and sensational only if you stick with Bruno through thick and thin. At the start, I wondered why Italian prisoners were allowed to wander around outside their cells and use cell phones - neither of which is ok in American prisons. Luca Zingaretti has much more to do as Il Re than he did as Inspector Montalbano - he is in command at all times, even when he seems stripped of power. I especially liked Sonya, the gritty female commander/mother figure. Il Re, though dark and ominous, is quite an entertainment upgrade from the long, drawn out Montalbano which I believe is overrated. I hope we'll see more of Il Re. Bravo!

Grace (2021– )

Grace vs Evil Personified

[9/10 · 5 June 2024]

Grace (John Simm) is a seasoned investigator in Brighton, England matching wits with diabolical criminals. The first episode, one I thoroughly enjoyed, involves a missing, well off soon-to-be-married young entrepreneur with a foolhardy bunch of drinking pals, a lifelong friend and best man plus an alluring bride-to-be. The deeper into the plot Grace goes, the stranger the story becomes. I found the next episode shocking but not as effective as the first - after a loud-talking commuter on a local train drops one of his possessions on his way off, another commuter finds it - and woe unto him. Grace solves unnerving mysteries while ever seeking his lost love. I like this series and plan to watch more episodes.

McDonald & Dodds (2020– )

Beauteous Bath, Smart Cops & Devious Crimes

[9/10 · 31 May 2024]

Bath is my favorite British vacation destination - ancient Roman remains and other wonderful architectural treasures. So glad Bath is the location of "McDonald & Dodds," a police procedural starring an odd couple of cops whose quirky personalities dovetail to solve baffling murders. I especially like the spectacular episode about the hot air balloon swooping over the beautiful countryside around Bath and another set at a rehab center where people addicted to assorted substances and harmful behaviors throw many a curve at McDonald and Dodds. Meticulous older Dodds spends a lot of time at the library putting obscure but relevant details together for the brash younger McDonald while their superior barks crisp and nearly unintelligible orders back at the station. I'd give this a 10 except for some of the cast members' fuzzy diction, making them hard to understand sometimes. Still, a solid mystery series with stunning locales worth seeing.

What the Killer Did Next (2019– )

One Episode - Best Ever True Crime

[10/10 · 27 May 2024]

If I could give "What the Killer Did Next" - a British TV series - an even higher rating than 10 stars I would do so if only for but one episode that was and is the very best true crime show I have ever seen, and I've been a true crime aficionado for ages. I especially like Philip Glenister, both as an actor with a great range of abilities as well as host of this program. I was especially spellbound by the episode about an aging computer expert/bachelor who was found dead in his home. The police ruled it "natural causes" - and for a year, his estate remained in limbo. And then - and then - his nephew inherited his deceased uncle's computer and viewed the last day of his uncle's life as recorded by the PC camera - and then . . . See for yourself!

Murder Is Easy (2023– )

Murder is Variety

[8/10 · 27 May 2024]

Having read and viewed many of Agatha Christie's classic mysteries, of course I had to watch "Murder is Easy" as well - haven't read the book but I understand that certain aspects were changed for television. I like the cast, especially Penelope Wilton. The rustic scenery, period costumes and country manor interiors are lovely - but the plot and conclusion, not so much. I think Murder is Easy is worth watching but, although this is described as being about a serial killer, I was bewildered by the wide variety of suspicious deaths if in fact (or faction) the crimes are being committed by one person - falling from a stony height, drowning in a millrace, poisoned at tea time, drinking paint instead of cough medicine, keeling over at a tennis match, being bashed on the head with a shoe and so on. What is the connection among the victims except that they live in a charming English village in the first half of the 20th century?

Zen (2011)

More more more of Zen!

[10/10 · 18 May 2024]

Zen is a wonderful but all too short British series about a sharp, stylish Italian investigator in Rome. Some time ago my husband and I read a few of the Zen novels by Michael Dibdin. Only recently I found the way-too-brief series on BritBox - after I watched all three episodes I began re-watching them. Sad there aren't more but they are so enjoyable I will binge re-watching. Rufus Sewell is so stylish, a dream straight out of a gentleman's fashion magazine, with an innocent charm and heroic determination to do the right thing always as an honest cop laboring in a confusingly corrupt justice system. Hope we will see more of Zen - much more.

Murder in Provence (2022– )

Worse than Blah French TV "Mysteries"

[5/10 · 17 May 2024]

Agatha Christie it ain't! Roger Allam was the best aspect of Endeavor but he flops as the leading man/"French" judge in Murder in Provence - leaden, foot-dragging, exhausted, with prostate problems - did the heat of southern France get to him after downing French lunches with wine? It happens! I've watched oodles of French mysteries that rely on scenery, not plots - same mistake here but worse somehow. I've only watched Episode 1 but perhaps that's as far as I will ever go: I disliked the entire cast, especially the stout "French" note-taking detective woman with the tattoo, the woozy suspect who kept studying the ceiling, the late middle-aged woman who was having an affair. I especially didn't care for the lead duo's snipes at Americans. The who-cares murder plot about a professor of something-or-other who collected glass (so?) dragged and dragged. Beautiful surroundings but the hot dry French weather of Provence, so unlike the cold wet dreary UK, may have overwhelmed this British film crew.

One Foot in the Grave (1990–2001)

True, so True

[9/10 · 10 May 2024]

I recently discovered "One Foot in the Grave" here in the States with my subscription to Brit Box - Victor Mildrew reminds me of my favorite, beautifully drawn American comic strip character "Crankshaft," the elderly gent who lovingly tends his garden and is forever bumbling into modern technology, strained relationships and blowing up the BBQ grill. Who hasn't felt the pain of being replaced by a heartless technological "advance" as is long-time security guard Victor in the first episode, replaced by a small electronic box. Later, like Margaret, I once hired a home-wiring handyman who, like Margaret's carpet layer, fell asleep on the job and, upon waking from his snooze, asked me to fix him some lunch! True, so true! Victor and Margaret are the perfect antidote to all the crime shows I view. My only concern is that, for a sitcom, some of the incidents are most painful to contemplate but such is life but, and as Dr. Who once said, We have to take the rough with the smooth.

West Side Story (2021)

Ballet vs Brawl

[7/10 · 22 April 2024]

Having grown up w/WSS#1, knowing all the screenplay and music, I only reluctantly watched WSS#2, but now that I have, I find good things in both. ~ I was ok with the addition of untranslated Spanish as I've learned a lot of it over the years. I love when Tony #2 sings "Maria" in a neighborhood full of Marias. ~ At the start, I wondered how the WSS#2 Jets acquired big paint brushes on route to the wall mural: preposterous, although I could see the humor in mixing the paint as the Jets danced to their destination. But: Puerto Rico is a territory of the USA so why deface their flag? This new, opening change in the action works against the main themes of WSS. ~ I prefer Maria#2; Natalie Wood, as much as I admired her acting abilities, was miscast. I liked seeing WSS#2 Maria at her workplace, a charming, spacious setting for "I Feel Pretty." ~ I love the WSS#1 smooth, sweet (and "sharp!") individual gang members - how they all move, talk, look, interact. WSS#2 Jets and Sharks are, for me, a ragged blur - I cannot distinguish among them; one big problem is their clunky, irregular clothing - for dancing, not smooth and sleek and befitting ballet as in the first version. ~ I was often moved to tears with the young lovers of WSS#2, but never w/WSS#1. ~ WSS#2 has too much added talking; I didn't need "the backstories" of characters. ~ WSS#2 has small but jarring gaps between scenes; I do not approve of new lapses in the powerful score that hamper the continuity (as I know the original Broadway score by heart). ~ WSS#1 gestures and violence are balletic but WSS#2 is too painfully realistic - and anyone pierced by a dirty nail requires a tetanus shot asap - an icky detail that didn't need to be shown. ~ The "Cool" sequence is great in both versions, but the setting of WSS#2 is so astonishing I'll have to re-watch. ~ Why do the WSS#2 Jets ransack a police station waiting room with no repercussions from the cops? Come on! ~ Overall, WSS#2 is focused on the Hispanic point of view while WSS#1 is balanced between the two opposing sides - which brings me to that new puzzling scene: I've visited the Cloisters several times (I'm an art historian) and I seriously doubt that Tony's prison bus would have stopped there for an art tour! My guess is that a new quasi-religious "white" element was added to balance the many Christian/Hispanic embellishments of WSS#2. ~ Finally, what's missing from the new version is the dynamic, shining photogenic powers of Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. I think the new version is good - but the oldie had that."yo se que."

Botched (2014– )

Necessary vs Pointless Surgeries

[8/10 · 16 March 2024]

I've been watching Botched for years-lately, brash Terry has become more insulting to sweet Paul-a total turnoff to me. Thanks to widespread use of smart phones, female patients can film and broadcast their nude chests even before they reach the Beverly Hills medical building examining room. Modesty, a forgotten virtue. I agree 100% with the Hattian mother who urged her daughter to be glad for her nose instead of trying to reshape it; Dr. Paul reshaped the unhappy daughter's nose so well she got a new Do and flaunted her celebrity profile. The film industry has done too much to make viewers unhappy about what God has provided and, for better or worse, the medical profession has been accommodating patients with reasonable and unreasonable requests. ~~ In cases of birth defects, serious illnesses, disfiguring accidents, etc., I can understand the need for surgery but pumping up one's boobs for show is for boobs! Many patients don't care about surgical risks nor do they realize that a boob job (assuming correctly done) is only good for 12 years. Doesn't all that silicone interfere with love making? And patients with lip fillers can't feel being kissed, can't drink without dribbling liquid all over themselves. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done. Thankfully, the two Botched doctors refuse to assist certain would-be patients and advise them to stop already.

Farmer Wants A Wife (2023– )

What's Lurking Under Those Big Hats?

[5/10 · 1 February 2024]

I watched Season 1, Episodes 1 &11 (first & last episodes) On Demand of Farmer Wants a Wife. Having grown up in a city surrounded by small farms and stables, I often visited friends on their rustic properties (picking fresh grown corn, beans, etc. In the great outdoors) plus horseback riding on densely wooded trails so I dressed to protect myself from the elements: deer flies, rough hides, sun, rain, mud, muck, dander, dampness, gloves, etc. In "Farmer Wants a Wife", clueless women arrived alluringly exposed, coifed, manicured and dressed for limousines and city dating rather than prepared for the rugged outdoors in pants, boots, long sleeves, neck scarves, hats. Second, the "farmers" are what I'd term RANCHERS as they don't raise crops as farmers do but instead own large livestock (cows, bulls, pigs, etc.). If I were meeting these men, I'd expect them TO TAKE OFF THEIR HATS in my presence. They were all nicely dressed but appeared to be hiding from the women rather than attempting to interact with them like gentlemen, IN A COURTEOUS MANNER. Are they shy or sneaky? Third, I'd be freaked spending time with a guy I don't know on a spread 3 miles from the nearest neighbor. The show is geared for well-established males, not for single women being expected to give up their city lives and careers.

The Chelsea Detective (2022– )

Case of the Missing Chelsea Detective?

[8/10 · 17 October 2023]

I re-subscribed to Acorn so that I could view "The Chelsea Detective" Seasons 1 and 2 plus two short documentaries about how the shows are filmed. I like this police procedural very much - nice cast, gorgeous scenery, aspects of forensic science that are often ignored in other crime dramas). I miss Sonita Henry who inexplicably vanished and was replaced by a different actress - there should have been an episode about her 'disappearance'. The plots are well structured (no odd plot holes) if a bit easy to untangle. I admire the Chelsea neighborhood as a backdrop, especially the houseboats, the flower show, the beautiful homes and gardens, the art galleries - but could do without the odd comings and goings of the estranged wife and guy(s) hanging about her. I hope more episodes of "The Chelsea Detective" appear soon.

New York Homicide (2022– )

8 Million Suspects - Who're You Gonna Call?

[10/10 · 5 October 2023]

Never mind "their funny New York accents", y'all, I look forward to viewing "New York Homicide" whenever it is broadcast around here, especially because of the appearances of host and retired Chief of Detectives Robert C. Boyce, the 6'4" blue eyed charmer who has the most adorable way of describing true crimes and complexities of detective work unique to the mammoth densely populated city of New York. He recently gave extremely choice comments on a podcast regarding the Long Island Serial Killer - I guarantee that if the now retired Chief Boyce had been working in that jurisdiction, that case would have been solved in 15 minutes, not 15 years.

City of Vice (2008)

Lawlessness vs Morality 18th c Style

[10/10 · 28 September 2023]

"City of Vice" is an exceptionally well written historical crime drama enacted by a superb cast led by Ian McDiarmid as Henry Fielding, author of "Tom Jones." His witty and thoughtful delivery of dialogue is especially worth watching. Ian Glen, portraying his blind brother, is also a most capable actor. These harrowing productions have a dark and stage-like quality full of action and unexpected twists. I was disappointed that there are only 5 episodes about the origins of the London police force and would gladly continue watching if more episodes become available but magistrate and novelist Henry Fielding suffered from increasingly poor health and died in his 50s. Subjects of this short but frightful series include murder, sex crimes, home invasion, kidnapping, thefts, muggings, blackmail - and the despair of victims of high moral character vs the tight-fisted attitude of those holding the purse-strings. Not for the faint-hearted! >> Alas, today's immorality and crime problems are much like those of yore - and funding for the police, at least here in the United States, is equally problematic so "City of Vice" is most timely. >> I enjoyed viewing the map of London becoming 3D as the action speeds viewers from one neighborhood to another along densely structured city streets. Having visited London several times over the years, I have always found it a dangerous place with some pretty nasty characters roving about. >> I recommend this series to anyone with an interest in true crime.

Murder Party (I) (2022)

Pretty Poor Mystery

[4/10 · 30 August 2023]

"Mystery Party" is a colorful French film a la "Clue" and locked room games about a pill-popping woman who visits a remote garish mansion to discuss structural renovations but gets tangled up in murder and romance - no party as the title implies. Voices come out of nowhere; cell phones don't work; there are long-standing family feuds. Certain elements of the plot left me puzzled: the main character claims to have claustrophobia but builds a tent she enters without having a panic attack. Also, she throws pills into a fish pond (I guess to see if the pills were poisonous). Because the script mentions Agatha Christie, several of her plots came to mind, making me wonder if the dead man was really dead and also if the youngster of the family had something to do with that death. There is long nerve wracking action involving bows and arrows. I wanted to like this movie but in the end, I just couldn't and don't recommend it, pretty as it looked, colorful as it was. MAIS NON!

L'art du crime (2017– )

Fine Art Brought to Life

[10/10 · 2 August 2023]

I have two degrees in History of Art and have visited many world class fine arts museums, plus I've studied the beautiful French language off and on for years so I especially appreciate "L'Art du Crime" which is so well done and often hilarious - one particularly amusing episode involves Fragonard's The Bolt/The Lock - 1777 (which we saw on display at a special exhibit at the Luxembourg Gardens) depicting a man and a woman behind closed doors in a disheveled bedroom. The two main TV characters give the painting a whole new lease on life - the bald cop Captain in a boyish Dutch-looking wig and art expert Florence especially hilarious lusting away after him in period dress and a long gray fright wig. Elsewhere, her face and expressive tender brown eyes often remind me of the Mona Lisa. So well done. I also love scenes that take us viewers down into the depths of the ancient Louvre - been there and done that. Watching this series is a great reminder of my wonderful visits to Paris with my husband who also gets a big kick out of this series. Perfect entertainment combining art, crime and romance. We view these shows on MHZ. I've noted some criticisms of the show due to the romantic angle but the brainy funny Florence has had her share of failed romances and just can't help falling for her co-worker, the serious but often lumbering cop on a mission.

DI Ray (2022– )

The Exhausting, Thankless Job of D.I. Ray

[9/10 · 1 August 2023]

My husband and I enjoyed this 4-part police procedural headed by D. I. Ray, an energetic, subtle and upright lady who didn't deserve any of the garbage thrown at her at every turn while she tackles a complex series of murders which dovetail a big hush-hush investigation of an entirely different nature. Above all, I especially enjoyed her soft-spoken quick thinking brain dishing out complex investigative instructions to her large staff of officers as she relentlessly hunts down the perps in gritty Birmingham and tactfully engages with people of all stripes. The suspenseful 4th episode left me more than a little surprised but I understand there are more episodes to come so we will watch those as well (assuming they are aired on a channel we can access without subscribing to yet more streaming services).