How polarized are our times? Very. Witness the surprising number of user comments that deplore Collateral simply because it's politics are on the opposite side of their anti-immigrant, pro-Brexit bents.
#SAD
Collateral is very entertaining, and exceptionally well directed by S.J. Clarkson. I've never heard of her, but if Collateral is typical of her work, then I am going to keep an eye out for her future projects. Amazing camera work, crisp editing, strong performances. I always enjoy Carrie Mulligan and she is terrific here, along with the rest of the cast. And the central mystery is very engaging.
So why only 7 stars?
The script goes sideways on several fronts. First, the dialogue is a bit hackneyed, too in the manner of old gumshoe/private eye yarns. Carrie Mulligan's character is not quite three dimensional; she is too much the no bullshit detective stereotype, modeled it appears on Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison. Second, the principal characters are weirdly knotted together. The drug addled witness lives with the local vicar who once had a relationship with the liberal MP whose ex ordered the pizza that the murder victim delivered; and the vicar also has a consult with the pizza store manager who asked the murder victim to deliver the pizza to her former flame's ex. The closeness of the relationships is implausible. Third, yes, there is the politics. Politics are a legitimate subject of drama - and the best political films are the ones that don't lecture the audience about what they should believe. But Hare doesn't pare back his political leanings here; he places his political pontifications in the mouth of at least one character. As David Mamet has said, don't lecture your audience - it's the quickest way to alienate them. Fortunately, the lecturing bits are not completely distracting here - but still, they diminish the story.
Overall, a good series. Amazing direction. Solid performances. And from time to time, a political gobsmacking.
#SAD
Collateral is very entertaining, and exceptionally well directed by S.J. Clarkson. I've never heard of her, but if Collateral is typical of her work, then I am going to keep an eye out for her future projects. Amazing camera work, crisp editing, strong performances. I always enjoy Carrie Mulligan and she is terrific here, along with the rest of the cast. And the central mystery is very engaging.
So why only 7 stars?
The script goes sideways on several fronts. First, the dialogue is a bit hackneyed, too in the manner of old gumshoe/private eye yarns. Carrie Mulligan's character is not quite three dimensional; she is too much the no bullshit detective stereotype, modeled it appears on Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison. Second, the principal characters are weirdly knotted together. The drug addled witness lives with the local vicar who once had a relationship with the liberal MP whose ex ordered the pizza that the murder victim delivered; and the vicar also has a consult with the pizza store manager who asked the murder victim to deliver the pizza to her former flame's ex. The closeness of the relationships is implausible. Third, yes, there is the politics. Politics are a legitimate subject of drama - and the best political films are the ones that don't lecture the audience about what they should believe. But Hare doesn't pare back his political leanings here; he places his political pontifications in the mouth of at least one character. As David Mamet has said, don't lecture your audience - it's the quickest way to alienate them. Fortunately, the lecturing bits are not completely distracting here - but still, they diminish the story.
Overall, a good series. Amazing direction. Solid performances. And from time to time, a political gobsmacking.