Tag Archives: drama

Gramps: Hatfields & McCoys is Good Ole TV

Posted on June 10, 2012 by | 1 comment

In Hatfields & McCoys we are given an authentic, gritty look at the thirty-year feud between the two legendary families. While Kevin Costner is the stand-out, the rest of the cast’s performances grow on you and, by the middle of the first episode, have you fully immersed into the 1880’s West Virginia/Kentucky border. Since it was written for TV, the usual cliff-hangers tend to give the show an ebb and flow feel—almost like hiking to the top of a mountain but turning back because you ran out of time. Yet, the series’ shortcomings do not detract from the fantastic story, beautiful landscapes, the character development or, in short, the look and feel of Virginia/Kentucky at the end of the 19th Century. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Review

Tagged , , , , , ,

Gramps: Dito Montiel’s Tragedy Finds Mediocrity

Posted on November 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Let’s be honest here, Montiel’s New York centered police-drama has two draws: (1) Ray Liotta and (2) Al Pacino. The mere mention of their names in relation to police-drama causes we, the people, to long for a simple glimpse of Liotta’s understated Gary Figgis in Copland and just a little of the magic that Pacino brought to Heat‘s Vincent Hanna. Personally, and I pray others still think like me, each time I hear Liotta linked to a new project I yearn to see Henry Hill strut across the street and beat a man short of death with the butt end of a pistol; similarly, I so want to see Pacino channel Sonny from Dog Day Afternoon, “Attica, Attica!” Although I knew going into Son of No One that my prayers wouldn’t be answered, I guess I’m still a dreamer (or incredibly stubborn), thus I walk away from a very average film still disappointed. In truth, it’s my own fault. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in Review

Tagged , , , , , , , ,