reynoldsm Reviews

Tony's Revenge (2011– )

Top-rate crime drama - ce beaux

[10/10 · 30 October 2013]

While European viewers may be used to this type and style of TV crime drama, there's nothing like it in the US (let's now hope that a US network doesn't decide to re-make it - they will surely fail, as they so often do). French TV has a knack of producing some superior procedurals and crime dramas and this is one of the best, fully deserving of a wider viewing audience. These eight episodes were engaging from the get-go and didn't let up from beginning to end. Gritty, with twists and turns and riveting throughout, helped by some great performances all round. The earlier reviewer outlined the story, suffice to say this could have been a run-of-the-mill escaped prisoners tale but the writing, performances and direction elevates it well above that. It's available with English sub-titles and don't be put off by them either.

Forgotten Girls (2007)

Brilliant cerebral yet edge-of-the-seat police procedural.

[25 September 2011]

Another French TV crime thriller unlike anything the US nets could, or would dare to make. No obligatory car chases, shoot outs, etc. but a more cerebral police procedural still keeping us on the edge of our seats wanting to see the next episode and drawing our own conclusions as to who the criminal might be.

The eight-part series offers great writing, delicate directing and wonderful performances from all involved, especially the often under-appreciated but constantly brilliant Jacques Gamblin as Janvier, a detective on the case for years and worried about keeping a promise that he would find the killer. Gamblin really brings us into Janvier's world, from his first appearance on screen through to the very end, showing us that acting isn't just saying the lines but movement of the body and face to put across what's going on physically around and mentally inside a character.

While people are impressed with US produced fare, they could do no better than keep their eyes and ears open for some of the consistently excellent programs being made by French TV production companies and their European partners and exemplified by this.

Marion Mazzano (2010– )

Prison drama that, at times, outdoes HBO's famed "Oz."

[10/10 · 15 February 2011]

If US production companies and networks were truly creative they would be grabbing some of the drama's regularly appearing on French TV screens and "Marion Mazzano" is yet another excellent example. In this instance, were I a US TV exec I would buy it as is and credit the audience with some intelligence by not messing it up in transitioning it to somewhere in the US with an English-speaking cast. This multi-parter covers our title character who was once a cop but having survived a shooting has now become a prison administrator. Marion's husband was and still is a cop and that causes some tension in their marriage and work situations. The first prison situation we see her in involves a prisoner who has taken a hostage, Marion offers herself instead and learns from the prisoner that he has seen a prison guard who killed one of his cell-mates at another prison and feels he is marked for death too. This story provides the second of two primary stories running through the series. Without spoiling the enjoyment, suffice to say there's great writing and acting with some very graphic violence for US viewers but not anything Europeans would deem unusual. Realistic situations akin to HBO's "Oz," which it sometimes manages to better.

Le cocon - Débuts à l'hôpital (2005– )

Catch it if you can!

[10/10 · 10 September 2008]

It's been a few decades since "The Young Interns" but rather than get a US update, this one came from the French and what a great job they did. In fact the one big complaint about the show is that they threw away the opportunity to go to series with it. Why on earth did they only go the mini-series route? The characters, actors and stories could have lasted as many seasons as those involved wanted - assuming they could have kept the same levels of creativity. As with all well-written hospital/medical dramas, there's a wealth of story possibilities available involving patients, staff and a combination of both. The subjects chosen in these outings were involving and absorbing enough, even if the final episode seemed rushed in order to finalize some end of series loose ends.

Tout le monde en parle (1998–2006)

The best talk show on television - anywhere!

[10/10 · 30 June 2006]

This is a three-and-a-half hour weekly show with a wide-ranging, ever changing, incredibly diverse and (mostly) up-to-the-minute guest list and it's the best talk show on television - anywhere! Politicians, authors, entertainment stars, sports figures, other famous figures and members of the public all appear together and they sometimes face very tough questions, which they're not allowed to "spin" away from. Deep research is reflected by the questions asked. They're not scared to have on guests from other countries who don't speak French - their translators do an incredibly quick and accurate job and as soon as the question is asked in French the guest answers in their own language, which is then translated back into French. The choice of music used in the show is also incredible. Could you imagine a talk show this long and with such guests in the US? Never! Their on-set use of multiple monitors and portable TV screens, allowing a unique perspective of guests, is ingenious, yet so simple! Don't get this confused with the Canadian spin-off, which is dire by comparison. Ardisson is moving to a different network next season and no one is sure whether TV5 will pick up his show for US viewers but check their listings in September and see if it has returned.