Reviews

So here it is, fine. I return to the IMDb, after some months -- or is it years?? Planning to make comments about a specific "Red Widow," character (irwin). But then the, IMHO, totally inaccurate ratings score, for the whole series, so far?? its bogus. It caught my attention. And what was that number??..I FREAKED OUT!!, lol! Because, WTF?? Reason??: the IMDb rating/score, was way too low!! Again, because, IMHO, this TV series is not anything less than AWESOME!! Newbies? Do NOT believe the seemingly eligible or the hype, that the moms demographic, is true! It is NOT!!.. And it's not their fault, OK.?? Because, maybe yes, I'm just a random video participating human movie director/producer who could use - in a gazillion different ways - a ratings boost? Fine. But plz. don't judge me & also pray the sincerity my super sincere coaches is easily revealed.

"Persons Unknown" turns out to be an unexpected surprise for the better! When I first read that it took place in a ghost town I decided (at first) to never watch it. But I discovered this is no ordinary ghost town (it's fairly modern). I saw that Kandyse McClure would be in it and right away I remembered an interview she had given. In it she mentioned she'd be playing the role of someone very opposite of her Battlestar Galactica (2004) character, Anastasia "Dee" Dualla. This is what got me to watch because I thought that detail alone might make it worth a viewing. But by the time her "Persons Unknown" character arrived on the scene I was hooked. A small group of people under a lot of pressure confined to a tiny, fully intact but otherwise unpopulated hamlet? Makes for great drama and a compelling mystery. Good casting/talent overall makes it all the more interesting. This one season 'mini-series' will keep me watching until the last episode. I do appreciate when a well acted show gives us at least a handful of seasons. But this model (13 scheduled episodes) is much like the incredibly well received Korean 'k-dramas' that are becoming popular in the west (many are from 16 to 20 episodes). With the right story it's definitely a model that works, too. Would love to see more well made serials that are similar re: this format.

Pray ABC keeps this one on board. It's already an interesting drama/sci-fi/mystery and I'm really wanting to know who (I really suspect it's a "what") Beta is: the one that makes major decisions for the human astronauts but has remained in shadow so far...The cast is excellent and well seasoned (I do not mean old!) -- this automatically lends a trusted measure of character to the series. I rarely watch anything on a regular basis - but I have remembered to view "Defying Gravity" every week... and if you want to know the overall 'climate' of my other IMDb comments check the other posts attached to my account - always a good idea around here (O; .

This simply told, yet beautiful story sends the viewer on an oddly compelling journey. Iceland somehow feels like the top of the world in a manner unexpected but close in symbolic alignment to it's location on the globe. We visit an alternate reality where even monsters can have insightful things to share with us mere mortals. Though *this* monster is far more than reluctant to get involved in our protagonist's intractable quest. She wants answers to a mystery and finds the the seemingly tiny universe 'up there' contains within it a reality larger than is initially obvious: questions beget more questions. Crisp, gorgeous photography is the canvas for this modern day, grown-up's fairy tale & and incredibly talented cast. Sarah Polley is, as usual, at the top of her game. If you enjoy her film work you won't be disappointed. An easy 10 stars.

A spirited young man from New York, Chad (played by Hill Harper, very worth your notice), takes a trip to an island off the coast of Ireland. This after the death of his only remaining parent, to fulfill a promise to meet his estranged uncle: he is a local man full of his own ideas about how life should be lived, for himself as well as others.

They embark on a personal journey full of challenges, surprises, family secrets and an uncertainty as to whether or not they will ever find common ground.

All of the main characters have been convincingly developed and they each have something conceivable and worthy to offer. This may not have been a super-high budget film but the acting is superb. Pierce Brosnan (one of the producers) gives a generous and compelling performance as the conflicted, village bar owner trying to balance parenthood and an amended life from behind the stone wall of a guarded heart. Veteran actor, Donal McCann, in one of his final performances, adds an authentic and credible edge as our protagonist's uncle. Sinead Cusak, Phelim Drew, Niall Tobin, Lorraine Pilkington and Aislin McGuckin also deliver command performances as the villagers that are comprised of both the kindred and not-so-kindred spirits in Chad's new world.

The soundtrack is a compilation of beautiful Irish ballads, old soul and rock as well as various and sundry other scores that lend a tight musical canvas against which this story is painted. It was disappointing to learn that there are no plans to make this soundtrack into an album that could be purchased.

What keeps me coming back to this sweet and gallant movie is its soulfulness and honesty. The map of the human heart is ultimately universal and the characters in this story endeavor to draw their own lines to determine what defines friendship, family and honor.

This is a wonderful, interesting and thoughtfully structured comfort film. It begs to be watched from your favorite easy chair on a cozy day - with feet up, your favorite afghan and a warm cup of tea and favorite cookies nearby.