melissahenninger Reviews

Manhunt (2024)

I'm enjoying it despite some questionable casting

[7/10 · 18 March 2024]

I read the book the show is based on, and though there are some questionable casting decisions made, particularly Lincoln, I'll continue watching.

Tobias Menzies is always excellent, and though he's portrayed as the Melvin Purvis of the hunt, I'm fine with that choice for artistic reasoning. Lili Taylor is good, though of course most of us continue to see Sally Field and DDL as Mary Todd and Lincoln. Anthony Boyle is doing well with the loathsome Booth, and I like the actress portraying Mary. I'm a little baffled by Patton Oswalt here, though I like him in other things. Lincoln, though, was the truly odd choice. It looked like his chest was waxed in one of the death scenes, lol. The voice was so grating that i looked forward to his coming end, which is really not the way I want to feel about an Abe portrayal.

Costumes, set design are very well done and I look forward to the rest of the series, despite some odd choices.

Masters of the Air: Part Six (2024) Season 1, Episode 6

Episode made better by Bel Powley

[7/10 · 24 February 2024]

Finally, some life and personality in a portrayal from this series! I continue to watch the show despite my disappointment with the overall execution. I just haven't grown attached to any of the characters in particular, and that's unfortunate as there are some talented people cast. Anthony Boyle's character is minimally compelling, but I enjoyed Bel Powley's introduction and flirtation with him. I just hope we haven't seen the last of her.

I felt like the people in Band of Brothers were so well drawn and real, and I just haven't found any depth to these characters. I don't know whether the source material was lacking or what, but no one is here is richly adapted, sadly.

Masters of the Air (2024)

Oh my

[4/10 · 28 January 2024]

I've been looking forward to this series for years, and for what? The dialogue, acting and character development are all seriously lacking. I do feel some sympathy for this cast, though, as the BoB cast got to meet and interact with the men they would be portraying, and I gather that wasn't possible for any members of this group.

Most of the cast has slightly ridiculous hairstyles and the people just don't look "of the time," as they did in the previous two series. Well, maybe the British kids look authentic, but that's about it. Intro is uninspired and looks like it was made for Fox News.

We were cracking up over all the throwing up in the initial episodes. What was that all about? It's okay if you just MST 3000 your way through it, but that's not what I'd hoped for. Alas.

We went back to watching "For All Mankind," a much better showing from Apple TV. If you want a better viewing on this topic, watch "Twelve O'clock High" with Gregory Peck. Now that's "maximum effort!"