massa-2 Reviews

Vendetta (1995)

A gripping, stylish and intelligent thriller

[10/10 · 21 March 2015]

Many thanks to MHz for showing the TV adaptations of Jan Guillou's Carl Hamilton novels. Commander Hamilton is a most attractive creation. Born into nobility but politically progressive, highly intelligent and technically competent but self-effacing, disciplined and principled but not averse to evasion and deception, he's deeper and more complex than Fleming's Commander Bond.

I found the first mini-series, Enemy's Enemy, thoroughly engrossing, with complex plotting, nail-biting suspense, still relevant geopolitical background and intriguing details of political and technical strategy as well as the super cool but simpatico central character, played beautifully by the young Peter Haber. In fact I didn't think Haber could be bettered but in Vendetta Stefan Sauk has proved me wrong, adding more thoughtfulness and vulnerability to the compelling looks and natural elegance. I wish Sauk had made more series, ideally with the first Eva-Britt, the lovely Maria Grip.

Apparently, MHz plans to air all the Hamilton series. It will be interesting to compare the leads and the directors but I can't imagine the quality of the first two being surpassed. I hope whoever holds the rights will put them out on DVD -- soon.

PS: I would like to register my disagreement with Morristang-1's comments regarding the Italian series shown by MHz. I welcome the diversity of MHz's programming -- the more the better.

Der Tatortreiniger (2011–2018)

Consistently brilliant and hilarious

[10/10 · 9 January 2015]

I'll just endorse Laura's excellent review above and keep this very short.

Der Tatortreiniger is outstanding -- a seriously funny series with plots that are a wonderful combination of the surreal and the mundane and writing that is breathtakingly clever. Bjarne Madel and the guest actors in each episode deliver the rapid-fire lines with perfect throw-away understatement.

It's rare to find myself laughing out loud almost all the way through any show, let alone each one in a series. What a treat! Thank you MHz indeed. Can't wait for the DVD release.

Chelworth (1989– )

A suspenseful, intelligent and entertaining drama about a far-from wealthy aristocratic family and their "nouveau riche" neighbors in 1980s England.

[8/10 · 9 October 2005]

Chelworth tracked the efforts of Michael Anstey (Peter Jeffrey) to make a financial success of running his family estate, restore its historic house and keep his family together. This was a suspenseful, intelligent and entertaining drama, co-written by John Hawkesworth (Upstairs, Downstairs and The Duchess of Duke Street). While not particularly deep, the social observation of 1980's ostentation and mores was quite acute. Among a strong cast, which included Phyllida Law, Martin Jarvis and James Villiers, I vividly remember Gemma Jones' beautifully restrained performance as the long-suffering Virginia Anstey.

Having recorded the series, I lent out the tape and never got it back. Unfortunately it does not yet appear to have been released on VHS or DVD but it deserves to be made available.