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Cath8791
Reviews
The Conners (2018)
Solid Continuation
I loved the original show (1988-1997) and I loved the original reboot (RIP). I wasn't sure (and am still not entirely sure) how this new iteration will work without Roseanne. It is true that she was the center of everything, and the other characters' interaction with and reaction to her (and hers to them) was what made the show tick. Still, I love most of the other characters (particularly Jackie, Darlene, and David), and I never watched the show for Roseanne alone. I thought the first episode of The Connors was solid. I laughed out loud several times (especially at Darlene and Becky). There was some melancholy there, but that is to be expected, and that was true of some episodes of the original show as well. Roseanne's fate was a little bit of a jolt, but the story was something that did carry over from the original 13 episodes. They can always make it all a dream (down the road) if they had to.
I'll continue to watch because I think the new show has lots of potential. If I'm being entertained, I'm watching, and so far, I'm entertained. If that stops, I'll stop watching. Honestly, I cannot wait to see David again, and casting Juliette Lewis to play Blue seems brilliant to me. Just imagining the interacting between David, Blue, and Darlene makes me crack up. And Ferris Bueller as Jackie's new boyfriend? Count me in for that. MB is so talented, as is Laurie Metcalf of course. Can't wait to see where that leads. I'm also interested in DJ's marriage and where that goes. The actress playing his wife seems really good. Bottom line is that there is a lot to look forward to. These people are talented, and with solid writing behind them, they won't need Roseanne.
I actually don't think Roseanne is racist, but the problem is that her tweet sounded that way. If it was just the one tweet, that would be one thing, but her feed was like a ticking time bomb. It was almost like she was trying to get the show canceled. She would have done it again. And again and again and again. Too much stress for everyone. If she really didn't want to do the show, she should have said so in the beginning, or perhaps agreed to guest on the first ep and then let the rest of the cast take it from there. I don't know whether she agreed in the first place out of guilt or what, but it seemed like she never really wanted to go back to work. And why would she? She had a peaceful life in Hawaii. She'll be fine. It's a shame she had to wreck her legacy this way though. I assume she'll never speak to most of the cast again, and that too is a shame.
The Deliberate Stranger (1986)
Well Done for a TV Movie
The best thing about this made-for-TV-movie is Mark Harmon's performance as Bundy. As others have said, he gives an absolutely chilling performance, full of subtleties and very multidimensional. Great acting by Harmon -- in fact, this may be one of his best performances ever.
I don't think Harmon ever met Bundy, but he wanted to go and see him on Death Row before the movie was made so he could "look into his eyes." I believe it was the director who convinced Harmon to go instead to meet Carol DeRonch (the only woman to escape Bundy after she got into his car). Whatever else Harmon did to prepare for this role, it certainly worked. The result is riveting.
Keep in mind that this is only a TV-movie with a presumably conservative budget. Even still, the underlying story is told very well, and gives the viewer multiple points of view, putting special emphasis on the suffering of the victims families and the stress felt by the detectives who worked the "Ted" case for so many years. There have been a few more Bundy movies made since, but in my opinion, this one outranks them easily.
If you're looking for blood and guts, this version doesn't offer much of that, but that's what makes it so good. The violence is mostly implied and/or left to the imagination which makes it all the more powerful.
Sure, almost all the names are changed and there is some poetic license taken, but for the most part, this movie gets most of the big scenes and moments exactly right. Bundy's story is so broad and so full of detail that it is tough to cover it all in a few hours. You have to expect that certain aspects of the story will either be left out or brushed over, and that does happen. Even still, the major events remain intact, as do the major messages -- that Bundy took a life full of potential and threw it all away, and that his victims included many, many more people than simply the poor girls he killed.
I am still waiting for a *quality* big-budget film on Bundy, done for the big screen. Until that happens, The Deliberate Stranger stands up quite well. If you're fascinated with Ted Bundy's story, I would definitely recommend it. 9/10.