Reviews

Plot seems to be all over the place. It looks like they tried to use an intentionally dated, documentary style of filming and editing, but it just ends up looking cheap, and nowhere near gritty enough for the setting.

The acting, particularly from the supporting cast, isn't really that great, either, with accents that don't really seem to fit the region. I tend to like Bernthal's performances, and perhaps this show will get better with time, as indicated by the trailer; but at the moment, there's really not much to take away from the production quality in the first episode that would bring me back.

I'm normally really high on HBO productions, but this one was a rare dud for me. Watch Mayor of Kingstown (2021) instead.

The series starts out with a bang, but then falls off precipitously from there.

The main character, while not necessarily unlikeable, is just not credible. He also happens to speak with a lisp... which makes him seem very immature for an adult.

Thirlby looks like she needs to take better care of herself. It certainly doesn't help that her character is entirely unlikeable, as well.

Conversely, the only likeable character is played by Diane Lane, who happens to be aging gracefully.

The whole big box store saga goes on for way too many episodes, and basically just serves as filler; and it just doesn't live up to the hype of the first episode.

Furthermore, the series does itself no justice by forcing LGBTQ themes down our throats. It's not just the fact that it's present, but the way that the show deliberately hides its true nature in the first episode... and then tries to spring these ideas on the audience as the show wears on. That type of bait and switch is a low blow, particularly to viewers with children.

I watched to the end because I just wanted to be done with the season. But if there ever is a season two, I will not be tuning in.

I would have probably rated this a 6, considering that it's standard fare entertainment; but there's a point in the film where it seems like an entirely different voice actor takes over the robot's voice, and it's not even all that subtle.

Perhaps this gaffe was due to the pandemic. But still, the producers should have ensured that the robot's voice was consistent, throughout. If the initial voice actor couldn't finish the project, for whatever reason, they could have certainly just dubbed right over the initial voice with the second voice actor.

As far as the story, it's pretty much what you see in the trailer. Except that it didn't seem quite as thrilling as the trailer portrays it.

There are a few easter eggs from previous Hanks' films, but that's the extent of this film's cleverness.

Overall, it has a warm undertone, but the film tries to force the viewer into feeling something... and so it doesn't really hit home in the end.

This is a popcorn thriller that actually keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

It's rare that a film that gives away the plot in the trailer actually lives up to the hype, but this one was slick and entertaining all the way through; and even manages to throw the audience for a loop at the end.

It's certainly not groundbreaking material, but it manages to find the right balance between the suspension of disbelief, versus action and suspense.

I think that all of the actors did a fine job with the material that they were given, but I think some films just lack purpose, regardless of the moral of the story becoming painfully obvious, halfway through the film.

That said, some of the gambling references and instructionals were edifying, but the whole gaming idea just seemed out of step with the plot. There's no apparent connection between gambling and the protagonist's past. It's merely coincidental, as a function of free time, and there's no deeper meaning to it.

Despite the varied filming locations, the film still manages to come off as somewhat low budget. It also seems like some of the sets were re-used for different locations.

There's also not a whole lot of on screen chemistry, even though the film tries its hand at a contrived romance. It would have helped if the other characters had some of their own scenes to develop their backstory. But, as it is, we just get a cursory explanation for why they exist in the film, which doesn't really get fleshed out. As a result, we don't care about them.

Consequently, the film becomes somewhat predictable; and the climax is ultimately just defeatist and depressing, and not really satisfying from a movie-going experience.

Gyllenhaal does a decent job with the material, but there's literally only one set in this film, a meager call center... which makes it very forgettable.

This film could have benefited from varied locations, where it could have played to the director's strengths in filming gritty crime dramas.

While it's worth a watch on a rainy weekend, it's just not on the same level as other creative one-set films, such as Locke (2013), or Buried (2010).

Look, Liam Neeson is always entertaining, and underneath all of the cliches, this was actually a good story... But, it's almost as if the producers went out and hired a 10 year old from the Roblox lobby to do their entire graphics package... and this is not an understatement.

So, Watch it for Liam Neeson, knowing that the end result will be a foregone conclusion, but don't expect Taken (2008) level filmmaking.

"A 14-year-old Persian boy desperately tries to fit in?"

Why lie? That's not this show at all. It's just a much older grown up pretending, and not even remotely convincingly. I don't know if that's the point, but if it is, they should have just been up front about the premise. It's a parody of something, but of what, I cannot be bothered to waste anymore time trying to uncover... as the show is far too brash to even call a comedy. A show that can't even be honest about its own synopsis for the intended audience is an automatic failure.

If you're just up front about what you're trying to do, perhaps you'll find the quirky audience that you're looking for. But, deceit is not the way to find viewers, rather, it's the way to obtain justifiably bad ratings.

As another user pointed out, flip this around and have a 40 year old male actor pretend to be a 14 year old girl. Totally inappropriate.

Now that I think of it, after watching The Mauritanian, a far more serious film, this show Chad would have been an extremely effective enhanced interrogation tool at Guantanamo Bay.

I've enjoyed Power for 5 whole seasons, but if episode 1 of season 6 is a precursor to what is to come... than frankly, the show is unfortunately starting to run out of steam.

I think this show just suffers from a fundamental eventuality with all gangster dramas... you can only kill-off so many characters, before you begin to erode the continuity of the show; and, I'll just leave it at that... to avoid any spoilers to those who haven't watched the end of season 5, or the beginning of season 6.

Also, the suspension of disbelief is getting to be way over the top, between how the characters interact... which is a function of writing. The actors aren't necessarily over-acting -- even though they oftentimes appear to be -- but, rather, the over-the-top writing is starting to place the cast in predicaments that just aren't at all plausible. Which isn't entirely unexpected. It's got to be tough work to piece together a plot when there's little left to put together.

I was also disappointed that there were no new characters introduced; (on the protagonist side) but, I assume that there will have to be - to keep this show going, because, with the present cast, it's just getting a bit stale.

The lead will need a new love interest, and another high value foil. Conversely, nearly all of the present characters are becoming unlikeable and hateful, and unless something or someone new is brought in to spark that original feeling - of a sympathetic figure that just got caught up in the life, trying to protect what's his... than, we're just down to going through the motions, watching everyone scheming to burn everyone and everything else to the ground.

Frankly, I'm not too excited to see a show devolve into that. I liked it better when - despite all of the warring and back-stabbing- there was always something left to appreciate and long for... with characters that would reminisce about their younger days.

I'll give the show a few more episodes to see if they can breathe new life into it. But, as of now, this show seems like a jeweler that's fresh out of gems.

Whoa! Episode 6 was a quintessential reminder of why I just love spy thrillers. The classic spy reveal. Now we get into the meat and potatoes. Here we go. Even if the show somehow doesn't manage to improve, beyond this point, it won't matter; because this mid-season climax was brilliant.

J.K. Simmons has an incredible ability to play two different characters, down to the minute posturing of each character. It's amazing how there's little doubt beyond the first three words out of his mouth, which character he's playing, at a given time... despite the fact that sometimes they share the exact same attire.

From the writing, to the acting, to the directing, to the editing... this show is a flat out total production clinic.

I didn't get past the 2nd episode. It felt too much like I was watching a long, drawn out commercial for gay pride.

A show shouldn't market itself in one way, and then be completely about something else.

That is called, bait and switch.

I wanted to like this show.

I also just found out that one of the Wachowski brothers has changed their gender. -- Now it makes sense why the show gets so off track into the LGBT topic... but, it's not what the trailer signed me up for.

This show is going into the bin... for being way too political.

Could have been good... if they had cut out all the preachy content.

What a waste of a good premise.

I'm also going to respond to the poster that inquired as to the veracity of my review... after only 2 episodes.

First of all, I didn't even make it through 10 minutes into the second episode. The several minute long monologue about how the female with the overly deep voice feels so sorry for herself, for being treated differently all her life... leading up to the gay pride parade... was well enough for me to see that the show had digressed so far into political ideology, that I was no longer interested in waiting for it to develop any further.

What the heck does that have to anything whatsoever to do with a Science Fiction show, that is supposed to be about telepathy?

Let me be clear. I will not be forced to watch a show, that is advertised in one way; and then, is so overwhelmingly about a completely different message.

The same way I would get up and walk out of a movie, if I found it not to be representative of the tenor of the trailer; to the point where I came to the realization, that I'd be suffering... to put myself through any more of such a terrible excuse for entertainment.

Whether I agree with the viewpoint of the directors is immaterial. The show is completely off-topic from what it is advertised to be.

Some people are willing to wait several episodes for a show to get to the point. Read the message boards here if you don't believe me.

My issue is not about the the nature of the agenda... it is that there is unequivocally an agenda in the content of the show, in the first place... instead of just being the Sci-Fi show it is advertised to be.

With me, you better be on-topic and entertaining from the word go, or I get up and walk out of the theater.

I have not been entertained, and therefore, I didn't make it through the entire series. Thank you for allowing me the right to cancel my viewing of the show.

Further, this has nothing to do with tolerance, or the lack thereof. I simply don't tolerate bait and switch, regardless of whether I believe in the agenda. I just want to watch the Sci-Fi show that I came to watch.

Also, the idea that every show with straight characters in it has to have a, "straight agenda," just because a LGBT director has so eloquently written in several flaming LGBT characters into a show that they are directing... does not even make sense.

That is called specious reasoning.

If several of the characters in a TV show just so happen to be eating McDonalds food, in all of their scenes... for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... or any other excessive on screen advertising - during the dramatic content of a TV show - then, I promptly turn it off, all the same; because, I don't want McDonalds shoved down my throat, during the content of the TV show.

That is what commercials and infomercials are for.

During the actual show, I don't want to see any adverts, nor any overt political or religious statements, nor any personal agendas... because it distracts and clouds the content of my entertainment viewing.

Obviously, there will always be bits and pieces. But, if it goes beyond mere happenstance, into a full blown monologue about how life-changing it has been to the characters, to imbibe McDonalds Big Macs... then, I am compelled to turn that kind of programming off... because it can no longer be taken seriously, as a Sci-Fi show... if it must force the idea of being okay with McDonalds on its viewers.

Everyone reserves the right to refrain from watching off-topic nonsense... especially, when it is not how the trailer has presented the show to be.

This review is a warning to all sensible people, gay and straight... that this show does not represent the Sci-Fi topic of the trailer. The Sci-Fi plot, albeit, barely detectable... is just the bait.

Thusly, my rating is being reduced from 4, to 2... for the childish users, that have failed to respect other user's opinions... about what should be classified as Science Fiction.

When I sign up to watch a Sci-Fi show... I want to see a Sci-Fi show... from start to finish. Not an ideological infomercial, masquerading as a Sci-Fi show... that takes at least one or two episodes to actually get to the Sci-Fi plot.

I refuse to be beaten over the head; and, to have my intelligence insulted... when I'm merely trying to watch a Sci-Fi, Television program.

The fact that the directors have chosen to effectively brutalize this so-called Sci-Fi entertainment, with personal and political agendas... sends a terrible message, in and of itself.

I wanted to like this movie. The cast have all impressed me in previous films; so, I was anxious to watch it.

But, the story doesn't even really get going until almost halfway through; and, you would think that we would be compelled to feel something for the characters by then... but instead, we are forced to accept everything at face value, without any significant character back-story nor any relationship development whatsoever.

Some films could benefit from being edited into chronological order. Although this is one of them, it probably could not have saved the childish dialogue, nor the boring directing.

There were a few bright spots, where I figured that I would keep watching to see if there would be a twist, or a climax; but, ultimately, neither ever came.

I was disappointed with the entire film... because it didn't thrill, not one iota... although the trailer would have you believe that there is some substance to this, and that the actions of the main character sets off a chain reaction of events that deeply affects many others. Well, sorry to disappoint... but, that's just false advertisement, by taking dialogue from different scenes out of context. Or, rather... those scenes just don't come off anywhere near as meaningful or climactic as intended, nor do they lead to anything else not already seen in the trailer.

It's just a film about boring characters, that act boring, have no real emotion... and, you just cannot feel for them, because there is no foundation laid for caring about anything in this film, nor does it wow you, or give you anything unexpected, nor anything that we haven't already seen before. But, it doesn't do anything better than what we've already seen before either.

I feel sorry for the cast, because they couldn't have saved this. It's like a film that seriously needs a directors cut, but... far too boring, unoriginal and uninspired for even that to save it. It would just be painful to lengthen it.

Throughout the film, I felt like it was just insufferable... and, not in those words... patiently waiting to be entertained, inspired, or thrilled; and, not even left wanting... just happy it was over.

This movie is like a poor mans Training Day. But, without even a single twist.

The script leaves an awful lot to be desired.

It has absolutely zero resemblance to the gritty Street Kings crime drama that came before it.

The only reason I watched it was because Ray Liotta was in it.

I would say save your money, but I'm not sure it even made it into theaters.

If you don't have anything better to do, it's certainly not the worst movie. But don't expect anything like Street Kings of 2008.