The Art of More - Tödliche Gier

This show definitely does not deserve a 5.9 rating (at of the time of writing this review). The acting is perfectly good, the cinematography looks nice, the plot is interesting and the characters are likable and not too one-note. Overall, it's a very competent show.

As several people have said, it's a very original idea for a plot too. I mean, the seedy side of the art-collecting world isn't something you see on TV very often. Also, I really like how they open most episodes with a little 'history' on the pieces featured in the episode -- adds a nice amount of flavour to the show.

I enjoyed season 1 immensely, and I'm looking forward to season 2. Too bad it didn't go on for longer. All in all, this show might not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it's also no 5.9.

Good performances from all to be sure. However, the material with which they have to work demands all your attention to fathom the sub-plot,within sub-plot, within sub-plot. The writers seem to be attempting to congratulate themselves on how messy and complicated they can make a thinly woven thread of a story. Each episode is one messy complicated disaster linked to another by a small hope of resolution but alas! Just another unresolved catastrophe and so it goes on and on and on. The resolution is very low making viewing difficult in low light and the dialogue requires audio enhancement to make out the actors' lines - most of which are mumbled and/or whispered. Perhaps I know little about art, but I know what I like - and this is not it. Anyway - judge for yourself.

The Art of More taps into a fascinating world and has all the ingredients for a successful drama series. You couldn't ask for a better cast! Each actor brings a unique character and adds to the intrigue of the show. Christian Cooke is so good in this role and plays a very relatable character that you can't help but root for. I love shows that let me explore new avenues and this one brings you right to the center of the art world amidst all the action and takes you behind the scenes so you get a real taste of what actually goes on. There's glamour, drama, thriller and action all the elements to keep you hooked. Really excited to finish watching the first season!!

I love shows that draw me in and make me want to watch "just one more episode"--which turns into an evening binge. For me, THE ART OF MORE is definitely that binge-worthy new series. First, the setting and premise is fresh and surprising. There are no other shows that focus on the art world--a great was to look at art across the centuries, including contemporary aspects that I hadn't really considered art, like the journals of explorers or the handwritten notes of rock stars. I also love the look at classic art from early ceramics to the Impressionists to Picasso. And from a new angle--a complex mix of genuine love of the artifacts as well as greed and corruption,the thrill of the chase and the behind the scene look through the eyes of a range of characters. Kate Boswell is perfect as the competitive, troubled, privileged art exec. As we continue to learn her back story, she becomes more and more sympathetic and engaging.

The other characters drew me in as well. Love Dennis Quaid! His twinkly eyes and wit come across even as he plays a kind of bombastic rich buffoon. Christian Cooke is compelling as an Iraq war vet and art-lover, struggling to juggle his many schemes and relationships. Cary Elwes is a delight, somehow able to portray a mix of emotions through his gestures and facial expressions.

Best for me is the way the characters back-stories are revealed layer by layer as the series continues. Lots of drama, twists and turns, tension, and fun in this compelling new show.

Kudos to Crackle for this new drama!

This is surely one of the worst TV series of the past decade. It's hard to decide which element of the show contributes more to its staggering stupidity - the terrible dialogue, the contrived plotting, or the confused storyline. While the first season was more about the intrigue behind the art world, it devolved into a derivative action drama in the second. It's as if the producers decided that adding murder and mayhem would save the series from its other failings.

But given the fact that a third-rate Montreal production company - Muse Entertainment - was behind the series it is hardly surprising that The Art of More could ever be anything other than an artistic and commercial failure. It is a wonder that the series even made it to a second season given its hollow character.

Kate Bosworth does her best to bring some integrity to the acting but the makeup artist on the series seems to have given her face a photo-shopped gloss that distracts from her performance. Surely someone on the production team must have notice her odd appearance?

Meanwhile, Dennis Quaid chews the scenery with his over-the-top portrayal of an multi-millionaire businessman turned art collector provides unintentional comic relief.

Finally, lead actor Christian Cooke brings zero charisma or gravitas to his Iraqi war veteran now trying to make a career as an art gallery dealer while trafficking in stolen artifacts. Perhaps had the writers given him a more interesting story arc Cooke might have risen to the occasion. But in the end he is simply one further example of the many strange artistic choices made by Muse and its showrunner Brendan Kelly.

Muse should stick to making the kind of derivative Hallmark-style TV movies that it is best known for producing.