Amor y muerte

Jesse Plemons is a very underrated actor. He never fails to deliver a good performance. He is not as good as Elizabeth Olsen, but he is good. Elizabeth Olsen is fantastic. Her range is great and she makes this character very believable and sympathetic. Every time she is on screen it's hard to look away. Whatever she does is interesting. Is this the year she wins her well deserved Emmy? This performance could be the difference.

Like every other show from HBO, the visuals are amazing. The sets and the visual effects are spotless. Even if you find the story uninteresting I'm sure you could watch this show just because it's so beautiful to look at.

10 thousand times better than Wicker Tree that I just finished on starz avoid that movie! Anyway this is really good I even watched Candy on Hulu I'm pretty sure that was last year so this is similar I'd say Love & Death is even better. Elizabeth Olsen is most known in the marvel universe and I very much enjoy her in Ingrid Goes West. Been meaning to watch this mini series a couple months I just kept having health complications, lately I've finally felt amazing this is amazing too all around with directing, astonishing acting and intriguing throughout. On top of everything else this great mini series about Candy, affairs and crimes is nominated for a couple Emmy's, I love catching up on worthy nominees.

First off, I am a bit impressed and encouraged by television offerings lately. ...Well okay, two or three series come immediately to mind.

Love & Death is one of them.

At first, my husband and I weren't too interested in watching this perhaps because neither of us knew much about the case it is based on. After seeing it pop up as a choice a few times, however, we figured 'what the heck', and began watching. While parts of Episode 1 actually felt a bit "icky" (for lack of a better term), I am so glad we stuck with it, and by the next day, I couldn't wait to get home in order to to pick up where we had left off at episode three.

To begin, the soundtrack at least for the first half or more of the series, is a MASTERFUL collection of tunes from the 70's and 80's, and which work perfectly to add to the feeling that you are watching this dark series unfold firsthand. In fact, IMO, the only thing within Love & Death that rivals how excellent the music is for most of the first few episodes, is how exceptional Elizabeth Olsen is in her riveting portrayal of Candy Montgomery. That is not to say that rest of the cast's acting was not top-notch or that the rest of the series is not good, it is just difficult not to notice how much Elizabeth Olsen stands far and above here. This Elizabeth Olsen is tiers from the one you may have seen in anything else. To say her range is incredible, would be an understatement. Not too far behind in accolades, should be Lily Rabe who it was nice to see again, and who also wonderfully, convincingly, and definingly portrays the role of Betty Gore. Jesse Plemons as a love interest is the only casting choice I found a bit problematic.

In as far as the story, it unfolds ... engagingly. What's funny (strange), not funny (haha), is that while the episodes are an hour long, each felt much longer. This normally happens when something isn't paced well or isn't interesting enough to keep one's full attention, but neither was the case here. The series, which revolves around what occured before and after a certain true-life incident, is both compelling and flows well.

A recommended watch.

7.4 / 10, but a 7 just seemed too low.

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Encouraged by reviews here which mentioned the Hulu version, we thought: "GREAT! Something BETTER than Love & Death?!? Let's see it!" Well ... don't fall for the hype. It was very nonlinear, and quite dull, both in color and story progression.

Love and Death

A miniseries about the axe murderer, Candy Montgomery.

Elizabeth Olsen is commanding, intense and breathtaking (the Scarlet woman). Delivering a well nuanced portrayal, she's surely secured herself an Emmy nom. After seeing Jesse Plemmons in The Power Of The Dog, his role and acting approach here is very familiar, but done well. Lilly Rabe as neurotic and dislikable Betty is impressive.

The set, visuals and cinematography are stunning, and the 70s & 80s tunes that make up the soundtrack are fitting. The plot was also unraveled slowly and deliciously.

Fans of true crime will definitely love this adaptation.

8/10.

I have seen both series on this incident and they each have their merits and flaws. The Hulu series entitled Candy, starring Jessica Biel, is the story told as if the protagonist is Betty, and she is an innocent victim of another woman's rage. Whereas Love and Death, on HBO Max, starring Elizabeth Olsen, is told as if the protagonist is Candy, who suffered an attack at the hands of an troubled and mentally unstable woman.

Both resent the same facts, bent to fit the needs of the protagonist.

In my opinion, the HBO series is much better. I found the characters much more likeable and the way the story is told, to be much more engaging.

Not to mention the beautiful sets and wardrobe that brought me right back to the 70's in tone and look.

Jesse Plemons once again puts in a stunning performance, as does Lily Rabe, herself a veteran of difficult, and well done performances.

Not to mention the beautiful framing with the axe, Betty's legs in the foreground and Candy in the background. Easily could have been the background for the title card.