Disclaimer

Dang! I was not aware of the experience I was in for when I started screening this AppleTV+ limited series starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. "Disclaimer" is based on a novel of the same name by Renée Knight, and it was written for the screen and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. At its core, this is a revenge story. Blanchett stars as Catherine, a journalist whose secrets of her past resurface in an alarming way, causing her to confront that past as it wreaks havoc on her entire life. This was a masterfully told story, taking us along a fascinating journey of discovery as the audience is shown (sometimes in vivid detail) the "events" of Catherine's past. Blanchett, as always, is fantastic in here and Kline puts in a solid performance as well. It was surprising to see Sacha Baron Cohen in a more serious role, but he did it justice. Despite a couple/few minor nitpicks, I highly recommend this series if you like character dramas with some added tension/intrigue. Note: There are some pretty graphic depictions of sex/intimacy shown throughout various episodes. This isn't action-packed, and it did take about half an episode (roughly 30 minutes) before I eventually got "hooked" onto the story. But boy am I glad I stuck around. Video review to come shortly.

It could easily have been reduced to a banal two-hour film. Sex scenes, I would say, definitely too explicit and strong for a TV series, sometimes even less is enough to understand what is happening. I am not a bigot, on the contrary 😉, but I believe that on the visual side sex should always be treated more lightly, we all know how it works 😂. I approached the series thinking of a thriller, with which it has very little to do, we are faced with a drama. The story is well told, the characters well developed and the acting absolutely exceptional, I also like the off-screen speech, it gives a "poetic" and "introspective" touch to the characters directly involved. I still think that a film would have been more appropriate.

I'm in an older Gen X demographic, and I can totally understand why younger generations would not connect with this material. I have been through relationships, marriage, divorce, and this drama is similar in many respects to events I have been through, and so I can appreciate the writing and characters a bit more than others would.

Having said that, straight up this is a solid 10 of 10 show for me. First of all, it is limited. The story will not drag out in the quest for more cash. There are seven solid episodes, and it is WELL worth the time invested to view.

No spoilers, but as the story progresses, you will see that there is a layer of complexity woven into the story that pays off the further you get down the journey of these characters. To put it plainly, what feels like a bit of a slower drama that is above average builds and builds until you cannot stop watching by the end.

I will leave it at that: adults that appreciate a good drama will be riveted and rewarded for viewing this. Enjoy!

Some of the negative reviews seem to suggest the good reviews are a "conspiracy", unable to grasp the simple concept that we all have different tastes.

There are plot holes for sure, but the story hits you hard when you realize every character is a despicable human being, and you see the horrible cruelty, ego, and hate that fester in the human psyche. It's well acted, and the story develops impressively.

The 7/10 score reflects the plot holes, all the things that happened between Katherine and Jonathan were only witnessed by them, yet somehow the grieving mother wrote it up as if she saw every moment, and then it just became fact in the show.

But it is powerful, the emotions it instills, the wonderful way you catch yourself feeling sorry for one of the characters, only to realize they are despicable.

Well worth a watch (I am not a bot or an employee of the production company in case any conspiracy theorists are here).....(that's what THEY would say!!)

A visual interpretation of Renee Knight's novel by the simple genius of Alfonso Cuarón, approaching the material with a pure cinematic sensibility, where after only 2 episodes the viewer is addicted to the mystery within the story structure, revealing thin layers at a time on the darkness of human behaviour with an added tinge of masochistic humor.

The brilliance of the series is in the unusual casting of going against type, starting with Sacha Baron Cohen in a dramatic role as the pompous husband. And to top it all off is Kevin Kline as the conniving former private school teacher who finds a second lease in life with his torturous game of vengeance. Whereas Blanchett fits into any role and does it with abundance, as the actors go full tilt in this artful melodrama.