PStyles

I'll start by saying I read the book this film was based off of, providing some insight into how the film was portrayed in relation to the real-life story. For anyone who is curious about the "based on a true story" tag, the film representation is far less accurate than I expected, but I still found it very enjoyable, right until the end.

The film introduces Billy as a yaba-abusing English boxer scraping his way through the world of Muay Thai exhibition fights; he is soon arrested and eventually sent to the infamous "Bangkok Hilton" prison in Thailand. The depiction of drug use and prison conditions were pretty spot on based on the book's description, and the film is shot with a gritty realism that does justice to the abhorrent conditions of Thai prisons; 50-60 prisoners crammed into 40x20 rooms with dead bodies, rampant HIV, and none of the basic amenities Westerners are used to seeing.

Joe Cole (who plays John Shelby in Peaky Blinders) doesn't have many lines, but he is able to portray the deterioration of self quite well through body language and situational interactions, aided by some great camera work. Overall, I thought he did a good job, lending nuance to a primarily visual experience.

While the "boxing" (as it is referred to, even in the book) serves as a backdrop in A Prayer Before Dawn, it plays a surprisingly subdued role in the overall narrative. Rather than centering mostly on the sport, the film immerses viewers in the raw, unfiltered reality of Thai prison life. The mise-en-scène is haunting and claustrophobic, and the interactions with other prisoners, both verbal and non-verbal, were more interesting to me.

My big issue is with the last third of the film, particularly the ending; It literally just...ends. Rather abruptly. The editor dropped the ball because there was a chance to resolve Billy's character arc in a more satisfying way than what was presented.

If you liked the movie, check out the book - it was a fairly short, unique, and well-paced memoir that provides the backstory and nuance missing from this film.

I love alien invasions and end of world narratives, so this seemed right up my alley and I have to say that I'm surprised by the low overall score. However, this is a slow burn in the sense that the first several episodes are used for character building with the occasional reveal - just enough to remind you that there is indeed something unsettling going on. There are 4 distinct character threads occurring simultaneously which may seem superfluous at first, but watch on; there is a purpose.

The way the show progresses reminds me of Independence Day (1996) in the sense that, for the first hour or so or the film, characters were introduced while tensions built; things start escalating around the 80 minute mark. For this show, that happens around episode 6, which is undoubtably longer than many want to wait, but I found the payoff to be worth it.

I personally enjoyed the core cast in the show and felt they did a great job; their reactions and emotions seemed, for the most part, believable given the circumstances (with one notable exception). The character threads span across 4 international regions, too, which I found refreshing as alien invasions don't just affect the United States.

Apart from the characters, special effects were generally good throughout which is a requirement for me to enjoy a show like this. Apple clearly put a solid budget behind this.

Give it at least 4 episodes before writing it off; if you aren't at least intrigued by that point then chances are it's not your type of show. There are also quite a few subtitles to read, so something to keep in mind if you aren't a fan of reading while watching a show or movie (worth mentioning - season 2 has far fewer).

I'm glad Apple renewed it for a second season which I just started watching - unlike the first season, it ramps up almost immediately, so take solace in that if you're the impatient type.

Reflections After Season 2:

I knocked a star off after completing season 2 as it felt directionless at times, with somewhat dubious deviations in character development. There are still intense moments, but the plot became more erratic. The ending was interesting, though - hopefully season 3 (confirmed) can improve.

This is one of the most well shot, well written miniseries I have ever seen, and yet nobody I talk to has ever heard of it (I myself heard of it from a podcast completely unrelated to tv/movies). Amazon definitely needed to promote this better.

To me, this felt like one really long film rather than a miniseries, and I mean that in the best way possible; there is very little discontinuity or downtime as each episode rolls on. The story itself is a tightly woven tale of 3 parties from 3 different countries involved in an international cocaine shipment, and it is executed wonderfully. The suspense is high and action nearly constant after the first episode, which admittedly takes a minute to get going, so be sure to give it a chance as it has to set the rather complicated story up.

The thing that shocked me the most was the production quality; Amazon must have spent a fortune on this because the set pieces, camera work, cinematography, acting etc. Are all top notch, and each episode feels like a film production. There are some rather breathtaking hover shots over exotic landscapes, and the locations felt authentic.

The show utilizes a "rewind" cinematic technique throughout that I thought was rather unique and well executed. At certain points the story will seemingly jump forward in time, and as things begin to converge and confusion sets in (as in, "what the hell did I miss?"), the timeline will rewind and you are given the missing details from a different character's perspective. It's executed extremely well, and adds additional suspense to an already wild show. You'll know these moments are about to happen because the camera slows and cued music begins to play for great effect.

If you don't mind reading a lot of subtitles (roughly 2/3 of the show) and this sounds interesting, definitely check it out. It's the best kept secret on Amazon.