willieb-3

When you read more than 1/2 dozen reviews of an obscure TV series, and they are all positive, it kind of makes you take notice. And notice should be taken of this little gem. It stacks up respectfully with Nick and Nora, Mr & Mrs North and just about any amateur sleuth~husband/wife teaming. It does raise 2 questions - why are they so much better at making quality, entertaining television series in Australia, New Zealand and the UK then we are in the states? The other question - why do the shows in Australia stop before their time? Mr & Mrs Murder ran 13 episodes. Unlike American series, each episode stands alone, and can be enjoyed (no recurring bad guy or sinister underlying subplot ie Red John from the mentalist or Jack from The Profiler). But then it just went away - no 2nd season (series). can't figure that one out. More confusing was the end of the Dr Blake Mysteries. Ratings were great, fan base was strong - but they cancelled (or didn't renew) it at the top of it's form. My recommendation; track down Mr & Mrs Murder but don't binge watch it, take it one episode at a time. Just about the perfect blend of mystery and comedy.

In reading the summary "Universally recognized as one of the greatest Egyptian films ever made" it is clear that the summary was penned by some one who has not seen much Egyptian cinema. Not that this is a particularly bad movie - and it does shine above much of that country's output of the 1970's - but when taken as a whole - I wouldn't even put it in the top ten. My top ten are by the way; Mat'oulch Le Had (1952) Antissar El Shabab (1941) Akher Kedba (1950) As-Saber Tayib (1946) Hokayet El Omr Kullo (1965) Shafiqa El Qubitya (1963) Demouh El Hob (1935) Salama with Om Koultoum Afrita Hanem with Farid Al Atrache Shores of Love (1950)

I'm not sure what the fascination with starting a show with a climax, then flashing back to a scene anywhere from 2 hours to (in this case) 6 weeks earlier - to show us how we got to the scene in the first place. Just about ever TV show and movie does this - as if no one understands that a device stops being clever the 3rd time its used. But to compound this - in the opening episode we jump back 6 weeks - then 10 years, then back to the six week time frame - so its a flash back within a flash back? At least it seems as though they were able to locate a tripod to rest the camera on - maybe we've finally gotten past the Hill Street Blues school of camera work. I'm just tired of getting dizzy watching the on the shoulder camera work.