14/40
Mentioned in Premios Soberano (2024)
CIA agent Joe tries to balance his personal and professional lives as the spearhead of the agency’s war on terror. Real-life military advisors helped produce a more authentic execution of gun handling, house cleaning, positioning, crew-based activity, etc. Mr. Sheridan knows how to transport us into testosterone-fueled macho worlds, without cliché and seemingly without agenda. It is what it is.
No apologies necessary
His characters are always grounded and he is extremely skilled at casting. But to be great you have to write good parts for women. The writing has to be as good, if not better, than it is for men. Guys are simple. Women are smarter, more complex.
They are strong and compelling
Beth on Yellowstone (great character and performance), the barrel riders, the lone farm hand (fantastic Jen Landon as Teeter), all great female characters who fit into the world of the story in a natural, unforced way. Not just ‘partner of…’ or T&A. She stepped up her game with Faith Hill’s excellent character crush in ‘1883’; followed by Dame Mirren in the fiery river that was ‘1923’. Now we have Zoe Saldana, who does some of the best work of her career. I absolutely buy her as the CIA chief in an open marriage (nice touch).
How about her face!
I buy De Oliveira as a broken woman with burning anger who won’t give up and thank you, thank you, thank you writers/Dir./Producers for NOT letting her get the best of a male co-star with another one-hundred pounds of muscle. Truthfulness first! I think her character is much more interesting if she’s someone who needs to be knocked out cold or simply overwhelmed to the ground before giving up. Now let’s talk about Jill Wagner or should I say her hair? From schmaltzy Hallmark dreck to super-businessy special forces?
I buy it
Special mention: Ms. Lanier as the ugly teenage daughter. I’m waiting for the arc to be set for this loose canon as long as they continue to steer clear of the teen angst cliché. Good acting, could get interesting…