Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014)

Genre: TV / Drama / Author’s Favorites
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior
Number of seasons: 7



In a little over a month, I have devoured every single episodes of this TV series that tells the tale of an outlaw motorcycle club, the Sons of Anarchy, in the fictional town of Charming, California. The action centers around Jackson “Jax” Teller, who is the vice-president of the club when season 1 starts. His late father was a founding member, but the leader is now Clay, who married Jax’s mom after her husband passed away. As the show progresses, Jax will learn some difficult truths and there will be no turning back for him, his club and his family.

First and foremost, it must be told that Katey Sagal, as Gemma Teller Morrow, the matriarch of the clan, is the light that shines the brightest of them all in Sons of Anarchy. What an amazing acting job she does, walking the fine line between both sharp edges of her character. One minute, she’s the domineering and manipulative mother figure who oversees everything with an iron hand; the other, she’s a fragile soul with many dark secrets. On that tightrope, Sagal makes Gemma feel real at all times, never falling and never going overboard one way or the other.

Charlie Hunnam is also very solid as Jax Teller. I am convinced that many women, and some men, watched the show mainly for his presence on screen. I’m confident enough to say that he is indeed a good looking male. Hunnam also makes his character very real, with all its various shades. He brings to life a Jax Teller that can both be sweet and cruel, and it never comes off as fake. And good job also in hiding the British accent.

I will not elaborate on every single member of the supporting cast, as it would never end, but let’s just say that they all did their share to make this show such a success. I cannot think of a single weak link among them.

Kudos to the creator of this show, Kurt Sutter, who created characters so well defined that they all felt real. Soon enough, there was no stopping me from caring about these make-believe people. And the story being told was so captivating and compelling, it kept me hooked until the final scene. There are many Shakespearean overtones in Sons of Anarchy, and a comparison to The Godfather can also be made. Jax Teller reminded me of Michael Corleone, in wanting to make the family business legit but in always getting pulled back in.

Music also has a great place in this wonderful show. Many great originals as well as some very good covers of well-known songs, the musical interludes always enhanced the action and brought it all together in a more cohesive mix.

Overall, Sons of Anarchy is an awesome TV series that I will certainly watch again down the line. Loved it, among the best I have ever seen.

  

Rating: «««««

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