Musings of a Trini Girl In London

Musing's new locale...

2010-07-16T16:45:00.000+01:00

Musings has got a new home http://musingsofatrinigirlinlondon.com/
The name is still the same but the 'house' has been upgraded.
So please, please, please keep coming by to read my thoughts.
Your presence and comments are always needed!
:o)

A List of Reviews

2010-07-08T18:04:00.001+01:00

Here I get to combine two of my favourite things - films and lists :) As part of my daily schedule, if time permits I watch a film or one of my favourite TV shows. How I've done that and still had a life is one of time's great miracles! Simple mathematics equates that I have seen a lot, many of wish I will never admit to watching! But those that I am comfortable with discussing are listed below. Simple premise really, I rate it Watch, Consider or Miss then give a summary of my humble opinions.
In the end I hope I entice someone somewhere to see at least one of the great ones.

True Legend - Watch - Visually stunning with high flying impossible kung fu action galore. A mystic fable set in ancient China that tells a familiar tale of love, betrayal, family and the fight between good and evil. Maybe there are better films out there but for a kung fu amateur like myself it had all the elements that kept me satisfied.
Grown-Ups - Miss - It should have been funny. I even get the sense it should have been a family film of some sort. Lots of familiar names acting out scenes from a story about school friends grown up and reunited. One scene made me laugh. You can tell the comedians are all close in real life so this was an excuse to do a film together but they created a TV movie instead of a blockbuster comedy.

Hot Tub Time Machine - Consider - A juvenile rump through the 80s with grossed out humour. I did not think I would like it but it was funny. Very silly yes but a nice way to kill a couple of hours.

Death At a Funeral - Miss - Just save yourself the time and money and watch the original 2007 British version. It was more realistic and funny. Hollywood seems to be stuck on the idea that packing a movie with a host of comedians and popular actors will create a hit. Not so with this one. The storyline and dwarf are exactly the same in the original so please check it out instead.

Une Prophete (A Prophet)- Watch - I am a proud francophile. So the moment I saw the poster around London for this film, it was number one on my To Watch list. It was worth it. An epic prison drama that gives you an insight into the French penal system. A microcosm of racial and criminal tensions. We see the transition of a young Arab as he serves his sentence. It is epic as it carefully, painfully maps the man he becomes. This is not two plus hours of Prison Break action but a study of the creation of crime kingpin. I loved it. Tahar Rahim is a brilliant actor.

Prince of Persia - Consider - No Oscar winning action drama here. It really is a kids movie. Leave your brain at the door and enjoy a buffed up Jake Gyllenhaal. Ignore the lack of authenticity (the accents are far from Persian) and it just get caught up in the big scenes and corny jokes.

She's out of my league - Watch/Consider - This film is deeper that it appears. I was not expecting much so it was a pleasant surprise. Some frat boy humour yes but altogether great casting and a sweet little message at the end.

Sex and the City 2 -Consider/Miss

When in Rome - Miss

Icarus - Consider

Date Night - Watch

Kick Ass - Watch

Killers - Miss

Just Wright - Watch/Consider - A I suspected Common was the weakest link. Handsome though he is, his acting range is very limited. Otherwise it was a lovely film. For all the ladies out there who always seem to end up being the friend instead of the girlfriend. Queen Latifah is great as are the rest of the familiar cast. A lovely romance.

Chloe - Miss

Ondine - Watch - It unravels like a modern Irish fairy tale. Mystical and endearing. Strong performances from all that keeps you guessing till the very end.

Brooklyn's Finest - Watch/Consider

Edge of Reason - Watch - Mel Gibson is a controversial character nowadays but he is still the best at playing roles full of caged pent up emotions. This a dark tale. A mystery intertwined with the drama.

Unthinkable - Watch/Consider - Not a story for the faint hearted. Torture, terrorism and the question of whether or not there is a line when it comes to national security. Excellent performances from all but the film belongs to the brilliant Michael Sheen. He is such an amazing talent.

Ninja Assassin - Watch - Ace film.

On the must see list: The last Station, Robin Hood, A Team, Eclipse, Get Him to the Greek, True Legend.

Trailer encouragement:

Some summer movies

2010-06-25T14:08:00.000+01:00

I have an issue with trailers. They give away so much of the plot that the element of surprise is ruined. By the end of those three minutes the desire to see the film has evaporated. Not so with these two choices. Both gave me that age old feeling of excitement and curiosity.

Inception hits UK theatres on 16th July while Eat Pray Love does not yet have a release date. And yes this is one occasion where I rather watch the movie than read the book.

Just a couple of things to look forward to for the summer. Fingers crossed there will be more where these came from:

Cartoons you can't forget.

2010-06-21T16:16:00.002+01:00

The boys and I never saw Saturday morning cartoons. We spent those days in Sabbath school. So every other day of the week was a cartoon bonanza for us. Evenings and Sunday morning cartoons. We knew every theme song and the background to each character. Those shows kept us captivated and made our TV time fun. Years later its amazing how we know the songs by heart and the nostalgia is great.
Here are my favourites with some non cartoons thrown in there too!

He man

Thundercats

Defenders of the earth

Fraggle Rock

Muppet Babies

She Ra

Bravestarr

Smurfs

Finales Galore

2010-06-09T13:34:00.001+01:00

Spoiler Alert!

I have always wanted to write that!
But jokes aside be warned. I have seen the finales for all my favorites and some may not have been broadcasted on UK TV yet. When I lived in New York this time of the year always felt like torture. All my shows would end and the summer loomed with no TV satisfaction in sight. This is the time for silly reality shows and re-runs. Thank God that in 2010 some shows are just beginning (eg True Blood) and the Internet makes it possible to catch up on past seasons. Amen for technology!

My thoughts on some of the finale episodes:

Cougar Town - I have grown to love the band of neighbor-friends on this show. It is funny and sweet and the finale reflected all the traits I like. We've seen relationships grow and blossom and mature. It will be lovely next season to see how Jules and Grayson tackle a serious relationship and watch Travis navigate college.

Justified - A great shot-em-up season ender. Enough twists and action to keep you satisfied. And questions left unanswered for the next episode. I feel like I understand Raylan Givens so much more but without doubt there are a few more layers to him.

Glee - Left me feeling fuzzy inside. Laugh if you wish but that feeling is why I love this show. Even the episodes where the story lines are lazy, the music never is. There is guaranteed to be one song that makes me smile and one line that is funny. Mr Schuster is my 2010 crush, yes, but Sue Sylvester is by far my favourite. She is the most human bad guy ever. I can't wait to see what new wonderful plots, lines and layers await her.

90210 - Hmmmm, I had abandoned this new version by the end of the first season. But when it started its 2nd season run on E4 I began to watch it again. There have been improvements - Annie got more dimensions to her character; we saw that Liam was much more more than the generic bad boy and Silver started to get back to the original chick she was. The rest can pretty much disappear in my opinion. It ended with an explosion and the start of a new romance. Almost enough to get me watching when it starts again.

Gossip Girl - This post is not big enough to fully express how terribly this show ended. In an hour we got to see how the writers have annihilated the perfection that was Chuck and Blair. They sucked the life out of this two delicious characters and turned them into puppet versions of their previous selves. The continued emphasis on Serena and her wooden mother is infuriating. Serena is all legs, blond hair and whispers. Why she still seems to be the focus is baffling. The spotlight should be Blair's but they have whittled her to nothing. The closing scenes could have been written by a ten year old because it was that melodramatic. To get me like this show again the overhaul will have to be epic. As far as I am concerned GG just needs one more season to get back a fraction of its sparkle and should then be put to rest.

Lost - I was an avid fan for three years. I held on up until they went to the cabin and spoke to a empty chair. My attention evaporated almost instantly after that. The greatness that was Sayid and Sawyer was reduced to rubble. Did I watch the over hyped final episode? No. Reading a recap was more than enough. Purgatory? Really? What a gigantic waste of, well, everything.

The Good Wife - I got scared a few episodes near the end. I was afraid for Alicia's job and her taste in men but thank goodness it was all a diversion. She got the 'balls' I always knew she had. Mrs Florick can sometimes be frustrating. I want her to shout more and stop being so mute at the worst of times. But she is beginning to prove me wrong. The 2nd season promises to change the 'game' a little. I hope Alicia's bad side comes out more and she proves she more than just a good wife.

Modern Family - I love it. Every episode is on point for me. No one can convince me otherwise! The finale showed us just why this family is the most loving, dysfunctional, strange mish mash of people ever. I can wait to see what the new year brings them.

24 - Jack I am going to miss you! Yes this day had its full of predictable twists and boring moments but it redeemed itself in the last eight hours. It felt like the good days of 24 with enough action and edge of the seats moments that make your heart race. I was afraid for Mr Bauer, genuinely convinced that this was the end for him. I am glad the show has ended because it really had no where else to go. But I am still sad. 24 was the most original concept on TV. It was like an action film condensed into an hour. I encourage everyone to go out and watch the first four seasons It was unstoppable. I shed a tear watching the final scenes. I will miss it. I truly hope that a film version is in the works. I have no doubt it will be amazing!

Sesame Street Retrospective

2010-06-01T12:45:00.001+01:00

I have a plan for my children. Somehow, some way, I have to compile the most Sesame Street DVDs and footage from the 1970s and 1980s I can find. Then bombard the first couple of years of their lives with it. It maybe information overload but like me they will be able to count and spell and sing nursery rhymes long before nursery school. Yes I appreciate that there are some great shows today on Children's Television but all I have seen still do not live up to Sesame Street. Not the Elmo-centric fluff version of today but the Jim Henson years. At home in Trinidad it was 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday. Ahhh the good 'ole' days!

Through the beauty of Youtube I have compiled a few of the classics. Music, skits and lessons interwined! Doing the research I finally realised why I always have a song in my head and can make up a tune for any phrase! Lol. My so called madness suddenly has a root. Time to start making that SS time capsule for my future babies :)

Enjoy!

Telephone Rock

There's a hole in the Bucket

Fat Cat Hat Sat

Orange sings Carmen

Alligator King

Grover the Waiter!

Yakety Yak!

The 10 song

Great top ten SS songs compilation:

World Cup Fever!

2010-05-25T11:29:00.002+01:00

There have been eight world cups in my lifetime and having a football junky father, I am sure I watched every single one of them. It is the only time I let myself get into the game. I could be a huge fan but emotionally I can not handle the commitment that it takes to follow a team. Watching Trinidad come close a few times was enough to make my head and heart explode!
That said I had to post this Nike advert. Nike once brings football to life.
It so brilliantly evokes the seriousness of the game. That goal can really make or break a player! I love it. It just makes you say sarcastically "No Pressure!" LOL

Another Nike advert I love:

The Adjustment Bereau

2010-05-17T09:00:00.002+01:00

Matt Damon + Emily Blunt + weird mysterious story premise = Good film?
I'm curious after seeing this trailer:

Cougar Town

2010-05-14T11:34:00.000+01:00

Lesson learnt. Write the review asap so people wont think you're making things up....why? I have been saying for the last few weeks that this show should no longer be called Cougar Town.Now its seems the show's creators think the same thing! The first few episodes fulfilled the premise but since then the story lines have been going in a completely different direction. The focus is no longer on Jules and her older divorced mum dating antics but instead has turned into an ensemble comedy hour. A bit like the 'The Jeffersons' (forgive the 1970s reference but I will run with it cause its the first show that came to mind) with neighbours and friends always dropping in. The themes are wine, friends, mother-son-ex husband relationships and the inevitable will-they-won't-they love story. I like it, which is probably why it's on my must see list every week. Personally Courtney Cox is the real success story for me from the cast of 'Friends'. She knows she is a TV actress who occasionally does movies. Jennifer Aniston would have more success if she came to that realisation too...

There are two major irks. The first is 'disappearing baby Stan' and the second is that Jules' doors are never locked. People are always walking into her house night or day. Time and privacy mean nothing. For me it destroys all realism. And well the baby he just seems to spend a lot of time somewhere where his parents are not. He was present early in the season but has now been relegated to a crib with a baby monitor while his parents roam the streets of Florida. But the cast and their insults and silly situations make me forget, well most of the time.

Living TV - Tuesdays 9pm

Gossip Girl Finale

2010-05-12T09:55:00.000+01:00

GG has not been great this season. The writing has been lacklustre with the characters becoming more ridiculous by the week. Serena, her mother and her brother for that matter could all just go a long holiday because each week their acting abilities seem to get worse. But just when I was prepared to watch the highlights (if any) via youtube, episode 21 got interesting, even good! The old gang was scheming away again trying to solve a mystery silly Serena was blind to. Even the real stars Chuck and Blair began to get their sparkle back.
What makes the finale so juicy is the two different promo floating around the net. The first was shown on ITV then 'mysteriously' disappeared (according to EW.com the producers were livid) and the second is the US version. Both push the story in different directions but one breaks 'Chair' fans hearts.
Cynically this could just be a great tactic dreamed up by the show to generate the present excitement. Either way it is fun, fun, fun!
UK promo:

US promo:

The Losers Review

2010-05-07T15:24:00.002+01:00

It had the makings of a fun comedic action flick but in the end fell apart with a convoluted plot and bad editing. Fancy enough, with explosions and slo mo flight scenes and an overly choreographed sex scene (OK snippet) but still the combinations still did not work. It felt like a movie made for a twelve year old audience. It is based on a comic book yes but it was sold like a grown up flick.
Good points?The interactions between the five man team was fun, the rapport seem genuine and Zoe Saldana was more than enough eye candy. Special mention should be made of Jason Patric, he was over the top enough as the villain.
Honourable bad moment mention: Idris Elba's American accent. In retrospect, was it ever authentic? He uses the same one for every movie and the London inevitably sneaks in. Its the same problem Adrian Lester has.
All in all a pity as the trailer was very promising, but I should know by now that lately those 3 minutes tend to be the best bits of a film.

Justified

2010-04-30T11:28:00.002+01:00

Forgiveness please. It's not like I do not have shows to review. As busy as it has been I have managed to watch Jersey Shore, Damages, Cougar Town, Un Prophete, Clash of the Titans, Ninja Assassin, and others I can not recall now. Reviews will come....I promise. It has been a fun mixed bag of viewing.
My latest indulgence has been 'Justified'. I have been an avid member of the FX audience over the years - Dirt (I was probably the only person who liked this Courtney Cox drama), the excellent Brotherhood, and the decadent True Blood, to name a few.
Having just watched Timothy Olyphant in season 2 of Damages (and Die Hard 4.0 and Hitman) I was already a fan. He has a distinctive walk and mannerisms. So for him I decided to check out this new hour long drama. It is really is like advertised. He is like a cowboy sheriff transplanted in 2010. But Rayland Givens has a lot more going on behind that cool exterior he exudes. He is menacing with gun and observant to a fault. What gives the show its intrigue is watching Rayland slowly reveal with is going on under that cowboy hat of his. The show is comedic as well as drama full. There is enough swearing and gun violence to let you know that it is not a network production. There is a new case every week but they usually become the background to both Rayland and Kentucky. It is his home state and one he had no plans to return to until...
It sometimes suffers from having a split personality. It wants to be a hand hitting drama about a man with a complicated past but many of the Kentucky folk he encounters are borderline comedic caricatures. Some episodes are light hearted fare and others are dark and violent. But Rayland Givens is such an interesting character that you want to know more about him and the regulars. A dose of southern lawmen and what drives them. I am enjoying it.
Catch it on Weds at 10pm on Five USA

The Losers

2010-04-21T11:37:00.002+01:00

So two friends and I were 'gabbing' about Idris Elba this weekend. Now it wasn't my usual gushing but actually some criticisms for a change (for another post). We were bantering about the name of his new movie. We all agreed that Zoe Saldana was one of the stars but could not decide on the name.
"Its called The Losers."
"Nah its Takers."
"It's a heist movie right? CIA, a big job. Its called Takers."
"No seriously I saw the trailer and its The Losers."
Turns out we were all sort of right. Zoe is in both films and they are a little bit similar. Shadow and Act cleared it up for me yesterday. The poster and the trailer lets the audience know straight away that it's a comic book story. The film also seems to have the comedic feel of 'The A Team'. The reviews so far are so-so but I am looking forward to the release.

Ice Castles

2010-04-20T15:16:00.000+01:00

I have a special affinity to corny romantic films. Not necessarily the modern variations but anything from the 1980 going back. I blame Sunday movies in Trinidad then Sky Movies' day time schedule back in the 1990s. It explains why I have seen almost every film on the True Movies channel.
But seriously, Ice Castles is one of those impossible romantic dramas that I have no problem re-watching. It's an unbeatable combination of Ice Skating, angst, overacting and a predictable ending. The theme song 'Through the eyes of love' can still make the tears well up in record time.
It was a little distressing to see that the film was recently remade. Temptation to watch it almost won until I saw the trailer. Nope. I am going to find the DVD version of the original instead (or watch it on youtube!). Take a look and listen and see if you remember this little gem:

Glee explained in 60 secs...

2010-04-18T18:36:00.000+01:00

Mashable does a pretty good summary of the everyone's fav Glee:

Death at a funeral.

2010-04-15T18:05:00.001+01:00

Finally watched the original 2007 British version of this film yesterday, and really enjoyed it. The characters were all so typically English and the storyline both cringe worthy and funny. Watching the Hollywood version did not make me smile as much. Chuck full of comedians and it seems to be the same storyline, but still.... Maybe it's just a badly edited trailer or I may have been spoilt by the original. Will watch and compare when it hits the UK next month.
Trailer:

Notorious

2010-04-14T18:10:00.000+01:00

As a rule, biographical movies are perfect for reminiscing and garnering more information on the subject. ‘Notorious’ followed some of those guidelines. The music, the characters, the fashion and the events take the viewer back to the 1990s.

Seeing Faith Evans, Puffy, Lil Kim, Biggie and Tupac portrayed by actors known and unknown was a surreal experience. Jamal Woolard was an excellent choice as Christopher Wallace, embodying his mannerisms and heavy breathing perfectly. As was the actress Antonique Smith's ‘wronged beauty’ portrayal of Faith Evans. But Tupac and Puffy were unrecognisable. Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie, fine actors though they are, looked like they were playing dress up.

The movie gave a story book interpretation of Biggie’s life, from the rappers viewpoint and voice. But this made me question the accuracy of the events. Did he really call Lil Kim and apologise? Did the conversation with his daughter about self respect really occur? What about the out- of- body experience he had when convalescing from a broken foot?

The film’s style varied from documentary to TV movie never really living up to the feature film it was billed as. It was fun reliving the period, even the absurdity of the East and West coast rivalry, and Tupac’s paranoia. It also dared to show the parts of Biggie that were immature and abusive. But in the end the movie left me with an overall feeling of sadness. Despite the record sales and money that was made, two great hip hop lyricists still lived like they were hustling on an inner city sidewalk. Even the end scenes showing the crowds that lined the streets of Brooklyn to see his casket drive by left me feeling sad for a life unfulfilled.

Was that the intended message? I doubt that it was. I believe it was meant to be a deeper look at Biggie’s life and a celebration of his music. Instead there are dramatic glimpses into his life and despite the main producers being his mother Violetta Wallace and Sean Combs; we never really get much deeper than that. So see it for a taste of the time and a replay of major events but don’t expect to find out anymore than you already know about the man and his music.

Blog Pause: Madd Chadd

2010-04-06T15:50:00.001+01:00

Writing about dance movies led to an unmentionable amount of time spent on youtube watching said dance moves! In the process a new crush/obsession/wish-I-could-be dancer was discovered. Madd Chadd is his name and he is a robotics and popping aficionado. He also appears in Step it up 3D.
Seriously my day dreams are now full of crazy choreography and dance battles galore. See him in action on the street here (the kids' reactions are pure comedy):

Wanna see what muscles he uses while doing those moves?

Step up 3D

2010-04-04T09:00:00.001+01:00

The storylines are predictable and corny yes, but the dancing....oh the dancing! Dirty Dancing, Save the last Dance, Stomp, Flashdance, you name it - It is the dance movie formula, romance and great moves. This time around I think the dancing is going to be on another level. Consumers and fantasy dancers like myself are going to drink it up like grape fanta :)
Plus it is in 3D. Gimmicks like these were tailor made for suckers like me!
Take a look at Step up 2 & 3D's director Jon Chu and dancer Adam Sevani battle it out with ACDC, Miley Cyrus and friends/celebrities. Seriously just the coolest dance battle and methinks a preview for the new movie:

The A-Team

2010-04-02T16:13:00.001+01:00

I am a child of the 80s so Mr T and the A Team are like a bunch of old friends. Yes Hollywood's remake of classic television shows is getting tired. But curiosity gets the better of you when the show is one of your favourites. What will modern technology and new actors in old roles produce?
So once again reviews will be ignored and I am just going to let myself get hyped up over the trailers instead. Fingers crossed its does its predecessor some kind of justice!

Clash Of the Titans

2010-03-30T11:15:00.003+01:00

Obsessive rewatching of movies is as satisfying as a heaping bowl of ice cream. You want more, you appreciate every bite and you know exactly what you're getting. 1981's Clash of the Titans is one of those that has to be watched over and over again. The retro computer graphics, Medusa and actors in smedium clothes all adds to the kitsch. Not to mention the memorable performances from Burgess Meredith, Harry Hamlin and Laurence Olivier. It is a such a fun retelling of a classic Greek mythology.
So how could I resist the remake? Even if it scores one star out of five or is terribly over done...I HAVE to see it.
The trailer:

Medicine for Melancholy

2010-03-25T15:20:00.001Z

Or 'Ode to San Francisco'. Most of the hour and 28 minutes gives the viewer a literal ride through he hilly city. Its neighborhoods, the city, its art, its night life. By the end of it you feel like you have gathered a fabulous list of places to visit. The couple, Micah and Jo, are supposed to be the urban love story. A one night stand that becomes a 24 hour date. A Sunday walk and talk through the city. But their 'love' fails to manifest itself. The director's love of the city remains.

But as Micah says "I love this city. I hate this city but I love it." and his dialogue becomes the real message. Outsiders, like Jo and the viewer, get a lesson in race and the social ills of San Francisco. A misplaced scene from a meeting about the gentrification of part of the city, makes you want to do some research about the topic but makes no sense to the story itself.

What is the story? Why does Jo engage with Micah? They have little in common besides their shared night of passion and their complexions. Actress Tracey Heggins has the most beautiful smile which dots the movie often but her intial sadness is never really explained. Micah's layers become apparent as the film progresses but at first his awkward corniness makes you wonder why Jo did not send him away from the off set.
Its not neat and tidy and that is usually OK with a film like this. Mainly because the characters and their story is often so powerful that that alone is enough. Not so with this film.

In the end Micah and Jo are just the background music. San Francisco and its many angles is the real tale. If so I am intrigued by the city, its history and its story. That I suspect is exactly what Barry Jenkins wanted.

Why did I get married too

2010-03-24T19:24:00.002Z

Jill Scott was the stand out performance (followed closely by Tasha Smith) in Tyler Perry's Why did I get married? Though a huge fan of her music I had no idea if her acting would be another one of her of her talents. She has been going from strength to strength ever since.

The film itself is the only one of Tyler Perry's writer/director pieces that I actually enjoyed. I kept waiting for it to verve onto a crazy or crass course as his films tend to do. But maybe in this case Lions Gate Films' gave him some brakes.

Should there be a sequel?? The original tied things up nicely, in my opinion. So what else could there be to tell? The trailer leaves me feeling that Tyler Perry's taste for the over dramatic may have been allowed to go wild this time. It also looks scarily similar to the disastrous Couples Retreat. And sorry, but the name of the film is ridiculous. A simple use the number 2 (instead of 'too') would have worked better.

Unfortunately the rule in Hollywood seems to be that if a film did well/ made enough money, there has to be a sequel. Hence the reason there is Saw 2,3,10, 11; Bad Boys 2; etc etc

Jill, Janet, Tyler and the rest of the cast attended the premiere in New York City on Monday night. The film opens in the US on April 2. When the bootleg will hit the UK is anyone's guess.
The Trailer:

The Sex and the City Movie Sequel

2010-03-21T13:19:00.001Z

It was difficult critiquing SJP's style at the Oscars, when I usually have such a great appreciation for her dresses. So when I saw her wearing this piece of art at the Showest event this week, it made me smile. Marchessa did an excellent job. The little star details and the whisps of black shaped like tuile is whimsical and beautiful. It is a Carrie dress. And what else could be more suitable to promote the new movie?
I had mixed feeling about the first film. Which leaves me with even more apprehension about this new outing. But I am a die-hard fan and will be watching. Probably not in the cinema, like last time, but I will be watching nonetheless. Look out for my review!

The Promo:

The Good Wife

2010-03-19T10:06:00.001Z

The name is apt. Alicia Florrick is the epitome of the good wife. Her husband, a powerful District Attorney, is accused of sleeping with high end call girls and taking bribes. He loses his job and is jailed for his alleged crimes. Alicia's life as she knows it, changes at a speed she has no control over. She is forced to go back to work as a corporate lawyer. This is after thirteen years of being a stay-at-home mother.

These events fuel this hour long drama. Alicia's children, her mother- in- law and her work colleagues are also major players in the story.
Why is it good? The turmoil that Julianna Margulies' character is going through with her marriage and her family is only part of the weekly story. It could very easily have been a soap opera about her life but instead these events become the backdrop. Every episode Alicia and her colleagues fight a new court case. Each case is unique and its outcome is never predictable.

We watch her confidence growing as a working mother and the turmoil and embarrassment she feels as the wronged wife.
Chris Noth is perfect as her politician husband Peter Florrick who is trying to get his life back. He exudes the charm and ego and remorse with just enough balance. You start to see him as Alicia does and wonder whether or not he can be trusted. The mutual attraction she experiences with her boss and old friend Will Gardner (Josh Charles) is subtle but very endearing.

My critiques are minor nuances. Sometimes you wonder where the children are in the later episodes. I assume we are to believe they are asleep as it is usually late when Alicia comes home. But after having them as such major characters in the first ten episodes, I find myself missing their presence. I am sure this will soon change. Also, and feel free to laugh, Alicia's hair become an obsession. Has Julianna Margulies thick hair been tamed into bone straightness? I have my doubts because her hairstyle on this show often looks like a wig. Yes very minor and silly observation...but I have become obsessed with solving the mystery!

Julianna Margulies has already won an Emmy for her portrayal and the show continues to get great reviews. American TV is notorious for getting rid of great shows because of viewing numbers. Fingers crossed this will not be the case with the Good Wife and 2nd season can be expected.

So start from episode one (should be on 4OD) and see if you too get caught up in the world of the Good Wife.

Where to find it: Channel 4 Thursdays 9pm

Preview: