Review - Roots

This History channel mini-series has shot to the top of my list of favourite 2016 TV shows so far, so a blog entry is inevitable.

It was rather unexpected, to be honest. I read Alex Haley's epic novel as a teen ( and did a massive book review for my school holiday assignment, which my English teacher never marked hmph! ) and am familiar with the story. But I wondered if the small screen adaptation would succeed in conveying the key elements of this saga and managing its large number of characters.

3 episodes in, I'm emotionally exhausted and in complete awe. Every episode averages 90 minutes but feels a lot longer - not because it drags or bores, but because of the mind-boggling amount of material packed into each installment. It just doesn't seem possible for so much to happen within such a short duration. ( If only more films could follow this format! )

Since the story spans multiple generations, the writers devote one episode to each protagonist, allowing ample time for key storylines to play out before moving on. And lest you think they start to become repetitive and dull after a while, the complete opposite happens. Slave owners and drivers come in different shapes and sizes, with individual quirks and torture method preferences. Some may be less cruel than others, but pay attention and you'll notice fleeting moments that illustrate the deep-seated hatred simmering beneath even the most benign-looking faces ( clue: Matthew Goode's Dr. William Waller ).

But this production obviously belongs to the African-American cast. I know a few of the actors ( Oscar winner Forest Whitaker being the most prominent ) but the ones I don't are the most impressive. Malachi Kirby ( Kunta Kinte ) and Rege-Jean Page ( Chicken George ) stand out from the pack, infusing their roles with intense, heartbreaking performances which reduced me to tears. Anika Noni Rose also shines as strong-willed Kizzy.

Special mention goes to Jonathan Rhys Meyers ( Tom Lea ), whose career I've followed since 2002's Bend It Like Beckham. Accomplished but underrated, he scorches the screen as a complicated villain, and practically steals everyone else's thunder. If he isn't nominated for an Emmy this year, I'm going to be extremely upset.

I'm finishing up the final episode this weekend, but am likely to rate it at least a 9/10 on IMDB.

Slavery is a horrific part of American history, and even today, racial tensions still permeate the country. The revival of Roots is a timely one, occurring while the United States is being governed by its first black President, and police brutality against African-Americans keeps making headlines. It's hard to imagine how one human being is capable of unspeakable cruelty towards another, but even harder to understand why it still happens today.

Roots expertly illustrates cruelty in its many forms, including a harrowing flogging scene which is not recommended for those with weak constitutions. However, it also shows that the greatest pain isn't inflicted through physical or verbal abuse. Instead, it's through a broken promise - a softly spoken betrayal, moments after giving a man hope of attaining freedom.

This series needs to be seen and its message conveyed. Like the Holocaust, slavery must never be forgotten, and those of us who're blessed with the opportunity to live as free people should cherish this privilege.

( Now awaiting season 2 of Netflix's Narcos, rumoured to be premiering in August! This was my favourite TV series in 2015. One of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. )

Hello, 2013!

The new year is upon us! :)

As awards season descends, I've been loading up on the major nominees, among which Zero Dark Thirty sits prominently.

Famously referred to as The Hunt For Osama Bin Laden, the film is one slow cooker, clocking in at 2-plus hours, with numerous scenes of lengthy interrogations and CIA agents huddled in discussion in dim conference rooms.

I found it profoundly difficult to follow at times, no thanks to muffled dialogue and fleeting character development where the terrorists are concerned. The 10-year timeline adds to the rush - how many pages of script can you afford when there's so much material to cover?

Compared to director Kathryn Bigelow's previous offering, The Hurt Locker, ZDT is far less entertaining but also much more important. Ask yourself where you were when you first heard about the 9/11 attacks and I guarantee you will recall every detail without hesitation. A tragedy of such horrific proportions permeates our consciousness whether we allow it to or not. Rest assured that emotions will run high at some point, and that the final 30 minutes are extremely satisfying.

Buoyed by a top-notch cast - Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong - the film features memorable performances, though IMHO, Chastain's best work to date is the sorely overlooked The Debt.

Keep an eye out for a standout scene with Strong bellowing at his colleagues and banging a table. Edgerton, on the other hand, shines every time he's on screen.

Disputes about accuracy aside, ZDT highlights the dedication of America's covert agents and the epic task they undertook to secure justice for the innocent thousands who perished that fateful day.

A top awards contender, this also focuses on a subject which is dear to my heart. Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as America's greatest president, and Steven Spielberg's biopic chooses a key period in his life - i.e. the passing of the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery in the United States.

Like ZDT ( and many recent movies ranging from Skyfall to The Hobbit ), Lincoln lasts a bladder-bursting 2 hours and 40 minutes, with numerous scenes of subdued conversation. The complexity of Washington politics is lost on me, but again, the illustrious cast makes the journey highly enjoyable.

Daniel Day-Lewis embraces his role wholeheartedly, earning well-deserved accolades from critics and film industry colleagues. However, his tour de force performance thus far was in There Will Be Blood. Lincoln is, without a doubt, a great character, but Daniel Plainview generated much more from the audience - a potent mixture of disgust, pity and admiration.

All bets are on Day-Lewis to win his third Oscar. Do you agree?

Next, a few highly anticipated TV shows which will premiere soon.

The Following airs in the US next Monday.

Hannibal will debut in March.

And the incredibly hot Jonathan Rhys Meyers will play Dracula in a revamped version of Stoker's timeless tale. Do not fret - the story may deviate from the original, but the setting remains in the correct era.

Other exciting events in the near future:

1) Adam Lambert's concert on 8 March
2) Venus In Fur, staged by the Singapore Repertory Theatre
3) Kumar's annual standup gig at the Esplanade
4) Dirty Dancing at the Marina Bay Sands
5) Rabbit Hole, Next To Normal and Gruesome Playground Injuries by Pangdemonium!

Details can be found at Just Watch Lah.

If you previously weren't a big fan of local theatre, 2013 is the year to change that!

Till next time... :)