The Age of Commercialism

So much average

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

I will abstain from rating this 3 part movie because after watching part one I was so annoyed by the fatal plot flaw that I lost interest in watching the rest. The acting was good, the premise intriguing, but, from the beginning, the story revolves around the unlikely assumption that Marcey, the caterer, would put herself at risk by assisting a possible murderer, lying to the police and essentially becoming an accomplice. As the plot unfolds she gets in deeper and deeper ... why??? Why would any reasonable person do that? Sorry, I just couldn't buy it.

The answer to the question "Can murder be funny?" is yes. Not in reality mind you but in film and novel form it's been used as a humorous element and will most likely be used as such again in the future. This week Acorn is releasing the 2003 British limited series ALIBI. And the answer to that question is very apparent.Greg (Michael Kitchen) has decided to throw a surprise anniversary party for his wife Linda (Phyllis Logan). It's an expense he can't truly afford but his affection for his wife is such that he thinks she deserves it. The event is catered and one of the catering staff is Marcey (Sophie Okonedo). Pleased to see a happy couple her happiness is short lived when she notices one of the guests, Greg's partner Martin (Tom Knight) make an affectionate gesture towards Linda who responds in kind.When all is said and done the catering staff heads home when Marcey realizes she left her purse. She heads back on her own only to find Greg dragging the dead body of Martin across the floor. At first threatening to call the police he tells her it was an accident. They were arguing, he punched him and when he fell he hit his head.Something about Greg strikes a chord with Marcey and she believes him. She helps him by telling him how to get rid of the body and goes about cleaning the room where it happened. Greg somewhat botches his end when the car catches fire drawing attention to it soon after.As Marcey returns to her daytime job at the local public assistance office, Greg panics and calls her. She meets him and tries to calm him down but all he can do is think something terrible is going to happen to him. To help him along Marcey agrees to work in his office just until things are settled.As the police investigate we wonder if Linda was indeed having an affair with Martin or not. And did Greg accidentally kill him or was it planned out in advance? And what other things were going on behind the scenes that none of the three main characters were aware of? It all unfolds in this 3 part story that switches from thriller to murder mystery to comedy in equal parts along the way.One of the nice things about the invention of DVD is that movies and shows from other countries are readily available and at prices that aren't outrageous. It gives viewers an opportunity to experience a vast number of movies, programs and series that we otherwise would have no access to. This is an excellent example of what I am talking about.The acting here is wonderful with a standout performance from Kitchen as Greg, fluctuating from rapid paced anxiety to full on anger to flustered cuckold. Okonedo does an excellent job as well as the calm woman who agrees to help someone who is could likely a murderer avoid detection and incarceration. And Logan as the beleaguered wife who may or may not be having an affair does a tremendous job as well.The odds of finding this in a rental kiosk or store are highly unlikely but for fans of British television, mysteries with a tinge of humor and something different than the standard DVD fare will want to seek this one out. While at first I wondered what would happen next by the third episode I found myself laughing aloud at the antics on screen. For entertainment value this is one worth seeking out.

ALIBI: 2003 This is a rather good television thriller from the UK. Michael Kitchen and Sophie Okeondo headline this clever and tense television outing.Miss Okeondo is a just divorced civil servant who has a job working for a catering firm of the side. One evening, she is working a birthday party at a country home owned by Michael Kitchen and Phyllis Logan. Okeondo notices that the wife, Logan, is "friendly" with one of the party guests. The man, Tom Knight, is the business partner of husband Kitchen.The party ends and the catering bunch pack up their gear and head back to town. Several miles up road Okeondo notices that she has left her handbag at the house. She is dropped off and heads back to the Kitchen's house.She arrives to a darkened house. She knocks on the door with no response. The door is unlocked, so she enters. She heads up the stairs to grab her purse and stumbles onto Kitchen. Kitchen is moving the body of his partner, Knight. Okeondo lets out a scream. Kitchen drops the body and moves towards Okelondo.The woman hotfoots it up the stairs and locks herself in the washroom. Kitchen knocks on the door and says it is not what it looks like. Kitchen explains that it was an accident and that Knight had fell and hit his head. Kitchen, who had had more than a few drinks at the party, explains. Kitchen and the wife, Logan had, had a row over the cost of the party etc. She had then stormed off and driven to her sister's home. Kitchen and Knight had then had a dispute of their own over the company business. Knight had slipped and banged his noggin.For some reason, Miss Okeondo believes the man. She exits the washroom and the two talk. She asks why Kitchen never called the Police or the medical types. Kitchen says he was just about to when she appeared. Okeondo suggests that they thrash out an alibi for Kitchen. They soon realize that several hours have elapsed since the incident. How are going to explain this time lapse to the Police.They decide to load up Knight in his sports car, then, dump it off the road several miles up the lane. While Okeondo cleans up the mess, Kitchen moves the body and car. When he pushes the car off the hillside, it rolls down, hits a tree and bursts into flames.Now a whole series of events have the pair hopping back and forth with their stories etc. The burning car of course draws Police attention. Okeondo has the bad luck to take the taxi back to town that spots the burnt out car. The driver reports this to the Police.Now Okeondo discovers that Logan and Knight had been stepping out on Kitchen. Okeondo now thinks that maybe Kitchen had indeed done a murder. That is till she talks with him again. It is obvious to her that Kitchen never knew about Logan and Knight's extracurricular activities. Now Kitchen has to decide whether to let the wife know, that he knows about the affair. Logan of course is nearly off the deep end. She and Knight had planned on taking off for a new life.The Police are nosing around trying to figure out why Knight's car went off the road. Kitchen says the man was drinking while Logan tells the Police Knight never had a drop.Okeondo, now that she is involved, is spending her time helping Kitchen stay calm. She even helps out about Kitchen and his now dead partner's, business. She goes through the company books and finds that Knight had been lifting funds from the company. Knight had been using false invoices etc to bilk the firm out of 120 grand in cash. The cash was hidden in a bank account in Knight and Logan's name.Needless to say this leads to a showdown between Kitchen and the wife. Logan denies having anything to do with the cash scam. She does admit to the affair. She now accuses Kitchen of murdering her paramour. Again Okeondo has to step in to keep everyone out of jail.This one has plenty of twists and turns and more than a few red herrings. The writing is superb and the film has a nice look to it. The entire cast is in top form with Kitchen and Okeonde both delivering the goods.The more I see of Sophie Okeondo, the more impressed I am with her work. The one time Oscar nominated actress is equally adept at playing a plain Jane type, or a drop dead gorgeous sexpot. Check out her roles in SWEET REVENGE, HOTEL RWANDA and DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. Kitchen is best known for the long running BBC series, FOYLE'S WAR.The writer, Paul Abbott, worked on such UK series as, TOUCHING EVIL, CRACKER, SHAMELESS and STATE OF PLAY. The man can weave a tale! There are two different versions, the full length 180 minute one, and the shortened DVD release for the US. I recommend the full version.

"Alibi" tells of a British businessman who unwittingly kills his wife's lover, is serendipitously befriended by a young woman who provides his alibi, and becomes becomes embroiled in the cover-up, police investigation, discoveries of more sinister malfeasance, domestic issues, and more. Shot in the usual made-for-TV Brit no frills style with nonstop dialogue, this very civilized flick is sufficiently busy and twisty to hold interest for most of the 2.5 hour run. On the upside is a solid cast offering good performances. On the downside is mediocre production value and no subtitles or CC. Probably a worthwhile small screener for those into contemporary Brit dramas. (B-)