Wordiezett So much average

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Nonureva Really Surprised!

Megamind To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

fourwinds4 I have to agree with many of the reviewers on IMDb here : the writing lets this production down. The storyline is just not credible and after watching the first episode and the synopsis for the second and third episodes, I am not watching further.If you look down the list of reviews, almost every single one has a "spoiler alert" - that should tell you something; namely that the plot line is so ridiculous everyone feels the need to mention it in their review. I don't usually reveal plot either, but there's no choice here.I see someone said that the full version was much better. Well it would have to be. But even a more full version cannot excuse the ridiculous plot line which as many have said here, is totally unbelievable.I was raised in the Uk but have lived in the US for 26 years. I find it completely implausible that Burton would have been able to get Foyle off such a high profile "heinous" crime with a technicality as ridiculous as credit card charges for pornography. Totally not believable.Then, the wife would have known about the case. Any Mother would have mentioned to her husband that there was a man waving at their son from the street below. And then, any woman who was in a cottage in the country who looks out the window whilst in her bath to see a strange man looking in at her would describe him (he was clearly visible) to her husband and the police and they would all deduce it was Foyle. Add to that the fact that Foyle has now complained to the Legal authorities about Burton's "Misconduct' after he actually got him off the charge.... um.. I don't think that a top Legal Barrister is stupid. So then the wife goes back at night to the cottage in the country ALONE with the son instead of waiting for her husband? And he lets her? Just a few days/weeks later? Nonsense!!!!!Then apparently, in episode 2 which I will not be watching, even though Burton sees Foyle standing outside after he finds his blood covered wife and says so, the other Barrister gets Foyle bail? Someone who has now been accused TWICE of brutal murder and torture? When the person testifying he saw him standing outside is a top legal Barrister? I'm sorry but what country is this? Simply would not happen.I watched this because I really appreciate David Tennant and from the synopsis I thought I was going to be watching a really good legal drama. How wrong I was. David's acting is as always excellent and wow! Toby Kebbell is one outstanding young actor. Without ever touching his victims on screen or any kind of weapon in his hands, he just portrayed the ultimate psycho creep to a T.So for me, it was disappointing and rather disturbing to have something portrayed in this way. I gave it 5 stars for the acting and overall production but the storyline, dreadful. To the reviewer who had not seen Tennant in anything else but Dr. Who and thus realized "oh he can really act". watch him in "Broadchurch" which unlike this, is a brilliant murder series set in the UK (Dorset) starring Tennant and - like this - a fabulous supporting cast.

SuzyCayenne I watched this show last night, and woke up feeling so annoyed about the utter contempt for the intelligence of viewers that I'm moved to write this review. As other reviews have noted, the acting and tension elements are good, which makes it all the more noticeable that the writing is so woefully deficient.Some genres don't depend on credible authenticity, but the legal thriller is not one of them. The Escape Artist asks the viewer to believe constantly in the implausible and impossible; it lacks even the semblance of internal consistency. I'm not talking about simply technical errors, but about constant gaffes on critical plot elements:1. That a murder charge in a case rife with "serial killer" implications would be completely set aside by procedural error, rather than result in a mistrial and new proceedings.2. That a high profile case would be assigned for prosecution to the same chambers where the victim's husband works?? Yes, barristers pride themselves on impartiality, but seriously, why would anyone take the chance of obvious conflict of interest (and the potential blowback on careers; there may be a press embargo during the case but I can't imagine this would be ignored by them forever). I'm a former defense attorney in the U.S., and granted we have a different system, but surely the Crown Prosecution Service pays more attention to such things than this would indicate?Even if we accept this highly unlikely allocation of the prosecution, we are then asked to believe that the firm is assigning their most incompetent junior to the case because "the others are too busy." Oh, right. Rather than reassign one of their other cases, they're going to go with this guy on the absolutely most serious and sensational crime they're ever likely to handle.3. That the young son, known to be present during the murder, would not be handled by someone experienced in child psychology, therapy etc, rather than just have his father barking at him, "Sure you didn't see anything?" Again, any legal system has errors and sloppiness, but we're asked to believe time and time again that it's happening in the most high profile kind of case? There are also less plot-driven errors: why is Tara out to get Will? If it's professional jealousy, the background has not been established. (Go watch Silk for a primer in how to do this the right way.) Is she worried about the firm's reputation? Why not tell them to be more careful?And Maggie knows she's had a home invasion, apparently on two occasions, but sees no need to involve the police? She's representing a guy with SOCIOPATH SERIAL KILLER written all over him in mile high letters, she knows he may well have killed the wife of his last attorney, and now it looks like he's broken into her house and she's basically so okay with this, she only makes a brief phone call to a colleague? Really? Even insignificant things were botched. What happens to the family dog? he's present at the cottage when Kate is killed, but unhurt (killer apparently unhampered by presence of dog, neighbors not alerted by any barking, etc.) and then he completely disappears. Let's see, the father thought it was a good idea to get rid of the last remaining continuity and comfort for the kid? Feeble, just feeble.I expect far better than this from Masterpiece. Don't waste such a good cast on such a train wreck of a script next time.

MartinHafer Often, before or after watching a film I will go to IMDb to read through the reviews to see what others think about a particular film. In the case of "The Escape Artist", I was rather surprised at the intensity of many of the reviews. To say that they hated the film is probably an understatement! One called it the 'by far worst show' ever to be aired on "Masterpiece Theater" here in the United States. Another said it had a 'dreadful story line'. Many complained that the show wasn't very believable, though some admitted that the acting and mood were good.I cannot say how credible the story is here. The complaints mostly had to do with court procedures and last time I checked, I wasn't a British barrister (for us non-Brits, it's a lawyer who tries cases in court). I think the other reviewers were probably correct--but I simply don't know for sure. Heck, I am not even sure about court procedures in the US let alone the UK! So, while the story does seem far-fetched at times, I just cannot say whether such a case could or could not occur.David Tennant stars as Will Burton--a very successful defense barrister. The film begins with him defending Liam Foyle in a grisly murder case. It seems pretty obvious that Foyle is a sociopath who did brutally murder someone...but Burton is able to work the system and get him acquitted. Shortly after this, inexplicably, the now free Foyle files a protest against Burton for misconduct! This makes no sense and soon it's obvious that Foyle is out to get Burton. Yes, I know--why would he attack the man who just got him out of prison?! Well, Foyle's next move is to attack Burton's wife and he butchers her--just like the earlier victim. In this case, Burton himself sees Foyle out the window-- gloating over his handywork. Now Burton gets to feel what it's like to be on the other side of the law and see another clever lawyer work hard to keep Foyle from serving time for his infamous crimes.What follows are a lot of court proceedings and more instances where seemingly good evidence is tossed out because Foyle's new barrister is clever...just like Burton had been. Again, I have no idea if it was reasonable or not...I just don't know. However, I have seen many cases here in the US where justice truly was blind...and stupid. I used to work in the mental health system and was called to court frequently and saw insane behavior by judges (such as one where a judge made a long speech blaming society for a rapist who had molested a four year-old). So, unless you are a barrister or judge, it's really not possible to determine if any of this is plausible--and I'd LOVE to hear from one if you have seen the show and could explain to all of us if the plot was believable. What I do assume was quite ridiculous is the scene where Foyle is screaming and behaving like a wildman at his second barrister's office. He's walking about on their conference table and is unhinged. I don't think it's far-fetched to assume if this really happened that the lawyers would have him arrested and would petition to be removed from the case. Harsh verbal abuse and threats wouldn't be tolerated. A few other scenes also seemed tough to believe--such as the ridiculous and poorly written confrontation scene between Foyle and Burton in the third and final installment.So what I am left with is to discuss the other merits of "The Escape Artist" apart from the bizarre plot twists and court procedures. The acting was superb and it was nice to see Tennant could do something other than play Dr. Who. He was excellent in his role as Burton. As for the rest, they, too were quite good. Additionally, the combination of direction, music and cinematography worked very, very well to create a creepy and brooding mood. It certainly is never dull nor unprofessional looking--which makes me wonder about all the really, really, really negative reviews. They just seemed a bit harsh, though I could understand their concerns about the difficulty in believing the plot. As for me, I see it as a film you can enjoy provided you just turn off that part of your brain that wants to question the plot. Just suspend your sense of disbelief and enjoy.Finally, although this was originally shown on "Masterpiece Theater" here in the States, it is out on DVD and is available widely (as well as through Netflix). Not especially brilliant but never dull and worth your time if you love thrillers.

peterriches-197-504828 This series is well acted and directed in the sense that the scenes work.However, the story is completely implausible and relies on ludicrous contrivances to try to force out the main theme - the conflict between justice and moral right.The British legal system has many faults and judges and lawyers can be manipulative,self seeking and make errors, but not to this degree.It seems that the Director and writer think the use of some excellent actors and plenty of gratuitous violence can cover up these flaws.Doubtless it will be successful as audiences can be easily taken in, eg by David Tennant's equally well acted but ridiculously plotted Broadchurch.