10/22
Referenced in Soberano Awards (2024)
CIA agent Joe tries to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the spear in the agency’s war on terror. Real-life military advisors helped craft a more authentic execution of weapons handling, house-clearing, deployment, squad-based activity, etc. Mr. Sheridan knows how to take us into macho, testosterone-fueled worlds without cliché and seemingly without agenda. It is what it is.
No apologies needed
His characters are always down to earth and he is extremely skilled at casting. But to be great, you have to write great roles for women. The writing has to be as good, if not better, than for men. The guys are simple. The women are smarter, more complex.
They are strong and compelling
Beth in Yellowstone (great character and performance), the barrel riders, the only female ranch hand (the fantastic Jen Landon as Teeter), all great female characters who fit into the world of the story in a natural and effortless way. Not just “the partner of…” or T&A. He stepped up his game with the excellent Faith Hill character crushed in “1883”, followed by Dame Mirren in the flop that was “1923”. Now we have Zoe Saldana, doing some of the best work of her career. I totally buy her as the CIA chief in an open marriage (nice touch).
What a turnaround!
I buy De Oliveira as a broken woman with a burning anger who won’t give up and thank you, thank you, thank you writers/directors/producers for NOT letting her get the better of a fellow soldier with a hundred more pounds of muscle. Truthfulness first! I think her character is much more interesting if she’s someone who has to be knocked out or just subdued on the ground before she gives up. Now let’s talk about Jill Wagner or should I say her hair? From corny Hallmark trash to super-tough special forces?
I buy it
Special mention: Mrs. Lanier as the evil teenage daughter. I look forward to the arc established for this loose canon, as long as they continue to move away from the teen angst cliché. Good actor, could get interesting…
https://mattis-schaeffer.com/2024/12/06/voice-love-on-2024-air-torrent-link/