Clive Owen, Cara Bossom and Denis Ménochet in Season One of ‘Monsieur Spade’

The AMC television network aired the six-episode first season of the series Monsieur Spade (2024- ) from January 14th to February 18th. Billed as a crime-based thriller, the drama set in the south of France, specifically Bozouls, brings conspiracy to the retired detective Sam Spade keen on living a quiet retirement far from his past spent in San Francisco, California, United States.

(From left, Cara Bossom as Teresa and Clive Owen as Sam Spade in the AMC television series Monsieur Spade).

The series establishes itself as both as a period piece (ostensibly 1963) coupled with a multiple-episode introduction to the people forming the circle and local color that will lead to the mystery that makes this a Sam Spade, film noir event. Beyond establishing Clive Owen as the center piece star of the series, introducing local vineyard owner and Spade‘s romantic love interest Gabrielle, as portrayed by Chiara Mastroianni, humanizes the former detective presented as intelligent, selectively engaging and what I take for introverted.

(From left, Denis Ménochet as Chief of Police Patrice Michaud and Frank Williams as Maurice Michaud in the television series Monsieur Spade from AMC).

The opening episode lays significant ground for the mystery by placing Spade at a local convent, making payments to the sisters in support of child resident Teresa. Teresa, portrayed by Ella Feraud as a young child and Cara Bossom as a teenager, plays a crucial role from that convent to circumstances for Spade, Philippe Saint Andre as portrayed by Jonathan Zaccaï, and drama that rises in relevance as the character of the community of Bozouls reveals itself. The shocking circumstances that end the opening episode of Monsieur Spade take at least three episodes to be placed against differing threads before explanations begin to reveal themselves.

(From left, Jonathan Zaccaï as Philippe Saint Andre and Chiara Mastroianni as Gabrielle in Monsieur Spade, the AMC television series).

Threads introduced to offer depth to the mystery of the season include the ongoing investigation of the police, including brothers Patrice Michaud and Maurice Michaud, as portrayed by Denis Ménochet and Frank Williams. There is the complicated relationship of Jean-Pierre Devereaux and Marguerite (Peggy) Devereaux, who deal in the Algerian War effort. Stanley Weber and Louise Bourgoin portrayed Jean-Pierre and Marguerite, respectively.

(From left, Louise Bourgoin as Marguerite (Peggy) Devereaux and Stanley Weber as Jean-Pierre Devereaux in the AMC series Monsieur Spade).

Cynthia Fitzsimmons and George Fitzsimmons, as portrayed by Rebecca Root and Matthew Beard, offer a sense of comic relief to ultimately serious roles as what outward appearances suggest are mother and son. The pair serve as neighbors sticking close to the Sam Spade residence in the current day, inserting themselves as nosy mischief-makers into the comings and goings on their neighbors’ property.

(From left, Rebecca Root as Cynthia Fitzsimmons and Matthew Beard as George Fitzsimmons in the television series Monsieur Spade).

The revelation and action of the final pair of episodes for the season gives legitimate meaning and substance to these threads, including those of Gazala/Nun Angélique as portrayed by Inès Melab, Henri Thibaut as portrayed by Oscar Lesage, Zayd as portrayed by Ismaël Berqouch and Samir as portrayed by Hazem Hammad. The acting throughout this series was strong, especially the opening episode and the concluding two episodes. Writing for the series rests with Tom Fontana and Scott Frank, based on characters written by Dashiell Hammett.

(From left, Hazem Hammad as Samir and Ismaël Berqouch as Zayd in Monsieur Spade, a television series by AMC).

This six-episode season works thematically, episodically and from a subject matter perspective as a cable and/or streaming television program. The resolution to certain characters, the setting as a period show, and the nudity across multiple episodes make this something that would not work on network television. The setting of background through the second, third and fourth episode, while important in the setting of character, might have worked better with two fewer characters along with at least one fewer episode for the season. Given the quality of the acting, though, I grant season one of Monsieur Spade 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Will Smith and Clive Owen in the Ang Lee film ‘Gemini Man’

The movie Gemini Man (2019) deserves better than the box office gate this film feels like it is going to receive. The reception from critics are doing nobody any favors when it comes to a movie that deserves better than the press is giving this film. Go see the movie Gemini Man.

(Benedict Wong as Baron, left, and Will Smith as Henry Brogan in the film Gemini Man).

The movie Gemini Man itself begins with a strong introduction to the action film that it is. Will Smith stars as Henry Brogan, an assassin at the top of his field seeking to retire. The initial mystery following Henry’s decision to retire is the larger question of why walking away into the sunset would not be a satisfactory outcome to whomever seems to have placed hit on his head.

(Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Danny Zakarweski in the film Gemini Man).

Danny Zakarewski, as played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, is tasked with surveiling Henry as Henry visits a friend by boat. Circumstances quickly change, bringing the lives of Danny, Henry and others into question. An alliance between Danny and Henry are formed, with a trip oversees that introduces us to Baron, as portrayed by Benedict Wong.

(Clive Owen as Clay Verris, left, and Will Smith as Junior in the film Gemini Man).

The film itself is cinematically stunning, which in parts introduces the audience to the characters of Junior as played by Will Smith and Clay Verris as played by Clive Owens. The larger drama partly deals in the backstories of Verris, Brogan, Baron and Junior while layering more intrigue than it is fair to divulge for those who haven’t seen the film.

(Gemini Man director Ang Lee).

Ang Lee directed this film, which has meant a more ponderous and intelligent take on the psychological complexities of the characters. Perhaps the Ang Lee film Ride with the Devil (1999) performs better in the complexity regard, though both have had the visually stunning yet lacking emotional depth critique leveled at them. My sense is that this film, for as hard as some find following the action in some of the fight scenes, is that it performs better than some are granting. I enjoyed the film, acknowledging that I would have liked something a bit more from the story of Junior to help bring some emotional heft to the movie experience. My grade for Gemini Man is 3.5-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Saturday, October 26, 2019