Tate Donovan

That's just the first half of this year of The O.C. , and we haven't even gotten to the adults yet. Both Sandy and Kirsten found themselves tempted away by more-than-willing suitors, and wicked Julie (Melinda Clarke), Marissa's mom, cheated on new husband Caleb (Alan Dale) with ex-husband Jimmy (Tate Donovan). An extremely tangled web was woven, one from which the show almost didn't recover: the Lindsay storyline started out strong but went nowhere, Sandy's ex-girlfriend (Kim Delaney) was a bit of a bore, and the same-sex relationship between Marissa and Alex never really gelled. All seemed like sure-fire character additions, but it was the later peripheral characters, including Billy Campbell as a magazine editor smitten with Kirsten and the menacing yet sexy Logan Marshall-Green as Ryan's ex-con brother, who injected The O.C. with energy, and helped steer the show back on course. Brody, who became the show's de facto poster boy, got to show off his comedic talents with the wonderful Bilson (who rode the Zach-Seth-Summer romantic triangle most smoothly), and the heretofore sullen McKenzie got to lighten up quite a bit, until the show's violent yet effective season finale.

Forsaking a good amount of its comedy for drama, The O.C. got a little too seriously soapy, but its characters were so compelling you couldn't stop watching--even waiflike Marissa grew some edges. Clarke's scheming Julie was a constant pleasure to watch, and Rowan turned Kirsten's late-season downturn into a steely yet heartfelt portrayal. Despite the bumps, The O.C. remained one of the most exciting shows to look forward to week after week, a soap with smarts thanks to its fresh dialogue, gifted cast, and careening plot arcs. --Mark Englehart
Great Second Season, 2009-09-01
After the tear jerking finale to season one, season two wastes no time at getting started with even more angst and trouble for the characters. This season the grown ups get more of the storylines with affairs, business worries, alchoholism, divorce, attemtped murder and death.

Not wanting to be out done, the kids get love triangles, a love child, drug dealing to name but a few.

This season also introduces the Bait Shop, a bar that holds band nights which allows the show to bring in up and coming bands to try to widen the audience.

The series finale is even better than the first.

Set in the 1950s and based on true events, Strathairn plays news reporter Edward R. Murrow, who finds himself increasingly uncomfortable with the tactics used by Junior Senator Joseph McCarthy (of whom Clooney chooses to use real archive footage rather than getting an actor to play his role). The film finds McCarthy in the midst of his infamous crusade against communism, and Strathairn and Clooney lead the CBS news team who choose to report the other side of the story. Naturally, this ruffles more than a few feathers, and the film follows the investigation as it goes about stirring up a proverbial hornet’s nest.

The reason it works so well is its beautiful simplicity. Clooney shoots his film in black and white, with no flashy effects, no distractions, just a wise and worthwhile focus on telling a very good story in a very good way. Drawing quality performances not just from Strathairn but also from a strong supporting cast (including Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr and Patricia Clarkson), this is compelling, important movie making that leaves you thirsting for whatever Clooney elects to direct next. And if you’re in the mood to check out another piece of highly-charged movie making, albeit with Clooney in front of the camera this time, then Syriana makes an ideal companion piece.--Simon Brew
History on the hoof, 2009-03-13
The background to the fall of Senator Joe Macarthy in the 50s - watch it to see how one man and his team made a difference to the Commie purge and the lives it destroyed. Like many US movies the mumbling sound track somewhat causes difficulties, but despite that, it's a great film.

Close plays Patty Hewes, an experienced and high profile litigator. She’s then joined by the eager, and considerably more wet-behind-the-ears Ellen Parsons (played by Rose Byrne), who fits into the role of her protégé. Damages then sees the pair fighting a bitter and prolonged case against Ted Danson’s high-profile and very rich businessman.

Where Damages differs from many in the genre is that its first season effectively covers one single case (albeit with many, many strands), much as Murder One did all those years ago. And this makes for an increasingly layered and intriguing drama, with a healthy number of twists to keep you on your toes.

The entire first season is presented in this Damages set, and very gripping it is too. Superbly acted by its cast of high and lower profile actors, it brings with it a real compulsion to find out what happened next. It’s where the DVD set comes in handy, as there’s no longer a week between episodes to get to the next part of the story!

Damages may not have been the highest profile export from the States of late, but it is one of the very best. And this set is an ideal opportunity to find out what all the fuss is about… --Jon Foster
DAMAGES - Season 1 (DVD), 2009-11-08
I've rated this at 5 stars, although I haven't watched it yet! I'm basing the rating on my opionion of the second series which I have seen, and it was excellent! I cannot imagine that the first series would be any less in quality! It will tie up a lot of loose ends for me, having watched the second series first! Excellent cast, and nail biting twists and turns! Glen Close is amazing, as are many other members of the cast!