1990
The Civil War (Ken Burns - USA)
Nominees: An Angel at My TableFrom google search (author unknown)... "This highly acclaimed (PBS) mini-series traces the course of the U.S. Civil War from the abolitionist movement through all the major battles to the death of President Lincoln and the beginnings of Reconstruction. The story is mostly told in the words of the participants themselves, through their diaries and letters. Visuals are usually still photographs and illustrations of the time, and the soundtrack is likewise made up of war-era tunes played on period instruments. Several modern-day historians offer periodic comment and insight on the war's causes and events."
1991
G.B.H (Robert Young - UK)
Nominees: The Best Intentions, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Josephine Baker Story, Separate but Equal
From overview at Barnes and Noble... "A timeless British satire about power, corruption, and madness set during the turbulent Thatcher years, G.B.H. earned nine BAFTA awards nominations in 1991, and features wonderful lead performances by Robert Lindsay and Michael Palin. The 7-episode miniseries follows an epic power struggle between an unassuming schoolteacher (Palin) and a corrupt, ambitious politician (Lindsay). It begins innocently enough: a politician calls a strike, the headmaster of a local school inadvertently sabotages it, and the men are soon caught in a power struggle. In his BAFTA-winning role, Lindsay is brilliant as the corrupt, egomaniacal Labour party leader Michael Murray. Palin is similarly superb as the principled, mild-mannered Jim Nelson. They are unlikely but inexorable foes, and as their conflict escalates, so do the risks."
Notable Actors: Robert Lindsay, Michael Palin, G.B.H. * Lynn Whitfield, Josephine Baker Story * Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Sarah Plain and Tall * Sidney Poitier, Separate but Equal * Samuel Fröler & Pernilla August, The Best Intentions
1992
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MGM: When the Lion Roars (Frank Martin - USA)
Nominee: Memento Mori, The Jacksons: An American Dream
Notable Actors: Maggie Smith, Michael Hordern, Renée Asherson, Stephanie Cole, Thora Hird, Maurice Denham, John Wood, Zoë Wanamaker, Memento Mori * Angela Bassett & Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, The Jacksons
The second installment in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown trilogy (between 1991's The Commitments and The Van from 1996) is an Irish television film about a young woman who becomes pregnant but refuses to tell anyone who the father is. She decides to keep the baby ("snapper") and her family, each in their own way, eventually decides to support her. From Rotten Tomatoes... "Warm, funny, and populated by easily relatable characters, The Snapper is a compulsively watchable slice-of-life dramedy with much to recommend."
Notable Actors: Tina Kellegher, Colm Meaney, Fionnuala Murphy, Ruth McCabe, Brendan Gleeson, Pat Laffan, the Snapper * Matthew Modine, Alan Alda, Richard Gere, Glenne Headly, Ian McKellen, And the Band Played On
Great cast, strong story. From wiki... Heartland (aka Burned Bridge) deals with the mystery surrounding the death of an Aboriginal girl and the doubts concerning the guilt of her boyfriend, who is arrested for her murder. It is also a love story between two of the people convinced of his innocence — their growing relationship must survive hostility from both the white and black communities and the obstacles of their different backgrounds, attitudes, and cultures.
Notable Actors: Cate Blanchett and Ernie Dingo, Heartland
Two of my all-time favorite things in the world. The Beatles and Austen's Pride and Prejudice - both of these miniseries were phenomenal - couldn't ask for more, and I refuse to pick just one as the best of the year.
Notable Actors: Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice * Ben Kingsley, Joseph and Moses * Sidney Poitier, Regina Taylor, Children of the Dust * Eleonore Weisgerber, Nadeshda Brennicke, Drifters
From wiki... "Our Friends in the North is a British television drama serial produced by the BBC. It was originally broadcast in nine episodes on BBC Two in early 1996. Written by Peter Flannery, it tells the story of four friends from the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England over a period of 31 years, from 1964 to 1995. The story makes reference to certain political and social events that occurred during the era portrayed, some specific to Newcastle and others which affected Britain as a whole."
Notable Actors: Gina McKee, Daniel Craig, Mark Strong, and Christopher Eccleston, Our Friends in the North * Toby Stephens & Tara Fitzgerald, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
I don't know how accurate it is, but what a compelling look at the making of Citizen Kane, and the forces marshaled against it. Shows both sides of the story, and the good and bad in its characters (acting was aces). Course, in the end. Orson won out; Kane is an enduring masterpiece.
Notable Actors: Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, John Malkovich, Melanie Griffith, Roy Scheider, RKO 281 * Lindsay Duncan, Liam Cunningham, Shooting the Past * Don Cheadle, Mehki Phifer, Cicely Tyson, Irma P. Hall, A Lesson Before Dying * Sidney Poitier, The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
Remastered and re-released on Netflix in 2021, the press release describes it as "A conflicting urban narrative that meticulously detailed the harsh context of those who live in taken houses. Okupas (translated to "Squatters"), tells the story of Ricardo (Rodrigo De La Serna), a middle-class boy and three casual friends, El Pollo (Diego Alonso Gómez), Walter (Ariel Staltari) and El Chiqui (Franco Tirri), who have as their common point an old house that has come to an end. There they will take refuge and live the most varied adventures, from their problems with drugs to loyalty and love for friends."
Notable Actors: Jeremy Irons, Michael Gambon, Longitude * Rodrigo De La Serna and the cast of Okupas * T.K. Carter, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, etc, The Corner
Notable Actors: TBA
Politics and the press collide in this tense 6-hour thriller from writer Paul Abbott. I like how each corner of this world is built, how the pieces of the plot and characters come together. It has the perfect blend of suspense, humor, and drama. And the acting is to die for. In short, it's a superbly crafted production.
Notable Actors: David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly Macdonald, James McAvoy, Polly Walker
From wiki... "a documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Geoffrey C. Ward (2004). In Burns' signature style the 220-minute film serves as a biography of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, as well as a documentary of racism and social inequality during the Jim Crow era against which Jack Johnson lived in defiant opposition. The documentary was first broadcast on PBS in two parts on January 17 and January 18, 2005. The film is narrated by Keith David and features Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of Jack Johnson."
Agatha Christie's famous mystery broadcast in 3-parts. Summary: It's 1939 and Europe teeters on the brink of war. Ten strangers are invited to Soldier Island an isolated rock near the Devon coast in southern England. Cut off from the mainland, with their generous hosts Mr. and Mrs. U.N. Owen mysteriously absent, they are each accused of a terrible crime. As members of the party start to die one by one, the survivors realize that one of them is a killer and start to turn on each other.
Notable Actors: Maeve Dermody, Miranda Richardson, Burn Gorman, Charles Dance, etc, And Then There Were None * David Thewlis, An Inspector Calls
From Rotton Tomatoes: O.J.: Made in America paints a balanced and thorough portrait of the American dream juxtaposed with tragedy and executed with power and skill - A look at the rise and fall of sports icon-turned-accused murderer O.J. Simpson. This riveting documentary examines Simpson's 1995 trial for the killings of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman through the lens of the history of race relations in Los Angeles. This ESNP 30 for 30 doc was also shown in theaters and won the Oscar in its respective category.
Notable Actors: James Franco, Sarah Gadon, Chris Cooper, 11.22.63 * Sarah Paulson, The People v. O. J. Simpson * Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston Elizabeth Debicki, The Night Manager
General synopsis... "A ruthless outlaw terrorizes the West in search of a former member of his gang, who’s found a new life in a quiet town populated only by women." The ads to the contrary, it's not a town of 'only' women, but they are a compelling part of a majority. Superb character piece, with great villainy, camaraderie and western showdowns.
Notable Actors: Sarah Gadon, Alias Grace * Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery and more, Godless
Letterboxd summary... "Two strangers are drawn to a mysterious pharmaceutical trial that will, they’re assured, with no complications or side-effects whatsoever, solve all of their problems, permanently. Things do not go as planned." I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, its themes, and the performances. Emma Stone was fantastic and while I'm not really a Jonah Hill fan, he's marvelous as well.
Best Lead Performances: Emma Stone & Jonah Hill, Maniac
1993
The Snapper (Stephen Frears - Ireland, UK)
Nominees: And the Band Played On, Queen, Barbarians at the Gate
The second installment in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown trilogy (between 1991's The Commitments and The Van from 1996) is an Irish television film about a young woman who becomes pregnant but refuses to tell anyone who the father is. She decides to keep the baby ("snapper") and her family, each in their own way, eventually decides to support her. From Rotten Tomatoes... "Warm, funny, and populated by easily relatable characters, The Snapper is a compulsively watchable slice-of-life dramedy with much to recommend."
Notable Actors: Tina Kellegher, Colm Meaney, Fionnuala Murphy, Ruth McCabe, Brendan Gleeson, Pat Laffan, the Snapper * Matthew Modine, Alan Alda, Richard Gere, Glenne Headly, Ian McKellen, And the Band Played On
1994
Heartland (Julian Pringle, Paul Faint, Scott Hartford-Davis, Kate Woods -
Australia)
Nominees: The StandGreat cast, strong story. From wiki... Heartland (aka Burned Bridge) deals with the mystery surrounding the death of an Aboriginal girl and the doubts concerning the guilt of her boyfriend, who is arrested for her murder. It is also a love story between two of the people convinced of his innocence — their growing relationship must survive hostility from both the white and black communities and the obstacles of their different backgrounds, attitudes, and cultures.
Notable Actors: Cate Blanchett and Ernie Dingo, Heartland
1995
(Tie) Pride and Prejudice (Simon Langton - UK)
The Beatles Anthology (Geoff Wonfor & Bob Smeaton - UK)
Nominees: Joseph, Moses, Children of the Dust, Drifters, Cinema Europe: The Other HollywoodThe Beatles Anthology (Geoff Wonfor & Bob Smeaton - UK)
Two of my all-time favorite things in the world. The Beatles and Austen's Pride and Prejudice - both of these miniseries were phenomenal - couldn't ask for more, and I refuse to pick just one as the best of the year.
Notable Actors: Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice * Ben Kingsley, Joseph and Moses * Sidney Poitier, Regina Taylor, Children of the Dust * Eleonore Weisgerber, Nadeshda Brennicke, Drifters
1996
Our Friends in the North (Simon Cellan Jones, Pedr James, Stuart Urban -
UK)
Nominees: Cuba Libre, The Tenant of Wildfell HallFrom wiki... "Our Friends in the North is a British television drama serial produced by the BBC. It was originally broadcast in nine episodes on BBC Two in early 1996. Written by Peter Flannery, it tells the story of four friends from the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England over a period of 31 years, from 1964 to 1995. The story makes reference to certain political and social events that occurred during the era portrayed, some specific to Newcastle and others which affected Britain as a whole."
Notable Actors: Gina McKee, Daniel Craig, Mark Strong, and Christopher Eccleston, Our Friends in the North * Toby Stephens & Tara Fitzgerald, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
1997
The Ice House (Tim Fywell - UK)
Nominees: Mandela & de Klerk, TBA - Need to see A Dance to the Music of Time, etc
Though the denouement to this BBC miniseries fell a bit flat, the meat of its tangled mystery was a grabber, boosted by solid acting all around.
Notable Actors: Daniel Craig & Kitty Aldridge, The Ice House * Sidney Poitier & Michael Cain, Mandela & de Klerk
Though the denouement to this BBC miniseries fell a bit flat, the meat of its tangled mystery was a grabber, boosted by solid acting all around.
Notable Actors: Daniel Craig & Kitty Aldridge, The Ice House * Sidney Poitier & Michael Cain, Mandela & de Klerk
1998
From the Earth to the Moon (10 directors - USA)
Nominees: Gia, The Sex Thief
From wiki... "a 12-part 1998 HBO television miniseries co-produced by Ron
Howard, Brian Grazer, Tom Hanks, and Michael Bostick, telling the story of the
Apollo program during the 1960s and early 1970s in docudrama format."
Notable Actors: Angelina Jolie, Gia
1999
RKO 281 (Benjamin Ross - USA, UK)
Nominees: A Lesson Before Dying, Shooting the Past - Need to see Introducing
Dorothy Dandridge, etc
I don't know how accurate it is, but what a compelling look at the making of Citizen Kane, and the forces marshaled against it. Shows both sides of the story, and the good and bad in its characters (acting was aces). Course, in the end. Orson won out; Kane is an enduring masterpiece.
Notable Actors: Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, John Malkovich, Melanie Griffith, Roy Scheider, RKO 281 * Lindsay Duncan, Liam Cunningham, Shooting the Past * Don Cheadle, Mehki Phifer, Cicely Tyson, Irma P. Hall, A Lesson Before Dying * Sidney Poitier, The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
2000
Okupas (Bruno Stagnaro - Argentina)
Nominees: The Corner, Longitude, Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces - Need to see Gormenghast, Gulag
Remastered and re-released on Netflix in 2021, the press release describes it as "A conflicting urban narrative that meticulously detailed the harsh context of those who live in taken houses. Okupas (translated to "Squatters"), tells the story of Ricardo (Rodrigo De La Serna), a middle-class boy and three casual friends, El Pollo (Diego Alonso Gómez), Walter (Ariel Staltari) and El Chiqui (Franco Tirri), who have as their common point an old house that has come to an end. There they will take refuge and live the most varied adventures, from their problems with drugs to loyalty and love for friends."
Notable Actors: Jeremy Irons, Michael Gambon, Longitude * Rodrigo De La Serna and the cast of Okupas * T.K. Carter, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, etc, The Corner
2001
In a Land of Plenty (Hettie MacDonald, David Moore - UK)
Nominees: Band of Brothers, Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Something to Remind Me
From wiki... "a sprawling family saga that takes place from the 1950s to the 1990s England. Through the lives, deaths, tragedies and loves of the Freeman family, the series charts how Britain was shaped after World War II." This is one of the all-time greats. It has a dreamy, melancholic quality to it. Photography and the moments captured on film is a primary motif. Quality production; an often painfully honest look at the family dynamic.
Notable Actors: Robert Pugh, Helen McCrory, Shaun Dingwall, In A Land of Plenty * Judy Davis, Tammy Blanchard, Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows * Nina Hoss, Something to Remind Me * Sidney Poitier, The Last Bricklayer in America
From wiki... "a sprawling family saga that takes place from the 1950s to the 1990s England. Through the lives, deaths, tragedies and loves of the Freeman family, the series charts how Britain was shaped after World War II." This is one of the all-time greats. It has a dreamy, melancholic quality to it. Photography and the moments captured on film is a primary motif. Quality production; an often painfully honest look at the family dynamic.
Notable Actors: Robert Pugh, Helen McCrory, Shaun Dingwall, In A Land of Plenty * Judy Davis, Tammy Blanchard, Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows * Nina Hoss, Something to Remind Me * Sidney Poitier, The Last Bricklayer in America
2002
The Century of The Self (Adam Curtis - UK)
Need to see: Taken
I found the first 2 episodes more interesting than the final 2. Summary from Letterboxd... "The legacy of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud informs the lives of people throughout the world even to this day, though it’s a phenomenon to which most are unaware. The film is an exhaustive examination of his theories on human desire, and how they’re applied to platforms such as advertising, consumerism, and politics."
I found the first 2 episodes more interesting than the final 2. Summary from Letterboxd... "The legacy of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud informs the lives of people throughout the world even to this day, though it’s a phenomenon to which most are unaware. The film is an exhaustive examination of his theories on human desire, and how they’re applied to platforms such as advertising, consumerism, and politics."
Notable Actors: TBA
2003
State of Play (David Yates - UK)
Nominees: The Idiot, The Lost Prince - Need to see, The Other Boleyn Girl
Politics and the press collide in this tense 6-hour thriller from writer Paul Abbott. I like how each corner of this world is built, how the pieces of the plot and characters come together. It has the perfect blend of suspense, humor, and drama. And the acting is to die for. In short, it's a superbly crafted production.
Notable Actors: David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly Macdonald, James McAvoy, Polly Walker
2004
North & South (Brian Percival - UK)
Nominees: Paranoia Agent - need to see The Power of Nightmares
Originally broadcast in four episodes on BBC One in November and December 2004. It follows the story of Margaret Hale, a young woman from southern England who has to move to the North after her father decides to leave the clergy. The family struggles to adjust itself to the industrial town's customs, especially after meeting the Thorntons, a proud family of cotton mill owners who at first seem to despise their social inferiors. The story explores the issues of class and gender, as Margaret's sympathy for the town mill workers clashes with her growing attraction to John Thornton. (Wiki)
The serial is based on a Victorian novel published in 1855 by Elizabeth Gaskell and takes place in the years surrounding the Great Exhibition of 1851. This is the 3rd televised adaptation, the first aired in 1969, the second, starring Partick Stewart, in 1975.
Notable Actors: Daniela Denby-Ashe, Richard Armitage, Lesley Manville, Tim Pigott-Smith, Brendan Coyle, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sinéad Cusack, North & South
2005
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (Ken Burns -
USA)
Nominees: Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, Elizabeth I, Ghosts, Bleak HouseFrom wiki... "a documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Geoffrey C. Ward (2004). In Burns' signature style the 220-minute film serves as a biography of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, as well as a documentary of racism and social inequality during the Jim Crow era against which Jack Johnson lived in defiant opposition. The documentary was first broadcast on PBS in two parts on January 17 and January 18, 2005. The film is narrated by Keith David and features Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of Jack Johnson."
Notable Actors: Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, and Toby Jones, Elizabeth I * Charles Dance, Gillian Anderson, Anna Maxwell Martin, Denis Lawson, Carey Mulligan, Bleak House
While it skims through the early part of the novel, this 4-part BBC series is a top-drawer adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 classic. It, as Wikipedia noted, garnered critical acclaim and a number of nominations from various award bodies, which included wins for the costumes, hair and make-up and art direction. Mike Eley's cinematography impresses as does the acting.
Notable Actors: Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens, Jane Eyre * Robert Duvall, Thomas Haden Church, Greta Scacchi, Gwendoline Yeo, Broken Trail
From Letterboxd... "In the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip; and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town." - This is the second adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell to win this award (see North & South, 2004) and was drawn from three novellas published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr. Harrison's Confessions. "The Last Generation in England" was also used as a source.
Notable Actors: Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Lisa Dillon, Imelda Staunton, Claudie Blakley, Jim Carter, Simon Woods, Philip Glenister, Alex Etel
Tons O' wonderfulness this season. From a fun riff on comic book movies to some Austen and Dickens, which takes the prize. While Dorrit suffers from repetition (Arthur Clennam's confrontations with his mother.... that go nowhere through most of the story and just feel like padding), for the most part, it captivates, with a stirring story and a prime cast that includes supporting turns from Andy Serkis and Eddie Marsan.
Notable Actors: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Little Dorrit * Truly, just about everyone from everything nominated.
Another top drawer BBC adaptation of an Austen classic. After Pride & Prejudice, Emma is my favorite novel from the author, and while it takes some liberties, I'm no purist, and enjoyed what I got here.
Notable Actors: Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, Jonny Lee Miller
From wiki... an eight-part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name. It debuted in the U.S. on Starz and in Canada on The Movie Network/Movie Central on July 23, 2010. Its UK premiere was on Channel 4 in October 2010 at 9pm. Like the novel on which it is based, the miniseries centers on the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during a tumultuous period of English history known as The Anarchy in the 12th century.
Notable Actors: Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell
Cousins can come off the insufferable snob, what with that asinine "bauble" twaddle and the excessive praise, whether deserved or not, for films he champions. Aside from that, I gotta give him props for putting the spotlight on long-forgotten or underappreciated pictures. There's much here that's worth gushing over (like Piccadilly and Cairo Station). And he only forgets a few gems on this journey through the history of cinema. Heck, just think about all the movies you'll be adding to your watchlists.
Reynolds isn't an A-list director, but armed with an interesting story, strong themes (about how easy it is to lose our humanity) and top drawer acting... and he manages to spin a ripping good yarn with this miniseries. I still have others I need to track down, but I really enjoyed this one, so I'm making the call now.
Notable Actors: Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton
From wiki: A biographical drama that dramatizes the last ten years in the life of pianist Liberace and the relationship he had with Scott Thorson. The film, shown for the first time on American television on May 26, 2013, was watched by 2.4 million US viewers. A further 1.1 million tuned in to watch the repeat immediately after, bringing viewership to 3.5 million in total. When the film debuted on HBO, it achieved the highest ratings for a television film since 2004
Notable Actors: Michael Douglas & Matt Damon, Candelabra * Elizabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
I adore this 4-part HBO mini, the story never lags and the acting is layered and colorful. From internet search (author unknown)... "A look at a seemingly placid New England town that is actually wrought with illicit affairs, crime and tragedy, all told through the lens of Olive, whose wicked wit and harsh demeanor mask a warm but troubled heart and staunch moral center. The story spans 25 years and focuses on Olive's relationships with her husband, Henry, the good-hearted and kindly town pharmacist; their son, Christopher, who resents his mother's approach to parenting; and other members of their community."
Notable Actors: Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Zoe Kazan, Bill Murray, etc
2006
Jane Eyre (Susanna White - UK, France)
Nominees: Broken Trail, Planet Earth
While it skims through the early part of the novel, this 4-part BBC series is a top-drawer adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 classic. It, as Wikipedia noted, garnered critical acclaim and a number of nominations from various award bodies, which included wins for the costumes, hair and make-up and art direction. Mike Eley's cinematography impresses as does the acting.
Notable Actors: Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens, Jane Eyre * Robert Duvall, Thomas Haden Church, Greta Scacchi, Gwendoline Yeo, Broken Trail
2007
Cranford (Simon Curtis, Steve Hudson - UK, USA)
Nominees: Tin Man - Need to see, Corleone, Liquidation, The Company
From Letterboxd... "In the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip; and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town." - This is the second adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell to win this award (see North & South, 2004) and was drawn from three novellas published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr. Harrison's Confessions. "The Last Generation in England" was also used as a source.
Notable Actors: Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Lisa Dillon, Imelda Staunton, Claudie Blakley, Jim Carter, Simon Woods, Philip Glenister, Alex Etel
2008
Little Dorrit (Adam Smith, Dearbhla Walsh, Diarmuid Lawrence - UK,
USA)
Nominees: Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog, Sense and Sensibility, Lost in
Austen, Generation Kill
Tons O' wonderfulness this season. From a fun riff on comic book movies to some Austen and Dickens, which takes the prize. While Dorrit suffers from repetition (Arthur Clennam's confrontations with his mother.... that go nowhere through most of the story and just feel like padding), for the most part, it captivates, with a stirring story and a prime cast that includes supporting turns from Andy Serkis and Eddie Marsan.
Notable Actors: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Little Dorrit * Truly, just about everyone from everything nominated.
2009
Emma (Jim O'Hanlon - UK)
Nominees: Red Riding Trilogy
Another top drawer BBC adaptation of an Austen classic. After Pride & Prejudice, Emma is my favorite novel from the author, and while it takes some liberties, I'm no purist, and enjoyed what I got here.
Notable Actors: Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, Jonny Lee Miller
2010
The Pillars of the Earth (Sergio Mimica-Gezzan - Germany, Canada, UK,
Hungary)
Nominees: The Pacific
From wiki... an eight-part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name. It debuted in the U.S. on Starz and in Canada on The Movie Network/Movie Central on July 23, 2010. Its UK premiere was on Channel 4 in October 2010 at 9pm. Like the novel on which it is based, the miniseries centers on the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during a tumultuous period of English history known as The Anarchy in the 12th century.
Notable Actors: Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell
2011
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (Mark Cousins - UK)
Nominees: Agnes, From Here to There
Cousins can come off the insufferable snob, what with that asinine "bauble" twaddle and the excessive praise, whether deserved or not, for films he champions. Aside from that, I gotta give him props for putting the spotlight on long-forgotten or underappreciated pictures. There's much here that's worth gushing over (like Piccadilly and Cairo Station). And he only forgets a few gems on this journey through the history of cinema. Heck, just think about all the movies you'll be adding to your watchlists.
2012
Hatfields & McCoys (Kevin Reynolds - USA)
Nominee: Going My Home, Parades End
Reynolds isn't an A-list director, but armed with an interesting story, strong themes (about how easy it is to lose our humanity) and top drawer acting... and he manages to spin a ripping good yarn with this miniseries. I still have others I need to track down, but I really enjoyed this one, so I'm making the call now.
Notable Actors: Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton
2013
Behind the Candelabra (Steven Soderbergh - USA)
Nominees: Top of the Lake
From wiki: A biographical drama that dramatizes the last ten years in the life of pianist Liberace and the relationship he had with Scott Thorson. The film, shown for the first time on American television on May 26, 2013, was watched by 2.4 million US viewers. A further 1.1 million tuned in to watch the repeat immediately after, bringing viewership to 3.5 million in total. When the film debuted on HBO, it achieved the highest ratings for a television film since 2004
Notable Actors: Michael Douglas & Matt Damon, Candelabra * Elizabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
2014
Olive Kitteridge (Lisa Cholodenko - USA)
Nominees: Over the Garden WallI adore this 4-part HBO mini, the story never lags and the acting is layered and colorful. From internet search (author unknown)... "A look at a seemingly placid New England town that is actually wrought with illicit affairs, crime and tragedy, all told through the lens of Olive, whose wicked wit and harsh demeanor mask a warm but troubled heart and staunch moral center. The story spans 25 years and focuses on Olive's relationships with her husband, Henry, the good-hearted and kindly town pharmacist; their son, Christopher, who resents his mother's approach to parenting; and other members of their community."
Notable Actors: Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Zoe Kazan, Bill Murray, etc
2015
And Then There Were None (Craig Viveiros - UK)
Nominees: An Inspector CallsAgatha Christie's famous mystery broadcast in 3-parts. Summary: It's 1939 and Europe teeters on the brink of war. Ten strangers are invited to Soldier Island an isolated rock near the Devon coast in southern England. Cut off from the mainland, with their generous hosts Mr. and Mrs. U.N. Owen mysteriously absent, they are each accused of a terrible crime. As members of the party start to die one by one, the survivors realize that one of them is a killer and start to turn on each other.
Notable Actors: Maeve Dermody, Miranda Richardson, Burn Gorman, Charles Dance, etc, And Then There Were None * David Thewlis, An Inspector Calls
2016
O.J.: Made in America (Ezra Edelman - USA)
Nominees: 11.22.63, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, The
Night Manager
From Rotton Tomatoes: O.J.: Made in America paints a balanced and thorough portrait of the American dream juxtaposed with tragedy and executed with power and skill - A look at the rise and fall of sports icon-turned-accused murderer O.J. Simpson. This riveting documentary examines Simpson's 1995 trial for the killings of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman through the lens of the history of race relations in Los Angeles. This ESNP 30 for 30 doc was also shown in theaters and won the Oscar in its respective category.
Notable Actors: James Franco, Sarah Gadon, Chris Cooper, 11.22.63 * Sarah Paulson, The People v. O. J. Simpson * Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston Elizabeth Debicki, The Night Manager
2017
Godless (Scott Frank - USA)
Nominees: Decline and Fall, Alias Grace
General synopsis... "A ruthless outlaw terrorizes the West in search of a former member of his gang, who’s found a new life in a quiet town populated only by women." The ads to the contrary, it's not a town of 'only' women, but they are a compelling part of a majority. Superb character piece, with great villainy, camaraderie and western showdowns.
Notable Actors: Sarah Gadon, Alias Grace * Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery and more, Godless
2018
Maniac (Cary Joji Fukunaga - USA)
Nominees: Sharp Objects, The Woman in White, The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Letterboxd summary... "Two strangers are drawn to a mysterious pharmaceutical trial that will, they’re assured, with no complications or side-effects whatsoever, solve all of their problems, permanently. Things do not go as planned." I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, its themes, and the performances. Emma Stone was fantastic and while I'm not really a Jonah Hill fan, he's marvelous as well.
Best Lead Performances: Emma Stone & Jonah Hill, Maniac
Other Notable Actors: Amy Adams &
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects * Olivia Vinall, Jessie Buckley, Ben Hardy,
etc, The Woman in White
Best Lead Performances: Regina King, Watchmen & Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
2019
Watchmen (David Lindelof, Showrunner - USA)
Nominees: Chernobyl
Since my original choice, Good Omens, went on to have a (lesser) second season, I've made the change to my close runner up, which was equally fantastic. Gripping story, great cast - while set 34 years after the events in the comic. Lindelof likened this take to a remix of the original - introducing new characters and conflicts and creating a new story within the Watchmen continuity. The series focuses on events surrounding racist violence in present-day Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus: "Bold and bristling, Watchmen isn't always easy viewing, but by adding new layers of cultural context and a host of complex characters it expertly builds on its source material to create an impressive identity of its own."
Best Lead Performances: Regina King, Watchmen & Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Other Notable Actors: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Jessie Buckley, Chernobyl * Jean Smart, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tim Blake Nelson, Hong Chau, Jovan Adepo, Louis Gossett Jr, Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
