Phonearl
Good start, but then it gets ruined
Lumsdal
Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
BoardChiri
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
Charles Herold (cherold)
I had such high hopes for this show. Creator/director Paul Haggis is a brilliant guy who has created shows like Due South and The Black Donnellys. The show is written by the folks behind The Wire. The subject of the integration battles of the 1980s seems like a good subject for a series.Alas, I only made it through the first episode, which was remarkably slow moving. I kept thinking something would happen that would explain why I should care, but nothing did. A somewhat smarmy guy runs for mayor, boosted by his mild opposition towards a desegregation plan that has white folks up in arms. This is inter-cut with scenes of people of color in bad neighborhoods, but nothing in the first episode ties them to the main story in any way at all. I'm sure they connect eventually, but their stories aren't inherently interesting, so the entire episode has a "so what?" quality to it.The first episode of a mini-series needs to sell you on watching the rest of it, and this one in no way did that. I find the positive reviews for this inexplicable. Perhaps it gets better later, but I was given no reason to find out.
caspian1978
Show Me a Hero is a six part mini series that takes six episodes to watch. The reason I say this is because I found myself changing my mind multiple times on what I thought about what I was watching. Unlike the Wire, there is a lack of action and climatic moments. This gave the Wire the suspense element to go along with the drama. Here, all we have is a political drama. Although the casting is perfect and the true reflection of politics is well defined, it lacks the grit that the Wire showcased. Still, both the Wire and Show Me a Hero gave a realistic account of our society. Oscar Isaac gives a perfect performance as Nick Wasicsko. His portrayal of the not so perfect, inexperienced, yet heroic Mayor of Yonkers gives the mini series the meat on the bone. His journey reflects what it means to have courage in a world of cut throat politics. Much of the audience will be on the ropes with this story. I found myself changing my mind about what I felt about Wasicsko, the people living in the projects, members of the city council and the protesters. The mini series does this perfectly as you become a spectator of what Yonkers went through. I feel the producers of the mini series did this for a reason. This alone makes Show Me a Hero worth watching.
gvenditto
The production is impeccable, with beautiful cinematography, and a realism that captures both the middle class neighborhoods and poverty with almost chillingly accurate detail.The performances by Oscar Davis, Bob Balaban and Winona Ryder (just to pick a few) are perfect. But the exposition is just so tedious that I found it a chore to watch. I really want to know what happens. I live near Yonkers and even though this drama played out while I considered buying a house there, I don't even know how it was resolved.The problem with this series is not the slow pace of the courtroom and council meetings. At least they have some pomp and ceremony that defines the proceedings. Its the very slow pace at which each character moves ahead at like two steps per minute. There's not a bit of nuance or shading to the characters - they're all just tortured by the dilemma they face. In the end, watching it feels like a chore.
npassage
Just watched the first two episodes, wow, unbelievable. I think I see where this is going and it's going to be fantastic. Oh dear, it's going to be so great, I can hardly wait. The feel of the thing, the shots in the city offices, people sitting around, the council meetings with people screaming, it so well done, it's scary, seeing those people yelling and screaming raises a lot of political, social issues, what is the right thing. Would I be screaming with them? What would you do? The mayor is pitch perfect, calm, controlled, when will he break? The old lady, what is she going to do next, everything depends on her, absolutely incredible.