Mentioned in the Sovereign Awards (2024)
Line of Events
CIA agent Jo tries to balance her personal and professional life as the spearhead of the agency’s war on terror. Real military advisors helped create a more authentic performance in weapons handling, chamber cleaning, positioning, squad actions, etc. d. Sheridan knows how to transport us into macho, testosterone-driven worlds, without clichés and seemingly without agenda. That’s what it is.
Guys are simple
No apologies are necessary. His characters are always realistic and he is extremely skilled at casting. But to be great, you have to write good roles for women. The script should be as good, if not better, than for the men. Women are smarter and more complicated.
They are strong and compelling
Beth in Yellowstone (a great character and performance), the barrel racers, a lone woman working on a ranch (a fantastic Jen Landon as Teeter) are all great female characters who fit naturally and effortlessly into the world of the story. Not just a “partner…” or T&A. He stepped up his game with the excellent character Faith Hill, who was defeated in 1883, and then with Dame Mirren in the flop 1923. Now we have Zoe Saldana doing some of the best work of her career. I absolutely buy her as a CIA chief in an open marriage (nice touch).
What the hell!
I buy De Oliveira as a broken woman with a burning rage that won’t stop, and thank you, thank you, thank you to the writers/directors/producers for NOT letting her get the best of a coworker with a hundred extra pounds of muscle. Truth first! I think her character is much more interesting if she’s the one who needs to be cut down or just knocked down before she gives up. Now let’s talk about Jill Wagner, or should I say her hair? From sentimental Hallmark bastard to super cool commando?
I buy it
Special mention: Miss Lanier as the obnoxious teenage daughter. I’m looking forward to the arc that this loose canon charts as they continue to avoid the teen angst cliché. Good actress, could be interesting…
