SnoopyStyle

This is also known as Red Zone. The location is Carson City, Nevada. This movie starts with Sean 'Mac' Macintyre (Freddy Rodríguez) in jail as he recounts his story. He is an arrogant senior high school student. He and his boys get into sports gambling. Soon, they get over their heads as others get involved.

I don't know much about writer/director Lee Madsen. This is the only work of his that I've seen. It is weak directing. The subject matter is interesting. Normally, I love Freddy Rodriguez although this character is rather annoying. He's also way too old to be a high school student. In its favor, I do like a less-visited location like Carson City. It's nothing special, but that's the point.

In a large home, Patrice Harkness (Barbara Stanwyck) is holding her baby and waiting for the police with her husband Bill Harkness (John Lund). One of them is getting arrested. She recalls her earlier desperate times under the name Helen Ferguson. She is pregnant, broke, and abandoned by her ex who gives her a train ticket out of town to San Francisco. On the train, she is befriended by Hugh Harkness and his wife, the real Patrice Harkness. Patrice is meeting her in-laws for the first time. The train crashes and the Harkness couple is killed. Helen is assumed to be Patrice Harkness by everyone.

The premise is rather out there. It is "While You Were Sleeping" with more deaths and blackmail. It is a dark drama. I don't exactly root for Helen, but her actions are understandable. I would like some of the plot rearranged for greater tension. All in all, it is a solid drama.

The Pope is dead. A Conclave is called to elect the new Pope. Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is the Dean and manages the process. Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is the liberal candidate. Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) is the racist traditionalist candidate. Tremblay (John Lithgow) is a popular choice, but Lawrence is told that the previous Pope had asked for his resignation for unknown reason. Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) is the African candidate. Benitez, Archbishop of Kabul, is a last minute surprise addition which the old Pope kept secret. Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) and the other nuns work tirelessly and quietly to keep things moving.

I have to admit that I quit real quick during the first viewing. I was in the mood for some action. There are thrills but they're not action based. These are political thrills and thrills of mystery. Once they grab a hold on you, they don't let go. These are great veteran actors and they show out.