What I’m watching: a moving documentary about a legendary TV reporter

Date: 1/7/2020

What I’m watching: a superb and moving documentary about a legendary TV reporter

On Hulu: This is Mike Wallace

Avi Belkin, the director of this new documentary about “60 Minutes” reporter Mike Wallace said when Wallace was reporting “the four most-dreaded words in the English language back then” were “This is Mike Wallace.”

For those of us who regularly watched “60 Minutes” it was clear that Wallace was not just a reporter, but a relentless force of nature whose goal was to tell as complete a story as possible no matter whose toes he stepped upon.

Consider that during the Iranian hostage crisis, Wallace flies to Iran to interview Ayatollah Khomeini. Belkin just doesn’t show the interview but the footage before the interview with Wallace being told his questions had to be approved. Wallace isn’t pleased but does what he has to do to continue with the interview.

He can’t stay on script though and insists on asking the Iranian leader questions he did not expect. The interview is cut short with Khomeini walking out.

Now, most reporters – including me – would feel a tad vulnerable in that situation, but Wallace’s face doesn’t betray any fear.

Belkin’s documentary attempts and succeeds to show Wallace in both triumph and conflict, as well as revealing just who this man was.

Belkin does that with no narrator, no recent interviews with Wallace’s friends, family or colleagues. He does an incredible job by using footage of interviews with Wallace, as well as out-takes from “60 Minutes” and other programs that show Wallace at his best and worst.

What Wallace reveals in these interviews – especially one conducted late in his career with colleague Morley Safer – is that he was an unsure person who was driven to make something of himself. His early career in TV in the 1950s included stints as an actor, game show host and commercial spokesperson.

It was his four years conducting no-holds-barred interviews in the mid-1950s that the Mike Wallace “60 Minutes” audiences grew to know emerged. These shows revealed an interviewer who wasn’t concerned about offending his guests or challenging them. To say that he asked tough questions is an understatement.

Belkin shows Wallace’s many faults as admitted by Wallace himself. The film reveals Wallace’s was afflicted by clinical depression that led to a suicide attempt.            

It is a complex portrait of a complex person and even if you have just cursory awareness of his work, this is a compelling film.

On Netflix: The Witcher

Netflix is awfully cagey about revealing how many people watch its productions, but several published reports indicate “The Witcher” is a huge download hit.

This is an eight episode production – each one is an hour – that is designed to appeal to fans of “Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings.”

Set in a universe that looks like medieval Europe – but isn’t – the show is an epic saga centering on three characters and how their lives intertwine.

The title character is played by Henry Cavill. The Witcher – or Geralt of Rivia – is a mutated human who makes his living killing monsters. He leads a life of emotional isolation and is in denial that he has a daughter.

The daughter played by Freya Allan is Cirilla / Ciri, has magical powers and is running for her life from an invading army who want her for her powers.

The third main character is Anya Chalotra who plays a renegade sorcererss Yennefer of Vengerberg.

The three characters are linked together by destiny, although they don’t initially realize it.

The production is based on a very successful series of novels, which in turn have been adapted into a comic book series.

Like “Game of Thrones,” there is political intrigue mixed with fights with monsters, considerable blood and gore, nudity and magic.

It is a handsome production with great settings, costumes and photography.

It is also a non-linear storyline. There are plenty of flashbacks to past events that can be a little confusing at times. You have to pay attention closely and binge-watching actually helps reinforce the structure of the series.

Performance-wise, Cavill underplays his role. He is making sure this hero is nothing like his characterization of Superman.

Chalotra steals the show as the sorceresss, who is both powerful and deeply troubled.

Although it starts off slowly in terms of defining the main narrative, I found “The Witcher” to be a highly watchable production. Whether or not it will be as successful in terms of story-telling as either “Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of Rings” remains to be seen with the second season.