Screen Test
By George Vernadakis and R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 6/2/2008
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired(HBO, Monday, June 9, 9 p.m.)
THE RUNDOWN: Filmmaker Marina Zenovich documents the legal circus surrounding Roman Polanski’s 1977 guilty plea to having “unlawful sexual intercourse” with a minor.
PROS: Doc pulls no punches about Polanski’s guilt while making a persuasive case that his decision to flee the country was justifiable.
CONS: Polanski only appears in archival footage, and clips from his films add little.
THE SCORE: HBO’s summer documentary series gets off to a strong start with this intelligent and balanced entry.
— George Vernadakis
In Plain Sight(USA Network, Sun. June 1, 10 p.m.)
THE RUNDOWN: Mary McCormack stars as testy U.S. Marshall who manages to relocate federal witnesses in the witness protection program.
PROS: The subject matter is unique in today’s batch of serial crime dramas.
CONS: Many of the show’s supporting characters aren’t very compelling.
THE SCORE:McCormick holds her own with cable’s other female crime-fighters. Unfortunately, the show falls a bit short of its contemporaries.
— R. Thomas Umstead
