There is no mistaking that there is some great television on tonight regarding contemporary global counterterrrosism. But its name is “Homeland” (Showtime, 9 p.m.).That complex and fictional series is more strongly constructed than the splashy one-shot feature film attempt to re-enact the death of an Al Queda leader.
“SEAL Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden” (National Geographic, 8 p.m.) is the unusual feature film treatment of the event that was rushed into production and makes its debut two days before the election.
It ought to have no effect whatsoever, but Harvey Weinstein’s meddling in the final product leads suspicion that he played up the grainy President Obama images of his decision making into the otherwise Hollywood concoction of unflappable SEAL team and the CIA operatives that want to get this done.
Actually what he did was add the “confessional” segments of the individual players, which helps hardly saves the film, which marches to its conclusion with those blippy, overused “scene-setting” captions and way over the top, boomy music meant to convey the drama that is not reflected on the screen.
It’s a shame “SEAL Team SIx” plays opposite “Homeland” since there’s no way to compare with that Emmy winning fare. But it could have had a little more character development — it’s tough to distinguish one SEAL from another at the start. Kathleen Robertson, the accomplished comic actress who has lately appeared in “Boss,” can’t compare with the depth of Claire Danes’ similarly driven antiterrorist. There’s nothing built into her (quite fictional) character.
It’s a shame “SEAL Team SIx” plays opposite “Homeland” since there’s no way to compare with that Emmy winning fare. But it could have had a little more character development — it’s tough to distinguish one SEAL from another at the start. Kathleen Robertson, the accomplished comic actress who has lately appeared in “Boss,” can’t compare with the depth of Claire Danes’ similarly driven antiterrorist. There’s nothing built into her (quite fictional) character.
And it’s fun to see some of these actors — Anson Mount, who was as effective in “Hell on Wheels”; two guys from “Prison Break,” Robert Knepper (T-Bag!) and lawman for life, William Fichtner. There’s also rapper Xzibit and Fredrico from “Six Feet Under,” Freddy Rodriguez.
Like “Titanic,” it’s a movie about which everyone knows the ending. But in this one, the lead-up is not nearly as well filled out.
You almost expect the end credits to be people yelling “USA! USA!”