THE LONG ROAD HOME Begins from National Geographic

Jeri Jacquin

Beginning this week on the National Geographic channel is the global miniseries event with creator Mikko Alanne telling the story of THE LONG  ROAD HOME.

Aguero (E.J. Bonilla) is with the First Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood but also a family man leaving behind wife Amber (Katie Paxton) and two small children to serve overseas. His youngest son Elijah is not taking it well and Aguero explains that he must go with the other soldiers because he is their leader. His son takes it the wrong way but it weighs heavy on his heart.

The next morning the entire company boards their transport to leave for Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq. Getting ready for transfer of authority Gary Volesky (Michael Kelly) prepares for the change working with Troy Denomy (Jason Ritter). Aguero, Sgt. Eric Bourquin (Jon Beavers), SPC Acevedo (Franklin Silverio), SPC Garza (Jorge Diaz), Sgt. Jackson (Joshua Brennan), Spc Carl Wild (Thomas McDonell) and the company are going through town learning the streets.

Stopping to visit with children along with translator Jassim Al-Lani (Darius Homayoun) they are being watched. Sgt. Miltenberger (Jeremy Sisto) makes it clear to the other soldiers that things aren’t always what they appear and that they need to be prepared for that.

Back home Gina Denomy (Kate Bosworth) begins working with Leann Volesky (Sarah Wayne Callies) in putting care packages together for the soldiers. Leann tells the families that help is only a phone call away and they should be afraid to reach out.

In Iraq, the platoon encounters weapons that are inside a mosque and when confronted, tensions rise. Calmed down by allowing the weapons to stay inside the mosque, the soldiers go on their way. Returning to their mission, the convoy is fired upon and they are trapped in an ambush. Taking fire from machine guns, they are forced to run through road blocks and into smoke laden streets where seeing is difficult at best.

At Camp War Eagle the wounded are being brought in and Volesky’s story is told. Celebrating Christmas early with his wife Leann and their young son Alex, the couple deals with last minute life things like changing the oil on the car.

Sadr City has become even more dangerous as the troops begin to search for those shooting at the convoy. This is a fire fight that isn’t going to stop soon.

Bonilla as Aguero is the leader of the group and it is clear why. He knows what needs to be done and leads his men. Trying to find positions to protect them all, he waits while Volesky decides on the next course of action.

Kelly as Commander Volesky believes in the mission of returning every soldier under his command home again. As the ambush breaks out, he must bring about the best plan to take more soldiers into for a rescue. Seeing the wounded men pushes him harder to find answers. Beavers as Sgt. Bourquin doesn’t settle fools lightly and is clear on what he must do. The first casualty brings up Bourquin’s suspicions of their interpreter as he finds it difficult to deal with.

Boseworth as Gina is raising a newborn while waiting word from her husband Troy. When it becomes clear that something is going on in Sadr City, she turns to Leann. Callies as Leann feels she has the trust of the women under her husbands command and does her best to keep them calm. Karina Ortiz is Lupita Garza who is the first to hear about the attack in Sadr City and wants answers.

This is only the first episode with Into the Unknown airing Tuesday, November 14^th at 10 p.m. on National Geographic. It is a series that is to be experienced in it’s telling of the eight-hour battle that happened in Sadr City on April 4, 2004. Told in real time it is a confrontation of innocent Iraqis and trapped soldiers whose families are at home waiting for news.

The film is based on the New York Times bestselling book The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family by Martha Raddatz. She is the chief global affairs correspondent for ABC News and over a twenty year period she has covered the White House and conflict zones world wide. 

Please consider being a part of this experience from National Geographic. Also know that the scenes are intense and in that are the stories of these brave men. There is a frustration level in the first episode alone as these soldiers must come to terms with their situation and how to survive it.

Once again National Geographic has brought a compelling story to television. THE LONG ROAD HOME is just that – compelling and heartfelt in so many ways. This miniseries is worthy of discussion after just the first two episodes and I will be watching every single one of them.

In the end – it is a story of men, their families and a battle for survival.

Family Crime Series ICE: Season One Comes to DVD

Jeri Jacquin

On DVD from Entertainment One and Antoine Fuqua Films is the AT&T/DirectTV Original Series is the story of a family who struggles to stay together all because of ICE.

Jake (Cam Gigandet) works with his father Isaac Green in the family diamond business Green & Green Diamond. Brother Freddy (Jeremy Sisto) is the problem child as Jake feels like he must constantly rescue him from trouble. Once again it has happened when Freddy kills another diamond dealer.

Immediately Jake goes into action against the wishes of his ex-wife Ava (Audrey Anderson) who wants Freddy to start taking responsibility for his actions. Uncle Cam (Ray Winstone) wants to help in any way he can but agrees that Jake needs to take a step back.

A step back puts Jake in front of Sister Rah (Judi Shekoni) who he turns to for help. She agrees but only at the huge money price that Jake must pay off. Forcing the brothers to transport diamonds illegally, Jake sees it as a way to pay off the debt in one fell swoop but Sister Rah wants what she once had with Jake.

In the middle of this it becomes clear that Dad Isaac (Raymond J. Barry) is having trouble remembering things – including the location of family piece called the Holocaust Diamond. Cam wants to put Green & Green Diamonds back into the red but Isaac doesn’t want to do it his way. During an argument everything falls apart as the family comes to grips with the result.

G&G Diamonds has four people in charge that include Jake, Freddy, Issac’s granddaughter Willow (Chloe East) and sister. Cam is not happy but knows he can turn to Pieter Van De Bruin (Donald Sutherland) and make a deal. What Cam doesn’t know is that De Bruin has his hands smack in the middle of the family telling Cam to get his hands on 25% of the business.

Jake and Freddy come together putting their differences aside knowing that is the only way they are going to protect family and save the business is to find out what strings are being pulled – and by who!

Gigandet as Jake is cool and calm which is amazing considering all the crazy chaos going on around him. He is very focused on family and feels a need to constantly protect a brother who doesn’t seem to care for himself. Gigandet’s character is sharp and always trying to find a way out of the situations that seem to be snowballing out of control. Of course it’s mainly because he doesn’t have all the facts which makes watching him so much more delicious!

Sisto as Freddy is clearly just a hot mess of a brother who needs intervention for his entire life. Wow, this character can’t seem to find the straight line even if someone drew it for him yet he is clever when it comes to diamonds! The struggle between Freddy and Jake are played out so well by Sisto and I have to say I love him in this role.

Winstone as Cam gives new meaning to the word dual personality. He character clearly feels close to this family but seems to be guided by his own hurt feelings by the same family he feels close too. Follow? He is awesome in this role and I found myself yelling at the screen a few times at his character – that’s how you know he’s doing it right. Barry as Isaac is a man who wants to keep his family and business together but it all turns quickly.

Shekoni as Sister Rah is so bizarre it’s unreal. Coming off as a strong business woman, she has a posse that has no problem taking someone out at the snap of her fingers. Her back story slowly explains everything or does it? Anderson as Ava may be Jakes ex-wife but her ties to the family are very strong as well. She wants what is best for everyone and puts herself in the middle of it all to protect her daughter and the family business.

Sutherland as Pieter Van De Bruin is as evil as he wants to be. Charming to your face while picking the spot on your back he plans to ice you (yes, I said it). Of course I have an amazing soft spot in my heart for Sutherland as he’s on my top ten list of actors that can do no wrong. As De Bruin, Sutherland uses his skill to smile during threats and frown when the fun is over. Love, love, love this character in all his badness.

Other cast include: Ella Thomas as Lala Agabaria, Konstantin Lavysh as Alexi Yakenev, Antonio Cupo as Nick, Carmel Amit as Dalit, and Angela Gots as Natalya.

Entertainment One continues to bring amazing home entertainment to fans with their own library of over 40,000 films and television titles and 45,000 music tracks. I mention those numbers because that is so impressive bringing something for everyone. For more of what they have to offer please visit http://entertainmentone.com/home.

ICE: Season One is a fast past and smart thriller with the backdrop of the diamond world. This cast brings together a dysfunctional family with so much distrust, secrets, lies, envy and no loyalty but yet fight for one another in the mix.

I really do love the triangle between Jake, Freddy and Cam because they play on emotions with their characters and that’s what causes me to yell at the screen so much. The later episode addition of Donald Sutherland is just icing on the cake for me. These four men are in the middle of an amazing storyline.

Shekoni, Thomas and Anderson are the women who are caught in the middle but have secrets of their own to keep. Playing off one another is brilliant in their storyline with the addition of East as a young girl who clearly sees everything these adults are doing.

The Bonus Features of ICE: Season One are Premise, Jeremy Sisto and Cam Gigandet interview, and Rachele Royale ‘Diamond Girl’ Music Video.

This series is going to be a sit through from start to finish. There is no way to watch one or two episodes and walk away so prepare for a marathon run of the first season. I’m really excited to see the next season because I want answers and probably a little come-uppance for a few characters.

In the end – come get your cut!