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- HULU
- Feb 28, 2018
- HULU
- Feb 28, 2018
Summary Despite orders to share information about potential terrorists with John O'Neill (Jeff Daniels), the head of the New York FBI's Counter-Terrorism unit, CIA analyst Martin Schmidt (Peter Sarsgaard) withholds it, believing only the CIA can handle terrorist threats in this 10-part drama based on Lawrence Wright's non-fiction book about how ...
Created By: Dan Futterman, Alex Gibney
- HULU
- Feb 28, 2018
- HULU
- Feb 28, 2018
Summary Despite orders to share information about potential terrorists with John O'Neill (Jeff Daniels), the head of the New York FBI's Counter-Terrorism unit, CIA analyst Martin Schmidt (Peter Sarsgaard) withholds it, believing only the CIA can handle terrorist threats in this 10-part drama based on Lawrence Wright's non-fiction book about how ...
Created By: Dan Futterman, Alex Gibney
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
74
88% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
12% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
74
88% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
12% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
From the remarkable cast (Michael Stuhlbarg and Bill Camp deserve analysis all to themselves, so enthralling are their beautifully developed supporting characters) to deft direction (Gibney, an Oscar-winning documentarian, brings his past expertise to scripted TV in clever, efficient fashion — the flash-forward testimonials and found footage both speak to his storytelling brilliance), this is a limited series worth seeking out. It may be an unmissable history lesson, but it’s also just one helluva story, told very, very well.
The Looming Tower is a taut, tense restaging of the internecine squabbles between the FBI and the CIA in the lead-up to 9/11.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 103 User Ratings
5.8
55% Positive
57 Ratings
57 Ratings
7% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
38% Negative
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 103 User Ratings
5.8
55% Positive
57 Ratings
57 Ratings
7% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
38% Negative
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
It’s fascinating to watch the ways these men--and most of the principals were men--gathered information, formed theories and conclusions, and butted heads with one another over plans of action. It’s dismaying to absorb one of this miniseries’ most timely subtexts: that during the most intense time leading up to the 9/11 attack, the American media was distracted by President Bill Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Instead of being heavily self-important, The Looming Tower is swift and urgent, with an outstanding cast and zingy writing.
Showrunner Dan Futterman (writer of “Gracepoint” and “Foxcatcher,” once a co-star on “Judging Amy”) keeps the tension high and the pace generally relentless. “The Looming Tower” only falters in an embarrassingly trite early scene of O’Neill with one of his many women. But when the focus is on the work, “Looming Tower” looms large as a well-made story of human and systemic failings.
Any time Tower ventures into the personal lives of the men tracking Al Queda, it feels out of place. ... There is plenty to admire in Tower, though--most notably a captivating performance by Rahim.
The performers offer flashes of persona in quiet moments, gesticulations, and a handful of exchanges but for the most part, the characters come off as little more than figures meant to convey information from Wright’s book.
Amazing job, Hulu. From great cast to amazing script. Can't wait to see the rest of the show. (please report this user with multiple accounts who gives "1" all the time and gives "10" to Crime Story Versace. Get some taste!)
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SEASON 1
Ten years ago, this show might have made sense (and been more appealing). Now, with so much great television available, it's too easy to pick and choose. I thought I would like this (it has a big-name cast and is based off an excellent book), but I'm just totally bored by it. Some people might like that kind of thing, and I totally get it. But there is so much more exciting and energetic and unique television on right now that I can't see myself sticking with this for too much longer.
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SEASON 1