Director Susanne Bier, who comes from Denmark, is known for her exceptional films and TV shows. She consistently delivers exciting projects.
She won an Academy Award for the 2010 Danish film In a Better World and has worked on thrillers like The Night Manager in 2016 and the hit film Bird Box in 2018.
Due to her impressive work on these projects, she became the first female director to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a European Film Award. Bier has also worked with many talented actors, including the cast of the 2022 Showtime series The First Lady.
Bier’s newest project is the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, which was released on September 5. The series features Nicole Kidman, and this is not the first time Bier has worked with her.
The director previously collaborated with Kidman on the 2020 HBO psychological drama The Undoing. This project earned Bier a Director’s Guild nomination and added to her impressive resume. If you’ve just finished The Perfect Couple, The Undoing should be your next binge.
‘The Undoing’ Is a Gripping Suspenseful Drama
The six-episode drama centers on Grace Fraser (Kidman), whose seemingly perfect life falls apart when her husband, Jonathan (played by Hugh Grant), is suspected of murder.
Grace appears to have it all: a successful career as a psychologist, a husband who is an oncologist, a luxurious New York City apartment, and a son attending an elite school. Despite their apparent wealth, they seem out-of-touch and superficial.
In the first episode, Grace encounters a mysterious woman named Elena (Matilda De Angelis) several times. The next day, Elena is found murdered in her studio, and her young son, who goes to the same school as Grace’s son, discovers the body.
Jonathan is considered a suspect because of his affair with Elena, and Grace’s life quickly begins to fall apart. She starts taking long walks at night and has visions of Elena and what happened to her.
As the story progresses, more details about Elena’s murder come to light. Is it possible that Jonathan, who has devoted his life to helping people, could be the killer? Grace is also acting strangely, but is it due to knowing something about the murder or her life falling apart?
Kidman portrays Grace as a woman trying hard to stay calm on the outside while experiencing intense panic inside. The most intense scenes occur during Jonathan’s trial.
His lawyer, Haley Fitzgerald (Noma Dumezweni), delivers standout performances, and the tension builds with each episode as the mystery deepens. The truth about Elena’s death is not revealed until the final episode.
Susanne Bier Crafts a Riveting Drama With ‘The Undoing’
The entire cast is excellent, including the late Donald Sutherland as Grace’s father. Although Kidman is outstanding, Grant’s role shines brightly. His character is both charming and deceitful, making it hard to determine if he’s truthful.
Still from The Undoing (Credit: HBO)
Grace and Jonathan’s son, Henry (Noah Jupe), also adds intrigue with his own secrets. Bier’s direction gives the series lasting appeal. The show is a gripping psychological study with attractive visuals, especially during Grace’s night walks.
The cinematography enhances the story, creating a mysterious and magnetic city setting that is both magical and dark. The locations and mood are crucial to the scenes, whether Grace is at a formal party or escaping to her brownstone. Even at their beach house, an unsettling feeling persists, making it clear that danger is always near.
Bier skillfully portrays intense emotions throughout the series. Despite the characters trying to maintain composure, the scenes are filled with anger, sadness, and betrayal. While the characters may not be relatable, their emotions are.
Bier balances these emotions with the story’s action. She aimed to create a thrilling experience while developing the characters. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bier said, “I felt that making it more of a thriller would allow for the character stories but would give the characters a very clear direction.” Her approach resulted in a perfect blend of compelling characters and an engaging mystery.
When The Undoing aired in 2020, it quickly gained attention for its quality. Discussions about Kidman’s stunning wardrobe and the show’s twists spread on social media. It was compared to David E. Kelley’s Big Little Lies, another HBO series starring Kidman.
However, The Undoing became the first HBO show to gain viewers every week throughout its season and was the network’s most-watched show of the year. It also established Bier as the director for portraying wealthy individuals facing the consequences of their secrets, similar to her future project The Perfect Couple.
Although there’s no news on Bier’s next project (she will only be an executive producer for The Night Manager’s second season), The Undoing showcases her talents in a thrilling psychological drama.
Director Susanne Bier, renowned for her impactful films and TV shows, has delivered another gripping drama with The Undoing. This six-episode HBO series, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, revolves around Grace Fraser, whose perfect life unravels when her husband is accused of murder.
Still from The Undoing (Credit: HBO)
Grace’s encounters with a mysterious woman and her subsequent murder set off a tense investigation, leading to revelations that question everyone’s innocence. Kidman portrays Grace as a woman struggling to maintain calm amid her personal chaos.
The show is noted for its intense emotional depth, attractive cinematography, and complex characters. Bier’s direction masterfully blends psychological tension with rich storytelling, making The Undoing a standout series.
The show received acclaim for its suspenseful plot and strong performances, and it remains a highlight of Bier’s career, reinforcing her reputation as a leading director in dramatic storytelling.
All episodes of The Undoing are available to stream on Max in the U.S.
The Old Man is coming back to FX for its second season, and early reviews suggest it will keep the same mix of mystery and action that made Season 1 so memorable.
This show is another great addition to the action genre, similar to other movies where actors like Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and Aaron Eckhart have taken on new roles involving intense action scenes.
The lead in The Old Man is Jeff Bridges, who plays Dan Chase. Chase is a man living quietly with his two dogs. One night, his home is broken into, and Chase responds quickly and violently to the intruders.
Throughout Season 1, we learn about Chase’s past as a CIA agent and meet some old friends and enemies who are determined to capture him.
‘The Old Man’ Season 1: A Game of Cat and Mouse
A major plot point in Season 1 is that Chase is being chased by his former friend, Harold Harper (played by John Lithgow). Harper is now the FBI’s Assistant Director for Counterintelligence. The show reveals that Chase and Harper used to work together in the CIA on a mission in Afghanistan.
The effects of that mission are still felt today. Harper is supported by his team, including his protégé Angela Adams (Alia Shakwat), CIA officer Raymond Waters (E.J. Bonilla), and assassin Julian Carson (Gbenga Akinnagbe).
However, Harper doesn’t realize that Waters, Carson, and another agent, Mike (Echo Kellum), are working for Morgan Bote (Joel Grey), who has connections to both Chase and Harper.
Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a former Afghan warlord, is in charge of capturing Chase. Hamzad and Chase have a personal history, as Chase had fled to the U.S. with Hamzad’s wife, Belour (Leem Lubany).
Hamzad had discovered that Belour was giving information to Russian operatives during the war. When she refused to reveal the location of a valuable ore deposit, Hamzad threatened her life. Chase and Belour escaped to the U.S. with Harper’s help.
Angela Adams’ True Identity Is Revealed
Early in The Old Man, it is shown that Angela Adams is actually Chase’s daughter, Emily. Waters, Carson, and Mike try to exploit this relationship by taking Adams hostage and making a deal with Chase.
They tell Chase that if he turns himself over to Hamzad, Adams will be freed. Chase agrees to the deal, but when Carson sees suspicious figures approaching, he contacts Harper.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: Hulu)
When Chase and Harper arrive, they find that Carson and Adams are gone, and Waters and Mike are dead. Chase then reveals that Hamzad’s obsession with him is because Belour was pregnant with Hamzad’s child, whom Chase raised as his own.
The core of The Old Man was Chase’s effort to protect his family from his past, but ultimately, the past catches up with him. Additionally, Harper is implicated in the murders of his own men, forcing him to flee with Chase.
Dan Chase Finds Love Again in ‘The Old Man’ Season 1
Aside from dealing with Harper and Hamzad, Chase spends time with Zoe McDonald (Amy Brenneman), a single mother.
Their chemistry is evident and adds depth to the story. However, Zoe eventually gets caught up in the conflict between Chase and Harper. Chase ends up giving her his dogs and saying goodbye.
Though Zoe’s fate seemed uncertain at the end of Season 1, executive producer Dan Shotz confirmed she will return for Season 2.
“Zoe will definitely be back. She’s a key piece of this story, a key connection for Dan. And Amy is such a brilliant actress and partner in this. We’re very excited about Zoe’s story going forward,” he told Deadline.
Challenges in Bringing ‘The Old Man’ to Screen
Creating The Old Man was challenging, according to showrunner Jonathan Steinberg. Season 1 was initially planned to have ten episodes but was reduced to seven due to a COVID-19 shutdown.
Additionally, Jeff Bridges faced health issues, including a cancer diagnosis and COVID-19, but he eventually returned to finish the season.
“Everybody showed such dedication and hung in. We finished it. I appreciate that,” Bridges said.
Despite these obstacles, The Old Man delivers a well-crafted spy thriller, with each episode featuring revelations and action scenes.
Bridges gives a powerful performance, and the show benefits from talented directors like Jon Watts, Greg Yaitanes, Jet Wilkinson, and Zetna Fuentes.
With strong performances and a solid novel by Thomas Perry as its base, The Old Man set a high standard in its first season. It remains to be seen if Season 2 will live up to that level of success.
The Old Man is returning for its second season on FX, continuing the blend of action and intrigue that made Season 1 popular.
Still from The Old Man (Credit: Hulu)
The show stars Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase, a former CIA agent living quietly with his dogs until his past catches up with him.
In Season 1, Chase is pursued by his old friend Harold Harper (John Lithgow), now an FBI Assistant Director, and a team including Angela Adams (Alia Shakwat), who turns out to be Chase’s daughter.
Chase’s conflict with Harper is complicated by the involvement of Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a former Afghan warlord with a personal vendetta.
Despite behind-the-scenes challenges, including health issues for Bridges, the show delivers strong performances and action. Season 1 set a high bar, and fans are eager to see if Season 2 will continue the success.
Season 1 of The Old Man is available to stream on Hulu, and Season 2 premieres on FX on September 12.
