Manhunt (2017)

Manhunt expertly zeroes in on that challenge [not only catch a criminal but also fight a philosophy], shadowing Fitz as he chases Kaczynski--while batting the nagging feeling that his foe might have a point. [4 Aug 2017, p.54]

Alternating between the investigation and its aftermath, Manhunt is psychologically acute and unexpectedly suspenseful, elevating the procedural. [7-20 Aug 2017, p.17]

Sodroski's structural approach is an interesting one, and Yaitanes' resourceful direction and Bettany's intense performance make Unabomber worth checking out.

The series is a surprising win on all fronts. It’s equal parts true-crime drama, psychological thriller and the moving personal stories of two men on different sides of the law who had eerily similar connections (or disconnections) to the society around them.

Kaczynski’s combative relationship with Fitz shows how alike two determined men on opposite ends of a spectrum can be. Only here the dichotomy is not good or evil or right or wrong, but law against chaos, order over freedom. Manhunt: Unabomber walks across that scale with careful consideration and sustains an engaging level of tension throughout the seven of its eight episodes provided for review.

It’s an enormous puzzle, but the series manages to keep things taught and engaging throughout. It’s academic bent is also a little inspiring.

A feature-film-quality effort from the casting on down, Manhunter: Unabomber easily represents Discovery Channel's best foray into scripted TV -- a taut, gripping account that touches upon aspects of the investigation many have doubtless forgotten or, more likely, never knew.

Discovery’s gripping Manhunt: Unabomber, aim for a lot more than just tapping into our fascination with heavily covered events. They’re also aiming for quality, and Unabomber not only delivers on that score, but offers the story of one man who not only broke the case, but did so in a revolutionary way.

Showrunner-director Greg Yaitanes (Banshee, Quarry) does a frequently fine job of shooting these evidence-gathering sessions with lots of intensity and suspense--this despite the fact that Worthington isn’t really that compelling as Fitz.

The film is burdened by its cliché-ridden nagging on the theme of the lone underling victimized for his pioneering vision by unimaginative superiors--but one, nonetheless, fascinating in its detail.

Manhunt, clocking in at eight hours total, makes for fine if unexceptional storytelling. It’s a scripted true crime drama that may hook fans of psychological thrillers but lacks the panache and visceral punch of FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.”

If you stick with the show, a sorta Law & Order: Forensic Linguistics, you’ll find that, OK, at times, it’s a little heavy-handed. ... Bettany is so compelling, in fact, that you’ll wish we got more of him sooner. Ditto Jane Lynch, who does fine, subtle work as Attorney General Janet Reno.

The two episodes available for review, Manhunt: Unabomber has a by-the-book feel--a lot of forensics and theories. It’s not until the last few minutes that Bettany’s Kaczynski is really introduced.

Engrossing at times and well worth watching, though the writing is often graceless and the direction haphazard.

Manhunt is gummed up with inelegant writing, enough to worry the actors (including Chris Noth as a deputy FBI director) into desperate spates of arm-waving and yelling. Later episodes are able to shed some of this awkwardness in favor of forward momentum. The manhunt in Manhunt grows more tense, but it’s never quite enough to keep viewers engaged.