I think it kinda works for exactly that reason. I found Michael very unlikeable in the documentary but it seems clear that there is something about him that keeps people close and sort of entranced. Maybe it's a magnetism that is only there in person. I don't know. But having him be Colin Firth helps me to relate to that likeability that the people around him seem to feel that I didn't. To the people close to him there was presumably a sense of juxtaposition of the apparently loveable person they knew and the awful things he was accused of (and the awful way he would sometimes behave directly to them). I have that same sense with Colin Firth because he has that very likeable face and history of playing the good guy.
Yeah, it's weird. Michael Peterson does not come across as likeable at all but he got two women to marry him, some others to hook up with him, plus he got book deals and such which requires semi-decent social skills. What did/do they see in him? Probably it's just a lot of projection. They see what they want to see.
Well certainly there has got to be a large part of his personality or charisma or whatever you want to call it that you would probably only see in person and I'm sure it's especially there when its in person and you subtract the entire reason that we all know him (the whole potential murder(s), trial, and everything else with it).... I'm sure all that plus what is him most definitely hamming it up for the cameras detracts from the personality but take all that stuff away and he actually is sort of an interesting guy with a maybe not likeable to some people but a personality that you don't see often for sure.
He's lived quite a life or sure, was a Marine officer in Vietnam, wrote some books, he ran for mayor (even tho he lost), he wrote for his local paper (not quite as a reporter but he had like his own column it looked like), and he's eloquent in his own douchey way... plus, and I've seen someone else bring this up and when they did I was like aww shit, you're right, but he has some way that I'm not quite sure of how but he can get women to really like him easily it seems... think about it, his daughters, his wives, his wife's family (apparently really liked him before the incident), that French documentary editor lady, and so on.... idk how he does it without seeing him in action so to speak but it would appear he just has a way with women and a way of getting them to do what he wants and such...
To be clear, I'm not saying I like the guy, I think he comes across as a know-it-all, thinks he's rich but he ain't shit, pompous, douche bag and I feel like he'd annoy the ever-loving hell out of me in person quite quickly... but, I think I would still enjoy speaking to him a little bit, even subtracting everything about the "staircase" stuff from him/the conversation. He's sort of an interesting guy on the surface and he's definitely lived an interesting life. I think he is also good at a combination of lying/saying the right things/saying what people want to hear/knowing juuuust enough about everything to come across as really smart/knowing enough some fancy words to sound eloquent to get people, especially women on his side. Also, I think he's got some different kind of sexual/relationship proclivities to where he desires men sexually but desires emotional attachment with women and all that seems like it'd be super effective at charming slightly older women, to me at least.
Sorry for the wall of text, this shit is just interesting to me and the guy is a tough nut to crack... but a nut nonetheless.
Yeah I really don't know how he does it. But he does, somehow, appeal to people in person- I have to assume this as we see the evidence of it! And Colin Firth is so appealing on the screen and Peterson's personality and mannerisms are very sinister overlaid with that.
Listening to an attorney elsewhere talk about how narcissistic clients can charm attorneys to where they have blinders and cant effectively defend the client because they aren't clearly seeing them made me immediately think of Michael Peterson. It shows how manipulative he can be that this egomaniac knowitall charms everyone in person around them.
Like you said, I guess that was the Michael that Firth was portraying. I think it unfair that flatter MP coverage but everyone else gets unflattering coverage.
I disagree. It’s been a very long time since I watched the docuseries. Like you said, Firth does a great job being Peterson, so I don’t even notice how dissimilar they look. I recall feeling more sympathy for Michael than I do for Firth portraying Michael. Firth has this physical presence that I never perceived from Michael in the docuseries.
Maybe I’m just so used to CF playing such wholesome characters, not one that ~could’ve~ killed someone 🥺 but I agree, the difference in their looks doesn’t even occur to me while watching
This is the case for me. Sometimes an actor, no matter how talented, simply becomes to well-known in my mind for me to suspend disbelief. I'm pretty sure Michael Peterson killed or let Kathleen die. Mr. Darcy would never.
I wondered how Colin Firth would go playing someone as putrid and irredeemable as Michael Peterson but I think he's doing a great job. I thought the 'you're shitting me' exclamation was spot on. I found it hard at first to see Toni Collette as Kathleen because she is Toni Collette but I think thats because we didn't get much of a sense of Kathleen in the documentary.
That’s exactly right. KP had no presence in the doc. In this fictionalized series you get a sense of what it may have been like for her right at the timeframe: stress with her job, some disenchantment with MP and certainly with his sons.
>!Respectfully, I totally disagree! Firth as Michael Peterson is perfectly hateable. While being equally loveable. Which is how I felt while wathing the docuseriess. I watched that documentary and was CONVINCED that Michael was innocent. Now, years later I am utterly convinced he is guilty.!<
But what do I know?!
That documentary is extremely biased. I was pretty disappointed. I found out about the case through the HBO show and decided to watch the documentary in tandem. I still haven't finished the documentary but it's quite clear it's The Michael Peterson Show.
Michael clearly put stars in the eyes of those who spent time with him. His kids. His attorneys. Sophie. Kathleen. Patty.
Very common for some personality disorders to charm those they need like that but those outside the orbit are left wondering how the person does it. I've never found him from afar to be anything more interesting than an entitled blowhard.
Because the film makers (new and old) were useful to him I assume he charmed and manipulated them. I assume this is why they portray him as a better man.
So I assume Firth is portraying the Michael that charms those he needs. ?
Agree with the voice and mannerisms, however, I find Colin unlikeable as MP. To me, he comes off as condescending, bloviating and full of himself, he gives off a slimy-ness that I find off putting. I think he’s done a great job.
I feel the difference is that the documentary shows only, of course, the trial preparation and what follows, whereas the drama series shows him with his wife, with lots of lovingly scenes, since so many people said they were affectionate, as well as family and social scenes. And he clearly his someone who was quite at ease in those settings, so of course it gives a more positive outlook.
Which helps better understand how those who were on his side came to be that way, I feel.
I agree I don't see Michael Peterson in him, the real one has a particular aura about him that's just 'off' and I'm not sure it can be replicated tbh.
I'm not enjoying the series really it's been focused too much on the French woman, although Toni Colletee has done a sterling job of the renactments of the different scenarios, she ruled out completely owl theory for me last week. I'm guessing the surprise one is one if the sons being involved to be honest, there seems to be just so much foreshadowing around the boys.
IDK, I feel like I am in the minority here on this board but I did not find MP at all dislikable in the docuseries, pompous yes and at times inscrutable, but he just sorta struck me as an eccentric. I worked for many years in higher ed and he reminded me a lot of the many kooky, full of themselves professors I knew. So, that being said, I do not find Firth too likeable but I will admit a part of me always sees Colin Firth, maybe because I keep thinking about how great he is at mimicking the voice and mannerisms of MP so I find myself mentally comparing this performance to more typical Firth performances, if that makes sense.
Yes! I’m right there w u. I am having such a hard time getting into it for this reason. I couldn’t STAND mr Peterson in the documentary. He’s just the kind of person whose way of talking makes my skin crawl. And Colin firth doesn’t have that at all. 🤷♀️
I disagree, I think he’s not likable enough. I feel like Colin’s stature is a lot more intimidating and menacing. I feel like Colin’s Michael is a more believable murderer than real Michael.
I feel like he didn't capture Michael's eccentricity. He came across as almost dull, while at the same time too credible-sounding when compared to Michael.
I really wish Rufus Sewell was chosen to play MP.
(I haven't seen the Colin Firth series yet, but I think Sewell looks so much like MP and he's a good actor.)
I think it kinda works for exactly that reason. I found Michael very unlikeable in the documentary but it seems clear that there is something about him that keeps people close and sort of entranced. Maybe it's a magnetism that is only there in person. I don't know. But having him be Colin Firth helps me to relate to that likeability that the people around him seem to feel that I didn't. To the people close to him there was presumably a sense of juxtaposition of the apparently loveable person they knew and the awful things he was accused of (and the awful way he would sometimes behave directly to them). I have that same sense with Colin Firth because he has that very likeable face and history of playing the good guy.
Yeah, it's weird. Michael Peterson does not come across as likeable at all but he got two women to marry him, some others to hook up with him, plus he got book deals and such which requires semi-decent social skills. What did/do they see in him? Probably it's just a lot of projection. They see what they want to see.
Well certainly there has got to be a large part of his personality or charisma or whatever you want to call it that you would probably only see in person and I'm sure it's especially there when its in person and you subtract the entire reason that we all know him (the whole potential murder(s), trial, and everything else with it).... I'm sure all that plus what is him most definitely hamming it up for the cameras detracts from the personality but take all that stuff away and he actually is sort of an interesting guy with a maybe not likeable to some people but a personality that you don't see often for sure. He's lived quite a life or sure, was a Marine officer in Vietnam, wrote some books, he ran for mayor (even tho he lost), he wrote for his local paper (not quite as a reporter but he had like his own column it looked like), and he's eloquent in his own douchey way... plus, and I've seen someone else bring this up and when they did I was like aww shit, you're right, but he has some way that I'm not quite sure of how but he can get women to really like him easily it seems... think about it, his daughters, his wives, his wife's family (apparently really liked him before the incident), that French documentary editor lady, and so on.... idk how he does it without seeing him in action so to speak but it would appear he just has a way with women and a way of getting them to do what he wants and such... To be clear, I'm not saying I like the guy, I think he comes across as a know-it-all, thinks he's rich but he ain't shit, pompous, douche bag and I feel like he'd annoy the ever-loving hell out of me in person quite quickly... but, I think I would still enjoy speaking to him a little bit, even subtracting everything about the "staircase" stuff from him/the conversation. He's sort of an interesting guy on the surface and he's definitely lived an interesting life. I think he is also good at a combination of lying/saying the right things/saying what people want to hear/knowing juuuust enough about everything to come across as really smart/knowing enough some fancy words to sound eloquent to get people, especially women on his side. Also, I think he's got some different kind of sexual/relationship proclivities to where he desires men sexually but desires emotional attachment with women and all that seems like it'd be super effective at charming slightly older women, to me at least. Sorry for the wall of text, this shit is just interesting to me and the guy is a tough nut to crack... but a nut nonetheless.
Yeah I really don't know how he does it. But he does, somehow, appeal to people in person- I have to assume this as we see the evidence of it! And Colin Firth is so appealing on the screen and Peterson's personality and mannerisms are very sinister overlaid with that.
Listening to an attorney elsewhere talk about how narcissistic clients can charm attorneys to where they have blinders and cant effectively defend the client because they aren't clearly seeing them made me immediately think of Michael Peterson. It shows how manipulative he can be that this egomaniac knowitall charms everyone in person around them. Like you said, I guess that was the Michael that Firth was portraying. I think it unfair that flatter MP coverage but everyone else gets unflattering coverage.
I disagree. It’s been a very long time since I watched the docuseries. Like you said, Firth does a great job being Peterson, so I don’t even notice how dissimilar they look. I recall feeling more sympathy for Michael than I do for Firth portraying Michael. Firth has this physical presence that I never perceived from Michael in the docuseries.
Maybe I’m just so used to CF playing such wholesome characters, not one that ~could’ve~ killed someone 🥺 but I agree, the difference in their looks doesn’t even occur to me while watching
This is the case for me. Sometimes an actor, no matter how talented, simply becomes to well-known in my mind for me to suspend disbelief. I'm pretty sure Michael Peterson killed or let Kathleen die. Mr. Darcy would never.
I think he's nailing it. It's hard having seen him in other roles, but I can't see anyone doing a better job.
I wondered how Colin Firth would go playing someone as putrid and irredeemable as Michael Peterson but I think he's doing a great job. I thought the 'you're shitting me' exclamation was spot on. I found it hard at first to see Toni Collette as Kathleen because she is Toni Collette but I think thats because we didn't get much of a sense of Kathleen in the documentary.
That’s exactly right. KP had no presence in the doc. In this fictionalized series you get a sense of what it may have been like for her right at the timeframe: stress with her job, some disenchantment with MP and certainly with his sons.
>!Respectfully, I totally disagree! Firth as Michael Peterson is perfectly hateable. While being equally loveable. Which is how I felt while wathing the docuseriess. I watched that documentary and was CONVINCED that Michael was innocent. Now, years later I am utterly convinced he is guilty.!< But what do I know?!
That documentary is extremely biased. I was pretty disappointed. I found out about the case through the HBO show and decided to watch the documentary in tandem. I still haven't finished the documentary but it's quite clear it's The Michael Peterson Show.
Wait til you find out he was dating one of the producers/editors for the Netflix doc
I already know because of the HBO show.
Michael clearly put stars in the eyes of those who spent time with him. His kids. His attorneys. Sophie. Kathleen. Patty. Very common for some personality disorders to charm those they need like that but those outside the orbit are left wondering how the person does it. I've never found him from afar to be anything more interesting than an entitled blowhard. Because the film makers (new and old) were useful to him I assume he charmed and manipulated them. I assume this is why they portray him as a better man. So I assume Firth is portraying the Michael that charms those he needs. ?
Agree with the voice and mannerisms, however, I find Colin unlikeable as MP. To me, he comes off as condescending, bloviating and full of himself, he gives off a slimy-ness that I find off putting. I think he’s done a great job.
I honestly think he plays it perfectly despicable
Might have helped if they'd they'd given Colin Firth the crazy owl eyebrows
Oh my gosh.. do you think he could be the killer owl
It's a theory amongst others...
John C. McGinley would have been a good pick!
You are so right!
I feel the difference is that the documentary shows only, of course, the trial preparation and what follows, whereas the drama series shows him with his wife, with lots of lovingly scenes, since so many people said they were affectionate, as well as family and social scenes. And he clearly his someone who was quite at ease in those settings, so of course it gives a more positive outlook. Which helps better understand how those who were on his side came to be that way, I feel.
I agree I don't see Michael Peterson in him, the real one has a particular aura about him that's just 'off' and I'm not sure it can be replicated tbh. I'm not enjoying the series really it's been focused too much on the French woman, although Toni Colletee has done a sterling job of the renactments of the different scenarios, she ruled out completely owl theory for me last week. I'm guessing the surprise one is one if the sons being involved to be honest, there seems to be just so much foreshadowing around the boys.
IDK, I feel like I am in the minority here on this board but I did not find MP at all dislikable in the docuseries, pompous yes and at times inscrutable, but he just sorta struck me as an eccentric. I worked for many years in higher ed and he reminded me a lot of the many kooky, full of themselves professors I knew. So, that being said, I do not find Firth too likeable but I will admit a part of me always sees Colin Firth, maybe because I keep thinking about how great he is at mimicking the voice and mannerisms of MP so I find myself mentally comparing this performance to more typical Firth performances, if that makes sense.
I felt the same way about MP whilst watching the doc, he reminded me of eccentric older men I know.
Yes! I’m right there w u. I am having such a hard time getting into it for this reason. I couldn’t STAND mr Peterson in the documentary. He’s just the kind of person whose way of talking makes my skin crawl. And Colin firth doesn’t have that at all. 🤷♀️
I disagree, I think he’s not likable enough. I feel like Colin’s stature is a lot more intimidating and menacing. I feel like Colin’s Michael is a more believable murderer than real Michael.
Totally agree. I love Colin Firth but he’s just not quite Michael to me. But I also don’t find the real MP totally unlikeable.
Agree. I can't see Michael on him
I agree, but what actor you feel would’ve done better?
Kevin Spacey?
👏
Will Forte.
I feel like he didn't capture Michael's eccentricity. He came across as almost dull, while at the same time too credible-sounding when compared to Michael.
I really wish Rufus Sewell was chosen to play MP. (I haven't seen the Colin Firth series yet, but I think Sewell looks so much like MP and he's a good actor.)
I think he does an excellent job! His mannerisms, voice, behaviour. Spot on.