While not as captivating as the first parts of the trilogy, To Be the Best has its strengths, including a standout performance from Academy AwardŽ winner Anthony Hopkins, who plays Paula's chief of security. Thanks to Hopkins's performance, what might otherwise have seemed like a long-lost episode of Dynasty is also part espionage thriller. As Paula gets inveigled into a series of compromising business situations in Hong Kong, it is her dapper and debonair chief of security who repeatedly saves the day. --Tara Chace
This is soap opera trash at its worst. The plot devices are weak and quite distasteful: drugs, a prostitute turned shy wife, an over-the-top vindictive cousin/villain. The fight seens are choreographed so badly that I had to laugh. Lindsay Wagner is neither British nor convincing as the Harte CEO, Paula O'Neill, granddaughter of Emma Harte. David Robb as the disappointed husband Shane O'Neill comes across whiney and helpless - a far cry from the supportive, driven and romantic character played by Stephen Collins in Hold the Dream. I cannot figure out why Stephanie Beacham would consent to play such an awful 1-dimensional character as Arabella - the french whore who marries the vindictive cousin at the request of his "loyal" Chinese side-kick. There are a few good moments of activing from Anthony Hopkins as chief of Harte's security. But the plot just doesn't make sense - the robbery at the beginning of the movie is never solved or explained; and why would Paula risk losing the stores by selling her stock knowing that her cousin is out to ruin her?
A Woman of Substance was a magnificent book and its mini-series is very well done. This third entry in the Harte trilogy is rubbish. Don't waste your time.
