Dept. Q

 

Set in Scotland and therefore classified as "tartan" noir. Dept. Q sees DCI Morck and his team shot while investigating a murder scene. Flash forward 4 months and the PTSD riddled detective is put in charge of a new cold case program and takes up the 4 yr. old case of a missing prosecutor. With a mostly UK production team, it should come as no surprise this is extremely well done and engaging the entire way. Dept. Q is well written and well acted with many familiar UK character actors making appearances and It's filled with the kind of character/story touches that separate average fair from the sublime and it's hard to imagine coming away from this disappointed. Don't hesitate.

The Handmaid's Tale

 

With the airing of the series finale today, its time to reflect on what we have just witnessed. The Handmaid's Tale takes place in the not to distant future where a dictatorial theocracy has grabbed power and relegated women to concubines, maids and wives. This epic journey you will undertake if you decide to watch is a slow burn with heavy religious undertones that takes its time trying to explain how this horrid government came into power. The Handmaid's Tale checks all the boxes and is one of those rare shows that has done enough and said enough to be included in conversation about the most important TV shows of the 21st century. Blessed be the fruit.....

Sirens

 

5 part mini-series sees Moore married to billionaire Bacon at their Summer home in the Hamptons. Moore and her assistant Lilly Alcott deal with the unexpected arrival of Alcott's sister which drives the action. You will keep watching because you just know there is a train wreck coming, you just don't know where. Thoroughly bingeable and entertaining the entire way. Well acted and well written. It might not be the most original thing in the world, but it will keep you guessing and the ending is a nice little cherry on top. Worth the time.

The Last Showgirl

 

Pamela Anderson is perfectly casted as an aging showgirl who has to deal with the closing of her long time Vegas revue. This is a character study in the first degree. Anderson shines in this role, as she has to deal with her future and her estranged daughter. The problem with the film is it just isn't very interesting. Soft Pass...

Etoile

 

When Amy Sherman Palladino puts her name on something you run to see it. She's responsible for what was IMO the GOAT tv show (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) so her work deserves the attention. The New York and Paris ballet companies do an exchange of talent for a season, the fiery Cheyenne goes to NYC and the star choreography goes to Paris. Perfectly cast and in typical Palladino fashion the writing is as smart as it gets. There are so many jokes you'll miss half of them. This was my first exposure into the world of professional dance and it's got my interest piqued, so I imagine this is going to bump the popularity of a dying art form.  BTW.. An Etoile is the #1 or star dancer in a ballet company. There have been some great some great shows this year, but I am going to have to give the top spot to this. I hope we get a million seasons of it. Top of the Heap.

The Studio

 

Apple TV strikes again. Seth Rogen is made the head of a movie studio and this show deals with his day to day during a time when the studio is producing a Kool-Aid film. Fast-paced and hilarious the entire way. The cast is loaded with stars and does a great job. Rogen and Barinholtz are both hilarious, which isn't hard to do with this kind of cracker jack writing. A ride you will not regret taking. Highly Recommended.

 The Witch

In 1630's New England a family is cast out of their Puritan community and forced to live isolated in the wilderness and when their children start dying their religious fears take over. The first major role for Anya Taylor-Joy and she is utterly magnificent and carries this very stark, realistic and moody horror film. Filmed in glorious B&W and featuring stylistic choices that would become cornerstones of Eggers style, this film help shape him into one of the best directors of Horror in the world right now. This one should be on everyone's Halloween watch list.

Bet

 

Based on a Manga, a private school full of rich kids determines social status by their prowess at gambling. A misfire that could have been something if the script wasn't written by a room full of monkeys is not without its good points. It's stylish, campy and the lead actress, Miku Martineau, is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. She reminds me of Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill Vol. 1, but even her otherworldly beauty is still not enough to recommend this stinker. Pass

Common Side Effects

 

Brilliant animated series created by Adult Swim sees Marshall discover a mushroom that can cure anything, but Big Pharma isn't having it. This is a rare combination of bone dry comedy, conspiracy thriller and drama and it all works together seamlessly. Produced by Mike Judge, so you will hear Hank Hill and recognize the animation style, albeit kicked up a notch, but that's where the similarities end. You do not need to like animation to enjoy this show and it should not be a barrier to entry. I have no idea why more people aren't talking about this show. A Must see.

Andor

 

Almost everyone reprises their roles from Star Wars Rogue One in this outstanding show. The series is the origin story of Cassian Andor and also recounts the early days of the rebellion. Disney spared no expense with this series, it's filled with heavy hitters and apex production values making it hard not to be entertained. With S2 in the books, its safe to say this is at the very top of the Star Wars food chain. Highly recommended.

Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office

More first-rate British TV. Based on the true story of a large group of British post masters who were accused of theft and fraud due to a computer glich. Toby Jones plays Mr. Bates who, in an Erin Brockovich, sort of way organizes everybody for a class action lawsuit. This is fresh off my BAFTA watchlist, checks all the boxes and is well deserving of its win as Best British Limited series. Highly recommended. 

Noonas

 

A wonderfully heartwarming film about Joey, who loses his mother and decides to open a restaurant with Italian grandmothers as the chefs. Vince Vaughn shines, as does the whole cast, in a film about love, family and cooking three things important to everyone. Growing up in an Italian household made this really hit home with me, but you don't have to be Italian to enjoy this. Worth every second.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

 

The Best Film of the Year, so far. This is incredible film making in every aspect of the word. A widowed lottery winner invites his favorite folk duo to his island home to play a reunion concert for the anniversary of his wife's passing. The cast are all incredible. The script, tone and feel are all pitch perfect. Just off awards seasons or it would have been drowning in them. A must see.

Wilding

 

Remarkable and inspiring documentary about a 200 yr old farm in Southern England that tries something radical. In order to save their "dead" land., they stop farming and let their farm animals run wild. The results are awe inspiring. It's only an hour and 15 minutes and its worth every second. Highly Recommended and for environmentalists this is heaven.

The Eternaut

 

Really solid sci-fi out of Argentina. An alien invasion is preceded by a toxic snow that kills on contact, but that's only the start of what the survivors have to endure. Plenty of tension and a good script based on the Graphic Novel. Well worth the time.

The Four Seasons

 

Based on and shares content with the 1981 film by Alan Alda. Three couples vacation together every season and things get a little tricky when one of them ditches his wife for a younger women and starts bringing her on them. Talky, relationship-based romcom may not be for everyone, but its got a top notch cast, tremendous production values and is well written enough to recommend. 7/10 or so is about right.

Good American Family

 

Based on a true story, a family adopts a 7yr old child with dwarfism from a shady agency and surprise, it turns out she isn't what she appears to be. There are two distinct parts to this series episodes 1-4 which play out like a psychological thriller where Imogen Reid does her best impression of a children of the corn extra and episodes 5-8 which flips episodes 1-4 on its ear. This show is certainly interesting if nothing else. Duplass is excellent as the moronic, duche bag dad and Reid is super creepy as Natalia Grace. The story takes enough unexpected turns to make it worth watching. Not great, but not bad either.