Author: Diana Paul

Crimson Rivers–”Silent Witness” meets “Engrenages”

Written by Diana Paul on May 14, 2023. Posted in Television reviews. 1 Comment on Crimson Rivers–”Silent Witness” meets “Engrenages”

Crimson Rivers (“Les Rivières Pourpres”-2018-2022), a twenty-four episode French detective series, has three seasons of two-episode crimes which special investigator Pierre Niémans (Olivier Marchal) and his protégée, Lieutenant Camille Delauney (Erika Sainte) are obsessed to solve. The much-younger Camille Delauney, intrepid to a fault, always finds herself in difficult situations chasing after clues. The aging Niémans arrogantly dismisses, derides, or reveals his Gallic disdain for anyone–especially Camille–who questions his authority and judgment. She is often on the right...

Holy Spider—A Web of Horror and Mayhem

Written by Diana Paul on May 8, 2023. Posted in movie reviews. No Comments on Holy Spider—A Web of Horror and Mayhem

Holy Spider, based on a true story and a graphic novel, retells the harrowing battle of a fearless woman journalist, Rahimi (Cannes Film festival award winner for best actress, Zar Amir- Ebrahimi) who investigates a brutal murderer nicknamed “Spider Killer”. Sixteen young prostitutes in the religiously conservative Iranian town of Mashhad City have each been dumped into a field. A fanatical psychopath on a religious mission to “cleanse” the streets of sex workers, middle-aged Saeed, is a construction worker and war veteran. He becomes a vigilante who stalks...

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) –A Classic

Written by Diana Paul on May 1, 2023. Posted in movie reviews. No Comments on Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) –A Classic

This legendary thriller marked its sixtieth anniversary last year. Yet so many young viewers have yet to witness this masterpiece of film-making: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. This Robert Aldrich-produced film stands the test of time. An unforgettable descent into chaotic madness is exquisitely dramatized in true Alfred Hitchcock fashion. (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane was released only two years after “Psycho”, another masterpiece of psychic horror.) Child star ‘Baby Jane’ Hansen (Bette Davis), supports her family by playing a sweet innocent...

The Last of Us–An Apocalypse?

Written by Diana Paul on April 25, 2023. Posted in Television reviews. No Comments on The Last of Us–An Apocalypse?

In a fictional America presented as 2023, not in the future, The Last of Us opens with the country under siege from a pandemic caused by a deadly fungus (cordyceps.) Based on the insanely popular video game (over 20 million copies sold) by the same name, the screen adaptation takes the viewer into a toxic world with more developed characters and personalities. Ellie (Bella Ramsey of “Game of Thrones”) is a teenage orphan who is believed to be immune to the fungal disease that has wiped out most of the planet’s population. Those who survive the fungus turn into monstrous,...

The Good Nurse–Compromising Bedside Manner

Written by Diana Paul on April 17, 2023. Posted in movie reviews. No Comments on The Good Nurse–Compromising Bedside Manner

Inspired by a true story ripped from the headlines, The Good Nurse, a medical thriller, takes the viewer on a nightmare ride of the ICU unit at Parkfield Memorial Hospital, in New Jersey. The year is 2003. Charlie Cullens (the incomparable Eddie Redmayne) is hired to help Amy Loughren (the always dazzling Jessica Chastain), an overworked nurse and single mother with a life-threatening heart condition. Ironically, Amy cannot afford the medical care she desperately needs while working in a hospital. Grateful to have a highly competent nurse to share...

Narvik–A Forgotten Battle

Written by Diana Paul on April 10, 2023. Posted in movie reviews. 3 Comments on Narvik–A Forgotten Battle

In Narvik, a war drama inspired by historical events, we witness Hitler’s first defeat: in a small town in Norway called Narvik. Although sparsely populated, Narvik is strategically situated as a northern Norwegian coastal port that supplies iron ore to both Germany and the Allies. In April 1940, at the start of two months of fierce winter warfare, the Germans unilaterally seize a hotel for their center of command. The Nazis rely upon Narvik for 85% of their iron ore supply. However, Narvik considers itself a neutral supplier of iron ore to...