Television reviews – Page 10

“American Rust”(2021)–Corrosion and Decay

Written by Diana Paul on November 23, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews. 2 Comments on “American Rust”(2021)–Corrosion and Decay

American Rust is based on Philipp Meyer’s titular novel. This is a Showtime’s original series in which we watch police chief Del Harris (Jeff Daniels), struggle with his past. He is an Army combat veteran with PTSD, investigating the murder of a fellow police officer. Billy Poe, son of the woman he loves , Grace (Maura Tierney), is suspected of the murder. The camera, in the open scene, pans the waste and decay in Buell, Pennsylvania–a “flyover” town outside Pittsburgh. The residents and community are on the margins of life. Two...

“Only Murders in the Building”–A Cozy Mystery

Written by Diana Paul on October 25, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews. 5 Comments on “Only Murders in the Building”–A Cozy Mystery

In this Hulu original mini-series we see two septuagenarians from the entertainment industry begrudgingly have to team together to solve the murder of a young wealthy neighbor–Tim Kono– in The Arconia, a luxury New York City apartment building. Oliver (Martin Short), an out-of-work theatre director who relies upon his estranged son for financial support, imagines that the recent murder would make a popular “true-crime” podcast. Charles (Steve Martin), a retired actor who starred as a TV detective decades ago, will star as the narrator. Mabel, a millennial...

ON THE VERGE

Written by Diana Paul on October 20, 2021. Posted in Television reviews. No Comments on ON THE VERGE

Guest Reviewer: Jerry Ludwig, retired Hollywood screenwriter and author of The Black List Let’s hear it for the ladies. Actually, let’s hear from the ladies. “On The Verge” is a popular new Netflix show. Twelve half hours set in the snazzy Venice and Santa Monica beach playgrounds of L.A. It features an overlooked section of the audience. “Sex and the City” was about 30ish women, “The Golden Girls” covered the over-sixty crowd, now we have four (always the optimal number) besties in their fifties. ...

“Goliath” Season 4 (Finale)–Addiction

Written by Diana Paul on October 5, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews. 2 Comments on “Goliath” Season 4 (Finale)–Addiction

In this final season of Goliath we again see the still down-and-out “lemon lawyer” Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thornton) take on a giant corporation. This time it is an opioid mega-corporation, Zax Pharmaceuticals, and its billionaire CEO, George Zax (J.K. Simmons). In a fierce and lurid courtroom battle in San Francisco (eerily conjuring the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma in recent headlines), will McBride prevail? Season 4 opens with a flashback to Billy McBride, narrowly escaping death by gunshot. Billy’s mental...

“Nine Perfect Strangers”–A Hot Mess

Written by Diana Paul on September 29, 2021. Posted in Television reviews. 1 Comment on “Nine Perfect Strangers”–A Hot Mess

Nine Perfect Strangers is based on the Liane Moriarty novel by the same name. Starring Nicole Kidman as Masha, a spiritual therapist, she is reputed to heal all wounds of her wealthy clients at her wellness retreat, Tranquillum. Following closely after the release of White Lotus (see my August 17, 2021 review), the same territory is explored: why do uber-rich white people seem so unhappy? There is the damaged novelist (Melissa McCarthy) who just can’t trust anyone. Another has a virulent past of drug addiction (the superb Bobby Cannavale as a physically damaged...

“Sandra Day O’Connor–The First”

Written by Diana Paul on September 20, 2021. Posted in Television reviews, Unhealed Wound. 3 Comments on “Sandra Day O’Connor–The First”

For almost 200 years, the United States Supreme Court was a male bastion. In PBS’s American Experience: “Sandra Day O’Connor: The First” we see Sandra Day O’Connor become the first woman Supreme Court Justice. She is remembered for being the critical swing vote on cases involving this country’s most controversial issues, including race, gender and reproductive rights — and for casting the decisive vote in Bush v. Gore. Her riveting–often unexpected– family and career trajectory are explored in this timely biographical portrait. Born...