“Thirteen Reasons Why”–The Amber of the Moment
Thirteen Reasons Why: A Netflix Original TV mini-series about teen suicide
“The Break”– Or, The Nervous Breakdown?
The Break (La Trêve) is the first French-language Belgian TV crime drama now available as a Netflix Original. The Break is now my newest addition to my ever-growing listicle of bleak, grim, moody, obsessive dramas from around the world, many Scandinavian “noir”. This is a must-see.
The main character, police detective Yoann Peeters (the extraordinary Yoann Blanc)has moved rather reluctantly from Brussels to his hometown village of Heiderfeld. After the death of his wife and an internal affairs investigation that left his professional reputation compromised, Peeters is searching...
My Top 19 Netflix/Amazon Movies and Series for 2016
Here are the reviews I wrote this year with the criteria that they were available online and were not widely distributed through movie theaters. Of the 43, here are my favorites. It was much more difficult than in past years, since this year was absolutely stunning. Both television and cinema have continued to produce phenomenal story-telling.
The following list is not ranked –only grouped by genre. I could not limit my choices to only 10.
INDIES and FOREIGN CINEMA
1) “No”–Mad Men in Politics (June 19, 2016 review): In this Chilean film, with uncanny similarities...
“Black Mirror (Season 3): Hacking and Hijacking
Like the prior seasons, this season's six episodes of "Black Mirror" involve at least one unwitting main character who is controlled by devices or inventions that are supposed either to enhance the quality of life or be a source of entertainment.
“Good Girls Revolt”: The Upheaval Continues
The late 1960s was a time of volatile change in America that kindled the flame of the women’s liberation movement. Good Girls Revolt, an Amazon Original Series (released October 27, 2016) is a period drama based on the historical events that took place at “Newsweek” magazine, renamed “News of the Week” in the series.
“The Crown”–Glory to Her Highness
The anachronistic British aristocracy must sensitively negotiate its relationship with its public. “The Crown”, the November original series released from Netflix, is the story of a conflict between private and public, between the personal feelings of a wife, mother, and sister and the queen (Elizabeth II).
At its core “The Crown” is a character study and a family drama. Do you put personal fulfillment over political duty and obligation? That is the question. “The Crown” is a family saga, particularly between sisters. Conflicts with personal fulfillment and...