Tag: Hulu original

Black Cake–Crumbs from the Past or Just Desserts?

Written by Diana Paul on December 24, 2023. Posted in Television reviews. No Comments on Black Cake–Crumbs from the Past or Just Desserts?

In this haunting story of a young girl’s treacherous journey from Jamaica to England and then to California, we see the erasing of her past in order to survive. Black Cake is a Hulu eight-episode miniseries based on the titular best-selling novel by the Jamaican American author, Charmaine Wilkerson. Opening in the late 1960’s with a beautiful young Jamaican teenager, Covey Lyncook (Mia Isaac) is practicing swimming in order to compete competitively. Her mother left when she was a young child, and her father, a debt-ridden gambler, does the unforgivable: trade his debts for his...

“Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”–Full Exposure

Written by Diana Paul on July 3, 2022. Posted in movie reviews. 2 Comments on “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”–Full Exposure

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, (Hulu, released on June 17), a two-actor comedic drama set in a hotel room, tells their story while having sex. There’s nothing fussy, nothing to distract. Human interaction of the most intimate kind–emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and sensually– is the main theme here. Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson), a sixty-three year old, recent widow, has never had an orgasm in her 31-year marriage. Fearing that this may be her last chance to find out what she has been missing, she hires a young 24-year-old male...

“Dopesick” (2021)–Lies Upon Lies

Written by Diana Paul on December 13, 2021. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews, Unhealed Wound. 2 Comments on “Dopesick” (2021)–Lies Upon Lies

Based on journalist Beth Macy’s book Dopesick, this Hulu eight-episode miniseries focuses on the early epicenter of the US’s struggle with the opioid addiction. Purdue Pharma, the Sackler mega-company that manufactured the deadly painkiller OxyContin, is the catalyst for an epic tragedy involving the duplicitous collusion with drug distributors, doctors, university researchers, and government agencies (Department of Justice, DEA, and FDA). Dopesick involves a series of characters impacted by OxyContin:. Finnix (Michael Keaton) a family physician in a small coal-mining...

“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...

“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...

“The Accident”–Unexpected Trauma

Written by Diana Paul on February 28, 2021. Posted in Television reviews. 1 Comment on “The Accident”–Unexpected Trauma

The Accident , a four-part British series, plunges into a Welsh community’s fight for justice after an explosion on a construction site kills several local teenagers. The town of Glyngolau, Wales is comparable to many Appalachian coal mine and steel mill towns. Most have lost their main employers, leaving everyone in financial ruin. To the rescue is a large real estate developer, Kallbridge Developments. It swoops in, promising a thousand local jobs, and the residents breath a sigh of relief. Iwan Bevan, head of the town...