Here is a comedic jewel, poetic license on steroids; a contemporary interpretation of questionable historical veracity, creator Tony McNamara (co-wrote “The Favourite”) has the time of his life with Elle Fanning (also a producer) as the inimitable coup mistress, Catherine the Great (1729-1796); Fanning is stupendous as a naïve teenager, with fanciful romantic aspirations, bulldozed precipitously on her wedding night; …

When it comes to detectives, it is all about style; the crime solver has to be more fascinating than the crime; we savor their repeated series, lapping up their techniques, uniquely indigenous to each detective: Sherlock, Poirot, Morse, Foyle, Mrs. Fisher, Fletcher, Luther, Bosch (see past reviews, my avidity for master sleuths is staggering); “Bordertown’s” “Kari Sorjonen” is a detective, …

Unquestionably, Tom Hardy is the quintessential method actor in contemporary film, rivaling, at times resembling, Marlon Brando; from his 2001 debut in “Black Hawk Down”, “The Dark Night Rises”, “Mad Max”, “The Revenant” (Academy Award Nominee), “Dunkirk”, “Legend” and my most preferred “Locke”, a tour de force, rarely and exquisitely witnessed. In this revolting, scatological, rendition of Al Capone’s (1899-1947) …

Author Wally Lamb’s 1998, novel “I Know This Much is True” was so poetically profound that unlike most prominent best sellers, never becomes diaphanous, continues to resonate with the strength of a pen, perpetually pulsating with precociousness; distinctive, unrivaled characters, sear with extraordinary, painful authenticity; an unprecedented examination of the human condition; a soaring analysis, triumph of man’s capacity to …

“FORCE 2” is a limpid, crystalline, imitation of potent “Force One”; a second chance for hunky, handsome John Abraham to recreate his role of outlier, law enforcement officer, “Yash”, teamed with Captain KK (Sonakshi Sinha) to excavate a mole in India’s Budapest Embassy. Glorious glitz saves director Abhinay Deo’s film from placid anonymity; the action scenes fall into the “Kill …

From time’s commencement man has perpetually sought a deity or deities beyond his limitations; a force, willingly recognized as a power to be emulated, worshipped, lauded on a plane mortals can only aspire to; many who attained divine status were men among men: Buddha, Jesus. “Herrens Veje” is one of the finest series I have viewed in recent years; pulsating …

 In its third season, falls into the “not” category; first season was creatively twisted to the point of guaranteeing a second scenario, but sunk precipitously into idiocy, and season three is worthy of assassination: “Eve” (Sandra Oh, Golden Globe Winner) a bored MI5 agent, and “Villanelle” kooky, inventive serial killer (Jodie Comer, Emmy Winner), are matched as pungently powerful protagonists …

Incredulous, that the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution has yet to be ratified, after decades of crusaders pulverized opponents, attaining notoriety on an unprecedented scale: “Mrs. America” focuses on feminine forces, both yeas and nays, in this fascinating dissection of the female arena, framework of women grabbing control of their lives, thus enabling gratification to those who …

Dimensionless days, no longer defined by obligations, just “long day’s journey into night”; director Sam Hargraves “Extraction” piqued my interest solely because of the title; the universe has been “extracted” from the known, mundane, minutia, parameters that delineate Sunday’s from Friday’s; “Extraction” takes viewers into the crime-infested world of Bangladeshi drug lords and the kidnapping of “Ovi” (Rudraksh Jaiswal) the …

No matter your interest, macro or micro, in the sport’s arena, “The Last Dance” (ESPN, & Streaming devices) is worth every viewing second; parts 1, & 2 aired Sunday, April 19th continuing through Sunday, May 17th, 2020.  “The Last Dance” three words conjuring memories of prom nights, weddings, once in a lifetime celebratory events, reverberating with profound poignancy, lending a …