Red Rock Episode 2 2015

     Bridget Kiely, Keith, Darren and the ex-wife of Vincent return to Red Rock after living in the United Kingdom.  Liam is delighted to have his daughter home to help run the cafe.  As she gets the cafe ready for opening, she can’t help but think about the consequences her actions could have on their business.  When a brick comes flying through the pub window, Patricia is keen on pushing the issue &      seeking justice.

     The Kiely family swears revenge on the Hennessys, leading Bridget Kiely to arrange an attack on the Hennessy's youngest son, David.  Sharon and Angela are forced to break the news to an elderly man that his daughter has died while traveling Morocco.  When they find the man collapsed on his kitchen floor, they discover that he just has days to live.  They decide against telling him the tragic news.  

     Supt. McKay and his wife are told devastating news that they have suffered a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy.  Paudge is tricked into thinking he has lost a squad car.  Darren Kiely's was is interrupted by the arrival of an unwanted guest.       

     The Irish have different expression terms.  Sorted it out, winding ya up, boxed the head off him, don't you swan off, her hormones are all over the shop, I thought we seen the back of ya.  This series was the most popular show on TV3 and repeats were run in the summer because of popular demand.  3 1/2* (I liked this episode)

Created by Peter Mckenna with Patrick Ryan, Andrea Irvine, David Crowley, Jane McGrath, Valerie O’Connor, Boyko Krastanov, Denise McCormack, Paul Roe, Cathy Belton, India Mullen, Roisin O’Donovan, Steven Cromwell, Richard Flood, Adam Weafer, Pandora McCormick.

Note:  Amazon 4 1/2* with 300 reviews, Imdb 7.7* out of 10* with 782 ratings, Daily Mail Christopher Stevens 4* out of 5*, Rotten Tomatoes, Netflix 3 1/2* out of 5*.

Red Rock Episode 1 2015

      The Kielys and Hennessys, Red Rock’s feuding families have a bitter history with no love-lost between them.  After a row with Michael Hennessy, Darren Kiely has been knocked unconscious in what must be an attack.  Garda police member Sharon Cleere looks for security footage of the attack on Kiely and she makes a shocking discovery.  

     The filming location for this series is Ireland and there are 80 episodes in this series.  It is based in a fictional seaside town near Dublin.  Most of the filming is done in an old cigarette factory in Dublin.  Unfortunately one viewer has reported that chunks have been edited out of all the episodes?  The sub-plots have been removed and characters refer to events that no longer exist in the shortened episodes.  A body is discovered on the pier and Garda is investigating the identity of the victim plus the circumstances related to this crime.  5* (I really liked this episode)

  

Crime Drama, each episode in 22 minutes in length, created by Peter McKenna with Sean Mahon, Cathy Belton, Jane McGrath, Patrick Ryan, David Crowley, Boyko Krastanov, Andrea Irvin, Paul Roe, Denise McCormack, Stephen Cromwell, Anthony Brophy, Valerie O’Connor, Richard Flood.

  

Note:  Amazon 4.3* out of 5*, Imdb 7.7* out of 10* with 781 reviews, Netflix 3 1/2* out of 5*, dailymail.couk 4* out of 5*, Netflix 3 1/2* out of 5*, dailymail.co.uk 4* out of 5*.

I’m Your Woman 2020

      This is an Amazon Prime original from last year starring the actress that plays Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan.  It’s the 1970’s & Jean is a thief’s wife.  One day Eddie shows up with an infant and she takes him into her arms with a puzzled expression on her face.  We learn later that Eddie and Jean have been trying to have a child of their own but they haven’t been able to.  Eddie leave Jean with the baby and she names him Harry.  Soon, there is a knock and one of Eddie’s comrades comes to see Jean.  Cal tells her get Harry and they have got to go?  Jean leaves with Cal and he takes her to a suburban home.  

     Cal explicitly tells Jean not to engage with anyone.  After a lengthy time with Jean bored mindless and eating her bad cooking she meets a neighbor women, Evelyn.  She comes to the door with food and they start a friendship.  This doesn’t last very long because the people pursuing Jean and looking for Eddie find her.  Cal steps in and shoots the men.  He takes Jean to a remote cabin and Cal’s wife Teri, her son & Cal’s dad arrive. More information is given about Jean’s situation.

     There is a nail biting car chase near the film’s end but otherwise Jean has nothing to work with in this film?  We have scenes of her caring for the baby or trying to make dinner.  Cal & Eddie’s story seems to be the thread director Julia Hart should have pursued?  A woman, a baby and a wad of cash sends Jean and Cal down the road with more characters added along the way.  There are a LOT of twists and turns.  Despite criticism, I liked this movie.  I especially liked the cars of this time period.  3 1/2*

120 min, Drama directed by Julia Hart, screenwriter Jordan Horowitz, producer Rachel Brosnahan and Jordan Horowitz with Rachel Brosnahan, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Arinze Kene, Jameson Charles, Bill Heck, Marceline Hugot, James McMenamin, Haley Flanagan, Daniel Johnson. 

Note:  Imdb 6.2* out of 10* with 7.4K reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% with 151 reviews 49% with 250+ audience scores, Metacritic 63 of 100 with 25 critic reviews 6.2 of 10 with 17 user scores, washingtonpost.com 3* Michael O'Sullivan, RollingStone 3* out of 5* Claire Shaffer, Amazon 3.3* out of 5* with 1627 ratings.

Goliath Season 1 Episode 6 Line of Fire

      Billy will need to go to great lengths to secure his physical evidence's safety and preserve his witnesses' credibility.  This episode opens with a flashback of Billy and Marisol (she is running for the position of Mayor) enjoying a conversation on a balcony.  They talk about the prospect of selling his home.  His daughter Denise comes out onto the balcony and she is curious about what they are talking about?  The scene then merges to real life on the same balcony and Denise tells him to forget about Marisol.  This is an indication of where Billy’s mind is at the moment.

Directed by Lawrence Trilling, written by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro with Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby, Nina Arianda, Molly Parker, Tania Raymonde, Sarah Wynter, Britain Dalton, Damon Gupton, Harold Perrineau, Dwight Yoakam, Kevin Weisman, Diana Hopper, Juan Gabriel Pareja, Rigo Sanchez, Patrick Robert Smith, Julie Brister, Jason Ritter. 

Special Note:  Jason Ritter is in the role of an FBI Agent.  His father, the late John Ritter, was a close friend of Billy Bob Thornton.  He appeared in Sling Blade and prior to that role they starred together in the sit-com Hearts Afire.  

Bosch Season 7 episode 8 Por Sonia

     As Billets posts the Hollywood homicide detectives’ new assignments, Bosch puts a plan in motion to arrest Mickey Pena.  This could lead to some severe consequences?  The feds have Pena in protective custody and they won’t be happy with Bosch doing some intervening!!  

     Billets settles up with Norris and Leonard and it’s not in their favor.  Maddie makes a decision about her future.  She doesn’t know what will happen with Honey Chandler in the hospital?  Will Honey recover from her injuries.  If Honey does not reopen her practice, Maddie will need to find other employment.  

     Chief Irving’s plan for a second term succeeds but at what cost?  Jerry seems to have turned a corner.  Billets gets some positive news about her career.  Honey Chandler is steadily improving but will she fully recover?  Bosh is steadfast in his efforts to bring Pena to justice.  The Hollywood Homicide detectives who have been messing with Billets receive their reassignments!!  Scott Anderson may have one of his biggest stories yet?  This is the last episode of the Bosch Series.  

     Supposedly, there will be no more episodes??  It’s been a long ride with 7 seasons!!   5 1/2* (I really liked this episode)

Note:  apocalypse.co/entertainment 8.5* out of 10*, Imdb 8.2* out of 10* with 3.1K ratings, tveskimo.com 8* out of 10*. 

You Belong to Me 2002

     This television movie is based on a novel written by Mary Higgins Clark.  A psychologist uses her call-in radio show to help lonesome women.  She learns about a killer and when she delves deeper she may become the next victim!!   Two sisters are interested in a possible rich lover.  The question is, which sister will be asked to go on a cruise with Mr. Rich Man?

     A woman has called into the show offering information on the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a cruise ship years ago.  The killer appears to stalk lonely women and if the killer learns about Susan's investigation, she may be putting herself in danger?

     There is a catch involved in Susan going on this cruise.  The radio show host is investigating murders on cruise ships.  She is planning on going on a cruise herself but she determines she will not be a victim.  Will this be possible for her to accomplish or will she be drawn into the web of the killer?  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

Mistake:  When Carolyn Wells wakes up from the coma, she talks with the ventilator tube in her mouth.  This would be impossible since it would be all the way down her throat?

88 min, Mystery directed by Paolo Barzman with Lesley-Anne Down, Tony De Santis, Barclay Hope, Daniel Morgenroth, Kate Trotter, Michelle Nolden, Lori Hallier, Tony Rosato, Alex Karzis, Sandi Ross, Michael A Miranda, Arnold Pinnock, Robert Seeliger, Ramona Milano.

Note:  Imdb 6* out of 10* with 282 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 62% with 100+ audience scores, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 58 reviews, Letterboxd three 1/2* ratings, seven 2* ratings, five 2 1/2* ratings, three 3* ratings, Goodreads gives the book 3.88* out of 5* with 24,886 rations and 603 reviews.  

Goliath Season 1 Episode 5 Cover Your Ass

      Gina the widow of Ryan Larson is now on board because she loves her son.  She also realizes that the written suicide note from Ryan is iffy.  Billy digs further into this factor.  He is employing Ryan’s son Jason and also his witness/engineer Ned Berring.  The big story is the hearing which requires Ned to identify substances that could make the case much more interesting.  Unfortunately, certain factors make him a horrible witness.  Meanwhile we are introduced to a time capsule uncovered in the Larson backyard.  

     A restraining order is presented to keep Billy away from his wife's home (the home he built) and the head lawyer at the firm is in cahoots for some interesting reasons.  There is also a weird relationship developing between Donald and Lucy.  She is the ambitious although incredibly fragile and naive young lawyer working for Donald’s firm.  Behind the scenes lurks danger for everyone.  There is a frightening figure we've seen before and there are so many angles yet to be interpreted?  5* (I really liked this episode)

Directed by Lawrence Trilling, written by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro with Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby, Nina Arianda, Molly Parker, Tania Raymonde, Sarah Wynter, Britain Dalton, Damon Gupton, Dwight Yoakam, Kevin Weisman, Kevin Weisman, Diana Hopper, Juan Gabriel Pareja, Rigo Sanchez, Patrick Robert Smith, Gilbert Owuor, Julie Brister

Note:  Imdb 8.2* out of 10* with 849 reviews, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 84.880 global ratings, godzilla.co/reviews/amazon-uk-tv-review 8*.    

Bosch Season 7 episode 7 Workaround

     Robertson and Bennett follow the hitman’s trail to Las Vegas.  They are hoping to find a connection to Fowkes’ other clients.  When Billets performs a security evaluation at a local jewelry shop, she gets more than she bargained for.  Her regular "friends" Officers Norris and Leonard arrange to have Billets’ car searched.  Of course, they have planted the exact pair of earrings in Billet’s car that she looked at at the jewelry shop!!  This trick doesn’t go very far when the owner spills the beans that Norris and Leonard have been shaking him down for jewelry they don’t pay for!! 

     Maddie will be required to testify before the grand jury in order to have her testimony on record.  It won’t be necessary to kill her because she has already said what she knows.  Chief Irving asks FBI agent Jack Brenner for help with Alvarez.  He does learn something useful about Pena.  The father of the ten year old girl killed in the apartment fire pays Bosch a visit.  

60 min, Crime written by Michael Connelly and Eric Overmeyer, produced by Daniel Pyne, Eric Overmeyer, Henrik Bastin, Pieter Jan Brugge, John Mankiewicz, Elle Johnson with Lance Reddick, Amy Aquino, Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching, Jamie Hector, Jason Gedrick, Madison Lintz.

A Serious Man 2009

      Bloomington Minnesota 1967, Jewish physics lecturer Larry Gopnik is a serious and a very put-upon man.  His daughter is stealing from him to save up for a nose job.  His pot-head son gets stoned at his own bar-mitzvah and only wants Larry around to fix the TV antenna.  His useless brother Arthur is an unwelcome house guest.  But, both Arthur and Larry get sent out into a motel!!  Larry's wife Judy wants a divorce and she moves her lover, Sy into the house.  Even after Sy's death in a car crash Arthur and Larry are still at the motel?  Larry has attorney bills mounting up and up for his divorce.  Arthur has a criminal court appearance and a land feud with a neighbor.  Larry is tempted to take a bribe offered by a student to give him an illegal exam pass mark.  The rabbis he visits for advice only dole out platitudes.  Still, God moves in mysterious and not always pleasant ways and Larry and his family will find this out.

     This film features extensive use of marijuana and in some cases by pre-teen boys.  There is lots of profanity throughout the film.  There’s some sexual material as well.  A distant view of a topless sunbather, a dream-sequence sex scene and some brief but bloody moments of violence.  The movie also offers viewers complex questions to ponder on the subjects of faith and religion, especially the Jewish faith.  This film is what happens when you take interesting and quirky characters but do nothing with them?  It’s full of cringe comedy and nothing else!!  This just emphasizes the hopelessness of the characters and their lives.  It is too vicious to be funny, too dry to be interesting and too boring to be memorable.  Of course, it’s competently acted and filmed but if nothing happens what good is it??  3* (This movie is OK)

Note:  Imdb 7* out of 10* with 135,599 reviews, Common Sense Media James Rocchi 4* out of 5*, age 17+ 3* violence, sex, 4* language, drinking, drugs & smoking, Rotten Tomatoes 89% with 225 critic reviews, 68% with 50,000+ audience scores, Metacritic 84 out of 100 with 38 critic reviews, 6.7 out of 10 with 322 user scores, Roger Ebert 4*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 878 ratings.

Special Note:  The Coen Brothers stated that the opening scene was nothing more than a little short that they made up to get the audience in the proper mood.  Really, there is no meaning behind it?  In his argument with the Columbia House records employee over the phone, Larry repeatedly rejects the album Abraxas by Santana.  This is a Gnostic term for God, particularly a God who encompasses all things from Creator of the Universe to the Devil and an etymological root for “abracadabra".  It is implied that Larry is vehemently rejecting mysticism, pantheism, and magic.  Sarah Gopnik repeatedly talks about going to "The Whole". The Whole is the music club in the basement of the University of Minnesota student union. It opened in the 1960s.

Mistakes:  The Columbia Record Club representative informs Larry that he received a copy of the Santana album "Abraxas". This album was released in 1970, three years after the time period of this movie.  Near the end of the movie, the Hebrew School teacher announces that "The Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning”.  The National Weather Service was known as the Weather Bureau until late in 1970.  Three-pronged electric sockets are visible throughout the movie, especially obvious at the dentist's workbench.  At this time three-pronged sockets were exceptionally rare.

Downloading Nancy 2008

     The premise of Downloading Nancy is a depressed housewife attempts to solicit murderers in online chat rooms.  She wants help to pull off a psycho-assisted suicide?  It seems like this plot with come to fruition?In the vein of Neil LaBute’s style of behind-closed-doors perversion but director Johan Renck has something else in mind.  He is delivering what’s essentially an emotionally sterile and self-serious terminal disease drama without a moment of levity to be found from first frame to last.  A creepy curtain-raiser that follows Nancy (a sallow, up-for-three-days-looking Maria Bello) on a final tour of pleasures to a gaming arcade of the kind beloved in her youth.  This is a good indication of the weightiness in store.  It’s also Renck’s most effective stab at creating genuine sympathy for an utterly broken main character.  It comes when Nancy’s palpable sadness is already resonating.  But her other more unpalatable characteristics as a maniacally self-involved, juvenile pain fetishist and attention junkie have yet to be teased out?

     Maria Bello doesn't seem to care what people think of her choices in movieMaria Bello doesn't seem to care what people think of her choices in movie roles. Again she chooses a very difficult and not popular movie to star in. Maybe she needs those movies, to get off the sugar coated (aka "Hollywood") ones she does here and then (Coyote Ugly and of course Mummy 3).  This film does not bring about what it sets out to do.  It is the performance of Bello that brings life to this film.  The subject matter is strange and you will either like this aspect or you will not like it?  There are flaws with bad pacing and the drama, it is also still too long.  3* (This movie is just OK)

Drama/thriller 102 min with Maria Bello, Rufus Sewell, Jason Patric, Amy Brenneman, Michael Nyqvist, directed by Johan Renck, written by Pamela Cuming and Lee Ross, produced by David Moore, Igor Kovacevich, Cole Payne and Jason Essex.  

Note:  Imdb 5.7* out of 10* with 4.7k reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 19% with 32 critic reviews 43% with 5000+ audience scores, Slant Magazine 2* out of 4* Ryan Stewart, Amazon 3 1/2* with 72 ratings, screenrant.com 1* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Maria Bello has chosen a very difficult and not a popular movie to bring to the screen?  Maybe she needs these movies to get off the sugar coated (Hollywood) movies she does here and there?  Maria doesn't seem to care what people think of her choices in movie roles?  This time she has chosen to star in a very difficult and not popular movie.  

Goliath Season 1 episode 4 It’s Donald

      Billy has to go to great lengths to secure his physical evidence's safety and preserve his witnesses' credibility.  This episode is rooted in violence and Cooperman demands to meet with Billy.  There are also more layers in this episode.  The FBI becomes involved and Billy is nearly killed.  His wife is caught with her lover by their daughter after she has been to see Billy? 

     The big meeting with Cooperman and Billy is filled with tension and fraught with mystery.  Internally, there is dysfunction within his firm because Cooperman's paranoia is off the charts.  No one can tell him anything.  Billy has used Brittany and the others and they are really hurting.  They are receiving nothing for this case and don't know if anything will ever come from the case.  Plus, it is clear they are all in danger.  They begin extorting the cop that beat Billy up.  It appears that no matter what, no one comes out very well.  (I really liked this episode 5*)

Directed by Lawrence Trilling, written by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro with Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby, Nina Arianda, Molly Parker, Tania Raymonde, Sarah Wynter, Britain Dalton, Damon Gupton, Harold Perrineau, Dwight Yoakam, Kevin Weisman, Rigo Sanchez, Patrick Robert Smith, Sarah Baker, Matthew Bohrer.

Note:  Each episode 55 min, action, Imdb 8.4* out of 10* with 841 ratings, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 84,783 reviews, Metacritic 65 out of 100 with 26 critic reviews 7.6 out of 10 with 114 user scores. 

Special Note:  Jason Ritter plays an FBI Agent.  His father, the late John Ritter was a close friend of Billy Bob Thornton having appeared in Sling Blade.  Before that, they starred together in the sit-com Hearts Afire.

Bosch Season 7 episode 6 The Greater Good

      J. Reason Folkes esquire, played for seven seasons by Spencer Garret, is just a sniveling bottom feeder.  He has represented numerous scumbags that Bosch has put away into jail.  Now, at the end of the previous episode, he sees our sweet Maddie on the Franzen tape.  He grabs his phone and tells someone on the other end to come back.  We can only assume that it’s Carl Roger’s favorite hitman?  The person who has shot Honey Chandler and killed Vincent.  But as we are about to find out, karma can be tough!!

     LAPD is on high alert when they believe the hit man will be returning to make another hit.  Of course, they believe he will be coming into the airport and it will be soon.  Folkes is about to call it a night but he sees that his office door is wide open?  He enters, ready to turn off the lights and go to bed.  He is wearing his pajamas that would cost someone else a full paycheck.  He hears a voice and he looks by his desk.  He sees the untrustworthy hitman sitting in his chair?  It’s the same man he always uses but has never actually seen.  They want to tie up loose ends and the lawyer is one of them.  He puts a couple of holes in those silky PJ’s!!  If he didn’t make the world a safer place, he certainly made it a more ethical one!!  5* (I really liked this episode)

60 min, Crime written by Michael Connelly and Eric Overmeyer, produced by Daniel Pyne, Eric Overmeyer, Henrik Bastin, Pieter Jan Brugge, John Mankiewicz, Elle Johnson with Lance Reddick, Amy Aquino, Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching, Jamie Hector, Jason Gedrick, Madison Lintz.

Union Pacific 1939

      Veteran actor Dick Allen and gambler Sid Campeau plot to derail the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad at the behest of crooked banker Asa M. Barrows.  He is a major investor in a competing railroad line who will profit from any delays.  Meanwhile, Allen and his old friend railroad boss Jeff Butler compete for the attention of Mollie Monahan.  She is a beautiful Irish postmistress and daughter of the railroad engineer.  One of the last bills signed by President Lincoln authorizes pushing the Union Pacific Railroad across the wilderness to California.  But, financial opportunist Asa Barrows hopes to profit from obstructing it.  Chief troubleshooter Jeff Butler has his hands full fighting Sid and his partner Dick Allen. Dick is Jeff's war buddy and a rival suitor for engineer's daughter Molly Monahan.  Who will survive the effort to push the railroad through at any cost?  And which man will win Molly's heart??

     Terrific western from Hollywood's greatest showman.  Plot concerns the bitter competition to build America's first transcontinental railroad in the country's post-Civil War expansion.  McCrea plays the chief of the Union Pacific line who has to deal with injuns, rival company Central Pacific's dirty tricks campaign (headed by gambler Donlevy) and the distracting attraction of hardy postmistress Stanwyck. DeMille accelerates the drama throughout the film so that the spectacular cavalry charge finale is hurtling forward at full steam.  Most actresses would be swamped by the scale and machismo of the action but the formidable Stanwyck takes it all in her stride.  She can handle all of these rough men without any problems.  Oscar for Best Special Effects in 1940.  5 1/2* (I really liked this movie)

135 min, Western Directed and produced by Cecil B. Demille and written by Walter Deleon, C. Gardner Sullivan and Jesse Lasky Jr., with Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Akim Tamiroff, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman, Brian Donlevy, Robert Barrat, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Ridges, Evelyn Keyes.

Note:  Imdb 7.1* out of 10* with 2709 reviews, www.dvdtalk.com, movie excellent, video very good, sound very good, no supplements, Rotten Tomatoes 65% audience scores with 250+ ratings, Amazon 4 1/2* with 248 reviews, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*.  

Special Note:  The company rented many local pinto horses for the filming of the Indian attack on the train.  During shooting, local cowboys had to be hired to round up the horses because they would scatter and sometimes stampede because of the noise and confusion of these scenes!!  All the shooting, yelling and yards of unfamiliar cloth on the horses.  Also kettles and other implements were tied to their manes and tails.  This made them extremely nervous and uncomfortable.  It didn't require much to make them bolt.  The gold spike used at the ceremony to mark the end of construction was the same spike actually used in the May 10, 1869 event.  It was on loan from Stanford University.  In order to operate the number of trains required by the production, Paramount was required to get a regulation railroad operating license from the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Mistakes:  According to Lucius Beebe’s book "Union Pacific" the gold spike was not "driven" in.  A spike made from gold would be much too soft to drive into a railroad tie.  The spike was "driven" into a hole drilled in a specially prepared tie. This was done both in reality and for the movie.  Following the ceremony, the spike was pulled out (by hand), a new tie was put down and an iron spike was driven in.  According to a news item in "The Hollywood Reporter", Cecil B. DeMille directed much of the film from a stretcher?   It was said that he had surgery months earlier? But, studio records indicate DeMille collapsed from the strain of directing three units simultaneously and used a stretcher for about two weeks!!  

The Ice Road 2021

      A remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada.  Three big rigs with ice drivers set out on an almost impossible rescue mission.  Three drivers, two brothers and a woman are risking their lives to cross a frozen ocean.  They are sent out to save the lives of trapped miners despite thawing waters, a massive storm and a threat they never see coming.    

     This is an action movie with Liam Neeson playing a truck driver who must embark along with his brother on a perilous journey.  There is danger and violence throughout, including vehicle chases, fighting with guns, punches, kicks and some blood.  A towline gets wrapped around one character's leg and this breaks his leg.  Then this person is pulled into icy water and drowned.  The woman driver's vehicle loses control and she is impaled by a tree branch resulting in some blood.  Her injury is not to bad and they bandage her to stop the bleeding and she continues to drive.  

     Other truck drivers bully the lead character's (Liam Neeson) brother because he suffers from aphasia and PTSD.  Aphasia results in the loss of the ability to understand or express speech and it is caused by brain damage.  They call him a retard but his brother takes out the ringleader with one punch.  This brother proves his ability in other ways time and time again.  He is an excellent semi-truck mechanic and he is able to make life-or-death fixes and decisions on the fly.  The female lead is a strong Native American character who defies media stereotypes of both Native Americans and women.  Some drinking, swearing and deaths.  

5 1/2* (I really liked this movie)

109 min, Adventure directed and written by Jonathan Hensleigh with Liam Neeson, Marcus Thomas, Laurence Fishburne, Marcus Thomas, Amber Midthunder, Benjamin Walker, Hold McCallany, Martin Sensmeier, Matt McCoy, Matt Salinger, Chad Bruce, Adam Huretig, Bradley Sawatzky, Marshall Williams, Paul Essiembre, Arne MacPherson, Gabriel Daniels, Natasha Elise Kotzubei.

Note:  Imdb 5.6* out of 10*, Metacritic 44 out of 100 with 19 critics 4.4 out of 10 with 8 user scores, Rotten Tomatoes 42% with 45 reviews 43% with 100+ audience scores, Common Sense Media Brian Costello, 3* out of 5*, age 14+, 2* positive message, 3* positive role models, violence, language.

Special Note:  This is the first film directed by Jonathan Hensleigh in 10 years.  His last feature length film was the 2011 movie "Kill the Irishman”.  A quote from one of the characters:  “Mount up. Use the head now if you have to.  We're on a Bull Run!”  Filmed in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada.  Amber Midthunder is a native New Mexican actress.  

Mistakes:  Throughout the film, the models of trucks used alternate between shots. This is revealed by the differently shaped headlights.

Jack Ryan season 1 episode 5 End of Honor

      After the horrific Paris church attack, Jack and Greer discover a deeper strategy behind Suleiman’s actions.  This forces Jack to suggest an unusual trap for him.  Hanin faces new challenges in her quest for freedom.  Viewers have their first look at Suleiman’s past outside of his childhood and why he became so angry at the system.  He worked hard to get out of poverty in France and in return, he was shut out of every job opportunity because of his name.  It’s easy to understand why he eventually turned to extremism.  Jack makes it clear that Suleiman's life could have been much different because of the advantages he had!!

     At his compound, Suleiman is training his soldiers to be prepared in battle.  He’s made the international airwaves after releasing a video taking responsibility for the Paris attack.  On top of that, he’s also created two propaganda videos to recruit new members.  This is something Jack is terrified about!!  It’s easy to see why so many of these men will line up to follow Suleiman.  Unlike the previous leader, he exercises kindness with all of his men.  He offers them food, water, fresh clothing and he does appear to genuinely care about their well-being.  5 1/2* (I really liked this episode)

43 min, based on a novel written by Tom Clancy, Carlton Cuse, Graham Roland with John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, Ali Suliman, Dina Shihabi, Timothy Hutton, John Magaro, Haag Sleiman, Adam Barnett, Amire El-Masry, Daniel Kash, Goran Kostic, Eileen Li, Yani Marin, Mena Massoud, Matt McCoy, Al Sapienza, Nadia Affolter, Neil De Albuquerque, Eloi Archambaudoin, Arpy Ayvazian, Younes Benzakour, Johnathan Bailey.

Note:  Imdb 8.4* out of 10* with 2.6K reviews, tveskimo.com 8* out of 10*, apocalypse.co 8* out of 10*, common sense media age Marty Brown, 14+  3* out of 5*, 1* positive messages, 2* role models, 3* language, drinking drugs & smoking, 4* sex, 5* violence. 

Goliath Season 1 episode 3 Game On

      The judge gives Billy only one day to make a compelling offer of proof before he dismisses the lawsuit.  Patty is trying to gather as many people from town as possible to talk about the class action lawsuit.  Someone who has taken notice is Diana and Patty follows up with her.  Diana is trying to assure Patty that she is just on the creative side of things.  Diana now has ideas about what her brother has been doing to survive the money drought.

     Diana is clearly getting nervous because after her talk with Patty she drives over to Gene’s house to talk with him.  She wants to convince him that the class action lawsuit will just leave his wife’s memory lost in a sea of faces and money and at the end of it Gene will still be in that house with his grief.  She’s working the angle of getting him to leave it all behind and move forward into a new life and it works.  He tells Billy that he doesn’t want to be part of any of it anymore.  He blames Billy for his wife’s death saying that she came to him with this case about the water before she died and he didn’t take the case.  5* (I really liked this episode)

Directed by Alik Sakharov, written by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro with Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby, Nina Arianda, Molly Parker, Tania Raymonde, Sarah Wynter, Britain Dalton, Ever Carradine, Damon Gupton, Harold Perrineau, Dwight Yoakam, Kevin Weisman, Jore-Luis Pallo, Rigo Sanchez, Gilbert Owuor.

Note:  Each episode 55 min, action, Imdb 8.1* out of 10*, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 84,783 reviews, Metacritic 65 out of 100 with 26 critic reviews 7.6 out of 10 with 114 user scores. 

Special Note:  Character actor Brent Briscoe, the beach bum, appeared in Billy Bob Thorton's Sling Blade and acted in other of his films including A Simple Plan.  Billy McBride tells Father Anan that no Catholic priest would give a full Catholic funeral to someone who had committed suicide.  This was the doctrine of the Church in the past but it has not been Church policy for at least 20 years.  This is referring to the possible suicide of of Ryan Larson.  He is the husband of Gina and the father of Jason.  They believe Ryan would not commit suicide and it’s possible his employer was involved in Ryan’s death instead?    

Mistakes:  William Hurt pronounces Persephone "Percy phone”

Wuthering Heights 1939

      A servant in the house of Wuthering Heights tells a traveler the unfortunate tale of lovers Cathy and Heathcliff.  In this adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel set in 19th-century England, wealthy young Cathy Earnshaw shares a loving bond with Heathcliff.  He is a poor childhood friend who now works in her stables.  Unfortunately, things become complicated when the affluent Edgar Linton decides to pursue Cathy and Heathcliff leaves the estate because of his resentment. Though Heathcliff returns with a self-made fortune, he realizes he may have lost Cathy in his absence.

     This is a lavish production with opulent furnishings, women’s clothing and hairstyles.  It is definitely a class society and servants do not mingle with the gentry.  Unquestionably one of the finest adaptations of the novel and the favorite of producer Samuel Goldwyn.  Winning more than a dozen Oscars and launching the career of English actor Laurence Olivier.  There is an underlying darkness and cruelty underneath the themes of wealth and poverty.  

     Teens may try to watch this movie as an alternative to reading the novel for English class?  The downside of this option is that the film only covers a portion of the overall story.  While it's framed as a ghost story, it's not really for young horror fans!!  The spooky angle might get some teens to sit down and watch a classic they wouldn't otherwise view?  Heathcliff has been summed up as a "romantic" hero for generations of schoolgirls but he is rarely heroic in the traditional movie sense.  Instead, he’s vindictive, obsessed and determined to make the woman he loves suffer because of his own heartache.  A lot of Heathcliff's negatives are attributed to his "gypsy" ancestry but this is a bit of racism and classed-based discrimination from the old days!!  5 1/2* (I really liked this movie and I have not read the novel)

104 min, directed by William Wyler, written by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and Emily Bronte with Merel Oberon, Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Flora Robson, Donald Crisp, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Hugh Williams, Leo G. Caroll, Miles Mander, Cecil Kellaway, Cecil Humphreys, Sarita Wooton, Rex Downing, Douglas Scott.

Note:  Imdb 7.6* out of 10* with 16,719 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% out of 23 critic reviews 85% with 5,000+ audience scores, French Films 5* James Travers 2008, Common Sense Media Charles Cassady Jr. 5*, age 10+, 3* violence and drinking, drugs & smoking.

Special Note:  There were difficulties involved in filming this project.  Samuel Goldwyn agreed to buy the rights after he heard that Warner Brothers was interested.  There was contention over the casting of the lead roles.  Goldwyn wanted Meryl Oberon to play Cathy but he was persuaded to cast Olivier.  Olivier agreed because he thought his fiancee Vivien Leigh would play Cathy?  Goldwyn would not agree to cast Leigh.  David Niven was cast as Edgar Linton but he was reluctant to play the bland character Linton.

Jack Ryan Season 1 Episode 4 The Wolf 2018

      As Jack and Cathy grow closer in their relationship, Jack's double-life is put to the test.  A show of force from Suleiman adds to his number of men and brings him one step closer to his next attack. 

     Ali, the brother of Suleiman is pulled over somewhere in the Alps.  He is driving to a rendezvous point in the French Alps.  Jack convinced Arnaud to see where Ali would lead them.  Cpt. Arnaud (the French policewoman), Jack and Greer are on Ali’s trail.  He was ready to shoot the French police officer and he only handed him a ticket?  The officer let Ali go because of Arnaud’s orders.  Jack watched from a tablet while in the car with her.  Arnaud felt it was a big risk letting Ali go but she seemed to like Jack.  She gave Jack advice about asking Cathy out.  As soon as Jack sent a forward text, Arnaud told him her advice worked for French girls since American girls are more uptight.

     Suleiman went to see Al Radwan, he is the leader of ISIS.  Suleiman brought a duffel bag of euros, he paid for the Western prisoners and they are mostly Americans.  They are are associated with Doctors Without Borders.  Instead of handing the money to Al Radwan, he gave the money to his men who hadn’t been paid.  Suleiman beat Al Radwan and took him as prisoner with the Americans.  Suleiman easily seized leadership of the ISIS group.  Suleiman rallied his followers, claiming they would create a great Islamic empire.  He brought the Western prisoners back to his compound and put Al Radwan in with them.  5* (I really liked this episode)

43 min, action directed by Daniel Sackheim and written by Tom Clancy, Calton Cuse, Graham Roland with John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, Ali Suliman, Dina Shihabi, Marie-Josee Croze, Haaz Sleiman, Amir El-Masry, Jameel Khoury, Goran Kostic, Stephane Krau, Matt McCoy, Rodney Alexandre, Charles-Roger Bour, Youness Chara, Natalie Brown, Rachid El Adouani, Shadi Janho.

Note:  Imdb 8.3* out of 10* with 2.8K reviews, tveskimo.com 10*, Amazon 4* with 1,264 ratings.  

Special Note:  According to the executive producers, no stunt doubles were used during the filming of the woodshed confrontation between Jack and Ali.  John Krasinski and Haaz Sleiman performed the all the fight choreography in this scene.

Mistakes:  Jack is from Baltimore yet at dinner he tells Cathy to open her crab by hitting the shell with a mallet.  A Baltimore boy would know that you open a crab by prying open the apron on the bottom of the crab?  Also, the crab shown is not a blue crab?  A traditional restaurant like this one would serve blue crab in the Maryland / DC area.  Finally, if you're eating crabs in this area you would have a dozen or more on the table and just one?

Bosch Season 7 episode 5 The Jury's Still Out

      Bosch and J. Edgar get some bad news when they try to lock up Alvarez’s story.  Interagency conflict sets in on the case and Harry asks Chief Irving for help!!  Additionally, Harry’s hackles go up when there is a threat to Maddie’s safety!!  Jerry is trying to get back on track but makes a huge misstep with Bosch about Maddie.  He states that Maddie was doing the filming of Honey Chandler's client statement!!

     Honey Chandler is still alive but has been placed in a medically induced coma.  Harry and J. Edgar get some face time with Carl Rogers and his slimy attorney, J. Reason Fawkes.  LT Billets digs deeper on her suspicion about Officers Norris and Leonard.  They have been a burr in Billets side!!  She uncovers some details and gets more scoop from an old colleague.  Chief Irving makes a new play against Mayor Lopez as he fights for a second term.  5* (I really liked this episode)

Note:  readysteadycut.com. 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 802 reviews, IMDB 8.4* out of 10*.

Goliath Season 1 Episode 2 Pride and Prejudice

     The powers that be begin to harass Billy McBride.  They seem to want to stop at nothing to dissuade him from participating in this case.  This part of the story begins to build them up as pure evil.  I will not spoil the ending but the events presented will not deter him from his efforts.  Instead they will drive him onward.  Apparently, these big time firms are in bed with whomever they want to be.  We meet several women who are at the center of the big law firm.  For the first time there is a representative from their bosses.  This is a very good mini-series and Billy Bob Thornton, one of our quirkiest actors is at his absolute best.

Directed by Alik Sakharov, written by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro with Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby, Nina Arianda, Molly Parker, Tania Raymonde, Sarah Wynter, Britain Dalton, Ever Carradine, Damon Gupton,Harold Perrineau, Dwight Yoakam, Diana Hopper, Jore-Luis Pallo, Juan Gabriel Pareja,Rigo Sanchez, Julie Brister.

Note:  Each Episode 55 min, Imdb 8.8* out of 10* with 1.1K ratings, Amazon 78% with 37 critic ratings 91% with 471 audience scores, Rotten Tomatoes 78% with 37 critic ratings 91% audience scores with 471 ratings, Slant Magazine 2 1/2* out of 3* Aaron Riccio.

Special Note:  Dwight Yokam plays a character named Wendell Corey.  Wendell Corey was a character actor, who served on the city council of Santa Monica, where this series is filmed.  He's best known as the cop from Alfred Hitchcock's classic, Rear Window and he had his own TV series, Harbor Command. 

Mistakes:  The windshield on Billy's car goes back and forth from broken to not broken.  Billy just got beaten badly by a cop, especially in the face, yet he has barely a scratch the next day and is moving like nothing happened.  Billy places the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the outside doorknob of his motel room.  When he is inside the room, the sign is hanging on the inside. The sign is also noticeably missing on the outside when the door is opened into the room later in the scene.   

All Around the Town 2002

      A young woman, seemingly good person but still psychologically disturbed from being kidnapped as a little girl becomes the obvious suspect in a murder.  When Allan Grant, a popular college professor is found murdered, the first suspect is Laurie.  She is his 21-year-old student.  While Laurie's family sets out to prove that she suffers from multiple personality disorder, Allan's wife Karen tries to avenge her husband's death on her own. 

     Laurie was kidnapped when she was four years old.  Her older sister was watching her and they were going to play in the backyard.  Laurie didn't listen and she went out into the street in front of their house.  Immediately, a Volkswagen van stops and Laurie is put into the van by a man and woman.  The adult sisters are at a funeral for their parents and they were killed in a car accident.  Laurie has a breakdown in the church and Sarah visits a psychiatrist to discuss Laurie’s mental instability.  The source novel was probably condensed to fit the 90 minute time limit?  This causes some jumbles in the storyline but I did like this movie 5*. 

95 min, Crime directed by Paolo Barzman and written by Peter Mohan and Marry Higgins Clark with Nastassja Kinski, Tobias Moretti, Andrea Roth, Kim Schraner, Ton Lea, Michael Shanks, Devin Jubinville, Ellen Dubin, Jim Thornburn, Dawn Greehalgh, Ann Baggley, Bob Desrosiers, Marilyn Smith.

Note:  Imdb 5.4* out of 10* with 351 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 39% with 500+ audience scores, dvd.netflix.com 3*, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 21 reviews, Amazon gives the book 4.7* out of 5* with 718 reviews for the movie, the movie scene 2* out of 5*. 

Jack Ryan Season 1 Episode 3 2018

     Ryan and Greer plus the French DGSI team investigate an apartment after an explosion.  They find the SIM cards and this confirms the use of TracEuro for money transfers.  They also discovered that the only visitor Suleiman had in prison was his brother Ali and he had lived in “the 93”, a Muslim neighborhood in Paris.

     While in the car with Cpt. Arnaud the French policewoman, Jack wonders why Suleiman turned to extremism?  He received a degree in business and was at the top of his class.  He could have used his degree and “gotten out”.  Arnaud points out that it was different from the U.S.  In France, a person was either French or not French and they had fewer opportunities if they were Muslim.  Despite his education, he may have always intended to become the leader of Muslim extremist activities?

     Hanin’s uncle Fahi has procured some passports for Hanin and her children to leave the country.  Suleiman discovers them in her hiding place and he burns them.  Hanin is devastated but still determined to leave and she escapes with her daughters in a car left for her son.  Her son Samir made a decision not to go with them but to stay with his father.  

     In an entirely different plot line, Victor Polizzi was working as a drone a pilot in Nevada.  He killed a target in Syria and another drone pilot gave him a dollar bill.  He collected many dollars, numbered them and hung them on his wall.  Victor decided to take his dollars to a casino and play roulette.  He seemed lucky and quickly turned them into $30,000.  Victor feels he was wrong to kill the Syrian target but he was under orders to fire.  5* (I really liked this episode.  

TV movie, action directed by Patricia Riggen and Daniel Sackheim with John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, Ali Suliman, Dina Shihabi, executive producers Carlt Cuse, John Krasinski, Morten Tyldum, Graham Roland, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, March Ross, Mace Neufeld, director Patricia Riggen, writer Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland. 

Note:  tveskimo.com 8* out of 10*, Amazon 4.1* out of 5*, Metacritic Season 1 66 out of 100 with 38 critic reviews 6.7* out of 10* with 146 user scores.  

Special Note:  Background of director Michael Bay.  He had an incredibly successful commercial and music video career.  The he made some of the biggest, loudest and highest-grossing movies of all time.  While he certainly made a lot of money for his studio bosses, Bay earned considerable scorn from critics and other detractors.  It was because they deplored his testosterone-fueled action vehicles that were full of incessantly moving camerawork and frenetic editing.  They were also short on story with three dimensional characters.