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Reviews
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
TV at its very best.
You can tell when a movie or TV series is not just good but spectacular. It stays with you, it haunts you. You don't want it to end. That was my reaction after I watched all seven segments of Netflix's "Queen's Gambit". The protagonist, young chess genius Beth Harmon, became very real and I wished to know more about this commanding character with the intense eyes.
The series was anchored by the magnetic lead performance (a remarkable Anya Taylor-Joy) and bolstered by world-class acting, marvelous visual language, a teleplay that's never less than gripping, and an admirable willingness to embrace contradiction and ambiguity. It is certainly one of the best series to ever appear on TV.
Much of the story hinges on when and how Beth is alone - and sometimes she's most alone when surrounded by people - and Taylor-Joy's performance is particularly remarkable in these moments. Scenes of Beth alone in her home, in a stranger's apartment, on a plane, in her bed at night - each hums with the kind of energy that only arises when one is truly unobserved. Silence requires high-caliber acting that is seldom seen. You experience the wide range of emotions that pass across her face without being conscious of any effort on her part. She can be magnetic with no dialog. Taylor-Joy becomes Beth Harmon and "acting" becomes invisible. She's never better than when Beth is sitting silent behind a chess board.
But it would be a mistake to assume that Taylor-Joy's only great scene partner is the camera. The great character actor Bill Camp is a crusty school janitor who introduces Beth to chess. Moses Ingram who portrays her friend, the likable Jolene, is very memorable. There's not a dud in the bunch; even the actors who show up for a scene or two at most give performances that feel fully inhabited. It's a stunner of an ensemble
I have a minor quibble involving the somewhat unsatisfying ending. I'll let you decide. But, frankly, it is hard to get worked up about any shortcomings with drama this good. Let's talk about the chess! Like any good sports movies (which this sorta is) this character-driven series lives and dies by its editing. The chess sequences are truly electric. Some make you hold your breath. Some are funny. And, no, you do not have to play the game to enjoy.
Do see this series. It is beautifully made and intelligently written. It is TV at its very best.
Old (2021)
Yet another M. Night disappointment
When will the movie-watching public realize that Sixth Sense wasn't a great movie but just another clever, trick-ending shocker? The only reason M. Night gets the accolades for that one was for the final 10 minute twist, nothing more. Here we have nothing more than another effort at edgy, weird, mind-bending strangeness. But what we're supposed to find as ingenious as Sixth Sense ends up feeling ridiculous and poorly-presented. Terrible acting, disjointed writing, and the pacing of a snail. Save your two hours for something more rewarding.
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (2018)
Dave was and still is the best. Great series.
Such a great interview/talk show. It's so good to see Dave back doing what he does best. His ability to use humor and honesty to put people at ease is delightful and engaging. He can take the most uptight, self-obsessed celebrity and almost immediately bring them down to earth with the rest of us. Dave has aged beautifully. Highly-recommended show. 👍🏼💯
Line of Duty (2019)
Action, yes. Logic, no.
Is this a comedy? Is it a buddy cop action flick? Can anybody aim a gun worth a crap? So contrived that it becomes a silly, but somehow fun, escape. The dialog can't decide whether it's humorous or serious. All I know is Eckhart sure can take a beating, and I want the phone battery Ava is using. 😳
White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (2022)
So when do we get to see the racism behind FUBU...? Just sayin'. 🤔
A company that openly admits who its targeted audience is. What a concept. Sorry Netflix and the producers of this effort, your show made me suddenly want to buy A&F products.
Blown Away (2019)
Season two is much more fun.
Don't let season one (or its bitter winner) turn you off. The contestants in season two are more fun, more humble, have better comaraderie, and, in my completely uneducated opinion, more talented. Really impressive artists and very fun to watch.