In a way, Todd Haynes’ adaptation of “Mildred Pierce” for HBO is as subversive as the “Superstar” of 1988 — the difference being the manner of millions and a legal release. A more-faithful remake of the 1945 Oscar winner, “Mildred Pierce” adheres tightly to the time, place and dialogue of James M. Cain’s 1941 novel, […]
DVD reviews
Posted inArts & Culture
Mildred Pierce
In a way, Todd Haynes’ adaptation of “Mildred Pierce” for HBO is as subversive as the “Superstar” of 1988 — the difference being the manner of millions and a legal release. A more-faithful remake of the 1945 Oscar winner, “Mildred Pierce” adheres tightly to the time, place and dialogue of James M. Cain’s 1941 novel, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Portlandia: Season One / The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret: Series One
The short answer is yes, and not really, in that order. I didn’t think I’d like “Portlandia” much, because Fred Armisen never has done much for me in his time on “Saturday Night Live.” But now I totally understand what “SNL” godfather Lorne Michaels ever saw in him. The free-reign work he does here with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Portlandia: Season One / The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret: Series One
The short answer is yes, and not really, in that order. I didn’t think I’d like “Portlandia” much, because Fred Armisen never has done much for me in his time on “Saturday Night Live.” But now I totally understand what “SNL” godfather Lorne Michaels ever saw in him. The free-reign work he does here with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Triple Tap
This segues into another great sequence, this one of a literal highway robbery, during which a bank’s armored car is stopped beneath an underpass and fleeced. Seven fatalities are tallied, and it might have been more if Ken hadn’t motored by and saved the life of an officer. The only other survivor, a suspect in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Triple Tap
This segues into another great sequence, this one of a literal highway robbery, during which a bank’s armored car is stopped beneath an underpass and fleeced. Seven fatalities are tallied, and it might have been more if Ken hadn’t motored by and saved the life of an officer. The only other survivor, a suspect in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bedlam: Season One
The renovation is the project of Warren Bettany (Hugo Speer, “The Full Monty”), whose lovely daughter, Kate (Charlotte Salt, TV’s “The Tudors”), serves as landlady. It’s a family affair, because the building has been in the family for 300 years. When Kate is almost drowned by an evil spirit, her ghost-busting cousin, Jed (Theo James, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bedlam: Season One
The renovation is the project of Warren Bettany (Hugo Speer, “The Full Monty”), whose lovely daughter, Kate (Charlotte Salt, TV’s “The Tudors”), serves as landlady. It’s a family affair, because the building has been in the family for 300 years. When Kate is almost drowned by an evil spirit, her ghost-busting cousin, Jed (Theo James, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Burke and Hare
His purported comeback, 2010’s “Burke & Hare,” also failed to secure a coast-to-coast release, grossing a theatrical grand total of $947. That’s a shame, because while no classic, the movie isn’t bad. Even minor Landis can be good Landis. Narrated by a hangman (UK stand-up comic Bill Bailey), the film takes the historical murders committed […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Burke and Hare
His purported comeback, 2010’s “Burke & Hare,” also failed to secure a coast-to-coast release, grossing a theatrical grand total of $947. That’s a shame, because while no classic, the movie isn’t bad. Even minor Landis can be good Landis. Narrated by a hangman (UK stand-up comic Bill Bailey), the film takes the historical murders committed […]