TV: Hijack
On The Wire, Idris Elba made an early mark as Stringer Bell, one of TV history’s most fascinating, memorable schemers. Apple’s …
Long Live the Blog
Visitors exploring this site in recent weeks may have noticed missing photos and technical issues on old pages and posts. …
TV: Tehran (Season 2)
While Apple’s Israeli-produced, Iran-set thriller Tehran is by no means as impressive as its hit spy series Slow Horses, it’s …
TV: Better Call Saul (Season 6)
The task of successfully ending any beloved television series must surely be difficult enough. But when you’re Better Call Saul—the …
TV: Glória (Season 1)
Normally, I would say reaching the end of a TV season only to have a “what was the point?” reaction …
Film: The Marseilles Contract
To the extent that it’s possible to enjoy a film full of people you don’t like doing things you don’t …
Film: Doctor Sleep
While Stephen King’s work has never been a perfect match for me, I grooved on the recent It movies and …
TV: Lupin (Parts 1 & 2)
One of Netflix’s latest international hits is Lupin, a classy, opulent French mystery about a modern-day “gentleman burglar.” Assane Diop …
Film: Point Blank
I’m frequently in the mood for pulpy action and suspense movies from the 1960s and 1970s, back before Hollywood started …
Film: Scorpio
For some reason, I had vague and generally fond memories of watching Scorpio (1973) decades ago, so I decided to …
Film: Harry In Your Pocket
There are old movies I truly enjoy, and old movies that I don’t enjoy, and then there’s Harry In Your …
TV: Better Call Saul (Season 4)
The gradual transformation of fast-talking scoundrel Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) into Breaking Bad’s ethically challenged attorney “Saul Goodman” continues in …
Film: Mission: Impossible – Fallout
There’s an unfortunate moment near the end of Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) when a villain asks the invincible Ethan …
Film: Telefon
I seem to have made it my mission in life to watch every spy movie ever made—an unrealistic goal, but …
TV: Deutschland 83
German spy series Deutschland 83 sets itself apart with a vividly realized setting, which situates suspenseful espionage realistically into a …
TV: X Company (Seasons 2 & 3)
Canadian historical espionage drama X Company worked unexpected magic in its first season by mixing nostalgic, mission-of-the-week structure with the …