Month: April 2021

At an age most of us won’t live to see and those who do make it there would surely be well into retirement, Sir David Attenborough is still going strong. He continues to wow the public with his thoughtful and thought-provoking perspectives on our planet. His latest offering, Life in Color with David Attenborough explores nature through the responses to and interactions with color.

In this three part series that launched on Earth Day 2021, Sir Attenborough, a life long broadcaster and naturalist, explores, in depth, how animal use color to attract each other, to repel each other and to hide from each other. He travels around the world, from the tropical forests of Costa Rica to the wild highlands of Scotland and all points in between to reveal the secret strength of color in nature.

Sir Attenborough doesn’t want us to take his word for it, though. His team developed special cameras for this project that give viewers an animal-perspective of this world of color. Through these magnificent lenses, we get to detect the intricate hues of a fish’s scales and the delicate blend of tones on a butterfly’s wings.

Sir David Attenborough has had a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, best known for his series on the BBC focusing on the environment and nature. In 1979, he embarked on what would become a life long adventure exploring, well, Life. His Life series has been ground-breaking and highly popular all over the world. His latest offering, Life in Color does the series proud with it’s intimate photography and breath-taking perspectives on nature.

Be sure to takin in Life in Colour with David Attenborough on new on Netflix.

The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery from the law and from practice but it was unable to abolish white supremacy from the system that upholds the government. This is what director Ana DuVernay explores in her documentary 13th.

While slavery no longer occurs out in the open on southern plantations, it survives in the system of law enforcement and justice departments throughout the United States. DuVernay suggests that slavery hardly missed a beat when it was abolished in 1865, it just shifted gears in a series of laws that targeted black people, especially impoverished black people.

DuVernay invites commentary and conversation from activists, educators and public figures on topics ranging from Jim Crow laws, lynchings, privatized prisons and the war on drugs, among other things. Each interview is compelling as experts, those with lived experience, talk of the systematic racism they have seen and lived through during modern times in the United States.

Statistics suggest that the United States has 5% of the world’s population yet it holds 25% of the world’s population of prisoners. Of that incarcerated population 40% of them are black, even though they make up only 13% of the total population of the United States. This is white supremacy and systematic racism in action.

The documentary was released to critical praise for its well researched material and compelling format. It was nominated for a wide range of awards and took several prominent awards in a number of categories. Though released in 2016, 13th has seen a resurge in viewership, up more than 4000%, with the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

If you are curious about the current dialogue and why there are protests and demonstrations, 13th is a great piece to watch. It is one of many documentaries and movies available to begin or continue your path towards understanding why this topic is so important in our current climate and culture.

Be sure to set aside some time to check this documentary out.

Other titles to explore include – Amend, American Son, When They See Us and A Conversation with Oprah and Ana DuVernay.

Charm and ingenuity and take you far in this world. All the way down the path to being a notorious serial murderer, if you’re not careful. The Serpent is a limited crime series based on the true and terrifying story of Charles Sobhraj, a French national who robs, murders and steals the identities of backpacking travelers throughout Southeast Asia.

The series begins in the mid-70s when a Dutch diplomat (Billy Howle) ansd his wife (Ellie Bamber) begin to investigate the disappearance of a young Dutch couple in Thailand. The investigation leads, in a winding trail, to Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim) and his glamourous Quebecois girlfriend, Marie-Andree Leclerc (Jenna Coleman). Together than ran an intricate crime scheme that crossed borders and spanned decades.

Sobhraj was able to elude authorities for so long due to his ability to adapt and disguise himself. Through stealing and doctoring the passports of his victims, Sobhraj and Leclerc were able to hop from country to country, undetected. There were a few missteps over the years that landed Sobhraj in prison but he was always able to free himself to continue his crimes.

The Serpent is a collaboration between BBC and Netflix that debut in early 2021 to positive reviews. Feedback from those who were involved in the case has been mixed. Most notably, those who knew Sobhraj say the series underplays his diabolical wit and charm which, undoubtedly, made him attractive to his victims at the first.

The series is well-paced and visually stunning. It captures the mood and tone of the era and hooks the viewer in with the flashbacks and deep conflicting emotions, early on, of Leclerc. Both Rahim and Coleman are captivating to watch onscreen and have a chemistry that displays the power dynamics of the relationship beautifully.

The Serpent is nearly too terrible and terrifying to be real. It is suspenseful and gritty. And it is real. Charles Sobhraj is real. Let that sit with you for a minute and you’ll feel the horror that is The Serpent.

We can grow up, move away from home and establish a whole new life but we can’t always outrun our pasts. And sometimes our pasts run into us. A chance encounter with his past puts Simon Callem on a course to self-destruction in the thriller The Gift.

When up and coming salesman Simon Callem (Jason Bateman) returns to his home state with his young and talented wife he is prepared to start a new chapter in his life instead he is forced to revisit a past chapter he’d rather forget when he bumps into former classmate, Gordon (Joel Edgerton). Gordo seems to pop up everywhere the Callems are, including their front step – and always with a gift in hand.

The more persistent Gordo is the more uncomfortable Simon becomes. He tries to dodge Gordo’s attempts at reconnection and mocks him constantly behind his back. When questioned by his wife, Robin (Rebecca Hall), as to why he dislikes Gordo so much, Simon gives vague reasons.

When Simon eventually tells Gordo to back off, he does disappear – but so does the Callem’s dog. Their fish also wind up dead. When the police are contacted, it is discovered that Gordo isn’t who he said he was. And neither is Simon.

Robin discovers that Simon was a self-centered bully in high school and he make Gordo’s life miserable. Because of rumors Simon spread, Gordo’s life took a violent and devastating turn, a turn that Gordo never recovered from and never forgave Simon for. Gordo is willing to go to great lengths to dismantle Simon’s life just as his own was destroyed. As the power struggle intensifies, survival becomes anyone’s game.

The Gift is Joel Edgerton’s baby. He wrote it and made it his directorial debut. He also plays the lead role of Gordo to perfection. Critics were well pleased with his efforts, praising him for the focus, tone and pace of the film. They compared it to genre classics like The Hand that Rocks the Cradle and Fatal Attraction. Praise was also heaped on Bateman for taking his natural charisma and likability and turning it into a sociopaths best tool.

All in, The Gift, is a suspenseful and satisfying thriller watch. It’s an excellent pick for a movie night .. you just may want to leave the light on!

Asteroids falling from the sky? Check. Nuclear response? Check. Mutated insects taking over the world? check. Survivalists living in bunkers? Check. One man on a dangerous quest for love? Check.

Sure Love & Monsters checks all the boxes for a post-apocalyptic film but it definitely isn’t your standard end-of-the-world flick. It opens with a brief narration of how the world ended. The graphics are cute and the dialogue is funny and reminiscent of How to Train Your Dragon. The hook in the beginning is brilliant and the movie delivers on the promise of the hook.

In a nutshell, Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien) is a survivor of the end-of-the-world. He survived but has very few skills for survival therefore he stays in the bunker, takes care of the animals and cooks for the more skilled members of his colony. Generally, he accepts his role as an inside member of the community but what he cannot accept is surviving as a solo act. Every member of his colony has found a partner – except Joel, who still dreams of his pre-apocalypse love, Aimee.

After some searching, Joel discovers what colony Aimee (Jessica Henwick) is part of and determines to make the dangerous journey to find his one true love. Against the advice of his bunker-mates, Joel sets off on the 85 miles trek to find Aimee on his own.

Along the way Joel comes face to face with an array of deadly mutant insects but with the help of fellow travelers and one very good dog, Joel makes his way to Aimee’s colony. What he finds when he arrives there is not at all what he expects and he is, once again, in a fight for his life.

Monsters & Love is a terrible name for a movie but the film itself is hilarious, delightful and just suspenseful enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a wonderful pick for a family movie night with your teens or a virtual movie night with your pals.

Don’t miss this gem … and remember, Don’t settle. You don’t have to. Not even at the end of the world.

Kids are unpredictable. They are bizarre and, at times, unnerving. Their little brains turn in strange ways and they say some of the weirdest stuff sometimes and at other times they are downright creepy. This is why they make such convincing mechanisms of horror in filmmaking. Netflix’s latest horror flick has a tiny creeper who is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Miles is the The Prodigy.

At the moment of wee Miles’ birth a notorious murderer dies, this suggesting some kind of sinister connection between the two. As Miles (Jackson Robert Scott) grows he awes the adults in his world with his intelligence and advanced development in many areas. He equally confounds them with his developmental delays in other areas of growth.

By the time Miles turns eight his behavior has turned from quirky to terrifying. His conduct escalates from a prank gone terribly wrong to violent outbursts in no time. His mother (Taylor Schilling) is so concerned that she begins to seek help from a number of professionals.

Her quest for help and understanding does not put a stop to Miles’ strange and terrifying behavior. As Miles becomes more violent, his mother begins to contemplate even the most outrageous explanations for the horror that has overtaken their lives. One clue leads to the next and before long reincarnation, demonic possession and a vengeance that survives through death all become pieces of the puzzle that is Miles.

Nicholas McCarthy brings Jeff Buhler’s creation to life in Prodigy. While, once dissected, this film is somewhat formulaic it still provides enough suspense and creepy kid stuff to keep viewers on edge throughout. Young Jackson Robert Scott delivers as disturb Miles and forms a wonderfully dysfunctional connection with Taylor Schilling as his mother.

While this isn’t a ground breaking or record shattering film, it is a solid offering for fans of the genre. It is well worth the watch if creepy kid flicks are your thing. Check out Prodigy on Netflix this month.

What does an Italian bouncer at the famous Copacabana have in common with a black classical pianist? Not much, but somehow they find their way into mutual respect and friendship while touring through the midwest and Deep South during the 1960s. This is the story of Dr. Don Shirley and Tony Lip as told in The Green Book.

Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) was a popular jazz and classical composer and pianist. When his record label arranges for a tour through the American Midwest and Deep South Dr. Shirley decides to hire out of work bouncer Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) to be his driver and general assistant.

The pair get off to a rocky start as they disagree on just about everything. Tony resists Dr. Shirley‘s attempts at refining his coarse habits and Dr. Shirley is annoyed that his very particular routine is regularly disregarded. All of that falls by the wayside as they travel further south and Tony sees blatant, and dangerous, racism hurled at Dr. Shirley first hand. He is appalled and his old bouncer instincts kick in and he soon becomes a bodyguard to the musician as well as a driver.

In turn, Dr. Shirley softens towards the uncouth driver as Tony begins to share more about his family and his wife. Over the course of the weeks on the road, Dr. Shirley coaches Tony in his letter writing skills. Tony’s bland and boring letters turn into heartfelt letters of affection under Dr. Shirley”s careful eye.

Their friendship is tested on the final night of the tour when racism once again rears its ugly head. Dr. Shirley is denied respect and dignity at the whites-only club he as hired to perform at. Dr. Shirley and Tony clash with the club ownership and decide to hit the road and push home for Christmas.

The friendship that was forges during the eight-week road trip lasted a lifetime. Dr. Shirley and Tony remained close over the decades, though they Tony returned to his work as a bouncer at the Copo.

The Green Book won multiple awards and caused quite a stir at the Academy Awards when it beat out several ‘sure wins’ to claim the Best Picture Award. But what is not in dispute is the outstanding job Ali and Mortensen did in bringing this true to life friendship to the big screen.

Be sure to check out this buddy flick like no other on Netflix.

What is more natural than giving birth? And what is more unnatural than a child dying before a parent? Pieces of a Woman is a heartbreaking tale that explores the space between the joy of pregnancy and the grief of the death of an infant and the life that unfold.

Vanessa Kirby stars as expectant mother, Martha Weiss. In the late days of her pregnancy Martha is busy preparing the finishing touches on her nursery and playing the referee between her wealthy and slightly overbearing mother and her working class, stubborn partner, Sean (Shia LaBeouf). Even with the low key tension between the two, Martha is blissfully happy as she awaits the arrival of her much-loved daughter.

On the night Martha goes into labor her, regular midwife is unable to attend the birth. Substitute midwife, Eva (Molly Parker), arrives to assist Martha but Sean is agitated and concerned because of the discomfort Martha is in. Confusion ensues as Eva attempts to concentrate on the delivery while Sean demands Eva calls for the paramedics.

Eventually, Eva agrees the paramedics should be called. Within minutes of the phone call, Martha delivers her baby girls. All looks well initially but as the paramedics arrive, the baby stops breathing. They are unable to revive the baby and she dies in her mother’s arms.

In the weeks and months that follow, Martha’s life unravels. Sean leaves her and her mother attempts to interfere and control her life and decisions. This includes forcing Martha into a lawsuit against her midwife, Eva. As the case progresses, Martha has a moment of reckoning – will she let go of everything in the face of her devastating grief or will she rebuild her life, her hope on her own terms.

Vanessa Kirby and Molly Parker are brilliant together onscreen. Their chemistry is remarkable. Each woman fills the screen on their own but in their shared scenes there is a beautiful balance in their matching strengths and vulnerability.

Based on a screenplay by Kata Weber, Pieces of a Woman, is a gritty, gut-wrenching look at the reality of life after loss and how to learn to breathe and life again. This story is beautiful and brutal and raw. And it’s truthful.

The BBC’s most popular debut series in a decade is on Netflix and you won’t want to miss it! Starring Game of Thrones‘ favourite, Richard Madden, as police sergeant David Budd, Bodyguard is an action packed political thriller that hits all the right notes.

Budd is a Afghanistan war vet, struggling with the emotional and relational fall-out of his PTSD symptoms but that doesn’t stop him from being a vigilant and dedicated police officer. Actually, his war experience seems to heighten his awareness on the job as he is able to thwart a terrorist attack at London’s busy Euston train station. His quick thinking and cool head allows the terrorists to be arrested, unharmed, and taken in for questioning. This earns Budd a promotion.

Now as a member of the Homeland Secretary’s (Keeley Hawes) personal protection detail, Budd has an upfront seat to the politicking that goes on beyond closed doors and the policy making that results in Secretary Montague being a target herself. Budd’s job is made that much more difficult as it becomes evident that his views on personal surveillance in the name of national security are vastly different than those of the Secretary.

In the midst of the tension between Budd and Montague, there is a plot to use Budd’s PTSD struggles against him to set him up as a suicide bomber. Now Budd is fighting against, time, the system and bias against mental illness to save his city and himself.

Bodyguard was nominated for several awards that resulted in star, Richard Madden taking home a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Its no wonder that this series was such a hit, the tension and pacing is stellar and the action sequences are on par with big budget, big screen favourites. Created and written by one of the UK’s leading writers, Jed Mercurio, Bodyguard has a cast of interesting and believable characters and follows many themes that are top of today’s global headlines.

If you are looking for a captivating thriller to sink into, look no further! Bodyguard is the perfect binge series to settle in to. And don’t worry, it looks like this show will be more than a one hit wonder!