My garden is planted thanks to my son Jonathan who was stalwart in his efforts yesterday. We went into Collingwood to choose our plants, visited the Farmers’ Market and then came home and got down to business. Not a big deal really, but 7 containers of annuals plus an herb garden. The rest is all perennials and shrubs so as labour free as I can make it. We have been watching videos supplied by Jon all weekend (and he has even left us with a few for future viewing) with a brief trip to our golf club for their Prime Rib Night, so a little bit of everything. Meanwhile, here are some suggestions for you:
On the Big Screen
The Fall Guy (2 h 6 ) A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film. Stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham. Loved it! Non-stop action! Lots of laughs!
AMC
Parish (6 episodes) Follows a taxi driver whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to pick-up a Zimbabwean gangster mostly known for exploiting undocumented immigrants at the U.S. southern ports. Stars Giancarlo Esposito, Paula Malcomson, Skeet Ulrich. Looks very noir (from the network that brought you Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul), so far.
Apple
Sugar (8 episodes) Private investigator John Sugar examines the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the granddaughter of a legendary Hollywood producer. Stars Colin Farrell, Amy Ryan, Nate Corddry, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn. Fabulous and spellbinding! Noir to the max!
Dark Matter (9 episodes) A man is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could’ve lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifing foe: himself. Stars Joel Edgerton Jennifer Connelly, Vice Braga, Jimmi Simpson. Mind bending is right! Really messes with the space-time continuum.
CBS
FBI, FBI International, FBI Most Wanted (Ok, this is all rather formulaic stuff, but I get a hoot out of the incredibly flat acting of all three series, which I think of as Original, Crispy and Extra Crispy). So amazing that the FBI can solve every case within a 1 hr time period. It is the formula that viewers respond so warmly to on the Mother Ship series Law & Order and all its spin-offs.
Elsbeth (10 episodes) Elsbeth Tascioni, an unconventional attorney, gives her singular point of view to make observations to catch criminals alongside the NYPD. If you loved Carrie Preston on The Good Wife, The Good Fight, etc., you will love her ditzy persona in this. I love her!!!
CBS News Sunday Morning (since 1979, 827 episodes) This is my Sunday morning mainstay as I find its magazine format extremely soothing featuring interviews with actors, political figures, athletes, musicians costume designers, fashion designers, etc. My moment of Zen.
60 Minutes (since 1968, 2198 episodes) Classic prime time TV Investigative news magazine. The hard version of CBS Sunday Morning.
Jeopardy (Nightly, 8892 episodes) I just realized that in Toronto, this syndicated show appears on CBS! Ken Jennings is back hosting! The Masters Tournament is now in full swing. Enjoy!!
Disney
The Veil (6 episodes) Follows the relationship between two women playing a deadly game of truth and lies. One woman has a secret, and the other has a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. Elisabeth Moss, Josh Charles, James Purefoy star. Very intriguing so far…
Under The Bridge (8 episodes) Reena Virk, a fourteen-year-old girl, went to join friends at a party and never returned home. Seven teenage girls and a boy were accused of the savage murder. True Canadian crime story set on Vancouver Island. Heartbreaking story of a girl trying to fit in.
We Were the Lucky Ones (8 episodes) A Jewish family is determined to survive and reunite after being separated in World War II. A huge cast includes Joey King, Logan Lerman, Robin Weight, Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Aloni, etc. A harrowing tale of survival.
Culprits (8 episodes) After a heist the crew have gone their separate ways, but now they are being targeted by a killer one-by-one. I binged on this one (even through heist themes are not my favourite.) Great performances from Nathan Stewart-Jarret Kirby, Ned Dennehy and especially Gemma Arterton who often plays a delicate English rose and who is anything but in this as the heist leader.
NBC
Law & Order (892 episodes since 1990) Still solving crimes and bringing criminals to justice!!! Now starring Hugh Dancy and Reid Scott! I never watched this show in its heyday, but now I can’t resist its torn from the headlines plots. Spoiler alert: Sam Waterston has left the show after 30 years in the same role and was replaced by Tony Goldwyn who seems like kind of a snake in his early appearances!!!
Netflix
Bodkin (7 episodes) a group of podcasters set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic Irish town. But when they start to pull the strings, they find a story much bigger and stranger than they could have imagined. Stars Will Forte, Siobhan Cullen and a host of Irish actors. Very enjoyable!
HBO/Crave
The Sympathizer (7 episodes) Near the end of the Vietnam War, a plant who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the US and takes up residence in a refugee community where he continues to secretly spy and report back to the Viet Cong. This is one confusing story which stars Robert Downey Jr. in a number of character roles, only adding to my general confusion. You must watch this one with your complete attention or you will be hopelessly lost!
Hacks (Season 3, 9 episodes) The first episode has them in Montreal at the Just for Laughs comedy festival!!!
High Country (from Australia, 8 episodes) A detective transferred to Vicgtorian High Country investigates 5 missing persons. She uncovers a complex web of murder, deceit and revenge. Great Aussie mystery!
PBS
Guilt (Season 3) The reprobates’ trials and tribulations continue. Stars Mark Bonnar and Emun Elliott.
Maryland (3 episodes) Follows Becca and Rosaline, two sisters that were distanced, but that through tragic events, learn to love and respect each other again. Stars Suranne Jones and Eve Best.
Showcase
The Tatooist of Auschwitz (6 episodes) Based o the eponymously titled novel this is the powerful real-life story of Lane Sokolov a Jewish prisoner who was tasked with tattooing ID numbers on prisoners’ arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during WWII. Touching beyond belief. Get out your hankies.
House of Gods (from Australia, 6 episodes) the life of a powerful Iraqi family in Australia, who confront new power, politics and privilege when their prominent patriarch, Sheikh Mohammad, is chosen as the head cleric of a local mosque. Seems very authentic!!!
Dark City – The Cleaner (from New Zealand, 6 episodes) Based on the bestselling book series by Paul Cleave. Seems very similar to Dexter, but set in New Zealand. Serial killer story with a twist that is apparent from the first episode.
Prime
Ricky Stanicky (1 h 53 m) When three childhood best friends pull a prank that goes wrong, they invent the imaginary friend Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble. Twenty years later, they still use the nonexistent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behaviour. Stars Zac Efron, John Cena as Ricky Stanicky, and William H. Macy who makes very entertaining use of his hands. Delightful! Lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
Streaming
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (10 episodes) Follows a squad of elite investigators who investigate corruption and high-level criminality in the Greater Toronto Area. Aden Young as Detective Graff makes this show worth watching as the detective who absolutely knows everything about everything. Everyone else delivers their lines in the trademark flat fashion of the Dick Wolf franchise. But not Aden! He’s playing Othello in an entirely different show. I laugh myself silly every time. The latest episode to air locally was their Drake episode. Not to be missed!
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (1 h 55 m, but seemed longer) is the fourth movie in the Godzilla (2014) reboot franchise. Two ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island’s mysteries. Stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens (who seems to be doing a long audition for a Guy Ritchie movie playing a Cockney rogue veterinarian, instead of the lovable toff from Downton Abbey). Focusing more on the monsters than the humans, it was full of titan-on-titan action, great special effects, adorable baby Kong, but oh so long and loud!
Perfect Days (2 h 4m) Hirayama cleans public toilets in Tokyo, lives his life in simplicity and daily tranquility. Some encounters also lead him to reflect on himself. Koji Yakusho won the best actor award at Cannes for his performance as an almost mute character. Touching and haunting. Great musical score features my favourite Lou Reed song, Perfect Day.
Hundreds of Beavers (1 h 48 m) In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers. Surrealistic and full of thousands of slapstick sight gags, I didn’t last long through this very odd silent movie. You may have better luck with this film fest favourite.
Closing Words
Have a wonderful week wherever you are. For your enjoyment, I attach the trailer for Godzilla X Kong:
What's Lorraine watching? 