The Equalizer (1988) – The Last Campaign, and Sea of Fire

Stanley Tucci guest stars in the season four opener of The Equalizer as the episode’s baddie, Phillip Wingate, an assemblyman who is intent on blackmailing a senator, Virgil Blake (E.G. Marshall), with something from his past. One of the assemblyman’s staff, Cindy Claussen (Laila Robins) stumbles across Wingate’s plan and reaches out to McCall (Edward…

The Expanse (2019) – Saeculum, and Cibola Burn

The penultimate episode of The Expanse’s fourth season just keeps the tension ratcheted and everybody holding for dear life. Saeculum was written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, known collectively as James S.A. Corey, the authors of The Expanse series. Like the rest of the season, this episode dropped on 13 December, 2019. Time is…

The Expanse (2019) – Oppressor, and Displacement

I’m not sure I can take the tension of The Expanse continuing to ratchet itself higher and higher. Oppressor, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (collectively known as James S.A. Corey, the author of The Expanse novel series), this episode like the rest of the season dropped on Amazon Prime on 13 December, 2019….

The Expanse (2019) – Subduction, and Retrograde

Problems seem to be everywhere in Subduction. Written by Dan Nowak, and dropping on 13 December, 2019 like the rest of season four, there is a lot going on. On Earth, Chrisjen (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is having issues running for office, a role she should have in the bag, and may have again, now that something…

The Expanse (2018) – Dandelion Sky, and Fallen World

Things are escalating quickly as Holden (Steven Strait) and The Investigator/Miller (Thomas Jane) arrive on the central node at the heart of the bubble that is the Slow Zone. Written by Georgia Lee, Dandelion Sky first aired on 13 June, 2018. He’s not the only one on his way there, however. It seems a Martian…

The Expanse (2018) – Immolation, and Delta-V

Things ramp up again not only for the crew of the Rocinante but the entire system in Immolation. Written by Alan DiFiore, this episode first debuted on 16 May, 2018. As Holden (Steven Strait), Amos (Wes Chatham), Bobbie (Frankie Adams) and Prax (Terry Chen) explore the Mao facilities on Io, the hybrid pods that were…

Lincoln (2012) – Steven Spielberg

Daniel Day-Lewis takes the titular role in Spielberg’s masterful film about the iconic president and his struggle to pass the 13th Amendment in support of his Emancipation Proclamation, even as the Civil War continues to tear the country apart. Filled with themes and ideas that are still sad, and frighteningly relevant, this looks at a…

Nightmare Alley (2021) – Guillermo del Toro

Based on the novel of the same name del Toro’s latest is a lush, shining example of the noir genre, and features strong performances and visuals. I loved how faithful it was to the spirit of the novel, there were a few necessary changes, but none that change any of the overall arcs for any…

Miami Vice (1985) -Whatever Works, and Out Where the Buses Don’t Run

Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas)  find more darkness under the glitz and glamour as I dive into this week’s pair of episodes of Miami Vice. First up is Whatever Works. Written by Maurice Hurley, the episode first debuted on 4 October, 1985. Sonny’s Ferrari Daytona Spyder gets seized by police…

Trailer Tracks: Sneakers (1992) – Phil Alden Robinson

Now this is how you put a trailer together, it gives you a taste of the plot, and seriously ups the tension the entire way through its 2 minute run. With a star-fueled cast like this – Robert Redford, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poiter, River Phoenix, Mary McDonnell, Dan Akroyd, David Strathairn, and James Earl Jones –…