Blanca (series)

This Italian series (one season - 10 episodes) features Blanca, a 20-something blind woman staring an internship at the Genoa police department. She has to deal with all the dismissiveness and stereotyping you would expect, but she makes herself useful on cases, to the point that her detective supervisor begins to trust her. In parallel, Blanca is drawn into an investigation of her own history and who killed her older sister (an event that caused Blanca's blindness). Is there such a thing as a Rom-Thrill? This is it. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Astrid (serial)

Season 5

In this season, the running theme is centered around a series of Astrid's epileptic seizures. They seem to be triggered by something and so she begins to investigate her own history / memory.  Tetsu loses his funding (and therefore visa), a childhood aquaintance comes back into her life, and Raphaelle is pregnant. All traumatic events that could contribute. This season thread is woven through the individual cases of each episode and we are even treated to young Astrid in flashback. Great storylines and I love the 8-10 episode seasons that is the new norm for seasons. Not so long that I lose interest -- good addictive encouragement, keep them wanting more :)

5 stars (out of 5)

Undercover Grandpa

A Spy Kids genre movie where James Caan plays senile grandpa who is always telling crazy stories about how he invented dark chocolate or single-handedly stopped the Russians from taking Berlin after WWII. When his grandkid's wannabe girlfriend (crush?) is kidnapped by an escaped South American warlord (see how silly this is already), Caan re-activiates his old unit of now geriatric special forces. The 4 of them, plus the two teenagers, take on and take out a cadre of mercenaries with more guns than the entire force of Mr. Smith in the Matrix. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Wake Up Dead Man

 A Knives Out Mystery - starring Benoit Blanc

Third in the series of Daniel Craig detective vehicles. Set in upstate New York, but definitely an English Village vibe, and new priest is assigned to the small parish. He finds a ultra-controlling, cult-like figure running the church. When he is murdered in a closed room (the impossible crime), Blanc comes in to clear everything up. A fun clashing of Blanc's ultra-rationalism with religious fervor and miracles. As is typical, every key character has motive to be a killer, and sorting out what is known in flashback after setting the scene is the storytelling mechanism. A really good entry into the series. Well done. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Glass Onion

A Knives Out Mystery - starring Benoit Blanc

Daniel Craig reprises his role of Blanc, this time invited to a murder-mystery play on a private island by a billionaire tech bro.  Only it turns out there is a real murder and Blanc needs to solve it. Only it turns out ... well, without spoiling, let's say that 80% of the plot plays out, and then is shown again in flashback to reveal backstory, and then the 20% finale wraps up. Effective as a mystery plot device, but I think a bit of editing to speed up the pace would make a stronger film. The plot is remarkably similar to Murder Mystery 2 (which I saw first), but was released later. So in my watching, this felt derivative, but it was definitely better. A nice combo of Holmsian insight, Colombo-like bumbling, and Austin Powers excess. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Knives Out

Daniel Craig is Benoit Blanc, famed detective. Sort of a cross between Holmes and Columbo. He is hired by an anonymous source to solve the suicide (murder?) of super wealthy author Harlan Thrombey. When Thrombey's will is read, and the entire estate left to his nurse/caregiver - the family is agast. And now Blanc needs to solve the case to show she didn't do it to get the money. A fun murder-mystery that is fully aware of how pretentious it is. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Song Sung Blue

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play Lightning and Thunder, two members of a Neil Diamond cover band based in Milwaukee. Their meeting is a chance encounter at a cover band fest at the local fairgrounds, and the chemistry is instant. But life is not easy for these two. The film tells the story of their rise to local fame over the course of a couple of years. While showing the difficulties they encounter, the film definitely lives in the clouds just above the grit and grime of tragedy, showing the silver lining result after crushing storm after storm. Which is appropriate -- as these two seem to exude positivity and resilience. If you are a Neil Diamond fan, you will love this movie. If not, it is a pretty good Hallmark Christmas movie. 

4 stars (out of 5)