Master Gardener (2022) Film By Paul Schrader

Lately, many of my posts have been about older or recent TV series but occasionally I like to blog about films or movies that leave a lasting impression on me long after I have finished watching it. One such movie is the film titled Master Gardener by Paul Schrader which premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in 2022 and which was subsequently released in the US by Magnolia Pictures the following year. Actually, I was drawn to this movie after watching Jane Campion's 2021 film The Power of the Dog which was based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel of the same name. Because The Power of the Dog was such a good movie and Benedict Cumberbatch's performance in it truly brilliant,  I was searching for another indie or arthouse film with a storyline that was just as intriguing as The Power of the Dog when I stumbled upon this movie.  By the way, those who have not seen The Power of the Dog yet should really invest in the film since Benedict Cumberbatch's performance in it is alone worth your while. Another thing that attracted me to this film was the involvement of upcoming actor Joel Edgerton and veteran actress Sigourney Weaver. Edgerton, an Australian actor, has played many diverse roles, from Pharaoh Ramesses II in Exodus : Gods & Kings to more recent ones like Richard Loving in Loving, a movie about an interracial couple in 1960s Virginia which at that time had state laws prohibiting interracial marriages. You can also catch him in the current science fiction TV drama Dark Matter from Apple TV. It is also worth mentioning here that long time actor, Esai Morales, has a small cameo role in the movie and that newcomer Quintessa Swindell's performance in the movie is also exceptionally good. For those not acquainted with Paul Schrader, he is the legendary film maker, director and screenwriter responsible for movies like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, American Gigolo, Cat People, The Mosquito Coast and the more recent 2021 movie The Card Counter starring Oscar Isaac. In my humble opinion, most of Schrader's films are truly an examination of the human condition. A fact which is further validated by this film. 

So back to the intriguing storyline of this movie (which I will try not to give too much away), Edgerton plays the role of Narvel Roth, a meticulous horticulturist who tends to a vast but beautiful estate owned by the wealthy Mrs Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When first introduced to the character, Roth seems very contented with the tranquil life and daily routines in Gracewood Gardens but in actuality, he hides a very dark secret. However, his ordered existence within the estate will soon be disrupted upon the arrival of Mrs Haverhill's grand niece, Maya. Roth is truly an ironic role for Edgerton as the character actually contradicts a previous role played by him, Richard Loving. Through a series of clues and flashbacks, the viewer is slowly given glimpses of Roth's past life. A complex character, Roth is a very different man from his past self and by the end of the film, we see him evolving even further. The movie also uses a lot of imagery and symbolism like the fact that Roth views gardening as a way to project the future. Something that he can control like the scheduled way he runs everything on the estate grounds. Even the beautiful and tranquil images of flowers that adorn the movie's opening credits are deceptive and seems to hide the actual violent nature of the film's story. But what actually attracted me to the movie was Schrader's (the film was written and directed by him) ability to see into the darkest recesses of the human soul but yet find something redemptive and faith restoring there. The characters, despite their huge flaws, are always portrayed sympathetically and handled with reserved judgement in his films. At the age of 77 and after some personal struggles, perhaps this film is Schrader's ode to life hence the optimistic ending of the film. Apparently, Master Gardener is the final part in Paul Schrader's "Man In A Room" trilogy of films. The first and second films being the 2017 film First Reformed starring Ethan Hawke and the 2021 movie The Card Counter with Oscar Isaac. However, when I first discovered this movie I was completely unaware that it was part of a trilogy of films. Until now, I have never seen the other two films but from articles like the one linked below from The New York Times (which contain some spoilers), I found out that these three films are actually connected and that they share some similar themes like self destruction, dormant violence and redemption.     

Living With The Men of Paul Schrader's 'Man In A Room' Trilogy by Esther Zuckerman (The New York Times) 

So, if you are curious about this movie and you want to know who Roth actually is and what happens to him in the end, check out the film and let me know what you think in the comments. I would really like to hear them.  Lastly, please note that the film received mixed but mostly favorable reviews but it contains some very adult situations, so its not for the kids or family viewing. There is a comprehensive review of this film on RogerEbert.com by Glenn Kenny which best describes this film, if you don't mind some minor spoilers, or that you can read after viewing the movie. The film garnered a 4 star rating on the website while Mr Kenny is obviously a fan of Paul Schrader. As for me, I might be tempted to explore the other two earlier films in the trilogy at a later date. 

Review on Master Gardener (RogerEbert.com) By Glenn Kenny 

Trailer Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing

(the above video contains some minor spoilers)

If you are interested, this movie is available on DVD/Blu-Ray from Magnolia Home Entertainment and via streaming on Amazon Prime. The links are provided below.

    Master Gardener Blu-Ray (Amazon US) (paid link)

 

  Master Gardener (Amazon Prime) (paid link)

The Rise of TV & Declining Standards of Film

Actually, this post is an expansion of my previous (deleted) post on 10th June 2014 which was a short commentary on the falling standards of movies and films in our local cinemas in contrast to the content on our TVs that have improved by leaps and bounds largely due to cable networks and giant streaming channels like Netflix and Amazon Prime who have invested heavily in many expensive and high quality TV movies, series and mini series (now more popularly known as limited series) that include a diverse range of stories from different parts of the world. Since 2014, I had noticed a sharp decline in the quality of movies being shown in my local theatres and have been avoiding them during outings with my family as I felt that the price of the ticket was a sheer waste of my money. Back then, movies that were being shown were mostly unoriginal and unimaginative with repetitive themes and storylines that relied instead on the big names of their stars to draw in the crowds. Remakes of old films, sequels, films based on children's fairy tales, poor adaptions of books aimed at teenagers, 'kaiju' films and superhero movies from Marvel/ DC seem to flood our cinemas until today. Although movies from the 1980s and 1990s lacked the spectacular special effects found in our current line-up of movies, they always had epic, fresh and exciting stories to tell the audience thanks to trailblazers like Spielberg and Lucas and studios who were not adverse to taking risks. Are they getting better? Honestly, not really for me as I had not gone to the cinema for nearly 2 decades. However, the only movie that got me strangely a little excited was the 2022 movie, The Batman, from director Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson. I thought it was a really good reboot of the Batman film franchise and Robert Pattinson's performance as the brooding Bruce Wayne/ Batman was surprising in a good way (he is also very good at playing brooding vampires). But the film is still another remake from the DC universe nonetheless which proves my earlier point right? The idea is if there are too many LEGO movies out there, why don't we do a movie about Barbie instead? No condemnation or judgement is reserved here for those who enjoyed these movies, but you have to admit that there is a serious lack of variety and original films in our cinemas today.

On the other hand, because of streaming platforms, movies that have just been released in cinemas are almost instantaneously available on our small screens which eliminates the need for most of us to visit the local cinema frequently. Streaming platforms also allows us to participate in "binging" apart from the more traditional 'appointment' viewing. In other words, we get to see multiple episodes or even whole seasons in one sitting at the time most convenient to us. No more waiting for episodes to be shown on weekly basis or checking the time slots for them. Personally, I feel that streaming has changed the way we watch TV and this new attachment to our TVs, home entertainment systems and mobile phones (especially after Covid-19) is a major factor that pushed for better content on our small screens. Cable networks like AMC, HBO, Showtime and FX are constantly breaking new ground with high quality classic shows like Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, True Blood, Breaking Bad, Dexter and more recent ones like Shogun. Most of these series have achieved cult status with huge and rabid followers. Another instance of TV taking the higher ground is the cult TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer which premiered in the late 1990s. The series creator, Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Firefly). initially wrote Buffy as a movie which was screened in 1992. However, due to interference from the studio 20th Century Fox, the story was changed so much that Whedon decided to re-write a darker version of the story for TV instead. Needless to say, the series became a hit and an icon while the film received mixed and average reviews. 

TV is a medium where writers are able to develop long and complicated story arcs over the course of a few seasons. This translates to a better channel for writers to be more creative and to tell their stories at a more leisurely pace. Characters who have more time to develop are also better fleshed out. So it is hardly surprising that a lot of famous actors, talented screenwriters, prominent directors and established producers are turning to the small screen. In fact, I was further reminded of this while watching an interview of prolific American actor, Kevin Bacon, who was at that time starring in the 2013 Fox TV series The Following, with Peter Travers on ABC News. Here, he mentions about why so many actors like himself and writers are migrating to TV. By the way, the series is written by Kevin Williamson who is responsible for the Scream movies. So instead of paying for a pricey movie ticket and popcorn, I might just settle in my cozy sofa in front of the telly because there is where the good stories are😊.

(Interview Video Courtesy of  Popcorn with Peter Travers-ABC News)

Lately, I have discovered some interesting articles from Forbes that is related to this topic and have included the links to these articles for those who are interested in reading them.

How TV Viewing Habits Have Changed (Forbes) By Falon Fatemi 

5 Ways Streaming Changed Television Forever In The Last Decade (Forbes) By Toni Fitzgerald

Luther (British TV Series)

If you have been reading my blog then you would be aware that I am an avid fan of detective or crime dramas and lately I have been exploring some crime series from Europe and other non English speaking countries namely series like Memento Mori (2023) from Spain and other French crime dramas which I had talked about extensively in my last few posts. Other crime series worth mentioning is Cardinal, a Canadian series with actor Billy Campbell as the main protagonist that lasted 4 seasons (2017-2020) and the 2020 remake of Van der Valk starring Marc Warren which despite being a British TV series is actually about a police detective in modern day Amsterdam. However, before migrating to these shows, what started the ball rolling for me were mostly my affinity for British crime series and there have been many over the decades. More recently shows like Temple (2019-2021), a medical crime drama (based on the Norwegian series Valkyrien) about a respected surgeon who runs an illegal clinic that treats criminals in the abandoned service tunnels below London's Temple Underground Station to fund his research on a cure for his terminally ill wife, and the ongoing crime drama Grace, set in Brighton and starring John Simm, has resuscitated my interest in them. However, there are a few shows that are standouts. Among them is a relatively newer series which I will reveal later but here I'm going to talk about an older series that until today many outside the UK or in the US might still be unaware of although many Americans are familiar with the lead actor for his role in the HBO series The Wire. Of course, I'm talking about the Neil Cross TV Series Luther and Idris Elba who plays the titular character DCI John Luther. Firstly, a little background on showrunner Neil Cross. He is a prolific British novelist and screenwriter for many TV projects including the pre-apocalyptic crime series Hard Sun (2018) produced by BBC One and Hulu which unfortunately lasted only one season. His other involvements also include the British series Spooks and Doctor Who. However, the force that catapulted both him and actor Idris Elba to fame was largely attributed to this series. So why is this series different from other crime British dramas? Besides the fact that both the show's lead characters are played by the very charismatic Idris Elba and accomplished actress Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre, The Affair, His Dark Materials), the series is not exactly a "procedural police crime drama" and can be more aptly defined as a "psychological crime thriller". Personally, I feel that many British crime dramas that fall in the earlier category can sometimes be too mired in the details of the investigations or cases which makes them a little dry, humorless and meandering which ultimately makes viewing them a drudgery. Fortunately, this series does not suffer from this. In fact, from the opening scene and the first episode, the viewer is already aware that he/she is watching something very different. The series, which lasted 5 seasons, was aired on BBC One from 2010 to 2019. Because each season consisted of only 2 to 6 episodes, the story is fast paced with our main protagonist often embroiled in tense and challenging situations back to back. So who actually is DCI John Luther? Luther is a Detective Chief Inspector working for the Serious Crimes Unit. Intelligent but often obsessive and compulsive to the point of being detrimental to himself, he is often faced with demented criminals who are often then not also killers. He is also prone to using violence and questionable means to apprehend/ stop them if necessary which often lands him in trouble.

It would seem (up to this point) that this series is not very different from other British crime dramas. However, later in the first episode of the first season, we are introduced to Alice Morgan, a female psychopath and killer who has managed to commit the perfect murder. Here is where this series diverges from the others. Despite the series being named after the titular character, Luther is not only about DCI John Luther and the many criminals and killers he is up against but the it is also very much about Alice Morgan and her complicated relationship with Luther throughout the series. Many might know that Elba won numerous awards for his portrayal of Luther but if you have seen this series, you would know that Ruth Wilson is truly mesmerizing when she appears onscreen as the brilliant, dangerous and complicated Alice. Needless to say, most scenes when they both appear together are often sexually charged and tense while the conversations between them can be liken to those between Dr Lecter and Agent Starling, albeit in a more understated manner. For those not acquainted with the series, Alice eventually becomes Luther's constant nemesis, romantic interest, companion and confidant throughout the seasons. As I mentioned earlier, the line between right and wrong is often blurred for Luther which makes him a fallible character and an interesting watch. Besides the interesting relationship between both leads, the series also offers enough action scenes and surprises in the course of Luther's investigations to hold the viewer's attention. Most of Luther's high profile cases involve insane serial killers and violent criminals. All episodes are written by Neil Cross who manages to put his own (and often unexpected) spin on each story. Each season is either centered on a single case or multiple cases depending on the number of episodes in each season which can vary greatly from only 2 to 6 episode and because the gaps between each season can be lengthy, the first episode of each season usually picks up with Luther in different stages of his life/ work.

By now you might have noticed that I did not mention about the film Luther : The Fallen Sun which is a feature film sequel to the series released in selected cinemas and later streamed by Netflix in 2023. The reason being that I had purposely avoided the movie despite being an avid fan of the series. Why? Because when most of my favorite TV series were adapted into feature films in the past, they always disappointed me and were lacking in some aspects (e.g. Joss Whedon's TV series Firefly which later spawned a feature length film of the same name). TV is a medium that is suitable for long story arcs and when TV series are adapted into film, the story is often rushed and this often changes the dynamics of the storyline. The other deciding factor was the absence of Ruth Wilson/ Alice Morgan whose role played a crucial part in the series. So despite being written by Neil Cross and produced by Idris Elba, I still gave it a skip. A personal choice on my part but don't let me discourage you from checking it out if you are a fan of the series or even if you have never seen the series before. Lastly, if you're looking for a good British criminal drama that is different from the norm, this series should be your top choice. A story from one of the most promising British screenwriters of our times and career defining performances from Elba and Wilson ensures that this series will remain a favorite among many for a long time.  

(Video Courtesy of BBC Studios)

For those who are seeking this series to watch for the first time or simply to re-visit it, all five seasons of the series is available on Amazon Prime US. The Blu-Ray Boxset for Luther Season 1-5 is available on Amazon US. However, the set is the UK version in Region B/2. The feature film Luther : The Fallen Sun is currently unavailable on Amazon US. 

Luther Season 1-5 Amazon Prime (paid link)

Luther Season 1-5 Blu-Ray (Region B/2) (paid link)

Y The Last Man & FX Channel

The tag for the FX Channel is "Fearless" and while this network has been home to some of my old favorite TV series namely shows like Nip/Tuck, The Strain and The Bridge and even newer shows like A Murder At The End Of The World, the channel has not been taking risks with shows with new concepts or storylines lately, preferring instead to stick to remakes or sequels to old franchises. Although I was wholly impressed by FX's latest series Shogun (it has been confirmed by FX that there will be a second season) and Justified City Primeval, I can't help but feel that the network is taking a safer route with these shows. Don't get me wrong, FX deserves all the success and acclaim for both these shows especially for Shogun since it was a big investment on their part and for finally giving long waiting fans an updated, faithful and well deserved adaption of James Clavell's book. But I'm not here to talk about these high profile shows, instead I'm here to talk about a TV series by FX that was cancelled after only one season. The show is Y: The Last Man, a series that I was following diligently during the Covid-19 lockdowns, which made watching the series a little chilling (as I'm realizing now) since it also dealt with an epidemic that wiped out all mammals with the Y chromosome/ male species. The 10 episode series, which is actually based on the similarly titled comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, was finally shown in late 2021 on FX on Hulu after a long delay from its initial pitch to FX in 2015. The delay was greatly caused by the change in the showrunners for the show from Michael Green and Aida Mashaka Croal to Eliza Clark, several casting changes and filming restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the series received generally favorable reviews, it was cancelled after its first season by FX mainly due to declining viewership and budget constraints (FX had to pay a purported 3 million to extend the contracts of the actors due to the delays).

For those not acquainted with this series, the story is basically about one man, Yorick Brown (an escape artist), who survives an epidemic that seemingly wipes out all (male) mammals with a Y chromosome. However, he also has a pet, a male capuchin monkey named Ampersand, that survives with him. By the way, Ampersand (like in the symbol &) is not a real monkey but completely CGI. For first time viewers, you will be truly amazed by how life like this mischievous monkey appears on the show which is largely credited to the people in Industrial Light & Magic. The first scene that shows New York in the aftermath, with littered corpses, crashed cars and even a helicopter on top of a building (apparently the male pilot died mid air)  is also equally impressive. Continuing with the narration of the story, Yorick's mother Jennifer Brown (Diane Lane), a former Congresswoman is now elevated to the position of President after the (female) Vice President is supposedly killed  during the cataclysmic event.  He also has a sister, Hero Brown, a paramedic with delinquency issues but the series gets more interesting when Yorick is paired with Agent 355/ Sarah Burgin (played excellently by Ashley Romans), a Secret Service Agent and member of the mysterious Culper Ring organization, who is assigned as his bodyguard by his mother on his travels in search of a Harvard geneticist, Dr Allison Mann (feistily portrayed by Diana Bang), who may be able to reveal the answers to his and Ampersand's survival. In addition to this, his mother has also kept his existence a secret from her political rivals in order to protect him. Hence, she is forced to send her son away with Agent 355 just after reuniting with him to keep him safe. Actually, I found the reversal of (gender) roles between Agent 355 and Yorick as protector and protectee refreshing with many amusing situations in the series showcasing this reversal  to great effect. The often mysterious backstory of Sarah Burgin (Agent 355) before the apocalyptic event also adds many interesting layers to the story. 

So what made this highly anticipated, expensive and critically well received series fail? If you have seen this series, you will be immediately drawn to the fact that this series has many similarities to other successful dystopian series like AMC's The Walking Dead (which is also based on a comic book series by Robert Kirkman) and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (based on Margaret Atwood's novel). Firstly, I think that the many factors that delayed the series played a major role in its demise. The abrupt changes in the series' creative team and casting perhaps created inconsistencies in the creative direction of the show. The pandemic which happened during the development of the series meant filming would be further hampered and delayed and this would impact FX's budget for the show. Another factor which also contributed to the show's demise was the sudden shifting of the series from FX to FX on Hulu. But honestly, I personally felt that the show failed because it alienated the male demographic. Although this might be an unpopular opinion to some female viewers, like me, who enjoyed the series, the fact that Michael Green was replaced by Eliza Clark as the showrunner at the last minute, all 10 episode were directed by female directors, a cast that was predominantly female except for Ben Schnetzer who plays Yorick and Elliot Fletcher who plays a transgender man who survives the epidemic (special mention for fans of the Canadian mountie series Due South, the show guest stars Paul Gross as President Ted Campbell who dies during the global epidemic) and a storyline where all the men die and the world is ruled by women (sounds like the worst nightmare for some guys 😁) makes it hardly surprising that this series did not find a favorable audience with most dudes. If they (meaning guys) had wanted to check out a TV series with apocalyptic overtones, they would definitely tune in instead to what Rick and Daryl was up to in the TWD series or turn to newer series like Amazon Prime's The Fallout. Which is a shame really because this series is actually high quality TV with an addictive story thanks to Brian K. Vaughan's (gasp he's a guy) comic book series. So, my recommendation is that if you (guys included) have not seen this series, you should definitely check it out. In fact, I have provided some links below for those interested in seeing this highly entertaining series for the first time or to simply  revisit the show.  

Final thoughts, cancellation of shows after one season is nothing new to me even excellent ones like Joss Whedon's Firefly, but Y: The Last Man meant that the 'Fearless' network would be more cautious in its selection of shows in the future. When networks are reluctant to venture into more controversial series or air riskier shows, content on our TVs will get only more diluted until we are inundated daily with only game or reality shows. Just my 2 cents. 

You can also check out the review on this series by Variety by clicking this link below.

 Review by Variety .

Y: The Last Man Opening Scene

(Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes TV)

Links below (please note that the TV series is not released on any physical media such as DVDs or Blu-Rays but is available on Amazon Prime) : 

Y The Last Man Book 1 (Amazon US) (paid link)

Y The Last Man (Amazon Prime)

Is Physical Media Making A Comeback ?

Actually this post is partly inspired by my earlier (deleted) post dated 4th May 2014 which was titled Blu-Rays/DVDs Vs Downloads and the ongoing online debate whether physical media (which includes 4K Blu-Rays, Blu-Rays, DVDs, CDs and Vinyl) will be popular once again or at least remain relevant in today's age of streaming and digital downloads. During the 1990s until the mid 2010s, I had been an avid collector myself of DVDs, Blu-Rays and even CDs but honestly I don't really see physical media making a huge comeback now or in the future. Instead, sales of physical media will probably be on the decline. Personally, I gave up collecting them simply because they took up too much storage space. Perhaps, if you really like a particular movie, TV series or album, you could buy and keep them on physical format because then they will be yours forever as streaming platforms are notorious for abruptly pulling movies and TV shows from their libraries which sometimes never see the light of day again. However, demand for them will surely grow in the collectors' market especially for steelbooks, special editions and boxsets. So don't get rid of them in yard sales just yet 😉. Below is my personal list of pros and cons for physical media.

PROS OF PHYSICAL MEDIA

1) Ownership - yours to own forever with no fear of disappearing licenses or that your favorite movie or TV show will be removed from your streaming provider's lineup or shifted to another platform/ network.

2) Bonus Material/ Extras - director's cut/ special/ deluxe/ criterion/ anniversary/ collector's editions are loaded with extras besides the actual film/ album e.g. commentaries, behind the scene footages, additional tracks, cut scenes and even (gasp) alternate endings. 

3) Old & Rare Films, TV Shows & Records - it is widely known that many old and rare movies, TV series and music are only found on physical media. Sometimes, these forgotten films and music are even given a new lease of life when they are remastered and re-released on physical media. 

4) Packaging - many limited editions or steelbooks comes with impressive artwork and sleeves which are not only beautiful to look at but highly collectible. Some are even tailor made for display on your shelves with busts, figurines etc. 

5) Potential to be Collectibles - old and rare first editions, limited editions with serial numbers and even old Disney VHS tapes (or so I heard) are very much sought after by collectors who sometimes pay top dollar for them. Just a little tidbit, Disney has a habit of censoring some scenes from their animated feature films which they may deem to be unsuitable or sensitive for modern day audiences but these old tapes usually contain the uncensored versions (when first released). 

6) Better Picture & Sound Quality - since I'm not much of a techie myself, I can't really vouch for this but those in the know swear that physical media preserves the original or intended quality of picture and sound due to their local and huge data storage capacity while streaming or digital downloads are often compressed versions with inferior video and audio quality. 

7) No WIFI/ Internet Required - I think this is self explanatory 😊.

CONS OF PHYSICAL MEDIA

1) Storage - as I mentioned earlier, the main reason why I no longer buy physical media is the ever growing problem of where to store them but if you have the space then by all means go for it. 

2) Not Sustainable/ Environmentally Friendly - production of discs (which are basically made of plastic) and packaging (sometimes consisting of plastic casings or cardboard) can be a resource intensive process not to mention the further impact on the environment caused by the distribution and transportation of them. However, if recycled material can be introduced in the production process then I think that would be good for the industry.

3) Expensive - there are individuals/ parties that after comparing the cost of streaming to buying physical media are adamant that streaming is actually not the cheaper option because of certain underlying factors. Well, as someone who has lived through the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, I can safely say buying physical media is not cheap but it was the only option back then. Building a Blu-Ray or DVD library is actually very expensive since you have to take into account the production, packaging and transportation costs hence a lot of people were renting instead of buying them back in the day. Anyone remember renting VHS tapes? Another thing, you had to invest in a standalone player e.g. a DVD, Blu-Ray or Hi-Fi player. Now, for a relatively low monthly subscription, you have access to a whole library of movies, TV shows and music. For the younger ones who might not know, Netflix (the current streaming giant) started out delivering DVDs in mailers to subscribers who were renting them before evolving to what it is today - the biggest streaming network with its own original content.   

4) Redundant Players - most physical media require you to purchase a standalone player e.g. a Blu-Ray player, DVD player or game console which is not only an additional cost but over time and with the advancement of technology might be rendered redundant or obsolete in the future. 

5) Durability - contrary to common belief, commercially produced Blu-Rays, DVDs and CDs do not last a lifetime. Life expectancy of most discs are around 20-30 years if they are handled and stored properly. They may last longer but that very much depends also on the manufacturing quality of the discs, the quality of materials used and how the discs were encoded or imprinted. There might even be some deterioration in video or sound quality on certain discs over long periods of time.

6) Incompatibility - I have lost count of the many times that I bought a DVD or Blu-Ray but was disappointed that my player was unable to play them (or skipped) due to the disc being region locked, in a different format or just defective. With streaming, there should be no such issue unless your WIFI/ Internet is down or intermittent. 

For those who are interested to read more about this topic, I have provided links to some insightful articles below. Lastly, if anyone would like to add to my above list of pros and cons for physical media or let me know how they feel about physical media, streaming and digital downloads, feel free to leave a comment for me on this post. 

Why I Still Buy Physical Media (CNN Underscored) By Henry T Casey

8 Reasons We Actually Sort of Miss Our Movies on Physical Media (Collider) By Jeremy Urquhart

6 Reasons Physical Media Beats Streaming (PCMag) By Mike Williams

Why Streaming Movies Is More Expensive Than Buying Blu-Ray or DVD (SlashFilm) By Valerie Ettenhofer

It's Not Just Netflix & Max's Prices Increasing - Blu-Ray & DVD Prices Have Shot Up (Techradar) By Carrie Marshall

Longevity of Recordable CDs, DVDs & Blu-Rays (A Report by the Canadian Conservation Institute-CCI)

Evil (TV Series) by Robert & Michelle King

First of all, let me be clear that I am not a fan of horror movies or horror tv series, well not those that are outright creepy, disturbing or scary ones anyways. So, I don't really watch tv series like American Horror Story, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, to name a few. But I have explored other limited series like Epix's Chapelwaite (2021), an eight part series starring Adrian Brody based on a Stephen King's short story, and BBC/FX's Black Narcissus (2020), a three part series starring Gemma Arterton based on a novel by Rumer Godden, to name a few. Mostly gothic horror or movies/series that are 'hybrids' with elements of dark horror (usually hinted at but never visceral) interwoven with drama. But Evil, a TV series from Robert & Michelle King, is very original in its approach to the horror/drama genre. First shown in 2019 on CBS with the second and third season airing on Paramount+, the fourth season of the series will be premiering on 23rd May, 2024 with the (four episode) fifth and final season airing a week later. The series is written and produced by the well known husband/wife team, Robert & Michelle King, who are responsible for TV series like the legal drama The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight. Currently, they are involved in another spin-off of The Good Wife, Elsbeth (a police procedural comedy drama) which premiered on CBS early this year. Since its debut, Evil has garnered a loyal audience and critical praise for its character performances, writing, direction and cinematography. However, I personally feel that the series, despite being excellent, suffered low viewership due to the less than stellar publicity given to it by the networks, the sudden shift from CBS to Paramount+ and the erratic and often delayed airing dates of the season episodes. Hence, resulting in the premature axing of the series this year.

Despite being tagged as a 'supernatural drama', Evil has many elements of horror intertwined with religious themes. Truly a departure from the legal dramas that have been the Kings' mainstay. The series actually capitalizes on our fascination with religion and horror, which is seeing a resurgence with many movies like The Nun and The Pope's Exorcist, while exploring the age old theme of good versus evil. So what is the series basically about? It concerns a Catholic seminarian and later priest, Father David Acosta (Mike Colter-Luke Cage), aided by a forensic psychologist and lapsed Catholic, Dr Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) and a technical expert who was formerly a Muslim turned atheist,  Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi), who is hired by the Catholic Church to investigate purported supernatural events. In the course of their bizarre investigations (we are talking about cases that are straight out of  the X-Files), they encounter many elements of evil that tests not only their faith and strengths but which starts to blur the lines of reality. Throughout the series, the team is also dogged by Dr Leland Townsend (played devilishly by Michael Emerson-Person of Interest), also a forensic psychologist who dabbles in the occult and who frequently encourages others to commit evil acts. He also has a strange obsession with Kristen and her family. 

Although the Christian faith and its symbolism is predominantly featured in this series, it does explore the beliefs of other religions too as evidenced by the third episode of Season 2 entitled 'F is for Fire' which concerns a foster child of  Catholic-Muslim parents possessed by an 'ifrit' or 'fire jinn'. As I said earlier, despite being labeled as a 'supernatural drama', viewers should not underestimate the series' ability to surprise them with pure moments of horror like in Kristen's nightly visits by the demon George or the fourth episode of Season 2 entitled 'E is for Elevator' which is a thinly veiled tribute to Japanese horror. So is Evil a horror series? Yes, but it is also so much more than that. Currently, I don't think there is anything on TV that is more original than this series which combines all elements of the supernatural, horror, dark humor and drama so seamlessly. Kudos to the Kings for taking a risk with this series and perhaps with lesser known actresses or actors like Katja Herbers and Aasif Mandvi who are both wonderful as the lead characters. Special mention also goes to veteran actress Christine Lahti's performance as Kristen's mum. While waiting anxiously for the final season(s), I can't help but feel that it is a shame that this series is ending abruptly. Although the series was not given the full credit it deserves during its run, I at least hope that Paramount+ will give the series a good send off it deserves.

Lastly, for those who are curious about this series, you should binge on the first three seasons first before viewing the final fourth and fifth seasons to have a fuller understanding and experience of the show.  For me, the series has been a fun (albeit unpredictable) ride which is coming to an end.  

I have provided links below for those wanting to catch up on the first three seasons. 

Evil Amazon Prime (paid link)

Evil Season 1 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

Evil Season 2 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

Evil Season 3 Blu-Ray Amazon US (paid link)

Mr & Mrs Smith (2024) & Other Spy Thrillers

It has been ages since I had watched anything related to spies or espionage on the big or small screen.  There have been a few good spy thrillers on TV recently like The Americans (FX) and Slow Horses (Apple TV) but I have not gotten around to seeing them. Honestly, it was just my lack of interest for these series for the most part.  The last thing that I watched which had anything remotely related to espionage was (hold your breath) the 1980s TV series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I know that a lot of you who might be purists of serious spy dramas will be shaking your head at this point but you will be surprised how popular this TV series remains until today 😁. Seriously, there have been others that I have enjoyed over the years like the 1988 British miniseries 'Codename: Kyril'  which was set during the Cold War and starred the late Edward Woodward (The Equalizer), a little known 1997 movie 'The Assignment' which starred Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley (originally watched with my late father but re-visited recently with my sister ) and of course my perennial favorite 'La Femme Nikita' (1997-2001), the Canadian/US TV series which starred Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis, to name a few. Although I'm quite fond of the original French movie 'La Femme Nikita' (1990) by Luc Besson, I did not care much for the remake TV series from The CW titled 'Nikita' (2010-2013) which starred Maggie Q and Shane West. Personally, I felt that the earlier series, whose cast was predominantly  French Canadian except for the beautiful Peta Wilson who was Australian, was unique because it had a very strong European influence which was faithful to Luc Besson's original movie but the version from The CW was too Americanized which made it a little 'soulless' and less appealing to me. Some might not agree with me but this was just how I felt when I compared both series.  

Despite watching a barrage of movies and TV series in the vein of spy thrillers from the 1980s until the  1990s, I had never seen the 2005 movie Mr & Mrs Smith which starred Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Yes, hard to believe since it was a high profile movie which starred the two biggest names at that time. So when I decided to watch a new Amazon Prime series (similarly titled ) which was a remake of the original movie, I had no expectations or any pre-conceived notions going into the series for the first time. So what attracted me to this series in the first place was the all round good reviews it was receiving after it premiered early this year (February 2024). Although there were others currently being shown on TV or on the big screen, I was really looking for a good spy drama which had a more updated story and modern feel to it.  A spy drama for our times, so to speak. After completing the series, I can now safely say that I was really impressed with it. This original Amazon series, which comprises of only 8 one hour long episodes, is basically the brainchild of  Francesca Sloane and the multi-talented Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino). Since it is loosely based on the 2005 movie, the series concerns two strangers who agree to become secret agents for a mysterious undercover organization but who must, at the same time, pose as a married couple while navigating through their missions. Details of their missions will be cascaded to them via a series of text messages which always starts with the greeting of "Hi, hi'" from their mysterious mission leader. Remember those self-destructive messages from Mission Impossible or the voice of Charlie in Charlie's Angels?

Both titular characters, John and Jane Smith, are played by Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, who replaced Phoebe Walller-Bridge (Fleabag) after she exited the series. The supposedly mixed marriage between John/Donald Glover (who is African American) and Jane/Maya Erskine (who is half Scottish and Japanese) is in very stark contrast with the original movie where John and Jane, played by Pitt and Jolie, can be best described as not only conventional but 'aesthetically pleasing'. Thus, making this John and Jane more realistic and relatable to the modern audience.  In fact, at the start of the first episode, we see another John and Jane, played by the very photogenic Alexander Skarsgard and Eiza Gonzalez, alluding perhaps to Pitt and Jolie. But when the series cuts to the actual main characters and we are instead introduced to Glover and Erskine, the audience immediately understands that the series, despite being a remake, is not a clone of the original movie. A very clever trick on the part of Sloane and Glover who co-wrote the first episode. In another scene in the sixth episode entitled 'Couple's Therapy', John, while on a mission, plays poker with a group of shady characters, all of whom are African American men. He starts to chat with them and so far everything is going well until they start to ask him about his wife which he later explains to them is half Asian. After he shares some unflattering remarks about her with them, Jane, who is listening in on the rooftop with a sniper gun, shoots all of them dead through the window except for him. After watching this darkly humorous scene, I was further convinced that this series is very different from its 2005 counterpart. Of course, this is only an assumption as I have never seen the original movie.:). Any comments from anyone who has seen both versions? Another thing worth mentioning here is that the series is also an exaggerated commentary on the different stages of marriage hence each episode is named First Date, Second Date, First Vacation, Double Date, Do You Want Kids?, Couples Therapy (Naked & Afraid), Infidelity and A Breakup. Despite being a spy drama, the theme of marriage is not only handled with great panache in this series but it also takes center stage frequently in the storyline. But like any spy thriller worth its salt, the series does not skimp either on great and expanded action sequences or elaborate car chases which is especially showcased in Episode 5 (filmed mostly in the coastal village of Veneto, Italy) and in the final episode. 

Other factors that make this series great include the top notch writing from Sloane, Glover and their team, great chemistry between the leads, influences from different directors for each episode, the varied and often breathtaking locations featured in each episode ranging from New York City to the Italian Dolomites and Lake Como in Italy and the tongue in cheek performances of  A-list guest stars which include Paul Dano (last seen as The Riddler in Matt Reeves' Batman), John Turtorro, Billy Campbell, Sarah Paulson, Wagner Moura, Parker Posey, Ron Perlman and Michaela Coel (to name a few). Incidentally, Beverly Glover (Donald's real mum) also cameos as John Smith's mother in the series. If you have seen enough Bond/007 movies in your lifetime (which I know most have), then you will know the formula for all good spy thrillers includes action, intrigue, humor and romance. This series has all these classic elements but at the same time it also gives them an added modern twist. So will there be a second season? While the first season ended on a cliffhanger, there has been no official word from Amazon Prime Video yet that the series has been renewed for a second season. However, the probability is high since the series is amongst the top five new series for Prime Video in terms of total US viewership. Last thoughts, the series is not only a refreshing take on an old but beloved movie but on the spy genre as a whole. For those who have seen the 2005 movie, approach this series without any reservations and you might be pleasantly surprised. I have appended below the link to Amazon Prime for those interested in viewing the episodes from the first season. 

Mr & Mrs Smith (2024) Amazon Prime (paid link)

Addendum 28th May 2024: For those who are interested, below is the link to ScreenRant for some latest news on the second season of Amazon Prime's Mr & Mrs Smith.

Mr & Mrs Smith Season 2 (ScreenRant)

Constantine 2, Is It Really Happening?

If you have read my post dated 14th May 2014 about Constantine the NBC TV Series, you would know that I am a huge fan of the movie, Constantine (2005) starring Keanu Reeves. However, I am not so much a fan of the TV series which was aired on NBC in 2014 (it lasted only one season). For those who are unfamiliar with this franchise, Keanu Reeves was first John Constantine before John Wick, a chain-smoking cynical exorcist who has the ability to see half-angels and half-demons (not unlike Detective Nick Burkhardt in the TV series GRIMM). If that is not bad enough, he also has terminal lung cancer and his soul is damned to hell for attempting to commit suicide in his youth. Constantine ,which is based on DC Comics' Hellblazer by Alan Moore (Watchmen/ V for Vendetta/ Batman The Killing Joke/ Swamp Thing), was director Francis Lawrence's first movie. Before this, he mainly directed music videos, hence the movie had a very edgy and stylized look to it. Besides Reeves, other big stars like Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Djimon Hounsou, Peter Stormare and Gavin Rossdale were also attached to the film. While the movie did not garner much critical acclaim when it was screened, it had attracted quite a following over the years with many regarding it as a cult classic. When the movie first premiered, I remember anxiously waiting in line to buy a cinema ticket to see it and the place was really packed (it was the holidays) which was really an exception for me as I rarely go to the cinema (nowadays, with so much content in the internet and so many streaming platforms, my trips to the cinema has become non-existent). However, when I came out of the cinema I felt that the movie was worth the ticket and effort. There was just something about it that impressed me. I always had a fetish for occult stories but the combination of the rich source material from Alan Moore (one of the greatest comic book authors), Francis Lawrence's distinctive style and the involvement of Reeves/Weisz made this movie unique. Besides, it also had an underlying message of redemption which I found to be comforting. At that time, my father had recently passed away and I was feeling very melancholy. Just a little bit of backstory on why this movie will always have a special place in my heart.

Now back to my original topic. In 2022, rumors had surfaced that a sequel was in the works with Reeves reprising his role, Akiva Goldsman writing the screenplay and the involvement of Francis Lawrence as director once again. Although there has been no official word from Warner Bros and filming of the sequel has not even started, many fake/concept teasers and trailers have started to appear in YouTube and on the internet lately (purporting to be the real deal). Numerous accounts of interviews with Lawrence and Reeves has also come to light on the web on their efforts to push for a sequel leaving many fans confused but expectant. Personally, I feel that if a sequel is to be made, it should have been done a long time ago (not 2 decades later) due to two factors namely a new generation of audience who might not connect with the source material and an aging Reeves (although enthusiastic) who has moved on to other franchises mainly the John Wick movies. It is also doubtful that Lawrence will be able to assemble a cast as good as the original one which consisted mainly of high profile actors/actresses even in the supporting roles. Anyways, if a sequel does come to fruition, I hope it will be handled well so as to not tarnish the legacy of the original movie. For those who want to know more about the sequel, I have included a link below to an article from TheDirect.com by Sam Hargrave published on 13th February 2024 which is recent and quite comprehensive. With regards to the many fake trailers circulating the net, you can check out the article from Abdul Azim Naushad on Comingsoon.net published on 14 February 2024.

The Direct.com Article

Comingsoon.net News Guide

Trailer courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

Sitcoms-End of An Era

While browsing on YouTube, I was recently reminded of an American sitcom which I have fond memories of from my younger years, Newsradio, which ran for 5 seasons from 1995 to 1998. As a result of this, I decided to revisit this series. Basically, the series is about the antics of the staff of an American radio station which consist of a bunch of very eccentric characters except for the news director/station manager Dave Nelson (played by Canadian actor/comedian Dave Foley). While watching this series again, I was reminded how very hilarious and entertaining the series was. The writing of Paul Simms, the creator of this show, and his team still impressed me even after all these years. The series also had a very talented and diverse ensemble cast which I don't see much of these days on TV. After watching this series, I got very nostalgic about the sitcoms that I grew up with or spent my time watching during my young adulthood mainly those from the 1980s and 1990s. In those days, they were usually filmed before a live studio audience, featured an ensemble cast, had a great theme song with each episode lasting around 30 minutes. Sitcoms (which is short for situation comedy) were shown mostly back to back on different channels in the 1980s and 1990s which meant that you could spent half an hour every weeknight , after a long and stressful day at work, laughing at your favorite characters on TV. Which is not a bad way to de-stress considering the episodes were short and do not require long couch time for those with a busy schedule. Besides, the huge variety of sitcoms aired during those days meant that one was spoilt for choice. Another reason why sitcoms flooded the landscape of American TV in the 1980s and 1990s were the absence of any streaming services and Netflix. 

Before Newsradio, I had also revisited a few of my perennial favorites, namely The Nanny (1993-1999) (starring the irrepressible Fran Drescher),  Who's The Boss? (1984-1992), Will & Grace (1998-2006/ 2017-2020), the more recent ones Melissa & Joey (2010-2015) and Young & Hungry (2014-2018) and finally the older series I Dream of Jeannie (1967-1970) which was my late mother's favorite and which I did not know was produced by the very famous author, Sidney Sheldon, until after recently watching it with her :). Another show which is worth mentioning here is the British sitcom, The Coupling, which ran on the BBC from 2000 to 2004. Written by Steven Moffat. a famous TV producer and writer, whose credits include the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock, the show is quite similar to its famous American counterpart, Friends, but which I feel is often underrated. 

So what is causing this resurgence in sitcoms?  If you, like me, love trolling YouTube occasionally, you would have noticed snippets or even whole episodes of these old sitcoms popping up. You even have sites and chat groups promoting retro TV extolling these sitcoms on the internet.  What this translates to is that these shows might have a second lease of life with younger viewers who might have not known the existence of them before. In my opinion, nothing makes good TV without excellent writing and a formidable cast (there was frequent improvisations on these shows as they were mostly filmed impromptu before a live studio audience). With the current TV landscape flooded mostly with reality and game shows (they are cheaper and easier to produce for the networks), I'm hoping the newer generation will take notice of these quality shows and the effort put into crafting them. Lately, I noticed that Netflix has been trying to revive this format by producing a small number of sitcoms. Amongst them, which I stumbled upon accidentally , is the series Pretty Smart which to my surprise starred Emily Osment who also plays the lead character in Freeform's Young & Hungry (mentioned earlier in this post). Unfortunately the series which was aired in 2021 lasted only one season before it was cancelled.  

Last thoughts, I think that it is highly unlikely that sitcoms will be making a huge comeback in the present day especially because they are shot in front of a live studio audience but I'm contented if they are being replaced with more modern but well written comedy TV series like The Mindy Project (US) and Fleabag  (UK) which also have a running time of around 30 minutes.  Although, I can't help but feel nostalgic about them sometimes and this post is my personal homage to them. 

Vienna Blood & Other Period Detective Series

Most of my recent posts has been about modern detective dramas but in this post, I'm going to write about period detective dramas with emphasis on a particular British-Austrian series, Vienna Blood. Of course there has been a plethora of period detective dramas recently but this series happens to stand out for me from the rest despite its mediocre reviews. The fact that it has been renewed for a fourth season further validates my belief that this series has garnered quite a viewership and that many (like myself) has found this series to be highly entertaining. If you prefer period detective dramas with strong female leads then I would recommend instead Alibi's Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Vienna Blood is a detective drama filmed in Vienna, Austria and set in the early 1900s. The series is based on the Liebermann novels by Frank Tallis and concerns Max Lieberman (British actor, Matthew Beard), a young doctor and student of Sigmund Freud (the term psychiatrist has not been coined yet), who tries to assist an older Police Detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Austrian actor, Juergen Maurer) by providing psychological insights to solve numerous complex murders. Similarly in The Alienist (2018 limited series from TNT which lasted two seasons), we have the character of Dr Lazlo Kreizler (Daniel Bruhl), a psychiatrist (alienists is the term used for psychiatrists in this series) who teams up with the police commissioner's secretary, a newspaper illustrator and two other NYPD detectives (twin brothers that are equivalent to modern crime scene forensic experts) to track down a serial killer who is murdering street children. Both doctors here act as precursors to modern day criminal profilers. However, the similarities between both series ends here. While Vienna Blood has a more light and humorous feel to it, the later has a more serious and darker tone. In addition to this, all episodes in both seasons of The Alienist (which consist of 10 and 8 episodes) have a continuing story arc while each season of Vienna Blood (first shown on the BBC in 2019) contains three 90 minute episodes which feature different and unrelated crime or murder cases making them similar to stand alone TV movies. However, the episodes are split into six shorter 45 minute episodes when they were aired in the US.

So, what makes this series appealing to me? Of course there are many more high profile period detective dramas on TV out there who has earned better critical acclaim but for those who like their period detective dramas unpretentious, in a lighter vein and entertaining, this series might just be your thing. Despite not being as 'stuffy' as other period detective dramas, Vienna Blood does not lack substance evidenced by the diverse and often complicated cases presented in each episode. The combination of the different range of cases explored and the unlikely partnership between Max, an idealistic, refined and intellectual young man, and Oskar, a man who is often gruff, obstinate and impulsive (but truly a softie), makes this series always interesting to the viewer. The carefully written  backstories of both the lead characters and supporting characters that are interwoven in the narrative of the story also lends an added dimension to the characters and the story as a whole unlike in some series, where backstories are added just as an after thought or a filler. During the course of the three seasons, we also get to witness the progression of Max and Oskar's relationship from uncomfortable partners to friends and Oskar's skepticism to eventual trust of Max's methods. Another thing that is a great feature of this series is the overall lush and authentic look of the series (faithful to how Vienna would look like in the early 1900s). The major contributing factor could be that the series was mainly filmed in many famous landmarks across Vienna but the exceptional sets and costumes are also worth mentioning here. 

Last thoughts, if you prefer your period detective dramas to be entertaining but still clever enough to pose a challenge to the amateur sleuth in you, then Vienna Blood might just be your next series. To avoid disappointment, approach this series with no pre-conceived expectations and enjoy the series for what it truly is, just wholesome fun. After all, the fact that the series has been renewed for a fourth season means it must be doing something right. 

Addendum (28th April 2024) : Fans of the series Miss Scarlet and The Duke should take note that in season 5, the series will simply be titled Miss Scarlet following the departure of actor Stuart Martin who plays Inspector William 'The Duke' Wellington. Instead, he will be replaced by Kate Phillips' new co-star Tom Durant-Pritchard. Below is the video of Kate Phillips introducing Tom to the viewers courtesy of PBS Masterpiece. 

Trailer courtesy of the BBC

Video courtesy of PBS Masterpiece

For those who are interested, all three seasons of the series Vienna Blood is available on DVD from Amazon (US) and via streaming on Amazon Prime courtesy of PBS Masterpiece. Here are the links below. 

Vienna Blood DVD Amazon US  (paid link)

   

Vienna Blood Streaming Amazon Prime (paid link)