Lazarus Project does my head in

This is a way-fun series, that also leaves you proper gutted while you scratch your head. For me it seems like some really original approaches to time travel storytelling. It's like if Groundhog Day (or its idea's originator, the novel Replay) was turned into an excellent workplace dramedy.

There's some justified criticism about the main(ish) character and his ability to somehow embody keystone Kop and John Wick at the same time while making the worst string of decisions ever in fiction.

But if you can ignore all that, you'll fall in love with Archie and Shiv and the gang and the whole complicated mess!

Dark Matter

 

Imagine Cormac McCarthy rewriting Michael Keaton's Multiplicity, or perhaps in a different timeline it'd be Chekhov taking a swipe at Quantum Leap.   But either way, watch this f***** series - SO good!

Joel Edgerton stars as Jason[0], whose love for Jennifer Connelly's Daniela leads him back home across time, space and quantum matter.  I think I'ma need to read me some Blake Crouch books.

Slow Horses win the race

Slow Horses is a bit like if Alan Furst got together with David Simon and they combined forces to follow a modern day MI5 unit.

This is a very well-written show with unique characters and edge of your seat action and chase scenes and infinitely funnier than most other workplace dramas out there.

You can almost smell Gary Oldman's character - Jackson Lamb - who heads up an MI5 unit full of misfits that continually find themselves in fake situations with disastrous consequences.  Lamb leads the disgraced unit, but his backstory is Smiley/Bond worthy from the sounds of it, and his caring for the "Joes" under his command seems sincere.

The wife and I can't get enough.... on Apple TV

See

See is an epically decent fantasy/action series set in a future where humanity has lost the power of sight.  There's incredible world-building and characters and the story sucks you in.   

For this world they have almost had to re-invent what makes a good battle scene or chase scene.  Very fun to watch. 

Decent Graphic Novel adaptations - pt I

 Legion

If you like musical sequences, astral projection, time travel and psycho-kinesis, may I be the nth to say you're pretty fuckin weird, but bright side is you might like this decent show.

Umbrella Academy

More time travel, but it won't make your head hurt.

The Boys

Rude. Gross. Violent. Funny. Epic.

Motherless Brooklyn

 

I found this to be an excellent way to spend a lazy morning off.  I hope Edward Norton will continue to direct movies.  If I was going to be flippant, I would say this is Rain Man meets Chinatown, but in a GOOD way.

Excellent cast, decent twists and a great job of acting and directing by Norton.

The Outsider

I am watching this series for a second time with the wife and I am just as riveted and having just as many emotional reactions the second time around.  Based on a novel by Stephen King, the mastermind of American kitchen-sink horror, someone did an incredible job on the adaptation.  Not to mention the casting and pacing and general fucking aura of creepiness.

First time I watched this, I was thinking, "God damn, Stephen King books are just like decompressed X-Files episodes!"   Then I realized immediately I had it backwards and X-files episodes are just compressed Stephen King novels.

Microcosmos

Microcosmos:  A great documentary for all ages, this one puts you right down on the ground with some of the most fascinating and everyday insects you could imagine.

OSS 117

OSS 117: If you like parodies of movies you've never seen, then these are the films for you.  They're like the Black Dynamite of French cold war spy thrillers - definitely more 'what's up tiger lily?' than Austin Powers.  If none of that makes any sense to you, you still might like these movies, if you like funny things and don't mind reading.

Movies with guys named Ulric

Not much more these movies have in common.. one has subtitles, and one has sword fights.


A Somewhat Gentle Man

Black Death

Babies

Babies we've watched this several times in our household - that's 2 adults and an 8yo and 2yo all enjoying it multiple times. Mostly we've seen it so much cuz our 2yo daughter insists on it - "THEN babies?" - but it's actually pretty funny. Babies do funny things - who knew?! It's also interesting to see the range of adaptability that babies (and humans in general) have across the world. The portions of the film that compare and contrast the daily life of babies in Namibian huts and Tokyo high-rises make you ponder the comforts you've come to take for granted.

The Call of Cthulhu

The Call of Cthulhu - A faithful adaptation of a literary horror classic made by some skilled fans of H.P. Lovecraft. I think they pulled off the silent movie conceit very well.

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 - One of the best movie franchises out there, this third entry easily stands alongside its predecessors. Woody and Buzz and the gang are back - best prison break movie ever?!

Violent Biopics

Carlos the Miniseries - based on "historical and journalistic research" this miniseries explores the career of Carlos the Jackal. Mixing re-enactments of real events with news footage, this movie's a mix of 'Munich' (with an obviously different set of characters to focus on) and Dog Day Afternoon. Lots of backroom dealings laying bare the motivations and motivators in 70s/80s terrorism.

Mesrine Part 1: Killer Instinct - I haven't seen this one yet, but Vincent Cassel in a biopic of an infamous French gangster?! You make the call.

Pillars of the Earth

Pillars of the Earth - historical fictional novelized mini-series. Courtly intrigue, full bodices, swordplay and flying buttresses. All that and Al from Deadwood is a bishop.

Intelligence

Intelligence - so far (3 episodes in) we are really enjoying this Canadian TV series. It's like a mix of Sopranos and the Wire with polite Canadians. But in a GOOD way.

Femmes Fatale

The Square - great Australian noir-thriller. None of that artsy-fartsy foreign movie stuff here! (though subtitles wouldn't hurt in spots)

Client 9 - Documentary on the very public downfall of the New York governor.

Firefly

Firefly - the best short-lived space western in the 'verse. Pretty much Han Solo the TV show, with a family of well-drawn characters, snappy dialogue, and great suspense and action sequences. The movie that tried to wrap up the series' storyline, Serenity, is also available on instant watch.

Louie and Larry

Louie - this show stars Louis CK as himself (sort of) as he gets into some wacky shenanigans, with a liberal sprinkling of his hilarious stand up routines. Not afraid to dive into the dramatic and the absurd, this is a very original show, and I was glad to see it picked up for another season. The first season is available on instant watch.

The Larry Sanders Show - I'd forgotten how funny this show is and started rewatching the first season (four seasons are currently on instant watch.)  Garry Shandling, Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor star as the host, co-host and producer of a nightly talk show.  Great cast - including Janeane Garofalo and Jeremy Piven - and lots of star cameos.

The Last Exorcism

This movie was like an old E.C. Horror comic done in the guise of a documentary. It provides some really good scares and maintains a pretty consistent level of dread throughout. A preacher, whose level of actual faith is wanting, travels to a small town to perform an exorcism, bringing along a camera crew to film the proceedings.  

This movie is currently available for a streaming rental on Vudu.