Greg Jones – Google

A very cool, surprise mystery find movie, "Vengeance." Knew zero about it. Just popped up on Amazon video. Very good script. Very smart, clever stuff. Has an odd Texas meets New York motif. In an era of post-COVID media and movie over-saturation, piled on 70 years of living and reading and writing, this kind of unique voice and vision, is special. - Hat (cowboy) off to BJ Novak, cast, etc. FN Ashton Kutcher steps out of the shadows and kills (no pun intended). Thanks so much all y’all (yeah, that’s right, Born and raised in Texas, left at 16). - G Jones

This is an emotionally hectic movie, either for those w strong tolerance for heartbreak and angst, and/or willingness to break down and weep in a movie theater, or witness others do so. Also, maybe not for those who have eating disorders or experience dealing w those who do. Warning: Definitely don’t see the movie before you go out for dinner. You may never eat pizza again. Based on a stage play, the movie shines w that type of intensity, intelligence, and xlt writing and acting.

The understated style of this TV film series has an “Ordinary People” feel to it, and a similar impact--emotionally devastating. It is assumed the title, “Normal People,” is in direct lineage to the famous movie masterpiece on domestic breakdown, Ordinary People. One of the keys to the success I think is the director's ability to make you believe these two lovers have a special, deep, organic sexual and emotional love--from the start. So, I spent the rest of the story totally invested in the belief that they should and would get back together--that anything less would be tragedy. That said, In the final 3-4 episodes, I also started to think maybe they both ought to settle for someone less complicated and more emotionally stable, so much grief and pain shared between them. I also found the idea that simple miscommunication, the inability of even very bright and articulate people, to fail to express their deepest emotions, and how confusing love and romance are, especially for young people--all rendered so well. When Irish home boy told the brown-eyed beauty to go wait in the car and stepped in close to her brother and told him what would happen if he ever touched her again --that was one of the most right on dramatic moments I've ever witnessed in film. And the directorial restraint in that scene--admirable. So much is accomplished overall in Normal People by understatement and restraint, yet it strips down to bone emotionally. An astonishing dramatic work, thanks to all who made it.