Marlon McMurphy

Shelton does a good job helming this adaptation of James Ellroy's novel. Ayer does the same with the screenplay. Along with the direction and screenplay, there is good cinematography, editing, setting and acting. The entire cast delivers believable and realistic characters. In particular Gleeson, Rhames, Speedman and Russell shine. I've never seen Russell in this type of role. He portrays a reprehensible, hateful, tired soul and he nails it. Taking place days before the King trial in Los Angeles, the film explores racism and corruption inside and outside the LAPD. The plot is filled with tension , action , twists and turns. All in all this is a well rounded crime thriller that clearly gets it's point across.

"Infernal Affairs" is a superb film and so is this sublime Scorsese remake. This is telling a film story at it's finest. The entire production is superbly crafted. The narrative immerses the viewer inside the duplicit world of both the cops and gangsters. The score is sensational. The casting is perfection. It is gritty, pure and raw. The plot revolves around two moles, one who infiltrates South Boston's well known criminal organization and the other who infiltrates the police investigating the organization. Once it becomes known by both sides that these moles exist the cat and mouse fight for survival between the two begins. For years Scorsese worked with DeNiro which earned him a Best Actor Award for "Raging Bull". Paul Newman finally earned a Best Actor Award for Scorsese's, "The Color Of Money". However Scorsese has been continuously snubbed for a Best Director and Best Picture Award which he has deserved many times over. Recently he has taken DeCaprio under his wing and finally the favor was returned. At last Scorsese has been rewarded for bringing out the best from his actors. It's in the top echelon in the gangster genre. Bravo Academy! You finally got it right. BTW it's also a ultracool flick.

Gilligan and Gould have created a virtuous spin-off that is equally as impressive as, "Bb". It helps that Gilligan created it's predecessor. It was always a pleasure to view Odenkirk in, " Bb". He created a greasy, fast talking, conniving, ambulance chasing attorney that you couldn't help but love known as Saul. This is telling a tv story at it's best. The entire production is superbly crafted. The construction and pacing of the narrative immerses the viewer inside Saul's slick existence. The dialogue is crisp and taut. The casting nears perfection. Odenkirk and McKean are sensational. In this series we get to see another side of Odenkirk's character Saul who is really Jimmy McGill. We learn about the background of Saul before his relationship with White and Pinkman and the future of Saul after his relationship with White and Pinkman in "Bb". Odenkirk continues to evolve his character into an even more likeable person. Also in this series is Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring who were prominent characters in, "Bb". Chuck says, " Slippin' Jimmy with a law degree is like a chimp with a machine gun". Now that's writing! I don't probe this series, rather I enjoy it for the astonishing entertainment. I would welcome a few more seasons to follow. It is intergalactic cool.

Boorman delivers a sublime drama based on James Dickey's novel who also wrote the screenplay. It is an adaptation not a translation, i.e. not word for word rather the concept of the novel. The entire production is superbly crafted. The construction of the narrative immerses the viewer inside the ill fated river trip. It is visually striking at times. The casting is perfection. Reynolds is electrifying and it's easily his finest dramatic performance. The storyline revolves around four men from the city that decide to take a canoe trip to get away from their conventional lives. The river is no longer going to exist due to the deconstruction of a dam that will flood the entire territory which is referred to as the last untamed wilderness. The locals are less than thrilled. A savage canoe trip begins. This flick is pure, raw and brutal. It's saturated with symbolism. The "Dueling Banjos" represents the conflict between the men and the locals. A hand rising from the lake is symbolic of the unconscious rising to the conscious world and also reflects Boorman's allegiance to the grail, see "Excalibur". It is a classic and remains one of the very best in it's genre. It is beyond cool.

Reiner directs a superb psychological drama adapted from King's novel of the same name. It's always important to keep in mind an adaptation is not a word for word scenario, rather it's the concept of the novel. This is telling a film story at it's finest. The entire production is nicely crafted. The construction and pacing of the narrative immerses the viewer inside Paul's psychology and visceral torment. It helped that King co-penned the screenplay. The limited casting nears perfection. Bates is sensational. Her penetrating portrayal of the psychopathic demented Annie Wilkes is horrifying. Bates enkindled one of the most berserk and macabre characters to appear on the silver screen. Annie is Paul's number one fan and Paul is the author of a series of novels with the central character being Misery Chastain. Misery must live on or else! Hardly ever do I probe flicks in this genre. I want a reality skip and hopefully some jolting moments. This film delivers both. A waitress says to Paul, "I just wanted to tell you I'm your number one fan". This is a nightmarish psychological thriller and one of the best in it's genre. King I'm just a fan, no worries bro. It's very cool.

QT is back in form with his ultraviolent blaxploitation drama. It is his first time delving into the Western genre and as usual he succeeds with boldness and brilliance. Telling a film story doesn't get better. The entire production is phenomenal. The construction and pacing of the narrative immerses the viewer into Django's journey and has a classic Hollywood ending. The visual landscapes are outstanding. The score is sensational. The casting nears perfection. Waltz and Foxx are electric. The plot is set pre - Civil War and revolves around a recently freed slave named Django. He is freed, sort of, by a seasoned and cunning bounty hunter named Dr. Schultz. A series of events eventually lands them at the infamous plantation Candieland. Calvin Candie is a sinister racist that passes his time by holding "Mandingo Fights". At Candieland all hell breaks loose and it has QT's signature sign off all over it. I don't probe QT'S flicks. I want a reality skip and cinematic experience. He always delivers and this film is no exception. "I like the way you die boy". It ranks up with Tarantino's best, which is sort of hard to do with his canon of work. It's one of the very best in it's genre and eclipses the cool factor.

This is a sublime dramedy series. No politically correct topic is safe from satire. It's no holds barred. The entire cast delivers outstanding performances. Macy is sensational. His timing, delivery and facial expressions are priceless. The plot revolves around Chicago's, if not America's, most dysfunctional family the Gallaghers. In the absence of the family's father figure, the almost always inebriated Frank and who is most of the time self serving, the eldest daughter Fiona assumes the role of matriarch. She raises the family in the most unconventional manner to keep them afloat and together. All the family members are willing participants to scheme and do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to contribute in keeping the family home and themselves together. There is also Kevin and Veronica who live downstairs in the family home, but they are more part of the Gallagher family than Frank. The linear narrative allows the viewer to connect and become one of the family, if they dig it. As far out there as the family is, they may just be the ones that get it! It is pure and raw so, if you get your drawers in a twist over moral decay, this might not be your ticket. It's unapologetic and unabashed! The series is a fun filled joy ride and offers hilarious entertainment. It is one of the very best in it's genre. Gentrify this! It's ultracool.

Cronenberg and Mortensen team up again after, "A History of Violence" and deliver a sublime crime drama. It's telling a film story at it's best. The entire production is outstanding. The narrative immerses the viewer inside the Russian criminal underworld. The London setting and wardrobe are fantastic. The dialogue is crisp and taut. Tatiana Maslany's narration sets a vile and harrowing tone to the subjection her character is put through. Mortensen is superb, however this is Cassel's finest performance. His sensational portrayal of the disharmony within his character is mesmerizing. The plot is set in London and starts off with the hideous murder of a Chechen gangster. A diary of a young girl sets off a series of subversive events within a Russian mafia family which culminate in a violent collision. It's gritty, pure and raw. The film is an exemplary examination of family dynamics. The bath scene where a hand to hand fight occurs is savage! Anna asks Nikolai, "Why are you doing this, why are you helping us?". Nikolai responds, "How can I become king, if the king is still in place". That's writing! This flick is ultraviolent and ultracool.

Suda has created a sublime thriller. The entire production is superbly crafted. The narrative immerses the viewer inside the mystery and the detective's worlds. Enos and Kinnaman command the series. The plot takes place in a rainy and dark Seattle which sets the tone for the series. The storyline revolves around the mysterious murder of a young women. Teaming up to solve the case are two detectives with much different styles and both with turbulent backgrounds. One is a seasoned by the book detective, Sarah Linden and the other is a younger street smart detective, Stephen Holder who is transferred from the narcotics division. Together they form a perfect team, viewing the mystery from different perspectives and styles. During the case they encounter obstacles at every angle and the case reaches as high as the most elite individuals in Seattle. It's intense and ingenious telling of a TV story. I don't usually probe series in this genre. I want to be entertained and hopefully enjoy some thrills. It unreservedly delivered both. This remains one of the best series in it's genre to this day and it is beyond cool.

Adapted from the, I'm going with the original 1990 film " Le Femme Nikita", this is a great series for it's genre. Great direction, writing, cinematography and acting. The entire cast delivers excellent performances but in particular Maggie Q stands out. Her magnificent acting carries the show. The main plot is a former assassin for a secret government agency called the Division is seeking vengeance against her former employer. Her goal is to expose and destroy the Division as well as save the new young recruits from her fate. She does this with the help of former loyalists and a protege she has already saved and is on the inside. The subplots involve foiling current objectives the Division is working on. The show is clever, action packed, thrilling and has plenty of twists. It is one of the better series and even movies in this genre. It's a captivating series that remains memorable for this viewer.