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“A Gentleman in Moscow.” “Under the Bridge.”

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“A Gentleman in Moscow” (Paramount+) British limited series based on the 2016 novel by Amor Towles . Synopsis: After recently returning to Russia from Paris , aristocrat Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov spends decades banished to an attic hotel room following the October Revolution , after being sentenced to house arrest by a Bolshevik tribunal.        Definitely, a top 10 or top 5 best TV series for 2024 for me. And a show could usher back big-screen family viewing in the living room. No foul language, no unnecessary violence, and yes! No silly dim lighting. What a refreshing experience!         Ewan McGregor in the title role delivers an inspired performance. Special mention to Johnny Harris . His Osip Glebnikov is restrained cool that is awkwardly lodged between zealous allegiance and familial vulnerability. 📺🎥📺 “Under the Bridge” (Hulu) true crime drama , based upon the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey . The 8- episode series follows the true to life murder of a teen
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“The Walking Dead” (Netflix) Finale Season 11.

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“The Walking Dead” (Netflix) Finale Season 11, post-apocalyptic horror drama . The Finale focused on the group's encounter with the Commonwealth, a large network of communities that has advanced equipment and over fifty thousand survivors living in their settlements. The 'wealth also maintained soldiers that are armored a-la Stormtroopers in Star Wars.        Additionally, the season also focuses on the group's confrontation with the Reapers, a mysterious faction of hostile survivors that attacked and took Meridian, the former home of Maggie and her new people, the Wardens.        The best of TWD, however, were past seasons ago--the first 4 seasons, 3 to 4 or The Governor seasons. And those when Negan was still super evil. Everything and anything that ensued were anti-climactic. Yes, including the Alpha season, although Samantha Morton remains as my love forever.        The pre-Finale and Finale seasons were also the cheesiest, with all the lovey-dovey side stories throw
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“Franklin."

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“Franklin” (Apple TV+) historical drama . Based on Stacy Schiff 's 2005 book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” the miniseries depicts the eight years (until 1785) Benjamin Franklin spent in France to convince King Louis XVI to support the burgeoning United States in the American Revolutionary War .        As I usually do before I cozy up to the couch to watch a movie or TV series based on real past events and individuals, rereading history is imperative. Refresh.         After Mr Franklin's work vacay in France, the country fell into bankruptcy. Costs of financing wars rose exponentially in the 18th century as France's global commitments expanded, including helping fund America's war against Britain. In 1793, King Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine as the economy tanked. That'd be about 11 years before the start of Napoleon Bonaparte's reign in 1804.        Other side readings: What happened to Ben's grandson Temp
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“A Man in Full” (Netflix) drama limited series.

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“A Man in Full” (Netflix) drama limited series , based on Tom Wolfe 's novel of the same name . Premise: Business and political interests collide when Atlanta real estate mogul Charlie Croker defends his empire from those wanting to capitalize on his sudden bankruptcy and fall from grace.         I haven't read the book or had prior idea what it was all about. But creator David E. Kelley seldom loses and with biggies Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane + the usually awesome Tom Pelphrey in it. Add Lucy Liu and Bill Camp. I gotta try.         Disappointing though. Was it a comedy? Dark comedy? The white cop/black antagonist, black defense lawyer/white judge parallel plot point, although contrived, remained as the sane part of this exercise. Jeff with a snake, that thingy with the horse, and the Viagra majick? I mean, were those necessary? And the end sequence. What were those all about?         The Wolfe material: “A Man In Full" is a satirical novel (Juvenalian Satire, they say)
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“Manhunt” (Apple TV+) historical drama.

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“Manhunt” (Apple TV+) historical drama , follows (then Secretary of War) Edwin Stanton 's search for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln 's assassination , adapted from James L. Swanson 's book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer.”        I expected a more compelling narrative or exposition, especially that director Carl Franklin has the ability to keep thrill up amidst a tedious plotline. I still remember 1992's “One False Move.” But there's really nothing very special here.        In viewing historical cinema, it is imperative to read stuff before or after sitting down. Filmmakers exercise utmost liberty in (re)rereading or reimagining actual events. Notoriously, writers rewrite characters based on current sociocultural “feel.” For example, Mary Simms (portrayed by a stellar Lovie Simone) was given a more significant role than what it was per historical accounts. You may want to google.         Companion movie is 2010's “The
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“Palm Royale.” “Curb Your Enthusiasm, Finale Season 12.”

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“Palm Royale” (Apple TV+) period comedy miniseries, about a woman who works towards attaining a place in 1969 Palm Beach high society, in the process learning what she will and won't do to achieve this.        This convoluted confection is supposedly based on the 2018 novel “Mr. & Mrs. American Pie” by Juliet McDaniel. I get the premise as clearly as sunlight, yet despite the show's kickass cast of bankable performers, I simply couldn't grasp where it was heading.        The merry-go-round kept on merrily going round and round till I got dizzy yet like Jack Daniels or Coke Classic, I mustered it till the finish. Wow, was there even a plot to assassinate Dick towards the end? I heard it I think or I was too dazed and confused to follow through.        The sparkling wine cast of this silliness? Kristen Wiig , Ricky Martin , Josh Lucas , Laura Dern , Allison Janney , Bruce De n. At least I like the name of one of the characters: Mary Meredith Jones Davidsoul. 📺🎥📺 “Cu
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“The New Look”

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“The New Look” (Apple TV+) biographical drama, depicts Christian Dior in Paris after World War II when he created his fashion line that unofficially got named “ New Look .” (A second season is in development.)       The series also explores his (supposedly) professional and ideological antagonism with well-established fashion designer Coco Chanel . Plus work relations with then already known couturier Lucien Lelong. I didn't see any Christian antagonism with Coco though. Their stories are almost equally told and navigated in length; the series could have been titled “Christian and Coco.”         Christian's relationship with his sister Catherine, who was captured and “kept” by the Nazi for her involvement with the French Resistance–and Coco's widely-published compromises with the Vichy regime and fling with an SS officer--were focal point of the show, totally overshadowing the “fashion” part. But I don't have complaints, whatsoever. The series was on the verge of sl
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