“The Sinner.” “Westworld.”

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“The Sinner.” Netflix. 4 Seasons. Crime drama. The basis for the First Season, and which the series is named after, is Petra Hammesfahr’s 1999 bestselling novel, a critical success in Germany. The series delves more on the psychology of the crime more than the cat and mouse police-work aspect of the investigation. 



       Bill Pullman is near-perfect as Det. Harry Ambrose, gruff and troubled but clinically incisive and wickedly cerebral—which in a way, works for him since he is also navigating his own fugitive demons as he explores and chases the evil in the criminal mind.

       The first season navigates the past of a troubled woman. Second season, a child confesses to poisoning a couple. In the third season, a fatal car accident unravels a much larger and disturbing case. And in the fourth season, locale changes to northern Maine from upstate New York as Det. Ambrose investigates a family tragedy. 

       Season 1 and Season 2 are much better watch than the last two though. Jessica Biel (S1) and the child actor Elisha Henig (S2) deliver contained intensity and controlled nerve in projecting their characters. 📹📺📹


“Westworld.” Netflix DVD. Dystopian science fiction. 4 Seasons. In my older age, I have lost interest in sci-fi flicks. I guess, I got pragmatic-real than imaginary-adventurous as I age. The two precursors to HBO’s “Westworld” series, 1973’s film of the same name written and directed by Michael Crichton and, 1976’s sequel “Futureworld” were huge guilty pleasures. But this new project? Nope. 



       The story begins in Westworld, a fictional, technologically advanced Wild-West-themed amusement park populated by android "hosts.” The park caters to high-paying "guests" who may indulge their wildest fantasies within the park without fear of retaliation from the hosts, who are prevented by their programming from harming humans. Hmmm. “Fantasy lsland” seems better? I hope they instead remake that 1977-1984 classic TV. “Da plen! Da plen!” 📹📺📹


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