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I recently rewatched this masterpiece of a series (my fifth or sixth time) because I felt like "visiting" people I'd come to know and care about. Even though the drama is set in a funeral home, this series more about living than it is about dying. I'll never forget the utter shock I experienced when one of the major characters is killed five minutes into the pilot. Who saw that coming? Because of this surprise, I realized we were in for something special.

The cast is so amazing, the mother, Ruth Fischer played by Frances Conroy got the role of a lifetime and she doesn't squander it for a minute. Lauren Ambrose as the teenager, Claire made me glad I never had kids, but she handled the role so deftly you'll realize pretty quickly she's less of a nightmare and more just finding her way. She's been given a good foundation of people who love her. Nate, played by Peter Krause is perfect as the prodigal son who returns to the fold only to become what he was running from, marrying women who are not the right fit for him. His brother David, played by Michael C Hall is gay and trying to navigate who is but doesn't want to be. His hunky cop boyfriend, Mathew St Patrick, been through all that and is ready to just be. They are amazing together. (And Mathew St Patrick is one of the most handsome actors ever.) Brenda, played by Rachel Griffiths continue to be a complicated hot mess. Rico played by Freddy Rodriguez is able to convey so much with just a look, joy, disappointment, sadness. The story arcs are amazing and complex. The supernatural element is a nice touch as characters still on earth try to navigate their journeys. Richard Jenkins as the late Nathaniel Fischer is a treat. So many characters added to the mix as the series progresses added so much.

Six Feet Under will get under your skin and affect you deeply. Chances are you'll watch it more than once with relish.

When the series ended, and it's probably the best ending of any series ever, the New York Times the very next day ran an obituary for each character.

Last night we watched a movie made for hulu in 2023 called "Boston Strangler" with Keira Knightly and Carrie Coons who play the "girl" (they were really refered to as girls!) reporters (Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole) who took the lead on following the strangler murders as they were horrifically unfolding holding the city hostage and gripped in terror in 1962.

An excellent film with a great cast and every Boston accent is authentic which is some kind of record. Being from Boston, I cringe at an actor's attempt but not this time. The cinematography is good too, murky because the story is that and more. The women reporters came up against sexism every minute of every day, but they stuck with it.

If you enjoy dramas with serious subject matter this is for you. Engrossing!

I should have listened to my gay friend Robert when he told me to see Brooklyn in the cinema. Since then I've watched it ten times. At least once a year as it is one of my absolute favorites. Saoirse Ronan is perfect for her role as an Irish immigrant, loathe to leave home, in search of a future in Brooklyn in the 1950s. The film has perfect pitch in conveying Ellis Lacey's trepidation, shyness, and loneliness coming from a small town in Ireland to the big city in a foreign land. Saying goodbye from the ship to her mother below is a memorable and heartbreaking scene, but she learns some life lessons on the sail to America.

Lucky to have a job in a glamorous Manhattan department store but she has trouble connecting with coworkers and customers. The boarding house scenes are hilarious thanks to the marvelous Julie Walters and supporting cast. The film is meted out leisurely and sumptuously filmed in saturated gorgeous color. The contrast of old and new a constant theme. Jim Broadbent as the bridge between her two lives is brilliant and a warm presence. The whole cast is tremendous.

Things begin to turn when Ellis (Ronan) meets an Italian at a church dance. When she has to return to Ireland for a visit and life's possibilities open up where they had been closed, she's really in a pickle. Which life should she choose?

Truly one of the best films made about life, love, choices, heartache and loss. And one of the most beautiful films cinematically. Not one false note in any of it! I highly recommend this film. You'll have a lump in your throat from beginning to end. My friend, Robert was right.