Screen_O_Genic

A BBC release in commemoration of the centenary of the First World War, "The Passing Bells" is a period drama on the illusions of war and the innocence shattered and victims claimed. A sentimental story of two young men with hopes of the future who find their fates intertwined in the most fateful turn of events, the television series is a Hallmark-lite family period piece that sanitizes the brutality, vulgarity and gore of war but redeems itself with its tragic ending that highlights and magnifies the crushing reality of war where nothing is precious and a dark destiny hovers over everyone affected. See this for that alone.

There should be more De Niro on TV.

An impressive emblem of the times wrapped in gleaming celluloid, "Zero Day" is the present in ace cinema presentation. Robert De Niro is George Mullen, a former president of the United States who left office for personal reasons riddled with murky gossip and rumors. Convinced out of retirement to head a group in combatting a mysterious and sinister body of hackers who launched a cyber attack that terrified a nation and claimed fatalities in the thousands, Mullen and his crew are in a race against time to outsmart and capture the criminals before the techy goons nail another devastating strike. The intense discussions, heated arguments, compelling brainstorms and intriguing mysteries all build up to an escalating tension that spirals the series to a full and satisfying finish. De Niro is the star and main focus with his endless poker face grimace as he battles naysayers, cyber attacks, colleagues and his own family in his quest to save his country. Joan Allen is the smart and kindly stoic wife who is a quiet bastion to her husband's late life ordeal. Lizzy Caplan's annoying and confused portrayal as the attractive daughter who serves as counterpoint to her father's composed and self-assured decisiveness serves as the irritating factor in this game of politics where she is way over her head. Angela Bassett is the pc quota as the stately and composed president while Matthew Modine is effective as the smug and ambitious antagonist.

With its direct depictions of technology, terrorism, conspiracy theories, fake news, ubiquitous talking heads and the cultural, social and racial divides that dominate contemporary American society, "Zero Day" may very well be the artistic representative of the era. Thrilling, riveting and relevant it's one of the standout television series and is a must see.

A documentary covering the history of western civilisation from the Dark Ages to the mid 20th Century, "Civilisation" is a wide-ranging glimpse at the story of Western culture primarily through art. Art historian Kenneth Clark presents and writes in this BBC produced television series which first aired in 1969 in 13 episodes. Dapper, articulate and self assured, Clark narrates with learned interest the shifting and storied saga of European art and its influence. With footage of picturesque scenery, historic edifices, mostly famous art work and stirring Classical Music as a soundtrack the series is a pretty panoramic scope on why Western civilisation has been the foremost in the world up to the present. Whether discussing Michelangelo, Raphael, Da Vinci and the turbulent times and artistic opulence of the Italian Renaissance; Voltaire, Rousseau and the age of reason in the Enlightenment; the retreat back to nature and the resurrection of the divine in the Romantic era as artistic titans like Byron and Beethoven brought back the soul in man; and the advent of science and business in the modern era which the Industrial Revolution started bringing with them unprecedented wealth, luxury and power together with unprecedented depths of poverty and squalor.

For a documentary that calls itself "Civilisation" the film is surprisingly disappointing in its gap-filled state. One would think that one of the first obvious acts Clark would have done would be to include an episode on Greco-Roman civilization being the origins of the subject at hand. Strangely there isn't one and Clark mentions it only in patches here and there throughout the series. Topics outside of art are also focused on like literature, music and science so it's strange that there's no mention of groundbreaking inventions like the camera, aeroplane, automobile and the computer which are among the West's greatest and most distinct contributions to civilization and world history. The series differs from modern documentaries by eschewing the commonplace standard of interviewing numerous experts and personalities related to the topic at hand in favor of Clark solitarily carrying the entire documentary on his own. While this tones the film to a quiet, stately presentation of languid and glacial grace the energy, liveliness and vivacious pace of contemporary documentaries that modern viewers are used to will be sorely missed and can devalue the work to a tedious and agonizing slow crawl of a bore.

One of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful documentaries, spawning other hit TV series of its kind, "Civilisation" was a gateway to the masses on the value and aesthetics of art and its importance and relevance. Colorful and informative, "Civilisation" may well prove the fighting and perhaps irrefutable paradigm on why "The West is the best".