donald-thomas

I was a huge fan of the original series, and I'm happy to see Timothy Olyphant return as US Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens. As far as I'm concerned, Timothy Olyphant can do no wrong. Boyd Holbrook I excellent as the villain. He is complexed and nuanced. I still maintain that Margo Martindale was the best villain "Justified" ever had (and she should have gotten her own series) but Boyd Holbrook is close second.

This new adventure is very well written: there's corruption, murders, treasons... Can we ask for more? Well I can, because I really miss the old gang from the past series but hopefully we will get further seasons, and they will be part of them.

Some reviewers have been unkind to Vivian Olyphant in the role of Willa. I think that we must make a difference between an actress and a character. I will admit that I had a rough time with Willa because I'm a boomer (there, I said it!) and I cannot understand the behaviour of teenagers today. But such is the character, and Vivian played her well. Hopefully we'll see her in other roles and some reviewers will give her a fair chance.

Bottom line, I'm very happy for this show because I missed Raylan Givens. Not that many exceptional characters on TV these days. And I hope that we will see more of him (hopefully with other characters from the original series).

"The Bloodhound" is quite different from standard, uninventive movies. Some reviewers will say "this doesn't make any sense" or "this is never explained" but I don't think it matters. It's not about a plot, it's about characters and their relationship, and it's about atmosphere. It is essentially a film about two characters, well three if you count the elusive sister. Francis visits his friend, the reclusive JP (and his twin sister Vivian). That is the plot. The rest is more dialogues, and about the characters. Are they good people? Are they bad people? What are they expecting from one another? What are they up to?

The film has a "dreamlike" quality. You know, how dreams don't always make sense but you go along? The actors are wonderful, very believable. The house (because everything takes place in this house) looks great. The set decoration is excellent. And Patrick Picard's work as a director and screenwriter is fascinating.

So don't expect this film to fit regular patterns. You never know what to expect because it is a world in itself, unlike anything you have seen before. Well unlike anything I have seen before anyway. But isn't "not knowing what to expect" the best feeling ever when watching a film? Go along for the ride, don't question anything, and enjoy!

First I will confess: I am not a fan of cars, I am not a fan of racing, hell I don't even own a car! Why did you watch this?, you will ask. Because it was in 3D and I will pretty much watch everything in 3D. There, I said it.

So I watched it, thought it was entertaining enough, and then managed to listen to the commentary from director Scott Waugh and actor Aaron Paul. Early on Waugh mentions that there were no computers involved for the stunts. Everything has been done for real. That is when my jaw hit the floor. There are pretty crazy stunts in there, let me tell you (the "Grasshopper" comes to mind). Scott Waugh is the son of a stunt driver, and he knows lots of stunt drivers in the business, and many of them came in to work on the film. Everything is quite precise: he mentions, for instance, that for one stunt, the car had to speed at precisely 71 mph. Not 70, not 72, 71! One must admire that.

Bottom line, it's about cars, racing, good acting I thought. The plot isn't over complicated. If you want complicated, go watch Christopher Nolan's "Inception". If you want witty dialogues, go watch Joseph Mankiewicz's "All About Eve". But if you want to spend two hours watching great stunts and fun characters, "Need for Speed" should do the trick.