TV
Shogun
The start of this show is slow. However, Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki are simply putting on a clinic to whomever aspires to be in Hollywood. I cannot express to you how amazing their performance was.
Based on a True Story
Movies
Darkest Hour
This is part of an unintended trilogy that all cover the same event, the evacuation of Dunkirk. I recently saw and old Graham Norton Show interview were Hugh Jackman gushed over Gary Oldman's performance on this movie and having never seen it, I felt I had to
Books
The Last Viking
This book was nowhere near as interesting as I thought it was going to be. There is a heavy reliance on dates and people that override the narrative that I think was meant to be told. While Harold led an intriguing life, it is lost in the multitudes of historical details.
Books
Lay Them to Rest
This was an outstanding book and I applaud Laurah Norton for her ability to bring a lay mans understanding to an extremely technical process. Follow her as she works with her friend to solve a cold case from 30 years ago where the only item they have of the decedent is a head.
Books
Bind, Torture, Kill
This story is so much more than the history of serial killer and his victims. In fact, it is more about the police who investigated and the city the suffered under his terror. You do learn more than enough about his acts of evil, it focuses on those that put in the work to capture him.
Books
Red Notice
Bill Browder tells an excellent story about how his passion for Eastern Europe lead him to learn about exceptional opportunities in the newly independent Russia. However, his money making leads to corrupt government individuals working to take him down which includes the death of Sergei Magnitsky.
Books
The Art of War
The Art of War was on the Commandant's reading list, when it still existed when I was in the Marine Corps, however I never read it. Figured I should, and I finished another book while on my run within the first half hour, I needed a short book.
Movies
Lessons for the Living
Within 3 weeks of each other, two movies came out about the 90 year old Bernie Jordan who escaped his nursing home to go to a D-Day remembrance. One told the true story, the other fabricating plot points, but both telling the same story of guilt and responsibility.
Movies
The Last Rifleman
I have so much to say and at the same time so little to say. The long and short is that Pierce Brosnan is outstanding in his role and tells a wonderful story. I am honestly not sure what to say other than watch it.
Movies
The Great Escaper
This movie is a testament to love, courage, and the lessons that never leave us. Showing you the beauty of 70 years of love and knowing each other can bring out the best in you, even when you don't know it still needs to be pulled out.
Movies
The Courier
You can’t mess up a true-life spy story and they sure did not. No gun fights, not war stories, just 2 men who changed the world and stopped the Cuban Missile Crisis. Benedict Cumberbatch is a superb actor and I love watching his movies. I can’t think of anything that he has done that he hasn’t fit
Movies
Windtalkers
The actions scenes are either epic and awesome, or predictable, over the top, and boring. This was prime you never run out of ammo timeframe. They do reload, but Nicolas Cage seems to be carrying 6000 rounds of .45 for his Thompson. It is crazy.