MobLand (2025, TV series)

March 28, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. For fans of crime syndicate TV series like “The Sopranos”, “Peaky Blinders”, and “Sons of Anarchy”, your new obsession has arrived. Originally developed as a spinoff of the excellent “Ray Donovan” (but the path changed), this new project from creator Ronan Bennett (“Top Boy”) is both something new and something familiar.  Bennett and Jez Butterworth (BLACK MASS, EDGE OF TOMORROW) are co-writers on the series, and if the first two episodes are an indication, expect this series to be explosive fun.

Guy Ritchie (SNATCH, SHERLOCK HOLMES) directs the first two episodes with his trademark visuals, violence, and shocking moments (although his rapid-fire editing style is absent). The series features three major stars in leading roles: Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Brosnan plays Conrad Harrigan and Mirren is his wife Maeve. Together, they run the lucrative family business – one that is illegal on multiple fronts. Hardy plays Harry Da Souza, their “fixer”.

Mr. Brosnan thrives on chewing scenery here, showing more emotion than we’ve come to expect from his usually cool demeanor on screen. Ms. Mirren plays a bit of a Cheshire cat, in that she’s wickedly sly with her outward actions versus her inner voice, leaving us guessing as to her objectives (“stick or twist”). And for those accustomed to Mr. Hardy playing characters who are a bit stingy with their words (Bane in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES), you’ll be surprised to see him playing a calm-under-pressure, smooth-talking negotiator who excels in moments of crisis.

In addition to the three stars, the supporting cast is superb. Conrad’s adult offspring are played by Paddy Considine (IN AMERICA), Mandeep Dhillon (“After Life”), and Daniel Betts (WAR MACHINE). And what would a mob show be without at least one kid constantly causing problems? Here that kid is Conrad’s entitled grandson Eddie (Anson Boon), doing more than his fair share to ignite a war with a rival family led by Richie Stevenson (a terrific Geoff Bell, ROCKNROLLA). Also adding stress to the proceedings is Harry’s frustrated wife Jan (Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”). Other familiar faces pop up, adding to the quality of individual scenes and the overall show.

The familiar elements of mob stories are prevalent here, yet the blend of intensity, violence, and humor help this series stand above some others. I should also mention that in keeping with recent trends, the opening credit sequence is a work of art unto itself.

Premieres Sunday March 30, 2025 on Paramount+

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

BLACKBIRD (2020)

September 17, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Even though death is imminent for each of us, we don’t all get the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones. For those who do, it may not go as smoothly as they’d imagined. This is especially true if they are choosing to end things on their own terms due to a terminal illness. Roger Michell (NOTTING HILL, 1999; VENUS, 2006) directs this remake of the 2014 Danish film SILENT HEART (directed by Bille August), both written by Christian Torpe.

Family matriarch Lily (Oscar winner Susan Sarandon) has a terminal illness, and has arranged for the family to return home for one final get-together. See, Lily, with the assistance of her doting doctor husband Paul (Sam Neill) is planning to ‘go’ on her own terms, while it’s still physically possible for her to take the medicinal potion. “Death with dignity”, or euthanasia, is becoming a more frequent topic in films and conversation, despite still being illegal in most states. Of course, the legal and moral questions are heavily debated, but when it’s a family member, it’s the emotions that heat up.

First to arrive is eldest daughter Jennifer (Oscar winner Kate Winslet) and her husband Michael (Rainn Wilson, “The Office”) and their son Jonathan (Anson Boon, CRAWL). Kate is the uptight, demanding type who is always judging others – including her nerdy well-meaning husband, and her free-spirited son. The younger daughter Anna (Mia Wasikowska) arrives with her partner Chris (Bex Taylor-Klaus, “The Killing”), and it’s immediately clear that Jennifer and Anna are personality opposites (with some baggage), and that Anna is carrying an unspoken burden. Last to arrive is long-time family friend Liz (Lindsay Duncan), who is so close to Lily and Paul, that the family photographs show her on many family vacations and events over the years.

This has the look and feel of a stage presentation, as most of the scenes are filled with dialogue and occur within the confines of the stunning east coast home, apparently designed by Lily. There is a family walk along the beach and dunes, but most of the run time is filled with interpersonal interactions – some pleasant, some not pleasant at all. In fact, an early (by a couple of months) Christmas family dinner is sprinkled with pot smoking and emotional outbursts. It turns out, not surprisingly, that some of the secrets previously kept, find their way out into the open causing a few bumps in Lily’s farewell weekend.

The complexities of family dynamics are amplified in this situation. Who is ready and who isn’t, and why, becomes a topic of multiple discussions. We never really learn the meaning of the film’s title, but we do enjoy the work of so many fine actors. You might recall Susan Sarandon played a dying woman more than 20 years ago in STEPMOM (1998), and this movie blends two memorable and recent films: FRANKIE with Isabelle Huppert, and HERE AWHILE with Anna Camp. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it sure beats missing the chance.

In theaters and On Demand beginning September 18, 2020

watch the trailer:

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Posted by David Ferguson