caesar novus Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 (edited) Here are reviews and previews of exceptional movies and TV series. First is Playtime (1967, France), whose second hour comprises one of the funniest slapsticks of opening night in a posh restaurant. The first hour is a fine satire on misguided modernity, but the second is worth streaming over and over. Don't worry about subtitles because there is minimal dialogue and partly in english anyway. Still skeptical? Read from first review: Quote I think Jacques Tati's PlayTime is one of the unrivaled great films of all time, but rather than talk about its socio-economic commentary or its myriad of slapstick gags, let's take a minute to dive into its extraordinary (and extraordinarily fun) Royal Garden sequence, and explore the inner workings of chaos unfolding. Second recommendation is new TV documentary series Crime in Progress (Arts & Entertainment) which is unsullied by narrators or anything other than real bodycam. And the bodycam isn't hashed up and sensationalized except by step by step unveiling of truly horrific crimes, usually in "nice" neighborhoods with multiple bodies. The police conduct is usually highly professional, or else they'd unlikely be releasing the surveillance and interview room footage. It's sort of like perfecting their successful "The First 48" documentaries which along with it's spinoffs has bordered on over sentimentalism recently. Edited February 9 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted February 9 Report Share Posted February 9 My wife enjoys the TV series The Pitt. It’s about events in a trauma center in Pittsburgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 (edited) I refer NOT to the bland 2023 Max TV series of the same name, but to the original proof of concept short animation Fired on Mars (2016). I'll be tightening my hernia prevention belt and re-streaming this hysterical dark comedy frequently. It involves a new hire recruited to travel millions of miles to mars only to be downsized with no apparent means of support or return. All is unfolded in upbeat euphemistic terms by the company and main character. He seeks to make the best of things in spite of series of setbacks, like realizing his girlfriend no longer plans to follow him and now lives with her meditation teacher. Great graphics which this trailer hardly does justice to; I found it on Kanopy under Stash Short Film Festival: Comedy episode 1. Edited February 10 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted February 22 Author Report Share Posted February 22 Lost Treasures of Rome documentary series is at this moment playing nonstop season 2 on Nat Geo TV, and above is season 1. I guess a couple more seasons exist, but I somehow channel surfed past them due to the low-key approach. It can be a refreshing change from the usual sensational themes, especially when they take on lesser known (and advertiser unappealing) stories of Rome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted February 26 Author Report Share Posted February 26 This 1974 Italian tragi-comedy can be found under it's English name "All Screwed Up" on Kanopy or Youtube pay sites. From legendary art house director Lina Wertmüller who showed the raw struggles of folks selfish and altruistic sides in vintage Italian context. Jaw dropping scenes, such as bungling father of 7+ trying to make ends meet as a gigolo. Filmed just before her most famous works, like Swept Away: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted March 11 Author Report Share Posted March 11 (edited) - "The First 48" is doing something right to approach 30 seasons on a TV channel entitled A&E, who now has put dozens of full episodes free on youtube. I think it succeeds due to the discipline of following immediate post murder investigation live action, with a minimum of narrator spin. Whodunnit, and can they be legally put out of action gives the drama. Here is a playlist of 22 episodes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdWZXmdm7-Y&list=PLcviVtB85dLyp0kc6U2ORjYdLZyYZo3B5 Here is a playlist of 33 pairs of episodes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9s68I8W9GI&list=PLcviVtB85dLyBgKiAiiIWLVIUnyC-KKxv Let me know if I encoded these wrong. Save these lists to your own library by clicking 3 dots near the buttons for looping or shuffling. Maybe A&E will add or delete or change what costs or is free. I had a setback due to my TV streaming stick burning out its power block, so those don't last forever. Whew, TV used to be so simple, but I need diversion during an approaching 4 day storm. Edited March 11 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted March 12 Author Report Share Posted March 12 (edited) On 3/10/2026 at 8:41 PM, caesar novus said: I think it succeeds due to the discipline of following immediate post murder investigation live action, with a minimum of narrator spin I must apologize for above lists giving terrible first impressions with dud first episodes. One is unsolved, another releases the bad guy, and another was so old that the formula wasn't developed yet. It is supposed to cover the dramatic first few days leading to arresting a maniac, without time for armchair reflections, woke or otherwise. The lists go on to include recent and not so recent years, the latter being rarely available from normal rerun sources. Most episodes adhere to this minimally edited ideal, including an honorable mention docu-series "homicide squad new orleans" which just finished a 3rd season with reruns in the usual places. It has flaws but at least they utilize effective policing tools such as excellent traffic camera network, and quick ability to access perp phone data. Edited March 12 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted March 24 Author Report Share Posted March 24 "The Dirty Picture", one of the top India movies of 2011, is available on youtube free. It is about a real 1980s actress who skirted India's quite demure standards of sensuality, Her career skyrockets, then is considered tawdry, then is redeemed, then sags... well, you won't miss much skipping the last half hour of attempted resolution. But the first 90 min sparkles and has wonderful metaphorical observations (on love, women, spouses, etc) in english subtitles. There are many versions on YT (and Kanopy) but I will post a suggested one and beforehand a kind of feeble trailer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted March 30 Author Report Share Posted March 30 (edited) "A New Leaf" 1971 with screwball comedy legend Walter Matthau. His co-star was a ground breaking comedienne from the 1950's and is still making movies in her 90's. Most of Matthau's excellent movies were often shown on TV with themes of schemers trying to pass as old money New Yorkers, but not this one maybe due to slightly dry and mean spirited humor: "The Seven Year Itch" 1955 one of Marilyn Monroe's most memorable screwball comedies also had an excellent comedian co star which this trailer hardly does justice. I watch this about every 5 years, and it's kind of a companion to the previous movie of New York City family (non workers) going north in the summer before air conditioning was common: Edited March 31 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted April 5 Author Report Share Posted April 5 (edited) Just a heads up that the best Columbo reruns (from the 1970s) has started/resumed on a channel called Great American Family. Not a stream so you can dvr it and skip commercials; weekdays mid day. Columbo is about the only (crime investigation) drama I watch because it's both subtle and a time capsule. Same channel is rerunning best Perry Mason courtroom episodes from about 1958-1964. Here is Columbo with iconic Peugeot econo car. My dad went to Canada to get a later model at favorable currency exchange rates, and a tiny Renault for my mother. I can't imagine where he got it serviced; all neighbors preferred 1 standard US "land yacht" per family. Edited April 5 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar novus Posted April 12 Author Report Share Posted April 12 (edited) The Last Film Festival 2016 is a satire/farce about independent film world as well as small town USA. It centers around hanky-panky of it's star Dennis Hopper, who appears tip top and vital altho he died well before this film was released. There is a touch of amateurism to the film which probably delayed release, but that just makes it refreshing. I have been to countless film festivals, so really resonated to their cavalcade of gags with a lot of truth to them. I here show a trailer, then a very low res youtube of the whole film which doesn't do it justice compared to the Kanopy or Youtube full res. P.S. youtube is raising their no-ad subscription rates but be aware they offer a half price "lite" plan which doesn't stop ads for music or shorts. Edited April 13 by caesar novus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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