#the commuter: alex murphy

[scarstarved]

Patrick Wilson as Alex Murphy THE COMMUTER (2018) dir. Jaume Collet-Serra

[couldawouldashoulda50]

I feel like Loren is more of a punctual type of person and one that over prepares. I don’t think she’s neurotic about time but I feel like she likes to give herself a bit more time than needed. I wonder how that dynamic works with William who likes to arrive JUST on time. 😆

Mmm - I think she might just be a little neurotic about time, definitely an over-cautious, over-preparer, "just in case" kind of thinker - mainly because she’s a firm believer in Murphy’s Law: 'whatever can go wrong, will go wrong'. She's had to be, even when it was just her two jobs, if she didn't leave one job at x time then traffic would be chaos and her anxiety would be through the roof getting to the next job.

I think that's the one thing that might very well exasperate Loren a little bit, is his ultimate confidence that he'll arrive just on time. Like somehow her idea of Murphy's Law doesn't exist in his world...but how can he know that there will be no subway delays, or that every traffic will light turn green as he approaches the intersection, or a million other possible SNAFUs in getting anywhere around Toronto. He just seems to know he'll get there exactly when he needs to and sometimes that drives her bonkers.

I was picturing the gala last night, thinking that this would be her first big event with all of MLSE and other attendees - they go together but through mere optics, they do not appear to be together and maintain the privacy of their relationship. During the day, yes, William's up early, does the ODR practice, does his after practice routine - it's been a busy day and he manages to fit in a well deserved nap later on. Loren, on the other hand, has somehow fulfilled all of many commitments during the day, then does the commute down to his condo. She's constantly taking a mental inventory of what she needs - some of the things she needs to get ready are already there, but she's packed multiples of everything else "just in case".

She arrives at his place, maybe has a bite to eat but she's constantly looking at the time, pre-planning so she's always 5 steps ahead in her mind. It's important to her to look impeccable - she's already a bit frazzled from the nervous excitement.

She's almost ready, and she glances at her watch - she knows William is conscious and awake...she can hear him talking in the other room. It dawns on her that he hasn’t even showered yet and their transportation is arriving in 15 minutes (he arranged it so they can both enjoy some drinks). She clasps her other earring on and scurries out to find him stretched out on the couch talking with Alex. They look at her with their mouths agape (because yeah - she looks flawless) - except her expression is equal parts panic, disbelief, annoyance, and endearment.

She purses and presses her lips together. "Do I need to be worried that you're not going to be ready in -- hmm, 13 minutes?"

"Oh, fuck...," he said, looking at the time.

Loren's heart sinks.

"That’s way more time than I thought I had....don't worry älskling, it'll take me 5 minutes tops to get ready."

Loren just stands there for a moment, then swivels on her heels, shaking her head as she retreats to the bedroom. When she hears the brothers giggling at her demeanor, she can't help smiling.

Two minutes later, he meanders in and just soaks in how beautiful she looks. "Still got five minutes," he says with a teasing raise of his eyebrows.

She smiles and rolls her eyes. "William, please...can you please, please, please get in the shower?"

"Yeah, okay...but - when we’re ready early and waiting for the car, you’ll have to entertain me."

As expected, their car pulled up just as they stepped outside—perfect 'William' timing, as always.

Thank you so much for the ask - I liked delving into this little dynamic between William and Loren ❤️

[pleaserelaxslowly]

PhD Year 2/ winter semester (2025)

As always, I choose a release and listen to it all week long and choose my favorite song and add it to this compilation. At the end of the semester(s?) it makes a nice little time capsule playlist. I didn't commute so much this semester, but I did spend a month and a half in Pittsburgh, PA doing field work for my dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh. When my sister wasn't giving me a lift, I would take the 75 bus into Oakland.

1. "eutow." by Autechre from tri repetae. (1995)

2. "Hyperballad (Subtle Abuse Mix)" by Björk from Hyperballad (1996)

3. "Basement El Dorado" by Wild Nothing from Hold (2023)

4. "State Fair" by Rasputina from Cabin Fever! (2002)

5. "Paix sur terre" by Crischa from WIZZZ! Vol. 3 (2015)

6. "Lazuli" by Beach House from Bloom (2012)

7. "Maman a tort" by Mylène Farmer from Cendres de lune (1986)

8. "Coyote" by Joni Mitchell from Hejira (1976)

9. "House of Glass" by Róisín Murphy from Hairless Toys (2015)

10. "I Get a Kick out of You (The Cinematic Orchestra Remix)" by Ella Fitzgerald from Verve Remixed 4 (2008)

11. "Boy" by Alex G from D.S.U. (2014)

12. "Love Comes Quickly" by Pet Shop Boys from Please (1986)

13. "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box" by Radiohead from Amnesiac (2001)

14. "Faded Love" by Still Corners from Dream Talk (2024)

15. "Nothing in the Middle, Nothing at the End" by Cranes from Self-Non-Self (1989)

16. "Dark Lady" by Cher from Dark Lady (1974)

[patrickwilsoned]

Patrick as Alex in The Commuter(2018)

[barnesmickey]

Patrick Wilson as Alex Murphy in The Commuter (2018)

[thebestbookrecommendations]

Behind Closed Doors - B. A. Paris

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better. But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable. Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows. Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.

Read if You Like:

Thriller

Mystery

Suspense

Psychological Thrillers

Crime

Domestic Thrillers

Recommended if You Enjoy:

Colleen Hoover (Verity)

Stephen King (Full Dark, No Stars: A Perfect Marriage, Gerald’s Game)

Lisa Unger (Confessions on the 7:45)

James Patterson (Now You See Her)

Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient)

Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train)

A. J. Finn (The Woman in the Window)

Stuart Neville (The House of Ashes)

4/5

[meep-meep-richie]

Patrick Wilson as Alex Murphy [the Commuter 2018]

[newagesispage]

                                                            OCTOBER                2020

PAGE RIB

 The Stones opened Rolling Stones # 9 on Carnaby St.** Bill Wyman auctioned off many unique items for the Prince’s Trust.**Wyman’s bass used for groundbreaking records in ’69 and ’70 broke a record at $384,000. The famous amp that got him into the Stones went for $106,250 and the most expensive toilet seat cover sold at auction with the tongue logo went for $1,142. Brian Jones Rock and Roll Circus guitar sold for $704,000.

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VOTE!!!!

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In San Francisco people can order dinner and drinks delivered with a drag queen performance.

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Joaquin and Rooney had a baby that they named River.

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Real Time has been renewed thru 2022.

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The new film, No Sudden Move about 1955 Detroit will star Don Cheadle, David Harbour, Benicio Del Toro, Ray Liotta and Kieran Culkin.

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Shep Smith is back with Just the Facts on CNBC.

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The Presidential debate: Well, Good Biden moments-“You don’t panic, he panicked.”  “It is what it is cuz you are what you are.” “Everybody knows he’s a liar.” Wouldn’t know suburbs unless he took a wrong turn.”  “Will you shit up man?” “Get out of your and trap.” Imagine if Bernie or a younger candidate with real energy were there. Imagine someone quick on their feet because we need that.  The bully style of scary clown 45 does fluster a normal person as it supposed to. Joe held his own and had real dignity though. It is hard to not respond to the President’s ridiculousness but he needs to be ignored.  Trump and son both seemed like they were about 8 Red Bulls into the day with all that pent up anger.  Who should be drug tested? Biden?  Trump went on about forest management but most of that land belongs to the Federal government.  ** I have never seen my mailperson trying to sell ballots.** Trump said that bad things are happening in Philadelphia. Biden should have showed some love for the state. He is on a tour of it now though. ** Chris Wallace said, “Why you not?” Was that a real question?  45 said, “I was a private business people.” They all had a little trouble talking. It is exhausting the way people put up with his manners.  **As soon as the debate was over, the Trump army wasted no time reaching out to goons to be poll watchers. Do they know that you just can’t show up randomly for that??**Apprentice insiders say Trump abuses Adderall.

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The other day when Trump took the podium for a rant, an open mike caught a someone saying, “Oh shit” On Fox.

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For those who insist Trump is a religious man, I’ll grant you he pays taxes like a church. –Stephen Colbert

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Letterman is ready with My Next Guest Needs no Introduction. This season includes Robert Downey Jr., Lizzo and Dave Chappelle.

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There are about 9 million feral swine in this country known as super pigs.

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There is talk of Levar Burton replacing Alex Trebeck when he retires. YES!!!!

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Cigar Afficionado magazine has named CBS Sunday Morning the greatest show on tv.

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The U.S. built tunnels under Trump’s wall to let water, garbage, DDT and other toxins flow thru. Millions were spent for nothing and now millions more will be spent to address this problem that empties into the Pacific Ocean.

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Days alert: Melissa Reeves is being replaced. Is it that she does not want to commute from Nashville or that she is a bit too conservative or something else? Is it an end of Days with old side characters and replacements of the stars??** Ava is coming back, JJ is back, Eric and Sami are gone. ** Absolutely loved the pic of Abigail 1 that confused Abigail 2. Funny!!!! It reminded me of the OLTL moment during Asa’s funeral when Blair saw the 1st Blair in a flashback.

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“Smaller than expected” would probably explain a lot about the proud boys. –Andi Zeisler

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Why does anyone listen to Christie or Rudy??

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Looting isn’t part of protesting just like murder isn’t part of arresting.

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A judge has said that Florida has created an “unconstitutional pay to vote system.” This has now been overturned. What are the things that can be termed felonies to keep one from voting? The list includes releasing helium filled balloons, driving without a license, catching the wrong lobster and disturbing turtle eggs. Amendment 4 was originally put into effect to stop freed slaves from voting. But SB7066 makes sure that felons complete the terms of their sentences. The fines, fees and restitution can be hard to navigate. There must be proof before they can vote but all counties keep their own records and there is no organization statewide.  Mike Bloomberg, John Legend, Michael Jordon and others are paying off millions of dollars in debt for felons in Florida so that they can vote if they can unravel some of the puzzles. Now Florida Republicans are saying that that is also illegal.

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Two thirds of the world’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 50 years.

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At our own peril, we have to step up or everything is lost. –John Batiste

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Michael Jordan will start up a Nascar team with Bubba Wallace.

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Laraine Newman signed up to be a poll worker. How do you get people to vote? Celebrity poll workers? Hey whatever works as long as the masses don’t gawk and hold up the lines.

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A refrigerator sized asteroid is headed to earth and may arrive about the time of the election.

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So the coronavirus relief funds were funneled by the pentagon to defense contractors.** What kind of a selfish fucking world do we live in? At least we know which people in this world give a flying fuck about the rest of us. Rally and fair participants, relief money scammers and mask protesters, we hear you loud and clear!!

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The Emmys went on thru the week of the 14th thru the 20th. Winners included RuPaul, Don’t fuck with Cats, Leah Remini, The Apollo, Eddie Murphy, Last Week 2nite, SNL, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Crown, Better Call Saul, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Archer, Hollywood, Maya Rudolph, Dan Harmon,  Bad Education, Cherry Jones, Regina King,  Julia Garner, Mark Ruffalo,  Uzo Aduba, The Last Dance and Stranger Things. Schitt’s Creek (and practically the whole cast), Dave Chappelle and Succession took home the big ones. Norman Lear became the oldest Emmy winner ever. Letterman ‘hitchhiked’ to the Emmy’s to present an award. I was really rooting for Amy Sedaris!!

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Bill Murray and Rashida Jones will star in Sofia Coppala’s On the Rocks.** The Doobie Brothers want Bill Murray to stop using their music to sell his golf clothes.

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Danny Trejo and Jessica Tuck will star in ‘The Shift.’

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Illinois is pulling down statues including Chris Columbus. Woo Hoo!!

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13 mummies have been discovered in a well, stacked one on top of the other. The Egyptian discovery from about 2,500 years ago has been well preserved.

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Hysterectomies on immigrant women in detention camps?? Really??

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Scientific American mag is 175 years old has never endorsed a candidate but Joe Biden id their man.

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Word is that in Indonesia the anti- maskers are forced to dig the graves of the Covid 19 victims.

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The Breonna Taylor case continues with a settlement and too few charges.

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Scary Clown 45 announced he will call in to Fox and Friends every Monday or Tuesday but a host told him that they were not committed to that.** The Scary campaign put up ads with “Support Our Troops” but the problem is they are Russian troops and jet fighters.** Trump did a phone interview on Fox Sports and talked about golf.

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It is a shame that Hillary lost the election and many more of us would be alive if she were running the show. But, I can only imagine the shit they would have given her.

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Brad Pascale, Trump’s former campaign manager, went to the hospital after being taken into custody in Florida after threatening suicide.

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Just remember , 1619 Project: Good   1776 Commision: Oh my! Why do these rich old fucks want us to stay as stupid and uninformed as they are? Haven’t we been in the dark long enough? They are the fake news masters.

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Jim Carrey will play Biden on SNL. Chris Rock will be host the season 46 opener on Oct. 3. New players will be Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson and Andrew Dismukes.

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Gulf War Syndrome is a chronic and multi symptomatic disorder that has affected military personnel from the Persian Gulf War. The DOD is resisting the strong evidence and needs more of a spotlight. The possible exposure to chemical weapons may even have been passed on to their partners through sexual contact. All of this came to light in the mid 90’s thru complaints that were told to Ross Perot. Let’s hope Tammy Duckworth looks into this further.

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Amy Coney Barrett has been nominated to the Supreme Court. Her previous statements tell us she believes the ACA is unconstitutional, abortion is always immoral and the country should undo marriage equality. She is a member of People of Praise.** If she was a Muslim and everything else was the same regarding her beliefs and associations, Republicans would call her a religious extremist and never let her step near the Supreme Court. –Wajahat Ali.** Notorious A.C.B. ?? Do they have one original idea other than new ways to cheat and steal??

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Finn Wittrock has a funny little Emmy Uber ride on Funny or Die.

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Breonna Taylor’s neighbor’s wall got more justice that Breonna herself. –Jordan Uhl

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Go Stevie Wonder!!!

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Dax Sheppard went off the wagon for a while.

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A Giant Gundom? Really?

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A fun prank would be if we stopped this from becoming a dictatorship on Nov. 3rd and whatnot. –George Wallace

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Sen. Kevin Kramer has been acting a little crooked on building the Wall.

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The Metropolitan Opera has cancelled the whole season.

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Happy Doomscrolling

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Can dogs be trained to detect the coronavirus?

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Rand Paul is an idiot. Birx and Atlas have ruined reps. Give ‘em Hell Fauci!! ** Everything Atlas says is false. –R. Redfield

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Eric Trump must testify in court about the Trump business’s a judge has decreed. The Trump biz has made about 19 billion in the last 3 years.** The world is gobbling up the news about the Trump tax returns with tales of debt, the $72.9 milliion refund and foreign influence. How does the IRS let a refund like that happen? How bad of a businessman do you have to be to lose that much $? National security threat. One of his fans will probably bail him out.

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Bet we’d all own houses if we stopped eating so much avocado toast and committed tax fraud. -Kashana

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Mary Trump has sued The President and his siblings for fraud.

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Ellen is selling off $10 mil in art.

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61% say we should abolish the electoral college.

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The Netflix series, Challenger :The Final Flight reminds us that like The Titanic, the arrogance of man can change so many lives.

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Wilderness of Errors is a great doc. It proves just how right the book and mini -series got it.

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The remains of the 1644 warship, Del Menhorst have been found off the Danish coast.

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Everybody is talking about Jeff Daniels in The Comey Rule. The actors were upset when Showtime was going to push back the release until after the election. The actors said they wouldn’t promote the film so the film has premiered.

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David Tennant gets better and better and now he is giving us DES on ITV. Quality AND quanity.

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Independent prosecutors are not going ahead with a case against NE Patriots Robert Craft for soliciting prostitutes.

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America has no memories. –Wallace Shawn

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Tyler Childers has released ‘Long Violent History”. Give it a listen.

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Does it seem like the administration gets a word of the week and they really push it? Caravan-Herd-sedition-looters- Antifa. It is like they all share a brain and do not have a thought of their own.

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Chris Petrovski `will star in ‘Listen’ about a young Israeli soldier.

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On a personal note, I love the way that Autumn makes my brain feel. The spring allergies are gone, the hot muddled summer thinking fades and everything opens up.

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Gubler is back and in the video for Future Islands ‘Moonlight’.

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Niecy Nash wed Jessica Betts.

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Check out the Curious life and death of… on the Smithsonian channel.

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Conan is looking hot with his grown out hair.

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I just love Mel Rodriguez and Weijia Jiang. Some people just don’t get enough credit.

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Vet’s crisis line: 1-800-273-8255

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Donald Trump is taking page out of Charles Manson’s playbook. Start a race war, then convince the public you alone can end it. He’s a lying racist piece of garbage. –Rob Reiner

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Serious Question: Would good Christian conservatives have mounted a Go fund me for Timothy McVeigh? –Michael Mckean

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Old Navy will pay employees to work the polls on Election day.

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Trump is the most effective anti -liberal in my lifetime. –Newt Gingrich

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Tommy Chong does not seem too happy with Joe Rogan.

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Anna Faris is leaving CBS’s Mom as it heads into its 8th season.

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Q Anon should take advantage of the ACA. –Joe Biden

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Word is that the White House told Federal agencies to ban race based sensitivity training.  The thinking is that Un American propaganda training sessions have no place in Federal Government.

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I wish I lived in a country where John Kelly, James Mattis and John Bolton had at least half the balls of Sally Yates, Maria Yovanovitch, Fiona Hill, Reality Winner, Christine Blasey Ford or Stormy Daniels. – Andrea Junker** If only Mad Dog Mattis had the balls of Olivia Troye – Michael Mckean

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38 million Americans live in poverty.

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80 year old Sam Little with a possible 93 murders has now been called the most prolific serial killer in the U.S. and he has a photographic memory. Whoever takes this on, please let David Alan Grier play him in the movie.

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You must check out the album, the Angel Headed Hipster.

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Everybody is talking about Cottage Core.

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The Trump campaign can’t help themselves with things like playing ‘knockin’ on Heaven’s door’ and ‘Fortunate son’ at rally’s. It was like the time my Grandfathers young wife brought a purse to the funeral that boldly stated ‘Jackpot.’ True Story.

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Glenn Howerton and Seth Meyers should play brothers on something.** Also Meyers and Larry Wilmore wondered if the cancellation of Wilmore’s show was a reason for the racial unrest and terrible results of the last election. Hmmm.

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Can we remember this election enthusiasm for all future elections?  We need to take things seriously EVERY time.** So many say that even with our divide, we all want the same things in the end. I do not think that is really true. It seems that in this divide, we have different ideas about what we want this country to be.

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Harry Styles has replaced Shia LaBeouf in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling.

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Cat Cora has filed for a restraining order against her ex- wife, Jennifer who it seems has been stalking her.

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Showtime’s The Comedy Store sounds interesting with stories like Jimmie Walker who claims that Freddie Prinze wanted to kill John Travolta.

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Maplecroft, Lizzie Borden’s last house sold for about $890,000.

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A woman ref in the NFL?? It’s about time!

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Doc Martin will end after its 10th season.

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Kelly Clarkson is being sued by her management firm.

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Pope Francis refused to meet with Mike Pompeo.

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R.I.P. Tom Seaver, Sophie Farrar, Kevin Dobson, Toots Hibbert, Stevie Lee, Bruce Williamson, Ben Cross, Diana Rigg, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rev. Robert Graetz, Ron Cobb, Gale Sayers, Dan Dettman, Kevin Burns, Mac Davis, wildfire casualties, Covid victims and Helen Reddy.

[wheresmogs-blog]

Reading our way around the world.

Before we started our trip we decided to make sure we each read at least one book that is set in or about each of the countries we visit.

We really want to try and get a proper taste for the places we’re travelling through. Taking local transport. Eating at local spots. Staying at home or farmstays. Visiting historic sites. Supporting local social enterprises. Talking to people about what it’s like living there. All these things have helped to start to gives us a feel for a place. We’ve also found reading has proved to be another really useful and fun way of helping us understand the histories, cultures and peoples of the countries we’ve been travelling through.

Here’s a list of books that we hope might provide some inspiration for you if you plan on visiting any of these amazing counties - or if you’re just looking for something to help you escape during your commute.

We’ll keep adding to it as we go so feel free to pop back occasionally to see what else we’ve been reading.

Click on the title to find out more about each of the books.

Nepal🇳🇵

House of Snow - Ed Douglas

This as an incredible introduction to Nepal. A massive collection of fiction and non-fiction pieces inspired by the insane landscapes and rich and sometimes complicated cultural heritage of this epic country.

While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal - Elizabeth Enslin

The personal story of an American sociologist who moves to Nepal after marrying a Nepali man. She writes honestly about the challenge of adjusting to her new life in rural Nepal and trying to fit into a culture so different from hers.

Thailand 🇹🇭

Fieldwork - Mischa Berlinski

The amount of research that went into this book is incredible. It’s a great story set in the hills of northern Thailand that often feels so real it could be a true account found in an anthropology textbook.

The Beach - Alex Garland

Even if you’ve seen the movie with Leo DiCaprio, the book is still a great read. Richard’s internal monologues pull you in and brilliantly reveal his eventual emotional and mental breakdown.

Anna and the King of Siam - Margaret Landon

Based on the true story of Anna Leonowens, a young Welsh teacher who ended up in the Siamese court in Bangkok, teaching King Mongkut’s numerous children and wives for six years from 1862. Her liberal, humanist beliefs were at great odds with the king’s tyranny and the country’s archaic traditions, but she eventually had a huge impact on the young crown prince who later on abolished slavery and set the bases for modern Thailand.

The Windup Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi

Set in an intricately believable futuristic Thailand, this book takes aspects of current day Thai culture and twists them into a brilliant sci-fi story. As all good sci-fi books do it poses fascinating philosophical questions. What Happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits? Quite dark and depressing at times but very entertaining.

Sightseeing - Rattawut Lapcharoensap

A collection of short stories that provide a diverse, funny, and deeply affectionate view of life in a small Southeast Asian country that is inevitably facing ever encroaching westernisation.

Laos 🇱🇦

The Coroner’s Lunch - Colin Cotterill

This book provides a really funny and entertaining way to get a feel for what life was like in Laos in 1976, after the communist takeover. Told through the eyes of the loveable Dr Siri Paiboun you learn masses about Laos culture history without even realising it.

One Foot in Laos - Dervla Murphy

Dervla is a badass Irish travel writer who cycled around the world. At the age of 67 she visited Laos, hiking and cycling her way through the mountainous country. Her book is written with great wit, charm and empathy, and it provides a wonderful insight into the lives of rural Lao people whom she’s very fond of.

A Great Place To Have A War: America in Laos and the Birth of a Military CIA - Joshua Kurlantzick

This incredibly well-researched book reveals how the USA was able to run a 9-year war without the world noticing, and the devastating impact it had on Laos.

Vietnam 🇻🇳

The Beauty of Humanity Movement - Camilla Gibb

This captivating story is told in contemporary Vietnam but provides a huge amount of insight into the impact of the conflict and turmoil the people of this country faced over the decades. A story of loss and longing but also filled with hope.

Cambodia 🇰🇭

When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge - Chanrithy Him

A harrowing, first-hand, child’s account of what it was like to live through the hell of the ‘Cambodian Killing Fields’. Chanrithy doesn’t pull any punches and at times even reading can get a bit tough. But in the end, the thread of the strength and love between her family pulls you through.

World 🌎

Only Planet - A Flight-free Adventure Around the World - Ed Gillespie

An amazing book about Ed’s journey around the world without getting in a plane. His ability to express his observations and beliefs so eloquently means it’s full of things you want to quote all the time. His attempt to reconnect with communities and our planet in a sustainable way has been a real inspiration for our trip.

[alexgandel]

545 Green Mountain St Simi Valley from Alex Gandel on Vimeo.

Nestled in the southwest hills of Simi Valley in prestigious Stone Canyon, Wood Ranch is this remarkable Executive Home offering 4 bedrooms +library/poss. 5th bedroom, 4 baths (1 full down), 3600+ sq. ft. of living space, and sitting on an attractive and thoughtfully landscaped 7,729 sq. ft. lot. The open floor plan and sweeping ceilings with high windows offer light and bright rooms with upgrades including custom built-ins, wood flooring, a crystal chandelier in the dining room, a 3-car garage with loads of built-in storage, and one bay dedicated to a separate workshop with custom built-ins, anti-slip flooring and 100V/240V outlets (useful for charging your electric car), a downstairs library with built-ins. The updated chef’s kitchen offers granite countertops and stainless appliances, a large island with a breakfast bar, a breakfast nook, a walk-in pantry, soft-closing drawers, and doors, motion sensor lights in the cabinetry as well as under cabinet lighting. Entertain friends and family in the scenic backyard offering a winding pathway leading to a private cove, a spacious patio area, a built-in BBQ island and grill, low-maintenance Astro-turf, and tall, stately trees creating coveted privacy, the scent of jasmine, custom lighting and a fountain. It is just beautiful! The upper floor offers a well-planned master suite with a remodeled balcony with clear tempered glass – warning: you will be tempted to spend a lot of time just enjoying the view! The master bath hosts dual vanities, a sit-down vanity, an oversized shower, an oval soaking tub, and a walk-in closet. Adjacent to the master bath is a full retreat room with built-ins. Also on the upper floor are Jack & Jill bedrooms (murphy bed in one) with an adjoining bath, and an en suite bed/bath. Other features include two fireplaces, in the living and family rooms, wood flooring on the first floor, a newer HVAC system with a smart thermostat installed in 2019, and Amazon echo boxes throughout the house for a unique whole-house entertainment experience. Just a few blocks away from Wood Ranch Elementary school, great parks, walking and hiking trails, shopping, restaurants, and just a short distance to the 118 and 23 fwys. for the commuter. Wow!.

[perfectirishgifts]

How This Visionary Producer Is Transforming The Theater Podcast Landscape

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/how-this-visionary-producer-is-transforming-the-theater-podcast-landscape/

How This Visionary Producer Is Transforming The Theater Podcast Landscape

“You can’t use up creativity,” said Maya Angelou. “The more you use, the more you have.” Early in her life, someone must have told that to Dori Berinstein. This unstoppable theater, film and TV maker appears to embody creativity. She is an endless font.

Dori Berinstein

Berinstein is a four-time Tony-winning Broadway producer whose credits include The Prom, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Legally Blonde: The Musical, The Crucible, One Flue Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Fool Moon, Flower Drum Song, Enchanted April and Golden Child.

Oh, and Berinstein is also an Emmy-award-winning director, producer and film and television writer. Most recently, she and Bill Damaschke, who produced The Prom on Broadway, collaborated with Ryan Murphy to adapt the show into a Netflix feature film starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Cordon, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells and Kerry Washington. She also co-produced the Sony Masterworks cast album of the musical Half Time. The show was inspired by her documentary, Gotta Dance, about a group of seniors who make up a hip-hop dance troupe who perform for The New Jersey Nets. 

“I love the art of storytelling and believe it’s all about a good story. Whether you’re telling it on stage or screen or in an audio drama or soap opera, I like moving between different worlds and sometimes moving a project throughout different worlds,” says Berinstein who has degrees from Smith, the Kennedy School at Harvard and the Yale School of Drama where she was a visiting scholar focusing on the business of Broadway. After working in strategic planning at Paramount Pictures she joined a tiny emerging independent film company, Vestron Pictures. Within a year, she became head of physical production and ultimately supervised production on the film Dirty Dancing. “What keeps me very excited is being able to collaborate with wonderful people,” she adds.

But if all this isn’t enough, Berinstein is also the co-founder and CEO of the The Broadway Podcast Network which produces over 100 theater podcasts, dramas, musicals and miniseries, like As The Curtain Rises, the delicious new digital soap opera that Berinstein co-wrote with Mark Peikert. 

As The Curtain Rises is a dishy comedy that offers listeners a glimpse of the behind the scenes mayhem trying to birth a Broadway show. In this case there’s the challenge of getting Avvatar: The Musical to The Great White Way. Producing shows for 25 years, the drama is inspired by things Berinstein has witnessed along the way. “Our As The Curtain Rises characters are certainly “inspired” by our theater colleagues. In some cases, characteristics are exaggerated. In other instances….not so much!,” says Berinstein. “The behind-the-curtain Broadway world is definitely the perfect setting for a soap opera.”

The multi-part series features a riveting cast including Alex Brightman, Ariana Debose, Andrew Barth Feldman, James Monroe Iglehart, Ramin Karimloo, Ilana Levine, Lesli Margherita, Mauricio Martinez, Bonnie Milligan, Ashley Park, George Salazar, Sarah Stiles and Lillias White. The priceless cameos from Lynn Nottage, Alex Lacamoire, David Korins, Natasha Katz, Matt Britten and Jordan Roth are worth the listen.

Creating and producing As The Curtain Rises during the pandemic was particularly meaningful to Berinstein. “We haven’t been able to produce live theater. Even though it’s tremendously goofy and fun, this took on a whole other level of urgency,” says Berinstein. “It’s important to keep theater alive during this time. And it’s thrilling to work with and pay actors, make people laugh and try to provide some joy.” 

Jeryl Brunner: What inspired you to create The Broadway Podcast Network?

Dori Berinstein: I live in Northern Westchester. Pre-Covid-19, I spent a lot of time commuting to and from New York City. I would find myself driving home after seeing theater and would be sitting in my driveway at 1:30am, listening to podcasts because the episode wasn’t over. I was so caught up in it and loved the medium, but having trouble finding theater podcasts. There was no real destination for theater podcasts. Then when I brought the company of The Prom to Google, I met Alan Seales who runs Google Talks. He then invited me to be a guest on his theater podcast. We talked afterward and shared the frustration that we couldn’t find a lot of theater podcasts. We agreed that we had to do something about it and said, “Let’s do it.” We spent ten months building and partnering with a lot of wonderful podcasters who were out there before anyone else like The Ensemblist, The Fabulous Invalid and Broadwaysted.

Brunner: How has the platform gown?

Berinstein: We launched in October, 2019 with 15 podcasts. And here we are, a little over a year later, with almost 100 podcasts. Since the beginning it was very much the plan to have podcasts and record plays, musicals, audio dramas, and soap operas. It was never to replace theater and we certainly never anticipated the pandemic. When you see a show, you want to know more. What is happening behind the curtain? There is so much additive information that we are excited to bring to life. We are in a community filled with amazing storytellers and wanted to help support and give them a voice.

Brunner: What do you hope to offer listeners?

Berinstein: It was very important from the get-go that we create a network that is representative and has many different people from all different aspects of our community. That includes onstage, behind the curtain, looking back in history and education. Having all these different artists and voices is essential, because our community is made up of so many different voices.

There is also a lot of hunger from people interested in getting into the business. So we have podcasts about breaking in and auditioning. We also have podcasts from established producers like Hal Luftig and Eva Price. Kerry Butler has one on breaking into Broadway. Justin Guarini has a podcast about auditioning. They are educational and informative. Then there are pure, goofy, fun, joyous podcasts. It’s exciting to have a lot of star power on the network with podcasts from Tonya Pinkins, Sir Tim Rice and Donna McKechnie. I love hearing those behind-the-curtain stories. It was also important for us to partner with many different regional and international theater companies and the Dramatists Guild, Variety and Playbill. We really want to be a home for everyone.

Brunner: Did you always know this was your path?

Berinstein: From a very early age, I was completely captivated by theater. I saw Carol Channing in Hello Dolly! at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion when I was five years old. And that was it. I was so just transported by that show and the whole experience of live theater. [Berinstein ultimately directed, produced and co-wrote the documentary Carol Channing: Larger Than Life.] My parents would take me to theater all the time. It was just the most thrilling thing. I had no talent. I could not sing. Even though I tried, I never got cast in anything. But I wanted so badly to be part of the world. At my school they didn’t have a student director or even backstage crew. But I still was very captivated by how things came together. In college I triple majored in economics, history and theater and created a special studies program on the business of Broadway. I became voracious about reading absolutely everything I could. So much that I learned about life and important issues came from theater and its power to enlighten and make me think.

Brunner: How did you become a theater producer? 

Berinstein: I really wanted to be part of that world, but had no idea how. I didn’t know anybody. Coming from Los Angeles, I was established in film before finding my way into theater. Finally I was introduced to James Freydberg who was producing Broadway shows. We went to the Serious Fun Festival to see a short piece that Bill Irwin and David Shiner put together. I flipped over it. The show was the early stage evolution of Fool Moon. If I knew anything about producing at that point, I probably would have been nervous about producing a show with two guys who don’t speak and a ragtag band, [The Red Clay Ramblers]. It just doesn’t scream hit. But I loved everything about it. 

I got thrown into the thick of it right away as a general partner producer. I didn’t even know what that meant. It was an amazing experience in every way. In previews the audience was maybe at 50% capacity. At opening night we had our associate producer stationed at The New York Times a few blocks away. This was before the paper was digital. We were in the Richard Rodgers theater where Hamilton is. At intermission he came running into the house, waiving the newspaper with the most magnificent review by Frank Rich. He wrote, “To that short list of unbeatable combinations that includes bacon and eggs, bourbon and soda, and Laurel and Hardy, you can now add Shiner and Irwin.” From that point on, the show was sold out every night and standing room only. How can you not throw your entire career in that direction after that? I loved standing in the back, listening to the audience laugh so hard and lose themselves in the show. 

Brunner: Is there something you look for in a story? 

Berinstein: I believe deeply in theater activism and have had the opportunity to lean into and be part of shows that say something important. I have been so fortunate to tell stories that mean something to me and I believe help make the world a better place. It takes years of your life and it’s hard to do. So you better believe in what you’re doing. With Legally Blonde, my daughter was seven. I loved the idea of telling a story that it is very cool to be smart. That message was really important to me to put out there and help inspire young women. 

The Prom and Half Time all have messages that are also really important to me. When people experience these shows or listen to the cast album or watch the film adaptation, I hope they can evolve and embrace the message. In the case of The Prom it’s all about acceptance and tolerance. With Half Time, which is a Jerry Mitchell musical that was adapted from a film I made, it is taking on ageism. They also say go for your dreams, no matter what.

Dori Berinstein directed, produced and co-wrote the documentary Carol Channing: Larger Than Life. … [] After Berinstein, as a little girl, saw Channing perform live, Berinstein knew that had to work in theater.

Dori Berinstein interviews Terre Blair Hamslich for the Emmy-award-winning documentary celebrating … [] the life of Marvin Hamlisch.

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[chiccywood]

Why “The Commuter” Is Yet Another Trash B-Movie With Liam Neeson

For about one hour, “The Commuter” is a slick, well-shot, claustrophobic Hitchcock-ish thriller which takes place, for the most part, aboard a departing Manhattan commuter train. It sets up an intriguing plot, a handful of interesting characters, and a clever ethical dilemma that is perfect for an everyman-type actor like Liam Neeson.

The second chunk of “The Commuter” is a loud, cliché filled action flick in which Neeson is snappin’ necks and cashin’ checks. The plot twists are so blatantly obvious that anyone surprised by them may have slept through the first hour as each character slowly morphs into typical action movie tropes.

Neeson plays cash-strapped Michael McCauley, an insurance salesman living in the New York ‘burbs. He and his wife, Karen (Elizabeth McGovern), live hand to mouth as they try to pay for their son’s Syracuse education. This habitual, fairly mundane life is explained via a very clever opening credits sequence that moves through time as this family does the same thing over and over across multiple seasons.

Micheal’s creature of habit lifestyle hits a brick wall when he learns he’s been fired. After a few beers with ex-partner Alex Murphy (Patrick Wilson), everyone discovers that Michael used to be a New York City police officer. Naturally, this becomes an extremely important plot device for what is to come.

When he boards the train to go home, Micheal is approached by a mysterious woman (the always cool Vera Farmiga) and presented with this quandry: if you find the person that doesn’t belong on your daily train and identify them, you’ll be paid $100,000. The rub is that he will never know what will happen to this person after he singles them out.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra (marking his fourth collaboration with Neeson) treats “The Commuter” like a pot-boiler thriller, but simply cannot help himself. There are a handful of excellent close quarters fight sequences in which Neeson takes a few beatings, which makes perfect sense in an action-thriller such as this one. However, it’s as if Collet-Serra realized the point in which the plot begins to fall to pieces and he ramps up the action to fully preposterous levels in an effort to distract you from the eye-roll inducing mess.

It’s kind of a shame for “The Commuter” to devolve into a B-movie. It also has the undignified distinction of casting Sam Neill then only using him in two extremely lame scenes. It is quite cool to see Jonathan Banks step outside of the box and play a grumpy nice guy instead of his more common grumpy mean guy persona. The rest of the cast simply checks off the normal list of action movie stereotypes.

It’s hard to believe that the actor that portrayed Oskar Schindler in such a powerful and elegant way now plays roles best described as “Liam Neeson as Liam Neeson.” Neeson smirks and scowls and has shouted out the same dialogue (honestly, almost word for word) in what seems like a dozen movies. Is Neeson nothing more than a paycheck actor now, moving on from challenging work to low budget, low risk box office nonsense? It sadly seems this way.

It’s difficult to blame Neeson or Collet-Serra for how “The Commuter” turns out. It’s cursed with a fairly silly title to begin with and the script is all premise and mood, but clueless on how to tie it all together. This will be yet another in a long line of Neeson films that earns just enough cash for him to debate jumping into more straight-to-video type junk thus wasting his once thought of considerable skills.

[jobsearchtips02]

Profile Josh Harris: billionaire Apollo founder, Mets prospective owner

This story is offered specifically on Service Expert Prime. Join BI Prime and begin reading now.

The billionaire Josh Harris, who cofounded a sports-investing organisation and one of the most significant alternative investing firms, is taking a look at purchasing the New york city Mets.

Experts discussed how he’s used an aggressive design he refined at Apollo Global Management to the sports world.

Under Harris’ management, his groups have actually gone through supervisory and operational modifications, with upgraded centers and Ph.D. holders running data analysis of gamer efficiency.

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When Marc Lasry bought the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014, his buddy and fellow billionaire Josh Harris tried to pump him for details. Who would Lasry pick first in the NBA draft?

Harris, who cofounded the alternative investment giant Apollo Global Management and owns the Philadelphia 76 ers, in some cases exercised with Lasry at the gym inside Manhattan’s Core Club. It existed that Harris took on the role of interrogator.

Lasry, the creator of the $10 billion hedge fund Opportunity Capital, had actually ended up being accustomed to his longtime friend’s consistent smack talking. While Lasry stretched out with a trainer, Harris would needle him, “Why don’t you lift more weights? It might be useful if you really got some exercise.”

” I wish to be limber,” Lasry would state back.

However he didn’t provide much of an answer when the topic switched to the team he ‘d simply bought. That year, the 76 ers got the No. 3 draft pick; Lasry’s team got the 2nd.

Both men knew three players were going to get selected early: Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid.

” I believe the real factor he wanted to learn is they desired Embiid really severely,” Lasry stated during a phone interview with Business Expert. “He would have provided me something in return for us not taking him.”

( The Bucks ended up with Parker and the 76 ers took Embiid.)

Harris, 55, owns or co-owns the 76 ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and the Crystal Palace Football Club, a London soccer group.

Since Harris led the offer to purchase the 76 ers in 2011, he’s applied his private-equity investing design to his groups by revamping management, updating athletic facilities, snapping up star players, and trying to turn around ailing sports franchises.

” I have actually been a long-lasting Mets fan going back to ’64, and I’m very excited,” one of Harris’ outdoors lawyers, Brad Karp, said.

Last year, the hedge-fund titan Steve Cohen bid $2.6 billion for the group in a deal that was ultimately scuttled over a dispute about the present owners’ control. Cohen, whose representative declined to comment, stays a minority owner.

Hedge-fund mogul Steve Cohen was close to buying the Mets.

Steven Cohen, Chairman and CEO of Point72 Possession Management, speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 2,2016

Though there are no signs Cohen has returned to the table, Harris may have other competition. Variety reported in April that the former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and his fiancée, the star and musician Jennifer Lopez, were dealing with a bid for the offer, backed by the biotech financier Wayne Rothbaum. Eric Menell, JPMorgan’s cohead of North American media investment banking, is representing the couple, Variety stated.

On Wednesday, the New york city Post reported that Galatioto Sports Partners, a New York investment bank, was working with investors who could put in as much as $250 million for Rodriguez and Lopez’s quote.

Specifics of settlements are being concealed. The president of Galatioto Sports Partners declined to comment. A spokeswoman for JPMorgan decreased to comment. The lender who is recommending the Mets, Steve Greenberg of Allen & Co., did not react to an ask for comment.

But interviews with more than a dozen people near to him paint an image of the guy who the Mets could quickly find calling the shots from up leading. According to these sources, Harris is among the most hard-driving people they’ve worked with and applies a private-equity playbook to his broadening list of sports assets.

Harris declined to comment for this story.

Harris produced his wealth through private-equity investments, including chemical companies, and as sports owner, he’s faced scrutiny over organisation choices

Harris, who commutes from New york city to 76 ers home games via helicopter, has an enthusiastic work ethic that is regularly pointed out by pals and colleagues.

” Josh calls me all the time to say, ‘Hey, what do you think of this?'” Michael Rubin, Harris’ organisation partner and a co-owner of the 76 ers and Devils, stated. Harris recently texted him as early as 5 a.m. after a midnight call: “Are you up?”

With $350 billion under management, Harris’ alternative investments firm is among the biggest in the industry and known for being amongst the most aggressive financiers.

His mark on the company includes handling many commercial financial investments, consisting of chemical companies such as LyondellBasell, which helped Apollo make a sixfold return after a $2 billion investment developed into $12 billion between 2008 and 2013

The earnings he assisted turn yields him a yearly income of numerous hundred million dollars in yearly pay and dividends– enough to purchase a $45 million seven-level Upper East Side mansion

The wealth he’s built up has actually also made for some tough optics. Harris recently set up– then quickly pulled back– a 20%pay cut for staffers of the 76 ers when the coronavirus suspended the NBA season. When the cut was announced, the 76 ers star Embiid provided to contribute $500,000 to assist affected workers.

A writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Murphy, wrote a rebuke of Harris and his service partner David Blitzer’s choice. Despite the fact that they had actually already backtracked, his column leaned in, slamming them for “4 years of losing,” increasing ticket prices, and a “meaningless house video game in the early stages of the pandemic.”

Embiid, who’s known as “The Process,” informed Business Insider he connected to Harris and other owners after the decision was announced and revealed his opposition to it. The conversation quickly ended up being: How do we make this scenario better?

” I had no concept that was going to occur,” Embiid said of the announcement. “There was not a great deal of interaction.”

It broke with his previous experience with Harris. The prior winter season, Harris had gone to Embiid’s New york city home. The team was going through a rough patch, and Embiid felt he was in a downturn. Harris supplied moral support and asked how he might help.

” Since I got to Philly, he’s made me seem like a partner rather of treating me like somebody who works for him,” he stated. “He values my input– and we got it fixed.”

Joel Embiid.

Costs Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.

Harris’ firm Apollo doesn’t invest in sports companies due to the fact that of perceived disputes of interest

Such public examination isn’t common in the secretive world of personal equity, where Harris has actually dedicated his profession.

Apollo had actually chosen years previously not to invest in sports teams because when it comes to investing other individuals’s money, it could be bothersome if there were any understanding that a firm is managing properties in which a leader has a personal interest.

Adam Aron, the CEO of the 76 ers from 2011 to 2013 who now runs AMC Theatres, has actually known Harris for a great portion of his profession, working as an operating partner at Apollo in between 2006 and 2015 and as the CEO of the former Apollo portfolio business Vail Resorts before that.

Adam Aron, who runs AMC Theatres.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Harris’ desire to construct a sports empire originated from individual experiences as a college wrestler

Harris relied on sports investing after a life time of sports. Throughout his freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, Harris battled and in college played competitive pickup basketball with his buddies and fraternity siblings, consisting of Tony Ignaczak, the president of the private-equity firm Quad-C Partners.

In 2011, Harris put together a group of Penn pals, including Ignaczak and Blackstone’s Blitzer, to buy the 76 ers, who were having a hard time with their record and finances.

” I truly think he looked at Apollo as his service legacy and sports as his organisation and philanthropic tradition,” Ignaczak stated.

Experts described how Harris approaches managing his sports groups and uses information to evaluate decisions

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Associated Press.

Harris evaluates and runs his teams the exact same method he would a portfolio business, Ignaczak stated.

” He really wanted to understand what made the possession– what the upside capacity was– and how he might be able to enhance what was in location,” said Bettman, who also highlighted Harris’ humanitarian dedications to his sports teams’ cities.

Even though the 76 ers have yet to return to the NBA Finals because Harris took over, Lasry and others close to Harris said the group was better-positioned today than it was prior to he bought it, with key gamers included, such as Ben Simmons, who joined in the 2016 draft.

Aron remembered getting a tour of the previous bleak practice center at a Philadelphia college, with then-coach Doug Collins telling him how he required a fridge.

” I stated, ‘Doug, you require a refrigerator?

Sports groups Harris obtained are valued greater today than when he purchased them

Harris commemorates a crucial 76 ers win in2012

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images.

Aside from the Sixers’ win-loss record– the group’s second-worst season in history came in 2015-16, with a 10-72 record, though in 2015, they got back approximately 39-26– it’s hard to argue that Harris and his group have not expanded the business.

Forbes valued the 76 ers at $330 million in 2011, the year Harris bought the group for $280 million. The 76 ers deserved $2 billion this year, according to Forbes. Before Harris’ deal, the team balanced14,000 people per house video game, 26 th in the NBA. In the past 2 years, the group reached first in the league, averaging more than 20,000 fans.

When It Comes To his NHL group, Forbes put the Devils at $320 million in 2013, when Harris bought the majority stake in the group, and $550 million in 2015, though its presence is down a little since Harris purchased in.

What does that mean for the Mets?

” He needs to want to invest the best cash and time to get the right players,” Lasry said of the potential financial investment. “And if he gets that, I think it’s great for the fans of New York.”

Ignaczak, Harris’ close buddy, said his competitive streak has actually emerged when the pair have run races together, like Philadelphia’s half and full marathons.

He recalled one race in particular, when Ignaczak began pressing the rate, pulling ahead from Harris somewhat with a couple of miles to go.

” He crossed about 10 seconds ahead of me,” Ignaczak said.

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This stately custom-built brick colonial is nestled on a peaceful 1+ acre lot on the northeast side of Ann Arbor. Enjoy peace and privacy just minutes from downtown AA and the University of Michigan campuses. Mature trees, circular drive, and an in-ground pool complete the package. Inside, you'll appreciate the renovated kitchen and bathrooms, the full finished basement, and numerous smart features including a security system, Nest thermostat, and smart doorbell. The main level includes formal living and dining rooms, a cozy family room with wood fireplace, and a private study/office. Upstairs are three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, while a fourth bedroom and full bathroom in the lower level are perfect for guests. Both striking Murphy beds stay with the home! After a long day, you can pamper yourself in the built-in sauna or spa tub. Easy commuting to Ann Arbor and beyond via nearby M-14/M-23.

Contact: Alex Milshteyn (734) 417-3560 amilshteyn@cbwm.com

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Home Entertainment Consumer Guide: April 19, 2018

5 NEW TO NETFLIX

"Beyond Skyline" "Eddie Murphy: Delirious" "Lakeview Terrace" "Nowhere Boy" "Porto"

7 NEW TO BLU-RAY/DVD

"The Awful Truth" (Criterion)

I love when the Criterion Collection digs into the comedy archives and unleashes films like those of Preston Sturges or the prime of Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. And so I was ecstatic to hear they were restoring the truly phenomenal "The Awful Truth," one of the best films of its kind ever made. He made a lot of wonderful films over the course of his notable career, but if you wanted to put one movie into a capsule and shoot it into space for other worlds to know about the star power of Cary Grant, this might be the one. He's so effortlessly charming here, and his work is well analyzed by David Cairns on a special feature. As for other bonus material, this one is a little light when compared to other Criterions, but you get an amazing film and an essay by the singular Molly Haskell. That's reason enough to click on the link below.

Buy it here 

Special Features New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray New interview with critic Gary Giddins about director Leo McCarey New video essay by film critic David Cairns on Cary Grant’s performance Illustrated 1978 audio interview with actor Irene Dunne Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1939, starring Grant and Claudette Colbert PLUS: An essay by film critic Molly Haskell

"The Commuter"

Seeing this film at Ebertfest on the same day I caught a screening of Andrew Davis' "The Fugitive," I was reminded why I like the Liam Neeson action films, especially those directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (who did this, "Unknown, "Non-Stop," and "Run All Night"). I actually think history will be kind to these movies, especially in the "watch every time they're on cable department". This one is blissfully simple as Neeson plays a man on a commuter train who is offered $100k simply to find someone. When he realizes why he has to find this person, he tries to turn the tables on the people involved and, well, things get crazy. I'm a sucker for streamlined action films and the great majority of this movie takes place on one train. It's effective and fun. Kind of like the story of Richard Kimble.

Buy it here 

Special Features End of the Line Off the Rails

"Knowing"

Alex Proyas' "Knowing" has been a fascinating film for me since it was released for one simple reason: Roger Ebert gave it four stars! It's often pointed to as one of those films that illustrates how much Roger was willing to go out on a limb. We're increasingly in a world of film criticism that often feels like it's built around consensus, in which everyone has to agree that something is fantastic or awful, but Roger never cared about that. Not once. He always went his own way, and he was willing to embrace a movie like this that spoke to him even if the rest of the critical body didn't agree. It's been re-released in a 4K Blu-ray and it's a better film than you remember (even if Roger's perfect rating may not be something I agree with) but it's a reminder that it's important to be in the minority sometimes when it comes to opinions. It's what makes us human.

Buy it here 

Special Features Audio Commentary with Director Alex Proyas Knowing All: The Making of a Futuristic Thriller Featurette Visions of the Apocalypse Featurette 5 Things Worth Knowing About Knowing Featurette (4K Blu-ray Only)

"Mohawk"

Ted Geoghegan is a long-time associate as a publicist and a friend, but I really don't think that colors my opinion of his work as a filmmaker. His startling "We Are Still Here" announced a director who was willing to do things a little differently from the rest of the indie horror scene, and this film really makes his unique voice clear in that it doesn't feel like anything else that came out last year. It's a story of Native American culture that's also a thriller and a story of empowerment, and in an era in which so many genre films look alike, it's so refreshing to see something like "Mohawk" that stands apart from the crowd. You should check it out.

Buy it here 

Special Features -None

"Molly's Game"

This column largely consists of films that I would recommend to buyers or renters, but I often extend it to include things that I realize more people like than I do, which is the case with Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut. I recognize that my opinion of this film is in the minority and that people who like it may want to know it's on Blu-ray and DVD. I will say that I still find it highly overrated, largely because of the issues I have with Sorkin's writing lately, and the deep misogyny embedded in it. Even this story that should be empowering given its protagonist culminates in a scene that fractures the entire narrative purpose of the story. I will say that the performances here are uniformly strong, including Jessica Chastain, Michael Cera, and Bill Camp, but I wish another director could have smoothed out some of Sorkin's rough edges.

Buy it here 

Special Features Building an Empire

"Phantom Thread"

There are no rough edges in P.T. Anderson's latest, a film that I'm increasingly thinking might actually be the best of 2017. Talk about a film that holds up well on repeat viewing. This movie is a masterpiece of tonal balance and production value, anchored by not just one great performance but three. I love everything about "Phantom Thread," and have written about it too many times to add anything new to the conversation, other than to mention that it's a film that has gotten better every time I see it. That's not uncommon for Anderson films. 

Buy it here 

Special Features Camera Tests – With audio commentary by Paul Thomas Anderson For the Hungry Boy – A collection of deleted scenes. Music by Jonny Greenwood House of Woodcock Fashion Show – Fashion Show narrated by Adam Buxton Behind the Scenes Photographs – Photographs from the film by Michael Bauman with demo versions of Jonny Greenwood's score

"The Post"

I am a HUGE fan of Steven Spielberg's historical dramas, going to bat for "Lincoln," "Munich," and "Bridge of Spies" as being among the best works of his career. And so I was remarkably excited for "The Post," but consider second-tier Spielberg, in the good-not-great category of his career. Sure, the film is technically unimpeachable, and it contains the most interesting Meryl Streep performance in years, but it's easy to see how rushed this production was, and I wish everyone involved had taken a little more time to round out the reasons why they were making it and imbue it with a bit more heart and soul. Still, second-tier Spielberg is well-worth seeing.

Buy it here 

Special Features Layout: Katharine Graham, Ben Bradlee & The Washington Post Editorial: The Cast and Characters of The Post The Style Section: Re-Creating an Era Stop the Presses: Filming The Post Arts and Entertainment: Music for The Post

from All Content https://ift.tt/2HMxQ7f

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Have you ever commuted on a train back and forth to work every day? Have you ever watched your fellow commuters as you did? It is a fascinating study in human nature and one that writers Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi decided would make for a great script. As they saw the same people all the time on their commute in the northeast they thought "what if we turn this into an Alfred Hitchcock/Agatha Christy murder mystery?". This became the basis for a fascinating thriller called The Commuter.

Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson; Taken) commutes to his job as life insurance salesman in the city every day. It is boring and routine until one day it isn't. MacCauley, an ex-cop, finds himself laid off and wondering how he is going to afford his son's college tuition when on the way home he is approached by "Joanna" (Vera Farmiga; Bates Motel). What starts off as a casual conversation suddenly becomes a game of cat and mouse with MacCauley caught in the middle, admittedly by his own making. As he races against the clock he must unravel the clues to find out who the killer is and why they want someone on the train dead.

Liam Neeson is one of those rare and hard to find actors. For years now he has been able to pull off comedic, dramatic, and action roles that look extremely believable and does it with ease. The Commuter is no exception as he tries help solve the mystery of the train as well as save lives. Neeson fully embodies the character he portrays and you actually believe that he is Michael MacCauley. Farmiga plays the cold and calculating Joanna with such poise you think she was talking about taking a stroll in the park and not contemplating murder. The rest of the cast holds their own very well including Neeson's old-time partner Alex Murphy (Patrick Wilson; The Conjuring) and Captain Hawthorne (Sam Neill; Jurassic Park). Probably one of the most interesting aspects of the cast is that 90% of them are from the United Kingdom (and not from New York City as their accents would have you assume) as the entire film was shot in Pinewood Studios in London.

The 2160p HEVC H.265 conversion looks simply amazing. Starting with a 4k DI negative, the film's color depth and attention to detail are mind-blowing. The only negative to be seen was that the digital grain added to the master was more proliferated. The Dolby Atmos track is packed full and really accentuates the background noises. The dialogue is front and center while the sounds of the train and gunshots envelop the viewers from all sides and angles.

Special Features — ported from the Blu-ray - include: End of the Line —containing behind the scenes footage, interview, and clips from the film, a second feature entitled Off the Rails which offers a look at what it was like to shoot in tight corridors, and of course the Digital HD copy of the film. The extras offer some unique insight and are enjoyable for the most part.

While the plot is interesting and definitely character driven, there are moments where the story lags making the movie somewhat unnecessarily drawn out. However, with Neeson at the helm of this feature, there is no doubt it is an edge of your seat thriller that will keep you involved and engaged for the most part until the very end. Neeson does what he does best here and if you are a fan you will certainly not regret spending almost two hours on this train.

Grade: B+

About Nathan M Rose Nathan Rose is chief executive officer and is in charge of overseeing day-to-day operations. In addition to overseeing operations of FlickDirect, Nathan has also appeared in various online productions and films.

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