What I’m Watching some good stuff on Netflix

Date: 11/12/2019

What I’ve been watching: some good stuff on Netflix.

 In the Shadow of the Moon

When I watched the trailer of this film produced by Netflix, I wondered exactly what it was. Was it some sort of vampire movie? How about a serial killer film? Or was it science fiction of some sort?

A good trailer is all about tease and it teased me very well. I had to see it.

I’m glad I did, as the movie has elements of a serial killer crime drama, and then it takes a left turn into science fiction.

The result is an original work that has some major surprises.

Boyd Holbrook plays Locke, a working class police officer in Philadelphia. One night in 1988 his life changes when he and his partner become involved in trying to apprehend someone who is suspected to have killed at least three people.

The suspect, a young woman with athletic abilities and an odd weapon, manages to break the partner’s leg (played by Bokeem Woodbine) and confronts Locke. She says some intriguing things, but is struck by a subway train before Locke can apprehend her.

The police believe the case is closed as the suspect was killed. Nine years later though the same kind of deaths start all over again and the same young woman is involved.

Locke is deeply affected by one killing. When we next see him, nine years later, he is off the police force, living in his car, estranged from his daughter and totally obsessed in solving this case.

He believes the victims are linked and when he finds out how they are related, the film starts in a very surprising direction.

It would be a disservice to you to reveal more, but I had a lot of fun with this very involving film that has an interesting political premise to it as well.

Holbrook does well in his role as an everyday guy who must confront a very unusual situation. Woodbine lends able support, as does Michael C. Hall who plays his brother-in-law and a fellow police officer.

Director Jim Mickle directed one of my favorite recent vampire movies “Stakeland” and he knows how to build suspense. He does a great job presenting a story that takes places over many years.

“In the Shadow of the Moon” is well worth your time.

The Kominsky Method: Season Two

I loved the first season of this accomplished dramady and I’m happy to say the second season is just as sharp, funny and thoughtful as the first.

If you’ve not yet discovered this show, start with season one.

Sandy Kominsky (Michael Douglas) is a veteran acting coach whose best friend is his agent Norman (Alan Arkin). The two men are inseparable friends who none-the-less are at frequent odds due to the pressures of growing older, the issues surrounding their respective jobs and their relationships with women.

In the first season, Norman must adjust to the death of his wife from cancer. Sandy is trying to hold on to a relationship to a woman who is more age-appropriate than most of the women he dates.

In the second season Sandy has unexpected health issues, while Norman is reunited with a women he dated 50 years previous.

This is a series about adults of a certain age. While I’m not quite as old as the characters, I can certainly relate to how people must negotiate the curveballs the universe throws at us.

Douglas and Arkin make a great team, trading off roles at comic and straight man.

The show can be both heartbreaking and hilarious. It’s a great program and I can hardly wait for the third season.