Saskia Reeves is awfully good in Slow Horses. As with more or less everything in both the original novels and the TV show, it’s a slow reveal. They show us the failures that the Slough House denizens have become, and you have to be patient to see the talents – however rusty – that balance out the failings. So up front, Catherine Standish is an aging grey haired alcoholic. I’ve just finished episode 5 of the first season, which is where she lifts her head and sees a chance and takes it. The really good bit is when Reeves makes it clear that her character is incredibly pleased to have gotten this one right, with the slightest shy smile. ...

Movies reviewed this week: Take Me Somewhere Nice, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Closely Watched Trains, The Batman, Election, …And God Created Woman, and The Northman.

Movies reviewed this week: Donkey Skin and Watermelon Man.

Movies reviewed this week: Stormy Weather, Hell Hath No Fury, and Three Colors: White.

I completed my superior court jury duty a little while ago, and enough time has passed so that I can write up some coherent thoughts on the experience. This is as much for myself to help me process as anything, but I do have some helpful tips if you ever find yourself serving on a jury. Mundane details: jury selection was over Zoom, while the trial itself was conducted in person. It was a homicide case, although we had scope to consider manslaughter as well. The whole thing lasted almost exactly four weeks, including a little more than a week of deliberation. We were unable to reach a verdict; the judge and the lawyers were very clear that we shouldn’t consider that a failure on our parts. There will be a new trial. I’m not talking about details in public for various reasons, but feel free to ask in private if we know each other.

Movies reviewed this week: The Parallax View and Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese.

Movies reviewed this week: Hotel Monterey, Three Colors: Blue, Cléo from 5 to 7, Daguerréotypes, The Vanishing Lion, Rue Daguerre in 2005, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and The Quiet Man.

Movies reviewed this week: Forbidden City, U.S.A., The Last Days of Disco, and A Bay of Blood.

Movies reviewed this week: Johnny Guitar, Shaft, Matador, After Yang, and Polytechnique.

Movies reviewed this week: The Naked Kiss and Mr. Jones.