“A Small Light” (Nat Geo)
Buried over in the Nat Geo section of Disney+, you can find one of the best WWII dramas in years. Bel Powley (“The Edge of Seventeen”) does the best work of her already-notable career as Miep Gies, a Dutch citizen startled to see the rise of power of the Third Reich. Determined to do something to help the people around her, Gies ends up helping her employer Otto Frank (a riveting Liev Schreiber), to protect his family, including his daughter Anne. “A Small Light” uses history as a call to modern times for people to do what’s right in the face of impending evil. It’s incredibly moving and as well made as most modern feature films. Don’t miss this one. – BT [Read our review]
“Somebody Somewhere” Season 2 (HBO)
It takes a bit to get on the wavelength of this underrated HBO comedy because it’s so natural and unforced. It’s more like spending time with friends than a traditional joke-punchline comedy. Bridget Everett leads those friends as Sam and Jeff Hiller as her BFF Joel. Sam is dealing with some tragedy and some depression in her middle age, but the writing on “Somebody Somewhere” never pushes its themes, allowing the emotional moments to come to the surface naturally, making them all the more powerful. Sam, Joel, and the rest of this show’s characters aren’t like most people on television. They feel like people we know. Or maybe just us. – BT [Read our review]
“Succession” Season 4 (HBO)
“You are not serious people.” That iconic line from Logan Roy (the incomparable Brian Cox) was heard in just the second episode of the HBO drama’s final season. You can argue whether the events of the shocking third episode were timed a wee bit early, and you may even think the surprising series finale didn’t quite live up to the masterpiece of the show’s third-season cliffhanger (raised hand), but no one can diminish what a fantastic finish creator Jesse Armstrong and his team of writers cooked up for the landmark television program. And even in its fourth go around, it found room for Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin to deliver, arguably, the finest performances of their careers. Throw in an appropriate number of narrative twists, Alexander Skarsgård’s deceptively subtle turn, and Peter Friedman and David Rasche’s long-awaited moments in the spotlight, and you’ve got a season destined for Emmy and guild-award riches. Now, if only we had footage of Jeremy Strong trying to jump into the Hudson River… – GE [Read our review]
– Feature was written by Brian Tallerico with contributions by Gregory Ellwood and Rodrigo Perez.
