‘Poirot’ works out math of love triangles in Season 9 (2003-04)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The “dark years” – not necessarily in a bad way – start with four tragic episodes about unrequited love.
Romance
This time, De Palma’s Hitchcock ‘Obsession’ (1976) doesn’t pay off
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Sometimes a screenplay’s interesting ideas don’t coalesce into a compelling film. Such is the case in this “Vertigo” riff.
John’s top 10 movies of 2024
2024 movies: A remarkable number of filmmakers this year delved into metaphysical issues, appropriate for this weird time we live in.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2024
2024 television: Network shows held on to some viewers thanks to diversity of main characters and premises, but streaming and premium channels continued to dominate.
‘The Apartment’ (1960) is worth renting, maybe even owning
Wilder Wednesday (Movie review): The Oscars were right: Lemmon and MacLaine are delightful in this light-touch, heartfelt romantic dramedy.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946), but is it a wonderful movie?
Christmas movie flashback: Frank Capra’s classic must be the most widely beloved movie about the business of real-estate loans. (Plus: A look at the film’s influence on “Buffy” Season 3.)
‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990) a too-thin slice of heartfelt weirdness
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): For many Burton fans, this Christmastime film is a cut above, but I find it slices too thin.
Dave’s ‘The Night We Lost Him’ blends romance, mystery
Book club book report: The author draws us in with questions, and smoothly builds believable characters amid the quest for answers.
Smartly structured ‘Challengers’ breaks at love
Movie review: The plot is that of a soap opera, but the structure, style and psychological honesty put it on the short list of tennis-movie GOATs.
‘The Immortalists’ (2018) examines life through lens of death
Book club book report: Come for the hook (a fortune teller predicts death dates) but stay for the four siblings’ journeys through life.