By: Mary Anne Simpson
Crossing Lines:
Edward Allen Bernero, creator, head writer and producer assembled an unlikely band of super sleuths headquartered at the Hague International Criminal Court's special investigative unit which as the title suggests, cross international borders to bring heinous criminals to justice. Human trafficking, child exploitation, illegal weapons sales, drug smuggling with instances of political corruption slithering to the untouchable hierarchy at the top.
The concept for Crossing Lines is interesting, but the relationship among the team members makes the two season, twenty-two episodes enthralling and addictive. In fact each of the characters has at least one flaw which run the gamut from a pain pill popping ex New York cop played by William Fichner to alcohol, gambling and compulsive addicts. Donald Sutherland, a survivor of Nazi atrocities plays the Inspector of the ICC and the team's liaison and backer whose sage wisdom is garnered from a life time of hunting down war criminals.
The rest of the team members are young, smart, good looking and tech savvy. The team is lead by Louis Daniel played by Marc Lavoine, a heralded French police investigator and appointed member of Europol whose cherished son was murdered for revenge. Everyone has some skin in the game.
The show has everything; smart dialogue, multidimensional characters and plots that will keep you watching on the edge of your seat.
Bloodlines:
The Rayburn family puts on a great face for their public role as innkeepers of a picturesque Bed & Breakfast on the Florida Keys. Sissy Spacek plays the ever consoling and cheery matriarch with Sam Shepard as a hard driving bourbon on the rocks patriarch of the Rayburn clan. The rub comes when the profoundly damaged, alcohol-drug addicted eldest son comes home with an expressed desire to make amends and pick up where he never fit in. This is a complicated family with some routine secrets, but a tragic dark secret that defines and ultimately reduces them to a pack of wolves.
The scenery is dynamic and the story is raw with emotion. This is an exceptional piece of screen magnetism that will encourage binge viewing.
Good View:
For some good time programming, check out The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt written by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, staring Ellie Kemper. The story follows Kimmy as she maneuvers her way around New York City after being held hostage in a bunker for 15-years by a doomsday religious fanatic. Avoiding spoilers, episode 11,12 and 13 shine for the incomparable Tina Fey.
A golden goody starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray in Get Low will bring tears of laughter and sympathy for the back country hermit riddled with guilt and remorse who gives death a punch line.
The Australian mini series, The Code (2014), featuring two brothers who stumble upon secret chemical warfare activity that leads to the Prime Minister's office.This is a take no prisoners glimpse at domestic and international intrigue that will make even the most laid back Aussie think twice about reporting suspicious activity.
The future sure looks bright for streaming high quality content from the comfort of home.
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