Defending Jacob, Dirty John and Snowpiercer

My Top Three This Week 

Greetings to all my semi-constant readers. If you like my picks for the  week ( or any week for that matter) please feel free to share on all platforms. I feel we are in that in-between stage of still sheltering and wanting to go out into the new normal world. Although it is summer many of us are still trying to find new entertaining content.

1) Defending Jacob  a limited series on Apple TV+ is the perfect binge watch this week. An assistant district attorney is faced with a heartbreaking dilemma of defending his son Jacob after a brutal murder of one of his classmates when an array of evidence points to him as a prime suspect. This is an excellent limited series with Chris Evans in a stellar performance as Jacob's dad Andy and Michelle Dockery is fantastic as Jacob's mother who is starting to believe that her son is a serial killer in the early stages of his psychopathic rise. Jaeden Martell gives a letter perfect performance as Jacob in some chilling scenes. Some other great actors in this series include the national treasure J.K. Simmons as Andy's estranged father and the wonderful Cherry Jones who makes acting seem effortless.

2) Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story  on USA Network is a twist on the previous installment and some of us that haven't watched the other versions of this story are waiting to see how it all plays out. Based on a true story of a wife who is pushed too far and snaps back is the perfect tale for the anthology series. Amanda Peet and Christian Slater as Dan and Betty Broderick the perfect couple with a houseful of children and a love affair that everyone envied. But a darker more insidious discontent continues to manifest itself in Betty's eyes as her spirit gets trampled with each success that her husband achieves. Peet was born to play this part and it is apparent with each unravelling that she inhabits Betty in every way. This is a slow burner so keep watching.

3) Snowpiercer a TNT series from Bong Joon Ho who  directed the 2013 film of the same name also starring the lovely Chris Evans is going to come under a lot of fire for the comparison to the beloved cult film. But it needs to be judged on its own merits . This is a dystopian film and the premise is that the last of humanity who could afford it -has moved to a permanent home- a  1001 armored train traveling around the globe  while the frozen tundra outside is uninhabitable. There is a class system on the train and the wealthy patrons who can afford it have train grown fruit and vegetables and every whim  catered to (well, there is a car for that) and those who made themselves stowaways in the back - they are called "Tailies". The Tailes are all herded in the  back cars and receiving dubious rations of food while each car on the train is dedicated  to the hedonistic fetishes of the moneyed folks. But then another grisly murder occurs and a former detective ( Daveed Diggs -Hamilton) is pulled from the back to solve the murder while his people are fighting to break through cars to find freedom. There are many stories being told with the luxury of having time to spread them out. Jennifer Connelly as the Trains' hostess and the "voice" of the train has enlisted Diggs to help bringing him into the luxury as the mystery deepens. some great acting and I am hopeful that people give this show a watch.

Bonus: Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich on Netflix is disturbing and a train-wreck . Hard to watch and hard to stop watching. Multi billionaire Epstein can buy anyone he wants and what he wants are underage girls every day. This pedophile has gotten away with his pleasures and trafficking these young girls to his wealthy cronies, cruising the high schools for new victims. His charisma, glamour, money made him a magnet for the A list of Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton among others who visited his private island.  Then his perfect Ponzi scheme starts breaking apart as women start coming forward about his abuse and gates open up. We know how it ended but to see it unfold it chilling. Watch something light hearted after this to un clutter the dark images.