Most of HBO’s “The Normal Heart” is a pretty decent adaptation of the 1985 stage script, with some good things added, including an effective pre-credit section set on Fire Island in 1982.
Television
Television Review: “Louie” Redux — Better Than Ever
Louis C.K.’s “Louie” is a master class in straddling highbrow and lowbrow.
TV/DVD Review: The Complete “Hill Street Blues” — A Groundbreaking Cop Show Untarnished by Time
The complete “Hill Street Blues” is a godsend for those eager to venture beyond “Law and Order” and “CSI” dynasties.
Television Review: A Rousing Documentary on the Liberal Gusto of Ann Richards
This fine, partisan documentary resurrects Ann Richards, and it’s showing on HBO in a Lone Star election year. The Republicans better worry about Texans seeing it.
Television Commentary: Whither Stephen Colbert?
Now that the dust has settled after the announcement that Stephen Colbert will be replacing David Letterman on “The Late Show” next year, it is time for some thoughtful analysis.
TV Review: “Fargo”: or, Do Contract Killers Get Bored and Create Chaos for Fun?
“Fargo” creates its own world of crime and moral conundrums while delivering a fair share of blood. Whether the TV series delivers on its promise to be in the same aesthetic world as the original movie is an open question.
Fuse TV Review: HBO’s “Silicon Valley” — The Comic Adventures of Nerd Musketeers
“Silicon Valley” is sharp fun for both the computer lingo-savvy and for the non-Tweet, non-Facebook crowd such as out-of-it me.
TV Review: Simon Schama Tells His “Story of the Jews”
Simon Schama just can’t stop going on about religion and the extra-special Jewish feel for beauty that has, to his mind, kept Judaism vibrant and intact through the ages.
Fuse Television Review: HBO’s “Doll & Em” — A Show Biz Satire That Loses Its Mojo
The first few episodes of HBO’s “Doll & Em” operate as a fairly funny show-biz satire, but then the series takes a nosedive into turgid melodrama.
TV Review: Give Some Love to TBS’s “The Pete Holmes Show”
Along with the absence of a desk, the fact that guests aren’t coming on in order to plug their latest whatever sets “The Pete Holmes Shows” apart from typical late-night fare.