The opening scene grabs your attention because all but one of the main characters are dead. The movie takes you on a winding path with many sharp turns and detours.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood who also directed Love and Basketball told a compelling story with The Old Guard. It is described as a covert team of immortal mercenaries who are suddenly exposed and must now fight to keep their identity secret.

Each character is from a different age, so as they battle their current enemy, they flash back to some of their earlier lives, most of which were on battle fields going back over the centuries.

I am drawn to this story not only because of the scifi-ness of it, but it reminds me of a show from many years ago which had a similar premise. The Highlander. In this TV series, Duncan MacLeod was an immortal forever battling other immortals. The connection? The immortals can sense one another’s presence.

In The Old Guard, the mercenaries fight an unknown group that comes against them, while in another direction sense a new immortal.  As they try to teach the new immortal about how life is, they learn some things about themselves.

“Just because we keep living, doesn’t mean we stop hurting,” Booker said to Nile, the new immortal. It challenges the thought of what living forever really means. It dances over a wide body of water.

Charlize Theron took me on a journey, and I was impressed. This was not the kind of role I thought of her in.  She was badass and dark and tough. She showed older women have value and can lead.

The cast is more of an ensemble, than any standout. Every actor plays their part and it is fun to watch. Kiki Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli and Chiwetel Ejiofor create a team that you want to cheer on. Each one has their own battle and this movie will just make you ask more questions as their stories are revealed.

In the end, this movie leaves you with a sense that there is a series or a series of movies coming. I hope so.

Kidnapped.

I don’t really like true stories in tv or movies because the endings are seldom the way I want them to end. But sometimes the actor leading the show is pretty compelling.

Fell in love with Martin Freeman as Watson in Sherlock so I had to at least check out this new series, Confession. It tells the story of Detective Superintendent Stephen Fulcher as he looks for a missing young woman. Confronted with the killer, Fulcher has to make a decision that haunts him the rest of his life.

The Brits really understand short term attention because my favorite series have about 5 episodes. So does this one. Confession is a little confusing as it uses flash backs trying to explain the circumstances for several individuals. But it is thought provoking.

I have to fight the urge to want Freeman to be the character I had come to know him as, Watson. There were times I wanted him to fight back or have all the right answers. I had to let it go. I had to recognize his purpose in this story.

Actresses Siobhan Finneran and Imelda Staunton carry the weight of this series and it is refreshing. They each play a mother of a missing girl and take the viewer on an interesting ride. I saw portions of myself in each of these mothers. These actresses told a compelling story.

I recommend this series for those who like to binge over a couple of days. It is British, well written and told.

Listen to our podcast.

TV Talk With The Sistas

In this podcast, two sisters chat about iconic television shows and their impact on the African American and American culture.

Episode One

The Sistas examine the 1970s hit Sanford and Son starring Redd Foxx and the British murder mystery series, Midsomer Murders.

Episode Two

The Girls focus on the Netflix series The Crown and the 1980s crime drama In the Heat of the Night. They find similar qualities in the way they tell their stories.

Episode Three

The Girls focus on the 1980s Norman Lear sitcom The Jeffersons and the Netflix limited series Self Made: The Madam CJ Walker Story. They examine the impact of these stories on African American culture.

Episode Four

The Sistas talk about the James Bond,007 franchise and the impact they think it has had on society and culture.  These two Bond lovers go toe to toe over who is the best Bond. They also introduce you to their rating system

 Listen up…TV Talk With the Sistas Episode 4

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