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Ride or Die: A Complete History on the Evolution of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ Franchise

“Ride or die.” Those words only appear a few times in the franchise – most famously out of Vin Diesel’s gravelly baritone in Fast & Furious 6 – but they have become the personal motto for how this franchise has continued, grown, succeeded and become greater with each film. Today, Furious 7, the latest in the …

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.04: “Cuanto” is Margaret’s finest hour

With “Cuanto” we mark the halfway point of the final season, and its first major death. As fans of Boardwalk will attest, though, the only real surprise was that it took as long as it did. If you were running the numbers in Vegas, or Atlantic City for that matter, the odds would come up quick that there will likely be a lot more to come. If only Arnold Rothstein was still around to roll the dice on that one.

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.03: “What Jesus Said” consists mainly of setup

“What Jesus Said” opens with Chalky and his loose cannon partner breaking into the house of the latter’s former employer. In what is easily the low point of the episode, Chalky’s plot consists of balancing precariously between his edgy accomplice, Milton, and the a mother and daughter whom they have taken hostage. Although on paper, the idea might sound engaging, it plays out in a mostly uninspired manner due to the fact that Chalky isn’t given a whole lot to do. These scenes, which take up roughly 1/3 of the main plots explored this week, consist widely of three other characters who we are given little emotional investment in.

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.02: “The Good Listener” tightens the noose for several necks

There are revelations aplenty as we catch up with a few more members of the cast after the crash, and in the beginnings of the Great Depression. Gillian is seen early on under surprising circumstances; in not a prison, but a mental institution. Her initial sequence, in which she dozes comfortably in a steam bath while discussing frivolities is rapidly dissipated when one of her fellow patients loses control over a radio program, and riles up the other patients in kind.

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.01: “Golden Days for Boys & Girls” stops roaring and gets dirty

There is an air of finality to even this first episode of Boardwalk Empire’s final season. From the opening scene to the final moments, “Golden Days for Boys & Girls” has the distinct feeling of a ticking clock. Ironically while the episode takes its sweet time, from skipping out on several of the shows most notable characters to adding in a recurring flashbacks of the childhood of the Thompsons, it only further solidifies the fact that this is the end. Like the last ruminating drink of a dying man, the simplest of things only matter more with the end in sight.

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‘This Must Be the Place’ is a strangely compelling oddity

This Must Be the Place Written by Umberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Italy/France/Ireland, 2011 “Something’s wrong here. I don’t know exactly what it is, but something’s wrong here.” Repeated by its protagonist throughout This Must Be the Place, the line captures the baffling quality of Paolo Sorrentino’s English language debut. An …

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 3.04, “Blue Bell Boy”: Nucky is back and with a vengeance

Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 4: “Blue Bell Boy” Written by David Stenn Directed by Kari Skogland Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO Another episode without Michael Shannon and that disappointed me. I love the way he keeps his features granite still, signifying extreme emotional stress, like when Nelson Van Alden’s wife makes a …

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Boardwalk Empire, Ep 3.02, “Spaghetti and Coffee”: As unappetizing as the title

Boardwalk Empire Review, Season 3, Episode 2, “Spaghetti and Coffee” Directed by Howard Korder Written by Alik Sakharov Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO I knew this episode of Boardwalk Empire was in trouble before it even started and that was because of the length of the recap. We’re only two episodes into the …

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Glasgow Film Festival 2012: ‘This Must Be the Place’ is a strangely compelling oddity

This Must Be the Place Written by Umberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Italy/France/Ireland, 2011 “Something’s wrong here. I don’t know exactly what it is, but something’s wrong here.” Repeated by its protagonist throughout This Must Be the Place, the line captures the baffling quality of Paolo Sorrentino’s English language debut. An …

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