If you love shopping, shopping, shopping, then the PBS Masterpiece series "Mr. Selfridge" will be your cup of tea. The popular British TV series, now in it's third season on PBS, is based on the Lindy Woodhead biography "Shopping, Seduction and Mr. Selfridge." Created for television by Emmy Award-winning writer Andrew Davies ("Pride and Prejudice," "Bleak House"), it tells the story of American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge, the colorful and visionary founder of Selfridge's, London's lavish department store. Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") stars in the title role. Frances O'Connor ("Madam Bovary") plays his wife, Rose.
Long before there was Harrods, there was Selfridge’s, founded in 1909 by an enterprising American who is credited for coining the phrase, "The customer is always right." He also created an amazing department store, which has served as a model for all department stores, past and present.
A master of innovative marketing and merchandise on display, Selfridge placed the perfume counters on the first floor, which is still the way department stores do it today. Reckless, with an almost manic energy Henry Selfridge created a theater of retail for early 1900s Londoners, where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining or sometimes just eccentric was showcased.
Not only is the series historic, shedding a light on how the vision of modern shopping was developed, it is also lovely to look at with its lavish period costumes. Season one begins in 1909, showing how the store was founded and developed.
In season two the time frame is 1914 as the world is heading toward the first World War. At present season three is being aired on PBS and the good news is, there will be a season four. Tune in now to PBS to watch the show on TV. To find out about catching up on the first two seasons visit PBS.org.
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"A Most Violent Year" from Lionsgate was one of the films that L.A. Times film critic Betsy Sharkey said deserved a best picture nomination. Unfortunately this gritty story of crime and corruption was overlooked in the past year's Oscar race. If you missed seeing this gritty thriller in the theater, it is now available on DVD and Blu-ray as of April 7.
Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis") turns in a fine performance as Abel Morales, head of a lucrative oil delivery service, which he took over from his wife's father. He prides himself on running his business without corruption or mob influence, unlike his father-in-law. Things are going well for the company which he now runs with his wife (Jessica Chastain ("Zero dark Thirty"), but on the eve of a huge business deal he finds himself snared in a web of danger and deceit.
Suddenly he is beset by rivals who want to take over his company and a D.A. (David Oyelowo, "Selma") who wants to take him down for political reasons. This is unfortunate since Abel has done everything by the book, unlike his predecessor and many of his rivals.
The time frame is 1981, considered one of the most violent years in New York City history. As the film begins, Morales's company is thriving despite heavy competition. Suddenly his oil trucks, filled with product, are being hi-jacked on the turnpike in broad daylight. Who is responsible? The mob? His rivals? At this point he is forced to take matters in his own hands in order to protect his family and his business interests.
"A Most Violent Year" is loaded with bonus material that includes audio commentary with the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, including interviews with the acclaimed cast, outtakes and more. The film is rated R for language and some violence.
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If you think being a stand up comic is easy, think again. Being funny is actually hard work as detailed in "Misery Loves Comedy," a film by Kevin Pollak. More than 60 famous funny people are featured in this master class on humor. In the film Jimmy Fallon, Tom Hanks, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Lisa Kudrow, Larry David, Jon Favreau and others talk about the craft of being funny, proving that misery does indeed love comedy. Their anecdotes and insights reveal why and how a performer seeks to connect with audiences even when and if no one is laughing.
For a time during my college days I did stand up off and on and it is thrilling when people laugh with you, and truly frightening when your audience is silent. Eeeek!!! No wonder they call it dying on stage or bombing. But when you and the audience connect, the euphoria is addicting.
When the director was asked what was his favorite experience in directing the film he said, "Surprisingly, the editing. The shoots were amazingly fun and funny as hell, but the sorting of the puzzle pieces, and trying to created a narrative that simply didn't exist until I created one, was never dull and constantly surprising and enlightening. And, again, hilarious."
According to Pollak, his film gives viewers the opportunity to "hear, first hand, what it actually takes to bare your soul in front of strangers and beg them to love you for it."
Select theatrical release begins April 24. From Tribeca Film, running time: 95 minutes, not yet rated.
