Category Archives: Drone warfare

Phantom Thread (2017)

From IMDB:

Set in 1950s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour 10 minute British drama.

From Wikipedia we learn:

The film received acclaim for its acting, screenplay, direction, musical score, costume design, and production values. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2017,[and is considered one of the best films of the 2010s.

Sandra Cohen, a psychologist and psychoanalyst, maintains a web site called “Characters on the Couch” in which she analyzes characters in various dramas.  Her analysis of this film is worthwhile and extensive.

Cast includes:

  • Daniel Day-Lewis as the couturier Reynolds Woodcock.
  • Vicky Krieps as Alma.  Her resumé is extensive but somehow she is not especially well-known.
  • Lesley Manville is Cyril, the sister of Reynolds.

Please watch the film before reading “Characters on the Couch” because the analysis might discourage you from drawing your own conclusions.

Since the above references offer such good reviews, let me just say that if you enjoy a subtle, quiet,  psychological drama that challenges you to understand the emotions involved, then

DO NOT MISS!

Grey Zone (2018)

From IMDB:

Victoria works as an engineer specializing in drones. She is taken hostage in the home of terrorists, while the security police in Sweden, led by SÄPO agent Eva, and the Danish colleagues at PET are trying to prevent an imminent terrorist attack. The destiny of the two women is intertwined in a gray zone where morality and responsibility are put at risk.

From MHz Choice:

Dangerous events are set into motion when a brilliant drone engineer is taken hostage in this high octane Scandinavian thriller. 

From MHz Choice you can stream the 10 episodes of this one season Danish thriller. Each episode lasts 44 minutes. English subtitles are provided.

Victoria and her son Oscar are lured into being taken targeted hostages by Lyad, a decent man turned into a terrorist because an American drone killed Lyad’s wife and son.  Victoria is being forced into programming and launching a bomb carrying drone attack on a populated target. Victoria is clever and finds a way to notify the security police who convince her to carry on so that the details and location of the bomb, drone, and target can be discovered.

As a secondary theme,  the almost unscrupulous methods used by the “good guys” ( the state security apparatus) are examined.  Jesper Lassen is devastated when a  close friend and informer is murdered while helping the authorities.  As Henry Kissinger would probably say “What difference does collateral damage make, as long as I achieve my political goals?”

Whereas I had to anxiously wait week after week for the next installment, now (Nov 11, 2020) you can binge watch all 10 episodes.

 DO NOT MISS!

Jack Ryan (2018)

From Amazon Prime:

When CIA analyst Jack Ryan stumbles upon a suspicious series of bank transfers his search for answers pulls him from the safety of his desk job and catapults him into a deadly game of cat and mouse throughout Europe and the Middle East, with a rising terrorist figurehead preparing for a massive attack against the US and her allies.

From Amazon Prime you can stream Season 1 of this international terrorist season. Each of the 8 episodes are roughly 45 minutes except for the first pilot episode which is over an hour.

If you like adventure thrillers with a bit of romance thrown in, you will enjoy all the action.  To reach a happy ending Jack Ryan makes some pistol shots that seem downright implausible, but at least those shots reduce the tension.  Congratulations to the film makers for choosing for the lead role John Krasinski (“who?”) who is anything but the usual Hollywood-handsome type of actor.

Sometimes I worry that the elaborate terrorist plots and devices will motivate real terrorist to use the same methods.

Bets are you will binge-watch this series. Let’s hope there are more seasons.