Thompson on Hollywood

'Girls' Recap 7: In 'Video Games,' Ben Mendelsohn Guest Stars as Jessa's Flaky Father

Television

In Season One’s “The Return,” we see Hannah and her parents in their natural Horvath habitat, Michigan. In Season Two’s “It’s About Time,” we’re offered a brief glimpse of Jersey girl incognito Marnie’s passive-aggressive relationship with her mother. In this week’s episode, “Video Games,” we’re introduced to Jessa’s father (Ben Mendelsohn) and gain some insight into his character, and the characteristics he’s transferred to his daughter.

By Beth Hanna
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February 24, 2013 9:30 PM
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'Girls' Recap 6: The 'Boys' Aren't in Kansas Anymore, Toto

Television

One of the things I’ve admired about this season of “Girls” is that it has no obligation to regularly check in with each of the four “leads” of the show. Instead, certain characters are more central in certain episodes, in an organic way, while supporting characters are given a surprising amount of interiority.

By Beth Hanna
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February 17, 2013 9:30 PM
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‘Girls’ Recap 5: ‘One Man’s Trash’ a Two-Hander for Dunham and Guest Star Patrick Wilson

Television

In “One Man’s Trash,” Joshua (Patrick Wilson), a handsome, disgruntled neighborhood man, confronts Grumpy’s manager Ray about trash from the café that’s being foisted into his personal garbage bins. Hannah follows Joshua back to his gorgeous Willamsburg brownstone and confesses that she was the culprit. They end up spending the next day and couple of nights together -- talking, having sex, and (mostly) enjoying each other’s company.

By Beth Hanna
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February 10, 2013 9:30 PM
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'Girls' Recap 4: And After All, Where's the Wonderwall?

Television

We haven’t seen much of Jessa or Shoshanna so far in the second season of “Girls,” making their highlighted storylines in this week’s episode refreshing. “It’s a Shame About Ray” deals with the difficulty of relationships, and how being in love and feeling used can overlap.

By Beth Hanna
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February 2, 2013 10:35 PM
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Campion Embraces TV Over Film with Moodily Misogynistic 'Top of the Lake,' Review Roundup

Reviews

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Jane Campion marks yet another first-rate filmmaker ("The Piano") who when faced with an uphill climb to get such idiosyncratic smart-films as "Bright Star" financed and released, has transitioned to long-form television. It's a sheer delight to see her stretch out in a six-hour mini-series format with "Top of the Lake" (Sundance Channel, March 18), a gorgeous mystery thriller set in the New Zealand vacation country where Campion spent her summers growing up.

By Anne Thompson
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February 1, 2013 4:28 PM
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Review: Netflix's 'House of Cards' Is Classy, Campy and Diabolically Watchable (TRAILER)

Television

“Nobody’s a boy scout. Not even boy scouts,” drawls Kevin Spacey’s Francis “Frank” Underwood. As the mastermind congressman suggests, all players in Netflix’s “House of Cards” have sharp teeth and like the taste of blood. The new series, which is based on the original BBC production, is executive produced and helmed in part by David Fincher, and has the cool grey-gold look and streamlined efficiency of the director’s work.

By Beth Hanna
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February 1, 2013 12:46 PM
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Now and Then: The Soul of Netflix's New Series? The BBC's 'House of Cards'

Reviews

"Lilyhammer," Netflix's first foray into original programming, failed to generate sustained attention when it premiered last year. One suspects this won't be true of its star-studded second attempt, "House of Cards," debuting Friday. Except Netflix's latest isn't so novel after all: its animating force is the BBC's mostly excellent original.

By Matt Brennan
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January 29, 2013 12:03 PM
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'Girls' Recap 3: 'Bad Friend,' or the One Where Hannah Does Lots of Coke

Television

Aspiring writers are often encouraged to write about their own experiences, a tactic that “Girls” creator and star Lena Dunham uses frequently. But sometimes, when a young writer doesn’t feel she or he has “lived” enough, an experience is contrived with the sole intention of then writing about it. Enter Hannah Horvath’s insane night on cocaine.

By Beth Hanna
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January 27, 2013 9:30 PM
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'Girls' Recap 2: The Girls 'Get Ideas,' But What Do They Want?

Television

In the epic Hannah vs. Marnie blowout last season, Marnie snaps at Hannah, “I like to be around people who know what they want!” This line is particularly relevant in Sunday night’s all-new episode, “I Get Ideas”: Do the young women of “Girls” know what they want?

By Beth Hanna
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January 20, 2013 9:30 PM
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Now and Then: 'Enlightened,' HBO's Masterpiece of Heartbreak

Reviews

"Enlightened" opens with Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern) gag-sobbing in a bathroom stall, mascara streaking down her cheeks in mournful black rivulets. Like the rest of Season 1 of HBO's masterpiece, which returns for Season 2 on Sunday at 9:30, it isn't all that funny. But to call "Enlightened" simply a comedy is unjust: it's a symphony of regret.