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Reviews
Patterns (1956)
Timeless autopsy of corporate viciousness
Even though I missed the first few minutes of this film on TCM, I was completely hooked as soon as I attempted to scroll past it. Terrific immorality play complete with simplified characters purely drawn, acid dialogue and a sterling cast of character actors. Van Heflin does an amazing turn as a basically moral person who is drawn into the morass of not just corporate survival but domination. The entire cast has great fun with Serling's intense screenplay, complete with scenery-chewing of the highest order. The final confrontation between Heflin and Sloane is simply delicious. Why hadn't I heard of this film before? It brings to mind certain segments of Citizen Kane (and not because of Sloane's presence) and The Sweet Smell of Success. Highly reccomended.
The Sopranos (1999)
Most outstanding writing/ensemble acting in decades
The relationships between the characters is the real story, the mob angle is just a wonderfully stylized framework to riff within. Any one of these relationships, especially Tony/Lydia, is deeper, funnier, and truer than anything written for television I've ever seen. Multiply that by ten, twelve relationships and interwoven subplots, add the best of ensemble casts and you have a totally engaging viewing experience and a hell of a lot of fun, murder notwithstanding. 10 out of 10.