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My Review-All Her Fault Streaming on Foxtel My Rating 8/19

In today's busy world where most parents both work and have demanding and time consuming careers responsible child minding and after school care must be one of the most concerning issues that parents face .

All Her Fault set in Chicago is a very clever title for this 8 part series as it becomes obvious towards the conclusion of this story based on the novel of the same name by Andrea Mara .

The series stars Sarah Snook and Jack Lacey who play what appears to be a happily married couple Marissa and Peter Irvine .

Marissa Irvine arrives at 1800 Crescent Hollow Road to pick up her son Milo from a play date, but the woman who answers doesn't have Milo, sparking a parent's worst nightmare.

A series of events lead to a prime suspect the nanny employed by an acquaintance of Marissa Irvine Jenny Kaminski impressively played by Dakota Fanning.

An investigation begins headed by Detective Alcaras played by Michael Peña who interviews the parents of the missing boy Milo Irvine.

What I found most intriguing about this series is the gradual depiction of the husbands character that I would describe as a narcissistic despot usually defined as a persons need for absolute control taking no blame or responsibility for their actions.

All Her Fault is well worth a look especially for Sarah Snook's fine performance as a mother experiencing the trauma of child abduction and the guilt that she feels .

Well directed by Kate Dennis and Minkie Spiro and adapted for television from the book by Megan Gallagher.

It held my interest especially as we realise that this marriage is not all it seems .

My Review- The Beast Within Me My Rating 8/10

The two stars of The Beast Within Me Clair Danes and Matthew Rhys give outstanding performances my only criticism of the script scenario was Aggie Wigg's (Claire Danes ) illogical behaviour towards the conclusion in episode 8 , the story lost a bit of credibility for me .

Don't get me wrong this is an intriguing and very well produced 8 part bingworthy series .

Since the tragic death of her young son, acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Daines ) has receded from public life, unable to write, a ghost of her former self.

After a rather toxic encounter with her new neighbour about destroying a woodland near her home to make a jogging track for his use Aggie continues to be pestered by his requests.

Nile Jarvis played by Matthew Rhys is a famed and formidable real estate mogul who eventually agrees become Aggie's next subject for her long awaited second novel .

Nile was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance which causes Aggie to be fascinated by this man.

Aggie finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth chasing his demons while fleeing her own in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

This is a well directed series created by Gabe Rotter and while I'd prefer to have Matthew Rhys again playing Perry Mason in the superb two seasons of 2020 and 2023 he impressed me so much in his very sinister dark role in The Beast Within Me.

Claire Danes certainly took on a difficult role in this series her angst and torment certainly show in her manner and face .

Great performances from all in this series .

My Review- Now You See Me: Now You Don't My Rating 7/10

As an escapist Saturday afternoon matinee movie I enjoyed Now You See Me: Now You Don't because of the great cast plus the impressive action locations.

It's what I'd call a well produced heist romp of course it has no credibility whatsoever and why should it ?

It's about magic and magicians after all and doesn't try to be anything other than that.

It's not violent. It's very funny at times and I thought it even had a great message about wealth accumulation and greed and the exploitation of our planet's resources.

It follows in the footsteps of old fashioned vigilante escape movies .

The plot is simple it follows on from the first two movies Now You See Me 2013 and Now You See Me 2 2016 neither of which I have seen yet .

The four magical illusionists known as The Four Horsemen J. Daniel Atlas played by Jesse Eisenberg, Merrit McKinney played by Woody Harrelson, Jack Wilder played by Dave Franco and Henley Reeves played by Isla Fisher are called back for a mission after splitting up due to personal and artistic differences.

Ten years after the events of the 2nd film a trio of young copycat magicians Charlie, Bosco LeRoy, and June Rouclere - stage a fake Four Horsemen magic show via deepfakes and holograms.

They drain the wallet of the corrupt owner of a cryptocurrency exchange and distribute the stolen funds among the attendees.

This catches the attention of J Daniel Atlas the original Horsemen who then recruits the talented youngsters to assist in a plot apparently given to him by the Eye, the secret magic society.

They attempt to steal The Heart," the largest diamond the world. The diamond possession of Veronika Vanderberg, the head of a South African Diamond Company. Started by her father, a former Nazi who uses the business to launder money for war criminals.

Veronica Vanderberg played in a Disney devilish villainess style by the wonderful Rosamund Pike steals the movie for me with her accent , glamour and some fabulous outfits.

I always enjoy Actor, writer producer Jesse Eisenberg's movies he plays J. Daniel Atlas with confidence and flair.

Some great location scenes include the Hungary Museum of Fine Arts , Budapest,a great scene in The Danube river.

Others include the Chateau de Roussillon in France and exterior shots of the Nádasdy Castle, in Hungary.

The thrilling conclusion takes place in Abu Dhabi at Ferrari World Marina Circuit .

I came away thinking as impossible as this plot seems when you think of the recent robbery of the French Crown Jewels from The Louvre in Paris by criminals parking a van and climbing up a ladder to a window it puts it into perspective perhaps the motto of the movie to criminals is "Keep It Simple "?