Ripley (TV Mini Series 2024) ****

I could quibble about casting, but the production design, photography, script and performances are so spectacular. Terrific adaptation, really captures the feel of the novel.

Master Gardener (2022) **

Starts off great but too much facile plot intervenes and ruins what was a nice character study.

The Trial (1962) **

Sensational production design, photography, cast but too long and too slavish to the source material. Orson's usually tight pacing is missing.

Not Fade Away (2012) ***

Avoids most of the cliches about coming of age flicks and particularly 60's flicks with a smart script, tight direction and terrific cast.

Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog passes away at 92

Whitey Herzog, whose keen eye for talent evaluation and unique creativity in building baseball rosters led to a Hall of Fame MLB managing career, died on Tuesday. He was 92 years old. Herzog won World Series titles in 1969 and 1982 -- first, with the Mets as a farm system director and, later, as the dynamic manager of the speed-driven Cardinals. Like with the Mets, when his fingerprints were all over the franchise’s first crown in 1969, Herzog reimagined the Cardinals into a team built around speed, defense and a strong bullpen with a series of player acquisitions. A roster recreated by Herzog’s moves -- his deals involved 22 players during the 1980 Winter Meetings -- would ultimately win the World Series in 1982 and capture two more pennants for the Cardinals in ’85 and ’87.

Mississippi Mermaid (1969) **

Overlong, meandering flick starts off as a Vertigo-like mystery and ends up as a fable about how love hurts. Cat Deneuve is always watchable.

Gideon's Day (1958) ***

Well photographed by the great Freddie Young, this is a preposterous but entertaining look at a particularly busy day for a Brit detective.

The Two-Headed Spy (1958) ***

Top-notch spy thriller with an intelligent, taut script and perfect casting. Jack Hawkins shows he can carry a film.

Phase IV (1974) **

Intelligent sci-fi update of Them! includes A LOT of micro-footage of ants who, although perfectly cast, are just not up to the same level as the human cast. Nifty surreal ending.