Damian Lewis BRIGHTENS the Screen in Queen of The Desert

I first saw Queen of the Desert as part of a test screening back in October 2015. Test screening is a pretty serious process that you sign an agreement not to make public comments on the parts of the movie that have not been made public yet. Thus, I decided to publish my review only when the movie is released in the US Theaters. And now that the VERY LONG wait is over, and that I have seen Queen of the Desert at the IFC Center in NYC on the day it opened (the final version is a bit different from the test screening version), I am fired up and ready to go share my thoughts about the movie with you!

In a nutshell, Queen of the Desert is a film about Gertrude Bell who had a pretty unconventional life, particularly as a woman, in early 20th century. She was a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, political attaché and a spy for the British Empire in the Middle East. She played a significant role in shaping the politics of the Middle East and drew up the borders of modern Jordan as well as Iraq. Think of more or less a female Lawrence of Arabia. Continue reading “Damian Lewis BRIGHTENS the Screen in Queen of The Desert”

Double Shot From the Trader’s Desk: “Indian Four” & “Victory Lap”

Welcome to “From the Trader’s Desk” double shot! We’ll be looking at both “Indian Four” and “Victory Lap” since the “fin speak” was a minimum in both episodes.

Thoughts & Observations on “Indian Four”

I’d like to start off by saying that I hope one day to be in the position of having my own meat aging room, and a room to store motorcycles that I will never ride. If I ever were in that position, I’d also have my own TARDIS, but that’s another blog….

source: Showtime

One thing that struck me during Axe and Wendy’s meeting at the skate park was his response to Wendy’s asking for a stake in Axe Capital – “No one owns any of it but me”. That response does not surprise me, and I was shocked Wendy would even ask for it. He built it, and he will keep it! I think we know why someone like Axe would never take the Giving Oath. Continue reading “Double Shot From the Trader’s Desk: “Indian Four” & “Victory Lap””

Reviews are IN and ‘The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?’ SHINES! *Updated*

“Damian Lewis gives the performance of his life.” — Paul Taylor, The Independent

Damian Lewis has made a wonderful comeback to stage in Edward Albee’s late modern masterpiece The Goat or Who is Sylvia? at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Damian is headlining the play as Martin Gray and stars along the great Sophie Okonedo as Martin’s wife Stevie, Jason Hughes as Martin’s oldest and best friend Ross and the young rising star Archie Madekwe as Martin and Stevie’s son Billie. Tom Kirdahy Productions is producing and Ian Rickson, who was the artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1998 to 2006, is directing the play. The previews started on March 24, and the play has had its Press Night – or Opening Night as we say for Broadway – last night! The play will have a strictly limited run until June 24.

Before the previews started, Damian was a guest on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 answering questions about why he is putting himself into this — doing a play — again, because it’s terrifying, isn’t it? Continue reading “Reviews are IN and ‘The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?’ SHINES! *Updated*”

Billions on Showtime 2.07: Victory Lap

As much as last week’s episode of Billions was softer around the edges and showed some heart, this week’s episode, “Victory Lap”, displays the exact opposite. One hallmark of this complex show is that, since directing and writing hands are traded weekly, there’s a different feel, a sort of different emotional center, to every episode. The beauty is that, despite changing hands, the story maintains continuity and characters stay consistently true to form. In fact, there is more revealed every time we see these people, as well as more left unknown.

Continue reading “Billions on Showtime 2.07: Victory Lap”

Finding “Ginger Prince” in Band of
Brothers: Connie’s Story

Hello, everyone! Damianista welcomes you to a new Fan Story!

Connie, a long-time Damian fan, certainly gets the well-deserved credit in adding “Ginger Prince” to our vocabulary and never ceases to amaze me with her attention to detail, be it the way Damian combs his hair, or a missing button on his coat 😀 She is amazing!

Ok I really need to tell this story!

It starts with a comment Connie makes about a picture we post from an interview Damian has recently given to CBS Sunday News.

“I see the man still has that yellow leather coat. He has been wearing it for ages (good color for him) and I’ve noticed of late it has all its buttons. For some time years ago there was one missing.”

I had no idea! 😀 But then I find this picture from about 12 years ago. Check out Damian’s second button from the top. Voila! Continue reading “Finding “Ginger Prince” in Band of
Brothers: Connie’s Story”