Every time FX debuts a new series, it is worth taking notice. It’s rare for one of these series to be anything but male-driven and action-packed, but “The Americans” is a departure for FX in more ways than that.
It’s no secret that the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences skew toward the elderly, which makes it something of a surprise that they nominated “Amour,” a glaring reminder of human mortality, for five Oscars earlier this month.
“Zero Dark Thirty” is fascinatingly single-minded, wonderfully acted and directed with passion and intelligence, all of it making for a film that’s unambiguously essential viewing.
Surrealism is usually a cinematic touch that rubs me the wrong way; something about the level of self-indulgence and intentional audience disconnect is simply grating.
