Paul Levinson
Bio
Novels include The Silk Code & The Plot To Save Socrates; LPs Twice Upon A Rhyme & Welcome Up; nonfiction includes Fake News in Real Context, The Soft Edge, & Digital McLuhan translated into 15 languages. Details here. Prof, Fordham Univ.
Stories (624/0)
Review of Rachel Maddow's Ultra podcast
I just listened to the first two episodes of Rachel Maddow's new podcast, Ultra. Its vivid exploration of the fascist right-cadre in America in the late 1930s and (thus far in the podcast) 1940 offer a chilling, stunning historical precedent for what is threatening America right now. I'm recommending the podcast to all three of the classes I'm currently teaching at Fordham University this term.
By Paul Levinson2 months ago in The Swamp
Review of 'The Outfit'
If you'd like a 2022 movie on Amazon Prime that takes place in the 1950s in one indoor place -- a tailor's shop in Chicago -- starts off slowly and builds up to one of the best series of twists and turns that I've ever seen in a few hours on the screen, check out The Outfit.
By Paul Levinson2 months ago in Criminal
Review of 'Quantum Leap' (2022) 1.1-1.3
The new Quantum Leap sequel debuted on NBC two weeks ago. I was prepared not to like it, though recently, I've very much enjoyed the sequel of The Man Who Fell to Earth on Showtime, and, for that matter, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount Plus. And turns out I did enjoy this first episode of the new Quantum Leap, for all kinds of reasons, which I'll tell you about after I warn you about spoilers ahead.
By Paul Levinson2 months ago in Futurism
Review of 'Blonde'
Just watched Blonde on Netflix. I'm sorry to say I found only the acting was excellent. Let's talk about that excellence first. Ana de Armas as Norma Jeane delivered an Oscar worthy performance, conveying the 20% bravado/80% vulnerability that we think we know of Marilyn just perfectly. The voice, the facial expressions, and body language were so good, I could believe I was seeing Marilyn on the screen.
By Paul Levinson2 months ago in Filthy
Review of 'House of the Dragon' 1.1-1.3
It's been two months since I posted any reviews here -- I've been busy expanding my alternate history story, It's Real Life, in a novel, and helping put together a radioplay of the story -- and I figured House of the Dragon would be a good time to resume my reviewing. I saw the first three episodes, and I really enjoyed them. Indeed, I liked them more than some of Game of Thrones. Here are some non-spoiler reasons:
By Paul Levinson3 months ago in Geeks
Review of 'For All Mankind' 3.3-3.4
Catching up with a double review of For All Mankind on Apple TV+ -- episodes 3.3 and 3.4 -- which started as a pretty good espionage story in and of itself, and catapulted into one of the most exciting out in space episodes of the series. Before I warn you about spoilers, I've gotta say that the verisimilitude of this series -- fancy word that philosophers use for realism -- makes you, or at least me, feel like I'm really out there way off this planet.
By Paul Levinson5 months ago in Futurism
Review of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Checking in with a review of the six-episode season of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney, which I thought was just superb. In fact, I liked it better than any of the Star Wars movies released since the prequel trilogy, 1999-2005 -- which I liked almost as much as the original trilogy, which I flat-out loved.
By Paul Levinson5 months ago in Futurism
Review of 'Westworld' 4.1
Westworld was back on HBO Sunday night with the start of its fourth season, and I liked it. It had a leaner feel and storyline than the previous season, which worked well with the meanness at large in every season. Plus, it had a wallop of a surprise at the end.
By Paul Levinson5 months ago in Futurism
