Citizenfour on HBO (and Other TV Tips)

I mentioned the film Citizenfour a couple of days ago. FYI, it's playing Monday on HBO. If you do watch it, don't forget to follow it up with the TimesTalk in that last link.

A few quick TV tips to add since my December 5 gigunda round-up:

"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" is amazing. From the director of "Capturing the Friedmans", it goes in-depth on a series of bizarre unsolved murders which seem to implicate the scion of one of NYC's wealthiest families. Yet the guy (who's quite a character) walks free. And even participates in the show.

The PBS show "Shakespeare Uncovered" digs deeply into individual plays through the perspective of actors (often famous ones) preparing for roles.

The Americans, about KGB spies under deep cover in 1982 American suburbs, continues to rack up dreadful ratings in spite of being the best show currently on TV. Anyone who watches it falls deeply into its grip. I hate it when great things don't catch on. You can stream the whole series for free on Amazon Prime. I envy you the opportunity to discover it anew.

"Better Call Saul", prequel to Breaking Bad, is, as you've likely heard, quite good.

I'm currently on a Krzysztof Kieslowski kick. This Polish director did legendary work in both film and TV, and I've been catching up. His stuff's way too complex to try to synopsize; see the (glowing) Amazon reviews for the following for a better idea. The following are in my queue:

"Double Life of Veronique" (Criterion Collection)
"The Decalogue", a ten-part TV drama, each episode dealing with one of the ten commandments.
The Krzysztof Kieslowski Collection (A Short Film About Love/Blind Chance/Camera Buff/No End/The Scar/A Short Film About Killing)