About a month ago, I recently started watching the HBO's series, "The Leftovers." At the time, the jury was out as to whether to recommend this series. The verdict is now in: watch it.
It's co-created and co-written by "Lost" creator Damon Lindelof (an NYU grad) which partially explains why it's reminiscent of that series. This show, like the island drama, is enveloped in a huge mystery that exists outside of the natural world--as we understand it. There are a dozen or so hovering dramatic questions that never seem to get answered, but I imagine viewers will watch "The Leftovers" with the expectations that all will be explained in the end. Given our "Lost" final resolutions, I am not wholly convinced that we'll get them.
Yet, like "Lost," this show features some great acting, genuine characterizations and has a bizarre, yet ultimately engaging, plot. The show features the cop-with-an-edge, the faithful preacher, a mystical man impregnating Asian women and a creepy cult whose members incessantly smoke cigarettes. Where is it all going? I ain't sure--but the trip ain't bad.
For years, David Mitchell, the author of Cloud Atlas, proclaimed that his novel was unfilmable. But here it is, on film, and it looks pretty darn good. The cinematography is top notch, the production design is visually arresting, costumes are spot on and the acting, except for an occasional thespianistic stumble by Halle Berry, is first rate. She, Mr. Hanks and the other actors seem to have very good time playing multiple roles in this movie. 