Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

 

In 1940, former gang leader-turned-politician Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is living as a recluse and writing a memoir while haunted by past losses. His estranged son Duke (Barry Keoghan) has taken up leadership of his gang, the Peaky Blinders, and uses violence to intimidate the locals despite the outbreak of war. Nazi collaborator John Beckett (Tim Roth) approaches Duke with a scheme to crash the British economy by flooding it with counterfeit money, for which the Peaky Blinders would be paid handsomely. A visitor with a connection to both Tommy and Duke tries to bring the former back into the fray to reach out to the latter, but will it be enough to prevent calamity?

During its nearly decade-long run, Peaky Blinders was a sometimes-excellent series occasionally hampered by pacing issues and the odd creative blunder. Stylish and soulful, it boasted strong lead performances, but the six-episode seasons left the storytelling feeling rushed, and it somehow managed to get a bad performance out of the talented-but-woefully miscast Anya Taylor-Joy. Picking up the story seven years later, The Immortal Man offers many of the same virtues and vices.

Oppenheimer may have been Murphy’s biggest break, but Tommy Shelby arguably remains his best role. He’s able to convincingly portray everything from steely resolve to complete devastation and anguish, all without saying terribly much. Keoghan, replacing the younger Conrad Khan, layers in hurt and inner conflict beneath his sneering, nihilistic façade. Among the newer additions, Rebecca Ferguson is reliable as always even if her character’s entry into the story seems contrived. Roth manages to make his evil Nazi disarmingly genial though Beckett is a fairly forgettable character, especially compared to the series’ villains.

Created by a proud Brummie (Steven Knight), Peaky Blinders captured Birmingham’s industrial grit and juxtaposed it with an untamed countryside. These contrasts not only made for striking television, but they spoke to Tommy’s dual legacy: that of a British social climber and a Romani/Traveller leader. The Immortal Man continues and complicates this tendency. Birmingham is now bombed and battered while the countryside is as haunted as the film’s protagonist. As with the series, The Immortal Man benefits from a moody, well-chosen soundtrack, including the series’ unofficial anthem (“Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds).

The Immortal Man clocks in at just under two hours, and it’s a taut, well-paced affair with sure-handed direction courtesy of Tom Harper. Some of its beats are a bit predictable, but given how much the film addresses themes of fate, there’s at least some context for that. Less pardonable, however, is the disconnect between the film and the show as several characters who should rate at least a mention are left out completely. But just as the series struggled to fit an entire season’s worth of storytelling into six episodes, so too does The Immortal Man find it challenging to serve up a grand finale in about two episodes’ time.

While it may leave fans of the show wanting more, The Immortal Man is powerfully acted and aesthetically sharp if narratively underbaked.

Thai Square

Located at 3361 Battleground Avenue in the Westridge Square shopping center in Greensboro, Thai Square offers Thai cuisine. It is open from 11-9 on Sunday-Thursday and 11-9:30 Friday-Saturday. Online ordering is available.

I had time to kill before a movie and wanted a lighter lunch. A som tam (papaya salad) fit the bill, and Thai Square had it. While I would have been satisfied if it merely fulfilled a craving, Thai Square more than exceeded expectations.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this is one of the nicer Thai restaurants in the area. It’s bright and clean with a wall full of ornamental plates. Though it was busy at the time of my lunchtime visit, it seemed well-run. Staff were polite and attentive, and the kitchen had no trouble keeping up with demand.

The som tam with shrimp was among the best versions of this dish that I’ve had. From the attractive plating to the freshness to the flavors (good amount of lime, not too heavy on the fish sauce), it was satisfying across the board. It wasn’t at all spicy, which would ordinarily be a red flag (white people Thai food, five-yard penalty), but in fairness, it wasn’t requested as such. Provided that Thai Square can bring the heat if you ask for it, the execution here is top-notch.

 

I don’t know if the rest of Thai Square’s menu compares favorably to the dish that I had, but I hope to eventually find out. For Thai fans in Greensboro, this place is definitely worth a visit.

 

Sixty Six Grill and Taphouse

 

Located at 930 NC 66 in Kernersville (with additional locations in Thomasville and Winston-Salem), Sixty Six Grill and Taphouse offers American cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9:30 on weekdays, 11:30-9:40 on Saturdays, and 11:30-8:40 on Sundays. There is a full bar, and online ordering and catering are available. 

Casual dining may be declining nationally, but evidently Sixty Six Grill didn’t get the memo. It’s in that same TGI Friday’s/Ruby Tuesday/Applebees tier, yet its full parking lot suggests brisk business. The location – it sits on a busy stretch of 66 – may explain some of that though Sixty Six isn’t without other virtues.

Spacious and well-staffed, Sixty Six isn’t the kind of place where you’ll have to wait long to find a table or receive food. It’s dark and a bit noisy but not headache-inducingly loud. The menu is decently large, boasting everything from apps and wings to burgers and sandwiches to Tex Mex and pizza. There aren’t any real surprises, but there’s enough variety to accommodate most diets.

For our lunchtime visit, my wife and I split a fried pickles app followed by a jalapeno burger (with sweet potato fries) and a Nashville chicken sandwich (with chips), respectively. Admittedly, the fried pickles didn’t make for a very attractive-looking plate. Instead of golden brown pickle chips, there were thicker, lightly battered slices. However, they tasted just fine and paired well with a zesty dipping sauce. Speaking of zesty sauces, the chicken sandwich had it aplenty, and it made for a satisfyingly messy bite. The chips were homemade and rated above average. Unfortunately, Sixty Six overcooks its meats. Under all the sauce, the chicken itself was a bit dry. My wife ordered her burger medium well and received it well beyond well done. As with the chicken, it was still flavorful despite the doneness issues.

On food alone, Sixty Six isn’t a strong draw, but factor convenience and versatility into the mix, and it becomes a solid lunch option.

Xia's Asian Tapas

Located at 134 North Spruce Street in Downtown Winston-Salem, Xia’s Asian Tapas offers Asian fusion cuisine for lunch (11-3) and dinner (5-9:30) every day except Sunday. Patio seating, a beer and wine menu, and online ordering are available.

The owners of What Da Pho opened Xia’s about a year ago, and so far, it’s demonstrated staying power. It’s a handsome space inside and out. As expected given its origins, Xia’s menu skews Vietnamese (pho, banh mi, fresh rolls, and lettuce wraps), but there are Chinese influences as well. That menu isn’t terribly large, but it does offer a good deal of versatility, including vegetarian options.

My wife and I went with steamed dumplings followed by short ribs and garlic green beans with beef and rice. The flavors were excellent across the board. The green beans were sharply garlicky without overwhelming the palate while the ribs offered lemongrass notes and a hint of sweetness. The dumplings will make it hard to go back to the frozen version any time soon.

Service was friendly and generally attentive. Our group of four ended up receiving dishes at different times, a possible product of the “small plates” concept blurring the distinction between courses. Speaking of which, expect small portions, especially for the near-entree prices paid. Nothing was outrageous, but a “come hungry and fill up” joint this is not.

If you can look past that limitation, Xia’s Asian Tapas offers tasty food in an attractive location. Provided you aren’t famished, it’s worth checking out.

Gusgueras Mariscos Bar & Grill

Located at 4608 West Market Street in Greensboro, Gusgueras offers Mexican cuisine and a full bar. It is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 7 to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Live music is offered on weekends (check for availability).

By and large, I’m not a food challenge guy. I won’t try to wolf down an obscenely large steak in an hour or partake in mouth-eradicating atomic wings. But every once in a while, I come across a sandwich so ridiculously overstuffed that curiosity compels me to check it out. The Torta Cubana at Gusgueras is one such sandwich, boasting mozzarella, chorizo, egg, ham, sausage, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream, all between two pieces of bread. Challenge accepted!

For those less inclined to engage in such feats of bravado or stupidity, Gusgueras offers many, many other options. As the name suggestions, they specialize in seafood. You can get pulpo (octopus) several different ways, a fried or grilled red snapper, and more. Of course, the expected array of tacos/burritos/ACPs are on offer here too, but Gusgueras is a place that begs you to try something different.

I was quoted a speedy ten minute turn-around time when I called in my sandwich order, and they were just finishing it up when I arrived. Gusgueras took over the former original Porter House location, and while I had fond memories of the previous tenant, it is nice to see the space get a refresh. The folks at Gusgueras were nothing but kind, and if I still lived in Greensboro, I could see myself visiting with some frequency.

Back to the sandwich: it wasn’t the gut-busting monster that I had expected (or that the $16 price tag would have more easily justified), but it was still plenty filling and plenty tasty. The meats delivered salty goodness, the jalapenos a bit of heat, and the vegetables a refreshing crunch. The accompanying fries were just okay, but they threw in chips and a homemade spicy salsa as well.

Given how saturated Greensboro is with Mexican eateries, Gusgueras is going to have a hard time displacing anyone’s local favorite. But the kindness of the staff and sheer scope of the menu make it worth a look. I’m glad my ongoing fascination with “kitchen sink” sandwiches gave me a reason to check this place out. 

Frankenstein

 

Discovered by Danish sailors, a seriously injured Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) tells their captain (Lars Mikkelson) the tale of the creature (Jacob Elordi) who is relentlessly pursuing him. Victor, an aristocratic surgeon, created the creature, but his pride at his achievement turns to frustration and rejection. But the creature, whom Victor regards as a monstrous mistake, has a tale of his own to tell.

Finding the beauty in the horrifying and grotesque has been one of writer-director Guillermo del Toro’s unifying themes, and so it seemed almost inevitable that he would get around to adapting Mary Shelley’s classic novel one of these days. Del Toro’s version definitely bears his imprint while still remaining faithful to the spirit though not the letter of the source material.

Unsurprisingly, Frankenstein is a visually striking film. The costume design is impeccable, and the sets – from Victor’s towering Gothic laboratory to the frigid stillness of the Arctic – lend weight to the proceedings. This version of the creature also looks the most like what the text suggests he should: a stitched-together human.

While del Toro showed fidelity in that regard and honored the text’s Gothic/Romantic roots in other ways, he did make quite a few character changes. The William of the film (Felix Kammerer) is a combination of Victor’s younger brother and his friend Henry, and a new benefactor character has been added. He’s played by Christoph Waltz, which should keep complaints about the invention to a minimum. More controversially, Elizabeth (Mia Goth) has a far more adversarial relationship with Victor, whose selfishness is turned up just as the creature’s murderousness in the course of revenge is downplayed. This serves to render the creature more sympathetic and supports del Toro’s humanistic vision though it’s handled a bit ham-handedly and robs the film of some of its tragic potency.

Regardless, the cast is in good form here. Isaac captures not only Victor’s egomaniacal obsessiveness but also his later regret. Though Elizabeth feels shoehorned into being the film’s conscience, Goth still gives her a bit of an edge. Elordi, however, outshines everyone here on sheer range, convincingly playing the creature as innocently naïve, vengeful, pitiful, and terrifyingly vicious, at different points.

Remakes of oft-adapted classics fight an uphill battle to avoid feeling either superfluous or blasphemous. Del Toro capably dodged both those bullets, and while the end result can feel narratively constrained, on a stylistic level, it’s alive!

George's Pizza

 

Located at 2505 North Main Street in High Point, George’s Pizza serves pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. It is open from noon to 8:15 daily. There is a full bar, and online ordering is available.

George’s Pizza is a tough place to rate. Despite the name, it’s a lot closer to a bar that does food than a real pizzeria. By the standards of the former, it’s better than you’d expect. By the standards of the latter, it’s nothing special.

We ordered a medium George’s Combo pizza (pepperoni, sausage, beef, green peppers, and mushrooms) and an order of fried mushrooms. Food was read on-time, and it looked good. The pizza was generously topped, and the mushrooms were a nice golden brown.

Those mushrooms were addictively good. Dip them in ranch, and you’ll have a hard time stopping yourself from eating more than you should. The pizza was more of a mixed bag. The toppings were tasty as was the sauce: robust with just a hint of sweetness. However, the crust was mediocre, and $20-plus seemed steep for a medium pie.

I can imagine that George’s might be a fun place to watch a game, and it’s certainly convenient, but it’s far from the best pizza option in town.