So, just as a heads up, we’re in the process of importing over all kinds of archived material here at “Shared Darkness.” That means you’ll see the database swell and new entries folded in accordingly as we move closer to our big re-launch. In the meantime, by all means, explore. There’s plenty of evergreen material, and a brief introduction lies here.

I’ll have more soon on all of these (well, OK, maybe two out of three), but hurrah for Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, wincing indifference for Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker and a thumbs down on Barry Levinson and Robin Williams’ Man of the Year. This is the exact right time for a big, broadside comedy — and maybe a searing drama too — about a massive national political shake-up, but this isn’t the film that satisfies that appetite, alas.