Mira Nair's film of the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist isn't about terrorism, Kiefer Sutherland observes, but about the reaction to terrorism -- a very different thing.

Mira Nair's film of the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist isn't about terrorism, Kiefer Sutherland observes, but about the reaction to terrorism - a ...

Zero Dark Thirty ignores the fact that America's torture program inspired anti-U.S. sentiment around the world, causing many to vow revenge on the U.S. and its allies.

While I would never say that 24 represented any kind of explicit condemnation of torture, nor did it remotely celebrate or condone the practice as a matter of use in a civilized society.

Dennis Haysbert has used his magnificent voice and imposing presence to portray everything from a prophetically charismatic President of the United States in 24 to a brilliant scientist in Now and Again to a tortured lover in Far from Heaven. Now, in the incisive drama LUV, he's Mr. Fish, crime boss and deceptively paternal mentor to the film's protagonist.

Zero Dark Thirty works as a crime procedural, but its irresponsible, destructive, dishonest stance on torture absolutely ruined it for me, and I feel Zero Dark Thirty should not be on any best-of-the-year lists, nor is it deserving of Oscar consideration.

I realize the landscape of North Carolina is intoxicating and it must be tempting just to use what you have in every single scene. But Homeland is set in D.C. and some accuracy would be nice, even if it means having Dana and Finn go somewhere besides the Washington Monument.

I myself had the privilege of dying at Chuck's hands once in a movie (I know, you're jealous!) Later I was cast as a terrorist again on the TV show 24 though on this occasion my character changed his mind halfway through the mission. I called him the "ambivalent terrorist."

Damages did much to support my hindsight appreciation of TV drama in recent years. Powered by a narrative dynamic that often played with chronological exposition, it was an uncommonly complex and challenging show.

This is the least of Hollywood's worries, for my money. The major studios have a bigger problem -- such as the fact that they so seldom make movies with serious themes or content. And they never address actual political issues if they can avoid it.