“Come here; part the bets!” So enters Dolokhov into our story, that “notorious gambler and duellist” with “clear blue eyes.” He bets an Englishman fifty imperials he can drink a whole bottle of rum while sitting on the outer windowsill. And, of course, he wins and is happy to let Pierre try his luck after him. Dolokhov is a 25-year-old infantry officer of “small means and no connections” who lives at great expense to Anatole, who looks up to him.

My work is completely grassroots funded by people like you, and my only obligation is to tell you the truth and show you the receipts. If you appreciate my content, please consider a subscription for $8/month or $80/year. Subscribe to Support My Work You can also make a one-time gift here. If you can’t financially support my work, please consider sharing it with your friends and family to spread the message.

“Finestkind” is exactly the sort of hefty, middling-budget movie people complain Hollywood doesn’t make anymore. It’s a gritty, unglamorous drama with a powerhouse cast — Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster and Jenna Ortega among them — plus an Oscar-winning writer/director, Brian Helgeland (“L.A. Confidential,” “Mystic River,” “42”). Except it’s not in any theaters, but only has been available on Paramount+. It will debut on digital platforms for rental March 26 and on DVD April 9.

If you've ever awakened in the middle of the night remembering that one thing you did twenty years ago that makes you a horrible person, this story is for you. Twenty years ago, I was a young teacher dedicated to taking every project straight to Level 10. This extended to my personal life as well, such as the Flat Stanley project my niece sent me when she was in second grade. If you're not familiar with the Flat Stanley project, it was/is a widely popular elementary school assignment in the Midwest where, after reading the book Flat Stanley, students were given their own Flat Stanley paper doll, which they were encouraged to send to a friend or family member far away.

Francis I (1494 – ) has been King of France since 1515. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and father-in-law Louis XII, who died without a legitimate son. Cromwell meets the king at Boulogne. Francis can’t get his head around Cromwell, who is not from “some family of humble Tudor retainers.” He cannot understand why Henry wants to marry his mistress either. “Does he think she is a maid? Myself, I never tried her.