so much, I spent money to see it twice. One of the several fine performances delivered in that Wes Anderson period comedy came from Adrien Brody. He plays one of the heavies in the film, a film that would be on my end of the year "10 Best of 2014" list. If I was asked to compile one.

In Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, we see characters who want to escape danger.

That theme of escape carries over to Adrien Brody's new work. The first part of it premieres Monday, September 1st, on History Channel. Brody plays a legendary showman who says "I don't want to escape life, I want to escape death." Adrien Brody stars as Houdini. This controversial entertainer was definitely a piece of special delivery chainmale.

Brody is not the first actor to play the famed Harry Houdini.

Tony Curtis, seen on the far left, played him on the big screen in the 1950s. Paul Michael Glaser, next to Curtis, played him on TV in the 1970s. Other actors have appeared on screen as Houdini. Adrien Brody really puts his colorful stamp on the character in the first half of this very entertaining TV biopic.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not implying that the last half sucks. For some reason, I was given access to part one, but the screener for part two was unavailable to me. However, just like I did with The Grand Budapest Hotel, I watched the first half twice. I loved part one of Houdini that much.

It's colorful, it's vibrant, it's interesting,