The story of how 2011′s Margaret was made and eventually released may make a more compelling tale than the theatrical version. The film was shot in 2005 (as evinced by the theater marquees), but then entered into a lengthy editing process to which director Kenneth Lonergan found it nearly impossible to get the film into manageable shape. He could have his cut up to 150 minutes, but reports have the film running as long as (and possibly over) four hours. In the process, two of the film’s producers (Sydney Pollack, Anthony Minghella) passed away, and film has been stamped with a 2008 copyright, and it now runs a choppy 149 minutes. In this version it’s a mess, but a fascinating one. Perhaps if the longer cut emerges we’ll know for sure if it just needed to be long, or if the film got away from Lonergan in a classic example of a “sophomore slump.”

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The season four finale of “True Blood” is an event eleven episodes in the making. And by “event,” I really mean the last ten minutes of the episode. The first fifty minutes are extremely emotional and darkly brooding, only to give way to moments that live up to the episode’s title. As soon as the credits roll, you’ll be wondering if you had just watched the same show that has been airing every week at 9 p.m.; I know I felt that way. Does this episode mean to herald a completely new tone for the series? For reasons you’ll see below, I hope not.

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With two episodes left in the season, it’s down to the wire. But about halfway through “Soul Of Fire,” it looks as though HBO didn’t get the memo that there’s still one episode to go, as the main arc of the season appears to be wrapping up quite nicely. Then, in traditional “True Blood” style, we get a cliffhanger that, I’ll admit, almost had me leaping out of my chair and screaming at the screen. I can’t think of a better reaction to have to one of this show’s trademark cliffhangers.

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Matt Damon and Anna Paquin are as hot as they’ve ever been, and Mark Ruffalo (now an Avenger) is coming close to being a full blown star. So what’s so fascinating about Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret is that the film has been mired in controversy for six years. They finished shooting in 2005. Supposedly the hold up was that Lonergran had final cut but he couldn’t get it down to a manageable shape (it was declared a masterpiece by Martin Scorsese in one of those longer cuts), which led to two lengthy lawsuits. During this prolonged post-production two of its producers (Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack) have passed away. And now, finally, there’s a trailer. Check it out….

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While last week’s “True Blood” was lacking in the areas in which it is ordinarily strong, it did set the stage for exciting things to come – events that begin to play out in “Burning Down The House.” This hour kicks off with a brilliant scene and keeps the intrigue coming at the non-stop pace for which “True Blood” is known. And let us not forget what the memorable last shot of the episode promises to show us come 9 p.m. next Sunday.

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When last we left Bon Temps, a full-blown war had broken out between Marnie’s coven and the vampires, the latter side buffeted by Sookie’s powers. But in the final minutes of the episode, the tide had been turning in favor of the witches, leaving our major players in great peril. This week sees the conclusion to the battle and its aftermath, and it is safe to say that grim mortality and the possibility of destruction hang over every plotline in the episode. Since neither side wins this first round, things only escalate from here on out.

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This season of “True Blood” has been on a roll for six straight episodes, but like all good things, it had to come to an end at some point. “Cold Grey Light of Dawn” is by no means a bad episode, but it does not pack the same punch of quality that is characteristic of the show. Nevertheless, fans of the series – and of a certain pairing of characters – will love aspects of this hour. It is, as always, an entertaining episode that manages to do many things right despite its shortcomings.

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I don’t mean to sound biased off the bat, but let’s be honest here. “True Blood” has been hitting the right notes ever since the season premiere, nearing perfection – and sometimes embodying it – with each passing week. Thrilling drama, unexpected twists, steamy scenes, and a whole lot more have characterized season four thus far, and “I Wish I Was The Moon” is no exception. While it isn’t the best episode of “True Blood,” it remains an outstanding example of what this show has to offer.

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“True Blood” is a show that always seems to know exactly what it’s doing. Every plot twist and turn, no matter how unexpected or farfetched, is executed and later assimilated into the canon with an expert ease that only makes the viewer’s total shock more pronounced. Like junkies in search of a V fix, fans who thrive on that thrill tune in every Sunday night at 9 p.m. with confidence that the next hour of “True Blood” will be just as incredible as the last, if not more so. And this week, just like every other, HBO delivers everything it promises and a whole lot more.

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