The new Showtime’s drama Billions is a very different take on the lifestyles of the ultra-rich and infamous. The 12-episode Wall Street-set soapy series created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and the New York Times‘ Andrew Ross Sorkin presents a very nice way to spend your winter Sundays with pivotal performances from Maggie Siff and Malin Akerman.
Damian Lewis, who won Emmy and Golden Globe for his role in Homeland, portrays ruthless hedge fund king Bobby ‘Axe’ Axeford opposite Paul Giamatti in the drama which has received generally positive reviews.
One review from Reuters written by financial reporter Jeffrey Goldfarb said Lewis’ performance was top-notch. “Any banker or portfolio manager will recognize Bobby “Axe” Axelrod, the mega-wealthy investor played by Damian Lewis of “Homeland” fame. Comparisons to Steve Cohen and his former firm SAC Capital are easy, though there are efforts to make him a composite of various headline-grabbing hedgies. Lewis is pretty much the best thing going for “Billions, ” with a ruthless but cool demeanor that steals nearly every scene he is in.”
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Critics say ‘Lewis is pretty much the best thing going for ‘Billions, ‘ with a ruthless but cool demeanor that steals nearly every scene he is in.’; The 44-year-old actor is considered as the standout performer”.
Deadline says that “the real game and power is with Siff and Akerman. The Homeland vet and the Oscar nominee are in fine Alpha male fighting form, but the Sons Of Anarchy alum and The Watchmen actress are the ones to watch. Siff plays Wendy Rhodes, the wife of Chuck and Axe’s in-house shrink while Akerman has a tailor-fitting role as Axe’s street smart spouse, who is likely more ruthless and certainly less sentimental than her husband.”
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