Media Captures - February 2025

STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

Apple Cider Vinegar – 10
The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist - 8

A truly stunning piece of work, Apple Cider Vinegar is the story of Belle Gibson, an Australian viral celebrity who claimed to be a brain cancer survivor and built a huge following via an app.  Chronicling her rise and fall, the incredible Kaitlyn Dever plays Belle, and she captures her deviousness and manipulatory nature with perfection.  It’s one of the greatest performances you will ever see

Belle Gibson started her Instagram and her app on how she was beating her cancer with healthy living.  In 2013 Apple awarded the Whole Pantry the “health app of the year.” -They even preloaded her app on the Apple watch. The Whole Pantry was her healthy recipe cookbook.  How she conned the public and pocketed money intended for charity, is only part of the story.

Besides the compelling story, the director Jeffrey Walker frames the story like a social media post, complete with floating effects.  It gives it a surreal atmosphere.  The story is enhanced with two other strong characters who are battling cancer.

Netflix is going all in on this story and has also released a documentary about this story (The Search) and seeing the real person doesn’t make this any more palatable. 

These renditions are not fun, they’re not enjoyable, and they are jaw dropping.  It is an indictment of the “influencer” phenomenon, and it shouldn’t be missed.

Landman -9

If there was ever a doubt how entertaining an actor Billy Bob Thornton is, it is alleviated in about 10 one-liners in another Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) production.  BBT rips through the script like he wrote it, except when he’s speechifying about the relevance of the oil business like he’s filming an Exxon commercial.  Ali Larter plays his ex-wife and she’s so over the top as to be ridiculous, but you can’t take your eyes off the two of them. 

There are a couple of problems here, like Jon Hamm in a thankless role, and Tommy (BBT) getting kidnapped, hooded, and beaten, not once, but twice.  Guess the Texas oil fields are still the wild, wild west.  I broke down and got a Paramount+ subscription just to watch this, and was glad I did.

Let's say this is your first exposure to Billy Bob.  Here are some essentials:  The first season of the series Fargo, the series Goliath, the movie One False Move, and the movie Sling Blade.

The Pitt - 8

We’ve watched 9 graphic episodes out of 15 of this HBO mini-series about a Pittsburgh Emergency Room.  It’s set in real-time over 15 hours and is gross, and enthralling most of the time.  I’m not big on ER dramas because they bear no resemblance to any emergency room I’ve been in. 

The good:  Most of the characters are interesting and well-drawn.  Noah Wylie plays the head and he’s excellent.

The bad:  There’s an extremely irritating character, the administrator of the hospital, who is completely unnecessary.  When a patient comes in, several doctors pounce on the case, which I’ve never seen happen.  Lastly the waiting room is packed and there is an awful lot of standing around by the doctors. I guess that lack of sense of urgency is kind of realistic.

The bottom line is that this is a very entertaining drama, but I wouldn’t go here for treatment.

Prime Target – 9

In pursuit of some prime number math that I wouldn’t understand in a million years, Apple+ TV has another hit on their hands.  The lead actor, Leo Woodall, has a Matt Damon-like charisma, and he is convincing as a math genius who has to go on the run because he’s just too smart and might be able to solve some math problem that would unlock all the digital locks in the world.  We have watched almost all of this and didn’t know math (or the “maths” as they like to call it) could be this suspenseful.

Zero Day - 8

Robert DeNiro does a standout job as a former President trying to figure out a cyber-attack.  It’s a great story idea that is marred by some ridiculous subplots and idiotic twists.  (Why are there always these contrived deadlines?) We hung in for the whole thing, and it was ok, but it could have been so much better.  I’ve long said that the next war is going to be fought by computers, and the cyber-attacks portrayed in this have me more convinced than ever. 

 

Saturday Night (2025 Movie) – 4
Saturday Night Live 1^st Episode rebroadcast – 8
Saturday Night Live 50^th Anniversary Show – 6
SNL50:  Beyond Saturday Night – 4 part doc I haven’t watched yet
50 Years of SNL Music - 8
SNL Homecoming: the  50^th Anniversary Concert – 9

I wrote last month about the hugely disappointing movie about the time leading up to that first episode in 1975.  But what actors could capture John Belushi and Chevy Chase, to name just a few icons?  I said I remembered that first episode like it was yesterday, then I got to relive it when NBC rebroadcast it, and of course found out my memory wasn’t quite all that, but it was still great, and it’s cultural significance has stood the test of time.  It launched 100 stars (or so) of varying abilities and comedy has benefited. 

The long awaited 50^th anniversary show had its moments but won’t make much of a mark on comedy history.  A rather raspy Paul McCartney closed it out with one of my favorite pieces of music, the Abbey Road medley.  And that was a true indicater, as much better was the musical end of things.  The 50 Years of SNL Music documentary, broadcast in January on NBC started with an incredible edited composite of performances, then some great, and some not-so-great interviews and snippets. 

But by far, the best of the lot is the 50^th Anniversary concert.  Unfortunately, it’s only available on Peacock, and the word of mouth was so good (rightly) that I subscribed (that’s twice they got me for this month.)  Cher, of all people brings the house down, there’s a reunion of what’s left of a supplemented Nirvana.  The Backstreet Boys (whoever they are), Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Bonnie Raitt, Will Ferrell, Andy Sandburg, on and on.  Well worth the $9.95 and 3 hours of your time.

Here's more to check out that I found interesting:

Best Episode?:

Catchphrases

Weelend Update:

Music:

Cast Members

MOVIES

Flow - 10

I don’t particularly like cats and I rarely watch animated movies, so it took a ferocious endorsement by a friend to get me to watch this movie, an animated story about a cat.  But I’m sure glad I did.  It’s simply a masterpiece of wonderful animation that tells a moving story of a cat who is uprooted by a flood and joins a group of other animals on an ark of sorts.  It’s magical.  Trust me.  Stick your toe in the flood waters.

The Gorge – 8

Take two charismatic stars, Miles Teller, and Anna Taylor-Joy and turn them loose in a far-fetched, even by sci-fi standards, romp through a gorge filled with deformed humans turned monsters and you have a fairly decent one-night diversion.  The play snipers on the opposite side of the gorge, tasked with keeping whatever's in there, in there.  The star power is the draw here and Ms Taylor-Joy is on her way to full-fledged superstardom.

Rogue Agent – 8

On the other hand, we stumbled on this 2022 gem with little star power, but a decent story.  Sometimes you just want a simple, straight story and it turns out this is based on a real-life MI6 agent who was actually a con man.  Gemma Arterton is the lady who gets taken in, and what’s interesting is that she’s not an easy mark.  She’s tough and reluctant and she is as surprised as we are when Mr. Right proves to be Mr. Wrong.  Can she figure out who he is?  Can she exact revenge?  Cool movie, nothing fancy, and a big surprise.

THE ACADEMY AWARDS

Time for my Oscar Predictions

Best Picture
Should Win – A Complete Unknown
Will win – I have no idea.
Of the nominees I have seen A Complete Unknown, Emilia Perez, Conclave, and The Substance, and thought A Complete Unknown was easily the best, but I haven’t seen Nickel Boys, I’m Still Here, Dune2, Wicked, Anora, nor The Brutalist. 

Best Actor
Should Win – Timothee Chalamet
Will Win – Adrien Brody
Again, I only saw 2 performances but if you don’t know that I think Chalamet gives one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema, you haven’t been paying attention.

Best Actress
Should Win – Demi Moore
Will Win – Demi Moore
I can live with an occasional life-time achievement award, but I hear Mikey Madison has a shot, and I really like that I hadn’t heard of all of these but Demi before this year.

Best Supporting Actor
Should Win – I have no idea
Will Win – Kieran Culkin
Culkin has swept, but I wasn't a fan

Best Supporting Actress
Should Win – Monica Barbaro (no chance)
Will Win – Zoe Saldano
Even if it’s really a lead role.

Best Director
Should Win – James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)|
Will Win – Sean Baker (Anora)
Mangold has a knack for musical biographies, and I said at the time that Reese Witherspoon’s performance as June Carter Cash might be the best I’ve ever seen, so I’ll be rooting hard for him and his picture, but I expect disappointment.

Best Animated Feature
Should Win – Flow (see above, and catch it on Max)

You probably won’t watch, but I still dig the award shows.  Tells me what I’ve missed.

Media Captures - January 2025

MOVIES

Please forgive my brevity this month.

The Fall Guy – 9

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling have great chemistry.  It’s a good thing.  Gosling plays a stunt man of almost superhuman powers and Emily plays his director and they bounce through action set pieces that are movie and non-movie ones.  It’s all incredibly ridiculous but in such a fun way I wish more movies could pull off this balance.

A Quiet Place:  Day One – 9

Three movies in and the Quiet Place franchise is maintaining its quality.  This is a first-class production of how the alien invasion began, and while the surprises are not what they used to be, solid script, and Lupita Nyong'o is a great addition to the story. 

Emilia Perez – 9

There are a couple of sure things here.  One, this movie is a totally unique work of art.  Two, it will be a topic of intense discussion for a long time.  It’s already controversial, and in this world that will go on for a while.

The fact that this movie wasn’t exactly my cup of tea shouldn’t obscure the fact that it is well done.  I still have not been able to make it through last year’s Oscar Winning Best Picture, Here, there, and Everywhere, or something like that.  I made it through this one because it is a great story.  A drug kingpin with a family realizes that he’s made enough enemies and he needs to change his identity.  How he does it, with a sex change operation, is the story.  Of course, things do not go as planned.

Emilia is played by the transvestite actor Karla Sofia Gascon and she has rightfully been nominated for an Oscar for her work.  She is pretty amazing and will probably be the favorite.  Zoe Saldana will also be considered the favorite for Supporting Actress, in the role of Emilia’s attorney, although I thought she had more screen time than the lead role. 

One little thing I haven’t mentioned.  For some strange reason they decided to do this as a musical, and that’s my biggest problem with it.  I didn’t really care for the music.  It seemed very simplistic to me.  But, what do I know?  You might hum it for the rest of your life.

Juror #2 – 8

Clint Eastwood’s probable last directorial effort caught me by surprise by making an implausible story almost believable.  The juror in the title is serving on a murder trial and begins to realize that he himself may be the murderer, even if accidentally.  Now comes a moral dilemma, and to me, moral dilemmas make the best movies.  Confess to free the innocent man and jeopardize you and your family?  What would you do?

A Real Pain – 7

Jesse Eisenberg’s much lauded directorial debut is mercifully short.  Two cousins decide to tour Poland to connect with their Jewish heritage.  Jesse stars and his cousin is played by Keirnan Mcculkin who won a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for the role.  Both are extensively irritating to each other, and to me.  It’s a nice character study of two characters that I didn’t understand.


Nightbitch - 6

I love Amy Adams.  I have no idea why she did this movie.  She plays a mother really struggling with motherhood who is turning into a dog.  I’m not making this up.  I really tried to understand what they were getting at here, but it’s a black comedy/horror/drama/fantasy film and it’s not a pleasant watch.

Back in Action – 6

Cameron Diaz came out of retirement to star in this action movie.  She and Jamie Foxx are secret agents who appear to die in the line of duty and, to escape their dangerous lives, assume new identities, get married, have kids, and live nice calm lives.  Until.  Well, everyone has a camera phone, and they blow their cover.  The crazy action begins and the snappy dialogue can’t make up for the formulaic and rather lame writing.  Can’t complain since I’m coming out of retirement myself.

Saturday Night – 4

I can remember the debut of Saturday Night Live in 1975 like it was yesterday, which is odd given that so much of my memories have moved from the “distant” to the “non-existent” column.  But that first season was unlike anything we had ever seen on television, and we sat enthralled at the sketches, good, bad, and awful.  The Not Ready for Prime-Time players became first, household names, and later – legends.  As the show approaches its 50th anniversary its impact on modern culture can’t be overstated.  Truth be told I’ve only watched a fraction of the 980 episodes, but the good bits have escaped into the viral world, even before there was a “viral.”

This movie tells the story of the first episode and if it is anywhere close to the truth, it’s a miracle it ever got to air.  It portrays Lorne Michaels as a bumbling idiot bouncing around like a pinball trying to pull it all together.  While the actors who are given the thankless task of portraying the future legends are not bad, the script is just terrible.  I can’t think of a movie lately that I looked forward to so much that was such a letdown. There are a few good moments, but for the most part this is awful, just awful.
 

STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

Prime Target – 9

Apple+ hits with a unique action thriller about a math whiz who has unlocked the secret to some very serious algebra, or something like that.  There are bad guys who don’t want him learning what he’s getting close to, and they have been killing people who get this close.  So, he may be doomed.  Or, he may be ingenious enough to figure it all out.  Only 3 episodes so far, and I’m all in.

The Night Agent (season 2) – 5

The first season was a big Netflix hit and it appears to have been written by Shakespeare compared to the drivel that has been thrown together for season 2.  Major disappointment without a believable moment.  Too bad.

Silo (season 2) – 8

After a stellar first season, the second series got a little stuck in a stagnant loop.  Some great moments, but lacking the electricity.  Still a first class sci-fi story about one future that’s not so great.

 
DOCUMENTARIES

Let it Be – 8

The Disney channel is showing the original 1970 documentary, long suppressed by the Beatles.  It was recently expanded into a much longer documentary by Peter Jackson and it was a stellar work.  This is an abbreviated version that shows some chinks in the camaraderie of the group. The Let it Be album was the last one released, although it was actually recorded before the Abbey Road album.  While there were struggles within, the musical magic is still there as the curtain is pulled back.  For a fan like myself, this is just a thrill.

Buy Now!  The Shopping Conspiracy – 10

Netflix exposes the Amazon shopping strategy in this incredible documentary.  And it’s not just Amazon.  Cell phone makers like Apple and many others that fuel our economy are exposed.  But, we all know that there’s a massive science behind it all.  What we don’t know, that is really stunning, is how the waste of our economy is dealt with on a global scale.  It will blow your mind.  The visuals are amazing and I can’t believe it. 

Media Captures - December 2024

 MOVIES

A Complete Unknown – 10

This cinematic interpretation of Bob Dylan’s early days is everything a movie should be. 

It was the early 60’s and the world was about to be changed, mostly by the music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan.  For the next 20 years, there would be an onslaught of rock music.  I was a pre-teen when it began, but I’m still singing those songs today.  Most of us are. Nothing like it.

This movie tells the story of Bob Dylan’s early evolution from folk singer to rocker.  Timothee Chalamet is stunning as Dylan, a role he reportedly spent 5 years in preparation for.  It shows.  He does his own singing live, and quite honestly he’s better at it than Dylan himself.   I’ve seen Dylan several times in concert, and he’s always been a letdown as a performer for me.  But that’s just me, and it’s really irrelevant to the story here. His songwriting is magnificent, and while I wished they’d spent some time on how he crafted his songs, it’s how he performs them that is riveting here.   There are allegedly a lot of inaccuracies, but I can’t say I cared.  Chalamet delivers time and again.

Then there’s Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez.  Her voice is stunning too and their duets, of which there are several, are fantastic.  Director James Mangold has done this before with Walk The Line about Johnny Cash (also appearing in this) and this movie is even better.  The music triumphs.  It reminds me of my favorite Rock n roll movie, The Buddy Holly story where Gary Busey had his defining role and sang live.

I love movies, and this is why.  Easily the best movie I’ve seen in a long time.

Carry-on – 8

As preposterous as it is entertaining, this Netflix original is a roller coaster ride.  Some scenes are just ridiculous, but Taron Edgerton fully commits to his role as a TSA agent under duress, who runs around the airport on the command of Justin Bateman, who makes for a delicious bad guy.  Most will like this.

My Old Ass – 7

There are few actresses more entertaining than Aubrey Plaza, and that’s why I watched this.  She is reappearing to her younger self when said self gets high, and tries to give her some guidance.  It’s unbelievability isn’t really believable, but I’d give them an A for effort, C for result. 

Maisy Stella as the young Elliott, and Aubrey as the old Elliott are both commendable, but the script is slow, deliberate, and just not all that great. 

 

My 2024 Rankings:

A Complete Unknown - 10
Contratiempo – 10
American Fiction – 10
The Whale - 10
Musica – 9
Blackberry – 9
The Fabelmans – 9
Plus One - 9
Strange Darling – 9
Woman of the Year – 9

The Man From Earth – 9
Land Ho - 9
What You Wish For– 9
Time Trap - 9
The Idea of You - 9
On Body & Soul – 8
Hit Man - 9
The Last Stop in Yuma County - 9
His 3 Daughters – 8
Furiouso:  A Mad Max Saga – 8
Twisters – 8
Knox Goes Away – 8
Barbie - 8
Anna – 8
Nefarious - 8
Unthinkable – 8
Anyone But You - 8
Land of Bad - 8
Carry-on – 8
Civil War – 8
Killers of the Flower Moon - 8
Riders of Justice - 8
Dream Scenario – 8
Road House - 8
Gifted - 8
Unfrosted – 8
Wishmaster - 8
The Man From Earth:  Halocene - 7
Conclave – 7
The Flash – 7
The Abyss - 7
The Instigators – 7
About My Father – 7
Dreamin’ Wild – 7
Knock at the Cabin - 7
Love Lies Bleeding - 7
Rebel Ridge – 7
Beverly Hills Cop:  Axel F - 7
My Old Ass – 7
Trapped - 7
Maggie Moore(s) - 6
Atlas - 6
Shot Caller – 6
The Brick Layer – 6
Chief of Station - 6
The Substance – 6
Brawl on Cell Block 99 – 7
Holidate – 6
The Greatest Hits – 6
You Hurt My Feelings - 5
Wolfs – 5
The Beekeeper – 4
Maestro - 2
Trigger Warning - 1

 

The Ozzies:

Best Picture:  A Complete Unknown
Best Actor:  Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan
Best Actress:  Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans
Best Director:  James Mangold



STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

Bad Sisters (Season 2) - 9

Apple+ goes to the well again on a second season and while it kind of seems an unnecessary extension of the story, it’s well done, and the chemistry of the sisters is undeniable.  Hopefully this wraps up what was a good story of murder and blackmail. 

My 2024 Rankings

Tehran – 10
Slow Horses (4 seasons) – 10
Resident Alien - 10
Silo (season1) – 10
The Americans (Seasons 1,2) – 10
Good Behavior – 10
Criminal Record - 10
The Diplomat (season 2) -10
Baby Reindeer – 9
Bad Sisters – 9|

The Penguin – 9
Deadloch – 9
The Tourist - 8
Ripley - 8
The Outsider - 8
Collateral - 8
Troppo – 8
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War – 8
Presumed Innocent – 7
Fool Me Once - 6
True Detective – 4
Mr & Mrs Smith - 2

The Lizzies:

Best Series:  Tehran
Best Actor:  Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
Best Actress:  Michelle Dockery in Good Behavior

DOCUMENTARIES

Super/Man:  The Christopher Reeve Story – 10

Keep the Kleenex handy as you work through this documentary.  I remember well the first couple of Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve.  They were really something for the time. 

When Christopher Reeve was paralyzed after being thrown from a horse he committed himself to getting better and having an impact on research.  It is so admirable, and dwarfs what most of us accomplish.  There is so much about the ultimate heartbreak his family went through that I didn’t know, that’s where the Kleenex really comes in.  Be prepared.

The Kings of Tupelo – 8

This is a three parter (too long) that Netflix has and no, it’s not a great moment for Mississippi, but it sure is entertaining.
 

Concussed:  The American Dream – 8

Brett Favre is a major participant due to his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the story of another young football player, Tyler Sash who played briefly for the New York Giants are riveting.  I have to admit this movie had a major impact on me, and I’m looking at football differently these days.  When someone goes down, I know it could be life threatening, even when it looks to be a slight head injury.  If you’re a football player, or a fan, don’t miss this.

 

My 2024 Rankings:

The Comeback – 10
Turning Point:  The Bomb and the Civil Way  10
Elizabeth Taylor:  The Lost Tapes – 10
Steven Van Zandt:  Disciple – 10
The Truth vs Alex Jones – 10
The Greatest Night in Pop – 10
Yogi Berra:  It Ain’t Over til It’s Over - 10
Love Charlie:  The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter – 10
The Dynasty:  New England Patriots - 10
Procession

Stax:  Soulsville USA – 9
Steve! (Martin) a documentary in 2 Pieces - 9
Road Diary – 9
Stopping the Steal – 9
Yacht Rock:  A Dockumentary - 8
Charlie Hustle and the Matter of Pete Rose - 8
America’s Hidden Coast:  Mississippi - 8
Untold:  The Murder of Steve McNair – 8
When Cary Grant Introduced Timothy Leary to LSD - 7
The Turnaround – 7
Beach Boys – 7
Joan Baez:  I am a Noise - 7
I am Celine Dion - 6

STAND-UP

Nate Bargatze:  Home – 9

I love it when a comedian just gets hot, the way Sebastian Maniscalco did a few years ago.  Nate’s time is now.  From his great skits on SNL to these comedy specials, he’s on a roll.  He reminds me of Bob Newhart with his low key approach, and I’ve got a feeling that he’s going to have some staying power.  Will probably be enjoying his work for the rest of my life. 

 

My 2024 Rankings:

Colin Quinn:  Red State Blue
Seth Meyers:  Last Dad Standing – 9
Nate Bargatze:  Home - 9
Alex Edelman:  Just For Us – 9
David Letterman:  My Next Guest – 9
Steve Trevino:  Simple Man - 9
Mike Birbiglia:  The Old Man & the Pool -8

 

CLASSICS

True Romance – 10

Famous for having been written by Quentin Tarantino, some great actions scenes, and a memorable performance from Patricia  Arquette as “Alabama,” this 1993 movie is as good as I’d always heard.  Don’t know why I missed it, but glad I finally found my way to it.

It Happened on 5^th Avenue – 9

One night we were searching for an old fashioned Christmas Movie and came upon this.  A little long, but a nice one to add to the holiday menu.  It’s a very cool story about a group of homeless people who move into a 5^th Avenue mansion.  There’s romance, music, some great subplots, and just a lot of fun.  They don’t make ‘em like this anymore, unless they add horror or murder.  Check this one out next Christmas.

 

Grand Hotel – 7
Cavalcade – 6

These oldies won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1932 and 1933 respectively and now I can check them off my to do list.  Not much to either.

My 2024 Rankings:

True Romance – 10
State of the Union – 10
Harlan County USA - 10
Memories of Murder – 9
Klute - 9
It Happened on 5^th Ave – 9
In the Mood for Love - 9
The Terminal – 8
From Dusk to Dawn - 8
Go - 8
Mr & Mrs. Smith – 8
Love Crazy – 8
Blow Up - 7
Ransom - 7
Grand Hotel – 7
Cavalcade – 7
Wanda – 6
Don’t Look Now - 5

Media Captures - November

STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

Slow Horses – 10

There are 6 episodes in each of the first four seasons of this British series on Apple+ and once we got started, boom, we watched them straight through.  Usually, I lose interest after a season or two, because they are usually so good at the beginning, then they fade.  Not this one.  It gets better and better and the fourth season is so good, I’m a little surprised they are even going to do a fifth.  The fourth season is a fantastic story - complex, compelling, and it's going to be hard to top.

Gary Oldham won an Oscar playing Winston Churchill, but here he plays a polar opposite, Jackson Lamb an old, but deceptively brilliant MI-5 agent.  Calling him cranky would be a wild understatement.  He is in charge of Slough House, where agents who have royally screwed up are sent to be under his charge. They are called the slow horses.  Except they’re not.  They solve things the best can’t solve.  Jackson Lamb scolds them so viciously for their missteps that it’s almost a badge of honor, showing them he cares.  His acerbic British wit makes the show, and is like a great narration.  It’s one of the Apple+ shows that are piling up in an HBO-like vault of greatness.  At the very least, if you love the streaming world, it’s worth a month or two of subscription.

Silo (Season 1) – 10

Here’s another Apple+ winner.  One of my favorite actresses is Rebecca Ferguson whom I first saw in the Mission Impossible movies.  Silo is now in its second season, and it took me awhile to get to it, but now I’m all in.  Nothing I like more than when a movie creates an unfamiliar world and thrusts us into it.  Here, the world is a huge silo, housing 10,000 people, sometime in the future.  It seems logical that in the aftermath of a nuclear war, someone built an underground silo for people to live in.  It is assumed that outside is unlivable. 

There is a form of government.  The Silo is ruled by something called The Judiciary.  The Silo has evolved into a caste system, from top to bottom, and there is occasional unrest because some believe it is safe to go outside.  The law enforcement is carried out by the Sheriff.  When the Sheriff has to be replaced he nominates as his replacement an obscure engineer from the mechanical section, Jullette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson).  Nichols starts out as an amateur, but soon is embroiled in controversial investigations that threaten the peace.  The first season just gets better and better as it goes along and becomes one of the most enthralling things I’ve seen in awhile. The set, or the CGI, whatever it is that creates this Silo, is incredible.  

The Diplomat (Season 2) – 10

Netflix’s premiere espionage series features Keri Russell as the Ambassador to England who has been trying to find the person responsible for a bombing of a British ship, while she is being courted as a possible Vice Presidential candidate back in the states.  The first season was good, but the second season is a wow, particularly with a great ending.

Allison Janey has joined the cast as the actual VP and as the season winds up, she comes across the pond to visit and size up her possible rival.  Janey is at top of her game and the tension between the women culminates in one of the best surprise endings I’ve seen.  Can’t wait for season 3.

The Penguin – 9

Colin Farrell gives an recognizably immersive performance as a forgotten Gotham villain, in this HBO series.  Cristin Milioti is up to the task as his rival and the two slash and burn their way through the murky Batman-less underground world.  There are the usual great HBO production values combined with a dark and often ugly story.  It’s well done but pretty hard to watch at times.  Creepy is the word I’m looking for.  Definitely not for everyone. 

DOCUMENTARIES

Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary – 8

There’s something inherently silly about retroactively naming an era of music, the way some have referred to the “soft rock” of the 70’s and 80’s with the label of “Yacht Rock.”  The two pillars of this seem to be Steely Dan and Michael McDonald, with many in between.    However, the silliness of it all doesn’t make it any less entertaining and nostalgic. This is an affectionate look back at those days when we waited for song to play on the radio.

Untold:  The Murder of Air McNair 8

Way more sordid than you would think, this will never make the rotation on The Hallmark Channel.  Mississippi’s own Steve McNair went on to fame and fortune as an NFL Quarterback, coming within about a yard of upsetting the Rams in the Super Bowl.  Along the way it seems McNair picked up a beautiful wife, a family, and apparently several girlfriends.  When one of them began to fall out of favor with Steve, she grabbed a gun and ended her life and his.  Shocking, but simple, and this was informative and well, sordid. 

 
The Turnaround – 7

Philadelphia’s sports fans are infamous.  My one visit to a Philly sports event was not a pleasant one, as they take sports way too seriously.  This short film chronicles a weekend when they d3ecided to be nice to their slumping superstar shortsop Trae Turner.  An online campaign to get fans to cheer him rather than boo him shook him out of his slump, and was the nicest thing to happen in Philly since they invented the cheesesteak. This is a 20 minute short on Netflix.  

 

CLASSICS

Wanda  - 6

Barbara Loden directed one film in her life.  This 1970 movie flew so far under the radar that I’d never heard of it, but its reputation has grown to the point I thought I’d check it out.  I didn't get much out of it, but it may interest you.

 

Media Captures: September/October 2024

DOCUMENTARIES

The Comeback – 10

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Netflix. I’ve moved documentaries to the top of my blog this month because this is the best thing I saw in the last 2 months.  Any baseball fan is going to love this.

I remember the incredible Red Sox / Yankee rivalry of 2003, 2004 like it was yesterday.  ESPN certainly wouldn’t let you forget it.  By some lucky, magic quirk of scheduling it seems like they played each other every Sunday night, and ESPN was there to bring it to us. This 3-parter covers it all.  From Pedro Martinez head hunting, literally, to Roger Clemens retaliating.  The interviews are great.  There’s the boy genius Theo Epstein making controversial, but ultimately brilliant moves.  There’s Sox Manager Grady Little and his selective memory, often in conflict with his own player’s recollections.  There’s Joe Torre, who unfortunately is the only Yankee willing to go on camera.  But, that’s ok.  This is the Red Sox story and the participants are forthcoming, and a little crazy, still.  The Comeback is the story of the most improbable one of all time, when the Red Sox came back from being down three games to none in the National League Championship series, something that hadn’t been done before.

If you are a baseball fan, this is absolutely must-see TV. 

 

Road Diary – 9

Bruce Springsteen let his favorite videographer, Thom Zimny, shoot some behind the scenes footage of his recent concert tour, and then they spliced it together like one of Bruce’s famous playlists.  If you are a Springsteen fan, like I am, you’ll love it.  If not a fan, you’ll probably like it.  What’s fascinating is the amazing reception the E Street Band gets in Europe.  The scenes of them rehearsing after a 7 year layoff, extended by covid, are enlightening.  When you’ve been together for 50 years, I guess you have a shorthand, and it’s fun to watch.  The way Bruce has led this band for this long with no defections short of death, is a masterclass on how to do things.  The candid interviews of the bandmates are revealing, and their loyalty to The Boss is solid as a rock.  Personally, I’ve seen hundreds of concerts and only a few bands come close to Bruce and his band.  I listen to his music now almost as much as the Beatles.  Almost.

Stopping the Steal – 9

I know how we got here, I just don’t know how we get past it all.  After seeing this movie, I am not optimistic.  With detailed footage of the insurrection of January 6^th, the movie goes to a depth most people just want to ignore like it never happened. But, what’s most interesting are the interviews with members of the Trump administration, and how he decided to fight the election results.  It’s revealing and disturbing.  He wasn’t sure about it, then suddenly decided to go full denial.  His subordinates knew he would not turn back once he made the decision. 

Love, Charlie:  The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter – 10

I once had a goal of eating at all the great restaurants in the country, and Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago was at the top of the list.  We never made it there.  It was once considered the greatest restaurant in the world.  Then it began to fade, Charlie Trotter got ill, closed it, and died at 54 of a stroke.

This documentary is an examination of an extremely competitive, volatile perfectionist.  Having owned a restaurant, I recognized the intensity it takes, and Charlie Trotter was so driven to be the best, that his relentlessness may have contributed to his poor health.  All of that is chronicled here, and it’s a must watch for any foodie.

 
America’s Hidden Coast:  Mississippi – 8

We try to stay low profile, although it’s tough when you’re “in the cone” as often as we are.  This is a nice PBS documentary about our Gulf Coast and the bounties that keep us here.  The history of the coast as a lumber center is most interesting.

MOVIES

Woman of the Hour – 9

Anna Kendrick spreads her wings with her Netflix directorial debut, an economical retelling of a serial killer who appeared on the Dating Game.  You read that right.  Back in the 1970’s, long before the Bachelorette/Bachelor obsession, there was a game show which if I recall, spit out 2 dates a week by having a young lady blindly decide between 3 men by asking them questions.   Rodney Alcala appeared on the show and won a date with Cheryl Bradshaw, played by Kendrick.  She was one of the lucky ones, as she picked up on his bad vibes before vibes were a thing and distanced herself from him. 

He eventually went to jail and was convicted of 6 murders of young women.  The estimate is that he may have killed as many as 130.  

This movie is clean and short, the way movies used to be.  Somehow Daniel Zovatto plays Alcala so convincingly that he will probably get type cast into these roles, which would be a shame.  Without his commitment to being a creep, the movie would not be as tense.  Interestingly, Kendrick has donated all her profits from the movie to victims of sexual violence, as she felt it would be “creepy” to make money off of this story.  Good call.

Gifted – 8

Sometimes the best movies are just simple stories.  This is a heart warmer that just seems to work.  Chris Evans plays the uncle of a young math genius, whom he’s trying to raise in a normal manner, despite her gifts.  He’s at odds with his mother, who wants to capitalize on her granddaughter’s gifts, as she had done with her daughter who had committed suicide under the pressure of being a math genius. 

There are no surprises here, just a nice, low-key story.

His 3 Daughters – 8

They are gathered for his final days, and I wouldn’t have watched this except for the presence of Carrie Coon, who so enthralled me in The Leftovers.  She does great work her as the most overbearing of the three, but Natasha Lyon and Elizabeth Olsen hold their own as the movie unfolds exactly as you would expect.  They have secrets!  This is an excellent movie with snappy dialogue, but I couldn’t help but think what a great Broadway play it would be.

Civil War – 8

I thought this would be a documentary about what’s ahead of us after the next election, but instead it’s a rather simple story of how a civil war could unfold in the US with troops advance on the White House, not to hang Mike Pence, but to execute the President.  The movie’s depiction of what could happen would appear to be designed to be  a gut wrenching wake-up call.  There’s not a ton of political background as to how they got to the point of killing their countrymen, so it’s not as political as you would think.  It’s more like a cautionary tall tale.  Could it happen?  Would it happen? 

Riders of Justice – 8

This is a surprisingly well done and complex tale of a Danish soldier who returns home to take care of his daughter after his wife dies.  He soon suspects she was murdered, and he teams up with some conspiracy theorists who will have to decide their level of commitment to the hunt for justice.  I usually don’t get surprised much by the twists and turns of plots anymore, but this one got me.  It’s an action film with a point.

What You Wish For – 9

Disguise a horror movie concept in a seemingly normal setting and you have to be careful.  A sous chef who has barely scraped by (played by Nick Stahl, a one-time John Connor) visits a friend who has become a very successful private chef.  But the “how” of his success is too much for him, and he is more than happy to step in and reap the rewards, until he learns who he is cooking for, and more little tidbits.  What starts off as a rather routine story gets better and better with some committed actors.  Not for the faint of heart.

Conclave – 7

Apparently the Catholic Church is as divided as the rest of the world between liberal and conservative factions, and this movie explores the way the Church selects its leader.   Turns out, they gather the next tier of candidates (Cardinals?) and they have a meeting (conclave) and vote over and over until they get a Pope,  with the groups jockeying behind the scenes.   It would seem the candidates could stand up and make speeches about what kind of Pope they would be, but no.  The Dean of the Conclave (played perfectly by Ralph Fiennes who will certainly garner Oscar buzz) seems to be like a lead prosecutor, investigating secrets and eliminating candidates.  The movie alternates between reverential treatment and exploitive especially with an ending that is made for movies. 

Some denominations of Christianity are more steeped in ritual than others are, so I suspect your interest in this movie will mirror your place on that scale.  I figured out pretty quickly who was going to be Pope, and that there would be a dramatic ending to his story, but didn’t think it would be quite as out of the blue as they came up with.

Rebel Ridge – 7

A Jack Reacher type action flick focused on hand to hand combat instead of bone crunching.  A good movie, but just too damn long.

The Substance – 6

Demi Moore would rather be Margaret Qualley, and I can’t say I blame her.  Demi gets the role she’s been waiting for as Christine Sparkle, a a Jane Fonda-like workout guru who looks good to me, but not to her boss played by Dennis Quaid, who proves his acting is as bad as it ever was.  Demi makes the devil’s bargain of injecting the Substance, which will make her young for every other week.  The movie borrows snippets of music, and themes from classic movies, especially the very gory ending.  I kept waiting for the movie to end, but it stubbornly hung on, driving home its point over and over. 

This is one of those movies you either buy or you don’t and I didn’t, but I appreciate the effort.  It wasn’t a waste., just not my cup of blood.  

Wolfs – 5

So Clooney and Pitt are the Newman and Redford of today, without the writers, directors, or Raindrops.  This Apple+ movie reminded me of Texans who are all Hat, no Cattle.  This is all charm, no story.  But I bet there’s a sequel, given the Sundance type ending.  This one’s for the ladies.

 

STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

The Penguin - 9

HBO’s latest sensation is essentially The Soprano’s in Gotham.  The Penguin, once played by Burgess Meredith  50 years ago, is now played underneath a ton of makeup and metal by an unrecognizable Colin Farrell, who is amazing in the role.  Equally impressive is Cristin Milioti as his female rival. I have to admit she is strange casting.  I would have never dreamed she would be this good.  Dark and dismal, the fictional Gotham has now housed so many of these stories I’m beginning to think it really exists.  Seven episodes in, and I'm fully hooked, at least for this season.

STAND-UP

Seth Meyers:  Dad Man Walking – 9

Seth Meyers, who in my opinion is the best late-night host right now, continues to spread his comedy wings with his second stand up special, this one on HBO MAX and it’s a worthy follow up to his “Lobby Baby” routine, which I’ve watched several times.  Now he’s got 3 children and his adventures with them are hilarious. 

Alex Edelman: Just For Us – 9

Never heard of this guy, but when this stand-up special won an Emmy, and I didn’t even know they gave awards for stand up, I decided to check it out.  This is a complex tall tale of him, a Jewish man, attending a white nationalist meeting, under cover.  It’s a long and winding, but brilliant story.

Red State Blue State – 10

I’ve never been a big fan of Colin Quinn, but he nails today’s world in this 45 minute special available on You Tube.  Have you ever wondered why Abrham Lincoln went to war rather than allow succession.  He must have seen the possibilities of a United America rather than a bunch of little countries.  This one will make you think. 

CLASSICS

Memories of Murder – 9

I was reading about a film expert who said there were 10 films he would teach in his introduction to film class, and I was pretty proud I’d seen 9 of them, but shocked that there was one, this one, that I had never even heard of, so I hunted it down and watched it.  It’s pretty special, although I wouldn’t call it one of the greats.  It’s a Korean mystery about a serial killer, and the cultural difference between the US and Korea are all present, like the fact that Korean Police get in fist fights with each other all the time. Amazing.

Ransom – 7

This is the 1956 original film that was remade in 1994 by Ron Howard starring Mel Gibson in the role originated by Glenn Ford in this one.  It’s a fairly flat, uninspired film compared to the remake, which was considered sensational at the time.  I guess there’s a reason they remake films. 

Media Captures: August 2024

MOVIES

Contratiempo – 10

This is a Spanish movie with the American title of “The Invisible Guest” which is not an enticing title at all.  I had to buy the movie, but I saw one of those videos where a reviewer said this was his favorite murder mystery, so I sprung and we watched it.  Then we watched it again within the 48 hour ownership period.  Yes, it’s that good, and watching it the second time was even more satisfying. 

A man greets his new lawyer and they begin to go through what happened to him.  He is accused of murder when the police break into his hotel to find his bludgeoned girlfriend and the man claiming someone had been there with him, knocking him out before committing the crime

The lawyer begins to unravel a long, complicated story full of twists and turns as she tries to figure out how to defend this guy. The movie is subtitled and the reading is fast and furious as the lawyer and the defendant go round and round.  I enjoyed this movie so much that it may enter my top 250 by the end of the year. 

 

Strange Darling – 9

We made a rare venture out to something called a “movie theater” and watched a movie that wasn’t shot on an iphone, but on real film, a fact it is intensely proud of.  It is a small, independent film that has opened to (mostly) rave reviews.  It’s a horror movie about a serial killer, because that subject matter is rare in today’s culture.  I’m kidding of course.

The innovative part of this movie is that it’s told in 6 chapters, but they are mixed up in the re-telling.  It’s a nice touch, but not earth shattering.  However the story is pretty riveting, and it’s a beautifully executed movie, in all its bloody glory. 

The story centers on a man pursuing a woman.  The performances of the two principals, Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald and both extraordinary, with Willa giving an award-worthy performance, even if it’s in what is essentially a slasher movie.

The reason I don’t give this movie a 10 is because of 2 ridiculous scenes that are just stupid.  But don’t let that stop you from seeing this, if you enjoy this kind of movie.  It’s a bloody mess, if that’s your thing.

Unthinkable – 8

I came for Samuel J Jackson and I stayed for Carrie-Ann Moss.  This is a 2010 thriller that slipped right past me.  In a role that must have been written just for him, Samuel L. Jackson is right at home as a torture specialist.  He’s Jackson thru and thru.  Here’s the premise and you tell me - would you do the unthinkable? 
How far would you go to find out a where a captured terrorist had planted 3 Nuclear weapons on US soil.  Would you torture?  Would you start cutting off fingers?  Plucking out eyeballs? 

Or even torture the terrorist’s family?  Well, don’t try to hold SLJ back.  He’s done this before.  Others on the case are horrified, until he starts getting answers.  Are they correct?  Are you sure?    Lots of tension, lots of action, and lots of dilemmas.. 

 

Land of Bad – 8

At one time Russell Crowe was a Gladiator, in the ring, doing buff things.  Now, he has descended into middle age and instead of swords, he uses drones.  The is a made for Netflix movie, and apparently, it’s a big hit.  Chris Hemsworth is a rookie (callsign Playboy) on a Delta Force mission to rescue a CIA informant held in the Philippines.  Here’s a surprise.  The mission goes sideways and Playboy is in a 48 hour fight for his life.  He’s going to have to do a lot of heroic things.  He wasn’t expecting this. 

Fortunately, Reaper is on the drone.  Just like a great video game, or at least what I imagine a video game is because I haven’t played one since Mario Brothers, Reaper has to pick off all kinds of troublesome obstacles.   What’s most interesting about that is the language.  I could be wrong, but this seems like authentic military verbiage, and it’s rather fascinating.  So, I got caught up in the code words and the action and I’m kind of glad Russell looks more like me than Maximus these days. 

The Instigators – 7

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck crack wise in this light story that Affleck co-wrote.  It was directed by Doug Limon.  The two buddies are incompetent criminals who stumble on a potential big pay day when the Mayor of Boston loses his reelection bid and is driven out of office the next day (rather idiotic) because he is crooked and has to relocate his cash.  In step the two buddies.  While the repartee is snappy, the movie is so lightweight, I barely remember it

About My Father – 7 

Sebastian Maniscalco builds off his successful standup act that often features references to his father.  His act is hilarious.  This movie can’t match the exuberance of his stand-up, but it tries.  Unfortunately, the great Robert DeNiro plays his father, and he works hard, and does fine, but just is the wrong casting choice here.  He’s in everything, and it would have just been a better movie if the role had been more authentically cast.  It’s not that he’s bad, it’s just that he is so prolific, and we feel like we’re watching the Godfather, Senior edition.  You can almost see the meetings where Maniscalco is trying to get the movie greenlit, but is being told he has to get a bankable star to play his dad. 

There’s some great material here, but it just kind of falls flat.  Maniscalco is holding himself back.  Too bad.  A surprising miss. 

Love Lies Bleeding - 7

Let me start by saying there are very few movies that go completely off the rails in the final third like this one does.  And for no reason.  Up until that point what you have is a fairly decent, nearly pornographic thriller with Kristen Stewart burning up the screen and Ed Harris taking on his newest oddball persona, with a jarring bald head and long hair falling from the sides.   He plays Lou Sr, a kingpin of sorts and father of Lou, Jr (Stewart).  They are kind of estranged, and when Jr falls hard for a homeless female body-builder, we’re off to the races. There will be sex.  There will be blood.  There will be murder.  There will be clean up.  And there will be a ridiculous final few scenes which someone will have to explain to me.

Everybody gives their all, but using a title of a classic Elton John song was a risk that was going to be hard to live up to, although it doesn’t take much of a leap to guess that it’s all going to end that way.

Shot Caller – 6

A stockbroker (played aggressively by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) goes to prison on a DUI manslaughter conviction and ends up a kingpin. At what law school he picked up the particular set of skills he needs to whip butt on his way to the top of a crime syndicate is what I want to know.  Can you say “B” movie?  Just because it’s buried deep on the Netflix depth chart, doesn’t mean there is a lack of effort as the body count mounts. 

The Bricklayer – 6
Chief of Station  - 6

Aaron Eckhart appears to be entering the “Liam Neeson” portion of his career, with some long dormant action skills and in these outings he turns into a spy/diplomat trying to avenge the death of similar character.   Another “B” movie for when you want to kill some time with overblown violence.

 

STREAMING/BINGING and what’s left of Network Television

The Americans (Season 1, 2) – 10

This FX series, now on Hulu, is a spy thriller that ran from 2013 to 2018.  The fact that I’m just now getting around to it should be an example of how often I’m late to trends and fads, if indeed I ever know about them.  The first 2 seasons are simply as good as television gets.  Kerri Rusell and Jonathan Rhys play Russian agents in deep cover as an American family.  Their ruthlessness and loyalty to the motherland is jarring.  They seem to be constantly ahead of the FBI, and they are efficient and organized. 

Russell and Rhys make a formidable pair as others drop by the wayside. I don't know how realistic this cold war depiction of Reagan's America is.  I guess i was too busy repossessing cars to know about all the spying going on.  I don’t know how many awards the series won, but it wasn’t enough.

 

Troppo – 9

Another Australian surprise.  I’ve watched a couple of these Australian series, and they are always a strange brew, but this one is pretty terrific.  Thomas Jane plays Ted. a detective who is living in a remote part of Australia as he tries to recover from a false accusation.  But the centerpiece of the story is an ex-con named Amanda, played by an exhilarating Nicole Chamoun.  She murdered a friend as a teenager and after serving her time has come back to her unwelcoming hometown.  Inexplicably, she becomes a private investigator who then teams with Ted to try to solve the mystery of a Korean tech pioneer who has disappeared.  Naturally, the clues mount up and the mystery widens.  You’d never guess that a huge conspiracy was underfoot, and Ted and Amanda are going to have to unravel it.  Great characters trying to regain their footing in life.  Well worth watching

Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War – 8

A deep dive that I don’t think anybody asked for, but we get anyway, into the tiniest details of the legendary Wyatt Earp.  Any fan of Tombstone is going to love this, but it’s almost more than I want to know.  It’s a reenactment, and some of us never tire of that shootout. 

 

DOCUMENTARIES

Elizabeth Taylor – The Lost Tapes - 10

I didn’t know Elizabeth Taylor, but after this retrospective, I felt like I did.  Which is probably more than I can say for most people living today.  She may be forgotten, so here’s a little recall. 

First, she may have been the most beautiful woman to ever grace the screen

Secondly, she dominated the gossip headlines through her 8 marriages like it was as important as the Bay of Pigs.  She went from vivacious to a victim of Joan Rivers’ barbs (funniest stand-up line I’ve ever heard – call me and I’ll tell you) and her life went from black and white to living color right there in our living rooms.  Today, celebrities come and go, but she carried a fascination that today’s “influencers” can only dream about.  Jennifer Lopez is only halfway there on marriages (she’ll need to marry Ben one more time – can you imagine?) and Taylor Swift will have to do 10 more tours, 10 more relationships, and 10 more breakup songs, well into her 60’s.  Elizabeth Taylor was a terrific actress.  A career of singular beauty, and unsatisfied thirst.  This documentary, comprised of her own voice and extraordinary editing is fascinating.  When Stars were Stars. 
 

CLASSICS

State of the Union – 10

I’m a sucker for Director Frank Capra and his uniquely patriotic movie making.  I make no bones about “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” as my favorite movie.  I was urged to consider this as mandatory election-year viewing, so since I had pretty much forgotten it, I had to order the whole box set of Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn movies from Amazon, and I’m off and running.  This is a classic, and I’ll be weighing in on more of their movies. 

In this one Tracy plays a rich guy, estranged from his wife (Hepburn of course) who decides to run for President and soon is selling his soul to get elected.  Will he see the light?  Snappy dialogue and great character actors, including Murder She Wrote's Angela Lansbury when she was a fox, make this fun and relevant.  

Mr & Mrs. Smith - 8

Alfred Hitchcock made exactly one comedy, and this is it.  He doesn’t appear to have done much directing, because the best course of action in a screwball comedy is to hire Carole Lombard and get out of the way.  She plays the wife of Robert Montgomery, until they find out that their 3 year marriage is illegal, and he makes the mistake of saying no, he wouldn’t get married again if given the chance.  Never, never say anything like that.  So, they break up and it turns out he wants her back, and they play ring around themselves for a short while.  It’s funny, not hilarious, and I had to find it on youtube. 

Love Crazy – 8

William Powell and Myrna Loy were a great screen pair and in 1941 they made their 10^th movie together.  Their chemistry never waned, which is why I have their box set too.   In this screwball comedy, Powell is trying to get his wife back by feigning that he’s crazy to delay the divorce.  Now this isn’t as great as Manhattan Melodrama (the movie I wish Clooney and Pitt would remake) but it’s a great way to watch some real acting. 

 

Movie Box Sets I have (or why you should attend the eventual garage sale)

Powell and Loy
Astaire and Rogers
Tracy and Hepburn
The Marx Brothers
The Ultimate Hitchcock
Woody Allen
The Bourne Trilogy
The Before Trilogy
The Dark Knight Trilogy
The Vacation Movies
That’s Entertainment Movies
The History of Rock N Roll
The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
17 Comedy Classics
100 Movie Classics
50 Horror Classic
50 Mystery Classics\ 

Maybe I should start my own streaming network.