Probably the biggest hit of 2025, this Ryan Coogler-directed opus is
actually two terrific movies unnecessarily combined into one. The first is a story of twins, both played
with great gusto by Michael B Jordan, who return to the Mississippi Delta after
making an ill-gotten fortune in Chicago.
Their plan is to gather together a lot of blues musicians and open a
juke joint. Mississippi is famous for
their Juke Joints. (see https://www.amazon.com/Last-Mississippi-Jukes-Robert-Mugge/dp/B07M9QQYBX)
This first part of the story is a wonderful depiction of blues and the delta,
with an unfortunate appearance by the KKK.
I could have easily watched a full two hours of the story of the first
spectacular night of singing and dancing.
But, then suddenly the story transitions into a vampire
story. It would be easy to say this was
a mistake, but as an expert in the field of Vampires (a graduate of the Buffy
school of Vampire-slaying) I have to say they hit all the right notes. The momentum completely changes, but it was
worth it. There are some crazy pieces
here, but in the end, it was worth it.
One word of caution. Stay
for the credits. There is much to see
after they start and if you are watching on the streamer Max, they are
prematurely trying to pull you into the next movie. For this movie, that commercialism is
disgusting. HBO Max has always treated
movies with great reverence, but they really crap the bed on this one. They should be ashamed. Be sure to click on the square and watch the
full credit sequence – it adds quite a bit to the story.
The Life of Chuck – 9
Actually went to the theater to see this well-reviewed flick, based on a Stephen King story; Tom Hiddleston stars as Chuck, apparently a
non-descript accountant whose career is winding up. The movie has 3 chapters, shown in reverse
order.
The first they show, the most effective, is one where the world is
ending, apparently because of Chuck.
It features a great performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor who is baffled
as to what is happening, and I haven’t seen many end-of-the-world depictions any
better than this one.It’s low key and
methodical.Just brilliant. The second
and third parts unfold less well, but it’s still pretty engrossing.
Gladiator II – 8
On our 10-hour flight back from Rome I thought it would be totally appropriate
to watch a movie about Rome that I would never have otherwise watched.I found it fairly entertaining for a sequel
that had been widely panned.Maybe
movies are just better a mile high.
Wolfman – 7
Here’s one there’s no way I would have watched if I wasn’t on an airplane.I’m not much on Blum House horror movies, but
I can see why they are popular.This is
a compact, well put together story of a man who gets bit, turns into a Wolfman,
and wants to chomp on his family.
10 Things I Hate About You – 9
The last of my airplane trio was this alleged classic, anchored by
Heath Ledger’s first performance and Julia Stiles portrayal of his love
interest. A pleasant surprise, worthy of
its reputation. If you missed it originally
like I did, circle back. Great
characterizations and a very nice conclusion.
Havoc – 6
Never has there been a movie with a more appropriate name.Total chaos and violence galore.When you are in a blood and guts mood.
Old Guard 2 – 4
I waited until Netflix released this sequel on July 2nd, before I
wrote this. I doubt I’ve looked forward to a sequel this much since The Empire
Strikes Back. The first movie, a
Netflix original starring Charlize Theron, was smart, innovative, and action
packed. I knew it was going to be
difficult to recapture the magic of the first movie. That is an understatement.
The movie falls flat. Charlize
Theron tries her best to pull it together, but the surprises don’t work, and it
seems they were so intent on trying to restore Andy’s (Charlize) immortality
that they even bungle the amazing story of her best friend who has been in an
underwater cage for 500 years. It’s been
a long time since I was this disappointed in a sequel.
STREAMING/BINGING
and what’s left of Network Television
Fubar – 8
When I realized that the Academy Award nominated actress Monica Babaro (for her
great performance in A Complete Unknown as Joan Baez) was into her second
season in a TV show I figured it was time to check it out.The surprise here is that Arnold
Schwarzenegger (as her father) displays enough comedic timing to elevate this
action series enough above the norm to make us stick around for both seasons.
The hook is that they didn’t know that they are each in the
CIA. They are horrified of course, when
they learn the truth, and they are forced to partner up, which leads to some
entertaining, if over the top, fun and games.
A nice surprise.
DOCUMENTARIES
Pee Wee Herman as Himself – 9
Paul Ruebens was a struggling improvisational actor with several characters in
his repertoire.He was floundering when
he decided to just stick with his most popular character, Pee Wee Herman.Eventually he shot to fame and fortune, but
he wrestled with many demons and he talks freely with the filmmaker until right
before his death.The movie-makers did
not know that Ruebens was suffering from cancer, and shortly before his death,
he stopped the interview process.Ruebens goes into detail about his decision to stay in the closet to
enhance his career, and the heartaches of fame.This is a wonderful and very personal documentary.
I must admit it.I’m
a big fan of the first movie, The Accountant.It has a cool construction and a
great storyline; plus a reveal I never saw coming.I was really surprised it took them 8 years
to make a sequel.So, is it any good?
Well, it’s far from a classic. But, it’s a nice, solid, entertaining movie
that builds on the complexities of the first one. Ben Affleck plays Christian Wolff, an
autistic accountant to criminals around the world with just enough morality to
play informant when he finds their actions abhorrent. It’s quite the balancing act. His brother, played with gusto by Jon
Berthnal shares Christian’s incredible physical talents. Their relationship is
the best part of the movie.
When called to help solve a murder, Christian calls on his
brother to come help. It gets
complicated, violent, and turns into a high stakes game.
Good stuff considering we learned so much in the first movie.
The Order – 8
Jude Law is an FBI agent hunting down white nationalists
doing some bad crimes and planning worse ones.
This is based on a true story. I
rarely find Law believable, but here he’s at the top of his limited game.
Good stuff and surprisingly riveting.
99 Homes – 8
A pretty solid 2014 look at the aftermath of the housing
crisis, this is the story of an unscrupulous Florida real estate agent played
by the always dependable Michael Shannon.
As Dennis Nash he hires a man who he has just booted from his house,
played by Andrew Garfield. He wants Rick
Carver to take over the dirty work of evictions. It
gets pretty grimy as they work the crisis to their advantage. There are many lessons here about how the
rich get richer, and the pain of poverty.
Not pleasant, but quite the education.
Dune 2 – 7
Dune 1 was terrible, and Dune 2 got much better reviews, but I didn’t get
it.It was a dusty, sandymess, hard to tell the bad guys from the good
guys, with an almost voodoo-laden undertone.The
final showdown was obvious early on and it took 2 and a half hours to get to
it.Maybe it’s me, but I just have no
patience for the muddle of a movie like this. The bad news is that there's obviously room for a Dune 3. Remind me to pass.
The Exterritorial - 7
This is one of those Netflix movies that looks like it was
shot in three different languages.This
one is about a Mom who has her son kidnapped in an embassy, but fortunately,
she’s former special forces, because isn’t everyone?So she has to fight, tunnel, climb, and dive
around the building in an attempt to find out what’s going on and why her son
has disappeared.It’s a far-fetched
mess, but fun nevertheless.Jeanne
Goursaud plays the mother and displays enough charisma, especially while she’s
in motion, to hold your attention.Not
bad when you want an action-diversion.
STREAMING/BINGING
and what’s left of Network Television
1923 – 9
A terribly powerful, exhausting, grueling, brutal entry in the Taylor Sheridan
creative universe, this15-episode
entry stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Duttons occupying the log cabin,
around well, 1923.At times I got
frustrated with the travelogue nature of getting the magical nephew Spencer
Dutton from Africa to Montana, and I thought it took awhile for Ford to find
his footing.But, you can’t deny the
compelling nature of life about that time.The depression was coming, and Montana was ripe for exploitation, which
is at the center of the plot.Former
James Bond Timothy Dalton is the main bad guy.The “law” was a little flexible back then, so there’s a lot of
gunplay.
But what I’ll always remember is the star-making turn of the stunning Julia Schlaepfer who blisters the screen as Alexandra Dutton. The chemistry between her and Brandon Sklener
(Spencer) is something to behold. If you like love and ranch wars, don’t miss
this one. As for me, I’ll be watching
for Julia.
The White Lotus, season 1 – 5 The White Lotus, season 2 – 6
Much like the two Dune movies, the HBO
hit series The White Lotus flies over my head like they were the Blue
Angels.Disjointed and trying too hard
to be trendy, both seasons I’ve watched just bounce around.I just didn’t get them.No doubt the scenery is great, on two fronts,
if you know what I mean and I think you do, but they didn’t engage me in the
least. Even Aubrey Plaza didn't get my attention. I used to love groundbreaking
stuff.Now I find it tedious and
obvious.Getting old, I guess.
DOCUMENTARIES
Crisis:Behind a
Presidential Commitment – JFK - 9
This is a documentary about the standoff between the Kennedys and George
Wallace, the Governor of Alabama.In
early 1963, two black students were trying to attend the University of
Alabama.Governor Wallace, famously
stood in the doorway to turn the back.The President and his Attorney General had to construct a strategy to
get the students in.
It’s shocking on several counts. It's a shock to see the racial tensions, and it’s
equally shocking that many of the discussions between John and Robert Kennedy,
and George Wallace and his staff were filmed! We’re not talking iphone cameras
here, these were monster size cameras that were allowed in the room. Incredible stuff, that I’d never seen before,
and had no idea how it all played out.
Very cool.
Carville: Winning is
Everything, Stupid – 10
James Carville, our neighbor (about 10 miles away) is a
renown huckster for the Democratic party, and the very definition of a
“character.” This documentary chronicles
his political career as a campaign strategist.
His first big win was 1986 when he piloted Bob Casey to the governorship
of Pennsylvania, followed by a winning string of upsets. When he was picked as the chief strategist in
1992 for the Bill Clinton campaign, he took the gloves off, dealt with one
crisis after another in the campaign, and successfully navigated Clinton to an
upset win over incumbent George H W Bush.
To make this more memorable, at the time James was dating
his future wife Mary Matalin, who was an advisor to Bush. They’ve been the talk of the political sphere
ever since, and have earned a nice living debating each other – leading to the
expected marital ups and downs, which they’re quite candid about.
Today, James is a frequent talk-show guest and speaker, and
he definitely hasn’t mellowed.He’s
outspoken and entertaining, and I need to go re-introduce myself (met him once) and talk about
the deficit.
The Munich Olympics that took place in September 1972 were marred
by an unspeakable tragedy when 11 Israeli athletes were held hostage by 8
members of Palestine’s Black September terrorist group.
Eventually there was a bloody shootout at the airport.ABC Sports, who had the coverage of the Games
that year suddenly had to transform into a news organization, and their
coverage, anchored by the great Jim McKay, was broadcast around the world as
events unfolded.
This movie takes place entirely in the ABC Control room. The filmmakers, led by director Tim Fehlbaum, expertly interweave archival footage into the new footage. The ABC's crew's decision-making during this difficult
time was impeccable. I remember watching
this happen and the grace of Jim McKay as he follows the events. This is an excellent historical drama. Don’t miss it.
Anora – 9
Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, 5 Oscars in all.
So I decided to watch it.
This is the story of a hooker who marries a Russian mobster’s son,
so I shouldn’t have been surprised at the graphic nature, but I didn’t expect to
see a movie that would have been rated XXX in my youth. No, I'm not exaggerating.
If you have a prudish bone in your body, this isn’t the movie for
you.
But, there’s no doubt it’s a good movie that picks up steam as it
goes along.Mikey Madison was an obscure
actress until she landed this plum role and knocked it out of the park.
But, best picture?I don’t
think so.
I’ve already professed my love for “A Complete Unknown” and if you
don’t believe me it’s playing on Hulu now.
Working Man (2019) - 8
Speaking of Hula, this is an obscure movie about a factory shutdown, and how
one man fights back.It’s farfetched but
one of those movies that has you rooting hard for an underdog.
STREAMING/BINGING
and what’s left of Network Television
Adolescence – 10
Not a perfect series, but it sure created a buzz. There are 4 episodes, each taking place in
real time, in one continuous shot. Those
of us who love movies, love that gimmick.
It’s done so well, that you hardly notice.
But, it’s the horrible story that has everyone talking. A young 13 year old boy is accused of killing
a female classmate. Could that be
true? Could he have done that? Why would he have done it?
As the facts are revealed, there’s a lot to learn about today’s society, and
none of it is pretty.There are new
terms (manosphere, incel), there are painful scenes, and each of the four episodes stands on its
own.At times the story moves
slowly.I think those that remember this
will each remember something different.
What I will remember is the 2nd episode where
detectives go to the school to investigate the crime.I was stunned.If this is the way school kids act today,
things are worse than I thought.
Reacher – 10
In the third season of Reacher, the body count mounts as Jack Reacher
dispatches one bad guy after another with no regret or repercussions.This is great story telling and execution
and I have no idea why it’s not a weekly TV series with let’s say 26 episodes a
year.It’s brutal television, but about
as entertaining as the action genre gets, mostly because of the inspired
casting of Alan Richton as Reacher.
Running Point – 9
I enjoyed this thinly veiled story about Jeannie Buss and the Lakers way more
than I should have.
Kate Hudson stumbles into the job as President of the LA
Waves, and it’s pretty decent TV.Quippy
and fast-moving, if it wasn’t about the Lakers I would have enjoyed it even
more.
DOCUMENTARIES
Celtics City -10
Bill Simmons is known for many things.He was a great sportswriter for ESPN.His HBO talk show was a dud.His
Music Box Documentaries for HBO are terrific.He is very rich because he sold his Ringer podcast network to Spotify.
He is also known for being an obnoxious Boston sports
fan. So while we wait patiently for a
documentary on the Patriots reign of terror, he settled for chronicling the
history of the Boston Celtics and their decades long dominance of the Lakers. If you love basketball, you’ll love the
stories of Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Paul
Pierce. The highlight is the grainy
black and white footage of Larry Bird’s first practice. It’s priceless
Dear Zachary – 9
I read somewhere that this was the most heart-wrenching documentary of all-time
and that tempted me into the pain.
It was.
Don’t watch it.
You’ve been warned.
STAND-UP
Lewis Black: Thanks
for Risking Your Life – 8
Lewis Black packs a suitcase full of outrage and takes it on the road with
him.He’s got a special delivery and spits and snarls his way through a compact little act full of laughs.
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 1st
Episode rebroadcast – 8 Saturday Night Live 50th
Anniversary Show – 6 SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night – 4 part doc I haven’t
watched yet 50 Years of SNL Music - 8 SNL Homecoming: the 50th 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 50th 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 50th 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:
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.
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
Ican 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.
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 Way10 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 PatriciaArquette 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 5th
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 5th 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 5th
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
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, showingthem 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.
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 6th, 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.