Media Captures April/May 2025

MOVIES

Accountant 2 – 8 

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, sandy  mess, 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, this 15-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.

Media Captures - March 2025

MOVIES

September 5 - 9

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 2^nd 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.  

 

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.