At the Cinema - June 2016

Independence Day:  Resurgence – 2

The original Independence Day in 1996 was a crowd pleaser and has held up as a guilty pleasure.

Unfortunately, the sequel is just plain guilty.

As the movie starts, it’s a completely different 2016, as the world has successfully used the alien technology from the previous invasion to great benefit, making for a peaceful and efficient world.  And that is easily the most interesting part of the movie.  After that it is downhill so fast and so far that the movie is often laughable. 

You see, the Aliens are coming back, and they’re not happy, and that’s before they read the script. 

Apparently the alternate version of 2016 is also totally cliché-ridden, with the female President, played by Sela Ward as the Offender in Chief.  She will probably want to leave this role off her IMDB database, although I'm sure she's cashed the check.

In television it’s known as “jumping the shark” and I don’t know what that moment is called when a movie series goes completely off the rails, but in this one it’s the moment when former President Whitmore, played by Bill Pullman has to fire up a motivational speech to rival his one in the first movie, but this time he barely has an audience, and I could barely contain myself.  Once again the odds are long as the heroes must try their one-in-a-million-chance to defeat the aliens.  Let’s hope the odds are as long for a third installment. 

Scanning the Satellite

TV was much better than the movies this month, so let's take a look:

O J Simpson – Made in America – 10

ESPN, under it’s 30 for 30 documentary banner, commissioned this massive five-parter from director Ezra Edelman.  How good is it?  It’s riveting and enthralling for every single minute.

It changes the documentary landscape and it will be taught in film schools for years to come.  It’s a stunning work.  I've been saying we are in a golden age of documentaries and this is exhibit A.

I remember being mildly bewildered by the O J Simpson trial, the television spectacle, the outcome, and the reaction to the verdict.  Starting with O J’s childhood this documentary takes a look at his stardom on the field, his family relationships, his friendships, his post-football career, and his rejection of his own heritage.

Then there’s the trial which is reviewed in detail.  Almost all the major players consented to an interview.  This includes two of the jurors who basically explain that the Dream team successfully put the LAPD on trial and this was a payback for Rodney King.  Then it goes into the aftermath, including OJ’s ostracization and descent until he ends up in jail, with a little payback sentence for armed robbery.

The documentary may pass itself off as an examination of a single crime, but in doing so it examines a multitude of offenses and race in America in a unique and comprehensive way.  It pries open each layer and it’s not any prettier than I am

I am no longer bewildered, but I remain mesmerized.  

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – 10

I rarely mention this show because it’s been on HBO  for over 20 years.  But, it has won Emmys and Peabodys for a reason.  It’s in-depth reporting is impeccable.  Just in the last two months there have been extraordinary reports on the AR -15 rifle right before it was used in the Orlando nightclub massacre, an amazing horse program in the inner city of Philadelphia called Work to Ride, and terrific profiles of Arizona Head coach Bruce Arians and Golf Commentator David Feherty,  But the climax of 2 terrific months of shows is the re-visited profile of an amazing gymnast name Jennifer Bricker – who had the unfortunate obstacle of being born with no legs.  She didn’t let that stop her, and her story is one of the most fascinating things you’ll ever see.  If you have the chance to watch this, don't look her up before hand.  Just let it happen.