At the Cinema - March/April 2016

This is that time of the year when I’m distracted by festivals, disillusioned by politics, and dependent on television for screen entertainment.  Thus, you get two months of movie going and TV blog for the price of one.

Midnight Special – 9

There’s nothing wrong with a little genuine science fiction film making, and this one’s pretty cool.  It involves a religious cult trying to recapture a very gifted young boy who may or not be of this world.  This movie works as a thriller, a chase movie, and most importantly as a supernatural ride with a nifty final explanation. 

The chase takes place across Louisiana, so you know it’s going to be strange.

10 Cloverfield Lane – 8

There’s nothing wrong with a little end of the world science fiction, and this one’s very good too. 

John Goodman has built himself a neat little end of the world bunker, where else but in Louisiana, and he saves a young girl (or does he?) after she wrecks her car while fleeing the “war.”  It feels like a post apocalyptic "Room" and I just wish I hadn't spent most of the movie trying to figure out who the other actor in the bunker was.  (I knew him from The Newsroom.)

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – 7

Tina Fey plays a war correspondent in Afghanistan in this not-much-comedy story.  She exerts her unusual charisma, and the main thing I got out of this movie was a burning desire to spend an hour with Tina Fey someday.  Her star power carries a less that nifty movie, although the presence of Margot Robbie doesn't hurt.  

Scanning the Satellite

Nothing Left Unsaid – 10

If I’ve ever seen a more engrossing documentary than this HBO story of Gloria Vanderbilt and her son Anderson Cooper, I can’t remember it.  I couldn’t have even told you a thing about Gloria Vanderbilt before I watched this, but talk about a full life - Her ups and downs are such pinnacles and devastations that it made me feel like I’ve been sleep walking through life.  What a story.  I never intended to watch this, but it caught me by surprise, and by the throat.

Vinyl – 9

This HBO miniseries is hard to watch because of the constant drug use, but a lot of fun because of the amazing actors they got to play a plethora of rock stars.  Whoever did the casting is the star of this show.  The music is fun.  The performances are wild.  

American Idol - 8

Gone for now, but just for fun I'd thought I'd do an approximate ranking of some of my all-time favorite contestants,  Feel free to give me yours:

Kelly Clarkson, whom I missed in that first season.   Having now watched all of her performances I wander if AI would have been as big without her.  What if there had been a lesser winner in season one?  

Jordan Sparks, the only winner I picked right out of the gate.

Haley Reinhardt

David Cook

Allison Iraheta, unfairly maligned by Simon Cowell.

Katherine McPhee

Casey Abrams

Pia Toscano

Chris Daughtery

Siobhan Magnus

Angie Miller

Joshua Ledet

Melinda Doolittle

The Good Wife - 10, 10, 10

Next Sunday is the final episode of another series I never expected to like.  Somehow we got caught up in this amazing drama.  Fantastic weekly scripts were the hallmark of this story of a law firm, Chicago politics, families, and love affairs.  This has been a masterpiece of story telling.

It now ranks, not that anyone cares, as my second favorite network drama of all time, behind the legendary Hill Street Blues. 

Billions – 10

This Showtime series is magical for one reason.  You’ve got the great Paul Giamatti as the Federal Prosecutor trying to pin crime and punishment on a flashy hedge fund manager played by Damian Lewis (Homeland) a Showtime Golden Boy.  Malin Ackerman is also terrific as Lewis’ equally gutsy wife.  But the magic here is in the performance of Maggie Siff who absolutely blows them off the screen as the wife/psychiatrist caught between the battling testosterone of the two male leads.  She is riveting and amazing and I don’t pick the Emmys, but if I did, the race would be over already.  She’s that good.  Just as Carrie Coon blew me away on The Leftovers, and has been justly rewarded, watch for Maggie to be.  

At the Cinema - March/April 2011

Source Code – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Cool Science Fiction
b. Time travel
c. Ground Hog Day
Easily the best movie so far this year, which is not yet saying much, Source Code is the story of a supposedly dead soldier who is sent back in time to inhabit a man’s DNA right before a terrorist attack. The story becomes Inception meets Ground Hog Day as he must go back over and over to learn who the terrorist is and then prevent the destruction. It’s the bland Jake Gyllenhaal in the Bill Murray role here.
The best thing about this movie is the pace. There’s no dawdling in needless detail. The action and the revelations come quickly and there’s no wasted action. If, like me, your patience with two and a half hour blockbusters has worn thin, this is the movie for you. It’s wham, bam, boom, then do it again, with steroids. Cool stuff.

Hanna – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Foreign movies
b. Cate Blanchett out of character
c. A new star
Hanna – no sisters, thank goodness. Sequels, yes. Sisters, no.
This is a mildly interesting movie shot in a Euro style at a much slower pace than the previews would suggest. Some shots linger strangely, almost laboriously, and the pace of the movie is just odd. At times it slows to such a crawl that you want to doze off. Then suddenly the action breaks out. Strangely edited.
The story is about a young woman, played convincingly by Saorise Ronan, raised in the wild by her mysterious father, apparently an in-hiding former CIA agent. He teaches her survival and assassin skills as she grows up, and when she’s ready she’s on a mission to kill Cate Blanchett. Wait. Cate Blanchett? Seems there’s all kinds of unfinished business between the three of them and let’s just say that things end in a sequel-worthy fashion, and my guess is that a female action series is Bourne.


Water for Elephants – 5
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. The Circus
b. Snoring
c. Love Stories
I’ll admit it. I was really tired when I slumped into my front row seat. However, this movie did nothing to keep me awake. The most entertaining part of this movie is trying to guess Reese Witherspoon’s body fat count. I didn’t think people were this skinny in the thirties, even during the depression. Girl, Please. Have a donut.

This is a slow paced love story. Now I’m all for character development, but Reese’s love interest, as played by Robert Pattinson, comes off as such a wimp that he sucks the life out of the movie, as if he were a camera vampire. He’s un-heroic to say the least, boring to say the most.
As much as I like Reese, the best acting in the movie is done by the circus animals. The whole story is telegraphed, and while I’m sure it was a good book, it should have been a lifetime movie, then I could have slept on the couch.

Christoph Walz solidifies his role as a baddie, lighting up the screen with his cruelty. Unfortunately, there are parts of the story that are so foreign to us (throwing people off trains) that even though they may have occurred in the depression, we just can’t relate. I guess it’s one of those movies you’ll either love it or hate it, and you’ll probably know that before you hand over your cash.

The Lincoln Lawyer – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Legal drama
b. Matthew McConaughey
c. Bad guys
This is a better-than-expected legal drama. Matthew McConaughey, (shirt off count – once) operates out of his Lincoln as an ambulance chaser of sorts. He finds himself over his head in one case.

This is one of those movies where if you saw the previews, they gave too much away, like who the bad guys are. Too bad, because it’s nicely done and could have yielded some nice surprises, if they’d been a surprise to me. Maybe you will be surprised. Don’t watch any previews, just the movie.

SCANNING THE SATELLITE

Rarely get involved in TV series anymore, they’re just too time consuming. But, if you like legal drama, here’s a Tip of the hat to a great one. If you’re not watching The Good Wife on CBS, you’re missing some great television. WAIT - don’t start watching now. The season is ending.

The story is set in Chicago. The Good Wife, Alicia, played incredibly by Julianna Marguilles (some people are just made for the small screen) has to go back to work as a lawyer after raising a family because her husband, a district attorney, has been caught up in a political scandal.
Turns out she’s a brilliant lawyer.
The behind the scenes legal drama, generally a case a week, is fascinating. Not just a courtroom drama, it’s often a deposition drama – and that’s new to me.
Some shows are so well-written they're stunning. The "Facebook" episode this year was in my top ten of all time. Can't wait to see it again.
The on-going political drama, this is Chicago after all, is equally riveting. The secondary characters, Kalinda the investigator, and Carey the prosecutor have emerged as two of the most enthralling on television. Even the kids and their problems are unique. Stars are being born.

The second season is about to end. Don’t watch or you’ll ruin an incredible story line. You’ve got the summer to crank up the DVD player and catch up before the third season begins. This has slowly evolved into a great show.

Next. Why has American Idol been so good this year? First, the talent. All the singers have been great, although America’s voting doesn’t always parallel what’s on the screen. Who cares? The production values show off each song to the hilt, and the rehearsals aptly nail each song down, resulting in some great renditions.
Secondly, the Judges. Stephen Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were great casting decisions. Who’d a thunk it? The absence of Simon Cowell has turned out to be a plus, as he worn thin in the last few years. Don’t miss him one bit. If you haven’t been watching it, just DVR it. Our DVR is a Secrest-eliminator. Takes you right to the singing.

Finally, cool movie on HBO. Cinema Verite is the story of the Louds, the subject of the first reality show. Ground-breaking in the early 70’s, the Louds and their 5 kids provided more drama than was expected when their son came out of the closet and they broke up. All on camera. Well done, with great use of 70’s music. Any time a movie uses Blind Faith, I’m all in.

What do we do now that American Idol is over?

Yes, I admit it. I’ve watched American Idol the last few years. It is a cultural juggernaut, but like everything else, it’s not perfect. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Amateurs only. America sniffed out Adam Lambert this year as being too polished, too professional, too good. From now on – nobody who has ever made a professional cent should be allowed in. No piano bar singers, no background singers, no previous record deals, no broadway experience. AI is at its best when it is discovering some new talent – not giving someone a second chance.

2. While Simon is talking the other judges have to shut up. I don’t understand why they’re allowed to catcall him when they disagree. It’s bad enough the audience is yelping like wounded dogs. He never says a word when they’re talking. We want to hear Simon – everyone else shut up.

3, No Mindreading. That’s not to say Simon is infallible. This year he did a little bit too much mindreading. We don’t really care if Simon thinks a performer thinks they can win. I thought his persistent negativity on Allison’s mindset (while praising her singing) got her booted. And yes, she was my favorite. We want the judges to answer one fundamental question – “How did they sing?”

4. Lose the instruments. Is it a coincidence that the last 2 winners stood up there with a guitar and beat guys who were “only” singers? If it’s a “singing competition” which they repeat over and over, then it can’t also be a “talent competion.” What’s next – dancing? (Hint – America loves a guy with a guitar – it will always be sexier. But it puts competition at a disadvantage.)

5. Change the order of the judges. We didn’t mind Kara, she’s ok. But most of the time she parroted Randy. Mix it up a little.

6. Give the judges a time limit. Pick up the pace – please. We really don’t care how proud Paula is of everyone. How did they sing?

7. No more comments on song choices. “Wrong song” is not really the issue is it? Bad interpretation, bad performance? When a golfer hits it in the woods, it’s not because he picked the wrong club.

8. No lip-synching. Let them make some mistakes.

Other than that – don’t change a thing. See you next year.