At the Cinema - March/April 2020

The Way Back – 6

The last movie I saw in a movie theater before they got pandemecized was this massively disappointing drama starring Ben Affleck as the recovering alcoholic who gains temporary redemption when he is called on to coach the basketball team at his old high school where he had been a star.

He of course begins to turn them around, but if you’re a basketball afficionado looking for a great coaching movie, like Hoosiers, you’re going to be disappointed.  I remember refereeing in a YMCA league and dealing with a coach who thought coaching was spending the whole game ignoring his players and yelling at the referees.  I threw him out of a couple of games and he finally got the message, and I can remember the league organizers thanking me, because he had been out of control for years.  Well, Affleck plays that coach, and it’s awful.  Add that to the basketball action, which is terrible, and it’s a real letdown.  The team begins to improve, but for no discernable reason. 

This is particularly surprising since the director of this movie, Gavin O’Connor, directed Miracle about the 1980 US Olympic team.  Miracle is one of the great sports movies, and the hockey action is perfect.  LeBron James is a producer of this movie, so it is inexplicable that they didn’t get the action right.  Affleck tries his best, and it’s obvious he’s playing a version of himself, but there wasn’t much of this movie I bought.

The Invisible Man – 9

This movie was at the local theaters when the world crashed, and then quickly offered on pay per view @ $20.  Sign me up.  This was a dream come true for me – to watch a first run movie in the comfort of my home.  No popcorn temptation, no $5 drinks.  It looks like releases of movies like A Quiet Place 2 will be delayed until we are again able to sit side by side with a stranger expelling droplets, but I hold out hope that, as much as I enjoy a movie on the big screen, they find a way to make a home-viewing model work.  I’m all in.

One model that doesn’t need to change is the one determining Elizabeth Moss’s career.  She continues as a credible and appealing actress who takes on a wide variety of roles.  In this movie, she believes her dead husband is a) back from the dead, b) invisible and c) more than willing to kill her.  This is a well-done thriller that had me on the edge of my ranting couch.  Moss continues her winning streak

Scanning the Satellite

I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking that when the house arrest began I would have parked myself in front of Netflix, or Hulu, or Amazon Prime and ripped my way through series after series after movie after documentary.  Instead I have ripped my way through our house with a paintbrush in my hand trying to apply new paint where needed and minimize dripping in places it wasn’t.  So, I haven’t watched as much as you would expect, but here’s what the last 10 weeks have yielded:

Killing Eve (season 3) – 9

Assassin Villanelle is the main reason to drink this show in, although this BBC series can be stunning in its violence.    She may be the most interesting character on television and Jodie Comer is a riveting  Villanelle.  She is totally unique and I’m not sure if she is a one hit wonder or the acting find of the century.   Time will tell, but while time is trying to make up its mind, I’m all in as President of the Jodie Comer appreciation fan club.  That doesn’t mean season 3 is perfect.  Like most season 3’s it is meandering through an inferior story line, trying to find a path to season 4.  It still can be pretty stunning.   AMC has picked season 3 up, but don’t start there.  You must go back and start at the beginning.  Worth the trip.

Ozark (season 1) – 9

I succumbed to the three years of hype about how this was Netflix’s signature series, at least now that we don’t talk about Kevin Spacey anymore.   I found it to be as good as advertised.  The acting is universally superb and it is definitely a unique story line.  Previously when I thought of the Ozarks I thought of the great comedienne Kathleen Madigan, but now I’m going to think of the gray palette of this strangely lit series.  I will admit that I don’t get all the nuances of how Jason Bateman’s Marty Byrde is laundering money, but so far I’m convinced he’s making it work.  A cat has 9 lives, and Marty has wiggled out of about that many dire situations.  Very cool, sporadically violent, with an unbelievable cast of characters inhabiting some great writing.  I’m hooked.

After Life (season 2) – 9

How can one of the great comedians in the world, Ricky Gervais, write such a poignant, funny/sad story about grief?  He has a special talent.  He plays Tony who is grief stricken at the loss of his wife, who appears not through flashbacks, but through Tony’s heartbreaking video viewing.  This show will capture your heart.

Bad Education – 9

 Hugh Jackman can probably clear some spots on his mantel for the awards that will come his way for his wicked performance as real-life Roslyn NY superintendent Frank Tassone.  Tassone was beloved for the results he achieved as he elevated the school district, all the while keeping a treasure trove of secrets, including lovers, embezeling, and plastic surgery.  Even when caught, he’s almost able to whip so much charisma on the school board that they don’t know what to do.  This movie is too good to be anything but true.

Extraction – 6

Netflix apparently felt compelled to try to break the John Wick body count record in the gun porn category with this glossy and super violent movie.  One drug lord has kidnapped the son of a competing drug lord (Bangladesh/Afghanistan territories) and there’s only one semi-alcoholic mercenary who can recover the kid.  His name is Tyler Rake and he is played by Chris Hemsworth, who it can be said has found his life’s calling – knocking off extras.  The internet says he killed 183 people in one scene, so that right there should tell you if this is your type of movie.  I can sum it up like I did John Wick.  When you’re a bad guy and you’re ten feet away from the good guy, it’s always a good idea to, rather than shooting him from a manageable distance, rush forward and engage in some fruitful hand to hand combat. 

Don’t be deterred by the fact that the good guy will extend you no such courtesy should he find himself armed and 10 feet away. 

Extraction is a mild distraction

Park Avenue:  Money, Power, and the American Dream – 9

I decided I’d watch this documentary because I love New York city and have always wanted to live in Manhattan for 6 months, (but not right now).  I thought I would see what’s cooking at the hottest address in America.  Turns out a lot.  All I got out of this 2012 documentary was a pretty thorough explanation of how we got to where we are today.  Alex Gibney is now a legendary documentarian, but I’d never heard of this one.  I don’t know how to get you to sit through this.  I wish I did.  It’s important.  You’ll be shaking your head in disgust at the end of this – but I can’t predict which aspect you’ll be disgusted with. 

The Kominsky Method – 10

I am personally distressed that twice in the last month I have parked my car in the garage, unloaded it, and discovered hours later that I forgot to close my door.  Having just turned 67, I can’t decide whether or not the mental or the physical aspect of advancing age is starting to kick extra points on my butt more, but do I have to be sore every single morning?

These “creeping” dilemmas are beautifully addressed in this hilarious Michael Douglas/Alan Arkin Netflix series. It captures the good and the bad of the position in life many of us are finding ourselves.  Well written and acted with gusto by these two Oscar winning national treasures, if you can’t remember where you left your glasses or your keys, why you came into the room, or what you were just talking about, this is the series for you.  

Jerry Seinfeld – 8

It is safe to say the Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy has recently been impacted by the blistering success of his good friend Sebastian Maniscalco.  In his latest standup special of 60 minutes, he is a much more animated, physical stage presence than ever before.  I saw him a few years ago in New Orleans and it was worth it, but he was not like this at all.  Verbally he’s the same wry and brilliant observer of life, but you will probably have to adjust to the moving Jerry.  This special’s first half hour is rather tepid, but the last half hour, where he gets personal about his marriage is comedy gold.  At least it is if you’re married. 

Justified – 9

We are two seasons into this FX series of backwoods Kentucky Deputy Marshall Raylan Givens, played to the hilt by Timothy Olyphant.  Rayland killed a Miami drug lord in a shoot out and no one is happy about it.  The cartel isn’t happy so they are putting a target on his back.  His boss isn’t happy, so he transfers him back to his ole Kentucky home.  His new boss isn’t happy because he knows Raylan will soon be involved in some “justified” shootings.  His ex-wife isn’t happy to see him again, and his old buddy from high school and the coal mines who is now on the other side of the law isn’t thrilled with his presence.  The various families (including his own) that populate the area aren’t pleased to see him.  Other than that, everything is peachy.

Based on an Elmore Leonard series, it is Givens’ “cool” that carries the series.  I’m sure there are people out there who are this cool, but I haven’t met many of them.  

Devs – 9

This Nick Offerman offering (I just had to) on the USA network is every bit as bizarre as Netflix’s The OA, which is saying something I never thought I’d say.  What if you could develop a computer that was so strong it could look into the past.  And the future.  It’s all just bits, right?  Bring back the dead, decide who lives.  It’s all fun and games until it goes haywire

The Sinner (season 3) – 7

While it has its moments, this USA network series has the season 3 blahs as well.  It goes on too long and goes a little over the top.  When the detective is more bizarre than the murderer, you know things are going to get very weird.  

The Last Dance – 10

And lastly, how about the amazing Michael Jordan documentary?  Purportedly about his last season with the Chicago Bulls, it’s really a carefully constructed retrospective of his career.  It accomplishes a couple of things.  First, it hopefully puts to rest the “greatest of all time” argument.  I’ve been a basketball fan since I was a tiny tot and saw almost all of the greats other than Bob Petit and George Mikan.  Jordan is the best basketball player I’ve ever seen, and it’s not close.  Secondly, it’s a great picture of what an assassin he was.  He wanted to take the game-deciding shot.  He was hard on his teammates.  He knew what it took to win and was willing to do whatever it took. 

There are people like this, but they are few and far between.  I’ve known a few, and their intensity and focus, coupled with a hatred of defeat, make them great.  Nothing has been sadder than watching Sports Center with no sports to talk about, but The Last Dance has filled the void.

Lastly,

I’m a 25 year customer of Directv and Congress didn’t renew the law that allows me to watch network feeds of the east and west coast, which I loved (sorry WLOX) so as I ponder my next move a few comments on what I love about the streamers.

Hulu – Ties in with NBC, HBO, and FX among others make this an incredible service.

We have revisited episodes of Buffy, Firefly, Hill Street Blues, The Good Wife, Fargo, and Ally McBeal.  Talk about a deep bench!

Netflix – What a monster!  From shipping DVD’s to your doorstep to almost single handedly killing DVD’s in 10 easy years.  Between their purchases and their original content, one could plant themselves in a recliner and not leave it for years.  Netflix has changed the world.

Amazon Prime – Like Netflix, it must be nice to have unlimited funding, and there are many quality offerings available.

Disney + - Not just Disney movies, but Marvel, and Star Wars.  What could go wrong?  Nothing. 

The Networks – we’re hooked on Manifest, New Amsterdam, The Rookie (our third Nathan Fillion series- but we didn't like the season 1 cliff-hanger) and Late Night with Seth Meyers, but the truth is they continue to struggle versus the deep developmental pockets of their streaming rivals.  Not to mention that most of what is on the streamers is in Pristine 4k HDR which is stunning sight and sound and the networks and the satellites have fallen behind in picture quality.

The Pandemic has changed the world.  It will never be the same.  Streaming and Social Media have us in a death grip of adversarial chatter.  Wealth over Health.  I hope we make the right decisions or we’ll be in a season 3 of our own. 

At the Cinema - February 2020

Just Mercy – 7

The always compelling Michael B. Jordan plays real-life Harvard lawyer Bryan Stevenson who upon graduation headed to Alabama to defend death row inmates.  His top candidate for complete exoneration is played by Jamie Foxx and Stevenson’s up-hill battle against prejudice and racism is consistent with history. 

None of this star power can save this movie from being manipulative and simplistic. While it’s all uplifting and ideological, it’s so predictable that there’s no suspense.  This is by-the-book filmmaking of the horrific problems of racism and wrongful death row convictions and because it’s a true story you can’t help but be drawn in.

The real-life problem is dramatic and heart-breaking and to most people of color time has stood virtually still. The movie problem is that some innovation would have gone a long way in lifting this above a tv movie-of-the week feeling. 

Call of the Wild – 7

Hollywood has done it now.  It’s one thing to inundate us with unrealistic super-hero movies where ridiculous abilities exist.  Now they’ve put a super-hero dog on film, and done it to embellish a classic story.  I guess you could’ve never gotten a real dog to do this stuff, like pull a sled, jump into an icey river, or fight off wolves and bears.  So they inserted a computer generated dog and challenged Harrison Ford to act like “Buck” was actually knocking liquor out of his hand.  I’ve had dogs, and love dogs, and no dog is this perfect. 

All of this doesn’t mean the movie is terrible.  Because the dog isn’t real, the animal-cruelty people didn’t have to be called in.  There are brutal scenes that any animal lover is going to hate, but none of it is real, and you don’t even have to keep telling yourself that.  If you have accepted “comic book” world dramatizations over the original novel you will probably enjoy this.  If the filmmakers hadn’t given away in the first 60 seconds that this wasn’t to be taken seriously, maybe I would’ve suspended my disbelief.  The reality is that dogs are so damn entertaining without being perfect that they enhance the adventure of living just fine, without the special effects. 

In our house, every day my dog exhibits the Call of the Couch. 

Scanning the Smaller Screen:

The Pharmacist – 10

This Netflix drama is by far the best thing I saw this month, and the discomfort in watching it is what lifts it to its heights.

This riveting documentary series is built around two lucky breaks:  Finding a Pharmacist who has been fighting battles against ravaging drug addiction since his son was tragically killed in the 9^th Ward Area of New Orleans – AND recording much of it on an old tape recorder and with a video camera.

This is as much a portrait of obsessive-compulsive behavior as it is an expose on the pharmaceutical industry.  Maybe we would have recognized the dangers of Oxycontin without the efforts of a Chalmette, Louisiana pharmacist named Dan Schneider, but his relentless pursuit seems to have accelerated things, at least in Louisiana.

When Schneider’s 22 year old son is tragically killed in a drug deal gone bad, he realizes that the only way the murder will get solved is if he solves it.  The New Orleans Police Department is dismissive, disinterested, and overwhelmed.  He is obsessed, blindly obsessed.  Schneider puts his life in danger by walking the streets of the city for years until he solves the crime, and there’s one more thing:  he tapes everything.  Here’s another thing.  He keeps the tapes in the attic and they survive Katrina when his house is flooded.  Without that preservation, there is no documentary.

Once that is out of the way (the first episode) he takes on the subject he knows best.  Drugs.  Not the illegal ones, but the legal one that people are overdosing on – Oxy.  And his tape recorder is always running as he realizes there is a local “pill mill” doctor who is stepping over the line in a big way.  It is astounding how long it takes to get this stopped.  It takes an obsession that is a match for the addiction.  This is a sad chapter in American history and it’s not over yet as over 400,000 deaths have now been attributed to this drug.  Meanwhile the pendulum has now swung the other way to the point that people who are in constant pain can’t get prescribed the drug because it was abused so badly. 

I doubt there will be a more compelling documentary this year. The Schneiders had no idea that their son was using.  Their story is in turn heartbreaking and heroic. 

In a “let’s get high” world there is a lesson here. 

Hold your friends close, and your children closer. 

Raising Hell:  The Life and Times of Molly Ivins – 9

Legendary Texas columnist Molly Ivins is the subject of a paint-by-the numbers biography.  What lifts this one is the subject herself.  “Colorful” is an inadequate description of Molly Ivins. “Fearless” is another one.  She took on Texas politicians, then National ones with a passion that has to be admired.  She wrote her mind.    

In a society where free-thinkers are being replaced by a what I call the “two lane highway” we need more Molly Ivins and less of what we’ve got.

High Fidelity – 9

There are many things I miss about the past.  High on the list is the hours I’ve spent in record stores browsing for that vinyl discovery, then coming home and breaking it open to slap on the phonograph.  Of course, my gear is better today, and I can play it louder than I could on that old two speaker Magnavox, but today’s music…well don’t get me started.  Sure, I still make playlists.  My current one is 3000 songs on itunes (and it’s spectacular), but I miss the curating that comes with trying to make that perfect 16 song cassette.  Those were the days – when the transition from song to song was art and life wasn’t a “shuffle” mode.  It was a singular comfort to know what song was next and how cool that transition was.  There was a time when you would bring new music home and just sit and listen to it, not listen as you were cooking, or driving.  Those were the days, my friend.  (At this point you are either nodding your head, or shaking it and saying “what planet is he on?”)

Apparently, or fictionally perhaps, the record store lives on in Brooklyn New York, fighting extinction, and even making a little bit of a comeback.  One of my favorite recent movies, “Hearts Beat Loud” captures such a place, but in the series High Fidelity the record store anchors the action.  The action being the lives of 3 unique characters.  I won’t spill much about them, but they bring so much gusto to this 10 episode Hulu series, that I hope the series is renewed just so I can see what’s next in their lives and the satisfaction that they just can’t get, no. 

In the middle of it all is Zoe Kravitz playing “Rob,” short for Robin, the female version of John Cusack’s character in the Nick Hornby film.  Her natural charisma is the gravity that holds this together.  She’s awesome and her character is a mess.  In fact the series is a little bit of a mess.  She suffers through old boyfriends and new, careening through life with the backup and guiding commentary of her friends.  Most nights, after days spent arguing the merits of Fleetwood Mac or disco music, or naming their “top 5 comeback songs,”  they close the shop and head out to listen to music.  What could be better?

If you love music, plunk down the $6 for a month of Hulu and enjoy this.  It’s not perfect, but it’s entertaining.  Well, actually the episode where Rob goes, across town to buy a record collection is pretty perfect.  There were two recent mini-series that I enjoyed. “Vinyl” on HBO, and “Roadies” on Showtime, that scratched the surface.  This series plays the record, scratches and all.

McMillions – 9

You’re not going to believe this HBO documentary series.  I’ve watched 3 episodes and I’m flabbergasted.  Remember playing “Monopoly” at McDonalds?  Remember the million dollar prizes?  Well, you never had a chance.  It was rigged.  Who rigged it and who collected and how the FBI caught them is the subject here, and I’m not going to give it away, but telling you who would be perfect to direct the feature film would even give this away.  If you can’t trust McDonalds, who can you trust?

 

Alita, Battle Angel – 9

Much like Call of the Wild, the hero cyborg with the enhanced human brain is inserted amongst live actors in a ridiculous adventure movie.  There’s just one thing.  It’s actually pretty good.  James Cameron scripted, and Robert Rodriguez directed, so this is elevated plotting and imaginative locale.  They create a world.  You get to visit it.    

Alita is the cyborg and she’s got feelings and she’s got skills.  There isn’t a realistic moment in the movie, and yet it’s fun in a ridiculous sort of way.  I have no idea why some of these cartoonish movies work and others don’t, but this one works, so if you enjoy this kind of movie, chances are you’ll enjoy this one.

78/52 Hitchcock’s Shower Scene – 10

I believe I can make the case that the single greatest movie ever made is Psycho.  It changed the cinema in so many ways. The innovations and structure can be a day long discussion, or in this case, 91 minutes.  In this shot by shot dissection of the movie, particularly the 78 camera set ups and 52 separate edits that make up the Janet Leigh shower murder scene, the movie is discussed with reverence by various filmmakers.  The symbols and many times this scene has been referenced in movies that came after emphasize its influence.  This documentary is for film fans and Hitchcock fans.  Psycho has been copied but never matched.  Maybe this documentary makes the case better than I could ever make of this movie’s revolutionary greatness. This is a 2017 documentary that I didn’t know existed until I caught it on Hulu.  Great stuff, and as many times as I’ve seen Psycho, there were surprises I’d missed.  Great stuff, particularly for the movie buff. 

At the Cinema - January 2020

1917 - 9

The movie “1917” is an important movie and it shouldn’t be missed.  For those of us who never knew the magnitude of the two world wars, Director Sam Mendes has given us a bookend to the magnificent “Saving Private Ryan” in detailing the horrors of these World Wars.  For example, I had no idea that World War 1 was largely fought in trenches.  I didn’t understand the weaponry.  I couldn’t have pictured any of it.  It's not on our radar anymore, and that's a shame.  We can't let it slip away.  

There were many great movies peppered through the 20’s and 30’s about World War 1, like Wings and All Quiet on the Western Front.  Such a movie is rare now, but there are some classics, like Paths of Glory, Grand Illusion, Lawrence of Arabia of recent vintage. 

1917 is a different animal.  It was shot to appear as if it’s one continuous scene, and is the story of two British Soldiers sent to get word to the front that 1600 soldiers are about to charge their way into a trap set by the Germans.  While predictable in the outcome, the journey is riveting, with some unexpected twists along the way.  Technically, it’s like the difference between the tv’s we watch in our youth and what we watch today.  1917 is so vivid and immersive that it is high definition of a world that was previously grainy to us.  Everything about it is superb, from the acting, to the writing, to the story itself.

And that perfection was the problem for me.  I never forgot I was watching a movie.  In fact, I was gawking in wonderment throughout, rather than enjoying it.  It is so impressive as a technical achievement that it is distracting.

As the Oscars draw near every year, there’s a hot January picture.  This year that movie is 1917 and it may sneak in and steal awards.  Don’t be surprised.

They Shall Not Grow Old – 10

Believe it or not, here's a movie even more impressive. 

While Saving Private Ryan and 1917 are bookends, the incredible documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” is 1917’s enhancement.  If you are a fan of 1917, that admiration will only grow as you watch this masterwork. I missed it in the theater, but found it on HBO.

Academy Award winning Director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) took old World War 1 footage and scrubbed and colored it with the latest digital technology, then added dialogue and sound effects.  Most importantly he got old narration out of World War I archives and uses voice over to tie the visual to the audio.  Then, he weaves all this together into a story.  It’s a remarkable achievement.  Not only does this work shock you, it will amplify 1917 by showing you how close 1917 came to the actual conditions, but also show you that in fact, it was worse than one can imagine.

It’s been over 100 years since this war was fought.  The Allies turned back tyranny and were 30 years from doing it all over again. 

In appreciation:

World War I was fought in Europe between 1914 and 1918.  At that time the world population was 1.9 billion, and 16 million would die in the war, or just under 1% of the world’s population

8 million soldiers died and 21 million were wounded.  In all, 65 million soldiers from 135 countries were mobilized during the war, or 3% of the population. 

The US only spent 7 months active in the war and 116,000 Americans were killed. 

World War II was fought between 1941 and 1944.  At that time the world population was 2.4 billion.  Casualty estimates range as high as 85 million, well over 3%. In all, 300 million soldiers around the globe were mobilized, over 12% of the world’s population.

As for the US, 16 million served of the 140 million Americans, an amazing 11%.

What would happen for World War III?  The Earth is seeing a population boom that is straining our ecosystem.  Currently there are 7.7 billion people and that is expected to hit 10 billion around 2050 and 11 billion by 2100.  If a global conflict broke out today, it might require a billion soldiers.

I'm not an automatic lover of war movies, but these two movies have my attention.  They are refresher courses, lest we forget. I urge you to inhale them deeply, and appreciate the sacrifice of millions.

Best of the Year/Decade

For some crazy reason I spend a couple of hours compiling these lists.

Here’s my ranking of all the movies I saw last year, with the rating I gave them.

Best of 2019

1. Blinded by the Light – 10
2. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood – 9
3. Parasite - 9
4. Richard Jewell – 9
5. Wild Rose - 9
6. Bombshell - 9
7. Dark Waters – 9
8. Ford v Ferrari – 9
9. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – 9
10. Her Smell – 9

Western Stars – 9

Terminator:  Dark Fate – 8

Black and Blue - 8

Long Shot - 8

Marriage Story – 8

Late Night – 8

Joker – 8

Eighth Grade - 8

Yesterday - 7

Rocketman - 7

Us – 7

The Irishman – 7

Ad Astra - 7

Knives Out – 7

Queen and Slim - 6

Uncut Gems - 6

Booksmart – 6

John Wick 3 – Parabellum – 1

Documentaries

Don’t F**k with Cats-10
Free Solo – 10
Leaving Neverland - 10
Hitsville:  The Making of Motown - 10
Linda Ronstadt:  The Sound of My Voice – 10
Inventor:  Theranos – 10
Apollo 11 - 10
The Soundtrack of Our Life:  Clive Davis – 10
The Many Lives of Nick Buoniconti - 10
Satan and Adam – 10
Bathtubs over Broadway – 10
Knock Down the House – 9
The Apollo – 8

The Ozzies

Best Picture – Blinded by the Light

Best Actor – Paul Walter Hauser in Richard Jewell

Best Actress – Charlize Theron in Bombshell

Best Supporting Actor – Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time …in Hollywood

Best Supporting Actress – Kathy Bates in Richard Jewell

Best Director – Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Best Documentary – Don’t F**k with Cats (Netflix)

The Lizzies

Best TV Show – The OA

Best Actor – Mahershala Ali in True Detective

Best Actress – Jodie Comer in Killing Eve

Best Supporting Actor – Tony Shaloub in the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Best Supporting Actress – Nina Arianda in Goliath

Bonus Feature

Here’s my friend David Jones’ 2019 favorites. 

He is the only one I know who loves this shit as much as I do:

1. Don’t F**k with Cats
2. Parasite
3. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
4. Marriage Story
5. Ford v. Ferrari
6. Toy Story 4
7. Gloria Bell
8. Uncut Gems
9. My Name is Dolemite 
10. Blinded by the Light

Which brings me to my purely personal best of the decade, in only approximate order.  These are the ones that stuck with me the most.  

The Best of the Decade

Movies:

1. Mad Max:  Fury Road
2. Mission Impossible:  Fallout
3. Arrival
4. The Social Network
5. I, Tonya
6. Inception
7. Blinded by the Light
8. Spotlight
9. The Imitation Game
10. Whiplash
11. The Wolf of Wall Street
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
13. The Dark Knight Rises
14. Get Out
15. Zero Dark Thirty

Bonus Feature – The David Jones Top 10

1. Gravity
2. The Social Network
3. Roma
4. Her
5. The Revenant
6. Don’t F**k with Cats
7. The Shape of Water
8. Winter’s Bone
9. Manchester By the Sea
10. Mad Max:  Fury Road

My Favorite Performances of the Decade:

Lead:

Leonardo Di Caprio in The Wolf of Wall Street

Amy Adams In Arrival

Supporting:

Paul Walter Hauser In I,Tonya

Rebecca Ferguson in 2 Mission Impossible’s.

Favorite Documentaries

1. Stories We Tell
2. Three Identical Strangers
3. Tim’s Vermeer
4. Hot Coffee
5. George Harrison – Living in the Material World
6. Mea Maxima Culpa – Silence in the House of God
7. Searching for Sugar Man
8. Requiem For the Dead:  American Spring 2014
9. Don’t F**k with Cats
10. Going Clear:  Scientology and the Prison of Belief
11. Free Solo

My top 20 Favorite TV Shows

1. Rectify
2. Fargo
3. The Good Wife
4. The OA
5. Catastrophe
6. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
7. True Detective
8. The Sinner
9. The Newsroom
10. Veep
11. Glee
12. Billions
13. The Good Place
14. Late Night with Seth Meyers
15. Silicon Valley
16. Real Time with Bill Maher
17. Treme
18. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
19. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
20. You're the Worst

My Favorite TV Performances:

Lead:

Jodie Comer in Killing Eve

Billy Bob Thornton in Fargo

Supporting:

Tony Shaloub in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Maggie Siff in Billions

As Gene and Roger used to say, “See you at the Movies.”

Saints Report Final - January 5, 2020

The Saints post-season run collapsed before it got started in a 26-20 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings in a raucous but ultimately deflated Superdome. 

The Saints defensive line has been dominate all year.  In this game, they got dominated.

The Saints offensive line has been dominate all year.  Not on this day.

Drew Brees has been nearly flawless all year.  Not this time.

The Saints had only turned the ball over 8 times all year.  Brees had a fumble and an interception, both at crucial junctures.

The Saints best sequences during the game involved Taysom Hill.

The Saints took their only lead of the game at 10-3 early in the second quarter when Hill played quarterback for two straight plays.  The first was an 11 yard run.  The second was a 50 yard bomb to Deonte Harris.  Kamara ran it in from the 4 to finish the drive.

The most devastating sequence occurred right before halftime, and accounted for a huge swing of the pendulum.  

The Saints put together a goal line stand from their 2 yard line.  The Vikings were forced to kick a field goal bringing the score to 10-6 with 2:54 remaining in the half.  The Saints were looking at plenty of time to drive it down the field, then come back and start the second half with a possession.  Two touchdowns on two straight drives and the Saints would be up 24-6.  It would have been over.

Instead, disaster. 

From their own 24 Brees throws a perfect pass down the middle that hits Tre’Quan Smith in the hands at the 50.  It was a game changing drop.  It would also be Smith’s only target.

On the next play, Kamara catches a 3 yard pass.  On 3^rd and 7, Brees got greedy and threw into double coverage for Ted Ginn at midfield.  Harrison Smith picks it off and brings it back past mid-field.  Then, with Cousins throwing to Adam Thielen on several big plays, the Vikings drove in for a score with Cook taking it the last 5 yards for the Vikings first touchdown and a 13-10 lead with 23 seconds left.  

No time for the Saints to do anything, right?  Wrong.  Harris runs the kickoff all the way back to the Vikings 45.  Brees throws 20 yards to Thomas.  A quick time out and Wil Lutz lines up for an improbable 43 yard field goal with 4 seconds left to tie the game. 

He misses it.  It’s the kind of miss that kills playoff dreams.  Unlikely errors by Brees and Lutz and the Saints go in at halftime down 13-10, and with Dalvin Cook having rushed for 84 yards.

To the second half.  The Saints drive stalls when on 3^rd and 1 they make the dumbest play call of the day with some kind of shuffle pass to Kamara, instead of bulldozing for a first down.  They punt.

The Vikings took a 20-10 lead into the 4^th quarter.  Then it became the Taysom Hill show.  The Saints put together their best drive of the day and Hill caught a touchdown pass to pull within 20-17.  Later the Saints drove down to the 20 and were in position to take the lead when Brees made his second big mistake.  He fumbled to kill the drive. 

The Saints had one last chance.  The Saints got the ball back at the 2 minute warning and Brees worked his usual 2 minute magic to work the Saints into position for a tying field goal.  That would be the last time he touched the football.  Tied at 20, the game moved to overtime.

The Vikings won the toss and moved quickly to the winning touchdown, a jump ball to Kyle Rudolph over PJ Williams.  Adam Thielen made the big catch, his 7^th catch of the day, equaling Michael Thomas.  But Thielen’s were for 129 yards to Thomas' 70.  Thielen toasted Marshawn Lattimore all day, but this catch was against Patrick Robinson who was in for an injured Lattimore, who was conspicuously limping around the sideline.  The game was not a good look for Lattimore who had gone ballistic on the coaches earlier when he had gotten burned.  Ask Brandin Cooks how that turns out.   

I was apprehensive all week about this game for one reason.  Dalvin Cook.  The Saints haven’t faced a super quick running back all year.  But Cook was the nightmare I was afraid he was going to be.  He shredded the Saints defense all day, allowing the Vikings to control the clock.  All the talk will be about Kirk Cousins getting the “big-game” monkey off his back.  But it was old time football that beat the Saints. 

 

There is a tried and true formula for winning football.  Run the ball, and stop the run.  Control the clock, and pressure the other quarterback up the middle.  It’s in Vikings’ coach Mike Zimmer’s DNA.  When you run the Ancestry DNA test on Sean Payton you will not find it.  Count the times that the Saints ran the ball twice in a row this year, this game.  It’s a real small number.  Real small.  When it’s all said and done, this is why the Saints have only one year of post-season success.  They’re pass happy.  Pass Happy sets records.  Pass Happy is thrilling.  Pass Happy wins divisions.  But Pass Happy is not Championship football. 

Yes, Brees is usually terrific.  But when he isn’t, the Saints have no where to turn.  And it’s not that unusual.  The NFL just picked their top ten quarterbacks of all time and ridiculously, Brees wasn’t on it.

Let’s look at the Super Bowl era Quarterbacks that were:

The Great Tom Brady.  Almost a free pass to home field advantage and the Superbowl every year through a horrible division, and with a great defensive coach.  6-3 in Super Bowls, usually with a consistent running game.  No one can deny he’s a great clutch performer.

The Great Peyton Manning.  Two Super Bowl wins (and a loss) in which he was less than stellar.  Both were defensive wins.  Mostly disappointing post-seasons.

The Great Brett Favre. Only one Super Bowl win to show for his career  Mostly disappointing post seasons. .

The Great Jon Montana.  Yea, actually he was great in a revolutionary offense, but he had runners like Roger Craig to compliment Jerry Rice.

The Great Dan Marino.  No Super Bowls

The Great Roger Staubach.  Two Super Bowl wins.

The Great John Elway.  Won Super Bowls in his last two years when he got a running game, after going 0-3 previously when he was pass happy.

And one who didn’t make it on the list.

Aaron Rogers – one Super Bowl Win.

It’s not unusual for great quarterbacks to be lacking in championships. 

In each of the last three seasons, Brees has been standing on the sideline watching at the end.  Terry Bradshaw (absent from the NFL’s list) won 4 Super Bowls.  He had a guy named Franco Harris to hand the ball to.

Cousins played a Bradshaw game Sunday.  Pound, pound, pound, control the clock, and mix in a bomb or two.  Is actually the kind of ball the Saints played during the five games Bridgewater started when Brees was hurt. 

Will the Saints ever learn?

Probably not.  

It will be an interesting off-season.  Those great draft choices of recent years are going to want paid.  The Saints will want to keep Janorius Jenkins as an upgrade over Eli Apple who is a free agent.    Brees, Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill are all free agents.  The Saints will have to pick one, maybe two.  In fact, the Saints early exit is going to make it tempting for Jerry Jones to make a run at Sean Payton.  Someone named Skyler will have a hand in that decision, but there’s no question that Payton had a tough year.  He got out-coached Sunday, and he even had problems with butchers.  Radio call-in show criticism is supplemented by social media hysteria. Knowing that there are two types of head coaches (those that have been fired, and those that will be fired) does Payton change ships, or does he continue his quest to be the New Orleans version of the Great Don Shula.  (2-6 in Super Bowls in 31 years as an NFL Head Coach.) I hope he stays.  They don't grow competent NFL Head Coaches on trees.  

There’s film to watch and decisions to make. 

Here’s the film they need to watch most.  A few years ago, for the only time in the Brees/Payton era, something strange happened.  The Saints went to Buffalo and put together a long drive where they ran the ball on every play.  It was crunching, crushing football.  The kind of football that wins playoff games.

It is going to require a DNA transplant. Under Payton the Saints are now 7-5 in the postseason, and that’s not good enough.  But we have to remember they were 2-7 before Payton.  Just trying to keep some perspective through a January calendar that has just been cleared. 

At the Cinema - December 2019

Richard Jewell – 9

My favorite movie of 2017 was “I, Tonya” and one of the things that I liked the most was the performance of a guy named Paul Walter Hauser, who made me laugh out loud.  He was a unique and funny character actor whom I thought would probably go unrecognized because he certainly was not the physical specimen you would expect to become a star.  I certainly never expected him to get a starring role.  Fortunately, Clint Eastwood had another idea as he cast him as the title character in the story of the wrongly suspected bomber at the Atlanta Olympics.

Jewell spots the bomb, brings in the bomb squad to confirm, and then helps evacuate people away from the bomb, saving hundreds of lives when the bomb goes off.  Within a few days, the Atlanta Journal Constitution runs the story that the FBI has begun to investigate Jewell, because he fits the profile of someone who wants to be the hero.  Jewell’s life will never be the same. 

In a controversial move, Eastwood suggests that the AJC reporter, Lisa Scruggs, who landed the story from an FBI agent, did so by promising sexual favors.  (Both Scruggs and Jewell are deceased.)  The newspaper, who has never admitted an error in reporting, as well as Scruggs’ family hav taken great offense to this.  My viewpoint of the controversy is that it’s about a minute of innuendo that was totally unnecessary for the movie.  I think it was a tactical error by Eastwood.

Having said that, the movie is tremendously compelling from an “it could happen to anybody” viewpoint.  Hauser is terrific, as is the supporting cast, including Olivia Wilde as Scruggs.  Hauser unfortunately will go unrewarded for this because he doesn’t “fit the profile” of a movie star, but he captures Jewell in a way that no one else could have.  I’m a fan.

Bombshell – 9

Easily the best female performance of 2019 is Charlize Theron’s inhabitation of Megyn Kelly in Bombshell.  Her incredible range (rom Monster to Imperator Furiosa to Megyn) suggests that she may be the best actress working today.  I honestly couldn’t tell that I wasn’t watching Megyn.  She has always been one of those actresses that light up the screen, but here she does more than that.  She dominates it and everyone around here.  She even gets the voice right.  It’s like watching a master craftsman at work.  Having said that, her dominance of this picture may have inhibited the story telling a little, as it seems to pivot around her as the heroine.  I’m still not sure I buy that she is the paragon of virtue she is made out to be here.  Is she a star?  Is she a journalist?  I’m just not sure, and knowing what we know now about what happens after the credits of this movie, including her stint at NBC, doesn’t clarify anything in my mind.

This movie is the story of the sexual harassment that was prevalent at Fox News.  Most of the movie is built around the Fox architect, the late Roger Ailes who was personally sued by Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman, also excellent.)  Ailes has been busy building his leggy blonde bombshell brigade, and he makes no bones about what he thinks America wants to see. It’s also clear about what he likes, and what he wants to do about it.  His demise and ultimate firing by Rupert Murdoch is portrayed here, and John Lithgow is subtle and swarmy in the role of Ailes.  The film skims over Bill O’Reilly and one suspects there could be a separate movie on his moves.  This is an entertaining movie that is only lacking that great music that’s in the trailer. 

Dark Waters – 9

Mark Ruffalo continues his quest to be this generation’s Jimmy Stewart as he portrays Dupont nemesis Rob Billott. Rob is the lawyer who wades uncertainly into a case that his mother steers him into.  West Virginia cows are dying, teeth are rotting, and one militant farmer suspects the ground water is being poisoned by the local Dupont plant.  This presents a dilemma as his town is largely employed by, and dependent on the plant, so the locals don’t take kindly to him suing Dupont.

Rob fights a very long uphill crusade against Dupont, lasting years.  Shockingly, Dupont even reneges on an arbitration commitment.  It turns out that the miracle coating Teflon which is almost present in every home in America is toxic.  Dupont of course, has a lot at stake, thus a lot to hide.  It takes almost ten years of Billott’s persistence to litigate the truth.  It seems our society requires too many Erin Brockovich’s.  If you haven’t discarded your Teflon pots yet, you will after you see this.  Oh, and it will be too late.

 

Queen and Slim – 6

Say my Name, Sandra Bland – 8

Talking to Strangers (book, by Malcolm Gladwell) – 10

Traffic Stops gone bad is the connective tissue of three experiences.

Let’s start with Malcolm Gladwell’s Book “Talking with Strangers.”  Like all Gladwell books, it’s a fantastic learning experience.  It uses a traffic stop gone bad – Sandra Bland’s in Texas – as a launch point.

The book begins and ends with the dissection of the Bland tragedy and all the missteps that contributed to it.  But in between Gladwell weaves his spell as his dissects how cultures differ on expressions, and how we are weak at separating truth from lying.  His discussions of Amanda Knox, Bernie Madoff, and Jerry Sandusky illustrate his points, along with an in-depth discussion of CIA interrogation.   I thought I knew.  I didn’t.  His story of how red flags were ignored for decades in the cases of Madoff and Sandusky will tilt your world-view.  Finally, his discussion of modern policing tactics will open your eyes to the problems that law enforcement faces.  It’s all fascinating.  Like all of Gladwell’s books, I won’t forget what I learned.

The HBO Documentary “Say my Name, Sandra Bland” covers how that same traffic stop blew up into a nationwide movement, one of many horrible incidents during a heated and confrontational time between law enforcement and the black community.  Gladwell even mentions it at the end of the book (which is how I found it) and his criticism that it focuses too much on a conspiracy theory, and not enough on the communication breakdown, are valid.

Then there’s the movie.  In “Queen and Slim” incredible performances can’t save the cartoonish nature of the story.  It begins with a tinder date between two young black people who just happen to be lonely on a given night.  There is no connection, so he is taking her home, when they are stopped by a white racist cop who seems to want to uphold every stereotype you can imagine.  The traffic stop goes bad, and any sane person viewing the dash camera would see that it was clear self-defense that begins the story.  Nevertheless, much like Sandra Bland, they fear the worst.  They go on the run.  As they head from Ohio to New Orleans, it becomes a road movie.  It reminded me of Billy Jack, a movie from my youth.  But as the two drive on back roads (with absolutely no traffic – where are these roads?) they of course begin to like each other as they decide Cuba is the place for them.  I was also very bothered by the ending, but you be the judge.  I wasn’t buying it.  There’s not a lick of subtlety in this movie, and it could’ve used some.  

Having said all that, these are worthwhile companion pieces that will make you think.  We can afford the challenge. 

 

Knives Out – 7

If you like and miss old Agatha Christie movies and stories, this movie is aimed squarely at you.  And like most of those old stories, the “who dun it” is so complex and ridiculous that only a movie star could solve it, so in steps Daniel Craig, aided by a ridiculous accent of some type.  He’s playing some kind of Charlie Chan/Hercule Poirot hypbrid is all I could figure out. 

Some movies are just inexplicable hits, and the longer I’m away from this movie, the less I like it.  My wife had the right idea as she set a new record by sleeping through at least three fourths of the movie.  Expansive nap.  Mildly entertaining.

 

Uncut Gems – 6

If you like character studies of highly unlikable con men in New York City, this is the movie for you.  Adam Sandler, of all people, gives a highly frenetic and effective performance in a totally unpleasant, story.  Sandler is Howard, a gambling addict in the jewelry business who careens from one bill collector to another, one con to the next.  This is one of those “do people really live like this?” movies.  It is well acted, well produced, well received by the critics, and not boring.  Kevin Garnett is a prominent character, and it’s pretty cool the way that develops, and Howard’s girlfriend is played by Julia Fox, who appears to be a star in the making.  She’s terrific, even though you’ll never understand what she see’s in Howard.  The characters are so unpleasant that you want to yell “just shut up already.”  May even be a classic, but not my cup of tea. 

Scanning the Satellite

Her Smell – 9

Elizabeth Moss is astounding as punk rock singer Becky Something in this claustrophobic tale of narcissism and addiction.  I would have never envisioned Moss in this role, but she nails everything from the vanity to the singing.  There’s an oppressive, droning soundtrack that plays over most of the movie, like you’re in the basement of a grunge club.  There are scenes with Becky and her child that are excruciating, and the attempts of her manager, her ex, and her bandmates just to get her to the stage are agonizing.  We never actually see Becky take a drug, but her instability goes deeper than drug-use.  I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone like Becky, for which I’m thankful.  But it sure makes for an interesting if severe movie experience. 

Marriage Story – 8

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, both of whom seem to be in every movie these days, star as a couple ending their marriage.  The ease with which they hope to accomplish this evaporates in a sea of lawyers (Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda) and their relationship gets uglier as the divorce gets uglier. 

How you look at all this may be largely dependent on your own marital experience.  Some may say “been there, done that.”  Some may say it was depressing.  Some may just tune out.  However, you can’t deny the heartbreaking intensity of this film.

It didn’t make for a great time, that’s for sure, but I will give the filmmakers credit for going where few movies go.  It’s a very updated take on “War of the Roses,” well done, well-acted, and destined for some award recognition shortly. 

That doesn’t mean its enjoyable.  Enter at your own emotional risk.

The Report – 8

Adam Driver again, this time as a staffer on the Senate Intelligence Committee who spends 5 years looking into the CIA’s use of torture in the shadow of 9/11.  As usual, real life is more interesting than fiction, both Driver as Daniel Jones, and the great Annette Bening as Senator Dianne Feinstein are solid as the investigation unfolds. 

Having been there, I have a pretty good understanding of how corporations work.  I’ve often been puzzled about how the government works.  This movie is a primer on government investigations and how much probably needs to be investigated.  It won’t leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 

Apollo 11 – 10

Great documentary of the US landing on the moon in 1969.  This is new-to-you archival footage, restored and with no narration.  None needed.  Nostalgic and moving, and a critical piece of history.

Reprisal – 7

I watched this power ballad on Hulu because of the presence of Abigal Spencer, who will always be a legend for her performance in Rectify.  I’m always hoping for a recreation of that experience, and while there are some remnants of that pacing, and Rectify showrunner Ray McKinnon appears in the first episode, that’s where the similarities end.  This is a tale of bloody revenge, but the world of a bunch of “brawlers” is at least fully realized.  Spencer is terrific and unique, as usual, but this is violence porn.