At the Cinema - May 2020

American Destiny - 10

When I heard that Robert Redford was coming out of retirement to direct and star in a new movie, I was surprised.  When I heard that he was pulling together all his industry contacts to produce an “instantaneous” production with several directors and numerous actors, all working simultaneously on multiple sets, I was curious to say the least.   

Then I saw this epic production.  It may be the greatest piece of cinema ever produced.  How they wrote, filmed, and edited this in less than 30 days is probably going to set a new standard in digital production.  It’s immediacy and timeliness are simply stunning.  The movie is set in every American election year for the next 20 years.  Each Election year has a different director.  Buckle your seat belt.  It is a very bumpy ride.

2020 – The Cleansing

In the first chapter, Redford directs himself as President Donald Trump.  As the election nears, the world is squarely in the bulls-eye of a second great depression, as the lingering effects of the coronavirus scare have ensured that much of the business world is ping-ponging between good and bad.  Other countries cannot duplicate the US Fed actions that goosed the stock market and the rebound of the virus following world-wide protests was inevitable.  The unrest was fueled equally by a policeman’s choke hold on George Floyd, and the availability of a lot of out of work protestors.  Public pressure mounts on the administration and the response never meets the clamor.

Oddly, the most devastating scenes in this section take place in football stadiums, as election day approaches.  The NBA and MLB had already struggled through abbreviated seasons, and football was supposed to be a return to normalcy.  Roger Goodell, played by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson delays the start of the season, cancelling the first two weeks, but the President and Goodell square off.  Trump, never a fan of the NFL since their rejection of him as an owner, feels that it is his last chance to restore normalcy before the election.  Goodell starts the season, but the stadiums are eerily quiet as the crowds are masked, small, and socially distanced.  The quarterbacks are calling audibles that can be heard in the upper deck.  The fans are passive observers.  College football is no better.  Bands are not allowed, and while the student section has some enthusiasm, others stay home.  The rattle of pom poms is barely audible  After 4 games, the NCAA cancels the season, but the Power Five conferences refuse, and play continues until a National Champion is crowned (Mississippi State.)  Redford’s choice to focus on football as a metaphor for the economic doldrums is perfect.

On election night, Redford portrays Trump as surprisingly calm, resigned to his fate as the results from Broward County make it apparent that the tide has turned.  He seems almost eager to return to his business interests.  Joe Biden (Christopher Plummer) is elected President in a landslide, as the virus fatalities in the US near 200,000 and the economy continues to bounce wildly. 

               Robert Redford as Donald Trump

             Christopher Plummer as Joe Biden

               Dwayne Johnson as Roger Goodell

2024 - The Comeback

As the 2024 election nears, in the segment directed by Steven Spielberg, Biden has decided not to run for reelection.  He has failed to slow the erosion of confidence, and has spent much of his term reversing the policies of the Trump administration.  Unable to get his nomination of Barack Obama as a Supreme Court Justice to replace a retiring Ginsburg through Congress, he faces backlash from all sides and it is obvious his health is failing.  The social media clamor about the Supreme Court dwarfs any other that has been seen previously, with an aging Mitch McConnell right in the middle of it.  While Vice President Val Demmings (Gina Torres) has teamed with Attorney General Kamala Harris to rebuild confidence in law enforcement, little else has gone right.  The Senate is stale-mated at 50/50, and the mid-term elections deadlocked the House as well.  The stock market hovers at half of its previous highs as many businesses never re-opened.  Losses of the Olive Garden and Applebees were not disastrous, but many local businesses also were never able to re-staff, much less refinance.  Controversial legislation like the “Reserve Assets Act of 2022” have become wildly unpopular.  After the bank’s had to beef up their reserves following numerous bank crises, the public clamored that businesses should all be required to have more cash reserves.  Advocates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, played with gusto by Marisa Tomei, pointed out that in the crisis, companies were calling for “socialist” bailouts, and payroll assistance after just two weeks of shutdown.  As the national debt soared to $25 trillion, the public was angry about the lack of accountability as numerous instances of abuse were revealed.  In a wide-open primary, Harris (Rosalie Dawson) takes up the Democratic mantle but fails to capitalize on the momentum of the Facebook replacement for minorities called “Blackbook” that was formed when minorities revolted against Facebook.  She wins the popular vote, but is narrowly defeated by the Republican nominee – Donald Trump who is drafted to run again with the promise “that only he can fix this.”  Redford is back as Trump.  Trump has spent 4 years defending himself in court against various charges, tweeting almost hourly a criticism of someone.  But it is Broward County that carries him over the top, as he recaptures Florida.  Vice President Nikki Haley, here played wonderfully by Anne Hathaway, has no idea how quickly she will be making major decisions.

               Gina Torres as Val Demings

              Rosario Dawson as Kamela Harris

              Anne Hathaway as Nikki Haley

2028 - The Upset

In the chapter directed by Spike Lee, it is Democrat Pete Buttigieg who defeats Republican Nikki Haley, who while serving as Trump’s Vice President had been elevated in 2026 after Trump was impeached for a second time. This time he was convicted by a Senate controlled by the Democrats and majority leader AOC.  This was all precipitated by what would be known as “The Great Secession” that occurred when California, Oregon, and Washington banded together to secede from the US and become “Western America.”  The states were angered by their lack of representation in the Electoral College as California resident Kamala Harris had won the popular vote by over 7 million votes in 2024 but still fell short in the Electoral College.  Unexpectedly, Alaska joined the new country and the financial power of the new entity was staggering, instantly becoming the third biggest economy in the world.  When the Canadian province of Vancouver joined, Western America became a world power and began to build a military. In addition, their drain off of tax revenue for the US made the US insolvent in the eyes of the markets.  Trump famously said “Let them go” as his, and other Republicans disdain for the “west coast elites” was front and center.  “Let them go” became his rallying cry, but the US Credit rating plummeted and Trump declared the government bankrupt.  The underfunding of government caused by decades of “cutting taxes” was now fatal, and the 2026 tidal wave of Democrats into office, resulted in Trump’s impeachment when a whistleblower in the IRS illegally released his tax returns.  His indebtedness to Russian banks and mob figures were the last straw.  Director Lee captures the Senate trial in flashbacks, and it is now-Indiana Governor Pete who emerges as a unifier.  Zac Efron is Buttigieg and has perfectly captured an older and wiser Buttigieg.  With equally charismatic Mikie Sherrell (Amanda Seyfield) as his running mate, they win Broward County and upset Haley and Marco Rubio (Carlo Mendez) in the general election. 

                  Zac Effron as Pete Buttigieg

            Amanda Seyfried as Mikie Sherrill

2032 - The Moon

Buttigieg is believed to trail substantially in the polls when he pulls off a huge upset, winning a second term with a narrow victory over Republican Adam Kinzinger (Chris Pine) who mounted a strong campaign.  Somehow Republicans cannot capitalize on their Electoral College Advantage and chaos erupts in Broward County, invalidating all ballots cast there.  President Pete’s progress from his first term on health care is stymied by Congress and his second term is destined to be marred by a military defeat of epic proportions when the US Space Force loses the battle for the moon to the Chinese force in 2034.  The US had several encampments there that were critical as stairsteps to Mars, but the Chinese force wiped them out with sonic nuclear waves.  Vice President Sherrill is the head of the Space Force and her promising career is torpedoed.

Director Alfonso Cuaron returns to his “Gravity” roots with stunning battle footage.  Soon after the Chinese capture the moon, they begin a run on the US banks trying to redeem bonds.  The US is on the brink of war with China for a year, but the US Military has been depleted by the reduced funding and the US is in a quandry as Allies of both sides line up with World War III seeming to be inevitable as the 2036 election nears.

                 Chris Pine as Adam Kinzinger

2036 - Electoral Shock

Quentin Tarantino directs this segment.  The battle royal of all elections explodes in ways that no one could have predicted, making Reservoir Dogs look tame by comparison.  For the first time since Teddy Roosevelt, a viable third party candidate emerges in the form of 84 year old Mark Cuban, played almost digitally by Jake Gyllenhall.  The two-time mayor of Dallas has impeccable credentials as a do-er – not a politician – who just outworks everyone else.  He also has an unlimited war chest after 30 years of successful Shark Tank ventures, which have made him the richest person in the world.    He is also rumoured to be the recipient of a youth serum, as he still looks and acts 20 years younger.  He’s been a long-time activist for protecting both the environment and social security, both of which are in dire shape.  Meanwhile fellow Texan Dan Crenshaw (played by Pete Davidson, of all people) is the Republican nominee, while Ocasio-Cortez finally gets her Democratic party’s vote of confidence as their nominee, largely as a reward for shepherding sweeping health care legislation through Congress.  While Cuban falls short, his prior assumed-Republican leanings take votes from Crenshaw.  None of the three get a majority in the Electoral College, and in a stunning move, Congress elects Cuban.  It’s ground-breaking and in his first term with Vice President Justin Amash they begin to try to pull together a coalition to address the 40 trillion dollar deficit that has been in “reorganization” for a decade.  Despite Cuban’s charisma, the US economy has been overtaken by China and Russia.

Tarantino pulls no punches about how far the US has fallen, and it would appear Cuban has his work cut out for him.

              Jake Gyllenhall as Mark Cuban

       Marisa Tomei as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

              Pete Davidson as Dan Crenshaw

2040 - Broward

M. Night Shyamalan directs the final chapter, as long-time Senators Corey Booker (LL Cool J) and Marco Rubio (Carlo Mendez) square off in their bid to unseat Cuban.  The movie concludes with the kind of shocking ending you would suspect of this director, and I’m not going to give it away in this review, other than to say it happens in Broward County.

The ending is the cherry on top of an incredible movie, probably the most revolutionary in motion picture history. It will stand with such epics as Gone with the Wind, and Lawrence of Arabia.  Don't miss it.  

             Carlo Mendez as Marco Rubio

           LL Cool J as Corey Booker

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.