rich-fouts Reviews

Funny Girl (1968)

Stunning Streisand !

[10/10 · 25 March 2024]

From the moment she walks onto the screen, to the moment she walks off ... Streisand delivers one of the most memorable performances in film history, American and otherwise. Even if you remove the musical numbers (which are extraordinary) Barbra would have been noted for a stellar performance. Her acting is phenomenal, considering she begins as a young girl trying desperately to get on the stage, ending with a mature actress and singer, secure in her career as one of the most notable stars in the industry. It's one of Hollywood's best "rags to riches" transformations. Every time Streisand comes onto the screen, we can't take our eyes off her.

But what is so memorable about this film: Streisand exhibits a remarkable ability to express both vulnerability ... and confidence. It's absolutely mind-blowing when her debut number is none other than, I'm the Greatest Star. Here is this child, knowing she doesn't look and act like the other industry starlets, yet storms into the theatre, secure in her knowledge that she's also the greatest star. We get a few glimpes that maybe she's kidding herself, but these moments are quickly overruled by her absolute surety, that she's the greatest star. Go ahead, laugh, bend in half, but you'll be sure to get it if you just watch and LISTEN.

That first number underscores the entire story about young stars knowing they have what it takes, but no one is willing to take a chance. You know you're going to see something wonderful when she says, "I've just gotta get onto the stage, somehow." This is a girl that won't take no for an answer.

From there, it's a rollercoaster of proportions only show business can provide. The young girl, awkward and loud, is a volcano of talent that the great Ziegfeld simply can't resist. He decides to trust his instincts, instructing his newfound star to do exactly what he says. After all, he knows the business better than anyone. But then comes the first, big dramatic twist. No one has better instincts than the star herself, who goes against direction to deliver what "she knows will work." Namely, "I Am the Beautiful Reflection."

What follows in absolutely hilarious, as Fanny, the bride, shows up pregnant, or "in the family way" as they said back them. The audience goes wild, Ziegfeld is furious, but admits, "I should fire you but I love talent." After that, she is given some license and we see scene after scene, song after song, of utter genius. And INSTINCTS.

Academy Award voters agreed: Streisand, in her film debut, won an Oscar for Best Actress.

In the Gloaming (1997 TV Movie)

A film of restraint

[10/10 · 25 March 2024]

Why are families so tense and unable to be who they are when they are together? It's a mystery. In the lovely film, In the Gloaming, four people grow up together yet are complete strangers. Anne Eliott Dark, who wrote the story and screenplay is clearly close to the subject which she captures well, but decides to tell one of the extraordinary cases where the family doesn't completely reject the gay son.

Having come of age in the 1980s, I can tell you, this is a very rare circumstance. Most of my sick friends were not just rejected, they were called horrible names and told they would rot in hell. They didn't move home, rather they were forced to die alone. It was a dark time in America that I won't ever forget.

But this story is quite different. Danny, born and raised in one of those idyllic (but rigid) New England settings, moves away when he's young, obviously to stretch his wings and live an independent life, free from his past. Unfortunately, while living his life in San Francisco (in publishing) he contracts AIDS. His lover, Paul, can't handle what's happened .... and Danny is forced to move home to be with his parents (David Strathairn and Glen Close) and sister (wonderfully played by Bridget Fonda).

I grew up in this era, and parents were hardly this gracious when their dying son showed up to die, but in this, very rare case, Danny arrives home to a loving mother and father (okay, sort of) who welcome him home. Since Danny is so young, and dying well before his time, no one knows what to do. Hence, they go about things as they normally would, dinner on the patio, walks in the afternoon, drinks before dinner, and it's all just-so-normal.

Then the inevitable comes and Danny starts to deteriorate. Whoopi Goldberg, their full-time caretaker, tries her best to fill in the gaps. What follows are heart-breaking scenes where mother and son talk openly for the first time (the father, just like always, is absent). When the end comes, all of them grieve separately. Then, when Janet (Glenn Close) makes funeral arrangements, her husband notes, "I presume you know what he likes." Then, while reflecting on what he just said, asks "Please, tell me what else my boy liked." As usual, fathers are clueless about their sons until it's too late.

David Grusin's sound track is pitch perfect, underscoring the Scottish theme, In the Gloaming, which is what the Scots use to describe "end of day." It's a lovely film, not overly sentimental, that anyone can relate to. I just wish more families had been so accepting, as this story took me back to the days of me, at the hospital, sitting with young men as they breathed their last breath, without their families, who were too horrified about their son being gay, to be by his side.

Mending the Line (2022)

Beautiful film, must watch

[10/10 · 25 March 2024]

Stephen Camelio brings us a beautiful story about an Afghan vet who finds solace, understanding and truth through a Vietnam veteran.

Beautifully directed by the great Joshua Caldwell (Layover, Immortals, American Tragedy), the story is a brilliant idea, and one that I relate with on a very personal level (which would be Vietnam).

As far as casting, you can never go wrong when you manage to get Brian Cox involved in a project. Kudos to Scott Macleod for insisting on Cox for this pivotal role. I mean, come on! Brian Cox is so special in everything he does. He's always brilliant. But team him up with the wonderful, heart-breaking Sinqua Walls (as the young Colter) and you have gold. The two of them are so different, so far apart, but pure magic when they come together, which happens through none other than PATRICIA HEATON (as Dr. Burke).

Okay, we know Heaton from her uncanny ability for comedic genius, but in this serious drama, she will blow you away. I didn't even know it was her until halfway through the film. I'm telling you, she is that good.

Perry Mattfeld, who we all know from IN THE DARK, is terrific, mostly due to her restraint. Mattfeld is known for her bold, outspoken characters, but in this drama, she holds back, which only increases her dramatic effect. The woman is genius.

Overall, it's a really lovely story and film that I( will likely watch again and again.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Mary, Joseph and Larry (2002) Season 3, Episode 9

HILARIOUS (Mary, Joseph and Larry)

[10/10 · 7 February 2024]

Have you seen the Christmas tree at Nordstrom in San Francisco? Well, that's the style of tree that shows up in the David household as Cheryl insists on having a tree given the arrival of her parents.

From there, everything goes into one hilarious situation after another, with Christmas carols (belly laugh), tree decorating . .. and Christmas cookies that Larry accidentally eats, assuming they are animal-themed cookies that are his for the taking.

After accusing him of "eating the baby Jesus" Larry, being the good Samaritan, finds a group of nativity actors in front of a Christian church on San Vicente, that he hires to.show up his home, hoping to get back in Cheryl's good graces. He and "Joe" who is playing Joseph in the Nativity scene get in a fight, and a Christmas miracle occurs.

The entire episode is just one laugh after another.

Beef (2023– )

Great idea, well executed

[10/10 · 15 January 2024]

This series is brilliant, and has one of the best story arcs you'll ever experience. After an initial inciting incident that is fairly ordinary (two people getting pissed in a parking lot over a very mild "road rage" incident), we see subsequent events that keep escalating the drama, in some really bizarre ways as the two leads come up with evil ways to get the other. What I liked is how they "act first, think later."

Both are what one would call "bad people" that are hugely self-centered but also care deeply about their families. There's a ton of external conflict in this series, but what makes it so good is the internal conflict we see in the lead characters. The collision of external and internal conflict is very successful, and is perhaps the best take-away for writers invested in how to write a story that keeps viewers engaged.

Steven Yeun is especially good at pulling of a character desperate to manage external conflict, while being handicapped by his internal demons.

But the brilliance is how comedic elements (through events an dialog) creep into the story that had me howling several times. It's fun to laugh, but big belly laughs are rare, and this series has at least one in every episode. And they come when least suspected. Many follow moments that are either highly dramatic or very sad, and it really works.

Starting at Episode 7, some really big, dramatic, crazy incidents start to occur as a series of dominos that put the characters into impossible situations, that keep you on the edge of your chair (always the sign of a good writer). My only beef is the Jordan character (very stereotypical). Young Mazino is very, very memorable (as Paul Cho, Danny's younger brother).

The story arc and dialog arevvery effective, (thanks largely to Lee Sung Jin) and made possible by skilled actors that really know how to "be" not act, and who get how to deliver subtle comedy during dramatic scenes. Joseph Lee is especially good at walking this fine line, and Steven Yeun gives one of his best, most memorable performances. He's switches between likable and unlikable very well and has some real heart-breaking scenes. The guy can act! His acting partner, Ali Wong, has a tough job playing a character who is really messed up, and complex (both won Golden Globes for this series).

Of course, it takes a very competent director to pull something like this off. Most the episodes were directed by the great Jake Schreier (We Cry Together, Minx, Dave, I'm Dying Up Here).

ALSO, the sound track is simply fantastic with all the 90s music and original music (beautifully composed by Bobby Krlic ) .

If you don't like endings that leave you hanging, you might be disappointed, but the way it ends leaves it open to a next season.

Tacoma FD (2019–2023)

Hilarious and lots of belly laughs

[10/10 · 4 January 2024]

Super silly, funny, often hilarious show about firefighters that occasionally get into rivalries with their police brethren. Rapid-pace dialog turns up the pace when they do deep-dives on seeking solutions to super-ridiculous problems. Lots of guy jokes, obsession with dicks, and old-fashioned sexism and satire.

Steve Lemme and Gabriel Hogan provide ample eye candy.

If you like satire and shows lilek Super Troopers or comedies with super-likable characters, you'll love it. Since it takes place in rain-filled Tacoma, the guys have plenty of time on their hands to engage in endless pranks on each other, and of course, the PD which is equally composed of great characters that take themselves seriously.

Bookie (2023– )

SO HILARIOUS ! !

[10/10 · 22 December 2023]

When I saw this show was created by Chuck Lorre I knew I had to watch it. OH MY GOD, it is the funniest thing I've seen in year, thanks to the comedic skills of the two lead actors which are superb at timing, delivery and deadpan humor. First, there's Sebastian Maniscalco, (Danny) who I remembered from Why Would You Do That? He's one of the best standup comedians God ever made, and he can act. It's his understated and blasé reactions to horrific things that are so good, and I'm telling you, the end Season 1, Episode 1 had me howling for five minutes. I had to replay it several times. So original. Every episode has one of those hilarious comedic moments that just come at you, unexpectedly.

Omar J. Dorsey plays Danny's sidekick and he is a great Ying to Sebastian's Yang. He also has the same deadpan humor, but delivered in a different way. Put these two together and it's pure gold. Thanks Chuck, your show is what we all need. DAMN!

If you like to laugh, and who doesn't, you have to watch this. Great writing, good photography. I'm a sucker for anything shot in Los Angeles because I love the area so much.

Maestro (2023)

Beautiful to look at, gorgeous music, but no story.

[6/10 · 14 December 2023]

I went to Maestro expecting a film that would chronicle the life of one of America's, if not the world's, great composer/conductors. I've seen Leonard Bernstein many, many times, starting at age 8 when my grandfather took me to Bernstein's music for kids on Saturday mornings at Lincoln Center. I had no idea who he was at the time, only that people called him Lenny. My grandpa took me to meet him and he was spellbinding. I remember him looking right threw me with his expressive eyes.

He loved kids and loved to teach them about music. Turns out grandpa and Lenny went to Harvard together, hence I got a personal introduction. Bernstein is the guy that got me hooked on classical music and music in general, but I didn't learn anything about his musical career, his childhood, his years at Harvard, his work in Europe, who inspired him, etc.

The making of West Side Story is really interesting (if you know the story) but nothing about it in this film and I mean "nothing.; We get a tiny glimpse of Candide, but nothing about its composition or insight into the Maestro's process. We get zero insight into his Missa Brevis, perhaps on the highlights of his career.

Bradley Cooper blew me away. I've seen Lenny up close many times and I've talked to him a few times. Cooper nailed it, and the scene at St John of the Divine is probably one of the greatest musical scenes ever captured on film. Cooper's conducting is simply amazing. He worked very very hard to capture the speech, mannerisms, and the Bernstein attitude and texture toward music. I cannot speak highly enough of Cooper's performance, but we get so little insight into the musician, and that was so disappointing.

Carey Mulligan? Her performance is nothing less than spectacular, in fact all the acting is extraordinary, but it's not a story. The Bernstein children really have nothing to do in this film, and I have no idea why Lenny's sister was included as she has very little to say or do. Overall, a very perplexing film ... not sure what he was going for. In fact, I kept waiting for it to start. The emphasis was all on style, and believe me, it's beautiful to look at.

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

I love this quirky film by Adam Brooks

[10/10 · 30 November 2023]

I watch this movie every two or three years, as it's one of my favorite Reynolds films. I absolutely love Adam Brooks' script, that tells the story through the eyes of a father, telling his young daughter the story of how she came to be. The storytelling technique is what makes the film so fun to watch (which is very instructive for other writers).

Ryan, charming as always, gives us a touching, nuanced performance with great comedic delivery. He's perfect in the scenes with Abagail Breslin (who is hilarious) and overall, delivers a very authentic, honest performance. He's superb at conveying this hint of "chronic mal-contentment." His character is someone we can all relate with: a guy who's playing by the rules, doing all the right things, but still unhappy. He's searching, but for what? Is the classic definition of happiness guaranteed to make us happy? Hence, the title.

Reynolds is well-paired with Elizabeth Banks because we can see they don't quite fit. When he meets the wonderful Isla Fisher, we get a hint of sparks, but she's not the one either. Then there's Rachel Weisz, a co-worker with a Father complex. She's paired with the fabulous Kevin Kline who truly does some great work in this film. As usual, Kline delivers some hilarious lines, that are funny because it's Kevin Kline! You might think someone like Kline would steal scenes from Reynolds, but he's very restrained, which of course, makes him all the more interesting. Through all of this, Reynolds navigates the situations he's faced with ... brilliantly. He's such a natural actor because ... he doesn't look like he's acting.

I think the film's departure from the usual formulaic Rom Com is what I like most about this film. It's quirky and uneven at times. It gets loud, then soft, fast, then slow. It ebbs and flows in curves, never straight lines. There's a constant, uneasiness that covers most every scene, and that probably bothers some viewers who want to know where things are going. To me, the sign of a good writer is leaving the audience wondering, where might this go? There's nothing predictable about the story. It always keeps us interested and wanting more.

Reynolds hits one disappointment after another, but he's not a victim. To me that takes some skilled acting. Definitely, Maybe is a must-see for RR fans. AND, you'll love the soundtrack.

School Ties (1992)

Fantastic Fraser

[9/10 · 27 November 2023]

Robert Mandel directed a film has a great look-and-feel; very authentic considering it takes place in 1959. Great choice of lenses, angles, and colors by cinemaphotographer Freddie Francis and I really enjoyed the attention to set detail! Couldn't find a thing that didn't belong and it greatly added to the 1959 period.

But of course the first thing you notice is the stunning cast from Cole Hauser, Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell, and Randall Batinkoff to Ben Affleck, Andrew Lowrey and the great Zelijko Ivanek (all youngsters at the time and great to look at). Kevin Tighe (who plays the coach) is superb, but then he was a veteran actor at the time.

The cast especially works well as an ensemble. Matt Damon stands out of course playing the enviable, but no-win rich kid. If he falls on his face, he'll be a big disappointment but if he succeeds ... well, he's well-connected. Damon plays it perfectly. One can see that he was always one of the industry's most natural actors.

And then there's Brendan Fraser who delivers an exquisite performance as the young, Jewish quarterback that arrives to save the day (the football team is on a losing streak and the alums are pissed).

A beautifully written script by the great Dick Wolf. The concept is terrific: a Jewish kid from Scranton who gets a scholarship to a WASP prep school in New England. It's rich with drama, conflict, pain and redemption. I enjoyed every minute of it. I would have made some changes of course. When Brendan feels out of place singing Christian hymns he should have sung his heart out, making for some badly needed comedic moments. But, fortunately Andrew Lowery provides some great comic relief. He's a natural and is wonderful when it comes to close-ups.

And the opening scene of life in Scranton was so cliché and stereotypical that I almost thought the movie was going to have a cartoonish quality. Fortunately, it shifted after the opening (which almost felt like another director entirely).

Overall, a very good story, effectively told with a bunch of super-talented young actors (casted by a couple of very smart women: Lisa Beach and Patricia McCorkle). I would say sometimes you get lucky, but we make our own luck, and these two casting professionals hit a home run.

Euphoria: You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can (2022) Season 2, Episode 4

ERIC DANE

[10/10 · 15 November 2023]

Dane has some serious acting chops. I always knew he was a solid actor, but this guy can stretch, move, ebb and flow ... and make it all seem very natural. Lots of closeups on Dane, and cameras are funny things. They pick up insincerity, and inauthenticity in a second. In a closeup you can be acting, you have to be. Cal is seriously losing it and Dane really delivers. This was not an easy episode for any of the actors by any means, with so much going on.

Sam Levinson exerts superb artistry in this episode with visual effects and sound .. that seamlessly blend into the actors moves, lines and motivations. The guy is such a pro, and having worked in the business there's never, ever enough time to think and you have to make big decisions very fast.

All of the subplots are on the edge of falling off a cliff. I've always believed the sign of a good writer is to leave the audience thinking, "Oh my god, how can this possibly be resolved? Where can this possibly go?" I have no clue how this can possibly end, and I love it.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

A Perfect 10 on Every Level

[10/10 · 21 October 2023]

Ang Lee, with the able assistance of his talented cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto (Babel, Argo, The Wolf of Wall Street) has achieved one of the industry's most visually stunning movies, mostly shot in Wyoming and Canada. Whether early morning, afternoon, evening or dead at night, the colors, lights and motion of this cinematic wonder are impeccably put together.

Of course, then there's the acting. Lee's direction of these two fine actors, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, produces a love story that is moving, tragic and authentic.

Thirty minutes into the film and we see a deep affection between these two men. But it's marred by shame, mostly Ledger, who's character Ennis, can never fully meet his feelings with truth. But there's also a deep regret, as shown in the couple's first goodbye when Ennis has a heartbreaking meltdown. Not an uncommon scenario: the character with the most self-esteem, Jack (Gyllenhaal) clashes with a lover that can't let himself get beyond what society has drummed into his head all his life, that he's the worse kind of sinner. At the end of the day, Ennis figures they must be right. After all, there's more of them than him. And the 'queer' label doesn't help. And, it's 1963.

Contrast with Jack, who can see a future with Ennis. But, as the story unfolds, we see it's simply not meant to be (made more complicated by Jack and Ennis making independent decisions to marry women). Gyllenhaal is a convincing counterpart to Ledger's Ennis, though he doesn't quite lose himself in the character at the depth of what Heath manages to do. This is truly one of Ledger's finest performances as he completely vanishes into Ennis.

The wives, played by Anne Hathaway (who had not yet reached global fame when this film was shot) and Michelle Williams proved to be superb casting choices. Williams, taking a nod from Ledger perhaps, goes all-in on her character and is also completely unrecognizable in Alma. Overall, a love story that has clearly earned its place in the American cinema.

Pieces of a Woman (2020)

When husband and wife take separate paths

[9/10 · 9 October 2023]

A young couple having their first child (Shia LaBeouf as Sean and Vanessa Kirby as Martha) are in completely new territory when they opt for a home birth. There's a lot they don't know, but they are confident a midwife will fill in the blanks. However (and here's the first rising complication) when the midwife, Barbara, can't make it she sends in her second string, played by Molly Parker.

We know something's wrong when Martha is fully dilated and the baby is ready to come, but doesn't. .Next, the heart rate of the baby starts to decline (never a good sign). Nevertheless, the midwife assures them that stuff happens and keeps going. "You're wide open, now if you feel like it you can push." But, baby is simply not coming, Martha is making really strange noises, but midwife says, "let me just see how the baby is tolerating labor." Baby isn't tolerating this well at all. The heart rate is not strong, so the midwife tries moving Martha on her side. Baby should be coming, but isn't. Midwife still insists they power forward.

You get the picture. The baby won't come out, even though the mother is fully dilated, hence is not getting enough oxygen.

Finally the midwife says, "Call 9-1-1." The baby finally comes out, but quickly turns blue (from oxygen deprivation) and dies. The scenes leading up to this moment are some of the most intense stuff I've ever seen on film. Kirby and LeBoeuf are extraordinary.

The rest of the film shows how mom and dad take two different paths after the death of a child. LeBeouf delivers a heart-wrenching performance of a blue-collar, macho husband that comes face-to-face with something he isn't prepared for, and never expected to deal with. He's in hell. He doesn't want to deal with this alone, but his wife resists.

Meantime (another big complication) is Martha's mother who insists on legal action (otherwise, "you won't be able to move on.").

The story finally ends in a court of law, but with little resolution. It was an accident, due to the couple's decision to opt for home birth. Exacting blame is just too grey since the couple knew the risk.

The entire film, which is more episodic than plot driven, is one misery after another, so if you don't like dark films, this one isn't for you.

However, there is a nice ending.

Wilderness (2023)

ON THE NOSE

[1/10 · 25 September 2023]

While the concept was interesting and not a bad place to start, the execution of this plot was so very, very on-the-nose. If you're not familiar with the term on-the-nose dialogue consists of lines that either state the obvious - information that we or the characters already know - or communicates exactly what the characters are. There's nothing subtle at all with this thing, and no nuances in the slightest. The situations are completely cliché in the sense of the cheating spouse scenario..

Perfect couple get an insanely expensive apartment in NYC (don't worry, the husband, Will, played by Oliver Jackson Cohen) is so talented that his company is footing the bill. A few minutes in, they attend a company event and one of Will's collogues meets his wife Liv (Jenna Coleman) and within seconds (I'm serious, seconds) said- colleague warns Liv that if she's not careful her husband will be knee deep in the legs of another woman in no time. Guess we needed a hint that Will is going to be unfaithful. If that's not enough, Li'v's mother issues the same warning, because after all, it happened to her. And alas, in the next scene, Liv looks in his phone and sees a text message from his lover. Wow, didn't see that coming!

BTW, the two top ways cheaters get caught? Text and email (research shows 62% of cheaters are caught by electronic communications between the cheaters).

Liv confronts Will ... and they work it out when he convinces her that one "mistake" should not torch their marriage because she is, after all, "his person." But then, in the next scene, after they've made up, Liv hacks into Will[s email and sees that his "mistake" is an ongoing affair,. One of the messages has an attachment: a video of Will and his girlfriend having sex. Guess we needed more proof Will is a cheater who lies. Incredible.

If all of this isn't just hitting us like a two-by-four, Will gets a phone call, takes it in the other room, and Liv overhears the conversation. Alas, Will is talking to the girlfriend saying, "She's with me all the time, I can't get away, but it doesn't mean I'm not think about you, wishing you were here."

Good Lord.

Whatever will Liv do? She becomes a killer. Why not?

I should state that this horrible excuse for a series is the writing, not the acting (it rarely is). Both leads have impressive resumes and they can clearly act. And I was pleasantly surprised to see Eric Balfour show up ( superb actor,, Six Feet Under, The Offer, 24 to name just a few). The actors are trapped in this script (which I will use when I teach my students about on-the-nose dialogue and use of cliches). So, Wilderness provides a perfect example of the concept, so perfect that my students will likely be stunned.

I could not get past the second episode due to the unoriginality of this thing. I don't know how it ends, but I can only imagine that Liv kills Will.

Outlander: A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers (2023) Season 7, Episode 7

Godspeed, Walter

[10/10 · 13 September 2023]

For Claire, losing a patient is never easy, but this one was special. Walter (wonderfully played by the great Tobi Bakare) was more than stoic when his injury results in an amputation. A natural storyteller, he recalls how and when he met his wife, a story Claire asks him to think about when it's clear he's not going to make it. The interaction with him and Claire is touching and terrific. But then, anyone who does an emotional scene with Caitriona Balfe knows they must bring their A-game. Bakare however, is so subtle and nuanced, never overacts and just broke my heart (as this series does all the time).

Not sure if Richard Rankin ever taught school in real life, but boy oh boy can this guy engage a group of students. Eager to get out of the house, he does a masterful job using song to teach the ancient language of the Highlanders.

What was really interesting was the obvious attraction one of his students (Cameron, played by the handsome Chris Fulton). That was unexpected and really fun to watch, since Roger is so unprepared for it (who wouldn't be). When they make a dinner date, it's one of the cliffhangers of the episode. What's this attraction all about?

William Ransom and Young Ian meet again in this scene, and I was waiting for Ian to screw up and say something like, "Ay, Cousin!" But, we can only imagine that the day will come when William learns Jamie is his biological father (the resemblance is a bit uncanny, but the casting in this show is amazing when putting family members together).

Jamie, always the hero performs another Lancelot rescue of his wife with some unexpected tactics that are shades of Viking culture. It's difficult seeing William so firmly committed to the Brits and we also can only imagine that he and Jamie will come to a reckoning. As an American, we did not learn the nuances of the American revolution quite like this series helps us understand. It's fascinating watching the gray lines between the rebels and the loyalists.

A final scene with Jamie and Claire underscores just how well these two actors have a chemistry we rarely see in film or television. They are extraordinary, so much, that other couples often (unfairly) appear dull. Finally, what a treat to see Barry O'Connor (Game of Thrones, The Tudors) come onto the screen as Colonel Daniel Morgan. Hope we see more of this terrific actor.

I really like the Balfe 's narration which reminds us that this whole series is, after all, Claire's story.

Best Man Down (2012)

Lovely Film

[10/10 · 6 September 2023]

Ted Koland's Best Man Down has got to be one of the most creative stories I've seen. Not sure why HBO lists this under comedies, but then, it has Justin Long and Shelley Long ... and anytime you get those two involved there's bound to be laughs. And there are. But most the story is a like an old-fashioned scavenger hunt , or a detective story with Justin Long as the lead investigator along wiith his wife. .

When I read the logline (the best man at a wedding dies) I assumed the news would be delivered by phone or telegram announcing our best man, named Larry (nicknamed Lumpy) had died in a plane crash or something. But best man "Lumpy" (brilliantly played by the great Tyler Labine) dies on-screen in a bizarre, but wonderfully filmed accident. From there our newlyweds (Justin Long and Jess Wexler) cancel their honeymoon to plan a funeral.

Once they arrive home (back in Minneapolis) we go on a series of flashbacks that take us through Lumpy's story which just gets better and better, more interesting and of course, more bizarre. Turns out Lumpy had a deep friendship with a young high school student, Ramsey (purely platonic) that also unfolds. I won't spoil the details of the relationship but it's very sweet (and unique).

Ramsey is wonderfully played by Addison Timlin (Californication) who just gets better and better. (As the story unfolds, she reveals some secrets Lumpy told only to her. How Lumpy and Ramsey meet is also quite dramatic (and funny).

Overall, a lovely film of friends and family and secrets that people hang onto to protect the ones they love. It's a great ensemble piece led by the always-good Justin Long. But, all the performances are superb. What I enjoyed most was Koland's subtle style of directing that keeps everything very real and believable. Definitely recommend Best Man Down.

And Just Like That...: Alive! (2023) Season 2, Episode 4

GLORIA STEINEM AND OLIVER HUDSON

[9/10 · 11 August 2023]

First off, anytime you get Oliver Hudson involved you're in for a treat. In this case, he plays Lyle, the ex-husband of Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez). The sex-talk the two share is really funny, definitely sexy and tres interesting as they recall various sexual episodes which embarrasses Carrie. ("How am I still in this room?"). But, the three-way they share (Miranda, Che and Lyle), is really well done and it's actually the best I've seen Sara Ramirez because she's so relaxed and not her character's usual uptight self dealing with Hollywood challenges and pressures. The scene is intriguing and hilarious thanks to Cynthia Nixon's comic delivery and superb timing.

Eind Frick, Carrie's former boss at Vogue, played by the great Candice Bergman shows up which was delightful as she delivers her usual acidic lines. This time, Carrie gets the last word even if Enid takes advantage of Carries "deep pockets."

As usual Bergman is really funny, great timing, and when Gloria Steinem shows up at her new launch party, it's simply divine.

I mean, come on, it's Gloria Steinem! Victor Garber, who is always good, shows up in this episode as well as an art-dealer-museum-owner-manager type and offers Charlotte a job. But the real treat is Betsy's appearance at Enid's launch party, played by the really wonderful Julie Halston who just gets better and better.

Overall, a fun episode.

Fatale (II) (2020)

Would make a good satire

[4/10 · 9 August 2023]

If it weren't so serious, this would actually be a satire on bad crime/thriller films where scripts take twists and turns through story holes you could drive a train through, complete with the usual cop dialogue we've come to know in police thrillers.

Our leading lady, a corrupt detective (Hilary Swank) is also a psycho-killer, who meets a married man in Vegas for a one-night stand. The next day as the guy she spent the night with (a sports agent, played by Michael Ealy) tries to sneak off, but she catches him, then spews some very "Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction" style dialogue) at him. Michael's character never expects to see her again, but circumstances bring them back together. There's even a scene where he sees Hilary is talking to his wife as he walks through his front door. Of course, the wife has no idea her husband had a fling with the detective standing in her living room (again, Fatal Attraction).

Hilary's character even lives in an industrial loft, with the exact same elevator we saw in Fatal Attraction. And the ending? Oh yeah, total ripoff of Douglas/Close (though don't expect a rabbit boiling on the stove, that would have been a bit much).

The two leads engage in a game of cat-and-mouse, just like Fatal Attraction, but in this case, they leave a trail of dead bodies in their wake. As they desperately try to frame each other. The serial murders committed by Swank and Ealy are actually pretty funny (you killed my spouse? Wait til I kill yours).

It's when people start dropping like flies that the story goes into complete absurdity. If you're willing to completely suspend all logic, it's a good time. After all, Swank and Ealy know how to act and they are both very good.

But overall, this is pretty ridiculous.

Black Mirror: Striking Vipers (2019) Season 5, Episode 1

Hey boys, take it outside !

[10/10 · 1 July 2023]

Charlie Brooker is always a treat because of his talent in combining serious subjects with satire and humor., while never compromising the serious intent of his story situations. Brookner is always respectful of the human condition and gives his actors great material to work with.

Striking Vipers is no exception, where he takes two college buddies, one living a traditional (yes, somewhat dull) suburban life, the other is more urban, and still clinging to his younger days. But where it gets really interesting is how "Danny and Karl" play out a physical attraction through a video game. It's a great idea for a show like Black Mirror of course, but a great commentary on virtual life's addictions.

Of course, anytime we get to see Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, Captain America, The Banker) we're in for a treat. To say Mackie has range is the understatement of the century. He can do anything (and has). His acting partner (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II from Watchmen) is equally engaging.

But, the unintended ringmaster is beautifully played by Nicole Beharie, Danny's wife. She is clueless about what is happening and her husband certainly isn't going to tell her. But we get a fantastic plot twist at the end of the episode that pulls it all together. Definitely worth watching more than once.

The direction by veteran Owen Harris (Brave New World, The Twilight Zone, Misfits) is stunning along with the photography and LIGHTING which are really well-done. This is not a lot of green-screen, it was actually filmed on location in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Nice work, from Brooker and Harris.

The Devil All the Time (2020)

Incredible dive into small town American corruption and unfulfillable fantasies.

[10/10 · 20 June 2023]

Hypocrisy is everywhere, but no where in America can hypocrites be found in more abundance than its religious institutions. It's been a fun topic for writers for many years, for example, Book of Days by American playwright Lanford Wilson. Couple such hypocrisy with life expectations that can't be fulfilled due to poverty and lack of opportunity, with corrupt law enforcement and you have no where to go but down (at least morally).

Writer Donald Ray Pollock (often called "Hillbilly Gothic") wrote another treatment of the small town that organizes its social and community life around its Christian church where people say one thing but do another because they have so few, viable choices.

Pollock's collaboration with director/writer Antonio Campos to bring his great novel to the screen is pure genius (he's also the film's narrator). Book-to-screen is never easy, because tough decisions must be made as to what gets omitted without losing the primary themes of the story (and this film really works).

Campos and Pollock succeed on every level in telling the story of ordinary people that do truly unbelievable things when law, moral leadership, and religion fail them.

This story unfolds at a time when America's law enforcement, especially in rural communities, was still immature as the country was recovering from the aftermath of World War II. It's 1957, and though the FBI has been around for over 50 years, its big field offices still cluster in major cities and larger towns. Rural America? Not so much. Moreover, there's no real police force in the type of small town writers like Lanford Wilson, Harper Lee, Kent Haruf, and Carson McCullers love to write about. But Pollock joins this group of writers with an intensity most writers dare attempt with some extreme amoral killers (led by the great Jason Clarke) and a corrupt cop (wonderfully played by Sebastian Stan). The Devil All the Time is right up there with No Country for Old Men in the way it thrills its audience.

What really works in this film is the intrigue that slowly unfolds as we witness ordinary people trying to live the life their community expects them to live (marriage and family) but lack the right role models. Add a corrupt minister, sheriff (no mayor ever emerges) and extreme poverty (with no paths to advance) and you have all the makings for people that have only a gun on their side.

The casting is spot-on starting with an intense performance by Bill Skarsgard, who is only in the movie for the first 40 minutes, but sets the stage for everything that is about to happen. The challenge in any film like this is how to get authentic, truly honest performances from actors that likely have zero reference point to draw on when becoming these bizarre characters.

Whatever Campos does, whatever techniques he uses, it works! Every member of the cast delivers a truthful performance from Skarsgard, young Banks Repeta (amazing), Haley Bennett, Kristin Griffith, Riley Keough, and veteran Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) who plays a great villan. Skarsgard early in the film passes the starting role over to the great Tom Holland who does a masterful job carrying the story to its surprise conclusion. I loved Robert Pattinson as the corrupt reverend. One has to believe he had a great time with this sinister role.

Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)

When Your Rape Costs More Than Your Rent

[10/10 · 15 June 2023]

Turns out many girls pay over $900 for their own rape kit. It's one of the many tidbits we learn as this film, based on the novel by Jessica Knoll, unfolds. We see a young woman, Ana Fanelli, a writer working in New York City who has it all. The prestigious job, beauty, grace, the handsome boyfriend/fiancé (who is also rich). But underneath this beautiful scenery is a woman who endured a rocky childhood, topped off by a high school experience that none of us will ever go through.

The two traumas, rape and a school shooting (and witnessing the brutal murders of classmates), at first just appears to be bad luck. How lousy, and unfortunate, could it be that two events like this could happen to the same person? But as things unfold we see that they might be related in some sort of bizarre way. And that, is the brilliance of the storytelling. The layers of the onion peel off, just slowly and with enough information that convince us the two events have some sort of weird, direct relationship. But the mystery is sustained to keep us interested.

The other technique that director Mike Barker does so well is how he tells the story through a series of flashbacks. With each one we learn a bit more and we are able to start connecting the chronological dots.

At the center of the story is a stellar performance by Mila Kunis, who acts as the protagonist and the story's narrator. As Ana, she copes by secretly living her worse fantasies in her head, while performing what everyone expects her to be when she's "on stage." She's convinced herself and others (especially her fiancé, played by the great Finn Wittrock) that she has moved on, only to slowly realize she needs to just stop, take stock of herself, and live through the hurt.

She hasn't really moved to the other side because she has no roadmap, but given some time and clarity, she knows she can get there. While Ana feels helpless at times, and confused, she has enormous strength and a strong sense of reality to make the journey. She's afraid and unafraid at the same time, but just keeps moving in her search for truth, a difficult task for any actress, but Kunis is definitely up for the challenge.

I really enjoyed the structure of the story, as told through flashbacks, especially how all the events that give us the whole picture come crashing to an end with a brilliantly shot school shooting (which brings you right into the terror of what it's like to be trapped in a school while a gunman roams about looking for targets).

What's also done very well is the beauty, glamour and fashion of New York City acting as the uber-layer to the horrors of rape and murder. While it was a complicated undertaking to bring Knoll's novel to the screen, director Mike Barker (The Handmaid's Tale, Fargo, and the fabulous Best Laid Plans.) really pulls if off. This was definitely the kind of story Barker likes to tell, isn't afraid to tell, and he delivers a firm grasp of the material brilliantly.

A definite must-see film and definitely a tour-de-force for Kunis.

Succession: Kill List (2023) Season 4, Episode 5

If a deal collapse in the woods and no one hears it, is it an SEC violation?

[10/10 · 31 May 2023]

The family heads to the incredible (and intimidating) fjords of Norway to negotiate a cash plus 50/50 stock deal. Mattson's strategy is to basically identify that what he's buying is garbage, that he's doing them a favor by making them rich ("already rich," says Roman) says ATN et. Al., is parts (good parts, mind you) bad brand., and that's it's nothing more than a tribute band. And (wait for it) selling news to angry old, people has no future (he's got them there, though he left out "white").

This train of insults continues until Roman loses it and tells Mattson to basically go to hell, the deal's off and he's a POS ( "If you tell the board I said that, I'll say it was a negotiating tactic, which maybe it is, but it isn't."). More great writing from the great Jesse Armstrong. And wow, can this cast act. They just get better and better.

Meantime Shiv, always the strategic shark, has a back channel going with Lukas (first names now) and as the team returns to the US with no deal, suddenly a revised deal comes through (a five dollar bump to the stock price), but it includes everything including ATN. The team is elated and Lukas phones Shiv ("send me a photo of your brother's faces" to which Shiv replies, 'yeah, I can do that.")

Things are meantime heating up with Lucas and Shiv on a more lustful level but it's all very secret. So, once again, Shiv has the upper hand even though she's been sidelined.

The kill list is fascinating: Ray, Mark, Hugo, Frank, Karl, (Tom NOT on the list). WTF?

This was one fantastic episode and things getting really, really interesting.

Succession: All the Bells Say (2021) Season 3, Episode 9

No, it has to be now ...

[10/10 · 30 May 2023]

... says Logan Roy as he returns from negotiating something big (HINT: selling the company to the Swede, but he would retain a title).

Shiv, Roman and Kendall panic, plot their next move, Roman warns against getting too aggressive. Shiv, who always plays corporate games on a chess board,: "Where do you think we fit on Matsson's new org chart, Rome? You know Dad is never going to choose you, because he thinks there's something wrong with you." But Kendall chimes in "He can't sanction a deal without us." So, there's that. Shiv plots ways to push Logan out, Ken as Chair, Shiv as CEO, Roman takes some other asset (like radio stations).

Shiv: "So, how do we feel about killing Dad? Rome, you in?"

These brats actually think they can take on Logan Roy, hahahaha. Guess again, kiddies. Logan tries to talk to the three musketeers but ultimately exclaims, "I have you beat, you morons."

Of course, it all plays out against Nicholas Britell's brilliant Andante Moderato. Just Perfect. This episode and season finale will leave you breathless (as it does Shiv). Bravo Jesse Armstrong.

Love & Death (2023)

SO WELL DONE

[10/10 · 18 May 2023]

What is so fun about this show is how all the characters are unprepared to play the role that find themselves in. A dull, mousy suburban husband, who doesn't experience anything out of the ordinary, is approached by his friend's spouse who says, "I'd like to have an affair with you," to which he replies, "okay."

When he gets home to his wife who pesters him about the usual marriage issues, his response, "I don't know what to say, I don't know what you want me to say." Seriously, this guy could not be more boring,. The woman requesting the affair is married to someone equally dull, but needs an adventure. "I've done all the things a wife is supposed to do,, where is the payback?"

And so the affair begins.

At the center of the story is the community church, where all congregate on Sundays to sing, Holy, Holy, Holy. It's all very "Lanford Wilson."

Overall, the series is just so well done, the way the director presents the onion then slowly, deliberately and deliciously peels away the layers. One can only imagine how much fun Lesli Linka Glatter had doing this, but also the incredible attention to the details of recreating 1978 suburban Texas.

Love & Death was created by David E. Kelly (who never misses) doing all things he loves. (produced by Nicole Kidman's company): ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. The 70s music is fantastic.

The star of this story, and the character responsible for instigating the affair, which leads to the murder and its aftermath, is the fabulous Elizabeth Olsen whose skills in pulling this off are beyond impressive. Her acting partner is the terrific Jesse Plemons (who could not forget him from FARGO).

Toward the end of the series, the scene stealer of the decade, Tom Pelphrey, pretty much dominates the final episodes with his wonderful blend of drama, frustration, charm, vanity, and humor. Seriously, he produces several belly laughs throughout the series with his spot-on delivery.

This series is one heck of a ride, one can only imagine the truckloads of awards Olsen will get for this.

Banshee: The Thunder Man (2014) Season 2, Episode 2

Incredible fight scenes

[10/10 · 18 May 2023]

The interleaving fight scenes are really good. Ana kicks butt bigtime. She's amazing. Our Sheriff goes to settle scores only to find his deputy has done it for him. Another good episode with good direction and the usual great performance of the show's star, Antony Starr who just gets better and better understanding and immersing himself into Sheriff Lucas Hood.

Gordon is still steaming from being deceived all these years, hence goes to the gentleman's club just for the hell of it, but doesn't really enjoy getting jacked off in his car. Not sure what will happen with Gordon and Ana but its likely these two will never recover.