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Reviews
Nurse Jackie (2009)
Commit To Watching The Entire Series--It's WORTH It!
Where to start?
This intelligent, half-hour Showtime offering has its comic moments, but trust me, this is NOT a comedy.
"Nurse Jackie," a brilliant ensemble series, is worth your time and attention, for several reasons.
1. EDIE FALCO. Need I say more?
2. Some of the best writing to be found. Dialogues ring true; situations are (mainly) plausible.
3. Incredibly accurate portrayals of both ER life and addiction. As a nurse myself, I can say this is the most on-point show created in terms of authenticity.
4. Highly entertaining comic relief from the talented Merrit Wever. The show would not shine as brightly without her. Watch her superb physicality in some of her scenes. Wever is a gem! She deserved that Emmy.
5. Although some episodes/plot arcs were a bit tedious, overall this series is lean and taut.
After a tremendous finale (truly perfect, by my reckoning), I felt somewhat emotionally overwhelmed and in need of some discussion with others. But I live in Asia, and nobody I know watches it. So I lurked on a few forums...
The most astute observation I came across said this: Jackie's primary addiction was to nursing; her secondary addiction--drugs--only facilitated (in her mind, at least) her ability to pursue nursing, albeit in an obsessive, all-encompassing way.
I've encountered nurses like this. I feel it has something to do with entering a profession that is under-validated, undervalued, and less visible than MDs, that finds some nurses becoming too intensely identified with their roles as healers/martyrs/unsung "saints." (Jackie was oft called a saint, and it was an important thread throughout).
But here's the kicker: (IMO) This is NOT a learned reaction stemming from their "secondary" roles to MDs; rather, it is a career (and life) CHOICE and DECISION (albeit unconsciously, in most cases) to pursue the saint//martyr role from the beginning. I've seen this choice played out with many nurses and EMTs.
Looking at Jackie's obsession through this lens makes me truly appreciate the nuanced writing and acting that brings this subtlety to light.
Commit to this engaging series and just muddle through the occasional sub-par bits. It's truly worth it. And watch it with another/others if you can. You might just need some "talk therapy" when it's all over!
Buster and Billie (1974)
Flawed, Dated, Nostalgic, Heartbreaking, Unforgettable
Like many reviewers, I saw this in a drive-in 1974. I never forgot it, found it on YouTube (uncut version!), and watched it today.
This film has numerous flaws: questionable writing, some very stilted acting, over-long scenes in dire need of editing, clichéd tropes, occasional sub-standard camera work, but...
There is something unforgettable about this film. Perhaps it has a nostalgia factor for us Baby Boomers, and I don't know if first-time younger viewers would find it equally as moving. But I'd like to think there is a poignant timelessness to this underrated film that could be appreciated by many.
Part of the appeal is the childlike, naive character of Billie (played on-pitch by Joan Goodfellow, who's fallen into obscurity). She has a quiet, luminous quality that's rarely captured on screen. She barely speaks throughout the film, yet brings so much emotion via body language and expressive use of her eyes. For me, she is the soul of this film.
This tragic love story is not a new or unique one, but if you remember "Buster and Billie" from your old drive-in-days, I suggest you give it a second viewing. I did, and found it a rewarding experience.
Mumford (1999)
Worth Your Time
Read Roger Ebert's review on this little gem. Don't let the haters sway you. Suspend your disbelief at the door, and just let this one wash over you. I saw it tonight on The Movie Channel. Don't know how it slipped past me at the time, except "American Beauty" premiered around the same time.
This is a "feel good" film in the best of ways. Some people said it's a forgettable work, but I disagree. For me, not that many films make my heart smile, and when that happens, it sticks.
Lovely ensemble cast, and shot on location in exquisite Sonoma.
A great date night rental, suitable to view with your teens (drug use and nudity-- but not gratuitously).
Really, you could do much worse than this sweet, albeit minor film.