ilvlftuup Reviews

Quincy M.E. (1976–1983)

One Of My Favorite New Old Shows

[9/10 · 28 January 2024]

When Quincy M. E. was originally.broadcast, I was too young to stay up late enough to watch it. However, my mother-in-law is a longtime fan of the show, so I checked it out, and now I'm hooked!

I love how Quincy M. E. has so many writers, producers, & actors connected to other shows I love - including Jeri Taylor (Star Trek: TNG, Voyager), and R. A. Cinader (Emergency!, Adam-12). I've always been a Jack Klugman fan - he's an actor who makes anything he stars in better.

Quincy explores a broad range of subject matter attached to a Medical Examiner & forensics expert. My favorite episodes address issues of social justice, and laws that fight for the underdog, marginalized, & against the pharmaceutical industry.

It's fair to say some elements of Quincy haven't aged well, as it was written in an era where sexism & misogyny were rampant in the workplace & social settings. As the series progresses, the fight against those problems becomes more evident.

Something every viewer should know in advance - and this is why I made sure to click the spoilers button - Quincy M. E. does not have an episode that defines the ending of the show. The final episode is a "backdoor pilot" to a show that was never picked up. Jack Klugman, appears at the beginning & end, but none of the rest of the cast are featured, with the exception of his character's wife.

If you are watching for the first time, I would suggest regarding the episode before the series finale as an ending episode. Albeit fairly uncerimonious, it ends like many of the shows did in the 70's & 80's - business as usual.

Despite the lack of an ending, Quincy M. E. is a really great show, and I recommend it as one of the classics. It paved the way for many other shows that dig into murder cases, medicine, & forensics.

Carol & The End of the World (2023)

Carol: A Superhero We All Need, But Don't Know It Yet

[10/10 · 19 December 2023]

In a world where animated series for adults is gaining momentum, Carol & The End of the World is a series that we all need in our current existence.

Carol is an introvert who begins to seek meaning in her quiet, contained life as a doomsday event looms.

As we get to know Carol, we see signs of a world that has thrown caution to the wind, many people are trying to find extreme experiences to fill up the time they have left. Some people are trying to find love & companionship. Carol is just beginning a journey of getting to know herself better and to know the world around her.

For an animated series, this is a pretty deep dive into navigating life, finding meaning, and a lot of beauty - all in the time everyone has left.

Even though Carol & The End of the World was released as a limited series, I'm absolutely hoping for a season 2.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

It Leaves Much To Consider

[10/10 · 11 December 2023]

I love it when a film leads me to a book, as folks say the book is usually better. If that is the case with "Leave The World Behind", then the book is likely going to be incredible.

The film asks us to take an honest look at where the world is today, take stock of what we've seen and experienced, and bring that into watching this movie.

It also asks us to take a look at ourselves, our work, our communities of belonging & unbelonging, and our own connectedness & disconnectedness.

This film is about you, me, our neighbors - and it asks us to consider how we would handle unpredictability on a massive scale.

Disclaimer - ignore the negative, politically charged reviews. They are easy to recognize.

With an amazing cast & crew, watching this film is a no-brainer - and you might see some high profile names in the Executive Producer section!

Endings, Beginnings (2019)

A Tough Watch

[5/10 · 29 September 2023]

I've been having kind of a Drake Doremus film festival - I love the aesthetic of his films, and how relationships are always portrayed with unconventionality.

Endings, Beginnings fell short for me. The entire film feels like it was filmed with a single camera by someone who's hiding in another room or in a nearby pantry or closet. I kept wanting he scenes to open up, but most of the film has a very closed-in feel.

The dialog in Doremus films generally have an unscripted feel - it seemed unscripted and a little awkward in this film.

The combination of the shaky, constant-motion camera with the unscripted, awkward dialog made it difficult to connect with this film as a whole. I kept hoping the film would open up into a riveting story, but it seems to never get past the feel of the plot setup. The whole film feels like the beginning of a film, and then it ends.

But alas, this will not stop my Drake Doremus film festival.

The Middle (2009–2018)

Middle America, Middle Comedy.

[4/10 · 23 June 2023]

The Middle is kind of a funny show about a nuclear family in Middle America, three great kids with two parents who are impatient and emotionally unavailable, and act like their kids owe them something. In the first two seasons there are literally two episodes where the parents complain about their kids "taking them hostage." Their son Brick a genius who underachieves in school, bc they don't understand him & treat him like an inconvenience. Their daughter Sue is an amazing person whose character is developed as an invisible, forgettable person who has to move mountains to be remembered by anyone, most notably, her parents. Their oldest son Axle is a scatterbrained high school athlete who manspreads all over the house wearing just boxers, and couldn't care less about anyone else in the family, yet he has almost total control over the parents. Dad is an apathetic misogynist who wants minimal involvement with his kids. Mom is overcommitted and overwhelmed, steamrolled by her obselete, chauvinist boss, and forgets about her kids while trying to remain relevant, capable, and loved by her husband. I can tell the intent of the writers was for The Middle to be silly & relatable - but it is actually frustrating, full of gut punches, and hasn't aged well.

Somebody Somewhere (2022– )

Very real, very uncomfortable

[10/10 · 25 May 2023]

Somebody Somewhere - a journey of messy grief which quickly evolves into a journey of finding oneself through a storm of toxic family and chaotic mental health issues. It's always better to go through these things with a patient, compassionate friend who believes in you. That's what this story is about. I find myself frequently having to remind myself Sam is going through all of these things at once, because a lot of her story is messy, self-centered, unfiltered and awkward. Sam commands the need for compassion and patience from the viewer. We feel sorry for Joel, but we're also grateful for Joel, as he plays the friend we're all seeking who will weather the storm alongside us in times of personal crisis. I love this show in all of its messy realness - it's a story that is best told by the Duplass brothers, as they represent a small group of filmmakers & show runners who tell beautiful stories about the unpretty, uncomfortable, often hidden parts of our lives. Enjoy, but also buckle up for the ride that is Somebody Somewhere.

Class of '09 (2023)

A Riveting Slow Burn FBI Drama

[10/10 · 14 May 2023]

If you like films or shows that are low key, slow burn with a great cast, great storyline, and great cinematography, you will enjoy Class Of 09. I was very pleased to see that Kate Mara was cast in this, she seems to fit in films that put her in some sort of government role, or someone who interacts with people in the government or military. Her character is controversial, as someone who is not as competitive as her fellow trainees but is someone who wants to help everyone succeed. I imagine that is a quality that would be rare for anyone training to be a special agent for the FBI. However, she is also someone who has a strong resolve and resolute goals as the show toggles from present day to the future throughout the course of the show as the storyline builds, and comes together. Stick with Class Of 09 - I have a feeling you won't regret it.

Class of '07 (2023– )

I Wanted to Like It

[5/10 · 14 April 2023]

Interesting plot, great cast, beautiful filmography.. what could go wrong? Nearly everything. Episode one was great, but the story progressively devolves & unhinges in every episode. I have trouble believing people 16 years out of high school would collectively embrace this level of abandonment of reason in the face of a natural disaster. I get that it's a comedy, but it also has a heavy dramatic counterpoint, which is actually more interesting than the comedic storyline. Mixed in is a steady dose of cascading self-sabotage, which again, works against the comedy. Also, as with most Australian & UK comedy, there is plenty of vomit for those who find that to be a beloved comedic device. There's even a scene where a woman pukes up her lunch and group of women dive over a dining room table in hopes of getting a spoonful, so as to illustrate how close to starvation they are due to their consistent, comedic self-sabotage. For me, copious amounts of vomit makes it unlikely I'll be highly anticipating season two. It is not a breath of fresh air. It isn't brilliant. It isn't a revolutionary new comedy. It is an anxiety-inducing train wreck that passed up a chance to be all of those things.

The Nowhere Inn (2020)

The Nowhere Inn, not a mockumentary

[6/10 · 2 April 2023]

I wanted to love The Nowhere Inn, because I'm a fan of Carrie Brownstein, and I like mockumentaries. This is more of a drug-addled, surrealistic reaction to the superficiality of celebrity, classism, and the reality of the fakeness of filmed reality. There's a lot of interpersonal cruelty between Annie & Brownstein which is frustrating & anxiety-inducing while it is couched in what feels like a nightmare. What I like about The Nowhere Inn is it's a reaction, one of disgust, which is appropriate. The objective of a mockumentary is to be satirical, sarcastic, comedic, and slightly absurd - and while there are a few really funny moments, the story gets buried under layers upon layers of mess. All said and done, I asked myself if viewers of The Nowhere Inn are supposed to feel like they were on the outside of an inside joke. That is where that film has left me.

Downsizing (2017)

A Creative & Existentially Important Film

[10/10 · 1 April 2023]

I am a huge fan of Alexander Paynes films. Every film I've seen by Payne, I've been able to spot his trademark style which rests in a combination of comedy, surprise bluntness, and an unmerciful look at the pathetic aspects of the human condition. Downsizing is no different. It examines existence from a hopeful place, in a way that makes sense, while also reminding us of how pathetic and broken we are. There are so many brilliant performances from such a rich cast of actors, most notably, Hong Chau. She is the star of Downsizing, and her character gives the film such heart, and likely gives the viewer a reason to examine one's existence. Such poignant films rarely win popularity contests, but I don't believe that is the point of the film - even though it should be a film everyone watches. If you haven't seen Downsizing, you should.

Gypsy (2017)

Gypsy Falls Short

[7/10 · 29 January 2023]

I wanted to like Gypsy. With Sienna Miller and Billy Crudup, it seemed to be set up for a win. The filmography and design are beautiful, and with Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac featured as the theme song, my initial reaction was that this show would be a huge, ongoing series. Not the case. Unfortunately, it's obvious the writers bit off a little more than they could chew. We've got a discontented Psychotherapist, wife & mom who is using her patients' pathology to dig into their lives off the clock - for the sake of finding herself and satisfying her need for risk & bourbon. What's so bad about that? She is married to a semi-misogynist suit, who is slightly controlling and jointly in denial about their child needing exponentially greater support as a transgender boy. As I watch Gypsy, it becomes apparent this cluster of plot points is impossible for the writers to keep track of in a way that makes the show more successful, which is why it was cancelled.

Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022–2023)

A Great Story, A Masterclass in Domestic Trauma.

[8/10 · 17 January 2023]

This is an amazing series. It is well-acted, well-cast, well-written, and well-directed. There's a lot to this series that should actually warrant a trigger warning for those who have been through family trauma, divorce, severe mental health issues, misogyny, sexual harassment, work trauma, people treating each other like garbage, death etc. It's difficult to list everything that happens in this series without giving spoilers, but it is anxiety-inducing, and traumatic, because the entire series is basically watching trauma in action and the history of that trauma. That being said, again, it is excellent, in it's craft - but for me, it will be a one time watch.

Native Son (2019)

A Question of Budget?

[7/10 · 7 October 2021]

Native Son had the makings of a great film - setting, cinematography, cast, story... the plot builds, the characters are developed, and then - a sudden tragedy after which it felt like someone pulled the plug on the film.

Was it a lack of innovation with the screenplay? Was the film's budget exceeded?

Such a shame to develop a main character to this degree, and then basically shut the movie down.

Maid (2021)

Absolutely Brutal, Necessary Viewing

[10/10 · 7 October 2021]

Everyone needs to watch this. I've never seen a show or film that so vividly and accurately depicts the patriarchal systems in America that are supposed to help women who are abused and a single parent. However there is one thing that weaves films of this type together - the highlighting of the toxic, hateful, greedy, white male patriarchy in the United States of America.

It was made clear in this mini-series that an abusive, alcoholic boyfriend & father has the power to rip a child away from a mother trying to protect that child within a broken system.

In both situations in this series, where a custody case came into play, it was clear if the abuser had not called off the cases, he would have been able to legally stand in the way of a mother protecting her child, and be fully backed by the court system.

Even the main character's father, also an alcoholic & abuser, was willing to back the abusive boyfriend, who he was sponsoring in AA, before backing his own daughter.

This mini series addresses several areas of family toxicity, and it gets very real. While it is beautifully filmed, I believe it is done so intentionally to attempt to counteract the emotional frustration of watching each personal struggle and disaster play out.

I would recommend this series be watched by everyone, but I would offer caution if you struggle with anxiety or panic disorders, or depression, I would not recommend watching this before you go to sleep.

Pearl (II) (2020)

A Meaningful Look At Profound Loss

[9/10 · 28 August 2021]

I appreciate this movie on several levels. I have never thought that stories about loss and grief needed to be "big Hollywood", but experiential. & substantive. I personally relate to the story, because over the last year, I lost both of my parents - which was what actually drew me to this movie.

It was great to see Anthony LaPaglia in this role, portraying someone in the thick of their own personal crisis, then shifting gears to something completely unexpected. His chemistry with Thompson was good, though some of the story & conversation was inorganic in a few places.

For example, there is a scene where Thompson overreacts for seemingly no reason, and she lashes out and pushes LaPaglia like she wants to start a fight with him. I actually went back and watched the scene again trying to figure out what was the catalyst for that overreaction, and I still feel it's unexplained.

Another unexplained part of the story is the sudden end of Thompson's & Macedo's friendship - an inorganic, and unfortunate end to that storyline.

There are a few things left unexplained in the plot, but it seems like at the end of the movie that it's OK that those things were unexplained.

I suspect that this film had a very limited budget and a short window to film it - a little more time and money could have rounded out this film in a way that it really deserved. That's part of the beauty of independent films.

Even so, I feel this film deserves nine stars, as it does address grief and loss in a meaningful way, as people with different struggles try to find a way forward.

If you are reading the reviews about this film before deciding to watch it, just go ahead and watch it and pay no attention to the naysayers.

UFO (2021)

U(F)O: Frustrating, Filler, & Failure

[4/10 · 21 August 2021]

This documentary caught my eye on an Instagram ad - it looked exciting, like it might advance the UFO narrative in some way with more recent footage & evidence - and it has J. J. Abrams'/BadRobot name on it.

Sadly, none of those hopes and dreams came to fruition. As with most UFO documentaries, you are left sitting there scratching your head, or throwing your hands in the air.

Kudos to the graphics and animation team for all of the infographics and all the animated text highlighting of government documents, news articles, and book excerpts.

Congrats to the video archivists who carefully recycle the same blurry stock footage repeatedly over the course of a 4 hour documentary.

Much gratitude to the cinematographer who kept the camera shaking and filled with artificial lens flares.

The empty office building where they filmed some of the interviews added so much mystery and suspense.

If it weren't for the interview with the former Governor of AZ, and the Phoenix Lights story, it would have been a complete wash.

This is 4 hours of clickbait & fluff. I can't believe J. J. Abrams put his name on it. Skip it.

Summer '03 (2018)

It Gets Real

[10/10 · 1 August 2021]

I really loved Summer '03. It kind of reminded me of what it would be like if Alan Ball had decided to reboot Six Feet Under in the later 2010's.

It's a beautiful & candid collision of death, grief, dysfunctional family dynamics, toxic religion, sexuality and coming of age wrapped up in a beautiful film.

Much of the dialogue is very real and unfiltered, it's obvious that attention was paid to make the conversations among family to seem realistic. I like that the character played by Joey King is a curious and courageous person. I like that she doesn't accept what she is told at face value. I like that she is a woman character who overcomes anxiety to find out things on her own.

I think it's a film that represents where people are in our current times, that it's not a sanitized and wrapped up in a pretty little bow. I liked how it highlights people's cruelty to one another, and that it's OK to summon the courage to tell awful people that they are awful.

I like that it takes characters that are supposed to be clothed in holiness, and unearths their ugly side, and combines it with the lesson that some men, even when dedicating their lives to religion, are not heroes.

Beautifully filmed, amazing soundtrack and film score, amazing direction and production. I recommend that you see this film.

The Newsroom (2012–2014)

If there were ever a show to reboot, The Newsroom would be that show

[10/10 · 11 July 2021]

I just finished watching the last episode of The Newsroom - and it's literally one of the best shows I've ever seen. I've always been a fan of Aaron Sorkin's work, and this is a favorite in that collection.

While The Newsroom kept up with current events ranging from 2011 to 2013, it seems to give a lot of context to what we are currently experiencing as a nation in 2021. And who better to communicate that in a way that everyone can understand it than Aaron Sorkin.

There couldn't have been a better cast for this show - was a lineup of diverse and talented actors that come together to form that team of characters we root for, but also people we identify with. The chemistry between Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer is spectacular, and Sam Waterston - all I can say is I love that guy in whatever he's in. Chris Messina was another casting highlight, a departure from his usual character, who is generally unlikeable in The Newsroom - yet he plays his character well, & brings a lot of memorable moments to the story.

As I said in my title, if they were ever a show that needed to be rebooted - The Newsroom would be that show.

Cook Off! (2007)

Fun, Unhinged Comedy

[8/10 · 19 May 2021]

I enjoyed this comedy. Amazing cast & cameos. Melissa McCarthy is a catalyst to the movie becoming the unhinged comedy it truly needed to be.

Those who have seen Christopher Guest films will embrace this movie from the start.

All the Bright Places (2020)

Great Subject Matter, Cliche Execution

[6/10 · 15 May 2021]

I wanted to love this movie. I'm a fan of Elle Fanning, She's an amazing actor and always elevates whatever she's working on. I'm also an advocate for people struggling with mental health issues, and I feel like an opportunity to address them in a film about people with mental health issues was lost.

The lead roles were wrongly cast in this film. When two people are going to interact with such intense subject matter, there needs to be two actors that have chemistry, and I felt a lot of manufactured chemistry here - which is something that is uncomfortable and distracting.

Elle Fanning definitely showed up for this role - she represented depression and grief accurately and believably. Justice Smith comes across as sort of this bright & shiny teen dramedy actor embarking on their first indie film role, and represents his character's struggle in a sanitized way compared to Fanning.

What I was hoping for was something that distanced itself more from the look and feel of a current teenage drama series. I wanted to be drawn in, I wanted to find inspiration - and instead I found myself trapped in cringeworthy moment after cringeworthy moment.

Also glaringly noticeable - Luke Wilson's minuscule role. He's another amazing actor who is underutilized, and has a talent for rescuing films from mediocrity. He generally plays the same guy in most of his films and series, but what he brings something memorable. Unfortunately, he was buried in this film.

Dear All the Bright Things, I hope someday someone will reboot you, and make you the film you were meant to be.

Homecoming (2018–2020)

Amazing, artistic & experimental

[9/10 · 24 May 2020]

Just finished season 2, it was definitely a shift from season 1, however it is a continuation of the original story line. The first episode is a change in tone from the first season, but stick with it - it is an aggressive approach to establishing the setting. So many nods to film techniques used in the 1970's & early 1980's. Excellent acting, and great appearances from familiar faces. Don't buy the negative hype!

The First (2018)

A Perfect SciDrama

[10/10 · 22 September 2018]

After reading some of the other user reviews, I was cautious in going into The First, but The truth is - it's quite amazing. It's important to first understand that it is a story set in the not-so-distant future about people in the throes of deep personal struggle. These people happen to be astronauts who are overcoming professional challenges in a complex space program.

The First is a brilliant symphony, balancing these 2 genres while giving adequate development to both drama & science fiction stories. The cast is amazing, diverse, and convey their characters brilliantly. The special effects for the sci-fi plot are so pristine and beautifully conceived.

One of the aspects of The First that almost has its own story - the film score. The story is accompanied by a rich ambient score which takes the show to a level of accessible abstractness, magnifying the psychological impact & depth. Some of the cues are very abrasive and jarring, but those moments are few and far between.

Overall, Beau Willimon has crafted a masterpiece which has gained some criticism & controversy - but I believe those reactions will serve to propel this show forward as one of the greats of our time - a time when perseverance & finding our strongest self is of the utmost importance. Let The First be of inspiration and hope to you.