FLIX!
I reluctantly went to see this with my wife, who was the one enthused. Or more that it had been a while since we had shared a movie theater experience and she was just getting the itch.
So of all the movies showing in our local "hits only and animated" theater, she decided we needed to see 10 Cloverfield Lane.
A young lady gets into a car accident, and when she wakes up, she finds she is being held in an underground bunker by an survivalist. He assures her that there has been a horrific event on the planet and that they will have to remain in his bunker for 2 or 3 years. Naturally she is skeptical. But gradually events happen that lead her to conclude that maybe he is not lying. There is also another young man that explains to her that he actually had to fight his way into the bunker, and that yeah, something bad was going on up on the top side.
As events transpire the girl remains confused and skeptical and is determined to go see for herself. Since she was a clothing designer in the world, she puts together a crude hazmat suit.
A series of unexpected events occur and she learns that the man Howard (John Goodman) was not necessarily lying to her.
I did not hate this movie, but the people leaving it seemed to. It was incredibly slow moving and was more of a psychological film than horror or suspense. There was a very intense last 10 minutes, but waiting an hour and a half for the pay off was somewhat difficult for most.
So I can't recommend it, but I didn't hate it and wouldn't say "Avoid at all costs."
Grade: C
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Saturday, February 13, 2016
My Top 12 Favorite TV Shows in the Last 10 Years
I have challenged a friend to make a list of this, but he is too busy right now. He wants me to go first, but I will not share until he's done his. TV has evolved a lot in the last decade or two. The traditional introducing a show in the fall for 30 episodes is done and gone forever. The seasons no longer revolve around the auto industry's model change over month, and instead are introduced whenever they decide. And now too many of these shows only spurt 10 or 12 shows in a row. Cable, Streaming, and other stuff have changed the face of television and forced the networks to step up their game. Many times we can binge watch an entire season in a weekend.
Regardless, I have seen some marvelous stuff in the last few years and I have no problem listing them. And to keep it simple I'll go from top to bottom. And for the record I am going to put traditional network shows into their own category so they are not listed here. But these are better than any of them regardless. And I mean any of them.
1. Breaking Bad. (AMC)
Unassuming high school teacher Walter White has cancer and needs to provide for his family in his looming absence. Meeting up with a one time loser student, they end up cooking the best meth in the world. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will be remembered forever for this remarkable rise of a high school chem teacher to a drug kingpin.
2. The Newsroom. (HBO)
Jeff Daniels is News Anchor Will MacEvoy, in the Aaron Sorkin drama created for HBO. A large, wonderful, and superb cast give this show the punch this subject deserves. Throw the West Wing, Broadcast News, and Walter Cronkite into a blender and then add a fifth of intellect, and this is what comes out.
3. House of Cards. (Netflix)
Kevin Spacey gives arguably the best work of his life and heads up a superb cast in a dark look at a wonderful trip through the ugly underbelly of Washington politics.
4. The Roosevelts. (PBS)
Two of the most fascinating Presidents in our history along with the greatest First Lady ever and they were all related. This follows the amazing life and Presidency of T.R., my favorite President ever, and his distant cousin Franklin, who pulled the nation out of the jaws of desperation, and TRs beloved niece Eleanor. A wonderful story told impeccably by Ken Burns.
5. The Hatfields and McCoys. (History Channel)
The amazing story of a true American Feud between two families, one in Kentucky and one across the river in West Virginia. There is even an unlikely "Romeo and Juliet"esque romance that seems Hollywood contrived but I 'fact checked' and it historically accurate. This is brilliant, with Kevin Costner in the one genre he totally owns, westerns.
6. Dexter. (Showtime)
A moral dilemna happens when one watches this show. One finds themselves rooting for a murderer. Because Dexter is a serial killer. But he only kills other serial killers. And he works forensics in the Miami homocide division so he knows exactly how to keep a crime scene pristine. Michael C. Hall and the incredible Jennifer Carpenter make this a true jewel in television for generations to come.
7. Weeds (Showtime)
8. Californication. (Showtime)
9. Hell On Wheels. (AMC)
Cullin Bohannon is the single greatest western badass I have ever seen, and I have entire shelves dedicated to cowboy movies. This guy makes John Wayne and Clint Eastwood look like waiters in a gay bar. It's the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad and all that that entails. There are Indians, newly freed slaves, Irish immigrants, south vs. north after the war, and whores and Church and the Mormons moving through. There are corrupt railroad owners and senators. Lots of stuff to enjoy here.
10. Rescue Me. (FX)
Okay, I'll admit I'm not a huge Denis Leary fan. But he transcends all that here. And what a cast.
11. Nurse Jackie. (Showtime)
Edie Falco gets to step out of the mundane Sopranos and show us her chops! Here she is Jackie Peyton, and wonderful ER nurse who is high most of the time. Seven wonderful seasons. Assisted by an amazing cast. Unbelievably great cast.
12. The Shield.
Michaels Chiklis plays the head of a 'gang strike team' in a place called Farmington California. They work out a a place they call The Barn. These guys are the biggest bunch of murdering thieving racketeers on the streets. And they do it all with a Shield. This is great saga TV.
Honorable Mentions.
1. The Walking Dead. This is a psychological suspense thriller with a splash of horror tossed in. It explores why in this unique situation, the ones to fear are the other living people, not the zombies. The Walking Dead title does not mean the zombies. However in the 2016 season when Morgan gets enlightenment, this series "jumped the shark." After this, don't bother.
2. Fargo
In just two seasons it has been very interesting. And promises to keep being so.
3. Justified
Raylan Givins was being punished for a shooting he did in Miami even though he keeps claiming it was "Justified." He is sent to Western Kentucky where he's from, to fight the hillbilly mafia. Walton Goggins from The Shield as Boyd Crowder is a great character.
4. Silicon Valley
A superb cast centered around a nerd in a group of nerds who creates an incredible app but muddles through being stupid about marketing it, with lots of help.
5. True Detective
A weird creepy crime drama. Into a second season. The first was impressive.
Most Interesting Concepts
1. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Jerry Seinfeld. Nuff said.
2. Portlandia
Can't get too much of Fred.
The Worst.
1. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Don't get me started on pretentious.
2.Wifred. One guy is a dog. A real annoying not funny dog.
3. Girls. 30 seconds of great does not merit watching 29 minutes 30 seconds of crap.
Regardless, I have seen some marvelous stuff in the last few years and I have no problem listing them. And to keep it simple I'll go from top to bottom. And for the record I am going to put traditional network shows into their own category so they are not listed here. But these are better than any of them regardless. And I mean any of them.
1. Breaking Bad. (AMC)
Unassuming high school teacher Walter White has cancer and needs to provide for his family in his looming absence. Meeting up with a one time loser student, they end up cooking the best meth in the world. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will be remembered forever for this remarkable rise of a high school chem teacher to a drug kingpin.
2. The Newsroom. (HBO)
Jeff Daniels is News Anchor Will MacEvoy, in the Aaron Sorkin drama created for HBO. A large, wonderful, and superb cast give this show the punch this subject deserves. Throw the West Wing, Broadcast News, and Walter Cronkite into a blender and then add a fifth of intellect, and this is what comes out.
3. House of Cards. (Netflix)
Kevin Spacey gives arguably the best work of his life and heads up a superb cast in a dark look at a wonderful trip through the ugly underbelly of Washington politics.
4. The Roosevelts. (PBS)
Two of the most fascinating Presidents in our history along with the greatest First Lady ever and they were all related. This follows the amazing life and Presidency of T.R., my favorite President ever, and his distant cousin Franklin, who pulled the nation out of the jaws of desperation, and TRs beloved niece Eleanor. A wonderful story told impeccably by Ken Burns.
5. The Hatfields and McCoys. (History Channel)
The amazing story of a true American Feud between two families, one in Kentucky and one across the river in West Virginia. There is even an unlikely "Romeo and Juliet"esque romance that seems Hollywood contrived but I 'fact checked' and it historically accurate. This is brilliant, with Kevin Costner in the one genre he totally owns, westerns.
6. Dexter. (Showtime)
A moral dilemna happens when one watches this show. One finds themselves rooting for a murderer. Because Dexter is a serial killer. But he only kills other serial killers. And he works forensics in the Miami homocide division so he knows exactly how to keep a crime scene pristine. Michael C. Hall and the incredible Jennifer Carpenter make this a true jewel in television for generations to come.
7. Weeds (Showtime)
My very favorite actress of all time, no doubt, Mary Louise Parker, stars in this incredible show about a mom who is suddenly left a widow and has to sell weed in her upscale neighborhood to make ends meet. Surrounded by a supporting cast that would make anyone drool, she takes us on a journey of epic proportions. This was a fabulous ride. And a very nice curtain call is provided for this show.
David Decovney was born to play the role of Hank Moody. He's a serious New York writer who suddenly finds himself on the white bread west coast. He can't cope. But the hilarity ensues between him, his daughter, his agent, his wife, his agent's wife, and a host of other hilarious elements that are priceless. So far I have been denied the final season by Netflix, but soon I hope, soon.
Cullin Bohannon is the single greatest western badass I have ever seen, and I have entire shelves dedicated to cowboy movies. This guy makes John Wayne and Clint Eastwood look like waiters in a gay bar. It's the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad and all that that entails. There are Indians, newly freed slaves, Irish immigrants, south vs. north after the war, and whores and Church and the Mormons moving through. There are corrupt railroad owners and senators. Lots of stuff to enjoy here.
10. Rescue Me. (FX)
Okay, I'll admit I'm not a huge Denis Leary fan. But he transcends all that here. And what a cast.
11. Nurse Jackie. (Showtime)
Edie Falco gets to step out of the mundane Sopranos and show us her chops! Here she is Jackie Peyton, and wonderful ER nurse who is high most of the time. Seven wonderful seasons. Assisted by an amazing cast. Unbelievably great cast.
12. The Shield.
Michaels Chiklis plays the head of a 'gang strike team' in a place called Farmington California. They work out a a place they call The Barn. These guys are the biggest bunch of murdering thieving racketeers on the streets. And they do it all with a Shield. This is great saga TV.
Honorable Mentions.
1. The Walking Dead. This is a psychological suspense thriller with a splash of horror tossed in. It explores why in this unique situation, the ones to fear are the other living people, not the zombies. The Walking Dead title does not mean the zombies. However in the 2016 season when Morgan gets enlightenment, this series "jumped the shark." After this, don't bother.
2. Fargo
In just two seasons it has been very interesting. And promises to keep being so.
3. Justified
Raylan Givins was being punished for a shooting he did in Miami even though he keeps claiming it was "Justified." He is sent to Western Kentucky where he's from, to fight the hillbilly mafia. Walton Goggins from The Shield as Boyd Crowder is a great character.
4. Silicon Valley
A superb cast centered around a nerd in a group of nerds who creates an incredible app but muddles through being stupid about marketing it, with lots of help.
5. True Detective
A weird creepy crime drama. Into a second season. The first was impressive.
Most Interesting Concepts
1. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Jerry Seinfeld. Nuff said.
2. Portlandia
Can't get too much of Fred.
The Worst.
1. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Don't get me started on pretentious.
2.Wifred. One guy is a dog. A real annoying not funny dog.
3. Girls. 30 seconds of great does not merit watching 29 minutes 30 seconds of crap.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Nurse Jackie
TUBE!
Showtime.
Nurse Jackie was a Showtime program starring Edie Falco, fresh out of The Sopranos. Maybe she yearned to get out of a crappy show, and finally get to do something really great, and demonstrated her ability to carry a show on her own. But The Sopranos gave her the exposure she needed, to get a shot at better stuff like this.
Jackie Peyton is an ER nurse at All Saints Hospital in New York City. And Jackie is a great nurse. She really handles herself well with patients, and knows her business and is looked up to by many of her fellow employees. She's also not afraid to tell Doctors to pull their head out of their ass, or "when I tell you to order the scan, order the goddam scan!"
Jackie has a couple of secrets though. Most importantly, she hurt her back at one time and got addicted to pain killers. So she is high most of the time. She tricks, schemes, connives and does whatever she has to do to keep herself in pills. The other secret is she has taken to sleeping with the hospital pharmacist. So her day consists of doing her nursing duties, training new nurses, sleeping with the Pharmacist, staying high all day, and then going home to her loving husband and two lovely daughters.
This show is filled with one of the best ensemble casts put together since The Wire. There was Eddie, The Pharmacist played by Paul Shulze (who has no idea Jackie is married.) There is the irrepressible Dr. Fitch Cooper "Coop" who Jackie also has to train occasionally. Her husband Kevin is played by Dominic Jerins, and her best friend Dr. Eleanor O'Hara is played by Eve Best. The Emergency Room Administrator Gloria Akalitis is played wonderfully by Anna Deverse Smith, and a simply fabulous male gay nurse Thor, is played wonderfully by Stephen Wallem. And on top of all this there is a extraordinary array of Doctors and nurses and others who turn in wonderful and unforgettable performances. Dr. Cruz, and Dr. Prentiss, and Lenny the EMT, and Sam, and Mo, and mental patient God all come to mind.
I was impressed a lot by Ruby Jerins who played Jackie's older daughter Grace. She was basically a little kid when she started this role, and we watched her turn into a full bloomed teenager. Now with child actors, that can be a crap shoot. Some can be wonderful as children and then not so much as they mature. But not this kid. I hope that after she finishes college, she comes roaring back into acting.
But I think if this show had a second star is was the amazing Merrit Wever as unassuming Zoey Bartok. This lady is scary good. She makes you feel like she doesn't know what she's doing, but don't be fooled. She's nailing it. I could not get over her natural sensibilities. And an awkward comic sense that is totally charming. A brilliant actress I can't wait to see more of.
But as much as I and everyone love Jackie, her life is one big spiral. And it is a series of we as an audience praying she doesn't make bad choices. But she wouldn't be a junkie if she didn't.
This is one of those things, I knew out there somewhere I'd heard about, but when it all suddenly appeared on Netflix, and I was out of other stuff, I gave it a whirl. And what a great decision that was.
Grade: A
Showtime.
Nurse Jackie was a Showtime program starring Edie Falco, fresh out of The Sopranos. Maybe she yearned to get out of a crappy show, and finally get to do something really great, and demonstrated her ability to carry a show on her own. But The Sopranos gave her the exposure she needed, to get a shot at better stuff like this.
Jackie Peyton is an ER nurse at All Saints Hospital in New York City. And Jackie is a great nurse. She really handles herself well with patients, and knows her business and is looked up to by many of her fellow employees. She's also not afraid to tell Doctors to pull their head out of their ass, or "when I tell you to order the scan, order the goddam scan!"
Jackie has a couple of secrets though. Most importantly, she hurt her back at one time and got addicted to pain killers. So she is high most of the time. She tricks, schemes, connives and does whatever she has to do to keep herself in pills. The other secret is she has taken to sleeping with the hospital pharmacist. So her day consists of doing her nursing duties, training new nurses, sleeping with the Pharmacist, staying high all day, and then going home to her loving husband and two lovely daughters.
This show is filled with one of the best ensemble casts put together since The Wire. There was Eddie, The Pharmacist played by Paul Shulze (who has no idea Jackie is married.) There is the irrepressible Dr. Fitch Cooper "Coop" who Jackie also has to train occasionally. Her husband Kevin is played by Dominic Jerins, and her best friend Dr. Eleanor O'Hara is played by Eve Best. The Emergency Room Administrator Gloria Akalitis is played wonderfully by Anna Deverse Smith, and a simply fabulous male gay nurse Thor, is played wonderfully by Stephen Wallem. And on top of all this there is a extraordinary array of Doctors and nurses and others who turn in wonderful and unforgettable performances. Dr. Cruz, and Dr. Prentiss, and Lenny the EMT, and Sam, and Mo, and mental patient God all come to mind.
I was impressed a lot by Ruby Jerins who played Jackie's older daughter Grace. She was basically a little kid when she started this role, and we watched her turn into a full bloomed teenager. Now with child actors, that can be a crap shoot. Some can be wonderful as children and then not so much as they mature. But not this kid. I hope that after she finishes college, she comes roaring back into acting.
But I think if this show had a second star is was the amazing Merrit Wever as unassuming Zoey Bartok. This lady is scary good. She makes you feel like she doesn't know what she's doing, but don't be fooled. She's nailing it. I could not get over her natural sensibilities. And an awkward comic sense that is totally charming. A brilliant actress I can't wait to see more of.
But as much as I and everyone love Jackie, her life is one big spiral. And it is a series of we as an audience praying she doesn't make bad choices. But she wouldn't be a junkie if she didn't.
This is one of those things, I knew out there somewhere I'd heard about, but when it all suddenly appeared on Netflix, and I was out of other stuff, I gave it a whirl. And what a great decision that was.
Grade: A
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Hell On Wheels
TUBE!
Hell On Wheels takes place in 1868 as the Union Pacific attempts to win the race to get to the West Coast and complete the transcontinental railroad. And in this endeavor the Union Pacific has employed Cullen Bohannon. Cullen Bohannon is a Mississippi man who fought for the south, had freed his slaves a year before the war, who had lost his son and wife to the Northern troops, and a man to be reckoned with.
Cullen Bohannon is the badest, badest, badest bad-ass there ever was. He makes John Wayne look like Bruce Jenner. This guy could kick the crap out of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Kevin Costner in like 2.4 seconds. BAD-ASS.
Anson Mount plays Cullen Bohannon in this incredible series. And he is surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters. There is Elam Ferguson a newly freed slave who brings himself up to be the Marshall of the Railroad police, played by the hip-hop artist Common. There is Thomas C. Durant the underhanded, unethical, snake in the grass head of the Union Pacific Railroad who connives and does diabolical things in his endeavor to make his fortune on the railroad. There is the diabolical and evil psychotic killer and head of security at one point, Thor Gundersen known as The Swede and played by Christopher Heyerdahl. And there is Eva, the one time whore, who was once a captive of Indians who tattooed her chin and made her unwanted by most men. And on and on. The show has back stories about the whores, the newly freed black men, the bureaucrats, the newspaper people, the Church people, and the saloons that make up the traveling railroad camp known as Hell On Wheels.
Bohannon starts as a laborer, eventually becomes a boss, and finally becomes the owner of the railroad, only to have it stolen away by the original owner the cunning and evil Thomas Durant played by Colm Meaney. This guy could not have a more appropriate last name. Durant is despicable. Just an evil piece of work.
Eventually as the town of Durant, later General Grant renamed it Cheyenne, is invaded by an underhanded pack of carpetbagger wolves sent by Washington - a territory Governor John Campbell, a Federal Marshall and others. And all the while Bohannon has been captured by the Mormons and ends up marrying a Mormon girl that he impregnated. This is the only thing that keeps him alive. He soon enough gets to return to Cheyenne with his new wife and baby son William. And he starts at the bottom again. Much to the chagrin of the Church lady Ruth who had serious designs on Bohannon.
And then there were the McGinnes brother Sean and Mickey. In time Mickey kills Sean and becomes the owner of a casino-bar-brothel.
And this isn't even scratching the surface. I haven't even talked about Indians. surveyor Lilly Bell, the black walking-boss Psalms, the Union Soldiers that Bohannon hunted to kill for murdering his wife and son, and how much General Grant likes Bohannon.
This is the second biggest show that AMC ever produced. That means that the darling of the critics, "Mad Men" gets demoted to number three. "The Walking Dead" is the most popular show on cable, and then "Hell On Wheels." Sorry "Mad Men" fans.
So please take a look from the beginning on Netflix to "Hell On Wheels." I am already wondering what the heck can replace this while I'm on the treadmill at the gym. This will be hard to replace. I love this stuff, but then again, I'm a western fan.
GRADE: A
Hell On Wheels takes place in 1868 as the Union Pacific attempts to win the race to get to the West Coast and complete the transcontinental railroad. And in this endeavor the Union Pacific has employed Cullen Bohannon. Cullen Bohannon is a Mississippi man who fought for the south, had freed his slaves a year before the war, who had lost his son and wife to the Northern troops, and a man to be reckoned with.
Cullen Bohannon is the badest, badest, badest bad-ass there ever was. He makes John Wayne look like Bruce Jenner. This guy could kick the crap out of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Kevin Costner in like 2.4 seconds. BAD-ASS.
Anson Mount plays Cullen Bohannon in this incredible series. And he is surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters. There is Elam Ferguson a newly freed slave who brings himself up to be the Marshall of the Railroad police, played by the hip-hop artist Common. There is Thomas C. Durant the underhanded, unethical, snake in the grass head of the Union Pacific Railroad who connives and does diabolical things in his endeavor to make his fortune on the railroad. There is the diabolical and evil psychotic killer and head of security at one point, Thor Gundersen known as The Swede and played by Christopher Heyerdahl. And there is Eva, the one time whore, who was once a captive of Indians who tattooed her chin and made her unwanted by most men. And on and on. The show has back stories about the whores, the newly freed black men, the bureaucrats, the newspaper people, the Church people, and the saloons that make up the traveling railroad camp known as Hell On Wheels.
Bohannon starts as a laborer, eventually becomes a boss, and finally becomes the owner of the railroad, only to have it stolen away by the original owner the cunning and evil Thomas Durant played by Colm Meaney. This guy could not have a more appropriate last name. Durant is despicable. Just an evil piece of work.
Eventually as the town of Durant, later General Grant renamed it Cheyenne, is invaded by an underhanded pack of carpetbagger wolves sent by Washington - a territory Governor John Campbell, a Federal Marshall and others. And all the while Bohannon has been captured by the Mormons and ends up marrying a Mormon girl that he impregnated. This is the only thing that keeps him alive. He soon enough gets to return to Cheyenne with his new wife and baby son William. And he starts at the bottom again. Much to the chagrin of the Church lady Ruth who had serious designs on Bohannon.
And then there were the McGinnes brother Sean and Mickey. In time Mickey kills Sean and becomes the owner of a casino-bar-brothel.
And this isn't even scratching the surface. I haven't even talked about Indians. surveyor Lilly Bell, the black walking-boss Psalms, the Union Soldiers that Bohannon hunted to kill for murdering his wife and son, and how much General Grant likes Bohannon.
This is the second biggest show that AMC ever produced. That means that the darling of the critics, "Mad Men" gets demoted to number three. "The Walking Dead" is the most popular show on cable, and then "Hell On Wheels." Sorry "Mad Men" fans.
So please take a look from the beginning on Netflix to "Hell On Wheels." I am already wondering what the heck can replace this while I'm on the treadmill at the gym. This will be hard to replace. I love this stuff, but then again, I'm a western fan.
GRADE: A
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
The End of The Tour
FLIX!
The End of The Tour is about the book tour of David Foster Wallace as he was being followed by Rolling Stone Reporter David Lipsy, who believed David Foster Wallace was the Hemingway, or Salinger of our generation. The film revolves around the relationship that consequently develops on five days of the tour as Wallace promotes his 90's breakthrough novel "Infinite Jeste". Wallace subsequently killed himself at a young age, and therefore we never got to experience the entire depth of his genius.
The relationship is confusing. The relationship is loving. The relationship is angry. And the relationship is genuine and interesting. But in a society when we can't stand a movie that doesn't have a super-hero and stuff blowing up, this might be hard for some to digest.
The movie stars Jason Siegel (Freaks and Geeks, and How I Met Your Mother) as David Foster Wallace, and Jessie Eisenberg as David Lipsy. And although this movie is very intellectual, (it's basically "My Dinner With Andre" but instead in a car and not a restaurant), it still has all of the Grand Rapids skylines in the background to make it fun for we West Michigan folks.
I saw this in the theater last week. It was down to one showing a day. So I am sure it's gone by now. But I can't wait for the DVD. Because it was such a great film? Nope. More because there was a book store patron at a book signing who was amazing! It's the guy sitting to the left of the brilliant redhead in the bookstore. Who is this future super-star?
Anyway. This really is a good movie. But it's one of those red-box once you've seen it, you've seen it kind of movies that I can't say that many folks will like it. I'll own it and give copies to my kids, but I'm thinking that none of them will actually watch it.
But I get to add another thing for my wife to place on my casket. He didn't do much, but he did this!
Oh yeah and if Jason Segal gets an Oscar nomination, that would be pretty cool too!
Grade: C+
The End of The Tour is about the book tour of David Foster Wallace as he was being followed by Rolling Stone Reporter David Lipsy, who believed David Foster Wallace was the Hemingway, or Salinger of our generation. The film revolves around the relationship that consequently develops on five days of the tour as Wallace promotes his 90's breakthrough novel "Infinite Jeste". Wallace subsequently killed himself at a young age, and therefore we never got to experience the entire depth of his genius.
The relationship is confusing. The relationship is loving. The relationship is angry. And the relationship is genuine and interesting. But in a society when we can't stand a movie that doesn't have a super-hero and stuff blowing up, this might be hard for some to digest.
The movie stars Jason Siegel (Freaks and Geeks, and How I Met Your Mother) as David Foster Wallace, and Jessie Eisenberg as David Lipsy. And although this movie is very intellectual, (it's basically "My Dinner With Andre" but instead in a car and not a restaurant), it still has all of the Grand Rapids skylines in the background to make it fun for we West Michigan folks.
I saw this in the theater last week. It was down to one showing a day. So I am sure it's gone by now. But I can't wait for the DVD. Because it was such a great film? Nope. More because there was a book store patron at a book signing who was amazing! It's the guy sitting to the left of the brilliant redhead in the bookstore. Who is this future super-star?
Yeah, that's me and I couldn't be happier that this is getting Oscar buzz for Jason Segal. Too bad the action that was filmed with the banged black haired girl in front of me didn't make the cut. I would have been seen much more than I was. But I was seen a goodly amount as these things go.
As a sidenote I would like to offer that this was a brutal shoot. There were times we were kept outside in cold temps for unGodly amounts of time, and there was the fact that we had a 11:00 call in Grand Haven. So I left the house at 9:00 meaning I had to get up at 7:30 to be ready. They let us go at 4:00 am. And then two hours home. So I got up at 7:30am on one day and fell in bed at 6:00am the next. Yeah, show biz can be really rough.
Anyway. This really is a good movie. But it's one of those red-box once you've seen it, you've seen it kind of movies that I can't say that many folks will like it. I'll own it and give copies to my kids, but I'm thinking that none of them will actually watch it.
But I get to add another thing for my wife to place on my casket. He didn't do much, but he did this!
Oh yeah and if Jason Segal gets an Oscar nomination, that would be pretty cool too!
Grade: C+
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Inside Out
Flix!
Pixar Studios in association with Disney.
I might be slightly nostalgic, but I love having a cartoon before the movie. This was standard fair when I was a kid. Why do I bring it up? Because there is a pixar cartoon before Inside Out. It's called "Lava" and it's about a lonely volcano. As goofy as that premise is, the folks at Pixar made it work. It was fun and most enjoyable.
And then we get to watch a most clever and delightful film.
First of all, one might ask, "What is a slightly aged couple doing going to a children's animated film?The official excuse my wife and I came up with is "in the event we ever have grandchildren, we are making sure this film is okay for them to see." Hey, it's our story and we're sticking to it.
The film starts with the birth of a beautiful little baby. As her mother coos over her, she has a wonderful feeling....and we shift to inside her brain. And now there is someone there. It's Joy. Joy has short cropped blue hair and is always happy and looking for the upside. Soon however the baby becomes uncomfortable and starts to cry. And in the brain (officially known as 'headquarters'), we meet Sadness. Sadness is also blue. She is always down and can only see the down side of everything. As the little girl grows we are introduced to Fear, Disgust, and Anger. Let me just get the credits out of the way:
Joy: the amazing Amy Poeler, Sadness: Phyllis Smith, Fear: Bill Hader, Disgust: Mindy Kaling, Anger: Lewis Black, and an additional great character Bing Bong: Richard Kind.
The story takes us on a journey of a young girl who grows up in Minnesota and plays hockey and is suddenly uprooted and moved to San Francisco. We learn to love this girl, Riley (voice of Kaitlan Dias), as she interacts with her Mom (Diane Lane), and especially her Dad ( Kyle MacLachlan). When Joy and Sadness accidentally get sucked up out of Headquarters and end up in Long Term Memory, they gather up Riley's Core Memories and are determined to get them back to Headquarters. That is the gist of the movie.
But along the way, Riley and her Mom go to get a pizza in San Francisco and it has broccoli on it. Anger in Riley's brain screams "First the Hawaiians ruin pizza, and now you!"
Okay. After Joy and Sadness started their journey home, I had a problem at this point. I took at least TWO times longer than it needed to, to get back to Headquarters. It became overly frustrating. Great movie making until this, dummies.
But while they were in long term memory, they encountered "Bing Bong", Riley's imaginary friend when she was a kid. He was a mostly cotton candy elephant with a usable mouth. They had a lot of fun when Riley was a kid.
The story in Riley's life is that she is having great difficulty adjusting to life on the west coast, especially after joy and sadness have been sent to long term memory. In fact, she decides to go back to Minnesota.
So, see? There is drama here.
This film has many wonderful concepts, such as the library of long term memories. Whenever a memory is created, a sort of marble is manufactured and the long term ones are stored. There is also a dreaded pit of totally forgotten memories. These marbles have turned black and are discarded forever. Occasionally a crew has to go through and discard long term memories that really have no use anymore. The crew foreman was the unmistakeable voice of Paula Poundstone. That's all I know about that.
Bringing back the imaginary friend Bing-Bong was genius. And they show how he and Riley used to ride in the spaceship wagon they'd created and would fuel with "song power." And this actually becomes important eventually in the film. There are so many "outside the box" concepts here that it is really tough to review. There really isn't anything like it, or anything to compare it to. So....
This is a wonderful movie. For all ages. What a clever idea. Pixar and Disney went out on a limb with a kind of goofy concept and wow, good going guys!
This is a wonderful movie for those of all ages. Amy Poeler as Joy, and Lewis Black as Anger. Can it get better than that? This was a delicious romp from start to finish. And as I always say at the end of one of these, "I wish Walt Disney could have seen this. He would be so thrilled."
The only flaw for me was milking the making it back to Headquarters WAY too long. For me, this kept if from being a totally tremendous motion picture.
I especially love one of the last narrated lines, "After all, she's 12 now, so what can happen from here?" And hey, don't leave during the credits! There is some wonderful stuff offered then!
See this. Make up some excuse, like my wife and I did. It's worth it.
GRADE: A-
Pixar Studios in association with Disney.
I might be slightly nostalgic, but I love having a cartoon before the movie. This was standard fair when I was a kid. Why do I bring it up? Because there is a pixar cartoon before Inside Out. It's called "Lava" and it's about a lonely volcano. As goofy as that premise is, the folks at Pixar made it work. It was fun and most enjoyable.
And then we get to watch a most clever and delightful film.
First of all, one might ask, "What is a slightly aged couple doing going to a children's animated film?The official excuse my wife and I came up with is "in the event we ever have grandchildren, we are making sure this film is okay for them to see." Hey, it's our story and we're sticking to it.
The film starts with the birth of a beautiful little baby. As her mother coos over her, she has a wonderful feeling....and we shift to inside her brain. And now there is someone there. It's Joy. Joy has short cropped blue hair and is always happy and looking for the upside. Soon however the baby becomes uncomfortable and starts to cry. And in the brain (officially known as 'headquarters'), we meet Sadness. Sadness is also blue. She is always down and can only see the down side of everything. As the little girl grows we are introduced to Fear, Disgust, and Anger. Let me just get the credits out of the way:
Joy: the amazing Amy Poeler, Sadness: Phyllis Smith, Fear: Bill Hader, Disgust: Mindy Kaling, Anger: Lewis Black, and an additional great character Bing Bong: Richard Kind.
The story takes us on a journey of a young girl who grows up in Minnesota and plays hockey and is suddenly uprooted and moved to San Francisco. We learn to love this girl, Riley (voice of Kaitlan Dias), as she interacts with her Mom (Diane Lane), and especially her Dad ( Kyle MacLachlan). When Joy and Sadness accidentally get sucked up out of Headquarters and end up in Long Term Memory, they gather up Riley's Core Memories and are determined to get them back to Headquarters. That is the gist of the movie.
But along the way, Riley and her Mom go to get a pizza in San Francisco and it has broccoli on it. Anger in Riley's brain screams "First the Hawaiians ruin pizza, and now you!"
Okay. After Joy and Sadness started their journey home, I had a problem at this point. I took at least TWO times longer than it needed to, to get back to Headquarters. It became overly frustrating. Great movie making until this, dummies.
But while they were in long term memory, they encountered "Bing Bong", Riley's imaginary friend when she was a kid. He was a mostly cotton candy elephant with a usable mouth. They had a lot of fun when Riley was a kid.
The story in Riley's life is that she is having great difficulty adjusting to life on the west coast, especially after joy and sadness have been sent to long term memory. In fact, she decides to go back to Minnesota.
So, see? There is drama here.
This film has many wonderful concepts, such as the library of long term memories. Whenever a memory is created, a sort of marble is manufactured and the long term ones are stored. There is also a dreaded pit of totally forgotten memories. These marbles have turned black and are discarded forever. Occasionally a crew has to go through and discard long term memories that really have no use anymore. The crew foreman was the unmistakeable voice of Paula Poundstone. That's all I know about that.
Bringing back the imaginary friend Bing-Bong was genius. And they show how he and Riley used to ride in the spaceship wagon they'd created and would fuel with "song power." And this actually becomes important eventually in the film. There are so many "outside the box" concepts here that it is really tough to review. There really isn't anything like it, or anything to compare it to. So....
This is a wonderful movie. For all ages. What a clever idea. Pixar and Disney went out on a limb with a kind of goofy concept and wow, good going guys!
This is a wonderful movie for those of all ages. Amy Poeler as Joy, and Lewis Black as Anger. Can it get better than that? This was a delicious romp from start to finish. And as I always say at the end of one of these, "I wish Walt Disney could have seen this. He would be so thrilled."
The only flaw for me was milking the making it back to Headquarters WAY too long. For me, this kept if from being a totally tremendous motion picture.
I especially love one of the last narrated lines, "After all, she's 12 now, so what can happen from here?" And hey, don't leave during the credits! There is some wonderful stuff offered then!
See this. Make up some excuse, like my wife and I did. It's worth it.
GRADE: A-
Friday, July 3, 2015
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey.
PBS
TUBE!
There was so much hype about this show, and people were posting how excited they were that a new season was starting, and it all seemed so contrived and weird to me. But how can one rationally criticize something they've never seen. One can in special circumstances, but this isn't one of them.
So I took the plunge and dived into the first season of Downton Abbey. I frankly didn't get why someone once again was trying to jam this format down our throats. I mean in the 70's there was "Upstairs, Downstairs", and the network version "Beacon Hill." But it is a bit like Todd Rungren releasing "Hello It's Me" again and again...."I wrote a great song, doggone it and I'll re-release until you all finally love it."
Downton Abbey is a soap opera with an unlimited budget. But that does not mean it's a bad thing. The storyline was interesting, and the costumes phenomenal, and it had Elizabeth McGovern. But after the first season I decided it wasn't my thing, and in a nonsexist way thought of it as more of a woman's story. And what wrong with that? I like women.
So I recommended it to my wife, and after only one episode she binged watched five seasons. So I think I was right. (Although she called the fourth season slow and her least favorite.)
Even though this show wasn't my thing, I cannot critically call it bad. And sure there are men that will like this and women that love the movie "Die Hard." But overall, I feel like I should just say, it wasn't for me, but that doesn't make it not good.
So if you're curious, give it a go. I found the hierarchy of the servant staff to be intriguing. The Butler is the top dog and it works its way down through Valets and Footman and Maids etc.
Worth a watch.
GRADE: B+
PBS
TUBE!
There was so much hype about this show, and people were posting how excited they were that a new season was starting, and it all seemed so contrived and weird to me. But how can one rationally criticize something they've never seen. One can in special circumstances, but this isn't one of them.
So I took the plunge and dived into the first season of Downton Abbey. I frankly didn't get why someone once again was trying to jam this format down our throats. I mean in the 70's there was "Upstairs, Downstairs", and the network version "Beacon Hill." But it is a bit like Todd Rungren releasing "Hello It's Me" again and again...."I wrote a great song, doggone it and I'll re-release until you all finally love it."
Downton Abbey is a soap opera with an unlimited budget. But that does not mean it's a bad thing. The storyline was interesting, and the costumes phenomenal, and it had Elizabeth McGovern. But after the first season I decided it wasn't my thing, and in a nonsexist way thought of it as more of a woman's story. And what wrong with that? I like women.
So I recommended it to my wife, and after only one episode she binged watched five seasons. So I think I was right. (Although she called the fourth season slow and her least favorite.)
Even though this show wasn't my thing, I cannot critically call it bad. And sure there are men that will like this and women that love the movie "Die Hard." But overall, I feel like I should just say, it wasn't for me, but that doesn't make it not good.
So if you're curious, give it a go. I found the hierarchy of the servant staff to be intriguing. The Butler is the top dog and it works its way down through Valets and Footman and Maids etc.
Worth a watch.
GRADE: B+
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