Far_Out Reviews

Blue Bloods: The Heart of a Saturday Night (2024) Season 14, Episode 10

Timeless

[6/10 · 18 May 2024]

For me, the key to the show was an emphasis on faith (not necessarily religious) being greater than anything else. Countless times, critical calls needed to be made and the deciding factor was doing the "right" thing. Those were examples of their faith in action.

This ep was very true to this core ethos, but man, was it a mess. I hated the undercover at the shelter, although I really liked the character named River. The rogue old-school cop arc did conjure some huge philosophic/existential considerations. But, they went way too far with it. It was difficult to overlook how far afield Danny went.

Pops taking so much offense over Frank's reluctance to falsely reward his protege was ridiculous. Decidedly not ridiculous was the choice, and the execution of, what will likely be the final scene outside of the dinner table.

Wonderful choice to have Henry and Frank inside a Catholic church awaiting a Mass. I loved the touch of the woman telling them to shut their yaps (their conversation in that space and at that time was, indeed, entirely inappropriate). But, ending with the opening prayer in that venue and doing the same in the final scene of the series (at home) was a great statement and a testament to the show's core value (faith and family above all).

Gunsmoke: The New Society (1965) Season 10, Episode 35

Dillon's Dilemma

[9/10 · 4 May 2024]

An unusual Gunsmoke ep. It worked for me, despite the need for more suspension of disbelief than usual.

My biggest criticism of Marshal Dillon is that he was more devoted to "the law" than to anything else throughout his reign. He was gonna carry out his "duty" regardless extenuating circumstances. This usually meant arresting folks for trial whom he knew did not deserve it in a moral sense of justice. In this ep, he let's certain things go in a manner I don't recall ever seeing in any other ep. Giving the viewer an opportunity to contemplate the "rightness" of his decisions is the essence/genius of Manley's show.

The other striking anomaly for me was the camera work and blocking (actor's movements). This was especially jarring in a fight /brawl scene. Great Directing, imo. All Matt and his buddy could see was directly in front of them, all the while taking blows from all directions. The mob who were trying to beat them experienced largely the same. All they knew was to get into the middle of it and hit. Most of their swings missed.

The biggest problem I had was that the entire town knew of the wickedness that had occurred a dozen years before. Yet, never did the secret get out. Given how unwise most all of them showed themselves to be throughout the ep, they ALL somehow managed to keep their yaps shut. Riiiiiight.

Despite this problem, I found this to be among the greatest eps of Gunsmoke. Dillon was as rounded, not rigid, as he ever was. He still adhered to a very difficult code at great peril to himself. Exceptional.

Magnum, P.I.: Did You See the Sunrise? (1982) Season 3, Episode 1

For Whom Does the Sun Rise?

[10/10 · 20 April 2024]

The ep contains one of the most profound presentations of hard truth I have ever known/seen.

The Admiral (a fantastic casting of Paul Burke) is waiting on a tarmac for a Prince to arrive with Buck right next to him. They are discussing the betrayal of Thomas and Burke tells the Colonel, "Don't be so sure. Even the most hated enemies have ways of becoming friends...In time." Burke then plasters a wry smile as he faces and salutes. Then we see the Japanese Prince emerge from the plane, and the Japanese flag (the red sun) is displayed. Think of it. A Japanese Royal being welcomed at a very spot his direct ancestor had allowed/ordered an all-time, infamous, attack to be.

I had not thought of it the first few times I watched this ep, but he was a prophet foretelling the mutual respect Buck and Magnum would come to know, and lead to Magnum's return to USN duty.

The controversial killing of Ivan was absolutely legal as Ivan had committed war crimes at the prison in North Vietnam we saw. This means there was a dead or alive lifetime warrant for Ivan.

I love that TPTB made the choice they did.

This ep was also the genesis of the crucial friendship between Maggie, who is introduced as a proud feminist in uniform. Buck wasn't exactly enamored with her attitude, but he was rather pleased to have such a capable aide. They, too, would become exemplars of Burke's dictum.

The action scenes toward the end of Pt. II were absurd.

The ending was sublime.

Magnum, P.I.: One More Summer (1982) Season 2, Episode 16

South Honolulu 20?

[6/10 · 10 April 2024]

The plot contrivance of an homage to "North Dallas Forty" with an aging, yet savvy QB with a country boy persona (Mac Davis) didn't hit. It starts and ends the same way the movie did - It opens with a wild team pool party and ends with a football toss between the two buddies/protagonists. Points for trying, though.

There was Jonathan Higgins with a Henry Higgins moment as he lamented how empty his home was without his protege Magnum (Liza Doolittle), as well. Good try, but could have been better.

One piece that was very true to character was T. C. really trying to play pro football. That was fun. An early scene with Magnum, Rick, and T. C. bantering as they watched the team practicing was classic Magnum. It was also totally within character and believable. And fun.

For me, you could never go wrong with Dick Butkus making a football-related cameo. Another fun inclusion.

Magnum, P.I.: Pleasure Principle (1987) Season 8, Episode 2

Did You See?

[6/10 · 1 February 2024]

There were two moments in this ep which I found to be top shelf. One was when Magnum's therapist outlined Tom's Peter Pan-ish avoidance syndrome. I took it as a seminal moment and a major piece of foreshadowing the end of the series. I felt, in the moment, that he really internalized those observations, which may have jumpstarted his decision to go back to wearing the uniform again.

Second was when Mac asked him if he saw the sun rise? Whoa! My mind went into overdrive trying to grasp why this iconic question was asked in this ep. They never followed this up. It was a massive hole in a script that itself was Suisse fromage. But man, what a moment!

The device which annoyed me no end was his off/on use of a British dialect affectation. It was used too randomly and unevenly employed. The tilt of the head/one eye closed bit seemed to have some logic to it, not unlike the famous Calvin and Hobbes comic where Hobbes the tiger was always shown to be a plush toy when others were around, but was always large and vibrant when he was with Calvin alone. When Magnum changed to a normal mien, he was always fully rational and in the moment. Actuality was the rule in those moments. In any event, it was perhaps the worst acting piece by Selleck in the entirety of the series.

Overall, this was a fun concept and poorly executed by Bellisario.

Magnum, P.I.: Limbo (1987) Season 7, Episode 21

There's Always Time

[10/10 · 28 January 2024]

Until there isn't. Magnum often spoke this in the series as he was in a spot of bother. It was appropriate that he would meet his demise having no inkling of the ambush which awaited him.

Perhaps my biggest takeaway of this ep was that the cast was mourning for real - this was to be the end of a remarkable run of making TV. Seeing Maggie weep never fails to choke me up. She wasn't acting, imo.

I loved the lads barking like crazy at Thomas in the study while nobody else was aware of his presence. I also very much liked the reveal that Thomas had submitted Higgins' memoirs to the prestigious publisher. What a beautiful circle that was.

Another fun moment was when Magnum instantly conjured up the Napoleon pastries as he was begging Mac for more time. It reminded how industrious and quick to learn Thomas was, and it signaled that he had accepted Mac's truth as to his mortality.

Seeing Buck dealing harshly with Maggie, only to reconsider it all after first softening his demeanor with her, was a peak series moment for me. We did not get to see the true Buck often as he was introduced as an antagonist and a hard butt.

I would have been just fine with this as the actual finale. The Denver music and the walking off amongst the clouds worked extremely well. I would, however, have preferred a two-parter.

SEAL Team: Keys to Heaven (2022) Season 5, Episode 12

Team Without a Country

[4/10 · 19 January 2024]

This series became a joke years ago as one by one, the team's solidarity eroded. Countless times and eps their heads were nowhere near ready to operate. Basic mistrust has become the rule, not the exception.

Jason ignored orders (they all have at some point) and even lost his status, but is always forgiven. I have no problem believing they genuinely love each other. It is impossible to believe they can fight together.

TPTB needed to create some non-USN setting which would allow for the shenanigans we constantly see from Bravo. They came up with a doozy. The moment I most liked in this ep was when 6 chastised Sonny, reminding him of just how screwed they were without the cover of being USN. In other words, they all became Mandys.

Of all the ridiculousness, the one I think was the most absurd was Lisa first, actually getting access to ALL trucking manifests, and second, applying all the variables. The lady figures stuff out better than any human who ever lived. Riiiiight.

Shawn Hatosy is a fine actor. I wasn't buying his easy-going, tough as nails, guru act. His affect was much too militaristic. His raspy voice was a distraction.

I can hardly wait to see how Sonny manages to retain active status after this stunt. If 6 was having issues with Jason, he is now having explosions of doubt about Sonny. Then again, all is conveniently forgotten. Always.

Magnum, P.I.: Going Home (1985) Season 6, Episode 6

Do We Ever Truly Leave Home?

[10/10 · 9 December 2023]

TM's trips to the East coast are among my favorite eps across all of TV. One aspect that resonates utterly is the unending respect paid to those who went before. The visit to the Vietnam Memorial, near the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, was profound as it gets in the context of this series.

For me, Thomas' highest good is to honor always his fallen mates - and all the fallen in military service to his country. It informs everything he does. The epic battles with Colonel Buck most often have to do with Magnum's all-consuming drive to help/aid service friends and Buck's duty to enforce the current Navy regs/UCMJ.

This ep is extra special because we get to see Thomas just be a guy with a child. Goodness, but he was amazing with Billy, the grandson of the deceased. He was a veritable Andy Taylor. My reaction? Of course he was. I was also deeply, deeply, moved by the love and the bonding exhibited.

The high school reunion scene was fantastic. We got to see how well loved and respected Thomas was back in the day, and we saw him carrying on like he had not a care in the world, which is a rare thing in this series. So much fun. So much joy.

Having seen the later eps with Gwen Verdon as his mom helped me appreciate the character we saw in her debut here. What a gal. When she shared with Thomas that she believed that he most resembled the character of the much-beloved grandpa, I felt that a super significant revelation occurred. It felt true.

This ep was a privilege to watch.

The Flintstones: Shinrock-A-Go-Go (1965) Season 6, Episode 12

The Yabba Dabba Invasion

[10/10 · 15 October 2023]

It is stunning to me that they spent the money to create an ep which incorporates a very significant Mersey-sound hit (Laugh, Laugh). It is very cool they used the recording of the actual band, the Beau Brummels, who came out of San Francisco. But, this was most definitely a take on the British music "invasion" of the time (1965).

The dance show host, based on Jimmy O'Neill (actual voice used), who hosted "Shindig" was terrific. I loved his intro for Fred as he addressed "...you Wing Ding Dingers" aka his audience. This show always did a bang-up job when referencing pop culture. So good.

A scene at the beginning of this ep showed Pebbles and Bam Bam playing. They, of course, became famous in Bedrock for their singing, "Let the Sunshine In," which was the first ep of this final season of the series. Also super well done. Don't get me started on the epic Ann Margrock ep.

It all never gets old, but inevitably, I do.

Pure Country (1992)

Strait Shootin'

[9/10 · 12 August 2023]

I never understood why President Bush and his wife Barbara were such huge fans of Strait. I don't much care for Country music, but I respect it. Then I saw this semi-biography and got it.

This Hallmark of a movie never pretends to be anything but a paean to old and simpler ways. It flatly declares these are timeless. Several scenes along these lines are my favorites: The first is when Dusty returns to his Grandma's house and gets a dose of the kind of love and wisdom which still informed his life. There is a later scene when one of the band members guesses that Dusty had visited her. I was struck by the full respect the guy had for her. He was clearly different, but he knew how to value and respect elders.

The last of the three favorites was when Dusty shows up in the afternoon at the honkytonk where he once honed his craft. The bartender knew just who he was, despite the facial transformation, but he did not let on. He just let Dusty be. Unusual wisdom in the fame-worshipping world we have created. Before the scene ends, they each low-key acknowledge who Dusty is and what he represents. But, he was just a guy sorting things out like most anyone else would. How valuable do you think such a space would be to a celebrity? This movie posits that it is incredibly precious.

Rory Calhoun's final performance was a gift. He was not significant to the plot, but he was an important character portraying an ultimate old school rancher. Here again I cherished that the others gave the man ultimate respect, even if he was something out of a Zane Grey novel.

Finally, it was a hoot to see a younger Kyle Chandler playing a heel. Coach Taylor himself might not have been able to straighten that snake out.

Gunsmoke: Matt's Love Story (1973) Season 19, Episode 3

Right is Right. What is Right?

[10/10 · 20 May 2023]

The core of the oater genre is the conflict of life/personal codes. This ep is a fabulous example of this. We have Dillon's famous devotion to "the law." We also have the greedy and twisted owner of a significant ranch. Then there is the quirky way of a wanderer of considerable survival skills.

I've never accepted Dillon's super strict adherence to the latest legal code. As this ep well demonstrates, there are degrees of "sin" all around. The truly evil one is the man who enjoys favor of the "system." His ability to get a judge to come out to his place so as to convince him to lobby for the use of eminent domain which would take away his neighbor's property in service to the creation of a travel route was telling. This would assumedly allow him to gobble up whatever land the government would not need at a low cost. All nice and legal like.

The wanderer is played by the beloved Mr. Edwards from LHOP (Victor French). Like that character, this one called "Favorite" uses any number of corny sayings in reaction to learning/seeing something. It's quite endearing and very much helps the viewer to overlook how tough and menacing Favorite was when we first saw him shoot Dillon. Maybe his code is a good one?

Here's the most important thing: He had Dillon literally dead to rights. A skilled marksman, he intentionally grazed him from distance with a very high caliber bullet and later did not kill him before leaving the scene. His code was to not kill those who did not deserve it. Dillon was just doing his job, after all. I'd bet anything that the gambler he killed was no innocent and had cheated him, although this was never broached in this ep.

There ends up being a showdown on the evil ranch and sure enough, it was a fascinating portrayal of disparate ways. Favorite returned to hand back the silver coins he was paid for killing the neighbor. He changed his mind about harming a good woman and he would not hold the retainer he was paid.

Of course, this did not sit well with the one who only cared about what HE wanted. Dillon arrives just as shooting breaks out. Had he been even a couple of minutes faster, we would have seen him arrest the one (Favorite) who was doing the most righteous thing. There was a warrant for Favorite and none for the wicked and "respectable" one.

On top of this, there is the most intense romance of the entire series involving Dillon. Without the burden of his code to be a lawman 24/7, he was free to commit to a wife. He would have, too.

I wish this were a two-parter. As is, it is among the very best eps ever made.

Gunsmoke: Hostage! (1972) Season 18, Episode 13

So Much, Not Enough

[8/10 · 6 May 2023]

Mega points for the attempt, but cramming all this into one ep was a major error. We are introduced to the Bonners, who are a notorious gang of some numbers. The leader, Jude, is a real piece of work. He, and the gang, more than merited additional attention and a much more complete backstory.

Full points for allowing such horrible violence come to Festus and Kitty. Not sure that either would have actually survived what was portrayed, but props for the stark reminder of how random and dangerous it was in that place and in that time.

Doc's reaction, "My God!" when he got to the severely wounded Kitty was as deep-throated, pure, and raw as any ever seen. I was a bit stunned to see such in this series. Well done.

One thing I just can't get past is how so many folks could be so closely following Matt as he pursued the Bonners, but somehow escaped all attention by them. I do respect that TPTB recognized that Matt and his intrepid deputies would never have made it out alive without the "cavalry" arriving.

I deeply respect what was attempted. I also am impressed with how vulnerable everyone in the primary cast was shown to be. We got an excellent portrayal of deepest evil versus greatest good. All of it was well within the bounds of actual history, and the canon of this iconic series.

Gunsmoke: Bohannan (1972) Season 18, Episode 3

The Power of Humility

[10/10 · 22 April 2023]

When we first see Bohannon at work, I was struck by how simply he operated whilst "healing." I instantly flashed to the Acts of the Apostles. It says in there that God gave them the power to heal anything they chose. I imagined that they would have done so very similarly to what we saw here, with little fanfare or histrionics.

To me, any "healer" must demonstrate the humility Bohannon did in this ep. In all of his attempts, he was very clear that he was not the cause of any success, it was always God. He always insisted he did not understand why he was allowed to be a vessel for God's work. I loved this character.

I was heavily struck with the thought of mothers throughout the world and history who prayed and prayed and begged and begged for good outcomes for loved ones, only to see their prayers not granted as they hoped. Linda Marsh was excellent with her powerful feeling, yet understated portrayal. Here again, humility was powerful.

Given that Bohannon never once lied or even used hyperbole, and he spoke of past significant healings which included his feeling some kind of power coursing through his arms and into the ill person he was putting hands on, I believe he was a genuine "Apostle" of healing. His gifts were not as powerful as the first Apostles, though. His faith just might have been more powerful.

That we will never know if Heck, the doomed boy, would be spared was tremendous storytelling. We do know that he will have done some real living before passing.

Not to be snarky, but it is coincidental that most all the actors really brought it, without James Arness onscreen. This was one of the best hours of television (let alone Gunsmoke's!) in an era filled with many such examples.

The Big Country (1958)

Epic Scale. Weak Misdirection.

[7/10 · 6 April 2022]

No denying the star power and phenomenal vistas in this epic. The theme music and its variant forms throughout is arguably the greatest of all the oaters. Yet, without the soap opera device of misunderstanding through inexplicable muteness of characters at key moments cheapens it all.

There were any number of occasions when a more complete explanation of the deed to the Big Muddy and McKay's intentions would have reduced the tensions drastically. Relying on the various "codes" to somehow compel the lies by omission cheapen the convictions of all concerned.

I was floored by the quality of acting by the two-sport professional Chuck Connors (Celtics and Cubs). I grew up watching The Rifleman and thought he was a man's man. Seeing this nuanced portrayal in association with Charlton Heston? Top tier, he was.

The big showdown by the one clan who were primed to massacre the other as they rode through a canyon at the end made very little sense to me. The signaling system was a nice touch, though.

This is certainly an important movie, most especially in the western genre. I can see why Ike loved it so, being a West Pointer. But, too much conflation of values/codes led to some silliness in a film trying to be so much more.

Madam Secretary: Leaving the Station (2019) Season 6, Episode 10

Issues? Tissues

[5/10 · 27 March 2022]

Most shows would have been heavy handed about the vows themselves. Instead, it was very subtle about their part in this gender fest. They were very heavy-handed as expected in most other scenes.

If the wife had reached the point of cutting off all contact with the workaholic hubby, she wouldn't have accepted the solution. She would understand that it would only lead to a horrible resentment from him that he had to resign from the job in the place he was born to perform.

The General would never have left his country without a grant of full diplomatic recognition that he was the leader (President, whatever).

What on earth did Flo Avery do other than be born on an auspicious day?

What was the HONOR in meeting her as everyone practically genuflected before her? Cicely Tyson was an awesome bit of casting, though.

The conversation between Senator Daly (Ross) and the FG was excellent. How could a viewer emotionally doubt what Lacey was saying when it came to rights? TPTB took a page out of presidential candidate Alda on The West Wing. The data and situational beliefs each character offered was on point and unusually deep. Genuine and good faith all around. Rare on such a show, or TV, for that matter.

A very great problem with the decision to open up the guest list was not so much who to invite. It was who would get shut out?

I guess the farm-fresh Rose Garden managed to have its perfume tamed in two days?

MASH ended with a helicopter ride and this one with a train ride. The former made a great deal of sense with significance. The latter? Not so much.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Crimson Kiss (1957) Season 1, Episode 8

Menacing Mason

[9/10 · 23 October 2021]

I was particularly struck by the Perry Mason we see in this early episode. As the show evolved, the desperate to win PM we saw in this ep was not seen.

Also of great interest to me was Hamilton Burger being introduced as a politician seeking high office. He was not the relatively fair-minded prosecutor we came to know who was more interested in following the ethics of the Bar and in justice generally. This Burger wanted and needed a win in this potential death-penalty case.

Another unique happening was Della on the stand being forced to admit to the shenanigans she and Perry had engaged in at the murder scene on the night of the murder. She was ready to perjure herself, but her glances to Mason were met with nods of the head indicating that she answer truthfully.

The actual hearing was perhaps the most technical as to the rules of evidence and ethics. Super complicated. The judge was struggling mightily to give PM the rope he needed, but Burger, and a 3rd attorney, made it difficult.

Mason had almost nothing he could use to put a real dent into Burger's case. It looked like the case was certain to be bound over for trial. Then came some unrealistic real-time forensics. Burger about had a cow, and he was right. The tactics proved that Mason's client was innocent (duh), but Mason insisted the judge not declare the proceedings final.

He asked to "unofficially" question a witness to establish actual guilt. The judge, who had been rather fastidious in his prior rulings, readily consented. This resulted in the most shocking courtroom act by Mason in the entire history of the show, imo. Without warning, he grabbed the scruff of the witnesses' neck and forced some contact paper on her mouth to elicit an imprint of her lips. Again, this was done in the wake of a hyper-exposition of rules and ethics. Truly stunning.

I would have loved to see much more of this PM in later seasons. This guy was a brawler, niceties be danged. He was still exceptionally perceptive. But, when the chips were really down on several occasions, the man resorted to measures of great desperation.

This is most certainly among the most interesting eps. I very much appreciated the major complexities introduced by the writers and was fascinated by the showdown in court of a Mason and a Burger who each were at their most ruthless. Each was willing to win by hook or by crook. Great drama, not repeated to this extent ever again.

Superstars: The Extended Version (2021)

I Don't Know How to Love This

[4/10 · 10 April 2021]

I was psyched to see this. I was sad once I did.

It's well worth it to see and hear Norman Jewison. But, he was obviously declining and had to be prompted more than once by Ted, who acted as his guide. It was interesting to see for whom he had the most enthusiastic reaction upon being reunited with each cast member.

I was put off by all the overhyping of some actors who had minor roles. Each one were treated as if they were crucial to the entire enterprise. If everyone is special, no one is special. I was also stunned by the choppy Directing of Munoz. I spent far too much time trying to figure out what the heck he was trying to do/convey.

The film footage of 1973 Israel and some of the sets/scenes were great to see. It's the best part of this documentary.

JCS is truly significant. I rewatch it several times each year. I find it brilliant and some of the insights I heard in "Extended" added to the depth and breadth of my regard for JCS.

Yet, sadly, the tongue bathing and the overdone bonhomie were much too sappy and overwhelmed the effort.

The Brady Bunch: Getting Davy Jones (1971) Season 3, Episode 12

Valley Vibes

[10/10 · 14 March 2021]

This ep was among the most powerful examples of creating a personal SoCal dream existence that I experienced as a wee lad growing up in New England. Many years later, I ended up living within a very few miles from the famed Brady Bunch house in the San Fernando Valley. The Universal Studios were within a 10 minute drive (Hollywood USA. The entertainment capital of the world). It wasn't the enchanting life for which I had hoped, but the weather sure lived up to every expectation!

Maureen was wonderful in this ep. For me, it was her best one with the possible exception of the broken nose ep. She represented the millions of teen girls who were gaga over Davy (credited as David Jones). Given the now-known difficulties she experienced as a youth, this ep had to be an incredibly fun time and escape for her.

Three things struck me about Davy's performance of "Girl": They had him sing the entire song. No way that happens today, given the time compression and the super-short attention spans of viewers. I also listened closely to the backing music, which was most certainly created by the Wrecking Crew (Check out the documentary film about them). They were the session players who were responsible for most all the pop music backing of that era. They actually used the famous piano line from "Daydream Believer" on this song! Finally, Davy's West End stage training was in evidence as he gesticulated and danced/grooved as if he were on stage while singing the last stanzas in the "studio."

I give this ep a 10. It is iconic well beyond just the Brady Bunch series. Heck, it helped seal a California dream for this young denizen of the Commonwealth.

California Dreaming (1979)

Hoosier Dreams of California

[8/10 · 5 February 2021]

I have many times recollected seeing this movie in a very specific mall theater which was the worst modern, plastic, and uncomfortable one of my youth. I also remember how very disappointed I was with what Gerry and Dewey (America) had done with the titular song.

I also viscerally re-experienced how badly I wanted to live in Southern California (Yes, the movie is set up the coast 150 miles or so). Northern Indiana, not all that far from Chicago, was (is) an incredibly dreary area unless it is Summertime. Most every one of my college-bound classmates had one specific goal: Get the hell out of there! They did. Years later, so did I. I eventually made my way to L.A., too.

So, I fully identified with the main character, T.T. (Dennis Christopher (whom I was unlucky enough to meet and interview about a decade later). For as long as he was the dork, his performance was very good. The movie was thematically congruent, which was an unusual grace for an AIP beach movie. The artists involved clearly wanted to make a more substantial movie than the Frankie and Annette flix.

The female lead, Glynnis O'Connor, was a reach as a beach girl/idol. She had portrayed the teen Girl Next Door in a ton of movies and TV shows throughout the 70s and she was really good at it. She was pretty, but not gorgeous, nor voluptuous. The blonde hair for this movie was a major departure from her typical roles. The one thing that was congruent was that the character was a virgin, due to the wary and weary Duke, her step dad.

Seymour Cassel was a perfect choice to hold the weight of the movie. Duke was mostly a fun-loving, let-it-all-hang-out dude. He was very much a beach lifer, except for being a hawk when it came to his fatherly responsibilities. The movie works because of Cassel.

The actual surfing in SoCal is largely a joke. Waves are almost always shallow and small, when there are any. If I had been paying closer attention on first viewing of the movie, I would have seen it. The surfing scenes were refreshingly realistic.

It's revisionist to claim this movie as the progenitor of the fanciful coming-of-age farces which were to come in later years. There are certainly some elements of it, after all this was an AIP movie. Yet, T.T. was most always played seriously. His growth was measured and earned. The movie relies, unfortunately, on the ethos of loose SoCal/beach girls when it's time for unmotivated sex. I found that cheapening.

Now that I have lived a life, including a decade in L.A., my youthful longing for what the movie offered is long lost. However, I still find myself drawn to rewatches and I focus on some of the more timeless and deep (deeper than the waves in the movie!) themes. In the end, they win out for me.

I've seen America in concert a bunch of times (even right next to the actual Ventura Highway!!!!) since 1977/78 when this movie was made. In most all of them, especially in the more recent past, they talk of the genesis of covering this tune. It's much better than the sax-infused dirge on the soundtrack. Dewey's gravelly voice is a great fit. imo.

Take Me Home: The John Denver Story (2000 TV Movie)

Fake Name, Fake Movie

[4/10 · 23 January 2021]

There is no doubting the man's writing ability and his pleasing singing voice. He was a true great.

This is a classic Jerry London effort: Shallow pablum for the masses. The pacing of the story was amateurish - most especially JD's marriage to the Australian. Like Glen Campbell, JD was in demand as a session player and a songwriter for years before he hit it big as a solo artist. The movie's portrayal of him as a nomadic and struggling artist up until RCA signed him was phony as Lowe's wig.

I learned all I needed to know about Denver during the OPEC gas shortage in 1973. What did Mr. Environmentalist do in response? Why, he had a huge gas tank installed on his property (No, he did not share.) for his personal vehicles! Not to mention all the carbon he burned as a recreational pilot. I give the man his due as an effective advocate and his partnership with Cousteau was a big deal, as hinted at in the movie.

One thing I genuinely liked was the constant use of the phrase, "Far out." Yes, he really did say it a LOT. This habit was adopted in the character JD portrayed on his McCloud TV show appearance. I love the ending of that ep where the actors switched up their signature phrases. Denver says, "There ya go." and McCloud says, "Far out." They each laugh robustly and naturally at the humor and irony. Denver did a very fine job in the role, which no doubt helped him win the part in "Oh, God." where he was again very good.

John Deutschendorf was a gifted creator and performer. Any biopic faces a tremendous problem in narrowing his life down. "Take me Home" chose to emphasize a hardscrabble start and does it well. But, the uneven and disconnected treatment of JD's success and the one-note performance by Lowe cheapened, not honored, this important artist.

The Chosen: The Wedding Gift (2019) Season 1, Episode 5

Patriarchy Drastically Minimized

[7/10 · 17 January 2021]

It is a major misstep to have all of these eps depicting so many women as the true power in relationships. Christ was the first to emphasize genuine equality into the culture, and he was strongly resisted by most. A significant piece to the miracle at Cana is that Jesus acceded to a woman's "demand."

The Ramah character is another example of such a stretch. Would someone in her position say no to a Thomas who was making great good sense as to an additional container of wine? Having said this, I found her to be incredibly appealing. Yasmine Al-Bustami was an excellent choice for this role.

I know it is imagined, yet I absolutely loved that Jesus declared to God that he was ready to begin the campaign to Calvary, immediately prior to transforming the water into wine. The depiction of the red liquid pouring from his fingers was incredibly powerful to me, as it presaged his actual blood pouring at Golgatha.