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Reviews
And Just Like That...: Some of My Best Friends (2021)
Some New Friends
It's great to see some new faces, and FINALLY learn more about them.
NYA: When she talks about her reservations around becoming a mother, it's really honest and refreshing. The myth that all women are 100% confident about starting a family (and 100% happy after having one) is something we don't talk about nearly enough. I also appreciate that she has such a supportive, loving, and healthy relationship with her husband.
LISA: It's fun to have another "society mom" on the show. She's bright, savvy, and influential. I still want to see more of her before I offer additional opinions about Lisa.
SEEMA: She's a strong woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind, and to also be vulnerable. No, she's not Samantha 2.0, she's her own woman. Seema is beautiful, confident, and utterly genuine. For whatever reason, finding a man is harder in the big city. (I've experienced this in my own search for romance.) She's happy with her life, but struggles to find romance. I like where they're going with her character.
I think I said it in a previous review, and I'll say it again: SATC didn't have a very diverse cast, and I'm glad that AJLT is being more inclusive. The show is better because of it.
And Just Like That...: When in Rome (2021)
A Nod to the Original
A bit of drama from the original is rekindled, and watching Carrie obsess over Natasha again feels like a nod to the original.
A few thoughts on episode 3:
CARRIE: She's mourning Big, and the more neurotic side of Carrie surfaces as she tries to get in touch with Natasha. Watching them have an adult conversation over coffee speaks to just how much they've matured over the years.
CHARLOTTE: As a mother, she's trying to understand her daughter who doesn't feel like a girl. I know people with children that age, and some of them are working through similar things. It's all very real. I appreciate this nod to what it's like to be a parent (and a teenager) these days.
MIRANDA (Rambo): When she's around Che, it's the happiest she's been this season, and it's great to see.
CHE: It's great to watch Che's character develop, and I enjoyed seeing Che in their element - on stage and speaking their truth.
DISLIKES: Again, Steve is pretty absent from the screen. I'll say it again: his character deserves better.
And Just Like That...: Little Black Dress (2021)
A Beautiful Farewell
Big's funeral is at the center of this episode, and it's a lovely tribute to his character.
A few thoughts about episode 2:
THE FUNERAL: Funerals are painful, and this was a touching farewell to Big. It was also a hilarious depiction of all the kind and awful things that people say at these sorts of events.
CARRIE: The cool, calm, and collected version of Carrie is disconcerting, and it tells us just how much she's hurting right now. It's a HUGE relief when she finally breaks down in the hallway...and just like that Carrie comes back to life.
CHE & MIRANDA: The chemistry between them is off the hook. There's a lot of intensity in their first meeting, and I'm on board for this ride.
CHE: I like that Che is so unapologetically themselves. We could all use more of that in our lives.
DISLIKES: I want to see more of Dr. Wallace's character. She seems to have so much more to offer than just being a professor who is there to help Miranda be more culturally aware.
And Just Like That...: Hello It's Me (2021)
It's Great to See the Gals Again!
In the first episode, I felt like I was catching up with old friends and it's soooo good to see them again!
Yes, the show is different from SATC and it should be - it's 20 years later.
A few thoughts on episode 1:
BIG: Big's death was heartbreaking. And so real. People die suddenly, unexpectedly, and it's never easy.
MIRANDA: Miranda's awkward moment in the classroom was hard to watch, but relatable. None of us want to say the wrong thing or come across as the ignorant person in the room.
MIRANDA (again): Miranda is drinking (and not being the confident red head we all know and love) because she's miserable, and she wants more out of life. Miranda was never going to be a traditional housewife, and watching her crumble now feels true to the character.
CHARLOTTE: Her and Harry are just amazing. I love them as a couple!
CHE: My first impression of Che is that I love them! A few people have criticized the casting choice as being too woke, but the show really needs a witty, brutally honest character. Che is a a great addition.
I like Dr. Wallace and Lisa, but I haven't seen enough of them to form much of an opinion yet.
DISLIKES: Like so many other fans, I miss Samantha. In a perfect world, Kim Cattrall would be a part of the show. Steve's character has been shoved to the background, and I think he deserves better.
The Sandman (2022)
Thank you, Neil Gaiman!
I'm not on a first-name basis with the author of the graphic novels, but just for a second, I need to pretend that I am. Neil, I hope you're ridiculously proud of the show. Thank you for creating the world of The Sandman, and thank you to everyone who made it possible to translate the stories into a television show. The entire series is an absolute treat!
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming (aka the review).
The source material has a twisting, surreal quality to it that I would have said can't be captured. And yet here we are. Everything comes to life because the actors bring massive talent and heart to their roles. The CGI is gorgeous, and I thought it might overwhelm the show. Instead, the sweeping visuals offer a brilliant contrast to the subtle details that create nuanced characters: the gleefully sinister mischief in Desire's eyes; the way Despair hunches over on a couch, as if the weight of her sadness will cause her to collapse even more inward; the warmth in Death's disarming smile; and the note of wonder that sometimes creeps into Dream's seemingly disinterested voice.
It's unfortunate that the show is receiving negative reviews over a handful of casting choices. I think the cast is true to the graphic novels. Dreams change form, and they have a logic all their own, so it seems perfectly natural that, for the show, the characters on the page have shifted into something familiar, but original.
I'm relieved that the story takes its time. Seeing a show that slowly unfurls instead of rushing from one action sequence to the next is refreshing. It's the cold glass of lemonade on a triple-digit day that I've been craving.
I'm giving the series nine stars, and not ten because I need to reserve something for my review of season 2. My fingers (and toes) are crossed that we'll get to see it!
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The Good and the Bad: Lacked Solo's Charm
The Good: As a concept, the story is fun. Who doesn't want to know more about the inimitable Han Solo?
The Bad: The creators of this film had a great time showing off their ability to put together some impressive special effects, but they got so caught up in creating battle sequences and train heists that any plot feels like an after thought.
As much as I think Alden Ehrenreich is a talented young actor, he really doesn't have the swagger or devil-may-care attitude that endeared millions of people to Han Solo. Ehrenreich had some impossibly big shoes to fill, and I like to think if the writers had given him a script with more substance, he could have put together a better performance.
The bottom line: this movie had the potential to be epic, but instead, the filmmakers chose to play it safe and stick to the incredibly tired formula of summer blockbusters. It's a shame that box office performance takes priority over making innovative films.
Blue Jasmine (2013)
The Good and the Bad: Watch to be Blue
The good: In this refreshingly character-driven story, Cate Blanchett gives such a raw, convincing performance that she disappears entirely into her deeply troubled character, Jasmine.
The premise is intriguing, and the story has a haunting quality that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
The bad: The hallmark of any film where nuanced characters take center stage is making the audience feel sympathy for even the most unsympathetic people. Unfortunately, this film missed the mark and I wasn't remotely invested in Jasmine's slow decent into madness. It was horrifying to watch the character unravel, but when all is said and done, Woody Allen missed an opportunity to help us really understand the complex narcissist portrayed by Blanchett.
The bottom line: If you're looking for an outstanding character-driven film with some levity, you'll be better off exploring other options. I should also add I'm not sure this film qualifies as a "dark comedy." To call any form of mental illness "funny" diminishes the severity of life-altering conditions that are anything but humorous.