ross-fortini Reviews

The Bear (2022– )

Stick with it and all the accolades make sense!

[10/10 · 18 June 2024]

I finally got access to The Bear a few days ago based on both my brothers' recommendations (both in the culinary arts). I have to say I was initially underwhelmed, *until* S1E8. That episode was the turning point for me, where the series clearly hit an emotional and storytelling stride that was truly awe-inspiring to see in a single 30-minute episode. Every main character hits their emotional stride, showing both vulnerability and strength, sometimes in the same damn scene.

If you kinda wondered what all the hype is about with this series, stick with it. The first few eps are a bit scattershot, but if you invest the time to get to the back half of seasion 1, it will be worth your time. Many (most?) series need some time to find their rhythm, and The Bear is no exception...other than the payoff being even greater than many of those other series.

Apples Never Fall (2024)

More a family drama than a mystery

[6/10 · 19 March 2024]

If you are willing to adjust your expectations of this limited series, you may not be let down by this generally well-acted drama.

In reality, there really is no "mystery" other than not knowing *anything* substantial about the central event for 7 of the 8 episodes. Plenty of suspicions and dubious conclusions by law enforcement are lobbed (sorry) between characters relentlessly episode after episode, with key "evidence" uncovered along the way being almost hilariously circumstantial (and obviously meant to mislead).

The *vast* majority of the episodes center around the family dynamics of the. Delaneys, with plenty of flashbacks that fill in present day interactions to explain why some family members react and behave the way they do.

In the end, the final episode was a complete letdown, with the last 5 seconds of the penultimate episode being the biggest twist/shocker of the series. I did not read the book, but it felt like the last episode was stretching the last couple pages of the book into a full hour of content.

If you temper your expectations oso that you don't expect a big payoff to the series, and instead watch it as a family melodrama wrapped around a "meh" mystery, your opinion might be higher.

Bosch: Legacy (2022– )

Glad Bosch is back, but I miss the grit

[6/10 · 20 May 2022]

I was really excited when the Bosch franchise was resurrected. But after watching all the episodes currently available, Bosch:Legacy just doesn't have the emotional depth, backstory-inflicted pain, and general undercurrent of darkness of the original. I miss the grittiness.

First, I 100% agree with everyone who has complained about the title track. IT. IS. AWFUL. Yeah, we get it: "Oh, my, my--times are changin'!" (that's the entirety of the lyrics, ugh). Showrunners: if this somehow gets picked up for season 2, PLEASE ditch this bad Walmart-version-of-a-Michael-Jackson-B-side track for something more sophisticated.

The storylines are standard fare, but at least they weave in a few passing references to the prior series. Titus Welliver and Mimi Rogers carry the show best as they can with as much gravitas as the script allows. But taking into account Madison Lintz's mediocre performance in the original series, her Maddie character is now completely unbelievable as a rookie police officer. I wish I could commit to the premise, but it just doesn't work. (UPDATE: Just watched the most recent 2 episodes, and they are DANGEROUSLY close to jumping the shark, especially with Maddie's story arc. So her partner gets shot and the captain decides *Maddie* should inform the family. Really?!? And when she does so, she doesn't mention her partner is STILL ALIVE until 30 seconds into the conversation! C'mon man!)

The baddies are completely one-dimensional, more so than the first series. And the "Bad Russians shaking down crooked American businessmen" trope is SO 1980's. They rarely appear on-screen unless a 30-second discussion of a plot detail is needed, and most of their 'badness' is explained by the main characters discussing what they found online, or after breaking into the bad guys' homes or businesses. It all feels too much like the cookie-cutter, 60-minute cop procedurals infecting network TV.

In summary, I wish this reboot would've been more "Breaking Bad" and less "NCIS: (insert variation here)". Maybe if this first go-round is as successful as the original, the showrunners will feel more empowered--and have the budget--to take some risks and get back to the dirtier version of this franchise.

The Adam Project (2022)

Put your 'Back To The Future' goggles on and you'll enjoy this movie

[8/10 · 17 March 2022]

Time travel 'paradoxes' that play fast-and-loose with the space/time continuum (and physics in general). Snarky 'buddy cop' dialog. Heartfelt 'damaged family learns how to heal itself' moments. 'Disney-fied' violence where lots of people die but zero blood is shed. Throw them in a blender and out comes "The Adam Project".

And although I'm often skeptical of a "Netflix #1" ranking, I *totally* loved it. If you hit PLAY with the same expectations you might've had when you first saw something like "Back to the Future," you won't be disappointed.

PLUSES:

• Natural chemistry between main protagonists Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell. Their interaction is charming and genuine, with snarky banter through the whole movie (and Scobell gets the best lines of the two).

• Near-perfect pacing. The movie moves along with just the right tempo between action sequences and more dialog-rich plot exposition and character development scenes. There are plenty of heartfelt moments, too, but none drag on longer than necessary yet are still quite sweet and moving.

• GREAT soundtrack. I've been waiting (for several decades) for Boston's "Foreplay/Long Time" to get a major movie nod, and this one totally fits the scene. Overall, just enough classic rock in just the right places.

MINUSES:

• The aforementioned playing fast-and-loose with the space/time continuum. The writers *do* make valiant attempts to explain away these gaping holes in the plotline via dialog, and you just have to go with it. If you can allow yourself to believe a Delorean can be built into a time machine, you'll be fine.

• Catherine Keener as the main antagonist. She clearly tried to play the character as a 'cool and aloof' type of evil, but it just came off as 'disinterested.' To be fair, the writers worked very little on giving her character any dimension whatsoever, so it makes the balance of good-vs-evil feel lopsided when there is only one 3 minute scene exposing *why* her almost psychopathic character is so wholly evil. I just didn't buy it, and I don't think she did, either.

IN SUMMARY, watch this when you are in an all-is-right-with-the-world mood (especially rare these days, I know), look for the good in the movie, and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.