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Sugar (2024)
John Sugar, alien-as-human PI
"Sugar" (S01, 8 eps, 35+ mins, Apple) Colin Farrell stars in the title role, as made-up sounding as it is. He's pretty good in this, as is the rest of the cast (minus one, below), though I expected more of Amy Ryan and her character. Head writer/creator Mark Proto' has some decent movie titles behind him so he tried this 8-ep series and I think he kind of failed in that. There were too many boring lulls in this, he just didn't get the pacing right. Also, much has been made of this being a retro noir-type of PI show, but to be true to that type, it needs to be shot in B/W with a fair amount of rain scenes - neither of which was utilized here. Sugar drives around in an immaculate '65 conv vette which is "off" given the present-day setting, and his status as a PI - they typically cruise in beaters. Anyway, the story itself is his determination to find a missing young woman despite taking "friendly fire" so to speak. "Ruby", his handler/agent, is played by Kirby Howell who just doesn't fit the role, sorry. The editing is pretty bad, too, as you'll notice certain skips/jumps in the story that make you think "did I miss something?!" The story's conclusion is fine, not great, but there's an epilogue that ties to his alien origin (not a spoiler, just an attribute of his character) and that's just not satisfying either. In fact, it's just not enough to make you desire a season two if Apple even grants it.
Presumed Innocent (2024)
Presumed Innocent presumes you're gullible
"Presumed Innocent" (mini-series, 8 eps, 45-mins, Apple+) This single-season series stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role as a Chicago prosecutor ("Rusty") whose life is turned upside down by the murder of his colleague and paramour, Carolyn Polhemus, as he's quickly named the prime suspect. The main problem with this story is plausibility from beginning through the end. There are too many circumstances and scenes/scenarios that just don't ring true, that are just dumb. The Rusty character is wholly unlikeable, he has so many flaws yet each of three other family members support him when they have every reason to distance themselves from him if not outright move out! But the worst of it is the final episode when we learn the verdict and its aftermath, both of which you just KNOW would not play out in real life that way, it just screams "this is so dumb!" BTW, Apple gets its DIE credits/compensation with the mixed race (B/W) marriage AND children of Rusty and Barbara. Notice these M/R relationships are always the polarizing B/W and never other race combos, wonder why? Please save yourself the time and aggravation of watching this throwaway show.
The Union (2024)
Halle Berry ruins this
"The Union" (8/16/24, 100-mins, PG13, Netflix) Mark Wahlberg gets top billing over Halle Berry in this spy/action/romancer though it seems more that Halle is the film's lead. The film's title comes from the secret agency that "Roxanne" (Halle) recruits "Mike" (Wahlberg) into, and it's a blue-collar reference since it's an agency comprised of trade-level agents instead of those from Ivy-league schools. So that's a different take on inclusivity. This film is getting a lot of low scoring in this forum and I understand that though I don't grade as severely. Netflix apparently just throws cash at projects and hopes for the best. This project has good, solid casting but the director is almost exclusively from tv shows so he's not really up to doing this feature-length film. But much as it pains me to say this, Halle Berry largely contributes to the film's problems. She's approaching 60 but tries to come off as 40-ish with her sassy, cute haircut. Her 34yo body from "Swordfish" has given way to a pudgy waist and bigger "trunk". This affects her movement, her running, her action sequences, and it just doesn't work unfortunately. Wahlberg, at 53, is still in fine shape and performs well in his role though his romance with "Roxanne" is awkward and a bit weird. I wouldn't characterize this effort as a waste but if you do watch, I hope this sets your expectations low enough.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Mia W almost ruins this otherwise fun film
"Alice in Wonderland" (2010, 105-min, PG, D/Tim Burton) I watched the 3D version of this which added that extra visual oomph to this live-action fantasy. Mia W'ska stars as "Alice" in her first leading role, and I wasn't impressed. She had a really hard time apparently doing green-screen acting. Much of this film was cgi and obviously done in post-production so the live production would've mainly been acting with your imagination that there were make-believe characters in front of you, etc, and she just didn't pull that off well at all. But even during the live-action, non-cgi sequences she just came off as stilted/wooden, again, not impressive. I guess Tim Burton, a fine director, just couldn't direct her to success. Beyond that, the other principals pulled their weight and saved the film. One of the things I found amusing was how much this adaptation had in common with 1939's Wizard of Oz, esp Alice and Dorothy. Looks like writer Linda Woolverton took more "liberties" than normal with this. One final thing, cultural messaging was fairly muted till the end when she returns to her abandoned wedding and spouts a bunch of feminist ideology which is out of character for "Alice" as a young teen character, so the movie ends with a thud instead of charm.
Hacks (2021)
Hacks continues to be a gem in a sea of carp
"Hacks" (S03, 9-eps, 32+ mins, MAX) This series, starring Jean Smart, continues to shine among so much streaming dross out there. "Deborah Vance" and her on-again-off-again assistant and head-writer "Ava Daniels" have such an entertaining, co-dependent relationship that it's just always fun from situation to situation. The series writing is funny, intriguing, and plausible. It's just so good in all the important dimensions. And at the season's finale, "Ava" finally makes a really important step in her growth, and that would be a good launch into a season four, if we're fortunate enough to get that green-lit, let's really hope so.
Jackpot! (2024)
Amazon finally hits the Jackpot with this one
"Jackpot!" (Aug 2024, 100-min, R for swears, D/Paul Feig, Amazon Prime Video) is a rollercoaster of an action-comedy. The film combines humor, action, and a touch of heart. The storyline is a dystopian lottery game in 2030 where the winner must survive an LA-wide murder-manhunt to claim their prize setting the stage for a series of hilarious and thrilling escapades.
Awkwafina stars as "Katie Kim", a former actress who accidentally finds herself in possession of the winning ticket. Her comedic timing and quirky charm bring a refreshing energy to the film. Her chemistry with John Cena's character, Noel, is a highlight.
John Cena co-stars, as Noel, a lovable bruiser and security expert, delivering a satisfying performance. His physical comedy and deadpan delivery are spot-on, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The film's action sequences are well-executed, with Cena's impressive stunts adding an extra layer of excitement. But make no mistake, there's an army of stuntmen contributing to the mayhem.
The film's pacing is brisk, ensuring there's never a dull moment. The clever script is filled with witty dialogue and pop-culture references that keep you engaged.
"Jackpot!" is a fun action-comedy that showcases the comedic talents of Awkwafina and John Cena. Their performances, combined with a unique and engaging storyline, make this film a winner. You won't regret watching this one with your date, friend, family as long as they're ok with swears/cursing.
A Gentleman in Moscow (2024)
An exciting time made so boring
"A Gentleman in Moscow" (Spring 2024, 8 eps, 45+ min, Showtime) The story starts in Revolution of 1917 Moscow which was an exciting and very tumultuous time. However, this story isn't told from the perspective of those in power or about to be in power, but from the perspective of a "gentleman", a minor player with the title of Count, whose social status gets blanked by the revolution. So, the entire storyline is handicapped by this decision. And it's as boring as you might have feared it'd be. I have NO IDEA what all the rave reviews are for, except the typical studio shilling that happens around here, but "trust me on this" you do not want to waste your time with this, even if you're a student of Russian history, there's just so very little there to be of any interest. I kept forcing myself to watch this, hoping it'd "kick in" at some point, but no, as boring at its end as it started. Ewan McGregor is front and center in this, every scene, so if you're a fan, this might be the only reason to watch. And as is so often the case these days in streaming series, he not only stars but is one of the executive producers so it's no wonder it's so focused on his character which is an obvious bid for a second Emmy. I so wish this could've been much more interesting, the backdrop of the Revolution is so rich with fascinating stories, but this wasn't one of them. I rate as 3-stars which are pretty much for its fine production values.
Orphan Black: Echoes (2023)
OBE promises sci-fi but delivers social engineering
"Orphan Black: Echoes" (Nov 2023 (Aus), 10 eps, 42-min, Stan (Aus)) Spoilers enclosed. This series was introduced in Australia late last year on Stan. It made it to the US this summer via AMC. Like many, many others I was predisposed to LIKING this series, I wanted to, I was ready to but alas. Turns out it's for women, written by women, mostly produced and directed by women, and promotes LGBT values, so if that's your thing, you're going to enjoy this more than the other 90% of us. The plot, the storyline is decent regarding the 3D (they call it 4D) printing of human bodies which presents a modern techno-slant on cloning which used to take a loooonnnnggg time, but 3D printing - a few days maybe and you have a fully grown kid, teen, or adult depending on the reference scan being used. However, the whole story takes a long time to play out across ten excruciating episodes, and doesn't even conclude decisively as if it's guaranteed a second season because the rest of the story is hanging on that. But I, like 98% of everyone else, won't return for a sophomore season since this whole production is more about social value influencing than sci-fi plot enjoyment, insert vomit emoji.
MaXXXine (2024)
70s made-for-tv movie? Could've fooled me
Maxxxine (2024, R,100-min, $20M w/w, W/D/P-Ti West) Mia Goth in the title role as an aging porn star trying to crossover to C-level mainstream horror confident she's a "star". The film is rated R more for violence/gore than its sexually explicit nature which frankly was PG-13. The production mimicks the look/feel of 70s cinema though it's set in the mid-80s. And the plot and its pacing puts it genuinely there in the 70s, in fact, to me it comes across more as a made-for-tv movie that was so common in those days, or what became known as straight-to-video in the 80s, one you'd pick up from Blockbuster when your first and second choices were all rented out. Mia Goth just doesn't have the authentic appeal to be a leading lady. It's no wonder this film only grossed $20M over its 4-week run, it's just a middling affair.
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal (2024)
Ashes, Mad men
"Ashley Madison..." (2024, 3 eps, 50-min, Netflix) This short run documentary features interviews with a founder, affected couples, and law enforcement and all three sets were disappointing. Founder Evan Back is a big 'ol tub of lard who's only interested in making snappy one-liners, and has no remorse for any of the travestry. One couple interviewed were mixed race, so not interested - skip. Another were from the social security set, so not interested - skip. The final couple were pretty interesting but had the most unrealistic of forgive/forget endings. Investigators into the hack were wholly impotent, ironic right? After months/years, they still have no clue and shamed themselves with stupid speculation and even one character had the audacity to blame them for customers' relationship consequences! Biderman was never called out and shamed as the fraudulent, lying, cheating charlatan he was and how he pursued the infection of our society with his garbage business plan. That bug should've been jailed hard. Pathetic.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Furiosa should be in a Testarossa
"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" (6/25/24, R for graphic violence, 140-min, $170M w/w, W/D/George Miller) Sorry, it's forced, but you gotta rhyme Furiosa with that fast car. Look, I'm a tough critic, but this film was really entertaining. Anya TJ as the title character surprised me with her intensity, dint have much of a speaking role but she performed her character very well. I can't help but think how humorous it was on-set when everyone realized that George had uglified Chris by misshaping his nose, but I think it took away from his fearsome name "Dementus", looks more like "Doofus". But man, the typical Mad Max monster rig fights off nimble aggressors was pretty amazing. I mean at times it really looked like real people were getting gouged, blown up, and run over. Can you imagine doing take after take of these scenes in a film?! And the post-credit scenes showed how the end of this story transitions to Fury Road. There are many other supporting characters that were really good, too, but this is a short review afterall.
My Lady Jane (2024)
Gen Z romcom set in 18th century
"My Lady Jane" (S01, 10 eps, 1/2 hr, Amzn) It's clear in the first episode that this is a romcom by girls and for girls. This is creator/writer Gemma Burgess' very first presentation and that's pretty much followed through with the cast, too, in that you've not seen them before - yes, they have credits but they've been in the background. Also, most of our protags are Gen X/Z, so that's a bit weird for their characterizations - a bit young - but it definitely signals the target demographic. Look, it's cute with some interesting humor and fine production values but there's a shallowness to the characters and the overall story. IOW, I think it's satisfied to attract its limited demographic which'll limit its wider success. Our main protagonist is the title character and she's just a hotbed of feminist+lgbxx ideals, so again, targeted to a certain demo but won't get it to that wider mainstream.
Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution (2023)
Intentionally misleading title
"Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution" (single season, June 2024, 3 eps, PBS) We were really looking forward to this short mini-series to recapture the excitement and frivolity of the disco era. The series synopsis states: "From the sweaty basement bars of 70s New York to the glittering peak of the global charts, how disco conquered the world - its origins, its triumphs, its fall and its legacy." However, the series instead focuses on its intersection with the LGxxx culture. So yeh, bait and switch - that is so below the standards of PBS to do that. The producers and studio execs apparently were convinced the only way to get viewership for this type of content is to hoodwink the public into watching it, gross, and shame on PBS.
Hollywood Con Queen (2024)
Decent accounting of pursuing a conman
"Hollywood Con Queen" (one season (2024), 3 eps, 1 hr, Apple+) This short run documentary uncovers the fraud of dozens of low-level Hollywooders perpetuated by someone at first thought to be a woman of voice impersonations but turns out to be someone else, someone who's "sweet" and "light on their feet" but obsessively annoying, too. My takeaway from this is how the US DoJ/FBI once again leaves it up to others to develop a case till it rises to their standards of interest. Even with plenty of evidence of fraud presented to them, the FBI did not take on the case till it hit the $1 million level. This is especially egregious since the con man was operating internationally which should've pushed them to immediate involvement, whatever. The conclusion of the tale is not really solid, some justice is achieved, but the tale doesn't end with a conviction and sentencing, that still is yet to play out apparently.
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (2016)
Promising but ultimately disappointing
"Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" (3 seasons, A&E, 45-min) Leah's crusade against the apostasies of Scientology is to be commended and there's plenty of episodes in this series to prove that out. However, seasons two and three are simply more of the same, just interview after interview. No further ground is gained, no further accomplishments are made. One episode I was looking forward to concerned Tom Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes (2006) but instead of profiling Cruise and his influence on Scientology and vice versa it became a go-nowhere mystery about David Miscavige's wife's continuing absence. It's clear from all the disclaimers the series apparently was forced to show that "the Church" either forced or intimidated Leah to stay away from profiling Cruise vis-a-vis Scientology, or ANY other celebrity for that matter. So the series only goes so far in exposing Scientology, too many loose ends left dangling, without even a proper series finale - it just ends.
Hazbin Hotel (2019)
Hazbin Hotel is the most raucous hotel you'll witness
"Hazbin Hotel" (8 eps, 25-mins, Amazon, animated) Wow, just wow. There are so so many points of review with this show, so many different perspectives one could use to review. So let's get this first one out of the way right off the bat, this is an lgbtq's dream show, every single male character, save for one, is a hyper-energetic queen, which despite one's opinion of such things, is so overwhelmingly entertaining. The main operative adjective for the entire first season is hyper-energetic. Every character is voiced with such energy and enthusiasm that you're exhausted at the end of each 25-min ep. The voice characterizations are outstanding and thanks for that goes to the four, yes, four voice directors - one of which is the show's creator herself, and one of which is the creator of the outstanding classic/favorite "Invader Zim"! In fact, the animation style is very similar to that classic, such a treat! Another element is the singing. Now I'm not into musicals but the 2 or 3 songs/episode moved with such pace that you couldn't really dwell on it. And the songs themselves ranged from Disney-like to ragtime. I mean this show does NOT lack for creativity. In fact, there is so much going on in each and every scene that you feel obligated to re-watch the entire season again and maybe again to catch every little nuance. Finally, the season finale - angels vs demons - was a triumph of animation and story-telling. If you're someone who wants to hate on this show, you'll be hard-pressed to do so after watching it end to end, it's just that good, so good. Season 2 is already greenlit and it'll be so tough to wait for that. Final note: this is a Mature Audience show - no one under age 13 should be exposed to this, way too much cursing and sexual situations for them, they wouldn't understand most of the material anyway.
The Fall Guy (2024)
You'll fall for this guy
"Fall Guy" (5/3/24, 2hr, $145M w/w, D/David Leitch) This was a fun movie, in a strange category of romcom/action, so it's the perfect date-night film - romance and comedy for her, action for the guys. Ryan Gosling had authentic chemistry with John Krasinski's wife, Emily Blunt, they had a good time which means we had a good time. Both play underdogs which we, the audience, always love, right? The movie also shows the devious power of deep fake photos and video to aid in the commission of crimes. The movie runs a kind of long 2 hrs so you may want to break it up into a two-part affair like me and mine did. This really is a fun, fast-paced romp - you should enjoy :-)
I Care a Lot (2020)
Elder care fraud with a twist of crazy
"I Care a Lot" (2020, soft R, 2 hrs, Netflix) soft R rating for lesbian intimacies and incessant vaping. This film shows how court-appointed guardianship can be abused when certain trustees go rogue for financial benefit. "Marla Grayson" (Rosamund Pike) stars as the sociopathic anti-protag who perpetuates a fraud on a nice old lady who happens to have connections to "people that care". "Roman Lunyov" (Peter Dinklage) is one of them but just when you think he's handled the Grayson problem you get the twist. So the final half hour is "who's going to prevail, Marla or Roman?" The answer to that, of course, is a serious spoiler, but it is an outcome that I did not guess because it's so rare of one. But you have to stay to the very end because even that twist gets another, more satisfying one - enjoy.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Aquaman sinks in this one
"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (Cmas 2023, 2hr, $336M w/w, D/James Wan) This should've been an outstanding sequel to 2018's Aquaman but instead you get something akin to a video game adaptation. This director has so much more potential but the gazillions in budget were just squandered on VFX as if this was a half-hearted Netflix production. But worse is that the writing is just horrid, and to find that Wan and Momoa both have writing credits for this! I mean baby peeing in daddy's face is an ancient romcom trope, who permitted this into the screenplay of a big budget action movie?! And there are too many other such travesties to bother with here, very very disappointing.
The Wrong Missy (2020)
It's just wrong
"The Wrong Missy" (May 2020, 90-min, Netflix) This is one of the most bizarre romcoms you'll see. David Spade gets top billing but this film is all about Lauren Lapkus' "Missy" character. She plays the most hyperbolic, over the top character you've seen since something like that was done by Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, or even Rob Corddry. For me, her performance came off as cringe but some people like that crazy, hyperkinetic energy, I guess. Molly Sims costars as the other, hot, Missy and wow has she aged nicely. I remember her when she starred in "Las Vegas" 20yrs ago (in her hot 30s), so barely recognized her now but still has some "wow" to her. Anyway, the movie is so focused on Lauren's/Missy's antics that you don't get much else value from it, and that falls on the inexperienced writers and director. Lauren is the only winner out of this effort and fine if you're fan of hers I suppose.
The Perfection (2018)
Twisty and Twisted
"The Perfection" (2018, 90-min, Netflix, Dir/Richard Shepard) I did not have high hopes for this film but the director is a pretty good writer, too, and Steven Weber usually delivers a good performance, so why not? And lemme tell you, 15-min when the two starlettes kiss, I was like c'mon, one of these movies? But I hung in there which was a good thing because it turned out to be one of the most unpredictable plots I've seen in quite awhile. There were twists at least four different places. In fact, the director did the rewind thing a few times to reveal what led up to the particular twist. At its heart it's a tale of sexually abused young women getting revenge on pervy geezers but how it gets there is pretty engaging. Some scenes are really tough to watch so this isn't going to be for everyone but it's those scenes that give this movie it's particular "flavor".
Spectral (2016)
Surprisingly good Netflix military/scifi
"Spectral" (2016, 100-min, Dir/Nic Mathieu) This is a surprisingly good Netflix special-ops/scifi thriller from FIRST time writer/director Nic Mathieu - a very good rookie effort. The story addresses an interesting question: what happens when the powerful US military comes across a new type of enemy force that's seemingly invincible? And it's answered in the form of an embedded engineer that rises to the challenge giving the special-ops forces the advantage in combatting man-made spectrals based on Bose-Einstein condensates, and yes, that's an authentic thing. You'll enjoy performances by some familiar favorites such as Max Martini and Bruce Greenwood. James Badge Dale ("1923", "Hightown") stars as our protag engineer. It's directed with fast pacing and decent VFX. "Spectral" is old-school enjoyable which is really rare these days.
The White Lotus (2021)
The White Lotus Lifestyle
"The White Lotus" (S02, 7 eps, 1-hr, MAX) I surprised myself by really liking the show's first season so I was definitely amped for the second season and it did not disappoint! This is one of the few series that maintains its entertainment level across seasons, and thanks largely to the involvement of the show's creator/writer/showrunner, Mike White. This second season moves the action to the White Lotus' Sicily location which really showcases the setting. Some of our principal characters/actors return for this outing. I was happy to see Theo James as a new principal here since I just recently finished "The Gentlemen" series (Netflix) where he starred as a British Duke. Jennifer Coolidge returns with her "Tanya" character which grates on me but by the finale has a satisfying ending. Mike does a really good job of weaving tough relationship issues into the various characters, too, which is why it's so important to have such a large cast of principals. He also deftly weaves in DEI themes without making it so obvious that it triggers the audience, much of it is subtle and tastefully done, so kudos for his light touch in so many areas. Season 3 is filming in Thailand and Mike notes: "It's going to be a supersized White Lotus. It's going to be longer, bigger, crazier!" Stoked.
Unfrosted (2024)
A movie about the worst kind of pop tart
"Unfrosted" (5/3/24, 90-mins, Netflix, D/Jerry Seinfeld) Ok, wow, so now you know for a fact what everyone has suspected since the 90s, that Jerry Seinfeld is an apprentice-level comic and director. Jerry narrates the fictional tale, to a little runaway boy who speaks like an adult, of the pop tart's origin story - a fierce competition between Kelloggs and Post for the next big breakfast product beyond cereal. The film, full of B- and C-list comedians, tries to play as slap-stick, sight-gag comedy in the vein of "Airplane" but just doesn't capture the humor and rhythm of that hall of fame film. Having said that, it's not a horrible movie, it just can't cash the check its expensive cast attempts to write. It's the typical, mediocre film you expect of Netflix these days. It feels like Seinfeld was given millions to produce, write, direct, and star in this content fodder that you just know he only spent a lazy afternoon at his mansion conceiving. This could've and should've been so much better.
Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight (2024)
An unsatisfying treatment
"Space Shuttle Columbia" (4/7/24, 4 eps, 42-min, CNN) They presented a safe, respectful, testimonial of the events leading to the disastrous re-entry of this shuttle in Feb 2003. As you may imagine Part 1 was devoted to the crew and its background. Part 2 was more about the mission itself. Part 3 documented the disaster itself and Part 4 the ensuing investigation. I was most interested in Parts 3 and 4, the latter of which was most disappointing since the final investigatory report's impact wasn't made fully clear. Were the top managers responsible for the culture of silence ultimately removed? Were any sued? Apparently there was no criminal investigation. There were alot of loose ends dangling in this treatment after 20 years and that's just a poor experience.