Movie #1904 ........................."The Art of Getting By" (HBO On Demand)

Movie #1904 "The Art of Getting Byk" (HBO On Demand) -- my kind of film about complex teens trying to get through high school with lots of baggage --- Freddie Highmore plays George, a teen I totally related to because I have had "Georges" in my class in the past --- you know he is smart, possibly smarter than anyone else in the class (as evidenced in this film by his interpretation of a theme in "Mayor of Casterbridge"), but he never does the homework and never get to that ever important research paper or final paper on that novel he so understands.  Why?  There could be a number of reasons --- He spends time thinking about "other things" --- his mom has remarried and his stepdad is a jerk -- he has no friends and no girlfriends, esp.  Until he meets up with a girl clearly "out of his league" who befriends him --- and he falls in love head over heels for her.  Principal gives him one more chance :  to do every stitch of work he has blown off and if he does, he will graduate with he others.  But what will be what really motivates him?  I liked a lot about the movie: the actors, the themes, the complexity of the characters, that Speilburg's daughter is in this along with Julia Roberts' nice and Rita Wilson and Ann Dowd, and a kickass Art Teacher I would have loved to have worked with.  I like films that have a character that you know has more to him than meets the eye, but the others don't.  And that to watch him succeed with the help of others is very inspiring.  I would give this 4 out of 5 and recommend it.  And teens could see it, too.


"THE ART OF GETTING BY"    2011         PG-13     1 hour and 23 minutes

George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who has made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.

Director:

 Gavin Wiesen

Writer:

 Gavin Wiesen

Stars:

 Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano , Sasha Spielburg |

Movie #1903 ........................."The ABC Murders"

Movie #1903 "The ABC Murders" (Amazon prime) -- John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot was the motivation to see this limited series provided by Amazon.  Each episode runs about 55 minutes , and it is full of fun characters, and production values of this show is amazing --- photography, props, sets, costumes, etc.  And it's fun to see Weasley from Harry Potter in a totally different role (as the new  head at Scotland Yards).  There's some blood and violence, but mostly it's a character-driven presentation --- lots of mood music, quiet moments with Poiret's thoughts churning in his head.  The last episode and the why it ties up could be done in a clearer manner, but it certainly keeps you watching to the very end.  There are some variations with the A. Christie book, but not with the murderer, and how it all plays out, pretty much --- just some extra baggage on the characters' backstories provided by the series.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5.

"THE ABC MURDERS"     2018  

In 1933, retired detective Hercule Poirot is targeted by a taunting killer who sends letters signed "ABC", which Poirot must decode in order to discover the identity of the murderer.

Stars:

 John Malkovich, Eamon Farren, Michael Shaeffer , Rupert Grint

Movie #1902 ........................."I Married A Witch" (TCM)

Movie #1902 "I Married A Witch" (TCM) I hadn't seen this little gem until today, and I wasn't really pulled into what appeared to be some political comedy with Frederic March and Susan Hayward until two wisps of smoke started having a dialogue on being a witch, etc.  and I was trying to recognize their voices (old time actors) and lo and behold the female voice was Veronica Lake ---- then, I knew that there would be some squaring off between the two very capable female actors.  As I watched March fall in love with this witch (who was casting spells right and left on how they met, etc.) , it reminded me of "Bell Book and Candle" with Jimmy Stewart.  But then when they fell in love and were talking marriage, I thought of "Bewitched" --- and it pretty much followed that idea through the end.  It was funny, and , of course, silly, in many parts but the actors were able to make it work --- surprisingly, we were told by the TCM hostess that March and Lake didn't like each other --- and so much so that the director realized very quickly that they hardly ever had a best take at the same time, so he just ran the camera a lot, telling them they were rehearsing.  I love TCM when they tell us tidbits like that.  I give this oldie a 4 out of 5 and recommend it if it ever comes on again in the future.

"I MARRIED A WITCH"    1942      1 hour and 17 mins.

A beautiful 17th-century witch returns to life to plague politician Wallace Wooley, descendant of her persecutor.

Director:

 René Clair (as Rene Clair) 

Writers:

 Robert Pirosh (screen play), Marc Connelly (screen play) 

Stars:

 Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Robert Benchley , Susan Hayward

Movie #1901 ........................."Sharp Objects (HBO Demand)

Movie #1901 "Sharp Objects (HBO Demand) -- I was waiting to see this 8 episode miniseries, and I just saw the last episode tonight and am still reeling from the way it ended.  First off, I must admit that I read the Gillian Flynn book, and of her three books I read, I liked this one the least --- I didn't like anyone in the book (esp. Camille/Amy Adams because she drinks alcohol constantly), and it was way too southern gothic for me.  And as I watched each of the episodes, not much was happening, and you could tell the director was more interested in getting across the feeling, the environment, the southern gothic parts of the book and the characters rather than propelling the plot from one action to another.  But the last episode had all the action, in my opinion.  And the choice to end on the pinnacle point is a brave one, but I think it worked.  In fact, I was looking up what some critics said about the end DURING the credits, and I shouldn't have, because I must warn you that you need to WATCH the end credits of episode 8, and the shots shown in the end  does a bit of explaining.  No one had tipped me off on that!  The rest of the episodes meander a bit, have a bunch of flashbacks, and I DO mean flash --- they are like pictures --- now you see it, now you don't kind of thing.  They are images that stay with you and like a puzzle, it is put all together in the last couple of seconds.  I am not recommending it to everyone at all --- Overall, I didn't really like it, but the ending might make it worthwhile to some viewers.  One of my mantras as a speech coach is that audiences are forgiving if the last minute of your presentation works, and so if you are one of those audience members that would feel that way, then go to this one.  Otherwise, if you want more action and more worth- your -time moments up to the end, skip this.  I give it 3.8 out of 5.


"SHARP OBJECTS"

When two young girls are murdered in the town where she grew up, journalist Camille Preaker returns home to cover the case. But her traumatic past soon starts to interfere with her reporting efforts.

Cast 

Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen, Elizabeth Perkins, Matt Craven, Henry Czerny, Miguel Sandoval, Sydney Sweeney, Barbara Eve Harris, Taylor John Smith, David Sullivan

Genres 

TV Shows, TV Miniseries, TV Dramas, TV Crime Dramas, Dramas Based on the Book, HBO

Moods 

Dark, Suspenseful

MOVIE #1900 ........................."Best of Enemies" (HBO on demand)

Movie #1900 "Best of Enemies" --- HBO on demand (might be on dvd at the library) --- missed this one when it came out in the movie theatre so when I saw it on HBO demand, we decided to watch it.  When I saw the trailer and saw the idea that a Klansman (C.P. Ellis)  and a Black civil rights activist (Ann Atwater)  had to work together  to deal with integrating schools in North Carolina in the 70s, and that it was a true story, the idea intrigued me --- esp. in the divisive times we live  in now.  I wanted to see how two polar opposites could even sit at the same table and discuss any issue .  But they did, and it is an amazing story of two very strong willed people, played by Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson.  The film is  a talkie, for sure --- and what some people may consider a bit "dry," but it was a choice the director made to make sure the subject was not Hollywoodized at all --- It basically presents the actual story, and I was so interested in how it played out, that it makes me want to seek out another source on the subject --- it's been done in book, play and documentary form, as well.  And the woman was interviewed on NPR shortly after her "friend/enemy" died, and she spoke how they remained friends until his death.  I would give this 4 out of 5 for those having cabin fever like us and are ready to see an inspiring true story.

"BEST OF ENEMIES"  2019   PG-13      2 hours and 13 mins

A timely drama that centers on an unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina during the racially-charged summer of 1971. The incredible events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.

Cast 

Sam Rockwell, Taraji P. Henson, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, John Gallagher Jr., Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Nick Searcy, Sope Aluko, Caitlin Mehner, Ned Vaughn, Rhoda Griffis, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Brody Rose, Kendall Ryan Sanders, Tim Ware, Cranston Johnson, Rae Olivier, Chanté Bowser, Nicholas Logan, Robert Harvey

Director 

Robin Bissell

Genres 

Drama, Indie Dramas, Social Issue Dramas, Dramas Based on the Book, Dramas Based on Real Life, Period Pieces, 20th Century Period Pieces

Moods 

Inspiring, Emotional, Cerebral

Movie #1899 ........................."Big Little Lies" Season 2 (HBO on demand)

Movie #1899 "Big Little Lies" Season 2 (HBO on demand)  -- I loved the book, I really enjoyed Season 1, and I liked a lot of  Season 2.  But i have to say I really didn't hear a lot good about it before seeing it.  My nephew Zachary Kramer (see his credit below for leadman on sets) said it was a difficult shoot and a bit stressful, and I hadn't talked to anyone who said it was a must see, but being a huge Meryl Streep fan, I had to see her work in this -- and I was very impressed.  This was a new character I had not seen Meryl Streep do, and this is not a character that was in the book (just imagined), so she was able to Meryl -Streep it with nuances and all.  Season 1 was well worth the difficult watch, even with the scenes of abuse that dealt with the Nicole Kidman character,  So this season builds on the relationships made in the book and Season 1, and follows with the repercussions of the final scenes in season 1/the book.  This season (2 ) has less mystery (although there are some nice moments of will she or won't she type stuff) but it deals more  with grief of  the dead person's family ( I don't want to give anything away if you haven't read this very good book or seen season 1) and guilt of the people who were involved in any covert up.  Watching people running on the beach, or yelling at their husbands, or being ignored by their teens can get tedious, but just when the story starts to drag, Meryl Streep's character pops up --- she is an observant, non-filtered eavesdropper that stirs things up for everybody -- and it's fun to watch.  She was like a breath of fresh air.  And it all leads to a big courtroom scene ( reminder to Streep fans of "kramer vs. kramer"?) that was very rewarding to watch, mostly due to the acting abilities of Kidman and Streep.  Nice tension and fun watching these two strong women argue it out.  It ended with me wanting to see more --- I read they were planning a season 3, and I hope so.  I'd rate this 4 stars out of 5.

'BIG LITTLE LIES" Season 2    2017-2019      50+ minutes, each episode , 8 episodes each season

In tiny Monterey, California, the lives of three women -- Madeline, Celeste and Jane -- intersect at a time when all face unexpected trouble at home. As they share their frustrations, the trio becomes deeply involved in one another's lives.

Cast

Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgård, Laura Dern, Adam Scott, Zoë Kravitz, James Tupper, Jeffrey Nordling, Iain Armitage, Sarah Baker, Kelen Coleman, Kathryn Newton, Larry Bates, David Monahan, Larry Sullivan

Genres

TV Shows, TV Dramas, Dramas Based on the Book, Dark Humor & Black Comedies, HBO

Moods

Dark

Movie #1898 ........................."Dark Waters" (Redbox)

Movie #1898 "Dark Waters" (Redbox) --- We had a friend who recommended this to us and we missed it when it was in the theatre, so we rented it from Redbox recently, and we liked it.  It held our interest through most of the time --- but we must admit, it was a tad tedious and slow at times. The conflict is much like the one covered in wonderful films like" Silkwood," "Erin Brockavitch," and "Class Action."  This one is not quite as good as any of those, but perhaps it is because it is a different kind of fight ---- it takes years and years and years.  So it is really focusing on how persistent this lawyer is in suing Dupont  ----- I ordinarily like Mark Ruffalo in every role I have ever seen him in (which is lots) , but this one he was pretty much frustrated through the entire movie --- the script didn't allow him anything else except a few minutes of anger.  His wife Anne Hathaway had a few good scenes that used her acting muscles and so did Tim Robbins, but not Mark really.  Steady but good as the lawyer.  I'd give this film 4 and it is a film worth watching
 because of the subject matter.  We should all know what Dupont did, as proven in this film!





"DARK WATERS"    2020       2 hours and 7 mins       PG-13

Inspired by a shocking true story, a tenacious attorney uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world's largest corporations. In the process, he risks everything -- his future, his family, and his own life -- to expose the truth.

Cast 

Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Bill Pullman, Mare Winningham, William Jackson Harper, Louisa Krause, Brian Gallagher, Kevin Crowley, Mike Seely, Jon Osbeck, Tyler Craig

Director 

Todd Haynes

Genres 

Drama, Courtroom Dramas, Dramas Based on Real Life

Moods 

Suspenseful, Gritty

Movie #1897 ........................."Call of the Wild" 2020

Movie #1897 "Call of the Wild"  (2020) --- Well, I never got through the book, so this was another way to experience this classic book by Jack London.  There were some differences, according to  on line articles I checked out:  the book is more violent (though I thought the movie had squeamish scenes I couldn't watch totally); the Harrison Ford character is only 1/3 of the book, but in the film, he is throughout and the narrator; the dog was a real dog in the book, but in the movie?  a digital one --- played by an actor while they were filming it, and digitalized in post production.  That to me took away a lot of the amazement of  what the dog could do in the film --- Omar Sy, the first owner and the one to teach the dog how to be a sled dog, was the best part of the film for me.  He is the star of the French film (and favorite of mine) "The Untouchables" which was remade badly by US entitled "The Upside."  He brought that minor character to life and I was most emotionally involved when the dog had to learn to follow rather than lead,  had to race to dodge a landslide, and had a stand off with the "leader" of the pack.  The film was very entertaining and full of action, and Harrison Ford was really good in narrating and getting the most out of the back end of the film.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.






"CALL OF THE WILD"   1 hour and 40 mins          2020         PG

A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.

Director:

 Chris Sanders

Writers:

 Michael Green (screenplay by), Jack London (based upon the novel by) 

Stars:

 Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Cara Gee

Movie #1896 ........................."Last Christmas"

Movie #1896 "Last Christmas" (redbox)  was a disappointment, but I thought it would be from the trailer.  It looked like a Hallmark movie with better casting and Emma Thompson as the writer.  I can't say it got me in the xmas mood because I didn't see it during the xmas season, but it does have a big switch in it that I didn't get from the trailer so that was a positive about the film.  However, I just felt the actors seem to be really pushing the film in every scene --- the girl seemed to approach the film like a broadway show --- she played it big and broad and I never really warmed up to her character --- and he was "oh look at me and how charming I am like in Hallmark films, right?"  kind of a person --- so I had trouble believing him, as well.  The foreshadowing for the big switch in this film was confusing --- there were things that happened a lot that as a audience member I would say to myself "that's strange" and then move on --- shouldn't be if it's good foreshadowing --- should fit in more so we are really smoothly surprised.  Anyway, not much more to say about it --- some of the jokes landed, but so many didn't --- so I was surprised this was an Emma Thompson screenplay.  Oh, and the eurasian owner of the trinket shop the young girl worked in didn't fit at all in the film.  Her character was "out there" and never really explained and tied in.  I would give it a 3.5.  The film started out cartoonish, but then as it went along it got a tad better, and I suppose the actors are the draw here --- so it's up to you if you want to see it --- I don't think it is a necessity, though.


"LAST CHRISTMAS"  PG-13      1 hour and 43 minutes

In this yuletide romantic comedy inspired by the music of George Michael, Kate works as an elf at a year-round holiday shop. Kate faces an endless streak of bad luck and poor decision-making until she meets Tom, a kind-hearted man with a mysterious past who challenges her cynical world view. It seems like nothing can keep this mismatched couple together, but sometimes you gotta listen to your heart... and you gotta have faith.

Cast 

Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh, Lydia Leonard, Patti LuPone, Rob Delaney, Peter Serafinowicz, Peter Mygind, Joe Blakemore, Margaret Clunie, Max Baldry, Boris Isakovic, Calvin Demba, Anna Calder-Marshall, David Hargreaves, Amit Shah

Director 

Paul Feig

Genres 

Comedy, Romantic Comedies, Christmas

Moods 

Emotional, Feel-good, Romantic

Movie #1895 ........................."Derry Girls" (Season 1)

Movie #1895 "Derry Girls" Season 1, streamed on Netflix --- A friend recommended this to me, and I tried it and really found it quite enjoyable.  It follows 4 catholic teenage  girls in Derry  and their antics with school, boys, their families, etc.  They each have very distinctive traits, and it takes a show or two to get to the point where you feel you know them and can laugh at them in a friendly way.  The show is fast and overdone and takes getting used to the speed, accents, and idioms. Towards the end of season 1, the show starts to get more serious in conveying what it was like to live during the Troubles in Ireland, and that endeared me to it even more.  I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend you watch it with subtitles to help get used to the accent.

THE DERRY GIRLS     2018-----

6 episodes, about 22-25 minutes each

The personal exploits of a 16-year-old girl and her family and friends during the Troubles in the early 1990s.

Creator:

 Lisa McGee

Stars:

 Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan 

Movie #1894 ........................."Seth Meyer's Lobby Baby" (stream on netflix)

Movie #1894 "Seth Meyer's Lobby Baby"  --- this can  be streamed on netflix, and it is Seth Meyer's  stand up comedy on the birth of his second baby --- he did this on his show in an abbreviated form, and this longer one was very funny.  Smooth transitions, Nice  idea of using different points of view (at one time toward the end, he speaks in the voice of his wife to himself) in telling these very universal stories about family life. And if you have the question :  how much is about Trump (since his show has tons of it on a nightly basis) -- the answer is yes, but he tells you when and therefore you can fast forward through it.  He is very likable and his personality and charm draw people in........attention must be paid to him, and  this subject is very funny!  I give it 4.5 out of 5.

Movie #1893 ........................."Unbelievable" (stream on Netflix, limited series)

Movie #1893 "Unbelievable" is an 8 -episode limited series that can be streamed on netflix --- very intriguing, well acted, great camaraderie between the two female detectives that step up to find a serial rapist.  I esp. liked that actual rapes didn't have to be shown to pull us into the story.  The women are so persevering, it was quite inspiring.  There are several informational tidbits that be picked up while watching the search for this criminal, including that existence of a book that helps serial rapists make it close to impossible to catch.  Unbelievable!  I rate this 5 out of 5.  








"UNBELIEVABLE"       2019   TV-MA        about an hour per episode
As a traumatized young woman reports being raped by an intruder, she faces a whirlwind of emotions -- and increasingly skeptical questions from police.

Toni Collete, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever
For Mature Audiences, May not be suitable for ages 17 and under
Crime TV Drama, emotional