Movie #2134 ........................."Jerry and Marge Go Large (Paramount - got a free month intro)

 Movie #2134 "Jerry and Marge Go Large" (Paramount - got a free month intro) -- I wanted to see this because  I saw the real people interviewed on 60 minutes, and the story fascinated me!  Mathematics beats the lottery system!  Wow!  I loved what the married couple did with their money,  and how everyone worked together to better their community.  I liked the conflict with the Harvard guy that figured out how to beat the system, too, and how the college kids latch on to this smart guy's plan......it was interesting from beginning to end, and Cranston and Bening made a cute couple --- the only complaint was that I wish I understood more the mathematics of the whole thing --- maybe that was just me, but since I didn't really understand how his intelligence figured out the loophole, it was hard for me to enjoy his success!  But I wonder how many of the people who cashed in on his success knew how he did it either.  I would give this a 3.5 --- lots of fun to watch --- lots of heart.

"JERRY AND MARGE GO LARGE"   Paramount +    2022    PG-13       1 hr, 36 min

Based on the true story about couple Jerry and Marge Selbee, who win the lottery and use the money to revive their small town.

Director:  David Frankel

Writers:  Jason Fagonel (wrote article), Brad Copeland (Screenplay)

Stars:  Bryan Cranston, Anette Bening, Rainn Wilson

Movie #2133 ........................." THE Staircase" (HBO series)

 Movie #2133 " The Staircase" (HBO Max, 8 episodes)  I must admit I stuck with this after watching the first one because of the three major stars in it:  Colin Firth, Juliette Binoche, and Toni Colette. The first episode put me off a bit  because there were too many kids and former wives and girlfriends  to keep track of, and I found out that the ending (who killed the wife) wasn't going to have a definitive ending in this show.    However, I  really enjoy forensics and studying the clues and coming up with suggestions as to what happened.  And if that sounds intriguing to you, then this is the show for you.  I found the Owl theory, especially intriguing --- could that have happened?  I give this a 4 out of 5.   P.S.  I thought with the possible murderer being a crime novelist that if he planned her death it would have been better done ---- maybe that's why it probably wasn't Michael Peterson even if a lot of baggage in his life makes him look guilty?  If you saw this, I would love to hear what you thought about this and who had done it.

"THE STAIRCASE"      8 episodes, about 1 hour each  (total 8 hrs, 39 mins)       HBO Max    2022

Tells the story of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home, and the 16-year judicial battle that followed.

Creator:  Antonio Campos

Stars:  Colin Firth, Toni Collette , Michael Stuhlberg, Juliette Binoche  

Movie #2132 ..........................."The Greatest" (netflix dvd)

 Movie #2132 "The Greatest" (netflix dvd)  When this film first came out, I filed it in my mind that I wanted to see it, even if I knew it was all about grief, but I never got around to it until I rented it from netflix -- I wanted to see Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon working together as husband and wife, and I found that his acting chops really carried the film.  That's mostly because the grief over the death of their son hit them both so much but in different ways --- and her way was non-functional for a good portion of the film.  His way encompassed a journey he had to go through to deal with his dead son's "girlfriend and about- to- be- mother of his grandchild" --- that was quite a bit to deal with during all the grief.  The actors are all tremendous, and esp. Brosnan and the up and coming (at this time) Carey Mulligan.  The film was slow at times, but a really thorough study of grief ---- Sarandon wasn't going to take this part because she had felt she had done this before (I remember her playing a grief-stricken mother of a daughter who was a homicide victim in "Moonlight Mile" in 2002 with another up and coming young actor Jake Gyllenhaal), but evidently Brosnan went to her personally and convinced her to be in it --- so glad he did, because it really is quite good.  This director had done another movie I liked entitled "Boundaries" dealing with an ailing father who is about to die but on his last trip with his daughter and grandson.  I give this one a 4 out of 5.

"THE GREATEST"    2009                1 hour and   39 mins      rated R

A drama that is centered around a troubled teenage girl and a family that is trying to get over the loss of their son.

Director:  Shana Feste

Writer:  Shana Feste

Actors:  Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan, Carey Mulligan

Movie #2131 ..........................."Downton Abbey: A New Era" (at theatre)

 Movie #2131 "Downton Abbey:  A New Era" (at theatre) I loved everything about this --- I always have and will miss it, if/when Julian Fellowes decides to quit doing them (I have a feeling this is the last one, sigh!) This one in particular is about a movie production company using the big house to make one of the last of the talkies --- in fact, in midstream production, they decide to make it a talkie, with some funny consequences to watch.  I know this was reminiscent to "Singing in the Rain", but it uses the upstairs/downstairs people in this family so creatively that it was fun watching.  And I know for a fact that this film can stand alone because I was sitting next to someone who hadn't seen any of the movies or shows and she still found the film delightful.   Why not?  it is a feast for the eyes --- costumes, props, settings, good acting, rich characters, life events (don't want to give anything away here, but it comes full circle in this one, much to my sadness, but what a way to go!) , and it tries to entertain as many people in as many ways as possible.  I give it a 5, and it is one I probably will plan to buy some time this year --- so I can see it again and again.  One missing person, though.  Mary's hubby Matthew Goode, one of my favorite actors (he's busy doing "The Offer" ) but then Hugh Dancey played the movie's director in here, so he was fun to watch in Goode's place.  

"DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA"        2022              PG       2 hours 4 mins

The movies come to Downton Abbey --- this is a follow-up to the 2019 feature film in which the Crawley family and Downton staff received a royal visit from the King and Queen of Great Britain.

Director:  Simon Curtis

Writer:  Julian Fellowes

Actors:  Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth Perkins, Imelda Staunton, Penelope Wilton

Movie #2130 ..........................."Hacks" Season 2 (HBO)

 Movie #2130 "Hacks" Season 2 (HBO)  This season was totally different from season 1, and I still found it quite enjoyable.  Her agent gets a bigger role, (well, he is one of the creators of this show!),  his annoying secretary shows a little growth, the gay assistant is still competent - even while pining for his one true love, and there's even a guest appearance or two to look forward to (like Laurie Metcalfe!  Love her)  But really, it's the relationship between the two female comedy writers that bolsters this show to its heights, and there's a lot of hijinks in this one --- esp. the longstanding joke that winds its way to the bitter end between the two --- well, not a "joke" for Ava, per say, but she'd say she deserves it!  The show could end with this last episode in season 2, and season 3 has not been announced yet (at this time of writing this), but evidently, the writers had a different ending in mind from the one shown here, so they may get the chance to go out their own way --- at least I hope so, because the ending of this season left me wanting more.  It's so well written and so well-acted!  Check this one out, if you haven't.  4.5  out of 5, with just a couple of scenes unnecessary to me.

'HACKS"      Season 2      2022           30 min, 8 episodes

Explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegan comedian, and an entitled, alienated  25-year-old comedy writer.

Creators:  Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky

Actors:  Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs

Movie #2129 ..........................."Mary Me" (on a plane)

Movie #2129 "Marry Me" (on a plane)   The latest Jaylo movie was offered on the plane , and it was one of those midnight to early in the morning kind of trips where I quickly learned I wasn't going to be sleeping much, so I tuned in..... I found it very mediocre, even a notch under Hallmark films (you're kidding???)  I happen to be one of the few people in the world, probably, who thinks Jaylo is a fairly competent actress besides being able to sing and dance, so I guess I was expecting something a tad better, but then again, the guy in the film is Owen Wilson, who, in my opinion always plays the same way, and the two never found their chemistry together.  The premise was silly from the start --- she decides to marry him because he is holding up a sign?  hmmmm.  But it just went downhill from there.  Now, I guess I should put a disclaimer in here right now....I watched the opening 30 minutes, then I must have fallen asleep, kind of, because when  I woke up, there was that "coming together" moment ,  and I thought, well, that wasn't a tough struggle for either of them.  So when it was finished, I rewound and discovered I had missed all the struggles (about 45 minutes or so) and it did make the film a little more logical, but not more liked.  I guess I've seen a lot of films about celebrities who fall in love with non celebrities and how they try to make it work, and then decide WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK  and the film ends --- and I am usually left wondering, well, how did that happen?  And did it last?  Anyway, I give it a 3 --- the film wasn't a total waste of celluloid, but it was a waste of Jaylo's time, I think.  

"MARRY ME"       2022             PG-13                    1 HOUR AND 52 MINS

Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans.  But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she instead decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd.

Director:  Kat Coiro

Writers:  John Rogers, Tami Sagher, Harper Dill

Actors:  Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma 

Movie #2128 ..........................."Random Harvest" (TCM)

 Movie #2128 "Random Harvest" (TCM)  I am not sure why I have never written a blog on my favorite romance film of all time, so I guess it is about time since I rewatched most of it , again, on TCM the other morning --- I guess I can do that once in a while, since I'm retired, because it was not supposed to be in my daily schedule for that day.  Anyway, this is such a layered story to me --- based on an immensely popular novel written by James Hilton (which I've never dared to read --- but maybe I should because on- line it is suggested that there is a surprise ending in the book not covered in the movie --- uh-oh -- I enjoy the ending of the movie so much, almost afraid to find out what the book's surprise is).   It is all about finding your soulmate, and not even a war, or amnesia or whatever is thrown in the lovers' way, they will come back to each other eventually, if they are truly soulmates...... it is that "on into eternity" that gets me every time.  The soulmates happen to be played by Greer Garson and Ronald Colman --- two of the best, in my opinion, of their era, and the film does them justice; they are so much in love, they are able to find their way back to each other when tragic events enter their lives.  I don't want to say much more about the plot because like I said, it is layered, but if you ever get a chance to see this, I highly recommend it --- yep, it's sentimental, yep it might appear overdone in some parts, but the costumes, the settings, the photography, the editing, it all falls into line and makes it truly one of a kind film  to me.  I give it a 5 out of 5 and am ready to watch it again, and again, and again.  

"RANDOM HARVEST"       1942                  2 hours and 6 minutes

An amnesiac World War I veteran falls in love with a music hall star, only to suffer an accident which restores his original memories but erases his post-war life.

Director:  Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:  Claudine West, George Froeschel, Arthur Wimperis

Actors:  Ronald Colman, Greer Garson, Philip Dorn

Movie #2127 ........................."Top Gun: Maverick" (movie theatre - IMAX)

 Movie #2127 "Top Gun:  Maverick" -- (movie theatre - IMAX)   wow!  I saw this two nights ago, and my head is still reeling --- I am not one to enjoy an action film from beginning to end because I get bored quite easily with repeated action with few breaks, but the pacing of this film was just right.  In fact, most everything was just right!  The film made me care about all the characters it focused on, the relationships had  just enough background angst to keep me interested, there is an intense storyline with a plan I could follow easily, and  that was mixed with some down time that was spent  building on a  love relationship that wasn't surfacey like in the first "Top Gun" --- all that AND the quick editing was amazing....and I can't say enough about the photography, special effects, digitalization, stunts,  music, all just amazing!  I DO think that IMAX is the way to go with this one because it works so well here especially with the cockpit scenes (which there are a lot of) --- in fact, here's a link to some more information on the flying sequences and what went into them (link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5tJA9pluxY)  This is just the right film to corral us all back into the theatre to see films on the big screen again --- and the movie public has waited so long for something like this, and this film delivers it.  I give it a 5 out of 5 and recommend it quite highly --- I doubt you will see a film more competently done the rest of this year (and perhaps longer?). 

"Top Gun:  Maverick"          2022                  2 hours and 10 mins            PG-13

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.

Director:   Joseph Kosinski

Writers:  Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr, Peter Craig

Actors:  Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, John Hamm