Movie #3105 ........................."The Lincoln Lawyer" - series on Netflix , Season 2

Movie #3105 "The Lincoln Lawyer" series on Netflix, Season 2 --- well, we went right into Season 2 and found that as enjoyable as Season 1 --- and we heard it was renewed for Season 3, so looking forward to that already.  This one, once again, had a main case, with a lot of investigating on the part of the legal group (that got bigger this time) that works with Mickey Haller, the now prominent lawyer whose picture is on all the benches in the city due to the first case.  This time he finds himself in a bit of a pickle -- a woman he has been intimate with is charged with killing the owner of the building that is being put up next to her and who wanted to buy her property and she turned him down.  And once again, there are other cases going on, repeat people come in and out of his purview --- and his life and the life of his family, as a result, seem to be in some danger.  So, I guess you can say the stakes are higher in this season due to his notoriety and his want to get this women, whom he likes, free of her charge.  There's a bit more humor in this one dealing with an internship that Ex Wife #2 has with her mentor, Mickey.  And a real pretentious prosecutor that we laughed hysterically at whenever she delivered her lines or even walked!  And there's a nice cliffhanger.  But there's still the angst and bad acting that periodically appears...... 4.5 out of 5.  Bring on Season 3!  Can't wait!

"THE LINCOLN LAWYER"   2023 - 50+ minutes, 10 episodes    netflix

Movie #3104 ........................."Lincoln Lawyer" - series on Netflix, Season 1

 Movie #3104 "Lincoln Lawyer" series on Netflix, Season 1 -- In a matter of one week it seemed like everyone was talking about this series, so when I went to my zumba class and there were 4 women huddled in the back talking about a show they loved, and it ended up to be one and the same, I went home that night and started watching it.  And I must admit, it can be addictive.  We would watch one 50 minute show, and the cliffhanger was so good, we had to watch a few minutes into the next one to see if Mickey was okay, or .... whatever the situation was.  We have to admit some of the acting is bad, though (esp. Elliot Gould as his mentor), and there's a lot of not -talking-mugging- for- the -camera kind of angst scenes, but what is good is the storyline, and how this lawyer has to juggle several cases at once.  And how all of his associates work together to put the pieces of the puzzle together --- they almost approach every case like a heist -- where they think ahead, anticipate what the prosecution will do, and draw up plans to outsmart their opponents.  I really feel like I learn a lot about what goes in the minds of lawyers--- and how they can wheel and deal through the legal system, and I must admit it is captivating to watch for me.  I wonder how lawyers feel about it --- the writer is David E. Kelley, whom I have admired for a while for "L.A. Law" and so many others (Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Goliath, Big Little Lies, and Big Sky.) and of course, the book writer Michael Connelly.   Both guys know  how to spin a yarn, and this first season starts fast and furious -- Mickey Haller,  has been away from the law profession  due to an injury and consequently a drug addiction  from the pain pills -- and just as he comes out of rehab, another lawyer has died and left his practice to Mickey -- he's not sure why, but doesn't have a lot of time to think about it because his first case is a whopper and in all the news -- husband blamed for stabbing his wife and her lover.  It takes 10 episodes, but starts little fires under a whole bunch of other cases during the first season.  We recommend this, and I give it a 4.5 out of 5.  (forgot to mention the whole secondary cast of quirky people -- we esp. like Ex-Wife #1, Ex- Wife #2, his daughter , his driver and the pug!)

"THE LINCOLN LAWYER" - T.V. SERIES - 2022 - 10 EPISODES     55 mins+

An iconoclastic idealist run s his law practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car in this series based on Michael Connelly's bestselling novels.

Creators:  Ted Humphrey, David E. Kelley

Actors:  Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Becki Newton, Angus Sampson, Neve Campbell, Jazz Raycole

Movie #3103 ........................."Midnight" (Netflix DVD)

 Movie #3103 "Midnight"  (Netflix DVD)  I came across this title when reading about Claudette Colbert and realized I had never seen it, nor ever heard about it, so I put it in my netflix rental queue, and it is one of the last I will get from them.  I'm glad I did that because I'm not sure how else to get it besides buying it.  What really drew me to see it is that John Barrymore (grandfather of Drew, brother of Lionel (Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life,)" and sister of the beloved Ethel) was in it --- in a screwball comedy?  That seemed funny to me because I always thought of him as this great drama actor (who, in my opinion, was overdramatic in most of what I had seen him in, up to this time).  Anyway, the story starts hot -- train comes into a Paris station and a worker on the train, going through the various cars, scoots what appears to be a vagabond (Colbert) dressed in fancy clothes, but with no baggage, off the train --- she obviously has no where to "flop" -- a cabdriver (Don Ameche) notices that and at first won't take her anywhere because he knows she doesn't have the money --- she knows he knows so she offers him double if he takes her around to get a job --- that's not working so she runs away when he is getting gas for the cab.  She stumbles into some very fancy gathering of rich people, and ends up in a high stakes poker game, where she meets the baron that John Barrymore is playing --- his wife has recently fallen in love with some rich gigolo, so he hires Colbert to pose as a baroness (he gets her a great motel room and wardrobe)  to  charm and whisk this gigolo from Barrymore's wife --- interesting premise --- but it takes a while to set up, so I was wondering what was so screwball about it?  Until halfway through, when the cabbie appears again and causes problems to the whole Barrymore "plan" --- that's when it gets very very funny.  I liked it a lot and would give it a 4 --- boy, it's fun to watch Colbert do so much with her comic and dramatic ability.  She definitely was one of the best in romantic comedies!  I give this a 4 out of 5.    PS -- the title does not seem obvious until Colbert mentions in one line to Barrymore that she's wondering  about  when her "midnight" will happen?  because  Cinderella always has a midnight  happen to her!   ----a smart title!

"MIDNIGHT"        1 hr, 34 mins.       1939 

A chorus girl stranded in Paris is set up by a millionaire to break up his wife's  affair with another man, while being romantically pursued by a cab driver.

Director:  Mitchell Leisen

Writers:  Charles Brackets, Billy Wilder, Edwin Justin Mayer

Actors:  Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore

Movie #3102 ........................."Farewell, Doc Martin" (Amazon/Acorn)

 Movie #3102 "Farewell, Doc Martin" (Amazon/Acorn)  I loved this series and all the rambunctious and quirky characters in it, so when I saw this  documentary was available, I watched it.  It was fun watching them film the last season, with all the real shopkeepers in the town changing their signs to accommodate the last season and change Port Isaac to Doc Martin's town,  Portwenn.  And then it took a look at all the guest stars through the years, all the bloody times the Doc was needed --- all the strange-named illnesses he had to learn by heart and rattle them off as the doc.  One story in particular I found amusing was that Martin Clunes was in an airport and a woman was having a spell, and Clunes rushed to her to help her out, and she, in all her pain, looked up at him and said, "It's Doc Martin who has come  to help me!"  The documentary covered just how beloved this show was all over the world and how the town has an onslaught of admirers who come to visit Doc Martin's home town --- they would watch as it was filmed and they still come now when it is no longer taping...  It went through some of the conflicts Doc had to get through , the love story between Louisa and Martin, a few glimpses of the redone versions in Germany and other countries, and so much more.  I just wish there was even more of a background on the actual townspeople that I know peopled some of the scenes --- in the background--- and how they felt about the whole thing.  I got the impression it was well-liked and the show made lots of money for the community and gave generously to their projects --- and continues to do that.  What a wonderful piece of classy work on all levels by this show, and I  will forever revere it ---- and miss it!  I'd give this documentary 4.5 out of 5.

"FAREWELL, DOC MARTIN"   Amzon/acorn    2022

Doc Martin, one of UK's iconic Tv characters played by Martin Clunes hangs up his stethoscope as the long-running titular series comes to an end after 10 seasons and 18 years on-air.  This one-hour documentary directed by Stuart Orme and produced by Eve-Bergson-Korn  spotlights the longevity and impact locally and around the world of Doc Martin over the years, as well as offering behind the scenes of the final season with the cast and crew.  From scripting and pre-production to shooting and delivery, meet the regular characters that live and work int the picturesque Cornish town of Portwenn, the key crew behind the camera, the residents of Port Isaac, the show's real-life setting, and the visitors who come solely because Doc Martin films there.  

Director:  Stuart Orme

Stars: Martin Clunes,  Caroline Catz, Joe Absolom, Robyn Addison, Selina Cadell

Movie #3101 ........................."The More Love Grows" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3101 "The More Love Grows" (Hallmark)  This is one you don't have to see --- even though Rachel Boston is usually fun to watch, she couldn't save the storyline -- woman spurned by husband of 20 years , removes out and she is all of a sudden lonely so she tries to fill the emptiness by getting a dog, and of course there's a handsome vet she gets the dog from, and , well, you can guess the rest.  Yep, overly predictable, but there's not much to the guy, and the main storyline divides itself with the daughter of the divorced couple, and it never seems to go anywhere, so it left me wondering why she was in the film anyway?  I missed the point, I guess.  Anyway, I'd give this a 3 out of 5 with a "don't bother" tag on it.

"THE MORE LOVE GROWS"    HALLMARK   2023

Helen is blindsided when her husband asks for a separation.  With the help of a friendly vet and a rambunctious stray dog, she rediscovers her strength and begins to rebuild her life.

Director:  Heather Hawthorn Doyle

Writer:  Anne Abramowicz Junget

Actors:  Rachel Boston, Lynda Boyd, Warren Christie

Movie #3100 ........................."3 Idiots" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3100 "3 Idiots" (Amazon Prime)  A guest at our place showed me a list of 100 best films, which this particular critic on -line decided upon, and he wondered what I thought of the list ---Well, it had "Citizen Kane" so I knew the critic had been schooled, but there were a lot of films that I disagreed with, which I think showed that he hadn't seen a lot of the "good" movies, in my opinion, because he would prefer  a newer version most of the time.  However, on that list was the film "INTOUCHABLES" (not un, but IN) which is a french foreign film that deserves to be right up there as one of the funniest films I have ever seen, and so the worthiness of the list got more credibility.  I put comments next to each film , and noticed I hadn't seen three of the movies on the list, so I wrote those down and decided to see them --- One  was "Snatch" which I just blogged about --- another was "American Psycho" which I'm not sure I will ever see, not because I think it is bad, but because I think it would be upsetting to watch for me (that's one of the reasons I could never be paid for being a critic --- can't watch horror films! My stomach won't let me) and the third was this one --- I had never ever heard of it, so I was very eager to see it.  And I'm glad I did because it was very funny in an "out there" type of way.  First, I need to say it is very Bollywood, so if you don't like people breaking into song and dance once in a while, this isn't for you, but the subject matter is very universal.  It is about three college students who, because of their strict family upbringings, HAVE to become engineers --- it's the only job that is valued in their family, even though one dreams of being  a photographer and the other a writer --- the third one wants to be an engineer, but not for the money but for the pleasure of thinking --- and he is definitely a free thinker, and it is what gets him in a war with one professor in particular --- and that one is terribly important to his advancement in his career.  It is  lots of fun to watch, and I'd give it 4.5 (.5 because it runs kind of long) , and say that I am glad it made this critic's list --- to represent an often under-appreciated genre of films --- bollywood!

"3 IDIOTS"     Amazon    2009   PG-13     2 hours and 50 mins     

Two friends are searching for their long lost companion.  They revisit their college days and recall the memories of their friend who inspired them to think differently, even as the rest of the world called them "idiots".

Director:  Rajkumar Hirani

Writers:  Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Actors:  Aamir Khan , Madhavan, Mona Singh

Movie #3099 ........................."Move Over Darling" (TCM)

 Movie #3099 "Move Over Darling" (TCM)  Now I get to write  a blog on one of my all-time favorite films ---  "Move Over, Darling, with Doris Day and James Garner ---  and with a story  based on an old piece of literature ("Enoch Arden"), a poem by Tennyson, The poem lends its name to a principle in law that after being missing for a certain number of years (typically seven) a person may be declared dead for purposes of remarriage and inheritance of their survivors.          Enoch comes back after 11 years in the poem, and finds his wife has remarried and had a child with his childhood friend; he never tells her he is still alive because of how much he loves her, and he dies a brokenhearted man.  Doesn't seem like a good storyline  for a bunch of comedies, yet it is --- made a number of times, but the most famous is Cary Grant's "My Favorite Wife," and this movie "Move Over Darling" is a remake of that famous one. (one can even say  Tom Hanks' "The Castaway" is loosely based on this poem, as well)  I esp. like this one because it has such a great  cast:  It is reversed with Doris Day playing the missing wife, and James Garner playing the abandoned husband with two little girls, and a very funny mother ,   Thelma Ritter.   Polly Bergen is Garner's fiancé waiting for Doris Day to be pronounced dead after the 7 years, so she can marry him!  When Day returns (seven years and a DAY after she is declared missing, , all hell breaks loose --- esp. when we find out the guy she was on an island with for all those years was the hunky Chuck Connors (and I have to give a shout out to the wonderfully funny Edgar Buchanan, who plays the befuddled judge and has the best lines in he film!).  Garner said that when he worked with Doris Day , all he had to do is sit back and enjoy because she was so much fun to work with --- and you can tell the chemistry here .  This is definitely a 5 out of 5 for me and always a delight to re-watch whenever it is on --- and that's a big deal for me to re-watch anything.   

"MOVE OVER, DARLING"      1963      1 hr and 43 mins

After being lost at sea for several years, a missing wife thought long dead returns just after her husband has remarried.

Director:  Michael Gordon

Writers:  Hal Kanter, Jack Sher, Bella Spewack

Actors:  Doris Day, James Garner, Polly Bergen, Thelma Ritter, Chuck Connors, Edgar Buchanan, Don Knotts

Movie #3098 ........................."Snatch" (Amazon Prime)

Movie #3098 "Snatch" (Amazon Prime)  We love heist films , and we knew this one was one we needed to see because it makes most lists of best heist films, but after seeing "Money Heist" on netflix and all the "Ocean"  films, and the "Italian Job," I'm afraid we didn't like this one as well as the aforementioned ones ... This film is pure Guy Ritchie, with all his fast editing, violent moments, funny, ironic characters and twists in the story.....and it does have a very solid, entertaining ending, but I'm afraid it pales next to the others --- so I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.  We are glad we watched it, but not as good as others we have watched..... P.S. this is the one that Brad Pitt speaks so quickly that it comes out all gibberish -- 

"SNATCH"      R     2000    1 hour and 42 mins            Amazon Prime

Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian Gangster, Incompetent t amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.

Director:  Guy Ritchie

Writer:  Guy Ritchie

Actors:  Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro

 

Movie #3097 ........................."Mystery 101" (Hallmark) 7 episodes, 1 hr and 24 mins each

 Movie #3097 "Mystery 101" (Hallmark) 7 episodes, 1 hr, 24 mins each --Well, here's another series, but this one I could see continuing to watch because I really like the chemistry between these two people, And she is playing a writing teacher of murder mysteries and he is  a cop she uses as a consultant (kind of like my beloved Castle, but without the repartee of the two, and the outstanding secondary players that Castle had)  And that writing job  piqued my interest.  But just after I watched the first one entitled  "The Pilot, "  I found out that Hallmark cancelled the series recently, but watchers are up in arms because I guess the last episode left things hanging.  And of course that is unheard of in Hallmarking  World.  So we'll have to wait and see what is done about it.  Anyway, I will keep my eyes open for the rest of the series (or when they do a marathon of the series), and if you are interested -- here is the order you should watch them in, evidently: The Pilot, Playing Dead, Words Can Kill, Dead Talk, An Education in Murder, Killer Timing, Deadly History.  I give this one a 4.5 because it worked really well.  

"MYSTERY 101 - THE PILOT "    HALLMARK            2019     7 EPISODES    , 2019-2021

This is where we meet Amy (Jill Wagner) and Travis (KRISTOFFER POLAHA,  amid a dark mystery rocking the campus. Sparks fly right off the bat, and things only get better between the dynamic pair. Since it is the very first “Mystery 101” movie, it does not have a title. It simply goes by “Pilot.” The titles will only get more creative from here 

Movie #3096 ........................."Chronicle Mysteries" (Hallmark) 5 episodes, 1 hour and 24 mins each

 Movie #3096 "The Chronicle Mysteries" (Hallmark) 5 episodes, 1 hr, 24 mins each --- There are several mystery series on Hallmark these days, but this one I tuned into because I like the two leads, and her job in the series  was doing a podcast, which I found an interesting topic --- I really  can't believe it went 5 episodes, though, and I'm not sure I will follow and watch them all because I can't see them working together a lot past this one --- but we'll see.  Evidently, it is working for some people because the episodes are listed below so far for this series -- I'd give this first one, entitled "Recovered" a 4 because the case was interesting.

• Chronicle Mysteries: Recovered (2019)
• Chronicle Mysteries: The Wrong Man (2019)
• Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That Bind (2019)
• Chronicle Mysteries: The Deep End (2019)
• Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to Death (2021)

"THE CHRONIClE MYSTERIES"  (Hallmark)  5 episodes, 1 hr, 24 mins each - 2019-2021

Alex is managing editor at the Chronicle.  She investigates and solves cold murder cases for her podcast.  

Actors:  Alison Sweeney, Benjamin Ayres

Movie #3095 ........................."Jury Duty" (Amazon freevee or Prime) series, 8 episodes

 Movie #3095 "Jury Duty" (Amazon freevee or prime) series, 8 episodes --- well, when I first heard about this, it was recommended to me, but we didn't get the concept and just sat through the first episode and felt nothing --- except that it seemed to be a reality show on a screwed up jury deliberating on some case.  But there's more to it --- once we knew (and this is NOT giving anything away - it is needed information) that everyone but one juror is an actor (and one is even famous) and the judge and all the lawyers, etc associated with the made up case were actors, and that the last episode goes through and shows you behind the scenes on how this one juror reacts to the above information, it made watching this somewhat worthwhile.  I have to admit that I watched all the episodes, but Dave watched just two episodes  and the last one, and he still got the humor and the behind the scenes reveal just fine......so it's really up to you.  Some of the bits they set up to con this guy  are very funny (like the woman  juror who can't keep awake so she ends up taking some drugs to help keep her awake)  and some just plain silly (the guy with the attached chair and some other stage business he is given to do! poor guy!)  The last show of the series is worth seeing and enjoying, so I give this a 4 out of 5. (I also liked the theme of the series --- and how nice one person can be to others --- we can use that in our world today!) 

"JURY DUTY"      series 2023         29 minutes each episode, 8 episodes

It follows the workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of Ronald Gladden, a juror who is unaware the entire case is fake.  Everyone except him is an actor, and everything that happens is carefully planned  (and choreographed).

Creators:  Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky

Actors:  James Marsden, Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger

Movie #3094 ........................."Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1" (Movie theater)

 Movie #3094 "Mission Impossible:  Dead Reckoning Part 1 " (Movie Theater)  Why aren't more people talking about this film this summer, which I enjoyed more than the other ones I have see? --- to me, this movie is a major reason to get out of our chairs and off our couches and actually go to a movie theater and  see a movie on a big screen again.  And we didn't even see it in Imax.  But I must say the stunts were wondrous anyway!  It is so great to once in a while escape into the thrills and chills of a mission impossible movie.  Contrary to the long and tedious car chases in the Indiana Jones one, this was long, but constantly changing from one car to the next, one stunt to the next -- filmed beautifully and built to crescendo.  Contrary to a muddled storyline that a lot of films this summer had to offer, this one is crisp, to the point, and makes sense --- it follows a plot line!  wow!  And it was funny in the right places.  I really liked this one, and would give it 4.5 out of 5.  Only complain?   The sound was a tad too uneven for me...........because there's some whispering and "low talking" , the sound is cranked up to ear splitting level at times with the music, but hey!  I love to hear the many ways they change the theme song that plays behind all the chase scenes!  If you are looking for pure escape and tons of astounding stunts all on a BIG screen , see this one before it's too late! 

"MISSION IMPOSSIBLE;  DEAD RECKONING, PART 1      PG-13    2 hrs, 43 mins

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Director:  Christopher McQuarrie

Writers:  Bruce Gelle, Erik Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie

Actors:  Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson