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