American Hustle

This was another great film from David O. Russell.
Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) has always ripped people off. When he was younger, he would purposefully throw rocks in the windows of businesses so they would go to his father's window business for repairs. Now, as an adult, in addition to several dry cleaners and the window repair business, he also does flimsy investments. His scam business really kicks off after Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) decides to get on his side. She was a former stripper turned secretary at Vogue. Her disguise is also great as someone reputable from Britain.
They also begin an affair despite Irving having a wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) who is completely off her rocker.
But then, an FBI agent, Ritchie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper, great), catches them. Instead of immediately sentencing them to prison time, he wants them to help him get people. Bigger people. Politicians. The Mob. Stuff like that.
It gets complicated from here. The beloved mayor of Camden, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) is a target and he leads them to the mob connections. Then, the FBI gets a Sheik (Michael Pena)--also an undercover FBI agent involved--which will give them money to rebuild Atlantic City which will be great for New Jersey's economy. The Sheik will give them the necessary money but he must become a citizen immediately, which leads to bribes from representatives and even one senator.
But Irving forms a friendship with Carmine and doesn't want him to go down but naturally, he still wants to avoid jail time. But he tries to tell him. Which ends in a fight because Irving ruined everything Carmine had worked so hard for.
In the meantime, Ritchie also has an interesting relationship with his boss, Stoddard Thorsen (Louis C.K.) even beating him up once because Stoddard isn't the most supportive of his plans.
But everything goes wrong. They finally get the chance to bust the head of the Mob, Victor Tellegio (the unbilled awesome cameo from Robert de Niro), by meeting with his lawyer. The money is wired to the account and the lawyer's confession is recorded. Ritchie is thrilled with himself. But the money is not deposited into the account they thought it would be. The money is used as leverage. It is returned in exchange for a shorter sentence for Carmine and Ritchie's career is basically over because he messed up. He was out hustled by the best of them. It was enough to shock me.
There are other plot points, mostly involved Rosalyn. She is crazy, constantly setting the house on fire. My favorite is after Irving receives a microwave as a present from Carmine. Rosalyn jokes about how she was told not to put metal in there, but she does anyway and the thing bursts into flame. She, then, yells to her young son to get the fire extinguisher, but not that one, it's empty. She listens in on her husband's private business calls and nearly gets him killed when she tells her mob boyfriend that Irving receives calls from the IRS.
Ritchie and Sydney (or Edith, her British name) also have an interesting relationship. They almost have sex several times, despite her being with Irving and him having a fiance that he doesn't particularly seem to like. One of the funniest scenes is after she touches his face and then he backs away holding her bare foot. Then, when he finds out that she's actually Sydney Prosser from Albuquerque, he is shocked. That is easily the best Bradley Cooper scene ever, better than his performance from Silver Linings Playbook.
The film ends with Rosalyn and Irving getting a divorce, thank goodness, and though it is only his adopted son, Irving has primary custody with Rosalyn (who should have never had a child in the first place), still carrying on with her Mob boyfriend, visitation rights.
The actors are brilliant with Bale gaining tons of weight and looking ugly on screen, with a horrific comb-over and ridiculous posture. Adams has no problems with showing ample cleavage and can master an accent with convincing realism. Cooper looks good in that crazy, tight curled hairstyle and screams at people and is hungry for sex but never actually gets any. Lawrence is always done up, with her flawless hair and perfectly polished nails and cigarettes flaunting from her month and messy house. Though she reads articles, she is stupid when it comes to the dangerous world her husband lives in. And you can almost believe Renner as the happy family man. This film certainly deserves to have all four main actors nominated for Oscars more than Russell's previous film, Silver Linings Playbook.
The set, as this film does occur during the 1970s, and costumes are also fabulous and odd. I'm glad those fashion statements have passed. 
These people are not good nor do they redeem themselves in any way, but it was enjoyable nevertheless and the twists and turns throughout are excellent and can leave you speechless. This is certainly one of the best films of the year. Grade: A

Saving Mr. Banks

P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is stiff to the bone. She doesn't smile, she refuses to meet people halfway, she is as cold as they come.
Certainly her cruel upbringing has something to do with that.
Mrs. Travers, as she insists on being called, is out of money. Her book, Mary Poppins, was a bestseller but all the profits have dried up so her agent basically gives her no choice but to fly to Los Angeles to meet with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks). But she has terms and they include absolutely no animation.
So she flies to Los Angeles, is rude to both a fellow passenger and flight attendant and is furious to find her suite stuffed with all things Disney, like stuffed Mickey Mouse, etc.
Then the real work begins. Mrs. Travers meets with the screenwriter Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitford) and the Sherman brothers, Richard and Robert (Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak), all of whom have great ideas but Mrs. Travers bulks at all of them. She is nit-picky about everything. She doesn't like the name they pick out for Mrs. Banks, doesn't like that they opt to make her a suffragette and doesn't like the plan for the house. Everything also must be recorded, not as easily done then as it would be now.
Walt, as he insists on being called, tries to appease her, does everything in his power to make her happy. But it is impossible to make Mrs. Travers happy. He promised his daughters that he would turn her book into a film and a father never breaks a promise to his daughters.
Her childhood was a difficult one. She did not have a happy childhood. Her father, Travers Gall (Colin Farrell) was an alcoholic, though you don't realize it right away and it becomes worse after the family moves. Sure, he may be a loving father, but his addiction will destroy the family. Ginty (Annie Rose Buckley), Mrs. Travers's childhood nickname, loves her father much more than her mother, Margaret (Ruth Wilson). In fact, Margaret nearly kills herself by walking into a lake, nearly pulling a Virginia Woolf, but luckily, Ginty saves her. But Travers gets worse, embarrassing the family horribly at a public event, which causes Margaret to give him one of the best death glares I have ever seen. But that doesn't save him. He is horribly sick, coughing up blood. Ginty doesn't listen to her mother and finds the last liquor bottle and gives it to him. Yet, her father criticizes the young girl's poem. Then, he sends her out for pears, and she returns only to find that he has died. Yikes.
These events have affected Mrs. Travers for years. She has no family, none that would truly care about her and she barely tries to make friends. The only person she grows close to is her driver, Ralph (Paul Giamatti) who reveals that he has a disabled daughter which is why he worries about the weather so much. Mrs. Travers is surprising sympathetic about that and even personally signs one of her books for him.
But the plight of making the movie continues. She also is insulted when the writers don't realize that Mary Poppins isn't actually saving the children, but she's saving the father which confused me. I'll get to that later.
Although the writers eventually get Mrs. Travers to nearly come on board, with the delightful "Let's Go Fly a Kite" song only to have her hopes dashed with the insistence of animation she bulks and refuses to sign over the rights and returns home in a huff to London.
Luckily, Walt doesn't give up that easily, convincing her with his own sordid past, and how he overcame everything. His father was a businessman and had a horrible work ethic which meant his young sons had to deliver newspapers in all sorts of weather and often, if something wasn't done well, abuse would follow. Mrs. Travers signs away her rights and even goes to the Los Angeles premiere despite not having an invitation. She appears pleased with the final product.
I did have several issues with the film. Sure the acting was top-notch, including a good performance from Colin Farrell, though I still find him to have a creeper vibe, I had issues with the plot. Though Mary Poppins came to save the father, in reality, that never happened for Ginty. Her aunt (Rachel Griffiths, always underused) arrived and whipped the house into shape, the odd aunt, with a carpet bag full of interesting things, the father could not be saved. Mr. Banks may have finally taken his job as a father seriously but this was not to be for Travers. Yet, Ginty loved him so much, she took his name anyway. So, yes, I don't really get the title. Sure, Mr. Banks was saved in the final film, but he was based on Mrs. Travers's actual father who was never saved. Ginty's past is left unsolved. I also wish that when Ralph picked Mrs. Travers up for the premiere, he mentioned his daughter, something to tie-up that plot line.
Fortunately, the acting saves the film. Each actor is brilliant with stand-out performances from both Thompson and Hanks who deserve every nomination they each receive. And it looks good. With pristine cinematography and great scenic design and costumes. I just wish that Mrs. Travers also got her happy ending, like Walt did his. Grade: A-

The Middle: The Christmas Tree

This was a very good Christmas episode. Though I usually love how the Hecks do the holidays, I haven't been the fondest of how they celebrate Christmas, but this episode got it right. Sure, there are plot holes but I loved the episode anyway.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) is back home from college and Frankie's (Patricia Heaton's) thrilled about it, but he doesn't want to spend anytime with the family, choosing his friends over them in a heartbeat. He and Frankie strike up a deal which includes Axl having to buy a tree and decorate with the family and spend Christmas Eve with the family and finally watch White Christmas. But Christmas Eve is a huge bust. The DVD Frankie purchases is in German which explains why it was so cheap and Axl is horribly annoyed.
Christmas isn't going well for the rest of the Hecks either. Sue (Eden Sher) adores Christmas but is devastated to discover that she is allergic to the beautiful real Christmas Tree. Mike (Neil Flynn) gets rid of it because it is slowly killing her, though, with her insistence, the tree is restored. Which means that Sue can't be in the same room as the tree, blocking herself in the kitchen. When the crazy cheerleaders Courtney and Debbie (Brittany Ross and Natalie Lander) come to visit, they believe that the Hecks are hosting a sick child for the holidays. Yikes.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) probably will have the worst Christmas. In order to get some great prizes, he agrees to sell various things for various clubs. His system is horrible, he must sell something to pay off something else. Popcorn tins will pay off the wrapping paper but then peppermint bark will pay off popcorn tins and some on. To remedy this vicious cycle, Brick is selling poinsettias he took from the park. Which park? You and Frankie might ask? The one with all the dead people. Frankie quickly helps him carry in all the plants. That was easily the funniest part of the show.
On Christmas Eve, after the movie viewing goes bust, Frankie reluctantly allows Axl to attend his joyous bonfire. But Mike doesn't really want him to go. He pulls out an old song, "Cat's Cradle" which actually hits home for Axl. The song is about how when the son is young, he wants to spend time with his father but the dad is busy and then when the son grows up, he becomes busy and can't spend time with his father when the father wants to. Axl decides to give up his bonfire and sit on the snow sofa Sue made so she can also enjoy the tree, albeit outside in the freezing cold. The Hecks have a good Christmas after all.
The ending may have been a limp one, almost added solely so the credits could run but overall, the episode was great. Of course, the acting was top notch as it normally is, with Sue trying her hardest to enjoy the holidays despite sneezing often and getting hives on her arms. Axl has to put on a good attitude when he spends time with the family which he does only after being prodded by Mike. And, for Mike's delight, he doesn't have to spend time with Frankie's parents. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Mike is so happy about Frankie's parents not coming that he is actually in a good mood for the majority of the episode and kisses Frankie, sure only on the cheek, but that's better than most episode.
-To cure her sneezing, Sue puts on a snorkel, so she can still make cookies, but it doesn't always work.
-Frankie and Axl literally write down an agreement for the amount of time he must spend with the family.
-The stupid cheerleaders have met Sue three times now, at least, and still don't know who she is, no one is that stupid. Whatever.
-Apparently, the rager Axl insisted on going to was super lame and he regrets his decision.
-Brick should be smarter than his plan. He should have known it would backfire as it is the Heck household after all.
-Sue, in her bubble, still insists on helping Mike decorate the tree by telling him through the screen on where the ornaments should be. 
-When Axl describes the song to Brick, he is almost crying and it gets to Brick also. He must leave to call Mike at work.

The Sound of Music: Live! (2013)

Now, despite my issues with the film, the stage version of The Sound of Music will never be as good as the film. The film has lush cinematography and because it’s a movie, it can actually be filmed outside like it was meant to be. But I do have problems. Though Julie Andrews will always and forever be Maria to me and probably thousands of others, I feel that Christopher Plummer is miscast. Sure, if I was grading the film, I would still give it an A, but Plummer is too young for the role, his singing is dubbed (which always loses points with me) and his performance is wooden at times. And the role of the baroness (Eleanor Parker in the film) is a squishy one. She is cruel at times, wanting to put the children in a boarding school and doesn’t care to get to know them, but she gives Maria the final push to approach the Captain, so I can’t consider her all bad. The real villain is the Nazis. And maybe even the Captain himself until his hard shell softens.

But I’m not reviewing the film, I’m reviewing the live stage production.

It begins differently, with the nuns in the Abbey, but Maria (Carrie Underwood) is missing. Then, it cuts to her singing in the forest set. Sure, the Abbey looks great but the forest is clearly a set. I know, I know, but still, it bothers me. I want the actual scenery. And then, worse, they use that same scenery, yikes, for the song between Rolf and Liesl, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”, which truly upset me.

Also, the songs are out of order. Okay, not really, but compared to the movie they are. This is why when I watch the film first, I often have a problem with the stage version. This is also most certainly the case of West Side Story. I love and adore the film, but I have issues with the stage version, putting a joyous song after the major deaths and having the song “Somewhere” as a group number. Once again, I’m reviewing the stage production of The Sound of Music.

I love Carrie Underwood, but basically from the beginning, I felt that she was miscast. Maria must be someone European. Still, her performance was more than acceptable but it could have been better, like actually crying when she reveals her true feelings about the Captain. However, Maria does start out as a strong character, refusing to give in to the Captain’s (Stephen Moyer’s) insistence that she answer to a whistle call, but after marrying him, she will follow him blindly, but she’s no longer afraid of her emotions. The actors do have good chemistry, but “Something Good” lacks the heat it had in the film.Yet, when he hands her his whistle, signaling his change, the moment is poignant.
Okay, back to Maria. I fail to understand why they made her look like a Swedish milkmaid for most of the film, including the pivotal engagement scene (more on that later).  Her performance only misses a beat once, but you never get the impression that she is Maria, she's only playing, pretending to be Maria.
Now, lets talk about the Captain. Stephen Moyer can actually sing, always a plus. Perhaps it is because of the set-up of the live version, his performance is often on the stiff side. Maybe if we had more real close ups, we could see the cool man melt upon hearing his children sing. His sudden change is just that, sudden. Only five minutes after pulling himself from his children's embrace, he opens his arms warmly to them. Too quick, but a sweet moment nevertheless.

Thank goodness for Laura Benanti as the Baroness Schrader and Audra McDonald as the Mother Superior. They are utterly brilliant. The moment Benanti entered, it was like a breath of fresh air. She was great, nailing the role. She is great as the cold Baroness, blatantly telling the children that it will take her a while to get their names right, and not caring that it will take her a while. 

Also, the volatile political climate plays a much bigger role in this stage production than in the film itself.  That is the real reason that the Captain (Stephen Moyer) and the Baroness’s engagement breaks off, because she and Max (the unrecognizable Christian Borle) will give in just so their lifestyles are not changed. This angers the Captain, so Maria is informed that she was mistaken, they will not be getting married. Which leads to the best twitter comment ever: “I’ve never been engaged, but the Captain is engaged twice in five minutes. Rebound much?” Which nails my sentiments exactly.  He may have had lingering feelings for Maria for some time, bemoaning her sudden departure, but their engagement is extremely sudden.  Yet, it is a love story I can’t help but root for, despite Maria being his rebound. 

Okay, another huge problem I had was the song order. “My Favorite Things” needs to be sung during the thunderstorm, not between Maria and Mother Superior. A change also needs to be noticed in the children. They must, at first, be mean to Maria but then change.  And teaching them to sing must be done at a later time, not right after meeting them.

Okay, that’s all I have with the song orders.

It is ambitious to do a live stage production, something which hasn’t been done in over fifty years. I feel that they should do more. The commercials are jarring and probably brought the final grade of the film down. Still, the singing is brilliant, not a note is out of place, and Underwood only messed up one line, though she immediately corrected herself. There were very few technical differences noticed which is incredible in itself.

The children are also very good, nailing the roles, though I found it odd that Maria is alerted to her hidden feelings for the Captain by young Bridgitta. Whatever, the children were great, especially Kurt. They all can really sing. Great finds, casting directors.
The set is also interesting. It is clearly not a stage setting, but rather an elaborate set arranged just for this telecast. I might have preferred if it was done on the traditional stage. I've seen it twice on stage and it was done better than this film. I found it particularily jarring when Maria leaves the von Trapp house and is immediately back in the Abbey. Also, when the family went from their living room to the performance hall was another awkward transition. But the sets (with the notable exception of the forest and hills) did look good. Oh well, you can't get everything you want.

Also, the choreography must be noted. The cast didn’t miss a step and some of the dancing must have been difficult. If nothing else, the cast has guts, performing live across America, nerves weren’t really an issue, incredible.

I would have liked the commercials to be used minimally, which they weren’t. But the production could have been far worse, but it also could have been much better. I blame the commercials for some of my issues. Yet, I am still glad I also DVR'd this, because despite my many problems, I will gladly watch this again and again. Grade: B

The Middle: The Kiss

This was a great episode, until the ending.
First off, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) wants to spice up her relationship with Mike (Neil Flynn), a subject which this show should have addressed by now, given the importance of it. So when an opportunity comes for them to get away, Frankie jumps on it. Mike is less certain. The opportunity? House sitting for Frankie's sister Janet. But the house is so nice and new with all these crazy appliances which Frankie and Mike don't understand and thus can't work. So tempers flare, first at those devices but then at each other. Fortunately, Mike gets the bright idea of throwing one of the many ice cubes at Frankie though their good mood is nearly dampened when they arrive in the bedroom with the odd bed, which also needs remotes to work. But the viewer can assume that this part ends with them having sex on the floor before crawling into bed.
Axl's (Charlie McDermott's) plot line was equally as good. His friends, Sean and Darrin (Beau Wirick and John Gammon) come to visit. When asked how things are going, he reluctantly admits that he still wonders about Cassidy (Galadriel Stineman). Immediately, without missing a beat, the friends order a road trip is in order. Axl agrees at first, but then changes his mind when he realizes that he has no clue about what is going on in her life. She could totally have a new boyfriend, which is probably the case, considering she had broken up with Cliff for a whole hour before getting together with Axl. Does Facebook mean nothing to him? Still, it would be a great romantic gesture and he's curious to see where he stands so they head back. Things get hard when the gang steals some onion rings from an elderly couple. True, they thought that the couple had left but instead, they are furious and the guys don't have the money to pay so they run for it. Unfortunately, this story is still open-ended. Axl returns to his dorm, claiming that he forgot his keys but in reality, he doesn't know what he wanted yet. Who knows what is on the horizon?
Now, to the story line that ended horribly. Sue (Eden Sher) and Brick (Atticus Shaffer) are left at home, with Sue in charge. However, once the door is closed, Brick disappears so Sue goes to find him. He's in the basement but when they return upstairs, the Glossners have taken over. Yikes. None of their attempts to lure the Glossners out of the house work, until Sue and Brick are shut out of the house. Brick's proposition is simple, just ask them nicely to leave. Sue doesn't think this will work, but surprise, surprise, it does. All because she does the asking and asks the older Glossner, who has a crush on her. I didn't like that but it ended worse, with him kissing her. Sue's reaction is shock no happiness to be had.
Still, I liked this episode better than the Thanksgiving one, except for the ending to Sue's story line. I'm glad that they finally gave Frankie and Mike another strong and realistic plot line and Axl needed to face his emotions about Cassidy, the first girl he truly cared about. And Sue is gullible so I can see why the Glossners would enter the house, but I don't think that anything will happen between her and the older Glossner boy and for that, I am eternally grateful. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Poor Mike, the first thing to make him happy in some time, that huge TV, and he can't even get it to work.
-What is up with that ice cube dispenser? It must be haunted.
-I believe we finally saw Kenny's (Tommy Bechtold's) face and it certainly wasn't even that impressive. In fact, it was not significant in any way.
-You would think the guys would have more money between them than almost nothing.
-Among the ideas to get the Glossners out of the house include luring them out with Pop-Tart pieces and yell fire, both of which don't work.
-I liked that they kept you guessing with Axl's plot line, but seriously, you aren't Facebook friends with her? Geez, that's super awkward, especially when you were dating her. Though Cassidy is odd, so maybe she didn't even have a facebook. Still, I'm confused, whatever.
-Frankie hates that Mike never wants to do anything while Mike hates that she has all these ideas which always manage to get ruined. I'm glad they got their happy ending.
-The funniest part of the episode was when the guys were singing along to Katy Perry's 'Part of Me' in the car. Who knew that they would listen to Katy Perry? And that they would know the words? Also, there could have been hidden meaning here, after all the song is about someone grateful that their relationship ended, though I don't feel that that is the case for Axl.

Philomena

This film is probably the opposite of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, there is nothing big or blockbuster about this film, yet it's just as enjoyable.
Judi Dench shines as Philomena Lee who commits a great sin. When she is a young girl, played by Sophie Kennedy Clark, she meets a boy and they engage in the enjoyable but sinful act of sex. Philomena becomes pregnant and is sent away to a convent where she will have her baby. And then she must stay there for the next four years to pay them back for their kindness. She only gets to see her baby for one hour a day while she slaves away in the laundry. But the worst thing happens and the nuns don't even tell her about it. Philomena's son, Anthony, and her friend's daughter, Mary are bought by an American couple.
The film is about her journey to find him. It begins with Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a jaded and depressed former journalist. He has no interest in her human interest story, which he overhears from Philomena's daughter, Jane (Anna Maxwell Martin, who needs to be in more films), but after a talk with his wife, he changes his mind, albeit reluctantly. He has time on his hands and this story interests him, plus it will get his name back out there.
So Martin and Philomena set out to the convent, still in existence to begin. But all the records burned in a fire. I should say they were burned in a fire. According to a local bar owner, the nuns had a big bonfire in their fields to burn the adoption papers. Yet the one paper saved was signed by Philomena herself, saying that she had no right to her child. She doesn't regret signing the paper.
Fortunately, Martin has contacts, both in Britain and the United States. Yet, they won't tell him much so he convinces Philomena to come to the United States with him. She does and enjoys it, but the paper Martin is working for is footing the bill. His editor (Michelle Fairley) loves the sensational story.
And the story only gets more sensational. Luckily, Martin's contacts come through. Anthony was adopted (aka bought and paid for) by an American couple which meant that his name was changed. Not just his last name, but also his first name. Anthony is now Michael Hess. Or he was Michael Hess. A quick internet search reveals the devastating truth. Michael has been dead for eight years. He had a good job, worked for two presidents but had a secret homosexual lifestyle and thus died, as Philomena and myself predicted, of AIDS.
Sure, Philomena is devastated, but decides not to leave. She wants to meet people who knew him. And she does. She meets his co-worker, she meets his sister, Mary (Mare Winningham), who doesn't even bother to ask any questions about her mother and finally, after some extreme struggles, she meets Michael's partner, Pete Olson (Peter Hermann). Pete does not wish to speak with Martin, but Philomena tries him herself. Another twist occurs. Before his death, while Michael is dying of AIDS, he visits Ireland and the convent where he was born. But the nuns tell him that his mother abandoned him. Even though Philomena has visited them several times, they always told her that they had no new information about her son. Philomena chalks this up them not knowing about the name change, though one nun who was there in her time is still there and did nothing.
Upon returning to Ireland, Martin and Philomena return. Martin is furious and lashes out at the elderly nun who regrets nothing. Philomena sinned and deserved all of the suffering heaped upon her. Nevertheless, Philomena forgives her. She feels sorry for Martin, incapable of kindness and compassion. Still, the film manages to tie up all the loose ends, with Philomena visiting the grave of her son. He buried at the convent where he was born. Philomena's life has come full circle.
The story is a sad one, but one that does need to be told. Martin will later turn Philomena's story into a book. It shows how unsympathetic the Catholic Church can be, evil as Jane calls them. Thank goodness times have changed. Yet,  Philomena is still the devout Catholic while Martin who has had nothing devastating like that happen to him is the one who doesn't believe in God. The chemistry between the two is great. Coogan is equally as good as Dench, though one does feel more sympathy for her. She even says that forgiving the nun wasn't easy for her.
The problems I have with the film are minor. The character of Mary, albeit a cameo role, is hard to define. She says that life with her adopted parents was far from ideal. Her doctor father was tough. Her life is nothing like her brother's living a much simpler lifestyle. Mary seems almost cold and distant. Once Pete opens up, his is not.
There are also funny moments, like when Philomena visits the Lincoln Memorial and is worried that her son might be obese, because of all the large portions in America.
This film is not to be taken lightly, but it shows a time that should not be forgotten, when being a single mother was more than just frowned upon-it was taboo. It showed no sympathy for them, never. Certainly that's not what a church should stand for. Grade: A

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This was a great sequel to a great film.
The film picks up a year after Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) have won the Hunger Games and inspired Panem with their own sappy love story. Yet, they have barely talked to each other since.
Katniss still hunts with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) who works in the mines. But when she aims and fires her bow, she doesn't see it striking a wild turkey but a person just as she had done in the game causing her to have a panic attack.
Problems arise. Namely in the form of President Snow (Donald Sutherland). He has spy cameras following Katniss around so he knows that she recently kissed Gale while the districts still believe that she loves Peeta. She must lie to the other districts and perform when they go on the publicity tour.
The tour is a disaster, because of Katniss's actions, rebellion is strong and the guards will do away with those who honor Katniss's bravery. She is terrified of what happens right before her eyes. The fake speeches aren't her style and she longs for her family. Not even meeting the new game designer, Plutarch (the great Philip Seymour Hoffman) who admires her can help her.
But Plutarch doesn't really admire or even like Katniss, he agrees with Snow that she must be stopped. The people must see her as one of them. Floggings will increase, executions will be back. The 'Peacekeepers' sent from the capitol turn District 12 upside down. Call me crazy, but it seemed similar to the Holocaust, with the Peacekeepers rounding up extra supplies and the nice things the people owned and burning them, while subjecting them to beatings. The head Peacekeeper doesn't even recognize Katniss when she tries to protect Gale from being hurt.
When this doesn't seem to be working, Plutarch decides that the ultimate Hunger Games should do Katniss in. This is where each District will send two of its former champions. Katniss wants Peeta, whom she is fake engaged to, because she doesn't want him to die. Despite Haymitch's (Woody Harrelson's) name being drawn, for some reason Peeta decides to volunteer in his place. You will find out the true reason later, but at the time, I didn't understand it. Haymitch is a middle-aged, unmarried alcoholic while Peeta is young and still has the rest of his life ahead of him. Whatever.
The training is intense and alliances must be forged. And Katniss does make friends. With some weirdos. The District 3 victors are an odd couple but kind. Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) is not strong but won because he electrocuted six people with this special wire he invented. Wiress (Amanda Plummer, who needs more screen roles) is equally as odd. Mags (Lynn Cohen) is a sweet old lady who volunteered from District 4 just to save the damaged selective victor. Finnick (Sam Claflin) is also on Katniss's side, though they do not get along well at the beginning.
The rest of the victors are ruthless, with one even filed her teeth down so they look like fangs. It's super creepy.
Once again, Katniss gets to show everyone what she really is, but she hangs a body up labeled Seneca Crane, the secretly murdered game designer from the first film. For some reason, probably one of the biggest plot holes and problems I have with the film is that this is never brought up again and she does not get in trouble.
Then comes the best scene, the last publicity interview before the games begin. Katniss is decked out in a wedding dress ordered by Snow. Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) out did himself, but once she swirls around, the white dress is changed into a mockingjay, complete with wings. Cinna will pay for this.
Peeta's interview is the best. In addition saying that he and Katniss secretly wed, he is worried about the baby. Of course, there is no baby, but it was a great twist and one that earns him points from Haymitch, though the games will not be cancelled or postponed.
And so the games begin. Peeta and Katniss have joined forces with Finnick and Mags where they face the challenges together. The challenges are grim. They are in a desert dome this time around with no sources of freshwater. (Luckily, Haymitch helps them out in this area.) There is a poisonous gas which will cover the skin in nasty boils, and fierce fighting monkeys with big gnashing teeth. A huge wave strikes. Others, including the wild and scene-stealing Johanna (Jena Malone), Beetee and Wiress deal with a blood storm, which causes Wiress to become delirious. Wiress keeps repeating tick tock which leads Katniss to discover that the games are like a clock, with a disaster coming every hour but only lasting for that hour. A lightning strike at midnight and noon begins the whole cycle again. Unfortunately, Wiress will soon die.
Luckily, Beetee comes up with a plan, with his special wire. They will attach it to the lightning tree and then put it in the water, hopefully frying the others still left in the game.
This fails to work because someone cuts the wire and then Johanna rips out the tracker from Katniss’s body. But Katniss has the last word, firing an arrow into the dome covering, causing it to be destroyed.
Then Katniss is rescued. I was wondering why this was occurring. Sure, this had happened before, but only because the victors had died, but Katniss has not died. Her health is not great, but she is blinking. She wakes up in a hospital like setting to discover Plutarch, Haymitch and Finnink plotting for the revolution. Most of the other victors were in on the plan. Peeta remains in the game, his fate unknown for the time being. Gale has joined the alliance, after getting her mother and sister out of District 12 which now no longer exists. The Rebellion has begun.
This film deals with some serious issues and the love triangle is firmly in place. I believe that Katniss loves both of them, just not at the same time. She loves and needs Peeta during the games while Gale is what she needs when she’s at home. Peeta is her rock during the games but Gale understands her and her desires, but he has no idea what her life is like during the games. Peeta knows how brutal the games are and they bond despite the immense challenges ahead of them. But they both love her.
I’m also glad that a rebellion will occur. I’ve read several dystopian futuristic novels before where the society is oppressed, but in neither did a rebellion occur so this is a nice refreshing change. I wonder what will happen next.
Once again, the film has nary a false step. Lawrence is brilliant as Katniss, showing every emotion, even when she tries to hide them, they are never far from the surface. Hutcherson is also great as Peeta but he and to a bigger degree, Gale are still quite underdeveloped compared to Katniss. Malone is utterly brilliant as Johanna. She has such a memorable introduction, meeting Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta on the elevator and stirps right in front of them which Haymitch finds particularly enjoyable. Johanna is also rightfully angry. She is pissed because she was promised once she won the games that nothing like this would ever happen again but they lied to her. Claflin is also great as someone with murky motives.
The film also looks great, with great scenery and brilliant costumes and flawless special effects.
The plot is lively and entertaining though I did have a problem with Peeta announcing that Katniss is pregnant. I predicted that, though just minutes earlier I predicted that Snow was going to force the two to get married just before the games, which never happened. But the problem is that Katniss never yells at him for throwing that into the mix and none of the other contestants bring up that issue. Sure, a small problem, but one that bothers me, but I’m a weird person. Other people might have a problem with the cheat ending. I’m an optimist, I hope all the cool characters survive.
I can’t wait for the next film. This one will have to tide me over until then. Grade: A-

The Middle: Thanksgiving V

First, my rant about last week's episode. I love Sue, she's great but seriously, can she do something good with actually talents instead of winning because of her kindness or because her body was between the ball and the floor. She is an amazing character and deserves much more than this.
As for this episode, Sue (Eden Sher) didn't have it much better. She and Frankie (Patricia Heaton) go pre-holiday shopping, which actually occurs on Wednesday instead of Friday, but then acts all secretive and private upon arriving home. Yikes.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) struggles to tell his parents his bad news. He is being super helpful to his parents and even offers to drive to collect his grandparents (Jerry Van Dyke and Marsha Mason). He tells them, hopeful that they will be on his side, but they are furious at him, which still leads him with the task of telling his parents.
Tag, once again, confides in Mike (Neil Flynn) to Mike's dismay. Tag was stupid and gambled away all of the money he and Pat had saved up for a Christmas cruise. His plan is to highlight all the bad problems with cruises and have Mike for back-up but that just doesn't happen, probably because Mike doesn't even care.
Then comes the dinner, which actually makes up the majority of the episode. The Hecks get some unexpected guests in the form of Frankie's boss, Dr. Goodwin (Jack McBrayer) because he doesn't understand sarcasm, a mistake Frankie repeats at the tail end of the episode. Then, Marlene (Mary Birdsong) and her two children from previous relationships arrive. The kids don't know her very well, but are confused when she starts openly and blatantly flirting with Dr. Goodwin. Finally, Marlene confesses that she and Rusty divorced because he couldn't communicate, which is clearly the case as he couldn't even tell his own brother that his marriage failed.
Well, that dinner is a dinner of truths with everyone confessing stuff. Axl tries to start things off, but Tag reveals his money issues first, then Marlene tells them her news and then Frankie appears on the news, ripping people apart to get the wanted items, a truly horrifying sight, and then, finally Axl reveals his news, but his parents don't react the way he expects them to.
However, Mike believes that Axl isn't theirs anymore, which isn't really the case in my opinion, but I liked how he got his point across. Axl finally, hopefully, realizes that he needs to grow up. He needs to stop partying and buckle down on his classes. He also promises to come home every weekend to study. We'll see if that happens. I think he's finally growing up, but then again, I thought that last season when he was with Cassidy, but that was only short lived, before he reverted back to his old ways.
All-in-all, a much better episode than last week's, but it still falls short of every previous Thanksgiving episode. But the acting is good and this one gives the guest stars true moments to shine, which is awesome every once in awhile. And, yes, it is a disturbing awakening for the rest of the family when they witness firsthand of how Frankie is able to get them the high quality gifts they want.
Still, this episode was far from perfect. Sue needed more screen time, but she tried to make the most of what she had, freaking out and trying not to tell what really happened. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) wants green jello, but Frankie, once again, forgets to make some, so he makes his own and eats the whole thing, which leaves him quite sick, probably because he didn't make it right. He is literally a slug. Yikes.
-The grandparents always bring fudge.
-Marlene flirts like crazy, but Dr. Goodwin is actually terrified of her, it's great.
-Pat has been a member of Weight Watchers for more than a decade, so that's some money being wasted.
-Forgiveness is awesome and does happen, but only after the yelling.
-I loved Frankie's gag of not preparing enough food, going back in the kitchen to whip up more mashed potatoes, and adding tables so everyone can have a seat.
-Colin Firth is still around, albeit briefly. He appears in the beginning and Axl agrees to walk him, but then he disappears for the remainder, not even joining the family to play touch football.
-Axl, you're on a football scholarship and you can't even catch a simple throw from your dad? Okay, I'll give you that one, you're probably fearful that a screaming match is coming any minute so that's where your focus is, but whatever.
-Does no one in the Heck family ever talk to one another?
-Everyone stays until pie this year, though Dr. Goodwin claimed he would leave.

The Middle: The Jump

There actually wasn't much that happened this episode, but that's okay.
First off, Axl (Charlie McDermott) is doing horribly in college. He's doing so bad, he should drop three of his classes because there is no way he will pass them, leaving him with just one class. Though he loathed his mother's nagging while he was living at home, he realizes that he needs Frankie (Patricia Heaton) on his back otherwise, he won't get anything done. Not even a crash course in studying, trying to cram with Brick (Atticus Shaffer) could help. Axl is unorganized and lazy and there must be something quite wrong with him if he sleeps for two straight days.
Sue (Eden Sher) manages to make the volleyball team. But it isn't because she actually has talent. It's because during her try-out, she falls through the gym floor, right into the janitor's break room, the sofa breaking her fall. Naturally, she gets no playing time, though when Mike (Neil Flynn) shows up, probably despite his better judgment, and starts yelling her name, the coach misinterprets that and thus puts Sue in, even though it is game point. So she goes in and manages not to mess up. She doesn't do anything right, but by just falling backwards, the ball hits her head, twice, forcing her down on the ground, but the Hens win, so Sue is the hero, at least for a brief moment.
As for Frankie, everyone in the family is being mean to her. They make fun of her painted nails; they are cruel when she accidentally mispronounces a word; Sue can't believe she still types www. when typing a website address in the search box. But she finally reaches her limit when she tries to jump, because Sue hung a banner up for her volleyball practicing, and can't get up, she breaks down. But then, she finds a stray dog who just jumps into her car. Sure, she knows they can't keep him, so she'll put out banners. This is Frankie guys, so there aren't banners or anything yet. She also names the dog Colin Firth and he is rather attached to her, following her around the house. He also doesn't really like the rest of the family, growling at Mike and tearing Sue's volleyball apart. Finally, Frankie tells the family that their insults hurt, so Mike gathers the troops and they rally Frankie's feelings, apologizing and stuff, so the episode ends on a happy note, though trouble is looming ahead; it's the Heck family. Nothing ever fully goes their way. But I love when the show ends with the whole family together.
Sure, this was far from The Middle's best, but nothing was truly wrong with it, though the plots were weak. The acting is always top-notch and it did have its funny moments, though nothing compared to the last new episode. And Axl, for the love of God, pull yourself together and grow up. And learn how to fold your own laundry. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Does Mike ever go to work?
-What does Axl really do at college?
-I can't believe Sue is mean to Frankie, but I could tell that she is the only one who regrets her actions and thus her apology is sincere.
-Axl doesn't tell his parents about his malfunction at college.
-He even needs Brick's help to drop his classes.
-I love how they let Sue on the team so she wouldn't sue the school, how sweet of them.
-The episode begins with expired soup night, no wonder they hate Frankie's cooking. Axl won't even eat it.
-What is Kenny's deal? He disturbs me.

About Time

Unlike my last post, this film was a delight to watch and I would gladly see it again. Sure, it has a powerful message but there are comic moments every now and then which are a joy.
Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) is part of a typical British family. Or so he thinks. After a New Year's Eve party, his father, James (Bill Nighy) tells him a deep, dark family secret. The men can travel back through time, only into the past and only to places they have been. Tim puts the plan into action right away, making up for the awkward handshake at the party the night before, kissing a girl instead.
Though his father traveled back in time to read more books, Tim knows that his will be about love. And so it is.
Tim's sister, Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson), an interesting supporting character, has a friend over for that summer. Her name is Charlotte (Margot Robbie) and Tim has a crush on her, but he waits until her last night to tell her. She says that it is too late so he travels back in time and tells her earlier, but she decides to wait and see how the rest of the summer will go. Yikes.
Then he moves to London and stays with his father's playwright friend, Harry (Tom Hollander, Mr. Collins from 2005's Pride and Prejudice). Here, he works as a lawyer and eventually has a (literally) blind date with a delightful girl named Mary (Rachel McAdams), who works for a publisher, reading manuscripts. There actual meet-cute is delightful. But then, when he travels back in time so Harry's play isn't a disaster, he doesn't meet Mary. But because he has the information he needs, he sets out to meet Mary at a Kate Moss exhibit. Though he knows about her, she thinks it is so odd that he knows who she is and this time around, she has a boyfriend. So, he once again journeys back in time to prevent Mary from ever meeting her boyfriend. At her friend's (Vanessa Kirby) lame party. Luckily, they hit it off much better this fake time around than the last. The night ends well, though of course, Tim has to go back in time, twice to get the sex right.
He and Mary are in love and for awhile, the story is rather predictable. He moves in and meets her conservative parents. But it is only after a chance (for real) meeting with Charlotte that drives Tim to propose to Mary. She is so grateful that he did that in private without tons of people around. So Tim leaves the room and whisks the band away.
Tim and Mary travel home to tell his parents and uncle, Desmond (Richard Cordery). Kit Kat is also visiting and ignores Tim's warning to be gentle with Mary. When announcing the big events, their engagement and Mary's pregnancy, Uncle Desmond responds each time, "To her?" and "It's his?" and then responding, "That's a relief."
So they get married. And Tim opts not to go back in time and change the date or location of the wedding, as the weather is windy and rainy, but he does change his best man, before finally deciding on his father. Dad, then, goes back in time and changes the speech he gives.
Their daughter, Posy, is born and Tim is terrified. And then, the film gets more complicated. On Posy's first birthday party, after a fight with her boyfriend (Tom Hughes), she drinks drunk and gets into a car accident. She isn't killed, thank goodness. Tim tries to change this and he does, only to come home and find that Posy doesn't exist. A little boy who looks nothing like either Tim or Mary is born. Tim learns that he can never go back in time before Posy's birth because then he would have a different baby. Which proves that sometimes, changes shouldn't happen because the effects could be horrible. There is always that butterfly effect to consider.
Luckily, Kit Kat does pull herself together and follows Tim's advice and gets together with his loony friend, Jay (Will Merrick). Tim also wants another baby, despite knowing the truth, but Mary doesn't. But, as Tim puts it, "Luckily, we were young and stupid," which equals baby number two.
Life is largely happy until a disastrous night when, while Mary is trying on dress after dress (the scene I hated) and Tim left her office door open, leaving the three-year-old Posy to destroy the manuscript Mary was working on and she won't let him leave the room to remedy the problem. That problem will seem small in a moment because Tim's mother calls, telling them that his father was inoperable cancer.
Here, Tim learns his father's secret. Live each day normally and then replay it, changing nothing major, so the day is lived without all the anxiety it had the first time.
Then comes the inevitable. James dies, but life does move on. For Tim, it is not the same as he misses his father. His mother (Lindsay Duncan) even mentions that she doesn't want to live without her husband.
Then, despite not wanting a second child, Mary wants another baby to have an insurance baby. Though Tim does want one, as his father wished there was more of them, he knows this means that he will never see his father again. He says they should wait and maybe she won't even get pregnant again, but she does. So Tim has one last good-bye with his father.
The film ends happily, with Tim finally learning to make each day count and live it to the fullest. He enjoys getting the kids ready in the morning and talking to his wife. All the little things in life matter and he will savor every single one of them. Kit Kat, by the way, also has a baby though Tim believes that she is not a safe or good mother, yikes.
The film is not perfect. Though Kit Kat's troubled and doomed relationship is supposed to be a major part of the film, the viewer doesn't see much of this relationship at all. They don't know that she's an alcoholic who can't keep a job though her free-spirit personality does change, but not enough to fully notice. Also, though Tim goes back and changes Kit Kat's past, undoing Posy's every existence, somehow he is able to unchange his change, with the car accident still occurring and Posy back firmly as Tim's daughter. I also found it hard to believe that two parents would leave and be able to leave their two young children downstairs for Mary to try on every dress known to mankind for an event.
Yet, the film is a delight, with some great performances. The sheer horror in Tim's eyes when he realizes that he has a different child is heart-breaking. Gleeson and McAdams are a realistic couple, you could truly believe that they are married. And the ending is happy, I like happy endings. The film may be a trifle but it's an enjoyable and thought-provoking one. There is finally a Richard Curtis film I enjoy. I may be alone here, but I didn't like Love Actually and Four Wedding and a Funeral at all and found Notting Hill only marginally enjoyable but this one is totally worth a second, third and fourth viewing.
Also of note, Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon from the Harry Potter series) makes cameo as one of the actors Tim confronts to practice his lines. This will be his last film and that's a pity. Grade: A-

12 Years a Slave

This film is powerful and painful to view. If you are a history major, or a film buff, you should watch it anyway. Bring tissues.
Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a freeman living his life, happily, in Saratoga, New York. It is 1841. He has a wife, Anne (Kelsey Scott) and two young children, Margaret (Quvenzhane Wallis) and Alonso (Cameron Ziegler). But then, everything changes. He meets two gentlemen, Brown and Hamilton (Scoot McNairy [from Argo] and Taran Killam) who praise his immense talents and offer him a sweet deal which will require him to travel to Washington D.C. which is in slave territory. He accepts their offer.
After a nice meal, Solomon wakes up in chains, wondering what has happened to him. In gradual flashbacks, he remembers and the viewers learn that something bad must have been in the wine at dinner, for it made him horribly drunk and ill. He doesn't have his free papers on him so they assume that he's a slave. It's America and it's 1841, of course they would. He is beaten into submission and taken by boat, along with some others to New Orleans where he is sold. Along the way, the two other freeman also captured, escape his fate. One dies while the other is rescued. It is just Solomon who is somehow given the name Platt and Eliza (Adepero Oduye), the mother of two young children, one is the daughter of her late master.
Enter the slave wheeler and dealer (Paul Giamatti). He separates mother from her children, though the buyer offers to buy the daughter, but Giamatti is unmoved. Eliza mourns horribly for her children. Solomon and Eliza are on the same plantation, owned by Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch). His wife (Liza J. Bennett), despite being a mother herself, shows no sympathy to Eliza over the loss of her children. "She'll get over them soon enough." Yet, she does not. She weeps openly and loudly, and nothing Solomon can say can get her to calm down. She is finally sold and Solomon does not stop it.
In the meanwhile, he chops wood and proves that he is started than the one overseer (Paul Dano). Solomon knows what he is doing but he stands up to Dano which does not end well. He is only as good as his instruction which leads Dano to pull out his whip but Solomon stands up for himself, fighting and whipping Dano himself. The viewer knows that this will not end well. And it doesn't. He is tied to a tree and nearly dies before Ford can rescue him. Though Ford is somewhat sympathetic, he knows that the overseers will be after Solomon, so Solomon is sold and his next chapter begins.
Epps (Michael Fassbender) is crazy. His wife (Sarah Paulson) is no better. They are nasty to each other as well but are crueler to the slaves. The only good thing about them is that they have no children, or if they do, God help those kids, they are never shown on screen. Here, Solomon picks cotton but never enough. Apparently, slaves are supposed to pick two hundred pounds per day. Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) picks over five hundred pounds per day. She is Master Epps's favorite and his wife knows it, and tortures her greatly, scratching her face so bad it leaves scars. He also takes advantage of her, but then, when she goes to get some soap as his wife denies her such luxuries, he goes to beat her, though he fails because he does care for her, in some sick, perverted way, so he asks Solomon to beat her which he does reluctantly though becomes more willing after the threat of Epps killing every Negro in sight in made real. Epps takes over in a brutal scene that better cause everyone to cringe.
Solomon has his own problems. He believes that he can trust this white overseer, who is forced to live life similar to a slave, Armsby (Garrett Dillahunt) and gives him some money and asks him to send a letter to his family in New York, but Armsby betrays him and turns him over to Master Epps, but Solomon manages to convince Epps that it is all a lie. Somehow, miraculously, Epps believes him, thank goodness.
Finally, a helping hand is tossed his way. Brad Pitt finally makes his entrance. He is a kind Canadian carpenter named Bass who chews Epps out when Epps asks about his well-being but doesn't offer his property anything to drink. Later, Solomon confides in him, telling him the truth and despite the risks involved, Bass decides that he will write some letters on his behalf. This time, he actually keeps his word.
Solomon is rescued though Epps fights for him, saying that his property cannot be taken from him.
The last scene is heart-wrenching and tear inducing. He is finally back in New York and his family is waiting for him. He apologizes for his appearance. His adult daughter, Margaret (now Devyn A. Tyler) is the first to greet him. She introduces her husband (Willo Jean-Bapiste) and their infant son, named after him, and lets Solomon hold him. She tells him that there is nothing to forgive. I cry. People clap.
This is an amazing film. It is difficult to watch but it shows that people cannot function under a sick system. And questions arise? Is Epps truly mentally ill? I think so, forcing his property up in the middle of the night, and watching them dance in his house, but his wife is no better, looking on as this happens, feeding everyone something special, except for Patsey, whom she despises. Also noted, Epps would pick Patsey over his wife in a heartbeat. Does Patsey like Solomon? This one can be debated for some time. She must think highly of him. She asks him to to kill her by drowning because she doesn't have the guts to do it herself. He refuses, knowing it will be the death of him, and he's almost certainly right. She is also devastated and throws herself at him when he leaves. But for the most part, Solomon stays loyal to his wife and she stays loyal to him though she must have long given up hope that he was still alive.
Another reason to see the film is the acting, realistic and gritty. Ejiofor is a force of nature, playing the violin and letting the audience read his mind on his face, showing every single emotion possible. Devastation in the beginning when the berry ink doesn't work to write his letter. His heart just breaks. Patsey's spirit breaks when she is beaten into submission. Fassbender plays a sick bastard like no other. All three should receive Oscar nominations and currently, Ejiofor is the one to beat in the Best Actor category. Yet, the vast majority of these characters are also horribly wrong because slavery is wrong, despite whatever means needed to justify it, like scripture reading and believing that they are property. Even Solomon says that Ford is nice under the circumstances. And he's right, under the circumstances Ford is kind and honorable and just, but owning slaves is still wrong because it is owning another person. And Ford still owns other people.
This film also is realistic, including the sets, accents and violence, showing America part of its past that it hopes to forget. Cinematography, editing and score are equally as brilliant.
But the saddest part? Sure, Solomon tried to bring his kidnappers to justice, but because of the laws at the time, he couldn't even testify against them and then when he died, no one was there to record it. Who knows when, where or how he died. (My mom said this.) His life does not deserve to be forgotten. Luckily, this film will make that hard to do. Grade: A

The Middle: Halloween IV: A Ghost Story

This was a great and hilarious episode.
First, to Axl (Charlie McDermott). He might be on the football team, but he's only a tiny (literally), little freshman. Sure, he may have been king at Orson High, but in college, he's on the bottom of the heap. He and the other freshman, Hutch (Alphonso McAuley) must deal with some hazing by the upper classmen. Whenever Axl gets a text from an upperclassman, he must hop on one foot. He must also do their laundry. Yikes. Worse, in order to get back his mojo, he opts to host a party (costume party, no less), but then he and Hutch aren't even allowed in because they are freshmen. Still, thanks to some crowd surfing, he and Hutch do join the party and hit it off with some girls, but then the seniors come into the room and cart them off and once again, duck tape them to the field goal post in the football field. This time, Axl's okay with it.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is being punished because he forgot to unload the dishwasher so Frankie (Patricia Heaton) made him go to a party. Yes, that's his punishment. He did not have a good time, though he does actually have a crush on a girl, Harper, who got boobs over the summer. He stared at her for a whole hour, so he's definitely on her radar. He, then, opts to chat with her online, with both Frankie and Mike (Neil Flynn) giving him advice, some of which he takes. Soon, Sue (Eden Sher) and Axl have joined him. This creates one of the best family scenes so far this season. It also ends happily with Harper agreeing to go to a Halloween dance with him. Brick goes as a bookmark, but then gets nervous and flushed while talking to Harper. The room literally started spinning. He also clawed her face while he went down (aka fainted). He then informs his parents that he must sleep in an upright position that night and they need to check his pupils every hour. He repeats that statement almost immediately. That scene is probably the funniest scene in the history of the show. I am still chuckling about it.
Sue is upset at how little spirit the wrestlerettes have, so they have a bonding sleepover, which doesn't last nearly long enough. They opt to have a seance and Sue firmly believes that she sees the actual Santa Maria and communicated with Christopher Columbus. She is telling everyone about it too, to Mike's dismay. They have a great conversation about it and Mike even tells the story of when he saw the ghost of his dead grandmother. Though he can describe the event in vivid detail, he believes that it was not real. Sue says that's why she must talk about the event because she does believe.
All-in-all, this episode was great, with some great family moments. Sure, some plots were odd, like the seance, but other moments were so good they made up for it. This is probably one of the strongest episodes so far this season. Also, I liked Hutch, I hope they keep him around. This family has the best chemistry on TV, here's looking at you Modern Family. Well, thank goodness this episode was good, there won't be another new episode for two more weeks, so I'll see you then. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Though this was a Halloween episode, it wasn't overly done which is good. Despite buying crappy candy, the Hecks still managed to eat most of it before trick-or-treat so Frankie and Mike hide in the laundry room while angry people bang on their door.
-When returning home, Brick responds saying that it looks like a pumpkin crime scene outside their house.
-Sue is a princess for Halloween, how appropriate.
-It's never a good idea to tell a girl you like that you had diarrhea. Yet, it somehow worked for Brick. Scary thought.
-How can Mike just shake off seeing the ghost of his dead grandmother?
-The girls really like the blow up palm tree and sand in Axl's room.
-Kenny still hasn't moved from his computer even with a rager going on.
-Jello shots were included at the party, realistic, but nothing too heavy. The Middle is really growing up.
-I would have really liked to have seen more of the bonding sleepover, considering the wrestlerettes are a weird bunch. Sigh. 
-What did Sue really see in her living room?