This show has a high concept and a disturbing one: what if the Axis Powers had won World War II? That would be pretty terrifying, you'd imagine. This show doesn't just imagine, it shows you.
The US is divided into three parts. The East Coast into the Midwest is part of the greater Nazi Reich while the Pacific Coast is a Japanese colony with a thin narrow strip of neutral zone in the center, in the area of the Rocky mountains.
Fortunately, this show is about a small group of resistance fighters, ones who gather newsreel films, which show alternate versions of the world, some showing the Allies winning the war, others showing Stalin winning, yet another showing one character shooting another. They are gathering these films for the man in the high castle, which (big, fat spoiler alert) turns out to be Hitler himself, so yes, there is no point to gathering these films.
Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) is given a film by accident, just before her sister is shot to death. She reluctantly takes it to Canon City, in the neutral zone to pass it on to the next person. Though she is ultimately successful, it is her boyfriend, Frank (Rupert Evans) who pays the ultimate price. His sister and her children are executed, the same way the Nazis heartlessly murdered millions of Jews during the Holocaust. Frank, for the record, is part Jewish because his grandfather was Jewish.
While she is in Canon City, she meets Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank) who claims to be part of the East Coast resistance, but really he is spy for Obergruppenfuhrer Smith (Rufus Sewell). Juliana is sort of torn between both of the men, especially after Joe helps her kill this guy who was trying to kill her.
The show also involves the Japanese Trade Minister (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) who along with his German counterpart, Rudolph Wegener (Carsten Norgaard), try to, well, it's hard to explain, but I believe it is to make the countries equal, so there will no longer be tension between them. Germany will trade secrets on a bomb to Japan, who is far behind Germany in technology. This fails as the Japanese prince is nearly assassinated and Frank is accused, though in the end, it is his best friend, Ed (DJ Qualls) who tries to take the fall for him.
It may not be easy to watch this show, and it does end oddly, with the Trade Minister meditating and opening his eyes to see the world like it really would have been, this show is still worth watching, though it veers off in directions I never saw coming and it does lose something once Juliana returns to San Francisco. But the scenery and sets are great and every little detail is thought out. The acting is also great. The characters, however, don't really care about saving the world, they are only trying to save their own skin. Joe lies, a lot, all because he is scared to die. Smith a firm supporter of Hitler and his methods, until his own son is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is basically told to kill him gently. This is a world where a second-opinion is not an option. Still, this show is worth watching, though it is far from easy to do so. The only flaw I have this the show is that once the characters have the films in hand, they manage to have a screen and projector on hand. And they know how to work the projector. Needless to say, I'm grateful that the Allies won the war. Grade: B+
Friday, January 29, 2016
Room (2015)
This film is based on a well-reviewed book. I have not read the book though I have heard that it is told from the child's point of view. The film is the same way.
Joy (Brie Larson) was a typical seventeen-year-old girl who ran track but she was too nice. She really was. An older man needed help finding his lost dog and just like that, she was kidnapped. This was the past. The film starts seven years after she was taken, on the morning of her son's birthday. Jack (Jacob Tremblay) is a force to be reckoned with. The shed is where he has spent his whole life, old Nick, that rat bastard (Sean Bridgers) built especially for them. He is nasty, only coming at night, bringing limited supplies to sustain his captives. The room contains a sink, tub, toilet and wardrobe, where Jack hides when Old Nick comes for his disgusting visits. Joy does everything she can to protect her son and she is fiercely protective. Though he is five, she still nurses him on occasion. It isn't until Old Nick cuts the power to the shed when Joy decides that Jack is old enough for the truth, that there is a whole wide world out there, not just what he sees on the TV. Killing Old Nick isn't a viable option because he is the only one who knows the code to the shielded shed. First, faking illness doesn't work so Joy urges him to fake death and rolls Jack up in the rug which makes Old Nick cart him away in the back of his truck, the same one that supposedly lead Joy to her currant fate. It was some tense moments but Jack does fall from the back of the truck but Old Nick sees this and tries to cart Jack back, but fortunately, a passer by insists on calling the police and eventually Jack helps the police find the shed which means that Joy is rescued.
Unfortunately, Joy has struggles in the real world, looking at old pictures from high school make her sick, as all of her friends would lead normal lives, nothing happened to them. Her parents (Joan Allen and William H. Macy) have divorced and her father lives far away, plus, he can't even look at Jack. Jack also has his struggles, not talking to anyone but his mother at first though he slowly starts to open up. However, it is an ill-fated interview, which Joy insisted on so she could have money to leave that sends her over the edge. The interviewer asks Joy that when Jack was born, why didn't she consider asking Old Nick to leave the baby at a hospital because then he at least would have had a normal life.
Joy may not have considered suicide while she was in captivity, but she does now. forcing her milk to finally dry up. And back to the hospital she goes, with Jack remaining with her mother and Nancy's boyfriend, Leo (Tom McCamus). Eventually, Joy does recover and is released from the hospital. Jack had his grandmother cut his long (overly long) hair, where he kept his strength, just as Sampson did, and have her give it to Joy. She tells him that, once again, he saved her life.
They do go back to visit the room again, once Jack's whole world. But now it seems so small and empty to him, he no longer misses it nearly as much as he once did. They can finally truly start to move on.
Though this is a great film, with realistic sets and great camera angles, truly showing the world from Jack's point of view, some parts just should have been more intense. And though Larson is brilliant and deserves the accolades that she is getting, she was right with what she said upon receiving her Golden Globe, she is only half the film, Tremblay is the other half and the fact that he was left off the Oscar nomination list is a crime. He was great and the film revolved around him. I felt cheated that he was not given the credit he deserved. I also felt that William H. Macy should have been given a chance to redeem himself as his character is horribly underdeveloped and not the strength his daughter needs. Fortunately, Allen is great, thank goodness. Allen sees Jack as the boy who saved her daughter, not proof of the hell her daughter went through. Big difference.
This should also be a film of redemption, though Joy didn't feel that way all the time, but eventually Jack got to love the real world and though Joy's life will never be normal, at least Jack's life has the chance and he loves her regardless of her mistakes. She's still his mother and she did the best she could. Sometimes, that is all that matters. Grade: A-
Joy (Brie Larson) was a typical seventeen-year-old girl who ran track but she was too nice. She really was. An older man needed help finding his lost dog and just like that, she was kidnapped. This was the past. The film starts seven years after she was taken, on the morning of her son's birthday. Jack (Jacob Tremblay) is a force to be reckoned with. The shed is where he has spent his whole life, old Nick, that rat bastard (Sean Bridgers) built especially for them. He is nasty, only coming at night, bringing limited supplies to sustain his captives. The room contains a sink, tub, toilet and wardrobe, where Jack hides when Old Nick comes for his disgusting visits. Joy does everything she can to protect her son and she is fiercely protective. Though he is five, she still nurses him on occasion. It isn't until Old Nick cuts the power to the shed when Joy decides that Jack is old enough for the truth, that there is a whole wide world out there, not just what he sees on the TV. Killing Old Nick isn't a viable option because he is the only one who knows the code to the shielded shed. First, faking illness doesn't work so Joy urges him to fake death and rolls Jack up in the rug which makes Old Nick cart him away in the back of his truck, the same one that supposedly lead Joy to her currant fate. It was some tense moments but Jack does fall from the back of the truck but Old Nick sees this and tries to cart Jack back, but fortunately, a passer by insists on calling the police and eventually Jack helps the police find the shed which means that Joy is rescued.
Unfortunately, Joy has struggles in the real world, looking at old pictures from high school make her sick, as all of her friends would lead normal lives, nothing happened to them. Her parents (Joan Allen and William H. Macy) have divorced and her father lives far away, plus, he can't even look at Jack. Jack also has his struggles, not talking to anyone but his mother at first though he slowly starts to open up. However, it is an ill-fated interview, which Joy insisted on so she could have money to leave that sends her over the edge. The interviewer asks Joy that when Jack was born, why didn't she consider asking Old Nick to leave the baby at a hospital because then he at least would have had a normal life.
Joy may not have considered suicide while she was in captivity, but she does now. forcing her milk to finally dry up. And back to the hospital she goes, with Jack remaining with her mother and Nancy's boyfriend, Leo (Tom McCamus). Eventually, Joy does recover and is released from the hospital. Jack had his grandmother cut his long (overly long) hair, where he kept his strength, just as Sampson did, and have her give it to Joy. She tells him that, once again, he saved her life.
They do go back to visit the room again, once Jack's whole world. But now it seems so small and empty to him, he no longer misses it nearly as much as he once did. They can finally truly start to move on.
Though this is a great film, with realistic sets and great camera angles, truly showing the world from Jack's point of view, some parts just should have been more intense. And though Larson is brilliant and deserves the accolades that she is getting, she was right with what she said upon receiving her Golden Globe, she is only half the film, Tremblay is the other half and the fact that he was left off the Oscar nomination list is a crime. He was great and the film revolved around him. I felt cheated that he was not given the credit he deserved. I also felt that William H. Macy should have been given a chance to redeem himself as his character is horribly underdeveloped and not the strength his daughter needs. Fortunately, Allen is great, thank goodness. Allen sees Jack as the boy who saved her daughter, not proof of the hell her daughter went through. Big difference.
This should also be a film of redemption, though Joy didn't feel that way all the time, but eventually Jack got to love the real world and though Joy's life will never be normal, at least Jack's life has the chance and he loves her regardless of her mistakes. She's still his mother and she did the best she could. Sometimes, that is all that matters. Grade: A-
Thursday, January 21, 2016
DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Pilot
Full disclosure: Even though I have known Hawkgirl since fourth grade, does not mean that I will automatically give this show a glowing review.
Okay, the show does have an all-star cast for a TV show on the CW. Arthur Darvill (from Doctor Who and Broadchurch fame) may only have third billing but he controls the show. His character, Rip Hunter, comes from the future to gather an all-star team to defeat this jerk in the future who is destroying the world and killing everyone for no good reason. The beginning is jumbled as Darvill flies around quickly in between cities and countries to force the superheroes against their will to do his bidding. Yeah, probably not the greatest move there, now everyone is reluctant to go with you. That was a great plan.
Of course everyone agrees to meet Rip at the designated meeting place, though Dr. Martin Stein (top billed Victor Garber) does have to drug his young charge, twenty-year-old auto mechanic Jay Jackson (Franz Drameh). Even the criminals Captain Cold and Heat Wave (Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell) decide that becoming a legend is something amazing. They also briefly discuss why they became criminals in the first place, because they love money and hate work. And Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee) loves knowing that she can beat her boyfriend, Hawkboy (Falk Hentschel). Things are going to get complicated.
The first destination on the voyage is 1975 to meet this professor who has followed the lives of Hawkgirl and Hawkboy. The backstory of the constantly reincarnated lovers is interesting. Originally, Hawkgirl was married to the evil jerkface, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) but didn't love him so she and her lover, Hawkboy, were murdered and then something happened so they got the powers of a hawk. Now, the professor reveals that in a previous life, they were his parents but they have no memory of him. Yikes, that must suck.
Needless to say, this lovely family moment is cut short as the impressive time travel ship is being attacked by one of Vandal's goons and a nasty blood bath ensues. Fortunately, those who abandoned ship to drink at a seedy bar arrive back there just in time, having just finished a fight at the bar, nearly destroying the place.
Now, they have a new destination, but it isn't specific, Hunter just wants to get out of there and who can blame him? But the damage has been done, the professor is badly injured and has internal bleeding. But his parents wouldn't leave him though he is destined to die within the day. But they may have sent him to his death. And they do, he dies and Hawkgirl does blame no one but herself.
As the ship stabilizes, the truth is revealed. Rip isn't acting on official duties, sure he is a time lord but he commandeered the ship without permission all because Vandal murdered his family (in the future, of course). It doesn't matter that he wasn't supposed to fall in love or procreate, but he swears that he will get his just revenge on Vandal and won't rest until he does so. And that's a good thing as Vandal has this bomb left over from World War II, double yikes.
Okay, there are other characters, though they didn't have that much to do in this episode and weren't truly vital to the plot, but they have the potential to be super cool. Brandon Routh is this superhero called The Atom and then there is the assassin who has also died and come back to life, White Canary (Caity Lotz). She beats up a guy at the bar and Heat Wave is pleased.
This is different than any other show I've watched and it is far from my cup of tea and I have never seen any of the previous shows, Arrow and The Flash, but this show was pretty good though it did have a lot of ground to cover and more than enough characters, but each character (except for the two criminals) does have an unique personality and some great backstory that can be explained further in later episodes. The mechanics and special effects are pretty good, for a TV show but would be cheesy and cheaply made for a feature film. And I'm glad to say that the acting is good, not spectacular but certainly better than just average. Yes, it was interesting to see someone I've known since fourth grade and have shared the stage with, back in high school, on the TV screen and she was very good, as everyone else was. In fact, her character was probably the most developed in this pilot episode. Darvill is also interesting as now he is the Doctor Who character which is just weird, but he does great. I hope we learn more about the other characters soon, especially young Jackson.
However, though this was a good show, and I will continue to DVR it, I would prefer to watch my normal comedies because I would rather laugh than have to pay attention to every little detail. Grade: B
Okay, the show does have an all-star cast for a TV show on the CW. Arthur Darvill (from Doctor Who and Broadchurch fame) may only have third billing but he controls the show. His character, Rip Hunter, comes from the future to gather an all-star team to defeat this jerk in the future who is destroying the world and killing everyone for no good reason. The beginning is jumbled as Darvill flies around quickly in between cities and countries to force the superheroes against their will to do his bidding. Yeah, probably not the greatest move there, now everyone is reluctant to go with you. That was a great plan.
Of course everyone agrees to meet Rip at the designated meeting place, though Dr. Martin Stein (top billed Victor Garber) does have to drug his young charge, twenty-year-old auto mechanic Jay Jackson (Franz Drameh). Even the criminals Captain Cold and Heat Wave (Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell) decide that becoming a legend is something amazing. They also briefly discuss why they became criminals in the first place, because they love money and hate work. And Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee) loves knowing that she can beat her boyfriend, Hawkboy (Falk Hentschel). Things are going to get complicated.
The first destination on the voyage is 1975 to meet this professor who has followed the lives of Hawkgirl and Hawkboy. The backstory of the constantly reincarnated lovers is interesting. Originally, Hawkgirl was married to the evil jerkface, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) but didn't love him so she and her lover, Hawkboy, were murdered and then something happened so they got the powers of a hawk. Now, the professor reveals that in a previous life, they were his parents but they have no memory of him. Yikes, that must suck.
Needless to say, this lovely family moment is cut short as the impressive time travel ship is being attacked by one of Vandal's goons and a nasty blood bath ensues. Fortunately, those who abandoned ship to drink at a seedy bar arrive back there just in time, having just finished a fight at the bar, nearly destroying the place.
Now, they have a new destination, but it isn't specific, Hunter just wants to get out of there and who can blame him? But the damage has been done, the professor is badly injured and has internal bleeding. But his parents wouldn't leave him though he is destined to die within the day. But they may have sent him to his death. And they do, he dies and Hawkgirl does blame no one but herself.
As the ship stabilizes, the truth is revealed. Rip isn't acting on official duties, sure he is a time lord but he commandeered the ship without permission all because Vandal murdered his family (in the future, of course). It doesn't matter that he wasn't supposed to fall in love or procreate, but he swears that he will get his just revenge on Vandal and won't rest until he does so. And that's a good thing as Vandal has this bomb left over from World War II, double yikes.
Okay, there are other characters, though they didn't have that much to do in this episode and weren't truly vital to the plot, but they have the potential to be super cool. Brandon Routh is this superhero called The Atom and then there is the assassin who has also died and come back to life, White Canary (Caity Lotz). She beats up a guy at the bar and Heat Wave is pleased.
This is different than any other show I've watched and it is far from my cup of tea and I have never seen any of the previous shows, Arrow and The Flash, but this show was pretty good though it did have a lot of ground to cover and more than enough characters, but each character (except for the two criminals) does have an unique personality and some great backstory that can be explained further in later episodes. The mechanics and special effects are pretty good, for a TV show but would be cheesy and cheaply made for a feature film. And I'm glad to say that the acting is good, not spectacular but certainly better than just average. Yes, it was interesting to see someone I've known since fourth grade and have shared the stage with, back in high school, on the TV screen and she was very good, as everyone else was. In fact, her character was probably the most developed in this pilot episode. Darvill is also interesting as now he is the Doctor Who character which is just weird, but he does great. I hope we learn more about the other characters soon, especially young Jackson.
However, though this was a good show, and I will continue to DVR it, I would prefer to watch my normal comedies because I would rather laugh than have to pay attention to every little detail. Grade: B
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
The Middle: Floating 50
Well, it has finally happened. The Hecks turn the car around to go back for some expensive pizza Frankie (Patricia Heaton) just had to have.
Frankie's fiftieth birthday was two months ago but the family floated her celebration, because, let's face it, they float everything and rarely get around to circling back to it. Now, Frankie wants some pizza as church is over but Mike (Neil Flynn) forgets that he leaves the pizza on the roof of the car. Frankie threw him all off his routine because she insisted on having pineapple on a quarter of the pizza. After plunking down twenty-four dollars for the pie, oh yeah, they are turning around for the pizza only to find it on the side of the road being picked apart by crows.
For once, Mike feels bad about how he has treated Frankie and decides to enlist the help of his useless sons to help him throw her a surprise party. Axl (Charlie McDermott) even manages to order a party sub, six whole feet. Mike gets all of her friends to show up, and even Sue miraculously doesn't blow the news, though she is the worst liar in the whole world. But Frankie decides to surprise Sue instead and has driven up to visit her at college because she is overwhelmed with studying. Not a good idea as the snow has started falling. So Frankie is snowed in at Sue's dorm while her guests are ravenous. Needless to say, Mike has to spill the beans because he forgot a vital part of the surprise party was to have someone keep track of the birthday person. Frankie is thrilled that Mike was so kind and considerate (for him, at least). Sue immediately texts her new bestie, Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) brings her some snacks found in the vending machine but doesn't light the candle because it isn't allowed. Frankie even has no shame and tells Mike she leaves him via Skype and Mike feigns embarrassment as all the other people can hear him.
Back in collegeland, Sue (Eden Sher) has also lost something. While folding up her laundry, she notices that she is missing a sock. I've been there, who hasn't. But this is Sue. She doesn't take things and let them wash over her. She puts up a sign telling others that if her sock is found, let her room and lists her room number. However, the others in her dorm think this is so funny and pock fun at her simple sign. This forces her to get dirty and dig behind the dryers to see if it fell back there. That doesn't go well but she finds some mystery socks which she tacks to her cork board.
Of course, this plot line fizzles out before it is finished, to make room for Frankie's party, just as things should be. Sue doesn't find her socks and the socks she finds remain in her room. But it doesn't matter, it is just one sock, Frankie's birthday is much more important and Sue realizes that.
Now, this is far from a perfect episode, though it was especially hilarious in parts, but the two subplots were extremely small and underdeveloped and never really finished, but at least Mike and Frankie were great and this showed how they make their unconventional marriage work. to the dismay of others. She appreciated that he had made the effort and despite everything, it was still on of her top five birthdays, which is just shocking. I was glad that she was happy instead of devastated, which could have easily happened. Still, each actor did what they have done and they stayed with what that character normally did, but at least Mike tried to consider Frankie's feelings for a change and that is something to be forgotten. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) does have his own plot line involving him tossing a piece of paper with something he can't do into a dirt hole at school. He declares that he can't do sports and Coach Babbit (Brooke Dillman) makes him her pet project but that goes horribly wrong.
-Brick smells or licks various balls and loves the air pump for the basketball.
-In the end, Babbitt decides that fencing will be what he excels at but that also ends with disaster. She has an eye patch and forces him to dig up his scrap of paper so they can just move on. Thank goodness.
-Brick is also quite bad at small talk, bringing up the inevitable idea of death to one of his parent's friends.
-Frankie forgot about getting Brick confirmed so Axl brings up the idea of Brick going to hell and Brick urges Mike to drive a little slower, just in case.
-Axl did order the sub and managed to order her favorite, turkey.
-Less is more for the decorations, they have only two balloons. And no tablecloth.
-There are no sides, so Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) raids the pantry and decorates a box into a beautiful cake as they didn't have the ingredients for macaroni and cheese.
-Spinach on pizza is un-American, just saying.
-Mike fixes the broken porch light for Frankie's birthday present. She is elated. It take so little to make her happy.
-I am surprised that Mike knew how to video call Frankie, but I'll suspend my belief for the sake of cuteness.
Frankie's fiftieth birthday was two months ago but the family floated her celebration, because, let's face it, they float everything and rarely get around to circling back to it. Now, Frankie wants some pizza as church is over but Mike (Neil Flynn) forgets that he leaves the pizza on the roof of the car. Frankie threw him all off his routine because she insisted on having pineapple on a quarter of the pizza. After plunking down twenty-four dollars for the pie, oh yeah, they are turning around for the pizza only to find it on the side of the road being picked apart by crows.
For once, Mike feels bad about how he has treated Frankie and decides to enlist the help of his useless sons to help him throw her a surprise party. Axl (Charlie McDermott) even manages to order a party sub, six whole feet. Mike gets all of her friends to show up, and even Sue miraculously doesn't blow the news, though she is the worst liar in the whole world. But Frankie decides to surprise Sue instead and has driven up to visit her at college because she is overwhelmed with studying. Not a good idea as the snow has started falling. So Frankie is snowed in at Sue's dorm while her guests are ravenous. Needless to say, Mike has to spill the beans because he forgot a vital part of the surprise party was to have someone keep track of the birthday person. Frankie is thrilled that Mike was so kind and considerate (for him, at least). Sue immediately texts her new bestie, Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) brings her some snacks found in the vending machine but doesn't light the candle because it isn't allowed. Frankie even has no shame and tells Mike she leaves him via Skype and Mike feigns embarrassment as all the other people can hear him.
Back in collegeland, Sue (Eden Sher) has also lost something. While folding up her laundry, she notices that she is missing a sock. I've been there, who hasn't. But this is Sue. She doesn't take things and let them wash over her. She puts up a sign telling others that if her sock is found, let her room and lists her room number. However, the others in her dorm think this is so funny and pock fun at her simple sign. This forces her to get dirty and dig behind the dryers to see if it fell back there. That doesn't go well but she finds some mystery socks which she tacks to her cork board.
Of course, this plot line fizzles out before it is finished, to make room for Frankie's party, just as things should be. Sue doesn't find her socks and the socks she finds remain in her room. But it doesn't matter, it is just one sock, Frankie's birthday is much more important and Sue realizes that.
Now, this is far from a perfect episode, though it was especially hilarious in parts, but the two subplots were extremely small and underdeveloped and never really finished, but at least Mike and Frankie were great and this showed how they make their unconventional marriage work. to the dismay of others. She appreciated that he had made the effort and despite everything, it was still on of her top five birthdays, which is just shocking. I was glad that she was happy instead of devastated, which could have easily happened. Still, each actor did what they have done and they stayed with what that character normally did, but at least Mike tried to consider Frankie's feelings for a change and that is something to be forgotten. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) does have his own plot line involving him tossing a piece of paper with something he can't do into a dirt hole at school. He declares that he can't do sports and Coach Babbit (Brooke Dillman) makes him her pet project but that goes horribly wrong.
-Brick smells or licks various balls and loves the air pump for the basketball.
-In the end, Babbitt decides that fencing will be what he excels at but that also ends with disaster. She has an eye patch and forces him to dig up his scrap of paper so they can just move on. Thank goodness.
-Brick is also quite bad at small talk, bringing up the inevitable idea of death to one of his parent's friends.
-Frankie forgot about getting Brick confirmed so Axl brings up the idea of Brick going to hell and Brick urges Mike to drive a little slower, just in case.
-Axl did order the sub and managed to order her favorite, turkey.
-Less is more for the decorations, they have only two balloons. And no tablecloth.
-There are no sides, so Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) raids the pantry and decorates a box into a beautiful cake as they didn't have the ingredients for macaroni and cheese.
-Spinach on pizza is un-American, just saying.
-Mike fixes the broken porch light for Frankie's birthday present. She is elated. It take so little to make her happy.
-I am surprised that Mike knew how to video call Frankie, but I'll suspend my belief for the sake of cuteness.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Mercy Street: Pilot
This is something new for Masterpiece Theater. A show set in America and with American actors.
It is 1862 and the Civil War is all that is talked about but the characters are naive and believe that it will end soon, in only a matter of weeks, months at the most.
Mary Phinney (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a young widow, with some nursing training who is desperate to help aid wounded soldiers, but only those on the union side. She immediately clashes heads with Dr. Foster (Josh Radnor), a Maryland surgeon who grew up with slaves and worked along side them.
Though Nurse Mary is clearly the lead and probably most-developed character, there are a lot of characters, on both sides of the war and some African Americans including, one (McKinley Belcher II) whom worked under a physician in Philadelphia and if he was allowed, he could save many lives.
Now, the plot is complicated, in addition to having those on both sides of the war, characters are on opposite sides of how to treat the injured, with different techniques, some more controversial than others and then there is who to treat first.
While I have no problem with the accuracy of the show, I don't understand how Nurse Mary would know that a Confederate soldier shot a Union soldier in cold blood after the Union guy tossed his weapon aside and it wasn't a good idea for a doctor who has a patient on the table to abandon that person to see another guy in pain when Nurse Mary had it under control with the main assistant of the African American orderly. And why is Mary a nurse when she gets squeamish around the sight and smell of blood. Okay, rant over.
The show is set in Alexandria Virginia and the Union has taken over a hotel owned by the Green family, some of the members include actors Gary Cole and AnnaSophia Robb, while it is the oldest daughter (Hannah James) decides that she should be a nurse, but she will have to learn that her dress isn't the most important thing ever.
Okay, I guess I'll tell you my predictions. I believe that Mary and Dr. Foster will end up together as long as Dr. Foster doesn't have a drug addiction as he is looking at that syringe closely at the end of the episode. And at least one of the sweethearts of the Green daughters will die.
I will continue watching the show as Masterpiece has rarely created a show I haven't liked. Grade: B+
It is 1862 and the Civil War is all that is talked about but the characters are naive and believe that it will end soon, in only a matter of weeks, months at the most.
Mary Phinney (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a young widow, with some nursing training who is desperate to help aid wounded soldiers, but only those on the union side. She immediately clashes heads with Dr. Foster (Josh Radnor), a Maryland surgeon who grew up with slaves and worked along side them.
Though Nurse Mary is clearly the lead and probably most-developed character, there are a lot of characters, on both sides of the war and some African Americans including, one (McKinley Belcher II) whom worked under a physician in Philadelphia and if he was allowed, he could save many lives.
Now, the plot is complicated, in addition to having those on both sides of the war, characters are on opposite sides of how to treat the injured, with different techniques, some more controversial than others and then there is who to treat first.
While I have no problem with the accuracy of the show, I don't understand how Nurse Mary would know that a Confederate soldier shot a Union soldier in cold blood after the Union guy tossed his weapon aside and it wasn't a good idea for a doctor who has a patient on the table to abandon that person to see another guy in pain when Nurse Mary had it under control with the main assistant of the African American orderly. And why is Mary a nurse when she gets squeamish around the sight and smell of blood. Okay, rant over.
The show is set in Alexandria Virginia and the Union has taken over a hotel owned by the Green family, some of the members include actors Gary Cole and AnnaSophia Robb, while it is the oldest daughter (Hannah James) decides that she should be a nurse, but she will have to learn that her dress isn't the most important thing ever.
Okay, I guess I'll tell you my predictions. I believe that Mary and Dr. Foster will end up together as long as Dr. Foster doesn't have a drug addiction as he is looking at that syringe closely at the end of the episode. And at least one of the sweethearts of the Green daughters will die.
I will continue watching the show as Masterpiece has rarely created a show I haven't liked. Grade: B+
Saturday, January 16, 2016
The Big Short (2015)
This was a fascinating film, unlike any other that has been released recently.
It begins with narration by Ryan Gosling who portrays banker Jared Vennett in the film and uses the fourth wall often throughout, not just by him but also by other characters. In addition, banking terms are explained using analogies with famous actors in them, like Margot Robbie in a bubble bath, yeah, crazy stuff like that.
After we are given some background information on the American housing market, the film picks up speed in 2005 with Dr. Michael Burry (Christian Bale) doing something crazy, betting against the weak bonds holding up the fragile housing market. Everyone thinks he is crazy, except for the fact that he isn't. At first, he is, as he loses money and his bosses are beyond furious at him, but by the end, his business that he works for is up four hundred plus percent.
Even depressed wall street banker Mark Baum (Steve Carell) catches wind and takes advantage, with his cynical crew. But he is devastated at how the American economy suffered in the end, with citizens bailing out the banks, who learned nothing from their past mistakes.
There are also the young investors, Charlie and Jamie (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock) who smell trouble but are too young and inexperienced to get anywhere with their discovery and have to enlist a former wall street broker, Ben Rickett (Brad Pitt) to help them bet against the funds known as AA, when the youngsters make this bet, they are thrilled while Ben is upset as they just bet against the American economy. Another interesting fact, for every one percent of unemployment, forty thousand people die.
Needless to say, this film shows how foolish some people can be, like giving loans to those who have nothing to back up the money, not even jobs. And even if people are paying their rent, it doesn't mean the landlord is paying the mortgage so many innocent Americans suffer.
The feel of the film is interesting, with salty language throughout and Vennett treats his assistant poorly while others have no faith in the housing market. Bale and Carell are the most fully formed characters with odd quirks and abrasive personalities. Each deliver a brilliant performance, but only Bale walked away with an Academy Award nomination. Neither character had great people skills and were rude to strangers and family members alike. But at least Carell earned some sympathy as he couldn't save his own brother from committing suicide.
Now, I did have some issues with the film, though the acting wasn't one of them. I wasn't bothered by the fact that it was weird, breaking typical conventions by acknowledging the presence of a camera. Despite the film doing a great job of explaining how the economy worked, with the analogies and subtitles explaining everything, including who the characters were, it was still confusing at times keeping track of what parts of the fragile system each group of main characters was betting against and how they would benefit in the end. Also, how is the whole system connected because it was implied that Baum would ultimately be betting against his own company.
That being said, it was still unbelievably funny but also sad at how our system works because it shouldn't work and is fraudulent, just as Burry believed to be the case in the film, as he can't be wrong.
Also, pay attention for some cameos in the film. Melissa Leo plays a woman who works for bank rating company and knows that she is giving banks false ratings because she is paid to do so. One of Mark's co-workers, Cathy (Adepero Oduye), as she gives him some important information, plus she's one of the few minorities in the film, a tragedy in itself.
With tight editing and a quick moving story line, the film didn't feel over two hours long, which is always welcome. However, it will not inspire you to become a wall street banker. Grade: A-
It begins with narration by Ryan Gosling who portrays banker Jared Vennett in the film and uses the fourth wall often throughout, not just by him but also by other characters. In addition, banking terms are explained using analogies with famous actors in them, like Margot Robbie in a bubble bath, yeah, crazy stuff like that.
After we are given some background information on the American housing market, the film picks up speed in 2005 with Dr. Michael Burry (Christian Bale) doing something crazy, betting against the weak bonds holding up the fragile housing market. Everyone thinks he is crazy, except for the fact that he isn't. At first, he is, as he loses money and his bosses are beyond furious at him, but by the end, his business that he works for is up four hundred plus percent.
Even depressed wall street banker Mark Baum (Steve Carell) catches wind and takes advantage, with his cynical crew. But he is devastated at how the American economy suffered in the end, with citizens bailing out the banks, who learned nothing from their past mistakes.
There are also the young investors, Charlie and Jamie (John Magaro and Finn Wittrock) who smell trouble but are too young and inexperienced to get anywhere with their discovery and have to enlist a former wall street broker, Ben Rickett (Brad Pitt) to help them bet against the funds known as AA, when the youngsters make this bet, they are thrilled while Ben is upset as they just bet against the American economy. Another interesting fact, for every one percent of unemployment, forty thousand people die.
Needless to say, this film shows how foolish some people can be, like giving loans to those who have nothing to back up the money, not even jobs. And even if people are paying their rent, it doesn't mean the landlord is paying the mortgage so many innocent Americans suffer.
The feel of the film is interesting, with salty language throughout and Vennett treats his assistant poorly while others have no faith in the housing market. Bale and Carell are the most fully formed characters with odd quirks and abrasive personalities. Each deliver a brilliant performance, but only Bale walked away with an Academy Award nomination. Neither character had great people skills and were rude to strangers and family members alike. But at least Carell earned some sympathy as he couldn't save his own brother from committing suicide.
Now, I did have some issues with the film, though the acting wasn't one of them. I wasn't bothered by the fact that it was weird, breaking typical conventions by acknowledging the presence of a camera. Despite the film doing a great job of explaining how the economy worked, with the analogies and subtitles explaining everything, including who the characters were, it was still confusing at times keeping track of what parts of the fragile system each group of main characters was betting against and how they would benefit in the end. Also, how is the whole system connected because it was implied that Baum would ultimately be betting against his own company.
That being said, it was still unbelievably funny but also sad at how our system works because it shouldn't work and is fraudulent, just as Burry believed to be the case in the film, as he can't be wrong.
Also, pay attention for some cameos in the film. Melissa Leo plays a woman who works for bank rating company and knows that she is giving banks false ratings because she is paid to do so. One of Mark's co-workers, Cathy (Adepero Oduye), as she gives him some important information, plus she's one of the few minorities in the film, a tragedy in itself.
With tight editing and a quick moving story line, the film didn't feel over two hours long, which is always welcome. However, it will not inspire you to become a wall street banker. Grade: A-
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
The Middle: Birds of a Feather
Well, changes are acomin' in the Heck family. Axl (Charlie McDermott) has begun his internship and finds that it sucks while Sue (Eden Sher) is finally forced to think outside the box and Brick's (Atticus Shaffer's) relationship with Cindy (Casey Burke) has hit a massive thorn. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) has started working for Smile Superstars has begun and it is not going well at all.
Because of the re-model, the dentist office has no separate rooms which can't be legal and Frankie uses her tablet to go back and forth between patients. It must be horribly confusing, but at least the uniforms are cute.
Axl's internship is horrible. His boss (Alan Ruck) doesn't care about Axl's name and Axl doesn't feel like he is reaching his full potential by taking coffee orders, answering phones and taking out the trash. He is thoroughly miserable and Frankie doesn't have much sympathy for him, while she lies about how fulfilling her own job is. His life only gets worse when he forgets the tickets to his boss's dry cleaning and is late to the vets and thus must bring home the parrot whom belongs to his boss. And, yes, it gets better. Axl will need to rub ointment on Marshmallow's butt every two hours, but then the poor bird flies away.
In the meantime, Sue is forced to dig deeper about the precarious situation in the Middle East and not just sprinkle love over the troubled countries to figure things out and not spit back facts at her professor. She tries, she really does, but it just doesn't work. She loves looking on the bright side of things and seeing only the good in people. She isn't cynical like Professor Grant (Josh Cooke) and argues with him over this in easily the most awkward argument ever, but he's glad because his point has finally been made. She's thinking outside the box and getting angry and will finally look beyond the unicorns and rainbows, though that will still occupy the majority of her thoughts.
Now, Mike (Neil Flynn) is completely taken aback when Cindy shows up at the house and wants to see him, not Brick. She calmly informs him that she has kissed another boy and that he must tell Brick. Needless to say this doesn't go well. Apparently, their relationship doesn't have much depth. They don't talk as Brick is usually reading. And when Mike finally does tell him, Brick freaks out and wants to know more information. Mike does not get involved anymore but does have a heart to heart and says that girls care more about emotions and only a little bit about what they actually say. Despite Mike encouraging him that there are a lot of other fish in the ocean, he decides that it is easier to merely pay her ten bucks to never do that again.
Meanwhile, back in Frankie's world, Mike gets her to understand that both she and Axl are dreamers and probably always will be. They both have big dreams and complain when things don't go their way. They end the episode with both of them laying on the couch and eating ice cream dreaming about having their own ice cream shop one day.
Despite cramming in a lot of plot lines, nearly four in one tiny episode, each was quite good though they didn't have room to breath, but some of the guest stars still have their moments to shine despite everything. Axl may not be happy but he has to understand that he won't be an intern forever. Life does get better. And dreams are always important to have, but you must keep them in check. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Cindy is upset when Mike doesn't talk to Brick in a timely fashion, she gets angry and kicks his car.
-Brick likes that she is unpredictable. I can't believe that.
-When Frankie begs for a foot rub, Mike does oblige, but only after putting the afghan over her feet first.
-Mike doesn't complain about his work even though a machine ran over his feet and now his toes are black. Icky.
-Axl has no paper so he wrote down the coffee order so he writes on his hand and all over his chest.
-Both he and Frankie pick out the almond nuts out of the ice cream because they can't take all the work of chewing.
-Sue even thinks her professor is a little bit attractive and he barely bats an eye. They already argue like an old married couple but please, please don't let them get together that would just be the worst.
-The girl Mike liked before Frankie, Debbie Sullivan, would wear jingle bells in her hair around Christmastime. Okay, whatever you need.
-Also, Mike, for the record, Brick is in eighth grade, not sixth or seventh.
-Axl gets his boss the wrong lunch and he dumps it in the trash as Axl is changing the trash bags.
-Mike explains that the stress of the job is what makes him drink.
-Axl, next time, please put the orange juice back in the fridge.
-Frankie's job still includes dance breaks which is extremely awkward and annoying to the customers.
-Orson is also a town who needs and uses coupons. No wonder her job is so busy.
Because of the re-model, the dentist office has no separate rooms which can't be legal and Frankie uses her tablet to go back and forth between patients. It must be horribly confusing, but at least the uniforms are cute.
Axl's internship is horrible. His boss (Alan Ruck) doesn't care about Axl's name and Axl doesn't feel like he is reaching his full potential by taking coffee orders, answering phones and taking out the trash. He is thoroughly miserable and Frankie doesn't have much sympathy for him, while she lies about how fulfilling her own job is. His life only gets worse when he forgets the tickets to his boss's dry cleaning and is late to the vets and thus must bring home the parrot whom belongs to his boss. And, yes, it gets better. Axl will need to rub ointment on Marshmallow's butt every two hours, but then the poor bird flies away.
In the meantime, Sue is forced to dig deeper about the precarious situation in the Middle East and not just sprinkle love over the troubled countries to figure things out and not spit back facts at her professor. She tries, she really does, but it just doesn't work. She loves looking on the bright side of things and seeing only the good in people. She isn't cynical like Professor Grant (Josh Cooke) and argues with him over this in easily the most awkward argument ever, but he's glad because his point has finally been made. She's thinking outside the box and getting angry and will finally look beyond the unicorns and rainbows, though that will still occupy the majority of her thoughts.
Now, Mike (Neil Flynn) is completely taken aback when Cindy shows up at the house and wants to see him, not Brick. She calmly informs him that she has kissed another boy and that he must tell Brick. Needless to say this doesn't go well. Apparently, their relationship doesn't have much depth. They don't talk as Brick is usually reading. And when Mike finally does tell him, Brick freaks out and wants to know more information. Mike does not get involved anymore but does have a heart to heart and says that girls care more about emotions and only a little bit about what they actually say. Despite Mike encouraging him that there are a lot of other fish in the ocean, he decides that it is easier to merely pay her ten bucks to never do that again.
Meanwhile, back in Frankie's world, Mike gets her to understand that both she and Axl are dreamers and probably always will be. They both have big dreams and complain when things don't go their way. They end the episode with both of them laying on the couch and eating ice cream dreaming about having their own ice cream shop one day.
Despite cramming in a lot of plot lines, nearly four in one tiny episode, each was quite good though they didn't have room to breath, but some of the guest stars still have their moments to shine despite everything. Axl may not be happy but he has to understand that he won't be an intern forever. Life does get better. And dreams are always important to have, but you must keep them in check. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Cindy is upset when Mike doesn't talk to Brick in a timely fashion, she gets angry and kicks his car.
-Brick likes that she is unpredictable. I can't believe that.
-When Frankie begs for a foot rub, Mike does oblige, but only after putting the afghan over her feet first.
-Mike doesn't complain about his work even though a machine ran over his feet and now his toes are black. Icky.
-Axl has no paper so he wrote down the coffee order so he writes on his hand and all over his chest.
-Both he and Frankie pick out the almond nuts out of the ice cream because they can't take all the work of chewing.
-Sue even thinks her professor is a little bit attractive and he barely bats an eye. They already argue like an old married couple but please, please don't let them get together that would just be the worst.
-The girl Mike liked before Frankie, Debbie Sullivan, would wear jingle bells in her hair around Christmastime. Okay, whatever you need.
-Also, Mike, for the record, Brick is in eighth grade, not sixth or seventh.
-Axl gets his boss the wrong lunch and he dumps it in the trash as Axl is changing the trash bags.
-Mike explains that the stress of the job is what makes him drink.
-Axl, next time, please put the orange juice back in the fridge.
-Frankie's job still includes dance breaks which is extremely awkward and annoying to the customers.
-Orson is also a town who needs and uses coupons. No wonder her job is so busy.
Oscar Wish List 2015
Okay, so the Oscar nominations are tomorrow morning. Boy, did they sneak up on me. Yikes.
I would love to see Saiorse Ronan, Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams get nominations for their work in Brooklyn and Spotlight, respectively, but I know that won't happen. Keaton and Ruffalo will, unfortunately, cancel each other out in the best film of the year by far. Though I know it won't happen, I wouldn't mind seeing Emory Cohen get a nomination, but he won't. All the film's praise is going to Saoirse Ronan, perhaps rightly so. Sylvester Stallone (for Creed) will get nominated and he was very good in an overrated film. Though I love Michael B. Jordan, he just wasn't good enough to earn a nomination, despite getting beaten up several times. Having seen very few films, my pick for best actor is Matt Damon in the superb The Martian. Another good film is Bridge of Spies and at least Mark Rylance will get a nomination, thank goodness, that film doesn't deserve to be overlooked. Honestly, I'd be okay with Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens getting a nomination for Best Picture, though that probably also won't happen. I really need to see more films.
I would love to see Saiorse Ronan, Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams get nominations for their work in Brooklyn and Spotlight, respectively, but I know that won't happen. Keaton and Ruffalo will, unfortunately, cancel each other out in the best film of the year by far. Though I know it won't happen, I wouldn't mind seeing Emory Cohen get a nomination, but he won't. All the film's praise is going to Saoirse Ronan, perhaps rightly so. Sylvester Stallone (for Creed) will get nominated and he was very good in an overrated film. Though I love Michael B. Jordan, he just wasn't good enough to earn a nomination, despite getting beaten up several times. Having seen very few films, my pick for best actor is Matt Damon in the superb The Martian. Another good film is Bridge of Spies and at least Mark Rylance will get a nomination, thank goodness, that film doesn't deserve to be overlooked. Honestly, I'd be okay with Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens getting a nomination for Best Picture, though that probably also won't happen. I really need to see more films.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
The Middle: The Rush
It is a new year in the Heck household. Axl (Charlie McDermott) is looking forward to his internship where he believes he will be running a company. In the meantime, Mike (Neil Flynn) hires him to help with the baby diapers at a baby convention but runs into trouble immediately. His business has absolutely no presence on social media and that upsets people. All Axl has to do is press a couple of buttons and voila, Mike has a twitter account. He delights in his two followers and he hasn't even twittered anything. Yet. But when he does, it doesn't turn out well. He attacks his haters back on the teams inside his diapers and things get ugly quickly. He doesn't understand how instantly things could go viral and that though his followers add up, they aren't fans. They just want to see the twitter war and how that turns out. Needless to say, the phone starts ringing off the hook and Mike doesn't answer them, finally unplugging the phone. Mike finally understands how important the social media is and needs to learn more about it. And Mike is genuinely proud when Axl does get the internship at his old job, Little Betty snacks though Axl's position will be higher than Mike's delivery position.
Sue's (Eden Sher's) battle is much bigger. She wants to join a sorority, but hasn't done much of anything interesting. She hasn't traveled or won medals in something unique like equestrian competitions, as the girl who always sits next to her has, Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla). She does this on purpose and not to bring Sue down but because Sue is so funny, Lexie loves Sue's funny stories including the one where the Hecks get to a hotel and pooh is already in the toilet. It is like a mystery. Despite everything, two sororities do actually have interest in Sue while everyone is interested in Lexie, though ultimately, the end results are the same: neither make anything. Lexie is beyond devastated while Sue takes everything in stride. The sorority isn't going to make Sue a better person, she wants to make people better around her. She assures Lexie that things will get better, after all Sue is the expert in rejection.
In the little third plot line, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is plenty upset when Brick (Atticus Shaffer) buys a pair of pants without her. She can't believe her baby is growing up without her. Sure, she complains constantly about going shopping with Brick but now that opportunity is behind her, she just doesn't want to let go. While she tries to cling to the past, Mike is okay with the kids growing up and leaving them behind, after all, that was the plan. Brick finally decides that they will go bowling though he insists on bringing his one friend, Troy (Jovan Armand) with him so Frankie didn't have much of a role, but she savors it, as much as Frankie savors anything. Frankie knows that Brick has a friend now and that her window has closed.
Sure, the characters are growing up, little by little and learning about new things along the way. I'm glad that Sue opted not to join a sorority, but on her own terms before finding out the truth. Sure, Frankie didn't have much of anything important to do, but it was especially strong episode for Sue and that is always welcome. Sure, she isn't that smart about typical things but she's smart about what truly matters and hopefully has her first true friend of college. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The most laughs in our family was had at Mike's reaction to the woman saying she would follow him on LinkedIn and Mike politely refused because he's married, not realizing that it is a social network site to make job connections. Typical Mike.
-Apparently, Purdue doesn't have a good defense, at least in Mike's opinion.
-It took Axl ten whole minutes to figure out Twitter.
-When Axl has a Skype interview, he does dress up, from the waist up, with a button down shirt and tie.
-Axl gets Mike to tie all of his ties for him, because he apparently can't do that for himself.
-Lexie's horse is named Cinnamon, for the record.
-While Lexie is still crying, Sue drapes her coat and purse around her and assures her that things will get better and that she shouldn't cry into her pillow because that is where she sleeps. A sweatshirt is much better.
-Brick used to spell kiss with two zs.
-Frankie is so desperate for some physical contact with Brick, she wakes him up to cuddle at night.
-Frankie's pep talk to Sue basically says that marriage isn't the answer. If it was, then Sue wouldn't be in college.
-Sue is keeping an open mind, this could be the year of Sue even though that's what she thought last year.
Sue's (Eden Sher's) battle is much bigger. She wants to join a sorority, but hasn't done much of anything interesting. She hasn't traveled or won medals in something unique like equestrian competitions, as the girl who always sits next to her has, Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla). She does this on purpose and not to bring Sue down but because Sue is so funny, Lexie loves Sue's funny stories including the one where the Hecks get to a hotel and pooh is already in the toilet. It is like a mystery. Despite everything, two sororities do actually have interest in Sue while everyone is interested in Lexie, though ultimately, the end results are the same: neither make anything. Lexie is beyond devastated while Sue takes everything in stride. The sorority isn't going to make Sue a better person, she wants to make people better around her. She assures Lexie that things will get better, after all Sue is the expert in rejection.
In the little third plot line, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is plenty upset when Brick (Atticus Shaffer) buys a pair of pants without her. She can't believe her baby is growing up without her. Sure, she complains constantly about going shopping with Brick but now that opportunity is behind her, she just doesn't want to let go. While she tries to cling to the past, Mike is okay with the kids growing up and leaving them behind, after all, that was the plan. Brick finally decides that they will go bowling though he insists on bringing his one friend, Troy (Jovan Armand) with him so Frankie didn't have much of a role, but she savors it, as much as Frankie savors anything. Frankie knows that Brick has a friend now and that her window has closed.
Sure, the characters are growing up, little by little and learning about new things along the way. I'm glad that Sue opted not to join a sorority, but on her own terms before finding out the truth. Sure, Frankie didn't have much of anything important to do, but it was especially strong episode for Sue and that is always welcome. Sure, she isn't that smart about typical things but she's smart about what truly matters and hopefully has her first true friend of college. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The most laughs in our family was had at Mike's reaction to the woman saying she would follow him on LinkedIn and Mike politely refused because he's married, not realizing that it is a social network site to make job connections. Typical Mike.
-Apparently, Purdue doesn't have a good defense, at least in Mike's opinion.
-It took Axl ten whole minutes to figure out Twitter.
-When Axl has a Skype interview, he does dress up, from the waist up, with a button down shirt and tie.
-Axl gets Mike to tie all of his ties for him, because he apparently can't do that for himself.
-Lexie's horse is named Cinnamon, for the record.
-While Lexie is still crying, Sue drapes her coat and purse around her and assures her that things will get better and that she shouldn't cry into her pillow because that is where she sleeps. A sweatshirt is much better.
-Brick used to spell kiss with two zs.
-Frankie is so desperate for some physical contact with Brick, she wakes him up to cuddle at night.
-Frankie's pep talk to Sue basically says that marriage isn't the answer. If it was, then Sue wouldn't be in college.
-Sue is keeping an open mind, this could be the year of Sue even though that's what she thought last year.
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