Glow: Season One Recap and Reaction

This show was certainly an interesting concept.
Los Angeles, 1985. Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) is a struggling actress where all the good roles are written for men. She is well-trained and polished and far too good for the role she finally gets and holds onto by the skin of her teeth: the enemy in this avant-garde women's wrestling show.
Ruth is the main character and shines, but she is not perfect having slept with her best friend's husband for no good reason. But she is a good actress and idea person. And the director, a curmudgeon if there ever was one, Sam (Marc Maron) does notice her but has already cast her former friend and former soap opera star, Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin, great) as the lead and she is also thrilled for her role though it takes her a while to get into it, given that she's done better than the show. On the other hand, having just had a baby, she is thrilled to be in control of her body again.
The show is about the struggle to create something special and to find enough money to just get the show on air. Now, it isn't perfect. I'm not mad that Ruth had the abortion, I'm not thrilled that the show made her pregnant in the first place, but whatever.
And there are plenty of twists and turns, including Sam finding out that he has a daughter and the funds for the show running out. We still don't know if Debbie will be able to save her failed marriage or if she wants to.
The show transports you back to the 80s, which is no small feat and does so effortlessly.
It is nevertheless, a must watch, with great acting, from largely unknowns and features fully developed, diverse female characters and that is something that there is not enough of in Hollywood. Grade: A-

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

This is a film packed with good characters and good actors plus an interesting plot with many twists and turns that even I didn't see coming, which is no small feat these days.
Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) hasn't had an easy life. Her ex-husband, Charlie (John Hawkes) was abusive and then her daughter was burned alive and raped and the guy who did it still hasn't been caught. So she's pissed. So pissed that she uses all the money she's saved up and buys three deprecated billboards on a road that many don't even use anymore taunting the police department, including the benevolent chief, Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), who is dying of pancreatic cancer and the racist Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell) who isn't fond of black people though he later on throws the white salesman, Red (Caleb Landry Jones) out of the window. Red is one of my favorite characters in the film; the other being Mildred's son Robbie (Lucas Hedges, great again) as both are kind and understanding of all the crazies surrounding them.
The story doesn't end happily; Angela's murderer isn't found, which is a shame but some do get their just rewards, including Dixon being suspended. But the film isn't necessary about that; it is about how the people react to the actions of one woman and forcing the story to remain the spotlight which is also what Mildred.
The film is also an excellent character study with multi-layered characters and brilliant actors portraying them, with good supporting turns from Peter Dinklage and Abbie Cornish.
Despite the subject matter, it is done masterfully, though you also have to wonder why Mildred isn't in jail as she does assault the dentist and then set fire to the police station, a fact which doesn't surprise Dixon, who has an odd change of heart after he nearly die.
The film brings up a lot of issues ever present in the media, police brutality and how ironic and unacceptable it is that it isn't until a white guy is nearly killed that action is finally taken and how unacceptable it is that a murderer and rapist roams free because his DNA isn't in the system and how it would violate human rights to have everyone's DNA on record (that debate would make an excellent film in itself) and it forces you to think and reflect on everyday choices made and not many films manage to do that. And to do so well and with such a dark sense of humor, that is even rarer. Grade: A-

The Duchess (2008)

Keira Knightley is a force to be reckoned with. She shines in the repressed society of 1770s England, where her main job is to provide her husband with a male heir, no matter what the cost.
Her mother, Lady Spencer (Charlotte Rampling) may love her daughter (in her own way) she also wants her daughter to succeed and marry well. So she lies and states that the distant but well-appointed Duke William of Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes, just as nasty as Voldemort) does love her which causes Georgiana (called G) to enter into a loveless marriage which gets tougher by the years as she fails to provide her husband with a healthy son. They don't talk and the Duke has few interests outside of his dogs and bedding any woman he can get his hands on. Even after Georgiana befriends the lovely and lonely Lady Elizabeth Foster (Hayley Atwell), he beds her. Georgiana is beyond devastated and though Bess claims it is in order to get her children back (she escaped an abusive marriage but  has no rights to her sons) but they do fall in love though William is more or less incapable of true love.
Though Georgiana falls in love with the politically ambitious Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper), she isn't allowed to have a lover on the side though her husband is as he holds all the cards. He rapes her, in a truly dreadful rape scene and then she bears him a son. Still, she can't be with Charles though for those few, brief moments, Georgiana is truly happy.
But then, William threatens everything. Charles's future will be ruined, he will see to that, never mind that he cares little about politics and speeches but by his word and reputation alone and she will never see her children again. So she returns, but it comes at a price. She is pregnant with Charles's baby.
This film doesn't really have a happy ending. Georgiana must give up her baby, and receives no sympathy from her husband but she accepts what must be done. She is as happy as she can be. She visits her youngest daughter in secret and wishes that others have happiness after she dies too young.
I am glad that women are valued for far more than their ability to bear children and that true love is more important than a smart match. Women have options and rights and for that, I am forever grateful.
That being said, this film truly shows how society was for women, with Georgiana choosing her children's happiness over her own, and how crippling it was for them, from the corset marks on her back to the money she receives when she finally bears a healthy son.
The acting is superb and Knightley was robbed of an Oscar nomination, showing every emotion in a society where being yourself wasn't allowed. Ralph Fiennes is completely unsympathetic; you can only hope that the children somehow turn out to be kind, decent people. The supporting characters also sink their teeth into their roles.
Also, the costumes and hairstyles (the way women express themselves, as Georgiana declares) make this film worth watching. Grade: A-

The Paperboy (2012)

Please don't watch this film.
Despite the good cast, this film just wasn't any good and was extremely awkward and painful to watch. Sure the plot was unique and told in an unique way, but that doesn't mean it is worth your time.
Hillary vanWetten (John Cusack) is rotting away in prison having stabbed the prejudiced sheriff in a small swamp-like town in Florida and journalists Ward (Matthew McConaghey) and Yardley (David Oyelowo) are determined to uncover the truth behind his conviction.
The other two main characters are Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman) who loves Hillary and can't wait to finally meet him and Jack (Zac Efron), Ward's younger brother who is hired as the driver and falls hopelessly in love with Charlotte. The film is narrated by the Jensen's maid, Anita (Macy Gray), but she is so far removed from lots of the action so she is an unreliable narrator, though for some of the scenes, I'm sure her insight is needed.
This film does not have a happy ending and there are too many weird scenes along the way, including Charlotte peeing on Jack as he was stung by a jellyfish, which is just wrong and embarrassing and I wish I had never seen it.
Hillary is eventually released but then he murders Charlotte and Ward so he returns to prison and is killed. Yardley isn't really British which is ironic as the actor is. So Jack is alone at the end of the film.
While the characters are unique and the actors do their best, and the plot was there, this film did nothing for me and that is a shame. It could have been so much better and less creepy. It was like Deliverance, a train wreck start to finish. Grade: C+

Mudbound (2017)

This might just be the best film of 2017.
This film tells the story of two families, both during and just after World War II.
The McAllens are white and the owners of the land while the Jacksons are African American and work the land, putting all their sweat and blood into something and seeing little in return.
Each of the main characters take turns narrating, each with a unique voice and perspective on the world around them.
Henry McAllen (Jason Clarke) is educated but always wanted to be a farmer so he takes his college-educated wife, Laura (Carey Mulligan) and they move to a farm far away from civilization with his widowed and cantankerous father, Pappy (Jonathan Banks). Laura might not be completely in love with Henry but she was a thirty-one year old virgin when she met him and was very grateful that someone finally showed enough interest in her, while his brother, Jamie (Garrett Hedlund), is the one who probably has her heart.
The Jacksons have been working the land for decades. Hap (Rob Morgan) is a preacher while his wife, Florence (Mary J. Blige) is a midwife and the paths of the two families cross constantly for several years.
Henry expects the Jacksons to help his family at his beck and call and shows little sympathy when Hap severely injuries his leg but at least he isn't a member of the Klan as his father is. Laura might be a southern belle but because she is used to luxury, she steals money to provide a doctor for Hap so he can get better sooner so Florence can return to helping her in the 'big house' which doesn't even have indoor plumbing.
Jamie respects then, especially the oldest Jackson son and fellow veteran Ronsel (Jason Mitchell) and because of their past experiences, they form a special bond. Ronsel was treated fine in Europe and even fell in love with a white German girl but upon his return home, nothing has changed, he is still treated cruelly. Hap warns him that they will always win, which is the sad truth.
Everything comes to a head when Pappy discovers the picture of Ronsel's German lover and their child and he and Klan beat the crap out of him and nearly kill him along with Jamie who tries to defend him but in the end has to choose his punishment, picking either his eyes, tongues or penis to be chopped or gorged off. Jamie says tongue, which might be the best of the three opinions, though they all suck. That being said, I was expecting them to lynch him so I am grateful that he is still alive at the end of the film. Pappy, on the other hand, isn't. I'm not glad that his tongue was cut out, but it was better than what I was expecting. What a sad world it is that I am glad that only his tongue was removed. God forbid all people are treated equally. And calling a child an abomination is never a good move.
Jamie was a bomber during the war and his father might be proud of his achievements during the war but also believes that he doesn't have the guts to kill a person face to face and look them in the eye while the other dies. But Jamie does look his Pappy in the eye while he smothers him. Though Laura tells Henry, upon his return, that Pappy died in his sleep, they don't treat his death as such, which makes no sense to me. They bury him themselves, without a public funeral, and then the Jacksons leave, never to return.
Still, the film manages to end happily, with Ronsel returning to Germany for love this time, which is always a relief. The film managed to eek out a happy ending, which is a relief after all the hate the film was filled with.
Now, while I could nitpick this film until kingdom come, including Mulligan, while excellent is too young for her role, there is also the odd subplot of the white sharecropper family on the the land, the Atwoods. There is a confrontation between Carl (Dylan Arnold) and Henry toward the beginning and Vera (Lucy Faust) begs Laura to let the family stay as she is pregnant again and they need the work. And then, several months later, she begs Laura to give her a ride into town or else she will kill her husband as she implies that he is assaulting their daughters and that is exactly what happens, she kills her husband and walks into town covered in his blood. It is an underdeveloped and probably unnecessary subplot, but it doesn't take away from the film. This film is about how each family need each other, whether they want to admit it or not and whether they should have to need each other or not.
The film is superb, the acting flawless and performances brilliant, with gritty, realistic characters. The setting is also great, this film manages to transport you back to that troubled time and it should not be forgotten. The editing swift and flawless; the cinematography lush. I give massive credit to director Dee Rees, who also co-wrote the screenplay, which tells an epic story and makes it intimate. This film deserves as many awards as it receives and many more. This is one of the best films of the year, period. Grade: A

Stronger (2017)

Jake Gyllenhaal is a force to be reckoned with in this film, but don't forgot about Tatiana Maslany as she is also excellent.
Jeff Bauman (Gyllenhaal) is sort of a guy who hasn't completely grown up yet. He works at Costco and drinks too much beer and watches too many Boston sports games. Erin (Maslany) isn't his girlfriend. Sure, he likes her a lot and she likes him, but he can't commit, doesn't show up and she deserves better. She really is too good for him.
But she is running in the marathon and he wants to support her. So he does. But it is the Boston Marathon in 2013, and Jeff is badly injured as the bomb explodes.
He survives but has both of his legs amputated, just above his knee. The film chronicles his painful road to recovery and how he and Erin slowly rebuilt their relationship and how he lets it erode again.
The film is moving as Jeff is an oddball of a character. In some ways, he is very strong and stubborn, not wanting all the attention, and though he wants to get better and walk again, he is also lazy and drinks way too much. And Erin calls him out on all his crap, as someone needs to.
Jeff's family, including his alcoholic mother, Patty (Miranda Richardson) and his estranged father, Big Jeff (Clancy Brown) are supportive and don't even blink at his problems nor do they treat him differently but they also raise him up as a hero and he knows that he can't live up to it. When he is helped at the scene by another hero, Carlos (Carlos Arredondo), he doesn't want people to help him. That scene is one of the most memorable, with the carnage shocking and devastating. Another great scene is when Jeff finally meets Carlos. Carlos was near the finish line to pass out American flags. His life has been absolutely horrible. His oldest son was killed in the Iraq war and then his younger son committed suicide, which must be beyond heart-wrenching. I hope the two remain friends.
Now, there is tension between Jeff's mother and Erin, with good reason. Erin understands that Jeff doesn't want the attention while his mother is very upset that Oprah has agreed to come and interview him. He does eventually come to terms with his fame and embraces it, but it takes some time.
I'm glad that Jeff finally does  grow up by the end of the film and takes his rehab seriously, considering Erin is pregnant. Now, I knew that was going to happen. When they first have sex after the bombing, I kept thinking to myself, I hope he uses a condom. And then he is upset that she wasn't more careful. Fortunately, he realizes that he is an idiot and does admit that he loves at the very end of the film.
Now, I don't really have any major problems with the film, as it re-creates the chaos that surrounded the horrific event well and does so brilliantly and each character is unique and the acting seems effortless. Maslany and Gyllenhaal are brilliant, doing the flawed heroes justice; the pathos they bring is key to this film's success. Jeff knows that he is flawed and Erin loves him nevertheless, but she also wants him to be the best version of himself, which he hopefully has achieved by the end of the film, knowing that he can do and bring good to others. It may not been an easy watch but it is worth it nevertheless. Grade: A-

The Middle: Mommapalooza

Oh good Lord, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) would like to enter her third act. Upset that she has so little to show for her life (I hear you), despite her three children, she wanders around the mall and runs into a life coach who has a mall kisok and decides that she wants to be a life coach. I was shocked. That is not a good idea. But fortunately, it doesn't last. Soon, she joins up with Reverend Tim Tom (Paul Hipp) and joining him on the harmonies, bringing the good word and social messages to youth. She is thrilled. They travel sixty-three whole miles as they take their show on the road.
Meanwhile, Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) is upset that Axl (Charlie McDermott) won't let her pay for anything because he doesn't want to be that guy but that means they miss out on many fun things, which also isn't right. So Lexie starts sneaking money into his pocket and letting him find tickets someone else 'dropped' on the floor. Axl isn't that dumb and gets suspicious instantly. He even calls Lexie out for it and then she drops the 'L' bomb. Just when you think things are going to work out, Lexie gets her last birthday card from her parents. They have cut her off, and want her to make it on her own. So its a good thing that Axl is good at being poor. He immediately dumps all the bread sticks into her purse.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) and Sue (Eden Sher) are arguing often as the hole in the wall still exists so Mike (Neil Flynn) orders them to fix it, but Sue needs to leave for class. So Brick consults some YouTube clips and soon the whole wall is down. That is just awful and they toss around who they will blame when Mike finds out. But Sue fortunately finds a solution. She will use all of her old posters from all of her failed campaigns.
Needless to say, the walls are paper thin and none of the Heck children like Frankie's new hobby and make their opinions known. Frankie decides to give up her dream and Reverend Tim Tom picks up on this. After all, she had dreams before she became a mother. They shut up after that. But soon, the pull of the television and all it has to offer pulls her away and she is content to spend her free time at home. And Sue falls through her wall. There will forever be a hole between bedrooms.
Though Lexie is back and I'm thrilled as I do like them together, this episode was lackluster for me. It wasn't funny but the point was good. The kids do need to show Frankie more respect. And it will be nice to see Lexie and Axl on an even level playing field. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Brick has only recently been cleared to handle scissors.
-Most other jobs would seem fun when you work in a dental office.
-Axl glues his shoe at the beginning of the episode and a magazine gets stuck to it.
-Has Axl ever admitted that he loved anyone before?
-Sue even made up offices to run for but still lost to a write-in, Joe Schmoe.
-Would Frankie have actually made Brick a grilled cheese?

The Crown: Season Two Recap and Reaction

Season Two covers a lot of ground from the crisis stemming over the Suaz Canal to Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) finally getting married and then a scandal surrounding the prime minister, Harold McMillan (Anton Lesser). The first three shows cover Prince Philip's (Matt Smith's) travels around the world visiting the vast colonies of England and perhaps even having an affair. He has to fire his private secretary, Mike Parker's (Daniel Ings's) wife has filed for divorce so he has to leave his position. And Philip wants more power and respect in his own marriage. It must be hard to be married to the most powerful woman in the world.
But his power comes at a price, sending Prince Charles to his old boarding school against Elizabeth's (Claire Foy's) wishes but he has to bit her tongue to save her marriage.
In the meantime, upset that Peter Townsend (Ben Miles) is marrying a teenager, Margaret persuades her fling Tony Armstrong-Jones (Matthew Goode, too old for the role but good nevertheless). Now, while Tony is against the institution of marriage and is currently seeing other women and men, he agrees but his secret to making it successful is traveling constantly.
In the end, Elizabeth gives birth to a healthy baby after a difficult pregnancy and Philip declares his love to her, though he might be covering for seeing a communist chiropractor, who divulges information about other patients which is unethical to say the least.  While Elizabeth's second delivery is completely different, and Philip is allowed to be present for this one, he remains at a distance, not truly involved in the process.
All-in-all, this second wasn't as good as the first, as it covered too many years and didn't have the vibrant John Lithgow as the prime minister. The strongest episode was the one where the Queen is under securinty as she gives a speech which is dated. She needs to truly become modernized. John Heffeman gives an excellent guest performance in that one. Also strong is when her uncle (Alec Jennings) visits and she discovers his secret Nazi past. However, the episode where the Kennedys (Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour) come to visit, let me done. I know everyone can't be as good as Natalie Portman, but I found their performances not that effective though Mrs. Kennedy's part was especially well written.
That being said, this is still an excellent show, transporting you back to that time period and showing you how isolating power can be. And the it feels like you are watching the events as they unfold with completely natural performances (save the Kennedys). Grade: B+

Viceroy's House (2017)

India, 1947.
England is still recovering from the devastating World War II and is fine with letting India finally gain her independence after ruling it, for whatever reason, for 300 years.
So Lord Mountbattan (Hugh Bonneville) is the last viceroy, appointed to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
However, India is a vast country and has many internal problems such as the Hindis, Sikhs and Muslims do not get along well and many want the country divided while others do not. And Lord Mountbattan needs to decide how to properly transition the country properly all the while violence erupts in villages far away from the viceroy's vast estate.
In the end, the country is divided, though that wasn't what Mountbattan wanted initially and his wife, Edwina (Gillian Anderson, great in an underwritten role) isn't pleased but she also has her own causes, upset at the illiteracy rate and the infant morality rate and she is determined to help.
So the country is split, Mountbattan was used as a pawn and then there is a mass exodus of Indians as they make their way to the country that they choice and many die in the process.
This film is also the story of two servants in the Viceroy's house: Jeet (Manish Dayal) and Aalia (Huma Qureshi). He is Hindi and she is Muslim but both don't want the country divided. Unfortunately, Aalia's fiance returns and he is all for a Pakistan so she picks him, as her blind father (Om Puri) is dependent upon her. And she somehow survives a deadly train bomb and is able to reunite with her true love at the end of the film. I am making it seem more contrived than it should be. While I am happy they get together, it isn't that realistic especially since Aalia is near death and yet she shuffles toward Jeet.
I wish that the whole film could have told from Jeet's point of view as that would have been something different, something unique and it would have hopefully dealt with this topic on an intimate scale which is what this film needed. And his performance was the strongest in the film.
While this film was stylish and lavish, good actors were wasted. And Mountbattan changes his mind too easily when it comes to dividing India. Grade: B

The Middle: The Other Man

Corbin Bleu is adorable and everyone deserves cake.
The time has finally come for Axl (Charlie McDermott) to start his big boy job and he is loving every minute of it. Not that Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is hearing anything about it. Instead, Axl latches on to his father (Neil Flynn), leaving her out in the cold and she isn't happy about it. Mike starts watching The Walking Dead without her, and then he and Axl get Taco Jason's without her, as they simply forget all about her, both of which are never cool. And then, when Mike finally tries to make it up with Frankie, Axl comes along and Mike picks his son over his wife and Frankie is livid, but then forces Brick (Atticus Shaffer) to be her buddy and he goes along reluctantly. But it turns out well. Brick is used to being ignored and forgotten so he has formed a good relationship with himself and is happy just by being alone. I understand the feeling.
But then Lexie (Daniela Bodadilla) returns and Axl dumps his dad like a hot potato and forces Mike to return to his wife who is now bingeing on Outlander. 
Meanwhile, Sue (Eden Sher) is ready to break up with Aidan (Jackson White), even though break ups make her nervous, but then Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) meets Aidan's adorable drummer friend, Luke (Bleu, nice to see him on the screen again). So she can't break up with Aidan now, not until Brad is in with Luke. And things get awkward. First, Brad is too quite and then he's too talkative and Sue feels guilty about just stringing Aidan along. And Aidan keeps accidentally hurting Sue, first by tossing red pepper into her eyes and then smacking her nose. And it gets worse. Sue begs Brad to pull it together before Aidan kills her and she has good reason to be worried. The pool ball, stick and then a pitcher all injure her, and it leads to Brad and Luke bonding as they carry her out to the stretcher. And, for whatever reason, that night when Aidan kisses her that time, it actually feels special so he is also growing on her.
Now, while I wasn't rooting for Sean (Beau Wirick) and Sue, I certainly do no like Aidan and Sue together, despite all the similarities. So I guess I'd rather her end up with Sean and he's not giving up, which is good.
This was another solid episode and I liked that Frankie tried to make up for all those birthdays of Brick's that she missed but the plots weren't as solid as they've been in past weeks and how it is established that Luke is homosexual? Still, I'm glad that he's back on the screen and that they finally gave Brad some sort of love interest; there's always something fresh on The Middle. I look forward to the return of Lexie and watching the romances continue. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Everything is an inside joke to Brick.
-If you ever walk over Frankie's dead body, please check her pulse. It's sad that she had to spell that out for her family but they are very dense sometimes.
-Aidan might actually be worse at pool than me which is truly impressive.
-I really want to try that new burger place Frankie kept talking about, Hole Lot of Burger.
-Never settle for mediocre kisses, not even after you start sagging.
-Brick had a bowl of mayonnaise for dinner. Which is just disgusting.
-Aidan would get paid five dollars for one of his gigs.

The Disaster Artist (2017)

This film was hands down hilarious. I was laughing so hard I cried twice.
I've never seen The Room though I did hear about it in college. My roommates said it was so bad, it was good. After watching this film, I'm more curious than ever.
Greg (Dave Franco) wants to be an actor more than anything but he is very wooden and stiff. Another guy in his acting class, Tommy (James Franco) is the opposite, with his odd accent and no zero talent, he's fearless and doesn't care how ridiculous he looks, people's opinions don't matter to him. Tommy is also a man of mystery, wealthy beyond all belief, he tells people precious little about himself, like where he's from and how old he is.
The two form an unlikely friendship, even though they get odd looks in public. Even after moving to LA, things aren't looking up. Greg lands an agent, but she is odd to say the least and he still is given no roles. Tommy's career is going even worse, and that needs no explanation as to why. But then they hatch the idea of creating their own film.
And so they do. Tommy casts himself as the lead and works to create his vision. He might have money, but no talent behind it. Nevertheless, he does have good people on his staff including a script supervisor (Seth Rogen) who has experience on several TV shows.
The film is disaster and goes far over schedule and Tommy is pretty crazy, denying his staff water, causing the one actress (Jacki Weaver) to pass out. And he and Greg get into a huge fight, as Greg has given up a lot, including a guest spot on Malcolm in the Middle for Tommy. His girlfriend, Amber (Alison Brie), just doesn't understand the hold Tommy has on Greg.
It isn't until the film has its debut that Greg and Tommy fully reconnect. Sure, the film isn't the dramatic vision Tommy had intended but the audience enjoys it nevertheless and it gets a standing ovation.
And it is bad. For whatever reason, the one character, Denny (Josh Hutcherson, with bizarre hair) joins Tommy and his girlfriend, Lisa (Ari Graynor) in bed briefly as he likes to watch. And, at the end when Tommy's character kills himself, he puts the gun in his mouth, pulls the trigger and then wretches around with Lisa's dress before placing the gun in his mouth again and pulling the trigger again and this time he actually dies. Each actor also has their own theory about the film, including one believing that it is autobiographical. She might be right.
Now, while the film The Room might now be a cult classic and have finally churned a profit, The Disaster Artist doesn't need to worry about that. It is good, with James Franco truly disappearing into his role as the bizarre Tommy Wiseau. He fully deserves his Golden Globe nomination. Dave Franco is also excellent and there are good cameos scattered throughout, including Zac Efron, Randall Park, Bob Odenkirk, Megan Mullally, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith and Bryan Cranston himself. And you feel like the late 1990s have come back. This film can be watched several times and it will undoubtedly be found hilarious all the times it is watched. Grade: B+

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Despite being dated, this is a good film nevertheless.
The film begins in the summer of 1939, just before the war starts in England. The Minivers (Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon) are a wealthy, care free couple frivolously spending money on fancy new cars and hats.
And then, the war comes. Their oldest son, Vincent (Richard Ney) joins the air force and falls in love with the wealthy Carol Benton (Teresa Wright), granddaughter of Lady Benton (Dame May Whitty), much to her dismay.
Clem (Pidgeon) joins the River force, and helps with evacuating Dunkirk. Yes, this film provides yet another take on Dunkirk. While away, his wife (Garson) deals with a escaped German pilot who holds her hostage at gunpoint. Though she is shaken, she instantly recovers for the sake of her young children and doesn't even want to tell her husband about the whole thing.
Then, her new daughter-in-law dies when a stray bullet hits her during an air raid. Several others also died tragically in that air raid. The church's vicar ends the film with a powerful speech of how this is the people's war. Unfortunately, he was right. More civilians died than before in any other war, as this war was beyond tragic and horrifying. Yet, the film manages to be as uplifting as it can be, with Vincent heading over to help his elderly grandmother-in-law hold her book of hymns, though they are both grieving.
This film also gives character actor Henry Travers (Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life) shine as Mr. Ballard, a stationmaster with a passion for growing roses, including one he names after Mrs. Miniver herself.
Now, the film is not without its flaws, including American accents (except from Ney) when they are supposed to be in England, the loving gazes Garson kept casting at Ney (he would soon become her second husband, after all) and the spank Clem gives Kay after he learns of the German soldier, which is just wrong and abusive. But, when this film was made, they certainly thought nothing of it. Times certainly have changed, certainly for the better.
Still, despite these problems, this film has a tight script, great performances (Pidgeon, Garson, Wright, Whitty and Travers would all receive Oscar nominations and Garson and Wright would win) and relevant message still carry this film. And the scene with the German soldier is powerful still and an unforgettable scene in cinematic history. Grade: A-

The Middle: New Year's Revelations

Well, apparently Sue (Eden Sher) has had a slight crush on Sean (Beau Wirick) all along, which is news to me, considering she was basically engaged to Darrin (the unseen John Gammon) back in high school and then she was away at college and dated that safe rides driver briefly. However, she remains unsure who started and ended the kiss and also, if you do like the person, apologizing afterwards is not a common practice, not that I have much experience having been kissed by precisely two men in my life. But apologies did not follow. So Sue and Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) hatch this brilliant plan to give the two another opportunity to kiss to see what happens. Even Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is on board, insisting on lighting the bathroom candle.
So the party does happen and it is interesting how many people Frankie can dig up at the last minute, I wish I was that lucky. But there are many obstacles standing in the way of them getting to kiss each other at midnight, including Sue's boyfriend, Aidan (Jackson White) leaving Sean fuming.
In the meantime, Mike (Neil Flynn) is upset that his father (John Cullen) gave him a trip as a present and the destination is unknown. Mike forces his sons to come with him and they are more than just a little reluctant. The trip is pretty interesting with Brick (Atticus Shaffer) and Axl (Charlie McDermott) dropping hints about five dollars just doesn't cut it anymore. Big Mike, normally a man of few words, just starts talking and, for once, doesn't shut up. He tells stories of his youth and when Mike was a baby and then points to a random tree and asks Mike to pull over because that is where he's going to die. I just laughed, thinking that that was the most ridiculous thing ever, but he was dead serious and though Brick and Axl plead with him to change his mind, Mike just leaves him there, just to scare him.
Though Big Mike is ready to die as he doesn't want to be a bother, Mike tosses those words right back to him, saying that him dying would be a bigger bother as he would have to pick out a coffin, plan a funeral and would have to store his body until the ground thaws out so Big Mike changes his mind. He won't die yet, thank goodness. And it brings Axl and Brick the thought of spending more time with him as he does have good stories even though there is no chance they won't be idiots.
The episode ends with a threat, Sean snaps to Axl that he likes Sue and is not going down without a fight. Okay, the next couple episodes should be pretty interesting.
Now, while I'm not completely on board with those two, it will be fascinating to see how this plays out, because I do want everyone to have a happy ending though I don't see how that is possible at this point, plus this episode had some truly funny moments. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie is on a new hormone that gave her a burst of energy.
-She goes to Curves to have her picture taken for her membership so she can park in that parking lot and go to the donut shop across the street, which is a good use of a membership fee.
-Brick and Axl probably wouldn't make good fathers.
-Big Mike does have some interesting stories, including thumb wrestling a policewoman to get out of a speeding ticket and dancing with his depressed wife after Mike was born.
-Carly (Blaine Saunders) makes an appearance but Frankie quickly shoos her away as that baby needs attention. Is she serious or just making a lame excuse for her to leave and unavailable for Sean to have a crush on? I can't tell.
-Brad is starting to like his Christmas present from his dad.
-Nancy (Jen Ray) just might kill Frankie if the Hecks throw a Valentine's Day party.
-Mike returns home and goes to bed straightaway.

The Greatest Showman (2017)

This film had all the parts of a great film, a first-rate cast, amazing songs, superb costumes and a solid plot, but it just didn't come together.

P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) came from humble backgrounds, the orphaned son of a tailor who always wanted bigger things. His wife, Charity (the underused and utilized Michelle Williams, better than the underwritten part) came from wealth, but gave that all up to marry him and has no regrets even though she needs to wash her own sheets now. P.T. wanted to give her more, but she doesn't need more, she just needs him. Still, he somehow gets a bank loan and buys a museum full of obscure things, just as he likes as he is always talking about crazy adventures. 

It is actually his young daughters, Caroline and Helen (Austyn Johnson and Cameron Seely) give him the idea for his museum to have living things. Which gives him the idea to have people who are different from everyone else, such as a bearded lady and a midget. And African Americans all of whom have talent. 

Naturally, the show has its haters and lots of them, protesters grow by the day, but the crowds love it so the show, dubbed by one critic, a circus is quite popular. So popular that it allows P.T. to give his wife the lifestyle he always wanted to provide her. And then Zac Efron enters the scene.

Now, while I like him and he did a great job in a fairly different role from all of those lame comedies he's been doing as of late, he isn't necessary really for the main plot. He is a playwright and loved by society and comes from money. He is soon in the business with P.T. and develops a large crush on the acrobat, Anne (Zendaya), who to the scandal of society is African American. 

It is on a trip to visit Queen Victoria (Gayle Rankin) that he meets the immensely talented Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) that he becomes legit and truly lets the fame go to his head. Though he doesn't cheat on his wife, he is completely besotted with her and dismisses his main cast to soak Jenny's fame in. Though he gave the minorities an opportunity to shine, once he became wealthy, he became no better than them. 

And then everything goes up in smoke, literally. Philip Carlyle (Efron) is left in charge with P.T. on the road with Jenny and the protesters get into a fight with the cast and the building is burned. Charity leaves P.T. though he does win her back too easily. And, after Philip heals from his wounds, the show reopens, thanks to Philip's prudent thinking. This time, it reopens in a tent and P.T. hangs up his hat tossing it literally to Philip, the new ringmaster so he can watch his girls grow up. But the show goes on.

Now, again, the songs are excellent and talent is immense, with the bearded lady, Letty (Keala Settle), killing it every time she sings, the film had too much plot and too many characters crammed in around the songs, which are really the highlight of the film and make the film worth watching. Even the critic said it best, it is nice to see minorities and different people being treated as equals. I just wish it was that way in real life. Everyone being the same would make this world a boring place. At least this film wasn't boring, but it should have been better. 

I did appreciate the message at the beginning, from the director and Jackman, as films should be experienced in the theater, on the big screen with a real audience and at the end, some did clap. I just wish this film had inspired me to the do the same. Instead, it was just a pretty picture that needed to get beneath the surface and show some genuine emotion and make me feel something. Grade: B