What They Had (2018)

This film breaks no new ground, but manages to be brilliant nevertheless.
Ruth (Blythe Danner) heads out in the middle of the night, with shoes and her purse. She suffers from dementia, so this is a problem.
The majority of the film involves her children trying to convince Ruth's husband and their father, Bert (Robert Forster) to put her in a home that specializes in those with memory loss. But he won't do it; he can't live without her. However, his stubborness is forcing his children to make sacrifices they should never have to make and is keeping them from living their own lives.
Bitty (Hilary Swank, and what a horrid name for her) is unhappily married and working as a chef out in California while Nick (Michael Shannon) is struggling to make ends meet back home in Chicago, his relationship ruined as he has to cater to his parents' every whim.
Sure, there is a bunch of family tension, but as the room is filled with great actors and actresses, the film flies by with life breathed into the performances and lift the at times limp dialogue.
Fortunately, Bert eventually sees the light, signs the necessary paperwork to get Ruth into a facility only to die from another heart attack a few days later. Bitty's estranged husband, Eddie (Josh Lucas, in an underwritten role) doesn't even bother attending the funeral. The moment afterwards where Ruth said that he died at the perfect time, she still remembers him but not so much that she's devastated is a bit far-fetched, but the rest of the film rises above that moment. Ruth refers to Bert as her boyfriend most of the time and thinks that Bitty in her mother.
My main issue (and basically only issue) is that Bert's occupation is never mentioned, just that he served in Korea while it is mentioned that Ruth was an administrator in a nursing home which is one of the reasons why he is so reluctant to place in one. Fortunately, Bitty finds a nice place for Ruth out in California.
While the film is simple, the cinematography and editing is seamless while if there is a score, it is unnoticeable, though the old photographs are great. Fortunately, the performances make this film something worthwhile. Grade: B+

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Though the title is do the right thing, very few characters actually do the right thing throughout this film.
Before the internet and iPhones and central air, people sat outside their homes or went around the neighborhood carting a large boombox trying to preach to the people.
The film revolves around Sal's Pizzeria (Danny Aiello) where the neighborhood gathers to eat, many have grown up on the stuff. But the day on which the film occurs, is boiling hot and one character (Giancarlo Esposito) is especially upset that Sal only has pictures of white, Italian folks on his wall but then again, he owns the wall so he is kicked out and decides to start a boycott of the place.
He is joined by Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn), who was told he couldn't play his ridiculously loud music in the place and Sal didn't add a please to his request, but then again, when Raheem requested his pizza, neither did he.
There are plenty of other characters, including Mookie (Spike Lee) who is little more than a deadbeat, as the delivery boy for Sal who isn't liked by many people including Tina (Rosie Perez), who's the mother of child. Mookie just wants to get paid because he owes people money. Then there is also Da Mayor (Ossie Davis) who, despite being a drunk, is the only voice of reason in this film, except maybe for DJ Love (Samuel L. Jackson) and the kind Sister Mother (Ruby Dee). They manage to stay out of the violent final act which involves the destroying Sal's restaurant and the police involved death of Raheem, all without using any guns, they choke him to death instead. Sure, the riot was bad, truly dreadful and Raheem was very rude but no one needed to die because of it.
And yet, that next morning, Mookie (who largely stayed out of the riots except tossing a trash can through the window, which to be fair, started the whole thing) still goes to Sal to get his money and tosses the extra back at him, not taking more than he's entitled to, thank goodness.
Though this film is now thirty years old, it remains incredibly timely and is still Spike Lee's best films, with a star-studded cast, realistic characters, a tight screenplay (also written by Spike Lee), great, funky camera angles, this film is a masterpiece and causes to you think about every little action throughout and wonder if anyone actually ended doing the right thing. Grade: A

Gone with the Wind (1939)

I don't really need to tell you the Soplot of this film as everyone knows Katie Scarlett O'Hara (the amazing Vivien Leigh) ends up with Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) who is a drunk, borderline rapist asshole, but he does adore his daughter immensely, I do give credit where credit is due and certainly appears more devoted to little Bonnie Blue (Cammie King) than Scarlett. But after Scarlett announces that she wants no more children, worried over her figure, she banishes Rhett out of her bedroom and he finds satisfaction elsewhere.
For the film, Scarlett pines over the weak, spineless toad Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) who is married to the lovely Melanie (Olivia de Haviliand), the only truly nice character in this film but even she isn't perfect, thrilled when Scarlett kills that Yankee who dares enter Tara (the plantation, which may as well be a character in the film). In fact, Melanie's the one who suggests they look in his knapsack and raid out his pockets.
So, I don't truly like any of the three main characters. Scarlett is strong and powerful but deep down, all she cares about is money, as she wants never to be hungry again but she loves male attention far too much. As her one wails "She'll be married three times and I'll be an old maid." I get it Suellen (Evelyn Keyes), I truly get it. If either of Scarlett's sisters end up getting married, we are never told.
Though the film is horribly dated, calling the African American slaves darkies and portraying two of three of them as dimwits (which is beyond offensive), it remains largely watchable and though it clocks in at nearly four hours, it does go by quickly as there is just so much plot to fit in.
Despite portraying unlikable characters, each performance is utterly great and Hattie McDaniel is truly great in the tragic scene after little Bonnie Blue's death when she tells Melanie of the unshowable (during the Hayes code) scenes between Scarlett and Rhett afterward. Rhett should have never gotten a pony for a four-year-old and should have never taught her how to jump, but I digress. Though there are clearly colorful backdrops during a number of scenes, the sets are brilliant and the extras remain in character, as you are actually the aftermath of the burning of Atlanta. The score is a masterpiece.
The main problem I have with it (other than there is far too little blood and gore to be totally realistic) is that the screenwriter, Sidney Howard, cuts out Scarlett's other two children (yes, that's right, she reproduced with both Charles Hamilton [Rand Brooks] and Frank Kennedy [Carroll Nye]), which is just gross to think about.
However, despite that problem and dated-ness of the whole thing, this nevertheless remains one of the greatest films of all time. Grade: A

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season Two Recap and Reaction

This remains one of my favorite shows on TV.
Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) continues her life as a single-mother, as Joel (Michael Zegen) refuses to take her back because he realizes his own limitations. He is not going to be able to stand being married to someone more famous than he. They do remain close, which is good considering they share two very young children, who are largely ignored throughout the season.
Midge is also busy as her career as a comedienne takes off, ever so slowly, not to mention her shifts at the switchboard. She may have a degree in Russian literature, but she could do brighter things than that switchboard.
Sure, the plot meanders a bit, with the first two episodes taking place largely in France, as Rose (Marin Hinkle) needs to feel fulfilled and just being a wife isn't cutting it anymore and then there is the long summer in the Catskills where Abe (the great Tony Shahloub) discovers that Midge does stand-up. At first, he's offended though the whole family comes to terms, in their own ways. Rose does want Midge to get married again and Midge has found another great love interest in the doctor Benjamin (Zachary Levi) who is more or less supportive of her career and passes the ridiculous tests Abe set before him, but ultimately, Midge picks her career over him and why shouldn't she? Her career is going well, Susie (the hilariously good Alex Borstein) even manages to book her on a telethon where, despite being last up, she steals the broadcast.
Now, the season does have some misfires including the one where Midge calls out her friend for having a shot-gun wedding, which turns out to actually be the case. Midge should have known better than to try to be funny in the basement of a Catholic church during a wedding reception of all places. And I can't believe that she would rather sleep with Joel at the end of the season than Benjamin, but that's her choice. There is also the great reveal that Noah (Will Brill), Midge's brother works for the CIA, but I'm unsure of how the show will handle Abe's career breakdown, as he went off his rocker (in a way) toward the end of the season.
Still, the show is utterly great with great, lush scenery and outstanding performances, certainly among the best on television. This remains a show to watch and deserves every award bestowed upon it. Grade: A-

Isn't It Romantic (2019)

Now, I went into this film with high hopes and unfortunately, I was let down.
Rebel Wilson is utterly brilliant as the anti-rom-com heroine, just trying to get through the day alive, surviving her gross apartment and job where she is underappreciated and despite her position (she has an assistant, after all), most of the men believe she's only around to fetch them coffee.
The mugging scene was a little odd, I mean, why in the world did the mugger select her specifically? Was it because he thought she'd be an easy target because of her weight, because if so, he was beyond incorrect. And her purse doesn't break throughout the difficult struggle.
When she wakes up in the hospital, Natalie (Wilson) has been transformed into a cheesy rom-com, with no cursing and minimal skin. Her wealthy boss, Blake (Liam Hemsworth) truly shows an interest in her but he is hiding secrets and likely has a controlling father, not to mention, his true colors eventually come out and boy is he ever an asshole in both worlds.
And then there's Josh (Adam Devine) who is the cute, funny, supportive best friend whom Natalie keeps friends zoning for whatever reason, likely because she's just too scared of love.
Sure, in typical fashion, she fights for Josh when she finally realizes that she loves him but in the end, she realizes that self-love is all that matters.
I found the rom-com world just ridiculous, with flower petals falling to form Blake's phone number, please that is just stupid and far-fetched. That world is sugar-coated with hearts and Blake blows kisses to Natalie all the time, but he's also a jerk, just a sneaky one.
The real world is far more realistic, with Natalie's dirty dog (literally, her pet Baxter seriously needs a bath) and fizzy hair, dusty apartment, but she still has that best friend with whom she's secretly in love with and a great career where she's finally being appreciated. Her life was a rom-com all along, and still a million times better than mine will ever be. I will never fall in love with my best friend (probably because I don't have any guy friends and I prefer men) nor do I flirt with any of my co-workers (mostly because it isn't professional, partly because no one is interested in me). However, that doesn't matter, I do like myself and wouldn't really a change a thing though I would love to be part a big-budget Hollywood music number.
Also, pay attention to Betty Gilpin (from the great Netflix show Glow) as Whitney, Natalie's best friend/rival/assistant, she steals severe scenes.
Overall, the film is well done (with only one inconsistency) and I could have listed to Natalie bash rom-coms all day long. And the musical numbers were great. Grade: B

The Little Foxes (1941)

This is not a good Valentine's Day film which is exactly why I picked it.
Bette Davis shines in the ensemble cast as the greedy, manipulative Regina Hubbard Giddens, an heiress in the dying traditional south.
Along with her stupid, equally greedy brothers, Oscar and Ben (Carl Benton Reid and Charles Dingle), they form a pack to invest in a cotton factory which will export cheap labor and be bad for the environment but she must ask her ill husband, Horace (Herbert Marshall) for the money.
Horace is everything Regina is not, kind, caring and considerate and refuses to invest, despite Regina's constant pleadings but Regina's nephew, Leo (Dan Duryea) steals bonds from Horace's safe deposit box and uses those to fulfill the investment promise.
The best scene comes toward the end as the third act really allows Davis to shine. Her husband has discovered the theft and has informed Regina that he is cutting her out of his ill and when his heart starts acting up, she just stares him down and doesn't run to get his heart medicine. He dies later that night.
So Regina has what she wants, vast wealth but she's alone and afraid. Her daughter, Alexandra (the great Teresa Wright) has left, gone off to finally explore the world, leaving a bitter Regina to her own devices.
Sure, this film is dated as the only minorities are servants, though Addie (Jessie Grayson) is probably the wisest character in the film (except for maybe Horace) and the plot is basic but the film is filled with brilliant performances. Yet, the characters meander without a true purpose and Aunt Birdie (Patricia Collinge) is too weak to leave Oscar, who is abusive. I just hope that Alexandra, who leaves, can manage to have a happy future despite her wretched upbringing. One can only wonder what Horace ever saw in Regina. It is also a shame that these people have nothing else to think about other than money and getting more money. Evil is bred in that family but it is most dominate in Regina. Grade: B+

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)

This film was a large disappointment. The original was spunky and playful with the great Meryl Streep taking center stage. Here, she's passed away but the film goes back to her early life as she meets the three men who could potentially be Sophie's (Amanda Seyfried's) father and the year after her death as Sophie prepares to re-open the hotel in Donna's honor.
The film has a lot of characters and a lot of plot, which feels very jumbled despite some cleaver juxtaposition and catchy songs but the performances just feel wasted, which is a complete shame. Lily James does what she can but only Meryl Streep can play Donna. Jessica Keenan Wynn and Alexa Davies do better as young Tanya and Rosie. And the scene where Sophie throws up and then immediately realizes that she's pregnant is ludicrous. The only good scene is when Sophie's namesake tells off a young Sam (Jeremy Irvine, the only one who had actual chemistry with young Donna) for being an idiot. Which basically all three of them are.
Cher's appearance is ridiculous and Andy Garcia's character is unnecessary. But still, it could have been worse; at least the acting and songs were good. Grade: C+

Searching (2018)

David Kim's (John Cho's) daughter is missing. He feels bad, as he didn't realize this for some time. But he's had a lot on his mind, his demanding job, the loss of his wife about two years previous.
Enter Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing), the tireless detective who tries to figure out what happened. And the theories are endless, especially since Margot (Michelle La) stopped taking her piano lessons and wired money to herself (or did she?). First, she ran away but then her car was lifted from a lake without her body but trace amounts of blood it so then it was a kidnapping before a confession from an ex-con before his suicide.
But this isn't sitting right with David. After all, her body hasn't been recovered and we all know that no one's fully dead until there is a body. He first uncovers that the picture of Margot's online friend is merely a stock photo used over and over again. He calls Rosemary to tell her of his development but she isn't available and the operator tells him that she volunteered for this case which leads him back to her past and that she knew the ex-con, now deceased.
Yeah, crazy twist. There are two types of parents, the enablers and the fighters. David is a fighter, convinced that his daughter is still alive despite the odds not being in her favor and Rosemary who lets her son, Robert (Steven Michael Eich) hoodwink his neighbors into donating money to a fake charity and when he gets into a physical altercation, she helps him cover up the crime and even takes a plea deal that will prevent him from any major jail time, instead of getting him the help he really needs.
Fortunately, this film has a relatively happy ending. Margot is miraculously found alive, injured and weak but a storm had come through which meant that she survived the fall and David was given a second chance to mend his relationship with Margot, which he does.
What makes the film especially unique is that it is done entirely online with various youtube videos, text messages, facetime, security cameras and news clippings so it is bizarre and annoying at times, but the plot was so compelling, I was engaged the whole time. The performances are also realistic and the actors make each character fully fleshed out despite never having control over the whole screen. John Cho is one of the most underappreciated actors in Hollywood (I will never forgive ABC for cancelling Selfie) and he makes the most of this role. Messing is great support and managed to fool us all, though I was slightly taken aback when she let her son steal from his neighbors. But most of all, I'm grateful that this film had a happy ending, those are the best kind. Grade: B+