Maestro (2023)

 Pros: Fabulous performances from Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper ground this film which covers the vast majority of Leonard Bernstein's celebrated career though he often expressed longing to compose more scores. His wife, Felicia (Mulligan) also had her own career as she was a stage and television actress in attention to juggling their three children and Leonard's (Cooper's) various affairs, usually with men, often a sticking point in their marriage, though she knew about that going in. Still, Leonard adored his wife and mourned her death until his own more than a decade later. The story is also told in an unconventional way, going from scene to scene almost like a stage play at times. The film is solid from top to bottom and the score is especially good considering Bernstein's one of the best composers of the twenty-first century.

Cons: Unsure as I was sick when I watched this, so I'm not sure if there really is a solid con, though the ending was rather abrupt. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The solid supporting cast includes Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie (as Jerry Robbins) and Miriam Shor. 

-Out of all the children, only Jamie, the eldest, has a solid role, the other two are background dressing.

-Though both are chain smokers, Felicia actually dies of breast cancer, in a very realistic portrayal of the wretched disease. 

-In addition, Leonard does other sorts of drugs. 

-Still, his talent shines through all of his risky behaviors. 

The Iron Claw (2023)

 Pros: Finally, Zac Efron is in a good film with a leading role worthy of showcasing his acting chops. He portrays the only surviving Von Erich brother, in a large wrestling family headed by a father, Jack (Holt McCallany) whose methods are unconventional at best and cruel and abusive at worst. The film deals with a lot of years and the rises and falls of the various brothers and how Kevin overcomes the curse that haunts the family and it certainly haunts them. I don't believe in curses, instead, you have controlling and unsympathetic father who informs his surviving sons not to cry at David's (Harris Dickinson's) funeral as men don't cry. There is also the lovely romance between Kevin and his eventual wife, Pam (Lily James, who again transforms into an utterly realistic character).

Cons: You don't know how Jack comes to be involved in marketing and getting wrestling matches on TV and then you learn much too late in the film at how he's cooking the books when Kevin's money issues come into light. His father threatens to disown him if he sells the business but you don't know if he follows through on that threat, though he probably did, knowing him. The epilogue doesn't mention that the parents, Jack and Doris (Maura Tierney) do eventually get divorced and I feel that you needed that.

Recommend: Probably

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-In reality, there were six Von Erich boys, the film eliminates one of them, who ended up also dying by suicide. 

-Three of the Von Erich boys would die from suicide, though Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) had a foot amputated due to a nasty motorcycle accident and then, Michael (Stanley Simons) suffers a shoulder injury and nearly dies during surgery only to recover with a permanent brain injury. David dies of natural causes undoubtedly caused by constantly being beaten up in the rink. He has a ruptured intestine, which has got to be a dreadful way to go.

-In reality, Kevin and Pam have two daughters first and then their boys though the film indicates the opposite. David's daughter died of SIDS but Kerry had two daughters, one of whom would follow in her father's footsteps into the ring. 

-Pam states that she wants to become a vet and it appears that does happen, based on her scrubs and the amount of dogs crammed into that tiny apartment. 

-It is shocking that Jack would have ever touched the clarinet much less coming close to getting a scholarship to college for music but he gave that up, obviously and doesn't like when his wife brings up that he was ever soft. 

Saltburn (2023)

 Pros: Barry Keoghan gives the performance of his life (so far) as the extremely intelligent Oliver Quick who develops an infatuation with the hot and wealthy Felix (Jacob Elordi) and he eventually worms his way into Felix's family, the vain and shallow Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) and the foolish James (Richard E. Grant) and then there's sister, Venetia (Alison Oliver) who is probably the only decent character in the film. The film is slow moving and semi-unpredictable, though also incredibly bizarre and then comes the last roughly five minutes of the film which confirms (or at least confirmed mine) your suspicions and leaves you wondering if you should watch the film again. 

Cons: Though Promising Young Woman is a revelation, a brilliant piece from Emerald Fennell, this one falls short at packing the same relevant, emotional punch even though it does contain the same sort of twisty ending. Justice is not served in this film and it leaves you hollow.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The set is opulent and over the top.

-The scene and reaction after Felix's body is found is especially disturbing. 

-While eventually the Catton dies off, one by one, the family friend, Farleigh (Archie Madekwe), his fate remains unknown.

-It is never explained how Felix gets away with murdering the whole family, sans James, especially since he tears tubes out of Elspeth's throat.

-The ending is rather rushed. 

-It is also unclear why Oliver lies about his family, other than to gain sympathy but that turns into a disaster. 

-There is also an especially bizarre scene involving Venetia's period blood.

Theater Camp (2023)

 Pros: Filled with quirky, bordering on unrealistic characters, this film's message might have been countless times before, but it remains as effective as ever. Packed with great performances, this film details a dying summer theater camp for those hopeful to make it big time though most just want to feel like they have a place to belong. However, this year, the camp is in danger of folding as the owner, Joan (Amy Sedaris) remains in a coma following a seizure and her son, aspiring business mogul, Troy (Jimmy Tatro) takes over. Troy has no clue about theater or why it matters but his transformation as he watches a show portraying his mother's life, his whole perspective changes and it's wonderful to see. 

Cons: While there are tons of characters with decent arcs and great acting, there are just too many of them, especially the children for them to be truly fleshed out and it also plays it safe, with only minimal drama between the campers. And when Joan wakes up from her coma, she's wide awake instantly, which is beyond unrealistic. Still, overall, the film was incredibly enjoyable.

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-The cast is amazing and most of the main characters also wrote and directed the film: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Caroline Aaron, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham and Ayo Edebiri.

-Edebiri's character turns out to be a talent agent in a failed attempt at a funny plot twist.

-The original show on Joan's life comes together quickly but perfectly.

-Pay attention to the airbnb guest.

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

 Pros: I loved this book when I was younger, now over two decades ago and Kelly Fremon Craig delivers a great adaptation, though yes, liberties are taken, scenes and dialogue cut and the mother's (Rachel McAdam's) role expanded but the result is still great and so many of the themes and scenes are timeless and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret is a true star. The set and acting is flawless.

Cons: Despite some of the scenes being verbatim, plenty remains left out though it does seem to remain insignificant at the end of the day, though I do think a vital scene formally ending things with Nancy (Elle Graham) and Margaret might have been needed. And there is the inconsistency of Herb's (Benny Safdie's) bandaged hand which seems to heal so quickly.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-All the young actors are great and kudos for the realistic diversity.

-This film deals with puberty realistically but doesn't stray from the religious aspect, so important throughout the novel and something that is rarely dealt with so effectively today. 

-Kathy Bates is great as the devoted grandmother who stuck by her son's side.

-Now, most don't put such emphasis on religion, I mean, disowning your child because she married a Jew, that's just ridiculous. 

-Periods suck, I mean, it is great to get yours, at first, but that feeling doesn't last long at all. They're a huge pain. 

May December (2023)

 Pros: This film delivers three of the best performances I've seen in recent memory. Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) is an actress who arrives in the picturesque Savannah, Georgia to meet with and study Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) who is clearly and blatantly based on Mary Kay Letoureau, who had an affair with a teenager while she was in her thirties. Yet, Joe (Charlie Melton) claims that he's not the victim for the vast majority of the film. However, Elizabeth's presence disrupts the delicate family dynamic who may seem happy, but that's only on the surface. The film gently peels the complex layers of this film and Portman delivers one of the best monologues of the year as Gracie. Melton is also a revelation and Moore continues to deliver great performance after great performance.

Cons: While there aren't any true cons, the opening credits are a bit odd and the music is a bit jarring at times, and the nuanced screenplay is just so meta, it's honestly annoying, but with that powerhouse, yet subtle ending, this film will force you to think for hours on end.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The couple's oldest daughter, born behind bars, is ironically named Honor (Piper Curda).

-You have to wonder how Gracie's first husband, Tom (D.W. Moffett) feels that her children with her second husband share his last name. The kids have the hyphenated Atherton-Yoo as their last name.

-The couple clearly had to sell their wedding pictures to pay for that giant house when she's a baker and he's an x-ray technician.

-Also ironically, Gracie has her twins graduating from high school the same year as her eldest grandson. Yeah, that's got to be weird.

-Gracie claims throughout the course of this film that she's both naïve (obviously) but also quite secure. You can't be both. And she's not secure as she comments how brave daughter Mary (Elizabeth Yu) is at wearing a dress that shows her bare arms. She also passes down the tradition of buying her daughters a scale when they graduate from high school, just as her mother did for her. 

-One of Gracies's sons from her first marriage, Georgie (Cory Michael Smith) claims that her brothers sexually molested her when she was a tween, but Gracie adamantly disputes that. Personally, I think that that's very possible, given how she saw nothing wrong with having sex with a thirteen-year-old.

-Another claim of dubious origin is that Joe slept with two other women before her. I can't believe that to be true.

-It is never discussed who raised the children while Gracie was still behind bars and how Joe dealt with fatherhood at such a young age.

-The ending leaves you wondering as Elizabeth insists on filming that crappy seduction scene again as it's starting to feel real. I wonder if this is setting her up to having an affair with the young man portraying Joe in the film, I hope not, because it appears that Elizabeth does actually know right from wrong but she's such a good actress, she's now inhibiting Gracie. 

Rustin (2023)

 Pros: Once again, this film details a hidden part of history, one not taught in schools (or at least not when I was a child, some two decades ago). Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo) is the man who not only comes with the idea of the March on Washington, he is also leading the charge of organizing everything. However, he's a polarizing figure in the NAACP community as he's both a homosexual and a former Communist. Still, thanks to Domingo's mesmerizing performance and tight screenplay, this film is well worth your time.

Cons: Honestly, there isn't a true con with this film either, which is a good thing, as the film is great, with a good score, tight editing and great scenery. I suppose the only nitpick is that you don't know what sort of job Rustin gets after resigning from the NAACP.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes: The supporting cast is great and includes Jeffrey Wright, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald, CCH Pounder, Bill Irwin, Adrienne Warren, Chris Rock (with the gray hairs) and as the indominable Mahalia Jackson, Da'Vine Joy McDonald.

-Johnny Ramey stars as the young preacher Elias Taylor, who struggles with his sexuality as he is married to the lovely Claudia, who starts out as worshipping Rustin but quickly grows toward hatred as her husband's truth comes out. Ramey gives an inspired performance, one worth of an Oscar nomination. 

-Rustin was raised Quaker and preaches non-violence.

-Aml Ameen is Martin Luther King, Jr. 

-Peanut butter and jelly holds up better than cheese. 

-The March on Washington was the largest peaceful march in DC to date, the statistics will not change given the current political climate. 

Past Lives (2023)

 Pros: Essentially a three person drama, this film details the week Nora's (Greta Lee) old childhood friend from Korea, Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) visits New York, complicated by her husband, Arthur (John Magaro). While it is obvious that Hae Sung and Nora are soul mates, she remains faithful and he doesn't push the issue. Sure, the film is a bit melancholy and near maudlin, but it is also mesmerizing and the score is haunting complete with great performances, realistic and authentic. 

Cons: Honestly, there is a true con, even though the film is simple and moves at a snails pace, it is still breathtaking, and except for a bit of Korean curse words, it is also reasonably family friendly.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Nora is a playwright and Hae Sung is some sort of engineer.

-For some reason, Nora's green card is set to expire which is one of the reasons why she marries Arthur as soon as she does.

-In Korea, they have a term for people who randomly meet, believing that they've likely met in their past lives. 

-The ending is haunting, with Nora sobbing into Arthur's shoulders.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

 Pros: This film might deal with a seldom mentioned aspect of American History, one that I never learned about in either high school or college, despite being a history minor, which just proved how incomplete the history books are. Leonardo DiCaprio shines as Ernest Burkhart a World War I vet who goes out of Oklahoma and unwillingly gets intertwined in his uncle's (Robert De Niro's) diabolical and pure evil plan. They live on Native American (referred to a the old-fashioned term Indian throughout the film) land and struck it rich when oil was discovered. While Ernest meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone) on his own, he marries her and then plots to have her sisters killed so all the money will go to him and his children. DiCaprio is a marvel, showing vast range and Gladstone is a revelation. The film might be overstuffed and long but it should be required viewing for high schoolers. The film is top-notch from top to bottom and shows an incredible attention to detail with flawless editing, cinematography, set decoration and score. 

Cons: While the intro is brilliant, what I don't understand is why Mollie had to run by her expenses by an attorney and yes, there are too many characters, especially white men but these are only small problems in an overall brilliant film.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is solid and includes Jesse Plemons and then in near cameo roles Brendan Fraser, Tantoo Cardinal and John Lithgow.

-While Ernest claims that he loves his wife and I certainly think that he does, if he really loved her, he wouldn't poison her with tainted insulin or have her sisters murdered.

-When Ernest hears of his youngest daughter's death, he does breakdown, proving that he has a heart, buried underneath all that greed. 

-While this book is supposed also describe the birth of the FBI, that isn't really detailed in the film though it appears that they are first group to finally succeed in getting to the bottom of what was going on as others tried and failed, due to intervention from Bill Hale (De Niro). 

-Mollie does eventually divorce Ernest and remarries but still dies young due to her diabetes. 

-This cast also includes two singers: Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson in prominent roles. 

Nyad (2023)

 Pros: Despite Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) being a controlling know-it-all, you can't help but root for her. She's strong and unstoppable and refuses to take any shit, though her life was far from easy, her father, whom she admired, walked out on the family and she (along with numerous others) was raped by her swimming coach. And she attempted to swim from Cuba to Miami before and now, she's thirty years older. But she sets out to accomplish her mission, nevertheless and you hope she succeeds. And when she does, you can't help but get emotional.

Cons: While there isn't a true con, this film just isn't as put together as some of the other great films from the summer (see Oppenheimer and Barbie), but fundamentally, it is a solid film and details how much time and far into the swim Nyad is.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Jodie Foster and Rhys Irfans shine in strong supporting roles, as the best friend/coach and navigator respectively.

-Ironically enough, Diana's feat was never ratified and remains uncertified due to 'lack of witnesses' so I guess her team of 40 other people means nothing.

-Mary Oliver is a great inspiration and her childhood was oddly and tragically similar to Diana's. 

-Swimming for anything more than ten minutes is beyond my limited abilities. 

Fair Play (2023)

Pros: Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich are brilliant as Emily and Luke respectively, engaged couple by night, competing analysts by day, keeping their private life a secret at work, as it goes against company policy. Everything goes to shit (basically literally) when Emily gets a promotion and Luke stays her analyst. It is a slow burn but when shit hits the fan, it blows up and you are at the edge of your seat waiting for it to happen. The style is great, with the apartment appearing both sleek and lived in and the score is mesmerizing. Also, shout out to all the period references, we need to continue to normalize this. 

Cons: While there is a lot of cursing (which is my one vice, but this was just too much and unrealistically done), the biggest issue is why exactly Luke was a pity hire by Campbell (Eddie Marsan). It is never fully explained or understood. That being said, the script was still perfectly tight.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-For the record, Luke does rape at Emily in the bathroom at their engagement party. She says stop and he keeps going. He does at least look horrified when she point blank tells him what he did. However, she goes off the deep end, slashing at him with a kitchen knife.

-These analysts are crazy, they drink, go to strip bars and work their butts off, no hobbies are ever mentioned or discussed.

-The gender reversal is cleverly done.

-Luke is a sweet, supportive boyfriend, at first but after Emily uses her own mind, things quickly sour. After her promotion, they only have sex once but before, they can't keep their hands off each other. 

-Despite Luke's love for that firm, once he learned that he wasn't wanted, he should have started looking another job. 

Legends of the Fall (1994)

Pros: This was one of my ex's favorite film and needless to say, I dodged a bullet. This film does have a lot going for it, namely that the Native Americans are treated with true decency, not to mention the fabulous acting, from Brad Pitt (at his hottest as the 'hero' of the film, Tristan Ludlow) and Anthony Hopkins (as the patriarch William Ludlow), not to mention Aidan Quinn's best performance (considering his career didn't really take off after this film) and Julia Ormond (who did have a solid career after this film). The setting is also largely good along with great cinematography and score. 

Cons: Well, the timeless is just trash. Tristan journeys off to recover from his brother, Samuel (Henry Thomas) dying in his arms and though it is explained that he's gone for years, the dates in the narrated letters only indicate that a year and a half has passed since he told Susannah (Ormond) to forget about him, so that's ridiculous. That is probably my biggest problem with the film but it is not one to overlooked or ignored. And the ending is a freeze shot of Tristan's death, which is also just dumb. The ending is sad, and this is a largely a tragic, violent film, though there also that odd love square as Susannah gets all three brothers to fall in love with her, which is no small feat.

Recommend: Depends on the person though Pitt's performance is brilliant

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The aging make-up for Anthony Hopkins is great. He looks the same then as he does today. 

-After the price of cattle drops (for reasons never specifically explained), Tristan turns to bootlegging and that choice ultimately destroys him. This would have occurred during Prohibition though that term is never mentioned throughout the course of the film.

-Alfred (Quinn) feels that he obeyed all the rules of men and God while Tristan followed neither and is loved far more. I disagree with that statement.

-I also didn't understand why Tristan joined the Canadian army in World War I when he never spoke of it before, unlike his brothers.

-Tristan's infant daughter is never named. 

Sliding Doors (1998)

 Pros: You can almost believe that Gwenyth Paltrow is British in real life as she plays a Brit for the second time in a row (or first if this film was released before Shakespeare in Love). We get two different glimpses of her life, one where she manages to catch the Tube and the other where she misses it, and the two alternative lifestyles couldn't be any more different.

Cons: Both men in Helen's (Paltrow's) life are trash. I mean, I do say that a lot, but in this case it is the truth. Gerry (John Lynch) is cheating on her with his ex, Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and she does catch him (eventually) and then the man she ends up, James (John Hannah) seems great, but in reality, he's only separated from his wife and doesn't tell Helen about it. And in both scenarios, Helen suffers a medical situation, miscarriages and tragically in the one scenario, she dies. It's such an awful twist. 

Recommend: Probably not

Grade: B-

Side Notes:

-I do think it's hilarious that Gerry thought he could away with having an affair and Helen wouldn't figure it out.

-Is it better to have experienced happiness and die happy or have to overcome a tragedy just to get to your happy ending?

-Anna (Zara Turner) is the best friend anyone could have ever hoped for.

-When Helen is in the hospital, however, Anna and her family members are nowhere to be found. 

-I do hope Helen gets her happy ending. She certainly deserves it. 

Rocky (1976)

 Pros: While billed as a sports film, it is actually a character study. Lunky Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) might have a rough exterior but is a big softy inside, talks to his goldfish after beating someone up in the ring. He also loves pet shop owner Adrian (Talia Shire) despite the objection of her brother, Paul (Burt Young). While the plot is relatively trite, the acting is solid along with the authentic feel of the film. 

Cons: This is not a sports film. There are only a few training scenes and just two boxing matches in the entire film and Rocky wins his first match, somehow. You don't know how he stops working for the mob and he takes Mickey (Burgess Meredith) back after Mickey kicks him out of the gym. And you don't really know who wins the last, pinnacle boxing match as neither ends up on the ground for the allotted seconds. And it's a shame that this film won the Oscar for Best Picture over All the President's Men, Taxi Driver and Network. All three were far superior than this one.

Recommend: No

Grade: C+

Side Notes:

-Though this film features a prominate black character in Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), he is one-dimensional character, which is such a shame.

-It is endearing at how the whole city wraps themselves around Rocky and supports him.

-We get precious little about Rocky's background and family history. 

-Adrian and Rocky are both animal lovers which is also lovely to see. 

The Bronze (2015)

 Pros: Melissa Rauch shines as the foul-mouthed former gymnast, Hope Ann Greggory. She managed to win an Olympic bronze in the all-around before a career ending injury ruins her career. She's forced to coach up and coming star, Maggie Townsend (Haley Lu Richardson, great) and while she tries to sabotage Maggie at first, she eventually truly helps Maggie even though her methods are a bit odd and unorthodox, but she gets results. While the plot might be tired and true, the acting is great and some of the characters are certainly unique, which keeps this film entertaining.

Cons: The ending where Maggie leaves to train in California with the horrid Lance Tucker (Sebastian Stan) and just forgets her hometown of Amherst, Ohio, is a little odd, especially since she turned him down earlier in the film; that was a bit out of left field for me and ruined an otherwise solid screenplay.

Recommend: Probably, though it is incredibly crass at times

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is solid and includes Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch and Cecily Strong. 

-Hope Ann is a hometown hero and milks that for all its worth.

-I suspected that the suicide note was a fraud and it was. However, Stan (Cole) should have suspected Hope Ann would have found out the truth.

-It's a miracle Maggie didn't fail that drug test with all that pot in her system.

Blue Valentine (2010)

 Pros: Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling disappear into their deeply flawed characters Cindy and Dean respectively. These are real people with typical, grungy jobs. She's an ultrasound technician; he's currently a house painter though his real passion is caring for Cindy and their young daughter, Frankie. The feel of the film is also completely authentic and ever so rare in Hollywood these days.

Cons: So, while I love a love story, this is also the story of how they fall apart. I'd divorce my husband if he shows up at my office, drunk. However, my main issue is Cindy's previous love life. She breaks up with Bobby (Mike Vogel) or at least gives him the cold shoulder before she hooks up with Dean so I don't understand why Bobby is such an asshole and beats up Dean. It is no longer his concern as to who Cindy dates. Maybe I'm missing something, but that whole thing just seemed odd to me. There were definitely some plot holes that needed to be addressed.

Recommend: Maybe, depends on the person

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-The doctor Cindy works for Dr. Feinberg (Ben Shenkman) recommends her for a new, better job and one of his reasons is that he, too, has a crush on her.

-Cindy's father (John Doman) is a wretched human being, calling his wife's dinner slop. I would never trust him with a small child.

-Frankie may or may not be Dean's biological child.

-I find it hard to believe that Cindy started having sex at thirteen and had more than twenty sexual partners before Dean. 

-Smoking is disgusting. I would never date, much less marry a smoker.  

Love Again (2023)

 Pros: The characters are solid, which makes this film almost worthwhile. Mira (Piranyka Chopra Jonas) is still mourning her late boyfriend when she starts texting his phone which are now routed to Rob's (Sam Heughan's) phone. Rob is dealing with his own issues, his fiance's dumped him and he has to write an article on Celine Dion and he doesn't know where to begin. The supporting characters are also solid and the two leads are great with excellent chemistry.

Cons: The plot is thin and the dialogue is incredibly stilted at times and the ending scene which epically romantic needed some additional dialogue to assure Rob that he was her future. And guys on Bumble are not that attractive, I would know.

Recommend: Depends

Grade: B-

Side Notes:

-It is incredible that all scenes featuring Celine Dion were filmed separately, meaning that she was somewhere else filming her scenes while everyone was else was on the set, though if you look closely enough, you really can tell. 

-The supporting cast includes Brits Russell Tovey and Celia Imrie portraying Americans, while Heughan remains British. Celine Dion portrays herself.

-Heughan's character's name of Robert Burns is not by accident.

-Though Mira's sister, Suzy (Sofia Barclay) has a boyfriend who is never shown on screen.

-Who knows if Mira finishes her new assignment for Celine.

-How long was Rob's deadline for writing that article on Celine?

-Nick Jonas (Priyanka's real life husband) plays one of her dates and he's a complete jerk. 

-They kill off Mira's boyfriend by having a car hit him as he was crossing the street which annoyed me as the same thing was done in Me Before You, they could have killed him off differently. 

-I wish this film included some sort of epilogue as I needed a firmer happy ending. 

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)

 Pros: Brilliant acting (even from Jim Carrey) makes this film worth while. The plot line is also relatively solid. Clementine (Kate Winslet) and Joel (Carrey) break up and desperate to move on, Clem has Joel erased from her memory, leading Joel to do the same thing, only his brain tries to fight the procedure. So, ultimately, the beginning is also the ending.

Cons: The odd subplot between Howard (Tom Wilkinson) who invites the mind-erasing procedure and his secretary, Mary (Kirsten Dunst) is just plain-old weird, sure, it's the age gap but the hypocrisy that he insisted she had the procedure done so his marriage wouldn't be ruined, but it proves that love cannot be stopped nor forgotten. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Winslet is a revelation in this film. You forget that she's British and survived the Titanic sinking and ever wore a corset.

-The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood, as the man who tries to replace Joel and cheats to do so.

-The subconscious is a powerful thing.

-The screenplay is truly clever, despite the odd twist toward the end of the film.

-Despite the characters being completely imperfect for each other, they do love each other and make each other better and I'm glad they find their way back together by the end of the film. 

The Last Letter to Your Lover (2021)

 Pros: The acting is solid is this multi-generational love story, with stand-out performances from Shailene Woodley and Felicity Jones. Jenny (Woodley) is faced with a heart-wrenching decision and while everything is improbable, you can feel the pain etched across her face. Jones does well with her contemporary romance which is far more comical. 

Cons: Even though I love a love story, I just felt like the characters were somewhat foolish, risking everything and then just giving up a bit too easily. They were so close to having a happy ending but they just fell short. And Ellie's (Jones's) storyline didn't get the screen time it deserved. 

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Joe Alwyn is Jenny's controlling, slightly abusive husband. While he's good, I'm sick of him always portraying an asshole. 

-The casting of older Jenny (Diana Kent) and Anthony (Callen Turner, then Ben Cross) is great.

-The costumes are also a stand-out feature.

-As this is probably the only Jojo Moyes book I've never read, I don't know if any important scenes are left out.

-We never really learn what Larry's (Alwyn's) job is and if they ever had any feelings for each other.

-Never trust a cheater. 

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

 Pros: I can't believe this film is eighteen years old. Okay, rant over. I find the movie better than the mini series (save for Mr. Darcy). Keira Knightley never disappoints in a costume drama and she embodies the incomparable Lizzie Bennet. She does have excellent support. Sure, the plot is complicated and yes, at the end of the day, rather trivial, but at the same time, it is vital and relevant today. Women needed to marry in order to secure a future, and while money was taken into consideration, true feelings, love and personality are also important. Here, Lizzie falls in love with Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFayden) and he falls in love with her despite it being against his better judgment, largely because her mother (Brenda Blethyn) is a pill but then he grovels and fixes his mistakes (though one wasn't really his mistake) and she comes around, even though he still probably isn't totally worthy of her. Still, everyone ends up happy, at least for now, as there is no way the Wickhams (Jena Malone and Rupert Friend) will remain so, but Jane (Rosamund Pike) and Lizzie are, so I'm happy.

Cons: Despite his solid performance, MacFayden just isn't as hot as the miniseries's Colin Firth. And yes, there are a lot of characters, probably too many for a two hour film, though the script is strong and does a good job with all of them, giving the vast majority of them solid personalities, save poor Charlotte Lucas (Claudie Blakely). She is the spinster in the film and in her personality.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is brilliant, including Carey Mulligan, Donald Sutherland, Simon Woods, Kelly Reilly, Talulah Riley, Penelope Wilton and Judi Dench. 

-I did like some of the details the film included such as how the girls didn't have a governess, Mr. Bennet's actual opinion of Lydia, and all the animals around.

-The scene after Lizzie refuses Mr. Collins's (Tom Hollander's) proposal remains one of the best in the film.

-The time period over which the film occurs remains unclear.

-I do hope the characters have found their happiness, as the Bennet sisters deserve it. 

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

 Pros: A rare intense where the sequel is better than the original. There is actually a (mostly) solid plot and a diverse cast though still most of the main characters remain white men, but I suppose you can't have such a dislikable character as Hangman (Glen Powell) be a minority though he finally has a come-to-Jesus moment in the end, thank goodness. The special effects remain top-notch and the soundtrack is likewise brilliant. This film was far more enjoyable than the original; it also had the benefit of not being dated.

Cons: Okay, it was way too easy for Maverick (another solid performance from Tom Cruise) and Rooster (Miles Teller) to steal the enemy's plane, I mean, come on. And I wish the love story thread between Maverick and Penny (Jennifer Connelly) would have had a more solid ending. Also, Charlie (Kelly McGillis) wasn't even mentioned, which was also ridiculous. We learned what happened to Carole, Charlie deserved the same closure. Also, while this film was great, it didn't deserve an Oscar nomination for Best Picture (but Elvis didn't either).

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The outstanding supporting cast includes Charles Parnell, Ed Harris (in just a few scenes), Jon Hamm, Jay Ellis, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Greg Tarzan Davis and Bashir Salahuddin. 

-Most of the characters aren't lucky enough to get first names; they are only called by their call names.

-Penny has some interesting rules in the bar, which are done to good effect.

-Teller has a good piano playing scene.

-While the mission is a little far-fetched, it is done to good effect. I suspect the mission occurs in North Korea, with all the snow around. 

-Ryan Gosling was robbed; he should have been nominate for an Oscar. Michelle Williams was and it was fully deserved.

Top Gun (1986)

 Pros: The flight scenes are truly spectacular and certainly a highlight of this film, though the soundtrack (despite using a few songs over again) is also solid, if campy. Tom Cruise continued his 80s hot streak with this film and gives a solid performance despite having minimal quality material to work with. While the plot might be slightly trite and overwrought, it still manages to be interesting.

Cons: Despite the solid performances, the cast is just far too many white guys and it does get a bit confusing trying to keep track of everyone. And the dialogue seems canned in places; still, overall the film is largely enjoyable.

Recommend: Maybe, a solid popcorn sort of film

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-While Kelly McGillis gets the guy, I found Meg Ryan to be better in the smaller role of Carole, Goose's (Anthony Edwards's wife). She makes the most of her limited screen time and would go on to have bigger and better roles in better films.

-Maverick's (Cruise's) real name is Pete Mitchell, though its only mentioned about three times in the film.

-Tim Robbins has a very small role but I couldn't pick him out of the crowd.

-Val Kilmer does well with his role of enemy to friend.

-The advice Tom Skerritt gives Maverick after Goose's tragic death is poor as Goose (and any friend) should never be forgotten.

 

Sophie's Choice (1982)

 Pros: Meryl Streep delivers a brilliant performance as Holocaust survivor, Sophie. She's starting to live again in America, dating the charming Nathan (Kevin Kline) and befriending the fledging writer, Stingo (Peter MacNichol), but her past is never far behind, continuing to haunt her every second of every day. She fully deserved her Oscar for her astounding performance. Her accent is authentic and the mechanics of the film are great, including the numbers seemingly lifted directly from a Charlie Chaplin film.

Cons: Despite the brilliance of her performance, I found the film to be well, flat. Nathan is mentally ill which explains his bizarre mood swings and why he's convinced that Sophie is cheating on him. While that was a horrible plot twist, the far bigger one is that Sophie's past is quite different than anticipated. Her father was rounded up by mistake as was her never-on-screen husband. She's arrested for having a lover working for the resistance but her children, while they mean everything aren't even mentioned until she refuses to help the resistance as she doesn't want to endanger them. The climax scene is toward the very end and while dramatic and tragic, it is only one scene with Sophie barely having time to think about which child to save. However, she does make several other choices throughout the course of the film, including the one at the very end when she picks Nathan over Stingo. 

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-We never find out what happened to Sophie's son. We can only hope he survived.

-We don't know how Sophie was liberated (though history tells us it was the Russian troops) nor, more importantly, how she got to America.

-Sophie's job in America is also unclear though it appears she's some sort of Professor's assistant.

-Who knows where Stingo gets his money to afford the room in the boarding house but more importantly, we never learn his real name. 

Wildflower (2023)

 Pros: The acting is great in this film which deals with another marginalized group in Hollywood, the intellectually disabled. Bea, actual name Bambi (Kiernan Shipka) is the teenage daughter of Sharon (Samantha Hyde) and Derek (Dash Mihok) who have issues. Derek was struck by a drunk driver when he was 12 and suffered a traumatic brain injury, leaving him stuck as a 12-year-old for life. Sharon's issues aren't explained as well but its clear that her brain's underdeveloped also. Still, they get married, and despite objections from both parents, they marry and have Bambi, after the fawn from the classic Disney film. Sure, her upbringing is untraditional and her parents make tons of stupid decision (teaching a ten-year-old to drive probably tops the list) but Bea grows into a fully functional high schooler, complete with a snarky but sweet best friend, Nia (Kannon Omachi) and cancer-survivor boyfriend, Ethan (Charlie Plummer) and a decent life. Honestly, probably the main demons are the ones Bea places on herself. Still, the film is a great one though it may not really conquer any new ground, it is still a good story with fascinating characters.

Cons: Honestly, despite some predictability, the story is solid, though the timeline of applying to colleges seems all over the map, especially since Bea continues to apply to colleges even after prom. I also don't understand how the Johnsons are able to keep the house Sharon's disability is cancelled. Still, other than that, overall, the film is solid.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The top-notch supporting cast includes Alexandra Daddario, Reid Scott, Brad Garrett with Jean Smart and Jacki Weaver as Bea's scene-stealing grandmothers.

-Children shouldn't have to take care of their parents.

-Though Bea does plenty for her parents, Ethan does bring up a great point, she didn't change her own diapers.

-This film features a cancer-survivor, another group rarely written for films.

-There is also a minor religious component to this film, to great comedic effect.

-

Oppenheimer (2023)

 Pros: This screenplay was incredibly complex, but J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) was a complex individual, not just professionally but also his love life was bizarre. While his was in love with Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), he ends up impregnating the married Kitty (Emily Blunt) and marrying her, though I doubt it's a happy marriage. While she's supportive of his career, she's also a wretched alcoholic and neglectful mother and previously dabbled with the Communist party, which is a capitol offense in 1950s America. 

In his professional life, he's a hero for developing the bomb, but everything surrounding the circumstances for which it was created changed. It started as the Nazis were developing a bomb so the Americans needed to develop one as well. But then, Germany surrenders and it is used in Japan, to catastrophic effects. Oppenheimer later regrets his involvement, only to find himself fighting for his reputation.

While the screenplay is complicated, the cast is superb, filled with surprise actors in surprise roles, hidden cameos and great acting, and great casting. The mechanics are great, brilliant score, flawless editing and cinematography not to mention the detailed the set. Everything was truly solid about this film and the attention to detail paid off.

Cons: Minor but they need to be mentioned. There are a ton of white guys in this film and honestly, they needed name tags as it was confusing because there were just so many. Also, sometimes the score was so overpowering, lines of dialogue were missed, which cannot happen in a film as complex and multi-layered as this one was.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The brilliant supporting cast includes Robert Downey, Jr, Josh Hartnett (he's still alive!), Casey Affleck (surprise role #1), Jason Clarke, Tony Goldwyn (the man does not age), Rami Malek (surprise role #2), Kenneth Branagh (surprise role #2-scientist Niels Bohr), Tom Conti, Dane DeHaan, Ahren Ehrenreich, David Krumholz, Michael Angrano, Josh Peck, Jack Quaid, Alex Wolff, Gary Oldman (surprise role #4, President Harry Truman) and the always delightful and solid Matt Damon.

-Truman believes Oppenheimer to be a cry-baby.

-The actual reason for Jean's suicide is left up in the air. Perhaps it wasn't suicide after all but murder at the hands of the US government given her communist ties.

-Robert Downey Jr. is the unexpected villain of this film.

-Despite Oppenheimer's hope, the creation of the bomb did not end all wars. Wars remains raging, unfortunately. 

-The last line is haunting. 

-If you liked this film, I would recommend the TV show Manhattan, about the scientists and families who did the work, it's a great show, with a pre-Mrs. Maisel Rachel Broshanan and John Benjamin Hickey.

-I still don't fully understand the science behind the bomb's creation, that's probably a good thing. 

Barbie (2023)

 Pros: From the beginning, a clear but unique take on 2001: A Space Odyssey, this film was going to be something else and it was. From the pink and crystal clear world of Barbieland to the shockingly different real world, this film covers a lot of material and while it is wildly funny, there are plenty of serious parts that cause you to think and feel, which was the film's clear intent. Margot Robbie is brilliant as stereotypical Barbie (yes, basically all of the women in Barbieland are named Barbie) save for the pregnant Midge (Emerald Fennell) and Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) and all the men are named Ken, except for Alan (Michael Cera), who is Ken's discontinued friend. Likewise, Midge was also discontinued. 

The film kicks in gear when Barbie starts to question her basic existence and then enters the real world to right the world only to have everything go completely awry. Ken (Ryan Gosling) comes with her and they both discover how different the real world is. It empowers Ken and saddens Barbie and when she returns to Barbieland with Mattel employee, Gloria (the brilliant America Ferrara) and her sullen tween daughter, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) in tow, the world is upside down, with the men in charge and the place basically an old Western film. Women have been stripped of their power and seem thrilled. Fortunately, thanks to Gloria's empowering speech which highlights have difficult the world is for women to navigate, especially after having children, the women spring to life and take back their power, but at least they're willing to compromise and give men some smaller roles in government. And Barbie decides to enter and stay in the real world just so she can have an ending even if she doesn't know what it will be, forcing us to think about what is actually better, finally living a life even if it is unpredictable, filled with ups and downs, good and bad or choosing the simple and predictable, knowing you're secure in your future.

Cons: Despite the comedic efforts and great cast, it is confusing that most of the characters have the same name and there is a great cast but with so many characters, it is hard to differentiate them which is unfortunate. And while the last line is hilarious, it is also open-ended and I would have liked to know far more about Barbie's new life in the real world. Hopefully, there are some deleted scenes to fill in the blanks.

Recommend: Yes, absolutely, 100%

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The supporting is great and Simu Liu should have gotten higher billing. There's Helen Mirren as the narrator, and then smaller roles and cameos from Dua Lipa, John Cena, Alexandra Shipp, Issa Rae (as Madam President), Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Emma Mackay and Will Ferrell. 

-Barbieland is bizarre as there are no actual liquids or stairs, you just float from one floor to another.

-Ken's role is simply beach.

-You almost feel sorry for Ken as he needs Barbie's attention to live and have a purpose. Hopefully, he does better. 

-No one kisses throughout the course of this film. While it was good that Barbie and Ken don't end up together, it was also a missed opportunity.

-There are a few great musical numbers. 

-Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach hit a home run with this screenplay.

-I am completely willing to start America Ferrara's campaign for Best Supporting Actress for all the awards. 

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pros: Solid acting leads this sort of bizarre and tragic film as many characters die or something super bizarre happens to them. Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) survive jumping some foolish drug dealers who thought they could rip off their boss, Marcellus (Ving Rhames), an accidental killing in their car, then a diner hold-up before Jules decides to leave the business just because he survives some gunshots that should have killed him. Vincent continues on, nearly causing Marcellus's wife, Mia (Uma Thurman) to overdose before he's shot coming out of the bathroom. Only some characters get the ending they deserve.

Cons: Despite the brilliance of this film and relatively diverse casting, none of these characters (save maybe Mia and Fabienne (Maria de Medeiros) are actually good characters with decent morals though both of them are with men who are abusive, Marcellus to others, Butch (Bruce Willis) is verbally abusive to Fabienne. Yet, the film remains a masterpiece.

Recommend: Though there is a lot violence, physical abuse and drug use, yes, though it should come with a trigger warning.

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The best scene, bar none, is the dancing scene in the odd 50s diner with Vincent and Mia.

-The rape scene is the most disturbing, of course. 

-Butch does get his watch back, killing Vincent in the process.

-Also, you should always take your weapon with you to the bathroom.

-It is theme of something happening while Vincent goes to the bathroom.

-We never really learn what is in Marcellus's briefcase. It is part of the mystery. 

Mrs. Brown (1997)

 Pros: A solid film about a time in Queen Victoria's (Judi Dench's) life after the death of her beloved Prince Albert, when one of his former groomsmen, John Brown (Billy Connelly) arrives to care for Queen Victoria's horses. While he respects her, unlike the rest of the staff, he refuses to treat her with kid gloves. Though he comes off gruff and insensitive, he soon becomes one of her most trusted advisors, causing rumors to swirl around about the true nature of their relationship. 

The acting is solid, with a largely unknown cast and while the opulence is still there, it isn't as overdone as in the Bridgerton series, which makes the film more realistic.  

Cons: While the titled Mrs. Brown, after the Queen, John Brown is actually the film's main character and Connelly delivers a great performance. Dench is great but overall, she has too little screen time. There are also too many jumps in time and odd scene jumps; Still, the film manages to be solid.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Judi Dench's real-life daughter, Finty Williams, has a cameo as one of Queen Victoria's daughters. 

-I do think it is rude when Mr. Brown refers to the Queen as woman.

-Gerard Butler has a small role as Archie Brown, John Brown's younger brother.

-Prince Albert (the son) hates the power John Brown has over the Queen and hires goons to beat him up. He's a fool feeling that would work for a native Scotsman. 

-Dench does write with her left hand, as Queen Victoria, was left-handed; however, she does everything else with her right, such as eating. 

Gravity (2013)

 Pros: Despite the simple and quite frankly only moderately realistic story, the film feels real, with a painstakingly realistic performance from Sandra Bullock who makes you feel like she could be the next woman in space. The set is fantastic, set thousands of miles above Earth and the camera work is out of this world (pun intended!) so the film is a visual masterpiece and while the ending is simple it is also incredibly epic. 

Cons: The dream scene is a bit bizarre and yes, while it is probably realistic that the Russians would launch a missile which would set a ricochet and cause the deaths of so many innocent lives in space, I found it odd that everything went from being alright to nuclear in a matter of seconds. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-It is unclear of the time frame of this film but Ryan Stone (Bullock) never drinks, eats or goes to the bathroom during the course of this film.

-The amount of hurdles she has to overcome is insane, a fire and lack of fuel are just a few of them.

-George Clooney does die about halfway through the film and yet we know so little about his character.

-Ryan's daughter dies after tripping while playing tag and hitting the hard ground beneath her, I find that, while possible, an unrealistic albeit tragic way to kill a small child.  

Fanny (1961)

 Pros: Playing like a tame harlequin romance, this film doesn't really have anything new or interesting or even a twist on the classic boy gets girl pregnant and leaves to pursue his dreams, leaving his child to grow up with a different parent. Fanny (Leslie Caron) insists that Marius (Horst Buchholz) gets on the ship to sail the world because she doesn't want him to come and regret staying behind with her; however, when he discovers the truth, he is likely equally as livid. Given that this is 1950s coastal France, Fanny ends up marrying the older but wealthy Panisse (Maurice Chevalier) who is thrilled about the baby, never mind that it isn't even his. Still, the performances manage to be delightful enough to carry this semi-dated film.

Cons: I suppose the trite plot doesn't exactly do the film any favors, though comedy is sprinkled throughout. The cinematography is also incredibly dated, despite being nominated for an Oscar at the time and yes, I find it unbelievable a bit gross given the age gap (at least four decades) between Fanny and Panisse. 

Recommend: Maybe, depends on who's asking

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Leslie Caron is nearly thirty when she portrays the eighteen-year-old Fanny, who does age about ten years throughout the course of the film.

-Fortunately, this film does contain a happy ending though I wish it would have included a solid epilogue as opposed to one that was just implied.

-This film is slightly edgy for a 1961 film, using the word pregnant and having a show girl in just a bra as her blouse. 

-Charles Boyer, as Marius's father, Cesar, earned the Oscar-nomination here and yes, he does solid work but so does Chevalier. 

-Buchholz's ascent is basically non-existent in the film which is bizarre as everyone has a French accent which makes sense as the film takes place in France. 

To Leslie (2022)

 Pros: This film has a truly real feel, despite some plot gaps, but it is authentic. You feel like you're in that gritty, roadside motel rather than a Hollywood lot which is also great to have. The performances are also solid, if a bit stereotyped from the alcoholic titular Leslie (Andrea Riseborough, Oscar-nominated) to the too kind manager, Sweeney (Marc Maron) to the diversity character, portrayed as being slightly mentally disturbed Royal (Andre Royo). Still, at least there were feelings and motivations behind the characters. 

Cons: Sure, I mean I suppose it's typical for lottery winners to blow their money and end up in poverty, but I doubt any of them had such a large downfall as Leslie, basically homeless and she abandons her beloved son. And while she is judged horribly for it, especially by Nancy, her nasty sister-in-law (Allison Janney), they seem to forget that it appears Leslie tried to help everyone and spread her winnings too thin. And it's clear that they know Leslie has a drinking problem but no one ever offers to take her to rehab (though I doubt they'd have the funds) or even an AA meeting, which is just bizarre to me. Besides, Nancy has her own drinking problems. 

Recommend: Honestly, unsure

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Owen Teague continues to deliver great work as Leslie's son, disgusted that she constantly picks alcohol over him and livid that she stole money from his roommate for her dirty habit.

-It is shocking how quickly Leslie, Sweeney, and Royal get that diner up and running.

-Leslie's road to recovery is a bit of an odd one, but she does show a lot of willpower as she even orders alcohol at a bar and just stares at it. Despite everyone being against her recovery, save for Sweeney, she doesn't relapse. 

-In the end, Leslie stops drinking for her son and though it takes a while, James does eventually re-enter her life. 

The Defiant Ones (1958)

 Pros: Solid acting leads a great film, with a groundbreaking screenplay. Noah (Sidney Poitier) and Joker (Tony Curtis) are strapped together as they escape a work detail after a devastating car accident. They hate each other, don't understand each other but are forced to work together and rely on each other's strengths to survive, though thanks to the Hayes Code, it is all for naught. Still, the acting is great and the screenplay is solid enough to carry the film.

Cons: This film hasn't really aged well given the language used and the only female role in the film, the farmer's wife (Cara Williams) while well-acted, she's horny and falls in love with the first man she sees in months, Joker. She's cruel to Noah and only cares about escape, forgetting even about her own son. So her entire character is a giant problem. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Both Curtis and Poitier were Oscar-nominated for this film and likely canceled each other out, failing to win.

-The little boy ends up shooting Joker, I suppose he gets away with it in the long run.

-Both men have their opportunity to escape, Joker in a car, Noah on a train, but they give up that up to stay with the other.

-I believe the film takes place in Kentucky where racism was still very much present. 

-Despite all the rain and puddles the men jump into, somehow they still have dry, usable matches and cigarettes. I just don't understand. 

Daisy Jones and the Six: the TV Series; Recap and Reaction

 Normally I would detail the pros and cons of this show but because I've read the book and found it delightful (despite containing basically the same twist of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo), I will instead inform you of why the book is better and everything the show did wrong.

First of all, the band is supposed to have six members which is how they come up with that as a band name but the show eliminates one of the players substituting Camila (Camila Morrone) as the sixth. The show also glosses over or doesn't include the band's middle album which helps them get back on track after Billy's (Sam Claflin's) stint in rehab. The show eliminates Camila's and Billy's twins, though that can be explained because they move up the timeline by two years. The show has the band's last concert in October 1977 while the book has it in July/August 1979, so the timeline is more condensed for no particular reason or explanation.

However, the biggest and most disappointing difference is how this show portrays Billy's relationship with Daisy Jones (Riley Keough). Sure, there is a smoldering quality to their attraction in the book, combined with both of them having addiction issues and talent to spare but Billy doesn't go as far as he does in the series, and even their interviews in which they intend to destroy each other are done better in the book. In fact, basically all the scenes are done better in the book. 

Here, Camila leaves Billy and he tries (and eventually succeeds) in winning her back while in the book, Camila tells Daisy she needs to leave the band as Billy would never leave Camila for Daisy. The book also kills Camila off from lupus not cancer as its implied in the show. Camila's a completely different character in the show than the book, the other characters less so. 

Despite my numerous problems, there are actually a few parts the show gets right, including the essence of Graham's (Will Graham's) and Karen's (Suki Waterhouse's) relationship. The show may have introduced Caroline and done Karen's pregnancy reveal differently, but at least they dealt with the pregnancy's conclusions and reactions the same way, though it should have emphasized Karen's main reason for getting the abortion was Graham refusing to give up his life to raise a baby. 

I know I'm largely bashing the show which is such a shame. I don't like doing this but the actors (and the show was well acted as the roles are juicy ones) deserve so much better and Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author, deserves so much better as do the readers who adored the book (of which I am including myself). 

Still, the music is great and the acting is superb, with great chemistry among all of them, each actor filling the screen with natural performances and they largely capture the time period flawlessly, which Amazon has always excelled at; it's just a shame that they changed so much of the book and needlessly ruined parts of the story. Grade: B

Side Notes: 

-Suki Waterhouse previously portrayed Sam Claflin's wife in 2014's Love, Rosie. 

-The show also gives Daisy a daughter (of unknown origin) while the book mentions her a adopting a couple of boys. 

-While Warren (Sebastian Chacon) does mention (at the end) that he misses signing tits but while mentioned in the book, the show doesn't describe the time that happened to him as he was thrilled to bits about whole thing. 

-The show also has original member Chuck (Jack Romano) becoming a dentist while he actually dies in Vietnam. 

Almost Famous (2000)

 Pros: A solid cast leads this film which manages to take something overwrought and put a different twist on things. Patrick Fugit leads as the young William Miller, a talented young man who loves music and jumps at the chance to interview and tour with his favorite band, Stillwater, led by charismatic but aloof frontman and occasionally cruel, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). Plenty of other interesting characters fill the film from top to bottom, and yes, there are a few twists and turns, but ultimately, everything works out in the end, which is good as everyone deserves a happy ending. 

Cons: Consent is important, people. How many times do I have to say it? Sure, William never said no when the girls climbed on top of him but you knew he wanted his first time to be different. And when Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) is drugged out of her mind, he seizes the opportunity and kisses her (fortunately, that was all), but that still wasn't cool as she wasn't in a position to consent. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The stand outs from this impressive would have to be Hudson and Frances McDormand, William's college professor mother who is also incredibly overprotective but is also the only one who has the balls to stand up to Russell. Both were Oscar-nominated for their work here.

-Zooey Deschanel is Anita, William's flight attendant sister. 

-Philip Seymour Hoffman is William's mentor, of sorts.

-The film works out too well as Russell admits that he lied and the magazine believes him so William's article can be published in its unaltered, brilliant form. While it was needed, I can't believe that the magazine would decide that now Russell is being honest and go with the story. 

-I can't believe that Penny had all those different outfits with her, I mean, where in the world did they all come from?

-The soundtrack is also a sound-out here. 

-It is a shame that Kate Hudson hasn't found a role this good since. 

Primal Fear (1996)

 Spoilers Ahead!!

Pros: This screenplay is tight, filled with twists and turns, some which I picked up on, others I did not. And while I didn't find the sex tape shocking, back then, before the amount of scandals broke, it was pretty mind-binding. Marty Vail (Richard Gere, in probably his best performance that I've seen) is a hotshot attorney who likes gambling with the future of others and now, he's taken on a high-profile murder suspect, young Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton, brilliant), accused of viciously murdered a much-beloved archbishop. The sex tape is only one of the twists as the archbishop is a lot shadier than anticipated and the district attorney, John Shaughnessy (John Mahoney) isn't a good guy either. So while there is a lot going on, the screenplay interweaves most of it beautifully and the acting is top-notch with a stellar cast. Once Richard Gere realizes the cold, hard truth, he realizes that winning isn't everything. He's a shell of his former self. 

Cons: Despite the solid screenplay, there are holes, such as why does no one try to find Linda Forbes (not really shown on screen), the alleged girlfriend of Aaron who also participated in the heinous sex videos, and why is there the line that altar boys keep disappearing? And we don't have enough information on Aaron's background, including whether or not he was raised Catholic, vital important as he couldn't have been an altar boy without being one. Still, the film is worthwhile, albeit sad and depressing. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is brilliant with Alfie Woodward as the cold-hearted judge but she is ultimately fair, France McDormand as the neurologist who diagnoses Aaron, Andre Baugher and Maura Tierney as Marty's team, Laura Linney as his ex-girlfriend and defense attorney.

-Tony Plana, before his Ugly Betty days and Joe Spano, before his NCIS days have cameos here.

-Janet (Linney) has the great line of her previous relationship with Marty, "It was a one-night stand, it just lasted six months." She wasn't wrong. Still, he does care about her.

-Another underdeveloped thread is the news article about Marty, which sort of fades rapidly into to background. 

-I wonder if they actually arrest Alex (Jon Seda), Aaron's friend, and if so, for what? 

-Aaron is a true villain, being able to convincedly act like he actually have two distinct personalities when that is actually a lie. The effort it must take to act like someone not true to yourself must be exhausting. 

Blinded by the Light (2019)

 Pros: An enjoyable little film comprised of a cast of largely unknown actors, this film would likely make The Boss proud, as his words inspire the son of an immigrant from Pakistan nearly halfway across the world. The acting was solid and I always like a film with a happy ending. 

Cons: Despite being utterly delightful, with great acting, I just felt like it was re-hashing tons of plots that have been done before, albeit never in this exact way, with Javed (Viviek Kaira) rebelling against his strict immigrant father, Malik (Kulvinder Ghir) in all the traditional ways before finally being forced to reconcile at the strict request of his mother, Noor (Meera Ganatra). And his friend, Roops (Aaron Phagura) is great in his few scenes before disappearing for a good portion of the film and then reappears just when he's needed, and he was a great character. I did feel that so many of the characters were painfully undeveloped, which is just a crying shame as they all had so much potential. 

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Dean-Charles Chapman (from 1917) shines as Javed's British friend, Matt, who is both supportive and demanding of Javed. Even though he's in a band, you never actually hear them play. 

-Hayley Atwell is the supportive teacher or adult figure a film like this always needs.

-Nell Williams is the required love interest though she is great in her few scenes as someone who has a cause, trying to stand out while Javed is desperate to fit in. 

-Ripping up concert tickets is stupid as you can make more money back if you resell them later.

-I can't imagine loving anyone so much that I would see them 150 times. 

Quiz Show (1994)

 Pros: Solid acting and a good base plot make this film memorable and important. Before Jeopardy!, there was 21, another game show where two competitors are pitted against each other each in their own soundproof booth, unaware of how the other is doing. But the show is rigged. While the two main contestants, Herbert Stempel (John Turturro) and Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) are certainly intelligent, some of the questions are incredibly difficult and they are being fed the questions and subsequent answers and Herbert is even told to purposely get one question incorrect because he's not a likeable hero. But he doesn't take defeat well, feeling like NBC has betrayed him which they did and they betrayed the trust of the American public. 

Cons: Despite the great true-life story, the young, hotshot but ethical attorney, Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow) is unable to take down television to his chagrin. It would have been nice to know the public's opinion of Charles Van Doren, after the truth is revealed as Columbia does ask (rightfully so) for his resignation. He was a huge heartthrob but after he admits that he doesn't actually know everything, who knows what happens in the public's eye. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes: 

-The great supporting cast includes David Paymer as the executive who refuses to throw NBC under the bus, Hank Azaria, Christopher McDonald as the show's charismatic host, Mira Sorvino, as Richard's equally ethical wife and Paul Scofield as Charles's academic father, furious that his son fooled the public, sullying the family name but nevertheless, stands by and supports him as the truth is finally revealed.

-We never learn what Herbert's occupation was before he appeared on the show.

-The other game show contestant, James Snodgrass (Douglas McGrath) is the one who holds the smoking, mailing the questions to himself before the show actually aired, but he refused to get an answer wrong on purpose, leaving the host surprised. It's a shame that we don't learn more about James.

-No minorities even have a speaking part in this film which is unfortunately realistic for the time period. Even the female contestant who ends up beating Charles is referred to as Mrs. Vivienne Nearing (Grace Phillips). 

 

Air (2023)

 Pros: A solid cast leads this film. Despite knowing the outcome (more or less), the screenplay is solid, detailing how Nike catered to Michael Jordan (barely shown on screen) and his family, including his powerhouse mother, Deloris (the always lovely and brilliant Viola Davis) all to save their basketball division. And thanks to the clever and quick thinking of Deloris, insisting that Nike give Michael a percentage of the profits from the shoes bearing his name which only makes sense as they would be making money off his name and yet, this wasn't common practice in the 1980s, and honestly, it may still not be today. 

Cons: Honestly, while I love a good epilogue, explaining what happened to the main characters, this one went on a little long and I would have liked to have seen or heard Michael's actual opinion on Nike and what finally got him to change his mind as he was an Adidas man, the second main sneaker which controlled the industry, but he nevertheless changed his mind and the rest, they say, is history. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The all-star cast includes Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans and Chris Tucker, all of whom are great.

-Chris Messina has an especially great scene in which he threatens to destroy Matt Damon, not that that comes to fruition. 

-Julius Tennon, Viola Davis's real life husband, portrays her screen husband, James Jordan.

-Why do NBA shoes need to be 51% white?

-Ironically, Nike eventually would buy Converse which was the most popular sneaker brand in 1984. 

A Man Called Otto (2022)

 Pros: This film got me feeling all the feels despite the trite plot, I was in tears at the end as it was just so touching. Otto Anderson (first Truman Hanks, then Tom Hanks) thrives with his routine and can't deal with idiots. While he comes across cross and nasty, he's deeply grieving his wife so he has no room for anything else. But at least he has a ton of neighbors who won't let him get away with that crap. And despite the fact that he tries to kill himself in various ways, the universe keeps telling him to stay alive. The acting is great, filled with realistic characters and despite Hanks being the only major actor, this is truly an ensemble piece, with everything pulling their own weight.

Cons: You never learn how the condo company learns about the health issues of the developments elderly residents though you strongly suspect that it is something illegal, access to their medical records which cannot be legal. And while it is touching that neighbors care about each other so deeply, I can't see it being super realistic, unfortunately as it is part of why this film is so effective.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Mariana Trevillo shines as Marisol, Otto's new neighbor who is ten months pregnant throughout the film but only she manages to get through Otto's armor. She's also the only one he doesn't think is even a little bit of an idiot by the film's end.

-Mack Bayda is a transgender former student of Otto's beloved wife, Sonya (Rachel Keller), but he also plays an important part of Otto's life as well.

-Otto did have to deal with immense tragedy, his wife became paralyzed and they lost their unborn child due to a nasty bus accident. 

-Otto believes that Chevys are the best. I wonder if they contributed any money to the film's budget for being advertised that way. 

Money Monster (2016)

 Pros: This is a tight screenplay which plays out almost in real time as a cable news network's show is hijacked by a disgruntled loser who laid all his bags in one basket which has just blown up in his face. So what does he decide to do? Rant about it on the internet, no that's too mundane. Instead, Kyle Budwell (Jack O'Connell) threatens to shoot and blow up the host, Lee Gates (George Clooney) who steered him in the wrong direction, though as it turns out, the investment shouldn't have gone wrong, but rather, the company's owner makes dangerous gambles with the money of others. The thrill factor is huge and the acting is great with a top-notch cast. 

Cons: While the twist is supposed to be epic, I found it somewhat predictable though it did take me a little while to put everything together, after all, the company's owner is MIA for more than half of the film. And there is no way in the world a live broadcast would be able to get away with the language used, despite the intimate threat of death.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Dominic West does well as the bad guy oblivious that everyone is on to him.

-Catriona Balfe is the COO who changes her mind about her boss partway through the film.

-Kyle's pregnant girlfriend is a force to be reckoned with. While her rant did nothing to diffuse the situation, she spoke her mind and called him out for being an idiot, which is the truth. She was probably the best character despite having barely two minutes of screen time.

-Julia Roberts is solid albeit semi-wasted as Lee's long-suffering but brilliant director. She's probably the smartest person in the room.              

Lady Chatterly's Lover (2022)

 Pros: Here, we have an epic love story that finally ends in a happy ending or as happy as possible ending, with Connie Reid Chatterly (The Crown's Emma Corrin) finally being reunited with her lover, gamesman Oliver Mellors (Jack O'Connell). But they are not free to marry as neither of their previous spouses will grant them a divorce, dooming their child to an illegitimate existence. Still, despite this issue, this is a couple you can't help but root for, with their somewhat contemporary ideals and yearning to do some good in the world still reeling from World War I. 

Cons: You don't really have a good grasp of Connie's background, especially her relationship with her father who encourages her to stay in a platonic marriage for her protection and financial stability. We also don't understand why Bertha (never shown on screen) won't divorce Oliver, though it is likely so she can suck his war pension dry. However, why would her new lover be okay with that? 

Recommend: Yes, though there are a lot of sex scenes and nudity

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Joely Richardson's Mrs. Bolton is a surprise ally.

-Rumors do spread at a shocking rate in this small-knit community.

-Matthew Duckett is the husband in this film and while he and Connie start out very much in love, after the war and his devastating injury, he takes advantage of her and is determined to use his God-given right as being born in the elite to rule over the lower class, unaware of how the workers might feel. In other words, while he is worthy of some sympathy, he is also a royal jerk. 

-Despite encouraging Connie to have a child with another man, it has to be the right man and Oliver doesn't fit that description. Apparently, having an heir is quite important. 

-Children do always suffer for the sins of their parents, unfortunately. 

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

 Pros: A solid plot with good performances make this film worth your while as Maggie (Hilary Swank) longs to be a fighter, something far more than the white-trash waitress she is and eventually she wears down veteran but timid trainer, Frank Dunn (Clint Eastwood, complete with a grizzled voice) into training her and she does well, very well, though hardly anyone cares, certainly not her overweight, welfare-loving mother (Margo Martindale). With a solid narration by Scrap (Morgan Freeman), this film is not just about a woman boxer beating the odds, it also details Frankie's difficult decision to end Maggie's life after her career-ending injury, leaving her at the mercy of a ventilator, completely paralyzed, thanks to that darn stool. And it doesn't shy away from that controversial issue.

Cons: The subplot of all the other guys in the gym (including Danger {Jay Baruchel} who has an intellectual disability) is painfully underdeveloped, though the film's biggest sin is you never learn the actual outcome of the fight and if the opponent, Billie (Lucia Rijker) is punished or even feels any guilt over what happened with Maggie. You also never learn how much money Maggie earns from her fights. You also never learn what happened between Frankie and his daughter. 

Recommend: Probably

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Maggie's family really show their true colors after her injury; how money-hungry they really are.

-There are some other solid supporting performances from Anthony Mackie, Mike Coulter and Michael Pena. 

-Both Swank and Freeman would win Oscars for this film and both deliver natural, solid performances.

-By the end of the film, despite all his reluctance, Frankie views Maggie as his surrogate daughter.

-I'm glad that Maggie never gets a love interest throughout this entire film, it's a refreshing change of pace. 

She Said (2022)

 Pros: A timely story with solid performances fill this film which does jump around and has a lot of ground, both literally and figuratively as Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) have a lot of women to track down, mountains of evidence to discover and explore all to expose a man who has the entire Hollywood community at his fingerprints as everyone bows down to him as though he's a God, treating the women he destroys along the way as fools and scapegoats. While the film is a little long, you wish it was longer, you wish you had more details on how utterly wretched this man actually was. The performances are tight and shows most of the characters in multiple ways as Megan becomes a mother early in this film and Jodi already is one. It also shows the fear that still lives strongly in these women decades after the abuse was over and does a good job of referring to both the famous and lowly, all of whom were victimized in the same way, though only Ashley Judd appears in person.

Cons: Honestly, not really any, though the plot does have some skips in time to get everything in as tightly as possible and yes, you wish that you could get the reactions of others (from the women mentioned to supports of Weinstein to the random moviegoers across the county), but these are minor details in an otherwise great film.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is solid, if largely white (save Andre Baugher and Angela Yeoh) include Patricia Clarkson, Samantha Morton (great) and Jennifer Ehle.

-You learn a good amount of the details and power behind NDAs and how they don't protect the victim in the slightest. Also, long story short, never sign one as they take away your voice.

-While the husbands of Megan and Jodi play important roles, they are very much secondary characters as you don't ever learn what their jobs are. 

-This film would be a good companion piece for Bombshell or All the President's Men, proving the investigative journalism is not dead and can never die. 

Empire of Light (2022)

 Pros: Despite the relatively simple plot and largely unknown cast, this film is memorizing. Hilary (Olivia Colman) is a mentally unstable theater supervisor who befriends and has a wild affair with her young co-worker, Stephen (Micheal Ward). Each have their own demons, not to mention a vast age gap. Hilary has a mental illness and Stephen deals with the vile racism in 1981 coastal England. It is a gentle story but one worth watching.

Cons: In addition to the mutual attraction between Hilary and Stephen, she is initially engaged in an affair with the theater owner, Donald Ellis (Colin Firth), despite him being married. However, after her breakdown and subsequent stay in a mental ward, he has moved, for unclear reasons. While that needed to happen as Hilary needed to return to the theater, it was too convenient for him to have left. Still, other than that, the screenplay (from director Sam Mendes himself) is top-notch.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Of course despite Hilary being a solid character, constantly pissed off and misused by men, I was rooting for Stephen to end up with Ruby (Crystal Clarke, Georgiana from Sandition) his first love, emotions clearly written all over his face.

-It is always hilarious when two people try to keep their relationship a secret and they such a bad job of it that their co-worker can't help but two and two together. 

-Films about the love of movies are always great; a better example is the brilliant 1989 Italian film Cinema Paradiso. 

-Toby Jones's character can't even remember why he left his son so therefore it mustn't have been for a good reason. 

Women Talking (2022)

 Pros: A taunt screenplay from director Sarah Polley and brilliant acting lead the way with a plot that is sadly becoming commonplace as a group of Mennonite women gather to discuss how to deal with the men of their colony who rape them en masse. It is disturbing especially since the men try to normalize everything and even rationale everything, telling the women that everything is in their heads. Each character is unique and perfectly acted; however, with so many good performances, the women probably cancelled each other out at the Oscars, leaving this film with a pitiful amount of nominations, though it deserved a lot more.

Cons: Seriously, you're going to cast three-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand in such a small role? She has literally three minutes of screen time and only about two lines, plus some great stern looks. That's it. The actress, film and viewer all deserve better.

Recommend: Yes but this film should come with a trigger warning.

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Their are brilliant performances from both the established and unknown including Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Ben Whitshaw, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy, Liv McNeil, Michelle McLeod and August Winter.

-As the lone man, August (Whitshaw) is the schoolteacher who loves Ona (Mara) and is the only literate one present.

-Yes, that's right, the women albeit incredibly well-spoken, they are uneducated and cannot read or write.

-The tender love story between Ona, pregnant with her attacker's child and August is incredibly sweet though it cannot be.

-In the end the women decide to leave, while August stays behind, tasked with the impossible mission to educate the young boys to make better decision.

-The transgender character of Nettie/Melvin (Winter) is portrayed surprisingly well for women sequestered from the rest of the world. 

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

 Pros: Naomi Ackie gives a brilliant performance, covering nearly thirty years of Whitney's life, from her life as a high schooler/gospel singer, singing backup for her famous mother, to being discovered by Clive Davis (Stantley Tucci, solid), from her doomed from the start marriage to Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) to her tragic descent into drugs which subsequently ruin her career but more importantly, her exquisite voice. The film plods along pretty quickly and spares no expense, perfectly re-creating some iconic moments, but Ackie is worth watching.

Cons: Despite the film covering so much, you don't really understand why Whitney wants a husband and family, which is key as that decision drives her to leave her girlfriend, the solid and ethical Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams). Instead, she opts to marry Bobby, who openly cheats on her and is the person I blame for her downfall, though her father, John (Clarke Peters) also shoulders a large part of the blame, using her talent as his own personal vending machine. 

Recommend: Probably

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Despite Whitney's massive wealth, she's always broke because her father starts a company and passes out corporate credit cards as though they are candy. Yikes.

-Whitney's brothers are mentioned only once along with her father's second wife.

-Tamara Tunie is great as Whitney's mother who is living to this day.

-For a biopic, Whitney only has two love interests.

-Pay attention to the fan who leaves Whitney his pen. The role is so small I don't even know who portrays her sneaky drug dealer. 

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

 Pros: A simple plot, detailing how important a mere bicycle is to a poor Italian family, struggling to stay afloat in the post-World War II era economy. Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) needs it for his good new job, but it is stolen on his first day and then he sets out in nearly a blind-rage to find it, making foolish, rash decisions along the way, ignoring his son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola, great), not even realizing Bruno's falling into a puddle. The plot is simple but brilliant and the acting, most of which is done by non-professionals is utterly heart-wrenching and makes this film a must-see.

Cons: Some of the dialogue is dated and there are some jarring and inconsistent editing cuts but those are minor details in one of the best films of all time.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes:

-Antonio's wife, Maria (Lianella Careli) is long suffering, but supportive, immediately selling the sheets to get her husband's bicycle back. 

-While Antonio is upset that his wife goes to the fortune-teller, he nevertheless goes the next day to unsatisfactory results.

-Despite his inner turmoil, Antonio tries to steal a bike himself, but is caught. If only that many had been around to help him get his bike back. Fortunately, the bike owner takes pity on him and doesn't press charges, leaving Antonio, to return home, utterly defeated and in despair.

-While there might only be one thief, there is also the look-out so yes, the title, Bicycle Thieves, is the most accurate one. 

Everything, Everywhere All at Once (2022)

 Pros: Flawless acting from Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan make this film worth your time as they are the same person, but several different version of the same person and make each one utterly believable. The film mechanics are also brilliant, from the setting and mise-en-scene (aka aesthetics), make-up, costumes and editing, everything is top notch in a film that must have been difficult to piece together. 

Cons: I might be in the minority and based on the others in the theater, I certainly am, I found the film confusing (multi-verses normally are) and honestly, it was just too weird for me, though I did like the happy (I guess?) ending, with the family all back together though I'm not too sure how they can be whole after everything their alter egos did in the other worlds. 

Recommend: Honestly, probably not

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Jamie Lee Curtis earns her first Oscar-nomination for this film as the IRS auditor and while she's memorable in her brief role, Hsu is far better.

-James Hong is great as Evelyn's (Yeoh's) father. Other supporting characters are portrayed by Jenny Slate and Harry Shum, Jr.

-It must be interesting owning a laundromat/drycleaners. 

-The animals used in the film are clearly fake and thank goodness for that dog's sake.

-Other than the obviously fake animals, the special effects are superb. 

Ray (2004)

 Pros: Jamie Foxx delivers a brilliant performance, fully embodying the celebrated, albeit troubled singer, eyes usually sealed shut, his gait awkward and his singing and piano playing flawless. The film actually details his love life (which is wild), his career and his never-ending drug addiction, with flashbacks to his difficult and tragic childhood. While the screenplay gets a bit metaphysical and some important events are left out (for example, his first albeit brief marriage), it is still solid and as a result, this is one of the best musical biopics I've seen. The supporting performances and overall feel of film are also unforgettable. 

Cons: Again, this film leaves out several important events in Charles's life, and doesn't accurately gauge how old he is at the beginning, though the one bus driver easily believes that he's a World War II vet, blinded by the war, when in reality, he was just fourteen when the war ended. And you don't know how the feds or police figure out Charles has drugs on him, and I feel that is something important left out. Also, the film does focus a great deal on his drug addiction, when I felt it should have focused more on the music.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Kerry Washington, Aunjanue Ellis and Regina King star as three of the women in Ray's life with Sharon Warren as his mother, a lowly wash woman who instills a fierce sense of independence in her disabled son. 

-Ray is incredibly observant and he needs to be to survive in a cruel world, to both African Americans and people with disabilities. 

-Georgia eventually realizes their mistake and allows Ray to perform in that state again, which is certainly a crowing achievement for him. Quite frankly, I'm surprised they came to their sense so quickly (hah! after eighteen years) when some things still have not been resolved. 

-It was also surprising to me at how many genres Charles excelled in and the thought that he asked to own his masters, something that is vitally important for artists. 

What's Love Got to Do with It? (1993)

 Pros: The acting is great, even though Ike Turner (Laurence Fishburne) is a complete and total narcissistic prick who abuses his more talented wife, whom he named Tina (Angela Bassett), horribly and constantly. The film covers a lot in a relatively short amount of time, but the acting and feel of the film as a whole are completely solid, complete with excellent costumes and a great soundtrack and Bassett delivers an excellent performance.

Cons: Due to covering so much in so little time, there are a lot of gaps in the timeline and events that are brushed over, especially after Tina finally divorces Ike and is left penniless. Still, despite the odds, she rises and is better than ever, albeit heartbroken and crestfallen. 

Recommend: Maybe, though this film should come with a trigger warning.

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Tina Turner's actual name is Anna May Bullock.

-Jenifer Lewis portrays Tina's mother in this film but later on in Black-ish, she would be the ex-wife of Laurence Fishburne. 

-The mother of Ike's two oldest boys leaves them with him, which is just awful given how wretched he truly is. 

Tar (2022)

 Pros: This film is a masterpiece. Despite the nuances in the screenplay, it is complex and intriguing. Lydia Tar (Cate Blanchett) is an accomplished conductor and composer, and while she makes some good points defending long dead, racist white musicians, she's also a manipulative bitch. A female version of Harvey Weinstein. So yes, it is full of twists and turns and nasty breakdowns, and Blanchett delivers a masterful performance. And given the screenplay, this film deserves a second viewing just to pick up on all the pieces, tidbits left throughout to help you figure out the complex mind of flawed and immoral genius Lydia Tar.

Cons: Sure, Lydia suffers for her actions, as she should, resigned to Bangkok to conduct some sort of comic-con symphony, and she loses her child, but does she suffer enough? I guess the viewer is supposed to be the judge.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes:

-Lydia's actual name is Linda, yeah, that was a surprising turn. 

-Lydia sets her sights on Russian cellist, Olga (Sophie Kauer) but she doesn't bite.

-Lydia is sneaky and manipulative to get what she wants, but even her own marriage to Sharon (Nina Hoss) starts out on the wrong foot as Sharon is her key to conducting the Berlin orchestra.

-Hildur Gudnadittir's score was not Oscar-nominated, which is just unacceptable.

-Sure, she's mean to the Julliard student and goes about her completely valid point in the totally wrong way. To quote Taylor Swift, she's casually cruel in the name of being honest. 

-Clearly Lydia screwed over Krista, who proceeds to commit suicide.

-Lydia is deposed to due a lawsuit surrounding Krista's death and while that is customary, I'm surprised at the rapid speed as to which it occurs. 

-Lydia can't even admit that she tripped up the stairs, lying being a fool and stating that someone attacked her, which is not acceptable. 

-You can't come back after publicly and vicious assaulting someone as Lydia did. 

East of Eden (1955)

 Pros: Continuing my theme of watching depressing films on Valentine's Day, this film does not disappoint, with the great acting. Cal Trask (James Dean) is the troubled brother while Aron (Richard Davalos) is the golden child though by the end of the film, they switch places, though it is not always a natural switch. 

Cons: Given the sensors at the time, the film has to play it safe with numerous subjects including the prostitute as Cal's mother, Kate (Jo Van Fleet) runs a bar/brothel. There is the innovative spirit of Adam (Raymond Massey), his father, wanting to transport fresh lettuce upstate by packing it in ice; however, he is also ethical to a fault and won't take a dime of profit from the war which drives the economy into a upward motion. Not to mention, it isn't entirely clear why Cal decides to improve himself. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Honestly, I can't blame Kate for leaving the stiff, religious and unflinching Adam, but to leave her boys, I cannot abide.

-Julie Harris receives top billing as Abra the devoted girlfriend/fiance of Aron though she somehow ends up falling in love with Cal, though he scares her as he's a rebel but even more than that. He's reckless.

-Despite the solid acting, I can't help but feel that the screenplay is clunky, with large gaps missing. I have to hope the book is better.

Captain Phillips (2013)

 Pros: This taunt thriller/action film/psychological drama has a tight screenplay with brilliant acting as you feel as though you are watching the capture of Maersk Alabama by jaded Somalian pirates right before your eyes. Tom Hanks harbors the vastly unknown cast with yet another one of his great performances, with the scene where he's in shock after being rescued goes down as the among the best scenes of his entire career. Barkhar Adbi was Oscar-nominated in his screen debut as the head pirate. But despite all their moxie and guns, they lose, and surely they knew that going in.

Cons: Seriously, you're going to cast Catherine Keener as Hanks's wife and then barely use her? That's utter ridiculous nonsense, she's too good of an actress to be relegated to a cameo role. And why weren't subtitles used? Still, overall, these are minor details in the grand scheme of things.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Perhaps the only flaw to Hanks's performance is his accent isn't steady throughout the film.

-Manhattan's Michael Chernus is great support for Hanks as the first mate of the cargo ship.

-I wonder what the true purpose the ship had to carrying $30,000 in the safe.

-Fire hoses are not a good defense against pirates.

-Three men ended up dying and Muse (Abdi) remains in prison.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

 Pros: From the rustic setting to the excellent performances, this simple film is impossible to look away from as you don't know where it's headed. Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) used to be best friends, something necessary in the tiny island village but seemingly out of nowhere, Colm stops speaking to Padraic, finding him too boring and needing the energy to focus on composer and the lengths he goes through to get Padraic to avoid him is incredibly extreme. Still, the two leads deliver excellent turns though I found Kerry Condon as Padraic's sister, Siobhan, to be better as the sole normal character in the film and Barry Keoghan delivers as the village observant dim-wit, Dominic.

Cons: Honestly, it is hard to find a true negative fragment in this film, though I suppose the careers of the main characters could have been better defined.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-For someone who wants to focus on his fiddle-playing, it seems quite foolish that he would cut all his fingers on his fiddle-playing hand.

-Despite using garden shears, Colm develops no infection from his amputation.

-Siobhan and Padraic still sleep in their childhood twin beds, in the same bedroom no less.  

-Poor Dominic, he deserved better than what he got. Ditto for Jenny. 

-In the end, by turning mean and vengeful, Padraic finally becomes interesting again.

-The elderly Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Fitton), who sees, observes and hears everything is the titular banshee of the film.

-The island doesn't have any electricity, or least it didn't have any in 1993 when the film is set. 

-The shop keeper is beyond nosy.