Well, homecoming is getting off to a typical horrible Heck start. Axl (Charlie McDermott) arrives home but only to throw up which could very easily ruin Mike's (Neil Flynn's) plans to win the giant spatula by winning the corn hole toss. Mike is upset that Ron Donohue (Sean O'Bryan) who has won it for the last four years.
Frankie (Patricia Heaton) innocently calls up her mother for recipe for the homecoming and ends up inviting her parents for the event. She's not pleased because even though she is so lucky to have them but she feels that they will only drag her down. And she comes so close to convincing her mother, Pat (Marsha Mason) to go to Costco instead but Sue (Eden Sher) begs her grandmother to come because it will be her last chance to be the high school mascot. So Pat goes and it is pretty awkward. She motions for Frankie to do something and Frankie tries, in vain, to ignore that but when she doesn't, Pat just has to come over and do the typical mom move, lick a smug off her face, only to find that it is just Frankie's skin. And when she serves them (Frankie and her friends) a cake, she charges them two dollars a person. Frankie has had it. Pat insists that she is on a fixed income and that cake wasn't cheap. Frankie pulls her aside and tells her that she is embarrassing her. Pat walks off in a huff.
The event comes full circle when Sue is reminiscing with some unnamed classmates that probably paid her no attention in high school. Frankie comes over to find Grandma (her mom) only to embarrass Sue. Fortunately, Sue handles it slightly better than Frankie, she ushers her friends away while Frankie feels horrible and realizes that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Meanwhile, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) almost has his moment to shine. While Axl is too sick to throw beanie bags into a hole, despite constant prodding from Mike, Brick gives it a try. So Mike picks him. Only then Axl recovers just enough to insist that he should participate. Mike has never been forced to pick between his two sons before and fortunately, he doesn't. They participate in his stead. And lose horribly. Ron gets the giant spatula again and promises meat for all, medium rare.
But Axl's sickness isn't over just yet, he has past it on to Sue. She insisted that she couldn't get sick and it happens at the most awkward moment, when she's dressed as the chicken with the giant chicken head so it looks like she's pecking at the ground. Axl cannot wait to get that on YouTube. Both Frankie and Pat come to her rescue and Frankie apologizes, Pat understands.
This was a better episode than the Halloween one, but it still wasn't especially great. Also, when did Axl and Devin (the unseen Gina Mantenga) break up? That was a plot point that should have had more time. And the ending felt very rushed though Frankie did have some good narration but that didn't save the episode. But it was nice to see Brick and Axl argue over who's life sucked more, though it should have more humanizing to see Axl tear himself down. Normally, he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and was on top in high school, but college has torn him down. I wonder what will happen to him in the future. Sue is her typical over enthusiastic self which is always a relief as the rest of the Heck family is depressed and she isn't, she is just the opposite. That being said, I hope next week's episode which is the Thanksgiving one is better, often that is the best episode of the season. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Doris can't fetch anymore, her jaw is having problems.
-Sean Donohue (Beau Wirick) is going through something. He wants a veggie burger and has gown out his hair and has a beard. He no longer believes in competition. It was a interesting motif throughout the episode.
-Pat is big on these new, super strong paper towels. Frankie is so sick of it. She brought them because she knows Frankie isn't big on stocking her house with supplies. Pat is even shocked at how dirty the floor is. She shouldn't be.
-Axl rarely plays football and doesn't know what he will do with the rest of his life. Yikes.
-When Sue visits her old high school, she gets picked up in the tardy sweep.
-At the end of the episode, Frankie also gets sick and Pat does hold her hair back while she throws up and says that Frankie's dad is picking up saltines and ginger ale. They will settle up later.
-Also, Pat thinks that Frankie is spending like crazy.
-For the tailgate party, Frankie is in charge of drinks because her cooking is horrible.
-Brick is an athlete now, he totally has to protect his area.
-Axl tries to spread his germs on his parents' bed. Frankie washes the sheets and they don't have an extra pair so they put whatever they can find on the bed. Mike takes his chances with a towel that has a mystery stain as opposed to a sheet with a giant hole it in.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Supergirl: Pilot
This show could have really good. Instead, it was only mediocre.
The premise is complicated as most comic books ultimately are. Kara (pronounced Kar-A, not Kare-A) is sent to take care of her baby cousin, Kal-El, except her ship is blown off course and this stunts her age for twenty-four years. She is still thirteen and her cousin doesn't need her help, becoming a national hero by saving the day. Kara tries to fit in like normal with a normal family, even gaining a sister.
Time goes by. Kara (Melissa Benoist) isn't living up to her potential despite her vulcan hearing. She's a lowly assistant for Kat Grant (a great Calista Flockhart), and even wears glasses. Her sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh) works for an organization that tracks the aliens on Earth, a job she got because of her close relationship with her adopted alien sister.
After a disastrous blind date (he asked that the waitress write her number on the bill), Kara sees the news report that her sister's flight is having engine troubles. She is not going to just let her sister die and finally uses her powers to save the flight.
Kara enlists the help of her good friend, co worker and potential love interest, Winn (Jeremy Jordan) to help her create a costume and find crimes or accidents to solve. Another ally is the new photographer at the paper, James Olson (Mehcad Brooks), someone who knew Superman personally. He could also be a potential love interest.
But things get crazy. Turns out that when Kara's spaceship got knocked off course and then got back on course, it took a huge spaceship of international criminals with it and that also crashed onto Earth. For whatever reason, these criminals aren't after Superman, only Kara so things get sticky especially when the government agency, led by David Hare-Wood, don't even want her to pursue her talents of saving others. She disobeys their orders even Alex's.
In this episode, she doesn't save the day, but rather she saves herself even though she will undoubtedly have to do that time and time again before this show is over.
Now, I do have some problems with the series including the casting of Laura Benanti as both Kara's kind mother and evil aunt. That is just weird. Also, the time line Kara narrated in the beginning of the episode. She said that everything started just twenty-four years ago, but she was lost in the time warp for twenty-four years and at least ten have past since she finally arrived on Earth.
Though the cast is good, and the acting is there, the show lacks vital character interaction and development which will hopefully come in time. This is a disappointment especially when a show is filled with good actors. Jordan was completely wasted in the pilot with only one really good scene when Kara finally reveals her powers to him. At least Benoist is great, though she shined better in the few episodes of Glee that I saw her in. She needs more and deeper material to work with here.
I also thought they tried to make the pilot too epic too quickly. It wasn't just enough for Kara to finally decide to use her powers but she also must battle the worst villains in the galaxy, something that will continue throughout the course of the series, however long it lasts.
I will probably continue watching the series, but it didn't pull in as much as Scream Queens, which is currently the craziest show on TV right now. Still, this one could and should ultimately be the better show. Grade: B
The premise is complicated as most comic books ultimately are. Kara (pronounced Kar-A, not Kare-A) is sent to take care of her baby cousin, Kal-El, except her ship is blown off course and this stunts her age for twenty-four years. She is still thirteen and her cousin doesn't need her help, becoming a national hero by saving the day. Kara tries to fit in like normal with a normal family, even gaining a sister.
Time goes by. Kara (Melissa Benoist) isn't living up to her potential despite her vulcan hearing. She's a lowly assistant for Kat Grant (a great Calista Flockhart), and even wears glasses. Her sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh) works for an organization that tracks the aliens on Earth, a job she got because of her close relationship with her adopted alien sister.
After a disastrous blind date (he asked that the waitress write her number on the bill), Kara sees the news report that her sister's flight is having engine troubles. She is not going to just let her sister die and finally uses her powers to save the flight.
Kara enlists the help of her good friend, co worker and potential love interest, Winn (Jeremy Jordan) to help her create a costume and find crimes or accidents to solve. Another ally is the new photographer at the paper, James Olson (Mehcad Brooks), someone who knew Superman personally. He could also be a potential love interest.
But things get crazy. Turns out that when Kara's spaceship got knocked off course and then got back on course, it took a huge spaceship of international criminals with it and that also crashed onto Earth. For whatever reason, these criminals aren't after Superman, only Kara so things get sticky especially when the government agency, led by David Hare-Wood, don't even want her to pursue her talents of saving others. She disobeys their orders even Alex's.
In this episode, she doesn't save the day, but rather she saves herself even though she will undoubtedly have to do that time and time again before this show is over.
Now, I do have some problems with the series including the casting of Laura Benanti as both Kara's kind mother and evil aunt. That is just weird. Also, the time line Kara narrated in the beginning of the episode. She said that everything started just twenty-four years ago, but she was lost in the time warp for twenty-four years and at least ten have past since she finally arrived on Earth.
Though the cast is good, and the acting is there, the show lacks vital character interaction and development which will hopefully come in time. This is a disappointment especially when a show is filled with good actors. Jordan was completely wasted in the pilot with only one really good scene when Kara finally reveals her powers to him. At least Benoist is great, though she shined better in the few episodes of Glee that I saw her in. She needs more and deeper material to work with here.
I also thought they tried to make the pilot too epic too quickly. It wasn't just enough for Kara to finally decide to use her powers but she also must battle the worst villains in the galaxy, something that will continue throughout the course of the series, however long it lasts.
I will probably continue watching the series, but it didn't pull in as much as Scream Queens, which is currently the craziest show on TV right now. Still, this one could and should ultimately be the better show. Grade: B
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
The Middle: Halloween VI: Tick, Tock, Death
Now, we have known that Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is crazy, and this episode confirms it. Sure, she's had problems with the Glossners before and now she's not going to take it any longer. It is Halloween and none of the cute trick-or-treaters come to their neighborhood because of the Glossners so Frankie decides to take action with a little help from Sue (Eden Sher). They egg the house, which is mean but sort of harmless, just giving the Glossners a taste of their own medicine only then Rita (Brooke Shields) arrives, catching them in the act. Instead of apologizing and running for their lives, Frankie turns the table and starts chasing Rita into the woods. Rita apologizes for stealing a Heck pumpkin and saying that her manners are poor because she is the only woman in the house. This forces Frankie to realize that with Axl (Charlie McDermott) and his two roommates, Hutch and Kenny (Alphonso McAuley and Tommy Bechtold) living there, she gets it and does apologize. Rita doesn't accept and instead, starts running again, calling Frankie a monster. Which she is, in that moment at least.
In the meantime, Axl is at home, chilling with his friends, watching three football games all at once and then the grim reaper shows up. Literally. Axl tries to tell him that the candy is at the end of the driveway though Frankie and Sue are no longer there. But then the grim reaper sort of stalks the house which secretly frightens both Axl and Hutch who hide out in the basement with Kenny. They believe that the grim reaper will kill them, but then a miracle happens, Kenny speaks. He just says that the grim reaper will steal their souls instead. Axl and Hutch, not to mention my dad, are shocked to hear Kenny actually speak with words. Still, this inspires them to finally leave the house. They load up Axl's car and immediately leave though who knows where they will live.
Mike (Neil Flynn) is stuck taking Brick trick-or-treating because he doesn't really care if the guys leave the house or not, so Frankie is punishing him. Mike is thoroughly miserable and then this night gets super odd. First of all, he is some guy from Night Watchers, not The Twilight Zone but no one gets it. Brick always picks the weirdest costumes. And his last house, things are weird. There is an odd painting of the woman's husband when he was a child who looks suspiciously like Brick. It gets odder, the woman's name is Cynthia and the house contains two libraries and the missing, but not dead husband is giving a lecture on fonts and they have 'done' it. They have four children. Brick is delighted as that is one more time than his parents. Mike says sardonically that Brick is a real chick magnet.
It ends just as weird as the episode began, with Brick giving Cindy (Casey Burke) all the candy he collected for her, name brand stuff because she has expensive tastes. Cindy is the grim reaper, which makes sense, she is super tall and different. However, why did she spend her whole evening at the Heck house instead of collecting the candy herself. She used Brick and that is not something I like.
Yeah, this episode wasn't great. Normally, The Middle is realistic, with plausible situations and reactions from the characters and this episode, everything was over the top and the fourth wall was completely shattered by Brick himself, declaring that his narration really ties the story together. It wasn't necessarily bad, just unrealistic, with Frankie becoming nothing more than a stereotypical crazy mom. All of that boxed wine really got to her head.
It was a little funny, but the tone was all off from the other episodes. This is easily one of the worst episodes of The Middle in the entire series run. Grade: C+
Side Notes:
-Not much to say, but Kenny was able to set it up that the Hecks were able to watch three football games at the same time.
-Brick wondered why he would ever leave the house if he had three unread books waiting for him at home. Mike compared football games to books so Brick could understand his pain.
-Axl believes that it is Frankie's purpose to nurture because she is a mother and it is easier to have someone else take care of them than to take care of themselves.
-Sue arrives home because she tried to plan a non-drinking party but get no response to that.
-It is a good thing that the guys left because Kenny had been using Sue's bed, that's just gross.
-Frankie never bought name brand candy, only now she believes that she finally has an excuse.
-I don't know what the writers were trying to go for in this episode but it was lost on me, so if you guys have any insight, please let me know in the comment section.
In the meantime, Axl is at home, chilling with his friends, watching three football games all at once and then the grim reaper shows up. Literally. Axl tries to tell him that the candy is at the end of the driveway though Frankie and Sue are no longer there. But then the grim reaper sort of stalks the house which secretly frightens both Axl and Hutch who hide out in the basement with Kenny. They believe that the grim reaper will kill them, but then a miracle happens, Kenny speaks. He just says that the grim reaper will steal their souls instead. Axl and Hutch, not to mention my dad, are shocked to hear Kenny actually speak with words. Still, this inspires them to finally leave the house. They load up Axl's car and immediately leave though who knows where they will live.
Mike (Neil Flynn) is stuck taking Brick trick-or-treating because he doesn't really care if the guys leave the house or not, so Frankie is punishing him. Mike is thoroughly miserable and then this night gets super odd. First of all, he is some guy from Night Watchers, not The Twilight Zone but no one gets it. Brick always picks the weirdest costumes. And his last house, things are weird. There is an odd painting of the woman's husband when he was a child who looks suspiciously like Brick. It gets odder, the woman's name is Cynthia and the house contains two libraries and the missing, but not dead husband is giving a lecture on fonts and they have 'done' it. They have four children. Brick is delighted as that is one more time than his parents. Mike says sardonically that Brick is a real chick magnet.
It ends just as weird as the episode began, with Brick giving Cindy (Casey Burke) all the candy he collected for her, name brand stuff because she has expensive tastes. Cindy is the grim reaper, which makes sense, she is super tall and different. However, why did she spend her whole evening at the Heck house instead of collecting the candy herself. She used Brick and that is not something I like.
Yeah, this episode wasn't great. Normally, The Middle is realistic, with plausible situations and reactions from the characters and this episode, everything was over the top and the fourth wall was completely shattered by Brick himself, declaring that his narration really ties the story together. It wasn't necessarily bad, just unrealistic, with Frankie becoming nothing more than a stereotypical crazy mom. All of that boxed wine really got to her head.
It was a little funny, but the tone was all off from the other episodes. This is easily one of the worst episodes of The Middle in the entire series run. Grade: C+
Side Notes:
-Not much to say, but Kenny was able to set it up that the Hecks were able to watch three football games at the same time.
-Brick wondered why he would ever leave the house if he had three unread books waiting for him at home. Mike compared football games to books so Brick could understand his pain.
-Axl believes that it is Frankie's purpose to nurture because she is a mother and it is easier to have someone else take care of them than to take care of themselves.
-Sue arrives home because she tried to plan a non-drinking party but get no response to that.
-It is a good thing that the guys left because Kenny had been using Sue's bed, that's just gross.
-Frankie never bought name brand candy, only now she believes that she finally has an excuse.
-I don't know what the writers were trying to go for in this episode but it was lost on me, so if you guys have any insight, please let me know in the comment section.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The Middle: Land of the Lost
When Sue (Eden Sher) falls for a guy, she falls hard, sometimes literally.
You remember that guy with the washboard abs with whom she had an amazing prom with. Well, he's back. His name is Logan (David Hull) and she is super nervous. To make matters worse, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is visiting. Sue was totally looking forward to this weekend and Brick almost had a panic attack when she told him that the library at East Indiana State had 52,000 books and even had a special elevator just for books. It is called a dumb waiter people and Brick should know that given his extreme love of libraries.
And then, she sees Logan, on a road trip from Purdue and all those great plans with Brick get tossed out the window. Fortunately, Logan makes the first move. He was upset that he hadn't heard from her all summer. This was after Sue was upset that he never texted her back. Turns out, she was off by a number. It would have been wise, too easy, but wise for Logan to have just given Sue his actual correct number. They make plans to meet later and grab dinner later. He walks away to hang with his friends and she promptly falls over.
However, when she goes to meet Brick and he doesn't show, things get ugly real fast. I should have seen it coming about Brick getting lost. After all, last week he got lost walking home from the library in an area he should have been familiar with. Now in an area he has never been before, of course he is bound to get lost.
This almost ruins Sue's plans but she dashes back to the gazebo just in time. Before getting lost in Logan's eyes, he agrees to help her find Brick. She finds Brick who wandered around campus all day, never even going into the library because he didn't have a proper student ID. Though Sue is grateful she found Brick, she managed to lose Logan now, and she doesn't find him again. Sadness.
In the meantime, back at home, Mike (Neil Flynn) is being even more glum than his normal lackluster self. He assures his wife, Frankie (Patricia Heaton), that this will pass but she's unsure especially after he isn't even watching the Colts game, during a good season for them. She calls in reinforcements, in the form of Reverend Tim Tom (Paul Hipp). He tries to worm the real issue out of Mike, even strumming away on a ukulele but Mike doesn't budge. It isn't until Reverend Tim Tom leaves that Mike finally spills his guts. When he turned fifty, it didn't bother him, but now that Frankie is turning fifty. He can't believe that he is married to an old woman. He can't believe that he is closer to death. He was used to going to the next step but now he is a little worried about the next step. He doesn't like the empty house, as two of the kids are gone. That doesn't last long.
Axl (Charlie McDermott), Hutch (Alphonso McAuley) and Kenny (Tommy Bechtold) arrive at the Heck house. They were evicted. Yeah, they tried to be grown ups and get their crappy house and file a complaint with the city. Turns out their landlords weren't supposed to sublet their house and now it is deemed unfit to live in so they will be staying at the Hecks for a little while. I guess Axl's family lives closest to campus. Well, that makes sense as Hutch is from Chicago.
Frankie is glad that life is a pretty good distraction from death, as Brick is furious about not seeing a single book and Sue is livid about ruining another chance with Logan and Axl is pissed about the house. You have known that something was up when you put your rent underneath a rock.
This was a great episode though there was the minor problem of how Logan got into the library. Probably because he was with Sue. Still, stuff like that bothers me. Despite this minor problem, it was a great episode with some fantastic dialogue. This show continues to be an underrated gem. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie is starting to spend money like crazy now that the diapers are doing pretty well. She bought name brand peas and supersized the fries.
-Hutch thought writing a letter to the landlords on his dad's dermatologist stationary would have been a good move. But Axl wanted immediate action.
-They have hammocks now so they don't need to touch the ant infested floor.
-In the house, they also have a dripping faucet that doesn't even drip in a steady pattern, upsetting Hutch's REM cycle.
-Brick is able to visit Sue because Cindy has volleyball try-outs that weekend. He also borrowed one of Sue's books on being a girl so he could do some research.
-Reverend Tim Tom attended a Lord's Luau for Leprosy.
-He had many great lyrics in his song to perk up Mike as Jesus never got to have a mid-life crisis.
-When Sue describes Logan's looks, Brick, despite having never seen him before, is able to confirm his presence.
-She really does get lost in his eyes, instantly forgetting that he agreed to help her fin Brick.
-Of course, the romantic in me wants things to work out between Logan and Sue, but I wonder how that will happen.
You remember that guy with the washboard abs with whom she had an amazing prom with. Well, he's back. His name is Logan (David Hull) and she is super nervous. To make matters worse, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is visiting. Sue was totally looking forward to this weekend and Brick almost had a panic attack when she told him that the library at East Indiana State had 52,000 books and even had a special elevator just for books. It is called a dumb waiter people and Brick should know that given his extreme love of libraries.
And then, she sees Logan, on a road trip from Purdue and all those great plans with Brick get tossed out the window. Fortunately, Logan makes the first move. He was upset that he hadn't heard from her all summer. This was after Sue was upset that he never texted her back. Turns out, she was off by a number. It would have been wise, too easy, but wise for Logan to have just given Sue his actual correct number. They make plans to meet later and grab dinner later. He walks away to hang with his friends and she promptly falls over.
However, when she goes to meet Brick and he doesn't show, things get ugly real fast. I should have seen it coming about Brick getting lost. After all, last week he got lost walking home from the library in an area he should have been familiar with. Now in an area he has never been before, of course he is bound to get lost.
This almost ruins Sue's plans but she dashes back to the gazebo just in time. Before getting lost in Logan's eyes, he agrees to help her find Brick. She finds Brick who wandered around campus all day, never even going into the library because he didn't have a proper student ID. Though Sue is grateful she found Brick, she managed to lose Logan now, and she doesn't find him again. Sadness.
In the meantime, back at home, Mike (Neil Flynn) is being even more glum than his normal lackluster self. He assures his wife, Frankie (Patricia Heaton), that this will pass but she's unsure especially after he isn't even watching the Colts game, during a good season for them. She calls in reinforcements, in the form of Reverend Tim Tom (Paul Hipp). He tries to worm the real issue out of Mike, even strumming away on a ukulele but Mike doesn't budge. It isn't until Reverend Tim Tom leaves that Mike finally spills his guts. When he turned fifty, it didn't bother him, but now that Frankie is turning fifty. He can't believe that he is married to an old woman. He can't believe that he is closer to death. He was used to going to the next step but now he is a little worried about the next step. He doesn't like the empty house, as two of the kids are gone. That doesn't last long.
Axl (Charlie McDermott), Hutch (Alphonso McAuley) and Kenny (Tommy Bechtold) arrive at the Heck house. They were evicted. Yeah, they tried to be grown ups and get their crappy house and file a complaint with the city. Turns out their landlords weren't supposed to sublet their house and now it is deemed unfit to live in so they will be staying at the Hecks for a little while. I guess Axl's family lives closest to campus. Well, that makes sense as Hutch is from Chicago.
Frankie is glad that life is a pretty good distraction from death, as Brick is furious about not seeing a single book and Sue is livid about ruining another chance with Logan and Axl is pissed about the house. You have known that something was up when you put your rent underneath a rock.
This was a great episode though there was the minor problem of how Logan got into the library. Probably because he was with Sue. Still, stuff like that bothers me. Despite this minor problem, it was a great episode with some fantastic dialogue. This show continues to be an underrated gem. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie is starting to spend money like crazy now that the diapers are doing pretty well. She bought name brand peas and supersized the fries.
-Hutch thought writing a letter to the landlords on his dad's dermatologist stationary would have been a good move. But Axl wanted immediate action.
-They have hammocks now so they don't need to touch the ant infested floor.
-In the house, they also have a dripping faucet that doesn't even drip in a steady pattern, upsetting Hutch's REM cycle.
-Brick is able to visit Sue because Cindy has volleyball try-outs that weekend. He also borrowed one of Sue's books on being a girl so he could do some research.
-Reverend Tim Tom attended a Lord's Luau for Leprosy.
-He had many great lyrics in his song to perk up Mike as Jesus never got to have a mid-life crisis.
-When Sue describes Logan's looks, Brick, despite having never seen him before, is able to confirm his presence.
-She really does get lost in his eyes, instantly forgetting that he agreed to help her fin Brick.
-Of course, the romantic in me wants things to work out between Logan and Sue, but I wonder how that will happen.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Bridge of Spies
This is a complicated film coming from a complicated time in American history. In 1957, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) is caught spying for the Russians. He needs a lawyer so the US government passes it off to a law firm out of New York, where it falls into the lap of insurance lawyer, Jim Donovan (Tom Hanks) who takes his job way more seriously than anyone ever anticipated. He tries to get the evidence thrown out because it was illegally obtained. Americans on the train hate him, tossing him dirty looks. People shoot at his house, scaring the crap out of his wife and children (Amy Ryan, Eve Hewson, Noah Schnapp and Jillian Lebling) but everyone is entitled to a defense. He even successfully gets the harsh judge to spare Abel's life so they can have some insurance later, for, perhaps, a prisoner exchange. Then we get to the meat of the film.
Donovan dangerously travels to East Berlin in 1960, just as the wall is being built, where it is dangerous to cross the borders. Okay, it is dangerous to get from the East Side (where the Soviets rule) to the West Side (where the American, British, and French rule). Here, Donovan is set to negotiate a trade where the US gets a pilot, Gary Powers (Austin Stowell), also a spy, taking pictures of Russia and will hand over Abel. But there is a twist and Donovan gets greedy. Just before he lands, an American student studying economics is captured and Donovan wants this guy, Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) out also.
It isn't easy, as the Abel family lawyer is dreadful, not caring much about his clients. An East German street gang steals Donovan's fancy, warm coat and he spends a night in prison. He is flying by the seat of his pants, but ultimately, he gets the job done, on a bridge, making the title of the film fit. The exchange is made. Sure, the CIA isn't really talking to Powers because he was never supposed to be captured, he was intended to kill himself instead, but alas, though it wasn't for lack of effort and the Soviets barely make eye contact with Abel, but each are home. The Americans made out better, in my opinion, two young men in return for an older man. Still, I doubt their families care about the semantics of the whole thing. They are just thrilled to get their loved ones home. Both Powers and Pryor would go on to great things. Pryor is still living. Donovan may have lied to his family originally, as he had to, but they are shocked that his little business trip turned into something so great. President Kennedy would later use him for more negotiations with Cuba, rescuing more than nine thousand people after the Bay of Pigs, when he was only sent down to bring one thousand home.
I also liked the family dinner scene toward the beginning of the film and the little interactions between Donovan and his young associate, Doug (Billy Magnussen) who was forced to work despite saying he had a dinner date and then eldest daughter Carol furious that she had been stood up. Yet, though Donovan may have been upset at first, he lets Doug get in the clear by having him over for dinner and showing his daughter that Doug had a good reason for missing the date.
This film captures the stark, depressing East German by sucking the colors out of the film, with the sun never shining, cold steeping from the characters' skin, compared to the warmth of the America, homes filled with knick knacks proving that America is richer, in more ways than one.
The performances are also great, with Hanks and Rylance, mainly a stage actor before this film, as the stand outs. Sure, Ryan and Alan Alda are also great, but their roles are barely more than cameos. Hanks and Rylance, with their steady performances, should both be in award consideration for later this year.
I am glad that the Cold War is behind us, with the pointless duck and cover drills. But the world is still a dangerous place. Sure, duck and cover drills might be behind us but intruder or shooter alerts exist, bringing the danger even closer to home. And we know how hopeless the duck and cover drills were, when if a bomb was dropped, you would have no time to duck and cover; you would die instantly. Still, Donovan was just happy that in America, boys could climb over a fence while you couldn't have done that in East Berlin.
This film captures a troubling time, but one that should never be forgotten. Grade: A-
Donovan dangerously travels to East Berlin in 1960, just as the wall is being built, where it is dangerous to cross the borders. Okay, it is dangerous to get from the East Side (where the Soviets rule) to the West Side (where the American, British, and French rule). Here, Donovan is set to negotiate a trade where the US gets a pilot, Gary Powers (Austin Stowell), also a spy, taking pictures of Russia and will hand over Abel. But there is a twist and Donovan gets greedy. Just before he lands, an American student studying economics is captured and Donovan wants this guy, Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) out also.
It isn't easy, as the Abel family lawyer is dreadful, not caring much about his clients. An East German street gang steals Donovan's fancy, warm coat and he spends a night in prison. He is flying by the seat of his pants, but ultimately, he gets the job done, on a bridge, making the title of the film fit. The exchange is made. Sure, the CIA isn't really talking to Powers because he was never supposed to be captured, he was intended to kill himself instead, but alas, though it wasn't for lack of effort and the Soviets barely make eye contact with Abel, but each are home. The Americans made out better, in my opinion, two young men in return for an older man. Still, I doubt their families care about the semantics of the whole thing. They are just thrilled to get their loved ones home. Both Powers and Pryor would go on to great things. Pryor is still living. Donovan may have lied to his family originally, as he had to, but they are shocked that his little business trip turned into something so great. President Kennedy would later use him for more negotiations with Cuba, rescuing more than nine thousand people after the Bay of Pigs, when he was only sent down to bring one thousand home.
I also liked the family dinner scene toward the beginning of the film and the little interactions between Donovan and his young associate, Doug (Billy Magnussen) who was forced to work despite saying he had a dinner date and then eldest daughter Carol furious that she had been stood up. Yet, though Donovan may have been upset at first, he lets Doug get in the clear by having him over for dinner and showing his daughter that Doug had a good reason for missing the date.
This film captures the stark, depressing East German by sucking the colors out of the film, with the sun never shining, cold steeping from the characters' skin, compared to the warmth of the America, homes filled with knick knacks proving that America is richer, in more ways than one.
The performances are also great, with Hanks and Rylance, mainly a stage actor before this film, as the stand outs. Sure, Ryan and Alan Alda are also great, but their roles are barely more than cameos. Hanks and Rylance, with their steady performances, should both be in award consideration for later this year.
I am glad that the Cold War is behind us, with the pointless duck and cover drills. But the world is still a dangerous place. Sure, duck and cover drills might be behind us but intruder or shooter alerts exist, bringing the danger even closer to home. And we know how hopeless the duck and cover drills were, when if a bomb was dropped, you would have no time to duck and cover; you would die instantly. Still, Donovan was just happy that in America, boys could climb over a fence while you couldn't have done that in East Berlin.
This film captures a troubling time, but one that should never be forgotten. Grade: A-
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The Middle: Risky Business
Well, Rusty (Norm MacDonald) is back. And he comes baring new business news. This guy has had the worst luck with his cockamamie ideas, such as a pancake cup and the uniboob, two boobs squeezed into one but this idea isn't actually half bad. Okay, it is pure stupid, but compared to his other ideas, it's brilliant. It is a diaper that has the enemy team on the inside so you can teach them to hate early. To Frankie's (Patricia Heaton's) dismay, Mike (Neil Flynn) is actually on board with the whole thing. However, while Mike is business focused, Rusty gets hung up on even more stupid opposites. But despite this almost fatal flaw, Rusty is the one who manages to get them a big interview to pitch their idea at the Baby Barn. Mike is painfully nervous and can't even get a word out and the guys hate Rusty but they love the idea so much that they place a small order to see how it will sell. Frankie is utterly thrilled and pulls out the expensive booze from her late Aunt Edie. The best part? Mike is finally happy again. And Frankie is glad. He just needed something to look forward to, something different in his life because he has been doing the same thing for the last twenty five years and needed to finally mix things up.
Still, this problem is small compared to Sue's big roommate fiasco. She is thrilled to return home and see Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) but she doesn't want to take her car when they hang out. First of all, since when did Sue get a car? I thought she was saving up all of the Spudsy money for college, yet, it is a good thing she has a car because that is where she is living. Yeah, life with Holly (Lyndon Smith) is that unbearable. Brad can't stand for that and so, if Holly has her boyfriend over all the time, then so will Sue. Only poor Sue doesn't have a boyfriend but Brad is more than willing to practice his acting chops and will gladly be her fake boyfriend. They return to Sue's dorm room where Holly is making out with a guy who isn't even her boyfriend. Brad informs them that they are going to do stuff that only married people do. They hide under her duvet but Holly gets even dirtier so they hide behind the duvet and leave the room, terrified.
Sue feels like she has failed but she's in an impossible situation. At first, Brad blames his acting because he hasn't been in a play in months. Sue assures him that that is not the case, he was a great fake boyfriend and an even better friend. And then comes the moment we have been waiting for for six years. Brad comes out of the closet more or less, and Sue already knows. Wait, she does? Since when? Oh well, his big revelation forces her to grow up. She tattles on her roommate to the indifferent, lackluster RA. This is a big move for Sue. Sure, it would have been better and more grown up to confront Holly first, but Sue normally tries to deal with everything, making the best of a bad situation. Still, I am glad she told. No one should have to put up with sleeping in a car because your roommate has wild sex all the time. We will have to wait until the next episode to see what happens. I doubt Sue will get a new roommate, though, maybe Holly will just get better.
I did have a few problems with the episode. I can figure out why Sue understood the truth behind Brad's sexuality, but I can't understand when she bought a car. Used, but still. I feel that she would have come home every weekend especially since she is less than an hour away and she missed them all so much. Whatever.
This was still a solid episode, certainly better than last week's as it had more emotion but still managed to have those genuinely funny moments. And Rusty is always welcome. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Axl (Charlie McDermott) is so desperate to ride Mike's new motorcycle, he risks him life in some stupid ways. He jumps off the roof onto a trampoline. He has Brick hit him where the sun don't shine, after he stuffed packing peanuts into his sweatpants because he must protect his germ pool.
-Mike finally throws him a bone and lets him ride the motorcycle, while hanging onto Mike.
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) also wishes his parents would take more risks with him. He just wants to walk home from the library by himself, though they have reason not to trust him as he did get lost that one time.
-She is hopeful that Holly will get pregnant soon and then have to live in married housing. She also feels that Holly shouldn't be a nurse. She is dead wrong about the first thing, but the reason one, she's right. But that isn't for me to decide.
-Also, Holly, wearing someone else's shower shoes is just disgusting.
-When Sue returns home, she is surprised to see the toaster moved. Frankie remodeled the kitchen, after all. Also, a reference to Doris. She is currently sleeping in Sue's closet.
-Brick informs his siblings of the chores they need to do now that they are home
-Rusty knows the diapers are reliable because the dye doesn't run. He tested them himself.
-Frankie does get involved by saying that this would be a good way to get dads to change more diapers.
-And Rusty, the opposite of Hitler is not Big Bird.
Still, this problem is small compared to Sue's big roommate fiasco. She is thrilled to return home and see Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) but she doesn't want to take her car when they hang out. First of all, since when did Sue get a car? I thought she was saving up all of the Spudsy money for college, yet, it is a good thing she has a car because that is where she is living. Yeah, life with Holly (Lyndon Smith) is that unbearable. Brad can't stand for that and so, if Holly has her boyfriend over all the time, then so will Sue. Only poor Sue doesn't have a boyfriend but Brad is more than willing to practice his acting chops and will gladly be her fake boyfriend. They return to Sue's dorm room where Holly is making out with a guy who isn't even her boyfriend. Brad informs them that they are going to do stuff that only married people do. They hide under her duvet but Holly gets even dirtier so they hide behind the duvet and leave the room, terrified.
Sue feels like she has failed but she's in an impossible situation. At first, Brad blames his acting because he hasn't been in a play in months. Sue assures him that that is not the case, he was a great fake boyfriend and an even better friend. And then comes the moment we have been waiting for for six years. Brad comes out of the closet more or less, and Sue already knows. Wait, she does? Since when? Oh well, his big revelation forces her to grow up. She tattles on her roommate to the indifferent, lackluster RA. This is a big move for Sue. Sure, it would have been better and more grown up to confront Holly first, but Sue normally tries to deal with everything, making the best of a bad situation. Still, I am glad she told. No one should have to put up with sleeping in a car because your roommate has wild sex all the time. We will have to wait until the next episode to see what happens. I doubt Sue will get a new roommate, though, maybe Holly will just get better.
I did have a few problems with the episode. I can figure out why Sue understood the truth behind Brad's sexuality, but I can't understand when she bought a car. Used, but still. I feel that she would have come home every weekend especially since she is less than an hour away and she missed them all so much. Whatever.
This was still a solid episode, certainly better than last week's as it had more emotion but still managed to have those genuinely funny moments. And Rusty is always welcome. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Axl (Charlie McDermott) is so desperate to ride Mike's new motorcycle, he risks him life in some stupid ways. He jumps off the roof onto a trampoline. He has Brick hit him where the sun don't shine, after he stuffed packing peanuts into his sweatpants because he must protect his germ pool.
-Mike finally throws him a bone and lets him ride the motorcycle, while hanging onto Mike.
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) also wishes his parents would take more risks with him. He just wants to walk home from the library by himself, though they have reason not to trust him as he did get lost that one time.
-She is hopeful that Holly will get pregnant soon and then have to live in married housing. She also feels that Holly shouldn't be a nurse. She is dead wrong about the first thing, but the reason one, she's right. But that isn't for me to decide.
-Also, Holly, wearing someone else's shower shoes is just disgusting.
-When Sue returns home, she is surprised to see the toaster moved. Frankie remodeled the kitchen, after all. Also, a reference to Doris. She is currently sleeping in Sue's closet.
-Brick informs his siblings of the chores they need to do now that they are home
-Rusty knows the diapers are reliable because the dye doesn't run. He tested them himself.
-Frankie does get involved by saying that this would be a good way to get dads to change more diapers.
-And Rusty, the opposite of Hitler is not Big Bird.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Middle: The Shirt
Changes are a-comin'.
Sue (Eden Sher) and Mike (Neil Flynn) don't realize that the slightest action could have such a ripple effect. All Mike had to do was put on a new, completely different shirt, a Hawaiian one in this case, something that finally wasn't plaid. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shocked and it is the punch line for the dinner with the Norwoods and he is super pissed that that was the only thing really discussed at dinner. Later, Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) comes over, terrified that she upset Frankie because Frankie threw a party without her. Of course not, why in the world would Frankie throw a party without Nancy Donahue? Simple answer, she wouldn't especially since Nancy brings all the good food. Mike is just going through something. Nancy gives her the sympathy look and informs her that her own husband, Ron, did the same thing by picking up karate. Just when you think that Mike is over with all the changes, because he hates changes, you thought wrong. He buys a cheap motorcycle from his co-worker who is moving. Frankie is completely shocked.
Sue's error could have more severe consequences: she naively tells Devin (Gina Mantegna) that Axl (Charlie McDermott) loves her and it would be, like, the coolest thing ever if they would eventually get married. Devin almost immediately breaks things off with Axl, again. She doesn't want the relationship to move that fast. Sue just can't keep her big nose out of it and goes to the complete opposite end of the spectrum. She says, or sings rather, that Axl won't ever say anything of the sort. I wasn't paying the most attention to that because it was so horribly bad. Whatever, Devin fortunately decides to give Axl another chance and they talk it over. Because Devin has the typical thoughts of a guy, she and Axl both just want to live in the moment and enjoy their time together yet, they will never be around this many hot people of the opposite genders, they should also see someone else, if they want and still gather on Sundays to watch football. I don't think that will work, but at least they are finally in agreement so at least they are getting off on the right foot.
Poor Brick (Atticus Shaffer). He hates being the last kid at home as the chore wheel is useless. He's the only one around to do chores. Frankie doesn't care about his arguments; he is the only one there to use the bathroom, thus, it falls to him to clean it. Frankie, the most helpful mother of the year, tells him where the cleaning supplies are but not how to use them, so when Brick finally goes to the clean the bathroom, it turns disastrous quickly. Brick, being the reader that he is, tries to follow what the cleaning products say, and when that doesn't work, he turns to YouTube and chooses the worst video ever. Something simple, such as scrubbing mildew from the walls turns into something much bigger and before you know it, the tiles on the wall have fallen off. Frankie isn't pleased and tells him, in no small terms, that in the Heck household, you can't get to the root of the problem, the mildew is the glue that holds the family together.
While Brick has his typical Brick plot line, and Sue got some good interactions with Devin, most of the episode just didn't work. I liked what they tried to do with Mike finally breaking out of his comfort zone, but it didn't seem real; it was just something that the writers could eke a plot out of, but it was nice to see him in a shirt that was not plaid. I really don't think that they stayed true to his character which is most unfortunate. At least everyone else remained the same. I wish Axl would grow up and maybe he will, hopefully before it is too late. And though there were some funny moments and great, snappy lines, this is the weakest episode of the season so far. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Sue's idea of heaven is the ability to sign up for all the clubs she wants without danger of being cut later on. Unfortunately, she spreads herself far too thin.
-She later tells Brick that she understands, at long last, why clubs in high school cut people. She just can't keep up with everything. For the record, her a Capella club was the worst I have ever heard and Sue is not a good songwriter. I can't believe the club went along with her cockamamie scheme.
-Brick informs his mother that the only reason she had children was to have slaves to do all the work around the house. Mike tells him no, the reason they had children was because of the beer.
-Bill Norwood (Pat Finn) ruins the chance for the Hecks to use two coupons at their meal out. He really is the worst liar ever.
-For the second episode this season, Frankie calls back her brilliant acting career in the community production of The Wizard of Oz. Not everyone has her talent but she could have pulled off using two coupons at a combined table.
-Normally Mike's tallness is intimidating to waiters but with his Hawaiian shirt on, that power was lost.
-Axl tries to lure the ants out of his apartment by tossing pizza into the yard.
-I love when Brick holds the two phones together so Sue can talk to Axl and he can overhear everything.
-Sue thought that only two kinds of cheese existed: regular and squeezy. Hopefully that club will change her understanding of cheese.
-For the record, I don't think Axl will be able to handle having two girlfriends at once, and I doubt that all girls are as understanding as Devin so it will be interesting to see what happens next.
Sue (Eden Sher) and Mike (Neil Flynn) don't realize that the slightest action could have such a ripple effect. All Mike had to do was put on a new, completely different shirt, a Hawaiian one in this case, something that finally wasn't plaid. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is shocked and it is the punch line for the dinner with the Norwoods and he is super pissed that that was the only thing really discussed at dinner. Later, Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) comes over, terrified that she upset Frankie because Frankie threw a party without her. Of course not, why in the world would Frankie throw a party without Nancy Donahue? Simple answer, she wouldn't especially since Nancy brings all the good food. Mike is just going through something. Nancy gives her the sympathy look and informs her that her own husband, Ron, did the same thing by picking up karate. Just when you think that Mike is over with all the changes, because he hates changes, you thought wrong. He buys a cheap motorcycle from his co-worker who is moving. Frankie is completely shocked.
Sue's error could have more severe consequences: she naively tells Devin (Gina Mantegna) that Axl (Charlie McDermott) loves her and it would be, like, the coolest thing ever if they would eventually get married. Devin almost immediately breaks things off with Axl, again. She doesn't want the relationship to move that fast. Sue just can't keep her big nose out of it and goes to the complete opposite end of the spectrum. She says, or sings rather, that Axl won't ever say anything of the sort. I wasn't paying the most attention to that because it was so horribly bad. Whatever, Devin fortunately decides to give Axl another chance and they talk it over. Because Devin has the typical thoughts of a guy, she and Axl both just want to live in the moment and enjoy their time together yet, they will never be around this many hot people of the opposite genders, they should also see someone else, if they want and still gather on Sundays to watch football. I don't think that will work, but at least they are finally in agreement so at least they are getting off on the right foot.
Poor Brick (Atticus Shaffer). He hates being the last kid at home as the chore wheel is useless. He's the only one around to do chores. Frankie doesn't care about his arguments; he is the only one there to use the bathroom, thus, it falls to him to clean it. Frankie, the most helpful mother of the year, tells him where the cleaning supplies are but not how to use them, so when Brick finally goes to the clean the bathroom, it turns disastrous quickly. Brick, being the reader that he is, tries to follow what the cleaning products say, and when that doesn't work, he turns to YouTube and chooses the worst video ever. Something simple, such as scrubbing mildew from the walls turns into something much bigger and before you know it, the tiles on the wall have fallen off. Frankie isn't pleased and tells him, in no small terms, that in the Heck household, you can't get to the root of the problem, the mildew is the glue that holds the family together.
While Brick has his typical Brick plot line, and Sue got some good interactions with Devin, most of the episode just didn't work. I liked what they tried to do with Mike finally breaking out of his comfort zone, but it didn't seem real; it was just something that the writers could eke a plot out of, but it was nice to see him in a shirt that was not plaid. I really don't think that they stayed true to his character which is most unfortunate. At least everyone else remained the same. I wish Axl would grow up and maybe he will, hopefully before it is too late. And though there were some funny moments and great, snappy lines, this is the weakest episode of the season so far. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Sue's idea of heaven is the ability to sign up for all the clubs she wants without danger of being cut later on. Unfortunately, she spreads herself far too thin.
-She later tells Brick that she understands, at long last, why clubs in high school cut people. She just can't keep up with everything. For the record, her a Capella club was the worst I have ever heard and Sue is not a good songwriter. I can't believe the club went along with her cockamamie scheme.
-Brick informs his mother that the only reason she had children was to have slaves to do all the work around the house. Mike tells him no, the reason they had children was because of the beer.
-Bill Norwood (Pat Finn) ruins the chance for the Hecks to use two coupons at their meal out. He really is the worst liar ever.
-For the second episode this season, Frankie calls back her brilliant acting career in the community production of The Wizard of Oz. Not everyone has her talent but she could have pulled off using two coupons at a combined table.
-Normally Mike's tallness is intimidating to waiters but with his Hawaiian shirt on, that power was lost.
-Axl tries to lure the ants out of his apartment by tossing pizza into the yard.
-I love when Brick holds the two phones together so Sue can talk to Axl and he can overhear everything.
-Sue thought that only two kinds of cheese existed: regular and squeezy. Hopefully that club will change her understanding of cheese.
-For the record, I don't think Axl will be able to handle having two girlfriends at once, and I doubt that all girls are as understanding as Devin so it will be interesting to see what happens next.
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