Season Two covers a lot of ground from the crisis stemming over the Suaz Canal to Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) finally getting married and then a scandal surrounding the prime minister, Harold McMillan (Anton Lesser). The first three shows cover Prince Philip's (Matt Smith's) travels around the world visiting the vast colonies of England and perhaps even having an affair. He has to fire his private secretary, Mike Parker's (Daniel Ings's) wife has filed for divorce so he has to leave his position. And Philip wants more power and respect in his own marriage. It must be hard to be married to the most powerful woman in the world.
But his power comes at a price, sending Prince Charles to his old boarding school against Elizabeth's (Claire Foy's) wishes but he has to bit her tongue to save her marriage.
In the meantime, upset that Peter Townsend (Ben Miles) is marrying a teenager, Margaret persuades her fling Tony Armstrong-Jones (Matthew Goode, too old for the role but good nevertheless). Now, while Tony is against the institution of marriage and is currently seeing other women and men, he agrees but his secret to making it successful is traveling constantly.
In the end, Elizabeth gives birth to a healthy baby after a difficult pregnancy and Philip declares his love to her, though he might be covering for seeing a communist chiropractor, who divulges information about other patients which is unethical to say the least. While Elizabeth's second delivery is completely different, and Philip is allowed to be present for this one, he remains at a distance, not truly involved in the process.
All-in-all, this second wasn't as good as the first, as it covered too many years and didn't have the vibrant John Lithgow as the prime minister. The strongest episode was the one where the Queen is under securinty as she gives a speech which is dated. She needs to truly become modernized. John Heffeman gives an excellent guest performance in that one. Also strong is when her uncle (Alec Jennings) visits and she discovers his secret Nazi past. However, the episode where the Kennedys (Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour) come to visit, let me done. I know everyone can't be as good as Natalie Portman, but I found their performances not that effective though Mrs. Kennedy's part was especially well written.
That being said, this is still an excellent show, transporting you back to that time period and showing you how isolating power can be. And the it feels like you are watching the events as they unfold with completely natural performances (save the Kennedys). Grade: B+
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
Viceroy's House (2017)
India, 1947.
England is still recovering from the devastating World War II and is fine with letting India finally gain her independence after ruling it, for whatever reason, for 300 years.
So Lord Mountbattan (Hugh Bonneville) is the last viceroy, appointed to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
However, India is a vast country and has many internal problems such as the Hindis, Sikhs and Muslims do not get along well and many want the country divided while others do not. And Lord Mountbattan needs to decide how to properly transition the country properly all the while violence erupts in villages far away from the viceroy's vast estate.
In the end, the country is divided, though that wasn't what Mountbattan wanted initially and his wife, Edwina (Gillian Anderson, great in an underwritten role) isn't pleased but she also has her own causes, upset at the illiteracy rate and the infant morality rate and she is determined to help.
So the country is split, Mountbattan was used as a pawn and then there is a mass exodus of Indians as they make their way to the country that they choice and many die in the process.
This film is also the story of two servants in the Viceroy's house: Jeet (Manish Dayal) and Aalia (Huma Qureshi). He is Hindi and she is Muslim but both don't want the country divided. Unfortunately, Aalia's fiance returns and he is all for a Pakistan so she picks him, as her blind father (Om Puri) is dependent upon her. And she somehow survives a deadly train bomb and is able to reunite with her true love at the end of the film. I am making it seem more contrived than it should be. While I am happy they get together, it isn't that realistic especially since Aalia is near death and yet she shuffles toward Jeet.
I wish that the whole film could have told from Jeet's point of view as that would have been something different, something unique and it would have hopefully dealt with this topic on an intimate scale which is what this film needed. And his performance was the strongest in the film.
While this film was stylish and lavish, good actors were wasted. And Mountbattan changes his mind too easily when it comes to dividing India. Grade: B
England is still recovering from the devastating World War II and is fine with letting India finally gain her independence after ruling it, for whatever reason, for 300 years.
So Lord Mountbattan (Hugh Bonneville) is the last viceroy, appointed to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
However, India is a vast country and has many internal problems such as the Hindis, Sikhs and Muslims do not get along well and many want the country divided while others do not. And Lord Mountbattan needs to decide how to properly transition the country properly all the while violence erupts in villages far away from the viceroy's vast estate.
In the end, the country is divided, though that wasn't what Mountbattan wanted initially and his wife, Edwina (Gillian Anderson, great in an underwritten role) isn't pleased but she also has her own causes, upset at the illiteracy rate and the infant morality rate and she is determined to help.
So the country is split, Mountbattan was used as a pawn and then there is a mass exodus of Indians as they make their way to the country that they choice and many die in the process.
This film is also the story of two servants in the Viceroy's house: Jeet (Manish Dayal) and Aalia (Huma Qureshi). He is Hindi and she is Muslim but both don't want the country divided. Unfortunately, Aalia's fiance returns and he is all for a Pakistan so she picks him, as her blind father (Om Puri) is dependent upon her. And she somehow survives a deadly train bomb and is able to reunite with her true love at the end of the film. I am making it seem more contrived than it should be. While I am happy they get together, it isn't that realistic especially since Aalia is near death and yet she shuffles toward Jeet.
I wish that the whole film could have told from Jeet's point of view as that would have been something different, something unique and it would have hopefully dealt with this topic on an intimate scale which is what this film needed. And his performance was the strongest in the film.
While this film was stylish and lavish, good actors were wasted. And Mountbattan changes his mind too easily when it comes to dividing India. Grade: B
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
The Middle: The Other Man
Corbin Bleu is adorable and everyone deserves cake.
The time has finally come for Axl (Charlie McDermott) to start his big boy job and he is loving every minute of it. Not that Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is hearing anything about it. Instead, Axl latches on to his father (Neil Flynn), leaving her out in the cold and she isn't happy about it. Mike starts watching The Walking Dead without her, and then he and Axl get Taco Jason's without her, as they simply forget all about her, both of which are never cool. And then, when Mike finally tries to make it up with Frankie, Axl comes along and Mike picks his son over his wife and Frankie is livid, but then forces Brick (Atticus Shaffer) to be her buddy and he goes along reluctantly. But it turns out well. Brick is used to being ignored and forgotten so he has formed a good relationship with himself and is happy just by being alone. I understand the feeling.
But then Lexie (Daniela Bodadilla) returns and Axl dumps his dad like a hot potato and forces Mike to return to his wife who is now bingeing on Outlander.
Meanwhile, Sue (Eden Sher) is ready to break up with Aidan (Jackson White), even though break ups make her nervous, but then Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) meets Aidan's adorable drummer friend, Luke (Bleu, nice to see him on the screen again). So she can't break up with Aidan now, not until Brad is in with Luke. And things get awkward. First, Brad is too quite and then he's too talkative and Sue feels guilty about just stringing Aidan along. And Aidan keeps accidentally hurting Sue, first by tossing red pepper into her eyes and then smacking her nose. And it gets worse. Sue begs Brad to pull it together before Aidan kills her and she has good reason to be worried. The pool ball, stick and then a pitcher all injure her, and it leads to Brad and Luke bonding as they carry her out to the stretcher. And, for whatever reason, that night when Aidan kisses her that time, it actually feels special so he is also growing on her.
Now, while I wasn't rooting for Sean (Beau Wirick) and Sue, I certainly do no like Aidan and Sue together, despite all the similarities. So I guess I'd rather her end up with Sean and he's not giving up, which is good.
This was another solid episode and I liked that Frankie tried to make up for all those birthdays of Brick's that she missed but the plots weren't as solid as they've been in past weeks and how it is established that Luke is homosexual? Still, I'm glad that he's back on the screen and that they finally gave Brad some sort of love interest; there's always something fresh on The Middle. I look forward to the return of Lexie and watching the romances continue. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Everything is an inside joke to Brick.
-If you ever walk over Frankie's dead body, please check her pulse. It's sad that she had to spell that out for her family but they are very dense sometimes.
-Aidan might actually be worse at pool than me which is truly impressive.
-I really want to try that new burger place Frankie kept talking about, Hole Lot of Burger.
-Never settle for mediocre kisses, not even after you start sagging.
-Brick had a bowl of mayonnaise for dinner. Which is just disgusting.
-Aidan would get paid five dollars for one of his gigs.
The time has finally come for Axl (Charlie McDermott) to start his big boy job and he is loving every minute of it. Not that Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is hearing anything about it. Instead, Axl latches on to his father (Neil Flynn), leaving her out in the cold and she isn't happy about it. Mike starts watching The Walking Dead without her, and then he and Axl get Taco Jason's without her, as they simply forget all about her, both of which are never cool. And then, when Mike finally tries to make it up with Frankie, Axl comes along and Mike picks his son over his wife and Frankie is livid, but then forces Brick (Atticus Shaffer) to be her buddy and he goes along reluctantly. But it turns out well. Brick is used to being ignored and forgotten so he has formed a good relationship with himself and is happy just by being alone. I understand the feeling.
But then Lexie (Daniela Bodadilla) returns and Axl dumps his dad like a hot potato and forces Mike to return to his wife who is now bingeing on Outlander.
Meanwhile, Sue (Eden Sher) is ready to break up with Aidan (Jackson White), even though break ups make her nervous, but then Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) meets Aidan's adorable drummer friend, Luke (Bleu, nice to see him on the screen again). So she can't break up with Aidan now, not until Brad is in with Luke. And things get awkward. First, Brad is too quite and then he's too talkative and Sue feels guilty about just stringing Aidan along. And Aidan keeps accidentally hurting Sue, first by tossing red pepper into her eyes and then smacking her nose. And it gets worse. Sue begs Brad to pull it together before Aidan kills her and she has good reason to be worried. The pool ball, stick and then a pitcher all injure her, and it leads to Brad and Luke bonding as they carry her out to the stretcher. And, for whatever reason, that night when Aidan kisses her that time, it actually feels special so he is also growing on her.
Now, while I wasn't rooting for Sean (Beau Wirick) and Sue, I certainly do no like Aidan and Sue together, despite all the similarities. So I guess I'd rather her end up with Sean and he's not giving up, which is good.
This was another solid episode and I liked that Frankie tried to make up for all those birthdays of Brick's that she missed but the plots weren't as solid as they've been in past weeks and how it is established that Luke is homosexual? Still, I'm glad that he's back on the screen and that they finally gave Brad some sort of love interest; there's always something fresh on The Middle. I look forward to the return of Lexie and watching the romances continue. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Everything is an inside joke to Brick.
-If you ever walk over Frankie's dead body, please check her pulse. It's sad that she had to spell that out for her family but they are very dense sometimes.
-Aidan might actually be worse at pool than me which is truly impressive.
-I really want to try that new burger place Frankie kept talking about, Hole Lot of Burger.
-Never settle for mediocre kisses, not even after you start sagging.
-Brick had a bowl of mayonnaise for dinner. Which is just disgusting.
-Aidan would get paid five dollars for one of his gigs.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
The Disaster Artist (2017)
This film was hands down hilarious. I was laughing so hard I cried twice.
I've never seen The Room though I did hear about it in college. My roommates said it was so bad, it was good. After watching this film, I'm more curious than ever.
Greg (Dave Franco) wants to be an actor more than anything but he is very wooden and stiff. Another guy in his acting class, Tommy (James Franco) is the opposite, with his odd accent and no zero talent, he's fearless and doesn't care how ridiculous he looks, people's opinions don't matter to him. Tommy is also a man of mystery, wealthy beyond all belief, he tells people precious little about himself, like where he's from and how old he is.
The two form an unlikely friendship, even though they get odd looks in public. Even after moving to LA, things aren't looking up. Greg lands an agent, but she is odd to say the least and he still is given no roles. Tommy's career is going even worse, and that needs no explanation as to why. But then they hatch the idea of creating their own film.
And so they do. Tommy casts himself as the lead and works to create his vision. He might have money, but no talent behind it. Nevertheless, he does have good people on his staff including a script supervisor (Seth Rogen) who has experience on several TV shows.
The film is disaster and goes far over schedule and Tommy is pretty crazy, denying his staff water, causing the one actress (Jacki Weaver) to pass out. And he and Greg get into a huge fight, as Greg has given up a lot, including a guest spot on Malcolm in the Middle for Tommy. His girlfriend, Amber (Alison Brie), just doesn't understand the hold Tommy has on Greg.
It isn't until the film has its debut that Greg and Tommy fully reconnect. Sure, the film isn't the dramatic vision Tommy had intended but the audience enjoys it nevertheless and it gets a standing ovation.
And it is bad. For whatever reason, the one character, Denny (Josh Hutcherson, with bizarre hair) joins Tommy and his girlfriend, Lisa (Ari Graynor) in bed briefly as he likes to watch. And, at the end when Tommy's character kills himself, he puts the gun in his mouth, pulls the trigger and then wretches around with Lisa's dress before placing the gun in his mouth again and pulling the trigger again and this time he actually dies. Each actor also has their own theory about the film, including one believing that it is autobiographical. She might be right.
Now, while the film The Room might now be a cult classic and have finally churned a profit, The Disaster Artist doesn't need to worry about that. It is good, with James Franco truly disappearing into his role as the bizarre Tommy Wiseau. He fully deserves his Golden Globe nomination. Dave Franco is also excellent and there are good cameos scattered throughout, including Zac Efron, Randall Park, Bob Odenkirk, Megan Mullally, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith and Bryan Cranston himself. And you feel like the late 1990s have come back. This film can be watched several times and it will undoubtedly be found hilarious all the times it is watched. Grade: B+
I've never seen The Room though I did hear about it in college. My roommates said it was so bad, it was good. After watching this film, I'm more curious than ever.
Greg (Dave Franco) wants to be an actor more than anything but he is very wooden and stiff. Another guy in his acting class, Tommy (James Franco) is the opposite, with his odd accent and no zero talent, he's fearless and doesn't care how ridiculous he looks, people's opinions don't matter to him. Tommy is also a man of mystery, wealthy beyond all belief, he tells people precious little about himself, like where he's from and how old he is.
The two form an unlikely friendship, even though they get odd looks in public. Even after moving to LA, things aren't looking up. Greg lands an agent, but she is odd to say the least and he still is given no roles. Tommy's career is going even worse, and that needs no explanation as to why. But then they hatch the idea of creating their own film.
And so they do. Tommy casts himself as the lead and works to create his vision. He might have money, but no talent behind it. Nevertheless, he does have good people on his staff including a script supervisor (Seth Rogen) who has experience on several TV shows.
The film is disaster and goes far over schedule and Tommy is pretty crazy, denying his staff water, causing the one actress (Jacki Weaver) to pass out. And he and Greg get into a huge fight, as Greg has given up a lot, including a guest spot on Malcolm in the Middle for Tommy. His girlfriend, Amber (Alison Brie), just doesn't understand the hold Tommy has on Greg.
It isn't until the film has its debut that Greg and Tommy fully reconnect. Sure, the film isn't the dramatic vision Tommy had intended but the audience enjoys it nevertheless and it gets a standing ovation.
And it is bad. For whatever reason, the one character, Denny (Josh Hutcherson, with bizarre hair) joins Tommy and his girlfriend, Lisa (Ari Graynor) in bed briefly as he likes to watch. And, at the end when Tommy's character kills himself, he puts the gun in his mouth, pulls the trigger and then wretches around with Lisa's dress before placing the gun in his mouth again and pulling the trigger again and this time he actually dies. Each actor also has their own theory about the film, including one believing that it is autobiographical. She might be right.
Now, while the film The Room might now be a cult classic and have finally churned a profit, The Disaster Artist doesn't need to worry about that. It is good, with James Franco truly disappearing into his role as the bizarre Tommy Wiseau. He fully deserves his Golden Globe nomination. Dave Franco is also excellent and there are good cameos scattered throughout, including Zac Efron, Randall Park, Bob Odenkirk, Megan Mullally, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith and Bryan Cranston himself. And you feel like the late 1990s have come back. This film can be watched several times and it will undoubtedly be found hilarious all the times it is watched. Grade: B+
Friday, January 5, 2018
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Despite being dated, this is a good film nevertheless.
The film begins in the summer of 1939, just before the war starts in England. The Minivers (Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon) are a wealthy, care free couple frivolously spending money on fancy new cars and hats.
And then, the war comes. Their oldest son, Vincent (Richard Ney) joins the air force and falls in love with the wealthy Carol Benton (Teresa Wright), granddaughter of Lady Benton (Dame May Whitty), much to her dismay.
Clem (Pidgeon) joins the River force, and helps with evacuating Dunkirk. Yes, this film provides yet another take on Dunkirk. While away, his wife (Garson) deals with a escaped German pilot who holds her hostage at gunpoint. Though she is shaken, she instantly recovers for the sake of her young children and doesn't even want to tell her husband about the whole thing.
Then, her new daughter-in-law dies when a stray bullet hits her during an air raid. Several others also died tragically in that air raid. The church's vicar ends the film with a powerful speech of how this is the people's war. Unfortunately, he was right. More civilians died than before in any other war, as this war was beyond tragic and horrifying. Yet, the film manages to be as uplifting as it can be, with Vincent heading over to help his elderly grandmother-in-law hold her book of hymns, though they are both grieving.
This film also gives character actor Henry Travers (Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life) shine as Mr. Ballard, a stationmaster with a passion for growing roses, including one he names after Mrs. Miniver herself.
Now, the film is not without its flaws, including American accents (except from Ney) when they are supposed to be in England, the loving gazes Garson kept casting at Ney (he would soon become her second husband, after all) and the spank Clem gives Kay after he learns of the German soldier, which is just wrong and abusive. But, when this film was made, they certainly thought nothing of it. Times certainly have changed, certainly for the better.
Still, despite these problems, this film has a tight script, great performances (Pidgeon, Garson, Wright, Whitty and Travers would all receive Oscar nominations and Garson and Wright would win) and relevant message still carry this film. And the scene with the German soldier is powerful still and an unforgettable scene in cinematic history. Grade: A-
The film begins in the summer of 1939, just before the war starts in England. The Minivers (Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon) are a wealthy, care free couple frivolously spending money on fancy new cars and hats.
And then, the war comes. Their oldest son, Vincent (Richard Ney) joins the air force and falls in love with the wealthy Carol Benton (Teresa Wright), granddaughter of Lady Benton (Dame May Whitty), much to her dismay.
Clem (Pidgeon) joins the River force, and helps with evacuating Dunkirk. Yes, this film provides yet another take on Dunkirk. While away, his wife (Garson) deals with a escaped German pilot who holds her hostage at gunpoint. Though she is shaken, she instantly recovers for the sake of her young children and doesn't even want to tell her husband about the whole thing.
Then, her new daughter-in-law dies when a stray bullet hits her during an air raid. Several others also died tragically in that air raid. The church's vicar ends the film with a powerful speech of how this is the people's war. Unfortunately, he was right. More civilians died than before in any other war, as this war was beyond tragic and horrifying. Yet, the film manages to be as uplifting as it can be, with Vincent heading over to help his elderly grandmother-in-law hold her book of hymns, though they are both grieving.
This film also gives character actor Henry Travers (Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life) shine as Mr. Ballard, a stationmaster with a passion for growing roses, including one he names after Mrs. Miniver herself.
Now, the film is not without its flaws, including American accents (except from Ney) when they are supposed to be in England, the loving gazes Garson kept casting at Ney (he would soon become her second husband, after all) and the spank Clem gives Kay after he learns of the German soldier, which is just wrong and abusive. But, when this film was made, they certainly thought nothing of it. Times certainly have changed, certainly for the better.
Still, despite these problems, this film has a tight script, great performances (Pidgeon, Garson, Wright, Whitty and Travers would all receive Oscar nominations and Garson and Wright would win) and relevant message still carry this film. And the scene with the German soldier is powerful still and an unforgettable scene in cinematic history. Grade: A-
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
The Middle: New Year's Revelations
Well, apparently Sue (Eden Sher) has had a slight crush on Sean (Beau Wirick) all along, which is news to me, considering she was basically engaged to Darrin (the unseen John Gammon) back in high school and then she was away at college and dated that safe rides driver briefly. However, she remains unsure who started and ended the kiss and also, if you do like the person, apologizing afterwards is not a common practice, not that I have much experience having been kissed by precisely two men in my life. But apologies did not follow. So Sue and Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) hatch this brilliant plan to give the two another opportunity to kiss to see what happens. Even Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is on board, insisting on lighting the bathroom candle.
So the party does happen and it is interesting how many people Frankie can dig up at the last minute, I wish I was that lucky. But there are many obstacles standing in the way of them getting to kiss each other at midnight, including Sue's boyfriend, Aidan (Jackson White) leaving Sean fuming.
In the meantime, Mike (Neil Flynn) is upset that his father (John Cullen) gave him a trip as a present and the destination is unknown. Mike forces his sons to come with him and they are more than just a little reluctant. The trip is pretty interesting with Brick (Atticus Shaffer) and Axl (Charlie McDermott) dropping hints about five dollars just doesn't cut it anymore. Big Mike, normally a man of few words, just starts talking and, for once, doesn't shut up. He tells stories of his youth and when Mike was a baby and then points to a random tree and asks Mike to pull over because that is where he's going to die. I just laughed, thinking that that was the most ridiculous thing ever, but he was dead serious and though Brick and Axl plead with him to change his mind, Mike just leaves him there, just to scare him.
Though Big Mike is ready to die as he doesn't want to be a bother, Mike tosses those words right back to him, saying that him dying would be a bigger bother as he would have to pick out a coffin, plan a funeral and would have to store his body until the ground thaws out so Big Mike changes his mind. He won't die yet, thank goodness. And it brings Axl and Brick the thought of spending more time with him as he does have good stories even though there is no chance they won't be idiots.
The episode ends with a threat, Sean snaps to Axl that he likes Sue and is not going down without a fight. Okay, the next couple episodes should be pretty interesting.
Now, while I'm not completely on board with those two, it will be fascinating to see how this plays out, because I do want everyone to have a happy ending though I don't see how that is possible at this point, plus this episode had some truly funny moments. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie is on a new hormone that gave her a burst of energy.
-She goes to Curves to have her picture taken for her membership so she can park in that parking lot and go to the donut shop across the street, which is a good use of a membership fee.
-Brick and Axl probably wouldn't make good fathers.
-Big Mike does have some interesting stories, including thumb wrestling a policewoman to get out of a speeding ticket and dancing with his depressed wife after Mike was born.
-Carly (Blaine Saunders) makes an appearance but Frankie quickly shoos her away as that baby needs attention. Is she serious or just making a lame excuse for her to leave and unavailable for Sean to have a crush on? I can't tell.
-Brad is starting to like his Christmas present from his dad.
-Nancy (Jen Ray) just might kill Frankie if the Hecks throw a Valentine's Day party.
-Mike returns home and goes to bed straightaway.
So the party does happen and it is interesting how many people Frankie can dig up at the last minute, I wish I was that lucky. But there are many obstacles standing in the way of them getting to kiss each other at midnight, including Sue's boyfriend, Aidan (Jackson White) leaving Sean fuming.
In the meantime, Mike (Neil Flynn) is upset that his father (John Cullen) gave him a trip as a present and the destination is unknown. Mike forces his sons to come with him and they are more than just a little reluctant. The trip is pretty interesting with Brick (Atticus Shaffer) and Axl (Charlie McDermott) dropping hints about five dollars just doesn't cut it anymore. Big Mike, normally a man of few words, just starts talking and, for once, doesn't shut up. He tells stories of his youth and when Mike was a baby and then points to a random tree and asks Mike to pull over because that is where he's going to die. I just laughed, thinking that that was the most ridiculous thing ever, but he was dead serious and though Brick and Axl plead with him to change his mind, Mike just leaves him there, just to scare him.
Though Big Mike is ready to die as he doesn't want to be a bother, Mike tosses those words right back to him, saying that him dying would be a bigger bother as he would have to pick out a coffin, plan a funeral and would have to store his body until the ground thaws out so Big Mike changes his mind. He won't die yet, thank goodness. And it brings Axl and Brick the thought of spending more time with him as he does have good stories even though there is no chance they won't be idiots.
The episode ends with a threat, Sean snaps to Axl that he likes Sue and is not going down without a fight. Okay, the next couple episodes should be pretty interesting.
Now, while I'm not completely on board with those two, it will be fascinating to see how this plays out, because I do want everyone to have a happy ending though I don't see how that is possible at this point, plus this episode had some truly funny moments. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie is on a new hormone that gave her a burst of energy.
-She goes to Curves to have her picture taken for her membership so she can park in that parking lot and go to the donut shop across the street, which is a good use of a membership fee.
-Brick and Axl probably wouldn't make good fathers.
-Big Mike does have some interesting stories, including thumb wrestling a policewoman to get out of a speeding ticket and dancing with his depressed wife after Mike was born.
-Carly (Blaine Saunders) makes an appearance but Frankie quickly shoos her away as that baby needs attention. Is she serious or just making a lame excuse for her to leave and unavailable for Sean to have a crush on? I can't tell.
-Brad is starting to like his Christmas present from his dad.
-Nancy (Jen Ray) just might kill Frankie if the Hecks throw a Valentine's Day party.
-Mike returns home and goes to bed straightaway.
Monday, January 1, 2018
The Greatest Showman (2017)
This film had all the parts of a great film, a first-rate cast, amazing songs, superb costumes and a solid plot, but it just didn't come together.
P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) came from humble backgrounds, the orphaned son of a tailor who always wanted bigger things. His wife, Charity (the underused and utilized Michelle Williams, better than the underwritten part) came from wealth, but gave that all up to marry him and has no regrets even though she needs to wash her own sheets now. P.T. wanted to give her more, but she doesn't need more, she just needs him. Still, he somehow gets a bank loan and buys a museum full of obscure things, just as he likes as he is always talking about crazy adventures.
It is actually his young daughters, Caroline and Helen (Austyn Johnson and Cameron Seely) give him the idea for his museum to have living things. Which gives him the idea to have people who are different from everyone else, such as a bearded lady and a midget. And African Americans all of whom have talent.
Naturally, the show has its haters and lots of them, protesters grow by the day, but the crowds love it so the show, dubbed by one critic, a circus is quite popular. So popular that it allows P.T. to give his wife the lifestyle he always wanted to provide her. And then Zac Efron enters the scene.
Now, while I like him and he did a great job in a fairly different role from all of those lame comedies he's been doing as of late, he isn't necessary really for the main plot. He is a playwright and loved by society and comes from money. He is soon in the business with P.T. and develops a large crush on the acrobat, Anne (Zendaya), who to the scandal of society is African American.
It is on a trip to visit Queen Victoria (Gayle Rankin) that he meets the immensely talented Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) that he becomes legit and truly lets the fame go to his head. Though he doesn't cheat on his wife, he is completely besotted with her and dismisses his main cast to soak Jenny's fame in. Though he gave the minorities an opportunity to shine, once he became wealthy, he became no better than them.
And then everything goes up in smoke, literally. Philip Carlyle (Efron) is left in charge with P.T. on the road with Jenny and the protesters get into a fight with the cast and the building is burned. Charity leaves P.T. though he does win her back too easily. And, after Philip heals from his wounds, the show reopens, thanks to Philip's prudent thinking. This time, it reopens in a tent and P.T. hangs up his hat tossing it literally to Philip, the new ringmaster so he can watch his girls grow up. But the show goes on.
Now, again, the songs are excellent and talent is immense, with the bearded lady, Letty (Keala Settle), killing it every time she sings, the film had too much plot and too many characters crammed in around the songs, which are really the highlight of the film and make the film worth watching. Even the critic said it best, it is nice to see minorities and different people being treated as equals. I just wish it was that way in real life. Everyone being the same would make this world a boring place. At least this film wasn't boring, but it should have been better.
I did appreciate the message at the beginning, from the director and Jackman, as films should be experienced in the theater, on the big screen with a real audience and at the end, some did clap. I just wish this film had inspired me to the do the same. Instead, it was just a pretty picture that needed to get beneath the surface and show some genuine emotion and make me feel something. Grade: B
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