Catching Up With The Classics... "It Happened One Night"

It Happened One Night (1934)

Not Rated

Starring:  Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Jameson Thomas

Directed by Frank Capra

The Story:

Spoiled heiress Ellie (Colbert) has secretly wed King Westley (Thomas) much to her father's (Connolly) chagrin. As he spirits her away aboard his yacht, she jumps ship and disappears. Soon she winds up in the sights of fired newspaper reporter Peter Warne (Gable). He offers his help in return for breaking the story of the century.

Turn back the clock 80 some odd years.

While there were other films before it, cinematic history was fine tuned/perfected with this release.

It's the formula for the screwball comedy.

It's the formula for the romantic comedy.

It's the formula for the road trip comedy.

It would go on to sweep the Oscars that year becoming the first film to win Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture.

Sadly, they don't make comedies like that anymore, or if they do, the Academy for whatever reason, doesn't like to reward comedies with any award nominations period.

However, just because the Academy liked it, does that mean it's really any good?

The short answer is yes!

The writing is crisp and fun and the chemistry between Gable and Colbert is everything you hope for between romantic leads.

Naturally the hate/love relationship is one you can see coming from a mile away... now...

But in 1934?  Maybe not so much.

If you lament the fact that Hollywood has grown stale with ideas, remember, much like a public library has a lot of books (and movies!) to offer, so too does Hollywood.

This is not my first Capra rodeo, and his direction fits this story like a glove. The story unfolds and you become invested with Capra's characters as you get caught up in their story.

It is however, my first foray into the film catalog of Clark Gable.

That's right, I've never watched Gone With The Wind, to name but one of his many accomplishments.

His range in this film is spectacular. He's a comedic actor one moment, a hapless romantic the next and then in the blink of an eye, he becomes a classic heavy. He's given a lot to do, and he pulls it off effortlessly.

So the bottom line, if you've never seen it, the next time you're adding stuff to watch on Netflix (not the streaming portion) feel free to add it.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

How Many Secret Government Agencies Do We Have? "Mile 22"

Mile 22 (2018)

Rated R

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais, John Malkovich, Ronda Rousey,

Directed by Peter Berg

The Story:

James (Wahlberg) leads his covert team to retrieve a potential asset (Uwais) who may have some damaging intelligence at his disposal while seemingly the entire foreign intelligence world converges to kill them all.

You'll rarely get bored when Peter Berg is helming an action flick.

They tend to play quickly, with lots of action and lots of dialogue.

While this helps to hide any plot holes you might otherwise find, it always makes for a fine time at the movies.

The movie starts off with a lively action scene and unfurls quickly after that point.

You can probably surmise how it's going to end long before the credits roll, but it's still a trip worth taking.

Most of the cast is given very little in the way of character development, but the movie also doesn't bother with much downtime to allow for it, so it's unlikely you'll get too connected with the cast as they meet their cinematic fates as the mission unfolds.

:)

Berg and Wahlberg are becoming quite the Director/Actor tandem with enjoyable action flicks that deliver a good viewing and a great box office. I'd be surprised if we don't see them teaming up again in the very near future.

He's No Ant-Man! "Downsizing"

Downsizing (2017)

Rated R

Starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis,

Directed by Alexander Payne

The Story:

Paul (Damon) is an occupational therapist who decides that they could have a better life if he and his wife (Wiig) were to undergo the new shrinking process that makes them roughly 5 inches tall so that humanity can lessen their detrimental impact on the earth. However, once you undergo the process, there is no going back...

Speaking of going back, if I could, I would go back and skip watching this.

Overlong... overly tedious... it was an interesting concept for a trailer, but loses its way in a long rambling 2+ hour narrative that literally does a whole lot of nothing.

A horribly wasted in casting Jason Sudeikis is in the movie for about 3 minutes and offers nothing more than a familiar face onscreen. Wiig as well is barely in the film, so any thoughts you had about this being an amusing dramedy, those dreams are shattered and gone early in the film.

Hong Chau is the feisty fireball that gives Paul a new purpose in his life to help the poor and sick with what medical training he has.

Waltz thankfully injects some much needed energy in the proceedings when he is around, but it's often a case of too little, too late.

So far for 2019, it looks like Damon is going to pull off a rare double-entry onto the Worst Films of the Year listing on Thanksgiving.

I'm sure he's too busy swimming in his mountains of cash to care.

:)

Real Monsters Exist... "Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer"

Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer (2018)

PG-13

Starring Sarah Jane Morris, Dean Cain, Nick Searcy, Michael Beach, Cyrina Fiallo, Earl Billings,

Directed by Nick Searcy

The Story:

While running a narcotics investigation, Philadelphia police discover horrific, unsanitary conditions in a local women's clinic. As the investigation continues, they learn that at least one woman died from using the clinic and that the doctor may have been terminating pregnancies of infants well past the 24 week statute imposed by the State of Pennsylvania.

The production is well done for a film that was funded by people who wanted this story told. It's not a Hollywood blockbuster, but looks and feels like a well done made for cable film, complete with perfect fade-outs for commercials to be inserted. Nick Searcy does a fine job behind the camera as director, and is great in front of the camera as the Defense Attorney who has to attempt to refute all of the allegations against his client.

Something important to remember that the movie emphasizes as Gosnell (Billings) goes to trial:

This isn't about abortion.

This was about the murder of a female patient, and the murders of multiple babies that were likely delivered alive, then murdered by the doctor.

After all, abortion is legal in the country, and having a woman's right to choose is a hot-button issue, so it was a tough sell to take this case to trial...

Or to have a movie made about the trial.

Through crowdsourcing though, it was made and what is delivered is pretty much a note for note replay of the trial of Kermit Gosnell, a doctor who never felt he did anything wrong.

Will people change their mind on the issue of abortion if they watch this film?

Unlikely.

Pro-life advocates will point to this film and say, "this is why I am against abortion."

Pro-choice people won't see this film, period.  Why would they? 

They really should though.

If not to possibly change their stance (the prosecuting attorney was pro-choice as well, but still took the case...) then at least to demand that their state and local health departments never allow clinics like this one to exist.

When violations and concerns were voiced to the State... they turned a blind eye and never investigated one claim against Gosnell or ever even inspected his clinic.

As they point out in the trial, even nail salons receive a mandatory once a year inspection!

You would think pro-choice advocates would at least want the clinics that they are sending sisters, mothers, and daughters to, to at least adhere to some sanitary conditions and not be crawling with cats and have bags of medical waste literally scattered into every nook and cranny of the building.

However, when New York passes a law that says you can terminate a pregnancy at any time, who knows? Maybe Gosnell was simply ahead of his time.

:(

I Waited 40 Years For This? "Halloween (2018)"

Halloween (2018)

Rated R

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, and of course, Michael Myers

Directed by James Gordon Green

The Story:

For the past 40 years, Michael Myers has been institutionalized for the violent murders in Haddonfield Illinois on Halloween night, 1979. However, thanks to some Podcasters and a poorly timed prison transfer, it appears Michael might be getting out of jail free and returning home for some unfinished business.

I'm not even sure I know where to begin with this one.

Soooo... Michael has been in prison for 40 years, wiping away every sequel we've plunked down money (and time) to enjoy (or ridicule) since the original came out.

That's too bad, because I still dig Halloween 2.

Thankfully, that does include the Rob Zombie reboots.

:)

The movie opens with podcasters arriving at Michael's doorstep and they pull out his mask that the D.A. let them borrow.

At this point, I'm thinking, what are the odds the D.A. still had this evidence from 40 years earlier? And if they did, why on earth would they give it to a pair of podcasters?

I know, that thinking seems silly, but at this point, I became disconnected to the film, and never really got back into it.

The plot points lined up exactly, beat for beat at that moment, and you can tell exactly how, where, and why everything is about to happen.

Meanwhile on the other side of Illinois, little Laurie Strode (Curtis) is all grown up and spends her day in Sarah Conner cosplay.

The horror film is out the window at this point as it jumps back and forth between thriller, action movie and oh yeah, let's be a horror film every 10 minutes.

People do die at Michael's hands, literally, but many were given so little screen time, I just didn't care.

I'm not referring to the "odes to the original" deaths.  Those I got the symmetry for why they were done.

However, the best friends, the kids being babysat... there was no emotional connection with them to the point that we fear for their lives and hope/wish they might survive.

If anything, Halloween (2018) simply reminds me of how well Halloween (1979) really was.

That Was Something All Right... "Suburbicon"

Suburbicon (2017)

Rated R

Starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac

Directed by George Clooney

The Story:

Things begin to get sinister in an all-white neighborhood in the 50s when the first black family moves in.

George Clooney directs this satire about suburbia... or was it race relations... was it the ideals of the 50s...

What was it exactly?

It was hot garbage, that's what.

Ejected after 20 excruciatingly long, unfunny, and most damning, uninteresting minutes.

Didn't care what was going to happen to the cast or how the movie turned out.

Now that we all know I'm using the Star System in 2019, welcome to the first actual ZERO star review of the year.

You Can Check It Out Anytime You Like..."Instant Hotel"

Instant Hotel (2018)

Hosted by Luke Jacobz

The Story:

5 pairs of Australian instant hotel owners all take a one night vacation at each other's home/hotel. They then judge each hotel they stay out to figure out what is the best Instant Hotel Down Under!

In addition to judging each other, renowned designer Juliet Ashworth pops by to see what's right, and what's wrong with the hotel.

Sounds like riveting reality tv, no?

Yes!

There are 12 episodes now airing on Netflix.

The first 5 belong to one group of hotel owners.

The second 5 are a whole new group!

The twist comes from the last 2 episodes when the winners of each group have a "Hotel-Off!" with participants from each of the 2 different casts coming back to judge.

Crikey!

All in all, you'll find some typical reality tv scheming, contestants you root for and contestants you can't stand, and some you love that you can't stand them. :)

I disagree in theory as to how the final judging takes place.  I don't think the actual finalists make for fair judges... but they are also there to help create last minute drama to help themselves win.

Fair enough I suppose.

Still, quite enjoyed my trip Down Under. Gorgeous scenery.

And, I'm of the opinion that the right duo won.

At least, of the 2 choices I had. :)

Watched an episode a night, then binged both of the finale episodes.

See?

Not your typical Netflix viewer. :)

I'll be back when they offer up a new season.

Road Trippin' ... "The Last Laugh"

The Last Laugh (2019) 

TV-MA

Starring Chevy Chase, Richard Dreyfuss, Andie MacDowell

Written and Directed by Greg Pritikin

The Story:

Moving to a retirement community, talent manager Al Hart (Chase) laments having to give up his career. As fate would have it, his very first client, comedian Buddy Green (Dreyfuss) is at the community, and the two rekindle their friendship. 50 years earlier, Buddy turned down his shot on the Ed Sullivan Show. Al's got a great idea: put Buddy back in the game as they take a road trip across America to get on The Tonight Show!

It's a buddy comedy/road trip for the geriatric set!

Dreyfuss and Chase are both in fine form in the film.

Chevy, in particular, looks to be in the best shape he's been in recent years. He actually gets to play the straight man, as such, in the duo. So much of the mugging for the camera he's been asked to do over his career is not there in this film.

Dreyfuss instead gets to play the funny man, but as his comic notes, he doesn't have an act so much as he has a lifetime of jokes.

With Netflix releasing movies seemingly every day, there's going to be a lot that slip under the radar as they can only promote so many films on their home page when you log on.

This is a good thing.

Direct competition to the networks, broadcast and cable, and to Hollywood with their big budget attempts, it's going to make everyone up their game.

That makes the audience the true winners here.

Do Not RSVP... "Destination Wedding"

Destination Wedding (2018)

Rated R

Starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder

Written and Directed by Victor Levin

The Story:

Frank (Reeves) and Lindsay (Ryder) are two bitter, cynical people. They pretty much instantly dislike one another, and they are forced to endure a weekend together as guests at a wedding that neither wants to be at.

If you can endure the full 90 minutes of it, then you are a better person than I am.

Or you like your Romantic Comedies to be neither romantic nor comedic.

Okay, I take a little bit of that back.  Some of the lines are indeed funny, in the most biting, cynical way possible.

The problem (hard to choose just one) that I had with this movie, is that Reeves and Ryder made their characters so unlikable, I didn't want to stay with them through the entire weekend to see if they fall in love or just have anger sex midway through the film.

I can't even tell if I made it past the 20 minute mark, it felt like 2 hours of hearing these two whine, bitch, moan and complain about each other and every little thing.

The running time is only 90 minutes!

I ejected it sometime between 20 minutes and 50 minutes, I just couldn't take anymore of them.

Perhaps if there had been any redeeming qualities to either lead character?

Instead, there was... dialogue...

And not just any dialogue.

These were conversations between two characters that sounded nothing like real people talking.

Instead, it sounded like two people reading rehearsed pretentious lines and working them into a conversation that no two people would ever actually have in real life.

Too bad, but I'll place the blame for that solely at the feet of writer/diretor Levin.

I'd give it 0 stars, but I'm afraid someone might mistake this critique as a 5 star effort, and I don't want that mix-up! :)

The Bad News About "Great News"

Great News  (2017)

TV-14

Starring Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, Adam Campbell, Nicole Richie, Horatio Sanz, John Michael Higgins,

Created by Tracey Wigfield

The Story:

Go behind the scenes of "The Breakdown" one of Cable News many, many shows available to viewers in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

While the premise of the story is Carol (Martin) becoming an intern in her 60s at the Cable News show where her daughter Katie (Heelan) works as a producer, there is oh so much more to the show than simply a sneak peak at one of the wackiest mother/daughter relationships in television history.

Thanks to an eclectic cast of crazies, there is never a dull moment and you're never sure what is going to happen next in front of or behind the camera.

While many of the characters might start out as stereotypical placeholders for their role, the actors breathe life and dimension into them, so that even the supporting cast that I didn't name provides must see moments in the background, or sometimes front and center.

Sadly, after two seasons on NBC, they pulled the plug on it.

I discovered it when Netflix sent me an email that basically said "the best show that nobody is watching".

I gave it a try, and we've cycled through both seasons... a few times now...

:)

Fun comfort food when you want something to fill 22 minutes of your evening.

Although it is an ensemble, I must single out Higgin's portrayal of Chuck Pierce as my favorite. He's always been an actor I've enjoyed whenever I see him in something, and his bombastic anchorman is incredible.

Fingers crossed that Netflix might pick up a 3rd season for the show, but if they don't, we'll keep revisiting the newsroom periodically.

Time To Get Schooled... "Night School"

Night School (2018)

Rated PG-13

Starring Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Romany Malco, Taran Killam

Directed by Malcom D. Lee

The Story:

High school dropout Teddy (Hart) has a job, a girlfriend and a bright future, until it all goes up in flames one night. In order to secure a brighter future, he's got to go back to school to receive his GED. But with a no-nonsense teacher like Ms. Carrie (Haddish) he may be in way over his head.

Malcolm D. Lee's greatest film, hands down, remains Undercover Brother.

In 2017, he helmed Girls Trip, which unleashed Tiffany Haddish on unsuspecting viewers and made her an instant star.

With a more family friendly tone in Night School, the director and stars are able to cobble together a very fun story that allows Hart and Haddish to bounce off one another, plus they are given an outstanding ensemble of comedic supporting cast mates to help flesh out the story.

Case in point: Add a mid-term exam heist by all of the students to stretch the film, further establish the supporting cast and add to the charm of the overall film.

They also avoid the overused teacher/student love interest in a big, foot-stomping kind of way.

We'll see if/how they try and turn this into a franchise down the road, but for now, the initial foray into Night School was well worth the trip.

The Best Movies of 2018... Or So I Think. :)

Another year down with a lot of films watched, but much fewer reviewed than in year's past. We'll see if that's a continuing trend, or if I can find some time in my busy days to keep reviewing the movies that I see.

So with 2018 officially over, these were the movies I found to be the most entertaining and worthwhile bang for my buck over the year.

Without further ado, here they are!

10) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri 

Starting things off with a critically acclaimed drama that was most critics pick for the Best of 2017, well, too bad, I get to them as I can. :)

The film is deserving of all the kudos it received, it's funny, it's touching and it's a shame that Harrelson and Rockwell couldn't both win for their respective performances in the film. It's a film that will have you laugh, cringe and cry all within the span of minutes.



9) It

The good Stephen King adaption of the year, someday I'll have to watch the original miniseries to compare the two, and mainly to watch Tim Curry. :)  The movie itself, I didn't really find it scary. Suspenseful, yes, but not really scary.

At least to me.

However, still really well done, and I look forward to the sequel.


8) The Christmas Chronicles

A Netflix Original.
A Christmas film.

Why Not?

It's the role that you never knew you wanted to see Kurt Russell portray, but it's a role that he's tailor made for. One of the better Christmas films in recent years, it will take its rightful place on annual Christmas viewings during the holiday season.

It has that little bit extra oomph in production values that raises it above the typical Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie and feels like it very well could have played in theaters.



7) Happy Death Day

Groundhog Day meets horror film.

That sells it short on how much fun it really is, but if you want to boil it down to a basic elevator pitch, well, there you go.

You never quite know who the killer is, or why our poor lead is getting killed every night.

Also, not overly bloody, so a good one to share for those that like (or dislike) their horror a little less gory and a lot more funny.


6) Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

I never saw the original, but that didn't bother me in the least as I stepped up to the sequel/franchise reboot.

A stellar cast, a fun premise, and the twist in the way they were portrayed that made the movie infinitely more fun to watch, and has a great rewatchability factor.

I've heard rumblings that there will be another sequel in the future. I'm not sure exactly how they will pull it off, but I'll at least give it a try.

5) Coco

Someday I'll be able to watch this film without crying.

Who am I kidding?

I will always cry like a baby when I watch this one.

The power of happy tears.

Thanks Pixar!



4) Deadpool 2

Top of the charts, and here come the superhero movies.

Truth in advertising, Deadpool 2 is really a family movie.

As long as you have a family that swears like a bunch of sailors!

We shall see what happens to the franchise as it shifts to Disney, but I have a feeling it will be more along the lines of it it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Or at least, as long as it makes fat stacks of cash, we're happy.


3) Black Panther

You're mileage can and will vary on what Marvel Studios offering was the best of the year.

I really enjoyed Black Panther, and am in awe of the box office success it enjoyed early this year, and hope the sequel enjoys even greater success and continues to greenlight other heroes into their own movies that we never expected to see on the big screen.


2) Avengers: Infinity War




Oh Snap!

How could this not be the # 1 film of the year?

After much internal debate, I figuratively had to flip a coin and at the end of the day, I'm going to slide this back to # 2.

It's a great film and a wonderful cliffhanger to ten amazing years at the box office.

But for the top honors, I'm going to go with the MCU's wild card, and the hero most likely to set things right in the sequel to Infinity War...

1) Ant-Man & The Wasp

As much fun, or more, as the original, this time we get 2 size-shifting heroes out to save the day, and the most fleshed out, top to bottom supporting cast that you could hope for in the MCU.

If things don't get turned around for the better thanks to Scott being stuck in the Quantum Realm, well, I'll be really shocked. :)


It was a great year for movies, and I'm already penciling in 2019s top 3:

Into the Spider-Verse
Captain Marvel
Avengers: Endgame

We'll see if I'm right, and in which order, and what other films are going to join them in about a year.


Thanks for reading!