What's in Your Queue?

 Television. Netflix. HBO Max, Amazon. Hulu. Disney. 

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I still read quite a bit as you can tell from my reviews.  But the old boob tube draws me in. So many choices. So many binges. So many golden oldies too. 

Here are a few things I've been watching. 

Disney - Loki  from the Marvel Universe. I love Tom Hiddleston. I have no freakin' clue what's going on in this series. There's time variance.  Time keepers. Variants. And life can be in disarray.  Okay....

Whatever, I'm amused.  If anyone can explain it - feel free...... Alex??

Netflix -   This is POP.   I enjoy music documentaries and this series zeroes in on some themes. It's been very entertaining as they explore the 60s, black music, and what came out of the Brill Building in NYC. Very cool

HBO Max -  Let Him Go with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Takes place late 50s in Montana. Lots of quiet moments and then some violent moments. Great acting.  Kevin and Diane want to save their three year old grandson from the clutches of in-laws. Let's just say that doesn't go smoothly. 

HBO Max - Judas and the Black Messiah.  A wow of a serious movie.  Fred Hampton and the Black Panther movement - watching the growth of the movement, the electricity of Fred, and the quiet FBI tracking of this group.  Daniel K. won an Oscar for his portrayal of Fred, and Lakieth Stanfield gives an amazing performance too. This was thinking material. 

Hulu - Summer of Soul   Another music documentary - this one produced by Questlove.  Really good - around the time of Woodstock, there was a huge music festival featuring black musicians at a park in Harlem. Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, the 5th Dimension and more. It was crazy good, but never had the oomph like Woodstock did. Now rare footage has been compiled and it's worth watching. Very cool

So, what's in your Queue?

Friday Frivolity - Confession Time

 I confess

I watch way too much television in the evening after dinner. Ray retires to his big screen for sports or build-a-car shows. I head into our bedroom and grab the remote. Hmmm. What mood strikes me?

I don't binge  - I tend to watch an episode here, another there, until I ultimately do finish a series. 

HBO Max

    Mare of Eastown - Kate Winslet nails a Philly accent as a detective in a very working class town. Lots going on here. A girl is dead and there are a lot of players with motives. This is an intense show but really well done and I enjoyed the local scenery (row homes, pizza, dirty grungy snow)

    In Treatment - Uzo Adubo is the new psychiatrist in a series that had starred Gabriel Bryne. Now it's pandemic time and she's healing by Zoom. Interesting episodes so far. If you are in the mood for angst, this is the one. 

Friends Reunion - OMG - this two hour special was entertaining and a nice mix of nostalgia. Lots of flashback clips and then the gang just laughing and talking about their time together. The ladies look good. Joey looks like he's eaten all the pizza, but not gotten in any workouts. Sadly, Chandler looks bad - rehab issues unfortunately. I enjoyed the writer/producers discussing the casting process and it's fun to see how young this crew was back in the day. Friends stands the test of time from that era. 

Netflix - 

    Halston - high flying super fashion designer once on top of the world, then sold his name, and it all crashed into a sad man on drugs with HIV. Ewan McGregor is really good and pulls off the flair and flamboyance of genius. This is pop entertainment and I was amused. 

    The Upshaws - I love Wanda Sykes (Aunt Lucretia and also a writer/producer). This is very sitcom funny and if you want light and silly, this will amuse you for twenty minute episodes. Kim Fields is great and Mike Epps is the man with way too many kids from too many baby mamas who's trying to keep his s#*t clean. 

    The Komisky Method - Michael Douglas is Sandy Komisky/head of an acting school. His best friend Norman (Alan Arkin -deadpan funny) has passed and now we are mourning him, dealing with his spoiled kids circling for money, and facing his daughters wedding to an "old guy" (Paul Reiser - funny). Kathleen Turner is Komisky's ex-wife and she and Douglas have a grand time on the screen. This is old fart amusing and I was entertained 

Disney - 

    The Mighty Ducks - Ray and I watched this together and got a kick out of the misfit hockey team back on the ice. Emilio Estevez is solid, and Lauren Graham does her fast talking schtick. The kids are all good and it's a root for the underdogs story. 

    Big Shots - John Stamos, once a hot shot college coach, is now back coaching girls high school basketball in CA.  Of course the girls don't accept him at first, but he knows his stuff and soon is building a winning team. Again, underdog  story - Disney pulls it off. 

Apple +

    The Morning Show - I am seriously enjoying Jennifer Anniston/Reese Witherspoon in this morning news show story.  It's a Me Too backdrop, new power struggles, and the heightened stress of aging on screen. Excellent cast includes Billy Crudup - always nice to see those dimples.     

And that's how I'm killing time most evenings.  I confess. Now,  do you have suggestions on other crap I should watch?  What have I missed?

(And keep in mind, it's been raining way too much in TX, so I'm not outside as much as I normally would be in May/June)  Yeah - that's a good excuse....are you buying it?

Book and Netflix Review Combo- Firefly Lane

 Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is an excellent book for girlfriends everywhere.  1974, Kate Mularkey is at the bottom of the 8th grade food chain. Then Tully enters her world and nothing is ever the same. Gorgeous, cool - Tully is destined for greatness. (Network TV and more)   Crappy upbringing, no roots, but a girl with an inner strength and drive - she's the best friend who pulls Kate along the way. 

This novel spans three decades and is powerful - two women, an amazing love, crazy turbulent friendship, and quite a life.  Jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment - betrayal tears them apart - a test of courage and friendship.  (cover blurb)

I actually watched the Netflix version - season 1 first. It was trashy good fun and veered dramatically from the book. Katherine Heigl as Tully is superb - she exudes the required confidence and beauty. Sarah Chalke is good as Kate - the gawky beauty sidekick who's the strong steady one, always in the background and yet the bedrock of this friendship.  This was fun and entertaining TV. 

I'm very glad that my solid, good girlfriend, Linda H, lent me the book. Wow - the book is an eyeopener and so good.  I recommend both - read and watch too.  Enjoy!

What's in Your Queue?

When I'm not at work, I am reading, swimming, and of course, sitting on my butt with the clicker. I admit to lacking concentration these days, so I do scroll more and can't seem to settle as well on a series.  So, what's in your queue?

I am very very excited for Hamilton the Movie this Friday.  I LOVED the stage production. I love the music.  Ray... dibs on the big screen.

Speaking of Disney Plus, Ray and I are plowing through the Star Wars movies in order. We both had missed some through the years and I didn't "get" a bunch of stuff. Now, it's making sense to me.
Our achievements:
I Phantom Menace
II Attack of the Clones
III Revenge of the Sith
Solo
Rogue One
IV  A New Hope
V  Empire Strikes Back
VI Return of the Jedi
VII Force Awakens
VIII Last Jedi
and one to go -   IX Rise of Skywalker
We've also watched Mandalorian and liked that a lot.  Aren't you proud of us?

I've also revisited oldie faves - Lady and the Tramp,  and Tangled

Netflix
The documentary Athlete A is superb - it's about the gymnastic scandal that affected all of those girls. Quite a tale and truly sad. As we cheered them on, the behind the scenes story was shocking.

Ray and I ripped through Ozark.  Now read that Season 4 will be the grand finale. Man, they are some evil people. I love Ruthie the best.

Will Ferrell's latest is really silly - it tickled my funny bone  Eurovision - Rise of Fire Saga. Iceland, music. He's Lars. Rachel McAdams is Sigrit. Worst singers ever to be in the competition. What could go wrong?

Hulu
Mrs. America - quite good.  Rose Byrne is great as Gloria Steinem. Cate Blanchett - icy cold as Phyllis Schlafly.

Just started Atlanta - I like Donald Glover.

Amazon
Started Upload - it's quirky weird. I find Amazon annoying to use - just not as friendly as Netflix.

So, how are you folks using your time?  Any major binge achievements?
I'll take suggestions.

Happy Wednesday. We're soaring to index heat numbers over 100...heck yeah, I'll be watching more television. Stay cool.

Wordless Wednesday - Almost

this is called Rush Hour.   You can tell it's "old" - nobody is looking at a cell phone

just a cool sculpture at the Nasher in Dallas

Me - ready for Dallas Stars ice hockey.  I'm wearing Ray's retro shirt from Daryl Sydor...trust me, it's old.  But he was a damn good skater/fighter/etc.  The Stars were a bit lackluster for the game we saw.


And finally - on Netflix - watch  Period. End of Sentence.  It is a 30 minute short documentary that won the Oscar.  Trust me...it's very thought provoking.

And on National Geographic channel - watch Free Solo - the Oscar winning long documentary feature. Holy Cow.  I hope you have a big screen TV to appreciate El Capitan in Yosemite, and the fact that this young fellow climbed it WITHOUT a rope.  OMG

That's it for Wednesday - Ash Wednesday.  What are you giving up? 
Me - nothing........I'm no saint.  I'm giving up on this week and waiting for the weekend!

GLOW

I never watched wrestling.  I had no interest. However , the buzz on GLOW on Netflix captured my attention and I gave it a whirl. Well, hello……..I am hooked.

GLOW. What a great series, and the wrestling is the least of it.  First there’s Ruth (Alison Brie). She’s a very intense young actress, eager to make it. Otherwise she has to keep calling her folks for some money. How embarrassing.  She auditions and makes the rounds for this new series on television. She’s a “professional” and needs information – what’s her character and motivation? She drives the director (played perfectly by the jaded Marc Maron) crazy with her questions. “Hey Strindberg”, he calls her, but she grows on him. He knows how much she cares. Meanwhile, Debbie (Betty Gilpin) is the gorgeous former soap opera star who just had a kid and is feeling fat and unattractive. Plus, complication – Ruth, her best friend, had an affair with her husband.  Awkward!!!

Now, that’s cause for the perfect wrestling match.  Anyway, the show strings together an oddball assortment of women to aim for a Saturday morning slot on very cheap cable TV. We are talking very old school TV here. The key to the show is the variety of women, the characters themselves, and the depth of their stories. It’s awesome.  You really come to care for how they interact and what’s going to happen. They slowly learn how to wrestle, and they care.  And YOU care. Plus Marc Maron’s Sam is so pathetic, you actually care about how shallow he is, but how much he actually cares about these ladies and their potential story lines.

GLOW on Netflix is a little gem and worthy of your attention.  The key is the word CARE and you will. Let’s keep this series going. I am hooked.

Friends From College

I had high hopes for Friends From College on Netflix,  Alas, not so much now.  I went to college. Did not gather too many friends and no one acted this way. Maybe I did not go to Harvard…. Hmm.

So, these folks with their Ivy League schooling are seriously messed up. They are still either sleeping with each other and regretting it, barely employed, employed but hating it, have children that are destined for therapy, and are just flat ass jerks.

I had high hopes for this show but eight episodes at thirty minutes each was not a huge outlay of time. Nonetheless it was sad. Four hours of whiny pathetic people who f**cked around. Very sorry for the language but that’s what they were doing. Very soulless. Very sad and pathetic.

Colbie Smulders – a normally good actress, is decent in this show but is wasted. She’s a lawyer with a sucky hedge fund – not funny.  She wants to get pregnant – rather sad considering her husband who’s cheating on her (Keegan Michael Key –normally funny dude). Beyond that, you have Fred Savage playing a gay guy who’s a book publisher dude. He’s a jerk to his boyfriend.  All in all, everyone is a bit of a jerk to their significant other. What’s the point to this show?  Maybe I’m being cranky, but none of this seemed real.  It was just annoying.

Oh well. Yes, I committed four hours of my life to save YOU from ruining four hours of yours. You are welcome!

What's In Your Queue?

Been awhile since we’ve explored Netflix. Let’s take a look at a few selections

 

I binged on Orange is the New Black. Initially I wasn’t keen and stepped away. Then after encouragement from my sister and others I revisited the show and was hooked. It’s way more than just ladies in prison. This is a full character exploration, along with scheming, conniving, underground dealings, and more. Lorraine Toussant as V deserves an Emmy award – she was evil.  I am ready for season 3 to start in June.

Also started Season 3 of House of Cards. Oh, if even half of what goes on in this Washington is true, then we are in trouble. Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood is a gooey slimy snake. His wife Claire, Robin Wright, is a Lady Macbeth. Oh the games. 

Whiplash – Miles Teller is the student. JK Simmons (Oscar winner for this) is the teacher. He’s foul mouthed and brutal, as kids try to achieve perfection in music. Banging those drums until the hands bleed. Excellent movie. 

The November Man – Pierce Brosnan is pulled from retirement to deal with a Russian mess. But there’s more to this spy game. Good action and plenty of intrigue. It’s a cheap James Bond.  

The Maze Runner – kids wake up and are stuck in a world where the maze seems to thrive on killing. What’s on the other side? Strong YA movie with survival themes. But Hunger Games is a better series.  

Life Itself – This is a fascinating documentary about the late Roger Ebert. He gave us the thumbs up on movies and changed the world of movie criticism. This doc explores his life and watches him fight throat cancer. It silenced his voice, but not his heart and love of movies.  

Laggies – Keira Knightly doesn’t want to face grownup decisions.  She hides out with teens (Chloe Grace Moretz) and generally is a joke. I expected better from this film. Don’t waste your time 

Force Majeure – Swedish film with some subtitles. But really good. Family is on a ski vacation when there’s an avalanche. The father basically flees the scene to take care of himself. No one is hurt but it creates a lot of tension as far as family trust and his failure to be The Man.  

Draft Day – Kevin Costner is perfect in this role as the man who has to make the right choice for the draft pick. It’s Moneyball with football – go with the money, go with the reliable, go with the gut, or cave to pressure. You can count on Costner to make the right choice and get the right kid for the job.  

The Equalizer – I was set for a tight movie with lots of action starring Denzel Washington. Instead it was a tad boring.

What's in Your Queue?

Plenty to watch from Netflix -


Promised Land stars Matt Damon and Frances McDormand. Their job is to get folks to sign over natural gas rights for money. It's a poor town and of course divided. There are folks concerned with fracking and environmental issues. And there are folks eager for some extra income. What's right? Who's right? Does Matt gain a conscience on the issue? The movie is entertaining as it covers a hot current topic.

Olympus Has Fallen - this is the not Channing Tatum/Jamie Foxx White House collapse movie. It's the other one that came out first. Gerard Butler is the Secret Service dude and Aaron Eckhardt is the President. Korean nationals manage to invade and infiltrate the White House, the bunker, computers, and security. They are holding the President, VP,etc. hostage. But they were not prepared to contend with Gerard. He's a one man army/navy/marines commando. This was a good Saturday night flick - no brainer, lots of explosions, and root for America to prevail.

Argo - I reviewed this Academy Award winner when it was out in the theaters. Now available for rental, it is a taut thriller based on the real life story of Americans during the fall of Iran. They escape to the Canadian embassy and then American agent Tony Mendez manages to get them out of Iran. Lots of twists and turns and hold your breath moments. I knew what was going to happen, and I was still engaged in the story. Whew! Great job by Ben Affleck, John Goodman, and Alan Arkin.

Three Stars - like to cook? Follow high profile chefs as they detail the hard work in attaining and keeping Michelin Guide three star reviews. This documentary is fascinating. It's a passion, not a job.

First Position - another little documentary. Here we follow kids of various ages as they compete in New York for prestigious placements in ballet companies. We see their hard work, or the pushy parent behind them. We cheer for the winners, and cry for those who just don't have that magic spring in their step. Some of these kids have that extra oomph and it's exhiliarating to watch their skill as they soar.

That Guy ...Who Was in That Thing - funny documentary on the actors who are in a zillion shows or movies, but you don't know their name. They aren't the pretty boys. They have the mugs for police work, lawyers, general character actors. They are always good, and they make a decent living in Hollywood. And all of them said they had a role in the Star Trek series. Apparently sooner or later, that was a key stepping stone. You'll get a kick out of this 1-1/2 hour flick.

Queued Up in February

I contribute What's in Your Queue?  to the Little Paper of San Saba. Here's some of my latest blurbs based on my Netflix views.

Homeland the series - I mentionned this show before and it is superb. Claire Danes (Carrie) is not stable, but she's intense when it comes to seeking terrorists and she's convinced that Brody, a decorated war hero and POW for eight years, is now a turned spy. We watch the stories unfold and worry with her and for her. Damien Lewis is excellent in his role, and Mandy Patinkin, as Saul - Carrie's mentor and friend, sacrifices his marriage for the cause. These are flawed people and the system is flawed, and yet piece by piece, the puzzle is being assembled. Can we win or will the terrorists succeed? Stay tuned.

Ten Years - Even Channing Tatum couldn't save this snoozer. It's ten year reunion time and tons of cliches to watch in this film. The premise is fine, but there's nothing original. Ten years out of high school, folks are hitting their stride in jobs, family, etc. Channing's thinking of popping the question to his girlfriend. But of course, at the reunion he meets his old flame. Will sparks fly? Then there's the guy who was the bully in school. He's still obnoxious, drinks too much, and tries to make amends with his past. Kareoke anyone? Ugh. Then there are the guys who hope to score, who still think they are cool and playing it like they are huge successes. Reality bites and truths are shared. Thumbs down, even with Channing Tatum as the star.

Pitch Perfect - Glee in a college atmosphere and the competition is fierce. This movie is fun and fluff with some great numbers. Anna Kendricks is humorous as a girl who doesn't want to be at the college her dad teaches. She wants to be in LA to make music and create. But she joins a music group and is drawn into the competition and tries to get the group current. Rebel Wilson, as Fat Amy, is a huge talent. Any scene with her is hysterical. You'll root for the girls and want to sing and dance along.

Brave - Another gem from Pixar. The animation is breathtaking in this tale of a Scottish princess who doesn't want a suitor. She wants to ride her horse, shoot arrows, and make her own decisions. However, the queen wants to maintain tradition, and the King is caught in the middle. Mirada, our red-headed lass, is a typical headstrong teen with plenty of angst. There are a lot of laugh out loud lines as she fights with her mother. However, when she runs away and gets a spell from a witch... well lessons are learned as our heroine has to break the spell and make amends with her mother and traditions. This film is suitable for family viewing and will amuse everyone.

I just started watching Netlix's production of House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. The BBC version was excellent. So far, the American version is full of political intrigue, back-stabbing, and Spacey is appropriately sleazy and conniving.

So, What's in Your Queue??

What's in Your Queue?

I am the movie critic for The Little Paper of San Saba (a town without a cinema). I do have a specialty column, What's in Your Queue?, that features short blips on movies I've rented through NetFlix. Christmas and New Year's week were quite entertaining:

Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - the youngest Pavensie kids, Lucy and Edmond, along with their spoiled cousin Eustace take an unexpected trip back to Narnia. They join King Caspian for an epic high seas adventure on the Dawn Treader. They sail to the end of the world to rescue seven lords, banished by Caspian's evil uncle. Fun story and effects. This series has been amusing and it's a worthy rental.

Heathers - this is an oldie from the eighties starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. High school has its cliques and the "Heathers" are all blonde and boorish. Winona's character skates by with her dark prettiness and sharp tongue. However, she sees that the girls are out of control and enlists the new guy (Slater) to punish them. Well, he's a bit psycho and what was a prank turns into murder and escalates. Heathers is dark and makes fun of high school. It was ahead of its time and now, as a film, stands the test of time. Amusing.


Margin Call - Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, and Zachary Quinto head this all-star cast into a near Wall Street crash. Big trading company, overextended packages, crazy leveraging and financing. Sound familiar? This film brings our nightmare 2008 economic crash onto the screen. It seems very realistic as the risk department figures out that this financial behemoth has gone beyond its own rules and needs to do a mass sale of epic proportions to perhaps survive. Who knew computer screens could be so compelling? We know what's going to happen and yet we watch this gripping tale of money, greed, and how it is all a game. Wow!


Horrible Bosses - Kevin Spacey again, only this time he is evil, along with Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell as worst bosses ever. Buddies Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis), and Dale (Charlie Day) can't leave their miserable jobs, so they decide to creatively eliminate each other's employers. Crazy schemes ensue after advice from con artist Jamie Foxx. This is a funny over-the-top zany movie.

That's what I did with my time, in between reading new goodies on my Kindle, and trying to outsmart my Wii Mii.

What's in Your Queue????