Reviews

I grew up during the original Star Wars era. Please don't hold this against me, but while I enjoyed the movies I wasn't a huge fan. Kinda lost track of the franchise over the years. But now ... I picked up again when streaming started. I went back to watch everything in chronological order. Then suddenly there was The Mandalorian. Wow. Blew me away.

And now Andor. IMO now is the perfect time where the acting, the writing, the directing, music and technology all meet and produces the best Star Wars universe possible. With Andor, each week has given us just simply the best possible episode. This week allowed us to catch our breath slightly, until Luthen ran rings around the Imperial patrol! Where did he learn to fly and invade like that? And then when Cassian hears the news about his mother, I believe we all cried. Again today I say well played everyone. Well played.

Finally the new season. I was completely surprised by the suicide/murder. Sad to see those two characters leave the show. I'm not naming them lest this review be treated as a "Spoiler". Serena is letting her truly evil persona emerge. She hit June where it would hurt the most. We don't have to worry about June losing all of her humanity as long as she doesn't give up on her quest to get Hannah back.

I do have one complaint. Please stop askinge June if she's alright or OK. Clearly she's NOT alright or OK. Especially Moira and Luke. Those two characters are around June the most. Luke states that sending Fred's finger to Serena isn't going to help get Hannah back. He should be more than superficially worried. He needs to try and get June the help she clearly needs.

Please stop asking and start doing.

I love the shows where they dance unexpectedly The dance sequence with Vinnie Green "Lightening Round" was so uplifting and fun. Right? Whoo!! I can't believe we are so close to the end. Must continue with a 3rd season. Sheila is no where near the top of her pyramid.

I am blown away by Matt Damon's portrayal of an Oklahoma oil rigger. From start to finish he was Bill Baker. Every film, year by year, Matt just gets better and better. The rest of the cast followed right along beside him, equally amazing. They all seemed so real. I hope this film does well streaming. It's an adult drama - The kind of film lacking in today's mass of marvel-esque- comic book movies. I will be going back to see what else this Director has done. Bravo to all.

This show keeps getting better and better! Each week not only builds on past weeks but leaves you wanting more. I can't remember anybody using Queen's "Under Pressure" to a better use. Shelia went through so much just using the lyrics and her beautiful facial expressions. Love this show! Brava Rose Byrne!!

As usual, and delightfully so, Alfie Solomons aka Tom Hardy, knocks it out of the park! Bravo for the opera scene.

"Blood". And then there is Tommy and Arthur. Arthur and Tommy.

I look forward to the answer to the third riddle.

After #9 "Dangerously Close" - And so in the end everyone falls apart. Case in point, The Reporter, who says to Anna "If only I hadn't of written that article..." What about running around Germany stalking Anna's family? - AFTER the article had been published. She and the Translator who make up wildly increasing fake thoughts about Anna's life. What about virtually ignoring her newborn daughter after risking the unborn's life not to mention her own life, not for Anna or truth in journalism but to get back her own good reporting reputation? And what about having your coworkers do well over 1/2 your job because, quite frankly, she couldn't really handle this piece on her own.

None of the characters ring true. The self-absorbed hotel Concierge who constantly breaks her employer's rules, and is really out of touch if she thinks she can direct a feature film on a budget of $15,000. I bet she was surprised when she got to L. A.

What about Rachel the magazine Assistant who somehow has two credit cards that can handle $62,000.00?

Then there's The Lawyer who risks his marriage, throws discovery folders all over his desk, sharing that discovery with the Reporter, and then also falls apart in the end.

There are the gratuitous sex scenes with the Trainer because ... ??

On the first two episodes I thought the opening credits were interesting. Different. After that they were simply annoying, pointing out 'Hey look at me - aren't we clever for thinking these up?'

I kept on watching because I thought somehow this show would get better with time. For me at least, it didn't. I guess I just don't get this "new, more creative, contemporary style" of writing and directing TV that Shonda Rhimes puts out. Not a fan.

What a horrible film. I will never get that 1 hour 57 minutes back. Kristen Stewart thinks a breathy voice and twitchy mannerisms are acting. Awful. An Oscar nod for Best Actress? Who are they kidding.

Only gave this film 1 star so I could write a few lines. Doesn't THOR have the same premise - but done So. Much. Better. This is not funny. Not clever. Not even amusing. This film should have been released at the edge of the atmosphere.

Horror/Thriller genre is not my usual movie viewing. But after reading some reviews I just had to see how Bradley Cooper handled this role. He was perfect. That he nailed the final scene in just one take was beyond amazing. This movie scared the sh** out of me. Kudos to two of my favorites, David Strathairn, and Timothy Blake Nelson. Everything - Direction, Cinematography, Costumes, Make-Up, Musical Score etc. - adds up to be one Scary, Scary, with a Capital "S" movie. Be advised - it will stick with you in the nights to come. "S"!

37 years ago ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA was released. I have read where there are apparently several different versions, so for clarity I am writing about the 3 hrs 49 m version running on Netflix this month. A CLASSIC film. Yes, the casting was impressive. Yes, funny how Deborah doesn't age. (I think her Cleopatra makeup is supposed to hide it. And I think she wipes off what is her masking of her feelings for Noodles.) The musical score is haunting beautiful. I did watch the film twice in a row. The cinematography was spectacular. Throughout the characters are seen through glass, cut glass, plain glass, mirrors; over & over they have the choice of this door or that, many hidden doors, hidden corridors. Noodles especially has these choices; keep going, go back, disappear? A beautiful example is in the hospital when after voting against Max about an upcoming opportunity, Noodles leaves by one elevator, headed Down. But in the lobby both elevator doors open, Noodles come out one and Max comes out the other. They make up, and leave arm in arm. Simple. They were split, then come back together, their friendship seemingly taking precedence over anything else. Even their initial meeting takes place with a large glass prismed light fixture. Max says help me hold it, and Noodles does.

There is so much more to discuss about this marvelous film. If you haven't seen it in awhile, watch it again.

Leone was a genius.

I admit that I had to go back and re-watch episodes from Season 1. This show is complicated and everyone has a backstory with everyone else. That being said I liked this second episode. Well acted, well written, and well directed. I rated it an 8 due to the wonderfully talented Billy Crudup. Each episode he hits it out of the stadium! All the characters are ambitious and think they are putting themselves first. None of them realize that Cory Ellison holds all the strings. He is truly the Puppet Master.

Even the brilliant Tom Hardy can't rescue this movie.

Schmigadoon started out so strong, then something happened. They developed a great set of characters and everyone got a chance to shine. Then something happened. Obviously, being a musical, we knew in the end Josh and Melissa would end up together and cross the bridge back to reality. But it feels like the writers ran out of ideas and then time. The last several songs were weak compared to the first half of the show. What song would an audience sing, or hum, leaving the theater? A missed chance to end with a bang.

I was enjoying this show. I had mentioned that this family didn't argue much. Seemed to have real conversations. Now, just like other reality shows, they are fighting and back stabbing. The sweet husband has walked out of an evening restaurant date because his wife was 40 minutes-late. And all the kids have decided they hate their mom's advice all of the sudden. So sorry that the show is going down the reality show rabbit hole. I've dropped my rating from a 7 to a 5.

P. S. Julia is wearing platform sneakers and YSL waders for a fly fishing date to make nice with her husband. Weird but funny.

I'm enjoying this show so far. Binging on Netflix and up to Episode 4. I'm liking this is a family that doesn't fight all the time, then pout away the rest of an episode. They actually talk and carry on conversations. But two things bother me. Are "hot pants" back in style? And why does Julia have her 49 year old boobs hanging out all the time? Not hating, just sayin'...

Lily James has been very visible on the screen lately, and I think that she was born to portray Linda. I have been fascinated with the Mitford sisters for years. This fictional version of the family was so much fun to watch. Well done everyone. As the excellent Director/Screenwriter/Actor Emily Mortimer has said "The book really is rock & roll."

I would have liked to hear why the "Director" and the "D. P." were both men. I can applaud a largely diverse crew, but still ... this male director was your absolute "best" choice from your list of all available directors?

Were all the Women directors working?

I was losing interest by this episode. I couldn't see why characters were doing what they were doing. So last night and today I read the book on my Kindle. Then I started back at the beginning, Episode #1. A-ha! 💡 Now what is happening makes sense. And King has changed up enough from the book to the teleplay that it is interesting. I don't know for sure what the characters are going to do or how they will react. Also, a previous review said that Julianne Moore was over-acting. No. Her character is growing, becoming more brave and more trusting of her memories with Scott. I'm excited to be on this Bool game until the end. The Bool End.