Thoughts on 5 New TV Shows

1. Your Friends and Neighbors - I like this show a lot and I'm glad it's getting a second season. The cast is really strong - obvi Jon Hamm, but also Olivia Munn, Amanda Peet, and Aimee Carrero are all great and hold their own against Hamm. It starts off very boring though. I took a solid 3 episodes before I actually started to enjoy it. And even then - there's a lot of problems. First, I'm just never going to feel bad for a wealthy white guy (even if he loses his job & money - he still has money just no cash flow. But he could sell all his stuff and be fine. Probably still better off than most.). Second, I'm so offended that Olivia Munn is the "old" wife that gets cheated on with a younger woman because SHE'S MY AGE! LOL. Third, the entire subplot with his sister could be cut altogether. She serves zero purpose to the story. Fourth, I hate the inner-monologue narration. Fifth, I hate the opening credits - it looks AI generated. And SIXTH, the detective is annoying as fuck with that accent. I've liked that actress in other things (The Expanse), but she is AWFUL in this. OKAY, so obvi, like I said - there's a lot of problems. But, I think the main cast really accelerate the story well. I love the friendship between Munn and Peet's characters and I was waiting for that reveal to see how they would react and how it would effect them. I also think they do a really good job with the main mystery of who killed the neighbor. I was not expecting that outcome, but it's GOOD. It takes its time with developing the characters - and they all are flawed but likable, which is why I look forward to another season. I feel like they've done a good job setting everything up and now I want more, which is ultimately the goal for a series like this. 

2. The Four Seasons - *major spoiler alert!!!!* Again, I like this show a lot and I'm glad it's getting a second season. This is probably my favorite show of these 5, but mostly because I like the cast so much. It doesn't get much better than Tina Fey, Steve Carell, COLMAN DOMINGO, Will Forte and Kerri Kenney-Silver. I love the chemistry between all of them, but the friendship between Fey and Domingo is probably my favorite part. I think it's a really good set-up with this group of three couple friends, but one of the couples gets divorced and throws the group dynamic into chaos. I think they just do it very well - especially with Fey being the one who is disgusted by her friend's actions, but also, he's a good friend so she still tries to support him. BUT they also do a good job in explaining why Carell's character wants a divorce - it's not just because he wants to date a younger woman - it's because his wife has given up on life and that's depressing. I would hate it if my partner had no ambitions, or drive, or hobbies, no sense of exploration, learning new things etc., - it would suck. I feel like Anne sounds like my mom. She's retired now, but spent most of her life in a high-powered, stressful career. She does nothing now. I try to suggest hobbies and nothing seems to interest her. Anyway, they do such a good job with Carell's character because he's a narcissist and an asshole, but the audience still likes him. AND THEN HE DIES. WHAT THE FUCK?! I was not expecting that at all! This is a COMEDY! I do think it will be interesting for the second season (I assume Anne will find someone - maybe even someone they don't like and they have to deal with that as a group). It's weird that this ends with the same plot as Your Friends and Neighbors with the ex-wife having to plan a funeral that involves the new girlfriend. In my head, I was like "didn't I *just* watch this?" and yes, in fact, I did. Anyway, Colman is the highlight - he is fabulous and funny, and brings to life every scene he's in. There's also a lot of great discussions about relationship - I kind of agree about the whole soulmates perspective. I think they might exist, but it doesn't always make sense in terms of a real world relationship. I think you choose people to spend your life with and a lot of people make a bad choice. But...Anyway. 

3. MobLand - Again...." " " ". I just started watching the series Gangs of London (I've been trying to watch this for so long but it hasn't been streaming in America anywhere, and then SUDDENLY it's on Netflix!), and this is very similar to it but, like, an Americanized version. I mean, the story isn't Americanized, but it's got less violence and it's not as brutal, and the accents aren't as thick so an American audience can digest it better. It's kind of like Peaky Blinders mixed with Sons of Anarchy (and there are cast members in this from both of those shows). The cast is incredible - Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren (!!!), Paddy Considine, Pierce Brosnan, the woman I like from Downton Abbey (I'll learn her name one day). I laughed real hard when they comment "it's like being with the Kray twins" (Hardy played BOTH twins in a movie). There are some really good moments - and some very great shots (like the shot of them sitting in the booth and you only see the mirrored reflection of the two of them and then it pans to the four of them. Beautiful!). I also really like the opening song (added it to my spotify!), but the rest of the music is very cliche (Prodigy at a club? *yawns*). I think the scenes with the younger guys are really bad - the acting is bad and it all feels very mob cliche, and the episodes are too long (hour long episodes used to only be 45 minutes to save time for commercials but now they are just hour long episodes and it's too long. It drags the episodes down). But, so far, I'm invested in Hardy's whole deal (the sighting at the elderly care center is intriguing), and I love that there is a whole Lady Macbeth vibe with Mirren's character. It's good!

4. Murderbot - I can't repeat my first sentence again with this one, unfortunately. I *do* like it...sort of, but I'm only 4 episodes in and I'm just not fully onboard yet. It feels a little awkward? I don't know how to fully describe it - like it's trying to be a funny show (it's listed as a "comedy"), but it hasn't been funny yet. But the plot is interesting. And I like most of the cast - especially Skarsgard. And Sabrina Wu (from Joy Ride  - they were so funny in that). I like that the robot just wants to watch his tv shows - I can feel that. I also likes that he hates humans, but he's starting to care about this group and wants to help them not just because he was programmed to. He easily could have killed them all instantly, but he helps them instead. I also like that the episodes are short at only 30 minutes - it's easy to binge (I watched all 4 eps in one sitting). It definitely has a lot of potential - but so far, I'm just not loving it. 

5. Sirens - I'm not fully onboard with this show either - so far...nothing has happened. I'm three episodes in and it has some intrigue, but not enough to fully sustain a whole series. It's only 5 episodes long, but so far...it's just...a nothing of a show. BUT. I'm so in love with Meghann Fahy. And she does this role so well - I would say that my only critique is that this should have taken place in a fictional island near Cape Cod because Fahy SCREAMS Bostonian and not Upstate New Yorker. I do think she needs to step away from shows like this (The White Lotus, The Perfect Couple and this are all very similar shows - rich white people are crazy and maybe murderers).  I like the girl that plays her sister, too. She's from House of Dragons and I think she's the new Supergirl? I don't think they look anything alike, but they do mention that it in the series so *shrugs shoulders*. It was jarring to see Glenn Howerton in this - in a DRAMA? So weird. But I laughed when Fahy describes him as "400 years old". I also laughed HARD at the "WAP" scene. But overall, I just don't get it? The show is advertised as a retelling of the Sirens mythology, but instead of women luring men with songs to their death, it's men trapping women. The women are supposed to be the victims (like Circe etc). But that story is non-existent so far? I just don't understand what it's trying to say? Rich people are in a cult? We know that? Rich people are assholes? We know that too. I just don't feel like the show is going to actually go anywhere with just two episodes left. There's nothing to even wrap up because there's no story? Maybe we'll find out if the rumor about the ex-wife is true or gossip? But do I care? Not so sure. And the soft lighting gets really grating by the 3rd episode. AND, most importantly I do not believe that 25 year olds of today are equipped for a personal assistant job. I can't even get 25 year olds to count a register correctly. They can not handle stress or pressure of any kind and have no common sense. Sorry, but it's the facts. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Last Showgirl - So first things first - I'm a big fan of Pamela Anderson. I know that might seem out of character for me, but I also LOVE Paris Hilton, so I'm an enigma. I used to go to Venice Beach & Santa Monica a lot when I was a kid and they used to film scenes for Baywatch early in the morning. Pam Anderson was ALWAYS the sweetest to the crowds of people - fans, kids, and the general crowds. She would always wave hello and sign autographs, but more importantly - she was ALWAYS smiling. I always thought of her as a ray of sunshine. One of those people who would make your day better just by existing. I'm so happy she's back in the spotlight and I hope she gets a ton more jobs after this. The weirder thing is that I've actually met TWO of the cast members of this film with Anderson, and also Kiernan Shipka (I met her before Mad Men - she was like 9 years old and she was a very sweet little girl). Second of all, I also LOVE Las Vegas. I practically grew up there - I used to visit my great-aunt who lived there, every year growing up, and then my grandmother moved there during the last few years of her life. I also love playing poker. The vibe in Vegas is just fun and carefree, and I always have a blast. I haven't been in about 10 years, but I will hopefully rectify that soon. My great-aunt did take me to a typical showgirls performance when I was 15/16 and I thought it was incredible. So now that I've gotten all the personal stuff out of the way - as far as the film goes, it's...fine. I would even hesitantly call it good. But I expected better based on reviews and raves for Anderson's performance. It definitely feels like a Sean Baker knock-off (and I expect a lot of those now with his Anora success). I was surprised that it's a Coppola family member that directed this (Gia Coppola), but after analyzing it, I do see some similarities to Sofia Coppola's aesthetic (and I don't usually like her films). There are some GORGEOUS shots of Las Vegas. I also really love the scene in which Anderson dances to "Shadows of the Night" - her body is banging for a 57 year old, but Jason Schwartzman's character shuts her down quickly ("you were hired because you were beautiful and sexy and young" is something a lot of female performers hear once they hit 35 and are seeking their next gig). But I don't think the film is saying anything we don't already know, and I don't think Anderson does anything special with this role. And I honestly feel personally victimized by Jamie Lee Curtis' performance in this. That Oscar went straight to her head and she has become more and more insufferable with every performance since (see: The Bear - it's painfully overacted and forced). The scene with her dancing to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is one of the worst film scenes of 2024. I wish I could burn it from my memory. 

2. I'm Still Here - I loved this for one very specific reason - it will stick with me. It's an extremely historically relevant story about how the government (or people in power) can just *disappear* someone. I'm so glad it won the Best International Feature over Emilia Perez (I didn't hate it as much as others, but it's not an award-worthy film by any means). And I don't know, maybe Fernanda Torres should have won too?? It's a tough call between her, Madison, and Moore (I think I personally would have voted for Moore? Maybe?). I don't think Gascon or Erivo should have been in the conversation at all. Anyway, I didn't realize that her mom was in this too - I saw all the articles about her mom (Fernanda Montenegro) winning awards for Central Station (also directed by the same director, Walter Salles), but I didn't realize that she plays the older version of this character. They look *so much* alike that if you told me it was prosthetics, I would believe you. I don't think I've actually seen Central Station? I've added to my list, but I did love Salles' The Motorcycle Diaries very much. I think the success in this is with how well the characters are developed before things go south - the audience falls in love with this family and the love they have for each other. I love the scene with them watching their daughter enjoy London. The children are all given distinct personalities (and are all strong actors). And then *suddenly* their whole world changes. It's horrifying. I didn't realize it was based on a true story until it was over (obvi, I knew things like this happened, I just thought it was a fictional account). It's insane to me that this is happening in our country (the u.s.) in the present day and nobody is doing anything about it? Anyway, I love how this whole story unfolds, and how this woman changes her whole life to find out what happened to her husband. It's very inspiring. It's close to a perfect film, but I think the end really drags it down. All of the "memory" scenes are so unnecessary and bloat the film. I probably would have cut most of the end with the two youngest kids as adults. But that's just me. 

3. Mountainhead - Who thought that this movie now was a good idea? It's the most tone-deaf film I've seen in a long time. It's feeding off of the popularity of Succession (from the creator of the series), but it's missing a significant key piece - the dynamics and complexity of a family. That was the part that people could relate to not the fact that they were billionaires. This film is about a bunch of one-percenters frenemies who get together to discuss how rich they are and they are all gigantic assholes. Yes, even the one who is supposed to be the "good" one. I liked Succession just fine, but I don't agree with a lot of people who place it among the best shows of all time. I don't even think it would make my top 100 shows, if I thought about it. But I think they always did a good job of dumbing down a lot of the business jargon so that a wide audience understood what was happening and what was at stake. But I don't understand what the fuck is happening for most of this film. It's like they are speaking another language - and then ****spoiler ahead**** suddenly they are trying to kill their "friend" (the "good" one). It's so hard to follow, but I think the bigger problem is that these guys are fucking losers who think they are funny, but they're not - so why would an audience want to watch almost 2 hours of these unfunny, pathetic, manbabies cry and/or brag about their money??? It's not entertaining at all. The acting is the saving grace (it's a one star film but the acting bumps it to two). I love Steve Carell. And Ramy Youssef (NJ represent!!!). Jason Schwartzman is good in small doses. But I was really interested in Cory Michael Smith because he was so good in the SNL movie, and he's really good in this too. This will likely be on my 2025 Worst List, though. 

4. Hard Truths - While I agree that Marianne Jean Baptiste is wonderful, this movie is a little...meh. I felt like it was trying to say something really important about grief and loss, but it never really gets there. Instead, we are forced to empathize with a woman who is cruel to everyone around her because her mother died. But - this is going to make me seem like an unkind bitch - people die. And when you're in your 50s you should start to expect the older people around you (like your parents) to die. It doesn't give you a pass to be rude to retail workers, strangers, and your own child. As someone who has worked in retail for over 20 years, I already know that people who treat others like this are miserable and suffering in some way, and that's why I never take their behavior personally. But it doesn't make it right. And it's certainly not interesting enough to make a film about. It's like that movie A Man Called Otto, but in that, he learns to care about people and not treat people like shit. And I don't feel like that lesson is learned here. She's just a miserable person until the end. I don't want to watch her for 90 minutes. I get it. She's grieving. She's still insufferable. But, aside from that, the acting is great and I appreciate the story of grief and how it consumes people. I think it's *weird* that this is written & directed by a privileged white guy since it's a story of a black family - centered around this black woman. It seems like he took great detail in getting the dialogue, cultural norms, etc., right, but then I also read that the cast helped develop the characters and dialogue to make them feel authentic but did not receive any writing or creative credits, so that's kind of fucked up? I think Mike Leigh is a great director, and I love how personal and intimate his films feel, but sometimes you should stick to what you know or at least give credit where its due. 

5. Fountain of Youth - *spoilers* I saw this described as similar to the National Treasure films and I don't like those movies (eeek....I KNOW!), so I didn't have the highest hopes for this. But I will ALWAYS watch a Guy Ritchie project because he's always a fun director. It's certainly not the worst movie I've seen this year, but it's super average. Actually, slightly below average because I think the casting is a bit off. I usually LOVE Natalie Portman but she was terrible in this because the role is so underwritten, but also because she's just not right for this part. Her sibling chemistry with John Krasinski is so forced because the dialogue keeps telling us They Are Siblings!! And it's About The Journey!!! These two plot points are literally repeated over-and-over-and-over again, it's almost mind-numbing. I also just don't think Krasinski is strong enough to lead a movie like this? I love him, and he's super-duper charming, but he falls flat in this. I like the supporting cast - the guy from The Boys is barely recognizable with that weight loss, but I like his energy in this. And I'm a big fan of Eiza Gonzalez. I originally noticed her in the From Dusk till Dawn tv show, so I'm glad that her career is picking up steam and she works with a lot of directors I enjoy (Ritchie, Michael Bay - suck it haters, Edgar Wright etc.). She's the best part of this movie - except that her character makes no sense and they never really explain it (LOL). Is she supernatural? Okay, fine...but she's a supernatural being who wears a bomber jacket??? In the present day? HUH? And it's fairly obvious that Domhnall Gleeson is going to be the bad guy. He looks like the real-life billionaire guy who uses his sons sperm or something to look younger and he thinks he looks like a teenager, but he really looks like a sweaty 50 year old man. I don't think that's a coincidence considering the theme of the movie. The only fun thing about this movie is that I've been to a lot of the locations they go to (Bangkok, London, Vatican City, Austria), so that was cool! 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Another Simple Favor - *lots of spoilers ahead* I remember really liking A Simple Favor - and I actually remember a few things about it! Like that dope white suit that Lively wears in the cemetery. But I wanted to refresh myself before watching this sequel and I was blown away by the Wikipedia plot summary because it turns out that I don't remember like 90% of that stuff happening. I'm really glad I did this, though, because I wouldn't have understood this sequel at all (I didn't even remember the whole triplet thing! or the incest! Both essential plot points in this). Unfortunately, this movie is just bat-shit crazy and not in a good way. It could have been decent if it were 100 minutes. But those extra 20 really bloat it - and some of it is so non-sensical (like how this kid's dad dies and they still make him attend a wedding?). The plot is just so over-worked. Then, the sister reveal is even crazier in this because her sister rapes her??? WHAT?! What the fuck am I watching? But there is some good stuff - the fashion is, once again, spectacular - the 3d floral crop top is to die for! There's a great supporting cast (Henry Golding, Elizabeth Perkins, Allison Janney), and Kendrick & Lively have really great energy together. It's funny too. But, the plot is too insane for it to be considered a good movie. And not to be nitpicky, but twins, even identical ones, don't have the same moles on their face. 

2. Love Hurts - Welp, I guess I was being hopeful when I thought Holland and The Gorge would be the worst films I see this year. This one is FAR worse, unfortunately. First of all, Ariana DeBose needs a new agent because no actor should not have this many misses so close after WINNING AN OSCAR (This, Kraven, I.S.S, Wish...I liked Argylle but she was a minor character). Second, Hollywood needs to get over the whole nostalgia "comeback" thing - the only reason that the three actors from EEAAO won Oscars is because of this, and the only one who deserved the win (Stephanie Hsu) was paid dust. But this is what happens - Ke Huy Quan was a cute child actor in a very famous 80s movie, and now he's the lead in an action romance even though he's not a good actor. It's fascinating that there are TWO Oscar winners in this movie and the acting is, by far, the worst part. Better actors could have made this work - actors who know how to command a screen, create chemistry and sparks with their scene partners, etc., but these two are fucking duds. I'm actually shocked that they released this into theaters. There's no way it passed any screen tests?! It should have been buried or thrown on Netflix. There is very little plot - it's just people fighting for some reason and then there's random poetry thrown in?! It makes no sense and it's just absolutely painful to watch. I do enjoy Lio Tipton and Cam Gigandet, though. I wish they were in a better movie!

3. Novocaine - Now this is a fun but dumb action film. It was actually way better than I was expecting. And Jack Quaid is in two of my favorite films of the year (so far, but it's way early) with this and Companion. The action is so good, but even more important - it is hilarious. Like, laugh-out-loud funny in multiple parts. *Spoilers Ahead* But the most successful part is that it pulls off a really unexpected twist half-way through the story *incredibly* well. Like, so well that both my husband and I both exclaimed "OH NOOOooooo!!!" at the reveal because the reveal is a bit of a heartbreaking moment. I'm not sure if it was obvious to others, but it certainly didn't cross my mind at all. And I'm usually fairly astute at figuring out where a story is going to go (I've taken a LOT of screenwriting classes and I used to do script coverage for an independent production company. I read about 2 screenplays a day - so 10 a week times 6 months. That's 240! At least.). I've been thinking about why it works so well, and I think it definitely boils down to the performances by both Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder. The chemistry is instant, and it feels genuine. I also just think it's advertised as an action/romance - a damsel-in-distress and an unlikely hero has to overcome his own issues to rescue her type story. And that is the story *from his point of view*, but the layers to it make it really interesting. I'm still trying to be vague in case someone ignored my spoiler warning and hasn't seen it. It's not a twist I would want revealed to me beforehand. Anyway, I also think it feels a little different - the stakes are high with his rare genetic condition of not feeling pain. People assume that would be a superpower, but he could literally die by doing something so simple - like eating. It does take this whole gimmick a little too far - some of the situations he gets himself in are so ridiculous, but it makes it fun if you don't take it too seriously. 

4. Paddington in Peru - Not as good as the first two, but it's still cute. It's kind of crazy how well reviewed the first two films are, though. I think the second one has one of the highest RT scores ever. Just insane. They are both 3 star films (I also rated this one 3 stars, but it would rank last among them). It's also kind of crazy how stacked these films are in terms of casting - this one adds Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, but I don't have much else to say about this movie. It's definitely not as charming as the first two, and it's a little predictable in its twist. I also don't appreciate movies that show animals almost drowning (and I watched this not that long after I watched Mufasa, so that was still raw in my mind. It just makes me SO sad). I do appreciate that they actually filmed some of it in Peru. I would love to go there - it's on the list! We're doing Australia/New Zealand/Fiji this year, and then Greece next year, but maybe Peru in 2026? Machu Picchu is one of those bucket list travel spots that I hope I get to before my legs completely give out on me. Anyway, I did laugh a few times (the El Dorado gag really got me), so that's always a plus, but that's all I got. 

5. The Brutalist - This is one of those weird cases in which I recognize that this is a stellar film, but I also didn't love it. Is it in my Top 10? Sure. For a lot of reasons that I'll get to. But I also didn't find anything super original about the storytelling, and it's not something I would ever sit through again. I think I was expecting something a bit more experimental, so I was left feeling a little disappointed. I also find Adrian Brody insufferable - so a THREE HOUR movie starring him is just not ever going to be a movie that gets me excited. BUT, there's some really great stuff here. I'm a fan of Brady Corbet as a director - I didn't necessarily love Vox Lux, but I loved parts of it, and those parts that I did love are incredible. What I love the most about Corbet is that he's bold and takes risks. They may not always work, but I just like that he's trying to do something different. And that boldness is expressed right from the beginning of the film - with the stunning shot of the Statue of Liberty and the opening credits that move across the screen instead of scrolling up, as the camera moves forward along with the bus. It creates a really interesting effect that is hard to describe but I LOVED it. I also like the literal "hands that built America" immigration story - with the clear "villain" taking advantage of immigrants in their most desperate times. It's all a little in-your-face obvious, but that's not always a bad thing. And Brody is, unfortunately, fantastic (I'll never argue against his acting, it's his personality that I can't stand). I don't really think the supporting cast did anything special - Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn - all pale in comparison to what Brody is giving. I know there was a slight controversy about the use of AI for the accents, and I'm not one to argue for the use of AI, but I don't really think this is a big deal? Accents are HARD and it can make a break a film for me if the accent is bad. I kind of appreciate that they wanted it *perfect* so they tweaked it using this technology. I do think that this is a slippery-slope though. It's also clearly a pro-Zionist message. I hate getting political on here, but maybe this wasn't the best time to make and release this film? Children are being murdered.