Quiet on the Set

Watched this thanks to Bill Maher. It's all at once disgusting and fascinating and very very disturbing. This is a Must watch, but be prepared. Episode 3 is absolutely gut wrenching.

Bob Marley: One Love 

I was looking forward to this one and came away disappointed. There was a lot to like about this film, but nothing to love or nothing that maked it stand out. A tad boring and a bit superficial. 6.3 IMDB is an on the money rating

 Renegade Nell

Well it appears that Disney is capable of producing something good, that's not in the star wars universe. Really entertaining fairy tale taking place in 18th century England has a lot going for it. Nell get framed for murder and becomes the most wanted outlaw in England. Good clean fun! Recommended.

 Scoop

The Prince Andrew/Jeffery Epstein scandal brought back to life. Not as good as I thought, but if the subject matter interests you, you may find this compelling. More topical in the UK than here in the states because we don't really care about British Royalty all that much. But it will bring back to light the question of, "Which of the powerful men associated with Jeffrey Epstein had him killed?" The person would have had to have deep connections within New York and a reason to have him shut up. Who was it that has deep ties to NYC? hmmmmm

Ripley

 

This adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley shines with Andrew Scott in the lead role. It's shot in glorious B&W and Alfred Hitchcock would be very proud of this if he were alive it shares more with him than it does with any other adaptation of this novel. This is a MUST see especially if you enjoy this often told story or love Hitchcock or just love Film Noir. Hunker Down and binge

Ripley

 

This adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley shines with Andrew Scott in the lead role. It's shot in glorious B&W and Alfred Hitchcock would be very proud of this if he were alive it shares more with him than it does with any other adaptation of this novel. This is a MUST see especially if you enjoy this often told story or love Hitchcock or just love Film Noir. Hunker Down and binge

Parasite

When I saw this was done by the people responsible for Train to Busan I knew I had to watch this. Korean....Very Lovecraftian and certainly not for all tastes, but if it's up your alley...Super Weird and Super Good.

Masters of Air

Another huge score for Apple TV, the latest generation of Band of Brothers this time the focus is on our Airmen. Despite my dislike for a couple of the actors, I couldn't find much fault in their or any of the performances. In fact, there's not much fault to be found anywhere. You all know how good Band of Brothers was this isn't quite up to that level of sublime, but its gets awfully close. Very Entertaining stuff

 

Three Body Problem

 This is one of my favorite sci-fi books of all time and I watched the 30 episode Chinese version of this adaptation. So, my viewpoint of this is going to differ a lot from the norm because of my familiarity of the work. This is an extremely condensed and Americanized version, but its well cast and entertaining and the story is first rate, but the story goes SOOOO much deeper than Netflix shows. They did do a fantastic job with the VR portions of the story. Even with a that this is excellent stuff First rate cast, it's good, but judge for yourself.

The Serpent Queen

Samantha Morton shines as Catherine de Medici in this under the radar period-piece. Airing on Starz, It came out in 2022, but season 2 is upcoming this year. A complex, First-Rate piece of historical fiction..

 

Road House (2024)

 

More of a reboot than a remake. Some of the elements of the original are there, but for the most part this is fresh and it's actually better than its predecessor . Bonus: it filled with good music. I am not a big Jake G fan, but man is this dude ripped. Good Fun and a Very Entertaining Film. Recommended.

Palm Royale

I really LOVE this show. It looks and feels great. Set in1969 Palm Beach Kristen Wiig tries to maneuver her way into high society. This is the day I fell in love with Kristen Wiig she looks absolutely stunning in every scene and she is 51 years old (i had to look it up) Hopefully this will jump start her career, but this cast is great and features Allison Janney, Laura Dern, John Lucas, etc. a 6.6 IMDB rating is far far too low. I would put this firmly in the 8's another outstanding show from Apple+

 

Zone of Interest

 

Magnificent, but not for all tastes. It won a most well deserved Oscar for best foreign film but it also earned a well deserved loss for best picture, if that makes sense. Zone of Interest is a stunning portrait of the commander of the Auschwitz death camp who has carved out an idyllic life with his family in a gorgeous estate right in the shadow of the camp. Hushed tones would be an apt description, Told in a slow, deliberate, matter-of-fact fashion with a subtlety that will not appeal to everyone. The horrors inside the camp are never shown. A thinking mans picture which is why it works better in Europe than America

Poor Things

Uggg...Visual Striking, but OMG was this a piece of crap. Premise, is Emma Stone has her brain replaced with an infant and the film chronicles its rapidly advancing development in her. Including an out of control libido. Ultimately this is an EXTREMELY boring story that last for 2 and half hours...good friggin' luck.. All eye candy, great sets, costumes, etc. and nothing redeeming. I love Emma Stone, but she didn't deserve an Oscar for this. Don't Bother

 

The Last Repair Shop

 

Oscar winner so I watched it...Documentary about the LA school district repair shop that fixes musical instruments that the kids take out on loan. Sounds better than it is, because its a 39 minute snooze-fest. Seems the subject matter fits what the current zeitgeist is... I will watch the rest to see what should have won...LOL

The Gentlemen

Vastly Entertaining series based on the Guy Ritchie film of the same name. Ritchie is the creator and director of this series, so it's basically beyond reproach, as Ritchie is one of the best directors in the world. Anything he puts his name on goes immediately to the top of my Watchlist and this is no exception. The series has all the trademarks of a Ritchie film, Goofy supporting characters, a complex plot and an decidedly English sense of humor all wrapped up in a crime drama. Kaya Scoldelario is amazing as Susie Glass. An absolute must see for Fans of Guy Ritchie and a strong recommendation for those who are not.

UPDATE: Giancarlo Esposito plays the same character he did on Breaking Bad, not sure if you call it an Easter Egg or a homage, but it's kick ass either way

 

 The Tourist

Solid Series that keeps you guessing by telling a fairly compelling story about an amnesiac found in the Aussie outback who may or may not be a bad guy and we find out as his story slowly unfolds.... Agree with the 7.0 rating only 12 episodes for 2 seasons, so it's not too great an investment

Blackberry

 Another terrific Tech Bio-Pic that joins ever expanding family of content detailing with the tech boom of the late 90's. This one details the meteoric rise of the the Blackberry and it subsequent demise. A well-cast, Canadian production is worth your time if the subject matter interests you. A 7.4 IMDB rating is on-point.

 BMF

This is a lot of fun. It is not without its plot holes and unplausible survivals, but it's set in Detroit in the 1980's and the creators take advantage of that era to create a likeable, nostalgic story with plenty of Cleveland tie-in's. The lead actor who plays Meech, Demetrious Flenory Jr. is the son of the actual man who the story is based on, so there is an authenticity to it and it shows. Highly recommended

 Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

The creators of Wallace and Gromet will probably never stop throwing up. W&G is top-notch stop-action Claymation from the British and were barley children's movies as they were sophisticated and hilarious. Then they created the original Chicken Run, which still had that W&G magic although it was more focused on American audiences rather than the more refined British audience and it worked fantastically. This has none of that, however, children won't know the difference, so by all means allow them, but I know This is a cash grab and a hard-pass...none of the original creators are involved, they do a decent job of trying to replicate the magic but they fail.

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

 

Not a prototypical Liam Nissen role even though the plot sounds that way. Takes place in Ireland during the Height of the IRA circa 1974 and the story focuses on a conflict between Liam and a female member of the IRA...Not bad, but this isn't action-filled and there are a lot of difficult Irish accents to parse through. 6.2 IMDB rating is about right.. Great supporting cast featuring Colm Meany and Ciaran Hinds

Monsieur Spade 

Humphrey Bogart was cool before cool existed and Clive Owen channels his inner Bogart for his role as Dashell Hammett's Sam Spade in this crime thriller set in Post WWII France. Film Noir made bright in this story with a lot of moving parts. . My guess is Owen studied Bogart extensively for this role and he nails this self-deprecating, wise cracking detective to a tee. Produced by Barry Levinson so no reason not to see it. Two Thumbs up!

 House of Ninjas

This is my Jam. Although, this series is done in the Japanese language, it is highly Americanized. The combining of the two styles is an absolute home run, much like it was with Blue-Eyed Samurai Japanese cinema on its own merits is difficult to access and won't resonate with the average American, but the melding of the two styles is like chocolate and peanut butter for viewers. A few plot holes, but they are easily overlooked and were left with a complex action packed story, that works on a lot of levels. Don't hesitate..PLEASE be a season 2 as the story was just heating up at the end...

Dark Winds

When a series is produced by Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin, you run to see it and this is no exception. Fantastic crime drama set in the SW Navajo nation circa 1971 with some Native American mysticism mixed in. Just finished season one and couldn't be more pleased...Small spot for Rainn WIlson which helps tremendously as I am a fan.

 

Beekeeper

Another Stratham action film and Not a bad movie, but you have seen this one a hundred times before.....if you like this type of action, you could do worse, but it's not worth going out of your way to see.

 

Funny Women

 

1964 London is the setting for this fabulous piece of work. Beauty Queen goes to London to try and make it in comedy...Legit funny and instantly likeable. A Great Soundtrack, crackerjack editing and directing are only some of its virtues...It is a shame that not more people will see this. Its produced by Sky (a British company) and is streamed by PBS, but this is worth seeking out. Shame its only 6 episodes (so far)

Nimona

Done by the creators of Big Hero 6 and a well-deserved Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature. Moving in ways not often touched by animated features. This is the first animated film that I have seen a homosexual relationship in, but it doesn't detract too much from the story and is tastefully done. Wonderfully animated, well written and has some funny moments. All-Around Fantastic Stuff.
 

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

More of the same. Movies like this are making this genre as stale as week old bread...it's a snooze fest, but might be ok for children with undiscerning taste. Hard Pass

 

Wonka

 

Not the remake I thought it was and there is a lot of to really love about this picture. It's whimsical, visually striking and well acted, but it's filled with music that is extremely forgettable. There are no "Pure Imaginations" here, so for me that was a huge turn-off, but all the other elements are there for families to enjoy, but foe me it Seemed whenever the narrative picked up steam, they broke out into some mediocre song about chocolate and my attention went elsewhere. A lesson should be learned if you're going to make a musical, be sure the music is good.

Boy Swallows Universe

Magnificent and Wildly Entertaining. Checks all the boxes. One of the best streams of the month of January has a ton of heart along with many other elements. Do Not Hesitate

 

 Fast X

Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and Reacher (Alan Ritchson) join the cast in the same nonsense. You know what you'll get with these films, but this is even more ridiculous than most entries. The fact they've made 10 of these is a reflection of just how lowbrow Americans have become. All Eye Candy, 0 substance, brain not required, no wonder Trump's going to be reelected

Society of Snow

 

This is the same Material that was covered in Alive back in the 90's so nothing new, but it is well directed and worth the time, especially if you've no knowledge of this story. There isn't enough of a difference from the original picture to garner any Oscars IMO

 Queenpins

I really enjoyed this one. Based on a true story about a coupon scan. A great cast brings this home. It's not groundbreaking, but it's funny and Interesting and in a sea of possibilities that is comedy that's enough to give this one a try. The stakeout scene in the car was absolutely hilarious.

 The Brothers Son

This is fantastic. It's not perfect, but it's close enough to not complain about much. Michelle Yeoh gives this instant credibility. It's extremely Stylish and great fun from start to finish, filled with action comedy and heart, a rare combination. A great closing sequence featuring Zeppelin's "Your Time is Going Come" puts the cherry on top. I sure do hope we get another season of The Brothers Sun, although it ends in a good spot if there isn't. I for one would like to know how the rest of this story plays out. Highly Recommended

 Dumb Money

I really enjoyed this one. It's the Gamestop stock story. if you don't know the story, it's compelling and brought to life with an all-star cast. About the only thing bad about it is the terrible RAP soundtrack. Reminds me a bit of The Big Short because of the subject matter. 6.9 is a bit low for a film with this great of a cast and this good of a story. Recommended.

 Loudermilk

A little hit or miss at the start, but gets progressively better as the series gets closer to the end. Probably was cancelled a bit prematurely as it was just picking up steam. Some truly funny moments and some truly heartwarming moments await the patient. Very Good. This did have one of the funniest lines I've heard in a long time, during the scene with Ben and the Sex Doll, but I wont spoil it. Go for it

 The Marvels

Another highly disappointing entry into the MCU, this one with an even more ridiculous plot than usual. It's just more parallel/multiverse nonsense, which is why ECHO was so refreshing .Even Brie Larson can't save this garbage, Not even worth popping the corn. P.S. I don't think we will see another captain Marvel movie, Brie will do her cameo's, but both cracks at this comic have failed, this one miserably. Pass

 Astrid et Raphaelle

Here is a reason not to hate the French. A wonderful mystery show that features Astrid, a high functioning autistic with a photographic memory, and her partner Raphaelle, solving crimes that all have a touch of flair. The relationship between Astrid, Raphaelle and her peers unfolds slowly over the course of three seasons and gives this show more heart than most in this genre. This predates The Extraordinary Attorney Woo by 4 years, so I have to think that show was based on this. If you enjoyed TEAW, this is a no brainer. It's utterly fantastic and a must see if this genre is your thing. 95 stars.:)

Fool Me Once

The Brits know how to put together a mystery. This has a lot of moving parts and is extremely well written and acted. The lead actress, Michelle Keegan, is relatively unknown outside of the UK, but probably not for long. She is the most beautiful actress I've seen in a long time. She carries this and is all the better for it. This is worth it just to see her.

Echo

A wonderful entry into the MCU. This is Super Hero Lite and focuses more on spirituality in the Native American culture and is all the better for it. The Super Hero entries are getting a bit tired of late and this is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is stagnating. Vincent D'Onofrio is always a treat as Kingpin. 6.9 IMDB rating is far too low a rating for a series with this much heart, but the lower than deserved rating doesn't surprise me given the state of America. A Must See.

 

True Detective

There are many contenders for the Crown, but HBO is still the king of original television giving us some of the best shows in history. Season 3 finished in anticipation of s4 next week. This show has a nearly perfect formula to run in perpetuity. One day in the distant future someone will be reviewing True Detective s20, that because It's an anthology that doesn't come out every year. Always with an A list star or two in the main role and a tightly woven script and it makes some highly compelling and entertaining television. s3 features Marshela Ali in 3 different timelines 1980, 1990 and present day following the case of two missing children and examining dementia. First Rate TV in every aspect of the word.