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Reviews
Episodes (2011)
Lasted until S1E6
I enjoyed the British actors and most everyone else. People rave about LeBlanc, but I think he was simply OK. He was Joey, or he was himself, I can't tell. Didn't watch after S1E7 because of the main event that occurred in S1E6. LeBlanc set us up for it early on, and sure enough they removed the tension that made this show intriguing. I also loved the attempts to compare the British quirks with the American quirks, especially when it came to making fun of Hollywood. Kathleen, Tamsin, Stephen, Mircea, and even Pankow did a great job. LeBlanc acted very well and is the big star, but he didn't do anything I didn't expect as far as acting. Whereas the other actors seemed to nail their parts. Overall, not bad, but nothing as hilarious as the 10/10 reviews are giving this show.
On the Basis of Sex (2018)
Wonderful Film!
Disclaimer: I saw this movie not knowing anything about the main character's real-life persona except that she's a Supreme Court Justice, and that she's dealing with health issues in the late stages of her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I was drawn in and enjoyed the acting very much. The subject matter and characters felt very real, and to think it was even remotely based on a true story made this movie a home-run for me.
Into the Wild (2007)
I gave it a 7
I gave this movie a 7 (instead of an 8) due to the length. This movie would have been just as good if they had chopped about 30 mins off the length. Other than that, I liked what Penn did with it, and I understand this movie is "based" on someone's life - which is based on others' interpretations.
My wife read the book, and when she explained the gist of the story to me my first thought was that very few in our (USA) society today are prepared to 'live off the land.' We're just not brought up that way. We require a certain amount of (potentially specialized) training and teaching before we can free ourselves from the spoils of progress.
The fact that he died is no surprise. Many people prepare well to do what Chris did, and they die anyway. Had Chris survived, I would not consider him a hero, but rather, very lucky. He needed to go out and find himself, or his life, or whatever. But he didn't need to die doing it. He just didn't give himself very good odds.
Other than the length, my wife and I both enjoyed this movie. mikey.
The Break-Up (2006)
I thought Vince Vaughn did a great job! (minor spoiler)
As corny as his character could have been (and was) I thought he pulled of every part of his character's scenes excellently.
Jennifer did good too, but Vince's performance surprised me the most. Without getting into spoilers, Vince played the egregious boyfriend very well (as usual) but he also played the serious side of the character well (that surprised me).
Even though a joke would be predictable, Vince and the cast pulled it off well so as to make it very funny and seemingly original.
As usual with American audience targeted films, they could have ended it without the very last scene. In my opinion the movie would have been just as good ending after the fade-to-black in the apartment, 2 scenes before the credits rolled.
mikey.
Rumor Has It... (2005)
Well done!
Saw the sneak preview tonite. Was pleasantly surprised by the good time I had. Not bad for a romantic comedy, even with the big TV star (Aniston). The theatre was full, and most folks had quite a few moments of quality laughter. Shirley Mclaine was her feisty old self, rubber face or not. It may help to watch The Graduate (again) just before going to see this one, but it is not mandatory for a good experience. All of the leads did a wonderful job, and the supporting Mena Suvari was classic as a hysterical too-young-to-be bride. Suffice it to say, BB pulls off the Robinson trifecta!
mikey
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005)
Off to a good start...but be careful.
I caveat this by saying I have a ReplayTV (DVR) and I watch Craig's show when I want, commercial free (usually at dinner time, instead of watching the evening news).
I think the show is quite good. Craig's accent and his "apparent" innocence about American culture makes for some darn funny impromptu moments. He sometimes gets great laughs when he doesn't expect them. ie. when he uses a non-US slang term, or Scottish vernacular term.
Having said that, he's starting to fall into a similar trap as other late-nighters: he's tending to grab onto unexpected funniness and force it into all subsequent shows. His trademark line of "He's in Black & White here, but he'll be in color when he comes out" is about the only one of his funnies I think he should have kept. Now I think its time for Craig to build on what he has, and not rely on beating used lines into the ground. It gets old real fast (see Conan).
Yes Craig, I think you have started out well, please build on the foundation and propel yourself to a comedic plateau just above the other late-night hosts. I know you can do it.
Closer (2004)
This movie is not a chick-flick.
I watched this film at a sneak-preview tonite. The story follows the lives of four people (2 male, 2 female) as they meet and interact in friendship and "romance". I use the quotes because this is about struggle more than anything. The darkness of the characters' lives and their struggle is somewhat borne out by the dreary weather of London (the setting). While most films about struggle invite the viewer to empathize with at least one character, this one offers no such invitation. We care very little for any of the four, especially by the end of the film. There is no love story here, only painful emotion, foul language, and deep sorrow. I'm dubbing this one the Anti-Chick-Flick Chick-Flick. Don't let the adverts fool you, and don't see it if you are easily offended by sequences of graphic sexual dialogue (MPAA's words, not mine). -mikey