This film actually is a historical biography of James Glaisher. He was an early balloonist and he broke the world record for altitude in the 1860’s. The filmmakers have completely removed his solitary flight companion Henry Coxwell. He was the man who ensured the success of the mission and saved both of their lives. Instead, a completely fictional female character, Amelia Rennes has been inserted? She takes over the proceedings and also narrates the film. At the film’s conclusion, Glaisher stands before the Royal Society and thanks his fictional Indian friend and the fictional Rennes? He says he couldn’t have done the flight without them? He is saying this even though they don't exist? The ending is an implied romantic relationship between Glaisher and Rennes. The real life Glaisher had been married for over 20 years to Cecilia Belville. She was an interesting woman but now edited out of history altogether? The bottom line, is it OK to fake a real story?? And, does the woman’s name have to be Amelia because of Amelia Earhart??
Released by Amazon Prime and the BIG question is, why make up a fake story when there was a real story? Does it somehow help the advancement of women to add a female balloonist in a fake story? The biggest complaint in reviews for this film is the fairness of the story? The film does have good chemistry between Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. It does have great cinematography and breathtaking imagery. It makes you feel like you are at 39,000 feet but amazingly you are not freezing and getting frostbite!! There are other complaints about Felicity Jones’ character being bossy and she would not have been a bossy woman in the 1860’s? It is possible that there could have been at least one bossy woman?? 4* (I liked this movie)
100 min, Action directed by Tom Harper with Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Himesh Patel, Lewin Lloyd, Phoebe Fox, Rom Courtenay, Vincent Perez, Tim McInnerny, Rebecca Front, Anne Reid, Robert Glenister, Julian Ferro, Gianni Calchetti, Mia Hemerling, Kamil Lemieszewski.
Note: Amazon 4* out of 5* with 640 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 72% critic with 163 reviews 95% audience with 37 ratings, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Monica Casatillo, Imdb 6.6 out of 10 with 4676 reviews, Metacritic 60 out of 100 with 36 critics (22 positive, 11 mixed, 3 negative) 5.9 out of 10 user score (10 positive, 3 mixed, 4 negative), Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Flickering Myth Rating Film 3*/ Movie 4*.
Special Note: Sophie Blanchard was a French aeronaut who was the first woman to work as a professional balloonist between 1804 and her death in 1819. Redmayne and Jones actually flew in the gas balloon in the film to roughly 3000 feet. The 1862 flight of James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell is realistically replicated. I did not notice this myself but Amelia’s unshaven armpits are correct for the time period and women didn’t begin to shave until the 1910’s. Redmayne had a small injury during filming a scene on the balloon and badly sprained his ankle. He had to use a crutch and a cast for a few days. The balloon flight takes place in real time. The balloon was actually launched from Wolverhampton in the midlands and not London. This was due to a fear that if they launched in London, they could go off course and land in the river. Henry Coxwell was 43 and James Glaisher was 53. They were 7 and 16 years older than Jones and Redmayne.
Monday, December 23, 2019
Sunday, December 22, 2019
The Gift of the Magi 2010
This film is a version of the 1905 O. Henry story, The Gift of the Magi. Jim and Della Young are a newly wedded couple. They can barely afford to move into their new apartment and their second-hand car breaks down. They make an agreement that they will not buy any Christmas presents this year! Jim and Della both go against the agreement and they decide to secretly buy one gift to give each other. They will each earn extra cash so Jim can spoil Della and Della can spoil Jim.
Both of the members of this new couple are making sacrifices for each other. They go out of their way to get a special gift that their spouse really wants more than anything. It will be even more appreciated because they are not expecting to get anything!! But, some complications arise because they are keeping secrets from each other?
85 min, Drama directed by Lisa Mulcahy with Marla Sokoloff, Mark Webber, Michelle Beamish, Glynis Casson, Tony Devon, Thomas Grube, Gary Hetzler, Eamonn Hunt, Roisin Kiely, Gerry McCann, Barry McGovern, Clelia Murphy, Helen Norton, Scott Paschall, Donna Patrice.
Note: Rotten Tomatoes 21% audience with 37 ratings, Imdb 5.5* with 458 reviews, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 56 ratings, dov.org, age 12+, 1* sex, 2* drugs, 1* other (a lie), Goodreads gives the book 4.09* with 78,518 ratings and 1,684 reviews, Letterboxd 3* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in Ireland. There is a mixup in the last name of the newlyweds? In the credits, they have the last name Young but in the movie it is Alexander? More than a dozen adaptations of the O. Henry story have been filmed!! This is a modern version with some extra twists. O. Henry was a private man who hardly gave interviews and was extremely guarded about his past. It is known that he was devoted to his wife Athol. They married young and they were poor. They lived in rented cottages while he worked as a banker.
Both of the members of this new couple are making sacrifices for each other. They go out of their way to get a special gift that their spouse really wants more than anything. It will be even more appreciated because they are not expecting to get anything!! But, some complications arise because they are keeping secrets from each other?
85 min, Drama directed by Lisa Mulcahy with Marla Sokoloff, Mark Webber, Michelle Beamish, Glynis Casson, Tony Devon, Thomas Grube, Gary Hetzler, Eamonn Hunt, Roisin Kiely, Gerry McCann, Barry McGovern, Clelia Murphy, Helen Norton, Scott Paschall, Donna Patrice.
Note: Rotten Tomatoes 21% audience with 37 ratings, Imdb 5.5* with 458 reviews, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 56 ratings, dov.org, age 12+, 1* sex, 2* drugs, 1* other (a lie), Goodreads gives the book 4.09* with 78,518 ratings and 1,684 reviews, Letterboxd 3* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in Ireland. There is a mixup in the last name of the newlyweds? In the credits, they have the last name Young but in the movie it is Alexander? More than a dozen adaptations of the O. Henry story have been filmed!! This is a modern version with some extra twists. O. Henry was a private man who hardly gave interviews and was extremely guarded about his past. It is known that he was devoted to his wife Athol. They married young and they were poor. They lived in rented cottages while he worked as a banker.
Back to Natural 2019
This film takes an emotional and realistic look into the subject of hair, politics and identity in black communities. It is a call for healing that takes a grass roots approach to natural black hair. In this day and age, natural styles are taking over the world by storm!! Gillian Scott is a New York City based Clinical Psychologist. The premiere of this film was in South Africa at the Mzansi Women’s film festival in August of 2018. This festival is a platform for women filmmakers to show case films about and for women.
Scott is continuing to apply to and attend film festivals globally. She wants to get a message of understanding, strength and healing out into the world. She is also organizing a college/community center tour to bring the film to different communities. She is offering a strength-based, healing workshop where viewers can more deeply explore their experiences with hair. Also, to learn concrete strengths in the face of adversity. This isn’t about getting everyone to be natural. It’s about giving black people more choices about how they live and present themselves in the world. Parents of black children have a choice not to expose their children to toxic hair straightening chemicals. These substances are connected to cancer, reproductive issues and other serious health conditions. There is a need for support in their ability to accept themselves, feel positively connected to their race and their success in academics and work. I found the information in this film to be thought provoking and very interesting. 5* (I really liked this film)
75 min, Doc directed by Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward with Okema Moore.
Note: Rotten Tomatoes, 96% critic with 74 critics 97% audience with 160 ratings, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Monica Castillo.
Special Note: Filmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Paris and Cape Town, South Africa.
Special Note: The Mzansi Women's Film Festival began in Johannesburg in 2014. It is held the first weekend In August, Women's Month in South Africa. It seeks to be the premier women's film festival on the continent of Africa.
Scott is continuing to apply to and attend film festivals globally. She wants to get a message of understanding, strength and healing out into the world. She is also organizing a college/community center tour to bring the film to different communities. She is offering a strength-based, healing workshop where viewers can more deeply explore their experiences with hair. Also, to learn concrete strengths in the face of adversity. This isn’t about getting everyone to be natural. It’s about giving black people more choices about how they live and present themselves in the world. Parents of black children have a choice not to expose their children to toxic hair straightening chemicals. These substances are connected to cancer, reproductive issues and other serious health conditions. There is a need for support in their ability to accept themselves, feel positively connected to their race and their success in academics and work. I found the information in this film to be thought provoking and very interesting. 5* (I really liked this film)
75 min, Doc directed by Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward with Okema Moore.
Note: Rotten Tomatoes, 96% critic with 74 critics 97% audience with 160 ratings, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Monica Castillo.
Special Note: Filmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Paris and Cape Town, South Africa.
Special Note: The Mzansi Women's Film Festival began in Johannesburg in 2014. It is held the first weekend In August, Women's Month in South Africa. It seeks to be the premier women's film festival on the continent of Africa.
Love Actually 2003
Billy Mack is an aging and has-been rock star. He is staging a Christmas themed comeback cover album titled Love is All Around. Billy knows the music is not very good but he agrees to do the promotion. During the five weeks leading up to Christmas several related stories about romantic love and the obstacles to happiness are presented. Daniel’s wife died and he is left to take care of his stepson Sam. Juliet and Peter have just been married. Jamie is a writer and he’s taking a writing retreat by himself in rural France. Harry is the managing director of a design agency and he becomes interested in his new secretary. David is the recently elected Prime Minister, he begins to like Natalie and she is a new junior member of the household staff. Sarah has had a two year crush on the design company's creative director where she works.
There are some tense and sad scenes plus some audience members may object to the portrayal of the US President as a crude bully?? There is a matter-of-fact portrayal of loving inter-racial friendship and romance. I’ve seen this movie several times and I also have a DVD copy. It’s a funny Christmas movie that you don’t get tired of watching again!! 5* (I really like this movie)
135 min, Comedy directed and written by Richard Curtis with Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy Gregor Fisher, Rory MacGregor, Collin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Emma Thompson, Lulu Popplewell, Kris Marshall, Heike Makatsch, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley.
Note: Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 41 critics (21 positive, 16 mixed, 4 negative) 8.6 out of 10 user scores (299 positive, 33 mixed, 17 negative), 3 1/2* Roger Ebert, Common Sense Media Nell Minow, age 16+,4* positive, 5* sex, 5* language, 3* drinking, drugs, smoking, empire online 3* out of 5*, Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 3524 ratings, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw.
Special Note: Filmed in London, Surrey, England; Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, France; Kenya. Lucia Moniz and Colin Firth are swimming in a lake but it was actually only eighteen inches deep. They had to kneel down and pretend to be in deeper water. It was over run my mosquitoes, Firth was badly bitten, his elbow swelled up to the size of an avocado and required medical attention. Richard Curtis auditioned many British girls for the part of Sarah. He said, I want someone like Laura Linney. The Casting Director snapped and said get Laura Linney, she auditioned and got the part.
There are some tense and sad scenes plus some audience members may object to the portrayal of the US President as a crude bully?? There is a matter-of-fact portrayal of loving inter-racial friendship and romance. I’ve seen this movie several times and I also have a DVD copy. It’s a funny Christmas movie that you don’t get tired of watching again!! 5* (I really like this movie)
135 min, Comedy directed and written by Richard Curtis with Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy Gregor Fisher, Rory MacGregor, Collin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Emma Thompson, Lulu Popplewell, Kris Marshall, Heike Makatsch, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley.
Note: Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 41 critics (21 positive, 16 mixed, 4 negative) 8.6 out of 10 user scores (299 positive, 33 mixed, 17 negative), 3 1/2* Roger Ebert, Common Sense Media Nell Minow, age 16+,4* positive, 5* sex, 5* language, 3* drinking, drugs, smoking, empire online 3* out of 5*, Letterboxd 3.4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 3524 ratings, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw.
Special Note: Filmed in London, Surrey, England; Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, France; Kenya. Lucia Moniz and Colin Firth are swimming in a lake but it was actually only eighteen inches deep. They had to kneel down and pretend to be in deeper water. It was over run my mosquitoes, Firth was badly bitten, his elbow swelled up to the size of an avocado and required medical attention. Richard Curtis auditioned many British girls for the part of Sarah. He said, I want someone like Laura Linney. The Casting Director snapped and said get Laura Linney, she auditioned and got the part.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005
Four young people from the same family leave their home town because of the bombings of WWII. A woman and a professor take them into their home. The children are playing a game of hide-and-seek and the youngest finds a wardrobe to hide in. Lucy travels in time in the wardrobe and she finds a place named Narna. She goes there twice and then the four children go together in time. They battle wolves, meet talking animals, encounter an evil white witch and meet a magnificent lion named Aslan. Will they continue to remain in Narna or will they return to their own time and place?
There is a LOT of wonder, magic and discovery in Narnia!! I could watch this film over and over. Each time you see and notice something you didn’t before. Great performances by Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson and James McAvoy. 5* (I really liked this movie)
143 min, Fantasy directed by Andrew Adamson with Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Kiran Shah, James Cosmo, Jusy McIntosh, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Patrick Kake, Shane Rangi, Brandon Cook, Cassie Cook.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 347,556 reviews, Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 76% critic 61% audience, Empire Online 3* out of 5*, Metacritic 75 out of 100 with 39 critics 5.9 out of 10 410 positive, 116 mixed, 214 negative), The Guardian 5* Peter Bradshaw, Plugged In 5* Tom Neven, Telegraph 4* out of 5* Sukhdev Sandhu, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 2349 ratings.
Special Note: Filmed in Prague Czech Republic, Malopolskie and Dolnoslaskie Poland, Canterbury, Auckland and Otago New Zealand, Los Angeles California, Suffolk, Shropshire and London England, Glacier National Park Montana. The wolves destroying the Beavers’ home were mostly real animals with one or two CGI ones added in. Their tails had to be digitally re-added because they kept wagging!!
There is a LOT of wonder, magic and discovery in Narnia!! I could watch this film over and over. Each time you see and notice something you didn’t before. Great performances by Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson and James McAvoy. 5* (I really liked this movie)
143 min, Fantasy directed by Andrew Adamson with Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Kiran Shah, James Cosmo, Jusy McIntosh, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Patrick Kake, Shane Rangi, Brandon Cook, Cassie Cook.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 347,556 reviews, Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 76% critic 61% audience, Empire Online 3* out of 5*, Metacritic 75 out of 100 with 39 critics 5.9 out of 10 410 positive, 116 mixed, 214 negative), The Guardian 5* Peter Bradshaw, Plugged In 5* Tom Neven, Telegraph 4* out of 5* Sukhdev Sandhu, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 2349 ratings.
Special Note: Filmed in Prague Czech Republic, Malopolskie and Dolnoslaskie Poland, Canterbury, Auckland and Otago New Zealand, Los Angeles California, Suffolk, Shropshire and London England, Glacier National Park Montana. The wolves destroying the Beavers’ home were mostly real animals with one or two CGI ones added in. Their tails had to be digitally re-added because they kept wagging!!
Where the Red Fern Grows 1974
This film is based on a novel by Wilson Rawls. The setting is in the Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression. Billy Coleman works hard with multiple jobs and saves his earnings for two years. His dream is to buy two coonhound pumps. Billy faces overwhelming challenges roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy and the dogs are an inseparable trio as they try to tree an elusive Ghost raccoon. They win a coveted gold cup in the annual coon-hunt contest. They capture wily ghost coons and bravely fight a mountain lion.
There is a LOT more to this film than just a young boy and his dogs!! Billy develops a deeper trust and faith as he faces challenges. He learns the meaning of true friendship, loyalty and more. Billy carefully trains his dogs and they enjoy coon hunting together. He learns he can’t let his dogs down even when it calls for all his strength. There is joy and also sadness. I don’t know how you can watch this film without a few tears!! 5* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Drama directed by Norman Tokar and written by Wilson Rawls, Douglas Stewart, Eleanor Lamb with James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging, Lonny Chapman, Stewart Petersen, Jill Clark, Jeanna Wilson, bill Thurman, Bill dunbar, Rex Corley, John Lindsey, Garland McKinney, Robert S. Telford, Charles Seat, Roger Pancake, Marshall Edwards.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 2128 reviews, 75% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 8751 reviews, Common Sense Media, age 9+ with 5*, Letterboxd 2.8* out of 5*, Goodreads gives the book 4.07* with 318,539 ratings and 10,460 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Tahlequah, Vian and W. Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Grandpa's store is located west of Keys, Oklahoma in an area known as Qualls. It is a privately owned reservation only restaurant serving home cooked meals called Jincy’s Kitchen as of 2017. The building still maintains the old general store theme and the wagon seen in the movie is still there. Visitors can see the waterfall in this movie. It’s located in Natural Falls state Park in West Siloam Springs. The barn and cabin were washed way in the historic flooding of 2015 on the Illinois River in Oklahoma. A few prints of this film still remain but it was discovered that the negatives were destroyed by the lab where they were stored. This fact was found out while research was conducted for a retrospective documentary. Only a few prints remain.
There is a LOT more to this film than just a young boy and his dogs!! Billy develops a deeper trust and faith as he faces challenges. He learns the meaning of true friendship, loyalty and more. Billy carefully trains his dogs and they enjoy coon hunting together. He learns he can’t let his dogs down even when it calls for all his strength. There is joy and also sadness. I don’t know how you can watch this film without a few tears!! 5* (I really liked this movie)
97 min, Drama directed by Norman Tokar and written by Wilson Rawls, Douglas Stewart, Eleanor Lamb with James Whitmore, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging, Lonny Chapman, Stewart Petersen, Jill Clark, Jeanna Wilson, bill Thurman, Bill dunbar, Rex Corley, John Lindsey, Garland McKinney, Robert S. Telford, Charles Seat, Roger Pancake, Marshall Edwards.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 2128 reviews, 75% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 8751 reviews, Common Sense Media, age 9+ with 5*, Letterboxd 2.8* out of 5*, Goodreads gives the book 4.07* with 318,539 ratings and 10,460 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Tahlequah, Vian and W. Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Grandpa's store is located west of Keys, Oklahoma in an area known as Qualls. It is a privately owned reservation only restaurant serving home cooked meals called Jincy’s Kitchen as of 2017. The building still maintains the old general store theme and the wagon seen in the movie is still there. Visitors can see the waterfall in this movie. It’s located in Natural Falls state Park in West Siloam Springs. The barn and cabin were washed way in the historic flooding of 2015 on the Illinois River in Oklahoma. A few prints of this film still remain but it was discovered that the negatives were destroyed by the lab where they were stored. This fact was found out while research was conducted for a retrospective documentary. Only a few prints remain.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Bosch Season 5 Episode 6 2019
The title for this episode is The Space Between the Stars. Rita Tedesco, the wife of Preston Borders is spooked by her encounters with Hector Bonner’s visits. Borders believes that Bosh is behind Bonner’s visits? He tells Rita to have attorney Cronyn deal with it and to stay out of it herself. Bosh and attorney Chandler try to figure out how property clerk Terry Spencer is involved with the Cronyn attorneys? On a hunch, Bosch calls Cronyn’s office posing as Spencer. Immediately, Cronyn demands to know the reason for his call. He also tells him that “I’m not your contact.” Later Bonner watches Rita meet with Cronyn’s wife, Kathy Zelden.
Preston Borders is on the edge of his seat trying to figure out what Bosch knows and if he has taped conversations between Borders and his wife Rita. Investigator Hector is knows all and he’s watching everything. More information is coming out about the details used to reopen the Borders case. Will we ever learn the truth about the pendant in Border’s apartment that belonged to the murder victim? The two detectives Crate and Barrel find a clue about someone falsifying stats about lower violent crime rates. Lieutenant Grace Billets finds out that their information is legit. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, 43 min, Crime directed by Neema Barnette and written by Shaz Bennett, Michael Connelly, Eric Ellis Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Jeremiah Bitsui, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich, Carlos Acuna, Jamie Anne Allman, Diahnna Nicole Baxter, Verona Blue, Chris Browning, Paul Calderon, Brent Chase, Avery Clyde.
Note: Amazon 8.7* of 10* with 453 reviews, Imdb 8.7 out of 10 with 453 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B,
Preston Borders is on the edge of his seat trying to figure out what Bosch knows and if he has taped conversations between Borders and his wife Rita. Investigator Hector is knows all and he’s watching everything. More information is coming out about the details used to reopen the Borders case. Will we ever learn the truth about the pendant in Border’s apartment that belonged to the murder victim? The two detectives Crate and Barrel find a clue about someone falsifying stats about lower violent crime rates. Lieutenant Grace Billets finds out that their information is legit. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, 43 min, Crime directed by Neema Barnette and written by Shaz Bennett, Michael Connelly, Eric Ellis Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Jeremiah Bitsui, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich, Carlos Acuna, Jamie Anne Allman, Diahnna Nicole Baxter, Verona Blue, Chris Browning, Paul Calderon, Brent Chase, Avery Clyde.
Note: Amazon 8.7* of 10* with 453 reviews, Imdb 8.7 out of 10 with 453 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B,
Bosch Season 5 Episode Five 2019
The title for this episode is Tunnel Vision. Dr. Hansen from the VA is also working at the Garcia Pain Clinic. Bosch is surprised to see him there, he thought Dr. Hansen was legit? Bosh is posing as Dominic Reilly and he is supposed to be examined by Dr. Hansen. Reilly seems to be nothing more than another pathetic addict to Hansen. Reilly gets a few pills and he’s sent home. Hansen says he will get in touch with Reilly when he needs a favor?
Edgar is still seeking answers about the death of his confidential informant. There are men in jail that were put there because of criminal activity information from Gary. Edgar is checking with the old gang Gary used to run with. Chief Irving has shredded a piece of vital evidence? Why would he do this and does he have inside information about the Border case? I thought the chief was by the book?? Bosch and his attorney Honey Chandler are still gathering information about the blow-back on the Borders case. Maddie is in a place where she can see documents related to the case. Is it ethical for her to copy the information? Is it OK since Bosch is her dad? 5* (I really liked this series)
Note: TV Series, 44 min, Crime directed by Patrick Cady and written by Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and Eric Ellis Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Jason Gedrick, Sarah Clarke, Mark Derwin, Emilia Ares.
Note: Imdb 8.7 out of 10* with 458 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1447 ratings, TV.com 4* out of 5*.
Edgar is still seeking answers about the death of his confidential informant. There are men in jail that were put there because of criminal activity information from Gary. Edgar is checking with the old gang Gary used to run with. Chief Irving has shredded a piece of vital evidence? Why would he do this and does he have inside information about the Border case? I thought the chief was by the book?? Bosch and his attorney Honey Chandler are still gathering information about the blow-back on the Borders case. Maddie is in a place where she can see documents related to the case. Is it ethical for her to copy the information? Is it OK since Bosch is her dad? 5* (I really liked this series)
Note: TV Series, 44 min, Crime directed by Patrick Cady and written by Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and Eric Ellis Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Jason Gedrick, Sarah Clarke, Mark Derwin, Emilia Ares.
Note: Imdb 8.7 out of 10* with 458 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1447 ratings, TV.com 4* out of 5*.
Friday, December 20, 2019
Bosch Season 5 Episode Four 2019
The title for this Episode is Raise the Dead. Harry goes deep undercover to break an oxytocin drug ring. Heads off on a plane to a place unknown with other people addicted to the oxy. They arrive at a place in the desert with broken down cars and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Edgar saw Harry leave in the plane and he's just hoping that Harry can pull this off. There is no calling it quits for Harry. He has a chance to leave a message for Edgar when the group goes to a drugstore. He plants a stolen bottle of perfume in Elizabeth’s bag and gets a message to Edgar. The next step is two of the gang members and the pilot take off in the plane with only Harry!! This could be something unexpected and very dangerous.
Back to the investigation of the death bed convict confession. There are items that don’t add up?? Olmer claims to have murdered Danielle Skyler. Harry remembers that the balcony was covered in soot. If Olmer had entered from the outside, his foot prints would have been left on the balcony? There were no footprints? There was a knife left at the scene and this was kept secret to weed out confessions. Olmer has not mentioned anything about a knife? Bosch shares these thoughts with his attorney Honey Chander. She says this information is helpful and she thinks both Borders and his attorney Cronyn could profit from a very large settlement if the case is overturned!! Investigator Hector has talked to Mrs. Border outside the courtroom. He says he has just been released from prison and he heard she has money coming in. She denies there is any money but slips with the word yet!! 5* (I really like this series
TV Series, 44 min, Crime directed by Laura Belsey, written by Tom Bernardo Michael Connelly and Eric Ellis Overmeyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich, Ryan Hurst, Jacqueline Obradors, Mason Dye, Judith Moreland, Chris Browning, Juliet Landau, Mark Herrier, Jon Lindstrom, Avery Clyde, Doug Simpson.
Note: Note: Imdb 8.6 out of 10 with 473 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5* user ratings, TVcom 8.7 user rating with 117 votes, indiewire.com Grade B, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 57 ratings.
Special Note: This is Amazon’s oldest continuing original drama.
Back to the investigation of the death bed convict confession. There are items that don’t add up?? Olmer claims to have murdered Danielle Skyler. Harry remembers that the balcony was covered in soot. If Olmer had entered from the outside, his foot prints would have been left on the balcony? There were no footprints? There was a knife left at the scene and this was kept secret to weed out confessions. Olmer has not mentioned anything about a knife? Bosch shares these thoughts with his attorney Honey Chander. She says this information is helpful and she thinks both Borders and his attorney Cronyn could profit from a very large settlement if the case is overturned!! Investigator Hector has talked to Mrs. Border outside the courtroom. He says he has just been released from prison and he heard she has money coming in. She denies there is any money but slips with the word yet!! 5* (I really like this series
TV Series, 44 min, Crime directed by Laura Belsey, written by Tom Bernardo Michael Connelly and Eric Ellis Overmeyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich, Ryan Hurst, Jacqueline Obradors, Mason Dye, Judith Moreland, Chris Browning, Juliet Landau, Mark Herrier, Jon Lindstrom, Avery Clyde, Doug Simpson.
Note: Note: Imdb 8.6 out of 10 with 473 reviews, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5* user ratings, TVcom 8.7 user rating with 117 votes, indiewire.com Grade B, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 57 ratings.
Special Note: This is Amazon’s oldest continuing original drama.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Shazam 2019
Billy Batson lives in Philadelphia and he was abandoned as a child. One minute he was with his mother and in another minute he can’t find her? He has been placed in many homes by Child Services but he runs away. Unusually, Billy is selected by the Wizard Shazam to be his new champion. He has the ability to instantly become an adult superhero by speaking the name Shazam or go back to a teen? Billy explores his new powers with his friend Freddy but he soon learns he has a deadly enemy!! Thaddeus Sivana was rejected by the wizard and he has accepted the power of the Seven Deadly Sins. Sivana wants Shazam to transfer his powers to him. Sivana is making it very difficult for Shazam to say NO??
Shazam is a DC Comics based superhero comedy. Billy is the main character and he is 14 years old. There is LOTS of fantasy action violence, a few deaths, scary scenes, monsters, gun use, chases, pursuits, crashes, property destruction and big fights. Kids are also bullied, there are abandonment issues and physical disabilities. But, there are positive messages about the importance of family, generosity, courage, teamwork and standing up for other people. I could not get into this film?? It must be for teens young enough to believe what is happening and old enough not to be afraid of some of the scenes? Not enough adult and too much teen!!
132 min, Action directed by David F. Sandberg, written by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke with Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Faith Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Michelle Boreth, Ian Chen, Ross Butler, Jovan Armand, D.J. Cotrona, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, Ethan Pugiotto, John Glover.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 198,562 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 90% critic (385) 83% audience 15,586, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Nick Allen, CommonSenseMedia, Sandie Angulo Chen, age 12+, 4* out of 5*, 4* positive, 4* role models, 4* violence, 2* sex, 3* language, 3* consumerism, 2* drinking drugs & smoking, RollingStone 4*out of 5*, India Times 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 3360 reviews, Metacritic 71 out of 100 with 53 critics (43 positive, 8 mixed, 2 negative), 7.6 out of 10 user scores 893 positive, 153 mixed, 68 negative), Letterboxd 3.5* out of 5* with 149 reviews.
Special Note: Shazam is an acronym formed from the names of the gods that grant powers. Wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles ad the speed of Mercury.
Shazam is a DC Comics based superhero comedy. Billy is the main character and he is 14 years old. There is LOTS of fantasy action violence, a few deaths, scary scenes, monsters, gun use, chases, pursuits, crashes, property destruction and big fights. Kids are also bullied, there are abandonment issues and physical disabilities. But, there are positive messages about the importance of family, generosity, courage, teamwork and standing up for other people. I could not get into this film?? It must be for teens young enough to believe what is happening and old enough not to be afraid of some of the scenes? Not enough adult and too much teen!!
132 min, Action directed by David F. Sandberg, written by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke with Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Faith Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Michelle Boreth, Ian Chen, Ross Butler, Jovan Armand, D.J. Cotrona, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, Ethan Pugiotto, John Glover.
Note: Imdb 7.1 out of 10 with 198,562 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 90% critic (385) 83% audience 15,586, Roger Ebert 2 1/2* Nick Allen, CommonSenseMedia, Sandie Angulo Chen, age 12+, 4* out of 5*, 4* positive, 4* role models, 4* violence, 2* sex, 3* language, 3* consumerism, 2* drinking drugs & smoking, RollingStone 4*out of 5*, India Times 4* out of 5*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 3360 reviews, Metacritic 71 out of 100 with 53 critics (43 positive, 8 mixed, 2 negative), 7.6 out of 10 user scores 893 positive, 153 mixed, 68 negative), Letterboxd 3.5* out of 5* with 149 reviews.
Special Note: Shazam is an acronym formed from the names of the gods that grant powers. Wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles ad the speed of Mercury.
Bosch Season 5: Episode Three 2019
Lieutenant Billets is forced to deal with two Detectives with the nicknames Crate and Barrel. She will need to sift through the circumstances of what happened in an accident outside a pharmacy crime scene. Detective Bosch has a copy of all the phone calls from prison concerning his case and he turns them over to attorney Honey Chandler. The calls reveal that Preston Borders has a wife. Her name is Rita Tedesco and they have been married 16 years. She frequently visits him in prison and she is also at the court house. Chandler and Bosch believe that Rita has been a go between for Borders with is attorney to set up a scheme to set up a new hearing.
An added twist in this episode is that Chief Irving is considering running for Mayor. The statistics show that he may be able to win the election. Bosch is also investigating the angle of fake prescriptions and the sale of oxytocin as a reason for the pharmacy crime. His cover is that he needs the oxy for an injury to his knee when he was in the military. Edgar becomes worried when Bosch boards a plane with other oxy patients. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, Crime, 44 min, directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and written by Michael Connelly, Eric Ellis Overyer, Elle Johnson with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Madison Lintz, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich,
Note: Imdb 8.6 out of 10 with 494 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive 2 mixed, 1 negative, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5* user ratings, TVcom 8.7 user rating with 117 votes, Amazon 4.7* with 1445 ratings, newsday 3 1/2* out of 4*.
Special Note: Writer-producer Elle Johnson’s father was a Manhattan parole officer. Her uncle was a homicide detective in the Bronx. Elle wrote a script that led to a TV writing job about her uncle’s investigation into the murder of hie daughter Karen, Elle’s cousin. Season 6 is set to premier in April 2020.
An added twist in this episode is that Chief Irving is considering running for Mayor. The statistics show that he may be able to win the election. Bosch is also investigating the angle of fake prescriptions and the sale of oxytocin as a reason for the pharmacy crime. His cover is that he needs the oxy for an injury to his knee when he was in the military. Edgar becomes worried when Bosch boards a plane with other oxy patients. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, Crime, 44 min, directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and written by Michael Connelly, Eric Ellis Overyer, Elle Johnson with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Madison Lintz, Lance Reddick, Bianca Kajlich,
Note: Imdb 8.6 out of 10 with 494 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive 2 mixed, 1 negative, indiewire.com Grade B, telltaletv.com 4* out of 5* user ratings, TVcom 8.7 user rating with 117 votes, Amazon 4.7* with 1445 ratings, newsday 3 1/2* out of 4*.
Special Note: Writer-producer Elle Johnson’s father was a Manhattan parole officer. Her uncle was a homicide detective in the Bronx. Elle wrote a script that led to a TV writing job about her uncle’s investigation into the murder of hie daughter Karen, Elle’s cousin. Season 6 is set to premier in April 2020.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Call The Midwife Season 8: Episode 5 2019
In this Episode Trixie cares for a young woman and she has been diagnosed with an intersex condition. Lois Parry symptoms are that her vagina is shorter in length, she has never had a period and doctor Turner can’t detect a cervix. Dr. Turner sends her to a specialist at the hospital. This doctor is very insensitive and he invites male medical students to observe his examination. Lois is horrified by this treatment and naturally very distressed!! Dr. Turner lets Lois know that the exam revealed she has two male testes instead of ovaries. It’s called texticular feminization syndrome. Lois was planning to get married and all the arrangements have been made. What will she tell her fiancé Paul?? She also will not be able to have children.
Another couple, Pam and George Sharp lost their first baby and they are understandably very nervous. Pam is trying to be calm and move along but George is always extremely worried. Pam can see the worry in his face every time she looks at him? George is actually having physical pain and Dr. Turner diagnosis it as a “phantom pregnancy.” George is having weight gain, insomnia and nausea? Dr. Turner assures Pam and George that the pregnancy is going along very well and they need to begin looking forward to the birth and not dreading it!! I had not heard of an intersex condition before? I have heard of men having the same aches and pains as their wife during a pregnancy. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, one hour, Drama directed by David O’Neill and written by Heidi Thomas and Andrea Gibb based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Trevor Cooper, lInda Bassett, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliott, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Fennella Woolgar, Nancy Sullivan, Josie Brightwell, Holly Freeman, Annabelle Apsion, Joel Robinson, Ella Bruccoleri, Jack Doolan, Jenny Agutter, Sarah Belcher, Luke Ellis.
Note: Imdb 4.6* out of 10* with 229 reviews, Amazon 4.5* with 224 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Another couple, Pam and George Sharp lost their first baby and they are understandably very nervous. Pam is trying to be calm and move along but George is always extremely worried. Pam can see the worry in his face every time she looks at him? George is actually having physical pain and Dr. Turner diagnosis it as a “phantom pregnancy.” George is having weight gain, insomnia and nausea? Dr. Turner assures Pam and George that the pregnancy is going along very well and they need to begin looking forward to the birth and not dreading it!! I had not heard of an intersex condition before? I have heard of men having the same aches and pains as their wife during a pregnancy. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, one hour, Drama directed by David O’Neill and written by Heidi Thomas and Andrea Gibb based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Trevor Cooper, lInda Bassett, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliott, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Fennella Woolgar, Nancy Sullivan, Josie Brightwell, Holly Freeman, Annabelle Apsion, Joel Robinson, Ella Bruccoleri, Jack Doolan, Jenny Agutter, Sarah Belcher, Luke Ellis.
Note: Imdb 4.6* out of 10* with 229 reviews, Amazon 4.5* with 224 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Bosch Season 5: Episode Two 2019
The title for this episode is Tunnel Vision. Detective Harry Bosch stops by the DA’s office under the guise of seeing his daughter Maddie. He encounters CIU Investigator Christina Henry. She heading up the team to overturn the murder conviction of Borders. There has been a deathbed confession from another convict, Lucas Olmwer. Bosch asks Edgar about Christina Henry? Bosch also wonders if a case can be overturned on the word of another convict? At the station, Bosch and Edgar get a lead on a murder at a pharmacy. Suspicious prescriptions have been written by a Dr. Garcia. Another complication is that an informant for Edgar has been murdered?
Bosch doesn’t know what to think about the investigator attorney Honey Chandler has hired to look into the Border’s case. Maybe he needs to look like he does to blend in? He does blend in is all I can say!! Two older detectives are in the dog house at the station after they got in a car accident with another police team on their way to the pharmacy murder scene. I am on the edge of my seat wondering what’s happening next!! 5* (I really like this series)
Note: TV Series, 48 min, Crime directed by Alex Zakrzewski, based on the novels by Eric Ellis Overmyer and developed by Overmyer and Daniel Pyne with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Judith Moreland, Mason Dye,Yani Gellman, Judith Morehead, Mark Rolston, Ingrid Rogers, Bianca Kajlich, Linda Park, Billy Lush, Eric Ladin, Rene Moran.
Special Note: Imdb 8.7* with 471 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic User Score 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive, 2 mixed and one negative, indiewire.com Grade B, Hanh Nguyen, newsday.com 3 1/2*, Verne Gay, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1445 ratings.
Bosch doesn’t know what to think about the investigator attorney Honey Chandler has hired to look into the Border’s case. Maybe he needs to look like he does to blend in? He does blend in is all I can say!! Two older detectives are in the dog house at the station after they got in a car accident with another police team on their way to the pharmacy murder scene. I am on the edge of my seat wondering what’s happening next!! 5* (I really like this series)
Note: TV Series, 48 min, Crime directed by Alex Zakrzewski, based on the novels by Eric Ellis Overmyer and developed by Overmyer and Daniel Pyne with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Judith Moreland, Mason Dye,Yani Gellman, Judith Morehead, Mark Rolston, Ingrid Rogers, Bianca Kajlich, Linda Park, Billy Lush, Eric Ladin, Rene Moran.
Special Note: Imdb 8.7* with 471 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic User Score 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive, 2 mixed and one negative, indiewire.com Grade B, Hanh Nguyen, newsday.com 3 1/2*, Verne Gay, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1445 ratings.
The Warrior Tradition 2019
This film is about the inspiring and largely untold story of Native American people enlisting in the United States military. Why would they want to serve and fight for the country that took their homelands and killed their people? During WWI not all Native Americans were citizens of the United States. They couldn’t be drafted but more than 12,000 Indian men volunteered. In Vietnam (an unpopular war), 90% of the 42,000 Native people serving were volunteers. Others have served in WWII and in the Middle East. They are members of tribes from all over the United States. Comanche, Apache Tribes of Oklahoma, Mississippi Choctaw, Navajo Nation and the Menominee.
More than a dozen Native American veterans appear in this film. They have served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army National Guard. Some native Americans have served to raise their economic circumstances but others for patriotism, pride, rage, courage, practicality and spirituality. They have deep respect for tribal, familial and national traditions. This is a very informative and interesting film with a lot going on. 5* (I really liked this movie)
56 min, Doc directed by Lawrence Hott and written by Ken Chowder with Rhonda Williams, Patty Loew, Donald Fixico, Jeff Boyd, Eric Buffalohead, Jeffrey Means, Peter Mac Donald, D.J. Vanas, Jamesscita Peshlakai, Leslie Montemayor, Dewey Bad Warrior, Lawrence Hott, John Grant.
Note: Imdb 7.8 out of 10.
Special Note: Patty Loew is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake SuperiorOjibwe. She is also a professor of Journalism at Northwestern University and she served as a consultant for this film.
More than a dozen Native American veterans appear in this film. They have served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army National Guard. Some native Americans have served to raise their economic circumstances but others for patriotism, pride, rage, courage, practicality and spirituality. They have deep respect for tribal, familial and national traditions. This is a very informative and interesting film with a lot going on. 5* (I really liked this movie)
56 min, Doc directed by Lawrence Hott and written by Ken Chowder with Rhonda Williams, Patty Loew, Donald Fixico, Jeff Boyd, Eric Buffalohead, Jeffrey Means, Peter Mac Donald, D.J. Vanas, Jamesscita Peshlakai, Leslie Montemayor, Dewey Bad Warrior, Lawrence Hott, John Grant.
Note: Imdb 7.8 out of 10.
Special Note: Patty Loew is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake SuperiorOjibwe. She is also a professor of Journalism at Northwestern University and she served as a consultant for this film.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Call The Midwife Season 8: Episode 4 2019
Jeannie is married to Frank Tennant and they have nearly saved enough money to purchase a house for their family of four. Jeannie discovers she is pregnant and she becomes very upset. She has been toning up her body at Trixie’s Keep Fit classes. Jeannie and her husband were not planning on having any more children. Frank doesn’t mind another child but Jeannie is determined not to have this baby. She asks Dr. Turner and Trixie for help but the only legal reasons for abortions in the UK are if the health or sanity of the mother are at risk? Jeannie’s mother had seven children in 11 years and more than one nervous breakdown. Jeannie and her younger siblings were cared for in foster homes. Frank and Jeannie both have jobs and she thinks she can only manage two children.
Enid and her daughter Cilla are having babies at the same time. Instead of bonding over these circumstances they are at odds and arguing. Cilla is diagnosed with toxemia. This is a serious condition known today as preeclampsia. This is a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy and it can be life threatening to the mother and the baby. Five to eight percent of pregnancies result in preeclampsia. Enid and Cilla reconcile their differences after this emergency.
I was a little bit surprised about the birth control and abortion conversations? Poplar has really moved forward from the original Poplar from earlier episodes. This time period is 1964, legal and safe abortions will not be provided by medical personnel until 1967. 5* (I really like this series)
TV series, one hour, Drama directed by David O’Neill and written by Heidi Thomas, Amy Roberts, Loren McLaughlan based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliott, Omar Malik, Niky Wardley, Molly Chesworth, Hannah Hutch, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Linda Bassett, Fenella Woolgar, Jenny Agutter, Bryan Parry, Laura Main, Georgie Glen, James Doherty, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi.
Note: Imdb 8.4 out of 10 with 102 reviews, Amazon 4.5* with 224 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Enid and her daughter Cilla are having babies at the same time. Instead of bonding over these circumstances they are at odds and arguing. Cilla is diagnosed with toxemia. This is a serious condition known today as preeclampsia. This is a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy and it can be life threatening to the mother and the baby. Five to eight percent of pregnancies result in preeclampsia. Enid and Cilla reconcile their differences after this emergency.
I was a little bit surprised about the birth control and abortion conversations? Poplar has really moved forward from the original Poplar from earlier episodes. This time period is 1964, legal and safe abortions will not be provided by medical personnel until 1967. 5* (I really like this series)
TV series, one hour, Drama directed by David O’Neill and written by Heidi Thomas, Amy Roberts, Loren McLaughlan based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Leonie Elliott, Omar Malik, Niky Wardley, Molly Chesworth, Hannah Hutch, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Linda Bassett, Fenella Woolgar, Jenny Agutter, Bryan Parry, Laura Main, Georgie Glen, James Doherty, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi.
Note: Imdb 8.4 out of 10 with 102 reviews, Amazon 4.5* with 224 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Forks Over Knives 2011
Despite having the most advanced medical technology in the world, Americans are sicker than ever by nearly every measure. Cases of diabetes are exploding and more so among our younger population. About half of the people are taking at least one prescription drug and major medical operations have become routine. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the three leading causes of death. Billions is spent every year to battle these conditions. Millions suffer from other degenerative diseases. Is there a single solution to all of these problems? Most of our diseases can be controlled or even reversed. Rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods can do wonders. Focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and legumes. Excludes or minimizes meat (chicken and fish), dairy products and eggs, as well as, processed foods, highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar and oil.
Many people changing their diets to plants based foods have stopped their medications, lost weight and moved away from cancers, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis. Eating less red and processed meat and dairy products. The information in this film is very thorough, well-done and well-documented. Drs. Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, Neal Barnard, McDougall are using this eating plan to live healthier and more productive lives. Also, this diet uses readily available food and it is less expensive than a meat and dairy based diet, plus the savings on medications and doctor visits. 5* (I really liked this film)
150 min, Doc directed and written by Lee Fulkerson with Matthew Lederman, Lee Fulkerson, Alona Pulde, T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., Joey Aucoin, John McDougall, Connie Diekman, Pam Popper, Doug Lisle, Terry Mason, San’Dera Brantley-Nation, Junshi Chen, Cammie Aucoin, Jason Aucoin.
Note: Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 59% critic 79% audience, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 3209 reviews, Common Sense Media Brian Costello, age 13+, 4* positive messages, 4* positive role models, 3* violence, 2* sex, 2* consumerism 1* drinking, drugs, & smoking.
Many people changing their diets to plants based foods have stopped their medications, lost weight and moved away from cancers, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis. Eating less red and processed meat and dairy products. The information in this film is very thorough, well-done and well-documented. Drs. Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, Neal Barnard, McDougall are using this eating plan to live healthier and more productive lives. Also, this diet uses readily available food and it is less expensive than a meat and dairy based diet, plus the savings on medications and doctor visits. 5* (I really liked this film)
150 min, Doc directed and written by Lee Fulkerson with Matthew Lederman, Lee Fulkerson, Alona Pulde, T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., Joey Aucoin, John McDougall, Connie Diekman, Pam Popper, Doug Lisle, Terry Mason, San’Dera Brantley-Nation, Junshi Chen, Cammie Aucoin, Jason Aucoin.
Note: Roger Ebert 3*, Rotten Tomatoes 59% critic 79% audience, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 3209 reviews, Common Sense Media Brian Costello, age 13+, 4* positive messages, 4* positive role models, 3* violence, 2* sex, 2* consumerism 1* drinking, drugs, & smoking.
Bosch Season 5: Episode One 2019
The title for this episode is Two Kinds of Truth. Detective Harry Bosch learns the DA’s office is examining new evidence which threatens to overturn an old case. An embittered former girlfriend accuses Bosch of planting
evidence and there is new DNA evidence pointing to another criminal.
Bosch hires attorney Honey Chandler to represent him for his battle
against freeing the murderer. This could potentially jeopardize all of Bosch’s other convictions? A robbery turned murder at a local pharmacy exposes an opioid ring that leads Bosch down a very risky path.
This Season starts fifteen months after Season Four. Harry’s daughter Maddie is working as an intern in the District Attorney’s Office. She is the first one to know this new twist about the murder case and she looks up information about Harry’s investigation. Bosch is sure the right man is in prison and a pendant belonging to the victim was found in Border’s apartment? Bosch believes the new evidence is a plant? 5* (I really like this series)
Note: TV Series, 48 min, Crime directed by Alex Zakrzewski, based on the novels by Eric Ellis Overmyer and developed by Overmyer and Daniel Pyne with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Judith Moreland, Mason Dye, Chris Browning, Chris Vance, Billy Lush, Jamie Anne Allman, Jeremiah Birkett, Ryan Dorsey, Yani Gellman, Judy Kain, David Marciano.
Special Note: Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic User Score 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive, 2 mixed and one negative, indiewire.com Grade B, Hanh Nguyen, newsday.com 3 1/2*, Verne Gay, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1445 ratings.
This Season starts fifteen months after Season Four. Harry’s daughter Maddie is working as an intern in the District Attorney’s Office. She is the first one to know this new twist about the murder case and she looks up information about Harry’s investigation. Bosch is sure the right man is in prison and a pendant belonging to the victim was found in Border’s apartment? Bosch believes the new evidence is a plant? 5* (I really like this series)
Note: TV Series, 48 min, Crime directed by Alex Zakrzewski, based on the novels by Eric Ellis Overmyer and developed by Overmyer and Daniel Pyne with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Madison Lintz, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Judith Moreland, Mason Dye, Chris Browning, Chris Vance, Billy Lush, Jamie Anne Allman, Jeremiah Birkett, Ryan Dorsey, Yani Gellman, Judy Kain, David Marciano.
Special Note: Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 6 critics 94% audience with 75 ratings, Metacritic User Score 7.9 out of 10 with 13 positive, 2 mixed and one negative, indiewire.com Grade B, Hanh Nguyen, newsday.com 3 1/2*, Verne Gay, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 1445 ratings.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Call the Midwife Season 8 Episode 3 2019
Valerie helps Betty Marwick and her has been child is born with a cleft palate. Valerie has 5 other children and she feels very overwhelmed by them and also the needs of the new baby. Her husband is out at sea and working near Newfoundland. She is thinking about putting the baby up for adoption? Valerie steps in and helps Betty rearrange her household and get her other children into school more so Betty can make more time for the new baby. This makes a big difference and Betty changes her mind about adoption. Trixie, Shelagh and Sister Frances are beginning a new vaccination trial for measles. This seems to be an innocent childhood disease but it can have complications.
Hazel Becker is a mother new to the area. She is very nervous in caring for her daughter Dawn because her son died at the same age. As a complication, there wasn’t a definite reason for his death? Secretary, Miss Higgins offers some ideas to help Hazel and her husband Martin deal with their grief. I didn’t know much about a cleft palate but information is given about how to care for the baby and what type of surgeries will be needed. I thought this was interesting. Miss Higgins is usually very stern but her demeanor changes when she helps Hazel and Martin. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, episode one hour, Drama directed by Kate Saxon, created by Heidi Thomas, written by Debbie O’Malley and inspired by the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Leonie Elliott, Ella Bruccoleri, Annabelle Apsion, Cliff Parisi, Daniel Laurie, Matti Houghton, Laura Main, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Lisa Ellis, Frankie Fox, Georgie Glen, Stephen McGann, Jenny Agutter, Linda Bassett, Fennella Woolgar, Judy Parfitt, Alice Brown.
Note: Imdb 8.4* out of 10* with 94 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Hazel Becker is a mother new to the area. She is very nervous in caring for her daughter Dawn because her son died at the same age. As a complication, there wasn’t a definite reason for his death? Secretary, Miss Higgins offers some ideas to help Hazel and her husband Martin deal with their grief. I didn’t know much about a cleft palate but information is given about how to care for the baby and what type of surgeries will be needed. I thought this was interesting. Miss Higgins is usually very stern but her demeanor changes when she helps Hazel and Martin. 5* (I really like this series)
TV Series, episode one hour, Drama directed by Kate Saxon, created by Heidi Thomas, written by Debbie O’Malley and inspired by the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Leonie Elliott, Ella Bruccoleri, Annabelle Apsion, Cliff Parisi, Daniel Laurie, Matti Houghton, Laura Main, Helen George, Jennifer Kirby, Lisa Ellis, Frankie Fox, Georgie Glen, Stephen McGann, Jenny Agutter, Linda Bassett, Fennella Woolgar, Judy Parfitt, Alice Brown.
Note: Imdb 8.4* out of 10* with 94 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Call the Midwife Season 8 Episode 2 2019
Fred Buckle’s wife Violet runs for election as a councillor. Lucille befriends an elderly woman facing eviction and Sister Hilda supports a Ghanaian family member suffering from am mysterious illness. Joel, Flora Aidoo and their son Matthew are applying for British citizenship and they have a son Matthew. Joel is a neighborhood postman and Flora is a stay-at-home mother. They are having a second child and Flora has anemia.
Violet is very busy visiting the residents of Poplar and asking for their vote for her in the election. What she doesn’t know is that Fred is not as enthusiastic about Violet winning!! There is a problem with elderly Miss Millgrove, Lucille volunteers to visit her, check on her and it leads to some bickering!! Sister Monica Joan also goes to visit with Mrs. Millgrove and bond over their interest in literature. 5* (I really like this series)
TV series, episode 55 min, Drama directed by Minkie Spiro, written and created by Heidi Thomas and based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Helen George,
Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Devon Pomeroy, Leonie Elliott, Ekow Quartey, Jessica Kennedy, Zion Kofi, Jasmine Jones, Annette Crosbie, Linda Bassett, Ella Bruccoleri, Fenella Woolgar.
Note: Imdb 8.8 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Violet is very busy visiting the residents of Poplar and asking for their vote for her in the election. What she doesn’t know is that Fred is not as enthusiastic about Violet winning!! There is a problem with elderly Miss Millgrove, Lucille volunteers to visit her, check on her and it leads to some bickering!! Sister Monica Joan also goes to visit with Mrs. Millgrove and bond over their interest in literature. 5* (I really like this series)
TV series, episode 55 min, Drama directed by Minkie Spiro, written and created by Heidi Thomas and based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Helen George,
Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Devon Pomeroy, Leonie Elliott, Ekow Quartey, Jessica Kennedy, Zion Kofi, Jasmine Jones, Annette Crosbie, Linda Bassett, Ella Bruccoleri, Fenella Woolgar.
Note: Imdb 8.8 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Call the Midwife Season 8, Episode 1 2019
The setting is now 1964 and two new nuns, Sister Hilda and Sister Frances join the Nonnatus House staff. Cathy is an aspiring model ands has recently had an abortion. She is not married, she wants to continue with her career and move up in the modeling business. Abortions in the UK in most circumstances are illegal. Cathy’s sister Valerie wants to find out who did this and she wants the police to take action against the practitioner. Cathy won’t disclose who she went to for the procedure? Sister Julianne is elated that she was not selected as the new Mother Superior and she is back with the midwives. Sister Monica Joan is still having problems with her mind and she becomes very upset when the nurses’ old bags are to be burned. Sister Monica Joan doesn’t like anything to go to waste but the midwives have new bags?
There has been a change in Poplar and many of the expectant mothers are more in favor of a hospital delivery? This type of delivery is very helpful when there are unusual circumstances and a home delivery by the midwife will not be appropriate. The midwives and several special beds for women that may need extra attention or if they need to rest more before a birth. There are many of the same goings on in Poplar, everyone knows what everyone else is doing!! 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, each episode one hour, Drama directed by Syd Macartney, written and created by Heidi Thomas and based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Miriam Margolyes, Leonie Elliott, Linda Bassett, Helen George, Fenella Woolgar, Jennifer Kirby, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Victoria Yeates, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Annabelle Apsion.
Note: Imdb 8.7 out of 10 with 138 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
There has been a change in Poplar and many of the expectant mothers are more in favor of a hospital delivery? This type of delivery is very helpful when there are unusual circumstances and a home delivery by the midwife will not be appropriate. The midwives and several special beds for women that may need extra attention or if they need to rest more before a birth. There are many of the same goings on in Poplar, everyone knows what everyone else is doing!! 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, each episode one hour, Drama directed by Syd Macartney, written and created by Heidi Thomas and based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth with Vanessa Redgrave, Miriam Margolyes, Leonie Elliott, Linda Bassett, Helen George, Fenella Woolgar, Jennifer Kirby, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Victoria Yeates, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Annabelle Apsion.
Note: Imdb 8.7 out of 10 with 138 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic with 5 critics 88% audience with 13 user ratings, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 customer ratings, www.seasonepisode.watch review 8.4 out of 10.
Call the Midwife Season 8: Christmas Special 2019:
This first episode of Season Eight is the Christmas Special. The series is inspired by the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. Two new nuns have jointed Nonnatus House. Sister Hilda has experience and Sister Frances Frances is newly qualified. Sisters Julienne and Winifred are called to the Mother House because important decisions must be made by the sisters. The Mother Superior is very ill and they will need to vote on a replacement for this position. Sister Julienne is nervous because she believes the other sisters think she should be the new Mother Superior. Sister Julienne would like to stay in Poplar with the midwives. A group of Chinese orphans have arrived and their new parents will be coming to take them to new homes.
Trixie returns from her trip to Italy and the midwives attend the difficult birth of triplets. The midwives were already excited about the impending birth of twins in Poplar but they are all very much surprised when there are three baby girls. The episodes are always interesting and informative plus they are accurate for the time period. I am rather GLAD that I don't live in Poplar because everyone knows the business of the other residents!! 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, each episode one hour, Drama directed by Syd Macartney, written by Heidi Thomas with Vanessa Redgrave, Miriam Margolyes, Leonie Elliott, Linda Bassett, Helen George, Fenella Woolgar, Jennifer Kirby, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Victoria Yeates, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Annabelle Apsion.
Note: Imdb 8.7* out of 10* with 174 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic 88% audience, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 reviews,
Special Note: In the UK this Season has 9.04 million viewers.
Trixie returns from her trip to Italy and the midwives attend the difficult birth of triplets. The midwives were already excited about the impending birth of twins in Poplar but they are all very much surprised when there are three baby girls. The episodes are always interesting and informative plus they are accurate for the time period. I am rather GLAD that I don't live in Poplar because everyone knows the business of the other residents!! 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, each episode one hour, Drama directed by Syd Macartney, written by Heidi Thomas with Vanessa Redgrave, Miriam Margolyes, Leonie Elliott, Linda Bassett, Helen George, Fenella Woolgar, Jennifer Kirby, Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Victoria Yeates, Georgie Glen, Laura Main, Stephen McGann, Cliff Parisi, Annabelle Apsion.
Note: Imdb 8.7* out of 10* with 174 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic 88% audience, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 208 reviews,
Special Note: In the UK this Season has 9.04 million viewers.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Bosch Season 1 2014
This series is based on a best selling novel written by Michael Connelly. LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch is working a cold case investigating the murder of a thirteen-year-old boy. As a complication, he is standing trial in federal court for the murder of a criminal Bosch chased on foot. His partner Edgar stayed in the patrol car and tracked them from the vehicle. Only Bosch saw what happened to cause the shooting. The prosecutor is doing her best to paint Bosch as a policeman waiting to shoot a victim for any reason. The defense has a tough job refuting all the information the prosecutor is putting out to the jury.
Harry Bosch has a reputation for his irreverence, problems with authority and not following procedures!! He follows his gut feeling and bends the rules but he provides results. He is also continuing his ongoing investigation into the murder of his mother. 5* (I really liked this series.
TV Series, Crime, 51 min, each episode created by Eric Ellis Overmyer, Michael Connelly and directed by Eric Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Scott Klace, Paul Calderon, Deji La Ray.
Note: Imdb 8.4 out of 10 with 36,171 reviews, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 101,322 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 83% critic 90% audience, Metacritic 71 out of 100 with 17 critics (positive 14, mixed 3) 8.2 out of 10 user scores (91 positive 14 mixed 4 negative).
Special Note: Episode Titles: Tis the Season, Lost Light, Blue Religion, Fugazi, Mama’s Boy, Donkey’s Years, Lost Boys, High Low, The Magic Castle, Us and Them.
Harry Bosch has a reputation for his irreverence, problems with authority and not following procedures!! He follows his gut feeling and bends the rules but he provides results. He is also continuing his ongoing investigation into the murder of his mother. 5* (I really liked this series.
TV Series, Crime, 51 min, each episode created by Eric Ellis Overmyer, Michael Connelly and directed by Eric Overmyer with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Scott Klace, Paul Calderon, Deji La Ray.
Note: Imdb 8.4 out of 10 with 36,171 reviews, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 101,322 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 83% critic 90% audience, Metacritic 71 out of 100 with 17 critics (positive 14, mixed 3) 8.2 out of 10 user scores (91 positive 14 mixed 4 negative).
Special Note: Episode Titles: Tis the Season, Lost Light, Blue Religion, Fugazi, Mama’s Boy, Donkey’s Years, Lost Boys, High Low, The Magic Castle, Us and Them.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Bosch Season 3 2017
LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch is tense and
restless about trying to find clues about his mother’s cold case
murder. Along with this case, a homeless veteran is murdered. There is
a high-profile trial involving a Hollywood director. The case about
the murder of Tony Allen is coming together. A suspected killer that
Bosch has pursued for several years turns up dead in an apparent
suicide? Edgar tries to handle damning evidence against Bosch. Deputy
Chief Irving is mulling over taking the Chief job or going on to greener
pastures? There is a secret effort to try to frame Bosch. Deputy
Chief Irving weighs in on the investigation of the “Koreatown Killer.”
There is another crisis related to Bosch and Deputy Chief Irving steps
in. The department rallies but there is no honor among thieves. The
Meadows case is reaching its end.
Once again, a LOT is going on at the LAPD. Bosch swings back and forth from the in dog house to back on the good side!! Edgar also swings back and forth on what thinks Bosch is up to. Is he on their side or not? What about George Irving? Will he be able to keep his real undercover status hidden from the dirty cops? 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, each episode 43 min directed by Alex Zakrzewski and written by Michael Connelly with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Madison Lintz, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Scott Klace, Sarah Clarke, Dji La Ray, Mimi Rogers, Steven Culp, John Eddins, Ingrid Rogers, Joni Bovill, Linda Park, John Getz, Winter Ave Zoli.
Note: Imdb 8.4* to 9.3, Amazon 5* out of 5* with 16 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% critic 95% audience, Metacritic user score 8.3 out of 10 (31 positive mixed 4, negative 2).
Special Note: Title list is The Smog Cutter, The Four Last Things, God Sees, El Compadre, Blood under the Bridge, Birdland, Right Play, Aye Papi, Clear Shot, Sea King.
Once again, a LOT is going on at the LAPD. Bosch swings back and forth from the in dog house to back on the good side!! Edgar also swings back and forth on what thinks Bosch is up to. Is he on their side or not? What about George Irving? Will he be able to keep his real undercover status hidden from the dirty cops? 5* (I really liked this series)
TV Series, each episode 43 min directed by Alex Zakrzewski and written by Michael Connelly with Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Madison Lintz, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, DaJuan Johnson, Scott Klace, Sarah Clarke, Dji La Ray, Mimi Rogers, Steven Culp, John Eddins, Ingrid Rogers, Joni Bovill, Linda Park, John Getz, Winter Ave Zoli.
Note: Imdb 8.4* to 9.3, Amazon 5* out of 5* with 16 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 96% critic 95% audience, Metacritic user score 8.3 out of 10 (31 positive mixed 4, negative 2).
Special Note: Title list is The Smog Cutter, The Four Last Things, God Sees, El Compadre, Blood under the Bridge, Birdland, Right Play, Aye Papi, Clear Shot, Sea King.
Bosch Season 2 2015
LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch is back on the job after a suspension. He was on trial for the shooting of a suspect he had been chasing. There was a complication when his partner Edgar stayed in the patrol car and Bosch chased the suspect on foot alone. The next case for Bosch is investigating a dead body found in the trunk of a car on Mulholland Drive. The victim is Tony Allen and it appears the murder may have mob connections? George Irving is the son of Deputy Chief Irving and he has been assigned to an undercover plainclothes position. It is suspected that there are some dirty cops among the LAPD. Bosch and Edgar are looking into Vegas mob boss Joey Marks concerning the murder case. Bosch’s former wife Eleanor is approached by the FBI about joining in on their investigations as an agent.
There are a LOT of complications in this season!! Could Tony’s wife have anything to do with his murder or is it the mob? Does Deputy Chief Irving know his son is doing this undercover work? This can be very dangerous if the dirty cops find out he is not on their side? Will it be safe for Eleanor to go back working with the FBI? Along with all these things going on, Bosch is still working on solving the cold case of his mother’s murder. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, each episode 43 min directed by Alex Zakrzewski and written by Michael Connelly with Titus Welliver,Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Sara Clarke, Madison Lintz, Jeri Ryan, Brent Sexton, Lance Reddick, James Ransone, Robbie Jones, Erika Alexander, Steven Culp, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, Yancey Arias.
Note: Imdb average rating 8.2- 9.3, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 47,599 ratings, Metacritic 76 out of 100 with 7 critics (7 positive) 8.5 out of 10 user score (59 positive, 3 mixed 2 negative).
Special Note: Episode List for this Season, Trunk Music, The Thing About Secrets, Victim of the Night, Who’s Lucky Now?, Gone, Heart Attack, Exit Time, Follow the Money, Queen of Martyrs, Everybody Counts.
There are a LOT of complications in this season!! Could Tony’s wife have anything to do with his murder or is it the mob? Does Deputy Chief Irving know his son is doing this undercover work? This can be very dangerous if the dirty cops find out he is not on their side? Will it be safe for Eleanor to go back working with the FBI? Along with all these things going on, Bosch is still working on solving the cold case of his mother’s murder. 5* (I really liked this series)
TV series, each episode 43 min directed by Alex Zakrzewski and written by Michael Connelly with Titus Welliver,Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Sara Clarke, Madison Lintz, Jeri Ryan, Brent Sexton, Lance Reddick, James Ransone, Robbie Jones, Erika Alexander, Steven Culp, Troy Evans, Gregory Scott Cummins, Yancey Arias.
Note: Imdb average rating 8.2- 9.3, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 47,599 ratings, Metacritic 76 out of 100 with 7 critics (7 positive) 8.5 out of 10 user score (59 positive, 3 mixed 2 negative).
Special Note: Episode List for this Season, Trunk Music, The Thing About Secrets, Victim of the Night, Who’s Lucky Now?, Gone, Heart Attack, Exit Time, Follow the Money, Queen of Martyrs, Everybody Counts.
Friday, December 6, 2019
Bosch Season 4 2017
Detective Harry Bosch has found a new clue in the his mother’s cold case. Next, there is the murder of a high-profile attorney Elias. Bosch is in charge of the Task Force. Bosch’s ex-wife has gone back with the FBI and she’s working a case. Detective Jerry Edgar returns from leave after being shot in the shoulder. Detective Francis Sheehan is the prime suspect for the Elias murder. The ballistics test shows his gun was the weapon. Pressure is mounting from the public to solve the Elias case. Sheehan has been taken into custody but Bosch thinks he’s not the shooter. Bosch and Sargent Amy Snyder uncover a key piece of evidence about the Elias case.
There is a LOT of action in this episodes of the season. Chief Irving wonders if it was a bad decision to take the job of Chief!! Politicians are tying to get mixed into the cases and turn them for their benefit. Acting Captain Grace Billets gets flack from the protestors and her men because she is a Lieutenant acting as a Captain. 5* (I really liked this season of the series)
Note: Imdb 8.9* to 9.6* out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 10 critics 98% audience with 117 reviews, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 1240 reviews, Metacritic 8* out of 10* (26 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative.
Special Note: The titles for this season are: Ask the Dust, Dreams of Bunker Hill, Devil in the House, Past Lives, The Coping, The Wine of Youth, Missed Connections, Dark Sky, Rojo Profundo, Book of the Unclaimed Dead.
There is a LOT of action in this episodes of the season. Chief Irving wonders if it was a bad decision to take the job of Chief!! Politicians are tying to get mixed into the cases and turn them for their benefit. Acting Captain Grace Billets gets flack from the protestors and her men because she is a Lieutenant acting as a Captain. 5* (I really liked this season of the series)
Note: Imdb 8.9* to 9.6* out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 10 critics 98% audience with 117 reviews, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 1240 reviews, Metacritic 8* out of 10* (26 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative.
Special Note: The titles for this season are: Ask the Dust, Dreams of Bunker Hill, Devil in the House, Past Lives, The Coping, The Wine of Youth, Missed Connections, Dark Sky, Rojo Profundo, Book of the Unclaimed Dead.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Late Night 2019
This film is released by Amazon Original. Katherine Newbury is the host of a late-night talk-show. She has had a long run with her show but the producers are disappointed with her attitude and her ratings are very down. Molly Patel has been working at a chemical facility and she applies for a job as a writer. Because everyone thinks that Katherine is a hater of other women, she hires Molly right away. Molly is worried that she has been hired because she is a woman and also an ethnic minority. This is a double bonus on the books for Katherine. Molly is determined to be a good writer and to be an addition to the team.
Molly is shocked when she learns that the men have been using the women’s bathroom along with their own bathroom. She can’t be alone with her thoughts or tears without one of the men writers running in the door with an emergency. Molly shares what she thinks and sometimes this is not to her best advantage!! She knows she doesn’t want to leave New York and go back to the chemical plant!!! There are positive messages about hard work, courage, perseverance, tolerance and being your own authentic person. There is also discussion about ageism, sexism, classism and racism. 4* (I liked this movie)
102 min, Comedy directed by Nisha Ganatra and written by Mindy Kaling with Emma Thompson, John Lithgow, Mindy Kaling, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O’Hare, Max Casella, Paul Walter Hauser, John Early, Jia Patel, Luke Slattery, Ike Barinholtz, March Kudisch, Amy Ryan, Megalyn Echikunwoke.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic 77% audience, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Sheila O’Malley, Rolling Stone 4* out of 5* Peter Travers, Washington Psot 3 1/2* Ann Hornaday, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 2444 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*, Metacritic 70 out of 100 with 46 critics (32 positive, 13 mixed, 1 negative) 5.9 out of 10 user score (24 positive, 16 mixed, 10 negative), Common Sense Media Joyce Slaton, age 14+, 4* positive, 4* role models, 2* sex, 4*( language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Filmed in New York. Monday Kaling wrote the role of Katherine specifically for Emma Thompson. Kaling has worked for Conan O’Brien as an intern. Emma Thompson talks about her character having clinical depression. Emma has previously discussed her own clinical depression after her divorce from Kenneth Branagh in 1994. She is now married to Greg Wise, he is also an actor and they have one daughter Gaia born in 1999.
Molly is shocked when she learns that the men have been using the women’s bathroom along with their own bathroom. She can’t be alone with her thoughts or tears without one of the men writers running in the door with an emergency. Molly shares what she thinks and sometimes this is not to her best advantage!! She knows she doesn’t want to leave New York and go back to the chemical plant!!! There are positive messages about hard work, courage, perseverance, tolerance and being your own authentic person. There is also discussion about ageism, sexism, classism and racism. 4* (I liked this movie)
102 min, Comedy directed by Nisha Ganatra and written by Mindy Kaling with Emma Thompson, John Lithgow, Mindy Kaling, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O’Hare, Max Casella, Paul Walter Hauser, John Early, Jia Patel, Luke Slattery, Ike Barinholtz, March Kudisch, Amy Ryan, Megalyn Echikunwoke.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic 77% audience, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Sheila O’Malley, Rolling Stone 4* out of 5* Peter Travers, Washington Psot 3 1/2* Ann Hornaday, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 2444 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*, Metacritic 70 out of 100 with 46 critics (32 positive, 13 mixed, 1 negative) 5.9 out of 10 user score (24 positive, 16 mixed, 10 negative), Common Sense Media Joyce Slaton, age 14+, 4* positive, 4* role models, 2* sex, 4*( language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: Filmed in New York. Monday Kaling wrote the role of Katherine specifically for Emma Thompson. Kaling has worked for Conan O’Brien as an intern. Emma Thompson talks about her character having clinical depression. Emma has previously discussed her own clinical depression after her divorce from Kenneth Branagh in 1994. She is now married to Greg Wise, he is also an actor and they have one daughter Gaia born in 1999.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Bella 2006
This film is based on a true story. Eduardo and Nina work at a family restaurant in New York. The restaurant is managed by Eduardo's brother Manny. Nina has been late for work as a waitress several times and Manny fires her. Eduardo pleads with Manny to reconsider but he won't change his mind. Eduardo leaves his post as chef to talk to Nina. He learns the reasons behind Nina not showing up for work or late. Manny is beside himself when three tables walk out because they are short on staff. He chews Eduardo out over his absence. Eduardo and Nina decide to meet with Eduardo and Manny's parents because Manny has phoned them. Eduardo doesn't want them to be worried.
There is a LOT of background information that is not given until later on in the movie. There are specific reasons for Nina to be late or absent. Eduardo has a LOT of compassion and empathy for other people because of the events that have happened in his life. There is no way Eduardo would let Nina be fired without trying to help her and plead her case to Manny. Tammy Blanchard shows a wide range of emotional expression on her face. 4* (I really liked this movie)
91 min, Drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde, written by Alejandro and Patrick Million with Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez, Armando Riesco, Sophie Nyweide, Ali Landry Monteverde, Ewa Da Cruz, Alexa Gerasimovich, Herb Lovelle, Tawny Cypress, Doug DeBeech, Michael Mosley.
Note: Imdb 7.2 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 47 out of 100 with 18 critics (5 positive, 9 mixed, 4 negative) 7.7 out of 10 user scores (34 positive, 6 mixed, 7 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 609 reviews, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Rotten Tomatoes 43 with 65 critics 81% with 20,326 ratings.
Special Note: Filmed in New York City, New York. The estimated budget was $3,300,000 and the cumulative worldwide gross was $12,083,296. The father and brother of Director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde were found dead after being kidnapped by a drug cartel on the way to their ranch in Mexico on September 19, 2015. Alejandro is married to actress and former Miss USA Ali Landry. They have three children.
There is a LOT of background information that is not given until later on in the movie. There are specific reasons for Nina to be late or absent. Eduardo has a LOT of compassion and empathy for other people because of the events that have happened in his life. There is no way Eduardo would let Nina be fired without trying to help her and plead her case to Manny. Tammy Blanchard shows a wide range of emotional expression on her face. 4* (I really liked this movie)
91 min, Drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde, written by Alejandro and Patrick Million with Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez, Armando Riesco, Sophie Nyweide, Ali Landry Monteverde, Ewa Da Cruz, Alexa Gerasimovich, Herb Lovelle, Tawny Cypress, Doug DeBeech, Michael Mosley.
Note: Imdb 7.2 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 47 out of 100 with 18 critics (5 positive, 9 mixed, 4 negative) 7.7 out of 10 user scores (34 positive, 6 mixed, 7 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 609 reviews, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Rotten Tomatoes 43 with 65 critics 81% with 20,326 ratings.
Special Note: Filmed in New York City, New York. The estimated budget was $3,300,000 and the cumulative worldwide gross was $12,083,296. The father and brother of Director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde were found dead after being kidnapped by a drug cartel on the way to their ranch in Mexico on September 19, 2015. Alejandro is married to actress and former Miss USA Ali Landry. They have three children.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Shaun the Sheep Movie 2015
Shaun the sheep is tired of doing the same work at the farm everyday. He decides to take a day off. The only way he can do this is if the farmer doesn’t know? More happens than Shaun and Bitzer the dog can handle!! The Farmer falls asleep because sheep were jumping over the fence. He gets put into an old trailer and the trailer starts to move. The trailer goes all the way to the city and no one at the farm knows what to do?? Shaun and the Blitzer decide to take a bus to the city to try to locate the farmer. All of sudden, all the sheep are going too??
This is one of the funniest movies I’ve have ever seen!! The farm is located in the town of Mossinham and the farm is called Mossy Bottom Farm. The Farmer’s name is John, the smallest sheep is Timmy and he sometimes has a pacifier. Shirley is the largest sheep, there are two sheep that are twins and Hazel is one of the flock members. Nuts is the sheep with strange eyes?? The movie and also the series are made with Claymation and it’s very time consuming plus labor intensive. The movie is a spin-off on the series and the series was created by Nick Park. It is also a spin off of the Wallace and Gromit film, A Close Shave. There is talking in the film by the characters but the words are unintelligible mumbling especially from the Farmer. 5* (I really liked this movie)
85 min, Animation directed and written by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak with the voices of Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Richard Webber, Kate Harbour, Rim Hands, Andy Nyman, Simon Greenall, Emma Tate, Jack Paulson, Sean Connolly, Henry Burton, Dhimant Vyaas, Sophie Laughton, Nia Medi James. The animation company is Aardman Animation.
Note: Imdb 7.3 out of 10, Roger Ebert 4* Susan Wloszczyna, Rotten Tomatoes 99% critic 80% audience, Rollingstone 3 1/2* Peter Travers, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Andrew Pulver, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 3249 reviews, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen age 5+ 5*, 2* educational, 4* positive, 3* role models, 2* violence & scariness, 1* sexy stuff, 1* language, 2* consumerism, Metacritic 81 out of 100 with 30 critics (positive 30) User Score 8.5 out of 10 (positive 198, mixed 16, negative 9.
Special Note: Twenty animators worked on the film and each produced two seconds of footage per day!! The man shown in a scene photographing birds at the pond is executive producer Nick Park. All the scenes are visual and there is no dialogue except from animal sound effects. The film was released on the Chinese New Year’s Day of the Year of the Sheep.
This is one of the funniest movies I’ve have ever seen!! The farm is located in the town of Mossinham and the farm is called Mossy Bottom Farm. The Farmer’s name is John, the smallest sheep is Timmy and he sometimes has a pacifier. Shirley is the largest sheep, there are two sheep that are twins and Hazel is one of the flock members. Nuts is the sheep with strange eyes?? The movie and also the series are made with Claymation and it’s very time consuming plus labor intensive. The movie is a spin-off on the series and the series was created by Nick Park. It is also a spin off of the Wallace and Gromit film, A Close Shave. There is talking in the film by the characters but the words are unintelligible mumbling especially from the Farmer. 5* (I really liked this movie)
85 min, Animation directed and written by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak with the voices of Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Richard Webber, Kate Harbour, Rim Hands, Andy Nyman, Simon Greenall, Emma Tate, Jack Paulson, Sean Connolly, Henry Burton, Dhimant Vyaas, Sophie Laughton, Nia Medi James. The animation company is Aardman Animation.
Note: Imdb 7.3 out of 10, Roger Ebert 4* Susan Wloszczyna, Rotten Tomatoes 99% critic 80% audience, Rollingstone 3 1/2* Peter Travers, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Andrew Pulver, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 3249 reviews, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen age 5+ 5*, 2* educational, 4* positive, 3* role models, 2* violence & scariness, 1* sexy stuff, 1* language, 2* consumerism, Metacritic 81 out of 100 with 30 critics (positive 30) User Score 8.5 out of 10 (positive 198, mixed 16, negative 9.
Special Note: Twenty animators worked on the film and each produced two seconds of footage per day!! The man shown in a scene photographing birds at the pond is executive producer Nick Park. All the scenes are visual and there is no dialogue except from animal sound effects. The film was released on the Chinese New Year’s Day of the Year of the Sheep.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Sophie and the Rising Sun 2016
This film is based on a 2001 novel by August Trobaugh, The setting of is in the autumn of 1941 in Salty Creek, South Carolina. This is a fishing village alongside the creek. Sophie Willis does a lot of fishing and crabbing, that’s about all she knows how to cook. She also sells what she doesn’t use to the townsfolk. An unusual thing happens in the town, Mr. Ohta is Japanese and he arrives in town on a bus. He has been badly beaten and his circumstances are mysterious? The people don’t know what to think and he goes to live with Anne Morrison until they can figure out what to do with him? Unfortunately for Mr. Ohta, WWII is raging in Europe and Pear Harbor is bombed. After Pearl Harbor, Mr. Ohta is in a LOT of danger!! He says he was born in California and that’s where his people are still located? The people don’t look at anything about Mr. Ohta except that he is Japanese and a hated enemy!!
Mr. Ohta has done a lot of work for Anne in her garden. Every season the hydrangeas need to be replanted and he has helped her with that work plus worked on her other plants. Someone comes to Anne's home, they destroy the garden and they go through her home looking for Mr. Ohta. All they can think of doing is to beat him up again!! Anne will need to find another place for Mr. Ohta to stay since he's not safe at any location in Salty Creek. 4* (I really liked this movie)
105 min, Drama directed and written by Maggie Greenwald with Julianne Nicholson, Takashi Yamaguchi, Margo Martindale, Diane Ladd, Lorraine Toussaint, Karen Wheeling Reynolds, Mickey Dodge, Don Henderson Baker, Joel Murray, David Dickson Reynolds, Kenneth Charles Graham, Sabrina Mayfield, Jan Hartsell, Cali Ward, Meredith Jackson.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 64% critic 59% audience, Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 5 critics, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 59 reviews, 3.1* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in McClellanville, South Carolina. This is the second collaboration between Nicholson and Martindale. Previously they appeared in August: Osage County 2013. Premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Mr. Ohta has done a lot of work for Anne in her garden. Every season the hydrangeas need to be replanted and he has helped her with that work plus worked on her other plants. Someone comes to Anne's home, they destroy the garden and they go through her home looking for Mr. Ohta. All they can think of doing is to beat him up again!! Anne will need to find another place for Mr. Ohta to stay since he's not safe at any location in Salty Creek. 4* (I really liked this movie)
105 min, Drama directed and written by Maggie Greenwald with Julianne Nicholson, Takashi Yamaguchi, Margo Martindale, Diane Ladd, Lorraine Toussaint, Karen Wheeling Reynolds, Mickey Dodge, Don Henderson Baker, Joel Murray, David Dickson Reynolds, Kenneth Charles Graham, Sabrina Mayfield, Jan Hartsell, Cali Ward, Meredith Jackson.
Note: Imdb 6.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 64% critic 59% audience, Metacritic 55 out of 100 with 5 critics, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 59 reviews, 3.1* out of 5*.
Special Note: Filmed in McClellanville, South Carolina. This is the second collaboration between Nicholson and Martindale. Previously they appeared in August: Osage County 2013. Premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Toy Story 4
The toys Woody, Buzz Lightyear
and the rest of the group set off on a road trip with Bonnie and a new
toy that Bonnie made. Forky is made from a spork and Bonnie made him at
kindergarten. He is very important in Bonnie's life now that she is
going to school. Unfortunately, Forky thinks he is 'trash' since that
is what he was made from? He wants to hop into a trash can every time
he sees one!! There is a unexpected detour when Forky is lost and Woody
has a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep. The two toys run into
some complications when they visit an antique toy shop looking for
Forky.
This film is
the fourth and possibly the final installment of the Toy Story
franchise. There are many new characters but also returning members of
the gang. There are some high-stakes escapes, rescue mission, close
calls and very creepy vintage ventriloquist dummies. There is the loss
of Forky and the slightly sinister doll Gabby Gabby. She is a doll that
is desperate for a new voice box in her back. I think some scenes are
slightly too eerie, dark and depressing. Some children could find them
troubling and could think back on them for a longer time period than
favorable. 4* (I really liked this movie)
100 min, Animation Directed by Josh Cooley with the voices of Tom Hanks,
Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine
McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanue Reeves, Ally Maki, Jay
Hernandez, Lori Alan, Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal.
Note:
Imdb 7.9 out of 10 with 134,353 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes, 97% critic
94% audience, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen 4* out of 5*, age
7+, 1* educational, 4* positive, 4* role models, 2* violence &
scariness, 1* sexy, 4* consumerism, 1* drinking, drugs & Smoking,
Roger Ebert 4* Matt Zoller Seitz, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Mark
Kermode, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 309 reviews.
Special
Note: Filmed at Pixar Animation Studios, 1200 Park Avenue, Emeryville,
California. Bing Bong's rocket from Inside Out 2015 and Elie and
Carl's house from Up 2009 are in the antique shop. The license plate on
the car with Bo Peep inside is RMRF97. This is the code that almost
accidentally deleted Toy Story 2 1999 from the Pixar servers.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Delores 2018
Dolores Huerta skirted 1950’s gender conventions by starting the country’s first migrant farm worker’s union with fellow organizer Cesar Chavez. In the beginning, it was a struggle for racial and labor justice. Soon after, it became a fight for gender equality within the same union she was eventually forced to leave. To complicate everything else Dolores is involved in, she has eleven children. She has had three marriages and she is nearly beaten to death by a San Francisco tactical police squad baton. She received three broken ribs and her injured spleen needed to be removed. Dolores has a vision that connected her to feminism along with racial and class justice.
Dolores received a LOT of flack for leaving her children behind to be raised by someone else!! She also was derided for having eleven children and three marriages!! In reality, as long as her children are receiving proper care what is the complaint? It’s her own business about her marriages, does this history deny her the chance to make changes in America? She is tirelessly working for the Mexican laborers in the fields and their treatment by the owners. The wages are too low and there is pesticide use on the produce. These chemicals cause skin sores and sickness in the workers. This is an underrepresented people and they needed a strong voice to advocate for fair and better treatment. Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers organization. Dolores has been honored by US presidents and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
95 min, Doc directed by Peter Bratt, written by Jessica Congdon and Peter Bratt with Dolores Huerta, Martin Luther King, Luis Valdez, Ricardo S. Chavez, Fred Ross Sr., Lori De Leon, Juana Chavez, Randy Saw, David Roberti, Elseo Medina, Eloy Martinez, Rick Rivas, Emilio Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Bill Kircher.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 257 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Matt Zoller Seitz, 98% critic with 43 critics, The Guardian 3* out of 5* Cath Clarke, Common Sense Media 4* out of 5* age 11+ Michael Ordona, 4* positive, 4* role models, 3* violence, 1* sex, 1* languageWashington Post 3.5* out of 4* Lora Grady, Slant Magazine 2.5* out of 4* Peter Goldberg, Amazon 5* with 37 reviews, Letterboxd 3.8*, Metacritic 81 out of 100 with 11 critics (11 positive) user score 7.3 out of 10 (3 positive, 1 negative).
Dolores received a LOT of flack for leaving her children behind to be raised by someone else!! She also was derided for having eleven children and three marriages!! In reality, as long as her children are receiving proper care what is the complaint? It’s her own business about her marriages, does this history deny her the chance to make changes in America? She is tirelessly working for the Mexican laborers in the fields and their treatment by the owners. The wages are too low and there is pesticide use on the produce. These chemicals cause skin sores and sickness in the workers. This is an underrepresented people and they needed a strong voice to advocate for fair and better treatment. Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers organization. Dolores has been honored by US presidents and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
95 min, Doc directed by Peter Bratt, written by Jessica Congdon and Peter Bratt with Dolores Huerta, Martin Luther King, Luis Valdez, Ricardo S. Chavez, Fred Ross Sr., Lori De Leon, Juana Chavez, Randy Saw, David Roberti, Elseo Medina, Eloy Martinez, Rick Rivas, Emilio Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Bill Kircher.
Note: Imdb 6.9 out of 10 with 257 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Matt Zoller Seitz, 98% critic with 43 critics, The Guardian 3* out of 5* Cath Clarke, Common Sense Media 4* out of 5* age 11+ Michael Ordona, 4* positive, 4* role models, 3* violence, 1* sex, 1* languageWashington Post 3.5* out of 4* Lora Grady, Slant Magazine 2.5* out of 4* Peter Goldberg, Amazon 5* with 37 reviews, Letterboxd 3.8*, Metacritic 81 out of 100 with 11 critics (11 positive) user score 7.3 out of 10 (3 positive, 1 negative).
Counting the Stars 2019
This film is based on the biography of renowned mathematician Katherine Johnson by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by Raul Colon. Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or astronauts walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as human computers. They worked tirelessly to make sure the calculations for these trips were accurate. They used their knowledge, pencils, adding machines and writing paper to calculate the orbital mechanics needed to launch spacecraft. Katherine Johnson was one of these mathematicians who used trajectories and complex equations to chart the space program. Katherine started in the early 1950’s to analyze data at NACA (later NSA) Langley laboratory.
In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Katherine Johnson was called upon to work on this project. John Glenn said get the girl to run the numbers by hand to chart the complexity of the orbital flight. He knew that his flight would not be successful without her unique skills. President Barack Obama awarded Katherine the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Her incredible life inspired the Oscar nominated film Hidden Figures.
From the time Katherine was a young girl she loved math. She counted the stars from her bedroom window at night. She had a curiosity about the world and she was very studious. She was born August 26, 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Her parents were Joylette and Joshua Coleman and she was the youngest of four children. Joylette was a teacher and Joshua was a lumberman, farmer, handyman and he also worked at the Grenbrier Hotel. Greenbrier County did not offer public schooling for African-American students past the eighth grade. The Colemans moved and their children attended high school in Institute West Virginia. Katherine moved through the lower grades very quickly and she was enrolled at the age of ten in high school at she graduated at the age of 14. She took every math course offered by the college. Multiple professors mentored her including chemist and mathematician Angie Turner King and also W.W. Schieffelin Claytor. He is the third African-American to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics. Claytor added new mathematics courses just for Katherine.
She graduated summa cum laude in 1937 with degrees in mathematics and French at the age of 18. She was the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Through the efforts of WVSC’s president, Dr. John W. Davis , she became one of three African-American students and the only woman selected to integrate the graduate school after a US Supreme Court ruling. The court ruled that states providing higher education to white students also had to provide it to black students. There is more information about Katherine and her co-workers at NASA in the film Hidden Figures. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
21 minutes, Doc directed by Andy T. Jones with Bahni Turpin.
In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Katherine Johnson was called upon to work on this project. John Glenn said get the girl to run the numbers by hand to chart the complexity of the orbital flight. He knew that his flight would not be successful without her unique skills. President Barack Obama awarded Katherine the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Her incredible life inspired the Oscar nominated film Hidden Figures.
From the time Katherine was a young girl she loved math. She counted the stars from her bedroom window at night. She had a curiosity about the world and she was very studious. She was born August 26, 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Her parents were Joylette and Joshua Coleman and she was the youngest of four children. Joylette was a teacher and Joshua was a lumberman, farmer, handyman and he also worked at the Grenbrier Hotel. Greenbrier County did not offer public schooling for African-American students past the eighth grade. The Colemans moved and their children attended high school in Institute West Virginia. Katherine moved through the lower grades very quickly and she was enrolled at the age of ten in high school at she graduated at the age of 14. She took every math course offered by the college. Multiple professors mentored her including chemist and mathematician Angie Turner King and also W.W. Schieffelin Claytor. He is the third African-American to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics. Claytor added new mathematics courses just for Katherine.
She graduated summa cum laude in 1937 with degrees in mathematics and French at the age of 18. She was the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Through the efforts of WVSC’s president, Dr. John W. Davis , she became one of three African-American students and the only woman selected to integrate the graduate school after a US Supreme Court ruling. The court ruled that states providing higher education to white students also had to provide it to black students. There is more information about Katherine and her co-workers at NASA in the film Hidden Figures. 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
21 minutes, Doc directed by Andy T. Jones with Bahni Turpin.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
The Reader 2008
This film is based on a 1995 German novel by Berhnard Schlink and the setting is post-war Germany. Michael Berg is a teenager, he becomes very ill and he is helped by Hanna. She works as a tram conductor and Michael is half her age. Michael has scarlet fever, he recovers and he looks for Hanna to thank her. They are quickly drawn into a passionate but secret affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their relationship deepens. He reads The Odyssey, Huck Finn and The Lady with the Little Dog. Hanna has been promoted to a clerical job at the tram company’s office and she mysteriously disappears one day. Michael is very heartbroken and confused? Eight years pass and now Michael is a law student. He has been observing the Nazi war crime trials and he is stunned to see Hanna in the courtroom? She is a defendant believed to have committed war crimes and her past is revealed. She was a guard at a Nazi concentration camp and she is accused along with several other woman. They are charged with letting 300 Jewish women die in a burning church when they were SS guards. Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.
This is a story about truth, reconciliation and how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another generation. Hanna has a secret and she will give up her freedom rather than admit the secret. There is testimony by Llana Mather, she is the author of a memoir about how she survived the camp along with her mother. She states that Hanna read to her in the evenings. Hanna is also accused of being the author of a report on the church fire event and the other women blamed the deaths on her. This is a deeply moving story and there is uncertainty about how it will end. 5* (I really liked this movie)
124 min, Drama directed by Stephen Daldry and written by David Hare and Berhard Schlink with Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain, David Kross, Susanne Lothar, Alissa Wilms, Florian Bartholomai, Friederike Becht, Matthias Habich, Frider Venus, Marie-Anne Fliegel, Hendrik Arnst, Rainer Sellien, Rotsten Michaelis, Mortiz Grove.
Note: Imdb 7.,6 out of 10, Roger Ebert 4 1/2*, Rotten Tomatoes 63% critic 79% audience, The Guardian 1* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, DeepFocus 3 1/2* out of 4* Brian Eggert, Metacritic 58 out of 100 with 38 critics (19 positive, 17 mixed, 2 negative) 7.2 out of 10 with 175 user scores (120 positive, 40 mixed, 15 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 2933 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Saxony, North Rhine-Wesphalia, Lubelski, Brandenburg, Berlin, Germany. Originally David Kross did not speak English but he learned the language for this film. Bruno Ganz played Michael Berg’s Holocaust-surviving professor in this film. He famously played Adolf Hitler in the film Downfall of 2004. Producers Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella both died before the completion of this film. Two producers Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris were nominated for Academy Awards. The Academy made an exception to their rule not to name more than three producers for a film. Because of this rare circumstance, four producers were honored with the award.
This is a story about truth, reconciliation and how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another generation. Hanna has a secret and she will give up her freedom rather than admit the secret. There is testimony by Llana Mather, she is the author of a memoir about how she survived the camp along with her mother. She states that Hanna read to her in the evenings. Hanna is also accused of being the author of a report on the church fire event and the other women blamed the deaths on her. This is a deeply moving story and there is uncertainty about how it will end. 5* (I really liked this movie)
124 min, Drama directed by Stephen Daldry and written by David Hare and Berhard Schlink with Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain, David Kross, Susanne Lothar, Alissa Wilms, Florian Bartholomai, Friederike Becht, Matthias Habich, Frider Venus, Marie-Anne Fliegel, Hendrik Arnst, Rainer Sellien, Rotsten Michaelis, Mortiz Grove.
Note: Imdb 7.,6 out of 10, Roger Ebert 4 1/2*, Rotten Tomatoes 63% critic 79% audience, The Guardian 1* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, DeepFocus 3 1/2* out of 4* Brian Eggert, Metacritic 58 out of 100 with 38 critics (19 positive, 17 mixed, 2 negative) 7.2 out of 10 with 175 user scores (120 positive, 40 mixed, 15 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 2933 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Saxony, North Rhine-Wesphalia, Lubelski, Brandenburg, Berlin, Germany. Originally David Kross did not speak English but he learned the language for this film. Bruno Ganz played Michael Berg’s Holocaust-surviving professor in this film. He famously played Adolf Hitler in the film Downfall of 2004. Producers Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella both died before the completion of this film. Two producers Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris were nominated for Academy Awards. The Academy made an exception to their rule not to name more than three producers for a film. Because of this rare circumstance, four producers were honored with the award.
The Prestige 2006
At the end of the nineteenth century in London. Robert Angier, his beloved wife Julia McCullough and Alfred Borden are friends. They are also assistants to a magician. Julie accidentally dies during one of the performances. Robert blames Alfred for her death and they become enemies. Robert and Alfred are both famous and rival magicians. They begin sabotaging the performances of the other on the stage. If Alfred performs a successful trick, Robert will become obsessed trying to disclose the secret of his competitor. All this pushing each other back and forth leads to tragic consequences.
This is a wonderfully entertaining film!! It will keep you thinking the entire run time. It’s very confusing but it is that way on purpose in order to keep you wondering. The story is twisty with very good acting and the period details are also very good. Some people complained that they didn’t like the ending? Since this is about magic tricks, I can’t reveal what happens and how things are done!! The photography is very beautiful and the period color tones are consistent with this time period. Nicolai Tesla beings showers of discharging electricity into the mix. Tesla is a much more familiar word now since the Tesla car came on the scene!! 4* (I really liked this movie)
130 min, directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan with Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johnansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Samantha Mahurin, David Bowie, Andy Serkis, Daniel Davis, Jim mPiddock, Christopher Neame, Mark Ryan, Roger Rees, Jamie Harris.
Note: Imdb 8.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 76% critic 92% audience, Roger Ebert 3*, Meticritic 66 out of 100 with 36 critics (positive 26, mixed 9, negative 1) 8.9 out of 10 with 1179 user scores (positive 1102, mixed 56, negative 21), Deep Focus 4* Brian Eggert, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 1448 reviews, NowVeryBad.com 4*.
Special Note: Filmed in Telluride, Colorado; Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Downey, Koreatown, Mount Wilson, Pasadena, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios and Universal Studios. The word prestige originally meant a trick, from the Latin word praestigium meaning illusion. The scenes of Alfred Borden’s infant were played by one of Christopher Nolan’s children. Ricky Jay played a magician in this film and he coached Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale with their sleight-of-hand techniques. The initials of the main characters spell ABRA (Alfred Borden Robert Angier), as in abracadabra, a common world used by magicians.
This is a wonderfully entertaining film!! It will keep you thinking the entire run time. It’s very confusing but it is that way on purpose in order to keep you wondering. The story is twisty with very good acting and the period details are also very good. Some people complained that they didn’t like the ending? Since this is about magic tricks, I can’t reveal what happens and how things are done!! The photography is very beautiful and the period color tones are consistent with this time period. Nicolai Tesla beings showers of discharging electricity into the mix. Tesla is a much more familiar word now since the Tesla car came on the scene!! 4* (I really liked this movie)
130 min, directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan with Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johnansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Samantha Mahurin, David Bowie, Andy Serkis, Daniel Davis, Jim mPiddock, Christopher Neame, Mark Ryan, Roger Rees, Jamie Harris.
Note: Imdb 8.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 76% critic 92% audience, Roger Ebert 3*, Meticritic 66 out of 100 with 36 critics (positive 26, mixed 9, negative 1) 8.9 out of 10 with 1179 user scores (positive 1102, mixed 56, negative 21), Deep Focus 4* Brian Eggert, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 1448 reviews, NowVeryBad.com 4*.
Special Note: Filmed in Telluride, Colorado; Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Downey, Koreatown, Mount Wilson, Pasadena, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios and Universal Studios. The word prestige originally meant a trick, from the Latin word praestigium meaning illusion. The scenes of Alfred Borden’s infant were played by one of Christopher Nolan’s children. Ricky Jay played a magician in this film and he coached Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale with their sleight-of-hand techniques. The initials of the main characters spell ABRA (Alfred Borden Robert Angier), as in abracadabra, a common world used by magicians.
The Illusionist 2006
The setting of this film is the late nineteenth century in Vienna. Eisenheim is a renowned illusionist and he is reunited with the Duchess von Teschen. She volunteered from the audience to participate in an illusion during one of his performances. Eisenheim and the Duchess have not seen each other in fifteen years and at that time they were teenagers. They recognize each other as Eduard Abramovich and Sophie von Teschen. They had a doomed romance because of their class differences. The Duchess is soon to be wed to the Crown Prince Leopold. For the Crown Prince this will be a marriage in pursuit of power. He could overthrow his father Emperor Leopold. He could also overtake the Hungarian side of the empire. The Crown Prince is well known to use violence against women if it suits his needs or purposes. The Duchess realizes that she still loves Eisenheim and he also realizes he is still in love with the Duchess. It would jeopardize her life to leave the Crown Prince. Eisenheim humiliates the Crown Prince at a private show and this results in an incident between the Crown Prince and the Duchess.
The story is fictional but some details are based on the life of Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf. He was the only son of Emperor Franz Josef. The character of Eisenheim is closely based on magician and supposed clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen. He was famous in Vienna in the early 20th century and he was murdered by Nazi soldiers in 1933. There is great attention to detail with the most beautiful fashions, the details in sets and costume designs plus stunning cinematography. There is a dream-like glow and it is possible to see something extraordinary out of the ordinary in this film!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
110 min, Drama directed by Neil Burger, wirier by Steven Millhouser and Neil Burger with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Jake Wood, tom fisher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson, Karl Johnson, Vincent Franklin, Nicholas Blane, Philip McGough, Erich Redman, Michael Carter.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 3 1/2* Roger Ebert, Metacritic 68 out of 100 with 37 critics (positive 29, mixed 8) 8.7 out of 10 with 554 user scores (positive 482, mixed 47, negative 15), Common Sense Media Cynthia Fuchs, age 14+ 3* out of 5*, 3* violence, sex, language and 3* drinking drugs & smoking, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 1246 reviews.
Special Note: The setting is Austria but filming was primarily done in the Czech Republic. Norton received intensive training in sleight of hand and other stage magic techniques from British magician James Freedman and American magician Ricky Jay. This was done so the crew would not have to use CGI to take the magical illusions. Liv Tyler was originally cast in the role of the Duchess. The Illusionist is one of three 2006 films to feature both the topic of magic and magicians as main characters in 2006. The others are Scoop and The Prestige. Rufus Sewell has recently been in the series The Man in the High Castle.
The story is fictional but some details are based on the life of Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf. He was the only son of Emperor Franz Josef. The character of Eisenheim is closely based on magician and supposed clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen. He was famous in Vienna in the early 20th century and he was murdered by Nazi soldiers in 1933. There is great attention to detail with the most beautiful fashions, the details in sets and costume designs plus stunning cinematography. There is a dream-like glow and it is possible to see something extraordinary out of the ordinary in this film!! 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
110 min, Drama directed by Neil Burger, wirier by Steven Millhouser and Neil Burger with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan, Jake Wood, tom fisher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Eleanor Tomlinson, Karl Johnson, Vincent Franklin, Nicholas Blane, Philip McGough, Erich Redman, Michael Carter.
Note: Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 3 1/2* Roger Ebert, Metacritic 68 out of 100 with 37 critics (positive 29, mixed 8) 8.7 out of 10 with 554 user scores (positive 482, mixed 47, negative 15), Common Sense Media Cynthia Fuchs, age 14+ 3* out of 5*, 3* violence, sex, language and 3* drinking drugs & smoking, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5*, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 1246 reviews.
Special Note: The setting is Austria but filming was primarily done in the Czech Republic. Norton received intensive training in sleight of hand and other stage magic techniques from British magician James Freedman and American magician Ricky Jay. This was done so the crew would not have to use CGI to take the magical illusions. Liv Tyler was originally cast in the role of the Duchess. The Illusionist is one of three 2006 films to feature both the topic of magic and magicians as main characters in 2006. The others are Scoop and The Prestige. Rufus Sewell has recently been in the series The Man in the High Castle.
Inherit the Wind 1960
B.T. Cates is arrested for teaching Darwin’s theories in his classroom. He is taken to the local jail and famous lawyer Henry Drummond is set to defend him. The prosecutor will be fundamentalist politician Matthew Brady. This film is a thinly disguised rendition of the 1925 film Scopes Monkey Trial. There are debates between Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan. Their comments are taken largely from the original transcripts.
This film was made almost 60 years ago and the court case was from nearly 95 years ago!! Spencer Tracy portrays a crusty liberal and he believes an idea is more important than a monument. Frederick March doesn’t think about what not to think about. Director Kramer doesn’t beat up the audience with preconceptions. There is some mild swearing and the movie does raise questions and issues about the theory of creationism versus evolution. These themes could lead to interesting conversations about the two views and their presentations by the film. Plus these topics are still debated today. 3* (This movie was OK)
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 25,291 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 92% critic 91% audience, Roger Ebert 4*, Common Sense Media Ellen MacKay age 12+ with 5*, 1* violence 1* language, Amazon 4.6* with 516 reviews, Letterboxd 3.9*.
128 min, Bio directed by Stanley Kramer and written by Nedrick Young, Harold Jacob Smith with Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Harry Morgan, Claude Akins, Paul Hartman, Philip Coolidge, Jimmy Boyd, Noah Beery Jr., Normal Fell, Gordon Polk, Hope Summers.
Special Note: The final summation by Spencer Tracy was filmed in a single take to heighten the tension in the courtroom. In real life, Clarence Darrow asked the jury to find John Thomas Scopes guilty so that he could appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. This action would put an even bigger dent on the law. There was criticism directed at producer Stanley Kramer by the American Legion for hiring Nedrick Young. The Legion considered him a subversive. Moss Hart, the President of The Authors League of American sent Kramer a telegram. This council has always opposed any form of blacklisting of writers. They unanimously voted at a meeting to commend and applaud Kramer for his courageous stand. Kramer had rejected publicly the effort to interfere on pseudo-patriotic grounds the right of writers to work. This was the first in-flight movie ever shown on TWA.
This film was made almost 60 years ago and the court case was from nearly 95 years ago!! Spencer Tracy portrays a crusty liberal and he believes an idea is more important than a monument. Frederick March doesn’t think about what not to think about. Director Kramer doesn’t beat up the audience with preconceptions. There is some mild swearing and the movie does raise questions and issues about the theory of creationism versus evolution. These themes could lead to interesting conversations about the two views and their presentations by the film. Plus these topics are still debated today. 3* (This movie was OK)
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 25,291 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 92% critic 91% audience, Roger Ebert 4*, Common Sense Media Ellen MacKay age 12+ with 5*, 1* violence 1* language, Amazon 4.6* with 516 reviews, Letterboxd 3.9*.
128 min, Bio directed by Stanley Kramer and written by Nedrick Young, Harold Jacob Smith with Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Harry Morgan, Claude Akins, Paul Hartman, Philip Coolidge, Jimmy Boyd, Noah Beery Jr., Normal Fell, Gordon Polk, Hope Summers.
Special Note: The final summation by Spencer Tracy was filmed in a single take to heighten the tension in the courtroom. In real life, Clarence Darrow asked the jury to find John Thomas Scopes guilty so that he could appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. This action would put an even bigger dent on the law. There was criticism directed at producer Stanley Kramer by the American Legion for hiring Nedrick Young. The Legion considered him a subversive. Moss Hart, the President of The Authors League of American sent Kramer a telegram. This council has always opposed any form of blacklisting of writers. They unanimously voted at a meeting to commend and applaud Kramer for his courageous stand. Kramer had rejected publicly the effort to interfere on pseudo-patriotic grounds the right of writers to work. This was the first in-flight movie ever shown on TWA.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Nothing Left Unsaid 2016
Gloria Vanderbilt and her son Anderson Cooper discuss their notable family’s history. Gloria Laura Vanderbilt was born February 20, 1924 and she died June 17, 2019. She was an American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress and socialite. During the 1930’s she was the subject to a high-profile child custody trail. Her mother Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and her paternal aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney each sought custody of Gloria and control over her trust fund. When Gloria was a young girl, she was cared for by a beloved nanny Dodo. She didn’t really have contact with her mother. During the trial, her motherless the custody battle and Gloria went to live with her aunt Gertrude. Gloria was married four times and divorced three times. She had four sons, two with Leopold Stokowski and two with Wyatt Emory Cooper.
Her son Anderson Cooper is looking though Gloria’s art and they are talking about her life. Anderson also wanted to connect more openly with his mother. She is 91 years old at this time and he needs to do this now. Some aspects of their lives are still not talked about and not at this time either. Gloria’s life is very fascinating and even though she has had ups and downs, she is still positive about her life. She died from stomach cancer at the age of 95. I thought this was well done and interesting. 4* (I really liked this movie)
108 min, Doc directed by Liz Garbus and written by Dan Cogan with Anderson Cooper, Pearson Marx, Stan Stokowski, Alfred Vanderbilt III.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10 with 591 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 67% critic 74% audience, Metacritic 80 out of 100 with 5 critics (4 positive, 1 mixed), Amazon 4* out of 5* with 104 reviews, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*.
Special Note: Anderson Cooper is the primary anchor of the CNN news shows Anderson Cooper 360. He also published a memoir for HaperCollins in May 2006 titled Dispatches from the Edge. It details his life and work in Sri Lanka, Africa, Iraq and Louisiana over the previous year.
Her son Anderson Cooper is looking though Gloria’s art and they are talking about her life. Anderson also wanted to connect more openly with his mother. She is 91 years old at this time and he needs to do this now. Some aspects of their lives are still not talked about and not at this time either. Gloria’s life is very fascinating and even though she has had ups and downs, she is still positive about her life. She died from stomach cancer at the age of 95. I thought this was well done and interesting. 4* (I really liked this movie)
108 min, Doc directed by Liz Garbus and written by Dan Cogan with Anderson Cooper, Pearson Marx, Stan Stokowski, Alfred Vanderbilt III.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10 with 591 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 67% critic 74% audience, Metacritic 80 out of 100 with 5 critics (4 positive, 1 mixed), Amazon 4* out of 5* with 104 reviews, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*.
Special Note: Anderson Cooper is the primary anchor of the CNN news shows Anderson Cooper 360. He also published a memoir for HaperCollins in May 2006 titled Dispatches from the Edge. It details his life and work in Sri Lanka, Africa, Iraq and Louisiana over the previous year.
The Man in the High Castle Season Four 2019
This series is based on a novel by Philip K. Dick. There are four seasons in this series and the years are 2015 to 2019. The setting is a dystopian America in 1962 dominated by Nazi Germany on the East coast and Imperial Japan on the west coast. In the middle of the two zones is a neutral zone. Everyone believes that the Allied Powers lost WWII. The Man in the High Castle character is Stephen Root as Hawthorne Abendsen. He is the head of the American antifascist resistance. He has created films set in other worlds. The resistance wants to view all the films to learn the truth about the Nazi and Japanese occupations. The Nazi and Japanese Governments believe nothing in these films is true. When they discover a film, they burn it, arrest and usually kill the person in possession of the film.
The previous three seasons have been complicated and season four may be more complicated than the others!! There is a LOT going on and there is the added purpose of presenting the conclusion. Many characters have fallen by the wayside but there are plenty left!! I did not know how each season would end!! 5* (I really liked this series)
Each episode is one hour long, Drama created by Frank Spotnitz with Alexa Davalos, Joel de la Fuente, Rufus Sewell, Chelah Horsdal, Brennan Brown, Gracyn Shinyei, Genea Charpentier, Arnold Hun, Quinn Lord, Jason O’Mara.
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 70,813 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 89% critic 68% audience, Amazon 2.9* out of 5* with 1047 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Monroe, Washington. Extensive research was done for the cultures. Particular attention was given to the areas of costuming, technology and music. The opening theme song is Edelweiss from the musical Sound of Music. This would never have been written if the Nazis had won the war. Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria was used for the Fuhrerhauptquartier, Hitler’s personal castle, stronghold and command center. The castle had previously been used as a Nazi stronghold in the film Where Eagles Dare 1968.
Titles for Season Four: Hexagram 64, Every Door Out, The Box, Happy Trails, Mauvaise For, All Serious Daring, No Masters But Ourselves, Hitler Has Only Got One Ball, For Want of a Nail, Fire from the Gods.
The previous three seasons have been complicated and season four may be more complicated than the others!! There is a LOT going on and there is the added purpose of presenting the conclusion. Many characters have fallen by the wayside but there are plenty left!! I did not know how each season would end!! 5* (I really liked this series)
Each episode is one hour long, Drama created by Frank Spotnitz with Alexa Davalos, Joel de la Fuente, Rufus Sewell, Chelah Horsdal, Brennan Brown, Gracyn Shinyei, Genea Charpentier, Arnold Hun, Quinn Lord, Jason O’Mara.
Note: Imdb 8.1 out of 10 with 70,813 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 89% critic 68% audience, Amazon 2.9* out of 5* with 1047 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed in Monroe, Washington. Extensive research was done for the cultures. Particular attention was given to the areas of costuming, technology and music. The opening theme song is Edelweiss from the musical Sound of Music. This would never have been written if the Nazis had won the war. Hohenwerfen Castle in Austria was used for the Fuhrerhauptquartier, Hitler’s personal castle, stronghold and command center. The castle had previously been used as a Nazi stronghold in the film Where Eagles Dare 1968.
Titles for Season Four: Hexagram 64, Every Door Out, The Box, Happy Trails, Mauvaise For, All Serious Daring, No Masters But Ourselves, Hitler Has Only Got One Ball, For Want of a Nail, Fire from the Gods.
Friday, November 22, 2019
To Have and Have Not 1944
This film is based on a novel by Ernest Hemmingway. Harry Morgan and his alcoholic sidekick, Eddie, are based on the island of Martinique. They are a crew and a boat available for hire but World War II is happening around them. Their business has suffered because of the war. They take a customer out and he owes them a large sum of money. The customer had planned to sneak away and take a plane before it was time to pay Harry. Eddie and Harry are forced to violate their preferred neutrality and take a job for the resistance. They will transport a fugitive on the run from the Nazis to Martinique. Unexpectedly, they learn that the man’s wife is also going with them. There is some gunfire and the man is wounded in the shoulder. Another plot twist is that Harry has met Marie “Slim” Browning. She is a resistance sympathizer and a singer in the club where Morgan spends a lot of his time.
Harry was almost able to get his money but the customer was shot in the club and Capt. M. Renard and his bodyguard took Harry’s money for themselves. To put pressure on Harry about the fugitive, they pick up Eddie and they are holding him to get information. They tried letting him drink but that didn’t work. The next step is to withhold alcohol and Eddie won’t be able to take that kind of abuse. Eddie deserved better treatment from the Martinique authorities!! I expected a more powerful plot from Hemmingway? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
100 min, Adventure directed by Howard Hawks and written by Ernest Hemingway and Jules Furthman with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Delores Moran, Hoagy Carmichael, Sheldon Leonard, Walter Szurovy, Marcel Dalio, Walter Sande, Dan Seymour, Aldo Nadi.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 97% critic 90% audience, Three Movie Buffs average 3 1/2* out of 4*, Letterboxd 3.9* out of 5*, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 548 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed on Stage 28 and Stage 28A, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, Burbank, California, Laguna Beach and Balboa, Newport Beach, California. Lauren Bacall wrote in here autobiography that it was in the third week of filming that the friendly banter with Humphrey Bogart become something else. Bogart was 44 years old an in an unhappy marriage. Their onscreen chemistry was obvious but Director Howard Hawks was furious. He warned Bacall away and threatened that the relationship could damage her career. In reality, Hawks was jealous and had designs on Bacall himself. Hawks warned that Bogart would drop Bacall after filming was completed. Nothing like that happened!! Bogart divorced his wife and married Bacall in 1945. They made three more films together and they were married until Bogart’s death from cancer in January 1957. Bacall was 20 at the time of filming and Bogart was 45, he was 25 years older. The location in the novel changed from Cuba to Martinique under Vichy to make the film more timely.
Harry was almost able to get his money but the customer was shot in the club and Capt. M. Renard and his bodyguard took Harry’s money for themselves. To put pressure on Harry about the fugitive, they pick up Eddie and they are holding him to get information. They tried letting him drink but that didn’t work. The next step is to withhold alcohol and Eddie won’t be able to take that kind of abuse. Eddie deserved better treatment from the Martinique authorities!! I expected a more powerful plot from Hemmingway? 3 1/2* (I liked this movie)
100 min, Adventure directed by Howard Hawks and written by Ernest Hemingway and Jules Furthman with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Delores Moran, Hoagy Carmichael, Sheldon Leonard, Walter Szurovy, Marcel Dalio, Walter Sande, Dan Seymour, Aldo Nadi.
Note: Imdb 7.9 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 97% critic 90% audience, Three Movie Buffs average 3 1/2* out of 4*, Letterboxd 3.9* out of 5*, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 548 reviews.
Special Note: Filmed on Stage 28 and Stage 28A, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, Burbank, California, Laguna Beach and Balboa, Newport Beach, California. Lauren Bacall wrote in here autobiography that it was in the third week of filming that the friendly banter with Humphrey Bogart become something else. Bogart was 44 years old an in an unhappy marriage. Their onscreen chemistry was obvious but Director Howard Hawks was furious. He warned Bacall away and threatened that the relationship could damage her career. In reality, Hawks was jealous and had designs on Bacall himself. Hawks warned that Bogart would drop Bacall after filming was completed. Nothing like that happened!! Bogart divorced his wife and married Bacall in 1945. They made three more films together and they were married until Bogart’s death from cancer in January 1957. Bacall was 20 at the time of filming and Bogart was 45, he was 25 years older. The location in the novel changed from Cuba to Martinique under Vichy to make the film more timely.
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