December 4, 2023

No Hard Feelings: This 2023 comedy release available on Crave was an unexpected smile, for someone who had very low expectations for it. I came into this cold, with no context or having watched any of the trailers. I had been feeling that Jennifer Lawrence had disappeared for quite some time, getting married and having a child, save for the 2021 Don’t Look Up with a power-packed cast. Laird and Allison Becker (played by Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti) are helicopter parents with a 19yo only child son (played by Andrew Barth Feldman) who is soon to be heading off to Princeton. Parents are very worried that their introverted boy will not be able to fit into the college lifestyle. The family summers in Montauk NY, which looks remarkably like Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Like Cape Cod, the rich city dwellers invade in the summer time and make life very expensive for the locals.

Jennifer Lawrence plays Maddie Barker a single 32yo woman, living in the house that she grew up in, inherited from her mother. She has lived her entire life in Montauk. She has come on hard times, living off the toursits with Uber driving and working a local bar. But things have gotten worse for her as her failure to pay the taxes on her property has put a lien on it, that the Town is looking to enforce. She is desperate to find something to help her. She reads an advertisement from the Beckers looking for someone to “date” their son and bring him out of his shell. She decides to take on this task, having spoken to the parents, with the reward being desireable for her.

Maddie and the son meet, with Maddie putting on the full court press. Things happen and there are some genuinely funny moments. There are also some heartfelt moments as each of the parties grows a little, dealing with their respective challenges. Some are expected, and a couple are not. I think that Lawrence shows that she has some good comedic timing, both with some physical comedy as well as reacting situationally. Feldman plays the awkward teen very well, but has this underpinning of character which guides him in this interaction with his parents and Maddie. As mentioned earlier, I had low expectations, which likely made this better in my mind than it likely is. Certainly there is a predictable arc to the story, but it’s really the journey in getting that is fun to watch. There is a scene which to me is an hommage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and you’ll know exactly the scene I mean if you are familiar with that film, which still today holds up well. Broderick is expanding his his repetoire of roles, from the bad guy in Painkiller earlier this year, to a long-haired doting parent. This was light entertainment and provided a couple good laughs.

Love in the Wild: Some people at the office were speaking about this reality show that was on Netflix. It is a mixture between Survivor and the various couples dating shows. Set in the beautiful Costa Rica, 10 single young men and women engage in tasks after pairing up and then deciding whether they have found a love match. In theory, it makes sense to put attractive young people together with challenging tasks and see how they interact to finish and interact with others in the group. It is always to see how some of them get attached, and get possessive very early in the game. In this instance it seems to be surrounding the “pro golfer” Steele. The premise of races and the winner being rewarded with a night of luxury makes sense along with the more intriguing opportunity to force another contestant who didn’t win to pair up with them has some potential. But nearing the end, the couples are pretty much set, and it becomes strictly a race to the finish.

Spoiler alert: I was under the impression that this was a recent show and newly released. I was searching for updates on the couples post the show. The winners after all get a first class trip around the world! What I found out is that this was a show on NBC back in 2011!! Twelve years ago! So this is ancient history. There was a Season 2 and that was the run it had.

The Crown (Final Season): Crave/HBO has released the first four episodes of The Crown, with the remaining six episodes in this final season being released on December 14th. All readers will know that I am big fan of this series, and I was especially impressed with all the acting, the writing, sets and the stories selected. There have been some standout performances for me like Claire Foy as the Queen in early seasons along with Matt Smith as Phillip. Add to that Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, and Josh O’Connor as the older Charles. Now add to this list the excellent Elizabeth Debicki portraying Princess Diana.

Debicki has managed to capture the look, hairstyle, mannerisms, clothing and personality that we in the public had seen from Diana. She is a complex woman. This season’s first four episodes is the detailing of her tragic death in the tunnel in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. How fast 26 years fly by! What is revealed are some surprising details which if they are true show the intention of Harrod’s owner (at the time) Egyptian Mohamed Al Fayed, father of filmmaker Dodi who was killed along with Diana in the car crash. Time and again you see the paparazzi at play, which ruthlessly hunted the Princess, for a picture that could be sold for a massive amounts. This of course only occurs because of the public’s insatiable desire to see the popular People’s Princess in all that she did. You can see the impact it had on the young princes, William and Harry with William showing no desire for sitting for photographers at all. It is a tragic tale of course. Debicki and those in these episodes reveal the back story at least as the writers have found out. Phillip comes across as a pompous ass, so does Mohamed who belittled his son, and forced him into doing Dad’s bidding. Charles looks to bring a sympathetic Crown forward to assist in the healing for the people, protocol be damned. If you are a fan of this series it continues to shine. It will be a shame when it is all over and will be missed, only to be reviewed periodically in the future by this fan anyway.

November 27th, 2023

The Creator: This was a big budget sci fi feature that was also heavily advertised at it headed into the theatres. I think it was meant to attract those “big screen” movie watchers (like me) who want to see epic sights on the bigger screens. It stars Denzel Washington’s son, John David Washington as well as Allison Janney, looking older than I have ever seen her, and Ken Wanatabe. This futuristic tale centres mostly on one man’s journey but a world where there is an ongoing conflict with the US and other East Asia countries with the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The proliferation of technology and AI was spreading throughout the world until there was a nuclear event in LA, California where millions were instantly killed. The US decided that AI was evil, and that it should be banned. Other countries, notably in southeast Asia did not agree and pursued using more AI. The US did not take kindly to this and viewed all countries continuing with AI development as “the enemy”. The story continues.

The AI robots/drones/droids have borrowed heavily from the look and feel of the robots in 2014’s Ex Machina with Alicia Vikander as the robot. There is a human-like face, with a rear of the head looking like technology. In this instance a circular spinning wheel, much like a gerbil’s wheel. The protagonist Joshua (Washington), on a personal level is in southeast asia, looking like Thailand with a pregnant Asian partner. An attack by Americans happen, and we learn that Joshua is involved in the intelligence side of the US efforts. They are searching for the creator of the advanced AI. Things happen.

This didn’t suck, but it wasn’t overly compelling either. In many ways I saw it borrowing from other similar stories like The Golden Child with Eddie Murphy or a little too of HBO’s The Last of Us. I think about questions like, why would an artificial intelligence make a child-sized robot? If there is a human element to the robot, does it grow? If so, how does the machinery grow with the human element? Clearly within the robot AI world there is aging robots (like Watanabe), but why would you add grey hair? How about why don’t you use your earth-based technology and shoot the monster, missile-firing mega-ship out of the sky? For an audience I think that more than a fewer in Southeast Asian countries like Viet Nam might have some PTSD watching US military attacks by air and tanks on their soil. In the end, this was okay. I am glad that I didn’t pay for it. It would have been disappointing in a theatre for me. I expect more. I suppose that I expected more truthfully. When an entire military complex seeks one individual, with seemingly another individual trying to protect it, it can become silly very quickly. I will leave it at that.

Minx: On Crave I was told about this comedy series, which definitely would be considered more adult entertainment. Specifically, there is plenty of full frontal nudity. Now that I have your attention, the series is set in the early 70s with a young woman who is looking to publish a feminist-based magazine to empower women. She is Joyce Prigger, played by Ophelia Lovibond who has struggled in her efforts and decides to go to a publishing convention. By happenstance she runs into Doug, played by Jake Johnson, who is a publisher of various pornographic magazines. Doug listens to Joyce and makes her a generous offer. Holding her nose, and feeling more like this is a final chance to get started, Joyce agrees. There is obvious creative tension as Joyce has to accept that naked men centrefolds will be part of her politically focused magazine.

This can be fun. There is no lack of nudity for both men and women, including the fireman cover on the premier issue. There are issues in creating the content, finding advertisers, and getting distribution. Oh yes, the mob is involved in the trucking of the magazines to the corner stores and porn shops. Joyce struggles at times, and her more mainstream sensibilities are challenged by the practical street smarts of Doug. I have finished four episodes and I look forward to more.

November 20th, 2023

I did not post last week as I was away on vacation. But it’s back to work, and the reviews must continue.

Nyad: Netflix released this film starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster with an assist from Rhys Ifans. It dramatizes the true story about Diana Nyad, who is a world class marathon swimmer who looked to make a record length open water swim from Cuba to Key West Florida, a distance of over 100 miles.

Nyad had tried when she was 28yo to make this swim and was not successful. This story starts when Nyad is turning 60yo and uncertain what to do with her life. There are flashbacks to her childhood and early days as a young swimmer. She had a domineering father, and she later had a well known coach who some observations are made about him. That aspect is not central to the main story of looking to make this formidable crossing. Rather the story address the 60yo woman looking at her own life. She decides that she wants to resurrect this old dream about Cuba. But there were challenges in attempting this swim: first there is weather and currents to deal with, but there are also sea life like sharks, jellyfish, barracuda and others. Finally there is the ability to swim for about 60 hours straight without any assistance of any kind.

What you learn is that she had to acquire a team to assist her. Diana as you can imagine has a strong personality and is driven like few people are driven. She commits to something and is single minded in her focus. Never mind age, she exemplifies determination at absolutely any age. This is a blessing and worthwhile, but a curse and difficult for those in a supporting role who are equally necessary but can be perceived as accessories (the swimmer being the “CEO” with ultimate decision making, even if the decision can put everyone’s lives at risk). You also learn that more than one attempt was made. Remarkably she would spend over 24 hours in the water only to be turned back.

The result is a story that is compelling and interesting. Bening is a four-time Oscar nominated actress without a win, but she shows determination in the role. Foster is a very capable supporting member and coach who was vital in the success of any attempt. The swimmer has to learn about the value of a team, that being an autocratic leader doesn’t build a lot of loyalty amongst the team. The team also realizes that the expected glory that can be achieved in the event, can be shared by all. At some point, each realizes that this can be their rememberance for their lives (and for which a movie may be made one day!). This is worth checking out.

Better Call Saul: A retrospective.

I finally finished this series, which was created by the same team that brought us the amazing Breaking Bad. Although much of this series pre-dates the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul especially in this final season also begins to address the post-activities from that original series. It all comes together, and some can complain about that ultimate resolution. For me, I like how it resolves itself. I think it addresses his primary relationship with Kim Wexler, as well as professional legal relationship with his old firm. The primary partner, Howard Hamlin, was also a source of challenges for Jimmy/ Saul and Kim.

Jimmy and his alter ego Saul Goodman (“It’s all good man”) have a number of active irons in the fire during this season, and even on different timelines (more present day, and also previous to this). Things are coming together and at the same time issues between Kim and Jimmy are also showing themselves once again. Gus Fring has his own challenges with the Salamanca family while Mike helps Gus with his security.

Of course I won’t share how it all ends because one has to see for themselves. Each may regard the end differently. These characters are all well written. They are flawed. They are intelligent and do things that are clever, while at the same time can be damaging. Does Jimmy recognize the harm that he does to himself and those around him? How does he actually live with himself, and clearly he can? But is he able to break away from his own personality? In some ways, this creation of Saul allows him to do exactly that. With Jimmy there always seems to be another scam, another score. He has a very capable accomplice with Kim. They seem to be meant for each other. The two series together are not a fairy tale with a happy ending. You are dealing with drug dealing and the cartels. It rarely goes well for anyone in this industry, from the highest levels to the bottom. The same can be said for those mid-level workers here. But the stories are compelling, the characters are interesting, the writing is excellent and the acting is first rate. I found the early seasons slower and they bogged down a bit, but by the middle seasons picked up speed as the drug stories become more pronounced. Jimmy with his brother was good backstory and it created some motivations for Jimmy, but it could have been done more quickly. The end of it was memorable. This series is well worth checking out, especially for those who wish to seeing some back story but also see some old friends from Breaking Bad.

November 6th, 2023

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: It will be a short review this week because this is a short movie. At only 41 minutes, this Wes Anderson film based upon the Roald Dahl book is just delightful. The impressive cast includes Benedict Bumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley. All are very good in bringing forth this tale of a man who claims to have acquired the ability to see without the use of his eyes.

Cumberbatch plays Henry Sugar who is a wealthy man, but with no real drive, and no real abilities. He by happenstance comes upon a book which is the old tale of a man who had met with a yogi who had the ability to see without using his eyes. Henry Sugar reads the book, is intrigued and wishes to acquire the ability. But what to do once you have acquired the ability? Along the way, the characters are played well with Dev Patel as a doctor who was tasked with masking the lead in the book played by Ben Kingsley. Say what you want about Wes Anderson, and his movies can be hit and miss for me, but he gets top talent to play in his movies. This was short but perceptive, and once you get over the seemingly extraordinary ability which takes years and years to develop, then you just go with the premise and see where it takes you. I enjoyed and would recommend. You see? Short and sweet.

Better Call Saul, Season 6: Things are coming to a head, and near the end for Saul/Jimmy in this final season. Episode 9 was particularly moving on many fronts. The tie ins with Breaking Bad are becoming well established, and even though you know that the characters in Breaking Bad are moving on past their situations presented, it is still a fun ride in how they get there. However flawed these characters are, and they are all flawed, the audience cares, all the while scratching our heads at the very human ability to not be able to stop unhealthy patterns of behaviour, even when we know that they are hurting us. It is really good TV. I would encourage those who get bogged down in the early seasons to stay with it, because there are some really good pay-offs when you do. It is clever writing, good characters on both the good, bad and grey scales along the way. I like that even the “bad” characters are smart, and come up with intelligent plans that make sense, which makes this more of a chess match. What will the bad guys do and how will the good guys counter? What happens when the plan goes astray? You get to find out. Enjoy.

October 30th, 2023

Oslo: I had mentioned that I was planning to provide a more full review of the 2021 movie of the play Oslo. It stars Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott, both known UK actors. They play real-life Norweigian couple Mona Juul and Finn Grandal. The inspiration from checking out this film was first the atrocities that occurred on October 7th between Israel and Palestine as initiated by the Hamas government, a self proclaimed terrorist organization that is committed to wiping Israel and its people from the earth. I know so very little about the history and the region that I watched a Youtube by UK academic, diplomat, author, broadcaster, former soldier and former politician Rory Stewart. Within his 10 Minute explanation of the history between the two peoples, he had mentioned the book and play Oslo. So I wanted to better inform myself.

Back in late 1992, and into 1993, this Norweigian couple had heard that the peace talks between Israel and Palestine had gotten nowhere after years of trying, and they suggest internally another approach. Their idea is a smaller group, more one and one and have a discussion that can start with recognizing both parties as human, with families and history but more importantly discussions about high level principles. Once a base line can be established then perhaps have more higher level diplomats get involved. They also wanted to keep this low profile without the cameras and press involved. There is a lot of merit in this. There is some early tension between the parties, but some small gestures help (with a shared enjoyment of food as well as being well lubricated with liquor). They make greater strides than any of the more well known discussions elsewhere.

I don’t profess to say that this two hours makes me an expert, however I can see as an independent person with no vested skin in the game, that both sides are very passionate and that hard compromises were made to make significant strides back in the early 1990s. All that they negotiated was lost on October 7th, now thirty years later. A fragile peace, such as it was, all but obliterated in images that few can deny didn’t change them. The epilogue of the film shows yet again that even the best intentioned people cannot control the more radical elements within their country. In the words of The Dark Knight’s Alfred, when speaking about The Joker “…some men just want to watch the world burn”.

So, in summary, this is worth checking out with good performances as you can see how impassioned the players involved were and are, and how they were able through compromise, hard work, a commitment to a peace and co-existing that progress can be made. It is easy to be the naysayer poking holes in work being done by others to make a difference, it is the visionary who can see that longer journies take many steps with incremental growth. One hopes that new visionaries can be found to take up the charge that this Norweigian couple undertook to try to find common ground once again and avoid a prolonged war which can only cause more death, more pain and worldwide heartache.

Joker (revisited): I did re-watch Joker with Jacquin Phoenix to see having finished The King of Comedy whether it made any difference in my overall assessment for it with a passage of time and a different viewing lens. I stand by my original review from October 21st, 2019.

Here was the initial assessment from Alison from back in 2019:

Joker is no joke. I’m going to resist comparing Joaquin’s performance to that of Heath Ledger because they are incomparable in that they represent a pinnacle performance for each actor. Joaquin’s transformation into this character was complete right down to his frighteningly emaciated frame and the physical stress the projection of the Joker laugh and unnatural run took on his frail person. Performance aside Joker is a dark, depressing and surly poetry that you can’t help but stare at. Its engaging from start to finish and as an origins story provided both the story of Joker and the Batman – two of the more prominent ‘superhero’ characters that have no special powers other than their menacing mindsets. The film is well directed by Todd Phillips, who I had to look up to learn he’s best known for The Hangover franchise, and his offering here is to the standard set by Christopher Nolan. Is it worth seeing if you’re not in the comic book movie scene? Yes, albeit on the small screen. Fans of the genre will be best served on the big screen.

But I add to this, that Phillips most definitely borrowed from the themes of Martin Scorsese in both Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, both starring Robert De Niro in memorable performances. Within Joker, there is the scene with Phoenix standing in front of the TV with his gun. It channels the “Are you talkin’ to me?” speech from Taxi Driver. There are other film references, like Phoenix having to yell back to his Mom who he lives with, much like Rupert Pupkin. Of course there is the tie-in to the Johnny Carson Comedy network show, where De Niro becomes the star, rather than the wannabe.

But Joker goes further with the Batman story and tying into the demise of Bruce Wayne’s parents along with being that backstory to the Joker character. You learn about the uncontrollable laughter condition that he carries along with his extreme thin frame, which eerily mirrors Robert De Niro (Raging Bull or The Untouchables) and Christian Bale (The Fighter or The Machinist) in other roles for these method actors who are embodying their characters fully. Phoenix gives an extraordinary performance, which really can’t be compared to Heath Ledger. I still prefer Ledger overall. I am not sure whether the pieces still fit into that Batman story timeline, especially with a young Bruce Wayne, but that doesn’t matter. As a piece of art, and a performance this stands on its own. But it is an interesting turn to view with fresh eyes, with a different perspective, the exact same film. Joker is a dark character, with a dark history. I am certain that more stories with the Joker involved will continue because he can be so compelling.

October 23, 2023

The King of Comedy: On October 21st, 2019, I reviewed the new release of Jacquin Phoenix’s Joker. My older brother posted of this blog the following:

I saw Joker last night with my daughter – I enjoyed it more than she did. I don’t think you & your friend Allison really got the point – it wasn’t a comic book movie. It really was an homage to the Martin Scorcese & Robert De Niro movies of the 1970’s Taxi Driver, and especially the King of Comedy (with De Niro now playing the talk show host), using the familiar Batman origin story as a back drop.

I get the reference now. I had never seen the 1982 Scorsece picture with Robert De Niro, and Jerry Lewis. Since I hadn’t seen The King of Comedy at that time it was something I didn’t understand it. I do now. In truth, I think that this movie takes away from some of what I felt was effective in Joker.

Scorsese and De Niro have worked together 10 times, with some of the best movies from the last 50 years. In 1976 they worked on Taxi Driver, and then 1980 was Raging Bull. This was the next picture for Scorsese. De Niro plays a 32yo wanna-be comedian, Rupert Pupkin, who is obsessed with fame and with the local Johnny Carson talk show personality named Jerry Langford played well by Jerry Lewis. Crowds follow Jerry everywhere, especially after the taping of his shows. Pupkin hangs around the back stage with the hopes of engaging with Jerry. His chance comes where an obsessive fan, played Sarah Bernhard, jumps into Jerry’s limo and accosts him. After she is removed, Pupkin enters and offers to Jerry that he is comedian and thinks he should be on the next show. Jerry politely tells Pupkin to call “his people” in the hopes that this encounter is over. It continues as Pupkin looks to use a little crack of hope, to more a more invasive engagement with Jerry. The culmination of this happens in a dramatic scene with Jerry at his home. An interesting sidenote is that the woman playing the bartender Pupkin is looking to impress was De Niro’s actual first wife, Diahnne Abbott. Pupkin takes on incredible actions to see that he has his moment of fame on Jerry’s show.

Those who have seen Joker, will recognize this plot structure. Robert De Niro plays the Jerry character TV show host named Murray Franklin. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck who wants his chance, and although Fleck’s opportunity comes about in a different way, there many homages to this original film. I am amazed at the 1983 scensibilites for things such as security which are very different now then they were back then. Can you imagine the police, let alone the TV network, allowing Pupkin to carry on with what he does? The point can only be seen by allowing it for the ending, but it simply wouldn’t happen. Fame is a funny thing, and even more so in a world with social media which didn’t exist back in 1983. There is social commentary about fame, but also talent, and how someone is able to get noticed and become known, as well as people with fame that you need to better understand your challenges with interacting with those that you regard as your fans. John Lennon was assassinated on the streets of NYC just three years before this movie was released.

Better Call Saul, Season 5: I finished the fifth season of this series, and remark how much more engaging it is in these final episodes than it was early on. Much like Breaking Bad, this is a slow burn. You as the audience must see the backstory of Jimmy McGill. Also see the backstory of Mike Ehrmantraut, the retired cop who was Gus Fring’s head of security.

In this season, Jimmy/Saul are being pulled in two completely different directions. On one side there is Kim Wexler, his partner, prfoessionally and personally, and his greatest supporter along with the legitimate legal system that he fought so hard to return to. On the other side, there is this growing relationship with the drug cartel that has been slowly creeping into his life. However distateful there is large sums that can be made, but it comes at a price. How much oif who he is, is he willing to sacrifice?

This was a very good season. Great writing and performances. Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have personalities who are generally good people, but who through circumstance or otherwise can do very questionable things. They let their humanity go, in the name of whatever is driving them. The audience can see the choices that Jimmy/Saul has made, and continues to make, and we just collectively shake our head. We also see Mike experiencing the same ethical challenges. I like the characters. I like the circumstances that surround them, and even though I know that this is a prequel, and that the main characters are going to survive, you are still wondering “how are they going to get out of this one?” Much like Jesse and Walter. I don’t equate Better Call Saul with Breaking Bad on the best TV series scale but it still very good TV. I will continue to watch for the sixth and final season.

October 16th, 2023

So today is my Dad’s 85th birthday. I think it deserves some recognition. He is doing well all things being equal, and I am a very lucky guy to have him, and my other parents still around. At this age, this is a bonus. So thanks Dad for being there, and always caring.

The Mauritanian: This movie was released in 2021, and when I saw early trailers I was impressed by the cast who included Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch, Shailene Woodley, among others. This is a dramatization based upon a book and true story from the young man who was detained at Guantanimo Bay (GITMO) in Cuba. The timing is two months post 9/11 the United States is aggressively pursuing those who were involved in the terrorist attacks of that fateful day. Mohamedou Ould Slahi is taken from his home in Mauritania (in Africa, yes I had to look it up too. It is on the west coast of Africa near Senegal). He is detained in various countries to start, but is never told under what charge he is being held. He ends up at the US Military base and held where the US authorities are looking to seek the death penalty in his trial. The unknown allegation to him was espionage, and specifically he was alleged to have actively recruited for Osama Bin Laden the pilots who flew into the twin towers.

After an extended stay at GITMO, the US Supreme Court had held that detainees had the right to habeus corpus which is allowing them to be brought before a judge and to know the charges against them and to face their accuser, or to be released. Enter Jodie Foster and Shailene Woodley, attorneys from a firm in New Mexico which heard about this case in passing. Foster is the senior partner, and Woodley the associate. They have an uphill battle. On the State’s side, there is Benedict Cumberbatch who is a motivated government lawyer, and a naval aviator, who wants to have someone pay for the attacks on the US. However motivated he is, he is still very much a lawyer who believes in due process and ensuring that the prosecution has fully discharged their duty. The cat and mouse story of legal proceeding shows the challenges when the prosecution is not interested in fully showing what they have done. However predictable the story is, and what the viewer anticpates will happen, when you finally see it, it’s unsettling and disturbing. As a lawyer I have a hard time understanding the actions of some of those involved. If you have ever wondered how in WWII, the German people were able to be willing part of genocide and the extermination of the Jews, you get some further into human behaviour and not just German behaviour.

This story is also very timely for me to watch with current world news in Israel with Palestine on the Gaza strip. What intrigues me is how governments can use horrific events (and make no mistake that the events as they have been desribed by the Hamas are inhuman, having no place in human interaction) to then justify the cessation of basic rights that citizens and humans expect in any conflict. In this situation, the US chose to ignore basic rights of due process. They were convinced by sketchy evidence (a phone call from Bin Laden’s international phone to Slahi), and they sought to obtain any information he may have by any means. The evidence would then be used in a case against him. The lawyers are entering the story well after the military interrogations took place. There are moments in the faces from Foster and Cumberbatch when they are finally reading the details of what had occured at this sight, which show the viewer everything you need to know. But like any detention camp, there are workers there; guards, cooks, officers, people engaged in transporting the detainees. So how much did they know? How secretive can you be when loved ones are asking questions? Ultimately when it comes to government actions, one would hope that the rule of law, due process, the Geneva Convention and human rights would be observed by all. What is the probitive value of a confession that is coerced? Is this admissible in court? Should it be? How much lack of due process should a court be willing to accept? These are all really good questions that beg for answers as this story unfolds. Should a person be able to be held without a charge for over a decade, no matter how powerful the nation or how strong their desire for retribution for a heinous act committed against them? But should the search for “somebody” mean that “anybody” can do?

As an aside GITMO has been around since March 2022 in its present form and was a creature of George W Bush and Dick Cheney. President Obama stated that he would close Gitmo but never did. The number of detainees was substantially reduced from 250 to 41. President Biden has also committed to close it, but hasn’t taken any active steps to do so.

October 9th, 2023

Gran Turismo: I have to admit that I didn’t have very high expectations for this movie. Most movies or shows based upon video games typically are not very compelling. I had seen a preview for this movie before watching Oppenheimer or Top Gun Maverick or the like and didn’t come away very impressed. But, I had an opportunity to view it and my take away is that it didn’t suck.

The premise is pretty simple: Nissan car company wants to sell more cars and they are pitched by a guy, played by Orlando Bloom in a role reminiscent of his prior role in Elizabethtown, who says that there are millions of gamers out there, and Nissan should offer a “once in a lifetime” shot for the elite players in the popular game Gran Turismo to actually drive a race car. They buy it, much to Bloom’s character’s surprise. Now he needs to seek out the driving veteran who can teach these young drivers, after they compete in an online contest, to teach them how to actually drive at 300 km/h. Enter Stranger Things‘ David Harbour. Think the Robert Duvall character from Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise’s Cole Trickle.

The movie is chock full of every movie cliche that you can imagine, for example the young principal driver named Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe) is a gamer with parents who just want him “to get a real job” and “don’t waste your life away with silly dreams”. The second cliche being grizzled veteran David Harbour who thinks this is a publicity stunt, and that drivers are elite athletes who have world class skills that these gamers just don’t have. He isn’t willing to put his reputation nor his life into their hands. Do they both manage to get over it? Of course they do!

Is there a villian? Naturally a jerk driver from another team, who chock full of money and attitude, is the Captain Ivan Drago from Rocky fame. The cold, aggressive, bullying, cocky established driver that David Harbour can’t stand. Is there a challenge to overcome? Well naturally and it won’t surprise the viewer to see that it comes from Days of Thunder and Top Gun as well.

However with all that said, was I entertained? Yes. Of course much of the racing looks and feels like the video game as you expect with markers showing you the place of the young driver as we go. Often it looks like it comes straight from the video game itself, which is very realistic. But the young man is good. He shows uncertainty and some fear for what he is doing, which is entirely expected. If you haven’t driven in a car going this fast, you quickly see why this is so intimidating. He handles it all very well. There is a love interest which doesn’t really impact the story. I have to admit that the very ending credits were surprising and welcome. So overall I enjoyed this. I didn’t see it on the big screen at a theatre and don’t feel as though I missed much. Funny I felt more compelled to see Ford v Ferrari in the theatre and recommended that to all readers. This not so much. I think that the sound in FvF was much better, as is the acting.

Love is Blind Season 5: I was reading today a news item that addresses one of the elements of this version of Love Is Blind that had puzzled me a little. In previous seasons there had been more couple who get hitched and then head off to the glamourous beach hotel to see if their “physical” connection is the same as their “emotional” connection. Usually there are four or five couples who do this. In this season there were three.

In the news today, we learn that there were two other couples who actually headed down to Mexico in May this past year. One of the females has sued the producer and production company for sexual assault. So all aspects of their appearance has been wiped out. Interesting from a legal perspective, the young woman’s lawyer is claiming that the whole assault on her would have been filmed, and that the producers nor anyone affiliated with the show did anything to stop it. The show made a statement that “she signed up for the experiment, and had a contract, and knew what she was doing”. No one signs up for sexual assault of course. So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out, and if there is any settlement.

In the show itself which has at least one more episode to drop, there is plenty of drama as 30+ yo lawyer Uche is taking it upon himself to man-splain his entire postion to anyone that will listen. He had previously dated another contestant and that whole situation in my mind is one that the producer’s should have never let happen. I don’t think that it would be “an interesting wrinkle” for the contestants to handle because it is simply putting them in a no-win situation. How much of a previous relationship should you share with a bunch of strangers on a TV show, when it may never even come up if they are not heavily involved in the unfolding drama. We do find out and see it, and it’s the train wreck that you would expect. It is shameful on the producers really. These types of shows are for those who are interested in such shows. That goes without saying, but if you like these shows this one just adds to the long list of those available. This season reveals just how heavily edited a season can be, especially when two couples who went to the second stage were completely eliminated from this season, something Nick Lachey and his wife Vanessa don’t acknowledge at all. Watch at your own risk.

October 2, 2023

Meg 2: The Trench: Welcome to Fall, although in Ontario it isn’t feeling that way at all as we have an extended summer with temps in the mid 70s (F). It is beautiful out. Last night I decided to watch Meg 2, the sequel to the 2018 Jason Statham vehicle with an improbable explanation of how there could be roaming around the oceans a Megalodon (basically a super-sized great white shark). This is the sequel. The love interest for Statham isn’t in the sequel but his responsibility for a young girl remains. There is this deep part of the ocean that it was beleived to be a solid floor, but in the first version it was found to be this opaque barrier that kept below it another sea of prehistoric creatures, including the Meg.

Thos who know me, will realize that I have been since a very early age a shark fan, and I will watch movies and shows involving sharks. This one is no different. No matter how really bad that it is. Did a sequel need to be made about this? Absolutely not. Does the sequel make such sense at all? No, not really. There are necessary corporate bad people, which don’t take many moments to identify. There are the scientists, and then our hero Jason who does things that are simply impossible, like going underwater without a diving suit in the water at the bottom of the ocean. There is a bizarre explanation of him expending out the air in his lungs to address the pressure, but it doesn’t address the temperature of the water. Enough said. It is also humourous that heroes or those in their party are always master computer programmers and can instantly override a security system. There is a predictable story including with the young girl, and how it all transpires. I cannot recommend this, because the silliness factor just became way too out of hand, even if it has really large sharks. I will further state that the CGI in the creation of the sharks and the other prehistoric monsters are not up to Jurassic Park or Kong levels. So this is a hard pass.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: I really enjoy Last Week Tonight, and I respect John Oliver for respecting the writers and actors strike. For him, it was his writers that were on strike and he supported them. Beyond that, he went and did some stand up comedy at various locations with the proceeds to go support his crew that were off during this time.

Having been off for close to five months, rather than a week in a regular season, there were plenty of things that he could have chosen to speak about from the top. He started with Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy, and him speaking about book bans.

John makes this all very funny. It speaks to the kinds of ridiculous things that the government spends it time on that doesn’t really help anyone in any way, and doesn’t address why they are put into power. Without going into the politics of book bans, and whether this infringes on the right to free speech, in the end John Oliver makes an appropriate joke and ties it in well later on.

I like his humour. I am really glad to see him back on. He provides some good laughs, all the while speaking to issues of the day with some thought. Last night’s issue was Medical treatment in prisons. A touchy subject for many in a country that doesn’t have socialized medicine, and doesn’t cover everyone under the multi-private provider system. The issue of course is much more complex than that and beyond my limited understanding as a Canadian who does have socialized medicine, and people aren’t denied treatment. Glad that you are back John! I welcome your insight on many more subjects to complete this rather bizarre season.

September 25th, 2023

Love at First Sight: From the bestselling book, “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight” comes a new Netflix release Love at First Sight. Romantic comedies are very formulaic, and generally rise or fall based on the likeability of the two actors involved, and the chemistry that they have between them. It doesn’t hurt to have a quality supporting cast with comics and misfits with their hearts in the right place.

In this tale American actress Haley Lu Richardson (Hadley) and Ben Hardy (Oliver) tell the story of a young couple who meet at JFK Airport under circumstances that might suggest that fate played a hand in it. There is a helpful angel of sorts who narrates at times to the audience, along with providing an “every person” at various turns who interacts mostly with Hadley.

Hadley is late at the airport for her flight to London for the wedding of her Dad, a second marriage, and the Meet Cute is in the waiting area with Oliver who is awaiting his flight to London. He offers her his charging cord for her phone. They talk. They get on the plane and through pure coincidence he ends up sitting with her. You aren’t surprised at this watching it unfold. Yet, in these movies, like in Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, when the principal players are being just plain stupid, you start to cheer against them a little bit. In that film, the two actors don’t ask one another for a name and number, they have it written on a $5 bill and an old book, and let the fates decide. Ridiculous. In this situation, our characters after a lengthy flight where they have chemistry as they see, hadn’t thought to ask each other for a phone number or email address. Given her history, you might think that shwe would entrust this information to him. Just maybe. They become separated in London attending different functions. We learn more about their respective situations. Hadley’s Dad is getting married to a woman that she has never met. She is in the bridal party, although not too excited about it. Back and forth these two go at these events, and leaving us to wonder (not too hard) when they will get together.

The acting is okay. The father played by Rob Delaney is terrible and cheesey. Some of the lines that he has to delivery are cringy. The movie tries very hard to pull at heart strings, and when done in this way can feel like manipulation. On some levels of course all movie manipulate. This feels different. Hadley and Oliver can help one another out. This whole aspect of data in many details of life is a bit of a distraction. It explains a little bit of the behaviour but in the end the characters have to express themselves, forgive, be positive, looking forward into a new future. Sounds cheesey overall, and yes, that would be about right. If you like this genre of film, there has been better, a number of them starring Hugh Grant.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal: Alex Murdaugh is a double murderer. He murdered his wife and younger son in cold blood on his property June 7, 2021. But I am getting ahead of myself. The Murdaugh family has been involved in scandal before back in South Carolina. Back in 2019, his son Paul was the driver of a motor boat late at night where he was drunk and had a wreck with one of the female passengers being launched from the boat into the water and drowned. The first season addressed this whole mess.

This is Season 2. This addresses the father then murdering his wife and son. Oh, and Alec was also stealing money from his law firm from his clients. He also, potentially had some kind of opiod/drug addiction. There is a lot going on in his life.

What is clear from all this is that legacy lawyer (multiple generations in the same town) felt that he was above the law. He is a terrible liar. He has the arrogance to think that going onto the stand in his own trial would allow him to persuade the jury that he was not guilty despite all the evidence mounting against him. The most damaging evidence of course being a phone video done by a family friend looking at his dog on that fateful night. I didn’t like this. I am thankful this person won’t ever see the light of day and freedom again, despite his legal petition for an appeal of his conviction. This is time I won’t ever get back, and a sad end to a very tragic story for this town impacting many more than just the immediate members of this family.