December 9th, 2024

One Day (series): Netflix has released a 14-episode series based upon the book by the same name from writer David Nichols (unread by me) and is a retelling of the story from the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess (also not watched by me). I came into this series fresh, having no knowldge about it, which I think made it more impactful. The story is a romance set in the UK set over 20+ years as these two young people go through their lives, and how they intersect with one another from time to time.

The couple initially meet at an outdoor party in the main courtyard of their university in Edinburgh Scotland. They meet, they walk and talk with the conversation bringing them back to her apartment. They talk some more but are not intimate with one another. They part ways. Then the story, which has some episodes as short as 25 mins, becomes similar to the Neil Simon movie Same Time, Next Year, where we see where the two are each year. This carries on for twenty plus years.

I found that this started off slowly, but the viewer is richly rewarded for the payoff in the last couple episodes where the emotional groundwork has been laid. It seems that this couple is living the Blue Rodeo song Bad Timing, where they are just off. The performances by both of the leads is compelling. We see two people who are real, authentic and flawed. They both spend time trying to find a direction for their lives, with troubles, challenges with families, friends and each other as well as other romantic relationships. It is all very real. The writing is good. I like how despite being separated emotionally and geographically at times, they manage to find a way to connect. They also have direct impact on shaping the life of the other, bringing forth their own observations about their friendship and the person. They both have an ebb and flow in their lives. One can be struggling while the other is finding their stride but then life happens and things change.

The last couple of episodes definitely make the early episodes worth it, with an emotional connection coming forward that was a surprise. Having no knowledge of the story or prior movie, this benefitted me. What I can say is that I think that this is worth a second viewing for me. I think that I will see more, knowing the arc of the story. Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall as the stars have done an excellent job in showing range and growth with these two characters. I expect that there is more work coming from the both of them. Definitely worth your time.

The Day of the Jackal: In 1973, the cerebral British actor Edward Fox starred in the movie based upon the best selling book by Frederick Forsyth. This is a remake of that, and an updating of the story with a cat and mouse game, with a rogue unaffiliated assassin (independent and not part of KGB, CIA, MI6 etc) being tracked by a UK investigative service. The original movie surrounded a plot to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. This effort updates this to a German industrialist looking to be the Chancellor, and later an internet guru with a new tool that is meant to show transparently where money is being hidden throughout the world. Think of it as a target like an Elon Musk who is changing the financial world with a tool soon to be fully released.

Eddie Redmayne plays the Jackal, who leads two lives. In one he is a secretive, known assassin earning millions of dollars for each target. In the other, he is a quiet married man with a young child living in a small town in Spain. He travels a lot and is away from home plenty. His wife isn’t happy at his frequent need to be away during family events. There are many pressures on the Jackal, including a client who is refusing to pay him for the work accomplished.

Redmayne is a master of disguise in many ways like the earlier episodes of Mission Impossible. He researches, he emulates his targets and finds way to get close to his targets. He also has managed to obtain a rifle which allows him to make long distance shots that are unparalleled in history.

These long distance shots are the beginnings of tracking him down by British Intelligence, who are concerned that a rifle like this to allow the shots could be manufactured in Britain. Lashana Lynch plays Bianca, who was in the latest James Bond film No Time to Die. There were rumours back in 2021 that she might actually take on the Bond role, and was actually named 007 in that film with Daniel Craig.

I have finished the first three episodes that have been released. So far I like it. I think that they do a good job at showing the tightening noose for the Jackal. Circumstance seems to find a way to bring the Jackal out of his comfort zone, but the money offered ($100M) is just too rich to pass up. It is early in this series, but it is compelling enough for me to keep watching.

The Ultimatum Season 3: This was just dropped on Netflix and they have not released all of the episodes. This is another buuble gum season of quasi-reality TV where a number of young couples put their romantic relationships on display for all to see and scrutinize. One member of the couple has given an ultimatum to the other; marry me or move on.

The results are predictable with plenty of tears and drama. Of course the flaw in this experiment, is that you have couples who at times have been together for two or three years. They head to this show, and then are expected to split, quickly date others only in this small circle, and then match up in a “new trial marriage” complete with meeting friends and family. How odd? Why get parents and friends involved? They barely know these new people, and they are expected to be living with them. Some aren’t even living with their current partner! The difference in this season is that we have a number of participants who decide quite suddenly that they are not prepared to participate any longer. This leaves a couple of the newly paired people to be on their own, stewing in their own juices. One of those people is a 38yo artist Nick who gave the ultimatum to his 27yo girlfriend Sandy. Sandy is embracing her “new marriage” and this sets Nick tailspinning out of control. Seems he “never expected” that this would be the result. He’s the only one! So this drama continues and further episodes aree to be dropped later this week.

December 2, 2024

Gladiator II: A couple years back when I had heard rumours of a sequel being made by Ridley Scott for Gladiator, I had thought to myself, how can their be a sequel, Maximum (the Russell Crowe Gladiator) had been killed. It was a fitting ending to a good story, well told. I quibbled a bit with the CGI, especially of Rome and the Coliseum as it looked more from a video game than a Hollywood movie, but the film’s performances overshadowed some of the challenges. I was tempering my enthusiasm, as best as I try to do with highly anticipated movies like this one because in the back of my mind is that I don’t want to build it up in my head such that it cannot meet the expectations. I entered the theatre hoping for the best, thinking “I hope this doesn’t suck”.

Well sadly, this was not was I was hoping for at all. Did it suck? I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say that it is a story not worthy of the original, nor Ridley Scott. First of all, however much Russell Crowe is not “in” this movie, his image and finger prints are all over it. I hope that Crowe gets paid for his 2000 image being used so often. The only two original actors in this version is Derek Jacobi (as a senator) and Connie Nielson (who played Lucilla, the daughter of slain Emperor Marcus Aurilius).

My limited pre-screening knowledge was that this was a story about Lucius, the young son of Lucilla who had met Maximus when he was in Rome as a slave gladiator. Maximus’ last words were confirming that “Lucius is safe”. I honestly wished that I hadn’t heard even this little bit of information. It spoiled the earlier part of the movie. There are some heavy hitting acting talents on screen like Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal (who is virtually everywhere) and Paul Mescal as Lucius. For me as someone who really likes the original Best Picture as well four other Oscars. But it misses. The plot comes across for me as contrived. I had always thought, “how does Lucius get all these mad fighting skills as a prince raised in the palace”? But it goes beyond that. In Rome, as opposed to the “vision of Rome” and it becoming a Republic once again with the people running it as opposed to an Emperor, it now has twin Emperors running the country. And these twins are as outlandish and cartoonish as you can imagine. Incidentally, there have never been twin brothers on the throne as Emperor. It just doesn’t make sense, and it wasn’t necessary. It makes the current General’s issue (played by Pascal) with the leadership plain. Then it goes further with a re-enactment in the Coliseum of a naval battle. It has full ships, including oars for the boats, along with many sharks swimming in the waters. I was told that naval battles were shown, however not with sharks nor water deep enough for oars. The final straw for me is the whole issue about details about Lucius which just make sense either for me. So while this movie never approached the original, it didn’t suck, but it didn’t really reveal any reason for being. It didn’t move the overall story much. So I cannot recommend this, and see it as a lost opportunity.

Say Nothing: I had heard about this series on Disney +, as it dealt with The Troubles in Ireland during that 1970s and beyond, and a number of the prominent figures in the Irish Republican Army. It is based upon the book by Patrick Radden Keefe unread by me. This nine-part series tells the true story about the Belfast Project at Boston College, where it had been arranged to have volunteers from the IRA tell their stories on the condition that these stories wouldn’t be disclosed until the person was dead. The aim was to have the whole truth come out for later generations of Northern Irish to explain the actions of Gerry Adams. You see, Adams denies ever being a part of the IRA, let alone being one the leaders in Belfast. There was leadership, like Adams, and there would foot soldiers like Brendan Hughes, Dolours and Marian Price. Adams had become one of the negotiators for a ceasefire in the 1980s with the British, as there was a truce which didn’t mean that the British occupying force was leaving the Emerald Island for good.

This series has a number of different storylines, focusing on the two sisters and their story and involvement with the IRA movement. The story evolves from a re-telling of events according to Dolours, the redhead picture above. I won’t share any more of the details because it is a fascinating story of very difficult and complex times. The issues have evolved over the centuries. I have been to Belfast a couple of times, including taking a black cab tour explaining some of the history within Belfast. It was very eye opening, and scary that in my lifetime, these events can have unfolded with bombings in London, hunger strikes, police brutality within a walled city. But now, progress can be seen as I can take a bus to Belfast and tour the Titanic Museum and have no fear about any difficulties. I am hopeful that the peace which is very controversial, especially among staunch Republic supporters (justifably was a sell-out allowing further British occupation) but on the other hand you have to start somewhere. I don’t have all the answers. Not even close. I don’t think that Gerry Adams has all the answers either, and he is a human without character to throw his supporters and one-time friends under the bus to seek glory for himself, but has he served the greater good of the people of Northern Ireland? Time will tell the answer on that. If you want more insight into the truth of what happened, this is a series for you to view. I highly recommend this. A couple of questions though on this: with the further tale of murder and mayhem within the IRA, who benefits most from this? If the aim remains to get the British out of Ireland, how can this be done in a peaceful way? One would think that if Germany can be reunified, and the Berlin wall can fall, that Ireland should be capable of being one island once again, and entitled to self-rule.

November 25, 2024

The Prestige: I am not entirely sure how I seemed to have missed this Christopher Nolan from back in 2006. It has an impressive cast with Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and a really good cameo. I think this movie was eclipsed for me with the release of the similar themed movie about magic starring Edward Norton titled The Illusionist. I still prefer the Norton film better. But this movie has many of the Nolan trademarks and some tricks and twists along the way. There are plenty of hints that likely will trigger the viewer upon a second viewing.

In brief, Bale and Jackman are young competing magicians/illusionists who used to work together. A defining event occurs where one of them blames the other for the outcome. They split and seek out a memorable trick which will propel them into fame, fortune and notoriety. The competition between the two is so intense that they are looking to cause actual harm to the other in the tricks that they are performing. The acting is good. The story doubles back onto itself a number of times, and despite the plot recap it can still be confusing. Nolan’s movies are nothing if not tests of the audience’s ability to pay close attention at all aspects of the story and the characters within it. There are hints of course, as mentioned earlier, but cleverly the magician doesn’t give up their secrets, and this movie waits until the end to piece it all together for the audience. I think it does show the extremes that some people will undertake to become known, or remembered. They don’t necessarily see the cost to them and those that they love for this reward. I liked the movie. It isn’t Nolan’s best but it certainly isn’t wasting the considerable acting talent that is on display. Worth checking out if you have the chance.

Blitz: Saoirse Ronan has been busy with last week’s The Outrun which is Oscar-worthy and this week the Apple TV release of this WWII movie. Written and directed by Steve McQueen and using Hans Zimmer for the score, this movie tells the story of a single Mom (Rita played by Ronan) during the German bombing of England who looks to find her son (George, played by Elliott Heffernan). During what was referred to as the Blitz, which is a shortened version of the German word “blitzkrieg” where military forces are used in a coordinated way to psychologically demoralize the people using elements of surprise and strength. The German tanks were well known for effecitvely using this method of attack. The Blitz took place September 1940 until May 1941. Over one million children from London alone were relocated during this time.

I give away nothing to say that Rita’s son is mixed race, with the father a young man from Africa who was whisked away by authorities in what can only be described as a racially motivated act by the police against him. We learn this over time, but the main focus is Rita who works in a munitions factory eventually deciding to keep her 9 yo son safe by sending him by train out to the country where he would be cared for along with thousands of other children. This is a very personal story, dealing with these two people and the small family, which included Rita’s father, played by The Jam musical group’s Paul Weller.

When this generation talks about anxiety and not feeling safe, one should remember that in 1940 (just 84 years ago) in addition to their houses being bombed into oblivion, killing neighbours and friends, there was also the stress of finding food, and remaining safe by separating children from their parents. Imagine then, having a headstrong son who decides to escape back to his mother. This story is not specific to one family or person, but rather it is indicative of many such stories with children who were lost during these traumatic times. We see things as an audience that have been previously not seen by me, which was looting and theft at the time after the bombs had been dropped onto stores and houses. Seems that not everyone was looking out for the greater good for the country, but rather looking for ways to survive. We are all so removed in 2024 North American society from real war that is is difficult to contemplate what each of us would do. I would like to think that more citizens would remain true to their values, than what is seen in this movie. I also think that this movie does a really good job at showing the value of the subway stations at a time when it was not safe on the streets outside. People huddled together, slept in the stations and waited out the bombings being uncertain as to what they would come back to when emerging. I enjoyed this, and it is worth checking out.

November 18, 2024

The Outrun: A few weeks back I had written about Conclave, that I felt that I had seen the Best Actor Oscar Winner for this year with Ralph Fiennes. After seeing this new release from Producer Saoirse Ronan and her husband Jack Lowden, directed by Nora Fingscheidt, I think that I can say that I have seen the Best Actress Oscar Winner too. In some ways, it feels like having watched Emma Stone in Poor Things last year.

I will say up front that this is not an easy watch. Set in Scotland, based on the true story novel of the same name (released in 2015), the film tells the story of a young woman Rona (Ronan) and her life and lifestyle. She is a woman with an alcohol addiction problem, and you see her tell her story in reverse from the moment when she realized that she had reached rock bottom and wanted to make a change. As the story reveals itself, we see that a very young Rona grew up in a household where father had his own issues and these impacted her, and her Mom as the marriage fell apart. She managed to get away to London where she fully enjoyed the partying lifestyle in London. The drinking, the loud music, the quick hook ups all contribute to her perception that these are really good times. What she can’t recall is that as she drinks more, she becomes an angry, belligerent drunk. So her memories are selective. She struggles as we see that she had many issues stacked against her. She chooses to leave London, and go back to Scotland where she finds a home for herself on the Orkney Islands on the northern tip of Scotland. It is a solo life, in a small hut where she can detox herself, but also become closer to nature. Temptations arise, and this is no surprise when you live in a pub culture within the UK (Scotland as well as Ireland and England). She also gets to better develop her love for the ocean, and the marine biology degree that she has achieved earlier. There are moments in her struggle where I stated audibly “don’t do it”.

I like Ronan as an actor/actress. I think she is one of the most versatile and talented actors of her generation. For that, she already before starting has me hoping for the best for her. Then this character and her struggles, she shows that she needs help, is vulnerable, and is looking for some direction. As an acting performance, there are physical elements, showing yourself to be impaired but also her interactions among family, friends and romantic interests. Her range of emotion is wide from anger and rage, to crying and seeking foregiveness, to kindness and showing her interaction with people. She is a high functioning drunk, but it doesn’t take away from the allure for her addiction. I sympathize as a parent, but also for any person who is fighting with addiction. I can’t imagine not feeling satisfaction or joy from life without the adding of any substance. Others have played people with alcohol issues and done well with Oscar like Nic Cage (1996 Leaving Las Vegas) or Jessica Lange (1994 Blue Sky) or Elizabeth Taylor (1966 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). There are many, many more. This is worth viewing, and I expect will be mentioned often between now and March 2, 2025.

The Penguin: I finished watching on Crave this limited series. I feel as though it got better and better as it went on. As it went on, I think I became to cheer more for the Cristin Milioti character, Sofia Falcone. The Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot aka Oz Cobb, played excellently by the unrecognizable Colin Farrell, it not a likeable character. He loves one thing in life, which is his Mom, and he is dedicated to a promise to provide her with a better life. To that end, he will do anything. He has no conscience. He became the middleman in a mob war, and was a driver for the young Sofia Falcone when she was young. He is trying to make it on his own, by having the warring mobs destroy one another.

The final episode brings the story full circle. There are some good plot twists and changes in momentum. Those who have been paying attention will see where it will end up going, but the avenues taken are not those that you might have expected. I think the acting and story were first rate. It ties well into the Robert Pattinson The Batman series which will have a second installment released in October 2026. This is worth checking out.

November 11, 2024 (Remembrance Day)

As we have this Monday fall on Remembrance Day here in Canada, I want to ensure that I post my respects, and undying commitment to always remember the fallen. I had family members who faught in WWII, and I have been to the Normandy beaches and seen the museums. I have walked the beaches, visited Pont du Hoc and seen the US, Canadian, British and German cemetaries in Normandy. It is a moving experience, especially seeing the dates on the headstones and realizing just how young these soldiers were. Many were late teens (17, 18, 19) and fell to protect those freedoms that we hold most dear.

Know that I will wear a poppy proudly. Know that I will pause at 11:11 this morning and stop to think and thank our veterans and those who didn’t make it back home. I will never forget.

Shaun of the Dead: Those who know me, know that I am not a zombie guy. There are some exceptions, even recently with the series The Last of Us, which was less zombie and far more a human story. But generally I steer clear. I will admit, however that I do like Simon Pegg. So this horror/comedy was overlooked by me back in 2004 when it was released.

Pegg plays Shaun and he is having trouble with his life and virtually all aspects of it. He has trouble with his job, his friends and his girlfriend. Life isn’t going as expected and he pretty much keeps to a same routine, one day flowing into the next. Pegg’s gift is that he can play the everyman, and the guy who can be oblivious to strange things happening around him. Shaun is viewed as a guy who isn’t very “take charge” and it is only after realizing what is happening that he chooses to step up. For me there were a couple of chuckles, for example the scene with Shaun and his (generally) useless buddy, who confront a zombie in the backyard. There ensues an interesting conversation as the zombie meets a terrible end. All ends as you likely would expect, with a couple tweaks. For those who like Simon Pegg, this is likely mandatory viewing. For those not enamoured with the genre or the actor then it likely can be passed over.

The Diplomat (Seasons 1 and 2): Back in 2023 Netflix released this series from the writer who had previously worked The West Wing, Debora Cahn. Starring Keri Russell, it has an impressive cast, including Rufus Sewell (as her husband), David Gyasi (previously in Interstellar), Michael McKean (from Better Call Saul) and Rory Kinnear (previously in The Imitation Game as the cop investigating).

The story is complex, and begins fairly simply with Russell who has had some previous postings in various US government hot spots (Afghanistan and others), she along with her husband Hal with whom she has a strained relationship. It seems Hal has been released from his political duties and Russell is being quickly reassigned to be the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom. She has a staff, who we get to learn about, and there is a pressing situation unfolding when a British aircraft carrier is damaged by a third party with lives being lost on board. The intrigue runs high and deep. Let the layering begin. The Ambassador makes some quick friends, but also runs afoul of others, as is likely to happen. With any espionnage story there is much that isn’t known and the layers don’t always reveal themselves easily or quickly. It is a chess game, but with a board from an Ambassador which misses pieces and some overall context. The ending of season 1 was intriguing and well done. The tension just builds and builds. The continuation of this story from the moment that ended season 1, and the further unveiling in season 2 is really well done. A master stroke in casting was the introduction of Allison Janney as the Vice President of the United States. Janney is excellent. The writing is crisp with authentic interplay between the characters. All the characters. Things that you expected to happen don’t always unfold, and there is much to be learned. It is interesting to have the women, generally, have it together, while the men in their lives, and those that surround them are a mess. Not entirely a mess, I should add, but men capable of causing tremendous stress to the women and further mixing the circumstances around. Russell’s interactions with the British Foreign Secretary are particularly fun to watch. This was worth the binge watching, and I managed the six episodes in season 2 easily over the weekend. There will be a season 3 it would seem, and I will look forward when it does.

November 4th, 2024

The Deer Hunter: I re-visited the 1978 Michael Cimino directed classic Oscar Best Picture yesterday, which I had not seen in a number of years. Starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Cazale and John Savage this drama set in steel town Clariton, Pennsylvania tells the story of good friends who three of which are about to head off to Viet Nam in the war effort. Those three are Michael (De Niro), Nick (Walken) and Steven (Savage). Savage before deploying is getting married, and there is an elaborate wedding sequence not unlike that within The Godfather. The wedding sets the stage for how the friends interact, and their romantic attachments including Steven acknowledging that he hadn’t had sex with his new bride Angela, despite the fact that she is pregnant. We also see that Michael and Nick are both romantically interested in Linda, played by Streep. The buddies together all enjoy hunting for deer in season, and they do so one last time.

Fast forward to Viet Nam, and quickly the three friends, despite being in different areas of the military end up being POWs to a group of sick gamblers who force the prisoners to play russian roulette before them. Russian roulette is one bullet put into the chamber of a handgun, and then each of two players one at a time has to put the gun to his temple and pull the trigger. The captors bet on the results. Michael the alpha male of the group decides to bravely convince his close friends on a plan to keep living. Dramatic things happen, which are heart wrenching and intense. The three friends get split up. Michael returns to Pennsylvania alone. He meets up with Linda, who despite being engaged to Nick, hasn’t heard one word from him. Michael later visits with Steven in a difficult meeting. The movie continues to a conclusion that is both shocking and reflective of the US involvement in the war.

This picture is over 3 hours long. It won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Walken). In all five Academy Awards. All well deserved. It is a really good story, with tremendous acting from all concerned. I found that it was too long, and certainly too long in the opening wedding sequence. The return for Michael is also a bit too long as well. This should have been a movie less than 3 hours. The POW sequences are some of the most iconic in film, and in stories about Viet Nam. If you have not watched this movie, it is worth your time, if for nothing else than seeing Hollywood legends working at their best. Some fun facts about this movie from some research:

The deer hunting sequences are filmed in mountainous Washington State and no where near Pennsylvania
Robert DeNiro was paid $1M in 1978 for this role, and he has stated that this was the most physically exhausting film of his career
DeNiro and Savage did their own stunts in this film
Real rats and bugs were used in the POW sequence
The slapping in the russian roulette sequences was all authentic and real
John Cazale was riddle with lung cancer during the filming and died for the film was finished and released. Robert DeNiro paid the insurance fee to allow Cazale to participate in it
Michael Camino famously followed up this film with the Hollywood bomb Heaven’s Gate, and his career never fully recovered
The film doesn’t indicate who the father of Angela’s baby was, but later Camino admitted that it was Nick’s
The wedding sequence took over five days to film. DeNiro at one point collapsed from exhaustion

Conclave: This is a new film released, directed by German-Austrian director Edward Berger. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini in the main screen roles. It is based on the 2016 book of the same name by Robert Harris. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and the intrigue involved from beginning to end. There were excellent performances all around, but I believe that I just witnessed the Best Actor Oscar winner in Ralph Fiennes, who carries the movie and all of its intricacies on his face. Conclave is a process within the Catholic church for the nomination and election of a new Pope to succeed a Pope who has just passed away. It involves bringing all the cardinals throughout the world to the Vatican and sequestering them until they come to a decision with a vote with one member who achieves two-thirds majority of the vote. We have seen this drama unfold fairly recently cinematically from the Dan Brown book and film Angels and Demons.

Fiennes plays the Dean, a position, by the name of Cardinal Lawrence and he is in charge of the process. The movie is fiction, and addresses a conclave in turbulent times. I think that this movie is very timely because it also addresses many of the same issues in the present US election to take place later this week. The church and leadership is divided among the traditionalists and the liberals. The traditionalists wish to go back to the old ways and old teachings with hardline stances on issues like abortion, divorce, women in the church among many. Issues that in 2024 have seen continued attendance drop within the pews throughout the country. This is compared with “the liberals” as stated by the traditionalists who fear that the core of the faith is eroding away with too much flexibility and a lack of structure. The liberals wish to accommodate people with different views and attitudes. Church in their eyes should be bringing people together and embrace their diversity. This conclave is viewed as fundamental to protecting the progress made over the past 40 years. The traditionalists feel like a war is coming and that the church needs to take a stance, and it is time take the offense, and separate “them” from “us”. What is explored are deep issues of faith and leadership. Issues like, how far are you willing to go to explore deeply into a nominees past to see whether they are fit to lead? What about a conflict of interest when you have also become a nominee? When you make such a decision, then how far are you willing to move your initial commitment in the face of new concerns? Other issues like, can one who questions their faith lead an entire church? Or would you rather vote for one who seeks out power like this, or those who claim that they have no interest? Do you vote for and choose among the “best of a bad lot”? The dynamics of any election come into play. Fiennes ably has to deal with each of these issues, in a series of events, along with external events, that are having impact on the proceedings and him personally. He is joined by John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci who have their own motivations in how things turn out. The acting and writing is superb. There are significant plots twists that keep the audience guessing and second guessing. It is so very satisfying. There are no car chases. No gun fights. No love interests, beyond the love of the church and God and doing the right thing. But there is an unusual playing out of a process that the church has been undertaking since 1492, in the most dramatic way, taking it to the extreme to make a point, and be entertaining. Each conclave has been held at the Sistine Chapel since 1878. Despite all of the traditions and outfits, this is still a story about power and those who look to wield it. I am fully expecting many award nominations to come from this picture. I agree with other reviewers who have been very positive about it. In my view, you should seek this movie out.

October 27, 2024

Lee: Any film that has Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Alexander Skarsgard is worthy of some attention. This movie is the life story of model and war-time photographer American Lee Miller. Miller led a fascinating and full time, which I think viewers in 2024 should view with an understanding of her times (late 30s and into war-time 1940s). These are not exactly times where women are viewed as anywhere near equal and capable, while ironically the women were expected to contribute to the war effort in previously held positions solely of men (like in factories, munitions, mining etc.). Before the war begins, Lee Miller is living in France with her bohemian friends discussing politics and how it isn’t possible for the German to be electing the despot Adolph Hitler. They believe as they sit topless outside, sipping wine and enjoying the bounty of a life of freedom in late 30s Europe. By happenstance at this gathering, she meets a handsome Brit, Roland Penrose, played by Skargard, who was an historian, art collector and supporter of those against the growing German power, and by definition the independent French. They become romantically linked.

Miller was a former successful model, we learn, who later decided to get behind the camera. She had some very good skills. We explore more of the story through the lens of a discussion with a young man in her living room. Miller is at this stage much older, drinking more heavily and still an avid smoker. Her older pictures have been found by the young man and he would like to know the stories behind them.

Winslet admirable plays this woman who for her time was a force of nature. She would not take No for an answer. Her experience as a model leads her into a role at the British Vogue magazine where she is blessed with a supportive and forward-thinking editor and boss. Miller hears how photographers are being solicited to travel to mainland Europe as the build up continues and the inevitable invasion into France. Miller wants to be there. The British refuse. She finds a way around that and becomes an on-the-ground photographer first relegated to pictures of medics on the back end of the battle but moving closer to the front lines. She depicts scenes in war that show time and again the atrocities involved. As the war is nearing the close, she finds what has been unknown until this time at the concentration camps. The pictures she takes along with her fellow American Life magazine photojournalist, played by Andy Samberg, are some of the most impactful of the time. The movie delves deeper into censorship, protection of the public versus the need for the truth to be known far and wide. It also explores family, parents, being known and how one’s legacy can be shaped by one’s own view of your contribution. This is a remarkable life of someone who refused to do what was expected of her, and put herself at risk to journal what was happening in a troubled time. In 2024, we can talk about crisis after crisis and the “world never being the same again” but in the mid-1940s millions were being killed, and battles were taking place which shaped that world, and in this one. For those on the front lines, they lived day to day. As we enter into November and Remembrance Time, we should not forget the sacrifice made for the freedoms we hold dear, and will hopefully with some common sense, well into the future. I enjoyed this, and I especially enjoyed the ending and how it was presented.

Love is Blind – Season 7: The wedding show was dropped last week as the viewers learned how managed to get to the alter and commit to their partner, rather than walking away. Funnily enough, the one couple didn’t make it there as they had a break up with one deciding that he talked to family and friends and “just wasn’t sure”. Prior to that others had crashed and burned in more or less predictable fashion. I do believe that the premise itself is flawed. Falling in love and proposing not ever setting eyes on someone is one thing, but there are all the other real world impacts (financial, geographic, cultural and political issues) all have material impact on compatability.

For this season, there was some due diligence seemingly not undertaken by the producers. I would like to think that if a contestant has children, that this would be something that would be explored fully before they entered into such an experiment. I would further expect that if that was fully vetted, that there is a follow up to ensure that it is disclosed to those people that they are talking to. I would further expect that if a contestant for a show based in Washington DC is deeply committed to living in California that this also be disclosed up front. Better yet, why not have that contestant wait for another season in California be filmed and throw your name into the ring there. I think it is unfair to expect compromise where you are already living in DC, but later talk about looking to move. I was pleased to see that parents who throughout the process were against being involved and on camera decide that they wish to set aside their trepidation about the process and show up for a memorable day for their adult child. In any way, it would be a later regret in my view. The reunion show will be a spectacle (dropping this Wednesday) and should show the aftermath of the decisions made in this season. I didn’t enjoy this season as much as the previous LIB UK version, where the people involved seemed more genuine and committed to the process. This is mind candy for those who desire some escapism.

October 21, 2024

The Penguin: I have been struggling with The Penguin, as I had indicated just last week. I struggled with a Batman story with no reference at to Batman. I understand that this is a backstory for the super-villian Penguin, played by Colin Farrell who looks as unrecognizable here as he did in the movie version with Robert Patinson. But I have said that already. But last Sunday night when I was watching episode four, entitled Cent’Ann, this was a turning point in terms of bringing the story of the Penguin, but also the story of Sophia Falcone, played well by Cristin Milioti. This episode is focused on Sophia and her backstory. Until this time, she is a character who is being relegated to the back seat by her own family and the male mob family members. Things change, and we see how.

We are shown how her father, Carmine, played by Mark Strong ruled with an iron fist. He had some questionable interactions with some members in a club and Sophia even as a young woman had some insight into it. She was viewed in the early episodes as this loose cannon, a crazy member of the family who should be ignored. The powers that be wanted to basically eliminate her and her influence. What we see is a young woman who was wronged, and she through sheer guts and determination overcame the substantial barriers put before her. She takes a negative aspect of Arkham mental institution into something that she can use for power and notoriety. This brings things together for me, and this was the best episode in the series. Milioti is excellent. The time invested in the first three episodes is rewarded with a backstory with aspects of Girl Interupted, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the Godfather. Lofty company indeed. The viewer can see her substantial motivation as the episode unfolds. It is a very satisfying ending, at least in my opinion. I look forward to episode 5.

We Live in Time: This movie was part of the TIFF line up with its worldwide release September 7th. It was released with much fanfare with its cast members Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. Two A-list stars who put together a formidable team in this love story, drama.

The story is a simple one, told so many times before of how two people fall in love and then build a life together. What is does really well is stay authentic to the compelling characters, and most notably for Florence Pugh’s Almut, who really steals the show. Garfield plays Tobias as her love interest.

The story is told a various times, and does not follow a linear progression, so you need to pay attention. The biggest help is Pugh’s hairstyles. We know things later, but shown earlier in the movie which have to then see how they unfolded. I give nothing away from what has already been disclosed in the trailer that Pugh has some medical issues. The movie has a feeling like others before it in the vein of 1970s A Love Story with Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Niell, City of Angels or even An Autumn in New York. This is a more-than-one-Kleenex type of movie. It pulls at your heart strings because you care about the people. There are conversations early in the relationship which you don’t typically see in a movie like this. A discussion about children which is unusual on screen, and it makes what happens later more poignant. It is well written and delivered well. Garfield and Pugh definitely have chemistry, and I have read reports about the film crew talking about the couple going on in love scenes long after the director had said “cut”. I can see how that happened.

As to the movie, and where it goes, I am thoroughly impressed by the resilience, the commitment to one another, despite serious circumstances shows a couple who decides quite consciously to live for the day, and not spend too much time focusing on the “what might happen” in the future. The couple communicates generally pretty well about things but with a couple notable hiccups. I am reminded that no one is perfect, and the perfect mate does not exist. Everyone has challenges. No one gets through unscatched. The important question is whether as a couple that your time on this planet is made better with this person in your life. No one is promised another day. In these circumstances it brings those questions to the forefront, and asks the viewer “if this couple can act in such a manner, as shown on screen, what’s up with YOU?” Deep issues abound, like why are we here? What really matters? What is your legacy? How do you want to be remembered? Who will remember what about you? I recommend this movie if you have a beating heart and have ever had any romantic feelings at all for anyone.

October 14th, 2024

Saturday Night: Saturday Night Live is into their 50th season, and while having some ups and downs over the decades it is regarded as an iconic series of sketch television. Hollywood stars like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon are all alumni. But it wasn’t always this way. Back on October 11, 1975, producer Lorne Michaels was green lighted by NBC to put together a late night show with a bunch of unknown twenty-something comedians for a show that was anything but fully baked. For the first episode, Michaels had lined up comics, like George Carlin to host, a number of musical acts, and sketch comics from places like Second City in Chicago. Among the now familiar cast included Gilda Radner, Lorraine Newman, Dan Ackroyd, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtain, Garrett Morris and John Belushi. Acts on the sidelines included Billy Crystal, who later joined the cast in 1984.

The film which premiered at Teleride Film Festival in August, is directed by Ivan Reitman’s son Jason. Ivan worked with many SNL actors and those behind the scenes like Harold Ramis. The movie focuses on the disorganized chaos in the hours leading up to the live show airing at 11:30PM that fateful night. There is Michaels trying to organize the show by segments on the main storyboard, the actors becoming familiar with their roles, and the NBC brass, who we learn was expecting and hoping for this to be a massive failure and continue to negotiate with Johnny Carson who was the King of Late Night. The viewer knows where all of this will lead but it is a colourful journey.

I think that this movie did a find job of finding actors to play those people who starred in the show. I think that those portraying Belushi, Ackroyd, Morris (the BMO advertising guy), Newman and George Carlin were excellent in how they looked and sounded. The movie made no attempts to dissuade the feeling I had had for years that Chevy Chase was and is an asshole. Plain and simple. From NBC workers refusing to help set up the brick stage, to the refusal of Belushi to sign his contract, to the roles played of guests Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson with the Muppets, it all seems so very unbelievably chaotic. One wonders just how long Michaels had been given to bring this together. The sheer number of people expected to be on stage for the program was unreal. Dick Ebersol who co-created the series with Michaels isn’t really shown in a favourable light, despite calling out what seemed to be obvious to everyone else but Michaels. In the end, for those who are fans of SNL, you will get some insight into putting together a variety show, and doing it all live before an audience who wasn’t really clear what they would be seeing. There are some surprise cameos throughout and a few chuckles. I was not rolling in the aisle, but it made me laugh a few times. Is it a big screen movie? No, not really. This would be just fine on the smaller screen.

The Penguin: I have seen three episodes of this new series focusing on the Penguin character that was introduced in the modern Batman films in the Robert Pattinson version from 2022. Although the movie focused more on Paul Dano’s The Riddler, Colin Ferrell was present too. This series speaks to the backstory of this Penguin. First and foremost, in the film I was surprised to realize that the person playing The Penguin was actually Ferrell. His face, voice and body were tranformed into this unique character. Of course the Penguin has been played memorably in the past by Burgess Meredith (with his monocle, purple top hat and cigarette holder) as well as Danny Devito for Tim Burton.

Farrell plays the Penguin and a middle management worker in a crime family who wants more for himself and his reputation. He is willing to risk it all by inserting himself into a mob family war, by being the instigator for it. He plays an integral part to the happenings all the while showing himself to both side as being an invaluable asset with inside information. He uses people to get his own way and to promote his own self interests. It has been a slow burn as he becomes closer to the sister of a fallen Falcone member after the death of the head of the Falcone family. Sofia Falcone is played well by Cristin Milioti, who I remember from the Broadway musical Once. She plays an intense woman, who has previously been mistreated by being placed in a sanatorium, but it debatable whether she really needed it. She too is looking to become more relevant and exert her influence in a mostly all-male dominated mob world. She has intense almost black eyes.

I am still struggling trying to get into this series. Yes I know that the focus is the backstory of a mob character. But this is a Batman Gotham world. I am missing that Batman piece, where he isn’t even mentioned. The episode where the walls of the city are bombed by the Riddler to have the city flooded, still has no mention of the caped crusader. Yes, there is intrigue with the Penguin and he actions, crossing both of his supposed masters in a performance by Farrell that is really good. I just wish that he had more to work with. Maybe this will pick up the pace, but for me I am hoping that it is sooner rather than later.

October 7th, 2024

Tragically Hip No Dress Rehearsal: This documentary was released this year at TIFF, directed by the older brother of the deceased lead singer Gord Downie, and with the attendance and full cooperation of the remaining members of the band. I feel as though I should be listening to the song “Courage” or “Wheat Kings” as I write it. The Tragically Hip are a Kingston Ontario based band that gained massive popularity and fame within this country, from sea to shining sea. Their principal song writer (lyrics to be sure) came from the lead singer who in his early 50s was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. He died in October 2017. The last concert that they played on a farewell tour was the second most watched TV show in Canadian history, watched by almost half the nation’s households. Such was the notoriety of the band. The thorough four-part documentary goes through warts and all the bands rise, popularity, struggles and then the ending with the final appearances for Gord.

Much is made by the fact that this band never “made it big” in the United States, but they defend this as a conscious choice. They are small town Canadian band. Small town Ontario and write very Canadian stories, like about former Toronto Maple Leaf Bill Barilko from reading the back of a hockey card (the song Fifty-Mission Cap). From playing high school auditoriums and bars in Kingston, they grew to be filling arenas around the world. But nowhere were they so beloved as in Canada. It has taken 7 years for these very private remaining members to come forward with this very personal memoir of their times in the band, both good and bad.

I love the creative process, and it always astounds me where ideas come from, seemingly from out of thin air. How words, for which we see Gord mastering the art as he jots down ideas incessantly into an ever-present notebook, can later be turned into lyrics. The rest of the band comes in to help bring it to life. They are a band of brothers, and we see the closeness. It is a moving tribute, and pays it due respect to the family members who for love of their children, supported them with a vehicle to allow touring. Then there are later wives and children who see their Dads go off to perform and return many weeks later. These boys lived their childhood dreams of playing music for a living. They learn along the way the business of music too. Making choices which reflect their own sensibilties, like refusing to do a concert and promotion for Tower Records which wanted to make a big splash in Canada – and these devoutly loyal customers of Sam the Record Man, declined. Much of the music, and those tunes that you recognize were produced in places like New Orleans and other places well away from Ontario. For me I like The Hip, but I am no superfan. I have a number of their songs on my IPhone. I didn’t watch their last concert until the end, as having seen Gord in his prime at a concert in Darien Lake, I didn’t like seeing him courageously performing this last time. At the end you could see the toll that it took on him. For those who don’t know the music, seek it out. Lots of Youtubes out there for their popular songs. Songs from Road Apples, Fully Completely and Day for Night are three albums with success that many bands cannot duplicate. They are worth a listen, at least to understand what Canadians choose to listen to those of their own. I think there is plenty of hyperbole surrounding the band as “the greatest poetry ever put to music in Canada”. There are so many great Canadian acts and artists that this is arogant, including among many Neil Young, Robbie Robertson, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Guess Who, BTO, Bryan Adams and many many others. This is worthy of your time.

Bill Gates: What Is Next? The Future: Also on Netflix is this documentary with Bill Gates and various celebrity guests (like James Cameron, Lady Gaga, or Dr Fauci, Bernie Sanders) which addresses topical issues like Artificial Intelligence, Global Warming, Fake News and Social Media, Billionaires and being too rich and Outsmarting Disease.

It is fascinating listening to this man address the issues of the day and how he, after stepping down as CEO of Microsoft, has been spending his time trying to make the planet a better place, one issue at a time. His charitable company, started when he and his wife were still together, has spent billions of dollars in the hopes of making a difference. He challenges other billionaires to do the same with their wealth. He takes no pleasure it seems as being acknowledged as the Richest Man in the World. With great wealth, comes great responsibility it would seem.

He will further acknowledge that the tech moguls he stands with at Facebook, Google, Amazon have created the social media where the long term effects weren’t fully understood or realized. How could they be? But much like the proverbial toothpaste, it can’t be put back into the tube. So he poses to the next generation the questions of dealing with massive issues like global warming, which they note needs immediate attention on a number of fronts (transportation, energy, food, etc). For those who are interested in this perspective, you also see how many won’t be interested as they see this as “liberal left” thinking. But for a man who deals with facts and business, he has some keen insight while not having all the solutions. But if were to rely on an opinion as to where things could be going, this is someone that I would want to listen to. He did foresee the personal computer on every work desk, and in every home. He didn’t foresee it being in the palm of our hands in the beginning but not everyone bats 1.000. Well worth your time.

Love is Blind Season 7: This new season just dropped is set in Washington DC. It follows the familiar pattern where it will be the contestants who will decide and reveal whether it is worth watching. The first season was very watchable for likeable people who you cared about. I am only an episode and half in, and already I am undecided. I am hopeful that the second half of episode 2 will show us a large cross section of the contestants. It is early days in the pods as people talk, and try to connect. The over-use of the word “like” admittedly hurts my ears for these mid-20-somethings and early 30s people. But that is me showing my age. All of these seasons are mind candy, which I can watch after a day of work and decompress. Watch at your own risk. 🙂