March 11, 2024

Nobody: This 2021 short film running time a little over 1.5 hours stars Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) playing Hutch Mansell, and his wife, played by Connie Nielson, as an apparent ordinary man with an unknown past speaking about the aftermath of his actions to a couple police officers. In a flashback we see that he in his home had a home robbery, in front of his family, in which he is not able to do anything about it. What is not revealed at that time, which we learn about as an audience, is that he was an “auditor” and is highly skilled in making problems go away. He was well trained in the use of weapons and hand to hand combat. He was a war veteran, and doing his best, like many other similar characters to have a simple life. This was a normal that he craved. Like John Wick, Michael Corleone or any other of these career criminals they wish to escape “the life”. But it always seems to bring them back in.

I like Odenkirk as an actor. I doubt for me he will ever get away from being Saul. This is a good thing. It was a perfect character for him. I don’t picture him as the physical action figure, but more creative, intelligent guy living on the seams of society in that vague grey area between right and wrong. Still in the pivotal moment with these petty thieves, who are obviously not professionals, he makes a choice which he then later needs to correct using his own methods. This movie has a good pace. It comes to a resolution quickly, and is satisfying on that front. I can’t help but think that it has been done as a plot so many times before, and this one isn’t adding much to the genre. It is capable, and shows Odenkirk can do a role like this, and it was good to see Christopher Lloyd in a movie again, playing Hutch’s father. It’s a movie with a number of actors from top movies from back in the 1980s and 1990s who have all aged like the rest of us (like Michael Ironside). Apparently there is a Nobody 2 on the way. This was on Netflix, and filled some time, but was one of those movies that I was forgetting a day later what I had seen and what it was about. So I cannot recommend, but I won’t actively dissuade someone from watching either.

Love is Blind Season 6: The final 1.5 hour episode for this was released earlier this week with the remaining couples and the decision that they had about actually going to the alter. I will say that this has been a satisfying season with those involved. There of course is plenty of drama and flight attendant Chelsea doing her best to maintain her status as the most needy and dramatic of the group! Cliffhangers are provided at the end of epsiodes to keep one watching, but it’s about those couples remaining and whether you like them and cheer for them. On the docket is, as mentioned, the weddings at the altar.

There are some twists and turns to be sure. Choices are made for the sake of television, but more importantly for these people who are recognizing the weight of what they are looking to do. I will say that I was impressed by then parents in this show. They were able to love and support there children in what is a bizarre experiment before the whole world. They provided sage advice, since most of them were divorced and had the benefit of hindsight. I also feel that some of those involved were able to communicate very well in trying situations, notably Jimmy in his relationship with Chelsea. Many men can struggle with talking about their feelings and their reactions to the things that their partner does and says. I was impressed by the ability in their 20s to talk through things. As mind candy goes, this was a good season. It fills some time and can make an evening go by quickly. The success rate with all these relationship shows is extremely poor with marriages and children. But they will continue to make these so long as people want to watch and advertisers and subscribers want to pay.

Somebody Feed Phil: the new season for this Netflix series has been released, and I have enjoyed this in the past. As a foodie, I like to see the meals and the travel logs that Phil provides in his travels around the world to eat. The latest season I have watched actively Scotland, and also Washington DC episodes (DC a less useful effort than others he has done in my opinion with not enough focus on the food) but also Kyoto. I have really enjoyed these, and I have mirrored in the past his travel. Last year in Lisbon Phil provided great suggestions to add to the already amazing scenery in Lisbon and throughout Portugal. Each suggestion including and especially the Restaurante Ponto Final on a jetty on the water. Lovely and memorable!

I love too that he brings along his wife and kids as well. His wife Monica has such a joie de vive always smiling and adding to the laughs. His daughter, in the Scottish episode, reveals how she was a picky eater as a child but has grown and pushes herself to try new things. Phil does some touristy things along the way, some with more success than others. The rowing in Washington kind of went well, but the snorkelling in Iceland was not a success, which of course brings some laughs, which is the intention. Phil brings in local guides, and samples really amazing food in fun locations. When he eats, and he likes, his whole face and body light up! He obviously has a joy in eating and trying new things. I have reviewed episodes for places I have been to, but also watched for other unfamiliar locationss which can give me some travel ideas. I will continue to watch and encourage others to do so.

May 15th, 2023

I was off last week enjoying some time away in Europe, my happy place with a really good biddy from Germany. We went to a bucket list place for me of Portugal. In short, it was excellent, and lived up to all expectations. I would return to Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve areas. I had the benefit of many YouTube contributtions but was indebted to Netflix for the Somebody Feed Phil series which had an entire episode on Lisbon. The highlight was the Pont Final restaurant right on a jetty on the ocean. It was a very good meal at an excellent location that was one of a kind for a sunny day in May.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: So what do you do as a movie executive if you have released a hit movie, with many sequels and spin offs possible, and then all of a sudden your star of the film in real life dies? It’s not an easy choice. So many ways that the decision can go badly for you. The executive team at Marvel dealt with this situation when the lead of the original, popular Black Panther, Chadwick Aaron Boseman, passed away at the age of 43.

He was a charismatic guy, and along with challenger Michael B Jordan made the original a very watchable superhero film. As I have said many a time, I am generally not a superhero movie guy and less-so the Marvel series. I don’t find many of them compelling, even when it was one of the early superhero movie with Spiderman.

So to answer the question, one of the choices is to accept and incorporate the death into the movie. This was done thoughtfully, respectfully and tastefully with a couple of nice collages within the movie. As for the plot, there is also an amount of time to mourn the lost hero, with the family and the community. But like all things in life, the only constant is change. People move on, and families move on. It doesn’t mean that they forget. Black Panther’s Mom played by Angela Bassett takes the crown back and acts as Queen. She has her hands full because it turns out that the rest of the known world to you and I want to get there hands on the exclusive “vibranium” (or so it was thought).

It seems someone has created a vibranium detector, and there are aggressive moves made by other countries to obtain the mineral from Wakanda by force. It fails. But then things happen which take the film in two different directions. One dealing with the maker of this detection machine and the other around a new, previously unknown mystery entity. I will leave the details to the movie itself. There is a significant threat to Wakanda and the leaders look to find a new protector for the people. Ultimately I won’t quibble with the choice made and how it proceeds forward. Of course as a superhero movie there are moments of disbelief. I think that the performances were generally good. I also think that the music helped a great deal to bring forth some of the emotion. It has a heart this film. For the guy who doesn’t like most superhero movies, I didn’t hate it.

Succession: Final Season: I am one week behind in watching Succession, meaning that the May 14th episode I didn’t see yet. I caught up on the May 7th episode which dealt with the election night. With the father gone, the adult children are showing their limitations and vulnerability. Scheming and turning on each other and the staff who remained at the top with their father. Randall and Roman deal with the potential new acquirer, Matsson. Meanwhile sister Shiv is playing both sides in her professional life and in her personal life with her husband Tom. There is some compelling TV to be seen here. I anxiously await to see how it turns out. Great writing, really good acting. My favourite line in the episode is from Matsson to Greg, who he earlier calls Gary. He says “I thought you were backwash at the bottom of the gene pool…”. Priceless!

January 2nd, 2023 (Happy New Year)

The Whale: I had seen the coverage from one of the film festivals where Brendan Fraser in attendance at the cinema was given a rousing 10+ minute standing ovation for his performance in this stage play turned into a film. I was intrigued by this film directed by Darren Aronofsky. It has a simple setting and only a few characters which explain the treatment on the live stage. This is not an uplifting film, but far more down telling the tale of this middle aged man who is slowly but surely ending his life one bite at a time. All the characters involved in some have an element of self-loathing, shame and anger at the world. They aren’t a collective group that you would want to share holiday time.

Charlie is an online university English Literature professor. He appreciates the written word and he can write and teach effective essay writing. For his students, he tells them that his computer camera isn’t working and so while he can see them, they cannot see him. He is ashamed of himself and what he has become. He lives alone. Beyond delivery people, his only visitor is a nurse with her own backstory. A young man drops in by chance for a visit from “the church”. This young man also has his own story. Things happen. It turns out that Charlie was once married and that he has a daughter. He would like to try and reconnect with her. Daughter and Mom each have their own issues to address.

For me, none of the characters are very likeable. Each has their own challenges in the way that they have dealt with their circumstances. The principal focus of course being Charlie, and he continues to be his own worst enemy. From a practical standpoint, this is yet another example of a story that would be very different if it took place in any other country than the US. You see, Charlie has no health insurance, and he cannot afford to have crippling doctor bills. Much like Breaking Bad, and many other such situations if he lived in Canada, for example, he would have universal health care. He wouldn’t have to choose between getting treatment and leaving some financial assistance behind for his family. He would simply go to the hospital, see a doctor and get treated. Our system isn’t perfect, and this isn’t the forum to talk about it at length, but the Western World (save the US) long ago realized that health care is a right.

Beyond this, Charlie is making poor choices about eating and his health, but that is the point. He is smart enough to know better. He sees what is happening to him. He has made choices in life, and has suffered the inevitable consequences that we all do. He chooses to deal with it in a manner that many likely would not. Seeing him stuff unhealthy meal after unhealthy meal into his face is disconcerting. He feels disgusting on the inside, so he wants his outside to match it. His performance is very good, and will garner acting nominations with the Oscar seemingly a given. It is a welcome comeback for the Canadian actor, who has gone from being a heartthrob leading man with The Mummy and George of the Jungle to care less about his appearance. James Cordon apparently auditioned for the part of Charlie, and I will say that Fraser is I think a better choice for the character. For all his girth, Fraser has these sympathetic blue eyes that shown his inner turmoil. In the end, the daughter Ellie who likely already needed a good deal of therapy will likely need more. If you want to be uplifted and feel better when you leave a theatre, then this movie isn’t for you. If you want to see a really good performance, with some insight into other people and the pain that they have, then this is a good choice. You don’t need to see this on the big screen.

Somebody Feed Phil: Netflix has this TV series on created by Phil Rosenthal who worked on the show Everyone Loves Raymond, which I did not watch. The premise of this show is for Phil to travel the world and eat really cool local food. Phil is a foodie and clearly enjoys eating. He also likes sharing his food with his crew. I like that. Much like Stanley Tucci, Phil is doing a travel log as well as a food recommendation episode. He doesn’t limit himself to Italy, however, and I have watched the episodes on Lisbon, Madrid, Nashville and Montreal. I think the Lisbon episode was excellent showing the city, a city that I play to see later this year and this gave me some really good ideas on where to stop.

Phil sits at a restaurant with tables on a jetty in Lisbon. Amazing!

Phil enthusiastically eats five different types of shrimp at a different eatery. The show gives one a great sense of the place while introducing the food that is known in that area. In some ways it is like Rick Steves but without the historical background, see the markets, bakeries and restaurants. I heartily recommend this for anyone interested in food and/or travel. Phil certainly will have visited somewhere that will pique your interest, and your appetite.