Tag: Your Friends and Neighbors

May 5th, 2025 (Cinco de Mayo)

The Last of Us – Season 2: The new season has been released a few weeks back, and epsiode 4 will drop this evening (as I am writing this on Sunday afternoon). Episode 1 was released April 13th, and I was anxious to see this series since the end of Season 1 in March 2023. The audience is forgiven in not remembering the details of what had occurred back then. All I could remember is that the citizens in the community Joel and Ellie were in (Salt Lake City) were managing to survive through the deception of the leaders in charge. Things happened and like any life situation, there are consequences for the actions. Joel and Ellie end up in Jackson Hole. I will preface my review of the early episodes of season 2 with the fact that I am not familiar with the video game, and I had no idea where the story went within the video game sequel. With that said, here we go. Season 2, Episode 1 opens up five years later in Jackson Hole, and Ellie and Joel aren’t really talking to one another. The older adult and parent in me sees a 19 year old young woman asserting her independence, and thinking that her parent/person of authority doesn’t know anything about her or about life in general and she is rebelling. Added to that mix there is a sense of invinsibility for young Ellie. She can be reckless, talk back and disregard her elders. Younger viewers may take issue with that characterization, and that Ellie has been deceived by Joel, although she is not fully aware of it, and she needs to form new bonds of friends and people her own age. So the episode has little to do with the zombies, and more about the dynamic between the principal characters.

I found episode 1 slow, and not very compelling. In a series where the writing and story have been so good this didn’t start off in a manner that I would have hoped. But given the history of the series, and my enjoyment of it, I was going to stick with it.

Episode 2 was worth the wait, and racheted up the intensity heavily in an action-packed story. Very quickly we move on from family dynamics and get into some imminent threats. There is a group from Salt Lake City determined to seek revenge for the actions of Joel in his escape. It is a young group, and the one female leader, named Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever, notably from Booksmart) has great motivation for any revenge. Of course there is also the real external threat of the zombies who seem to have been dormant but not for long. In very quick order, a scouting mission from the walled town end up, with some assistance from Abby, unleash the zombie hoard. They come in numbers and attack with force. The walled town defends, for which they seem to be well provisioned. Things happen. Both Joel and Ellie are outside the walls, but separately as the zombies descend. Without spoiling anything further, fate intervenes and both Ellie and Joel have consequences for their actions with lasting impacts on them both. A new commitment for revenge is initiated, and heavy losses take place on all side both inside the walled town and outside it. It is a shocking and surprising turn which made the episode feel like a workout. At each turn there were more surprising layers and plot to sink in. My excitement and enthusiam for the series is re-ignited.

Onto episode 3, where the aftermath of all of the actions from the previous epsiode are digested. For the second of the three episodes the pace slows to take a breath. A plan is hatched which requires town council approval before it is done, given the resouces required for it. A passionate plea is made to the council and a decision is made. It is difficult to speak at length about episode 3 without addressing episode 2. But suffice it to say that a path is before the characters and another journey is to be undertaken to Seattle. For me, I find it interesting that despite the significant zombie external threat that human beings find ways to attack one another. There seems to be limited capacity for cooperation and coordinated effort to meet this common enemy. Certainly there is little effort made to research about the zombies, the plants that cause the disease and looking for a cure. Naturally the viewers know that the potential solution could be Ellie. But it is a thought that is pushed to the side given the issues that are most current. We’ll see where this season continues to take us.

Your Friends and Neighbors: Episode 5 of this new series with Jon Hamm continues with the well-written premise of a recently unemployed hedge fund manager steering himself through his divorce and two teenage kids, along with his other well heeled neighbors. There are also married and newly divorced couples, school, and work people to deal with. He has decided to begin stealing from his neighbors and using a local fence to move the product. He begins with watches, but then expands what is available. Along the way he meets up with people who can assist with his activities, and these are necessary people. As would be expected, many of the neighbor’s houses have security devices and this can pose a challenge.

Then he needs the fence, along with others who may be avilable to help move the stolen goods. Of course, he never really knows who he can trust and what their ultimate motivations are. His ex-wife, now with her new boyfriend struggles with her current situation and she may be having some doubts. His manager with his wife are making substantial changes to his house and he requires a significant influx of money. There are some comedic moments, but like White Lotus (or so I have heard) it is rich white people acting badly. No one is free from bad behaviour, and the audience shares in the Hamm voiceover as he talks through his own actions. Episode 5 ties back into the very first episode in dealing with Hamm in a house that isn’t his and finds a man dead inside. This isn’t Mad Men, but it has some fun moments, and I enjoy trying to flash forward and see where they might take this premise. So stay tuned.

April 14th, 2025

The Amateur:  just released this weekend in theatres is Rami Malek in a this spy thriller that he executive produced.  It is generally a basic revenge story. It also has underlying themes like “don’t just a book by its cover” or “be careful to not underestimate those for whom you don’t know very well”. Husband, Charlie (played by Malek) is married to Rachel Brosnahan and they are quite happy.  Charlie is a guy who works in Data and Encryption for the CIA.   His office is on the -5 floor of this offices in Virginia. His superiors think that they have a pretty good idea of his skillset.

Charlie’s wife flies to London for a conference while he stays back.  He has never flown overseas before and he chooses to focus on some work items.  At work he as been made privy to some documents that weren’t meant for his eyes, but they seem to implicate some of his superiors.  He keeps that to himself.   I give nothing away that the trailers don’t already that his wife is killed in London by a small group of mercenaries.  She sadly was collateral damage as they needed an escape route.  Charlie is infomed of this tragedy by his superiors while at work. Charlie is understandably very upset and uses his considerable skills and clearances to piece together what happened during the attack and the names and profiles of those responsible.  Charlie wants action.  He brings this to his superiors looking for action which unbelievably for him doesn’t come. The rest of the film shows Charlie’s training and efforts to hunt down those who had a hand in killing his wife.  There were four of them.   Laurence Fishburne gets involved as his operative commander and trainer. 

This didn’t suck and I am glad that it didn’t.   I was engaged and there were some good dramatic moments.  I note that the trailer for this gives away more than it should.   It does the movie a disservice.  Malek plays the geeky introvert well but also is able to show a good range of emotion, including exacting vengeance using his skills.  Caitriona Balfe from Outlander fame is involved too in helping Charlie out.  There is more than a little Jason Bourne in the plot which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.   It moves along well. I found that the conclusion was not as satisfying as I had hoped that it would be (perhaps it is that idea that revenge and retribution would include physical pain and antguish on those who have caused that pain).  Also is it completely believable that Charlie is able to wonder from place to place (London, Paris, Marseille, Istanbul, Madrid and Russia) and seem miraculously find the individual at the bar or cafe or shipping dock, all without speaking the various languages? But never mind. Despite this there is an open door potentially for a sequel, although I would think that any writer would be hard pressed to find another better motivation for Charlie than is already given here.  Perhaps they lean more heavily in the John Wick franchise and get Charlie a cute dog.   This was a fun evening out and entertaining. 

Mufasa: The Lion King: In the wisdom of Disney, and a recent run of movies with a lack of innovation, there comes a prequel to the well established animated film The Lion King.  Rather than a sequel following the offspring of Simba and Nala, they chose to tell a prequel about Simba’s father Mufasa (who was voiced by the late James Earl Jones).  To say that this is “animated” is true, yet it is not the same animation from the original, but rather it is the more realistic looking computer animation with characters that then speak and dance. Disney gave a similar treatment with success for the re-telling of the prior animated film Jungle Book. Of course, Jon Favreau re-made the original Lion King in this format back in 2019.

In truth that’s not exactly accurate, since the beginning of this movie has Simba and Nala as well as their daughter cub Kiara, along with familiar comedy relief with Timon and Pumba, the meerkat and warthog.  Rafiki is brought back to tell the tale of Mufasa while Simba and Nala are away from Kiara.  The young cub gets the hear the tale of her long deceased grandfather Mufasa. 

For me, what is disappointing is that there doesn’t seem to be any new ideas or stories to bring forward.   Certainly Disney has been retreating over the Star Wars world with plenty of sequels and tangental stories.   Later this Spring the almost doomed-to-fail live version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is set for release.   But that is review for another day.   On point is me on a flight choosing to watch Mufasa when I do not need to have Disney + nor to pay in a theater.  I am thankful for that.   Overall I find the story a weak one where more parental death (it seems) leads a young Mufasa to be an orphan who during a flood is washed away to new lands where he is found by a young lion cub.   He is saved but the King of this new pride, named Obasi, doesn’t believe in taking in strays.  Obasi believes that strays are destined to betray the true leaders and royal bloodline.  His son is named Taka and he through an act of charity allows Mufasa to be his new brother. Obasi also later states his belief in deceipt being part of any king’s arsenal, so there is not a great degree of integrity in this pride of lions. Soon enough, there is an outside danger of a group of pure white lions to this new pride. The story continues.   For me, none of the songs are particularly memorable, unlike the original Lion King with the music from Hans Zimmer as well as Elton John and Tim Rice.    Since the audience knows that Mufasa will be a father of Simba the suspense is set aside.  The question becomes how does he overcome the larger and more powerful threat to him and his family.   Mufasa gains some familiar friends along the way.   The beginnings of the cast for the story of Simba are created, for example Zazu, who was originally voiced by Rowan Atkinson and then later John Oliver (now voiced by Preston Nyman).  The original is a more superior product with better music and a better story.  In truth, the story was Hamlet in its base, and this story doesn’t have the same pedigree in its beginnings.   I cannot recommend this but for filling a couple of hours on a flight it can be useful.   Incidentally, this was playing at the AVX screen at the local theatre and two tickets were $48!!! Just wow. I saw no perceptible difference from the AVX experience versus the other “normal” screens in the theatre. I can easily tell the difference with IMAX, but not AVX.

Your Friends and Neighbors: Apple has just released this new series, or at least the first couple of episodes. It stars Jon Hamm as Andrew Cooper, as well as Amanda Peet (who plays his ex-wife), and Olivia Munn among others. In it Hamm’s character seemingly has had a bad stretch of luck. His wife has left him, sleeping with the ex-NBA star neighbour, and taken half his wealth and house. Then he is approached by a 28yo young woman in a bar where he adeptly explains why any relationship with her and him (in his late 40s) would not work. There are consequences for him at work shortly thereafter in this encounter. This sets Cooper down a path where his high burn lifestyle needs to be fed by some additional income. He makes some questionable choices.

For me, I have little sympathy for his ex-wife, and she seems to feel that she has the right and ability to chastise Coop for the choices that he is making, and she doesn’t know about the latest activities by him. No one is lily white in this series, and they all have their own flaws. Hamm isn’t a great father, and his own moral compass is off when it comes to his business. With or without a non-compete agreement, presumably he would have the ability to get a job that would be close to the earning potential of the last job. Apparently he doesn’t see it that way. His former boss, played by former LA Law scumbag Arnie Becker (Corbin Bersen), has no loyalty nor sense of honour for a loyal employee. But much like American Beauty, where the outward appearances of these predominatly white, privilged, entitled assholes, we begin to see the decay in the underbelly with people without any sense of morals, ethics, or care for those around them. It is all about how much more can I acquire, and get ahead of those around me. There isn’t for me a lot of humour, so far anyway, save for the odd time where I shake my head at the choices being made in the situation that presents itself. I will stick with this for a few more episodes and see where it leads.