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Reviews
The Fall Guy (2024)
Please get me out of here!
I'm halfway through the movie right now, and I want to leave. I remember when I saw the preview, I thought it would be very entertaining. It's not.
I thought it would be non-stop action, but it's boring and dumb. And the shame of it is Ryan Gosling is a wonderful actor. What a waste of his talent.
I'm probably being very rude by providing my review now, but then again, there's not many people in the theater. Hannah Wigginton(?) is terrible in her role.
Also, Gosling's character is a stunt man, not a fighter, yet somehow he knows how to fight. I'm advising you to save your money and when you see it on streaming, you'll thank yourself and me for saving you money.
Expats (2023)
Atypical but beautiful and brilliant
Expats could be a difficult watch at times, and I almost gave up on the show. But then I realized the show wasn't really trying to "entertain" me with car chases or laughs. The filmmaking (although it's not a movie) was magnificent, and in particular, Episode 5 (a long one) was masterful. I want to be entertained as much as the next person, but the show put the spotlight on Hong Kong, wonderful acting, and a tragic story. I must be evolving because I never would think about the magnificence of a production, but this was a magnificent production. And Nicole Kidman is brilliant - she can do anything and everything, and that's why she's one of the best actresses ever. I did wish that the show would end with her finding Gus, but I didn't think this show would end with closure.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024)
Meh...
I sort of feel like Donald Glover is being too clever for the show's own good. Donald Glover is very good, don't get me wrong.
Just when it starts to get interesting, it gets...introspective?
By the way, how did they fly by helicopter from NYC to the jungle overnight? And how do the two of them avoid getting shot or injured by about 50 bad guys? And they fell hopelessly in love after maybe a week? So of course, you have to really suspend reality.
The show is barely good enough to keep me from bailing on it, and I'll probably make it through the last few episodes. Hopefully, I'll have changed my mind by then!
Carol & The End of the World (2023)
Hmmmmm...
In my estimation, there can only be a 1 or 10 rating for this show. I've never seen anything like it - so boring, yet so gripping and provocative. My rating was a 1, and a 1, but I somehow made it to episode 3 or 4, and somehow it became a 10.
What's provocative about it? It evokes feelings in me like ... am I Carol (a male version)? Episode 9 is fabulous (more on that in a second), but episode 10 is brilliant. I may say I have a bucket list, but like Carol, I really just want a sense of purpose and to be with nice people. How the creators of this show put this together - i.e., the mundane alongside the apocalypse - is beyond me and brilliant.
Do I understand episode 9? Maybe, maybe not. Was Carol dreaming or was it reality? I suspect dreaming, but who knows (or cares). It was beautiful - the animation, the vibrant and sometimes odd colors, the story. And Carol's story was beautifully intertwined with an enjoyable story about her parents throuple (another amazingly odd yet beautiful storyline), as well as the sweet (but complex) story of her one-night stand and his son.
The show should win an award but it won't. It would be very hard for me to recommend this show to someone because they might easily rate it a 1 and move on to more typical fare. And finally, I don't know if I truly understand the story and its implications. I'd like to watch it again, but I honestly don't know if I can make it through it again.
Again, congratulations to the creators for creating something so unique and thoughtful - for those that want to think a bit. And if you hate it, I don't blame you.
Beef (2023)
A story of humanity
Had I not watched the final episode of Beef, I would've rated it a 6. Entertaining, odd, certainly no comedy. After the final episode, I'd have upgraded it to a 7.
But then I thought about what this show communicated. Every single human emotion and nearly every positive and negative behavior are reflected in these 10 episodes. These 10 episodes represent humanity at its best and worst (mostly worst). And not surprisingly, only when everything is stripped away and all is lost are they truly themselves. Sad but true.
So the show itself is a 7. But when I thought about what the show was saying, I upgraded it to a 9. I'd say most, if not all of us, are represented in Episodes 1-9. But I wish we could all be Episode 10, only not just when the end is near.
American Auto (2021)
Created by Justin Spitzer
American Auto is a cute show. I hope it doesn't get canceled. But my biggest pet peeve about the show is that it highlights "created by Justin Spitzer" underneath the title of the show in the intro. Mr. Spitzer is obviously quite fond of himself based on his work in the award-winning sitcom "Superstore." I see he also worked on the show "Seinfeld: Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David." I think an off-camera personality is included alongside the title when the name is Spielberg, Scorsese, or Coppola. Does Spitzer belong on this list? Am I supposed to watch American Auto because it was created by Justin Spitzer? Like Superstore, American Auto is a cute show worthy of a few laughs, particularly from Superstore alum Jon Barinholtz. Maybe the show should be "American Auto featuring Jon Barinholtz (or Ana Gasteyer)"? But I have a feeling that it makes Mr. Spitzer feel important by having his "well-known" name so prominent.
Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022)
Powerful
Life is full of immense challenges, both personally and interpersonally. This show presents these challenges masterfully, the challenges you and I face every day, albeit each in our own worlds. Makes you think, which is a hallmark of a great show. Really well done.
I'm not really sure why I need to make this review longer because I think I've summarized it well from my own point-of-view, but I'll try to make it longer so as I can share my thoughts with others. Lizzie Caplan is great, Claire Danes is great, and the lead actor whose name I can't recall at this very moment is also excellent. I wish more shows were like this.
Hustle (2022)
Ridiculous premise
Scout sees guy play once who has no organized basketball experience, flies him to Philly, and immediately puts him up against the projected #2 pick in the draft. Then, in just 6 weeks, prepares him for NBA Draft combine. Yes, it's a movie, but the movie tries to portray itself as a realistic portrayal of the NBA process. Oddly, Bo doesn't get an agent - he just has a former 76ers scout trying to get him into the NBA (with the Sixers?) so he can get back into the NBA himself. If he believes in Bo, why doesn't he become his agent? Sandler plays his usual schlub character and uses his star power to team with LeBron to pull in a ton of NBAers. Seems like a vanity project for Sandler to cast himself alongside NBAers.
Murderville (2022)
Good concept, average execution
Will Arnett was solid, but some of the guest stars were no good at improv. Marshawn Lynch was actually the best, followed by Conan. I thought Ken Jeong would be good, but he was average at best. I didn't understand why the guests weren't more in the spirit of the improv.
Home Team (2022)
Think of the worst movie you ever saw...
Home Team is right there with that movie. OK, maybe it's for 10 year-olds, but Sandler and his buddies should be ashamed of themselves for taking Netflix's money. Netflix should be ashamed for spending money on this movie from Sandler. Sandler fleeced them. And poor Sean Payton, having to be played by Kevin James, in what could be the most ridiculous casting ever. Too bad the Razzies just gave out their awards. This movie is so forgettable that even the Razzies will probably forget about it at the end of the year.
MacGruber (2021)
Why 8 episodes?
A 90 minute sequel would've been good for a few mindless laughs but 8 episodes? And what happened to the spoof of MacGyver? MacGruber is unrelated to what it's spoofing, except for the clothes perhaps. There were a few laughs, but it's like they had to keep all the bad jokes to fill 8 episodes. I have no idea why I stuck it out, but I did.