brendanchenowith Reviews

Chappaquiddick (2017)

THIS MOVIE REALLY IS A WILD RIDE, BUT DOESN'T CRASH ONCE

[10/10 · 28 September 2018]

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, after waiting months to see it. The minute I found a theater actually showing it, it disappeared. I thought "uh-oh. it's tanking" (sorry), but when I finally got the chance to see it, I was very entertained. It held my interest and was over before I knew it, I'd always been obsessed and/or fascinated with the Chappaquiddick story, and I'm equally as obsessed and/or fascinated with the Tate-LaBianca murder case that occurred less than a month later. The summer of 1969 must have been horrifying for this country (I was only 6 at the time). The same could be said for the previous spring and summer of the King and Kennedy tragedies as well as the '68 convention in Chicago. I really give this country credit for withstanding, surviving, and actually moving on from all of these events.

Back to the movie itself. Jason Clarke is excellent as Ted Kennedy, and Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan are very surprising and awesome in their roles. I'm a huge fan of The Office and saw Helms' face in the poster. I thought "yeah, they're just milking his image for ticket sales - COME SEE THE NARD DOG IN A NEW MOVIE". I thought he'd just have a small miss-it-if-you-blink moment, but he's very prominently featured as one of the extended Kennedy cousins. Gaffigan also turns in a convincing performance as one of his (unrelated) aides.

Jason Clarke basically owned this movie, as well he should. My favorite scenes with him were with Joseph P Kennedy (the great Bruce Dern, almost unrecognizable but for his eyes - you never forget a Bruce Dern performance). I also enjoyed the behind the scenes machinations of getting Kennedy ready for Mary Jo's funeral, "neck-brace or no neck-brace?", as well as for his televised statement. Again, it was all over before I knew it. I'll definitely watch this one again (several times over time).

Harriet Craig (1950)

Hysterically funny, but makes ya wanna slap her face off

[10/10 · 22 June 2016]

This comes across as one of the most unintentionally funny movies I've seen in years. However, I wouldn't take this as a bad straight drama, I think it's over the top melodrama, a biting satire on the issue of who really wears the pants in the marriage.

Whether or not Joan Crawford lay siege on the set is anyone's guess. I wasn't around then and shouldn't speculate. However, her character does so on the house and in the lives of everyone who dares cross her path - from her husband's longtime housekeeper to his best friend, even to the little boy next door. The claws are sharpened and are not about to retract.

I shouldn't say any more about this movie except to say it had me cringing and laughing from the opening credits. I could almost hear the clanging of jail cell doors when the opening title sequence segues to a shot of the Craig house.

Feeling lonely? You won't after you see this movie.

Donny! (2015)

So Far So Good

[8/10 · 17 December 2015]

I just watched several episodes of this show, mostly through ON DEMAND, and I have to say "so far so good". I laughed out loud through all of them, and that's not easy to get me to do. I mostly chuckle, smirk and think "yeah that's cute", but not here.

Anyway, I've never heard of Donny Deutsch before, so I have no history or points of reference to go by. However, I love this character, and I especially love his supporting cast, especially his producer who tells him off through his ear prompt.

For those who don't know, Donny hosts a daytime talk show which in real life would be just as awful as the ones in real life. This is a great spoof of the genre, and you'd occasionally see cameos of real life talk show hosts playing themselves and being genuinely funny.

I've read some really nasty reviews of the series and I couldn't disagree more. This is right up there with LOUIE, JIM GAFFIGAN SHOW and even SEINFELD. Seinfeld didn't have the love-fest it ended up with upon its inception. It needed time to grow and to grow on an audience. So if you hear someone put it down, or read a negative review of it, ignore all that and give it a chance.

Sybil (2007 TV Movie)

A nice companion to S-76

[9/10 · 9 June 2008]

I was intrigued as to how this movie would turn out as it was only half the length of the original. Jessica Lange and JoBeth Williams are two of my favorite actresses, and Tammy Blanchard was brilliant as a young Judy Garland, so I was looking forward to this, and was glad CBS finally decided to broadcast it.

I'm a big S-76 fan, but I wasn't disappointed in the new version - especially since some bits from the book were illustrated, although there was no Teddy Reeves. Instances such as Hattie having her way with the girls and her garden defecation were revealed. I would guess NBC didn't even want to touch such instances 30 years ago.

I couldn't picture Hattie without the frumpy build and the wild white bun hairdo, but JoBeth Williams was perfect for the role. I do think her acting was a bit over the top, especially at the piano scene with her face contorted in wild rage, screaming "you better hold it", and it was the same thing when she was brandishing the buttonhook in Sybil's face. A scene with the evil cousin purposely smashing a crystal bowl and blaming Sybil because she wanted to see Hattie go nuts reminded me of a scene from a "broads-behind-bars" movie with the sadistic warden making life a nightmare for the naive, misunderstood "good" inmate.

The girls playing Sybil at various ages gave very sweet, touching, heartbreaking performances which made you really hate the mother. In contrast, Natasha Ryan in "S-76" was so numb, it seemed like she didn't care what Hattie did to her. The one time Ryan exhibited any emotion, screaming at the sight of a buttonhook, was done so badly, the screaming was overdubbed and it didn't even synch with the movement of her mouth. Ryan's lack of enthusiasm came across and it was tempting to cheer on Martine Bartlett: "God, that kid is so creepy, no wonder 'mom' goes nuts on her - I would, too." Jessica Lange was wonderful as Dr. Wilbur - funny at first when she's arguing about why she should take on another patient, and very warm, loving and supportive when treating Sybil. There was also a nice bit between Blanchard and Lange when Sybil is being made aware of her personalities, listening to excerpts of session tapes. Sybil is traumatized by hearing her other voices and is begging Wilbur to turn off the tapes, then says Vicki has a bad French accent, making Wilbur laugh - and us, too. Hattie also orders her to stop speaking in "that phony French", when Sybil dissociates into Vicki.

Better than S-76? No, because it didn't follow that format and shouldn't be compared to it. This is really a nice companion piece, mostly in that each movie has a little something missing from the other. I also enjoyed the more casual interactions between doctor and patient.

I'm uncertain as to whether CBS will ever re-broadcast this, as they only put it on to fill space on a summer Saturday night, with hardly any promotion, but I'll get the DVD when it's released. I just hope it doesn't take another 30 years. This movie deserves to be seen. It did lose a point with me for being too encapsulated.

Love Thy Neighbor (2006 TV Movie)

A big Arbor Eden hello to YOU, neighbor

[10/10 · 26 May 2008]

Is this a bad drama, or is this brilliant satire? Yes it was stupid, on the surface, but as I watched this and muttered about how badly they're acting, and what cheesy dialogue, it made me think of Serial Mom. Serial Mom worked because we knew what we were getting into when the film was released, but since there was no real clue in the promos, it was baffling - and I love that. The audience was being teased.

Best part of the movie - Shannon Lawson as the picture-perfect neighbor from hell - fake self-effacing humor, constant quotes, big smiles, while her daughter skulks silently in the background. We all could sense the opening ticks of a time bomb, but when Janis's ex-husband drops their daughter off at home, Janis pulls up in - WHAT ELSE - an SUV, charges at the two of them at the gate and just goes off on her poor ex, while yanking the kid and practically throwing her back in the van.

The macho soccer coach broke me up, too. The scene where he's accused of having sex with team members' moms had me rolling on the floor. Of course it's a TV-movie cliché, but it was still fun to watch, just like this whole movie is. Now, would I clamor for a Criterion Collection edition? No. I would, however, love to see the outtakes, the "making-of" footage. The cast must've had a wild time on the set.

Manhattan (1979)

Woody's "Sgt Pepper"

[10/10 · 21 May 2008]

I often compare the cinematic one-two punch of Annie Hall and Manhattan with the stereophonic one-two punch of Revolver and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Manhattan began life simply as the follow-up to Annie Hall, much like Pepper began life as simply the next Beatles record. Little did anyone know, upon release, what awe-inspiring masterpieces both would be.

The first few scenes were funny and enjoyable enough, but the film really burst wide open with Isaac Davis (Woody Allen) and Mary Wilkie (Diane Keaton) taking a stroll through Manhattan after a feminist fund-raiser, accompanied by "Someone to Watch Over Me". From then on, it was clearly a masterpiece.

Basically, all of the scenes could stand on their own as brief comic sketches, which is ironic when you consider Isaac had recently quit his job as a writer for a comedy sketch series.

There are also great performances by Meryl Streep as the bi-sexual ex-wife who leaves Isaac for another woman and writes an "honest account of our break-up" and Mariel Hemingway as Isaac's 17 year-old love interest, Tracy, whose part would be very badly acted by "you-name-her" if this film were made today.

This movie is absolutely fabulous. Gordon Willis's cinematography is masterful in black and white, as reflected through Isaac's view of New York, and the Gershwin music seems like is was written exclusively for this film. This is how romantic comedy should be portrayed, not like the modern-day ones in which the fat, bad-haired male schlub is a total klutz, who runs around with his man-boobs flopping in the breeze, yet the young, anorexic, seemingly-sophisticated blonde falls madly in love, while popping her eyes out of her socket and exclaiming, "Oh, like, my, totally, GAWD!" Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl were infants at the time of Manhattan's release, if they were even born at all, and watching this great work of art brings me back to those good old days.

Watching this film is like an event - you're really into it while it runs its course, then, after it's over, you take it with you everywhere you go - you still feel the impact of it - and that's what a great film really is.

Airport 1975 (1974)

I liked it then and now

[10/10 · 18 April 2008]

I loved this movie as a 12 year-old kid - and it was a chance to see Linda Blair in a theatrical movie I was ALLOWED to see - I wasn't allowed to watch the Exorcist until it was on CBS a few years later.

Anyway, I thought this movie was very exciting back then and it was nice to see all of those familiar faces - especially Helen Reddy, of whom I was a big fan back then.

Now - it's 33 years later (can it be so? Fraid so) and I watched this again on ONDEMAND recently, and I was laughing my head off - at just about everything - Heston's clothes, Blair's pluckiness even though she could drop dead at any second, and especially Erik Estrada's on screen death. At first I thought "oh God, what's HE doing in this? Then I saw he was one of the pilots and thought "good - oh, I hope he gets sucked out of the jet". It would've been nice if he made his exit along the lines of Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove.

As the title of my review suggests, I like this movie as much as I did then, but for entirely different reasons - it's very easy to imagine what must've gone on inside the Zucker Brothers' heads while watching this.

If you have ONDEMAND, check it out - it's in the free movies section. I'm thinking of getting this on DVD - although I wouldn't hold my breath for the Criterion Collection edition.

Hollywood Residential (2008)

Love at first sight - Home Improvement meets Extras

[10/10 · 28 February 2008]

I just became aware of this series because of the little pop-ups on this site, but I caught some episodes on ONDEMAND and I love them, especially the one with Jamie Kennedy. Now, I've never seen his show and I don't intend to - Jamie Kennedy doesn't strike me as funny in his own element, but he does a great turn here. It's as if Ricky Gervais' "Extras" is shown on the House & Garden network - and Adam Paul sounds exactly like Billy Crystal. Next time you watch, just listen to his voice. I'm glad Starz picked this up as opposed to ABC or, God forbid, the CW network. ABC would've forced a canned response with really bad harmonica music or bad generic metal music (really, is there any other kind?) on the bumpers between scenes. We've had to put up with that on other shows, so it's good that it's on a premium network and doesn't have to follow any sort of convention. I know it's new and will take time to catch on, but I know it will.

Still Standing (2002–2006)

One of the wildest sitcoms ever produced

[10/10 · 19 February 2008]

This show bowls me over in every way. Jami Gertz successfully played 1,000 miles against type and Mark Addy was the perfect American dad. Renee Olstead, Taylor Ball and Soleil Borda were hilarious as "THE THREE KIDS". Nothing about this series was formulaic. Sure the parents, kids, annoying in-laws were all there, but this was not your typical series in that vein.

As a matter of fact, might I suggest that this was a parody of those blue collar hot chick marries a fat blue collar slob and has three snotty kids genre? The other blue-collar series, while amusing, was nowhere near as funny as this one. Reba comes a very close second to this, so you can imagine I must be in hog-heaven with two hours of the Millers and Harts every night on Lifetime. I realize Lifetime began airing this masterpiece on the strength of the long-suffering beautiful wife, but she can also be as idiotic as her husband, who is also smart and who does care for his children despite his jokes about them.

Sure, the Lifetime programmers may have thought they had another series which shrieked, "women are better - men are lazy, slovenly pigs - women save the family - men are mentally ill and hideous", but this is not the case. I think this series belongs on Comedy Central, but more crucially, on DVD.

Final accolade - this is a series in which it was evident the entire cast had a great time playing these characters. I ought to know - I'm having a great time watching them. I'm very sorry I missed this in production. It sounded too much like King of Queens and Everybody Love Raymond (two series I don't care for and I've always loathed Roseanne) Little did I know. This is even better than "The Nanny" and that's WAY hard to beat.

The Stepford Wives (1975)

Stepford - Where Men are Men and Women are Made of Plastic

[10/10 · 15 January 2008]

My God - to think that I was disappointed that I hadn't gotten to see the remake of the Stepford Wives in theaters, that I had to wait til its DVD release. In the meantime, the original was on sale for $10.00 - "oh, okay - this one will do for now - at least get me familiar with the story". Buying that disc was the very best thing that ever happened to me - or at least in the top 10. Upon initial viewing, it seems to move rather slowly, then it picks up with our introduction to Bobbi Markowe (played by the brilliant Paula Prentiss) who pops up looking for Joanna Eberhart (the sublime Katharine Ross) because she read about her in the community newsletter. Their friendship is a very warm, affectionate and touching one, especially when you consider what will happen to these ladies. Bobbi and Joanna grouse about the Men's Association and decide to form a women's group in response. None of the women they approach will hear of such a thing, blissfully busy with ironing and gardening, and BAKING, which they discover when their women's group (seems to) finally get off the ground. The two recruit another suburban housewife, Charmaine Wimperis (portrayed in a pleasantly surprising performance by Tina Louise), who complains about her husband wanting her to dress in rubber suits, and who also admits the Men's Association is "unfair and sexist, but FRANKLY - ANYTHING that gets him out of the house at night is fine with me".

Now, when I say the group SEEMS TO get off the ground, it really doesn't, but it starts off nicely enough. Joanna and Charmaine express their frustration in their marriage, while THE WIVES stare blankly, but one of them does open up. Kit Sundersen expresses sadness that....she didn't have time to BAKE yesterday because scrubbing the floors took too much time. Another WIFE, Marie Axhelm, suggests she try Easy-On spray starch. Now, what in God's name does spray starch have to do with scrubbing floors? See, Marie is addicted to ironing, so spray starch is her whole life. Now, how often have any of you out there tried to "get something off the ground" only to end up with egg on your face? This scene is particularly riotous in that this happens to us all.

That's one point of appeal for this film - we can all identify with the situations these women go through. I don't mean that we're all going to be murdered and replaced by look-alike robots, but there are situations in real life in which individuals threaten to break our spirit, cannot tolerate our individuality, and take a plan of action, due to which, they don't have to put up with us anymore.

This film is a spot-on satire of what men want from women and the lengths they'll go through to get it. It is also a unique way of spotlighting peer pressure and conformity. Along with Ross, Prentiss and Louise, the film boasts a supporting cast of Peter ("Exorcism is a Catholic embarrassment...") Masterson - Franklin ("The Jeffersons' Honky Willis) Cover - Nanette Newman and Patrick O'Neal as Dale Coba, the main man responsible for this whole thing.

Born to Boogie (1972)

Put it on - Get it on

[10/10 · 3 January 2008]

After repeated listenings to the CD soundtrack, I knew I wanted this film, got it for Christmas and I was amazed. Marc Bolan had such charisma, i can't describe it. I'd heard about him in that way, but didn't understand what people were talking about until I was in the company of this footage. He was incredible. Clips from the Wembley concert are interspersed with surrealistic sketches such as nuns gorging themselves at a garden party as Marc Bolan performs some acoustic versions of Get It On, etc. (I'm still learning the song titles). George Claydon, the diminutive photographer from Magical Mystery Tour, plays a chauffeur who jumps out of a car and eats one of the side mirrors. Nothing I can say to describe it would spoil it, even though I put the spoilers disclaimer on this review, so you would just need to see this for yourselves. It evades description.

Yes, I love the Beatles and was curious about Ringo directing a rock documentary - that was 35 years ago - now, I finally find out it's been on DVD for 2 years, but it's finally in my home. It's an amazing viewing experience - even enthralling.

Now the DVD comes with hidden extras and the following is a copy and paste from another user:

There's two hidden extras on the Born To boogie double DVD release.

1.From the menu on disc one,select the bonus material and goto the extra scenes 2.On the extra scenes page goto Scene 42 take 1 and keep pressing left 3.when the cursor disappears keep pressing right until a "Star+1972" logo appears 4.Press Enter

5.From the main menu on disc two,select the sound options 6.On the sound options page goto the 90/25 (I think thats right) option and keep pressing left 7.When the cursor disappears keep pressing right until a "Star+Home video" logo appears 8.Press Enter

Valley of the Dolls (1967)

Watch out for that "Tree"

[10/10 · 20 November 2007]

The very first time I'd ever seen "Valley of the Dolls", it was a night I could finally manage to stay up and wait for it to come on TV - I was curious about Sharon Tate, but then this movie did more than just clue me in on her.

We-e-e-e-lll, for starters - I thought it was horrible - I was embarrassed by a lot of the dialogue, I was checking my watch, I turned beet red when Helen sang, "I'll Plant My Own Tree". Of course, I'd watched it again - I just couldn't get it out of my mind - and I think I either changed channels (or something) when the number came on. But just the same, it stuck with me. Of course I loved the theme, still do, and always will.

Also, I'd adored Patty Duke for years, still do, always will. I was really shocked by her performance as Neely O'Hara at first - this isn't Cathy or Patty Lane by any stretch of the imagination. I should watch a rerun of the show to check for Neely-isms waiting to bloom - or explode. I have Miracle Worker on tape - I should give that a spin, too, just to see if she took any of Helen (!) with her when she portrayed Neely.

Barbara Parkins as Anne Welles - well, she had style, she had flair, she was there, and so she became the Gillian Girl. Who would guess that that girl would describe exactly what the doctor prescribed? To me, she was a combination of Anne Marie and Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon. I heard Marlo was up for the part - I wouldn't have minded seeing Yvonne Craig do it, too.

Back to Sharon Tate - So many fans tie her character in with Manson and watch with a real sense of sadness, but I'm really over the Manson connection. I act as if the murders never took place and watch her performance as just that - a character in a film. She was so perfect as Jennifer North - very charming, very pleasant, very sweet, and I'm very touched by her suicide scene. She's part of one of the funniest scenes, very early on - right after Susan Hayward as Helen Lawson rips into Neely's sweety Mel (Martin Milner) and Anne. I loved it when she sashays down the steps and is teased by one of Old Ironside's (Helen) henchmen. Check out the look on Tate's face - she seems to be enjoying playing that scene - either that or Jennifer thinks the guy's funny and doesn't want to let on. She does, however, accidentally let out a little smirk.

Now, enough highlights - let me get down to the nitty-gritty. I was shocked to find how different it was from the film. If it is ever remade, it should be carried out as NBC's version of "Carrie", based more on the book. It could be a two-part miniseries, but I'm uncertain as to whether something over 2 hours could be withstood by denizens of Short-Attention-Span Theater.

It's been said that the producers were going for drama, but ended up with comedy instead - I have a suspicion that they had such a subtle sense of humor that the film was a deliberate parody - much in the way that Mommie Dearest the movie is a send-up of the book. After all, why would it be so watchable after all these years if it's just a bad movie, if audiences (and now the actresses) are laughing with and/or at it - all these years.

One quick word about Helen Lawson - now, every time I watch it, I always imagine how Judy Garland's performance would have been. I do have a recording of her "Tree", and it holds up better than the Margaret Whiting behind the scenes dubbing for Susan Hayward. I imagine Garland saying such beautiful lines as "tell that son-of-a-bitch to get off his butt and start earning his oats". It's kind of difficult to imagine language like that coming out of Judy's mouth because she's been so family-friendly all these years. Jusy swore in real life, but hardly anyone's ever heard it. I have a CD of recordings she made for her never-published autobiography,a nd some really nice Lawson-isms are in there - I think she could've pulled it off.

Next time you watch this cinematic gem, watch out for that "Tree".

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976–1977)

Thank God it's back in my living room

[10/10 · 29 March 2007]

Oh, how I've missed her, how I've missed her. Just like Pavlov's dog, I would often drool just at the sound of Norman Lear's name - and Lear has never disappointed. I'd always enjoyed watching soaps as well as sitcoms and Lear's name on top of the two was a hell of a mix.

I'd heard it was a comedy, I'd heard it was a drama. I was surprised there was no laugh-track, but that was a good thing because it challenged my sense of humor and I think I won. It didn't matter what anyone said, I laughed at whatever happened to strike me funny - I went with my instincts. From the age of 12 (when this initially aired), I didn't need anyone to tell me when something was funny, and, thank God, I still don't, even though others will try, by God.

I loved the use of overly melodramatic music in the background underscoring a really funny scene, which caused middle America to scratch its head and try to guess whether or not it was funny. They let the music tell them how to feel. You decide - you're watching something being played out in front of you - do you think it's funny - do you think it's sad. Mary Hartman Mary Hartman let us decide for ourselves and God bless Norman Lear for going in this direction. It paved the way for more of the same with Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Extras, the British "Office". Nice to finally have the spearhead of this movement back in my living room where it belongs.

The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights (1999 TV Movie)

Still sucking in the lowest Depths of Brooklyn

[1/10 · 8 November 2006]

I loved the fact that Patty Duke made peace with this show, as it was produced during the very worst time in her personal life. I eagerly awaited this movie as I wanted to see the Lanes back together, if just for one night, but it wasn't very memorable and I really cringed when I heard that Patty and Richard were divorced.

HOLY LIFETIME TELEVISION! I would guess making the transition into the 1990's had to include a statement about how self-sufficient women don't need men in their lives, etc. - Such tripe! The timing in the delivery of the dialogue was truck-driver city - it was as if they were giving the viewing audience time to laugh hysterically, slap their knees, as well as their children, and guess what - there was no laughter.

You could lose your mind - when bad teleplays are two(thousand) of a kind!

Soap (1977–1981)

My God, what can I say

[10/10 · 24 August 2006]

Words fail me - do not do justice to the perfection and excellence of this series. I grew up watching soaps like "One Life to Live", "All My Children", "General Hospital" - with a mother and two sisters and ONE TV set, it was impossible to not see these. Anyway, I love sitcoms when they used to actually be funny, and not afraid to film in front of a live audience with adults instead of paid teenage girls who'd sit there and scream on cue when the flavor-of-the-month happened to walk on. This was staged exactly as a play. Having been in stage plays in the past, my eyes are trained to look in the background and see what's moving around there, or whom. Even with the "family portrait" opening titles, I go back and check them out a few times, to see what everyone's doing.

Anyway, this covered and spoofed every single soap cliché there was - resentful step-children; bratty bitchy bimbos who turn nice only to get killed later; prohibited par-lances with priests, politicians and pro-tennis players; multiple murders - or multiple ways to carry out ONE murder - shot, stabbed, strangled, suffocated - - AND bludgeoned. Well, the bludgeoning was always a fail-safe.

I'm renting and burning each season now and it's going to take a few weeks, but I'm going to have the time of my life. Welcome back to my living room, Tates, and Campbells, you sure were missed.

Soapdish (1991)

Sorry, no clever puns here - just a glowing review

[10/10 · 6 April 2006]

This has to be, hands down, hats off, one of the most uproarious comedies ever made. Starting with the animated blowing, popping bubbles, the entrance to the Daytime Awards, the usual phony drivel spewed by the stars on the red carpet, the rehearsed and badly acted acceptance speech, the venomous comments uttered by the actor's jealous co-stars and producer, under phony smiles. Now THAT is only in the first few minutes. Then, all hell breaks loose from there and it only gets more frantic and ridiculous. Ridiculous in a good way, no, make that a great way. This was the first time I'd seen the always charming Teri Hatcher. While I may not be a follower of Desperate Housewives, she herself is always watchable - same goes for Lois & Clark. Not a huge follower, but if I run across an episode I'd watch it. Robert Downey, jr., does a great turn as slimy, smarmy, snaky, sycophantic David Seaton Barnes, the producer who'd give his right eye to see Sally Field's Celeste Talbert leave the show, if only to finally get to get it on with Cathy Moriarty's Montana Moorehead.

Moriarty absolutely shines in this movie, just as she had everywhere else she's appeared. Here, all she has to do is scream "I HATE YOU I HATE YOU YOU CREEP!" or give one of her anti-Celeste-co-conspirators an evil grin, and she has me rolling in the aisles. Yes, Cathy Moriarty is a very gifted actress, and one hell of a comedienne. Sally Field gratefully departs from the usual 70-MM-sized Lifetime Tragedy of the Week movies, and we're all reminded why she is who she is today, having started off in comedy afraid of nothing. Her ensuing years of drama had hidden her sense of humor, but like a caterpillar in a cocoon, the brilliant comedienne she is had blossomed and it was joyous to see her as hilarious as she was. The thing with dramatic actors and actresses is that you see in such heavy, serious roles, that you associate them with their character and you can't believe it when you see them finally having some fun on screen.

How lucky were the producers to land Carrie Fisher, if only for a glorified cameo. She doesn't realize what a presence she bears on screen. She takes a role which, in the hands of a lesser actress, could easily have been forgotten, but she owns the character and it seems as if she wrote it herself.

How lucky was Elisabeth Shue to get thrown in the middle of all this! At the time, she wasn't really known for much. Adventures in Babysitting was kind of cute (yes, I was dragged to an evening show for which I had to pay full price), but she didn't hold my attention - - much. But here, she makes the most of her character - star's niece who falls in love with the star's ex-co-star-and-lover who, of course, turns out to be the niece's father, and the star turns out to be the poor girl's mother.

I'll stop there - I feel I practically wrote a book about this brilliant screwball comedy, or at least a novela. If you've seen it, then reminisce. If you haven't, you've missed a real classic, but not really. The DVD's are made of a material that'll last for at least 25 years, and this movie is timeless, so what the hell.

Mind of Mencia (2005–2008)

Mencia is dead-on

[27 March 2006]

Having only seen him this past weekend, on Comedy Central's "Secret Stash", I'm very quickly becoming a fan. I find nothing controversial about his humor. I even loved what he said about white people (in one segment) as laughing at ethnic humor in the privacy of their own home, but when people of other ethnicities are watching, they decry the humor as being wrong, etc. It's true. Carlos knows what he's talking about.

I think Mencia makes fun of life itself - being branded a "Mexican" wherever he goes, even though he's really Honduran, because that's what most people think - they think all Hispanics are just Mexican. It's very difficult to give credence to any claims of racism against him because he finds the humor in all ethnicities and nationalities, even religions. There's definitely humor in the political-correctness movement - that in itself is a joke.

He's no different than Will Rogers, Lenny Bruce, or anyone else before him. Bottom line is he sees the humor in all aspects of life, and yes, that does include people living this life - they're the ones responsible for some aspects of this life, and shares them with his audience. If you're not laughing, you're not living - nice sentiment. It doesn't matter whether or not he originated such a sentiment, but it's good to hear him express it.

The Evening Star (1996)

Cinematic Ipecak

[1/10 · 29 December 2005]

A sequel is an admirable intention. You loved characters from a certain film and wanted to see them again, or the original film left some open ends you'd like to see tied up. These marketing tools very rarely live up to a real film, never mind surpassing it, like in Christopher Reeve's version of "Superman". Most of the time, they're unnecessary at best, and vomitous at worst. Yes, dear readers, The Evening Star is Cinematic Ipecak. If queasy film-goers think they're made to vomit at horror films, just wait until they see this one. It's not a horror movie in the traditional sense, it's a horror OF a move in every sense.

I did mention this contains spoilers, but viewers' appetites don't count here No, really, I remember so little of this except for three scenes which I thought were just hilarious: 1- Melanie, played by the never-to-be-Oscar-winning Juliette Lewis (who I understand was a much worse mental case than Debra Winger), spouts off at Aurora (during a fight the two have about her latest boyfriend) "I love him - I HATE YOU!" 2- The fact that Tommy's been in prison all this time and LIVED TO BE RELEASED! If he acted the way he acted in the first film, he'd have been Bruno's special friend in the pokey, not to mention deserving the death penalty for being such a....such a....AAAHH I can't even find the right adjective. Oh, he was just a pig.

3- Aurora's stroke while sitting at the piano with some kid. I needn't add anything else to it. 'Nuff said! James L. Brooks was NOT associated with this. Larry Mc Murtry's actual follow-up novel was NOT the basis for this. Lisa Hart Carroll was NOT Patsy. Yes, the great Miranda Richardson was NOT so great in this.

Bill Paxton (wherever HE is these days - Twister II, anyone?) was okay in this, and it's always nice to see Jack, but it wasn't long enough. Now that I think of it, Paxton resembles Jack a little. Maybe there was a missing subplot about him being Garrett's and Aurora's son who was put away in an institution because post menopausal ladies usually give birth to children with severe birth defects. Paxton's choice in acting in this piece of schlock was truly a defective one and he should be institutionalized. HEY WAIT A MINUTE - MAYBE HE WAS (heh-heh).

This sits very prettily on the perch of the four very worst sequels ever made: EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC - Blatty didn't write - Friedkin didn't direct. Blair didn't act. Yeah, she's in it, but she still doesn't act.

ARTHUR II ON THE ROCKS - Come on, guys! Romantic fantasies are supposed to have the couple living happily ever after. An amusing fairy tale was turned into a soap opera by an individual in his/her first week of literacy classes in hopes of obtaining a GED.

STAYING ALIVE - As could be said in Johnny Dangerously, I saw this ONCE! Sequel to Saturday Night Fever - fevers usually make you feel sick and can sometimes kill you, even robbing you of your powers of either sight, hearing, or speech, as in the case of Helen Keller.

YEP - this'll do it!

Walk the Line (2005)

Walk the Line is Above the Line

[10/10 · 18 November 2005]

Over the years, I'd seen my share of somewhat good and really terrible bio-pics. This film blows everything out of the water. It's the most riveting film of this genre that I've seen since "Frances". This didn't have that rushed, glaze-quickly-over-everything quality that I've seen in others. For instance, it's based on Johnny's two autobiographies, and Johnny and June did select the two actors and, possibly, the screenwriters, which gives this film credibility. There was also the good (practical, really) idea to cover his childhood through the Folsom Prison appearance. It's only right - the film is 2.5 hours and Folsom Prison was a phenomenal comeback for him.

Now, I've adored Cash since I was 6, and my family wasn't really into country, but we had the Boy Named Sue and Folsom Prison singles, so I got a good sample of the Man in Black. Having been a fan for over 30 years, I was really looking forward to seeing this film. I figured that if anything, I'll be spending 2 hours "checking out Cash", as it were.

The opening credits gave me goosebumps. The first shot is that of a really cold, horrible, cloudy day with a prison off in the distance. The camera veers to the left and we see the "Folsom Prison" sign. Then we hear the fading in sounds of applause, crowd noise, pounding tables, stomping feet, the rhythm section of the Tennessee Two, and from there, it was cinematic magic. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon are shown as you've never seen them before. The wet-behind-the-ears Irish fireman of Ladder 49 meets the dog-toting ditz from "Legally Blonde". Great chemistry between the two. I really rooted for the two to get together (even though, of course, I knew they would, but it was fun to see how they got together). Also, Ginnifer Goodwin bears the thankless task (hope she gets "supporting actress") of his vicious, selfish, shrew of a first wife. Robert Patrick, as daddy Ray (ironic, isn't it) serves as the villain of the childhood scenes, and Goodwin is the villain of his early career, both of whom try to break his spirit and destroy his confidence in himself. "God took the wrong boy" - "that's no band, those are just two mechanics who can barely play". Frankly, if anyone can rise up like a phoenix from those two piles of ashes, anyone can do anything. Very inspiring. I walked out of the theater feeling really hopeful about life, and you will, too.

Extras (2005–2007)

Fan-bloody-tastic

[2 November 2005]

I loved "The Office", although (and because) the characters made me flinch and twitch like there was no tomorrow. I had worked in situations like those and I'd seen my share of David Brents (hell, once in a while, I was a bit like Brent myself). It was great to hear "Extras" was going to air on HBO - I'd have the chance to see it first hand without having to borrow or buy it. It seemed a bit hard to get through at first, then I couldn't stop thinking about it, then I watched an episode all the way through - the one with Samuel L. Jackson along with the loathsomely needy extra who (I think) is trying to pick Andy up.

Very similar to the Office are the foot-in-the-mouth comments from either Andy or Maggie (the VERY adorable Ashley Jensen) and the silent stares from those around them, and the acoustic guitar-and-piano theme which closes it. The opening is fantastic, too, with a bit of a prologue, then just the black screen with the title written on it in white font. Nice touches. This Sunday is the season finale - I've heard the BBC has renewed it for a second series, hopefully HBO will pick that up, too. For those out there who are loathe to another "Curb Your Enthusiasm" ripoff, no worries. For those loathe to anything else Ricky does besides Brent, no worries. For those who really hated The Comeback and Entourage, relax. Sure, it's a topic that's been covered by "Curb" "Comeback" and "Entourage", but it's covered in the British way - a way from which American television not only needs to take lessons, but to stay awake during those lessons.

The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)

Best live film and album ever made

[10/10 · 26 October 2005]

You can forget about Frampton Comes Alive, even Kiss Alive! for that matter - any of these. This is the concert film and album to beat, and no one ever has.

I first saw this movie when I was 9. Yes, the Ravi Shankar section irritated me and I was one of those who were very impatient to see my "favorite stars which will be in the second part", but I grew to like the Indian stuff later on.

This was the first time I ever saw Leon Russell and Billy Preston. I was shocked when Preston got up and danced during his number "That's the Way God Planned It". I also grew to love that, as it was one of the most joyous parts of the film. I later had the privilege of meeting Preston at a Beatles convention and telling him so - the initial shock and fright, and later embracing the joy it brought.

I hated Bob Dylan then - I at first felt his set to be boring and overlong - that is not the case these days. I've since become a huge fan.

Of course, there's my never-ending love for George and Ringo. This was the first time I heard "It Don't Come Easy" and "Bangla Desh". "Bangla Desh" was very intense and I loved the sax solo - you talk about a "major jam". I later heard the studio version, and it's a draw as to which version is better.

I picked up my copy of the DVD on Tuesday the 25th of October. This of course was the same day as Game 3 of the World Series - which one do you think I watched?

Promtroversy (2005)

Damn funny

[10/10 · 9 October 2005]

My summary should, well, sum it all up. At first I thought it was a serious documentary, but after seeing some things I thought were pretty absurd, like Regina Hartwell-Jones resenting that gays and lesbians think of themselves as the New Black (oh, she was my favorite), and the Concerned Parent From Hell, Mimi Nimby, then I knew what this was and I loved it. Documentaries like these are good to see, and they're interesting, but I loved the humorous twist this one provided. It should be shown to a wider audience. Let the Regina Hartwell-Jones and Mimi Nimbys of the world see themselves as they actually are - ridiculous. Bravo to the filmmakers and bravo to the Logo network for showing it.

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of 'Smile' (2004 TV Movie)

It's all there, and then some, folks.

[10/10 · 14 September 2005]

After years of reading books, magazines, listening to bootlegs, compiling my own mixes on cassette, watching made-for-TV scripted films as well as documentaries, which I switched off after the SMiLE section, there's finally an entire film about the one album. Thank God. Now, for all of us who obsess, this is the perfect documentary. rare photos, film footage, modern-day interviews, behind the scenes rehearsals for the recording sessions and the tour, it's all there. It's everything you wanted to know about SMiLE and then some. No longer merely touched upon for its 5 to 10 minutes in the grand scheme of things, SMiLE is out there. I think now Brian Wilson can not only retire in extreme wealth, but also at peace. His dream has finally been realized and the cameras let us watch it all unfold.

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)

The Most Fabulous Musical Ever Made

[10/10 · 20 July 2005]

I saw it 7 years ago at Chicago's Music Box theater, it was on a two-week engagement. At first, I thought it might be one of those really trippy, depressing French movies I just love, but it was way better. It was electrifying, it was explosive, it was tres psychedelique. I loved seeing George Chakiris playing a good guy in this. I'd never taken real notice of Catharine Deneuve before, but I did after this. Her sister was so cute, she almost looked Irish with the red hair and freckles. The music was outstanding, I kept humming bits and pieces of it throughout the next few months while I searched for the soundtrack, which I was blessed to have found on an old Philips label LP. The cover was a bit torn at the top, but I didn't care. I had THIS music in my living room any time I wanted it. Can't wait to get the newly released CD. I hear the Twins song is in English and it may or may not be anticlimactic, but I'll give it a whirl anyway. Most extra tracks don't turn out to be much. I wouldn't want to see the English version because of course the words wouldn't really have the same rhythm and not sung by the same people, and all. No, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. I learned to deal with reading subtitles back in 1984, so this was no biggie for me. In fact, I prefer subtitles.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

A fun-to-look-at spectacle

[8/10 · 13 June 2005]

I saw this movie on TNT on the 12th of June, Sunday, and I was impressed. I didn't think it was an art film or one of those message movies which make you think. No, it was just good, clean, greasy fun. The whole cast looked like they had a good time making this. I liked the shoot-out on the roadway, where one of Vin Diesel's crew was hanging for dear life on the truck driven by the psycho who was shooting at him and Diesel with the rifle. I also liked the fight scenes.

See, I'm not really doing an Ebert-style comment on this as it was just a "joyride" (excuse the pun). A fun-to-look at joyride and two hours of escapism.

Diesel will never remake Gone With the Wind, but he's cool to watch.

I only gave this 8 out of 10 because I didn't see the whole thing, I tuned in late, but I would like to see it again, this time all the way through.