If I say I am listless, why does that not mean that I am without a list? Or is it rather that I have lost my mojo? I think I need a shot of Vitameatavegamin because I am tired, rundown and listless, and I poop out at parties. I just hope I’m not unpopular.
No matter what kind of illness you have – a cold, respiratory
infection, a stomach bug or anything else – if you mention it,
inevitably someone will tell you they either have it, too, or “There
is a lot of that going around.” Try it if you don’t believe me.
It seems that getting a flu shot does not guarantee you immunity from the flu, because look what I have!
Doesn’t it kill you to walk around with Kohl’s cash in your wallet, a
30% coupon in your hand, sales on practically everything – and find nothing
to buy at Kohls? Come on, folks, we can do it!
I just got an ad in my email for Kotex products. I think something has gone wrong with the algorithm.
On the first day or the new year/decade, I received an ad promoting bail bonds. Really? I was home before midnight on New Year’s Eve, so I don’t need bail bonds!
The people at ABC must be thrilled when they announce the opening of “20/20” and they get to say, “THIS is 2020.”
Despite the fact that this year is my 14th year of retirement, I still have dreams that I go into the office and am finally told it is time for me to retire. And in the dream, I realize that I have the gargantuan task of sorting out the stuff in my desk, or they are going to expect me to do some actual work. But I am retired! I can’t tell you how many times I have had this mini-nightmare. Sometimes I am lucky that I don’t sleep all that well…
I was so bored one morning that I found myself watching an old episode of the TV sitcom "Alice." And it wasn’t even the original, good ones with Flo telling Mel to “Kiss my grits.” It was one where Flo has been replaced by Jolene. There must be something better than this to watch!
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, you’d probably have to take me to the hospital when I drive a nail through my thumb by mistake.
My sister said she was so bored at work on the week between Christmas and New Year’s that she actually spent time cleaning out her hole punch. Damn, I used to love to do that. She had to apologize to the cleaning staff for the errant dots on the floor. Maybe they thought she was preparing for a New Year’s Eve party!
I must have been bored, too. I sealed my granite countertops and removed the lint from my hair dryer. Someone had to do it!
I hope no one needs a good set of my fingerprints right now, because, despite diligently applying lotion to my hands every time I wash them, my thumb has its usual dry skin crack.
There are some strange similarities between the nail salon and the dentist’s office. First, there’s that noise, the drilling or mechanical noise you get from similar instruments used, like drilling and smoothing. And then there’s the fact that my dentist and the nail techs both tell me to relax. Relax? I cannot control the position of my tongue or my tense hands while either my teeth or my hands are being treated.
I am reading a book on my Kindle for my next Book Club meeting and I have found enough errors and grammatical differences with how I would construct or punctuate a sentence that I am distracted and find it hard to read. Is it just me, or do you have that issue, too?
I hope I live long enough to read all of the books on my Kindle. I had better stop downloading them soon or mathematically this will be impossible!
I think I have established that I am a chocolate lover. But please stop violating my chocolate by putting it on stuff (like pretzels) or having stuff in it. As much as I love strawberries, I really DON’T want to have them coated with chocolate. That’s even too sweet for a confirmed chocoholic like me. I am the human version of a “No Nut Zone,” though if you know me well, you might not characterize me that way!
Not only are robocalls a pain in the butt, but when they leave you a voicemail message, it is always cut off. I can’t tell whether the call is about lowering my credit card rate, telling me I won a dream vacation, solar panels or how to pay off my college loan (from 1972, no less; trust me, that is long since done!).
One sure sign of the new year: The Can Can sale is going on at ShopRite.
I watched “The Pioneer Woman” cook one morning on the Food Network. She was making something with custard, which she described as “simple.” When the first step had 4 or 5 different actions, I tuned out. Exactly what is the definition of simple? And I’m sure it doesn’t include tempering eggs.
As I get older, I feel a growing kinship with Sophia Petrillo from “The Golden Girls.” I have run out of patience and small talk and just want to cut the conversation down to the bare essentials, like “How are you?” and “See you soon.” Plus, my filter for making snide comments is missing in action.
Can you remember a January day that was 70 degrees in NJ? I’m so confused, and you know this was a 24-hour special. Can snow and ice be far behind?
My interest payment on my bank account just arrived. What should I do with that 15 cents? And how much does it cost the bank to process that amount?
I am getting a physical in February, so the doctor’s office has given me the paperwork to fill out and bring in for the appointment. First of all, don’t they have my records in the computer system? After all, this form is exactly what I have filled out for every previous physical I have had. Second, do you really recall how old you were when you had measles? I was a kid, maybe 5 or 6, but what happens if I am a year off? Who’s going to know? And third, could the line spacing on that form be any tighter? Back in the days when I could breeze through the questionnaire with a simple “NO” checked off for most things, I didn’t need space to include things like “right hemicolectomy” on the form, but now? I could use extra pages (I dread the day when I can no longer summon up the “right hemicolectomy” nomenclature). How am I supposed to define “pain elsewhere?” I am thinking of purchasing a t-shirt that reads, “If I woke up in the morning and nothing hurt, I would think I was dead.” The good thing is that I was reminded by my sister last time to make a copy of the completed form I submitted for my last physical, so that will make things easier and more consistent as I try to recall my medical history. You should do this, too!
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Tina's December 2019 Movies and Year's Best
Following the reviews of my December movies below, you will find a list of my favorite/best movies of 2019. New movies not seen previously are marked with an asterisk. All are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the best. Numbering picks up from previous months. Here's to great movies in 2020.
151. Dark Waters* (2019) – Mark Ruffalo stars here as Rob Billot, a corporate lawyer who is approached by a farmer in West Virginia whose livestock are dying from drinking polluted water. As Rob delves into the case, he finds that DuPont, a key employer in the area, has been dumping chemicals in the local streams, and the people and babies living in the region have all suffered serious medical problems. He and his wife have ties to the area and he feels he needs to pursue this issue to protect the citizens. The case turns into a lengthy one and could result in adverse consequences for Rob and his wife (Anne Hathaway). Ruffalo underplays the character as a dour, humorless but dedicated man trying to do what’s right in the face of immense pressure, capturing data, assessing scientific evidence and going up against a giant corporation. This movie is highly detailed (there are segments when Rob sits on the floor trying to read cartons and cartons of files pertinent to the case; I have never seen so many binder clips in my life) and there is not much action. Some of the people he is trying to protect oppose his approach and favor DuPont because they trust the company. Bottom line – DON’T EVER USE ANYTHING WITH TEFLON COATING! 4 cans but not much fun.
152. Marriage Story* (2019 – Netflix) – Nicole and Charlie Barber (Scarlet Johanssen and Adam Driver) are clearly meant for each other. She is an actress and he is a director of avant garde theater, based in New York and determined to stay there despite her desire to move back to California and pursue movies and TV projects. As in all relationships, there is always the push and pull of who is entitled to what and who will win out. By the time we meet them, they have already decided to divorce and are working with a mediator, writing letters about each other that express true admiration and affection in hopes of creating a fair and friendly end to their marriage and setting up successful co-parenting their 8-year-old son, Henry. But relationships are never easy and ending one is complicated, as the former couple team up with their respective lawyers and begin to use custody as a cudgel against each other. She feels he has dominated their lives while she has made all of the compromises. The problem with this film is that it is so talky – tons of dialog is emitted from each actor in outstanding performances by Johanssen and Driver. But when ADam Driver sings "Being Alive," I was enthralled completely! 4 cans, even though I sometimes felt I was suffering along with them.
153. The Report* (2019) – This movie reveals the torture techniques adopted by the US government following the 9/11 tragedy to further their investigation into suspected Middle East terrorists. Senate staffer Daniel Jones (a rock-solid Adam Driver) is tasked with reviewing millions of documents relating to the “enhanced interrogation techniques” employed by CIA operatives, and what he finds is truly disturbing. You can’t turn away from this movie, even if you want to. The level of inhumanity in the treatment of prisoners is staggering. Jones worked on his report on the situation for about 8 years, never knowing whether it would be published or taken seriously and not knowing his own degree of accountability. Annette Bening plays Jones’ boss, Senator Diane Feinstein. 3½ cans.
154. Irreconcilable Differences (1985) – Precocious 9-year-old Casey Brodsky (Drew Barrymore) is fed up with her self-centered Hollywood parents and takes them to court, seeking her freedom. Not that the divorced duo would notice, as the feuding couple is more concerned with their personal fortunes than with their only child. Ryan O’Neal is a screenwriter and director of what is called the worst movie of all time (starring Blake Chandler, played by Sharon Stone), a musical version of the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” His wife/ex-wife is Lucy (Shelley Long), herself a screenwriter – if uncredited on his biggest hit – who hits deep levels of despair before bouncing back with a hilarious novel based on their marriage. I never hear anyone mention this movie as a top comedy, and while it isn’t on a list that would include contemporary comedies such as “Trading Places” or “Animal House,” I have loved it since I first saw it with a friend with whom I still share some of the lines (when Lucy’s career brings her to the top again, she tells her entourage that she is “hot as a pistol and free as a bird”). I had not seen it in many years but still appreciated the humor. 3½ cans.
155. The Irishman* (2019) – Whether his protagonists are Irish or Italian (“Goodfellas”), director Martin Scorsese certainly knows how to deliver gangster movies. Robert DeNiro is Frank Sheeran, a Philadelphia truckdriver who is the strong silent guy who gets involved with Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci), who is tied into the illegal activities of real-life Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino, another Scorsese vet). I couldn’t tell whether Frank’s best quality was following orders (often to kill people) or whether he actually understood the orders he was carrying out. Since all of the leads are fairly aged by now, they spoke more quietly, making parts of the 3½ hour epic very poignant and sad. Scorsese conducts a master class in the craft of filmmaking, using special creative techniques to “de-age” the actors in some of the scenes, but couldn’t he have done it in 2½ hours? I was glad I chose watching it on Netflix, since I fell asleep and had to rewind almost an hour to get caught up again. Still, 4 cans.
156. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Cousins Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and Paulie (Eric Roberts) aren’t exactly criminals, but neither are they upstanding citizens. Paulie is the schemer with no qualms about making a big score as long as it doesn’t really hurt anyone. “It’s only money,” he pleads to Charlie. Charlie is the dreamer who looks forward to scraping together enough money to run his own restaurant, but who can’t keep up with the demands of his ex-wife and the bills for his expensive suits and shoes. Paulie is certain they can pull off a heist that will benefit them both, but the twitchy would-be mini-mobster can’t get out of his own way. This movie depicts the streets of New York, the cops, the crooks and the schemers with great verve. It’s hard to look at today’s Mickey Rourke and remember him as this street-smart guy with all that swagger and appeal. And the Sinatra song “Summer Wind” only enhances it all. 4 cans.
157. Little* (2019) – I had to see this movie because it was co-written and directed by my namesake, Tina Gordon. The premise here is not an original one: Characters who have switched ages or identities can be found in “The Parent Trap,” “13 Going on 30,” “Big,” and other films. But this one has a nice twist. Driven and successful businesswoman Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) hasn’t achieved her stature by making friends, just by influencing people. She mistreats her faithful assistant April (Issa Ray) and refuses to listen to April’s ideas. But when she has a spell cast on her, adult Jordan becomes teenaged Jordan (played by co-executive producer Marsai Martin), with the same adult characteristics but housed in the body of a pre-teen. She is forced to turn the reigns of the company over to April and enroll in school. The school is dominated by mean girls, and young Jordan is forced to hang out with the non-popular outcasts. Martin is captivating as young Jordan, bringing plenty of spice to the young girl as a developing difficult woman, and April is forced to handle her employer as a kid AND as an adult. This is not a great movie by any means, and it is derogatory in many ways about strong women in general, but the performances were worth seeing. 3 cans.
158. Undefeated* (2011) – I think my regular readers know how much I like sports AND movies, so it figures I would have a special fondness for sports movies. This documentary tells the story of Manassas High School, a dinky outpost in an impoverished area near Knoxville, Tennessee, that not only wasn’t undefeated, but which had never made an appearance in the state or district playoffs – in its more than 100 years of existence. For six years, volunteer Coach Bill Courtney has led the team to losing seasons, sometimes with no wins at all. But this year is different. Armed with some athletes good enough to play on the college level, Courtney has to convince them that they are good enough, and that if they show their character and get along with each other, they can all be winners. Most of these kids come from broken homes where college is just a dream, but why not dream big? This movie has the usual sports clichés and stereotypes, but it is solid when it comes to inspiration. 3½ cans.
159. 12 Angry Men* (1997) – This worthy remake of the classic drama about a jury trying to decide the fate a young man who allegedly killed his father takes few liberties with the original movie of Reginald Rose’s classic story. The weather is stifling hot and a bunch of men are cooped up in a sweaty jury room to decide whether a young Hispanic guy committed the crime. 11 of the jurors are ready to convict him, but one (Jack Lemmon) feels that the group owes the man at least a real discussion of the case. As they plow through the evidence, the obvious conclusion becomes less obvious, and the jurors reconsider their original guilty votes. How much is the decision based on personal bias and how much is due to the evidence presented in court? Just as in the prior version of this play, this version has a stellar cast (Lemmon, George C. Scott, Tony Danza, Edward James Olmos and more) who bring the drama to life. Highly recommended. 4 cans.
160. The Two Popes* (2019) – What does a Jewish girl know about popes? A puff of white smoke from the Vatican means there is a new one, right? In this account of the relationship/friendship between Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the humanity of both men is on full display. Bergoglio doesn’t want to continue serving as a Cardinal, but Benedict will not let him resign. In fact, Benedict himself is ready to call it quits and he wants Bergoglio to succeed him. These are real people, full of beliefs, acknowledging their shortcomings, and building a relationship based on mutual faith and respect. And though Benedict would rather eat alone, Cardinal Bergoglio can get him to share a good Italian pizza. Despite his reluctance to serve, Bergoglio eventually gave in, was elected pope and became Pope Francis, where he has brought his modest but progressive ways to the church. You don’t see many movies about Popes, especially not a buddy picture! 4 cans and a puff of white smoke. Available on Netflix.
161. Moonstruck (1987) – The widowed (and only 37-year old) Loretta Castorini (Cher) accepts the marriage proposal of her long-time boyfriend Johnny Cammerari (the late, great Danny Aiello) but doesn’t really love him. She’s just tired and bored with her life, living with her parents (Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis), so she agrees to the marriage as Johnny heads to Palermo to see his dying mother. He begs her to invite his estranged younger brother Ronnie (Nicholas Cage) to the wedding. That doesn’t turn out at all the way Johnny expected. This is a beautiful pastiche of the charms of life, the relationships between men and women with an Oscar-winning performance by Cher and all the comforts of home. Let them all bask in the moonlight. 4½ cans.
162. The Big Chill (1987) – College friends now in their 30s gather for the funeral of one of their own and face their insecurities, thwarted ambitions, triumphs and failures. Great cast (Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldbloom, Tom Berenger and Meg Tilly) and a memorable soundtrack. Love this movie for its content and for the memories it evokes. 4 cans.
163. Bombshell* (2019) – If you wanted a career in broadcast news as a woman – at least at Fox News – your best bet was to hike up your tight dress, wear high heels and prove your “loyalty” to the boss, Roger Ailes, a lunatic with a famous record of dealing with presidents and their ilk. He built Fox News into an enormous money-making organization. He also used his power to dominate the women in his employ and to subject them to sexually harassment. But because the women he hired and promoted valued and needed their jobs, they rarely reported his disgusting behavior. In this account of the dirty doings at Fox News, former anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) gets demoted and eventually fired from the anchor desk and decides to sue Ailes (John Lithgow) personally. But like most other charges of this type, believing just one woman doesn’t seem like enough. So, will star performer Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) be willing to admit that she, too, was a victim of Ailes’ harassment? The parade of Fox women is like watching a collection of Barbie dolls on display. They may well be qualified for their positions, as Kelly surely was, but they were forced to have a certain look and go along with systemic harassment and the demeaning objectification required to keep their jobs. One key fictional character here is played by Margot Robbie, as an avowed conservative who sees herself as the perfect person to convey the values espoused by Fox News. Her humiliating “audition” by Ailes is hard to watch, as Ailes tells her that TV is a visual medium and her needs to see more and more of her legs. All of the “action” here takes place against the background of the 2016 Presidential nomination process, as Kelly asks presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump about his publicly disdainful attitude toward women, stirring up a Twitter frenzy by Trump that only proves Kelly’s point. I hate the subject matter and seeing what women have felt it necessary to do to get ahead, but it is impossible to deny the truth. 4 cans.
164. Heartburn (1986) – Jack Nicholson marries Meryl Streep and cheats on her in this movie written by the wonderful Nora Ephron, based on her marriage to Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post reporter. Marriage here just seems like the accepted next step, and Streep’s Rachel is willing to give up her work as a writer in New York to make it work with hubby Mark in DC. But in the gossipy, incestuous capitol, Rachel hears about a well-known woman who is having an affair. Everyone wants to know with whom, but Rachel when finds out, she drags her kids back to NYC and swears she’s done with Mark. I had not seen this movie in years, but I do remember it dragging a bit. However, it IS Meryl, and she can play anything (including looking unkempt) with aplomb. Jack Nicholson gets by with charm and only a modicum of commitment. 3 cans.
165. A Christmas Story (1983) – Clever and warm, chock full of reminiscing, this classic is one I eagerly watch every Christmas Eve. Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but he’ll shoot his eye out, warns every adult in his life. There’s the scene with the hideous lamp, the kid who gets his tongue frozen to the lamppost, Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with a bar of soap (he prefers Lux) for using the ultimate bad word, the turkey going to the dogs and the scene in the Chinese restaurant. I no longer laugh out loud, but each year I marvel at the wit and wisdom of the writer, Jean Shepherd, in providing this view of growing up in a small town in the “good old” days. 4 cans.
166. Slap Shot (1977) – The Charlestown Chiefs, headed by aging player-coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman!), are a minor league hockey team circling the drain, better as a tax write-off for their mysterious owner than a bona fide sports franchise. The New England town is laying off steel workers, and the team will probably fold. Reggie lobbies for a sale and move to Florida but needs an attraction to create excitement about the team, so he calls up the Hansen brothers, three-dimwitted brothers who love to fight, poke, prod and create mayhem on the ice. And the crowd loves it. But will it be enough to get the team a “fighting chance?” This is lightweight but fun entertainment, a guilty pleasure for me. And there’s Paul Newman, so what could be bad? 3½ cans.
167. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 (2019) – Rachel Brosnahan is back as Midge, less a fledging comic now and established enough to be the opening act for a successful soul singer named Shy. The season takes us on her tour with Shy, and both Mrs. Maisel and her brash and inexperienced but caring manager Susie (Alex Borstein) start to really understand their jobs better. Susie is asked to take on managing a somewhat faded and enormously demanding comedian played by Jane Lynch. They make money, they lose money, paralleling the life of Midge’s increasingly annoying parents (Tony Shaloub and Marin Hinckle), who move in with former husband Joel’s even more strident parents when they lose their apartment. Though I enjoyed season 3 more than season 2, I still prefer that glorious first season when we met Midge and Co. She’s still a brilliant comic, and who makes a better brisket? The sights and sound of the early 60s add authenticity to the look and reality of this show. 3½ cans.
168. Little Women* (2019) – After countless productions, this classic from Louisa May Alcott gets a fresh take from writer/director Greta Gerwig. The March sisters are all present and accounted for: the eldest, Meg (Emma Watson) is a would-be performer turned wife and other; Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is an independent young woman who loves to write and knows it can be her livelihood; sickly Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is adored by the family; and artistic but scheming Amy (Florence Pugh) is on the prowl for a husband. Tart-tongued Aunt March (Meryl Streep), issues equal parts advice and orders and matriarch Marmie (Laura Dern) loves her girls fiercely. This version shakes up the chronological order of events (sometimes confusingly, it my opinion) but we watch as Jo grows ever more independent and self-assured as the loving leader of the pack. They all share a fun and loving relationship with Laurie, the rich boy next door (Timothee Chalamet). The warm and loving relationship between the family members bring pathos and humor to the script and makes this new version of an old classic well worth viewing. 4 cans.
169. Richard Jewell* (2019) – When a bomb goes off in Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games, security officer Richard Jewell, who spotted the suspicious duffle bag containing the device, is hailed as a hero for his quick action in clearing the area and preventing more deaths and injuries. But Jewell (Paul Walter Houser) soon becomes a suspect in the eyes of the FBI (John Hamm plays the investigator in charge of the case) because his background fits the profile of a bomber: unmarried white male gun owner who fancies himself to be a law enforcement official. When Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) coerces his name from the FBI, it sets off a media frenzy. Desperate for legal help, Jewell calls the only lawyer he knows, (Sam Rockwell), who must counsel the innocent Jewell not to be quite so chatty with the authorities. Jewel’s life and that of his mother (Kathy Bates) come under extreme scrutiny, with the FBI confiscating their belongings as part of the investigation – everything from the Tupperware to Mrs. Jewell’s underwear must be tested. Jewel may have been overly zealous in wanting to be in law enforcement and perhaps had too much respect for the authorities, but that doesn’t make him guilty. Directed by Clint Eastwood. 4 cans.
My Favorite/Best Movies of 2019 - In no particular order:
1. Motherless Brooklyn – Kudos to Edward Norton, who wrote, directed and starred in this 1950s film noire.
2. Bombshell – More examples from the #MeToo movement.
3. Little Women – Greta Gerwig gives a new treatment to the old classic.
4. Harriet – Cynthia Erivo with an Oscar-worthy performance as Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad.
5. Echoes in the Canyon – California dreamin’ music.
6. Amazing Grace – Aretha, the Queen of Soul, does gospel music as only she can.
7. Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice – So much great music from a velvet-voiced master of all genres.
8. Yesterday – Suppose no one ever heard of the Beatles, except the star of this film?
9. Rocket Man – Elton John gets the Bohemian Rhapsody treatment.
10. Roma – Last year’s Oscar winner, in black and white, with subtitles about life in Mexico sounds dull but was brilliantly put together.
11. The Upside – Not a great movie, but one of the few I saw that made me laugh, thanks to great chemistry between co-stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
12. The Inventor – Fascinating documentary on the rise and fall of would-be tycoon Elizabeth Homes, inventor of a machine that uses just a drop of blood to do hundreds of diagnostic tests. Only it didn’t work.
13. American Son – No better example of race issues in this country but on a very personal basis.
14. The Irishman – Martin Scorsese and friends go from Italian to Irish stereotypes.
15. The Two Popes – More than just a puff of smoke.
16. Pavarotti – When Pavarotti sings here with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, they make my heart soar.
151. Dark Waters* (2019) – Mark Ruffalo stars here as Rob Billot, a corporate lawyer who is approached by a farmer in West Virginia whose livestock are dying from drinking polluted water. As Rob delves into the case, he finds that DuPont, a key employer in the area, has been dumping chemicals in the local streams, and the people and babies living in the region have all suffered serious medical problems. He and his wife have ties to the area and he feels he needs to pursue this issue to protect the citizens. The case turns into a lengthy one and could result in adverse consequences for Rob and his wife (Anne Hathaway). Ruffalo underplays the character as a dour, humorless but dedicated man trying to do what’s right in the face of immense pressure, capturing data, assessing scientific evidence and going up against a giant corporation. This movie is highly detailed (there are segments when Rob sits on the floor trying to read cartons and cartons of files pertinent to the case; I have never seen so many binder clips in my life) and there is not much action. Some of the people he is trying to protect oppose his approach and favor DuPont because they trust the company. Bottom line – DON’T EVER USE ANYTHING WITH TEFLON COATING! 4 cans but not much fun.
152. Marriage Story* (2019 – Netflix) – Nicole and Charlie Barber (Scarlet Johanssen and Adam Driver) are clearly meant for each other. She is an actress and he is a director of avant garde theater, based in New York and determined to stay there despite her desire to move back to California and pursue movies and TV projects. As in all relationships, there is always the push and pull of who is entitled to what and who will win out. By the time we meet them, they have already decided to divorce and are working with a mediator, writing letters about each other that express true admiration and affection in hopes of creating a fair and friendly end to their marriage and setting up successful co-parenting their 8-year-old son, Henry. But relationships are never easy and ending one is complicated, as the former couple team up with their respective lawyers and begin to use custody as a cudgel against each other. She feels he has dominated their lives while she has made all of the compromises. The problem with this film is that it is so talky – tons of dialog is emitted from each actor in outstanding performances by Johanssen and Driver. But when ADam Driver sings "Being Alive," I was enthralled completely! 4 cans, even though I sometimes felt I was suffering along with them.
153. The Report* (2019) – This movie reveals the torture techniques adopted by the US government following the 9/11 tragedy to further their investigation into suspected Middle East terrorists. Senate staffer Daniel Jones (a rock-solid Adam Driver) is tasked with reviewing millions of documents relating to the “enhanced interrogation techniques” employed by CIA operatives, and what he finds is truly disturbing. You can’t turn away from this movie, even if you want to. The level of inhumanity in the treatment of prisoners is staggering. Jones worked on his report on the situation for about 8 years, never knowing whether it would be published or taken seriously and not knowing his own degree of accountability. Annette Bening plays Jones’ boss, Senator Diane Feinstein. 3½ cans.
154. Irreconcilable Differences (1985) – Precocious 9-year-old Casey Brodsky (Drew Barrymore) is fed up with her self-centered Hollywood parents and takes them to court, seeking her freedom. Not that the divorced duo would notice, as the feuding couple is more concerned with their personal fortunes than with their only child. Ryan O’Neal is a screenwriter and director of what is called the worst movie of all time (starring Blake Chandler, played by Sharon Stone), a musical version of the sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” His wife/ex-wife is Lucy (Shelley Long), herself a screenwriter – if uncredited on his biggest hit – who hits deep levels of despair before bouncing back with a hilarious novel based on their marriage. I never hear anyone mention this movie as a top comedy, and while it isn’t on a list that would include contemporary comedies such as “Trading Places” or “Animal House,” I have loved it since I first saw it with a friend with whom I still share some of the lines (when Lucy’s career brings her to the top again, she tells her entourage that she is “hot as a pistol and free as a bird”). I had not seen it in many years but still appreciated the humor. 3½ cans.
155. The Irishman* (2019) – Whether his protagonists are Irish or Italian (“Goodfellas”), director Martin Scorsese certainly knows how to deliver gangster movies. Robert DeNiro is Frank Sheeran, a Philadelphia truckdriver who is the strong silent guy who gets involved with Russell Buffalino (Joe Pesci), who is tied into the illegal activities of real-life Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino, another Scorsese vet). I couldn’t tell whether Frank’s best quality was following orders (often to kill people) or whether he actually understood the orders he was carrying out. Since all of the leads are fairly aged by now, they spoke more quietly, making parts of the 3½ hour epic very poignant and sad. Scorsese conducts a master class in the craft of filmmaking, using special creative techniques to “de-age” the actors in some of the scenes, but couldn’t he have done it in 2½ hours? I was glad I chose watching it on Netflix, since I fell asleep and had to rewind almost an hour to get caught up again. Still, 4 cans.
156. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) – Cousins Charlie (Mickey Rourke) and Paulie (Eric Roberts) aren’t exactly criminals, but neither are they upstanding citizens. Paulie is the schemer with no qualms about making a big score as long as it doesn’t really hurt anyone. “It’s only money,” he pleads to Charlie. Charlie is the dreamer who looks forward to scraping together enough money to run his own restaurant, but who can’t keep up with the demands of his ex-wife and the bills for his expensive suits and shoes. Paulie is certain they can pull off a heist that will benefit them both, but the twitchy would-be mini-mobster can’t get out of his own way. This movie depicts the streets of New York, the cops, the crooks and the schemers with great verve. It’s hard to look at today’s Mickey Rourke and remember him as this street-smart guy with all that swagger and appeal. And the Sinatra song “Summer Wind” only enhances it all. 4 cans.
157. Little* (2019) – I had to see this movie because it was co-written and directed by my namesake, Tina Gordon. The premise here is not an original one: Characters who have switched ages or identities can be found in “The Parent Trap,” “13 Going on 30,” “Big,” and other films. But this one has a nice twist. Driven and successful businesswoman Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) hasn’t achieved her stature by making friends, just by influencing people. She mistreats her faithful assistant April (Issa Ray) and refuses to listen to April’s ideas. But when she has a spell cast on her, adult Jordan becomes teenaged Jordan (played by co-executive producer Marsai Martin), with the same adult characteristics but housed in the body of a pre-teen. She is forced to turn the reigns of the company over to April and enroll in school. The school is dominated by mean girls, and young Jordan is forced to hang out with the non-popular outcasts. Martin is captivating as young Jordan, bringing plenty of spice to the young girl as a developing difficult woman, and April is forced to handle her employer as a kid AND as an adult. This is not a great movie by any means, and it is derogatory in many ways about strong women in general, but the performances were worth seeing. 3 cans.
158. Undefeated* (2011) – I think my regular readers know how much I like sports AND movies, so it figures I would have a special fondness for sports movies. This documentary tells the story of Manassas High School, a dinky outpost in an impoverished area near Knoxville, Tennessee, that not only wasn’t undefeated, but which had never made an appearance in the state or district playoffs – in its more than 100 years of existence. For six years, volunteer Coach Bill Courtney has led the team to losing seasons, sometimes with no wins at all. But this year is different. Armed with some athletes good enough to play on the college level, Courtney has to convince them that they are good enough, and that if they show their character and get along with each other, they can all be winners. Most of these kids come from broken homes where college is just a dream, but why not dream big? This movie has the usual sports clichés and stereotypes, but it is solid when it comes to inspiration. 3½ cans.
159. 12 Angry Men* (1997) – This worthy remake of the classic drama about a jury trying to decide the fate a young man who allegedly killed his father takes few liberties with the original movie of Reginald Rose’s classic story. The weather is stifling hot and a bunch of men are cooped up in a sweaty jury room to decide whether a young Hispanic guy committed the crime. 11 of the jurors are ready to convict him, but one (Jack Lemmon) feels that the group owes the man at least a real discussion of the case. As they plow through the evidence, the obvious conclusion becomes less obvious, and the jurors reconsider their original guilty votes. How much is the decision based on personal bias and how much is due to the evidence presented in court? Just as in the prior version of this play, this version has a stellar cast (Lemmon, George C. Scott, Tony Danza, Edward James Olmos and more) who bring the drama to life. Highly recommended. 4 cans.
160. The Two Popes* (2019) – What does a Jewish girl know about popes? A puff of white smoke from the Vatican means there is a new one, right? In this account of the relationship/friendship between Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the humanity of both men is on full display. Bergoglio doesn’t want to continue serving as a Cardinal, but Benedict will not let him resign. In fact, Benedict himself is ready to call it quits and he wants Bergoglio to succeed him. These are real people, full of beliefs, acknowledging their shortcomings, and building a relationship based on mutual faith and respect. And though Benedict would rather eat alone, Cardinal Bergoglio can get him to share a good Italian pizza. Despite his reluctance to serve, Bergoglio eventually gave in, was elected pope and became Pope Francis, where he has brought his modest but progressive ways to the church. You don’t see many movies about Popes, especially not a buddy picture! 4 cans and a puff of white smoke. Available on Netflix.
161. Moonstruck (1987) – The widowed (and only 37-year old) Loretta Castorini (Cher) accepts the marriage proposal of her long-time boyfriend Johnny Cammerari (the late, great Danny Aiello) but doesn’t really love him. She’s just tired and bored with her life, living with her parents (Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis), so she agrees to the marriage as Johnny heads to Palermo to see his dying mother. He begs her to invite his estranged younger brother Ronnie (Nicholas Cage) to the wedding. That doesn’t turn out at all the way Johnny expected. This is a beautiful pastiche of the charms of life, the relationships between men and women with an Oscar-winning performance by Cher and all the comforts of home. Let them all bask in the moonlight. 4½ cans.
162. The Big Chill (1987) – College friends now in their 30s gather for the funeral of one of their own and face their insecurities, thwarted ambitions, triumphs and failures. Great cast (Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldbloom, Tom Berenger and Meg Tilly) and a memorable soundtrack. Love this movie for its content and for the memories it evokes. 4 cans.
163. Bombshell* (2019) – If you wanted a career in broadcast news as a woman – at least at Fox News – your best bet was to hike up your tight dress, wear high heels and prove your “loyalty” to the boss, Roger Ailes, a lunatic with a famous record of dealing with presidents and their ilk. He built Fox News into an enormous money-making organization. He also used his power to dominate the women in his employ and to subject them to sexually harassment. But because the women he hired and promoted valued and needed their jobs, they rarely reported his disgusting behavior. In this account of the dirty doings at Fox News, former anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) gets demoted and eventually fired from the anchor desk and decides to sue Ailes (John Lithgow) personally. But like most other charges of this type, believing just one woman doesn’t seem like enough. So, will star performer Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) be willing to admit that she, too, was a victim of Ailes’ harassment? The parade of Fox women is like watching a collection of Barbie dolls on display. They may well be qualified for their positions, as Kelly surely was, but they were forced to have a certain look and go along with systemic harassment and the demeaning objectification required to keep their jobs. One key fictional character here is played by Margot Robbie, as an avowed conservative who sees herself as the perfect person to convey the values espoused by Fox News. Her humiliating “audition” by Ailes is hard to watch, as Ailes tells her that TV is a visual medium and her needs to see more and more of her legs. All of the “action” here takes place against the background of the 2016 Presidential nomination process, as Kelly asks presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump about his publicly disdainful attitude toward women, stirring up a Twitter frenzy by Trump that only proves Kelly’s point. I hate the subject matter and seeing what women have felt it necessary to do to get ahead, but it is impossible to deny the truth. 4 cans.
164. Heartburn (1986) – Jack Nicholson marries Meryl Streep and cheats on her in this movie written by the wonderful Nora Ephron, based on her marriage to Carl Bernstein, the Washington Post reporter. Marriage here just seems like the accepted next step, and Streep’s Rachel is willing to give up her work as a writer in New York to make it work with hubby Mark in DC. But in the gossipy, incestuous capitol, Rachel hears about a well-known woman who is having an affair. Everyone wants to know with whom, but Rachel when finds out, she drags her kids back to NYC and swears she’s done with Mark. I had not seen this movie in years, but I do remember it dragging a bit. However, it IS Meryl, and she can play anything (including looking unkempt) with aplomb. Jack Nicholson gets by with charm and only a modicum of commitment. 3 cans.
165. A Christmas Story (1983) – Clever and warm, chock full of reminiscing, this classic is one I eagerly watch every Christmas Eve. Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but he’ll shoot his eye out, warns every adult in his life. There’s the scene with the hideous lamp, the kid who gets his tongue frozen to the lamppost, Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with a bar of soap (he prefers Lux) for using the ultimate bad word, the turkey going to the dogs and the scene in the Chinese restaurant. I no longer laugh out loud, but each year I marvel at the wit and wisdom of the writer, Jean Shepherd, in providing this view of growing up in a small town in the “good old” days. 4 cans.
166. Slap Shot (1977) – The Charlestown Chiefs, headed by aging player-coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman!), are a minor league hockey team circling the drain, better as a tax write-off for their mysterious owner than a bona fide sports franchise. The New England town is laying off steel workers, and the team will probably fold. Reggie lobbies for a sale and move to Florida but needs an attraction to create excitement about the team, so he calls up the Hansen brothers, three-dimwitted brothers who love to fight, poke, prod and create mayhem on the ice. And the crowd loves it. But will it be enough to get the team a “fighting chance?” This is lightweight but fun entertainment, a guilty pleasure for me. And there’s Paul Newman, so what could be bad? 3½ cans.
167. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 (2019) – Rachel Brosnahan is back as Midge, less a fledging comic now and established enough to be the opening act for a successful soul singer named Shy. The season takes us on her tour with Shy, and both Mrs. Maisel and her brash and inexperienced but caring manager Susie (Alex Borstein) start to really understand their jobs better. Susie is asked to take on managing a somewhat faded and enormously demanding comedian played by Jane Lynch. They make money, they lose money, paralleling the life of Midge’s increasingly annoying parents (Tony Shaloub and Marin Hinckle), who move in with former husband Joel’s even more strident parents when they lose their apartment. Though I enjoyed season 3 more than season 2, I still prefer that glorious first season when we met Midge and Co. She’s still a brilliant comic, and who makes a better brisket? The sights and sound of the early 60s add authenticity to the look and reality of this show. 3½ cans.
168. Little Women* (2019) – After countless productions, this classic from Louisa May Alcott gets a fresh take from writer/director Greta Gerwig. The March sisters are all present and accounted for: the eldest, Meg (Emma Watson) is a would-be performer turned wife and other; Jo (Saoirse Ronan) is an independent young woman who loves to write and knows it can be her livelihood; sickly Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is adored by the family; and artistic but scheming Amy (Florence Pugh) is on the prowl for a husband. Tart-tongued Aunt March (Meryl Streep), issues equal parts advice and orders and matriarch Marmie (Laura Dern) loves her girls fiercely. This version shakes up the chronological order of events (sometimes confusingly, it my opinion) but we watch as Jo grows ever more independent and self-assured as the loving leader of the pack. They all share a fun and loving relationship with Laurie, the rich boy next door (Timothee Chalamet). The warm and loving relationship between the family members bring pathos and humor to the script and makes this new version of an old classic well worth viewing. 4 cans.
169. Richard Jewell* (2019) – When a bomb goes off in Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games, security officer Richard Jewell, who spotted the suspicious duffle bag containing the device, is hailed as a hero for his quick action in clearing the area and preventing more deaths and injuries. But Jewell (Paul Walter Houser) soon becomes a suspect in the eyes of the FBI (John Hamm plays the investigator in charge of the case) because his background fits the profile of a bomber: unmarried white male gun owner who fancies himself to be a law enforcement official. When Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) coerces his name from the FBI, it sets off a media frenzy. Desperate for legal help, Jewell calls the only lawyer he knows, (Sam Rockwell), who must counsel the innocent Jewell not to be quite so chatty with the authorities. Jewel’s life and that of his mother (Kathy Bates) come under extreme scrutiny, with the FBI confiscating their belongings as part of the investigation – everything from the Tupperware to Mrs. Jewell’s underwear must be tested. Jewel may have been overly zealous in wanting to be in law enforcement and perhaps had too much respect for the authorities, but that doesn’t make him guilty. Directed by Clint Eastwood. 4 cans.
My Favorite/Best Movies of 2019 - In no particular order:
1. Motherless Brooklyn – Kudos to Edward Norton, who wrote, directed and starred in this 1950s film noire.
2. Bombshell – More examples from the #MeToo movement.
3. Little Women – Greta Gerwig gives a new treatment to the old classic.
4. Harriet – Cynthia Erivo with an Oscar-worthy performance as Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad.
5. Echoes in the Canyon – California dreamin’ music.
6. Amazing Grace – Aretha, the Queen of Soul, does gospel music as only she can.
7. Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice – So much great music from a velvet-voiced master of all genres.
8. Yesterday – Suppose no one ever heard of the Beatles, except the star of this film?
9. Rocket Man – Elton John gets the Bohemian Rhapsody treatment.
10. Roma – Last year’s Oscar winner, in black and white, with subtitles about life in Mexico sounds dull but was brilliantly put together.
11. The Upside – Not a great movie, but one of the few I saw that made me laugh, thanks to great chemistry between co-stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
12. The Inventor – Fascinating documentary on the rise and fall of would-be tycoon Elizabeth Homes, inventor of a machine that uses just a drop of blood to do hundreds of diagnostic tests. Only it didn’t work.
13. American Son – No better example of race issues in this country but on a very personal basis.
14. The Irishman – Martin Scorsese and friends go from Italian to Irish stereotypes.
15. The Two Popes – More than just a puff of smoke.
16. Pavarotti – When Pavarotti sings here with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, they make my heart soar.
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