Tina's June 2020 Movies & More

I watched several top-flight TV series and some terrific documentaries in June along with a bunch of old and new movies. Numbering picks up from previous months and programs I had not seen previously are marked with an asterisk.  Ratings are on a scale from 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the highest.

79.  Lance* (2020) – This ESPN documentary about disgraced world champion cyclist Lance Armstrong comes on the heels of last month’s monumental “The Last Dance” about Michael Jordan.  There have been several previous documentaries about Armstrong in which he vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs.  By the time of this production, he had already confessed on “Oprah,” so the film focuses more on when he started doping, how it worked, and the feeling around the cycling community that if you didn’t dope, you were not on a level playing field because – allegedly – everybody was doing it.  I find Armstrong to be a cold, calculating liar, and I wonder if anything he says is genuine and true.  He never minded accusing his accusers and he used denial as his key defense for years.  I admire his recovery from testicular cancer that spread and almost killed him.  His resilience pushed him to recover (along with a lot of medical help) and outdo his previous cycling achievements.  In the second part of this series, he semi-excuses his behavior because of the success of his Livestrong Foundation, which sold those ubiquitous yellow rubber bracelets to raise awareness about cancer.  His foundation was supported by numerous corporate sponsors and was trusted by so many beneficiaries of its work that Armstrong felt he would risk the funding and support if he admitted to doping.  He was right.  Once he came clean – so to speak – his sponsors dropped him and funds for the foundation vanished.  Lance Armstrong was arrogant, amazing, aggressive and accomplished – not all in a good way.  But the documentary is all good. 4 cans.
80.  Queer Eye, Season 5* (2020) – This Netflix series bills itself as “More than a Makeover,” and that claim could not be more accurate.  The 10-episode series (which I watched in 24 hours) features five gay men who make over the life of one person – house, looks, place of work and attitude – leaving the person in just a few days with more self-esteem and life skills (and a beautiful home) sorely lacking previously.  Whether they are working with a 6’3” woman who owns a dog grooming business, a man preparing for his daughter’s wedding or a fishmonger from Mexico trying to open a restaurant in Philadelphia (where the show was filmed this time around), the “Fab Five” bring compassion, fashion, good taste and moral support, leaving their new friends with self-confidence.  Love this show!  4 cans.
81.  Lenox Hill* (2020) – Filmed right before COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City, this Netflix documentary series focuses on the city’s Lenox Hill Hospital, its staff and patients.  The stars of the show are two male neurosurgeons who are building the hospital’s capabilities in the field, and two female physicians, one an OB/GYN who is pregnant throughout the series and the other a DO who has a baby in an early episode.  The neurosurgeons have the high profile here, with fascinating cases of brain tumors and targeted therapies to keep their patients alive and functioning.  We see plenty of brain tumors being removed (not for the squeamish) and quite a few births – all dramatic and occasionally traumatic.  There have been several previous series with the same focus at different hospitals, and I find them all extremely interesting to follow.  I finished all eight episodes in 24 hours.  And a few weeks later, a ninth episode was added to look at the effects of the COVID-19 virus on the staff and patients in Lenox Hill Hospital.  Check it out on Netflix.  4 cans.
82.  The Good Liar (2019) – The title of this intriguing drama points to the main premise; there are plenty of lies and liars here, and good ones at that.  Helen Mirren plays a widow who meets Roy (Ian McKellan) online and the two start a relationship.  Both are older people who have lost their spouses and they seem very compatible, although she is not looking for a romantic relationship.  Turns out, neither is he.  Roy is a con man, interested in bilking the wealthy widow out of her money.  He’s done it before, and he relishes the chase in doing it again.  He’s hardly a nice, gentle older man, but it seems that Mirren isn’t merely a genteel woman, for that matter.  It’s hard to say more without spilling the beans on the plot, but it is worth seeing this movie both for the performances of these mature actors as well as for a story with twists and turns.  Cleverly done.  3½ cans.
83.  Loving* (2016) – When Richard Loving falls in love and marries Mildred in 1958 in rural Virginia, he is not aware that he and his young bride have committed a crime.  Richard (Joel Edgerton) is white and Mildred (Ruth Negga) is black, and inter-racial marriage is illegal in their home state.  They move to more progressive Washington, DC, but Mildred longs for the family she left behind and the quiet, simple life in the country.  Moving back puts them in jeopardy again, but the ACLU decides to defend them and challenge the Virginia law all the way to the Supreme Court.  This movie is based on a real story of a loving couple leading a simple life with their family.  They don’t need notoriety or fame.  They just want to be together and raise their kids.  This is an understated film which has minimal dialog, and which could have benefited from more detail.  I wanted more about how they met and fell in love, how they felt about the injustice they faced and fewer languorous shots of the fields surrounding their house.  3½ cans.
84. 13th* (2016) – Director Ana DuVernay provides this deep dive into the complexities of racial inequality, the prison system in this country, the “law & order” policies of the 1980s on that led to mass incarcerations for relatively minor offenses (possession of marijuana), the profiteering of prison management companies, the passing of legislation promoted by a lobbying group with ties to corporations that benefit from keeping prison enrollment up – all stemming from what is referred to here as a “loophole” in the 13th Amendment.  That amendment abolished slavery and guaranteed freedom – “except as a punishment for a crime.”  Out of that approach came Jim Crow laws, segregation and systemic ways to deny Black people their equal rights.  Once out of prison, they cannot vote or take advantage of other freedoms.  The participants in the show include professors, politicians and activists.  This is a lot to wrap your head around, but it all points to the disparities in the justice system and the disproportionate number of black males serving time in horrendous conditions.  Catch it on Netflix.  4 cans.
85.  Aunt Mary* (1979) – Picture “The Bad News Bears” with more heart and a more sincere, responsible adult coach, and you’ll find “Aunt Mary.”  Jean Stapleton plays the real-life Mary Dobkin, an older woman who has lived as a ward of the state all of her life due to countless medical conditions.  She and the little boy across the hall love to listen to their beloved Baltimore Orioles games on the radio, and, since Mary knows all the subtleties of the sport – like when to bunt, take a pitch and hit to the opposite field – she has the makings of a great coach.  She and young Billy recruit the neighborhood boys – some of whom are already getting into scrapes with the law – to be the Dobkin Dynamites, a rag-tag team with the coach with the heart of gold.  She includes a young boy with an amputated arm and integrates the team in this drama based on a true story.  Mary went on to coach thousands of young boys, injecting some love and attention into their lives.  Not a great movie, a bit corny, but a feel-good movie when I needed one.  3 cans.
86.  Black or White* (2015) – Here is the question:  Is an 8-year old bi-racial girl better off living with the large and loving family of her Black grandmother or staying in the place she has lived all her life with the white grandfather who loves her dearly but drinks too much?  Octavia Spencer is Rowena, otherwise known as Grandma Wiwi, and Kevin Costner is Elliott, the grandfather who raised the little girl with his wife since their daughter, the child’s mother, died in childbirth.  But when Elliott’s wife suddenly dies in a car accident, he is left in charge of the little girl.  The girl has never known her father, who, despite being from a strong family unit, has suffered problems with drugs and served time in jail.  Grandma Wiwi decides that little Eloise (Jillian Estell) would be better off with her and sues Elliott for custody.  There is a lot of anger and a lot of love on display here.  Costner is good as the loving and well-intentioned grandfather who drinks too much, and Octavia Spencer could get an Oscar just from her masterful “sideye.”  When she’s unhappy, everyone will know it.  How can these two adults compromise for the sake of the granddaughter they each love so fervently?  Good question.  3½ cans. 
87.  Every Little Step* (2008) – If you are an aficionado of musical theater and you have seen the thrilling “A Chorus Line” live, this documentary on Netflix is for you.  It recounts the behind-the-scenes work of casting a revival of the Broadway hit, Michael Bennett’s masterwork about the little-known dancers whose personal stories he wove into an unconventional and moving show.  Just as in the original show, which is about the dancers auditioning for a Broadway show, here we see dancer/singers auditioning for the revival, along with clips of the original cast.  It is a great group of talented performers and the competition is fierce to land each part.  Just listening to the stories of how it all began and recalling the individuals in the show with their music and moment to shine gave me chills.  Each of these performers face not getting a role, but they are dedicated to the craft and persistent in putting themselves in a position to be cast.  They can each say that whatever challenges they face, it is “What I Did For Love.”  4 cans.
88.  Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years* (2016) – Acclaimed director Ron Howard takes on the Beatles, using plenty of documentary footage showing the lads from Liverpool performing live everywhere from the Cavern in their hometown to Shea Stadium.  Their legendary tours of American stadiums in 1964-65 attracted throngs of screaming fans, drowning out the music and eventually disillusioning the group.  Everywhere they went, they sold out the venues, and everyone they met wanted a piece of them.  Their songs, which started with a pop innocence that reflected their youth (George Harrison wasn’t even 21 when they started touring), but their musical interests became more complex and their distaste for the road more pronounced, until they decided to stop touring completely after 1966 and stick to studio albums.  Their first one, “Sergeant Pepper,” became one of the most honored and popular albums of all time.  This movie shows us the fresh newness of the band, before they started getting more experimental and a bit jaded with always having to be The Beatles.  3½ cans.  Available on Hulu (subscription only).
89.  7500* (2020) – Since all of the action in this thriller takes place in the cockpit of an airplane, the direction and acting has to be topflight (so to speak), and here it is.  Joseph Levitt Gordon plays pilot Tobias, working with a German captain on a European flight when hijackers burst into the cockpit and injure both men.  Tobias’s arm is badly hurt, but it is much worse for the captain, who dies, leaving Tobias to land the plane safely while the terrorists bang on the door of the now locked cockpit and hold passengers – including the girlfriend of Tobias – hostage.  I couldn’t quite comprehend the point of hijacking the plane, but seeing Gordon trying valiantly to fend off the intruders and fly the jet provided plenty of action.  One young terrorist ends up in the front with Tobias and they warily work together when Tobias isn’t being tortured or restrained.  Very gripping.  3½ cans.  Seen on Amazon Prime Video.
90.  Athlete A* (2020) – This Netflix documentary is a searing look at the USA Gymnastics regime that allowed Dr. Larry Nassar to sexually abuse athletes without contacting the authorities or making any legitimate effort to stop him.  Although hundreds of young female gymnasts were his victims (they call themselves “survivors” now), and they were mostly very young and afraid to come forward.  The verbal and physical abuse of the coaches in the sport played a major role, as the girls found Nassar the only “nice adult,” someone who would sneak them food and candy behind the coaches’ backs.  As the team physician for decades, Nassar had access to hundreds of these young athletes, most of whom suffered injuries as a consequence of the physical demands of the sport.  The gymnasts didn’t understand that his manipulations of their bodies should not have included touching them inappropriately, and it was only when they talked among themselves that they realized they were being abused.  Parents who reported the abuse to Steve Penny, the head of USA Gymnastics were told it would be handled by the organization and it was not reported to law enforcement as required.  It took several brave gymnasts and the Indianapolis Star newspaper to uncover the droves of athletes violated by Nassar and failed by the system.  This is a sad story but with a justified ending.  But though Nassar is out of the picture as he lives the rest of his life behind bars, how long will these victims suffer the consequences of his behavior?  4 cans.
91.  Gloria: A Life* (2020) – Christine Lahti brings iconic women’s activist Gloria Steinem to life in this PBS “Great Performances” program about Steinem’s life and career.  A troupe of players portray the women who both influenced her and worked with her as she became a writer, a feminist, a magazine publisher (when she created Ms. Magazine) and a role model for generations of women.  Now in her 80s – and fielding questions from the audience after the conclusion of the play – Steinem has argued, marched, combated and conquered in her quest for equality.  Yes, times have changed, but women and other marginalized communities still have a long way to go – and Steinem is still leading the way.  A bravura performance by Lahti and creative staging and acting by the ensemble.  4 cans.
92.  The Remains of the Day (1993) – I have seen this outstanding film numerous times, but I felt more of the political story rather than the love story this time around.  It is set in the 1930s at the Darlington Estate in England, where Lord Darlington fancies himself as a political influencer in the years before World War II.  The house is run with great efficiency and dedication by Mr. Stevens (Anthony Hopkins in one of his best roles).  He is assisted – and sometimes confronted – by Mrs. Kenton (Emma Thompson), the housekeeper, who turns out to be a worthy foe and a woman he really would like to have in his life.  On the diplomatic front, Darlington hosts gatherings of “important” people who sympathize with Hitler and his henchmen.  Stevens stays out of the politics; his loyalty is to the master of the house and his service.  He won’t allow himself to listen to the discussions any more than he would break the house rule on dalliances among the staff.  He is so single mindedly dedicated to his job that he barely blinks when he is informed that his father, who is part of the staff, has passed away in an upstairs servant bedroom.  The byplay between Stevens and Kenton is the star of the show, as this man eventually realizes that he has regrets for things that were said and left unsaid in the house he served so nobly.  The late Christopher Reeve has a small but key role as an American Congressman who eventually purchases the estate.  4 cans.
93.  AKA Jane Roe* (2020) – This FX documentary on Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” in the landmark Roe v. Wade legislation that made abortion legal in the US, is illuminating.  A poor, uneducated woman seeking an abortion, Norma was used by the pro-choice advocates to win the Roe v. Wade case in the Supreme Court.  As an advocate for abortion, Norma was miffed when celebrities were introduced at a rally supporting the right to choose and she was not featured.  Although she publicly supported the cause, even working as a counselor in an abortion clinic, she was courted by the Christian antiabortion movement, and was a relatively easy target for conversion when they deliberately moved into an office adjacent to her clinic.  She professed to be “born-again,” renounced homosexuality despite the fact that she was a lesbian, and she was exploited by the Christian right as an anti-abortion spokesperson.  As she approached her impending death, she confessed that she was paid by the anti-abortion leaders to be the face of THEIR movement, flipflopping from her notoriety as Jane Roe and a supporter of Roe v. Wade.  My conclusion is that Norma supported whatever Norma felt gave her the best advantage and that in her heart, she wanted women to have the right to choose.  3½ cans.
94.   Nothing in Common (1986) – Here we have a little Garry Marshall-Tom Hanks gem.  Hanks has played in many movies I have enjoyed, but this one seems to have been overlooked since I rarely find anyone who is familiar with it.  David Basner (Hanks) is a glib, funny, charming 30-something ad exec who loves working with his team and chasing women, and he’s good at both. He’s trying to land an airline account and the exec (Sela Ward) whose father owns the company.  And then one day his mother leaves his father (Eva Maire Saint and Jackie Gleason) and David is forced to face family responsibilities, the truth about the relationship between his parents and how it has affected him.  You’d never know from this description that this movie is equal parts comedy and drama (the advertising scenes in the office draw the most comedy).  David leans on his old high school girlfriend (Bess Armstrong) for emotional support even though they have both moved on.  Gleason is terrific as irascible Max Basner, still trying to sell children’s clothes and ignoring his failing health.  David has to balance his work and family life for the first time.  3½ cans.