There are enough movies and series here to keep you busy if it rains all through July 4th weekend. Go to the movies to watch "Top Gun Maverick" and "Elvis," and check Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more for the rest. Movies are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being at the top. Movies marked with an asterisk are things I had not seen previously. Numbering picks up from previous months. We are halfway through the year and this list has already topped 90!
76. Hacks: Season 2* (2022, HBO Max) – Jean Smart again delivers bigtime as veteran Vegas comedian Deborah Vance, who now is off the Strip for good and hitting the road with her co-writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder). An unwise email by Ava to some Hollywood contacts paints a bad picture of Deborah, and Ava is scrambling to control the damage. The series works best when Deborah is performing her newer, fresh material at state fairs and on a gay-themed cruise that turns out is only for lesbians. There is plenty of comic tension between the old star and the young writer; when Deborah is not threatening Ava, she holds a grudging respect for the clever young woman who has a lot to learn about show biz. Yes, the first season was better, but that’s because we just met these folks and it was all new and exciting. Still, I’m a fan of Hacks and look forward to another season – although everything was so neatly wrapped up that I’m not sure I see any future plot possibilities. 4 cans.
77. Top Gun (1986, Prime Video) – Since the new film Top Gun Maverick is out, I felt the need, the need for speed – I mean I felt I should watch the OG as a prerequisite before I see the sequel. I can’t believe this movie came out 36 years ago! Tom Cruise was young and handsome, always thrusting that 1000-megawatt smile in your face. There’s no point in summarizing the plot. Just revel in hearing Maverick and Goose (Anthony Edwards) singing, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” in a bar so Mav can score with a woman; enjoy the testosterone-fueled beach volleyball scene with Mav and the other Top Gun pilot wizards; and forgive the unlikely romance between the student and the teacher, played by Kelly McGillis. OK, now I am ready to see the 2022 version. 4 cans.
78. Joe Papp in Five Acts* (2010, PBS) – You can thank New York theater producer Joe Papp for bringing Shakespeare to the masses with his inventive “Shakespeare in the Park” series, but he did so much more than that. He headed the Public Theater in the City, went toe-to-toe with powerful Robert Moses (and won), built the Delacort Theater in Central Park, and produced such innovative plays as “Hair” and “A Chorus Line,” my favorite theatrical experience of all time. He fought for the downtrodden, brought art to the masses and worked with young actors and playwrights before people knew who Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken and David Rabe were. This is a fascinating piece about a very special man. 4 cans.
79. Beanie Mania* (2021, HBO Max) – From Joe Papp (above) to Beanie Babies is quite a trip, but you know how eclectic my taste is. This documentary is about the rise of those small plush animals, Beanie Babies, whose reign began in 1993. Toy tycoon Ty Warner introduced the loveable animals from his company outside Chicago, and they were immediately popular with local mothers, who purportedly bought them for their kids but actually became collectors of the brand. Refusing to sell to major retail outlets like Walmart, Ty confined his sales to small gift stores. The rising popularity of the toys led the buyers to go store to store, follow delivery trucks and make an all-out effort to find the latest models to complete their sets. Things really amped up when Ty decided to “retire” some of the models, making them more valuable to find and collect, and thus began the secondary market. Throw in the rise of the Internet, the growth of EBay as a marketplace for the toys and even the existence of self-published guides and magazine by collectors, and Beanie Babies became a national obsession. Lots of people made lots of money collecting these toys and reselling them for much more than they originally paid. Warner got his share, too, and not always legally, as he eventually was convicted of starting off-shore accounts to avoid paying taxes. This film focuses on a small group of women, primarily from Chicago suburb Naperville, who became entrenched in Beanie Mania. I asked my sister if there were still a few of these things around in her house from her now-29-year-old son, and she said yes. I doubt if there are enough to fund her retirement, but some people did just that at the height of this craze. 3 cans and a few plush toys.
80. Teddy Roosevelt* (2022, History Channel) – One thing for sure: Teddy Roosevelt was probably the most colorful of all the US Presidents. Though sickly as a boy, he toughened up enough to lead the Rough Riders and excel in outdoor explorations. Once he even delivered an 84-minute speech after getting shot in the chest; the thickness of the folded speech helped protect him from what would have been a fatal bullet. Roosevelt ascended to the White House after the assassination of President William McKinley, and, once in power, found what he loved to do. This two-part look at Roosevelt is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s New York Times bestseller, “Leadership: In Turbulent Times.” There is plenty of actual footage, which is combined with dramatization. Roosevelt governed with an eye on the good of the people, enacting laws to protect the food supply and other important legislation. He was a popular president whose image ended up on Mount Rushmore along with such prominent presidents as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. He was primed to run again in 1920 when he passed away at age 60. If you like history and don’t know much about Teddy Roosevelt, check out this production. 3½ cans.
81. Hustle* (2022, Netflix) – As a scout for basketball’s Philadelphia ‘76ers, Stanley Sugerman (Adam Sandler) is always on the road seeking the next basketball prodigy who can pass, score, dunk and defend – and who will stand up mentally to the rigors of the NBA. He finds an uncut gem in Spain in Bo Cruz, an unknown, otherworldly talent whom he shepherds to the States to try out for his boss in hopes the team will draft Bo and give Stan a job as an assistant coach so he can finally get off the road. There is a lot of “Rocky” in this story, not about a self-made talent, but about a young guy who needs plenty of coaching and encouragement. Sandler delivers a credible performance and the basketball scenes look authentic. Queen Latifah is mostly wasted in her role as Stan’s wife. If you aren’t a basketball fan, there’s probably an excess of hooping in this one for you. 3½ hoops.
82. The Staircase* (2022, Netflix) – This is essentially a story about a story about a story. Confused yet? Buckle up. This mini-series is a dramatization of the story of author Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), who walked into his house one day and found the near-lifeless body of his wife Kathleen at the foot of the staircase, blood splattered all over the floor and walls. He assumed she fell and subsequently died as a result. But that would only be part one of this series. Did she fall? Did Michael push her, beat her, kill her? What was his motive? Or did owls peck her in the head (wait for part 5 or 6 on that one)? Meanwhile, Michael agrees to allow a documentary producer to record his story, from the police investigation through the legal process. So, this series is a dramatization of the making of the documentary that follows the action between Michael and his legal team, the blood spatter experts, the members of this complicated family and a few revelations that, if they weren’t actually true, you’d say they could not be believed if this story was a work of fiction. I watched the original documentary. If you are interested in the case, chose that option instead of this one. Truth is stranger than dramatizations. 3½ cans.
83. Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road* (2022, American Masters, PBS) – Brian Wilson can hear music in his head that the rest of us can barely interpret when we hear it on the radio. One of three brothers, a cousin and a friend who defined the California sound with their creation of the Beach Boys in the 1960s, Wilson by age 22 was already turning out top hits for the group known for its surfing music. But Wilson had more than fun in the sun in his mind. A banjo here, a violin there, horns and harmonicas placed precisely as only Wilson could led to such masterpieces as “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations” and the classic album “Pet Sounds.” Wilson was plagued by insecurities and mental illness, a drug problem and and an abusive, controlling therapist who isolated him for years. I never would have picked Brian Wilson to be the last living Wilson brother. Check out this special look at a gifted musician who is still writing and performing. It is a miracle he even survived. 4 cans.
84. Halftime* (2022, Netflix) – I’ll admit it: I am a fan of Jennifer Lopez. And nothing about this documentary about her starring in the Super Bowl Halftime Show back in 2020 (just before the world shut down for two years!) changed my mind. Put aside the glitz and the glamour and you get Jenny from the Block, a talented woman eager to please and ready to deliver the goods – which she surely does. Despite having to share the stage with sister Latina Shakira, JLo is clearly the star here. But this movie is about more than a 13-14 minute show on the world’s largest stage. It is about a woman proud of her heritage who worked hard to become a showbiz triple threat – a singer/dancer/actress. Sure, this is a flattering portrait (it was made by her team), but it works as a behind-the-scenes depiction of what goes into the preparation of a huge extravaganza and her eagerness to have it make a statement – which it did. 3½ cans.
85. Dream On* (2022, ESPN) – This detailed, three-part documentary is part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series, and the timing of its release coincides with the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX that made athletics a level playing field for collegiate women. The program focuses on the selection and training of the 1996 Women’s USA Olympic Basketball team, led by Stanford Women’s Basketball Coach Tara VanDerveer, and its quest for the Gold Medal. But the end-game was not just the Gold; these women were carefully chosen to represent their country and to dominate all opponents, starting a year in advance. They toured the world, played in lousy conditions, toiled under a tough taskmaster, united in their quest, knowing that their success could lead to more opportunities for women to play professional basketball. And thus was born the WNBA, a women’s league sanctioned and bolstered by the men’s NBA, capitalizing on the growing interest in the college game with the success and rivalry of UConn and Tennessee and many other programs. The documentary features interviews with the stars of the team, whose names are still recognizable to fans: Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Rebecca Lobo and others. These women sacrificed and overcame many obstacles on the road to the Gold Medal in Atlanta. The USA team has captured Gold in every Olympics since. This team is the one which got the ball rolling. Great story. 4 hoops.
86. The Offer* (2022, Paramount+ TV) – This series about the making of one of my top five movies of all time, “The Godfather,” was enough to make me subscribe to Paramount+. It is the story behind the story, giving a detailed look at how movies get made, how actors are cast and writers and directors are critical to every aspect of the story. It is also the story of the power players, notably Paramount movie honcho Robert Evans (Matthew Goode, who is better than good), Charles Bluhdorn, the blustery, money-hungry head of Paramount’s owners, Gulf and Western, and relative novice producer Al Ruddy (Miles Teller), who gets the plum producing assignment from Evans and has to fight to get the movie made. At 10 parts, this mini-series was longer than it needed to be, but you might think that about “The Godfather” movies – although this series covers just the original. Tip of the hat to Bettye McCartt, played by Juno Temple, the right-hand woman to Ruddy. The two of them were a formidable team and largely responsible for getting the right people in the right places to get the movie made. 4 cans.
87. Jerry & Marge Go Large* (2022, Hulu, now on Paramount+) – Jerry has reluctantly retired from the plant where he worked for decades, taking his love of math and detail and trying to find a place to apply them. Marge is his wife, dreading having him interfere in her routine. As a math nerd, Jerry studies the “Windfall” Lottery in his native Michigan and eventually finds a loophole that guarantees a win. Even though the couple has to drive to Massachusetts to buy tickets after Michigan pulls out of Windfall, it is worth their time – and then some – when they haul in win after win. And it is all legal! Bryan Cranston is Jerry, looking a bit lost without his work routine, until the Lottery becomes his new job. Annette Bening is a good match for him, willing to count thousands of tickets to pull those winners. I can’t say more without revealing the plot. This movie doesn’t exactly hit the jackpot, but it is a feel-good winner. I have to say that Bryan Cranston looks uncannily like George H. W. Bush here! 3½ cans.
88. Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story (2022, Hulu) – I remember the story of 7-year-old Steven Stayner, who was kidnapped while walking home from school in 1972. He had his name changed and was held captive and until his kidnapper snatched another little boy seven years later and Steven and the new victim escaped. This is a real and horrible story about a young boy who was abused and told that his family didn’t want him anymore. When he finally returned to them seven years later, his life and his family had changed forever. And that’s not even the half of it. This three-part series presents the story and parts of the movie made about it, using the now-grown actors to read some of the lines. If ever there was a doubt that truth is stranger than fiction, this story proves it. 3 cans.
89. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* (2022, Hulu) – The great Emma Thompson stars as Nancy in this revealing portrait of a retired widow seeking the sexual fulfillment that was missing from her orderly, predictable 31-year marriage. She hires Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack), a handsome, accommodating sex worker who is happy to please her. Nancy initially is awkward both in explaining her goals and in getting started in achieving them, but Leo is soothing and patient. They share the details of their lives, how they ended up together in a hotel room, as they get to know each other (in every sense, including Biblical). This story is not about an older woman falling for a younger man. It is about realizing the disappointments of life and living to your fullest potential – at least sexually. Thompson makes a bold choice at the end of the movie that makes her like every woman over the age of 50 and should garner her an Oscar nomination this year. 4 cans.
90. Fracture (2007) – I rewatched this movie for the umpteenth time with a friend who had never seen it and who was extremely tuned into the plot. Ryan Gosling is Willie Beachem, a confident assistant prosecutor in LA with one foot out the door on his way to a cushy job in a private firm when he gets a case that seems open and shut. There’s a confession and the murder weapon, which should make prosecuting easy for him. But Ted Campbell (Anthony Hopkins) is smarter than everyone in the room. He is accused of shooting his cheating wife, who is now on life support. Can the confession be used? Do they really have the weapon? How much can Ted get under Willie’s skin? This suspenseful, clever drama is worth watching – even if you have seen it previously. Pay attention to the details! 4 cans.
91. Top Gun - Maverick* (2022, in the movies) – If you saw the original “Top Gun” in 1986, you might wonder why the producers waited so long to make this sequel. This one is full of the Tom Cruise brand of machismo, motorcycles and big, slick fighter jets thundering through the sky. Cruise is again Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, ace fighter pilot, but a guy who has never advanced beyond the rank of Naval Captain because he was gotten himself into hot water more than once with the higher-ups. He still brims with confidence in his abilities, but he is much less smug now that he’s older and more mature. He is given the task of training a squadron of top pilots for a mission that seems impossible. He might, in fact, be the only pilot capable of executing the mission and surviving. Among the crew is “Rooster” (Miles Teller), the son of his former flying partner “Goose,” a young, gifted pilot who resents Maverick’s role in his father’s death and whom he blames for stopping him from attending the Naval Academy. The love interest is Jennifer Connolly, a woman with whom Maverick has had a long-time relationship, but their scenes together aren’t even R-rated. Beach volleyball has been replaced by beach touch football, but the beautiful bodies abound. There is even diversity in the squad this time around. And then there’s Mav’s one-time opponent and now friend and protector “Ice” (Val Kilmer), an admiral whose support has kept Maverick from getting tossed out of the Navy. If you like action, there is plenty of it, with jets launching off carriers and flying in tight windows and up mountains, being chased and shot at and bombed. If you see it, go to the movies for the big screen and the sound that makes your seat practically vibrate! I found it exhilarating! 4 cans.
92. Elvis* (2022, in the movies) – A star is born in this biopic about the King, Elvis Presley, as actor Austin Butler explodes on the screen in the title role as the shy, talented singer heavily influenced by his southern roots and Black R&B and gospel artists. He is a hunk a hunk of burning love who, when he first appears on stage, clad in a bright pink suit, lips snarling, hair greased up, eye makeup on, provocatively gyrating his hips, is already achieving legendary status. In the house that first night was promoter Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks in a thankless role, encumbered by prosthetics to look like the doughy, older man who almost managed to ruin Presley’s life). Parker did what was best for himself to support his gambling habit, selling out Presley’s future for his own benefit. Director Baz Luhrman’s vibrant visual style delivers a sensory overload for the viewer, a movie bursting with color and sound. My friend and I stayed all through the credits to see sang the songs and we were excited to see that Butler did much of his own singing (and there is plenty of it). When he was good, Presley was very, very good, but when the excesses of his life caught up to him, they brought him down in spectacular fashion. I predict a Best Actor nomination for Butler. See this one in the movies. 4 cans.
