Tina's November 2025 Movies and More

As we wind down the year and amp up for the holidays, I found a dozen movies & more to watch. Numbering picks up from the previous month. Shows marked with an asterisk were new to me, and everything is rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the highest rating. How many of these things have you seen, and did you like them?
127. Selling Sunset, Season 9* (2025, Netflix) – The stiletto squad is back! The high-end realtors of the Oppenheim Group in Los Angeles return for season 9 to sell expensive real estate and squabble over who said what to whom. We know they do the latter very well, but if I had a house to sell or to buy, I wouldn’t want these women and their sky-high heels tramping all over my floors (that verb was carefully chosen). I cannot imagine that any of the outrageous outfits they wear are suitable for work (or for anything). The firm is led by twins Brett and Jason O, whose biggest role this year seems to be a disagreement about planting really tall hedges around the front of their building so passersby cannot gawk at them. No plot summary is needed for the women beyond a general summary – they came, they saw, they fought. I binged all of the episodes and then waited for the Reunion show, where they explained their hurt feelings and hurt each other again. Why do I watch this nonsense? Guilty pleasure. 3½ cans.
128. All Her Fault* (2025, Peacock) – But WAS it all her fault? Hmmm. Successful business woman Marissa (Sarah Snook) goes to pick up her adorable five-year-old, Milo, from a play date, but she has the wrong house. OK, that can happen. But then she can’t figure out why the other mom gave her the wrong address. And Milo is not at school, so where is he? That question sets off a chain of events that implicates Mar’s family and friends in a kidnapping. This 8-part series starts out with real promise, but then crams so many events and twists into the mix that the engrossing story becomes convoluted and frustrating. Saying more would give away too much of the plot. I liked it but couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed with the way it veered off track. 3½ cans.
129. Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost* (2025, Apple TV) – Actor, writer, director Ben Stiller takes a melancholy look at the lives of his parents, comedians and actors Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara. Despite taking serious roles, both were renowned for their comedy, both performing together and independently as comic actors (Stiller, notably, as George Costanza’s manic father in “Seinfeld.” Ben Stiller and his sister spend much of this rather maudlin film sorting out their parents’ possessions, a challenge made tougher by the extensive collection of photos and videos recorded by Jerry. In going through the mountain of materials, Ben comes to the realization that his disappointment in his father’s absences while he was growing up are reflected in his own relationship with his wife and children. Both men prioritized work over family, much to the dismay of their kids. The treasure here is seeing Stiller & Meara perform on The Ed Sullivan Show and many other places. Their 60+ years as a married couple helped the act, but they also appreciated individual opportunities to act. I’m not sure what Ben’s objective is here, other than to address his own issues with his parents and as a parent – something that might better be reserved for his therapist rather than an audience. 3 cans.
130. Being Eddie* (2025, Netflix) – Eddie Murphy took off like a rocket when the then 19-year-old debuted on “Saturday Night Live” back in 1980. The original “Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" had departed, and the burden for the success of the show went on the cast that replaced them. The star of the show was clearly Murphy, the new, young comedian/chameleon. He stayed on SNL until 1984, and by then he was starring in classic comedies like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Trading Spaces.” Here he recounts his career, the problems of fame, and why he stopped performing his stand-up act even after huge acclaim. His SNL characters were legendary and his movie hits inspired the next generation of Black comedians just as Murphy had been inspired by Richard Pryor. This was an interesting look at his 50-year career as seen by Murphy himself and other comic superstars. 3½ cans.
131. Beverly Hills Cop (1983) – This action-comedy is one of Eddie Murphy’s first films and it shows his amazing talent at its best. Murphy plays Axel Foley, a Detroit cop constantly in trouble for his unconventional style. When a good buddy is killed by bad guys from Beverly Hills, Foley invades their jurisdiction to track down the culprit. His interaction with traditional BH cops is comedic gold. The plot gets a little convoluted, but just seeing Murphy in action is all you need. 4 cans.
132. Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things* (2025, Netflix) – The popular comedian Leanne Morgan mines familiar territory here, milking her role as wife, a mother and an aging woman, but it is all still very funny in her latest stand-up special. I laughed out loud more than once. If you can take her Southern accent and style, this is for you. 3½ cans.
133. A Man on the Inside, Season 2* (2025, Netflix) – Somehow I knew that handsome retired professor Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson) would be back in the private investigator game after the success of Season 1. This year he is returns with his boss to figure out the dirty dealings behind a business tycoon’s massive donation to local Wheeler College. Somebody is blackmailing the smarmy college president and Charles, who is always nattily attired with perfectly coiffed white hair, is determined to identify the culprit. He gets involved in the drama and with one of the faculty (his real-life wife, Mary Steenburgen) as he tries to unravel the mystery. Also along for the ride are his buddies from last season’s senior living community, including feisty Sally Struthers. Danson is charming, the rest of the cast does excellent work, and with a few new twists and the same premise, there is plenty of entertainment here. I wonder where the PI will turn up next. 3½ cans.
134. Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain’t Right* (2025, Hulu) – Stand-up comic Sebastian Maniscalco makes me laugh out loud. He riffs on this family, annoying strangers and the issues that life makes us face in his new stand-up special. Like him or not, the man is funny! 3 cans.
135. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987, on demand) – It’s Thanksgiving, so I couldn’t resist replaying this John Hughes classic comedy. Del Griffith (John Candy) is a well-meaning, jovial salesman who is trying to get to Chicago for the holiday. Neal Page (Steve Martin), an uptight marketing guy who is Del’s opposite, is leaving New York and also trying to get home to Chicago. A series of issues disrupt their transportation plans and they end up traveling together, not exactly a match made in heaven, as they attempt practically every form of transportation you can imagine short of a gondola to get to Chicago in a snowstorm. There are so many great laughs here but to recount them all would spoil them. There are tons of movies that feature Christmas, but few movies that focus on Thanksgiving, and this one shines! 4 cans and a barrel of laughs.
136. Bernie* (2011???, Netflix) – Jack Black is amiable assistant funeral director Bernie, a beloved and trusted helper always there to assist people grieve the loss of their loved ones, good with make-up and dressing of the bodies and equally good at persuading people to pay for a more expensive coffin. When Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine) loses her husband, she doesn’t get a lot of sympathy from the neighbors in her small, southern town because of her justifiable reputation as a difficult and surly woman. But Bernie is as sweet as apple pie and somehow finds the irascible woman’s somewhat good side, becoming her confidant, travel companion, financial advisor and general factotum. But the more he does, the more he is asked to do, and the demands never seem to end. This movie is not to be mistaken for “Weekend at Bernie’s,” though in the end, they have more in common than you would anticipate. 3½ cans.
137. Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like* (2018, Prime Video) – For someone who missed the entirety of the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood series (I was a young adult by the time Mr. Rogers showed up), I find it fascinating that such a gentle, unassuming TV host could have such a big impact on American culture. Mr. Rogers had some quiet little songs, with “It’s You I Like” leading the way to encourage children to understand their worth. His lessons brought subtle messages into the homes of children, and his imagination didn’t need AI or dazzling graphics to get his point across. We could use an influx of more Fred Rogers in today’s world. 3½ cans.
138. Erin Brockovich (2000, Prime Video) – It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since brazen and beleaguered Erin Brockovich debuted in the movies and earned Julia Roberts an Oscar for the title role. Erin is a divorcee with three kids, plenty of debt, inconsistent employment and child care and a “don’t f*** with me” attitude. She has an accident but her lawyer Ed (Albert Finney) fails to win her case, so she somehow talks him into giving her a job in his law office. She stumbles upon a potentially large lawsuit involving the local power company and the sick people in Hinckley, California, whose health issues appear to stem from contamination of the community by the plant. Erin has no formal background in the law or medicine, but she is full of determination and empathy and can memorize more phone numbers than the Manhattan directory (does that still exist?). She goes after the bad guys with vengeance, using everything she can muster to succeed on behalf of her clients. This movie is based on a true story and it is a meaty one. 4 cans.

Still Wondering

1.    I wish I could sleep as soundly at 3 AM as I sleep at 3 PM!
2.    Recently, in the middle of the night (since I am up at 3 AM, as you know), I saw a commercial for “The Prayer Clock.” Every hour on the hour the stentorian tones of James Earl Jones’ voice read one of 12 passages from the New Testament to inspire listeners. The round wall clock background is described as depicting “Jesus in a contemplative pose.” The clock is available from Amazon and QVC for about $20. Certainly, I am not the intended audience for this gift but maybe people like the idea of praying every hour on the hour. I just think hearing James Earl Jones, who was always thought of as “the voice of God,” would startle me. Please don’t put one of these things on my holiday gift list!
3.    Buffalo mozzarella. Buffalo wings. Buffalo plaid – Does anything here have anything to do with each other or with the city of Buffalo?
4.    Are those yummy Hawaiian sweet rolls actually from Hawaii?
5.    Why do we call the people who clear tables in restaurants “bus boys?” What does that job have to do with transportation?
6.    The other day I found on the supermarket shelf a package of chocolate sandwich cookies from the ShopRite brand Bowl & Basket that touts itself as “the original chocolate sandwich cookie.” I think Oreos would be offended by such hyperbole! I wish Nabisco were still around to dispute that claim.
7.    Basketball season is again underway and I am thrilled to be back in my happy place – Jersey Mike’s Arena – watching my favorite team – Rutgers Women’s Basketball. Equally thrilling is that six months after my left knee replacement, I am able to walk down to my 3rd row seats and back up again. That was the goal I conveyed to my surgeon and my physical therapist when I had the surgery and began my rehab. Am I winning any races on the steps? No. Can I always walk normally? Not exactly, but I expect to do just that by the end of the season in March. I’m never going to be James Cagney dancing down the staircase as composer and song-and-dance man George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” but I am definitely better than I was a year ago, when my knee first started to bother me. That’s what I call progress!
8.    The other day I put on a nice, warm, comfy sweatshirt that a friend bought for me in Hawaii years ago. I can’t help but wonder why there are big, warm sweatshirts available in a tropical climate. No complaints, mind you, but why?
9.    My new car, a 2025 Mercedes 350E that I named Victoria, is super friendly. She greets me by name when I get in the car and she automatically adjusts my seat. When I am using route guidance, she never gets mad or annoyed if I don’t follow her instructions exactly. We have come a long way since Garmin GPS devices practically yelled at you for disregarding their directions. Remember hearing that tone of disgust when they would say “Recalculating?” Once my Garmin finally gave up and just told me to stay on the road since I ignored her commands to get back on Route 287!
10.    One thing I don’t appreciate is Victoria’s desire to be in on the conversation. When someone else is riding with me and we are chatting, she will say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that,” as if she is supposed to be part of the discussion. Sorry, Victoria, but we will let you in on the chat when we need you! The one thing the car lacks is a way to automatically shut the door, which is massive. The seats are automatically adjusted when I enter the car, and I can open and close the trunk remotely, but I have to strain to close the door. How about it, Mercedes? Can you give a short girl a hand?
11.    Math is not my strong suit. But I defy any math prodigy or expert to understand the food offerings and prices on Applebee’s “2 for $25” menu. You can order this, but you can’t order that…I’ll have a burger, please, and I will pay full price because I am just too confused. 
12.    I’m amused by people who cruise the parking lot at the gym looking for the space closest to the entrance. We ARE here to exercise, aren’t we?
13.    I would pay someone to sort out the tangle of wires underneath my desk leading to the computer, the router, the printer and the accessories. What a mess! I can’t get down on my new, surgical knee, and I’m afraid to unplug something anyway. Any suggestions?
14.    I used to be cool. I subscribed to Rolling Stone and knew or owned a good percentage of the most popular music. I can still sing the entire Motown catalog, and I know every girl group of the 60s. I was up on the news and tuned into the cultural zeitgeist. And then I turned 75. Remember when we were in school and our teachers all seemed like they had personal memories of the Civil War, because they were THAT old? Today I am older than they were then. I live in an “active adult” community for people over 55 and trust me when I say these people are WAY over 55. My cool factor would dominate this crowd, but it has diminished just being in their presence. I was born when Harry Truman was the President and the US was fighting the Korean War. I have lived through 14 presidents and the addition of two states – Alaska and Hawaii. I graduated from high school and attended college during the Vietnam war. I saw the first man land on the moon. I was alive before there were car seats and seat belts. And still, I thought I was pretty cool, until People magazine anointed actor Jonathan Bailey the “Sexist Man Alive,” and I didn’t know who he is. And, as if that weren’t deflating enough, I don’t know or understand the meaning of and excitement over the word of the year, “SIX SEVEN.” I’m writing it out because if I use the numbers, you might think of it as sixty-seven. And what is all the hype about? I looked it up and STILL don’t get it. I’m pretty sure this fact extinguishes any of the cool factor that previously existed for me. And even more telling, most of you who read this blog also don’t know what 6-7 means, unless you have grandchildren to keep you in the know. I lament the passing of my coolness, such as it was, as I barrel into this last segment of life. I envy those people who are older than I am and have no signs of losing their cool – like Cher. She will always be my hero, performing on stage at 78 and not taking any crap from anyone. Now, THAT’S cool!

Tina's October 2025 Movies & More

October was a busy month for movies. Following the death of Diane Keaton, I decided to revisit several of her movies. I also eagerly awaited the opening of the Bruce Springsteen movie and I was not disappointed. I'm sure you will find something here to inspire you to watch. Those items marked with an asterisk were new to me. Numbering picks up from previous months, and all entries are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 as the top rating. If you leave a comment, feel free to include your name at the end so I'll know who you are. Or not. 

111. Eleanor the Great* (2025, Montgomery Cinema) – June Squibb, the 94-year-old lead in this film, is Eleanor, and she IS great! Eleanor has lived in Florida with her dear friend Bessie for many years. The woman, a Holocaust survivor, shares her heart-wrenching stories with Eleanor, who listens intently to the brutality and pain Bessie suffered before escaping from Poland and arriving in the US. When Bessie passes away, Eleanor moves back to New York to stay with her daughter, but she is lonely. At her daughter’s behest she joins a group at the local Jewish Community Center, not realizing it is a group of Holocaust survivors. The result is a poignant story of grief and loss and intergenerational friendship that sustains Eleanor. This is a moving story and Squibb is highly capable of delivering in her star turn. 4 cans.
112. I Like Me* (2025, Prime Video) – John Candy was a unique talent. The comic actor from Canada went through comedy troupes in both Canada and Chicago before landing movie roles in such hits as “Uncle Buck, “Stripes,” and my personal favorite, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” a movie I make sure to watch around Thanksgiving every year. He is described in this documentary by his friends and colleagues – including Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Mel Brooks and Catherine O’Hara – as a generous, wonderful guy, but he also had his demons, especially from a childhood spent mostly without his father, who died on Candy’s 5th birthday. He was a people- pleaser who overindulged in food and who wanted everyone to be happy and satisfied at all times. I had forgotten how many movies Candy starred in, and one of my favorites, “Only the Lonely,” a bittersweet story co-starring Maureen O’Hara, wasn’t even included. It is worth rewatching the classics that starred Candy, a sweet and lovable guy gone too soon. 3½ cans.
113. The Woman in Cabin 10* (2025, Netflix) – This suspense story reminds you of its genre by using music befitting the plot. Keira Knightly is a journalist who takes on what sounds like an easy assignment to write about a woman suffering from cancer whose mega-rich husband starts a foundation to raise money for victims of the disease. All Lo (Knightly) has to do is join members of the Foundation Board and other friends of the sick woman on the husband’s yacht as they set sail to bring attention to the organization. But then someone disappears from cabin 10 – which the crew and husband insist was never occupied. Will Lo get the story? Will she survive the ship or will she remain trapped in a giant fish tank? And who did she see fall or get pushed overboard? The other passengers and the yacht crew don’t believe her, and it seems someone is getting away with murder. Very mysterious. 3 cans.
114. The Substance* (2025, HBO Max) – I don’t like horror movies and haven’t watched one for decades, but Demi Moore’s performance in this bizarre tale received so many accolades that I decided to give it a shot. And shots are the theme here, as exercise guru Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) seizes the opportunity to inject a substance guaranteed to make her younger after her boss declares that she is getting too old to strut her stuff for viewers. I won’t try to summarize the plot, but I will say that the movie budget for fake blood here must have been enormous. Moore was nominated for an Oscar for her brave and unyielding performance in this film, and, although she didn’t win, the acclaim she got must have been very rewarding. Not my kind of movie but well done, with a bravura performance by Demi Moore. 3½ cans.
115. Ghost (PBS) – I went for a Demi doubleheader with the viewing of this ethereal, suspenseful story of Molly (Demi Moore), a potter, and the love of her life, banker Sam (Patrick Swayze). When Sam is gunned down randomly on the street in New York, Molly is grief-stricken, but is Sam really gone? He is now a ghost that no one (except other ghosts) can see, but he can be heard by a phony fortune teller Oda Mae, played with humor and exasperation by Oscar-winning Whoopi Goldberg. Sam realizes his death was a murder and he needs to warn Molly of the danger around her, some of which comes from a friendly source. Swayze has to act mostly by using facial expressions except for his dialog with Oda Mae. And who can forget that scene with the potter’s wheel? 4 cans.
116. Annie Hall (1977, Cable TV) – Diane Keaton died today, shocking news for her many fans. She brought parts of her iconoclastic self to every movie she made, and this Woody Allen film melded the real Diane Keaton so well with the on-screen version. Dressed in her trademark menswear and sporting a hat, Keaton’s style was her own and admired by women who are independent, free and portraying themselves. In what I consider his best movie, Woody Allen works much of their personal relationship and Keaton’s style into the story of a neurotic NY-based Jewish comic and the white bread girl he fell for. I cannot imagine anyone else in the role of Annie, and Keaton won the Oscar for the part. The world became a little less bright and quirky today, but at least we have a large repository of Keaton’s work to enjoy. La dee dah, La dee dah. 4½ cans.
117. First Wives Club (1996, Rented) – This is a silly little comedy about the revenge of wealthy, jilted wives that stars Diane Keaton, Better Midler and Goldie Hawn. The college friends go their separate ways until one of their friends kills herself over a failed marriage. Realizing that they are largely responsible for the success of their cheating husbands, the remaining trio form the First Wives Club to recover their finances and teach the men a lesson. The movie is amusing enough, with all three actresses in top form. The one memorable scene is when they sing “You Don’t Own Me.” 3 cans.
118. And So It Goes (2024, On Demand) – This movie is my least favorite of the many Diane Keaton rom-coms. Here she is a woman who has to contend with her cantankerous neighbor (Michael Douglas), who suddenly has the responsibility of caring for a 10-year-old granddaughter he didn’t know he had. Keaton has the child thrust upon her, but she is up to the task. It takes Douglas much longer. The romance is inevitable. 2½ cans.
119. Father of the Bride (1991, On Demand) – Diane Keaton is the Mother of the Bride in this remake of the old Elizabeth Taylor-Spencer Tracy story about a man coming to terms with his daughter growing up. Steve Martin is the beleaguered father, stuck with a bill for a wedding that includes swans in the front yard and a guest list that is more people that can fit in the family home. Kimberly Williams is the young bride. The scenes of her facing off on the basketball court with dear old dad are touching, as he realizes that things will never be the same between them. Martin is the dominant figure in the film and comes through with shining colors. Keaton is wonderful at giving him space and simultaneously keeping the Father of the Bride in line. Charming. 3½ cans.
120. Something’s Gotta Give (2003, rented) – Director Nancy Meyers crafts a wonderful rom-com with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Nicholson’s 63-year-old Harry is dating the 30-something daughter of playwright Erica (Keaton) despite the age gap between them. When he suffers a heart attack at her mother’s gorgeous Hamptons home, Harry has to stay there and rest under the care of a very reluctant Erica. The message here is that you can be older and never have been in love, or you can be older and experience real love. Keaton gives a top-rate performance as a woman leaning into her sexuality and loving love, although Harry is the poster-boy for staying unattached. Nicholson is his best rascally self and raises the game for the rest of the cast. Keanu Reeves plays a young doctor who also falls for Erica, despite their age gap. Good story, well done by all. 4 cans.
121. The Parent Trap* (1998, Rental) – The last time I saw “The Parent Trap” was when Hayley Mills starred in it. In this remake, a young Lindsay Lohan plays twins who don’t know about each other’s existence because they were split up as babies when their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) divorced. They discover each other in summer camp and plot to get their parents back together. This is a lightweight movie whose best asset, besides the cast, is the flawless technology that makes the twins appear on the same screen together. Suitable for children, not 75-year-olds. 3 cans.
122. Bad Shabbos* (2025, Netflix) – A prospective bride (not Jewish) and groom (Jewish) plan a Shabbat dinner at his parents’ NYC apartment to meet her parents, and everything goes awry when the sister’s boyfriend dies in the bathroom unexpectedly. They don’t want the youngest brother blamed for the death and they scramble, with the help of the doorman, to get the body out of the house before the prospective in-laws show up. Neither Plan A, B or C is going to get them out of this mess. Clever movie with good performances. 3 cans.
123. Midnight Run (1988, Cable TV) – If you have never seen this clever caper movie, go out and find it. Robert DeNiro is Jack Walsh, a bounty hunter who takes on the job of capturing “The Duke” (Charles Grodin), a quirky accountant who has absconded with money from a mobster. But the FBI, the Mob and another bounty hunter are hot on their heels, and contending with The Duke and his personality is enough to drive Jack crazy. This movie uses planes, trains, automobiles, trucks, helicopters and I think boats to transport the Duke across country to meet a deadline so Jack will get his money. It is a cops-and-robbers story and a buddy movie where the two principals aren’t exactly buddies. Great movie. 4 cans.
124. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003, Hulu) – If living well is the best revenge, author Frances (Diane Lane) is doing a great job. Jolted by an unexpected divorce from her husband, she takes off on a trip to Italy. Riding a bus and seeing the sites won’t do it, so she leaves the tour and visits a small town where she impulsively buys a rundown Tuscan villa. Although the place is quite grand, it is old and needs lots of renovation. As she builds her home, Frances builds a new family with the colorful locals and her construction crew. And, along the way, she encounters the handsome Marcello and starts to believe in love again. Sandra Oh plays her American best friend. 3½ cans.
125. Bruce Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere* (2025, Manville Cinema) – If you go to this movie expecting a Springsteen concert, you will be disappointed. Though Jeremy Allen White does a great job of portraying Bruce and singing several of his songs (he actually had to learn to play guitar for the role), most of the movie is about Bruce’s inner turmoil, stemming from his fractious relationship with this father and trying to express his creativity in a decidedly un-stadium rock way. Thus was born “Nebraska,” a somber album reflective of Bruce’s state of mind. He wasn’t able to truly commit or connect with an erstwhile girlfriend because he couldn’t connect with himself during this period in the early 80s, following his explosion onto the music scene. As we know now, he survived the period but experienced the mental anguish that plagues much of society. Right after Nebraska, which was recorded not at a studio but on a cassette in a rented house in Colts Neck, NJ, Bruce released my favorite of his albums, “Born in the USA,” a raucous collection of hit after hit. The movie portrays an exceptionally self-reflective Bruce during a difficult period and handles the material with care and respect. 4 cans.
126. An Old-Fashioned Family Murder* (2025, George Street Playhouse) – This play was a clever comedy-murder mystery that starred Sally Struthers, a comedy veteran with great timing, in a role she could sink her teeth into. She was terrific, as was the rest of the cast, the direction and the set. The show takes place on a dark and stormy night and somebody – as we know – is going to die. But whodunit? If you aren’t taking advantage of this venue and its wonderful productions, you are missing some excellent entertainment. 3½ cans. 
  

 

An Ode to the Oddities in My Head

1. I went to the Hallmark store recently to buy a bunch of birthday cards for the coming weeks. The terms of my loan run for 3 years.
2. I find that whenever I ask someone how to do something that they know and I don’t, the instructions always seem to start with, “You just…” That’s when I know I am in trouble, because whatever they are doing never seems to work the same way for me.
3. Do you know how hard it is to find pantyhose these days? I know, I know, nobody wears pantyhose, but for a semi-formal wedding with a black dress, I didn’t want my pasty white legs showing. It has always been tough for me to buy pantyhose. When you are short and heavy, the pantyhose that fit around your hips are about two feet too long. And the ones that are the right fit for your legs come up between your knees and your crotch. Don’t give me those dreaded control top versions: I can’t get them over my hips and, if I could get them on, I couldn’t even think about taking them down for a trip to the bathroom. Gone are the days of buying L’Eggs in the egg-shaped package. What was the significance of that branding anyway? Did the pantyhose hatch?
4. If I ran for office, part of my platform would be that all toilets must be “comfort height” as the higher ones are described. And public restrooms would require grab bars or something that would make it easier to use the toilets. I am accustomed to the higher type toilets in my house and using a public restroom makes me feel like I am squatting over a hole in the floor. And while we are at it, why do we call them “restrooms?” Who goes there to rest?
5. Why is it that the days of the week all incorporate the word “day” but the months of the year don’t include the word “month?” I guess we have to figure out that they are months.
6. I liked the days when I could find the Yankee game on good old WPIX in the New York area. I could turn it on, listen to a few commercials for Ballantine, and enjoy the game. Now finding the game is like a scavenger hunt. Is it on the Yankee Network? Possibly, unless it is the featured game on ESPN or another network. Or it could be on Prime Video, a streaming network. Or Peacock, or some other place I can forget to look. The olden days were so much simpler for sports fans.
7. And speaking of the Yankees, the baseball season for me ends when the Yankees lose. After that happens (which seems to be every year), I no longer watch. At least I won’t be staying up late to watch games. Bring on college basketball!
8. We seem to agonize over which color to pick when we paint a room. But before long, they all look the same anyway, unless you choose a bold color for an accent wall. Otherwise, it is impossible to tell the difference between countless shades of gray or beige.
9. Why do we need two ways to spell “gray?” “Grey” and “gray” have exactly the same meaning, don’t they? Why couldn’t we settle on one version?
10. The other day my weight was down a pound. That must have been a good haircut the night before!
11. I got a new picture taken so I could renew my passport. You can’t wear glasses or smile in the picture, and with the bags under my eyes not obscured by glasses, I looked like an ad for Botox or cosmetic surgery – before! I guess the passport police don’t let you smile because if they need to track you down, they can use your passport picture as a mug shot. Look for mine in the post office!
 12. My nail salon is very quiet: no people talking loudly on their phones or with each other or engaging in conversations with the nail techs. The sound there comes from the whirring of the grinders and sanders and polishers, sounds that you would expect to hear in a workshop or dental office! And to relax clients, there are large monitors showing colorful fish swimming amid coral, snowcapped mountains, seaside vistas and even views of earth from space. The one scene that perplexes me is the shot of complicated, winding highways, with dozens of ramps and curves that immediately make me nervous, even though I’m not driving. Stick to the scenic views!
13. My dentist cleaned my teeth the other day. He shot so much water into my mouth that I should have worn a cape like I wear at the hair salon instead of a useless paper bib! And, by the way, his name is Dr. Chu – a great name for a dentist!
14. Can we talk for a minute about actress Diane Keaton, who died last week? We should all wish that we would be as beloved as this independent, talented woman, who could be a dramatic actress (as in “The Godfather,” all three of them) or a comic actress (as in countless Woody Allen and Nancy Meyers films). In every interview, she exuded a quirky charm, humility and grace. Her iconic style – menswear, large belts and her trademark hats (See “Annie Hall”) – was unique to her. She was not just likable on the screen; she seemed like someone you could join for lunch and have a wonderful time. Her legacy is dozens of movies that viewers will enjoy for generations. Since she passed away, I have already watched several of her movies, and viewing “The Family Stone” this year during the holidays will take on a special significance. Thanks for the memories, Diane Keaton.
15. I must also salute one of my all-time favorite actors, Robert Redford, who passed away recently. He was extraordinarily handsome; his Sundance Kid poster hung on the walls of my bedroom. He was also a terrific actor. I loved him in the big movies, like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting,” and I have seen “All the President’s Men” too many times to count. But watch him in “Three Days of the Condor” and “The Electric Horseman,” and laugh with him in “Barefoot in the Park” or “The Hot Rock” to see his range. And then there’s “The Way We Were.” When Barbra Streisand touches his face and hair in the final scene across from the Plaza Hotel, millions of women (including me) swooned. Now that was a love story! RIP, Sundance.
16. With Taylor Swift always making news AND music, I realized that I knew very little about her work. So lately I have listened to her music on Sirius Radio (until they discontinue her station). I knew some of the big songs they played on the radio, like “Shake It Off,” and I believed her when she declared, “We Are Never, Never, Ever Getting Back Together,” but I never explored the breadth of her catalog. I can really hear her country roots in her earlier songs, with the teenage lyrics and twangy guitars, but as she grew as an artist, her songs became more sophisticated. She has her share of angst, and, if you are one of her former boyfriends, you probably think this song is about you. But her more recent work shows a maturity and depth that I did not see coming. Normally, I listen to oldies stations, and I’m never, ever, ever going to hear Taylor Swift there – at least not for 20 years, so this experiment gets me into the Taylor Swift game.

Tina's September 2025 Movies and More

My September collection is typically eclectic, with some comedies, suspenseful dramas and interesting documentaries. Those items marked with an asterisk were new to me. Numbering picks up from previous months, and all entries are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 as the top rating. If you leave a comment, feel free to include your name at the end so I'll know who you are. Or not.  

97. Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain* (2025, CNN) – Actress Eva Longoria offers a delicious tour of Spain, the land of her ancestors, as she discovers traditional cuisines unique to various regions and experiences new culinary delights in this 8-part series. Longoria takes great pleasure in showcasing the culinary experts of Spain and learning about their specialties and commitment to their craft. In fact, Longoria enjoyed herself so much that she discloses that she has moved to Marbella, a beautiful city on the coast of Spain, where I can personally attest to the outstanding food. If you liked Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy, you’ll love this yummy series. 3½ dishes of paella.
98. He’s Just Not That Into You* (2009, Netflix) – Follow the story of some shallow young people and their dating lives and you will share their frustration and fun. 3 cans.
99. The Girlfriend* (2025, Prime Video) – This 6-part series is full of suspense and intrigue. Robin Wright is the classy, rich art gallery owner who dotes just a little too much on her adult son. When he brings home beautiful, sexy Cherry Lane, the girl of his dreams, her red flags become his mother’s nightmare. The two psycho women develop an instant mutual distrust and try to sabotage each other’s relationship with the man in the middle. If you liked “Fatal Attraction” and “Gone Girl,” this one’s for you. 4 cans.
100. Highest 2 Lowest* (2025, Apple TV+) – Denzel Washington plays powerful music executive David King, an aptly named mogul who is on top of the world. He has fame and fortune, literally sitting on top of the world in his gorgeous penthouse overlooking Manhattan, with his beautiful wife Pam and beloved son Trey. Everything is perfect – except for some potential financial setbacks, but none of that matters when his son and his son’s friend are kidnapped. This thriller takes us on car and foot chases as the police follow the case with King and company staying a step ahead of them. Considered the “best ear in the business,” King hears something in the kidnapper’s messages to him that gives him a big clue on how to get his son back safely. Spike Lee directs the thriller and Denzel is convincing as a man who knows how to get what he wants. 3½ cans.
101. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* (2025, Manville Cinema) – After six seasons on TV, two follow-up movies and the death (in real life) of Downton’s matriarch, the unforgettable Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Violet, we have finally reached the finale of this esteemed and precious franchise. It is 1930 and so much has changed. The characters routinely ride in cars and use the telephone; the downstairs staff is reduced in size (where’s another footman when you need one?), and the natural progression of responsibilities has come about for the family. Lady Mary is due to take over running the estate, just as Mr. Carson and Mrs. Patmore (now Mrs. Mason) are scheduled for retirement. It isn’t easy for some folks to let go (Lord Grantham), but it also won’t be easy for viewers who loved the series (raising my hand) to bid these characters farewell. The film brings together past, present and future with plenty of heart, with a few genuine chuckles along the way. Godspeed, dear Downton, and thanks for the joy you have provided us for these many years. 4 cans.
102. Remember the Day (1941, Cable TV) – Beloved teacher Miss Trinell (Claudette Colbert) adores her students, but one young man stands out from the class. Years later, that student, Dewey Roberts, has just been nominated for President and Miss Trinell goes to his reception at a Washington hotel to see him after many years. As she waits, she recalls their time as teacher and student, her love affair with a fellow teacher and her memories of days gone by. There’s not a lot of action here, but the sweetness and innocence were a welcome change from action movies and the news. I probably first saw this one as part of the “Million Dollar Movie” on WOR (the series whose theme was the music from “Gone with the Wind”) back in the 1960s. 2½ cans.
103. The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019, Cable TV) – This is the sweet story of race car driver Denny (Milo Ventimiglia), his dog Enzo (perfectly voiced by Kevin Costner), his wife Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and his daughter Zoe. Denny and Enzo have an unbreakable bond right from the start. The perceptive dog reluctantly welcomes Eve to the family but eventually falls in love with her. And when baby Zoe is born, Enzo becomes a watchful big brother. Denny shares his theories on car racing with his family (Enzo especially takes the information in) and leaves for races knowing Enzo will watch over his girls. I won’t ruin the story in case you haven’t seen it, but this movie doesn’t just make me cry, it makes me sob! 4 cans and a box of tissues!
104. The Unknown Number – The High School Catfish* (2025, Netflix) – Lauryn and Owen are young high school students in the throes of adolescent love at their tiny high school in Michigan. Their bliss is interrupted by a barrage of texts that are hateful and threatening, telling them to break up and suggesting that the young girl kill herself. As the texts continue, their parents go to the school, the police and the FBI for help, but to no immediate avail. The texts get sexually explicit and contain information only the two young lovers would know. Was it a jealous classmate? A cousin? High school is tough enough for kids learning to fit in and thrive socially, but these cruel messages made life even more difficult. The extent to which the texter goes is beyond belief, but this is a documentary, so all of it – including a major twist – is true. 3½ cans.
105. The Intern (2015, Cable TV) – This is NOT the Robert DeNiro you associate with “The Godfather” and “Good Fellas.”  Here he is 70-year old retired widower Ben Whittaker, whose ordered life needs a lift, so he applies for a “senior” intern position at an e-commerce clothing company led by its dynamic young founder, Jules (Anne Hathaway). Dressed in his neat business suits, always carrying a briefcase and a handkerchief, Ben is hardly the typical intern, but even with his extensive experience, he knows to defer to the boss and be ready when needed. And he is, as Jules’ personal and business lives run toward chaos, and Ben lends a helpful and guiding hand. I really like this movie as it shows that not everyone in their 70s needs to be put out to pasture and that not all up and coming entrepreneurs can make it without some support -- and a handkerchief at the ready. This movie was written and directed by Nancy Myers, and you can always count on her for contemporary charm. 4 cans.
106. All the President’s Men (1976, Cable TV) – With the passing of iconic actor and director Robert Redford, I decided to watch a few of my favorite Redford movies. This is the story of the Watergate crisis that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Redford’s Bob Woodward and Dustin Hoffman’s Carl Bernstein play two dogged reporters for the Washington Post who start with a small story about a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex and unravel the dirty tricks, slush money and the role of White House officials in the plans and the cover-up. I wish a reporting team today could be as successful in revealing the truth about the current administration and lead to its legitimate ouster. 4½ cans.
107. The Sting (1973, Cable TV) – Newman, Redford, slicked back hair, fedoras and Scott Joplin music. The combination of these factors and a slick plot about a couple of grifters out to avenge the death of their pal at the hands of a mob boss with a predilection for gambling make for a clever caper movie that I had not seen for many years. 4 cans.
108. Fisk, Season 3* (2025, Netflix) – This quirky Australian comedy centers around a woman (Fisk) who serves as an attorney in a small law firm. She wears the same bland, brown suit every day and she has to deal not only with annoying clients, but also with her officemates and her father and his male partner. I loved the first season, but I think this series may have worn out its welcome. 3 cans.
109. The Baltimorons* (2025, Montgomery Cinema) – Poor, hapless Cliff (Michael Strassner) can’t even kill himself successfully! When he goes with his fiancée to her family’s Christmas Eve gathering, he runs into the door frame and loses a tooth. Desperately seeking a dentist, he ends up with Didi (Liz Larsen), the only dentist who is available on the holiday, who treats his dental problem. Then his car is towed, he can’t get back to the party and the movie turns into both a buddy movie and a rom-com with Cliff and Didi going all over Baltimore so Cliff can perform his improv routine at a comedy club. This younger, lost but charming guy doesn’t fit with a middle-aged dentist, but the two hit it off after spending most of the day running around the city. You can wait until this movie is available to stream, but it is worth seeing. 3½ cans.
110. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry* (2023, Prime Video) – Harold (Jim Broadbent) and his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton) lead a quiet life in England. She cooks and cleans the house and he takes out the trash. When he gets a brief note from “Queenie,” an old work friend, letting him know she is in hospice care, he decides to send her a note and sets off on foot to mail it in town. But a young woman tells him the story of her aunt, whom she “saved” by having faith in her recovery, and suddenly, Harold hits the road, determined to walk the 500 miles to see her in person. After a few days, he lets his wife know about his plan and she thinks he is crazy, but he is resolute, even calling the hospice so they can encourage Queenie know to hang on and wait for his arrival. Along the way, he meets a whole series of kind people who inspire him and are inspired by him, and the truth of his painful past and his friendship with Queenie are revealed. Although my feet hurt just watching his elderly man walk, it was a revelatory journey. 3½ cans.