Here is a short list of movies and programs I watched in November. Ratings are based on a score of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the highest. Programs with an asterisk are ones I had not seen previously, and numbering picks up from last month.
138. Martha* (2024, Netflix) – One name should be enough to identify domestic doyenne, former model, former stockbroker, former inmate Martha Stewart. Martha pioneered the art of entertaining, gardening, decorating, classy crafting and making the rest of us feel woefully inadequate, all the while building an empire that led her to becoming the first self-made woman billionaire. This documentary by R. J. Cutler tells the whole story, with Martha’s rise for a suburban upbringing in Nutley, NJ, to becoming a media mogul with her magazine, TV show and Martha Stewart Omnimedia. She certainly did it her way, and she doesn’t pull any punches in this film. Her reputation as being a five-letter-word (mogul?) is probably legit. She achieved unimaginable success – until it vanished. You may not want to have coffee with her, but her story captured my attention. 3½ cans.
139. Simone Biles: Rising* (2024, Netflix) – I’m starting the month with intense looks at two very strong women – Martha Stewart and the GOAT of gymnastics, Simone Biles. Simone may be small in stature, but she soars in gymnastics, winning seven Olympic Gold Medals over the Rio, Tokyo and Paris games. She has 11 Olympic medals in total. Her feats of flight are miraculous to watch, yet she stays grounded thanks to her family and her own determination. This 4-part documentary focuses on the Paris Olympics (likely her last) and how she got to this point in her career. She had to drop out of the Tokyo competition in 2021 with a case of what the sport refers to as “the twisties,” when a gymnast loses mental control over their movements. Her story is a good one and a promo for taking care of mind and body. This series is a little too long, but I found it addicting enough to watch the whole thing in one day. Let’s not give a score for this one. Let’s just give it a Gold Medal.
140. Sweet Bobby* (2024, Netflix) – This is the kind of movie that could not have existed a decade ago. Kirat is a lovely woman who meets a sweet man, Bobby, and begins a relationship with him online. When he goes through some serious and strange life circumstances, she is there to support him. When he cannot see him in person, she is endlessly understanding. But after more than a decade “together,” suddenly things don’t add up. This documentary peels back the layers of this complicated and frustrating relationship that once again proves that truth is stranger than fiction. 3½ cans.
141. Anatomy of Lies* (2024, Peacock) – This 3-part documentary is the fascinating story of a successful writer for the Grey’s Anatomy TV series whose life wasn’t quite what it seemed. I cannot provide more details without giving the story away, so, if you believe that truth is stranger than fiction, check this one out. 4 cans.
142. An Inside Man* (2024, Netflix) – Ted Danson gives a subtle performance as Charles, a man who applies for a job with a private investigator. His task is to move to a senior citizens complex and work undercover to find out who is responsible for the theft of a valuable piece of jewelry. He is a grieving widower, a former engineering professor, and his innate curiosity and powers of observation are perfectly suited to the assignment. He goes there to do a job but becomes immersed in the lives of his new friends and neighbors. He is so charming in this part, and the show will be back for a new season! 4 cans.
143. Cold Case: Who Killed Jon Benet Ramsey? (2024, Netflix) – This 3-part documentary series focuses on a case that was almost impossible to ignore when the pretty 6-year old was found murdered in her own home in 1996. Did the police mishandle the evidence? Did they jump to the conclusion that the family was involved? How big a role did the incessant media coverage play in demanding the parents be charged? There are still plenty of questions surrounding this case, and, despite the title, you will not get the definitive answer. 4 cans.
144. Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy* (2024, Netflix) – I felt great guilt watching this documentary about how we tend to buy much more than we need (I can’t fit even one more Rutgers T-shirt into my drawer) and what happens once we discard the stuff we didn’t need in the first place. Clever marketers constantly encourage us as consumers to buy more and more, and the result is a world overwhelmed by what eventually is garbage. The whole system is out of control and the impact on the planet is already significant. Not exactly a cheery holiday film. 3 cans.
145. Before and After* (1996, Prime Video) – I don’t know how I missed or never even heard of this Meryl Streep-Liam Neeson movie from the last century. It certainly wasn’t one of Meryl’s showy parts – no accent needed. She is a doctor, married to Ben, an artist, when their family is upended by the tragic death of a young woman in their small town. Suddenly, the focus of the investigation is on their teenaged son, who, it turns out, was dating the murder victim. There is evidence to be found, but what is the truth and who will save the day? Good performances, especially on the part of the anguished father (Neeson). 3 cans.
No comments:
Post a Comment