July was my month for documentaries, and I watched a bunch of them, including one 13-part series that I binged in a single day. From the paintings of Van Gogh to football at a community college to Jews being funny, this month had it all. Programs not previously seen are marked with an asterisk and numbering picks up from previous months. Ratings go from 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 being the best.
95.
The Morning Show* (2020) – Jennifer Anniston does outstanding work in this Apple TV+ series, along with co-star Reese Witherspoon, as the anchors of a morning news TV program. The series centers around what happens to the show and all of the people responsible for its production when co-anchor Mitch (Steve Carell) is suddenly fired for sexual misconduct (a la Matt Lauer), and popular co-anchor Alex Levy (Anniston) is left to pick up the pieces. I don’t want to give away the plot of this 10-parter, but it is not a light and frothy look at TV. It gets behind the scenes and under the covers with people who manipulate, cajole and seize power. It also shows the enormous impact TV performers have and the massive fortunes they are paid. I really liked it and look forward to Season 2 next year. 4 cans and one big caveat: Unless you have an iPad or an actual Apple TV, this show is tough to watch. I tried two tablets, two smart TVs and even an app to “cast” from my phone to my brand new LG Smart TV, and nothing worked. I could watch it on my laptop, but I could not hook that up to my big TV. It was such a pain that I broke down and bought an iPad – but I finished watching the show on my phone before it arrived. So just know that if you watch it on your phone it will gobble up your data. I actually had to change my plan because I had exceeded my data limit for the month in less than a week. Consider yourself warned!
96.
50-50 (2011) – Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays 27-year old Adam, who finds out that the persistent pain in his back is caused by a rare form of cancer in his spine, as his unfeeling doctor reveals. He takes the news well, trying to make things more palatable for the people who care about him – his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), his mother (Angelica Houston) and his BFF, a dude named Kyle (Seth Rogen). But his research reveals that his prospects for survival are only 50-50, and, with that knowledge and the chemo treatments he suffers through, he begins to understand his reality. Anna Kendrick plays a young, inexperienced therapist who works with Adam on anxiety and coping mechanisms. Gordon-Levitt plays the role with good humor and equanimity, while Rogen is the hyper friend urging him to use his condition to get sympathy and sex from other women (after his girlfriend dumps him because his cancer is too hard on her). The movie’s charm is a direct result of Gordon-Levitt. The story is based on a real-life case that involved a writer who was a friend of Rogan’s. 3½ cans.
97.
If You’re Not in the Obits, Eat Breakfast* (2017) – That is sage advice from eternal funnyman Carol Reiner, who passed away this month. This is Reiner’s tribute to the importance of vitality in keeping people in their 90s active and happy. Included are some of Reiner’s famous friends and contemporaries, like still-dancing Dick Van Dyke, hilarious Mel Brooks, Norman Lear, Betty White, Tony Bennett, and a bunch of ordinary folks who do extraordinary things in their 90s, from competing in running races to sky-diving. You can only hope to live out your days doing what you love to do and still have friends and family to share their time with you. Van Dyke, Brooks, White and the others are national treasures, and we are blessed to have enjoyed so many of them for so long. Thanks, Carl Reiner, for the funny memories. 4 cans.
98.
The Whole Truth* (2016) – Keanu Reeves plays Richard, an attorney with a tough case to try. He represents Michael (Gabriel Basso), a teenager accused of killing his father with a knife. But Michael won’t talk to Richard to tell him what happened. Was the father (Jim Belushi) abusing his wife, Michael’s mother Loretta (Renee Zellweger)? Is there any evidence? Were there any witnesses? A young attorney joins the defense team (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), but she causes tension with Richard, whose strategy might be failing. A tense drama and worth a look. I can’t say more without revealing the plot. 3½ cans. I found it available for free in the On Demand movies on Xfinity.
99.
Hamilton* (2020) – The long-awaited video of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” recorded with the original cast in 2016, finally makes it to the home theater – and it was worth the wait. Created by the crazy-talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, the hip-hop musical tackles the unlikely subject of its namesake, Alexander Hamilton, and his role as a founding father of the US, all done with music and dancing and minimal but brilliant staging. I detected hints of “Les Miserables” in the story-telling, but this theatrical bombshell is a far cry from conventional Broadway entertainment. The plot is way too complex to rehash here; just know that there is revolution and betrayal and, oh yes, a famous duel. The actors are almost exclusively people of color, and each one is given a chance to excel. Of course, seeing it at home cannot replicate the excitement of a live performance in a big theater, but it does have the advantage of no lines for the restroom at intermission. And I watched with closed captioning on because the lyrics tell the entire story and they and the action are hard to follow. I thought it was too long in giving everyone a chance to shine, but that’s quibbling – like saying the champagne had a few too many bubbles. It is certainly not everyone’s taste, but “Hamilton” provides a musical civics lesson unlike anything we learned in school. 4 cans. Only available through the subscription service Disney Plus, but paying $6.99 for a month (and you can cancel any time) is a bargain compared to getting – if you can and if Broadway ever reopens – tickets to the Broadway show.
100.
David Foster: Off the Record* (2020) – If you have heard songs by Celine Dionne, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Earth Wind & Fire, Barbra Streisand, you are probably familiar with David Foster’s work as a music producer. Nominated for something like 47 Grammys as a producer or songwriter, Foster has amassed his share of wins. When I think of his work, one song comes to mind: “I Will Always Love You,” a Dolly Parton song performed in the movie “The Bodyguard” by Whitney Houston. It created an unforgettable moment, starting with the first verse sung a capella – something Foster initially opposed. He has discovered talent (he saw Buble perform at a wedding and hired him on the spot) and coaxed the best performances out of each performer. This Netflix documentary reminded me of how prolific he has been and how much I have loved his work. 4 cans.
101.
All of Me (1984) – After Carl Reiner’s death, I wanted to watch one of my favorite Reiner movies. This comedic romp is amusing, silly and lighthearted, a great representation of Reiner’s work. Steve Martin is boring lawyer Roger Cobb, who would rather be doing his side gig – playing in a band – than be in his law office. He is dispatched to the deathbed of haughty millionaire Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin), a woman who is too angry at life to die. She has decided that her soul will live on in the attractive body of her stablemaster’s daughter Terry (Victoria Tennant) with the help of a madman mystic played by Richard Libertini. The plan goes awry when her soul is instead transported to Roger’s body, where the two must somehow share the space. Martin’s tremendous physical comedy gifts are on full display as he tries to control both sides of his body, and the results are hilarious. The dance at the end shows two comedy legends at their best, directed by the deft hand of Carl Reiner. 3½ cans.
102.
Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway* – Now that I have seen the movie of the play “Hamilton,” I decided that this documentary on Prime Video would be a good accompaniment. The film showcases Hamilton’s creator Lin-Manual Miranda, starting when he was a student of musical theater, leading though his debut production of the Broadway show “In the Heights” and through the development and smash hit “Hamilton.” It took him a year just to write the title song. Just when Broadway was settling for “jukebox” musicals, using a band’s music and creating a story told through the songs (such as “Jersey Boys” and “Mamma Mia”), along comes Manuel and a totally original concept using hip-hop music and predominantly Black and Latinx actors to tell the story of the birth of the United States. This film gives the show great context and background. And it is free to watch if you have Prime Video as part of your Amazon membership. 3½ cans.
103.
The Painting Life of Vincent Van Gogh* (2008) – This languorous look at the work of Vincent Van Gogh traces his travels, from his birth in The Netherlands to his death in France. At all of the stops in between, he created first drawings, then paintings – some 1900 works – in a mere 37 years of life. He was largely supported by his younger brother Theo and few of his works sold in his lifetime. Those same paintings today are worth millions, hang in museums and bring acclaim to a troubled artist. The folklore around Van Gogh’s cutting off his own ear may not be accurate; he lived with fellow artist Paul Gauguin at the time and the two frequently clashed, so Gauguin may have had something to do with the errant ear. This film has a wonderful technique, positioning the camera in the spot where you can see precisely what is in the paintings (in locations where the original buildings and scenes still exist). Van Gogh may have been suffering mental problems and spent time in an insane asylum, but even that didn’t affect his prodigious output. Sometimes he produced a painting a day. I couldn’t help but wonder where the paintings went, because he moved around too often to carry them with him. This film turned out not to be the Van Gogh movie I wanted to see, but I am glad I watched it. Available on Prime Video. 3½ cans.
104.
Footloose (1984) – I couldn’t resist another go-around with Ren McCormick (Kevin Bacon) and the kids in a small, midwestern town where dancing is not allowed. But Ren teaches his awkward friend Willard (Chris Penn) to dance, romances the daughter of the preacher (Lori Singer and John Lithgow), and gets the whole, dull town (including Sarah Jessica Parker) to kick up their heels again. Considering that these kids were banned from dancing, they are damn good at it when the Big Dance comes along. This is a fun, music-filled movie that makes me smile every time. 4 cans.
105.
Country Strong* (2010) – Gwyneth Paltrow plays Kelly Canter, a revered country singer trying to make a comeback after a stint in rehab for her alcohol issues. She had met Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund), an aspiring country star and rehab employee, during her time there and sees a big career for him, even though he is content playing honkytonks. Her manager/husband James (Tim McGraw) wants her out on the road, even though she is clearly not ready for primetime. But he has his eye on young singer Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester) as a possible replacement. When the quartet hit the road, the question is whether Kelly can stand up to the spotlight, resist her budding relationship with Beau, tolerate the young erstwhile replacement and her husband and get over the death of her unborn child from an accident she had on stage while drunk. The description is more interesting than the movie. The country songs are just OK and I figured out the ending. Overall, I’d say that “Country Strong” is a little weak. 3 cans.
106.
The Paper* (1994) – Director Ron Howard races through 24 hours in an NYC tabloid newspaper. The publisher (Glenn Close) is interested in cutting costs while the editor (Michael Keaton) is interested in landing a big story on the front page that he stole from another paper – where, ironically, he was offered a better, more stable job. He is also waiting for the birth of his new baby with his wife (Marisa Tomei), a reporter who understands the business but is still ticked off that hubby is never around for dinner. Along the way, the combination of drama and comedy intended here morphs into silliness that includes firing a gun in the office and at a bar, fist fights between unlikely combatants, and the assignment of a key story to a rookie staff photographer who looks 14. The acting is good, the direction is appropriately frenetic, but the story seemed a little over the top to me (as did Keaton, who had that tendency earlier in his career). Not one of Howard’s bests. 3 cans.
107.
The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story* (1996) – If you have ever been in Sardi’s, or if you read about movies and theater in The New York Times, you probably have seen the iconic artwork of Al Hirschfeld. His distinctive line drawings, while appearing simple, were complex portraits of celebrities and notable figures whose main characteristics he was able to capture in his unique ability to create art. I have one of his prints – of Lucille Ball – hanging in my house. Although he had the ability as an artist to paint, he preferred the field of caricature, and NOBODY did it better. His work, replete with hidden “Ninas” – a bow to his daughter whose name he worked into all of his pieces – is instantly recognizable. The Department of Defense studied his “Ninas” to see how to identify objects that were camouflaged. He was a prodigious artist with a very long career that began back in the 1920s and continued until his death at age 100. He was able to capture the essence and energy of a person or a huge assemblage of performers with black lines on a white paper in a way no one will be able to replicate. 3½ cans. You can find this documentary on Amazon Prime Video.
108.
In & Out – Greenleaf, Indiana, is shaken to its mushy core when beloved English teacher Howard Brackett is outed by a former student during his Oscar acceptance speech. After all, Brackett (the immensely talented Kevin Kline) is just about to marry his long-time love Emily (the underrated Joan Cusack), so he can’t possibly be gay. Or can he? There is his Barbra Streisand fetish, the fact that he picked out Emily’s bridal gown, and the three-year engagement and wait before, well, never mind. When TV reporter Peter Malloy (Tom Selleck) comes to town to cover the story, Howard is less sure about himself than ever. I don’t want to reveal the plot of this comedy gem, but Cusack gets off two of the best lines. There is a treasure trove of supporting actors – Debbie Reynolds, Wilfred Brimley, Bob Newhart and Matt Dillon as the actor who gets the rumor mill cranking. I think this movie is hilarious. 4 cans.
109.
Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story* (2020) – Last year, USA Network introduced “Dirty John” starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana and based on the true story of a man who deceived, married and abused women. This year they have franchised the name to include another drama based on a true-life incident. Betty Broderick (played by Amanda Peet) was a supportive wife and mother who helped put her husband Dan (Christian Slater) through medical and law school while having babies and miscarriages. When he finally became wealthy, Dan resented Betty’s spending and constant jealousy. He finally left her for the office receptionist, which literally drove her crazy. Betty was selfish and driven to the brink by Dan’s actions (or inactions) toward her. She harassed her former husband and the woman who became his wife and wouldn’t give them a moment of peace. Betty and Dan used the children as pawns in their game to outwit each other. This multi-part series was intriguing in what it says about relationships and mental illness. SPOILER ALERT: She broke into Dan’s house and shot and killed him and his wife in their sleep (which you find out early on). So: Is she a mentally abused woman, a deranged woman or a premeditated murderer? 3½ cans.
110.
Showbiz Kids* (2020) – Director Alex Winter – who was either Bill or Ted in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” eons ago (Keanu Reeves played the other one) – delves into the lives of mostly young adults who started as showbiz kids. Idolatry is not all it is cracked up to be, folks. These kids started in show biz very young, some bearing the burden of being the breadwinner for their families, and never had a chance for a normal life. Instead of being in school or playing with friends, they spent their time going to auditions and being judged on every aspect of their looks and appeal. Some went on to successful show biz careers as adults, but others tell of being molested by adults in their lives and suffering from substance abuse issues. The familiar faces are Henry Thomas (“ET”) Evan Rachel Wood (“13” and “Once & Again”), Todd Bridges from “Different Strokes,” and Mara Wilson of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” among others. Imagine being 15 and being eviscerated by a nasty review of a bad movie by the esteemed Siskel & Ebert. It’s a hard knock life. 3½ cans. Available on Netflix.
111.
The Staircase* (2018) – It all started at the end of 2001 when author Michael Peterson entered his home to go to bed and found his beloved wife Kathleen lying dead at the foot of the staircase, her body contorted and her blood splattered on the walls around her. Stunned, he called 911. The EMTs arrived and confirmed her death, and thus began a 16-year ordeal in which Mike battled authorities over his innocence in what the DA called a homicidal beating and not an accident. This documentary starts at the beginning of the story and follows the case through its conclusion so many years later. If you have 13 hours to binge-watch a program (and let’s face it, I don’t have much else to keep me busy these days) and you like real crime dramas, I recommend this one. It is too long, too detailed, too repetitive – and totally addicting. It was this year’s “Making a Murderer.” You can watch it on Netflix. 4 cans.
112.
American Murder Mystery: The Staircase* (2017) – In case the 13-part Netflix series I just watched wasn’t enough for me on this subject, I found this 3-part documentary from the ID Network on Hulu to view as a follow-up. I usually take points off for programs that contain recreations and which cast actors who resemble the original characters, but this one had enough actual footage from the case (the trial was televised) to make up for the cheesy recreations. Yes, the same story is told here, but with a few twists and some information I did not glean from the previous version. When they got to the part where the possibility of death by owl attack became a theory, I had to say “Hoo, hoo.” When I am interested in something, I go all in. 3 cans.
113.
When Jews Were Funny* (2013) – Writer-director Alan Zweibel (of “Saturday Night Live” fame) poses questions to a host of Jewish comedians about being Jewish and being funny. Some insist that their humor is not meant to be directed to a Jewish audience, and most of them celebrate the work of the comedians who came before them. If you watched Alan King, Jackie Mason and Henny Youngman on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” you can identify with the older generation of Jewish comedians. They have been supplanted by Howie Mandel, Jerry Seinfeld, Judy Gold and others in this documentary, but they strongly believe that the suffering Jews have endured in not having a homeland and surviving the Holocaust made them stronger as a people – and people who can find humor in anything (I couldn’t help thinking of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” and its hilarious premise of a musical about Nazis). Many pointed to their grandparents with their constant kvetching (complaining) and tendency to answer a question with a question. There were stories about comics performing in the Catskills, the accents the families retained after arriving in the US from Eastern Europe and largely settling on the Lower East Side of New York, and how walking into a good Jewish deli can make one feel more Jewish. I thought Howie Mandel said it best in his broad generalization: “We complain, we eat and we’re funny.” And yes, we still are. I laughed out loud at some old jokes I had never heard. 3½ cans. On Prime Video.
114.
How Do You Know?* (2010) – I expected so much more from a film with this kind of pedigree. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson in a blustering, obnoxious role as the businessman father of Rudd, and it was written and directed by James L. Brooks of “Broadcast News,” “Terms of Endearment” and “As Good As It Gets” (all featuring Nicholson). Yet the romantic comedy was so lightweight that I was disappointed. In a nutshell, Witherspoon is Lisa, a softball player whose career has just ended. Wilson is a new love interest, a wealthy baseball player and a real ladies’ man. Rudd is a nebbishy (but endearingly cute) employee of his father’s firm who has been accused of securities fraud (he is innocent) who reaches out to Lisa for a blind date at the worst possible time, and although she is seeing Wilson, she goes anyway and they barely exchange a word. She ends up torn between the two men – hence the title. You know as soon as she meets Rudd’s character in the beginning that he will end up with her. The cast does the best they can with this material, but I knew right away that this film was going nowhere. 2 cans and a truckload of disappointment.
115.
Father Soldier Son* (2020) – This Netflix documentary was shot over a 10-year period, starting when Brian Eisch was a young father serving in the Army in Afghanistan. He was carrying on the family tradition of serving in the military and he was also raising his two young sons (staying with their uncle during his deployment) to whom he was fiercely devoted. He doted on them as much as they worried about and missed him. But when he is severely injured, everything changes for the young family. This Netflix original movie brings the war home, making the viewer have a renewed respect for the people who served in the Armed Forces and the sacrifices they and their families make. 3½ cans.
116.
The Weight of Gold* (2020) – Olympic swimming hero Michael Phelps is the force behind this HBO special on the mental health issues encountered by some of our most celebrated Olympians. These athletes train most of their lives to compete in an event that happens just every four years. Some events last 10 seconds. Imagine spending every single day of your life swimming laps in a pool, to the exclusion of practically any other activity. Imagine not winning your event or getting a last-minute injury. No wonder these dedicated athletes have trouble assimilating back into society when their time as Olympians is done. If they have won the gold medal (or multiple gold medals), they may have had lucrative contracts and endorsement deals, but if you are the silver or gold medalist or didn’t get a medal at all, who pays attention to you once your moment has passed? Phelps says he lacked any real identity for himself outside the pool and competition. A number of athletes have committed suicide, while others seek help from their governing bodies, who don’t know how best to assist them. As one bobsledder said, if she had an injury, the best doctors and therapists would be there to treat her, but when she asked for help coping with her mental health, there were multiple approvals necessary and no real plan for treatment. This documentary is very thought-provoking, as you see well-known Olympians explaining that they have no pension, no stipend, no health insurance and no resources once their competitions are over. If you are a fan of the Olympics, you may want to see this honest look at the people who compete. 3½ cans.
117.
Last Chance U* (2020) – This Netflix series is in its 5th season, and I think this is the best one yet. It is a documentary about community college football, the last chance for some players to achieve their post-high school dreams of getting a football scholarship and perhaps even going on to the NFL as pros. John Beam is the head coach at Laney College in Oakland, California, defending state champs, and a guy known for a remarkable 40-year record as a high school and now CC coach. His job extends well beyond the Xs and Os, beyond the wins and losses, to reach these young men, serve as a surrogate father, teacher and role model as he kicks their asses and makes them understand the importance of this last chance opportunity. Unlike the previous seasons of the series, where the squads were comprised of many high potential players who had flunked out or had been kicked out of prestigious college football universities, the Laney players are mostly local guys who don’t want to work at Home Depot and are giving this level of college football a shot. As with previous seasons, the show focuses on a few key players and provides in-depth looks at their backgrounds. There is the big offensive lineman who already has a wife and two young daughters, the highly skilled defensive back who commutes two hours to Laney, and the wide receiver who sleeps in his car most nights (Laney has no dorms). They are poor, hungry (literally and figuratively), and much of their success depends on being part of a winning team. It is definitely a winning series. 4 cans.
