Movies & More, July 2024

You're probably immersed in the Olympics (or is that just me?), but when you want a break and are looking for a movie, you might want to consider these. Everything is rated on a scale of 0-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 the top mark. Movies not previously seen are marked with an asterisk, and numbering picks up from previous months.

85. Diane Von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge* (2024, Hulu) – It turns out than fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg is much more than the creator of the famous wrap dress than dominated fashion for so long. She became a princess and part of high society when she married Price Egon Von Furstenberg, which helped her gain connections in the fashion world and build an empire. She didn’t set out to build an empire, but she always wanted to be in charge. This Hulu documentary covers her background, business, family and relationships. What a fascinating woman! 3½ cans.
86. The Bear – Season 3* (2024, Hulu) – Welcome back to the world of fine dining, food perfection – and a torrent of swearing, tension and uncertainty. Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto is more dedicated than ever to making his restaurant, The Bear, stand out among Chicago’s notable establishments, pushing his staff to achieve his vision of perfection, which includes the best ingredients, a menu that changes daily and living with his seeming unattainable list of “non-negotiables” about the food, the ambience in the kitchen and the staff. The usual cast of characters is back with Carmy (Emmy-winner Jeremy Allen White), Syndey the head chef (Emmy winner Ayo Edibiri), Cousin Richie, sous chef Tina (played by Liza Colon-Zayas), who gets a full episode that reveals how she came to the restaurant after an office job, his sister Sugar (Abby Elliot) and mother Donna (slightly less crazy this season as played by Jamie Lee Curtis). The restaurant is going to be reviewed this year and the critics can make a difference in keeping it open since Uncle the backer is ready to pull the plug. This show is billed as a comedy-drama, and some of it is amusing, but more is just tense even in this more refined season. I’m still a fan but would probably rank Season 2 higher than Season 3. Still, 3½ plates of stunningly gorgeous food!
87 and 88. The Man with 1000 Kids* (2024, Netflix) and Sperm World* (2024, Hulu) – Both of these documentaries deal with men who willingly donate their sperm to impregnate women who want to have children but conventional circumstances prevent their success. In the first, three-part series, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man from the Netherlands, Jonathan, connects with women over the internet to make private arrangements to donate his sperm, telling the women that he has only fathered a few babies. But his burgeoning business includes donations not just in the Netherlands but all over Europe and in Africa, assuring that a long line of blond, blue-eyed children (none of the ones included in the series looked anything like their mothers) would populate the world, giving no thought and having no remorse for the possibility of these kids meeting and potentially marrying each other. The baby count for him is more than 1000 children, with accurate numbers hard to verify. In Sperm World, we meet more willing donors who want to give the women something they cannot otherwise achieve, a chance at having children. In both cases, there is no monetary reward for the donations, The men seem happy to help – conventionally or otherwise – and are proud of the too big broods. Most of the activity occurs outside official sperm banks, where records are kept but rules are flaunted. The whole concept here was outrageous to me, especially with the issue of control of women’s bodies under legislative fire. A woman can have, at most, one baby a year (with the exception of multiple births, like twins), and yet there is interest in legislating her rights to terminate a baby under many different circumstances. Men, on the other hand, can impregnate several women a day, or thousands over the course of years, and there’s not issue with that? You cannot make this stuff up! 3½ cans.
89. The Power of the Dream* (2024, Prime Video) – The 144 women of the WNBA have always had to fight hard for their existence: for better wages, maternity leave, charter jet travel. With Nneka Oqwumike as the president of the players union, the players fought to have a say in the league. As far back as 2016, they began focusing on social justice. The shootings of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor galvanized the players to support Black Lives Matter and the Say Her Name Movement, even as the 2020 pandemic led to a season played in “a bubble” in Florida. And for the Atlanta Dream, the fight hit close to home, as co-owner Kelly Lauffler, appointed to the US Senate in Georgia, criticized the team for supporting these movements. Would they get paid in 2020? If they retaliated against Lauffler, would there be repercussions against them? Would they have jobs and health insurance? The memorable movement is well-documented in this thoughtful documentary. The outstanding leadership of the players union and top stars had a profound effect on the players, keeping them focused, organized, inspired and deliberate in their actions. Today, the WNBA is stronger than ever, and I think some of that can be traced to their unity in 2020 and beyond. 4 cans.
90. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F* (2024, Netflix) – Eddie Murphy brings his classic cop comedy back for another go as his Detroit cop heads again for Beverly Hills to outwit the bad guys and bad cops he encounters. This time he has an estranged daughter to deal with, added to longtime cop buddies Rosewood and Taggert. Murphy still has that charm and the ability to get himself out of the biggest messes. I loved seeing the delightful Bronson Pinchot revive his Serge character. All told, this is an amusing movie with plenty of car/truck/meter maid vehicle chases. Murphy does his thing so well. 3½ cans.
91. The Devil’s Own* (1997, Netflix) – Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt star in this movie about a New York cop (Ford) who unknowingly takes in a member of the Irish Republican Army who is in America to purchase guns for the fight back home. Once Ford realizes what is going on and that his family is at risk, he faces the moral dilemma of how to deal with the young man he likes but who is the cause of violence in New York, where Ford and his family live, and back home in Ireland as part of the IRA. Good story and well done by the stars. 3½ cans.
92. Faye* (2024, HBO) – This documentary offers an in-depth look at actress Faye Dunaway and her stellar career. With multiple Oscar nominations and one win for her role as the ruthless executive in “Network,” Dunaway has played memorable leads in “Bonnie & Clyde,” “Chinatown” and “The Thomas Crown Affair” (oh, that game of chess with Steve McQueen!). However, Dunaway may be best remembered for her portrayal of actress Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest,” a serious but too campy tale about Crawford’s fractured relationship with her daughter. Overall, this movie reminded me of how good Dunaway has been and shared some stories I never knew. 3½ cans.
93. The Neon Highway* (2024, Netflix) – Wayne is an aspiring country singer who meets Claude (Beau Bridges), a former country star, and they team up to record Wayne’s song in hopes of setting Wayne on a path to success and Claude back into the spotlight. Old Claude once had connections in show biz, but his glory days are long gone. Convinced they have a bona fide hit on their hands, Claude gets it recorded and waits for their big break. I’m not a connoisseur of country music, but the Neon Highway song was nowhere near hit material to me! There’s not much to see here, so I recommend you bypass The Neon Highway. 2½ cans.
94. Skywalkers: A Love Story* (2024, Netflix) – This documentary is not for the faint of heart. But if your knees don’t get weak at the sensation of being at the top of a spire thousands of feet in the air on a skyscraper or church, this one’s for you. The action centers on Vanya and Angela, two young Russian daredevils who find ways to ascend to the top of a spire on buildings and churches and even on cranes, climbing without any safety harnesses – or authorization – and posing for drone pictures featuring elite gymnast moves. I almost turned this off because the heights were dizzying and the tricks death-defying, but I have to admit the images were spectacular!  3½ cans.
95. Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose* (2024, HBO) – Even if you are not a baseball fan, you have probably heard of Pete Rose. Rose is the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball and owns multiple pages in the record book. Most of what you hear about him now is whether or not he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. More than 30 years ago, Rose was banned from baseball for illegal sports betting, although for decades he denied he ever bet on baseball. He spent time in prison for tax evasion, was accused on statutory rape and other offenses, but betting on his own sport – his own team – was considered his most egregious sin. Just when you think he may have a chance to redeem himself and qualify for the Hall of Fame, his boorish behavior comes shining through to remind people that Pete is just not a good man. This 4-part documentary examines the man, his gambling and his life. He played baseball with reckless abandon, but he never gave up the hustle. Only watch this show if you are a baseball fan interested in the history of the sport, because Rose is integral to that. 3½ cans.
96. The Fabulous Four* (2024, Manville Cinema) – The title of this movie is misleading. Yes, there are four people in it, but fabulous? Nothing remotely fabulous is in this wisp of a movie that takes four supposed best friends from college and reunites them when one (Bette Midler) announces that she is getting married. Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mulally are the friends, even though their ages don’t match up to having been in school together. The script is so thin it is transparent, and if you cannot figure out where the plot is going, you should never be allowed in a movie again. “80 for Brady” was superficial and improbable, but this (comparison made because the cast is again “older” women) movie lacks any of the fun that the Brady ladies had. What a waste of an award-winning cast! I think the Academies that hand out the Oscars and Tonys are probably demanding the return of their awards by all four leads. I’ll give it a mere ½ can – because it was Half-Price Tuesday and the movie was only $5 – which is akin to saying that the food was terrible and the portions were too small.
 

 

Hazy Days of Summer

To say it has been hot is an understatement. I don't even want to go outside and sit under my awning in this heat, and it is too hot to turn on the grill to make a steak. And it is only mid-July!

Now that I have finished dinner, washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, I wonder if I have time for a nap before bed…

I have been driving for more than 50 years, but when I see a police car on the road, I still put my hands at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions on my steering wheel until he is out of sight. 

If I ruled the world, people would not be permitted to share their Wordle scores on social media (really, who cares about your Wordle score?), REPLY ALL would be highly restricted, and one-ply toilet paper would be banned.

I have reached the point in life where I can pull a muscle just by turning over in bed. And if I get a tingling feeling, I don’t know whether I am excited or infected.

How does Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, at 4'8", launch herself 12 feet in the air in her floor routine? I have to use a stepstool to get into my bed and I have a good 4 inches on her!

I could never be a doctor. I’m sure that if I put my butt on that little stool on wheels it would slide right out from underneath me and I’d end up on the floor looking nothing like how a competent doctor should look.

You know what is torture? Putting in your password and waiting with baited breath to see if you can get into the site or the app, praying you got the right one!

Speaking of “baited,” there is a convenience store near my house where there is a sign reading, “Live bait.” I don’t fish, but I’m thinking that selling dead bait would do no one, including the fish, any good.

OK, Alexa, I got your previous warnings about excessive heat and possible rain. Your helpful hints are beginning to sound like nagging!

I thought it was just me until my BFF told me that when she thinks of something to look up on Google, by the time she has accessed the app, she forgets what she wanted to find. I do the same thing. Oh, well, we always said we wanted to grow old together. And now we have!

In a world where women’s sports traditionally received far less coverage than men’s sports, even men are talking about women’s basketball these days, thanks largely to sharpshooter Caitlin Clark. And everyone seems to have an opinion about her or at least about the amount of attention she gets. How could we follow the sport in the past when it wasn’t widely broadcasted? To me, this is all good. At least women’s games are now shown on TV and are in the news. Highlights of Clark and lots of other great players are bringing new fans to watch in person or on TV. I’m thrilled to see more of the sport I love.

I’m not a fan of fireworks. As a kid, I loved but feared the sparklers we somehow acquired for the 4th of July, but now I can’t take the loud booms and big crowds at July 4th celebrations. I prefer to sit in the house watching the Macy’s fireworks display in New York from the safety and comfort of my couch! No traffic, always a bathroom available and when it is over, I’m already home!

I miss paper bags at the supermarket. I will never understand why it is OK for Kohl’s to put just one item in a nice, strong paper bag with handles but my ShopRite can’t put a dozen items in ANY bag except the ones I have to bring in and pack on my own. Please, somebody, make this make sense!

The other day I decided to make a recipe so old that the copy I had was cut out of The Home News had yellowed with age (no date was on the paper). It was from Panico’s in New Brunswick and was for one of my favorite dishes that they made. The remarkable thing was I knew exactly where it was. And I made it that day, and I still love it!

Recently I unearthed my reliable old vegetable steamer from the kitchen cabinet and used it to make fresh green beans. That poor old thing had not seen the light of day since I moved to this house. I was surprised to learn that many of my old friends still have and use theirs. What’s next? My potato masher has been neglected for years, too!

So, we had a July 4th without defending champion Joey Chestnut competing in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, that paragon of American taste and culture. I love a good dog, but the thought of chomping down dozens of dogs (Chestnut holds the record of 70+ hot dogs) and wet buns (their choice, not a requirement) in a 10-minute period. (I can eat maybe 2.) It is a stomach-turning American tradition that is my guilty pleasure. But Chestnut signed up to promote plant-based hot dogs that compete against Nathan’s all-beef traditional hot dogs and he was dropped from the contest. First, ewww – plant-based hot dogs? And second, who knew there were so many rules in Major League Eating (that’s the name of the official organization)? I guess Chestnut is retired now as the all-time champ while he finds something else to do on July 4.

It's hard to believe that people still fall for scams that ask them to pay for whatever the scammers claim they didn’t pay for by using gift cards. Seriously, why would I believe that a legitimate entity would want me to pay for something with a Target gift card? When in doubt, people, check it out!

I recently had an eye infection that required prescription drops for treatment. The next week my other eye became very irritated from my eye injection and I needed OTC drops. Now the original eye is sore, so I bought more drops and cleverly marked them as right eye, not to be confused with the drops for my left eye. I’m getting really good at giving myself eye drops, but getting tired of looking like the creature from the black lagoon.

I’m here to extol the virtues of Urgent Care. Sure, you want your regular doctor to check you out when something is wrong, but when time is of the essence or you can’t get an appointment for weeks, and it isn’t a life-threatening condition that requires a trip to the emergency room, Urgent Care is a viable alternative. I was scheduled to get on a plane recently and needed to be seen before I left for the airport. At 8 AM that morning, I was in the local Urgent Care office, where they diagnosed my problem and sent a prescription to the local CVS. I was able to get on the plane with medication in my carryon bag and felt so much peace of mind. I have been there so often lately that they know my name when I show up. I’m like Norm entering Cheers for a beer. I would prefer not to have issues requiring immediate attention, but Urgent Care has been a lifesaver (that may be overstating things a bit…).
 

June Movies & More

Just as in May, I managed to see 18 movies, shows, series, etc. It is a wide selection and you should find a few things here that match your interests. Numbering picks up from previous months. Asterisks indicate programs I had not previously seen, and everything is rated on a scale of 1-5 tuna fish cans.

69. Restless - Being Paul Newman (PBS) – For most of his life, Paul Newman had to overcome the attention paid to his incredibly good looks and beautiful blue eyes in order to be accepted for his talent as an actor and a director. We should all have such problems, right? But think about his movies: Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Hud, Hombre, Cool Hand Luke, The Verdict, The Hustler and its follow-up, The Color of Money, and my personal faves, Slap Shot, The Young Philadelphians and From the Terrace. He and his wife, Joanne Woodward, made a formidable Hollywood team (who resided in Connecticut), collaborating on movies as actors but also on movies that Paul directed, like Rachel, Rachel. This documentary was a great review of the outstanding work both accomplished in their careers. And looking at Newman is a treat for the eyes! 3½ cans.
70. Nothing in Common (1986, Movies Channel on cable TV) – I never hear anyone discuss this movie, but I love it. Hanks is a smooth-talking ad man in Chicago who chases women and runs great campaigns. He doesn’t pay much attention to his parents (Jackie Gleason and Eva Marie Saint, both standouts in their roles) until they separate after many years of a distant marriage. Their lives complicate his, especially when his father undergoes a medical crisis. This movie, in my opinion, deserves more acclaim. Catch it if you can. 4 cans.
71. MoviePass, MovieCrash* (2024, HBO) – MoviePass sounded like a great idea. You sign up, pay a monthly fee, and you can book a ticket to any movie, in any theater at any time. The company’s founders realized that they needed more capital to expand their business, have the technology and staff in place and that they should work with the movie theater chains. But the chains didn’t want to give up their share and the new investors took over the company, ousting Stacy Spikes and his business partner, Muta’Ali. Outside investor Mitch Lowe came in and insisted on dropping the price to $10 a month and amping up subscriptions, which meant that every single showing would cost MoviePass money they could not recover. This documentary shows how these arrogant businessmen kept promising what they could not deliver (profits, for example) to investors and a constant flow of movies to subscribers. I was one of them initially, and I remember how they kept changing the parameters; first the movies were unlimited, then they were restricted to only some movies and only so many tickets per month. Like so many movies about greedy “businessmen,” this one tells the whole ugly but fascinating story, right down to bankruptcy and criminal charges. But this one might just have a happy ending. 3½ cans.
72. The Notebook: The Musical* (2024, Broadway) – The Broadway musical version of the beloved tearjerker Nicholas Sparks novel cannot help but be compared to the movie version, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. If you haven’t experienced either of those versions of the story, you might be confused by the three sets of main characters here in Broadway, each portraying leads Noah and Allie at different stages of their lives. If you do know the story, then you can gird yourself for the inevitable ending and try to enjoy the love story as it evolves. While I will always prefer the movie version, I was nonetheless enamored with the actors and the innovative staging that included a rain sequence that made me worry that someone would slip on the wet stage. The performers had strong voices and gave their all to the largely forgettable songs, but each provided character information for the audience. At just the right moment, the predominantly female audience began sniffling and whipping out much-needed tissues. If you like schmaltzy stories of young and lifelong love, this one’s for you. 4 cans and a box of tissues.
73. Sue Bird: In the Clutch* (2024, Netflix) – Sue Bird defined the point guard position in women’s basketball for two decades. Even toward the end of her career with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, when she wasn’t as fast and couldn’t jump as high, she stayed on top because of her dedicated fitness regime and her smarts. Her college coach, the legendary Geno Auriemma, pushed her to excel (not that she needed much motivation; she is addicted to winning), and she became the smartest player on the floor. This fascinating documentary traces her career from Syosset to Seattle, with championships on the college and professional level and five Olympic Gold Medals. She is also the all-time WNBA leader in assists. Her no-look passes were a thing of beauty! She also became a leader off the court, pushing for equality, equal rights and social justice. If you’re a women’s basketball fan, even if you can’t stand UConn, you will love this. 4 basketballs.
74. Hit Man* (2024, Netflix) – Glen Powell is having a moment. The actor has popped up in multiple movies and has a major star turn here as a reluctant contract killer who secretly works for the police so he never actually has to kill anyone. He’s also a college professor. And he co-wrote the script. (Next, he’ll sell you popcorn…) His character is doing a fine job as an undercover operative until he tells one of his potential clients that she shouldn’t hire him to kill her husband, and then he falls in love with her (Adria Arjona). The movie was cute and entertaining, but I saw the plot miles away. Still, Powell has a lot of appeal and he’s just getting started. He needs a really GOOD movie to establish himself as the next George Clooney! 3½ cans.
75. Brats* (2024, Hulu) – If you watched such popular movies as St. Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink in the 1980s, then you have seen the work of the infamous “Brat Pack.” Coined in a New York Magazine article, the term stuck – and in many ways haunted and halted the careers of Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, all of whom were perceived to be fast friends (they weren’t), entitled young actors (not really) who were taking over from the “old Hollywood.” Instead, the negative connotation of the term led to restrictions on their respective movie projects and overall careers. Many haven’t seen each other for 30 years. So Andrew McCarthy set out to make a documentary to examine the effect of the article and reunite with his former colleagues. All of them (minus Ringwald and Nelson, who don’t appear) acknowledge the negative aspects but admit to some good that came out of a shared experience they all endured. This movie is talky and preachy at times, but McCarthy seems like a thoughtful guy just trying to figure things out and share his thoughts with those who went through what he did. And Rob Lowe is still gorgeous! 3½ cans.
76. How Disney Made America* (History Channel) – A man, a vision and a mouse. This series, The Brands That Made America, on the History Channel covers the popularity of Disney and how Walt Disney is responsible for so much of today’s culture. From creating Mickey Mouse and the beloved characters to figuring out how to match sound with animated images, to creating the animations themselves, Walt Disney was a visionary with high standards of quality in every aspect of the operation. He created the concept of the theme park – not an amusement park with roller coasters and Ferris wheels, but a whole new world. He set the stage for merchandising tied to his movies and TV shows; when I was a kid, everyone wore those Davey Crockett coonskin hats! This 6-part series takes an-depth look at the origins that led to an empire. The part about building Walt Disney World on hundreds of acres of unused marsh lands in Florida was especially intriguing. 4 cans.
77. King of Collectibles, Season 2* (2024, Netflix) – Last year we were introduced to Ken Goldin, owner of a memorabilia company best known for its ability to find and sell some of the most iconic sports memorabilia. This year, Ken and company are going after items outside their usual fields of interest, including some of Reggie Jackson’s classic cars, lots of Pokemon cards and even a mummified hand purported to be from Cleopatra (good luck authenticating that one). It is interesting to see the kinds of things people collect and to see Goldin and co trying to talk big collectors into parting with some of their prized possessions. The joy on their faces comes for both winning the consignment on a really good collection (and their anticipated percentage of the sale) but also their enthusiasm in uncovering a genuine Honus Wagner card in great shape, or the torches used for the Olympic flame. This show is definitely not everyone’s bailiwick, but I got a kick out of seeing some of these rare and precious finds. 3½ cans.
78. Spamalot* (2024, Villagers Theater) – Somehow in the past 20 or so years, I never got around to seeing the musical Spamalot. But $18 tickets for a local production 10 minutes from my house were enough to get me there, and I am SO GLAD I WENT. The hysterically funny, clever script, brought to you by the Monty Python gang, had me smiling and chuckling for two hours. This production had a large and talented cast with plenty of juicy parts and captivating songs. The performers were in on the joke, hammed it up when appropriate and delivered a first-rate performance. There are so many jokes and homages included that you had to be fast on your feet to get the references to Fiddler on the Roof, Grease and other well-known shows. Every time I go to a local theater for an enjoyable performance like this, I tell myself I need to do this more often. I loved it! 4 cans.
79. Six* (2024, Chicago, live theater) – This exuberant musical tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, a scoundrel who beheaded two of them. The six actresses, who stay on stage throughout the rollicking show, dance and sing their way through their marriages and ultimate fates in a funny, risqué and extremely entertaining nonstop 90 minutes of live theatre. I happened to be in Chicago and a group of us spent a delightful evening enjoying this show. If it comes to your town, don’t miss it! 4 cans.
80. Federer: 12 Final Days* (2024, Prime Video) – When tennis great Roger Federer announced his retirement from the sport he dominated for 14 years as a champion, it attracted plenty of attention and tributes. He wanted to play in one last tournament, an exhibition called the Laver Cup, which brough his European team to London to face an American squad. This intimate account spares no emotion as he says goodbye to competition and especially to his dear friend and frequent opponent Rafael Nadal. Their beautiful friendship is highlighted. Federer will be remembered as an elegant, graceful player who always demonstrated his skills and respect for the game. Plagued with knee injuries, he knew his playing days were over, but he also knew how tough it would be to say goodbye. 3½ cans.
81.  Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini* (2024, Hulu) – This three-part documentary is another entry in the “Truth Is Stranger than Fiction” category. Maybe you remember the 2017 abduction of pretty young housewife Sherri Papini and how she remained missing for 22 days. Her anguished husband cooperated in every way with the police and FBI as they tried to find her. And then the story gets really interesting. No spoilers here, but you can’t make this stuff up. This compelling series is very well done and should not be missed for those who are interested in true crime drama. 4 cans.
82. Thelma* (2024, Manville Cinema) – Thelma Post (June Squibb in her first leading role) is a 93-year-old widow who does her needlepoint, goes to lunch with her few remaining friends and spends time with her loving grandson, who patiently explains to her how to work her computer. So when June gets a call, allegedly from her grandson Danny, she’s told he has caused an accident and she must send $10,000 to an attorney at a local address immediately. She follows the instructions and only later learns that her grandson is fine and she has been the victim of a scam. The police can’t do much about it, but Thelma is a force. She joins up with old friend Ben (Richard Roundtree, in his last role), and they hop on this electric scooter to pursue the bad guys, like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Sure, there are plenty of stereotypes about older people, but they they are made with warmth and repect. Thelma is feisty, funny and resourceful, someone you would want on YOUR side when the action happens. Check out this sweet and lovely little movie, based on a true story. 4 cans.
83. Stevie Van Zandt, Disciple* (2024, HBO) – Best known as Bruce Springsteen’s musical brother for the better part of the last 50+ years, Little Stevie is so much more than a side man. He is a singer and songwriter, arranger, producer, manager, solo artist, a political activist who helped end apartheid in South Africa, and a notable actor. His Silvio Dante in The Sopranos was Tony Soprano’s consigliere, much as Stevie played that role with Bruce. This documentary covers all of the hats (and scarves, etc.) that Little Steven has worn since his early days performing in bands in Asbury Park. He is shown with wit, warmth and commitment. 3½ cans.
84. Owning Manhattan* (2024, Netflix) – As a fan of Million Dollar Listing, Selling Sunset and other shows about luxury real estate, I was naturally drawn to this new limited series about successful New York City real estate firm owner Ryan Serhant and his company. The series is much like Selling Sunset, expect that SS takes place in California so all the gorgeous, zillion-dollar properties have infinity pools. In Manhattan, the luxury properties have stunning views of the city and its iconic buildings. As in the other series, there is lots of office drama and pressure to sell ultra-expensive properties (Ryan & Co have an exclusive on a $250 million dollar penthouse that has to be seen to be believed). In just 8 episodes, one realtor and her team quit and another unscrupulous one had to be fired. The apartments are spectacular and I can’t wait for season 2! 4 cans.
 

June Is Busting Out All Over

Just so you know, all socks that are advertised as “no show” do, in fact show – unless you get the kind that are like the old peds and they will undoubtedly slip off your heel and bunch under your arch. I have not found a solution for this dilemma.

I love reading and writing, but I’ll skip arithmaticking unless it is absolutely necessary.

Lifechanging hack: Take the butter out of the fridge in advance to soften it. My toast holds together now!
Ever since Tina Turner strutted down the street looking like the definition of cool in her “What’s Love Got to Do With It” video, wearing that short black dress and a denim jacket, I have felt that denim is acceptable for any occasion.

Every time I buy a seedless watermelon I wonder how we will have watermelons in the future if there are no seeds.

Why do we sneeze? And why do I sneeze twice every morning? The other day I couldn’t stop myself and sneezed with a mouthful of toothpaste, spewing it all over the sink and faucet. That was a first!

I’d like to pay homage to songwriters, the people who come up with a concept, create the music and write the words that so many of us feel in our souls. Imagine creating something so meaningful to so many people. Imagine hearing your song played on the radio and everywhere and bringing such joy or understanding to people. What a feat!

We can consider popcorn as a vegetable, right? I mean, there IS corn…

I miss the Good Humor man. You could hear those bells from a block away, and you would run home to beg for a quarter to get an ice cream bar. Mr. Softee was good too, but more of the adults seemed to prefer the soft serve. All I know is that I never moved so fast as when I heard the jingle for the ice cream man.

When I was a kid, my mother would send me to the mailbox to mail something for her. I would carefully open the top of the box and put my letter into it, and then close it and open it once more to make sure it slid down into the box. Now many of the mailboxes have just a narrow slit so I can’t see into the box, so no need to double check anymore. And our town was so small that my mother didn’t bother putting the name “Somerville” on the envelope. Just marking it as “Boro” was enough. Clearly, this was before the start of zip codes!

Yesterday was Flag Day and it occurred to me that I am so old that I remember when the U.S. Flag only had 48 stars. Alaska and Hawaii didn’t become states until 1959. I was 9 years old and I truly do remember that!

The last time I bought bed pillows I thought I was so clever. I bought one for a side sleeper and one for a back sleeper since I sleep both ways. I didn’t factor in the part about the pillow tickings and pillowcases preventing me from identifying which was which (I can’t tell by feel). PS – How many people still use pillow tickings or know what pillow tickings are? 

I get most of my exercise getting out of my car, walking around it to see how badly I have parked, and then getting back into the car to repark it. 

The one thing I can count on in this world is the turkey club sandwich. Turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato on white toast, mayo on the side. It is predictable and satisfying every time. I don’t think I have ever had a bad one.

If Jane Seymour needs anyone to model crepey arms for her Crepe Erase treatment, she should give me a call. My arms are made for this!

I called the doctor’s office, which is supposed to be open until 5, at 3 the other day and the answering service picked up. I asked if the office had closed for the day and the person said she didn’t know. Doesn’t that job require answering the phone AND having answers? Otherwise, I could do it. Then I looked up another doctor whose website said the office was open until 3:45 AM. Not an urgent care – a doctor’s office, open until 3:45 AM? Huh?

The two words you most want to see when you are ordering something online are FREE SHIPPING. 

I can tell how long it has been since I last saw my sister by counting the number of People magazines that have piled up. I subscribe, read them and then pass the issues along to her. When she is done, she shares them with the people in her office. When she retires, there will be a lot of people missing People.

When I get injections in my left eye for my wet macular degeneration, I have to get a ride because I can’t drive home with just my right eye working. Recently, my doctor told me I should look into using the Somerset County bus that drops people off for a variety of reasons. “You mean the Senior Citizens’ Bus?” I asked him with righteous indignation. I still have friends willing and able to drive me, I said, and I had not reached that level of neediness (YET). He said his father, who lives in my active adult community, had the same reaction to his suggestion. I think that next time I’ll call his parents and ask them for a ride!

There used to be an unwritten rule that my friends and I would not contact each other until at least 9 AM in case someone was sleeping. Ah, the good old days, when some of us actually slept! I generally keep my phone off all night and turn it on around 7:30. There is likely to be a pile of messages by then, some relating to sports I should be watching or movies/TV shows that are recommended. I love when my friends who know me well assume I am watching the Yankee game that they are watching or a great tennis match – because that is probably the case!  

I wanted to watch the finals of the French Open, won by young Carlos Alcaraz, but I had to leave the house, so I found the radio broadcast in the car and tried that instead. The commentators were strictly broadcasting for TV. They seldom provided either the score of the match or the name of the player who they declared had just made a great shot. I could almost identify the players by the familiar sound of their grunts, but I couldn’t tell from the commentary who hit the ball into the net. Maybe tennis is not meant for radio, but I would bet that the late, great Vin Scully could have done the broadcast superbly!

I recently went to the hospital for some minor surgery. I had to be there at the ungodly hour of 5:20 AM so I could answer the same questions over and over again. They asked me my date of birth so often that I’m pretty sure they are planning a big birthday party for me! I’ll make sure you get an invite!

Every book we consider for Book Club seems to tout itself as a “page turner.” My hairdresser and I often swap book recommendations, and the one she suggested recently she described as one that “you can’t put down.” I hope so, because the book I just finished reading I had trouble picking up because I found it so slow and dull. I could use a good “page turner.” That’s the thing about book clubs: I am definitely reading more books and finding ones I really like, but there are a few clunkers in there that I suffer through like a school assignment. I guess they can’t all be winners!

On this Father’s Day weekend, I am, of course, thinking about my father. He passed away from liver cancer in 1983, just days after his 71st birthday, and he was buried on Father’s Day. That makes Father’s Day one of the two days I hate the most each year. You guessed it – Mother’s Day is the other one. Lester Irving Gordon was a good man, full of kindness and empathy and with a good word to say about everyone. He would come home after a long day of selling shoes and smell like leather. I like to think of fun times, like when we went to Lake Hopatcong and he and his best friend grilled hotdogs for us in the pouring rain (we were in the car with friends to stay dry). But then Father’s Day comes along to remind me that he is no longer more than a sweet memory. Take a bow in Heaven, Lester Gordon. You were one of the good ones!

May 2024 Movies & More

It was a major movie month for me, with 18 movies, series, etc. on the docket. Numbering picks up from previous months. Asterisks indicate programs I had not previously seen, and everything is rated on a scale of 1-5 tuna fish cans. 

51. Rather* (2024, Netflix) – Newsman Dan Rather has been a fixture on TV since he covered devastating floods in his native Texas in the 1960s. He became the go-to guy at CBS news when Walter Cronkite, the Dean of TV journalists, ran his live reports from Dallas as President Kennedy was shot and killed in 1963. From then on, he covered practically every major news story in America, first as a correspondent, then on 60 Minutes and finally as Cronkite’s successor as anchor of the CBS Evening News. Watching this documentary reminded me of all of these memorable moments in time that I personally will never forget. Dan was a relentless reporter, a solid anchor, and now, in retirement, a wise observer of our culture and government. 4 cans.
52. The Idea of You* (2024, Prime Video) – Anne Hathaway has graduated to the “older woman” parts now – if 40 can be considered older. In this movie, it can, especially when she begins dating a 24-year-old boy band star, Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), much to the chagrin of her 16-year-old daughter and prickly ex-husband. They meet cute, he is interested, she is cautious – until she isn’t – and with her daughter away at summer camp, this art dealer forsakes her adult life and jets to Europe to be with her new boyfriend while he and the band are touring. He is immensely well-known and popular and the paparazzi unmercifully stalk him, so their secret dating life is bound to get out. Will people care? Should they care?  Will YOU care? The movie is cute enough (and so is the male lead!) and Hathaway is good enough to hold the viewer’s interest. 3½ cans.
53. Selling the OC, Season 3* (2024, Netflix) – More beautiful real estate agents! More beautiful, spectacular homes! More high heels! And more infighting here on season 3 of the “reality” series about selling high-end real estate in Orange County, California. This time it’s not just the women of the office who are frenemies; the men get into it, too. The glamour looks and the incredible views from every terrace and every infinity pool start to blend together after a while. This kind of programming is my guilty pleasure, and unlike “Dateline,” at least no one dies. Or not yet, at least. 3½ cans.
54. Unfrosted* (Netflix, 2024) – No one needed to see this silly, superfluous movie about the advent of the Pop Tart. Will Kellogg be the king of cereal or will Post claim the throne? Such suspense! If you or I went to a meeting with a Hollywood studio pitching the idea of a lighthearted movie about a snack food/breakfast food, we would be promptly dismissed, but this movie was created by comedian Jerry Seinfeld so somebody gave it the green light. It is very well cast with some cameos so quick that you really have to watch carefully (Daniel Levy has the briefest of moments as Andy Warhol). Overall, the movie is clever but as light and nebulous as a cloud. Maybe my view is skewed by the fact that I have never eaten a Pop Tart in my life. I’ve never seen a movie like this one, either. I can live out my days without a sequel or a Pop Tart. 2 cans.
55. The Queen Mary: Greatest Ocean Liner* (2016, PBS Documentaries) – When the Queen Mary was commissioned as the world’s most luxurious ship, no one could have predicted it would end up transporting soldiers to fight WWII in Europe or help Jews escape from the Nazis. This documentary tells both sides of the story: A ship with imported wood, lavish design, outstanding food, and a ship going back and forth in the water to avoid being hit by air strikes. It made its last voyage from Great Britain in 1967, and then headed for Long Beach, California, where it was designated as a building instead of a ship. Now it is operated as a hotel that has been visited by more than 50 million people. 3 cans.
56. By Royal Appointment: Shops that Serve the Queen* (2019, Prime Video) – You’re unlikely to run into a member of the Royal Family at the London Target (if they have one). Only the best of the best stores in Great Britain are designated with the “Royal Warrant,” meaning that the store provides goods and services to the Royal Family. A special purse for the now-late Queen? A last-minute need for gloves? Done. It seems only Diana wanted to hang around Harrod’s all day, because most of the shops brought the merchandise to the Palace for more private shopping. OK, I’m done with my British Invasion for now. 3 cans.
57. The Miracle Club* (2023, Netflix) – I had high hopes for this one! Kathy Bates, Laura Linney, Dame Maggie Smith – a stellar cast -- but even these notable names could not make this boring little movie at all interesting. The plot is about the ladies taking a trip to Lourdes for a variety of reasons relating to healing. Linney had married Smith’s son and then fled to the US from England, becoming estranged from her mother, a dear friend to this group. Each lady has a reason to heal and each leaves behind a family that needs them (just a little too much). These actresses deserved a better story line. Lourdes here is on life support. 2 cans
58. Full Court Press* (2024, ESPN) – NCAA Basketball stars Caitlin Clark from the University of Iowa, Kamilla Cardoso of the University of South Carolina and Kiki Rice, sophomore guard from UCLA, are featured in this inside look at their respective college careers and future prospects. This 4-part documentary series focuses largely on Clark, one of the executive producers, but gives plenty of airtime for Cardoso, a 6’7” player who left her native Brazil as a teenager to come to the US to make a better life for her family. Rice, who has plenty of political and social connections, having played hoops with President Obama, is the niece of Susan Rice, a former advisor to President Obama. Kiki’s goal is to bring a first-time National Championship to UCLA. Clark’s last season was occupied with rewriting almost every scoring record in women’s and men’s collegiate basketball. We get to see the players deal with winning and losing, from frustrations and triumphs. Their respective coaches (Lisa Bluder at Iowa, Dawn Staley at South Carolina and Cori Close at UCLA) dole out praise and admonishments as needed. Clark in particular faced an enormous amount of pressure, playing before sellout crowds packed with young girls clamoring for her picture and autograph and whom she did not want to disappoint as she toppled record after record. You have to be a basketball fan to appreciate the intensity for all three players, but this series definitely packs a punch. 4 cans.
59. Bronx Zoo ‘90* (2024, Peacock) – I have been a Yankee fan since 1959 and I thought I knew pretty much everything about my team, from good times to bad. But this three-part documentary, based on sportswriter Joel Sherman’s book, was a revelation, uncovering the godawful 1990 team while also flashing back to the championships of the 1970s and previewing the Core Four and the Yankee Dynasty of the early 2000s. Here we have Deon Sanders deciding between baseball and football and bringing his Prime Time aura to the team. There’s manager Bucky Dent, oft-absent pitcher Pasqual Perez, contract issues with Donnie Baseball, a nasty feud between the Boss (owner George Steinbrenner) and outfielder Dave Winfield, and extortion of the Boss by Howie Spira, a losing gambler. There’s outfielder Mel Hall, who went to a high school girl’s prom because he was dating the 16-year-old (don’t get me started on her parents, either). And there’s the late-season phenom Kevin Maas hitting homeruns to help fans enjoy the team again. Everyone you remember and a few you don’t are along for this bumpy ride, and it is worth taking. 4 cans.
60. Fastball* (2015, Peacock) – Kevin Kostner narrates this in-depth documentary on baseball’s best-known pitch, the fastball. Who was the hardest thrower ever? Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson? Bob Feller? And factor in who was fearless on the mound and you have to include Bob Gibson, who says if he wanted to hit a batter, he would not miss. The interviews with Hank Aaron, Ryan, Johnny Bench, George Brett (who jumped out of the Royals’ dugout on that pine tar call), Derek Jeter and more are terrific. It is hard to measure the speed of a fastball, though many have tried, but the effect is unmistakable. If you are a baseball junkie, this one’s for you. 3½ cans.
61. Back to Black* (2024, Manville Cinema) – The short and mercurial career of Amy Winehouse is captured in this biopic of the British singer. Marisa Abela embodies the headstrong Winehouse, who is hooked on jazz music, booze and the love of her life, Blake (Jack O’Connell), who introduces her to the music of girls groups and the magic of hard drugs. Soon, her tattoos proliferate, her eyeliner grows thicker, her beehive hairdo taller and Amy herself diminishes in size from bulimia and drug use. It is well known that she died at age 27, but in her brief career she shared music from her heart, most notably in her album “Back to Black,” chronicling her fight to stay out of rehab. Abela, who sings most of the songs, was mesmerizing as angry yet loving Amy, living her life through her music. 4 cans.
62. The Asbestos City* (2024, Manville Cinema) – The town next door to where I live, Manville, New Jersey, is a blue-collar place best known for suffering through devastating floods and severe health issues from working at the company that employed many of its citizens, asbestos maker Johns Manville. I’m not sure which is worse. While Johns Manville is long gone, the health effects of working in their facilities have led to dire consequences for its employees and their families with asbestosis and mesothelioma, conditions that linger today. And with all of the construction of nearby houses and buildings, hurricanes like Ida and others have led to legendary flooding, turning the town into an inaccessible island. The surrounding towns have received government assistance with the installation of flood gates, which have saved nearby towns like Bound Brook but which cause the flooding in Manville to be worse. The people in the town were left to rescue each other, to provide food, water and shelter, to evacuate citizens and even their pets when houses flooded and then blew up from gas leaks that the firefighters could not reach to help. People cannot sell their houses in the most damaged section of town, Lost Valley, because the government and the Army Corps of Engineers determined that Manville isn’t eligible for assistance. This isn’t a happy movie, but it provides an earnest look at how things got so bad and how the neighbors responded. I read about it online and caught a special screening at the Manville Cinema, hosted by producer Joe DeVito III. I give the community credit for staying connected and involved, even when the circumstances seem hopeless. 4 cans.
63. One Life* (2024, Montgomery Cinema) – This moving film is based on the story of Nicholas Winton, a British man who made it his mission to evacuate Jewish children from Czechoslovakia to England as the Nazis prepared to invade Prague in 1939. Anthony Hopkins is superb as the older Winton, whose scrap book with pictures of the refugees he assisted still haunts him. 4 cans.
64. The Fall Guy* (2024, Manville Cinema) – Ryan Gosling, tongue still firmly planted in cheek, moves on from his portrayal of Ken in last year’s “Barbie” movie to take on the role of movie stuntman Colt Seavers in this explosive action/comedy/romance. The seemingly indestructible stuntman has a serious accident and disappears for a while, until movie producer Gail (Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddington) persuades him to jump back into the fray in a movie being directed by Jody, his girl crush, played by Emily Blunt. But Gail actually has a more sinister reason. All of this far-fetched plot leads to Ryan being beat up in a car, a truck, a boat and a high-end apartment – and I might have left out a few. The action is nonstop, and Gosling plays it to the hilt. There is plenty of humor here, cultural references, and even a cameo from another era. Gosling and Blunt are very appealing and have an amusing rapport. I’m not an action movie fan, but I fell for this one. 4 cans.
65. Stax: Soulsville USA* (2024, HBO and Max) – You know all about Motown and Muscle Shoals, right? But did you know that Stax, the relatively small Memphis studio cranked out stars like Otis Redding, Issac Hayes, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, was a huge influence on the growth of soul music in the 1960s? This 4-part documentary traces the start of the studio by musician-producer Jim Stewart and its growing stable of stars and hits. There’s plenty of music here, and the story is told amidst the racial tension of that time, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King at the motel where the Stax musicians hung out and the tragic death of Otis Redding in a plane crash at age 27. Great music and memories! 4 cans.
66. Hacks, Season 3* (2024, Max) – The only problem with loving series like this comedy is that its 9 episodes only last about a month and then I have to wait about a year to see Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder hit the screen again. Smart smartly plays Debra Vance, a legendary comic who is always looking for her next gig, in between pushing merchandise on QVC and arguing with her younger writer, Ava. Debra is a tough boss, a haughty and self-centered semi-diva, with no time or patience for the next generation – until she lets down her hair (and holds on to her wig) to fraternize at a frat party. Her mission this season is to land the host gig on a big late night show, and Ava, who she let go last year, agrees to partner up with her again. The witty dialog and the way in which Smart delivers her lines make this show sparkle. Please don’t make me wait so long again! 4 cans.
67. In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon* (2023, Prime Video) – I was always a big Simon & Garfunkel fan. The soundtrack of my all-time favorite movie, The Graduate, contains some of their classics, like “Sounds of Silence” and “Mrs. Robinson.” I already knew that Paul Simon was the creative force here, writing all of their songs with Art Garfunkel contributing his glorious voice to the harmonies. This two-part documentary focuses on how they met as school kids, broke through with their first hit, ultimately broke up when Garfunkel decided to pursue a career in acting, and then reunited for that classic Concert in Central Park. Their reunion didn’t last long. Meanwhile, Simon kept writing songs, experimenting with the music of South Africa, and with more meditative music and he continues to create to this day. I thought the second part dragged a bit, and watching Simon create his new music was a bit painful since his hearing and his voice have declined. Still, the music is classic and produced musical moments that still bring tears to my eyes (“Old Friends/Bookends” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”). 3½ cans.
68. The Blue Angels* (2024, Prime Video) – This documentary is an exhilarating look at the precision flying of the elite aviators of the Marines and Navy, the Blue Angels. The men and women pilots, the ground crew, communications officers, safety personnel and everyone associated with this special group are highly trained and extremely motivated. Some of their dazzling formations require that the jets fly as close as 12 inches from each other. The fantastic video of this film will almost make you feel like you are part of the action. For something completely different, give this one a fly! 4 cans.