Movies and More, August 2024

Here are the 16 programs I watched in August. New programs that I had not seen previously are marked with an asterisk. All programs are rated on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with numbering picked up from the previous months.

97. Her Name Was Grace Kelly* (2024, PBS) – With an apt name for a woman of grace and beauty, actress Grace Kelly had a short but storied career. At the age of 26, she retired from acting and moved to Monaco to marry Prince Ranier and begin royal duties as the Princess of Monaco. This PBS documentary takes a close look at this talented American actress who became a real-life princess. 3 cans.
98. Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes* (2024, HBO) – I’m glad someone found this treasure trove of recordings of Elizabeth Taylor telling her own story. She was a star as a young girl and only knew fame for her entire life. It’s hard to keep up with the marriages, but between romantic conquests, Taylor turned in some great performances in movies like Who’s Afraid of Virigina Woolf, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Butterfield 8. But it was her romantic entanglements that led to the rise of the paparazzi, a roving mass of photographers determined to get a picture of Liz and her latest paramour.  She started as a star and ended as a fighter for AIDS research. What an interesting life! 3½ cans.
99. Gods of Tennis* (2024, PBS) – This 3-part documentary series takes us back to the rise of tennis in popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, as rivalries between its brightest stars heated up. First there was the emergence of Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe, not rivals on the court, but in the court of public opinion, with Billie Jean advocating for pay equity and Arthur Ashe taking positions on apartheid. Both Wimbledon winners, they commanded a lot of attention (and it was especially comforting to see Ashe ward off brash young Jimmy Connors). Then Swede Bjorn Borg made it to the top, reeling off consecutive wins at Wimbledon and challenged by his on-court opposite, irreverent John McEnroe. And finally, America’s sweetheart, Chris Evert, was challenged by Czech player and eventual US citizen Martina Navratilova. They played each other nearly 100 times. There are great memories included here and it was fun reliving those times, which is when I initially became a fan watching these players. 3½ cans.
100. The Sopranos (1999-2007, HBO) – HBO launched this outstanding series 25 years ago, and I thought this would be a good time to revisit it, so I watched all 86 episodes in about 6 weeks. There is too much drama and detail to get into in depth here, but the story centers around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), mob boss, husband and father, who sees a therapist to help him with his problems in between ordering hits on his enemies or knocking them off himself. The nuances (if a brutal show can have nuances) balance the action. The show is so well cast that it is impossible to imagine anyone else playing his beleaguered wife, Carmela (Edie Falco), who knows but doesn’t really want to know the source of his income; his nephew Christopher (Michael Imperioli); his therapist (Lorraine Bracco) and his many cronies – Paulie, Silvio (E Street band member Steven Van Zandt), Pussy, Bobby, Uncle Junior, Janice and his evil mother (Nancy Marchand). The writing is impeccable, the acting superb, the direction is perfection and the locations are familiar to all of us who know NJ. Kudos to creator David Chase and his team for making what can be considered the best series of all time. There is plenty of violence but there is also humor and a deep sense of family – blood family (ironically) and “work” family. If you have HBO Max and have 86 hours to kill, check it out. 5 cans.
101. Presumed Innocent* (2024, Apple TV+) – I remember the original Harrison Ford movie based on Scott Turow’s book. This 8-part series was much darker, tenser and longer than the movie and I honestly couldn’t wait until it ended. Maybe if I hadn’t seen the original movie I would have liked it better. But no one here had any redeeming value; each character was flawed, evil, narcissistic or unfaithful or something that made me not like them or the story. 3 cans.
102. At Witt’s End* (2024, Netflix) – I love a good Dateline-like mystery as much as the next person, but this four-parter on Netflix was excruciatingly long (and was labeled “season 1,” so expect a follow-up; the mystery was not solved at the end of the season). You know the story: Young woman disappears from her local community, everyone says she would never do that, huge search is launched and eventually her body is found. So who done it? You have to go though painstaking police work done over decades to get examine the events. I don’t need such lengthy scrutiny over the possibility of DNA on a cigarette butt from 30 years ago. Maybe this could have been just a one-part program. Pardon me, Netflix, while I return to Keith Morrison and Dateline. 3 cans.
103. Timebomb: Y2K* (2024, Max) – Think about it: 25 years ago we were worried about the impending doom that might result from the dawn of a new millennium. Computers programmed with two digits for the year might inadvertently switch to 1900 instead of 2000. Predictions of systems crashing, of food and other necessities being in short supply, of power outages and other disasters were enough to scare the general population. This documentary features so-called “experts” -- but who could be an expert on something so unprecedented? Here you will see the concern of average Americans, workers and people in our communities as they come to terms with the inevitable passage of time. I hope I don’t ruin it for you when I tell you that we survived. 3 cans.
104. The Accidental Twins* (2024, Netflix) – In the documentary, then two women spot someone they know who doesn’t recognize them, a chain of events begins that leads the confused man to find out he has a twin and a brother he didn’t know he had. The men grew up in different parts of Colombia, each with a brother, unaware that miles away was their real family. There are two sets of identical twins here, accidentally separated when one baby is sent for medical care and returned to the wrong family. What makes us related? How much DNA makes the bond between brothers and how much is the situation in which you are raised? The movie is done with Spanish subtitles so you have to pay attention to understand the action. 3 cans.
105. Wicked Little Letters* (2023, Netflix) – Somebody in the conservative British village of Littlehampton likes to write letters – crude, brash, profane letters – all received by the quiet, shy Edith Swan (Olivia Colman). The meddling neighbors are convinced the culprit is a vocal and tough young Irish woman, Rose (Jessie Buckley), a former friend of Edith, and both the police and the community set out to prove their case. After all, it was Edith who contacted the authorities on her loud and disruptive neighbor, so could these obscenity-filled diatribes be retribution by Rose? This cheeky film is based on a real incident from the 1920s and is well-played here. 3½ cans.
106. Jim Henson, Idea Man (2024, ABC-Disney) – Every now and then someone comes along with an idea for entertainment that is unique to his personality and skill set and like nothing we have ever seen before. Jim Henson was a writer, director, puppeteer – it is impossible to adequately describe the visionary man who brought us the Muppets. This documentary by director Ron Howard explores the mind of Henson, taking us beyond just a list of achievements and providing a chance to understand his artistry from behind the scenes. His Kermit the Frog (which he voiced), Miss Piggy, Big Bird and so many other characters brought joy and education into countless homes. His deal with Children’s Television Workshop introduced his beloved characters to young children, who learned by watching them for free on PBS. The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie and a stint on Saturday Night Live exposed these characters to a wider, adult audience. Despite his death at the age of 53 in 1990, Henson left behind a huge body of work and a world that continues to flourish in his absence. 4 cans.
107. Daughters* (2024, Netflix) – This documentary is the moving story about a group of men incarcerated in a Washington, DC, prison who are participating in a program called “Dance with Dad.” For 10 weeks, they have to meet as a group with a life coach to prepare them to reunite for one evening with their young daughters, a chance for them to dress up and dance with their girls. The program forces them to reevaluate their relationships with their daughters and their responsibilities as parents. Many of the men have had sporadic or no opportunity to see or spend time with their children, and the little girls are as nervous and excited as their dads. If you watch it, stick around for the very end to see how this 12-year-old program has made a difference. Parts of this – with the children and the dads – just touched my heart. 4 cans.
108. The Murder of Laci Peterson* (2024, Netflix) and 109. Face to Face with Scott Peterson* (2024, Peacock) – These two documentaries were released within a week and each covers the case of Lacie Peterson, a pregnant wife who went missing in 2002 and who subsequently was found dead in a marina miles away from her home in Modesto, California, in the same place where her husband Scott told police he had gone fishing on Christmas Eve day, the day she disappeared. The first program focuses on Laci’s family, their initial support for Scott, and the subsequent fall-out when his affair with Amber Frey is revealed, up through his trial and conviction. The second series starts after the trial, interviewing Scott in prison, where he is serving a life sentence. Peterson rejects the circumstantial evidence in his case and his defense attorneys – including his sister, who became a lawyer to assist with his legal proceedings – are still pointing fingers at the local police department for withholding or failing to investigate clues that could identify someone else responsible. I have followed this case since it started in 2002, when it dominated the news. Watch only if you are a true crime junkie. 3½ cans each.
110. Betrayed* (2024, Hulu) – There are two seasons to this documentary series, each presenting a 3-part story of husbands who have betrayed their wives and families in a most egregious way. I won’t give away their despicable acts, but that’s just part of it. The amount of emotional abuse and manipulation by these men is astonishing. And when they say they are sorry, you naturally wonder if they are sorry for their transgressions or sorry they were caught. This series is disturbing and addictive. 3½ cans.
111. Lie to Fly* (2024, FX and Hulu) – This broadcast is part of “The New York Times Presents,” an investigative series on a wide range of topics. This one focuses on the mental health issues experienced by airplane pilots, whose actions affect the lives of all passengers on board their flights. Pilots with issues that might be addressed by medications the rest of us can take are not able to use those medications and retain their flying status. Some resort to other ways to address their problems, and, as this show reports, some have intentionally crashed their planes because they just could not cope with their problems. The jurisdiction over pilots’ health and safety are unclear, with involvement by the FAA and the National Transportation Board. This is an intriguing issue that needs much more scrutiny. 3 cans.
112. Remembering Gene Wilder* (2024, Netflix) – He was the Cisco Kid in “Blazing Saddles” and Leon Bloom in “The Producers.” Gene Wilder didn’t play ordinary people, and his characters in “Stir Crazy” and “Young Frankenstein,” which he wrote, demonstrate his ability to evoke laughter from the oddball folks he portrayed. The documentary traces his career from stage to screen, his marriage to the late Gilda Radner from “Saturday Night Live” and his last years in the grip of Alzheimer’s. If you like Gene Wilder, don’t miss this one. 3½ cans.

Here's What I'm Thinking

What is the protocol when you are reading a book for your book club and really dislike it? Do you keep reading so you can participate in the discussion or just put it down and give up?

Apparently, I have no reason to exist on the planet. I am a single, white female who has never given birth, has no cats and not even a man for whom I can be subservient. According to the Republican VP candidate, my vote should not count for much. Let’s just overlook the thousands of dollars I pay in taxes to support other people’s children and our educational system, culture, the arts, infrastructure, etc., all while not utilizing most of the services for which I pay. And I should have no vote? He may be taking that “one man, one vote” thing the wrong way. The only Vance I would vote for is Vivian Vance.

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I was irate when I spotted a bin of BAND-AID Brand Adhesive Bandages knock-offs at ShopRite. The “counterfeit” packages used colors, typeface and design elements so similar to the originals that any consumer could have thought they came from Kenvue, the company that now carries the former J&J consumer products line. Luckily, one of my AADC friends works for Kenvue and she alerted the trademark counsel there for follow-up. I have been retired for 18 years, but there’s still plenty of J&J pride in me!

I feel sorry for the two American astronauts stranded on the space station. They launched in June for what was supposed to be a 10-day assignment, but, due to technical difficulties, they may not be back before the end of the year. They don’t even have their own clothes since NASA had to cut weight and purposely left their suitcases behind, so they are borrowing clothes from other astronauts on board. I would be BEGGING to get out of there! Wearing someone else’s underwear for months? Is there enough food? Does Amazon deliver in space? This situation is NASA’s version of Gilligan’s Island. That was supposed to be a 3-hour tour!

When I open a new loaf of bread, I never take slices from the top of the bag. I always reach down into the loaf, as if the bread there is better or fresher. Don’t ask me why.

I don’t watch any of the “Real Housewives” series, but do we really need “The Real Housewives of Dubai?” It seems like just another location where women with tight outfits, too much make-up and impossible hair can be nasty to each other.

My failure to correctly fold a fitted sheet has been well-documented. But I also could use remedial help in attractively arranging tissue paper in a gift bag. Mine look like they contain used paper that is ready to be thrown out.

Why do keep getting text messages with a security code so I can sign on and pay my medical bills? Is there someone else posing as me and trying to pay those bills? Go right ahead.

By the way, I think of those 6-digit codes I have to enter to verify my identity as my personal cognitive tests. So far, I can still remember all six digits to pass the test and sign on.

I decided to try using biometrics so I wouldn’t have to use a passcode to open my phone. The fingerprint thing has never worked for me, so I tried using my face. At first it worked, but a day later I started getting this message: “Face does not match.” I have one face, I didn’t change my hair or put on makeup, so how could my face have changed? I guess it’s back to the old passcode for me!

Alexa just sent me a reminder to change my furnace filter. I use Alexa to control my thermostat, so she keeps tabs on the filter-changing schedule – although I have never marked down when I have changed the filter. How would my Amazon thermostat know when I last changed the filter? Now Alexa just has to figure out a way to get herself down to the basement and do it for me!

I ordered something from Amazon yesterday at 11 AM and it was delivered to my front door by dinnertime. How do they do that?

I have a really nasty cold right now (I tested negative for Covid). One thing I can advise is not to sneeze while brushing your teeth. Trust me on this.

Macy’s recently sent me a new credit card with a new number. They didn’t know how emotionally attached I am to the original card, which started out as a Bamberger’s card and was my very first credit card! Over the 50 years since I first received it, I have spent many thousands of dollars buying suits and dresses, pants, tops and jackets, housewares, towels, sheets, gifts and more. My account doesn’t get as much of a workout now that I am retired (18 years in!), but I sure kept that store afloat for many years!

If you keep bottles of perfume around long enough (I’m talking years), eventually they all start to smell the same. Except Estee Lauder Youth Dew, whose distinctive fragrance will always conjure up thoughts of my mother. That perfume, like my mother, is timeless.

I could never be a mail delivery person. They have to drive on the wrong side of the road and reach out to place the mail in the mailbox. I would be knocking down mailboxes all over the neighborhood if I had to get that close. I dread going into a parking garage since my short arms can’t reach far enough to grab the ticket without at least releasing my seatbelt, if not having to open the car door to get it.

Every four years I – along with a global audience – fall in love with sports we would never watch, except that they are part of the Olympics. Handball, badminton (vicious), table tennis that is NOT what you played in the basement, speed climbing, water polo, fencing, archery, shooting and so much more get a piece of the Olympic spotlight. Olympic “breaking” gave us a whole new sport, one that provided laughs as the Australian breaker looked like she was doing the Elaine Benes dance from Seinfeld. Of course, there’s swimming and diving, gymnastics and track & field to go along with two kinds of basketball (5 on 5 and 3x3). I’m no expert, but wouldn’t soccer be better if the matches were 60 minutes instead of 90 and if they went into a sudden death overtime, or right into penalty kicks if the match ends in a tie? The opening ceremonies were stunning (if a little long), despite persistent rain, as the athletes paraded down the Seine in boats. I got chills seeing Celine Dion singing in French from the Eiffel Tower. When the 2028 Olympics moves to Los Angeles, will the athletes arrive in caravans on the entangled freeways? In the smog? LA has a tough act to follow, with such breathtaking scenes as the Eiffel Tower and its nearby beach volleyball venue and the setting of the Louvre. Will we be fixated on the old Hollywood sign? I don’t know about what will happen in four years, but I have enjoyed every part of the 2024 Paris Olympics. There was nothing more exciting than seeing the USA Women’s Basketball team win the Gold Medal to extend their unbeaten streak to 61 games and 8 Gold medals. I was especially thrilled that former Rutgers star Kahleah Copper played such a pivotal role in the win, scoring 10 of her 12 points in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Copper is shining GOLD these days.

Besides the Olympics, this summer is my summer of The Sopranos. My BFF and her husband are watching the entire series and I caught a few from the middle of the run when I visited them in June. That inspired me to tackle the entire 86 episodes, from beginning to end. I had watched the original when it aired, but this refresher course has made me think even more highly of the storytelling, the writing, directing, casting and acting that went into this monumental achievement. The stories are intriguing with plenty of tension and brutality and even some humor. If you’re Italian or from NJ, you will recognize familiar terms and locations throughout the series. I’m also reading the companion book by TV critic Alan Sepinwall, whose recaps in the Star-Ledger after each airing of the original series were as interesting as the show itself. The show aired from January 1999 to its famous final episode on June 10, 2007. I’m watching it in about two months and will miss it when I complete it. What’s next?

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.