CARRY-ON – Stupid, impossible, ridiculous, lame. And it took forever to get going. I did like Jason Bateman as the villain. On the flip side, Mike enjoyed it as just a fun ride even though it was incredibly far-fetched. John said it had potential, but it was still God awful. Y’all know what I say….skip it. Cheers! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 0.
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY – Moving documentary about the life of Superman star Christopher Reeve. The story of his childhood and life before the horrific riding accident which left him paralyzed from the neck down is touched on, but the bulk of the documentary, naturally, is focused on his life afterward as a quadriplegic. The challenges, suffering, despair and inspiration are revealed honestly by his adult children. Lots of footage documenting his pursuit of walking again and helping others to remain hopeful is available and put to good use here. Even the last cruel twist in his family’s story, the death of his beloved wife, Dana, from stage four lung cancer shortly after Chris’s death is discussed. She was his unwavering support throughout his ordeal only to die months later herself from a disease she didn’t even know she had until it was too late. The peeps highly recommend this one, but as Kelly says, bring the tissues. Cheers to the ordinary true heroes among us! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 1.
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS – I barely survived this movie! It’s awful. I don’t know how it fared at the box office when it was released in 2004, but it’s a dud now and beneath the skills of a talented cast. I did enjoy the interactions between a young, attractive Christina Applegate and Ben Affleck. And James Gandolfini is always delightful to watch even though I still see Tony Soprano in every role. I miss his work. And David Selby (Quentin from the original Dark Shadows TV series) was a fun surprise in a featured role. As for Christmas pics……skip it! But you knew that, didn’t you. (wink) Cheers! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends -1.
THE LOST CITY – Fun, romantic adventure knock-off of “Romancing the Stone.” Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum are adorable as romantic leads. Daniel Radcliffe is an excellent villain. And Brad Pitt, my boyfriend, turns in another charming, witty performance as the guru. My only complaint is his screen time is too short because he kinda steals the scenes….and he’s lovely to look at. As John says…..Sheer, much needed, entertainment! Cheers!! Boyfriends – 1 (Obviously); Girlfriends – 1.
THE PRESLEYS – ELVIS, LISA MARIE AND RILEY – Oprah Winfrey special documenting the life of Lisa Marie Presley from a memoir she partially wrote shortly before her death and completed by her daughter, Riley, who also is interviewed by Oprah. Riley, Elvis’s granddaughter and an actor herself, was poised, poignant and engaging as she told her mother’s story and how it influenced the lives of she and her brother who died by suicide before Lisa Marie’s untimely death. It’s a story of privilege, indulgence, pain, heartbreak and resilience. And filmed at Graceland, we get a glimpse of the interior of Elvis’s beloved home. I enjoyed it. Elvis fans will enjoy it too. Cheers! Boyfriends/Girlfriends – 0.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE – Dud Dud. That’s the consensus among the peeps. Mike gives it a 1 out of 5; John and I give it a 3; Ryan says wait for HBO. We were all fans of the fun, engaging first film. As everyone knows, Michael Keaton stole the show. So we were expecting his character to be the focus of the second film. Not. Instead the movie gets bogged down in family drama that no one cares about. A new character is created, Beetlejuice’s ex-wife, which has nothing to do with anything and doesn’t belong in the movie. Much attention is paid to inserting gags that were popular in the first film and throw-backs to the original story – to satisfy fans I guess. It doesn’t. It’s tired, predictable and simply rehashing an old storyline. Michael Keaton, unfortunately, is too old for the role. His lines aren’t funny or snappy/snarky. Catherine O’Hara, reprising her original role, adds nothing. The cartoon scene in the beginning is stupid and completely out of place with the tenor of the film. Winona Ryder, also reprising her role as Lidia, is the only one of the original characters other than Beetlejuice who should be in the story. Jenna Ortega is beautiful and brooding as Winona Ryder’s daughter. There’s not enough build-up between she and a potential boyfriend and the Maitlands (Geena Davis & Alec Baldwin) are quickly referred to and dismissed with some lame excuse why they no longer occupy the house. Willem DeFoe’s character doesn’t work at all and the music sucks. Need I say it? Skip it! Or wait for HBO! Cheers! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 1.
WISE GUY – Splendid, top-notch documentary for any Sopranos fans….of which I am one. Creator-Writer David Chase takes us on a two episode journey into the creation of the iconic series as well as his personal life which was the basis for many of the characters…particularly his mother. We get to see early auditions of a few of the main actors. We get a glimpse of Gandolfini’s funeral and eulogy. We see the blood, sweat, tears, toxicity, love and humor among the entire team that carried the show through six seasons at the top of its game. And the ending of the documentary…..priceless. Mike concurs. Cheers! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 1.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LOST TAPES – I have been a fan of Elizabeth Taylor my entire life. Her work inspired my work as an actor. This documentary is superb (and I’ve watched a lot of them). Elizabeth tells us her story in her own words tape recorded by Life magazine writer Richard Meryman. She is her usual candid self (one of the traits I love most about her). We hear first-hand about her many marriages, the scandals, the famous film roles including on-set drama, and her tremendous love for Michael Todd and Richard Burton. The film incorporates home movies and private photos never seen before as well as commentary from her many close friends in the industry such as Roddy McDowell and Rock Hudson. Her tireless work for an AIDS cure during the epidemic stemmed from the loss of so many close gay friends. Throughout the tapes there is also much alcohol consumption which was just a typical day for Elizabeth. Sadly, loss and booze were as constant in her life as her talent and beauty. I miss her still. Cheers Elizabeth! Well done! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 1.
QUEEN BEES – Great vehicle for older actresses Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret, Jane Curtain, Loretta Devine and James Caan in what would be one of his last film roles. Unfortunately, the story is contrived and boring and just not very good. I’m glad these folks are still working, but they need to find a different script for their talents. Skip it. Cheers! Boyfriends/Girlfriends – 0.
STEVIE VAN ZANDT: DISCIPLE – Great documentary chronicling the life of Bruce Springsteen’s main man and Tony Soprano’s consigliere. We knew about this portion of his life, his talent as a guitarist and actor. What I didn’t know was all the humanitarian work he has done in Africa through the years. Apparently John did, but it was news to me. He oozes charm as his colorful, endearing personality plus his self-deprecating humor reveal themselves as his story unfolds. And I came away with deep respect for his “give a s*#t” attitude toward what people wanted him to do versus making his own choices without regard for money or fame. Made me want to sit down and have a beer with this guy! Cheers! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 1.
