The Good Natured Soul Passes Away

Jim Nabors passed away at 87 and with him go fond memories of his show Gomer Pyle USMC which ran for five glorious seasons and always in the top ratings even to the last show! Amazing. As a family we would watch Sgt. Carter (Frank Sutton) berate Gomer (Nabors) on a weekly basis only to find Gomer would win the day through his sheer good natured soul. Who can forget his sayings, "Shazam", "Gollly", "Thank you thank you thank you"? Obviously influenced by the film hit No Time for Sergeants with Andy Griffith, It was Griffith's own hit show on CBS show that spawned the character of Gomer. A variety show followed briefly and Nabors was able to display his remarkable singing power which belied his mild southern voice. Good memories.

The Heart of WONDER

Stephen Chbosky directed and co-adapted the novel, Wonder, and, abetted by a strong cast, has fashioned a simple tale of love and acceptance that displays an abundance of heart and optimism.  It is a feel good movie that never betrays its emotions for manipulative sentiment but rather from well-drawn characters and situations.

A young boy, Auggie (Jacob Tremblay is wonderful in a challenging role), with a facial deformity, has been home schooled until he attends middle school amid fears of being treated differently and shunned.  Supported by his loving parents and older sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), he frequently wears an astronaut’s helmet to avoid being seen in public.  At times, he fantasizes a safe place where friends like Star Wars’ Chewbacca welcome him with open arms. When he is befriended by a fellow classmate, his world begins to change.

What’s special is how the film isn’t just about Auggie but also those around him especially Via (who feels neglected and at a crossroads in her life) and explores their back stories, and this makes these characters richer and more believable as you feel their empathy and guilt. Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson make ideal parents; Julia is the core of this family and Owen complements her with some well-placed humor. The rest of the cast is quite good with special mention to Mandy Patinkin as a caring principal.

 

Wonder is about fragile individuals and how they support each other in hope of finding a ‘family’.  Although it’s no secret how the storyline will go, the film earns its emotional stripes, and no doubt tears will flow freely by the end and justifiably so. This is the kind of film that engenders enormous goodwill much like The Blind Side and Hidden Figures, and it’s just the sort of film that Oscar likes to nominate.

***1/2 of **** stars

JUSTICE LEAGUE Sets the Table

DC Comics’ Justice League, a direct sequel to Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, reverse engineers what Marvel has successfully done in its methodical building of a superhero film universe. The result is a generally satisfying adventure while serving as three mini-origin stories wrapped into one film with a lean running time of two hours.   

As the world mourns the death of Superman (Henry Cavill) amid an emboldened criminal threat, a powerful demonic being, Steppenwolf, reemerges vowing revenge on humanity. As Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) find themselves overmatched by the evil warrior’s army, they must recruit a team of superhumans which includes a youthful Flash, a hip Aquaman, and a cynical Cyborg. But can the team win without Superman?

There are some exciting scenes when the team is assembled with each hero well represented, and they have some nice interplay and contrast, and work together in battle.  Gadot continues to impress; Wonder Woman fans will be satisfied by her prominent role.  Ezra Miller makes an endearing Flash here (even when compared to TV’s The Flash). The rest of the cast lends good support including Amy Adams, J. K. Simmons, and Jeremy Irons. 

Director Zack Snyder (who did not complete filming) continues to show an eye for action and visuals, but he still desperately needs to balance his serious tone with more humor particularly with a team of heroes as Marvel has mastered in The Avengers. That film’s writer/director, Joss Whedon, contributes his touch here in a couple of scenes, and a few more such moments would have helped.  Another issue is the villain is nothing unique with CGI that seems to overwhelm the action.

Better than Dawn of Justice but not as good as Wonder Woman, hopefully it’s the start of something special for DC Comics, and one can hope for additional members to the Justice League in the future. Green Lantern, anyone?

*** of **** stars

THOR: RAGNAROK – The End and Beginning

With a wink to the audience and a hearty laugh, Thor: Ragnarok is a welcome departure from the serious, dark tones of the first two films. Director Taika Waititi was given a chance to bring something different to the Marvel superhero; he has delivered big time.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard and finds his half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), masquerading as Odin (Anthony Hopkins), which triggers the emergence of powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett), the Goddess of Death.  Both brothers are sent far away to another world, where Thor is imprisoned by a female Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson excels) for the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum hams it up) and his arena battles, where he bumps into an old friend, The Hulk aka Dr. Banner (Mark Ruffalo). Realizing he must assemble a team to defeat Hela, Thor has his work cut out for him as Ragnarok, the end of Asgard, looms.

This is essentially a mega family squabble, and there are game changing events that affect virtually every major character since the first installment.  The film is better when it focuses on individual relationships and less so on grand spectacle.  There are elements of The Hunger Games and even The Lord of the Rings, and the visual effects, while good, are occasionally over the top. 

The cast is uniformly solid with Blanchett having a ball as the baddie and Hemsworth, Hiddleston, and Ruffalo trading quips effortlessly while Idris Elba returns in a more significant role as Heimdall. There are Easter eggs, a couple amusing cameos including a certain mystical master, and two end credit scenes that point to bigger conflicts in the future.

The film does have its serious moments of action, but the key is its lighthearted tone (not unlike Guardians of the Galaxy) and some very funny moments. It’s definitely more tongue in cheek than Marvel normally allows, and that’s a welcome thing.

***1/2 of **** (for Marvel fans)

A Sense of Humor for Halloween Weekend

Since there are likely parties and get togethers going on this weekend in anticipation of Halloween. I have selected a few horror films that have a sense of humor and camp about them. I could have easily picked serious, dark classics or other comedic films, but these have a warm spot for me, and each stands on its own. Beetlejuice, An American Werewolf in London, Zombieland, and The Bride of Frankenstein.

BLADE RUNNER 2049 and Memories of Green

1982’s  Blade Runner with Ridley Scott at the helm and Harrison Ford fresh off Star Wars and Indiana Jones, was an imaginative vision of the future (based on Philip Dick’s novel) that grew in stature over the years to become a sci-fi classic. With a compelling screenplay, director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) has accomplished the feat of building on the original’s storyline and cleverly expanding it in Blade Runner 2049.

In 2049 Los Angeles, Officer K (Ryan Gosling) is a blade runner who hunts renegade replicants for termination and discovers a buried mystery and clues that lead to a revelation with immense ramifications.  K’s search for the truth leads to the past including Deckard (Ford), a former blade runner, and a mysterious figure named Wallace (Jared Leto) who has taken over the remnants of the Tyrell Corporation, the creators of the replicants.

The filmmakers pay homage to the look and feel of the original film (and a score that honors original composer Vangelis) by vividly recreating a dark, dystopian world of overpopulated, grimy streets and saturated commercialism.  By no means a perfect film with its occasional plot holes, you get swept up by its beautiful, stunning images courtesy of cinematographer Roger Deakins.  Its narrative raises questions about reality versus implanted memories, and what it means to be human. 

Gosling and Ford are quite good and supported by a strong cast including Robin Wright and Sylvia Hoeks. There is also a virtual holographic companion named Joi well played by Ana de Armas (not unlike the artificial intelligence in Her) whose scenes with K have an emotional connection.

Dovetailing nicely with its predecessor, and at 163 minutes with its methodical, deliberate pacing, the film is always engaging, finding new wrinkles to surprise you.  For fans of this genre, it is an achievement of filmmaking that demands a big screen and is destined for Oscar recognition.

**** of **** (for sci-fi fans)

BATTLE OF THE SEXES and a Moment of Change

Battle of the Sexes recounts the fascinating, true story of two vastly different tennis stars whose lives intersect at a pivotal moment in the 1970s.  I remember watching and experiencing the hoopla and circus atmosphere surrounding this symbolic tennis match during a period of great social change with the women’s rights movement.

Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) is the reigning champion of women’s tennis who wants respect for females in a male dominated world. She fights for equal pay for female players which results in a boycott and a separate, competing tournament.  Happily married, she falls into a relationship with a female hairstylist.  At the same time, former men’s tennis star Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), a hustler at heart, struggles with a failing marriage and, desperate for fame and fortune to feed his gambling addiction, hits on the idea to challenge the top woman’s tennis star in a match. First taking on champion Margaret Court, both he and King are on a collision course that culminates in a globally televised event.

The film does good job building to an emotional, poignant ending. Stone is marvelous as the tennis superstar on a personal journey who discovers another side of herself and risks her marriage and career. Carell embodies the physical appearance and of the narcissistic, chauvinist Riggs. They are supported by a solid cast led by Sarah Silverman, Alan Cumming, and Bill Pullman.

A defining moment brought to life by a strong cast, revealing script (Simon Beaufoy), and sensitive direction by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine), it’s a refreshingly entertaining film that should please Stone fans.

*** of **** stars (add ½* for Emma Stone fans)

Pushing Daisies- Tenth Anniversery of a Marvelous Show

Just wanted to commemorate the ten year anniversery of a short lived TV show, Pushing Daisies, which defied conventional broadcast television for two abbreviated, but brilliant seasons with its quirky characters and mysteries enhanced by imaginative set designs, atmospheric music, and snappy dialogue. It was equal parts fantasy, comedy and drama filled with unusual subplots and musical sequences but always surrounded by love. It was a show I looked forward to indulge each week. Created from the fertile mind of Brian Fuller (Hannibal, Star Trek Discovery, American Gods and much more), it was a gem we don't see too often in the landscape of television. It was on not nearly long enough, but I am grateful it existed at all. Ten years seems like a long time ago.

King of the Gameshows

Gameshow host Monty Hall passed away at 96 years of age, and with him go memories of a supremely talented host who ruled his timeslot with Let's Make a Deal during the heyday of gameshows in the 1960s and beyond. With his assistant, the "Lovely Carol Merrill", he would offer a choice of potential prizes to his wildly and imaginatively dressed contestants. Often it would be to select from three sources, whether it be door #1, #2, or #3 or the box on the stage or a small box in his hand. One would be a fantastic prize, and one would be a bust. Even in the last seconds of the show, he would grab anyone in the studio audience and make a quick offer -for example he offered $100 to anyone with a hard boiled egg, and once in awhile someone would have such an item! It was a thrilling, exciting show buoyed by Hall's acumen and showmanship. Somewhere, he is wheeling and dealing with co-hosts Bill Cullen (Price Is Right), Gene Rayburn (Match Game), Allen Ludden (Password), and several other beloved personalities.

2017 Fall TV Season of Plenty

Well the fall tv season is now back in full force for better or worse. A blessing and a curse-so many shows to stay on top of.
Star Trek Discovery on CBS was a teaser for its all access pay service. It opened a bit slowly but picked up steam to a solid cliffhanger. Sonequa Martin-Green is quite good as the first officer and Michelle Yeoh brings it strong as a starship captain. It's a promising start.
Meanwhile, Big Bang Theory is an immensely popular sitcom of nerds learning to grow up, and this season opener answered Sheldon's surprise marriage proposal to Amy and delivered a surprise for Howard and Bernadette. In fact, this was a very good episode with a couple of laugh out loud moments.
Now on to Brooklyn 99, The Blacklist, and more....my poor dvr.

2017 MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention

2017’s MidAtlantic Nostalgia Convention was a bit if déjà vu as stars of yesteryear, vendors, and fans descended on Hunt Valley, Maryland. It was a chance to mingle with other TV/movie fans of yesteryear and reconnecting with friends.

The lineup was  impressive (despite Maude Adams and Belinda Montgomery having to cancel and Martin Landau passed away) with return visits by Oscar winner Shirley Jones and Gilligan’s Island castaway Dawn Wells.  Highlights included TV icons Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox of CHIPS fame, and Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley. There was Bond girl Maryam d’Abo from The Living Daylights and Gary Conway from TV’s Land of the Giants. There were several other stars like veteran comic actor Larry Storch, TV star Patrick Duffy of Dallas, and Aileen Quinn of Annie in films.

I asked Cindy Williams about the sequel to the film classic American Graffiti called More American Graffiti and she described how producer George Lucas only gave a limited budget to work with for the directors so the shooting was schedule was tight.

As the convention was winding down on Saturday, it was fun to see Estrada visiting Cindy Williams for a kiss and hug. He was amorous with all his female fans. Maryam’s sister Olivia conversed with Quinn and even belted out impromptu a brief but powerful version of Annie’s “Tomorrow”!

Daughter Laura was a vendor who spent quality time with Estrada, Williams, and Wells. Dozens of other vendors of memorabilia displayed dvds, posters, comic books, and much more. It was another great year for a convention that keeps outdoing the previous year, as Martin Grams and his team helped to put on an entertaining weekend.

Character Actor Peaked at Middle Age

Veteran character actor Harry Dean Stanton passed away at 91, and for someone who became famous in his late 50s, his was an extraordinary career as primarily a bit or supporting player. Just look at a partial list of films he has appeared in:Cool Hand Luke, The Godfather Part 2, Escape from New York, Twin Peaks, Pretty in Pink, Repo Man, The Rose, The Green Mile, The Avengers, and many, many more not to mention countless TV roles. For me, he made his mark in a series of films in the 1970s and 80s in Alien as an ill fated crew member, Dillinger as a gangster, and Red Dawn as a defiant father in war. Throughout film history, movies were abetted by great supporting actors like Thomas Mitchell, Walter Brennan, and now Mr. Stanton.

Director Made Mark with Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Director Tobe Hooper passed away at 74. He was a good director of the horror genre and universally admired by top filmmakers and artists for his ground breaking The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 which opened up a generation of more explicit films (even though his classic was more suggestive and tension filled). He was the director of record when Poltergeist came out with the fingerprints of Steven Spielberg all over it (much like The Thing had Howard Hawks' influence though not officially as director). He directed the grossly underrated scifi vampire film Lifeforce and made one of the scariest Stephen King adaptations on TV with Salem's Lot. He will be remembered for his contributions to an ever popular genre.

A Worthy Start to THE DEFENDERS

I had seen a sampling of episodes of the (Netflix) Marvel heroes, Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and The Iron Fist (Finn Jones). These represent an eclectic bunch of urban heroes with enhanced powers that are more grounded in reality with a dash of mysticism.  As each series introduced its hero and cast, there was a thematic arc that linked them together, an evil organization called The Hand.  Led by Alexandra (a deliciously good Sigourney Weaver) and her powerful allies, an insidious plot emerges that threatens New York City.  Can the Defenders defeat The Hand and save their beloved city? Part of the fun is watching the interaction and quips among the different heroes, and things do not start well even as evil strikes. The series benefits from the appearance of the respective supporting casts of each Marvel show as they are thrown into the mix, and there are surprise appearances from past characters. It takes a couple of episodes before the quartet is united, and while the final battle is not quite the cool spectacle for a generation raised on the scale of Marvel’s The Avengers, the heroes do take care of business (the fight scenes are entertaining) and there are open plot threads for each character to follow in their respective series. It’s a good beginning for hopefully even better, future reunions.
*** of **** stars