Goodfellas (1990) (Greatest Movie of All-Time Podcast)
-Listen to the podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts, and RadioPublic
*Recommendation Rating: Funny, Violent, Fast-Paced (til the end), and a Must-See if you Like Gangster Movies
Some Like It Hot (1959) (Greatest Movie of All-Time Podcast)
-Listen to the podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts, and RadioPublic
*Recommendation Rating: Fun, Incredibly Novel, Classic Movie that is a Must-See for Movie History Fans
Fast Five (2011)
-The turning point in the franchise for many fans, this movie is the first featuring Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. Yet, while this movie certainly upped the action sequences and bigger stunts, it is one of the lightest on plots, and one of the more ridiculous entries in the series. The relationship to the new members of the team is left unexplained, the eventual turn of both Hobbs and Elena are unearned, and the motivation of every major characters is devoid in this film. It felt like a Michael Bay film.
*Recommendation Rating: I vowed a long time ago to never watch another Michael Bay film, and it will be a long time before I watch this one again. Unpopular opinion, but I much prefer several of the original entries compared to this.
Casino Royale (2006)
-If not Daniel Craig's best turn as James Bond, it is at worst his second best. An engaging and fun rewatch, this is an all-time Bond classic. The on-foot parkour chase from the second scene is still relatively unrivaled not just in the Bond franchise, but anywhere. The cards scenes feel a little underwhelming and ridiculous (really, four Jacks beating a Full House of Aces and Kings) because them certainly could have been a much better part of the drama (see Rounders), but, overall, an extremely entertaining movie I love going back to.
Bojack Horseman (Seasons 1 and 2)
-Season 1 is hilarious and endearing. About a 90s sitcom TV dad named Bojack Horseman (who is actually a horse in world where animals are often like people), he is still treading on his name, reputation, and money from that same sitcom. Think Bob Saget or John Stamos type. Season 1 offers a lot where despite the character's self-hatred, he is still endearing, and there are a lot of good qualities that you want to redeem in him. That, however, seemingly fades with each and every episode in Season 2 where the character comes off the highs of Season 1 only to seemingly hit new lows by the end of it until a terribly dark end to the 2.11 which was jarring for me especially considering this is a comedic cartoon. I am still planning on watching this through to the end of the series that just came out, but it is starting to fall into that same category that other shows for me did where I couldn't see them through due to either completely changing from the original premise or getting to level where every character is irredeemable. The season does end on a high note to get me to keep going though. Maybe some actual character growth by Bojack.
Justified (Ep. 1.4-3.9) FX
-This is a series that got better with each episode. This is very much a modern version of a John Wayne/John Ford western. Thank god it left the procedural cliches behind, and verged into the action drama that has been so entertaining. The last three episodes of Season 1 are incredibly bingeable, season 2 carries on the fun while greatly expanding the universe, and season 3, so far, has created a good four-corner opposition structure. The show has started to drag, and Raylan Givens is becoming much less of a hero, redeemable type. Yet, this has still been a fun show.
*Early Recommendation Rating: Must-see show of the last decade especially if you like Westerns or Western-types
Homeland (Ep. 1.1-1.3) Showtime
-I am coming to this show well past many others, and I oddly, despite this winning Emmys years ago and having a cultural following for a few years, don't hear many people still mention this show or recommend it. I came into it very clean overall, but this has one of the more interesting and bold premises that must have been cleanly executed in order to garner so much praise. Kerry Mathison gets a tip from a contact in Iraq that a US serviceman has been turned by Al-Queda. Six months later, the CIA randomly stumbles across Sgt. Nicholas Brody who has been missing-presumed dead for the last eight years.
My Weekly Shows:
Westworld (Ep. 3.2) HBO
-Great exploration of both Maeve and Bernard's journeys for Season 3 with some absolutely mind-bending stunts. It's extraordinary after Game of Thrones what is possible on TV anymore. The investment in these shows is exceptional, and, I don't care what my Dad says, this is the Golden Age of TV.
This is Us (Ep. 4.18) NBC
-What a satisfying end to the season. The way each newer character was introduced was absolutely magically on-par with how this show has progressed. The bitterness and anger finally came to a head between Kevin and Randall in a way that won't be easily resolved. There were new plot lines places strategically throughout the entire episode of what is still in store, new characters to give background to, and deeply fulfilling emotional look at family yet again. I judge this show based on how many times I cry during an episode (not ashamed), and this was a four-timer up there with the best of them that left me needing several minutes of recovery after the credits showed.
Superstore (Ep. 5.19) NBC
-This show simply seems to have run out of ideas. Most of the characters aren't going anywhere, and there isn't any big tension in the show after last season. They are limping along in my mind even if the show hasn't run off the rails yet.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Ep. 7.9) NBC
-A whodunnit in the middle of a season that also featured one of my favorite actors in JK Simmons. I love how this show continues to reinvent itself over and over while delivering classic episodes. I personally think this show has actually gotten better due to more freedom in the risks it is taking since it moved to NBC.
Blackish (Ep. 6.19) ABC
-I, almost more than anything else, love good writing, and, for being a network sitcom, this show still delivers on a regular basis the kind of social commentary that is usually lacking in a general population serving sitcom. This week explored Dre's inability to balance work life while being the kind of involved dad he wants to be that makes a poignant commentary to men specifically on what working moms know all too well while also giving us a satisfying sub-plot of the silly-ness that is anti-vaxers.
A Million Little Things (Ep. 2.19) ABC
-The season finale fell a little flat to me. Most of the major plot lines came to an unsatisfying conclusion. Even the cliffhanger feels cliche and apathetic. The most notable storyline was Rome and Gina having their child pulled from them at the last second especially due to their own goodness. That is the most promising of any of the through lines going for next season, but I am certainly not clamoring for the next episode nearly as much as other shows in my repetoire.
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