Shows and Movies
Ozark, season four, part one
Throughout Ozark’s run, I’ve been unable to keep from comparing it to Breaking Bad. I know I’m not the only one. And I’ve often felt that Ozark did not quite reach the same level as BB. Partially because BB came first, partially because there isn’t a single character in Ozark that you are rooting for.
In the first seven episodes of season four, the show finally bridges much of that gap. BB is still a better show – and Better Call Saul has surpassed BB – but Ozark is so damn good and so insanely intense that it has become as compelling as either of those shows. Most of the lead actors give incredible performances. There are almost no moments of relief from the tension that is constantly building through each episode. And you kind of hate everyone involved, although Ruth has surely become the Jessie Pinkman of the show: someone who despite her flaw you hope makes it through this mess.
A
Being James Bond
Barbara Broccoli, Daniel Craig, and Michael Wilson talk about Craig’s years as Bond.
A
Mission Impossible
GoldenEye
I came across an article comparing the MI and Bond series (I didn’t save the link), so one night decided to watch the first MI and the Bond movie that was closest in timing to it for comparison. I watched them in reverse chronological order, 1996’s MI first and 1995’s GoldenEye second. Which came across strangely because GoldenEye felt newer. There was a surprisingly low-budget feel to MI. How both movies dealt with the technology of their times – this was just as the non-techie world was discovering the Internet – was both interesting and hilarious. MI was also at least 32% cheesier. At this point, Bond was better. Not sure I’m going to dive into the rest of the MI series or Brosnan’s later works to continue the comparison.
MI B-; GoldenEye B+
Sing 2
Our family movie night choice for the month. Our girls, especially L, loved the first Sing movie. I think she has it memorized. This one didn’t seem quite as good, but I’ll admit I zoned out a couple times.
B
Judas and the Black Messiah
A powerful look back at Illinois Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton. Daniel Kaluuya is amazing as Hampton. Just another reminder of how shameful this country has treated Black people.
A
Murderville
A quick (six episode) series with a fascinating concept: the entire cast, including star Will Arnett, are working from a script while each episode’s guest star must figure out the story on their own. The guest is charged with helping Arnett, as Detective Terry Seattle, solve a murder mystery. Sometimes, mostly with Conan O’Brien, this works. The Conan episode had me in tears. Other episodes don’t hit as often or as well. Not essential, but there are terrific moments in just about every episode.
B
In From the Cold
A series about a former Russian spy living in America who is forced back into the world of espionage? Yes, please! I had no idea going in that it had a Marvel-like twist, which I didn’t exactly love but also separated this from your standard spy series. There was some clunky writing and a couple spotty performances. But Margarita Levieva in the lead role is an absolute badass.
B
Body of Lies
Leo in the War on Terror, attempting to track down a terrorist leader. I’ve seen him put his southern accent to better use in several other movies. Kind of a hacky plot, too.
B-
Torn
Another in the run of climbing docs I’ve sampled recently. This one, focused on Alex Lowe, is an absolute motherfucker. Lowe died in an avalanche in Tibet in 1999, leaving behind a wife and three sons. His best friend survived the avalanche and eventually married Lowe’s widow. This film was made by Lowe’s oldest son, who was 10 at the time of his death. It gets into a lot of the awkwardness of their family situation, which is taken to a whole other level when Lowe’s body was finally discovered/recovered in 2015. There are moments in the film that are very hard to watch.
A-
Barry, season two
If season one was a “Holy Shit!” A, season two was a HOLY SHIT!! A+. It won’t work for everyone’s sensibilities, but if this fits yours, it is a damn-near perfect show.
A+
The November Man
It’s kind of crazy how Pierce Brosnan has made, arguably, better movies after his run as James Bond. Although he seemed destined to play 007, something always seemed a bit off about him in that role. Maybe it was the pressure, and the release of that pressure allowed him to perform better later?
This is a decent spy flick. It has some good action and interesting angles, especially now with Russia invading Ukraine. But it also had a lot of cheese, both in the writing and in the production. Bringing in former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko for a major role was a bold choice. I enjoy her on the screen.
B-
Shorts
Run the Rock: A half marathon wheelbarrow mission
There’s always an element of absurdity to Beau Miles’ missions. This might be the most ridiculous.
Haircut hater gets a makeover by wife
Whereas this one was more just funny than ridiculous.
A, A
The Seinfeld Theme Mixed With A Hit Song From Every Year Seinfeld Was On TV
There was something similar to this awhile back that seemed better.
B
How Did Portugal Happen?
I always wondered why there was a chunk of the Iberian peninsula that isn’t part of Spain.
B+
Polar bears on Kolyuchin Island, Chukotka, Russia
These are delightful. More about them here.
A
That Time the Mediterranean Sea Disappeared
Science!
A-
How James Webb Orbits “Nothing”
Too much science! Even this greatly dumbed-down explanation of how the James Webb telescope orbits an empty spot in space was over my head.
B+ for video, F for me
12 Minutes of Will Arnett Roasting Jason Bateman on Conan
As funny as the roasts are watching Arnett’s body evolve over the years. Paging Barry Bonds…
A-
Storm Eunice at London Heathrow Airport
There was a big windstorm in London a couple weeks back – gusts over 70 MPH at times – and this channel became a Twitter sensation. I’m a bit ashamed to admit how long I spent watching, or at least with it in its own tab over on the side of the screen. At one point nearly 187,000 other people were also watching, so I don’t feel bad about it. Who knew a British guy sharing his enjoyment of watching planes land in heavy weather as though he was watching a soccer game could be so entertaining? Not sure which was more fun: him cheering on a good landing – “Well done! Fair play to you!” – or yelling “GO ‘ROUND! GO ‘ROUND!” at pilots who bailed on their attempts. Or when he “conversed” with the horses that checked out his car. It was a little nerve racking watching the jets fight the winds.
Naturally, there is an Internet beef that involves Big Jet TV.
A+
The dark history of the overthrow of Hawaii
White man gonna white man.
A
Can an Average Guy Beat the US Olympic Curling Team?
Brilliant.
A