Your Friends & Neighbors<\/a>, season two Incomplete<\/p>\n There\u2019s Something About Mary<\/a> A<\/p>\n National Lampoon\u2019s Animal House<\/a> B+<\/p>\n The Bear: Gary<\/a> Perhaps I was looking too hard for bigger, broader meanings. Perhaps it was just a fun exercise for Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal to write a stand-alone episode and show off while filling in backstory for their characters. I liked it, but did not love it. <\/p>\n But that ending!?!?! I\u2019ve read season five begins the morning after season four ended. Was the final 30 seconds part of that? If so, holy shit!<\/p>\n B<\/p>\n One Battle After Another<\/a> Thus I was completely surprised and thrilled when, about an hour into the flick, the tone changed and it became as much a comedy as a drama. At least that\u2019s the way I took it. And the last 30–45 minutes is where you see why it won Best Picture, as it becomes a master class of movie making. The three-car chase scene was amazingly shot.<\/p>\n Another thing I did not know: the actress who played Willa grew up right here in Indy. In fact, she graduated from high school right across the street just a couple weeks before we moved into our current home. <\/p>\n When this came out I read a lot of online discourse about it, some folks saying it was one of the best movies they had ever seen, others not getting the hype at all. I fall in the middle somewhere. Excellent movie, entertaining, great performances, wonderful to watch for the pure visuals. Did it deserve Best Picture? Since I\u2019ve not seen any of the other contenders yet I can\u2019t really answer that, but it wasn\u2019t quite good enough, for me, to reach classic status.<\/p>\n A-<\/p>\n Tucci In Italy<\/a>, season two A<\/p>\n
\nOne episode left. There was a rather large cliffhanger at the end of episode nine that I was expecting to drop in #10,[1]<\/a> so we\u2019ll see what Friday\u2019s finale has in store.<\/p>\n
\nA month or so ago I came across this on cable and watched for about 10 minutes. A couple weeks later it turned up on Netflix just when its Rewatchables<\/a> episode dropped, which was the perfect excuse to watch it, front-to-back, in unedited form. It doesn\u2019t hit as hard as it did when it was first released, simply because its humor was so new and unique to that time. But it is still funny as hell. And 1998 Cameron Diaz? Forgetaboutit. Nearly every supporting actor was great, but Matt Dillon was on another level.<\/p>\n
\nAnother Rewatchables entry. As you might expect, there are several scenes that do NOT hold up. There are still plenty of laughs but the cringe factor in those problematic parts is so high that it highlights how the movie is the classic Dumb Comedy<\/em> that is more a series of sketches than a coherent whole. And, I guess, this set that standard that so many movies over the next decade followed. This may be controversial but John Belushi\u2019s Bluto doesn\u2019t hold up super well, either. Now, Tim Matheson as Otter was brilliant. That part was written for Chevy Chase, which is pretty obvious, but even in Chevy\u2019s prime, I think Matheson played the role better. There is an open sincerity to Matheson\u2019s acting that would not be present in Chevy\u2019s take. Of course, ironic that those two would star in Fletch<\/em> together, mostly because they looked similar. And young Karen Allen? Classic Girl Nextdoor beauty.<\/p>\n
\nThis surprise, one-off episode of The Bear<\/em> summed up so much of what is great and maddening about the series. There were so many terrific moments, notably Mikey and Richie\u2019s easy rapport with people from all walks of life. However, when Mikey has his meltdown, while reminiscent of the glorious mess that was \u201cFishes,\u201d<\/a> it missed for me. It was a compelling performance, but I kept wondering how this fit into the broader story. I guess it showed that Mikey was struggling well before his suicide (which was three years later according to folks who connected dots better than me). But we know the Berzatto family and how they\u2019re all damaged emotionally. After seeing this, a dozen questions about Mikey or Richie or anyone else in the show weren\u2019t suddenly answered. <\/p>\n
\nI didn\u2019t know nearly enough about this movie going in. Yes, I knew it won the Oscar for Best Picture, along with several other awards. I knew it focused on Leonardo DiCaprio trying to find a missing daughter. From there, though, I figured it was a standard \u201cGive me back my child!\u201d movie that was just very well written and acted.<\/p>\n
\nMore gorgeous food\/travel television.<\/p>\n