CB Strike

J.K. Rowling writes a series of adult mystery novels under the pen name Robert Galbraith. I read the first one. It was ok. Rowling told more than she showed. I never went on to read the other books. Recently I discovered there is a television series based on the books named CB Strike which is the name of the private investigator – Cormoran Strike who solves the cases. I tried watching and nearly made it through the first two episodes from the first novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling. Ultimately it felt flat to me. Not surprising. And why does every damaged investigator/cop have to drink? Not very creative. 2 out of 5. Next.

CB Strike currently streams on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube premium.

Physical: 100: Episodes 1-3

An import from Korea, Physical: 100 pits 100 athletes, trainers, entertainers, and even a couple Olympic gold medal winners against each other in a competition for the most fit Korean. Will it be a woman or a man? Big powerlifter or lithe dancer? Someone barely out of their teens or a seasoned 40-something? It’s a logical format which of course leads to a crazy competition for the 100 entrants. In the first episode, half the players are at risk of going home. They have to quickly whittle it down to a reasonable number so we the audience can figure out who to root for. Fun, silly, and some amazing bodies and extremely strong humans. It’s worth it just to see how Korea’s doing endurance competition shows. 3 out of 5 for Physical: 100.

Physical: 100 currently streams on Netflix.

The Last of Us: Season 1, Episodes 1-3

Post-apocalyptic television series, The Last of Us boasts the largest television production in Canadian history, as well as the first HBO series based on a video game. I heard a bit of hype and decided to watch. It’s a zombie show for sure. I like post-apocalyptic stories, and I watched a few seasons of The Walking Dead and loved it until they killed my favorite character. Unfortunately, The Last of Us feels like more of the same. It’s extremely high quality so if any of this description peaks your interest, definitely check it out. For me, I am happy to let it go. 3 out of 5. Next.

2/2023: I did watch episodes 2 & 3, mainly to get to episode 3 which my dear friend Mark told me to watch. So happy to see the entire hour devoted to Bill and Frank’s relationship. As Mark said, it was great seeing a gay male couple of a certain age be celebrated. Such an amazing departure. Still not going to continue the show, but the showrunners should be commended for including this story into the mix. Outstanding.

Nope

I loved the Close Encounters vibe of Nope. Jordan Peele does a great job creating a film with nods to the classic Sci-Fi films of the 1970’s, while putting his own signature on this well worn genre. Is it me, or do we just not see enough siblings in movies? I loved Emerald and OJ. They perfectly complimented each other as brothers and sisters often do. Nope is part of a series of films Peele’s done with elements of horror in them – 2017’s Get Out and 2019’s Us. Loved the first, haven’t seen the second. Nope has amazing special effects, a strong script, and great performances from Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. The film hurls the two characters into an unbelievable situation. I won’t say much more other than how they confront their peril, it’s a stroke of genius. 4 out of 5 for Nope.

The Rookie: Feds

I’ve been on a Niecy Nash-Betts kick ever since her outstanding performance on the Jeffrey Dahmer limited series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. I am old enough to remember the original The Rookies series from the 1970’s starring Michael Ontkean, Georg Standford Brown, Sam Melville, Gerald S. O’Loughlin, and the luminous Kate Jackson. This iteration, The Rookie: Feds takes place at the FBI. The two new recruits are Niecy’s character as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie ever, and Kevin Zegers as Brendon Acres, a former TV vampire cop, now a real cop in the FBI. Ok the last couple sentences should fill you in on where this is going. Niecy’s character is too arrogant and full of herself. Wouldn’t someone like that be knocked down by her handlers? I’m not talking a female FBI rookie, I mean anyone would be knocked down a peg. And Egers is the comic relief. In fact there’s almost more comedy than drama. An odd sort of choice for a police procedural. I watched two episodes completely. I love Niecy. But the show? Not so much. 2 out of 5. Next.

The Rookie: Feds currently streams on Hulu.

Jurassic World: Dominion

I have tried to enjoy many of the recent Jurassic films. I was particularly looking forward to Jurassic World: Dominion because it combines old cast and new cast together in the same film, just like Star Trek: Generations did. I made it through an hour. I couldn’t take much more. Chris Pratt’s posturing is so annoying. I know it’s a character, but his real life persona kept bleeding through. Laura Dern seemed wasted – her input, not her sobriety. Bryce Dallas Howard was reliable, but not as kick-ass as I hoped. Not even the Blu-ray disc could save it. Oh well. 2 out of 5. Next.

Lost City

Silly, silly, silly Hollywood blockbuster movie, Lost City starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. I watched this specifically for my friend Barbara who loves Sandra. I got through exactly one hour. It’s predictable and blockbustery. Tatum shows his body and butt for a lengthy scene but of course it’s pure comedy so we don’t all start wondering why he hasn’t done porn. I still wondered that. The banter between the two is pretty wonderful. Bullock in particular is a great physical comic actor. With a kick-ass script, these two might be able to reasonably recreate the magic of a film like The Thin Man starring Dick Powell and Myrna Loy. Lost City definitely ain’t The Thin Man. Brad Pitt’s supporting role is pretty amazing. I forget what a good actor he is. Plus he’s still got a pretty face. And Daniel Radcliffe plays the villain seamlessly. Not bad, just not knock me over the head great. 3 out of 5 for the action shenanigans of Sandy and Channy.

Jurassic World (2015) (take 2)

In anticipation of the new Jurassic 2022 film, I decided to go back and watch the 2015 film, the start of the second franchise. Read my updated review.

 

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Rarely do I ever get the feeling that a film might rise to the heights of Donnie Darko for me: a classic cult film which I adore more with each subsequent screening. But I have a clear feeling about that with Everything Everywhere All at Once. Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert create a multiverse world where each main character lives thousands of lives in alternative universes. In the original universe Michelle Yeoh’s Evelyn inhabits a sad existence running a failing laundromat with her husband who’s about to serve her divorce papers while they are audited by IRS. The agent is played by a fabulously unrecognizable Jamie Lee Curtis. Stephanie Hsu plays Evelyn’s lesbian daughter Joy whose multiple characters become a huge force in the film. Ke Huy Quan plays Evelyn’s husband Waymond, the soul and teacher of the story. There are also wonderful featured roles from Tallie Medel as Joy’s girlfriend Becky, Harry Shum Jr. as Chad the chef, and James Hong as Gong Gong, Evelyn’s Dad. I’m not sure how much plot I really want to give away in this review. I will say this – Evelyn’s called upon to assist the entire multiverse system. Her other lives explore all different paths she might have taken and provide dazzling glitz to this frenetic Sci-Fi extravaganza of a film. Full disclosure, I first watched this after working a full week and then working a Saturday, so I fell asleep first try. But then watched it eyes wide open the following day, fully awake and am in awe. The great thing about Everything Everywhere All at Once to me is they take some majorly recognizable Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure tropes and turn them inside out. The real power is not in violence but in love and kindness. I cheered over the film once I realized where it was taking me. What a ride. You owe it to yourself to check out the glorious, genre-busting deliciousness of Everything Everywhere All at Once. Just go ahead and hand Michelle Yeoh all the acting awards for this year. There another sassy sentence I want to add to this review, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so for now my lips are sealed. 5 out of 5.

Everything Everywhere All at Once currently streams for a rental fee on various platforms and is free on disk from your local public library.

Better Call Saul: Season 5

Somehow I missed Season 5 of Better Call Saul. I always wait until they come out on DVD, since I don’t have cable. The pandemic must have messed things up – at work, we didn’t get deliveries during the two months we were in lockdown back in 2020. By the time we came back and finished processing all of our back orders, I must have forgotten. So I caught up right before Season 6 drops on AMC. Better Call Saul is one of the craziest straight white male shows I’ve enjoyed. I have no idea why I like it. Is it the deception? the confusion between what’s right and what’s wrong? Is it watching Kim destroy her life for someone who’s not worth it? Or is it just an amazing look at the back story to a character from Breaking Bad? A six season back story which continues to fascinate and shock. Probably all of the above. Season 5 continues to hold up. Diabolical plots. People get killed, others vie for power. It’s a crazy world out there folks. Be careful of the Saul Goodmans. There’s a new scheme in his back pocket at every turn in the road. And as long as they don’t kill off my babe, Nacho Vega, I’m good. 4 out of 5.

Better Call Saul: Season 5 streams on Netflix (beginning Monday, April 4, 2022) and is available on disk from your public library.
The final season airs on AMC later this month.