Veep (Season Five)
– 2016 (3.1). Broadcast in the spring of 2016 before Trump secured the
Republican nomination for President, the profanely irreverent fifth season of
this comedy seems to be like fiction turning to sick reality. The personality
clashes, dubious alliances and perpetual back stabbing that seem so far-fetched
have now become reality. Maybe to some degree Presidential politics has always
had these problems, but what this series presents is now being played out daily
in the real White House. The series is supposed to wind up next year. Hopefully
the Trump Presidency will end even sooner.
Merchants of Doubt
– 2014 (3.0). This slick looking documentary from Robert Kenner does an
impressive job of exposing the think tanks and spokespeople for the sleazy
world of anti-government prostitutes and obstructionists, concentrating on
climate change deniers. The tactics that
were developed by the tobacco industry have been transferred to the fossil fuel
field without skipping a beat and with more vitriol as our political discourse
has continued to deteriorate. Rational discussion is rebuffed by these people.
Violent reaction is tempting, while a midway tactic seems elusive. The movie
could have done a better job of guiding the audience to what to do.
The Durrells in Corfu(Season Two) – 2017 (3.0). The family becomes even more attached to their
new home and all learn more about their surroundings, themselves and the other
family members and friends. Mercifully, the cast is not burdened with an excess
of new characters; there are just enough to add to the story of the family. For
the audience, the cast and setting continue to endear and invite back for
further stories.
The Eagle Huntress
– 2016 (3.0). On the desolate but beautiful plains of Mongolia a thirteen year
old girl wants to follow in the footsteps of her male ancestors and learn to
hunt with a golden eagle. Village elders say women are not fit for the task, but
the father of the girl knows she is a natural and works with her to develop her
interest and skills. The process and results are shown in this documentary,
scenic in its settings, respectful of the culture shown and uplifting in
presenting the relationship of father and daughter and the ability of desire
and work to accomplish a goal.
The Night of –
2016 (3.0). Based on a BBC series, this crime miniseries tells a compelling
story of a NYC college student son of Pakistani immigrants who is charged as
the murderer of a young woman supported by what they consider is overwhelming
evidence of guilt. A courthouse trolling lawyer with serious skin problems
initially gobbles up the defendant who is confined to the horrors of Rikers
Island pending trial. We are kept guessing about guilt as the defense turns up
other possible suspects, a dedicated cop keeps seeking more evidence against
the student, other defense lawyers horn in and the defendant seems to adapt to
his new environment. The characters are interesting and thetrial ends in such a
way that the door is left open for a possible second season.
Poldark (SeasonThree) – 2017 (3.0). The saga progresses into the years of the French
Revolution and corresponding political concern in England. Various characters
come and go but the main ones remain with their ongoing problems. Ross Poldark
struggles with many issues and loses a bit of his appeal, but the Villain
George continues to repulse. By season end, Ross seems to be realizing he needs
to become more politically active, which makes us primed for season four.
Veep (Season Four)
– 2015 (2.9). After watching season three on DVD it seemed so discouragingly
cynical about the American Presidency that I decided not to watch any further
seasons. I rated it low but forgot to even write a note about it on this blog.
After the series cleaned up for the sixth year at the Emmys, I decided to watch
season four, which finished up just a week or two before Donald Trump came down
the escalator to begin his ridiculous run for President. Trump must have
watched the show and is using parts of it for his Presidency. Looks like I will
need to watch the rest of the seasons to see how it turns out. Julia
Louis-Dreyfus would likely be better at the job than Trump.
Almost Sunrise –
2016 (2.8). Two Milwaukee vets of US 21st century wars struggle with
PTSD and decide to hike 2700 miles from home to California for a mental break
and to call attention to the issue of vets struggling with PTSD. This documentary
follows the men and interviews their wives and family, friends and some
counselors. A type of meditative practice seems most effective. From the
counselors we learn about moral guilt men carry from fighting in these latest
wars of dubious basis and purpose.
The Beatles: EightDays a Week – 2016 (2,8). Ron Howard mixed lots of performance and other
archival film with old and new interviews to make this entertaining documentary
about the years the Beatles toured. Nothing really new is learned but revisiting
the songs is quite enjoyable for fans, which means just about everyone. The
Special Edition DVD set has extended content including more early performance
footage, discussion of their musical technique and a Japanese narrated segment
covering the Beatles in Tokyo.
Dark Horse – 2015
(2.8). A Welsh mining village fallen on hard times is lifted a bit by a group
of residents who form an alliance to breed and race a thoroughbred horse in
this heartfelt documentary. The horse comes from unlikely prospects but a top
notch trainer is surprised to see a bit of hope, so the horse is entered in a
series of races and does fairly well with ups and downs and then starts to
blossom. How high can he rise, will he remain healthy and what will happen to
him if he does not are questions that keep us watching and cheerfully rooting
for the horse and for the owners too.
Fats Domino and theBirth of Rock and Roll – 2016 (2.8). Archival performance footage,
interviews with Fats and his colleagues and opinions from admirers comprise
this tribute movie. There is only a minor amount of biopic, as it is almost all
about the music. American Masters played it as an hour piece but the DVD has a
director's cut of about an hour and a half.
Our Little Sister
– 2016 (2.8). Dad is estranged from the
three young adult daughters of his first marriage when he dies during his
third. The daughters travel to his funeral where they meet the orphaned 15 year
old half-sister from the second marriage. The oldest girl has assumed the
mother role since the first wife has also been estranged from her daughters, so
she and invites the half-sister to come live with the three sisters in the
ancestral home. This Japanese movie is well acted and gently directed. The bits
of humor are not contrived and the script, though not particularly dramatic,
plays out naturally as the back story of the family and the feelings of the
women start to be revealed.
Veep (Season Six)– 2017 (2.8). In a way it is like the so-called "previous investment
trap", watching season six because of having watched the first five. With
the disgusting Trump now actually in the White House, the Veep team coping with
the big setback finale of last season might offer hope for the biggest of all
Presidential setbacks for Trump and his team. The sixth season does not get us
there yet, but sets up a seventh and supposedly final season. It would be great
if next year was also the Trump finale.
Master of None(Season One) – 2016 (2.6). Comedian Aziz Ansari plays a struggling actor in
NYC hanging with a diverse group of friends who like him are obsessed with sex
and are barely mindful that people might want to have some deeper direction to
their lives. There is a small amount of wit buried in the shallowness of the
lives of the characters, but not much actual comedy to make one laugh, causing
me to lauch my parachute hallway through.
Toni Erdmann –
2016 (2.6). A workaholic daughter is out of touch with her divorced father, so
he goes to extremes to renew his touch with her and to encourage her to lighten
up in this overlong German comedy drama, which is not that funny and not that
dramatic. There is full frontal nudity of both sexes and nothing much in any of
the characters to make one particularly care what happens to them.
