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Reviews
Little (2019)
Not very good (some spoilers)
I like Regina Hall. I like Issa Rae, I like Marsai Martin. I did not like this movie. I really, really wanted to like it. But it fell flat. I blame that on three main flaws: poor writing, poor casting and poor direction. The premise has been done several times before, yes, but old topics can be effective if executed properly. First, I want to congratulate Marsai Martin, who is best known for the show Black-ish. In this movie she takes on a huge role and is pretty solid, especially for a 13-year-old (now 14). However, she was hampered by a poor script. Regina Hall is likable in real life and not believable as the arrogant, callous character she played. Perhaps someone such as Taraji P. Henson would have worked better. There were also some uncomfortable moments for me such as when Marsai's character, who is supposed to be an adult in a child's body, flirts with her adult teacher and with Regina Hall's boyfriend. I have always heard that comedy movies are much harder to do than dramas. I believe it. So I cut this movie a little slack. Just a little.
Orange Is the New Black (2013)
Season 6 tapers off (but I'm not surprised)
Sometimes TV shows are like relationships. They are exciting in the beginning, you eagerly await the next episode and you can't stop thinking about them. Season 6 of Orange is the New Black feels like the start of a breakup. And it's not us, it's them. OITNB is one of my favorite dramas of all time, right up there with Breaking Bad and The Wire. Some consider it a chick show but as a guy I loved it because the writing was superb, the casting was mostly spot-on and the stories were intriguing. The previous season, Season 5, was pretty good, but at times I would ask myself, "When are these women getting out of jail?" Most of their crimes were ones that would only seem to warrant a couple years in the slammer. But then Season 5 tried to mitigate that premise by unveiling a bizarre prison uprising in which a guard is murdered. The main characters are back for Season 6, and they are now in a maximum security prison as punishment for the uprising. But after one year, I had forgotten a lot of the subplots from Season 5, including which inmates had beef with which. New characters are introduced, including Mackenzie Phillips playing a drug-addicted prison thug. If anyone knows about her past, that role is not a stretch. Season 6 felt tedious at times. One vital element that makes the show work is the fact that although these women are prisoners, their back stories make you root for them. But some of them have become unbearable, such as Aleida (the former prisoner who is the mother of Dayanara). Now on the outside, she is struggling to get her children back from foster care. But she is totally unsympathetic. She curses people out at the drop of a hat and shows no humility. I also grew tired of the Piper-Alex romance. Also, here's a message for the show's producers: I understand that handling a large ensemble cast has its challenges, but sometimes characters disappear for a long time only to suddenly reappear in a scene like nothing happened. Yes, we notice. That being said, there was a lot I actually liked about Season 6. The writing is still fairly solid. Some of the storylines, such as a new wave of drug addiction and the guards starting a fantasy pool, were well constructed. The characters of Danielle Brooks (Taystee) and Adrienne C. Moore (Black Cindy) were often simply used for grandstanding and comic relief in previous seasons, but in Season 6 they go through serious challenges, and the two actresses showed they could pull off serious drama. Also, I liked how the season wrapped up. What was gearing up to be a bloody showdown took an intriguing turn. To sum up, I'm sympathetic to the producers because, honestly, how many shows are still at the top of their game after 6 seasons? Even Breaking Bad seemed to become a bit tired before they wrapped. But if there is to be a Season 7 of OITNB, there needs to be a serious intervention.
Luke Cage (2016)
Second season drops off badly
The second season of Luke Cage was almost torture to get through. I found the writing lazy, a lot of the action scenes cartoonish, and much of the supporting cast boring. In the second season finale, one scene was directly stolen from The Godfather. I assume it was a homage, but with the many sloppy ways the second season was executed, who knows? Continuity was also a problem. Early on, Luke and Claire (Rosario Dawson) are lovey-dovey. Suddenly in one painfully contrived scene, they begin to argue and subsequently decide to go separate ways. It was apparently just a way of explaining Rosario Dawson's absence. Perhaps she left to work on another project. Losing Rosario hurt the show, in my opinion. Also, I simply got sick of Alfre Woodard's Mariah character. Not because she plays a villain, but she just became unbearable because of the corny lines written for her. Also, the love scenes between her and Shades were cringeworthy and awkward. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how absurd, comical and insulting the Jamaican accents and themes were (Bushmaster? really?). Surely they could have gotten real Jamaican actors. The ones used were downright embarrassing. Also, in one episode Iron Fist appears, shares a fight scene with Luke, then disappears without explanation. I liked the addition of Gabrielle Dennis as Tilda, Mariah's daughter, who specializes in holistic medicine. She's beautiful and a decent actress. And I like Simone Missick's return as Misty Knight. She really gives her all in every scene and you want to root for her. But she alone couldn't save the season. Mike Colter is not a great actor but he's tolerable and fairly likable. However, if a Season 3 is in the works, the producers must learn from the mistakes of Season 2. I hope it's simply a sophomore slump. They must get their act together.
Breaking Bad (2008)
Best. Show. Ever. (A few spoilers)
There are so many elements that can make a show fail. Poor writing. Poor casting. Bad directing. I have never seen a show that conquers every facet necessary in molding an unforgettable series. The casting is impeccable. Creator Vince Gilligan put together an ensemble that features no A-list stars, just hungry, experienced thespians who give him 100 percent, including the brilliant Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn as his wife, Dean Norris as Walter's intrepid, wise-cracking brother-in-law who happens to be a DEA agent, Bob Odenkirk as amoral attorney Saul Goodman, Aaron Paul as Walter's stoner sidekick, and Giancarlo Esposito as hiding-in-plain sight drug kingpin Gus Fring. The premise itself is plausible. A chemistry teacher finds out he has inoperable lung cancer and begins a new career creating methamphetamine with the help of one of his former students. The residual effects on the lives of both are profound. Every human experience is explored along the way. Love, greed, murder, betrayal, and, ultimately, fate. But what I like best about Breaking Bad are the nuances. Walter holds a drug dealer captive. When Walter brings him a sandwich, the dealer removes the edges of the bread. In a later episode, Walter begins to cut off the edges of his own sandwiches. The message: even your enemies can make a point. The show mixes tragedy, violence and even comedy as it tells the story of a mild-mannered man who has nothing to lose morphs into a monster. Breaking Bad is simply A-class television.
Baby Driver (2017)
A really good movie that fizzles badly in the end (some spoilers)
After seeing Baby Driver, one thought kept going through my mind over and over again: Boy, oh boy, what if Quentin Tarantino had directed it? This kind of movie was made for him. In some ways it feels like a modern-day Reservoir Dogs. Put a bunch of criminals together and at some point there will be betrayal, and bloodshed. Director Edgar Wright did a commendable job, but had Tarantino gotten a hold of this project, I know the character development, writing and directing would have been much crisper. The characters are interesting: Kevin Spacey as the level-headed leader of a gang of thieves, with Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal and a grizzled-looking Jon Hamm among the thieves. Hamm is about as far-removed from Don Draper as can be and proves he shouldn't be typecast. But the focus is on the baby-faced Ansel Elgort as Baby, who is a helluva getaway driver. He is still tormented by a childhood tragedy and listens to music through his headphones all day, even when he's driving. The other important star of the movie is the soundtrack. It drives the entire narrative, an idea that seems borrowed from Guardians of the Galaxy. But the music is great. From the Commodores, to Queen, to Barry White, songs are used effectively. The plot revolves around Baby's quest to do "one final job" and then get out of the crime business. We've seen this before many times. It never ends well. Along the way, Baby meets Debora, a bubbly waitress played by Lily James, who looks like a young Jessica Lange. She also is obsessed with music, just like Baby, and they fall hard for each other in what seems like five minutes. However, their ultimate plan to ride off into the sunset together and listen to music will be easier said than done. The first hour of Baby Driver is strong. But the final half-hour devolves into a cliché-ridden mess, with supposedly dead characters suddenly reappearing and bad guys failing to kill good guys despite having them in their cross-hairs several times. It's almost as if the producers ran out of money and decided to call it a day. Baby Driver is the second movie in a row, following All Eyez on Me, that disappointed me. Not because they were bad, but because they could have been so much better in the hands of a different director. So to sum up, Baby Driver is interesting for a while, but eventually wraps up like just about every other caper. Well, at least there's great music along the way.
Moonlight (2016)
A very well-acted movie (Spoilers)
Moonlight is not the best movie I've ever seen. Might not even make my top 10. But it is one of the best-acted movies I've ever seen because it is multi-layered and realistic. The story revolves around a young man named Chiron, who has a tough upbringing while dealing with bullies at school, a drug-addicted mother and also struggles with his sexuality. The story is told in three parts, and I really enjoyed the first part, which features Mahershala Ali, who is quickly becoming one of the most popular actors working today. Ali plays a drug dealer who befriends the young Chiron. The other parts are also interesting as Chiron grows up and evolves into a man who is still scarred by his upbringing. A diner scene in the third act is one of the best in the movie as the characters share a reunion that is joyous, yet awkward. The actors pull it off deftly, with most of the communication reflected simply with the eyes. I did have a few issues with the movie. I thought Naomie Harris was miscast as the drug-addicted mother. Her acting was OK, but Harris is British, and I can tell she struggled getting the black American dialect down pat. Why not an American actress? Also there is a "Brokeback Mountain" type of scene that was difficult to watch. At least 3 people in my theater walked out. It was even more disturbing because the actors are teens. However, kudos to the producers and director for taking a topic that has been done over and over (growing up in the inner city) and getting A-rated performances from mostly unknown actors.
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
A riveting soundtrack of life
I've seen about 30 movies this year, but this one is by far the best. As somewhat of a movie aficionado, I know it's very easy for a film to fail. Some have a good story but bad casting, or vice versa. Some are good stories but have a bad director. This movie is excellent in all three areas. I don't know how director F. Gary Gray elicited such great performances from his cast of mostly unknown actors, but he pulled it off. He also shows restraint when it comes to the gratuitous violence another director might resort to, considering the subject matter. Straight Outta Compton is not a PG movie by any means, but it uses stellar storytelling, solid performances and a sprinkle of humor as its vehicle. I'm not a big hip hop fan by any means but I enjoyed it as the producers pulled back the curtain and revealed how some hit songs were inspired and also gives insight into the music industry, where greed and intimidation are as commonplace as lyrics and videos. Lastly, I cannot forget the performance of Jason Mitchell as Eazy E. What a wonderful job this guy did of capturing a multi-dimensional man, bringing grit, humor and vulnerability in a totally believable display that is Oscar-worthy. As someone who has been a movie fan all my life, I always know when I've seen a good one. Because it stays on my mind for days after I leave the theater.
Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)
Tyler Perry officially jumps the shark
There are many things to admire about Tyler Perry. His ascent in the entertainment industry is incredible, and he has used his power effectively to give a voice to the African-American experience the same way Woody Allen has for the Jewish experience. He gives opportunities to young African-Americans actors and veterans such as Cicely Tyson who would struggle to find work elsewhere. Perry is a shrewd, powerful businessman. But he's a horrible director and mediocre writer. His latest project "Temptation" is his worst to date. The premise not only straddles the lines of implausibility, it's downright ridiculous. A girl-next-door-type (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) who is married to a man she has known since they were both 6 years old suddenly decides to have an affair with one of her clients. She also starts to snort cocaine and hang out in seedy nightclubs. A subplot involving actress/singer Brandy is also dumb, and the plot twist at the end is the icing on the cake to this mess. When the credits began rolling, the reaction in my theater felt like a collective "Are you kidding me?" Perhaps it only makes sense that Kim Kardashian is in this movie. Remember in algebra class when we learned that a negative and a positive always equal a negative? That's what the scenes between Kardashian and Smollett-Bell produce. One can act, one can't. You do the math. Perry also needs to stop with the pointless close-up shots and phony eye-drop tears. Although with this flop, it's the audience members who paid $10 who should be crying.
A Bronx Tale (1993)
Honest film tugs at your heartstrings
The first thing A Bronx Tale should be commended for is getting a stellar performance out of what at the time was an inexperienced cast. Aside from Robert DeNiro (and a cameo by Joe Pesci), most of the players were novices, with several in their film debuts. But DeNiro managed to get A+ performances from Lillo Brancato Jr., Francis Capra and Taral Hicks. I thought Chazz Palminteri should have garnered an Oscar for his role. The fact that this was his screenplay, it was evident that he poured his heart into the role, and he was thoroughly believable as the neighborhood boss Sonny. Nuances are very important in a film, and DeNiro manages to capture the turbulent 60s perfectly. One particular scene is especially memorable. In the first conversation between the teenage Colagero and Jane -- when he's walking her home from school -- I'm not sure if the actors were allowed to ad-lib, but the dialogue was perfect, because it epitomized the awkward interaction of young love. Aside from that, the movie is honest about gangster life, racism and loyalty. The movie isn't preachy, and it doesn't have the feel-good ending of an afterschool special. What it does is show that even the worse people have good in them and that our choices are what ultimately decide our fate. A film with very few flaws.