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Up to Snuff (2018)
10/10
An inspirational story and a more-than-amazing cast
16 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
How often are you going to turn on a random documentary and get to see footage of people like Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, Timothy Busfield, Tom Arnold, Eric Burdon, Ed Asner, Steve Lukather, etc., etc., etc.

This is one of the most impressive casts I have ever seen in a film, and what's great is that none of them are acting. We get to watch these people, as themselves, give their earnest thoughts and opinions about an amazing composer in Snuffy Walden. We get to watch the members of these amazing cast not only speak from the heart, but reminisce in live time, which is something so special that it hard to find anywhere else.

Looking past the incredible cast for just one moment, there's also a great story behind all the big names and awesome music. There's a deeper story here following a man who did it big as a rock star touring the world and living it up. You get to hear first-person accounts of what this life is like, the good and the bad. You then get into an amazing story about addiction, and how it can ruin careers, lives, and even friendships. But then, it takes a turn, and you get to hear a beautiful story about overcoming addiction. You get to hear a one-in-a-million story of someone who lived that rockstar life and was able to turn themselves aruond instead of succumbing to the pressures of fame and the struggles with addiction. Snuffy got sober and lived, which is just so inspirational. Not only did he beat his addictions, he did it while continuing to feed his passion in a healthier way. He channelled his music into TV and media, becoming an award-winning composer. His music, as a result of this, drove performances of the amazing cast I've talked so much about, and has made some of the most special soundtracks in television with the likes of The West Wing and Thirtysomething. It's just a beautiful story all around with one of the most stacked casts you'll ever see in a documentary.
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Space Oddity (2022)
10/10
A thought-provoking rom-com
16 May 2023
This film started out a little slow, but once it got going it was very entertaining! While it develops into a rom-com with a setup we've seen before, it is done very well. The acting is great, the writing is gripping, and the shots are beautiful.

The thing that sets it really far apart is the overarching theme driving it, which is the Mars trip. It really has nothing to do with actually going to Mars, but instead is driving a well-thought-out discussion about how we can get tired of life on Earth and will look for any possible escape, even if it silly or nonsensical.

These things combine to make this a great movie and one that has two flavors to enjoy. If you're looking for something laid-back, simple, and even a little cheesy, you can watch for the romance and laugh at all the jokes without thinking about the deep themes. If you want a movie that you can talk about for days with depth that is worth appreciating, you can look into topics like escapism and personal value systems. I think there's something for everyone in this film, so it's really just hard to hate in my opinion.
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