gaelicguy Reviews

The Kominsky Method (2018– )

If you like superb acting and sharp, very smart writing, this series is a must!

[9/10 · 27 June 2021]

I'm sure, by now, most know the premise of the series - Sandy Kominsky (Michael Douglas) is an acting coach with his own school. We come in on the series as Sandy's latest crop of students files in, Sandy's best friend and agent, Norman Newlander is dealing with the terminal illness and subsequent death of his wife.

The two men have formed a very close bond, replete with barbs, disagreements and all of the elements that make a friendship challenging and rewarding. Sandy has a daughter, Mindy (Sarah Baker) from his first marriage to Roz (Kathleen Turner) - the thrice -divorced Sandy begins to date one of his students, Lisa (Nancy Travis) - what follows is a witty, thoughtful exploration of characters in their "twilight" years, coping with the travails of old age, loss, grief, etc. If all of this sounds depressing, it is at times, but ultimately, it's a mixed bag of the absurd, hilarious and the deadly serious.

I enjoyed Douglas's Sandy interaction with Arkin's Norman - these two are nothing short of wonderful and the series is peppered with guest appearances by Danny DeVito, Ann-Margret, Jane Seymour, Barry Levenson, Morgan Freeman, and many more. I didn't find Mindy's character nor her relationship with the much older Martin (Paul Reiser) nearly as compelling as Sandy's ups and downs, travails and triumphs.

I did think it a bit cheesy that Chuck Lorre, the series' producer, director and writer, enlisted regulars from his TV series (Two and a Half Men, Mom), indeed, there's a scene in Season Two where two of Sandy's male students prepare a scene FROM "Two and a Half Men" that I found off-putting - and though I am in recovery myself, you can bet that a Lorre production will have a character whos an alcoholic/drug-addled mess, to wit, Norman's only daughter, Phoebe (Lisa Edelstein) - I rather think Lorre is in recovery himself, because these characters ARE beautifully drawn and portrayed, here and in his sitcoms, to his great credit.

No spoilers here, but a caveat - if you have ANY issues about aging, if your buttons are pressed about what longevity brings to bear inevitably, steel yourself - nothing is glossed over, and again, in its perceptive and spot-on writing and acting, growing older is depicted honestly - but no matter - the series is SO worthwhile and whatever qualms one might have will be whisked away by a rapier wit and compassion for its characters that makes this series so engaging, rewarding and absolutely worth your time.

Get Out (I) (2017)

They've got to be kidding me with this nonsense.

[3/10 · 3 February 2019]

I just wasted nearly two hours of my life watching one of the dumbest movies I have ever seen, I had heard great things about it, it sounded like an interesting concept, and to be fair, it does start off very well and draws you in. Young Chris Washington, an amiable fellow who's a professional photographer goes to spend the weekend with his white girlfriend's family - he's nervous, as most young men are when meeting their girl's family and that his girl hasn't disclosed his race to her parents puts him even more on edge. At first blush, her parents are typical upper-middle class professional pseudo-liberals - even without what follows, they're not at all likable - the young woman has a brother who looks like white trash, gets drunk at the family dinner that evening and, in his passive-aggressive way, really wants to kick the crap out of Chris. There's an extended family gathering that weekend - which makes poor Chris even more anxious, but he outwardly calm and unflappable and is a good sport, if only to please his girlfriend.

I won't disclose what happens next - but the story just devolves into abject stupidity. Pointless, in my view, violence and a denouement that is anti-climatic. I couldn't wait for this film to be over - for a film that got off to such an interesting and promising start, I was greatly disappointed.

If the message here is that white people have a desire to continually subjugate Blacks, meh - as a white man, I can't even take umbrage at that because A) I'm not sure that's what Jordan Peele is trying to assert and B) in its execution, it's just plain silly and mindless.

Nota bene - I rented this from Netflix on Blu-Ray - there was a very clear message that if you WANT to see the bonus features, which looked very interesting, you had to OWN the DVD - the Netflix copy was a no-frills, movie only copy - really? Is this something new or Universal being withholding and just plain idiotic. Speaking for myself, I can't recommend this film - it's a cut above a made-for-television feature - it tries, in its way, to bring a "Rosemary's Baby" suspense to it and it just fails miserably in that regard - perhaps they were aiming a bit too high.

Upstairs, Downstairs: The Glorious Dead (1974) Season 4, Episode 8

A meditation on war!

[10/10 · 13 November 2016]

** spoiler alert **

One of the series' very best episodes, tragic news arrives at Eaton Place for Rose. Sgt. Wilmont has been killed, Rose is inconsolable, and the entire downstairs is rocked. Hazel does her best to comfort Rose but is dealing with her grief with the news of Lt. Jack Dyson's death, which is front page news. In an incandescent scene, one grief- stricken woman does her best to calm another with the advice to seek comfort in prayer. In the meantime, a broken James returns home and does his best to explain to his wife what's happened and why he no longer believes in the unimaginable horror of this conflict. It's here that we begin to see the unhinging of James Bellamy. "The Glorious Dead" are not only the heroes who have sacrificed their lives - they are used and, even manipulated, by the living for the purpose of psychological survival. The episode is a tour de force, thematically, dramatically and, without revealing the denouement, fiercely and intensely moving. It is a bravura 50 minutes of riveting television viewing and, a searing meditation on the abject waste and nightmare of violent conflict.

Upstairs, Downstairs: Peace out of Pain (1974) Season 4, Episode 13

A great loss to the series, indeed.

[10/10 · 26 November 2015]

This review may contain SPOILERS.

I can only applaud what the previous reviewer has said about this episode. I was shocked when I first viewed it many years ago, and I still find it hard to watch.

A dreadfully tempered James, upon hearing of the incipient marriage of his father to Virginia Hamilton, has a bitter quarrel with Hazel. He throws her out of the morning room and, as she is down with the Spanish flu, trips as she runs upstairs.It is Rose who looks after her, takes her temperature and summons Dr. Foley. Richard, smitten with Virginia, seems to have forgotten all about Hazel, which, indeed, I found very odd. Hazel was the mighty fortress who kept the household together and coherent in the aftermath of Lady Marjorie's death and all throughout the Great War.

Though it is hard to watch both upstairs and downstairs go through the motions of attending Hazel's funeral, I do think that, despite Richard's aberrant behavior, the writer is spot on. The reactions are in direct proportion to how all and sundry viewed Hazel.

Kudos to the magnificent Meg Wynn Owen - she is incandescent in this episode, and the ensuing series is not quite the same without her. Though Meg Wynn Owen is on record, saying that the writers had done all they could with Hazel and that she was not a woman for the 1920s, Series Five, is never quite the same without her.

I am glad that a broken James Bellamy never remarried. I couldn't abide seeing him with another woman, particularly Georgina, who will reject him in the end. Rose, true to form, is the only character who grieves the loss of her mistress. I think Virgina's behavior was entirely proper - had Hazel lived, she would have had a great friend in Virginia. As I have written in a previous review, seldom have I encountered a character as memorable and beloved as Hazel, in any medium. The marriage of a great actress, a beautifully drawn character, superbly directed. Meg Wynn Owen is breathtaking and gave a bravura performance, whenever she appeared on the screen.

Upstairs, Downstairs: Miss Forrest (1973) Season 3, Episode 1

An alternative viewpoint to Series Three.

[10/10 · 17 April 2013]

While it is true that Rachel Gurney, who hated playing Lady Marjorie, and Nicole Paget, Pauline Collins and John Alderton left after the Season Two, there are many who were tiring of Sarah and Watkins and the producers had done all that they could with Elizabeth's character. When producer John Hawkesworth and series' Script Editor, Alfred Shaughnessy, begged Rachel Gurney NOT to leave the series, she was adamant (a decision she would later regret for the rest of her life), producer and writers made certain that Lady Marjorie Bellamy would NEVER return to the series by placing her and her ladies' maid, Maude Roberts (Patsy Smart) on the Titanic. Before Lady Marjorie leaves for America, there is a domestic dispute when James, in his parent's absence, orders luncheon in the dining room with Richard's secretary, Hazel Forrest. Hudson is outraged at James's orders and upon, Lady Marjorie and Richard's return, tenders his resignation. A carfuffel ensues, but all is settle before her Ladyship and Roberts depart for America.

Simon Williams is on record as saying that bringing Meg Wynn Owen, as "Miss Forrest" was a stroke of genius. An absolutely incandescent performance by a hugely gifted actress (Meg Wynn Owen) who realized a beautifully crafted character and was superbly directed, Hazel introduces a middle class character to this third season ~ an entirely sympathetic character, a favorite among viewers because Hazel brought a middle class sensibility with whom viewers could identify. Meg Wynn Owen really managed to save the series.

I can't understand this assertion that Series Three is the weakest of the series (many would say that this is true of Series Five). The script for "Miss Forrest" and for "The Bolter" were nominated for Emmy awards, director Bill Bain WON the Emmy for his direction of the last episode in this third season, "The Sudden Storm," Jean Marsh won her Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series and "Upstairs, Downstairs," for the first time won the Emmy for Best Drama Series. Part of the beauty of this third series is its variety and each character is given an episode which focuses on them and allows them to shine: there is the ongoing arc of the relationship between Hazel and James, Rose is featured, prominently, in "Rose's Pigeon" and "A Perfect Stranger" ~ Richard is the prime focus of "Word of Honour," Hudson in "A Change of Scene, the introduction of Georgina Worsley (Leslie Anne Down)and Daisy Peel (Jacqueline Tong), Christopher Beeny's as Edward in "What the Footman Saw" and Mrs. Bridges (Angela Baddely) in "A Sudden Storm" FOR ANY ONE interested in screen acting writing or direction, the magnificent "Distant Thunder" an absolute tour de force, is a MUST.

So there is my rebuttal to claims to a weak Series Three.

Red Dawn (2012)

The Chaos theory plays out in Spokane.

[6/10 · 13 November 2012]

One of the basic tenets of the chaos theory is that events are deterministic, suggesting that, given initial conditions, events are not susceptible to randomness. However, it is this precise determinism that, paradoxically, does NOT make them predictable at all, but vulnerable to… chaos. This is the key premise to director Dan Bradley's "Red Dawn."

Chris Hemsworth, (Jed Eckert) a US Marine, has recently returned to his native Spokane, after a six year tour of duty in Iraq. His father, Tom Eckert (Brett Cullen) is the city's chief of police. Chris's younger brother, Matt, (Josh Peck) looks up to his older brother, whom he thinks heroic. The brothers, along with Danny (Edwin Hodge), Matt's best friend, Robert (Josh Hutcherson), tech guru extraordinaries and Daryl (Connor Cruise) Robert's best friend and the mayor's son, are a close cadre and live and enjoy a relatively typical and happy existence in their small corner of the city. Matt has a girlfriend, Erica (Isabel Lucas) and then there's the 'no nonsense' Toni (Adrianne Palicki) who has eyes for Chris.

One quiet morning, the city is besieged by air and on land, by a group of North Korean militia and Chris and company finds themselves prisoners under enemy occupation. Chris determined to fight back at all costs, because as he says, the fight is on their home turf and, "When you're fighting for your family, it all hurts a little less and makes a little more sense" takes full command. The group galvanizes and the games begin.

"Red Dawn" is an updated version of 1984 cult classic, which several teen icons of the 1980s. Of course, these were the waning days of Soviet Russia, but what with President Ronald Reagan calling the Soviet Union, an "evil empire," the plot, in its day had great resonance. Dan Bradley, making his directorial debut, has selected material that suits him. His years of experience as stunt coordinator, serve him very well. As action films go, this is a perfectly adequate film, with impressive special effects, and all of the attendant trappings of the genre – tanks, AKA 47's and all manner of weapons, but for the faint of heart, take note. The film contains several protracted scenes that are very violent, some a bit gratuitous and ear plugs might come in handy, as well. The film, in Dolby 88, may have some scurrying for aspirin - the action scenes are exceedingly loud. However, the cast deliver uniformly good performances, and, as is so often the case, there are the usual twists and turns and a few surprises.

The film's fundamental concept would have made for an excellent political thriller. However, Bradley says that, in comparison to its 1984 counterpart, the 2012 version of "Red Dawn," the invasion seemed "an apt metaphor" for the unease Americans feel about the world today and opines that, "Americans just don't feel as secure as they once were." Perhaps, without having heard of it, Americans are, increasingly, subscribing to the afore-mentioned chaos theory.

Price Check (2012)

Not for the PC police.

[8/10 · 22 October 2012]

Price Check" is a very brave film. Its characters are not the most sympathetic and its message may be off putting to many in the audience. However the questions it raises and the inner conflict of its protagonist will resonate with viewers, particularly men, especially in the current zeitgeist.

When we first meet Pete Cozy, (Eric Mabius) he is a happily married family man of modest means. His wife, Sarah (Annie Parisse) is a stay at home mom, and despite mounting debt, has a rather nonchalant attitude towards paying bills. Pete, who had worked in the music industry years before and loved what he did, is now responsible for looking after his family and works in marketing for a moribund supermarket chain in suburban New York City. Enter Susan Felders (Parker Posey) as textbook Type A personality, who is brought in to save the fledgling business.

Susan is a foul mouthed termagant. She lives for her career, she belittles her staff mercilessly, and she is bombastic and thoroughly unpleasant. But she is a slave driver and is on a jihad to bolster sales and get the job done. However, she does take a particular shine to Pete, immediately doubles his salary, she is very impressed to learn that he was graduated from an Ivy League university. She drops by his house to meet his wife and, seemingly, shows her soft side when she meets the Cozy's toddler – an adorable blond boy, Henry (Finn Donoghue) who is very enthused about the upcoming Halloween party at his preschool. Susan asks Sarah if she could attend this event, much to Sarah's surprise. Sarah signs off on it and Susan finds the entire event charming - to the point that she demands that everyone in the office dress up in costume and initiates the staff's first Halloween party.

Despite all of her treacle, in true Machiavellian fashion, Susan enlists Pete as her confidante. She asks his opinion on who should be made redundant and confers many important projects upon him. Pete is very conflicted in this role - he is very flattered and his salary is sweet, but, increasingly and, perhaps, inevitably, he is spending less time with his wife, who is very keen to have another child and his co- workers feel betrayed by him. It's all very Faustian, but Pete goes along with it, despite his misgivings.

Susan and Pete travel to Los Angeles to make a presentation at a very key board meeting. In a scene reminiscent of Norma Desmond and Joe in "Sunset Boulevard," Susan buys Pete a very expensive suit and a $300 haircut. Nicely groomed and preened, Mr. Bennington, chairman of the board (Edward Hermann) is very impressed with this young man. Bennington asks Pete if he would consider pulling up stakes and moving to Los Angeles for an executive position. Susan, who feels entitled to this job, is wary, but that night, back at their hotel, Susan is drunk and pleads with Pete to make love to her. She says she wants to get pregnant and wants his seed. Pete, eventually, relents and the affair continues upon their return to New York. Sarah discovers what's happened, but doesn't confront her husband.

Pete promises Bennington that his New York staff can get an important project done in six weeks, Susan is at her histrionic worst, it's Christmas and there's very little joy in the office. Susan, now convinced that Bennington will hire Pete, does a background check on him and discovers a secret from his past, fires him on the spot, ice water coursing through her veins. Shocked, Pete views this as an opportunity to follow his passion and return to the music business, but he burned his contacts and is at a complete loss, with Sarah, now pregnant, harangues him. As if by magic, an executive head hunter calls and offers Pete a great job with a fabulous salary and the family move to California, his wife, with new born baby and toddler, in tow, very happy, indeed. Pete is clearly unhappy despite his good fortune.

The film is beautifully directed and written by Michael Walker ("Chasing Sleep" ) The cast are uniformly excellent. Eric Mabius's does an excellent job of conveying Pete's inner turmoil, trying to reconcile his family life, which is very important to him and the increasingly important role, thrust upon him, in the corporate world. Parker Posey is very good as Susan, the ultimate shrew – but her character is a bit one dimensional. She is the quintessential Dragon Lady, but the why and the wherefore of her character are never exposed and mores' the pity. Annie Parisse does a fine job, with what little she has and kudos to the supporting cast – especially to Edward Hermann as Bennington, in an honest, subtle and a very fine performance, Remy Auberjonois as Todd Kenner and special kudos to Josh Pais as Doug, numbers crunchers extraordinaries, who is luminous in a beautifully executed scene, when discussing his sex life with Pete.

The issue of careerism is nothing new in modern fiction and film, but it is usually the woman who is the victim. Walker is a very brave director and writer, for here, Pete is the victim. The women in this film get EVERYTHING they want and neither Susan nor Sarah come off well here. Pete, does what responsible men do – he provides for his family, at the expense of his own happiness and passion. Feminists might despise "Price Check," but the message that the MAN in the family is, invariably, the breadwinner and all expectations and responsibilities fall to him is something we've not seen in films in recent years. Equal pay for women, when it is the man who brings home the bacon? Walker says, "The Emperor Has No Clothes."

The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story (1983 TV Movie)

What a gem!

[10/10 · 12 February 2004]

I remember seeing this movie years ago and I wonder why it has never played on any of the cable stations. It is deeply moving and the acting is excellent. Polly Holliday is incandescent as the spinster aunt and she managed to do something that is virtually impossible. She moved me to tears. A wonderful, warm gem of a film. How I miss Lee Remick! She died too young and we have been deprived of her ample acting talent and wonderful presence. I do hope that one of the cable networks airs this movie one of these holiday seasons. It is one of the very best TV films made, hands down, IMO!

Hand in Hand (1961)

I was thinking of this film the other day!

[31 October 2003]

I, too, remember this film from my childhood and was always deeply moved by it. I couldn't remember the name of it for love or money. All one needs to do at the IMDb is post a query and you will get an response.

I remember the CBS Children's Film Festival. I haven't thought about it for years.

And I would like to add something regarding WHO killed Christ. As a Christian, it is my understanding that Jesus was born to DIE for our sins. It is silly and wrong headed to blame the Jews or the Romans. It is not only anti-Semitic, it is anti-Christian.

Does anyone know if I could obtain a copy of the film? You can e-mail me @ [e-mail]. Thanks to all!

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Winded, but the last half hour is a MUST

[9/10 · 27 October 2003]

This movie is long, talky and winded, but there are some wonderful performances. And, the last scene with Bette Davis (can't say more for fear of divulging too much) is a marvel. Deeply moving and Davis is luminous. All of the talk, talk, talk is worth the look on Davis' face at the end of the film. Enjoy it, warts and all.

Elmer Gantry (1960)

A superb film!

[9/10 · 5 April 2003]

This is an excellent film, beautifully acted and directed. Lancaster earned every inch of his Oscar, as did Shirley Jones, who played a prostitute with a conscience. I ALWAYS think that this is Jean Simmons best performance and that she was not only robbed of an Oscar nomination, but indeed, the Oscar itself. Simmons brings to Sister Sharon a multi-layered, complex character, a woman torn by her "worldly" desires and goals and her deep and abiding faith. We see, in the end and without divulging too much, that she is indeed, a very holy and devout woman and a true believer. She is luminous. It is a stunning performance. Interesting to note that director Richard Brooks married Jean Simmons, shortly after the film was completed. So, she was in very capable and knowing hands.

This is a very good film and a meditation on the unique and singular form of Christianity and its many permutations in these United States in the decadent 1920's.

Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)

Reruns are back!

[6 February 2003]

Nick at Nite has started the series from the beginning... set your VCR to tape at 3:30 AM Eastern. Enjoy. It does bring me back to the great 80's! The series holds up very well. Wonder what has become of Mark Linn Baker and Bronson Pinchot. The series, as I said, is very 80's. It brings back great memories. So, a heads up to you! Enjoy!

Flower Drum Song (1961)

Updated Broadway version, my foot.. give me the original!

[10/10 · 4 January 2003]

I have seen the revival of the 1958 R&H musical and did not appreciate it one bit. The original story is so charming, with a lovely score and sympathetic and enchanting characters. I don't understand all of this nonsense about stereotypes. In the film, all of the characters are fully realized, three dimensional characters. I agree with what the former poster has to say about the 1961 film. Very true to the original play, though I would opine that the original cast orchestrations are better than those of the film. Fine performances by a darling Miyoshi Umeki, seemingly servile, but full of pluck and guts and insight, in her own quiet way. Nancy Kwan looks beautiful as Linda Low and Jack Shoo and the handsome James Shigata as the romantic lead are wonderfully cast. Juanita Hall steals every scene she is in and Benson Fong is superb, as the traditional, but very wise father, who really does have his son's interest and happiness at heart.

Seems to me that these are universals, not endemic to any one group. I just do not understand all of the fuss about updating the book. "The Other Generation" is cut from the updated version. Was that song a slur against Chinese Americans in the late 1950's? Seems to me that in another Broadway classic, "Bye, Bye Birdie", which opened in the spring of 1960, white bread American parents lamented the "other generation" in a diddy called, "Kids." It was the zeitgeist of the late Eisenhower era and the fall out from rock and roll and the huge impact a fellow called Elvis made in these United States.

Ancient Chinese saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." In these troubled times, Broadway audiences would have appreciated a slightly tweaked and updated version of this 1958 gem of a show. David Hwang Ho has really taken it to the extreme. So, if you want to real flavor the original, stick with the film and the wonderful characters who inhabit the wonderful Chinatown and Grant Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA, in those halcyon Kennedy years.