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TV and Movies
23 Jan 2025 08:38 amTV
Bad monkey S1 (2024) - A series based on Carl Hiaasen's novel of the same name. A detective gets demoted to a restaurant inspector, and is given the task of transporting an arm from a suspected murder to the coroner's office in another county. For me, the show misses the mark in translating HIaasen's newspaper reporter's snappy writing, biting satire, and contempt for corruption to screen, but Vince Vaughn makes the character of Andrew Yancy his own and charmingly annoying and likeable. Also, it is a gorgeous show - it's filmed in the Florida Keys, Miami, and the Bahamas.
Andor S1 (2022) - A prequel to Rogue One which is a prequel to the Star Warssaga. Series. It follows Cassian Andor's journey to Rebel spy. I struggled to figure out what was happening for about the first three episodes, but it sucked me in anyway. I don't understand how storytellers do that. I really liked it. I got hints of Cool Hand Luke and Die Hard.
For All Mankind S1 (2019) - This is an alternate reality series where the Russians beat the US to the moon in 1969. They continue to beat the US in space travel and the US has to scramble to keep up. The first few episodes filled me with hope and wonder and had me fantasizing about the possibilities that would have brought about. It had a good balance of good and bad things happening. The last few episodes were very dramatic and were one bad thing after another. Like Charlie Brown and the football, it was frustrating. I understand the consensus is this show jumps the shark in later seasons, and I can see how that would happen.
Movies
Red One (2024) - Santa Claus is kidnapped, the head of security in the north pole teams up with a hacker, who made said kidnapping possible, to rescue him. I feel like everyone was under-used in this, except for J.K. Simmons' guns. His arms were noice. The best thing about this movie is that local Portland knitter Jessica Spiegel made Santa's hat, and the pattern is available on ravelry!
Violent Night (2022) - A burned-out Santa (Dave Harbour) is done with Christmas, but gets roped back in when a family is held hostage. Lots of violence and gore. Interesting lore on where Santa came from, but could have been more. Just realized I did a bunch of rhyming.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) - Nicolas Cage plays movie star Nick Cage who does a private party because he needs the work. He gets caught between the mob/mafia/? and the CIA. Like all Cage films, this was a combination of "whoa", funny, and dramatic. Pedro Pascal is great as the superfan who hired him. I always like Tiffany Haddish. I would absolutely watch this again.
Bad monkey S1 (2024) - A series based on Carl Hiaasen's novel of the same name. A detective gets demoted to a restaurant inspector, and is given the task of transporting an arm from a suspected murder to the coroner's office in another county. For me, the show misses the mark in translating HIaasen's newspaper reporter's snappy writing, biting satire, and contempt for corruption to screen, but Vince Vaughn makes the character of Andrew Yancy his own and charmingly annoying and likeable. Also, it is a gorgeous show - it's filmed in the Florida Keys, Miami, and the Bahamas.
Andor S1 (2022) - A prequel to Rogue One which is a prequel to the Star Wars
For All Mankind S1 (2019) - This is an alternate reality series where the Russians beat the US to the moon in 1969. They continue to beat the US in space travel and the US has to scramble to keep up. The first few episodes filled me with hope and wonder and had me fantasizing about the possibilities that would have brought about. It had a good balance of good and bad things happening. The last few episodes were very dramatic and were one bad thing after another. Like Charlie Brown and the football, it was frustrating. I understand the consensus is this show jumps the shark in later seasons, and I can see how that would happen.
Movies
Red One (2024) - Santa Claus is kidnapped, the head of security in the north pole teams up with a hacker, who made said kidnapping possible, to rescue him. I feel like everyone was under-used in this, except for J.K. Simmons' guns. His arms were noice. The best thing about this movie is that local Portland knitter Jessica Spiegel made Santa's hat, and the pattern is available on ravelry!
Violent Night (2022) - A burned-out Santa (Dave Harbour) is done with Christmas, but gets roped back in when a family is held hostage. Lots of violence and gore. Interesting lore on where Santa came from, but could have been more. Just realized I did a bunch of rhyming.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) - Nicolas Cage plays movie star Nick Cage who does a private party because he needs the work. He gets caught between the mob/mafia/? and the CIA. Like all Cage films, this was a combination of "whoa", funny, and dramatic. Pedro Pascal is great as the superfan who hired him. I always like Tiffany Haddish. I would absolutely watch this again.
