Outside the Wire

 

Anthony Mackie (Avengers) stars as an AI in the future American army that seems to have an agenda of his own. It's a somewhat convoluted plot - it's science fiction - with a lot of mind games and some very cool martial arts. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Call Me Kat

 

This is a half hour comedy show on FOX - I watch on Hulu - that stars Mayim Bialik (Big Bang). This is based on the UK show Miranda. An intelligent and funny business woman has to deal with annoying friends, an annoying mother, and try to get her long time crush to crush on her. Leslie Jordan (The Help) and Swoosie Kurtz (Man with a Plan) also star. All in all, I say: TRY IT

Container Homes

 

On Hulu, this short series is a reality show about people that are using containers for their homes. It's pretty cool, all the different designs. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Mr. Mayor

 

Ted Danson (Cheers) is the newly elected mayor of LA. It's a short comedy series that is on NBC. Holly Hunter (The Pianist) also stars. There are some parts that are very funny, but a majority is just way too slap stick for me. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Pretend it's a City

 

Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets) interviews humorist Fran Lebowitz about a wide variety of topics in this Netflix series. She is kind of annoying to watch and listen too. There were some parts that were interesting like an interview she did with Spike Lee. Other parts...not so much. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you love her. 

The Wilds

 

A TV series on Amazon that follows the lives of some troubled girls when their plane crashed on an island. Thing is - nothing is what it appears to be. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it was interesting. I can't really tell more without giving way stuff. It won't be worth it, if there isn't a second season and a clear ending.

I'm Your Woman

 

Rachel Brosnahan (Boomtown) is the wife of a gangster when things go wrong. Someone that owes her husband comes to take her and her newly acquired child to a safe house. She learns all her husbands secrets, and discovers how strong she is. It wasn't bad - not great. It's on Amazon. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Blackbird

 

Sam Neill (Event Horizon) and Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) are a powerful married couple who have decided to take death into their own hands. She is dying and he is going to help her leave. She wants to spend a weekend with her kids first. This leads to a lot of secrets getting out and new bonds forming. Rainn Wilson (Office), Kate Winslet (Titanic), and Mia Wasikowska (Stoker) all star. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it was well acted and directed. 

Detroit

 

Kathryn Bigelow (Near dark) directs this strange mix of documentary and drama movie about the race riots in Detroit. It was a little strange, shaky camera work, and a little claustrophobic. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Kindergarten Teacher

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Frank) plays a mother of grown kids and a teacher in this movie on Netflix. She is taking a community school poetry course and isn't really being praised for her work. One of her kids starts spouting out words and phrases that are too complex for his age and she begins to think he might be gifted. When she passes off some of his poems as hers - everyone starts to pay attention to her. She is bat shit crazy. I was uncomfortable watching this. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

A Family Man

 

Gerard Butler (300) stars in this Netflix movie about a man who has to change his priorities when his child gets sick. Gretchen Moi (3:10 to Yuma) stars as his wife. Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project) stars as his boss. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it was a little long and slow to get to the point. 

Best of Stand-Up 2020

 

This Netflix special on all their comedy specials that came out in 2020 was cool. It gives you a taste of a wide variety of comedians. I watched it and made a list of the ones I wanted to see in their entirety. Pretty cool. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Tom Papa: You're Doing Great

 

I've never seen this comedian before. He has this special on Netflix which I'm not gonna lie, made me feel good. It was funny and uplifting which was surprising. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Yearly Departed

 

On Netflix, this is a star studded, comedic look back at 2020. Some of it is vulgar. If you watch wait until the end. They show some of how they made it. All in all, I say: WATCH IT

Wonder Woman 84

 

A sequel to the original movie that takes place in 1984. The plot is so slow....and uninteresting. Even Pedro Pascal (GoT) couldn't make it any better. It was painful. On HBO, but watch at your own risk. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Replicas

 

Keanu Reeves (Matrix) is a scientist in this HBO movie. When his family is killed he clones them. Now he has to hide his secret or risk losing his family. It's well acted, but the plot is less than interesting. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Solace

 

On amazon, this movie surrounds the hunt for a serial killer. It's rough in editing and directing. Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) can see the future and uses his talents to catch killers. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TWD) is an FBI agent that uses him to catch killers. There is a twist with this killer played by Colin Farrell (In Bruges) though. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Mom and Dad

 

Nicolas Cage (History of Swear Words) and Selma Blair (Hellboy) star as parents in this horror movie on Hulu. Something has happened worldwide and all parents are trying to kill their kids. It's kind of all over the place. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Photograph

 

Issa Rae (Insecure) is approached by a journalist - LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta) to discuss her mother's art. The two go on a journey together and apart. They each learn something about themselves that will change the directions of their life. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's so well acted - a little slow, but good. 

The Con is On

 

Uma Thurman (Kill Bill) and Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) star as British con artist who comes to California to con someone out of money and hopefully evade a deadly crime boss that wants them both dead. Crime boss is played by Maggie Q (Divergent). All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's so bad - all of it.

We Can be Heroes

 

A kids movie by Robert Rodriquez (Sin City) directs this kids action movie. Aliens are attacking Earth and the only people can that save the world are the kids of Superheroes. They also need to rescue their parents. Pedro Pascal (GoT) is one of the parents. You will recognize most of the parents, but not the kids. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - unless you're a kid.

Sylvie's Love

 

Tessa Thompson (Creed) is engaged and working at a music store when she meets the love of her life. It's 1950s Harlem. She finds out she is pregnant with a musician baby, but doesn't tell him, so he can go to Europe on tour with his band. She marries the man she was engaged to anyways. She wants a career in TV, but her husband is trying to prevent that. Years later she runs into the musician, and they both have o decide what they really want out of life. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like slow love stories 

The Midnight Sky

 

Based on a book this Netflix movie was directed and acted in by George Clooney (Oceans 11). It the end of the world and he spends his last days helping astronauts. Felicity Jones (Theory of Everything) and David Oyelowo (Selma) also star. It was predictable and slow. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

The Grizzlies

 

A teacher decides to work at an out of the way small town to pay off student loans, and ends up changing everyone's lives. The students play lacrosse and find something to live for - the area has the highest suicide rate among kids anywhere. He learns a lot about being a teacher and a mentor. It is very sad, but has a hopeful ending. It's based on a true story. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Netflix

One by One

 

A large group plan on spending a long weekend in France in a chalet skiing and discussing their plans for their small tech company. They have two workers at the chalet to help with food and what not. One member of the group goes missing and then another gets murdered. One by one it appears they are starting to become victim to a killer that is among them. The book is told from multiple characters point of view. The ending is better than her Cabin book. I guessed the killer within the first 5 chapters. It was formatted in a cool way. All in all, I say: READ IT

The Midnight Library

 

This reminds me of A Christmas Carol. The main character commits suicide after a very brutal day. She ends up in a mythical/spiritual place where her old school librarian is helping her think about her regrets. She gets to go back and her mind and see what her life would be like. For example, what if she had gone to Australian with her best friend - what would have happened. What if she had kept up with her band, joined a record label, and became famous - what would have happened. This goes on for most of the book and with each life she tries she can see there were negative with every decision. In the end...I won't tell you. You have to read it to know. It's also a bit like Sliding Doors and It's a Wonderful Life. All in all, I say: READ IT

This Time Next Year

 

This book reminded me of the movie Serendipity. The two main character keep almost coming into contact with one another. They were each other's first kiss without knowing their names. They keep criss crossing until a New Year's Eve party where they each end up dumping the person they are with. She thinks her birthday - New Years Eve - is cursed and boy oh boy you will come to agree. It's cute - the ending was predictable, but come on - I wouldn't have read it if it had a stupid ending. All in all, I say: READ IT

Tom Segura

 

He is a comedian from Ohio. He has three specials that I watched on Netflix.

1. Mostly Stories

2. Ball Hog

3. Disgraceful

I think more than 50% of his stuff is pretty funny.

All in all, I say: WATCH HIM

The Netflix Afterparty

 

IMDb writes, "The Netflix Afterparty is a first-of-its-kind weekly comedy panel show where comedians, casts, and creators come to chat about the streaming giant's buzziest shows and films. Each episode will be dedicated to one of the latest Netflix movies or TV shows to hit the cultural zeitgeist, with the stars of that title participating in interviews, pop culture discussions, sketches and segments. Each week, the co-hosts will be joined by a different Netflix comedian to round out the panel." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's just a long trailer to get you to watch even more on Netflix. And you don't need that!

Safety

 

This is based on the true story of a Crimson football player that had to break the rules to take care of his younger brother. It's kind of rough. I expected a little more from Disney. It wasn't horrible, but some of the acting and editing were pretty bad. All in all, I say: SEE IT 

Some Disney Shorts

 

A young rabbit tries to find a home and ends up causing disaster underground. He learns to get help from his friends. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A boy at camp arrives late and his partner in canoeing is a girl with a disability. She isn't able to speak or communicate well. They have a brief adventure. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A man is afraid to come out to his parents. He gets put inside the body of his dog and gets to listen in on his parents. It gives him courage to come out. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A kitten living in all alone by a garbage bin comes across a pitbull being kept chained in a yard. He is made to fight another dog. When he loses he has lost his will to continue. He was trying to get the kitten to play with him. The kitten helps him escape and takes him to a nice lady. They allow her to rescue them. This broke my heart and made me so angry. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Bridgerton

 

This is a dirty little romance novel brought to Netflix. In case you've never read a dirty romance novel on your beach vacation let me break it down. Boy meets girl. One of them will clearly loath the others. They will strike some sort of bargain to get what they "think" they want. They won't want that - the bargain is really a way for them to get close. They secretly love each other and keep getting in each other's way trying to get what they want. They won't think for one second the other person thinks the same things. Something terrible happens and they have to pretend to be bummed that they are now together. Lots of sex happens. There is a little snag - a little misunderstanding - one or both will compromise or learn their lesson. They will be happy. And more sex. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like cheesy romance otherwise skip.

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

 

This is a ballet documentary on Netflix that follows students of Debbie Allen has they prepare for the Nutcracker. I learned a lot in this. I like how hard she works to reach her kids. All in all, I say: SEE IT

On Pointe

 

This is a documentary on Disney+ about ballet dancers who attend the School of American Ballet. YOu are able to follow all the different levels of girls as they go about their school day up to when they audition for Nutcracker. Then Covid hits. It's very interesting. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Soul

 

Jamie Foxx (Spawn) does the voice of the main character in this Disney Pixar film on Disney+. He is a musician who has a big audition and dies suddenly. He manages to get away with the help of a soul named 22 (Tina Fey from 30Rock) who is unwilling to leave heaven. They both learn a lot about life and living life. It was cute - I thought it was a little long. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Angela's Christmas Wish

 

Frank McCourt of Angela's Ashes (movie & book) has used his mother's childhood as the background for this and one other animated story. This one takes place at Christmas. Angela is trying to bring her father home for the holidays. It's well done and so sweet. I bought the song they sing in the bar. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Netflix.

The Toys that Made Us

 

Documentary on Netflix on the history of some of the most famous toys in history like lego and barbie. It was very interesting - if you're a curious type. If you played with toys. All in all, I say: SEE IT

California Christmas

 On Netflix, this wanna be Hallmark movie kind of falls short. A wealthy man trying to buy a farm pretends to be a farm hand. They fall in love and he saves the day - you know the drill. Nothing great about this. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

My Planet

 

I love her books. She was a journalist and now she writes non-fiction. This book is just a collection of thoughts and events. It is laugh out loud. I loved this quick read. All in all, I say: READ IT

The Night Diary

 

This is a kids book from the point of view of a young girl. Her family has to move - migrate on foot - to India. It takes place when the country was divided creating India for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims. The book is a dairy to her deceased mother. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I got bored.

Modern Romance

 

I listened to Aziz Ansari (Parks & Rec) read his book on audible. This book is a research book. He spoke to scientist and conducted interviews himself to discover how romance has changed. The book also looks at men and women and their differing points of view of dating & romance. All in all, I say: LISTEN

Ungifted

 

A really bad kid accidently gets sent to his district gifted school. It turns out we are all gifted in our own ways. It has a lot of humor. It's told from the point of view of a variety of characters. It's a kids book. All in all, I say: READ IT

A Wolf called Wander

 

This is based on a real wolf that was tagged by scientist. He started in one place and ended up hundreds of miles away and not with his pack. It has science stuff, but mainly it's from the point of view of wolf. It was kind of annoying to read. It's a kids book. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Life of a President: Rutherford B Hayes

 

This takes the reader through his entire political career and includes some of his personal life. It looks at his positive achievements and his negative. I decided to read up on the Ohio native after I listened to a podcast about Presidents. As of right now, he is my favorite president. All in all, I say: READ IT

The Woods: Yearbook 1

 

This was an interesting comic book where a high school - yes, an entire high school - and everyone inside is transported by aliens to another planet. There they meet people from eras all throughout time. It was different and interesting. I liked the characters. All in all, I say: READ IT

Ready Player Two

 

It is no where near as good as the first book. It didn't have as much 80s stuff. It was still a hunt, but this time the hunt revolved around the creators likes and not really my likes. There were two or three chapters on just Prince which was boring and hard to get through. I like a few chapters in the beginning and a couple at the end. The middle was brutal. All in all, I say: READ IT if you read the first otherwise SKIP IT

Screwball

 

A short story on audible about Babe Ruth - a comical look at how he got famous in baseball. All in all, I say: LISTEN