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Back to the Movies!
Jun. 9th, 2020 02:39 pmMarch and April were pretty much lost causes when it came to watching movies. With COVID-19 taking over everything, I was glued to MSNBC. When I finally did pull myself away, two months had passed. Even then, we ended up watching a lot of comedy concert, just to liven our mood. Things started to pick up in May, so here's the last three months.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MARCH
March 4 - I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.
Director: Raoul Peck
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Robert F. Kennedy, Harry Belafonte, Dick Cavett
An enthralling and somber look at history through the author’s eyes. Prescient, considering what’s going on now.
March 10 - Ad Astra
Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Liv Tyler
The movie is a bit odd, though interesting and still entertaining.
March 11 - Judy
Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts.
Director: Rupert Goold
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock
I already knew that Judy Garland had problems. I just wasn’t aware of how much. An interesting take on the last months of her life.
Mar 21 - Mark Marin: End Times Fun
Marc Maron wades through a swamp of vitamin hustlers, evangelicals and grown male nerd children, culminating in a gleefully filthy end times fantasy.
Director: Lynn Shelton
Star: Marc Maron
Funny, in a twisted sort of way.
MOVIES WATCHED IN APRIL
April 18 - The Good Liar
Consummate con man Roy Courtnay has set his sights on his latest mark: the recently widowed Betty McLeish, worth millions. But this time, what should have been a simple swindle escalates into a cat-and-mouse game with the ultimate stakes.
Director: Bill Condon
Stars: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Russell Tovey, Jim Carter
Great movie. Mirren is outstanding.
April 25 - Last Christmas
Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn. For Kate, it seems too good to be true.
Director: Paul Feig
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Madison Ingoldsby, Emma Thompson, Boris Isakovic
Slow to start, but ultimately satisfying. The ending was a real surprise.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MAY
May 8 - Pompeii: Disaster Street
After decades of neglect, and following water damage and collapse of walls, Italy and the EU funded the rescue archaeology operation in this new area of Pompeii, the famous historical site visited by 3 million tourists a year. With five generations worth of scientific advancement at their disposal, the archaeologists highlighted in the film are not simply attempting to restore mosaics and the city's architecture, they are uncovering details about the people that inhabited the area at the time Vesuvius erupted.
Really interesting. If you have Curiosity Stream, I highly recommend watching it.
May 10 - Jerry Seinfeld :23 Hours to Kill (2020)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld performs at the Beacon Theatre in New York City with his take on everyday life, uncovering comedy in the commonplace.
Director: Joe DeMaio
Writer: Jerry Seinfeld
Star: Jerry Seinfeld
I’d read some bad reviews, but I found it extremely funny. Maybe because I can relate more to Seinfeld’s comedy now since it deals a lot with getting older.
May 11 - Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You For the Last Time (1998)
Live from New York City, Jerry Seinfeld, aided and abetted by a host of friends and fellow comedians, performs his 1998 Emmy-nominated performance on Broadway.
Odd enough, I’d heard that this was the one to watch, but I found it only semi-funny.
May 15 - Jane Goodall: The Hope (2020)
As the 60th anniversary of her arrival to the chimpanzee kingdom in Gombe approaches, Dr. Jane Goodall spends time with her family in Tanzania and returns to her wild Eden.
Directors: Elizabeth Leiter, Kim Woodard
Star: Jane Goodall
Highly recommended. It’s amazing what Goodall has accomplished.
May 18 - Comedian (2002)
A look at the work of two stand-up comics, Jerry Seinfeld and a lesser-known newcomer, detailing the effort and frustration behind putting together a successful act and career while living a life on the road.
Director: Christian Charles
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Orny Adams
You definitely see the difference in how some comedians see life, as opposed to others. But age seems to mellow most of them.
May 20 - Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner (2019)
Ray Romano cut his stand-up teeth at the Comedy Cellar in New York. Now, in his first comedy special in 23 years, he returns to where it all began.
Director: Michael Showalter
Writer: Ray Romano
Stars: Ray Romano, Ryan Reiss, Richard Sarvate
Very funny in places, just so-so in others.
May 25 - Jerry Before Seinfeld (2017)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage at the comedy club where he began his career to recount his early life.
Director: Michael Bonfiglio
Writer: Jerry Seinfeld
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Brogan, Mark Schiff
More interesting than out and out funny.
May 29 - Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020)
Exploring Natalie Wood's life and career through the unique perspective of her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and others who knew her best.
Director: Laurent Bouzereau
Stars: Natalie Wood, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Julie Salamon, Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Courtney Wagner, Robert Wagner, George Hamilton, Katie Wagner, Richard Gregson, Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, Elliott Gould, George Segal, Jill St. John
Another actress that turned out to have more issues than I was aware of. Not as bad as Garland, but Wood carried around a lot of baggage. The documentary is well worth watching, especially for fans of the actress.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MARCH
March 4 - I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.
Director: Raoul Peck
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Robert F. Kennedy, Harry Belafonte, Dick Cavett
An enthralling and somber look at history through the author’s eyes. Prescient, considering what’s going on now.
March 10 - Ad Astra
Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Liv Tyler
The movie is a bit odd, though interesting and still entertaining.
March 11 - Judy
Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts.
Director: Rupert Goold
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock
I already knew that Judy Garland had problems. I just wasn’t aware of how much. An interesting take on the last months of her life.
Mar 21 - Mark Marin: End Times Fun
Marc Maron wades through a swamp of vitamin hustlers, evangelicals and grown male nerd children, culminating in a gleefully filthy end times fantasy.
Director: Lynn Shelton
Star: Marc Maron
Funny, in a twisted sort of way.
MOVIES WATCHED IN APRIL
April 18 - The Good Liar
Consummate con man Roy Courtnay has set his sights on his latest mark: the recently widowed Betty McLeish, worth millions. But this time, what should have been a simple swindle escalates into a cat-and-mouse game with the ultimate stakes.
Director: Bill Condon
Stars: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Russell Tovey, Jim Carter
Great movie. Mirren is outstanding.
April 25 - Last Christmas
Kate is a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Working as an elf in a year round Christmas store is not good for the wannabe singer. However, she meets Tom there. Her life takes a new turn. For Kate, it seems too good to be true.
Director: Paul Feig
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Madison Ingoldsby, Emma Thompson, Boris Isakovic
Slow to start, but ultimately satisfying. The ending was a real surprise.
MOVIES WATCHED IN MAY
May 8 - Pompeii: Disaster Street
After decades of neglect, and following water damage and collapse of walls, Italy and the EU funded the rescue archaeology operation in this new area of Pompeii, the famous historical site visited by 3 million tourists a year. With five generations worth of scientific advancement at their disposal, the archaeologists highlighted in the film are not simply attempting to restore mosaics and the city's architecture, they are uncovering details about the people that inhabited the area at the time Vesuvius erupted.
Really interesting. If you have Curiosity Stream, I highly recommend watching it.
May 10 - Jerry Seinfeld :23 Hours to Kill (2020)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld performs at the Beacon Theatre in New York City with his take on everyday life, uncovering comedy in the commonplace.
Director: Joe DeMaio
Writer: Jerry Seinfeld
Star: Jerry Seinfeld
I’d read some bad reviews, but I found it extremely funny. Maybe because I can relate more to Seinfeld’s comedy now since it deals a lot with getting older.
May 11 - Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You For the Last Time (1998)
Live from New York City, Jerry Seinfeld, aided and abetted by a host of friends and fellow comedians, performs his 1998 Emmy-nominated performance on Broadway.
Odd enough, I’d heard that this was the one to watch, but I found it only semi-funny.
May 15 - Jane Goodall: The Hope (2020)
As the 60th anniversary of her arrival to the chimpanzee kingdom in Gombe approaches, Dr. Jane Goodall spends time with her family in Tanzania and returns to her wild Eden.
Directors: Elizabeth Leiter, Kim Woodard
Star: Jane Goodall
Highly recommended. It’s amazing what Goodall has accomplished.
May 18 - Comedian (2002)
A look at the work of two stand-up comics, Jerry Seinfeld and a lesser-known newcomer, detailing the effort and frustration behind putting together a successful act and career while living a life on the road.
Director: Christian Charles
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Orny Adams
You definitely see the difference in how some comedians see life, as opposed to others. But age seems to mellow most of them.
May 20 - Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner (2019)
Ray Romano cut his stand-up teeth at the Comedy Cellar in New York. Now, in his first comedy special in 23 years, he returns to where it all began.
Director: Michael Showalter
Writer: Ray Romano
Stars: Ray Romano, Ryan Reiss, Richard Sarvate
Very funny in places, just so-so in others.
May 25 - Jerry Before Seinfeld (2017)
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage at the comedy club where he began his career to recount his early life.
Director: Michael Bonfiglio
Writer: Jerry Seinfeld
Stars: Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Brogan, Mark Schiff
More interesting than out and out funny.
May 29 - Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020)
Exploring Natalie Wood's life and career through the unique perspective of her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and others who knew her best.
Director: Laurent Bouzereau
Stars: Natalie Wood, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Julie Salamon, Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Courtney Wagner, Robert Wagner, George Hamilton, Katie Wagner, Richard Gregson, Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, Elliott Gould, George Segal, Jill St. John
Another actress that turned out to have more issues than I was aware of. Not as bad as Garland, but Wood carried around a lot of baggage. The documentary is well worth watching, especially for fans of the actress.
