For a change we liked this romantic comedy less than the ratings (see below), despite the stars. Ali Wong is a Type A celebrity chef and Randall Park her laid-back musician ex-boyfriend, with a big cast of Asian and non-Asian actors.
Written by Wong, Park, and Michael Golamco and directed by Nahnatchka Khan. No credited composer--just lots of songs.
Park is one of the stars of the TV series Fresh off the Boat, of which Khan is the creator and producer, and Wong is a stand-up comedian with two Netflix specials, shot when she was seven months pregnant with two different children.
There are a few fancy food stylings, so I'll put it on my list of food movies.
We saw it on Netflix on July 24, 2019. Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 90% and its audiences' 82.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Stuber (2019)
This silly action buddy comedy stars Kumail Nanjiani as a hapless Uber driver named Stu and Dave Bautista as a detective who needs a ride to chase some bad guys all over town. With Natalie Morales and Mira Sorvino, among many others. We didn't hate it.
Directed by Michael Dowse, written by Tripper Clancy, original score by Joseph Trapanese, and a long list of songs.
Nanjiani was last blogged for The Big Sick, Bautista for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Trapanese for The Greatest Showman.
Its critics' average on Rotten Tomatoes is 42% but audiences are at 79. It's streaming now. We saw it July 23, 2019.
Directed by Michael Dowse, written by Tripper Clancy, original score by Joseph Trapanese, and a long list of songs.
Nanjiani was last blogged for The Big Sick, Bautista for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Trapanese for The Greatest Showman.
Its critics' average on Rotten Tomatoes is 42% but audiences are at 79. It's streaming now. We saw it July 23, 2019.
The Art of Self Defense (2019)
More delightful sick and twisted-ness, this is a dark comedy about a meek man, played by Jesse Eisenberg, who joins a dojo after he's randomly attacked. Alessandro Nivola is the sensei and Imogen Poots a fellow student. Heather McIntosh composed the music.
Director/writer Riley Stearns trains and teaches self defense. This is his second feature.
Eisenberg was last blogged for Café Society, Nivola for Disobedience, and Poots for A Late Quartet.
We saw it July 20, 2019, it's now streaming, and Rotten Tomatoes' critics rate is 83% and its audiences 63.
Director/writer Riley Stearns trains and teaches self defense. This is his second feature.
Eisenberg was last blogged for Café Society, Nivola for Disobedience, and Poots for A Late Quartet.
We saw it July 20, 2019, it's now streaming, and Rotten Tomatoes' critics rate is 83% and its audiences 63.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Fun to see the old chestnut on a big screen. I remember being frightened as a little girl in the 1950s by a closeup of the witch's face on a big screen. Also fun to be reminded of so many details before seeing Judy two months later.
This screened in August, 2019, another of the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Films, and was a sing-along. I didn't have to be asked twice!
This screened in August, 2019, another of the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Films, and was a sing-along. I didn't have to be asked twice!
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
As a loyal fan of Nina Simone, I've been meaning to see this documentary for years and finally did so a few days ago. Jack and I both loved it. Oscar-nominated for Best Feature Documentary, it chronicles the pianist-singer's many talents and tribulations and includes archival footage and interviews with her (1933-2003) and some who were close to her.
I kept looking at it on my Netflix list when choosing content to download before plane travel but rejecting it in favor of watching without background noise. Good choice.
Director-producer Liz Garbus has made dozens of docs and was Oscar-nominated for one other.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 89%, its audiences' is 85, and the movie is streaming now.
I kept looking at it on my Netflix list when choosing content to download before plane travel but rejecting it in favor of watching without background noise. Good choice.
Director-producer Liz Garbus has made dozens of docs and was Oscar-nominated for one other.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 89%, its audiences' is 85, and the movie is streaming now.
Tootsie (1982)
Oops, almost forgot. We saw this in early May at a special screening and loved it again. Then a few months later saw the Broadway show and loved that, too.
Jessica Lange won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role. Nine other nominations including Best Picture; Dustin Hoffman for Best Actor; Teri Garr for Supporting Actress; Sydney Pollack for Director; Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, and Don McGuire for Original Screenplay; Owen Roizman for Cinematography; and Dave Grusin and Marilyn & Alan Bergman for the song It Might Be You.
It's one of the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Films.
Jessica Lange won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role. Nine other nominations including Best Picture; Dustin Hoffman for Best Actor; Teri Garr for Supporting Actress; Sydney Pollack for Director; Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, and Don McGuire for Original Screenplay; Owen Roizman for Cinematography; and Dave Grusin and Marilyn & Alan Bergman for the song It Might Be You.
It's one of the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Films.
Wild Rose (2019)
Loads of fun, this features an electric Jessie Buckley as down-on-her-luck Scotswoman Rose-Lynn determined to be a country music star, with Julie Walters as her mother and Sophie Okonedo among the supporting cast.
The music is by Jack Arnold and Buckley (she's Irish) does her own singing.
Directed by Tom Harper from a script by Nicole Taylor.
Walters was last blogged for Mary Poppins Returns and Okonedo for Skin.
Now streaming, this movie is averaging 93% from Rotten Tomatoes' critics and 88 from its audiences. We saw it July 16, 2019.
The music is by Jack Arnold and Buckley (she's Irish) does her own singing.
Directed by Tom Harper from a script by Nicole Taylor.
Walters was last blogged for Mary Poppins Returns and Okonedo for Skin.
Now streaming, this movie is averaging 93% from Rotten Tomatoes' critics and 88 from its audiences. We saw it July 16, 2019.
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