The Pez Outlaw (Netflix streaming):
Steve Glew spent the 1990s smuggling rare Pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe, making millions of dollars. It was all magical until his arch-nemesis, The Pezident decided to destroy him.
Bizarre story. As was said in the documentary, well, collectors are all a little insane, hence why they are collectors. 😉 I mean, $11K for a single dispenser? Interesting to see not all the t's were crossed and such for that big of a company. Both sides (collectors and company) were vicious. If you like pop culture, you'll like this.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Devil To Pay (Netflix streaming):
After the disappearance of her husband, a struggling farmer in an isolated Appalachian community fights to save her son when the cold-hearted matriarch of the oldest family on the mountain demands payment of a debt that could destroy a decade's old truce.
Same plot base as "Winter's Bone" (Jennifer Lawrence's first movie): need to find a loved one to settle some things, in the backwoods. This movie it's the Appalachia, in WB it's the Ozarks. Either way, it is BACKWOODS 100%. Acting is superb, true to how it is in that area, the little things. The people that live in those parts of the country, the true self-sustaining types, they live by their rules, and that's it. It's almost like the underworld, but they don't mess with the general public like the underworld does. They actually SHUN (in general) the public. It's all in-house.
Definitely recommend.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Father Stu:
Follows the life of Father Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption.
Based on true story, and get this, Mark Wahlberg does NOT play a cop/armed forces guy. Oh, don't worry, he still cusses like a sailor. 😉 that being said, snark gone, this is a really good movie. You actually got involved with the characters, the story, the feeling. Mel Gibson co-stars as the a-hole dad, and Jackie Weaver (she is one of "Oh, That Guy/Girl" fame) is the mom. Theresa Ruiz (Narcos) is a nice touch as a co-star. She has some chops.
Def worth a watch, I really liked it.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Watched Shotgun Wedding last night, this movie is big dumb fun. Great cast and Jennifer Coolidge steals the movie as every line she has is ridiculous. Lenny Kravitz is also awesome with some great lines.
Is That Black Enough For You? (Netflix streaming):
Tracks the history of Black cinema, focused mainly on the '70s, with archival and new interviews with many of the key players from the era.
Decent documentary on the history of Black movies and how they and the actors in them were portrayed. As the summary says, mainly on the 70s, but that's an understatement. REALLY zeroes in from late 60s to late 70s, one of the most mainstream eras of those movies.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
You People (Netflix streaming):
Follows a new couple and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.
Sounds like the template for any movie about this subject, right? Well, you are correct, once again. The occasional chuckles are not worth the journey to get to predictable "look how we've changed!" ending. Pass on this.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Voyeur (Netflix streaming)
Journalism icon Gay Talese reports on Gerald Foos, the owner of a Colorado motel, who allegedly secretly watched his guests with the aid of specially designed ceiling vents, peering down from an "observation platform" he built in the motel's attic.
Weird, creepy, but mesmerizing. Foos thought himself a person of observation, a "researcher" in his words. However, the story has many layers, with him, and Talese. Nothing sordid between Foos and Talese, but lots of questions come up about how such a respected journalist didn't dot his i's and cross his t's. Some rookie mistakes, I must say. Captivating documentary on the human nature, IMO. What ARE people like in private, that sort of thing. It's basically an illegal sociology class, IMO. Great watch, although obviously a bit disturbing.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Menu (HBOMax):
A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.
Well, this was certainly different, and I am not using midwest dialect in saying that. This was all sorts of different. Suspense, satire of sorts, and drama. Within a few minutes, you will find your opinion on a diner/customer, and will know the reason why. That's the obvious. The satire theme is the most layered part of the movie. The suspense and drama just come with the territory.
I really enjoyed it, and found myself laughing (in an evil way) and internally yelling "YES!" at certain parts of the movie.
And this review also encapsulates all that the movie is saying. 😉
Definitely recommend.
Definitely a different one. Had no idea what it was but got a kick out of it
Manhunt (Netflix streaming):
Accused of heinous crimes he didn't commit, a prosecutor sets out on a mission to clear his name.
John Woo directs, so yeah, I'm in. Unfortunately, while the story is alright, he just relies on his tired signatures of doves, a water chase scene, and a couple cliched plot points. It's entertaining enough, but I expected more from him. I'd rate it as a time-killer.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I watched Top Gun Maverick on the flight home. Predictable, but I still enjoyed it.
Margin Call (Netflix). Watched this late last night on a whim. Intended to only watch 30 minutes before falling asleep and couldn't turn it off. Apparently came out in 2011. Why have I never heard of it before? It was fantastic.
It's sad that Kevin Spacey is pretty much blacklisted now. I really enjoy him as an actor.
Facing Nolan (Netflix streaming)
Documentary on Nolan Ryan's career.Loved it. Great doc. GOAT. Period. You can't make this career up. He has blown away so many records, many will NEVER be broken, due to analytics. IIRC, it is Walter Johnson's record of 30 wins in a season was the untouchable, along with Cal Jr's Ironman streak. I think Walt's record COULD be broken nowadays. (Come in for an inning, get the win). Nolan's no-hitters? Strikeout record (Randy Johnson is 2nd, over 1000 K's behind)? Nope.
And sad, but interesting note: Nolan NEVER won a Cy Young. Ever.
I happened upon this doc this weekend and remembered that you had reviewed it and gave it a thumbs up. Ryan truly had a remarkable career both in stats and duration. After winning a World Series with the Mets you would have thought his career would have been filled with that success, too bad he didn't win another title. His stats are just ridiculous though; his no-hitters and strikeouts are big but his opposing batting average is .204? Are you kidding me? I did read though people like to point to his on base percentage as a detractor. I get the no Cy Young because of the number of walks he gave up but really though I think he should have received at least one.
I'm not a huge baseball fan but the history of it is fascinating with all the different personalities that played over the years. This doc was a really good doc to watch about a great player who is a really great man.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
Armageddon Time (Netflix disc):
A deeply personal coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream.
Set in 1980 NYC, a Jewish white kid and a black kid from Hollis form a friendship, and they deal with societal issues at the time. Anthony Hopkins is great as the grandpa, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong do very well as the parents. It's pretty raw, blunt, and at the same time thought-provoking. I would recommend.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Cleopatra Jones (HBOMax):
During the 1970s, U.S. Special Agent Cleopatra Jones proves to be an invaluable asset to the local police forces in the war on drugs.
I hadn't seen this blaxploitation movie, somehow. I've seen many of the classics: Shaft, Superfly, Black Belt Jones, Three The Hard Way, Black Samson, Black Caesar, Dolemite, and the HOF send-up of the genre Black Dynamite.
I liked this one, will prob watch the sequel tomorrow. Given the budget (over twice the norm for this type of movie), it was rather good. If you haven't watched a blaxploitation movie, be prepared. Lots of cheesy lines, bad action, and generic plot (fighting drugs, fighting The Man, and a few doses of Kung Fu, are standard).
I'd say if you're a fan of the genre, def watch. If you're new to this, it's a top 3 intro to the genre after Shaft/Superfly.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I Am Legend sequel, big news and I am VERY happy about it:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/entertainment/i-am-legend-sequel/index.html
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
OMG this looks totes legit:
I'll watch it, but my brain is yelling "nononononononononono" 😉 I was creeped out enough watching "Smile" and "Barbarian."
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Oh hell no! Like HELL NO!
What have I got? I got no snacks and I got no respect.
Travis-age 6
NEVER look under the bed! Or hang your foot off the edge….
NEVER look under the bed! Or hang your foot off the edge….
For "Barbarian" I spent the first half of the movie yelling at the screen at the stupid decisions the characters were making. 
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
NEVER look under the bed! Or hang your foot off the edge….
For "Barbarian" I spent the first half of the movie yelling at the screen at the stupid decisions the characters were making.
No one is going into those tunnels under the house.
I’m that vein, going to the Winnie the Pooh movie tonight, will report back.
I'm not staying at an Air BNB with a complete stranger. 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I'm not staying at an Air BNB with a complete stranger. 😉
I would have been out just seeing the neighborhood.
"Pennywise" (Tubi) - Documentary about the filming of the original "IT" 1990 TV miniseries. Worth a watch. I'm guessing a certain someone on GPL with a clown avatar might enjoy it.
On it. 
Thanks! Holy crap, 2 hours? Saved for future viewing. That runs too close to game start today. 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Winnie The Pooh: Blood &Honey
Don’t bother.
I have so many questions. They actually made this a serious horror movie…why? They should have went for something like Dale &Tucker vs Evil or Evil Dead 2. There’s lots of opportunities in the source material for jokes, even just Poo jokes. Needlessly gory and I’ve never said that about a horror movie before, even the Saw or Texas Chainsaw movies. The theatre was pretty full and nobody walked out but there was quite a few laughs in spots that weren’t meant to be funny.
Love that opening statement: Oh, bother changed to "Don't bother." 😀 Unintentional or not, hilarious.
That being said, my interest in this movie is about the same as "Cocaine Bear."
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Love that opening statement: Oh, bother changed to "Don't bother." 😀 Unintentional or not, hilarious.
That being said, my interest in this movie is about the same as "Cocaine Bear."
It was on purpose, remember to tip your servers….
We already have a work outing planned to see Cocaine Bear, gonna be epic. This Pooh movie could have been great but apparently the only good idea they had was the premise. If you haven’t seen Dale & Tucker vs Evil, do it now. This could have been that.
Love that opening statement: Oh, bother changed to "Don't bother." 😀 Unintentional or not, hilarious.
That being said, my interest in this movie is about the same as "Cocaine Bear."
It was on purpose, remember to tip your servers….
We already have a work outing planned to see Cocaine Bear, gonna be epic. This Pooh movie could have been great but apparently the only good idea they had was the premise. If you haven’t seen Dale & Tucker vs Evil, do it now. This could have been that.
I own "Dale And Tucker" 😀 It's THAT good.
And while I like my B movies, especially ones done on purpose (see: Hobo With A Shotgun), Cocaine Bear can die in a fire. Zero interest.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Cocaine Bear is based upon a true story and stars Keri Russell, O'Shea Jr, Brooklyn Prince and Ray Liotta among others. I don't think they're in the same milieu. ?
Cocaine Bear is based upon a true story and stars Keri Russell, O'Shea Jr, Brooklyn Prince and Ray Liotta among others. I don't think they're in the same milieu. ?
I looked into the movie. It's similar to "Bad Ass" starring Danny Trejo in taking a true story and somehow making a movie about it. Love Trejo, but that movie was also pure shit.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Saw Antman Quantumania yesterday. Really enjoyed it. Jonathan Majors is absolutely exceptional as Kang. Definitely feels more serious than the previous Antmans but I think that's due to the fact they are introducing the next big Avengers level threat.
"Pennywise" (Tubi) - Documentary about the filming of the original "IT" 1990 TV miniseries. Worth a watch. I'm guessing a certain someone on GPL with a clown avatar might enjoy it.
This was very good. We're spoiled today in the way of CGI/Special Effects, and for the IT series, that was some "high-tech" effects they used, huge budget (relatively) for a television series. TV back then was not like it is now, it was considered a lower form of entertainment overall.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Nope (Netflix disc):
The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.
A big fat "meh" for me on this one. The setup takes way too long, and the payoff isn't even that great. It's not suspenseful, it's tedious. It's not scary, it's blah. Frankly, the only movie I've really liked from him is "Get Out" which was tremendous. He's just riding on the coat-tails of that one, IMO.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
We're spoiled today in the way of CGI/Special Effects
I don't know what you mean. I don't think I watch movies with CGI, it's awful.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny (Netflix streaming):
A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.
Not sure how I missed this one, but oh well. Good story, but why do a majority of the characters have a British accent? Lazy. The action was good, not as MUCH "Light Body Whatever" technique used (the basic floating long jumps used in the first movie). Some nice standard close-ups during the action scenes, kicking up sand/dirt/ice/etc. It's worth a watch, but yeah, it's a sequel.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
M3GAN. Currently streaming on Peacock. In theaters it was PG-13 but the Peacock version is the gory cut so it’s more R rated.
Woman invents a robot toy doll that befriends her young niece who lost her parents in a car accident. Mayhem ensues.
I really liked it. Good hokey cheesy fun.
Cocaine Bear (in theaters). Drug runners drop kilos of cocaine in a Georgia forest. A bear finds and consumes the cocaine and mayhem ensues.
I really liked this movie. Comically gory, fun, campy. My wife is out of town so it was a perfect escapist movie at just over an hour and a half.
My only issue was with the theater itself. The movie seemed really dark. I asked Customer Service to turn up the brightness but they never did. The end of the movie takes place in a cave and it was REALLY hard to see anything.
Violent Night (Netflix disc):
When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).
Oh. My. F*ing. God. That was one hilarious trip, and even had some genuine heartfelt moments, no snark. A very well-produced Grindhouse style/B movie that put every effort forth. I absolutely loved it, highly recommend for a pure popcorn movie, and maybe it'll reach the level of "Cult Classic."
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Violent Night (Netflix disc):
When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).Oh. My. F*ing. God. That was one hilarious trip, and even had some genuine heartfelt moments, no snark. A very well-produced Grindhouse style/B movie that put every effort forth. I absolutely loved it, highly recommend for a pure popcorn movie, and maybe it'll reach the level of "Cult Classic."
This has become an instant classic among my film friends! Santa putting his hair in a man bun so it’s out of his eyes as he picks up an axe?. Combine Violent Night with White Christmas (the GAYEST holiday film imaginable) and you have the perfect viewing party.
What have I got? I got no snacks and I got no respect.
Travis-age 6
Violent Night (Netflix disc):
When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).Oh. My. F*ing. God. That was one hilarious trip, and even had some genuine heartfelt moments, no snark. A very well-produced Grindhouse style/B movie that put every effort forth. I absolutely loved it, highly recommend for a pure popcorn movie, and maybe it'll reach the level of "Cult Classic."
This has become an instant classic among my film friends! Santa putting his hair in a man bun so it’s out of his eyes as he picks up an axe?. Combine Violent Night with White Christmas (the GAYEST holiday film imaginable) and you have the perfect viewing party.
Minor spoiler alert:
I do like that he wasn't gung ho about it at first. It wasn't THAT over the top....relatively.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Infiltrator (Netflix disc):
A U.S. Customs official uncovers a money laundering scheme involving Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Based on a true story, and took very little liberties with the movie. It really showed the human side of both the undercover agents and the criminals they dealt with, how those friendships the UCs needed to make the operation work were oftentimes real friendships. Great cast with Bryan Cranston, Diane Kruger, and John Leguizamo, and a bit part by Olympia Dukakis.
Definitely worth a watch.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
RIPD (Netflix streaming):
A cop killed by his own partner joins RIPD, an afterlife law enforcement department working to apprehend various monsters disguised as humans living on earth, and gets paired up with a smart-mouthed veteran.
I'm going to ask you all a favor, and that favor is don't even bother watching this trash. Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon...you're thinking, worth a shot, right? It is, if that shot is to the head to put this movie out of its misery.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
RIP Topol! Watching Flash Gordon and Fiddler on the Roof sometime this weekend. Maybe For Your Eyes Only as well.
Navalny (HBOMax streaming):
Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. During his months-long recovery he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home.
I'm trying to finish off the "Oscar-push" movies (even if they lost out) and this one is a doozie. Documentary, and a darn good one. Navalny admits to things and says things that are not exactly adding to his image (like being associated with "nationalists" aka Nazis), and on the other hand he's pretty blunt when it comes to Putin and traditional Russian ways.
The fact-checking in this one, journalists checking up on other journalists, even though they are the "same team," etc. I'm paraphrasing a quote here, but one of the lead journalists flat-out says, We can't believe sources anymore. We have to use raw data.
I highly recommend
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Fugitive: The Curious Case Of Carlos Ghosn (Netflix streaming):
It chronicles the rise of Carlos Ghosn as well as the internal rivalries and tensions he sparked within Nissan-Renault and his dramatic arrest.
That's a hell of a story. The fallout/aftermath with people involved with the story will raise some eyebrows, IMO. Good watch, though. I was unaware of this, and frankly, considering how bizarre the events were, I'm rather embarrassed by my lack of knowledge of it. I won't give the documentary a top rating, but it is worth a watch.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Black Mama, White Mama (Netflix disc).
A Black prostitute and a white revolutionary must form an uneasy alliance when they are busted out of prison, then pursued by guerrillas, bounty hunters and the Army.
Blaxploitation movie, but unlike many others, this was just bad. There is no unintentional hilarity to it. The "action" scenes are beyond horrible (relative to other movies of this genre). Not entertaining at all. Even the gratuitous/obligatory boob scenes were subpar (that last part said in the spirit of these movies). I don't recommend this at all. I don't even know if you can MST3K this one. It's that bad.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Money Shot: The Pornhub Story (Netflix streaming):
Follow the rise of the most famous adult entertainment platform and the recent backlash it has received.
Bland. Standard formula of interviews, and frankly, not really interesting interviews. Some attempt at legal wrangling, etc. Now, I did not know the full extent of the story, so I found it kind of interesting, especially when they started in on OnlyFans in the aftermath, but was it compelling? Not really. It was like listening to an audio version of a newspaper article that didn't really want to cover the story.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Joker (HBO Streaming). It took me 3 nights to get through this one. Enough there to keep me interested, but man... it's bleak. Not a movie made for repeat viewings. Once is enough.
Joker (HBO Streaming). It took me 3 nights to get through this one. Enough there to keep me interested, but man... it's bleak. Not a movie made for repeat viewings. Once is enough.
I disagree, due to the theories of the actual reality of the story presented. You catch little things here and there.
It's been out long enough, so here goes:
1. The story, besides the obvious daydreams, is as presented.
2. The story, besides the obvious daydreams, is as presented, except his escape from the cop car at the end. He killed his mom, he killed the night show host, etc etc. He got caught and is in the nut house.
3. Now here is the doozie: He is NOT the Joker. He NEVER was off his meds, he was ALWAYS in a nut house. He saw the news of The Joker on TV/read in the papers, and he's dreaming that he is The Joker, like a child dreams he's Superman, or some other hero.
The line that provokes the above theories is at the end: "You wouldn't get it."
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.