This is the new blog - a lot like the old one but shorter reviews and a streamlined approach.
Thanks to all the people who asked me to put this back up.
30 ROCK (NBC) is usually great. Even when it's not, it's always watchable. THE OFFICE (NBC) is weak. And some weeks - weaker than usual.
LIE TO ME is off to a very promising start. Tim Roth is perfect.
I miss MAD MEN, THE SHIELD and THE WIRE.
At least MAD MEN is coming back.
As for the THE WIRE, THE SHIELD, and the mighty SOPRANOS - R.I.P.
Neil Patrick Harris was on a very funny episode of SNL a few weeks ago - one of the very few funny eps of the season. But NPH - brilliant.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (IN THEATERS)
Sorry - didn't love this like most. Liked and admired - yes. Loved - it was a bit too gimmicky and precious for me to go all the way with this film. It looks and sounds sumptuous and the soundtrack is awesome. The young actors are terrific. I just didn't quite get into the story so much. My friend Brad calls me an "idiot" for not liking it as much as he - but Brad's assertion aside...
Grade: B -
THE DARK KNIGHT (DVD)
This is a great film that really makes its mark on DVD. It looks like no other film out there, Bale is great as Batman, Maggie Glynhal makes a far better girlfriend than Katie Holmes, Aaron Eckhart - jury is still out - however, this is a towering film with bold ambition - much more so than many of the Winter's "Important" films. Since I stated these reviews would be shorter - I'm not going to give this film the slavish ravings it deserves, but Heath Ledger is even better than you have heard - and the Jokers scenes with The Batman are one for the time capsule. This movie and THE WRESTLER were my favorite films of the year. Yet neither got a BEST PICTURE nomination. The Academy's loss. By the way - the DVD has tons of extras and boasts superior sound and image - I haven't yet gotten a blu-ray - so, I can't really comment on the HD image on any of these shows - just the content. This film is dazzling and twirls many different batons in the air with beautiful precision.
GRADE: A +
THE WRESTLER (IN THEATERS)
I'm sure it's all been said about this film. This is so low-key a film that I'd rather not give out details if you haven't already seen it - just see it. I promise you will see a few things - the best Mickey Rourke performance ever and, next to Heath Ledger's Joker, the other performance of the year. The script is insanely observant and sad and funny and the real life wrestlers are great and Darren Aranofsky's fly-on-the-wall visual style works here like magic. But there is no magic in the sleazy world of underground wrestling shows - it's all smoke and mirrors - and while a lot of bones get broken in this - the film itself might break your heart. The scenes of Mickey and his daughter are wrenching.
Grade: A +
Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla were hilarious the other day on the air discussing their BROMANCE on KIMMEL LIVE! Both denied there is any romantic notions to their relationship. Carolla added that our founding fathers would not be pleased with the term "Bromance."
I loved the recent DATELINE that had the story of the radio host who slowly poisoned his wife. Very creepy stuff. Even better is ABC's WHAT WOULD YOU DO - which has the news team setting up wonky situations - like a guy putting a date rape drug into a date's drink - and then seeing what the people around would do or not do. Although - they did hit bottom this last ep where they did the thing where someone cuts in line in front of you at the market then wins a huge prize for being the millionth customer - the only problem is I've seen that gag ever since CBS' Candid fucking Camera.
The SPRINGSTEEN CD "Working On A Dream" is not classic Bruce. That era is over. Instead it's a mature CD full of terrific songs sung by Bruce in a great, open throaty voice and taking some big chances with his songwriting and chord progressions. A total winner. "QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET" is a standout.
Grade: B +
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (IN THEATERS)
What a downer. Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaptrio are a weird couple who hate each other in this weird movie with no reason of being. It's just a bad marriage that gets worse but none of the scenes are memorable, Kate is awesome but Leo is in full retard-mode with a bad accent and a performance that is reminiscent of something you would see at your 9 year old's school production. Laughably bad.
Grade: D
BURN AFTER READING (IN THEATERS)
This alleged comedy is not funny. Brad Pitt is not funny and George Clooney is really not funny. This sucked. The Cohen Bros. often get it right (see FARGO, BLOOD SIMPLE, BIG LEBOWSKI) but when they miss - (SEE EVERYTHING ELSE) - they really miss.
Grade: D -
AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
I always watch Idol - I like the streamlined approach to the auditions this year - love the new judge - still think Paula is the weirdest most attention seeking celebrity ever - that horrifying "kiss" she tried with the new judge - but where she went out of her way to cover their lips - she is FUCKING RETARDED. And now she doesn't even say anything because the new judge is mostly better (except for when the new judge feels the need to sing to show the contestants how its done - she should really just not do that - it's embarrassing.) Otherwise - business as usual - my early favorite - the blind guy!
Grade: B +
NIP/TUCK (F/X)
Haven't seen ep 3 yet but kind of like the new direction of a bit more maturity and not quite as insane as previous seasons. However, most seasons start out reasonable and then traffic in the worst kind of third rate crime stories they could find.
DAMAGES (F/X)
I know - it's great. I just haven't watched any yet - they're all sitting on my DVR.
SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)
Had a pretty entertaining open - haven't seen the new one yet but it seems like this could be better than next season. At one point I was looking at her and thinking she had gotten, ahem, HEAVY. I then read that she was pregnant the entire shoot so - she's only going to get bigger. They better let out some of those dresses but - pregnant or not - she's gorgeous and quite wonderful in the role - it's just that the role suggests hooking is way more fun than it could possibly be.
Grade: C
I haven't watched the new LOST yet.
GONE COUNTRY (CMT)
Once again - they've grabbed a great bunch of nutters and I'm loving it. I can't believe how horrible Tara Conner is in both her talent and personality, and I can't believe how much I like Richard Grieco. I'm shocked at how a puffed out by botox Taylor Dayne doesn't stop ragging on EVERYBODY - and George Clinton just may be the newest great reality star this world has ever seen.
Grade: B
SPECTACLE w/ELVIS COSTELLO (SUNDANCE)
The best music show on TV. Period. It's already given us moments like Costello and Lou Reed singing PERFECT DAY, James Taylor doing a stellar, sad version of FIRE & RAIN and Elvis himself singing BORDER SONG for an adoring Elton John. Great show. Elvis is a great host and the guests are awesome.
Grade: A +
24 (FOX)
Has gotten it's mojo back in a big way. It's been too long and we've forgotten the last, very shitty season with this newly energized Jack working with Tony - back from the dead (it sort of was explained - but not really.) I love the new president played by Cherry Jones - a little bored with her husband's storyline, and love how the show has gotten so self reflexive. But the show seems very vital again.
Grade: B +
PRISON BREAK (FOX)
Is ending - this is bad news as I loved this show but look forward to the final batch of shows. There is a rumored movie reunion for next season - but I'll believe it when I see it.
THIS AMERICAN LIFE (SHOWTIME)
A great version of the great radio show - highly recommended are these stories of life and love and reality, hosted to perfection by Ira Glass and shot wonderfully. The stories are really offbeat and the narration is never snide nor mocking.
Grade: A
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (DVD)
I think i reviewed this already - but if you haven't seen it - it's the comedy of the year that will leave a lump in your throat. Awesome.
Grade: A
THE BIGGEST LOSER: COUPLES (ABC)
Great show - they fucked the concept up a bit this year by getting rid of half the cast in the 1st episode and then getting into a VERY VERY VERY convoluted plan for them to come back - just stop with the fucking theatrics and show us fat people losing shocking amounts of weight. That's it. This ain't SURVIVOR.
The new McCartney CD, ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS released under the name "THE FIREMEN" is pretty cool if not the great new McCartney CD that will probably never arrive.
I've regained my love of PINKBERRYS since they've added a new topping - pomegranate seeds - I know - it shouldn't be good - but it is.
I ate at GEISHA HOUSE the other nite - the food and atmosphere are truly superb - A+ experience.
I caught the last few eps of REAL CHANCE AT LOVE. Real seems cool, Chance seems angrily insane - and the woman seem in need of psychological help. The reunion show, by the way, cleared nothing up.
Still have some shows compiling on the DVR - the new LOST, DAMAGES, NIP/TUCK - a few others. Will comment on them after I see them.
I can't bear to actually watch BROMANCE.
Can the ads for the new film with Renee Zelwigger "NEW IN TOWN" could not possibly look any worse, embarrassing or just plain shite. What happened to Renee - she was so good in JERRY MAGUIRE. Will she ever get a good role again?
Looking very forward to the return of THE FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDS on HBO. Haven't caught up yet with the first 2 new eps.
A friend lent me the pilot of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA so I have to watch that.
FROST/NIXON (IN THEATERS)
Slow moving but riveting study of the real life drama that occur ed when David Frost, a variety-type entertainer decided to raise some money and do a set of interviews with RICHARD NIXON right after Nixon resigned. Frost spends most of the film getting Nixon to open up about what happened re: Watergate - Nixon spends most of the film (a masterful Frank Langella) avoiding the question. As the tension builds, so does the case for calling this the most mature film of Ron Howard's career, and a riveting look at history in the making.
Grade: A
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJIMAN BUTTONS (IN THEATERS)(SPOILERS!!!!!!)
Very good film. Brad PItt has certainly never been better, and Kate Winslet keeps up with him in every way in the oddball story of a man born old who turns younger every year. While I loved the film, and hated the way they show-horned in the Katrina flooding (so out of place) - my friend Jim recently pointed out to me that Brad Pitt kind of - SPOLIER AHEAD - READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM - but Brad leaves the situation far earlier than was necessary - and Winslet ended up caring for him anyway. And I think having said that, there was something to the idea that perhaps Brad should've stuck around and did his best to raise his child - that might've been a much more interesting resolution than what they did - still - the film worked exceedingly well and between the visual effects of the old Brad Pitt and the evolving makeup job and the wonderful pace for a 3 hour film - this is also a triumph for David Fincher.
Lastly - a plea to FOX VIDEO to finally release all seasons of HILL STREET BLUES and another plea to the various companies who own the rights to WISEGUY - which deserves a full DVD release with all the original music intact, IT'S YOUR MOVE - a great comedy from the 80s starring Jason Bateman, and let's roll out COP ROCK - one of the most ambitious and insane shows ever produced.
