Blackbird

— “Blackbird” is one of those films you want to like, where good actors are cast in a meladrama and might be able to create insightful characters and make sense of the conflict. A family’s matriarch gathers her husband, two daughters and their partners, grandchild, and best friend for a weekend gathering at her stylish, beachside home. She’s dying and will commit suicide at the end of the weekend. Everyone understands the game plan but, as the weekend evolves, tension increases. Unfortunately, competent actors sometimes seemed bored by the usual set-ups, and the whole things seems a little tired. [Amazon Prime streaming.]

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[2019. 97 min. Directed by Roger Michell. Starring Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Sam Neill, Mia Wasikowska, Lindsay Duncan, Rainn Wilson, Bex Taylor-Klaus, and Anson Boon.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blackbird-movie-review-2020

The Race to Save the World

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[2021. 102 min. Directed by Joe Gantz. Featuring Abby Brockway, Michael Zambrano, Miriam Kashia, Michael Foster, and Bill Moyer.]
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/21/the-race-to-save-the-world-review-climate-change-protest-documentary

Mortal Kombat

— Maybe I’m just the wrong demographic, but this just film just didn't appeal to me. Of course, I have two strikes against me: I’m not a gamer and I’m not lured by vivid violence. I also am not sure a fantasy fighting video game moves very easily to film. It just seems like plot and character development aren’t very similar in the two genres. In any event, the film is laboriously rich in violence, shimmering in the guise of some mythic confrontation between good and evil. It’s a rather dull fantasy on steroids and not worth the hype. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 110 min. Directed by Simon McQuoid. Starring Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, and Josh Lawson.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-movie-review-2021

Big Shot

— This doesn’t sound very promising and maybe I’ve just been isolated too long during the pandemic, but “Big Shot” is surprisingly likeable. It’s the story of a former NCAA basketball coach whose bad behavior gets him kicked out the league and the only coaching job he can find is at an elite, all-girls high school in California. Of course, neither coach nor players seem like a good fit, but they grow into a team, learning from each other. I couldn’t help but think it reminded me of sitcoms from back in the day when they were clever, funny, and poignant. There are only two episodes streaming so far, and both have been nice little diversions from reality. [Disney+ streaming.]

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[2021. One season, 10 episodes, 42-44 minutes/episode. Created by David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett. Starring John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig, Richard Robichaux, Nell Verlaque, and Sophia Metri Schloss.]
https://www.indiewire.com/2021/04/big-shot-review-david-e-kelley-basketball-drama-1234626704/

Mare of Easttown

— There’s something familiar about the general set-up of “Mare of Easttown”—a town where the key players’ lives, past or present, are intertwined. Everyone has experienced heartbreak; sometimes they’ve moved on, and sometimes their pain and disappointment are still close to the surface and define them. There’s a general murkiness and sadness in many of the scenes. Some of the characters are just tired, beaten down by a life outside their control. It’s well written and Kate Winslet does her usual, incredible job, joined by a talented cast. The first episode—all that’s available on HBO Max as of April 18, 2021—sets the stage and ends with a body, making it a bona fide murder mystery and I’m hooked for the additional 5-6 episodes still to be released. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. One Season, 7 episodes. 6 hrs 43 min. Directed by Craig Zobel. Starring Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, David Denman, Neal Huff, and Guy Pearce.]
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/19/mare-of-easttown-review-kate-winslet-hbo-murder-mystery

Wahl Street

— I confess I started watching “Wahl Street” because of the attractive (a.k.a “short”) length of its episodes, but I was interested enough to watch all six of them. The key, I think, is not to think of it as a reality show but as a documentary about an investor, entrepreneurs, and smaller businesses during the pandemic. Along the way there are lessons for managers as well, and the usual reminder to find a balance between business and family commitments but, in this case, a lucrative and busy movie career must be added to the balance as well. It’s nice that it never loses sight of the employees whose lives are in the balance. I’m sure it’s not for everyone but it was evidently for me. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. One Season, 6 episodes; 23-26 minutes per episode. Featuring Mark Wahlberg.]
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/15/wahl-street-mark-wahlberg-reality-tv-show

Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal

— [Netflix streaming.]

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[2021. 99 min. Directed by Chris Smith. Starring Matthew Modine, Roger Rignack, an Jillian Peterson.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/operation-varsity-blues-the-college-admissions-scandal-movie-review-2021

Made for Love

— [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. One Season, 3 episodes; 25-29 minutes per episode. Starring Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, and Ray Romano.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/hbo-maxs-made-for-love-tv-review-cristin-milioti

The Irregulars

— [Netflix streaming.]

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[2021. One season, 8 episodes, 49-58 minutes/episode. Created by Tom Bidwell. Starring McKell David, Thaddea Graham, Jojo Macari, Harrison Osterfield, and Darci Shaw.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/netflixs-the-irregulars-succumbs-to-some-pretty-regular-problems

Elizabeth and Margaret: Love and Loyalty

— I enjoyed this newish, UK Channel 5 documentary. It's an interesting look at the complex relationship that existed between Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret. Since most of the information I have about Princess Margaret comes from hazy childhood memories of tabloid stories and from “The Crown,” a bit more depth helps, not that I know how much of the film’s information is fact without bias. It does put both Princess Margaret and the Queen in a better light than would be the case if our American perspective is applied to a decidedly British institution and relationship, or when current standards are applied to past events. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, I think you’ll enjoy it. If not, it’s just more for those who love or hate the British monarchy. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2020. 88 min. Directed by Lucy Swigler, Stephanie Wessell. Featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Christopher Warwick, Kate Williams, Hugo Vickers, Ingrid Seward, and Ed Owens.]

Tina

— Documentaries about entertainment icons have the advantage of a built-in audience, so they aren’t all particularly well done. “Tina,” a documentary featuring interviews with Tina Turner, is something of a farewell interaction with the larger world as she leaves the spotlight. It’s one final look at her past, including many parts with which we’re all familiar, but blending her own comments with those of a few people who were around her, and incredible concert footage, into a fascinating documentary. Yes, I’ve been a fan since “Private Dancer,” so I may have been easy to win over, but I do think the film is well done. I also like that Tina’s fan base is broader than her music, a testament to the inspiration she’s provided to women in abusive situations, to anyone searching for their own voice in middle age, to those reinventing themselves and their purpose, and those accepting what was and moving beyond it. In fact, maybe this film should be mandatory viewing for people who continue to define themselves mostly based on hardships from long ago, wearing their pain like a badge of honor, and constantly reminding everyone about from where they’ve come, instead where they are or where they’re going. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 118 min. Written and directed by Daniel Lindsay an T.J. Martin. Featuring Tina Turner, Angela Bassett, Roger Davies, Terry Britten, Kurt Loder, and Erwin Bach.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tina-movie-review-2021