shortpuppy Reviews

60 Minutes: Prince Harry/A Hans Zimmer Score (2023) Season 55, Episode 17

Outstanding Interview with ('former Prince' ?) Harry

[10/10 · 9 January 2023]

Being of Jewish eastern European descent, British royalty never held personal meaning or interest for us. But this segment was fascinating. Take the most intense drama in your own family. Then imagine it magnified a thousand fold, under the unrelenting scrutiny by the unscrupled British tabloids. Being worshipped & vilified by hundreds of millions. No wonder most of the royal family have a very different perspective on life from the rest of us.

Harry on the other hand was somewhat on the edge of this life, not being first in line. A 'spare' as they put it. This interview was a very brief, but eye-opening look into his life on that edge of royalty, and eventual departure from it. If left me torn between the desire to see him reconciled with his family & the belief he is a better person without them. Will definitely be reading his book.

As always, Anderson did a great job. One key moment was when Harry vocally took exception to a harmless question, due to how it was worded. Anderson, without missing a beat, simply asked a different question, getting at the same issue. His response to Harry's discomfort showed empathy, quick thinking, and he left his own ego at the door. It highlights why he's so great at his craft.

A Child Is Waiting (1963)

'The Tragedy Must Be In Ourselves'

[10/10 · 25 June 2022]

This story w/fictional characters, based on real lives of children and adults with intellectual and other disabilities such as Down's Syndrome. And how their families and society as a whole deals with them A very unusual scenario for a film, from producer Stanley Kramer, w/a track record for outstanding socially minded films like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, On the Beach, Inherit the Wind.

The setting is a school, struggling to get funding so they don't become the typical warehouse where families drop off their disabled children, and forget them, along with society.

Burt Lancaster plays Dr. Clark the guiding light of the school. He burns with passion (cuz he's Burt!), but can be overly strict about how to help the residents. Judy Garland plays a new hire, equally passionate but lower key. Qualified solely by her empathy and innate drive to help others. A much needed complement to Dr. Clark's at-times rigid approach. Bruce Ritchey plays the difficult, lovable Reuben, whose story is an important focus . A very moving performance, his only credited role. One of the few children in the film without a real life disability, (as far as I could tell).

A brilliant line that succinctly states the heart of the issue is from Mr. Goodman, (character actor Paul Stewart), a parent of a 28 year old girl with a disability. 'She doesn't see herself as a tragedy. So the tragedy must be in ourselves.' As alluded to in a separate scene, are all our lives tragedies when compared to an advanced mind like Einstein? Or Da Vinci who painted the Mona Lisa and designed the first helicopter 500 years ago?

The passion and dedication to this unique project is evident in the writing, performances, and direction by john Cassavetes. No overacting or melodrama, no violence or villains. Many of the parts played by real life people w/disabilities. Another tragedy is a film like this, and with such high caliber talent, would not be made today.

The Rookie: Life and Death (2021) Season 4, Episode 1

To summarize, I am done w/the Rookie.

[3/10 · 4 October 2021]

Spoilers Ahead: Titus Makim Jr.(Ofcr West) dropped out at the end of last season, feeling uncomfortable as a Black man playing a cop, given what was going on irl. So they killed his character off in the 1st 5 minutes, showing some stand-in getting shot from behind. Awful way to have written such a major character off, leaving a taste of sour grapes, imo.

Aside from that, this episode was preposterous. They stage a rescue of kidnapped Ofcr Lopez in a foreign country using 'borrowed' military copter, w/o approval of police brass or the military. No more need be said about this episode, the worst ever, imo.

So sad to see Titus go, as West was the the moral center of the show, w/the most compelling backstory. & also sorry about further reduction in lgbt visibility as he was the only gay character, & played by a gay actor. But I very much respect Titus putting principles ahead of a paycheck. I know he will do well, being both a talented actor & musician.

New Amsterdam: The Legend of Howie Cournemeyer (2021) Season 3, Episode 7

Best Episode So Far

[9/10 · 16 April 2021]

Continuing it's practice of including important current tops of concern, 1 of the main storyline in this episode focused on the gay blood ban. (i'll never forget being denied participation in a blood drive to honor the passing of a coworker's young cousin.) One of the men in this storyline was portrayed by Andre De Shields, a stunning, distinguished man, who it so happens has been HIV+ for 30 years. The man he portrays had been a very active member of ACT UP, and act up he did. And that dovetails in nicely to the storyline of present.

There is another gay storyline in this episode that refers to the Mormon church's publicly stated policy of banning openly LGBT clergy. This set off some viewers for some reason, who posted a slew of 1&2 star reviews. Similar to when the excellent movie The Promise was flooded with low ratings from Armenian Genocide deniers. They used to have separate discussion forums where people could state such concerns, without dragging down the ratings of a film due to political concerns.

***BIG SPOILER*** The only disappointment to this episode was the apparent 'retirement' of Dr. Kapoor, prolly my fave character. I'm hoping they will reverse this. But from Anupam Kher's bio. He's very busy with other projects. So good for him, bad for me. :<)

Tenet (2020)

A Vin Diesel Movie for MENSA Members

[2/10 · 10 March 2021]

Somewhere buried beneath a series of visually complex, improbable CGI action sequences, is a complex improbable plot. All based on complex theories of particle physics and time travel. You've got cars and people moving forward in time, with others moving backward, in the same scene. It's like a faulty science experiment, with enough violence & car chases for the Vin Diesel fans.

As to the raves with 9 & 10 stars, and an average of 7.5, maybe most of the people that watched this are Christopher Nolan fans, and like this kind of movie.

I rated it obviously based on my preferences, which are for comprehensible scenes, good acting & dialogue, with interesting characters. And maybe some nice eye candy thrown in. And there's very little of the above here. Except, on the last count, Robert Pattinson.

Room for One More (1952)

Covid Relief Is Here!

[8/10 · 22 December 2020]

A great, uplifting family movie. A gem!

Betsy Drake plays the mother with endless compassion, showering motherly love on her own 3 children, and all the adoptees: 2 'problem' kids, dogs, cats, & bunny wabbits. They all somehow find the path to her door. (The screenwriter may have helped ..)

Cary Grant is the ever-patient father, indulging his wife's penchant for taking in castaways. In truth, the suffering is an act. He is cut from the same caring cloth as his wife, and is a doting, protective father to the whole brood, 2 & 4 footers alike.

There were a couple of minor things in dialogue or action that didn't quite fit. Like a very good looking charismatic Cary Grant as a struggling city engineer. Although, if someone like that applied to my city hall, i would definitely hire him.

Also the scene where the adopted daughter dances only with her father at a New Year party, leaving the boy that fought for permission to bring her is left on the sidelines. I found that very sad. The boy, Benji, is played by Larry Olsen, a stunning boy with sparkling eyes, who retired from acting 2 years later at the ripe old age of 16. (He probably went on to become a city engineer.)

Anyway, those minor issues are all easy to overlook, because the movie is so filled with the best of people. It really lifted me from the lockdown blues for an evening.

13 Reasons Why: Tape 4, Side A (2017) Season 1, Episode 7

Ep. 7 Best So far

[10/10 · 8 June 2020]

This def. the best episode so far. Things really come to a head as the guilt & pressure build up in Clay. It manifests in several scenes where he lashes out inappropriately, only to find out he was only saying those things, not really saying anything.

Finally near the end, he explodes for real. And it is entirely appropriate, but of course the school admin doesn't see it that way.

As usual the acting is first rate. Especially Dylant Minnette' Clay.

To respond to some reviews that missed what Zach's big crime was: he was stealing everything for Hannah's compliment bag, in the 2 weeks since she rejects his awkward advance in the cafeteria. She had grown very dependent on the compliments to counteract the ubiquitous 'mean girl' treatment she'd been getting since her pic posted. Aside from that posting, this is the worst thing that's been done to her, (as of this episode.)

9-1-1: Lone Star: Austin, We Have a Problem (2020) Season 1, Episode 10

Tearjerker Finale!

[10/10 · 14 March 2020]

They save the best episode for last. So many powerful story lines. Michelle's sister; spacestation, woman bus driver etc. As always, Owen & TK is the moral compass, and in this episode, it's really pivotal. I kept rewatching parts so i could delete it to save space. But I cant bring myself to delete it. .

The Harvesters (2018)

Through a Glass Darkly

[8/10 · 19 December 2019]

***** Spoilers ahead***** This film centers around a small Afrikaner farming family in a tight knit religious community, and the conflicts between their 2 sons, 1 a recently adopted orphan. 1 appears to be deeply closeted, and the other straight, & on the surface homophobic yet goes with older men for money.

Although this film is depressing, it is interesting and provocative. Discussing afterwards with friends and hearing their different takes is particularly interesting, because there is a lot going on here, much understated, or unsaid. Major theme portrayed but not verbalized is post-apartheid life for Afrikaners in S. Africa. Another major theme for the most part understated is homophobia, and misogyny.

DOUBLE SPOILER ALERT: At the tail end, the older son walks into a brush fire they are all supposed to be fighting. Was this just another gay suicide? Yikes, in 2019! Or did he simply use the fire as cover to run away.? A woman consoling the mother, tells here 'he may come back'. So, i'm hoping it was the latter.

Just Friends (2018 TV Movie)

Feels Better than it is

[7/10 · 6 May 2019]

This is a light young love story. Yad and his family are refugees from Middle East and come to Netherlands, where he is lucky to come into acquaintance of Joris. There is very little made of their sexuality, with is refreshing. They just are 2 people that happen to have some fun, and more.

It's not deep drama by any means. There is little context or history to explain the characters' behaviors. This is a feel good, look good movie. Especially the drop dead Joris, who the camera lingers on in various stages of undress. (i did not have a problem with this.)

Ideal Home (2018)

Not for Me, Maybe for You

[5 May 2019]

I did not rate this cuz i only made it thru the first 10 minutes. I was put off by the dirty humor, (like jeffrey dahmer jokes), having cocaine at a party with a 10 yr old, spending his first night meeting his grandfather. The writer is gay, so i don't think he was trying to put a bad light on gay parenting. He just has much different sense of humor & sensitivity to myself. That is my 2 cents worth as i only watched 2 cents of it. If u are not a sensitive nelly like me, you might really enjoy it.

The Red Line (2019)

Definitely a Ten

[10/10 · 29 April 2019]

Very interesting & diverse story lines involving gay/ Black/ police characters & communities. race issues in the communities and within the police force. It's all there, without being the least bit preachy. The acting is all around great, Noah Wyle is just phenomenal.

Miles (2016)

Sweet Smalltown Movie

[9/10 · 27 May 2018]

Miles is a 17 yr old looking desparately to get out of his small town. But his dad dies very early in the film, and there goes his college money. His odd ticket out, which doesnt seem to make much sense, is to get Men's volleyball scholarship to a school in Chicago. But, there's onl a girls volleyball time at his school, so he signs up for that. Then much of what follows is drama in a small town that takes its gir's volleyball very seriously. A side drama is that being gay in a small town in 2000 , Mile's only chance for contact w/other gays is online chats. What i loved about this is that altho his small town didn't provide opportuniies for any gay friends, or bf's, being gay is just another trait of him not a defining one. There is no gay angst. I really enjoyed the closeness and support from Mile's mother and several of the townfolk. The small town politics was spot on, very frustrating at times, but no disney villains here. Lastly, I loved Tim Boardman as Miles. very young actor did a great job. Very steady performance. And he just lights up the screen with youthful optimisim as he looks for ways out of his small town, and starting life as he leaves the nest. One caveat, there are alot of low user ratings i would disregard. It's like they saw a different movie, or possibly have some agenda that has no bearing on the quality of the movie.