Change Your Image
CeeAdams
Reviews
Blue Bloods (2010)
Now the show works
Every show has to find its feet. After a start with Blue Bloods that I would describe as shaky, it took a brief hiatus (if I recall correctly), in which I imagine the writers got together and re- envisioned it. Now it really works. In the first few episodes, Tom Selleck as Police Commissioner wasn't given a very big role, and it seemed mainly to consist of intervening in the disputes that arose at every family dinner. (I hated the fact the family that every family dinner was accompanied by arguing and cursing (really? at the table? ) and emotions always lead to somebody leaving the table; the dinner scenes were both awful and boring and I really began to dread them every episode.) After the break, Tom Selleck's Police Commissioner was written a much meatier role where you actually see him doing his job and extremely well - thank goodness they recognized Selleck is a terrific actor and gave him more to do - and it seemed to bring all the rest of the show into better focus and make it all work. Bravo. And thank goodness, they also changed the dinner scenes; now those family dinners are not a major pain to watch, but a reasonable dinner with people who actually seem to like each other. About time. Now I really like the show and hope it stays around for many seasons.
NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)
The new Charlie's Angels
Sorry, NCIS Los Angeles is way more Charlie's Angels than NCIS. No offense to the actors, but what went through producers' minds with NCIS LA - "here, let's dress you up so you can go undercover?" What?? I like NCIS the original and all the various characters, but I have no idea what the scriptwriters are up to with this show. Clearly the idea in this show is nothing more than "I have an assignment for you, Angels."
The actors can only do so much with the plodding, leaden scripts and leaden dialogue. The shows either put me to sleep or I give up halfway through. I like Linda Hunt, and I do want her to stay on the show, but her character seems to be cut out and stuck in from a different show, oh no, wait, I said that.
And where is the Navy part of this? They operate out of a condemned building with such soft lighting and decor it looks like the lobby of a hotel-what's up with that? There are plenty of offices in LA where they would be equally invisible. Where's the forensic lab? Where's the Navy? Where's the plot? Oh, never mind.
French Kiss (1995)
Lovely jokes in the cinematography
I love this film. The scene in which Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline first hop in the stolen car in Paris tickles me every time. While she is berating him for involving her in his (mis)adventures, she turns to look at him and misses what would be a wonderful tour of Paris as all the major landmarks of Paris go by on the passenger side of the car. Love the director's sense of humor. As for Kline's French accent, I have studied in France and have a good ear (if I do say so myself), and was very impressed with Kline's regional accent ("way", for example, rather than "we" for 'oui'). As for it being a pat romantic comedy, well, of course - suppose it had been Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, would anybody have complained?
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)
Laughed so hard
I watched this on a night when I really needed some amusement - and it's not easy to make me laugh when I've got a lot on my mind - I laughed so hard at this movie I nearly fell off the sofa - it is sooo funny. It would have been worth the entire price of a theater ticket to see Kurt Russell put on nylons! And John Leguizamo is amazing! I *have* seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - this is better. The actors do a fine job in their roles, and carry them off with the right level of gravity. The storyline is almost typical for a peripatetic road pic, but the characters make it worth watching. Watch this when you want to laugh - it's worth it.