Wow. I don’t think I’ve seen them all then.
If you’re talking about the black woman, that was Viola Davis who went on to win the entire EGOT awards and then some.
How did I forget that was her? Well, it was a long time ago. I knew I could spot talent. 
I’m not sure I would have recognized her, but checked the cast members for familiar names.
Robert Parker wrote the Jesse Stone book.
Jesse Stone is pretty similar to Spenser. Except Jesse’s alcoholism is more severe.
Both men had troubled relationships that they just couldn’t walk away from.
The movies are pretty faithful to the books.
Just saw the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour. 7 short films. It’s mixed bag, but I just want to recommend the short Horror film Dream Creep; a thoroughly unique premise and a progression that had everybody squirming in their seat. As soon as I got home, I located our meat thermometer and threw it in the trash before going to bed.
I watched all but one of those, also when I was sick. They were like 70s comfort food for me, even if the plots were stupid and the dialog silly (particularly his circular conversations with William Devane). Still, pleasant enough that I even paid for some of them (the first few were free).
I’ll probably get around to that last one eventually. Next time I’m sick, I guess.
MotW is His Three Daughters. 3 sisters are doing a death watch on their father. Involved, often harsh, conversations ensue. The women are Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen. Lyonne is a sister from another mother so that’s one of their many issues.
It’s 98% critics/86% audience at RT.
It’s a very “enclosed” film. The vast majority is just the 3 women talking in a NYC apartment. There’s just smallish bits with others or taking place outside. This could make it feel “stagey” but thankfully not so much.
It was starting to be a drag after a while with the dramatic conversations but there was a big scene near the end that just upped the whole thing in a major way.
For me it was the Olsen and Lyonne show. Sadly, Lyonne was cast again as the messed up, barely functional character. From Slums of Beverly Hills to OitNB, been there, done that.
Give it 4 machines that beep.
My Cousin Vinnie. This one’s been on my radar since it was released, but it wasn’t until last night that I finally got around to it. Joe Pesci is an inexperienced personal injury lawyer who agrees to help his cousin and his cousin’s friend after they’ve been accused of murder. Delightful piece of work all the way around.
Watched The Batman last night on Max. Good action and a clever plot, but I thought the ending dragged a lot, and the movie was about 30 minutes too long.
Now I’m ready to start watching The Penguin.
The Substance
Highly recommended.
Well, I did not see any of that coming. Either the best movie of the year or at least in the top 5. I think Demi Moore might win an Oscar for this movie, though it might be too bizarre for the Academy.
I honestly don’t want to say anything about the plot. It’s better to simply know the title and go in blind. The movie is amazing and I was completely gripped the entire way through.
Check it out!
It’s #2 of 2024 so far for me. (#1 is Sing Sing.)
Reminded me of Titane in the sense that both movies were showing me something I definitely didn’t expect to be seeing. Both French, too, though Substance is in English.
Demi Moore committed big time to the role. She is a very compelling actress when she gets the right role and this one was great.
The final 30 minutes of The Substance were absolutely wild. I think it might be my #1 movie so far, but I haven’t seen Sing Sing. I will look into it.
I will also add that Substance feels like a continuation of the New Wave French Extremity movie trend.
It’s been a long time since I felt compelled to look away from the screen as much as I did watching The Substance. It does not pull its punches and the camera does not cut away when you think it will.
What a movie.
I’m trying to gauge the ick-out/weirdness factor for Substance but without getting into spoiler world. Could someone compare it to another movie? E.g., "It’s much worse than Deneuve in Repulsion.
It probably reminded me most of Cronenberg’s The Fly.
While channel surfing I came upon Free Solo, just in time for the climactic ascent of El Capitan. I’ve seen it before, but it’s still the single most anxiety-inducing sweaty-palm (literally) thing I’ve ever seen. If you haven’t seen it – do so immediately. On the largest screen possible.
I’ve searched and found that it’s available on the BBC iPlayer in the UK, so I will definitely give it a watch!
I have not seen it, but have you ever seen Society? The Fly?
It’s body horror, more extreme than I’ve seen in almost any movie.
Thor, Love and Thunder. Meh. Not bad mind you, but apparently most of those gods are not very smart.