Schitt's Creek

"Schitt's Creek" was one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. 

Eugene Levy is the patriarch Johnny Rose whose bad investments cause the family to go broke. The IRS takes everything except a motel they bought in a town called Schitt's Creek. So the well-to-do family moves into the motel.

Catherine O'Hara is glorious as multiwig, overdressed, former soap diva Moira Rose. Their two grown kids David (Dan Levy, Eugene's real-life son) and Alexis (Annie Murphy) move into the motel room next door. 

Classic fish-out-of-water story. It tackles so many issues. LGBT, ageism, going from rich to poor. 

Great show. Great laughs. No spoilers, but if you want a good laugh you can binge all six seasons.

Toy Boy

The 5 star Spanish show "Toy Boy" is about stripper Hugo Beltran (former footballer turned actor Jesus Mosquera) who gets out of prison after 7 years on parole to try and clear his name of murdering the husband of his lover Macarena Medina. 

For dramatic license Hugo does ALOT of stupid stuff against his lawyer's advice and just in general. But overall the 10 episode first season was engaging.

It also features the owner of the strip club he works at Ivan (Jose de la Torre), deaf stripper Jairo (Carlo Constanzi), a tall black stripper German (Raudel Raúl Martiato), and Ivan's sister's boyfriend Oscar (Carlos Scholz) who becomes a stripper. Along with them there are warring families the Medinas and Rojas.

There's so much going on, but everything is so well balanced. Highly recommend. The strippers do actual dance routines. And NO JOKE Jesus has entered the Best Butt in Hollywood realm. WOW!

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

"Tiger King" is easily 5 stars out of 5. The most outrageous thing on Netflix I've ever seen.

This 7 part documentary has lions, tigers, and bears plus murder, marriage, and backstabbing. HOLY MOSES! At the epic center is gay, polygamist, widowed, redneck, gun-toting, loud mouth, mullet wearing, animal tamer Joe Exotic and his hatred for suspected husband killing, hippie, "animal conservationist" Carole Baskin. A hatred that allegedly had him hire a hitman to kill her, but the hitman didn't go through with it only took the money. The hitman cooperated with the FBI, and Joe is imprisoned for 22 years.

I had no idea who any of these people were till yesterday. The first episode you have so many opinions already formed. By the end of the second episode your mind is fried. This is a show that if scripted you couldn't even DREAM up. By the end of episode seven, everyone is a bad person and the only true saints are the animals. WOW!

The toughest part for me was seeing animals in cages in episode one. I turned it off twice. Just horrible. And this show will have a sequel. How can it not? 

Bombshell

"Bombshell" is the story of three women who spoke out about Roger Ailes sexual harassment during his time at Fox News in 2016. All 5's here. 

Acting, writing, and makeup amazing. Charlize Theron plays Megyn Kelly, Fox News bright anchor, who joined a fight Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) started against Roger Ailes. Kayla (Margot Robbie), a character of a combo of women, finally finds her voice.

This is one of those pull back the curtains type of movies where once you see why the wide shots, why the perfectly polished hair and nails, why the dresses never had wrinkles, you fully understand it...it being we just accepted this culture. No one spoke up because of fear.

I have so much respect for the women in the real story that spoke up. 

Little Fires Everywhere

If you aren't watching "Little Fires Everywhere" on Hulu, you are missing out on some great TV. Easily 5 stars out of 5.

Kerry Washington is single, grifter mom Mia Warren whom along with her daughter Pearl moves to Shaker, OH in the mid 1990s. She rents one side of a duplex from WASPy Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon). Elena is that white, well-to-do woman who says she isn't racist, but does things to contradict that statement. 

I know that Elena is suppose to be the villainess, but in my opinion Mia shares equal billing. There are 4 episodes of 8 with one being released every Wednesday. Catch up. The characters are engaging, well-drawn out, and relatable. Plus you get to see Joshua Jackson in his tighty whities. hehe LOVE YOU, PACEY!!!!

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker

Loved, loved, loved "Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker." Easily 5 stars out of 5.

It's really hard to critique a movie depicting someone's life because of course you would made different choices, but it's their life. My critique lies within the execution! Boy was this executed well.

Well written, supremely acted, and perfectly cast in every role. The story of Sarah Walker from married mom laundress to self-made hair care millionaire was inspiring and uplifting. 

Octavia Spencer will win Best Lead Actress in a mini-series, Tiffany Haddish and Carmen Ejogo will be nominated for Supporting Actress, and Blair Underwood will be nominated for Best Lead Actor. Octavia has this locked down; she WAS Sarah Walker aka Madam CJ Walker. WOW!

It's 4 episodes long and worth it. Watch it during your isolation. You won't regret it.

Bloodshot

"Bloodshot" was a solid 3 out of 5. It wasn't terrible or almost perfect, it's just a good Vin Diesel movie.

Vin plays a soldier who dies and is brought back to life by a scientist. Although his range is limited a movie like this is made for him.

Not really much else to say. But like I said it's good. Great action sequences.

The Way Back

"The Way Back" is Ben Affleck's way back to stardom. 

Ben plays functioning alcoholic and former local basketball legend Jack Cunningham. Jack works construction and hides his alcohol in his coffee cup, showers and puts his alcohol on the soap rack, and stays at local bar Harvey's Place after work. He is asked by the father of his old Catholic high school to coach the basketball team. When he does it changes both his live and their lives.

There is so much more to the movie than I will ever cover here. 5 stars out of 5. 

Sonic the Hedgehog

Jim Carrey is back. "Sonic the Hedgehog" is the perfect movie for his comeback. As Dr. Robotnik he's looking for Sonic (Ben Schwartz).  Sonic is on Earth to escape galactic folks looking for his powers only to be hunted by Dr. Robotnik of course. Thankfully he's being helped by James Marsden & Tika Sumpter (the first interracial couple in a video game turned movie). 

The over-the-top acting from Jim Carrey, the realistic chemistry between Tika & James, and the absolute likability of Ben Schwartz. This movie is easily 5 stars out of 5. Wait for the very end to see the sequel potential. This movie is fun for adults and kids alike.

Spenser Confidential

"Spenser Confidential" is a 4 out of 5 star movie. And you know how much that pains me considering how much I despise the white privileged Mark Wahlberg AND the transphobic Peter Berg.

Loosely based on the hit TV show "Spencer for Hire" this take is about a good Boston cop (Wahlberg) standing up to a bad cop and becoming ostracized & jailed by his peers. When he gets out of prison, he shares a room with Hawk (the ridiculously talented and sexy Winston Duke). Alan Arkin as Spenser mentor is brilliant casting. This movie WORKED...until Iliza Shlesinger's character shows up. Trashy, loud-mouth, Boston white woman. Mark & Peter has played this stereotype as much as Quentin Tarantino writes the N word in his scripts. I'm not even a white woman, and I'm offended. This character LITERALLY makes no sense. She basically stalks Spenser at his work, makes a scene, simply to tell him to leave her alone. WHAT?! No! Iliza is an amazing actress, but this role was beneath her talents.

Again 4 out of 5 stars. Hopefully if a sequel is greenlit they tone down the stereotypical Boston trashiness.

The Invisible Man

"The Invisible Man" is a solid 4 out of 5. 

The one thing I hated most was the dramatic license. Elisabeth Moss was PHENOMENAL as a woman whose husband uses an invisibility suit to stalk her. If you read the synopsis of the other Invisible Man movies this one movie is a combo of both. It's good, but there are moments where the character should be running or calling the cops; yet she stands there.

The cinematography is OUTSTANDING! This movie is made for $7 million and looks like it was made for a good $100 million. The production values are insane! Director/Writer Leigh Whannell (of "Saw") did it again.

Ps any movie with Oliver Jackson-Cohen is my favorite movie...lets just say you've never seen him like this before if you are a fan of his. But Aldis "yummy" Hodge and Storm Reid are amazing supporting characters! Worth seeing.

Parasite

"Parasite" is a metaphor for a family that feeds off others. The question in this film is which family is feeding off which?

The Parks are a well-to-do Korean family that are swindled by the poor Kim family. It starts off innocently enough when Min-hyuk (Park Seo-joon), the bff of Ki-Woo Kim (Choi Woo-shik) to tutor Da-hye Park (Jung Ji-so). Min cannot bear to tutor her anymore because he's fallen in love with her but she's too young. And so starts the most elaborate scheme ever.

This movie is so brilliant because you aren't watching a dark comedy, you're watching a thriller, a love story, a drama, a comedy. This movie has everything but animation and musical. WOW! The acting is massive, the direction is inspiring, the production values are insane (cost $11 million to make and has made $180 million at the box office). Crushing hard on Lee Sun-kyun btw.

Worth EVERY award, and I would say deserved acting awards. Hopefully Bong Joon-ho is allowed to make more films. This man is a genius!

Bad Boys For Life

17 Years later, and they still got it. "Bad Boys For Life" is a saying Marcus (Martin Lawrence) and Mike (Will Smith) have said throughout "Bad Boys" and "Bad Boys 2." This movie is 5 stars out of 5 EASILY!

Every detail is cleared up and wrapped up like a bow. Then the ending leaves you wanting more. My only caveat is the poster. It irritates me when names are mixed up. There's a shot in the movie where they stand and Will stands behind Martin. So WHY is the order reversed on the poster and the names? Sorry I am detail oriented person. 

Writing, production value, acting...my new fave is Jacob Scipio. (shivers) It was nice seeing Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and sex on two legs Charles Melton break out of their "teen images." But watch for directors/best friends Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. I have a feeling they will be HUGE!

The Photograph

A romantic drama about two black people who fall in love. SIGN ME UP! 

"The Photograph" is about a journalist named Mike (Lakeith Stanfield) and the daughter of a famous photographer (Mae played by long-haired Issa Rae). They each see a picture of the photographer and do digging until they bump into each other. I love their slow burn relationship and everything after.

The acting, the script, the direction...but Y'lan Noel is a scene stealer. Lordt Jesus, thank  you for creating this man (fans self). Beautiful, talented, and what a presence.

This movie will give you FEELS! 5 stars out of 5. There legit is nothing wrong with this movie at all. Love it, wanna see more.

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

"Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn" is one of the best comic book movies out there. Easily 4 stars out of 5, but not quite 5.

Margot Robbie as Dr. Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quinn is PERFECTION in that role. She was made for it. Her backstory is explained and fast forward to the present as her and Joker broke up. Which means as his now ex-girlfriend she has no protections from the people she's tortured or other mobs like Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor). At the same time a woman is killing men with a crossbow (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) is trying to track down the crossbow killer and capture Harley Quinn, and Dinah Lance aka Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) gets a promotion from Roman's club songstress to his driver. The storylines all merge together when a diamond is missing that could help all three women...stole by an orphan pickpocket named Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco). 

My problem is Ewan McGregor and Chris Messina (as Roman's right hand) acted over the top. Their characters WEREN'T over the top like Harley Quinn, but Ewan would scream or Chris would smirk. It just didn't feel like these characters were in their range. They were ACTING whereas Margot just WAS Harley Quinn, accent and all. 

Great movie directed by Cathy Yan and written by Christina Hodson. I can totally see a Joker cross over. Worth seeing in the theater.

Brittany Runs A Marathon

"Brittany Runs A Marathon" is one of the most disappointing movies I've ever seen.

It starts off good where you see a partier who has her life scattered until she decides to start running. She then decides to run the New York Marathon with her new running friends. THAT'S WHEN the movie plummets. She turns into a worse person than the movie began. She doesn't party but she's rude, mean, and cruel for no reason. Ungrateful and hateful. I only continued watching the movie to get it over it. Sorry Paul Downs Colaizzo, but you failed.

I'm giving it 2 stars out of 5 now. If only she had a setback and stayed the person she built I would've liked the movie A WHOLE LOT MORE! I couldn't even root for her after that.

The Morning Show

Apple TV released "The Morning Show" on a weekly basis. I'm SO glad I got to bingewatch the episodes all together because WOW!

"TMS" is a mix of Matt Lauer's Today show sexual allegations and CBS's Les Moonves' sex scandal coverup. It's smartly written, executed, and acted. There's a reason why this show is produced for $15 million per episode. Worth EVERY penny. Keep reading...

Marriage Story

"Marriage Story" is about NY playwright/director Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) and his LA born actress wife Nicole (Scarlett Johannsson) as they navigate the most realistic divorce in cinema history since Kramer vs Kramer. Currently I know three couples at different stages of divorce. 

I don't like Scarlett Johannasson as a public figure, but she does a great job. Adam Driver NAILED IT! NAILED IT! They have this argument that brought me to tears and made me gasp at how real it was. If Joker wasn't released this year, Adam would win.

This movie is 5 stars. Director/Writer Noah Baumbach wrote this meshing his own divorce with actress Jennifer Jason Leigh and his parents' divorce together. Noah not only gave Jennifer the script but screened it for her; she approved! 

1917

"1917" is about two British soldiers' (Lance Corporal Will Scofield played by George McKay and Lance Corporal Tom Blake played by Dean-Charles Chapman) journey across German lines during wartime to get a message to the front line of the British Army NOT to attack a German base due to aerial reports that would trap and kill 1600 British soldiers during World War I. One of the 1600 British soldiers is the brother of Lance Corporal Blake's.

These actors aren't BIG NAMES, but holy moses they packed a wallop. George and Dean-Charles should've gotten more recognition than they have. THEY CARRIED 95% of this movie. Parts of this movie are slow, but overall wow! Sam Mendes directed and co-wrote this masterpiece! 5 stars out of 5 EASILY!

Aaron Hernandez documentaries

I binged Netflix's 3 part special "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez," Oxygen's 2 part special "Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, and Investigation Discovery's 2 part special "Aaron Hernandez An ID Murder Mystery."

Both are amazing and filled in so many gaps. Watch the Oxygen special first then the Netflix and ID specials because they fill in gaps for each other.

Together they are 5 stars out of 5. Separately I would say the Oxygen special is a high overview, the ID is more about the case, and the Netflix special is a deep dive. They all EXPLAIN Aaron's behavior, but don't EXCUSE him.

I hope these specials help others before they go too far as well.

The Irishman

"The Irishman" is three and a half hour version of "Casino" meets "Heat." 

True story of an Irishman (Robert DeNiro) who works with the mafia and rumored to have killed mobster James "Jimmy" Hoffa (Al Pacino). 

Great writing and acting. 5 out of 5 stars. But just sooooooooooooo long!

A Fall From Grace

This movie right here....LORDTTTTTT! Tyler Perry done done it again. No spoilers at all, but this movie is amazing.

I love that Crystal Fox ("The Haves and The Have Nots") proved to EVERYONE women over a certain age can act and be sexy and interesting to watch. This woman did her THANG! And Mehcad Brooks with his sexy ass...(fans self). Phylicia Rashad and Bresha Webb brought their A games, hunties.

Netflix got me HOOKED! Check this one out. 5 out of 5 stars.