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.