October 2018

October highlights included seeing one of my favorite musicals, Dear Evan Hansen, at the Ahmanson Theater with Joan—and receiving the gift of a Macbook from her as well. (Thank you so much for bankrolling so many of my favorite things, JM!) We also saw a pretty good play called VietGone as well! I continued to ride Bird and Lime scooters, and unfortunately fell off a Bird, skinning both knees and scratching up my right arm, due to my own stupidity. This was also the month I tried a few different juicers for making lemonade. My most recent acquisition is a lemon press that squashes the lemons by pulling a handle. I have been enjoying many batches of fresh lemonade! I ended the month by flying to Fort Lauderdale to attend the boat show. TV: I’m still enjoying all of my favorite shows. BOOKS: I finished Brian Kiley’s novel, and listened to Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. I quickly began another of her books, Bring Me Back. I also read an excellent newer Alan Ayckbourn play called A Brief History of Women. MUSIC: I finally finished grading every song by the Moody Blues.

Here are the movies I saw in October:

A STAR IS BORN (2018)—This latest remake of the perennial celebrity-couple romance features a terrific performance by Lady Gaga, who trades in her platinum-blonde persona for a more natural (and infinitely more pleasing) look—you cannot take your eyes off of her. But the movie is really all about the music, which is incredibly well done. Basically the same story as all the other versions, but updated to modern styles, dress, etc. (9)

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (2018)—In April 2015, I saw the 2003 movie Identity, about a bunch of strangers (Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John C. McGinley) who find themselves holed up in a motel during a terrible storm...while being stalked by a serial killer. Bad Times is an extremely similar film with the same basic plot, with things quickly going from bad to worse. It’s extremely entertaining, with outstanding performances by Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, et al. (10)

FIRST MAN (2018)—Ryan Gosling plays Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. The problem is that in this biopic, Gosling portrays him as a cold, insensitive husband and father, stoic and emotionless to the point of absurdity. One of the most agonizingly boring and ridiculously overrated movies of recent memory. (4)

THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (2018)—Ho-hum real-life drama starring Robert Redford as an aging bank robber who just can’t resist getting into trouble. Sissy Spacek plays his love interest. Unremarkable. (6)

THE HATE U GIVE (2018)—This “ripped from the headlines” drama tries to pack so many controversial subjects into one movie that it seems to be bursting at the seams. We’ve all read stories about innocent black people targeted by menacing cops (as well as black drug dealers and gang members). T.H.U.G. tries valiantly to address many of these subjects, but a little less might have been a bit more effective. What’s here is certainly not boring, and I give the filmmakers credit for exploring all angles of racial tension. (8)

WHAT THEY HAD (2018)—Blythe Danner is the mom with Alzheimer’s; Michael Shannon and Hilary Swank are her children trying to help her (and possibly get her into an assisted living facility); and Robert Forster is Danner’s husband, who just wants to take care of her in their apartment—despite the fact that she keeps busting out. This family drama is extremely well acted, and its emotional intensity is occasionally buoyed by dollops of much-needed humor. Very memorable and touching; one of the year’s best. (10)

THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952)—Vincente Minelli, one of my favorite directors, does a superb job with this Hollywood-centric story all about moviemaking. Kirk Douglas is a studio chief who manipulates the lives of his director (Barry Sullivan), writer (Dick Powell) and leading lady (Lana Turner) to get what he wants. The movie is told mostly in three long flashbacks that focus on each of his cronies. Gloria Grahame won an Oscar for a relatively small role as Powell’s Southern belle wife, but she is really amazing in the movie. I really need to watch more black-and-white movies from the ’50s...and more movies featuring Grahame. (9)