Apologies for the hiatus, but flu, travel and other deadlines interfered with my diligence. I’m sure I saw much more than this, but here are a few recommendations(I know I watched two pretty good movies on the plane, but no idea what they were. I do vote ANA as having the best selection I’ve ever seen on any flight):
“Perfect Days” (Amazon, Apple) It’s rare that a film actually influences my life, but this one is so powerful that it has had a profoundly calming effect on me as I trudge through daily chores. Having recently experienced the pristine public toilets of Toyko, I particularly enjoyed this lovely Zen-like tale of a Tokyo toilet cleaner as he goes about his work. My friend David in his recommendation of it to me said this and I agree:”Wim Wenders takes the quotidian and turns it into an artistic treasure. The aesthetic is serene and the stoic main character plays in the aesthetic with a sense of near perfect life balance. As you probably know, this piece was one of the five nominees for best international feature at last night’s Oscars…A wonderful film! “
“Yesterday” (Kanopy) It came out in 2019 so most of you have probably already seen this lovely, gentle and funny British film about an aspiring and not particularly talented songwriter who is the only one in the world (through a freak sci fi accident) who knows of the Beatles.
“Blackberry” (Netflix) A moving and funny “bio pic” of the rise and demise of the Blackberry phone. Post screening research reveals that the characterizations weren’t very accurate, but the basic story line is pretty true. For those of us in the pre-cell phone generation, it has the added glow of nostalgia.
“Elsbeth” (CBS/Amazon) It’s a silly but quite amusing 21st century version of a sorta, kinda “Murder She Wrote” (Okay, I know it’s dating me and that a few of my younger readers weren’t even born when Angela Lansbury was solving her mysteries.) As in the good ol’ days of television, each episode stands alone. The Elsbeth formula reveals whodunnit early on, so the plot involves Elsbeth’s reveal to a reluctant police chief played by Wendell Pierce. So far she’s solved three mysteries but each episode she needs to convince the reluctant chief (you’d think he’d get it by now!)
“The Gentlemen” (Netflix) I thought I’d enjoy this tale of British royal “Breaking Bad”. But turns out in spite of appealing cast, good acting, etc. it is comic book violent and nothing I have any interest in. I actually liked “Breaking Bad”, but this makes that series seem tame.
New York Cynic 