Sugar, Steve Martin, She Came to Me, The Great Lillian Hall, Lady Parts

“Sugar” (Apple T.V) At first I really enjoyed this well-done, but fairly formulaic series. Colin Farrell is so attractive and Amy Ryan so appealing(The Office–I kept trying to remember where I had seen her) that it kept me watching. But then it takes a weird and really quite ridiculous surreal and repugnant turn. I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me.(and not in a good way) Don’t watch the last (3?) episodes. If you want to know how it turns out, write or call me and I’ll summarize it. Really.

“Steve!” A documentary in two parts. (Apple) I’m sure some people out there don’t think Steve Martin is funny, but I don’t know them. Part One where we follow his career and clips of his old routines is both laugh out loud funny and nostalgic. Part Two is very enjoyable and interesting but less funny, likely intentionally so because it’s where he reveals more about himself, his family and his past relationships. His friendship with Martin Short is sweet.Their act is amusing but not fab in my book. All in all the documentary reinforces his image as a genuinely decent and sensitive person who deserves all the success he has earned.

“She Came to Me” (Prime, Hulu) This is a well-meaning romantic comedy requiring a lot of suspension of disbelief, but it’s distracting enough. Ever since “My Cousin Vinny” I have been in the Marisa Tomei fan club so that combined with a setting in my hometown N.Y.C. made it watchable but not fab.

“The Great Lillian Hall” (HBO) Great performances all around: Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Lily Rabe star in a modern melodrama which centers around a Broadway Grand Dame’s coming to terms with a diagnosis of dementia. The movie has an old-fashioned feel (rusty?)to it and hovers precipitously on all too familiar tropes. For me the most sympathetic, fully developed character was Lily Rabe as the grown daughter hovering in the shadows of a luminous star parent.(one of those tropes I referred to, but layered enough to still be interesting). Although intended as a character study, when the movie ended I was left thinking about Lange’s superb performance and with little feeling for the character she portrayed. The fulcrum of the plot is Lillian Hall’s starring role in a Broadway production of the “The Cherry Orchard”. This is an intentional irony of the movie. One of the major themes of the play was the effect of social change in early 20th century Russia. But more relevant is the exploration of the past and the memories associated with it. Lillian does a lot of that. Chekhov called it a comedy and Stanislavski called it a tragedy. The film is both of these.

“We Are Lady Parts” (Prime, Peacock”) Thank you Luana and Michael for telling me about this fantastic, maybe the best series –ever!!! And I just learned there is a second season. That’s good because last night was a binge of all six episodes of Season 1. Funny and occasionally poignant, the series features a British punk rock band–all Muslim women. Talented and diverse, weed smoking and some god fearing, they defy stereotypes. But more than that: great music, lyrics, comedy, acting, and characters you will love. A Must Watch!