It’s hard to believe that I have spent yet another month streaming movies and series on a near daily basis. But be that as it may, here are some I’ve watched. I would really like to hear from you with comments or angry rebuttals, so take a break from the screen and send me some!
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind (2019 Netflix) I loved this documentary about the legendary Canadian singer, made four years before his death at 83. Some of my readers will recognize the songs he wrote and performed, songs I had forgotten about (or didn’t know he even wrote) so many years ago. Those of you born in the 80’s or later probably never heard of him. Unless you are Canadian because he is an iconic figure there. Clips of later performances show that Lightfoot maintained a strong voice in his 70’s, but sadly his profligate past is reflected in his appearance, so the shock and dismay of the physical contrast between the young Lightfoot and the old one is particularly profound.
Shattered Glass (2003 Kanopy) In 1998 Stephen Glass, an associate editor and at age 23 the youngest staff at The New Republic was exposed as having fabricated a story for the magazine. As it turns out, he had done so for 27 of the 41 articles published. It’s not a documentary but my post screening obsessive delving into the story reveals that the filmmakers have stuck very close to the story and its key figures. The performances are so convincing that I had to keep reminding myself that is a re-creation. The filmmakers avoid any in-depth exploration of motivation for this seemingly pathological behavior but leave room for many conjectures.
Tokyo Swindlers (2024 Netflix) I’m surprised at how gripped I was with this Japanese series given my general avoidance of violence, but I stuck with it, covered my eyes until it seemed safe to open them, and watched every nail biting episode of Season 1. Acting–fantastic, story line–fascinating. If you are a developer and thinking about buying a property in Tokyo, be very cautious!! I’m not sure exactly how common a scam it is, but apparently it does happen. A group of con artists target a desirable property and fake ownership, absconding with lotsa moola and leaving its victims bankrupt. A little research turned up articles about recent crime just like that in Oakland, California. So while the series is not “true” it is based on a not uncommon criminal practice. A second season is in the works because Season 1 ends with a cliffhanger–which I hate!!!
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025 Prime) This is one of those films that lots of people recommend, but they don’t give much else in the way of comment. Yikes!Not sure what I was expecting but this one had me reaching for a valium! In 1943 Phillip Wylie’s book A Generation of Vipers coined the term “Momism”, a new phrase perhaps but a centuries old concept where mothers are to blame for the problems of the children. They are either too cold (refrigerator moms), too overprotective, or simply devouring. The protagonist of the movie has internalized this mother shaming resulting in a psychological condition call “the depleted mom syndrome” and she is about as depleted as one can get. The movie incorporates these tropes in an occasionally surreal film that will prompt quite a post screening discussion, particularly among women. I found the ending scene a somewhat hopeful, if not didactic message. I really, really want to hear your thoughts on this one.
I started watching How to Get to Heaven From Belfast and really enjoyed the first 3 or 4 episodes: amusing dialogue, some lovely Irish landscape, good acting, irreverent and intriguing plot. But then like so many series it wore out its welcome, descending into silliness, total implausibility, repetition, generally annoying, contrived. Just plain stupid.
New York Cynic 