KEATON CLONE
What's My Name: Muhammad Ali (2019)
How many of these docs have we seen or read on Ali. Endless clips, books, pictures, sound bites, movies and yet Antoine Fuqua presents a fresh take on the G.O.A.T.’s life. Another piece where I learn more about this great man. And again I am reminded how great these fights were. Specifically when he fought my man Smokin Joe Frazier. The two never stopped punching. Always amazes me. What's My Name: Muhammad Ali, 2 parts of joyful bliss.
BOB LAZAR Area 51 and Flying Saucers
You’re already suspect if you believe in UFO’s, claim you have proof, or evidence, even if you are making a UFO film you must know you are now a part of that category. He or she is into UFO shit. So when you make your film, if you are seeking proof, credibility, and you want to be praised for your work don’t make a ARTy piece of silliness. It would help to be straight forward! You’re main dude is already strange. Most of your footage is from the 80’s so it’s jacked up and to top it off you’re narrator is Mickey Rourke?! Mickey I love ya, I love Homeboy, 9 1/2 Weeks, The Wrestler, you’re comeback, you’re whole career, you’re a film icon, a legend for being eccentric and unpredictable. But you only add to the confused piece of posed nonsense. They even echoed your narration at times to make it all UFOish. And there is no excuse for that opening. Come on! Enough with the phone inserts and shallow focus so you can’t read them all. I hate being negative guys because I know work went into this but this was some waste of time shit.
MY NEXT GUESTS with DAVID LETTERMAN
Always fascinating to see who he sits down with and what he digs into. He’s mixed it up even more lately and he’s so damn good at what he does. Constantly delivers.
WHEN THEY SEE US (2019)
Based on the true story of the Central Park Five. This was hard to get through. I could barely watch it but to think that these guys and their families lived it, still live it, that makes my statement ludicrous. So let me begin with some words that come to my mind about When They See Us. Heartbreaking, sad, pops, Yankees, torn, family, brutal, fucked up, liars, evil, evil in power, mommy, no conscious, innocence, crying, anger, rage, soulless, kids, boys will be boys, teenage fun, powerful, lies, corruption, destroyed, ruin, strength, character, fear, no fear, stand up, unfair, New York, Central Park, Trump before Trump, money, position, politics, rape, fighting, division, race, history, and all I can think about is will those responsible get what they deserve. A lot in the pot on this one. Ava DuVernay lays it out in superb artistic fashion. With When They See Us she basically says, “Look how fucked up this is/was.” After watching When They See Us you literally want to leave your house and go look for the monsters that were responsible for this. I try to avoid voicing my opinion when I’m angry because I’ll end up saying something stupid and then get called out on it but fuck guys?! This happened?! Went down like this?! How many more stories like this exist?! You kind of lose faith in mankind when you see shit like this. Hard to believe (Although its getting easier to believe) there are actual people like this in the world and even worse, people in positions of power that should be reserved for leaders of the highest quality in integrity and in character. Sickening and heartbreaking.
A masterpiece of evil unfolding.
COBRA KAI Season 2 (2019)
While pondering this review I was pretty sure I was gonna open up by being honest and admitting this season wasn’t as strong. I even typed a version of that but then I watched the final episode. I now see this season as more of a pivot. It was a slow but constant setting of the stage for episode 10. If you take away anything from this review please take away the fact that you cannot give up on this season before you make it to episode 10. The payoff is there. The season finale is insane. Season 2 flies straight off the rails in this episode. Perfect litmus for you guys, Rocky. There is a consensus out there that Rocky 1 and 2 was great and then it went down hill from there. And if you believe that then you probably aren’t watching Cobra Kai to begin with. Anyone watching Cobra Kai knows that Rocky didn’t hit it’s stride until Rocky 3. Season 2 ends with a complete destruction of any reality and it is bad ass! Put the work in with some mediocre episodes here and there before 10 because believe me it’ll pay off in the end! #Offtherailsandlovingit
RED OAKS (2014 - 2017)
I love this series. It’s an updated Caddyshack (1980), or at least enough like Caddyshack to say “It’s an updated Caddyshack.” It’s 1980 something and we just graduated high school. What now? The beginning of the defining moments of one’s life. Good or bad. When you’re young enough to bounce back and naive enough to hang your dick out. Red Oaks is pretty good at taking you back to that time in your life.
COBRA KAI (2018)
I've only watched the first episode but I didn't even need that to tell you how bad ass this series is and will be! Finally Macchio agreed to make this so we get to enjoy these classic characters all over again. After the first episode I know this: Johnny "Ace Degenerate" Lawrence drives a red Pontiac Firebird, listen's to Poison, watches Iron Eagle, is an alcoholic, and he can still kick some ass. He's about to open Cobra Kai back up so get ready! No mercy mother fuckers! This is a fantastic day!
UPDATE:
You need Strike First and Strike Hard on this one. Cobrai Kai has pulled off something unbelievable. What started out as an amusing throw back for most and "This is gonna be awesome but will probably go south at one point but I don't care" for others (smirk) has become one of the strongest series around. William Zabka for an Emmy. Write that shit down cuz it could happen. And LaRusso and Lawrence can still move! The fighting is bad ass. These plot twist and storylines that these creators have put into this series are amazing to me. Who would've thought something Karate Kid would have a plot twist. And yes I used the overused word amazing because it freakin fits. Cobra Kai combines a perfect balance of nostalgia with a fresh slate of characters that fall right in line with the old ones. "Hawk fall in line," classic! And around every corner is a salute to the old franchise along with a scene that will have you staying up way to late to finish out the series. The final shot of the series is reason alone to watch Cobra Kai. I will say...if you do not, I repeat do not, like the original Karate Kid then you should not watch Cobra Kai. But I doubt they play it in Are you kidding me how is that possible, no funville where you are from. No mercy mother fuckers!
BARRY (2018)
Barry is great! You can always lean on Hader for a laugh for but now he's created this show Barry, he directed a few episodes, and he stars in it as a hit man interested in acting. Two great things about this show, the LA Acting Scene and all the "you are/were amazing" shit and the hitman action. The action is solid and it makes for a fun show you can laugh at. And Henry Winkler and Paula Newsome are freaking funny! Ok thats four great things.
ELVIS PRESLEY: THE SEARCHER (2018)
This documentary confirms two things: Elvis is the King and Elvis had music running through him. If you don't like Elvis then you don't like anyone. Great visuals of Elvis from way back that I'd never seen.
THE ZEN DIARIES OF GARRY SHANDLING (2018)
Long but oh so strong. Garry Shandling gave Peter Berg advice about Lone Survivor. That a-lone (ha!) tells you how many people he touched. I had no idea how great this man was and I already thought he was great. Judd Apatow pays his respects to a mentor and you really learn how loved Shandling was. And beyond the boundaries of comedy. A lot packed into this 2 part documentary. You'll cry and laugh. Who doesn't want to cry and laugh all in one sitting.
ANDRE THE GIANT (Documentary 2018)
Am I the only one that didn't know Andre the Giant was from France? Sad I didn't. The life of this Giant man was unbelievable to me. The drive he had to do something different (Family farmed) and having to do it as big as he was in a world that at the time wasn't exactly equip for people his size which means his drive had to be 7 feet 4 inches of maximum overdrive. His journey was crazy. Fly here, wrestle, fly over here to Japan for a match or two and then return to Tennessee to slam a few guys for the weekend. It's worth watching to see how much booze he drank. And I knew Wrestle Mania III was awesome but I had know idea the story behind it. It's interesting hearing all these former wrestles talk instead of shout.
Watching the transformation of Wrestling from the time when they all wrestled together in the ring to Wrestle Mania III with Hogan Ill was special. The shows these guys put on, the 80's production design, and all the great characters yelling at each other is fantastic. Andre was there for it all. Take a walk down memory lane or take a look at this fascinating world of craziness.
EVERYTHING SUCKS (2018)
Ok I’ve only watched one episode but the music ruuuules!!! And I love High school shit! But not sure about this one yet. Why do a review on something I’ve only seen one episode of??? I don’t know, I was excited about this one. Shit it’s the 90’s and I’m trying to force it into being as good as the 80’s. Ok shit, stayed stuned.