First of all, thank you all for your feedback to the first installment of ‘What are you Watching!’ I have never received so many comments, ideas and criticisms…and I love them ALL! A few shout-outs to Kent (Time Team), Jan (West Wing Reruns), Kathy (Little Fires Everywhere) and the plethora of other suggestions for what to watch. I am checking out all I can! It’s been a week, and the way we are consuming tv, I know you are all on to something NEW! Here are my ‘few’ to ponder!
‘Making the Cut’ It’s Not THAT Runway Show.
I have always been a fan of Tim Gunn’s. He’s real, he’s direct, and he’s not afraid to show emotion. This may be his vehicle more than the perpetually peppy Heidi Klum. ‘Making the Cut’ took a different approach to fashion and its next big star. This time there are 12 established designers from everywhere in the world. (2 from Ohio!) The money is also a change…$1,000,000 to the big winner. What I find to be the best change, the locales! We have visited Paris for some incredible venues highlighting the designers’ fashion shows, and about to hit TOKYO! I have a group of friends who got me into ‘MTC’ and I’m glad they did. These designs, no sewing experience necessary, are more…well MORE! You see, these designers do multiple looks, more than one singular design…like a true fashion show! That helps us understand their vision. Unlike the stalwart ‘Project Runway,’ many people might hit the road after each presentation. Interestingly on ‘MTC’ people get to make the case for why they should stay! ‘MTC’ isn’t perfect, by any means. It wants us to like Heidi a lot….and relies heavily on cute little homestyle videos her, along with Gunn, doing cutesy local activities. UGH! At its core, it’s truly entertaining. It means well, even though you wouldn’t believe that when you experience the vicious and ruthless reviews of judge, Naomi Campbell. (I’m scared of her!)
‘Making the Cut’ score – 8.6/10. Fashion fanatics will love it!
‘Self-Made’ Oh, What Could Have Been!
As a former 4th grade teacher, and one who loved teaching the story of Madam C.J.Walker, I couldn’t wait for this one. You combine one of America’s most-beloved actresses, Octavia Spencer, with up-and-running Tiffany Haddish and add many other familiar faces and you just knew it was going to work. (Best laid plans) Self-made is giving you one of America’s most important African-American female success stories…actually just one of America’s most important success stories, period! You settle in for this mini-series hoping it will provide you with all the ingredients…comedy, drama and inspiration. It’s not long before you begin to realize that artistic liberties were taken in making this show that really diminish the story. It appears Seussical! Silly at times. Haddish almost seems in on the joke in a few scenes. When the story is on track and Spencer is on the screen, it’s real, clean and highly watchable. As someone who owns hair salons, I wanted the ‘meat’ to the story, but it wraps itself in Disneyfied delusions and (I Understand what they tried to do here) hip-hop 1900’s music? ‘Self-Made’ more describes the writers and directors here, as they took an important story and made it about…well, themselves! By the end of the series, you really aren’t sure you even like those we should absolutely admire.
‘Self-Made’ score – 7/10. Thank God for Octavia!
‘Invisible Man’ You’ll See Right Through it.
Ever watch those films you don’t hate, you don’t like, you don’t love….you get the point! I like Elisabeth Moss, and at times, I think in this film she saves its failures. She can’t, however, save a plot that is fraught with holes! ‘Invisible Man’ doesn’t take time enough to let us care about the characters. It’s rushing to scare us, intrigue us and confuse us….well, at least they confused us. Moss and her co-stars have some thrilling moments…the dinner scene is sure to be a talked about classic…the fight scene with Aldis Hodge and the ‘Man’…..and even the bloody nose of Storm Reid….give you some ‘wows’….but it’s flat. Just flat! I had read about the ending and heard I would be astounded….but I saw the ending coming in the first hour (which pissed off my co-watcher)! I’ve been online today reading through reviews of this film, they’ve been brutal. IT’s NOT that BAD….it’s just not so good. It’s a story we all know, and we all want to buy into. Wait a few weeks, and even the buying part will be easier to swallow!
‘Invisible Man’ score – 7/10. Boooooo, no really, booooooo!
‘Schitt’s Creek’ Farewell Friends!
In 2015, I wrote a review about some crazy show I had tuned into with the incredible Catherine O’Hara! Looking back at that review, I mentioned it felt like ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ in reverse. I stand by that! In the 5 years that would follow, millions of people would start to give a Schitt about this now iconic show. I literally had floodgates watching the end of the show…not so much the episode, but the farewell that followed. We have all been indoors, cooped up, cranky and antsy. There was something about waiting on ‘Schitt’ to show up on the screen, and the world would be rited for a bit. And now, you’re taking that away from us, too??? After listening to the cast and crew, I get it. Leave while it’s still beloved and fresh. Don’t wear it out. What made ‘Schitt’ special was the characters. You came to love them all….(David, Alexis, Moira, Stevie)….and even the not-so-main characters, held our hearts…(Jocelyn, Ted, Gwen, Ronnie)…because they became our ‘pretend’ family! ‘Schitt’s Creek’ could have taken the easy way out in their final episode, and I won’t spill any beans about it, but they held up their heads and gave you the ‘right’ kind of ending. It was fair, open and heartfelt. Not often, do I say, someone hurry and make a movie…but someone hurry and make a movie.
‘Schitt’s Creek’ score – 9.7/10. Where everyone fits in!
Alright…see ya next week. Keep in touch with me! You help me with my material…and I need all the help I can get!!
