Barbie / Greta Gerwig (2023). This is a tough film for me to review. First, because so much has been said and written already and second, my journey through this movie. It is in three acts. The first takes place in Barbi Land where Stereotypical Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) perfect existence starts to go wrong. In the middle section, she travels to the Real World to find the little girl who plays with her. The jokes and the satirical elements seemed to me to be not very funny or particularly biting. I was already writing a paragraph in my head calling it mediocre. But then the third act, also in Barbie Land, just bowled me over with its brilliance, humor, pathos, and the scathing look at society I was hoping for. The film really soars as the Barbie’s try to put their world back in order. Four stars out of four for me.
Ryan Gosling is also very good as Beach Ken. He can’t surf. He can’t be a lifeguard. He just stands on the beach all day. Going into the Real World introduces him to the patriarchy, which he likes because he has always been second (“It is always Barbie and Ken. Never just Ken”). Michael Cera has a couple of good scenes as Allan, a discontinued doll. Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie almost steals the first third. But I want to life up the two humans who Barbie brings into Barbie Land: Gloria (America Ferrera) and her daughter Sasha (Arianna Greenblatt, a 14-year old – at time of filming - bundle of talent). Really fine acting from both of them. Ferrera greatly deservers her Oscar nomination.
There must be some really good sports in the executive suites at Mattel. Not only is the company pictured as inept comic villains (Will Farrell is the CEO over a large, all male, board of directors), but the movie was the first production of Mattel Films, a reformation of a previous division.
One last brief comment. A lot of ink has been spilled over Robbie and director Greta Gerwig not getting Oscar nominations. Most comments are along the line of “The Academy” “snubbing” the two women. Well, a quick reminder that nominees are chosen by the Academy’s branches. Members of the Actor’s Branch pick the actors to be nominated and Directors choose director nominations. No “Academy” and no “snub.” The Branch members just cast more votes for other people. Everybody: see “Barbie.”
Past Lives / Celine Song (2023). A quiet meditative movie about one’s past and, in Buddhism, past lives, and how people may be destined for each other. In Seoul, South Korea, 24 years ago, school children Hae Sung and Na Young had crushes on each other, but they were separated when Na Young’s family immigrated to Canada. 12 years later, Na Young (Greta Lee), who has taken the English language name of Nora, reconnects with Hae Sung (Teo Yoo). They talk via Zoom for a time but lose touch again. Nora meets and marries Richard (John Magaro) and another 12 years past. The last half of the film chronicles Hae Sung’s visit to NYC to meet Nora and to figure out whether their past lives are affecting the present. Richard, meantime, becomes jealous and insecure.
None of this is played for melodrama. It is all quiet talk, elliptical conversations, and silences. That is what makes the movie special. Even though Nora says early on that she has no intention of leaving her husband and life in New York, we wonder if she feels the pull of destiny regarding her childhood friend. Frankly, for the first half-hour, I thought this was going to be slow going and considered cutting it off, but slowly interest in the characters built up until I wouldn’t think of turning off the disc until the end. Direction, editing, performances - they are all top shelf. Highly recommended.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds“The Serene Squall” Season 1, Episode 7 (June 16, 2022)
“The Elysian Kingdom” Season 1, Episode 8 (June 23, 2022)
“All Those Who Wander” Season 1, Episode 9 (June 30, 2022)
“A Quality of Mercy” Season 1, Episode 10 (July 7, 2022)
This series takes place on the Enterprise when the characters from TOS were still young. We see Spock (Ethan Peck) in his first assignment as a Science Officer, Starfleet cadet Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) serving a period for education, and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) working in Sickbay. Someone says that Lieutenant Kirk is coming aboard, but it turns out to be Sam Kirk, James’ brother. However, James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) does make an appearance in the season’s last story.
………………………Season 1 Completed
Star Trek: Lower Decks“Grounded” Season 3, Episode 1 (August 25, 2022)
“The Least Dangerous Game” Season 3, Episode 2 (September 1, 2022(
“Mining the Mind's Mines” Season 3, Episode 3 (September 8, 2022)
“Room for Growth” Season 3, Episode 4 (September 15, 2022)
“Reflections” Season 3, Episode 5 (September 22, 2022)
“Hear All, Trust Nothing” Season 3, Episode 6 (Sept 29, 2022)
“A Mathematically Perfect Redemption” Season 3, Episode7 (October 6, 2022)
“Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus” Season 3, Episode 8 (October 13, 2022)
“Trusted Sources” Season 3, Episode 9 (October 20, 2022)
“The Stars at Night” Season 3, Episode 10 (October 27, 2022)
……………………………Season 3 Completed
Miss Scarlet And The Duke“Six Feet Under” Season 4, Episode 2 (January 14, 2024)
Prime Suspect“Keeper of Souls: Part 1” Season 3, Episode 1 (December 19, 1993)
“Keeper of Souls: Part 2” Season 3, Episode 2 (December 20, 1993)
……………………………………..Season 3 Completed
NOVA“Iceman Reborn” Season 43, Episode 7 (February 17, 2016)
“Ultimate Space Telescope” Season 49, Episode 10 (July 13, 2022)
