The Rest - March 19, 2023

The calmest moment in Yes, Madam!

A quick wrap-up of everything else I watched this week. It's the week after the Oscars. Goblin mode is activated. Choices are made on a whim. It feels good.

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023) - Netflix's first live comedy special aired just a week before the Oscars, and considering "The Slap" is the only thing anyone remembers from last year's awards, I bet that was intentional. This isn't Rock's finest material... but it doesn't really need to be. We're just waiting for him to talk about Will Smith, and he knows it. He saves his thoughts on the incident for the last ten minutes, and they're certainly worth it. But feel empowered to use that fast forward button to get there.

A Dog's Life (1918) - One of two Charlie Chaplin shorts we watched for our movie club this week, which has started a new series where we each were assigned a decade from the 1910s to 50s. I know the screen comedians of the time were largely coming from the world of vaudeville, but it feels like Chaplin is inventing the Marx Brothers here.

Frankenhooker (1990) - Nobody does it like Henenlotter, the purest schlock filmmaker. This might be his best. Trashy and exuberant and deeply funny. The title tells you everything you need to about the plot. Mary Shelley would be... well, probably not proud, but... very curious.

The Last of Us, season 1 finale (2023) - The moral dilemmas were popping off in this episode. It's been a long, traumatic road thus far, and what little hope is offered here (for Joel and Ellie, at least) comes at a great price. I have no idea where this series is going. It's interesting to watch something inspired by a video game that doesn't stray too far from the level-to-level mission-based formula of a game, but allows its story and characters room to develop as well. Gives me hope for other adaptations.

Never Been Kissed (1999) - Yikes! This did not age well. Everyone in this is basically a sexual predator. Drew Barrymore deserves better.

Private Benjamin (1980) - Goldie Hawn and Eileen Brennan are terrific in this comedy about a young widow who is tricked into joining the army (by Harry Dean Stanton!). It falls apart in the third act, but up to that point it's kind of a less problematic alternative to Stripes.

Scream 2 (1998) - Has a lot to say about horror sequels while also being a pretty effective horror sequel. Kept me guessing until the end. I was a fool to not watch these sooner.

Ted Lasso, Season 3 premiere (2023) - Nothing much has changed in the Lassoverse since last season's finale. And maybe that's the point? Feels like the overarching theme of this season will be letting go. Fitting if this really is its final season.

The Tramp (1915) - The other assigned Chaplin short. In this one it feels like Chaplin is inventing the Three Stooges. Lots of pratfalls. Not quite as elaborate as A Dog's Life, but a fun watch.

Yes, Madam! (1985) - The Criterion Channel is currently streaming an 8-movie collection called Michelle Yeoh Kicks Ass. This is the first in that series, and it delivers. There's an overly-complicated plot involving a piece of microfilm, but it's just a narrative excuse for Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock to fight their way across Hong Kong.