The Fate Of Furious Movies

These things aren't going to stop and I do NOT begrudge Universal for trying to save their own studios by pandering to idiots. It's great, movies are entertainment again. And that's how it should be. It's actually great for smaller stories, because these can go undetected and made with the residuals of something like "Furious" movies. In other words, with a surplus MAYBE studios can take small chances. What they called back in the day "singles and doubles."

So earlier there were talks about how studios were going down. That streaming and all that is going to kill them. Which is sort of true. These movies are an anomaly and should not be taken to be the trend. A movie like "Star Wars" is a proven track record since the 70's. James Bond movies too. What this says is that writing stories that have no link to...common sense and structure no longer need to be the deciding factor. NOT that you can or will be lazy with your storytelling, but there is a strange part of me that gets ill at the idea some kid in film school will want to emulate these types of movies. Maybe good. When "Lethal Weapon" came out the "franchise" ran out of gas fast. And attempted another re-boot on television 20+ years later. I think when this well dries out...it will see a re-boot in television. It was MADE for television.

Which goes back to William Goldman's prescient and oh-so-true "nobody knows anything."

We don't. "The Fast and Furious" started out as alley racing. According to the trailer...it's submarines and missiles now. Oh...and they already wrote two more.

Paul Walker must be kickin himself.

"Gifted" (2017)

Most likely if this film was released near award season it may have gotten some buzz as the lighter side of "Manchester By The Sea"...or rather the one that had a pulse and heart.

Chris Evans plays Frank Adler, a Floridian who is saddled with raising his niece while working as a freelance boat repairman. The death of the sister left many questions, the least of which why would she abandon her infant daughter.

A great deal of sadness and lost futures, which most could be repaired through a little window of understanding instead, the fight to not repeat a tragedy seems to be the deeper meaning.

Enter Evelyn, a very distant mother to Evans and a complete stranger to now precocious Mary Adler. She is played to infectious adult-in-child's body McKenna Grace. Sad eyed and worldly, she understands her circumstances and rolls with the life she is given. This rings true only because I have a niece her age that seems to be more aware of tragedy than we realize

Frank never speaks to her as a child, because...she's a math prodigy. Beyond genius. And everyone knows it which draws out Evelyn and her unwavering goal to make some blood relative fulfill their potential.

"Gifted" does use the syrupy tropes of most of these humam dramas. But it's SO well done. Beautifully shot on film, especially during a late Florida afternoon. And the pacing is top notch. Evelyn isn't a monster. She banters gleefully with her own son who is otherwise cold. Their language is a spar sans the warmth of a real mother. Tough love taken to the extreme, but always a breath away from an apology.

Director Marc Webb made a nice human drama. A nice brownie rather than a cake. Which will be woefully missed once human dramas disappear into obscurity. Go see this movie and spend time with interesting fun people.

Happy Easter!

Hey, you filthy mooks...
....Happy Easter where Zombie Jesus comes back...for revenge!!!

Breaking My Own Rules

I made the ultra-dumb mistake of inviting a friend onto a film set to help. I didn't want him there since he sometimes sulks. He thinks everything is above him. But he's also a lonely dude who probably just wants to be around people. Not a great start. He also suffers from mental illness which requires medication but also is a heavy drinker.

He left towards the end of the shoot through a driving service clearly pissed it wasn't a shoot shoot. Which I warned about. I think he just thought we would shoot out film segment and leave. Unprofessional leaving me to pack it all up. I'm never inviting him on another shoot, and quite frankly I'm sure he's happy with it. But when you start to get excluded...good project or bad...you have only yourself to blame.

In this case, I can sense the useleness at a certain point. He sits and doesn't pick anything up or help move or ask of he can help. Big fucking waste of space. This sends a messagr his time here is over. So what does that feel like? Me being rushed so I can get him the fuck out of there. Good, bad...we''re on a different world now...a free whomever we can get world. As I've written before a person wbo thinks they are doing you a favot has to be dropped. They are poison to crew. Fortunately, this was someone's project who didn't see it. I've had a previous conversation about him being a lump on production. I know he fights through boredom of withdrawal or something. I've been through alcohol withdrawal on set and have been the same way...so I completely understand and forgive. I've learned my lesson now. And it's not a bad thing. We just move on.

He mostly went drinking once he left that shoot. To which I've been there too. It's a sign of precious weekend time to get blitzed. Ironically spending off time to waste time.

Life is really short once you last 40. Seriously, it moves really really fast. Don't spend the back half at rehab.

The Russian Tart

"Hey what are you do tonight?"
This was a text from a Russian girl who I messaged on Plenty Of Fish within minutes of texting her. I believe she meant to say "doing". At first I thought it was fake, but followed up on it. She is indeed a stunning dark-haired blue eyed Russian. She also happens to have a lot of men as "friends". In fact all photos suggests she likes money and she likes to be in California. Not the kind of girl Mom would approve. And these are real photos because a lot of them aren't flattering.

Good time girl looking for a green card? I'm guessing. She lists herself as a model/actress but...perhaps escort isn't in Russian vocab.

Freaky fun stuff trying to find a girl in this town.

North Koreans

I don't know much about them. But if SOUTH Koreans defended their shop against the L.A. Riots then...come on...a country much more insular is going to be like pounding concrete.

The only people who really have faith in Korea happens to be its people because they've been indoctrinated with some really fucked up information. They have no other barometer to measure their lives to...MAYBE a relative sneaks in a reality show here or there, but they are, by admission, on their own.

So they come up with the concept of getting themselves a nuclear weapon. Bro, no bueno. A man who subjugates his people to believe he is God...wants to use science now to defend that title. And no one in that fucked up society realizes this.

Koreans, from my brief encounters with them in Los Angeles, are very prideful people. As are most Asians. But they are a really tough bunch. They understand survival. So, it strikes me as odd that they would want any nuclear weapon. To me...if you have a big brother like China (who has fallen for the richest of the West) to protect you, who cares if you have an arsenal. Live the rest of your life alone. But he may have a small guy complex (Napoleon). So who knows....if it were me, I'd just enjoy life living as a God to his people. But he may also be living in constant paranoia. In which case, as the cop who took the report of my stolen car said to me "imagine being a criminal and always looking over your shoulder."

The country is tiny, but it has a big heart. And Trump's approach to a tiny man isn't going to play well in the foreign stage. Unfortunately, looking like a clown isn't always Trump's concern. MAYBE, he knows when people are full of shit. He's been wrong in the past. This time, it isn't just a bad business deal though. He should really know that.

"Barely Famous" season 2

I'll need to backtrack and see how this all began.
Sara and Erin Foster are the daughters of power music producer David Foster. He's the clown that made cheesedick music for "St. Elmo's Fire" and had himself, a reality show about the Jenner boys. How this family hadn't inter-banged is beyond me. You might as well call them the Beverly Hillbillies since David Fosters dick, by tranferable association has touched Bruce Jenner cock. Think about that.

The show is about these two attempting to kick start their own reality show. It's "This is Spinal Tap" for rich bitch shows. What makes this infinitely watchable is the banter between the sisters. So determined to undermine the other in whatever capacity they can. Their love for one another comes in the form of friendly sabotage. Yet one will not exist without the other. Sara, the older one, was a staple of young music video vixen from a Backstreet Boys video. Erin lives in the shadow of her image conscious sister yet is convinced she is her equal. Together they both chase celebrity with determination, yet no one knows...nor cares who they are. Consider the brief moments of fame deludes them into believing they are big to the world. I know I've gotten my mileage from being an electrician on "Saw."

Well, they aren't content with living their backslide aging actress years...less famous than their famous friends. The result...a lot of scheming. A lot of awkward painful latching on (Kate Hudson episode is painfully honest). And it has no connection to the fact neither of these girls ever have to work. It's the fame they desperately want. Call it vanity, boderline personality narcissists...it's fucking hilarious. They are mean spirited yet...cute. The cause so much chaos in the world they are invited to and are patiently tolerated by the people they look down at. In the end, the small realization they are normal people with grat skin and teeth simply emboldens them to try harder. Those are where the laughs are mined the best. Because it comes from deep pain from aging and being marginalized.

Watch this show if you can. It's a nice distraction.