Category Archives: Show Time

Vol. 13, No. 24 – Aug 26 – Sept 8, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

7500
Amazon Originals

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

As the crew boarded for a flight from Berlin to Paris, it seemed just like any other day at work for Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young American co-pilot with a calm demeanor, who was pleased the crew included his flight-attendant girlfriend Gökce (Aylin Tezel). Tobias had flown with pilot Michael Lutzmann (Carlo Kitzlinger) before and as they went through the preflight checklist they caught up on their personal lives having not flown together for a while.

Shortly after takeoff, a group of terrorists hijacked the plane with knives made from broken glass, initially entering the cockpit and stabbing the pilot in the chest repeatedly. Tobias was cut badly on his left arm but was able to fight them off and lock all but one terrorist out of the cockpit who knocked out, tied up with first aid tape and strapped into the jump seat.

Tobias radioed ground control that they had a 7-5-0-0 (the airline code for hijacking) but that he had resumed control over the plane and his pilot was alive but injured. Outside the cockpit, the terrorists were frantically trying to break in to retrieve their leader Kenan (Murathan Muslu) and get control of the plane, which Tobias was able to watch through a security camera focused on the cockpit door.

Unfortunately, the pilot succumbed to his injuries, and Tobias was instructed to redirect to the nearest airport that could handle the situation, which was in Hanover. This only angered the terrorists more, who decided to threaten to kill hostages if Tobias did not allow them to gain access to the cockpit. Through it all, Tobias handled things with a calm reserve.

Regardless of their treats, Tobias knew it was his duty and refused to open the door. As he watched helplessly on camera, the first passenger was killed, which seemed to upset the youngest terrorist named Vedat (Omid Memar). Then the terrorists got a stewardess, not knowing it was Tobias’ girlfriend, who pleaded with him in Turkish to not open the door and not to cooperate with the terrorist and was murdered right in front of him.

Vedat got very upset when Gökce was killed, saying it was wrong because she was Muslim like them, which Tobias saw on camera and thought he may have an ally in Vedat. Tobias used the plane’s audio system to encourage the hostages to fight the terrorists, saying they only had broken glass and could easily overpower their captures if they worked together. The hostages overtook several terrorists, and Vedat fled to the cockpit door pleading to be let in.

Tobias let Vedat in the cockpit, on the premise of needing help to fly the plane, but unfortunately Kenan came to and escaped, knocked Tobias unconscious, regained control of the plane and then set out to crash it. This was not part of the plan to Vedat, who panicked and kept saying over and over that he didn’t want to die as Kenan rambled Muslim martyr statements. Vedat’s will to live was too strong, and he stabbed Kenan in the neck to prevent him from crashing the plane.

Vedat helped Tobias land the plane in Hanover, but wanted the plane to be refueled using Tobias as a hostage for his demands. Despite Tobias’ urgings to stop and surrender, Vedat continued making threats and was taken out by a sharpshooter.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a strong ability to display incredible emotional control during all the edge of your seat moments, which viewers will find plenty of in this high flying thriller.

Rated: R (for violence/terror and language)
92 minutes

Vol. 13, No. 23 – Aug 12 – Aug 25, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix Original Series

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

On October 1, 1989, 43 children were inexplicably born around the world to mothers who had not been pregnant that morning. An eccentric billionaire named Reginald Hargreeves sought out these special children and adopted seven, which later revealed had special powers to save the world and made a superhero squad called “The Umbrella Academy”. In their teen years, various issues arose and the team disbanded. Years later as they reached their 30’s, Hargeeve’s passed brings the surviving six of them back together to work through their shared challenging experiences from their childhood and to save the world from a rapidly approaching apocalypse.

Number 1 “Luther” (Tom Hopper) had superhuman powers derived from a near death experience when Hargreeves brought him back to life and was an astronaut living on the moon. Number 2 “Diego” (David Castaneda) was super skilled with knives and blades and spent his time listening to the police scanner to help victims. Number 3 “Allison” (Emmy Raver-Lampman) could plant thoughts in people’s minds. Number 4 “Klaus” (Robert Sheehan) could see entities that had crossed over into the Afterlife, though struggled with drug addiction to deal with his gift. Number 5 (Aidan Gallagher) had disappeared when he was 13 years old, his gift being able to move invisibly through space. Number 6 “Ben” had giant tentacles that would appear when he was forced to fight that passed away in his teens, though became a constant spirit companion of Klaus. Number 7 “Vanya” (Ellen Page) was a talented violinist who was always taught that she was not special and had no powers, taking medication to control her nerves. She wrote a book about being Number 7 that exposed many family secrets and was shunned by many of her siblings.

Though they called him father, Reginald Hargreeves was cold and distant, using the children primarily for experiments while controlling the use of their powers and formally named them “The Umbrella Academy”, publicly wearing school uniforms with masks. As teenagers, he they would be sent on fighting crime missions to thwart things like bank robberies using their individual special skills, except for number 7, who was constantly told that she just wasn’t special. The grew up with a nurturing cyborg mom and Pogo, a humanized chimpanzee that was somewhat of a caring father figure to them, though was loyal to their father.

On the day they all return for their father’s funeral, a vortex appeared and out fell 13 year old Number 5, who had traveled through time to warn them that there was an impending apocalypse happening in 8 days that they had to prevent. Number 5 had learned to travel through time and was 58 in his mind, but appeared back into a 13 year old body. His father warned him that jumping through time was extremely challenging and forbid Number 5 from trying it, though of course that’s exactly what Number 5 did. Unfortunately, he traveled to a time just after the apocalypse and got trapped there for 17 years family time, though 45 years in time travel.

Number 5 had one clue, a prosthetic eye, and determined that there was a single person that needed to be taken out in order to avoid the apocalypse whose name was Harold Jenkins. Harold Jenkins was actually the past identity of Leonard Peabody (John Magaro), Number 7’s new boyfriend who unbeknownst to her had found their father’s journal and was grooming her powers that she was unaware she even had since her father hid them from her. The group decided that regardless of the issues between them, they needed to work together to find a way to stop the apocalypse, along the way finding out many unknown truths about their past with their father.

Along with some intriguing super hero creation stories, The Umbrella Academy is filled with relatable family dynamics, dark humor and unpredictable plot twists interestingly revealed.

Rated: TV-14
10 Episodes – 60 min each

 

Vol. 13, No. 22 – July 29 – Aug 11, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

Palm Springs
Hulu Originals

4 out of 4 palm trees

Putting a new spin on the well-known concept of the movie Groundhog Day, Palm Springs finds carefree Nyles reliving a crazy wedding day over and over again and manages to also suck in the sister of the bride Sarah, who both find themselves unable to escape waking up to the same day no matter what they do.

Nyles (Adam Sanberg) woke up in a Palm Springs motel to attend the wedding of his girlfriend Misty’s best friend Tala. After the wedding, Nyles crashed the reception with a moving, yet at times questionable toast wearing casual beach wear with disheveled hair. Nyles was mimicking and mocking reception guests with a strange synchronicity to catch the attention of the maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti), whom he rescued with his unusual toast.

Nyles asked Sarah to leave the party, so they headed out to the desert where Nyles got shot with an arrow in the back by a camo-wearing bow hunter with a nightlight who seemed to be hunting Nyles and who Nyles called “Roy” (J.K. Simmons). Nyles fled and was hit with a second arrow in the leg by Roy, who then disappeared into a cave.

Nyles crawled his way into the same cave, and Sarah came in behind him. He shouted out “don’t come in here” to warn her as he disappeared into the light and woke up to the same day. Sarah didn’t listen and found herself also waking up to the same day. She chased down Nyles demanding an explanation, as apparently he had been through this before.

Nyles explained “This is today, today is yesterday, and tomorrow is also today. It’s one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard about.” Sarah didn’t want to believe it so she went out to the desert to look for answers against Nyles’ advice and her day got reset again.

Despite their individual repeated attempts to change things, Nyles and Sarah always reset to the morning of the wedding, so decided to just embrace the belief that nothing matters and experience anything and everything without fear. They became fast friends in fun, until Sarah discovered Nyles had lied to her about never hooking up with her before she went in the cave.

The next day, Sarah didn’t wake up Nyles as usual and wasn’t seen by him for months, even though they both were waking up to the same day. Unknown to Nyles, while he was wasting time just wasting time, Sarah was studying Quantum Physics to get out of the day.

Unfortunately, Sarah’s solution involved blowing themselves up at a specific time in the cave. Nyles was too afraid, but realized he’d rather die in an explosion with Sarah than live in the loop without her, so went and found her in the cave in the desert. Sarah’s plan worked and they found themselves being kicked out of their refuge pool by the vacationing family that finally returned.

Palm Spring is filled with clever, witty dialog and sharp comedic timing. It also shows the same day from both Nyles’ and Sarah’s perspectives (similar to Gus Van Sant’s movie Elephant), and viewers who enjoy this movie would appreciate the beginning so much more by re-watching at least the first 15 minutes.

Rated: R
87 minutes

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

The Old Guard
Netflix

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

The Old Guard is based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka about a covert group of immortal mercenaries that have been protecting the world for centuries. Led by Andy (Charlize Theron) who, being the oldest and whom they call “Boss”, unexpectedly loses her centuries of immortality with the appearance of Nile (Kiki Layne). Due to being misled by a previously trusted client named Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the team’s special abilities are exposed to the head of Merrick Corp. who believes their DNA could be the answer to aging and illness, as well as creating great wealth for his pharmaceutical company.

After some time apart, the team of four (Andy, Joe, Nicky and Booker) met in Morocco to rescue some kidnapped students, arranged by a previous client named Copley, but were ambushed by a team hired by Copley to catch them, and were shot with hundreds of rounds. The gunmen let down their guard while bullets seemed to magically exit from the bodies of Andy’s team as they came back to life and slaughtered the gunmen. Copley had a long held theory that they were immortal and showed the video to Merrick (Harry Melling), who was developing various anti-aging and anti-disease pharmaceuticals.

After escaping the shootout, the team had a combined dream of a female soldier that was an indicator that there was someone else out there like them, which hadn’t happened for 200 years, Her name was Nile Freeman, a marine in Afghanistan that had gotten in an altercation where her throat was slit and though it seemed she died, she miraculously recovered without even a scratch, which was very disconcerting to her fellow soldiers. Andy, knowing the challenges Nile was facing, left to find the female marine and sent the rest of team after Copley for setting them up.

Andy found Nile and defended her against the soldiers that were about to have her sent away due to her strange recovery. She took her to meet the rest of the team in Paris where they explained that they knew where to find her because they dream of each of each other until they find one another. Joe and Nicky had been part of the team since the Crusades and after endlessly trying to kill each other became lovers. Andy was the oldest, and was struggling with loosing Quynh long ago, who was dropped in a steel cage in the ocean to die and come back to life for eternity.

Unfortunately, Joe and Nicky were captured by an assault team lead by Copley and taken to Merrick’s lab. Nile decided it was all too much, so Andy & Booker went to the lab to rescue Joe and Nicky. Unknown to the team, Booker was working with Copley and helped to capture Andy by shooting her, not knowing she had lost her immortality, but was captured himself by Merrick’s team to be caged and tested with the others.

Nile found Copley, who showed her every incredible thing Andy had affected throughout history with her actions, explaining he turned the team over to help stop disease because of losing his wife. Copley took Nile to the lab to rescue the team and after they escaped they decided Booker’s punishment would be to be alone for 100 years. The team then returned to Copley’s place where they saw all the research he had done to chronicle their heroic efforts throughout time, so they let him off the hook in exchange for protecting them and their anonymity so that they could continue their work.

This film has exquisitely timed action-packed sequences that mimic well-choreographed dance, and Charlize Theron is perfectly cast as the leader of this extraordinary team of immortals. The ending also points toward a sequel with Quynh showing up at Booker’s place six months after his exile.

Rating: R (for sequences of graphic violence, and language)
125 minutes

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Fractured Actors Serve Laughs A La Carte

Actors gotta act. Audiences love to laugh. To meet both needs, the Fractured Actors Theater Company presented a digital production called Laughter in Place last Friday evening. Though not widely advertised, the Company has been around for several years and has produced some challenging and engaging material covering a wide range of styles and subjects. They tout “theater for a non-traditional audience”. I take that to mean anything goes. I especially love the phrase one of the actors said – “actors in isolation only get weirder.” So true. Haven’t we all changed a bit?

Noted on the Fractured Actors’ website is this statement – “Revisit your favorite characters from our past Speakeasy Projects and meet a new host of oddballs and misfits with brand new stories to tell about these strange times we’re all experiencing together. From afar. But also together.”

Now really, few things are better than being able to watch a show in your p.j.’s with your favorite beverage and snacks readily at hand. You don’t even have to comb your hair.

The one-hour YouTube premiere featured a collection of Zoom interludes, sketch comedy, original music, and a variety of talents. Host Bryan White stated, “We’re glad to not be with you this evening.” Of note are two original songs written and performed by Shelby Figueroa. The lament of Introvert’s Paradise is right on point. Her song Trash TV also has clever lyrics and is well done. She is accompanied in both by James Dorward.

A few of the sketches are re-dos of vignettes from previous performances. Some add a measure of pointed social commentary on the Covid-19 situation. A surprise visit from Dr. Fauci (Bryan White) illuminates the importance of social distancing. It is healing to laugh at how everyone is coping, or not. Grad party shows a family celebrating a middle school graduation via Zoom. Youngster Hunter Ham (the Grad) is a highlight. The inserted product advertisements are amusing and inventive. There is a little something for everyone.

Even the actor’s pets get into the act. One vignette features a bevy of cats (and one dog) voicing their feelings on owners who get in their space.

In the spirit of theatrical generosity, with tongue firmly in cheek, the Company promises a full refund of your (free) admission should you not thoroughly enjoy the evening of laughter. Totally worth twice the price. A guarantee is always appreciated.

Fractured Actors welcomes performers and backstage helpers of all types, all experiences, and all ages to be involved. Missed this one? I almost did but I am glad I got to catch the premiere showing. And, the production is available on the company’s YouTube channel to watch any time. Go to YouTube Fractured Actors to join in.

The best way to stay informed of what’s up next is to subscribe to the company’s email list via their website, www.FracturedActors.com.

Vol. 13, No. 20 – July 1 – July 14, 2020 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Entertainment Available in Creative Ways

Local stages are still dark, but some theater companies are finding ways to meet the need for entertainment and education in creative and innovative ways.

Conejo Playhouse in Thousand Oaks has been offering CPT Saturday Afternoon Live, a series of stand-alone workshops and webinars via Zoom Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. Many are free. Advance registration is required to get the Zoom invitation and log-in information. Visit the theater’s website at www.conejoplayers.org for specifics.

Also at Conejo, coming in August will be Car Park Theatre! An evening of Broadway songs, silent auction (bid via phone) and dinner available through Big Mann BBQ. All from the safety of your car! Audition information is on their website with event details to follow soon.

Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre is bringing a Safe Distance Drive-in Theatre Concert Series to the parking lot of the Ventura Fairgrounds in July, August, and early September. The live 75-minute concerts will be performed on an elevated stage and projected onto four large screens. Cars will be parked with safe distance guidelines. The line up includes Drive-in Hits, Samonsky Sings Sinatra, Forever Plaid Reunion Concert, Jimmy Messina and Friends, and Music of the Knights. Contact the service desk at 1-800-667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org for more information and tickets.

Several of the theaters are periodically offering streamed performances of various kinds. Check your favorite VC theater’s website to get current information. Here are a few: Elite Theater – www.theelite.org; SPTC – www.santapaulatheatercenter.org; Ojai Arts Center – www.ojaiact.org; Camarillo – www.skywayplayhouse.org; Moorpark – www.highstreetartscenter.com; and Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center – www.simi-arts.org.

As of last Friday and for a few weeks forward, the Elite Theater is presenting “A Midsummer Night’s Stream” – a digital offering of the Bard’s well-known summer staple. The actors are all chiming in from their own homes, so the video qualities vary. The production is a work in progress. Opening night’s performance was still experiencing a few technological challenges, but Shakespeare’s words are always melodic, and it was thrilling to see “live” theater continuing. Register for a performance at the Elite website. The tickets are only $5.00 and, hey, you can watch in the comfort of your own home. Give it a try.

It remains to be seen when and if any of these theaters will be able to physically reopen. In the meantime, keep checking in to see what is happening. Your support is needed. All of our theaters gratefully accept donations to help secure reopening.

Of course, if you are so inclined, impromptu street theater (six feet apart, please) is still an option. Dance, sing, play an instrument, recite a poem, or tell jokes. At the very least, you will share smiles with others.

Another theater update – The Bank of America Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks (Civic Arts Plaza) has announced that all live performances are cancelled until January 2021. Those holding tickets may contact the box office at 805.449.2787 or visit their website at www.BAPACthousandoaks.com for details.

Vol. 13, No. 20 – July 1 – July 14, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
MY SPY
Amazon Originals

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

MY SPY finds hardened CIA operative JJ (Dave Bautista) recently demoted do due his extreme soldier actions during sensitive CIA operations, and when reassigned to a basic apartment stake out finds himself constantly challenged by a young Sophie, (Chloe Coleman) who he as been sent to surveil along with her mother Kate. Sophie, being very tech savvy, uses those skills to discover JJ’s surveillance operation after finding hidden cameras in her apartment. Sophie convinces JJ to spend time with her and teach her to be a spy in exchange for not blowing his cover, but JJ finds he’s no match for Sophie’s disarming wit and charm.

JJ’s boss Kim (Ken Jeong) had faith in JJ’s ability to defend the operation as a soldier, but was consistently challenged with JJ’s lack of ability to understand the subtleties of working undercover operations, so assigned JJ along with his tech guide Bobbi (Kirsten Schaal) to stake out a mother and daughter remotely connected to a nuclear arms deal (the recently deceased husband/father’s brother, Uncle Marquez, being the actual person of interest).

JJ and Bobbi setup operations in a nearby apartment, then setup cameras and listen devices to remotely monitor Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley) and her 9 year old daughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman). Sophie was quite precocious and actually walked into the undercover operation when JJ and Bobbi were distracted and decided to film them to basically blackmail JJ into teaching her the craft of being a CIA agent.

Unfortunately for JJ, Sophie had her own clever crafty ways and was constantly outsmarting JJ, like when he was trying to train her to get by him and while suggesting a distraction Sophie immediately tipped over JJ’s fishbowl, which sent him clamoring for his beta fish Blueberry, the only personal relationship he had in his life.

While JJ trained Sophie the CIA way, Sophie helped JJ to be more of his sensitive self, and in seeing this she decided that JJ was be a good fit for her mom Kate, so setup a date by breaking a water pipe and asking JJ to help her mother. Bobbi, discovering this through watching them under surveillance, warns JJ that he’s not only compromising the operation, she also shares her disappointment because she views JJ as her hero, and can’t seem to get him to teach her anything about his soldiering ways.

Marquez, the nuclear arms dealer, finally does show up at the apartment, believing that his brother had hidden the plans for the bomb with their pet dog and does actually find a USB drive in the collar, so decides to kidnap Sophie to help insure a safe getaway and headed to the airport to fly his private plan out of the country.

Of course JJ is not going to let that happen, especially with Sophie in danger, so he disables the plane on the runway by slashing the tire, and trades Sophie for the safety box thought to contain the USB drive. Sophie, with her newly acquired skills, thwarted her uncle’s plan by getting the USB drive when no one was looking and Marquez met his demise in a fiery explosion.

Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman are a great match for this cute, charming, action comedy.

Rated: PG-13 (for action/violence and language)
101 minutes

Vol. 13, No. 19 – June 17 – June 30, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Hollywood
Netflix Originals

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

Hollywood is the story of a group of young, aspiring actors, writers, and directors during post World War II who meet in Hollywood and together make their Tinseltown dreams come true. The series is mainly focused on handsome Jack Castello (David Corenswet) who decides that his dream is to become a movie star, so he moves from middle America to Hollywood and through life’s hard knocks eventually becomes a feature motion picture leading man.

With extras work being very scarce at the time and needing to provide a life for his wife and twins on the way, Jack takes a job at the Golden Tip gas station, owned by Ernie West (Dylan McDermott) but quickly discovers there’s more to the job than pumping gas. If a customer drove up to the pump and asked to go to Dreamland, that meant they weren’t there for gas, but for sexual encounters paying big money to both Ernie and his crew. Though Jack didn’t like the work, he was able to make important connections to further his career.

Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope) was a screenwriter who had just written a movie about the life and tragic death of a aspiring actress named Peg, which is what he named the movie. The screenwriting business was difficult to break into, especially for a young black man during the Jim Crow era, but Archie was supported in his efforts by his friend and aspiring director Raymond Ainsley (Darren Criss). Raymond had already found the perfect lead actress for the part, his girlfriend Camille Washington (Laura Harrier), who was also black.

Young Rock Hudson (Jake Picking) also began his acting career during this time under the management of lewd talent exec Henry Willson (Jim Parsons) who was keenly aware of Hudson’s secret homosexual lifestyle and in a predatory manner bartered sexual favors for film opportunities with Hudson and his other clients.

Ace Amberg (Rob Reiner), owner of Ace Studios, was very racist and said he would not have a black woman lead, and that though he would produce the movie, he would not allow a black man to be credited as the writer. Ace fell ill ending up in care at home in a coma, leaving the studio to be run by Dick Samuels (Joe Mantello) and Ellen Kincaid (Holland Taylor ) who were both very interested and pleased in producing a movie with a black writer and lead actress.

The movie became stalled when Ace’s attorney blocked the production of Peg if any blacks were involved, though after a visit from Ellen’s dear friend Eleanor Roosevelt, who shared she was saddened at the racism she witnessed across the south and that there was a real opportunity for real change, Dick Samuels and Ellen Kincaid decided Peg must be produced and even changed the ending to create a more empowering story for young black women.

Hollywood explorers the rampant racism and sexual harassment that was happening during a time where it was common place for people to have sex in order to get a role or to even get a manager to represent them. Ultimately through many coincidental connections everybody’s dreams come true and the movie is renamed Meg, ending up winning top Oscars in all categories including best writing and best actress, a historic event for blacks in Hollywood.

7 Episodes – 45 minutes

Hollywood

by Tony Rizzo

Time doesn’t go backward, it only goes forward. The movie industry will take a long time to recover from the effects of our pandemic, and it will never be the same again.

Movie studios and producers hate giving up half their profits to movie theaters to show their films. So when theaters closed, by government decree, it gave the studios a chance to test the waters. The first film made for theaters that premiered on-demand was “Trolls World Tour,” which brought in a big bounty. Then the new $65 million Chris Hemsworth film “Extraction,” which was to premiere in theaters April 24, instead made its debut on Netflix and was viewed by 90 million households in the first four weeks.

That’s not to say films made in 3D or IMAX can be streamed first, since their charm is big screens and special effects. Which is why the fourth G.I. Joe epic was instead pushed to Oct. 23 in theaters. This reboot is called “G.I. Joe: Snakes Eyes,” with “Crazy Rich Asians” star Henry Golding in the title role. You probably remember that Channing Tatum starred in the original (which grossed $302 million) and Dwayne Johnson in the sequel, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (which grossed $678 million). Naturally there’s already a fourth film being prepped, “G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant,” though no star has been announced for this one.

Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan stars in director Wes Anderson’s new film “The French Dispatch.” She’ll again be paired with Timothee Chalamet (as in “Little Women,”), as well as four Oscar-winning actors: Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton and Jeffrey Wright. Chalamet, meanwhile, has a date with “Dune,” the reboot of the classic Frank Herbert science-fiction novel, premiering Dec. 18.

Superstar Harrison Ford, now 77, recently had his third flying close call (that we know of). In 2015, he crash-landed a vintage World War II plane on a golf course in Los Angeles. He was lucky he was only “battered but OK.” Then in 2017, he landed on a taxi runway after he flew over a jet and again was unharmed. Most people were under the impression Ford was going to stop flying. Yet here we are today, hearing Harrison is “under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration over an incident that happened at a Southern California airport.” He apparently was piloting his light plane and crossed a runway where another aircraft was landing. Ford acknowledged the mistake and apologized by saying, “I misheard an instruction from air traffic control.”

Ford is a true superstar, and in an era where we have so few, we need him healthy and in one piece so he can be beaten to a pulp in the new Indiana Jones epic!

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
HAVE A GOOD TRIP: ADVENTURES IN PSYCHEDELICS
Netflix Originals

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

Premiering in the Netflix Top 10 over the weekend, HAVE A GOOD TRIP: ADVENTURES IN PSYCHEDELICS is narrated by Nick Offerman and features actors, comedians, musicians and other well-known personalities including Deepak Chopra, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, Rosie Perez, Sting, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Bourdain, ASAP Rocky, Paul Scheer, Nick Kroll, to name a few who share their personal views and experiences involving psychedelics of all sorts including LSD, mushrooms, peyote and DMT.

A large group of A-list comedians and celebrities share some very interesting personal experiences that are re-enacted with 70s style animation. The documentary also shares information from scientists and other professionals regarding the use of hallucinogens for recreational use, as well as sharing pioneering techniques using psychotropic drugs to treat depression, addition and help terminal patients embrace mortality.
Viewers learn of the pro and cons, good trips vs. bad trips, with vibrant colorful animation and comedy poking fun at stigmas from the past such as playing related old 60s newsreels and changing “The More You Know” educational PSAs to “The More You Trip” with messages like “Don’t drive, Don’t look in the mirror, Control your set & setting, Do look in the mirror”. Scenes alternate between comedy and science

Sting
“When you have a bad trip, and I’ve had many, you realize it’s just what you needed. Sometimes it kicks your ass and sometimes you have to have your ego taken down. On the other hand, you can get immensely rewarding experiences full of love and support ….a connection to the planet. It balances out.”

Dr. Charles Grob – Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA
“I’m a researcher investigating the potential for a hallucinogen treatment model to heal psychiatric illness or heal addiction. I’ve also conducted the next DEA approve study where we have permission to use the alkaloid of hallucinogenic mushrooms psilocybin in a treatment model for individuals with advanced stage cancer who have reactive anxiety. Over all, their quality of life improved noticeably.”

Sarah Silverman
“I’ll be honest, I don’t remember having a conversation about it, I don’t remember anything other than he handed it to us,and we just went “boop,” put it right in our mouths. Didn’t think a thought about it. Forty-five minutes later… What was that, was that acid we took? I don’t feel anything. It’s always when you say I don’t feel anything is usually the tipping point. Do I feel anything. What is feeling. What is feeling anything. Oh, this is what tripping on acid is like.”

HAVE A GOOD TRIP: ADVENTURES IN PSYCHEDELICS in an entertaining, educational documentary that shares insightful information and detailed experiences that those who know can relate to, and those who are inexperienced can find some interesting and intriguing aspects regarding the uses of hallucinogenics.

Rated: NR
86 minutes