Argylle (2024) ***
The plot is just one ridiculous twist after another. I'm sure it all makes sense to the writer, but I couldn't bother to keep up, and it doesn't matter anyway. Matthew Vaughn doesn't ask you to take any of this seriously, but he does think this nonsense can sustain itself for almost two and half hours, and he wants to connect it to his Kingsmen films and make two more sequels, but there's just not enough meat here for that kind of self indulgence. I just want to enjoy a goofy action movie without having a franchise forced upon me.
Transsiberian (2008) ***
A thriller about a naive couple who slowly gets deeper and deeper into trouble, but done in a handheld indie style that mutes the tension. Decent and Emily Mortimer is good, but it's unremarkable.
Foundation: Season 1 (2021) ****
I haven't read Asimov's Foundation in decades, and I remember it mostly as a series of philosophical dilemmas. Some of that remains in this epic series, and it's nice to see some intelligent, hardcore science fiction even if it's wrapped in standard TV show dramatics. Lee Pace is terrific and provides the most compelling storyline. It didn't grab me enough to keep going to season two though.
Steve (Martin) (2024) ****
A lengthy retrospective on the life of Steve Martin, neatly divided between his early stand-up career and his film career. The first half is more interesting as it explores his unique and largely unknown rise to stardom. The second half is more introspective as it looks at how fame has affected his personal life and the nature of comedy, writing, and show business. And Martin Short pops in to lighten things up.
Boys State/Girls State (2020/2024) ****
A fascinating look at a mock election held for teenagers that shows the nitty gritty of politicking and how their politically naive views are already shaped by their environment (the boys sure do love guns and make it their political dividing line). It's unfortunate that both docs couldn't have been made at the same time. Boy's State is in Texas and the boys are isolated and focused on campaigning. Girls State is in St. Louis with a simultaneous male event going on, and the stark difference between the two events are a major part of the story, so that both docs end up being about the boys.
Passage de Venus (1874) ***
According to IMDB, it's the oldest movie ever made. It's only six seconds long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LowU9vKZzJs&t=5s
Boy's State