Lately I've Been Watching....

My irregular series of mini TV and film reviews, with trailers, for your enjoyment and consideration....  for more of the same, click the Lately I've Been Watching tag at the end :)

A good haul this time!


Documentary series: The Family

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another of those 'everyone should watch this' documentaries... about a devout, conservative Christian group until recently headed by the mysterious Doug Coe, that influences US politics and seats of power all over the world.  Based on Jeff Sharlet's book The Secret Fundamentalism at the heart of American power, it is truly shocking.  I've just read that Netflix has now dropped it....but I'm sure it will be available elsewhere.

The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/15/watch-netflixs-family-documentary-based-10576210/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Sharlet, a journalist, did intensive research into a secretive Christian organisation, also known as The Fellowship Foundation, after he spent a month living in their house near Washington in 2002. As a result, Sharlet discovered the group, led by Douglas Coe, was extremely well-connected to congressman, senators and world leaders around the globe. In the trailer, the The Fellowship Foundation is described as a group whose main motivation is power – and Coe is said to be ‘the most powerful man in Washington you have never heard of.’ The organisation, which has been around for more than 80 years, has no official membership list and each year holds a National Prayer Breakfast which is used to build relationship with foreign leaders.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/15/watch-netflixs-family-documentary-based-10576210/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Sharlet, a journalist, did intensive research into a secretive Christian organisation, also known as The Fellowship Foundation, after he spent a month living in their house near Washington in 2002. As a result, Sharlet discovered the group, led by Douglas Coe, was extremely well-connected to congressman, senators and world leaders around the globe. In the trailer, the The Fellowship Foundation is described as a group whose main motivation is power – and Coe is said to be ‘the most powerful man in Washington you have never heard of.’ The organisation, which has been around for more than 80 years, has no official membership list and each year holds a National Prayer Breakfast which is used to build relationship with foreign leaders.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/15/watch-netflixs-family-documentary-based-10576210/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

Series: The Handmaid's Tale, Season 3

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wasn't quite sure about this third season at first, as it seemed rather slow, and concentrating too much on long, lo-oo-ong views of Elisabeth Moss's various emotive facial expressions, but boy, did it pick up.  I finished watching it several nights ago, and I'm still thinking about it.  This time, we find out a little more about what's going on outside Gilead, and about Free America - not much, but enough to make me optimistic that there will be yet more about this in S4.  There's more backstory, too, notably about Aunt Lydia.  If you love this series, you won't be disappointed.  

Btw, finally got round to reading the book, and it's fab.  Written in 1984, so June's old life seems pretty different... and Margaret Atwood has now written a sequel, to be released next month.

Series: Yellowstone, Season 2

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

LOVE this show! If you haven't watched it yet, start with S1 - I describe it as a 21st century Dallas, set in Montana.  Rancher Kevin Costner and his family do battle with both land developers and the Native Americans, who seek to reclaim the land.  Kelly Reilly is spectacular once more, as the show's cross between JR and Sue Ellen, the story is gripping, the scenery fabulous...highly recommended.  As an extra plus plus plus, Josh Holloway is going to be in Season 3 (pic below!).

 

Musical documentary series: Tales from the Tour Bus, Season 2

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Series about the lives of various musicians, including interviews with those who knew them - and it's all done in a graphic art style.  So clever, and well put together.  Season 2 is about the funk-soul artistes of the 70s and 80s, like Rick James. 

Series: Jett, Season 1

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Underworld crime series starring Carla Gugino in as professional thief Jett, and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad).  Very much in the 'superwoman kick-ass heroine' mould, but not overly so - the story is great, and it's a real 'just one more episode then I really will go to sleep' sort of show.  Jett is pretty damn awesome, and just entered my top ten of female TV characters I want to be.

Dark comedy series: Why Women Kill, Season 1

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only two episodes of this so far, but I really like it.  It's made up of three stories: a stay at home wife in 1963, a married LA socialite in 1984 (Lucy Liu), and a lawyer in 2019 who has an open marriage with her screenwriter husband.  It's great fun, highly entertaining, and I look forward to seeing what comes next!

Musical documentary: Steely Dan: Aja - Classic Albums documentary series 

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I adore Steely Dan, so loved this.  Aja is not one of my favourites of theirs, but apparently it's known in production/mixing circles as one of the most perfectly mixed albums ever made.  Watching this made me realise why they're as spectacularly good as they are - and it gives great insight, for non-musical people like me, into what goes into the making of an album.

Below is not a trailer, but the whole documentary.

Comedy series: Big Bang Theory, Season 1 and part of Season 2

3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I know this is something of a classic, but I'd never seen it until someone recommended it to me.  I did like what I've seen already, but I felt that the same jokes were reiterated over and over, and I didn't feel compelled to keep watching, though I may watch some more in the future.  I thought the apparently 'real' studio laughter sounded fake, too, and once I'd noticed that it got on my nerves.  The dialogue is terrific, it's well-made, clever, etc.... but it just didn't totally do it for me.  Humour is such an individual thing, though - I could appreciate how good this is without really loving it.

Lately I've Been Watching....

My irregular rundown and reviews of films and series I've seen on the box lately. 😎  I mostly watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

If you would like to see more, please click on the 'Lately I've Been Watching' tag at the bottom of this post.


5 part series: Chernobyl

5 stars plus plus  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For full review, please click HERE

Film: The Road

5 stars plus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yes, yes, of course I've seen it before, more than once, but we watched it again the other night and I was once more struck by its brilliance, so I had to include it.  Actually like it more than the book.  If you haven't seen it, do!  Watched on Amazon Prime.

Series: Yellowstone (Season 1)

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best described as a 21st century Dallas, set in Montana rather than Texas!  Kevin Costner plays the ranch owner, with the four kids, all so different... 

• Kelly Reilly as Beth, the caustic, business-savvy daughter with a drink problem (JR and Sue Ellen rolled into one)
• Wes Bentley as Jamie the family lawyer; the 'nice' one, always at odds with Beth-JR-Swellen (he's Bobby!)
• Luke Grimes as Kayce, the wild one who got away, and married a Native American; they live on a reservation (Gary)
• Dave Annable as Lee, who only wants to stay close to the ranch (Ray Krebbs).  

There are two main sources of conflict: the snake-like property developer (Danny Huston), determined to change the face of Montana with his luxury developments, and the Native American main man (Gil Birmingham) who wants his people's land back.  Loved it, and trying to save Season 2 to watch all at once, instead of watching week by week!
 

Series: Salvation

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Watched the two available seasons of this - highly entertaining, never a dull moment series about an asteroid heading for earth, with scientists trying to stop it and underground groups trying to stop them doing so.... some of it is totally ludicrous and it features some irritating millennials (Jillian should have been gagged at birth), and people kept being in love with the people I didn't want them to be in love with, but it still had me looking forward to telly time each night.  It's fun, I enjoyed it.  I recommend; alas, there will not be a S3.  A pity TV networks still base viewing stats on the people who watch it on the night; an outdated idea, as a huge proportion of people have stuff on the watch lists to see at any time.   

For TWD addicts: features Tovah Feldshuh as the Deanna-like POTUS.

Comedy series: Loudermilk 

3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Watched most of S1; it's about a former alcoholic and the support group he runs, and the stuff that happens to him.  An easy-watch for late at night, quite entertaining and amusing in parts, but not as good as it could have been.  The acting is good, but the content is only average.  Having said that, it got slightly better in the last few episodes, I think because the mood changed from sitcom to light drama; it was more about the story than people saying 'c***' for cheap laughs.  At least there were no self-conscious 'vaginas'.

6 part series: The Hot Zone

3 stars ⭐⭐⭐

For full review, please click HERE

 

Film: The Dark Tower (2017)

3 stars ⭐⭐⭐

As my husband said, 'there had to be a first time' - i.e., Matthew McConnaughey and Idris Elba starring in something that just wasn't that good.  Watchable, only; Harry Potter meets daft monsters and the fight between good and evil.  Also stars Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha in Vikings)