John Gotti looked like he was out of Central Casting for an Italian Mafia crime boss. Before the 1970s, most of the bosses kept their identities or roles mostly hidden through fronts and legitimate businesses. Gangs and gangsters had existed in America for decades and even centuries. But a lot of them from the endContinue reading “‘Get Gotti’ Great For Gangster Enthusiasts Yet Nothing New”
Category Archives: TV Reviews
Richard Lewis: Dark Prince Of Comedy
There’s a saying that’s it better to laugh than it is to cry. Richard Lewis lived a life where he turned his own personal pain and neurosis into comedy. Just like another famous comic named Richard (as in Richard Pryor), we laughed because he made us want to laugh. To call Lewis neurotic with hisContinue reading “Richard Lewis: Dark Prince Of Comedy”
How Spike Lee’s ‘Bamboozled’ Is His Bravest Movie With Social Commentary
Spike Lee is one of those filmmakers who isn’t afraid to make audiences mad. And that’s part of the reason I don’t like some of his movies. He seems to be too busy on his soapbox without being a storyteller. When his movies like Summer of Sam, Oldboy and Inside Man don’t focus much onContinue reading “How Spike Lee’s ‘Bamboozled’ Is His Bravest Movie With Social Commentary”
Sofia Vergara Glows In Netflix’s Uneven ‘Griselda’ Series
Sofia Vergara rose from obscurity as a character actor to a major comedic actress in the sitcom Modern Family where her role could’ve been a one-joke trope as the younger wife to Ed O’Neill’s character. But as the show became a big hit through the 2010s, Vergara saw her career rise. And Vergara was nominatedContinue reading “Sofia Vergara Glows In Netflix’s Uneven ‘Griselda’ Series”
‘Dr. Death’ Examines Hypocritical Oath
The strange case of Dr. Paolo Macchiarini could have been Europe’s answer to that of Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Both of them believed in a world of science fiction that they wanted to make a reality. And they were going to do what they did no matter who it hurt along the way,Continue reading “‘Dr. Death’ Examines Hypocritical Oath”
‘Chowchilla’ Tells True Story Of Trauma
The 1976 kidnapping of several students and a bus driver in Chowcilla, Calif. is one of the strangest true-crime cases ever. On July 15 of that year, three armed men kidnapped 26 students attending a summer school program. The children ranged in ages 5-14 along with a kindly bus driver, Frank Edward Ray, 55 atContinue reading “‘Chowchilla’ Tells True Story Of Trauma”
How Toby Keith Ruined Country-Western Music
I know we’re not supposed to speak ill of the dead but someone like Toby Keith basically brought it upon himself. I never cared for country-western music. I watched Hee Haw and my grandfather and uncle both played in bands and enjoyed the music. But it never was something I really liked. However, the greatsContinue reading “How Toby Keith Ruined Country-Western Music”
‘Monarch’ Has A Legacy Of Boredom
Sometimes a TV series, movies, or album looks better in the advertisement because the powers that be realized they had something mediocre on its hands and trying to pump it up for the public. That’s the case with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a 10-episode series on AppleTV+ that feels like fanfiction of the MonsterVerse ratherContinue reading “‘Monarch’ Has A Legacy Of Boredom”
Carl Weathers Went The Distance
Very few people can claim the achievements in life of Carl Weather’s. He was an actor finding himself cast in multiple franchises as well as gaining lots of acclaim and praise for his directing. It’s not bad for a young man who started out as an all-athlete playing football, soccer as well as being involvedContinue reading “Carl Weathers Went The Distance”
Documentary Is A ‘Sly’ View Of Stallone
Sly is an appropriate name for the documentary on the life and career of Sylvester Stallone. The runtime is about an hour and a half, about half the length of the Netflix documentary on his rival, friend and business partner Arnold Schwarzenegger, but maybe that’s because the “Governator” has had more of a fascinating life.Continue reading “Documentary Is A ‘Sly’ View Of Stallone”
Zane Says 