It’s a shame, but yeah. This falls into the “eh, you can wait for streaming’” category.
There’s a ton of potential, and SOME of it is realized. Just not enough.
It’s a shame, but yeah. This falls into the “eh, you can wait for streaming’” category.
There’s a ton of potential, and SOME of it is realized. Just not enough.
I understand Toni Collette is in this movie. I liked her role in “United States of Tara”.
Just curious how she did –
I have found, on the YouTubes, an apparently complete collection of Oz Clark and James May drinking around Europe, with Clark attempting to teach May how to be a wine snob, and May being deliberately obtuse.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Bkl_oxvtCK0f2ITCYY6l1iKVTjq72VN&si=fVKS4gsYoKV-aq8_
I have watched that. James and Oz are a hoot!
Collette plays the wife of Ruffalo’s character, who is every bit as awful as her husband, and thus, unfortunately, is part of the film that I thought worked less well.
However, that’s nothing to do with her performance. Both she and Ruffalo do a great job being awful. The problems with them are the script, not the acting.
And as usual, Collette utterly disappears into her role. I didn’t even register it was her til you mentioned it.
She’s a remarkable actor. She’s never less than excellent, even if the project overall is less so.
Here’s a really good video essay about her from Be Kind Rewind, who looks at film history largely through the lens of actresses and how different eras rewarded different qualities.
Thank you for posting that video. It was interesting.
I had seen some of the other films, but (like you) didn’t remember Toni Collette was in them.
I read something in the news about “Mickey 17” and very briefly it mentioned Toni Collette and my brain immediately went to “United State of Tara” which I have on DVD. I just really liked the show and how she portrayed “Tara”. Perhaps that is just one of my viewing “guilty pleasures”.
Always liked this film with Toni Colette. Was just reading an IMDB review saying it has aged extremely well, so maybe time for a rewatch!
Oz and James also go to California in their next series (visit Bronco winery) and their final series was Oz and James Drink to Britain. Good stuff.
Yup. The playlist has all three seasons.
I just saw the Paso Robles episode I recognized the atmosphere, having spent a lovely weekend there last year in an AirBnB designed by Buckminster-Fuller. Yes, the roof was a big geodesic dome.
That, and I liked Japanese Story and of course, Knives Out. She’s a very versatile actress. Or dobwecsay ‘actor’ nowadays?
Finished the 50 Years of SNL documentary series, and really quite enjoyed it. What an absolute thrill to be part of that group — be it cast, writers’ room, or the multitude of costume designers, makeup artists, and the stage crew, and also what a terrifying experience.
Watched the first epi of St. Denis Medical, which is like a very, very diet version of Childrens Hospital. Not laugh-out-loud funny, but a soothing ‘last show of the night’ kinda thang.
I liked the SNL documentary and after watching chunks of the 50th anniversary show and presently reading Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night, I’ve become a SNL savant. Also want to watch the music special.
St Denis is very funny and charming. I was getting some Scrubs vibe -haven’t seen Children’s Hospital.
The NYer had a great profile on him a few issues ago — I saved it for my PIC to read, but they touched on so many things (especially in the final installment) that he may not read it after all
I have not seen the music special yet.
Childrens (sic) Hospital is very funny, irreverent, and dark. Not everyone’s cuppa, for sure.
And totes forgot the most recent White Lotus with probably one of the most … interesting monologues so far, delivered by no other than Sam Rockwell.
Wow.
Novocaine (2025) - dir. Dan Berk and Robert Olson
Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is a very nice, very sheltered assistant bank manager with a condition: he cannot feel pain. He blends and drinks all his meals, because if he eats solid food, he might chew through his tongue. Every corner in his home and office has tennis balls to blunt possible danger. As a kid, this got him beat up a lot and earned him the titular nickname.
Nate is besotted with a new bank employee, Sherry. The day after their first, very successful date, the bank is robbed by three VERY violent criminals, who grab Sherry as a hostage for their getaway. Impulsively, Nate chases after them. A lot of fighting and grievous bodily harm follow, all with a quick-witted comedy script and some surprisingly intense on-screen gore. There are many wince-inducing moments in the film, which is sort of the point.
The film does quite a good job of being a violent action film and ALSO a comedy. The violence isn’t as cartoonish as a standard horror film, but neither is it played SO straight that it becomes disturbing. Quaid has inherited his father Dennis’s boy-next-door good looks and likeable screen presence. The only real flaw is that it has one too many endings, but nothing egregious.
This isn’t anything particularly special. It’s an interesting premise that is quite entertaining for 2 hours and then disolves like cotton candy. And that’s fine. Waiting for streaming is more than justified.
3/5 highly realistic compound fractures.
NB- CIPA is a real condition. And, obviously, the film is not at all a realistic depiction of it.
It’s like a carbon copy of Abbott Elementary, except set in a hospital instead of a school. I like Alison Tolman, though, been a fan since Downward Dog.
I’m finding it funnier then abbot or maybe just fresher. I love Wendy M from Reno 911.
TBH we didn’t watch more than maybe 3/4 of an episode of Abbot before we gave up on it. Critics’ darling, hugely popular… just didn’t do it for us
Wendy from Reno 911 is def a highlight!
September 5, after multiple recommendations from friends. I didn’t think it was all that great, TBH
First two episodes of Douglas is Cancelled. So far, so good, and curious to see where it goes.
Half of the second episode of The Righteous Gemstones. Was too tired to remember most of it, so will have to rewatch tonight
Righteous Gemstones’ guest star game is strong this season. Bradley Cooper, and now Megan Mullally!