tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596Wed, 06 Nov 2024 03:04:15 +0000Netflixfilm musicfinding your movieguest appearancesmovie reviewsoriginal programmingstreaming life2014 filmsAmazon PrimeBill MurrayDisney vaultFrank OzKeanu ReevesKimmy SchmidtKirsten DunstPeter MayleProvenceRidley ScottRokuRosalind RussellRussell CroweTufts UniversityTwelve Days of Christmasbinge watchingblack and whitebody of workclassic filmscomediesdirectorsdr quinndrama featuring comediansdrama seriesearly breaksearwormensemble dramasextraordinary actorsfilm bloggersfilm librariesfilm seriesgood writinggothic novelsheist filmsholidaysindie filmsjane seymourluxury seriesmovies about writersnarrator as characterother bloggerspeople to watchprejudice on tvromantic comediesscreen adaptationssequelssocial issuesstudio supporttech in filmtelevisiontop 5 liststv seriesunique careersvariety showviolence in filmwar filmswriter director filmsyoung HollywoodRandom thoughts on streaming movies and TV, seasoned with big opinions. Enby Gilbert is a passionate consumer of artful entertainment. She doesn't always get it "right", but appreciates the work and drive that it takes to get our shows and films to the screen. Based in Southern California, living and working with industry pros makes this passion a cheerleader's reality. Go team, go!http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)Blogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-1411221540112040819Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:22:00 +00002023-06-28T09:22:00.148-07:00Hulu viewers have been diving into Season 2 of the startlingly good The Bear for almost a week now, and I have stumbled on an article that will delight and educate those of us who can't get enough of these high-end cooking techniques.  Small spoiler alert!If you've been wondering about those little green ice cream logs that Marcus learned how to make in Copenhagen, here's the perfect http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2023/06/quick-tip-for-fans-of-bear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-8099697010619398092Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:22:00 +00002023-06-28T04:52:31.967-07:00I've been re-watching Sex and the City on Amazon Prime.  I fully enjoyed this show in my thirties, and now that I'm getting older (and hopefully wiser), the re-binge is having a different effect.  I remember too vividly now how much Carrie's signature squeal ("Aaaah!") got on my nerves.  And now, the whole character shows far more flaws in the same kind of vivid detail. What http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2018/09/feuds-personalities-and-acting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-3732488606101364438Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:21:00 +00002023-06-28T04:54:56.073-07:00film seriesgothic novelsKeanu Reevesscreen adaptationssequelsviolence in film He's the battered scapegoat for a plethora of bad jokes and pithy barbs of acting criticism, but I actually like Keanu Reeves.  It has long been suspected that he's far smarter than usually assumed, as if you pay attention, his acting shows moments that are finely shaded and thoughtful.  He may not be the most consistent actor on the planet, but the rampant criticism and http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/09/dont-resist-this-thrill-john-wick-wins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-733988300775031688Sat, 19 Nov 2016 05:27:00 +00002016-11-19T04:56:08.247-08:00film bloggersgood writingKirsten Dunstmovie reviewsTufts UniversityI've been MIA for a bit, as sometimes life really does get in the way, even for the most ridiculously committed hobby bloggers.  Never fear: all is well, and life's drama should remain on the screen for a little while. I was pulled out of my reverie of overwhelm today, however, by a Tufts student's stream-of-consciousness rhapsody on an actress that has elicited from me alternating http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/11/getting-it-right-with-some-dunst-on-side.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-7743493400916574785Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:00:00 +00002021-03-29T04:59:45.494-07:00comediesdirectorsFrank Ozheist filmstop 5 lists Frank Oz Frank Oz has built a career like no other.  While most people may know him for his iconic and unforgettable voices, it is his directing that rocks my world.  Of the fifteen films listed on Director tab in IMDB, full eleven (11!) are among my all-time favorites.  They are gems of execution, masterworks of timing and comedic mastery, timeless examples of well-executedhttp://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/09/ode-to-great-and-powerful-oz-aka-frank.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-9119275437599821312Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:56:00 +00002017-04-29T10:36:04.454-07:00drama featuring comediansensemble dramasfilm musicsocial issuestech in film 2014's Men Women & Children is one of those films that didn't do well due to ineffective marketing: apparently many casual observers immediately thought "comedy!", yet while Adam Sandler is the first on the cast list, this is decidedly part of his serious oeuvre, not the side that dwells in wackiness and sophomoric nonsense.  If you lean toward more somber films, don't let http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/09/this-tech-diatribes-real-power-lies-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-345521544823973219Sat, 10 Sep 2016 07:28:00 +00002017-04-29T10:41:58.625-07:00body of workextraordinary actorspeople to watchunique careers Tilda Swinton has had one of the most fascinating careers in the business -- there's absolutely nothing average about her. After watching Snowpiercer recently, I was so reminded and inspired by her awesomeness that I've decided to learn more about her diverse body of work.  First, a little personal Swinton history: Since I first became aware of her with Orlando in 1992http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/09/ode-to-tilda-swintonian-challenge-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-7355534945968809915Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:11:00 +00002023-06-28T04:58:21.322-07:00drama seriesluxury seriestelevisionyoung Hollywood I've been working on a project that will take a couple of months to realize, and it involves a lot of busywork -- hours of mindless data entry, migrating data and formatting a new system.  It will all be worth it, as it will revolutionize the business I work for.  But working from home, this kind of work tends to go far more quickly with a little company. So to my own bewilderment, Ihttp://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/09/shocking-confession-finding-my-own.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-81051550034477867Sun, 28 Aug 2016 06:43:00 +00002016-09-07T03:00:40.471-07:00film musicother bloggersThose of us who love films tend to also be more than aware of film scores.  Music is the language of the film's soul, and often becomes a character of its own.  A blog post came across my desk today from a respected classical blogger in Southern California -- Timothy Mangan. Mangan knows his topic, and dove into the film world today with this brief post:     Great http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/08/those-of-us-who-love-films-tend-to-also.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-7196021070603820622Tue, 28 Jun 2016 11:51:00 +00002023-06-28T04:56:05.893-07:00This 2013 film has been on my radar (if the back burner) since it was in theaters, as several people told me it was not only worthy but devastating.  As much as I love advice, one of my basic flaws is that I hate being told what to do.  So I waited three years to see it.  (That's right, don't boss me around!) And so, I've had Snowpiercer on my Netflix list for ages, and afterhttp://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/02/snowpiercer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-25334823016287843Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +00002023-06-28T04:59:26.724-07:00film librariesfinding your movieRokustreaming life Even with literally millions of options, there are days when browsing through lists of movies and TV shows just doesn't do it.  That lethargy doesn't have to be, however, if you're maximizing the features on your streaming device. I have two Rokus -- a 2 and a 3 -- and both have kept me quite happy.  I've been cable-free for more than four years, and life is good.  Now that http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/06/4-roku-driven-cures-for-theres-nothing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-6669427258116045477Sat, 30 Apr 2016 21:07:00 +00002016-09-07T03:05:18.937-07:00Amazon Primefinding your moviestreaming lifeI'm getting spoiled -- enough so that small annoyances in a user interface stay with me.  Perhaps it's the obsessive need to figure out the issues with my own websites, or perhaps it's just a feeling of consumer indignation, that I'm not getting the service I deserve.  But this little thing drives me nuts: I recently signed up for Starz as an add-on to Amazon Video.  It's not a http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/04/nit-picking-at-amazons-interface.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-7088832944512426358Wed, 13 Jan 2016 03:51:00 +00002016-01-12T19:54:07.497-08:00Peter MayleProvenceRidley ScottRussell CroweSir Ridley Scott is most often identified with titles like the Alien series, Blade Runner, The Martian and on the smaller screen, A Good Wife and most recently The Man in the High Castle. As thoughtful and character-driven as his thrillers may be, he is known neither for comedy nor for sentiment.   These things are not normally attached to the name Russell Crowe http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-very-good-year-in-provence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-8083964686780444828Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:21:00 +00002015-12-14T16:21:00.735-08:00Bill Murrayguest appearancesholidaysNetflixoriginal programmingvariety show Bill Murray, over the years, has evolved into a completely different animal than one might have guessed, watching his early progression through SNL, Stripes, Caddyshack and Ghostbusters, those years that made him a star.  But some of his recent work, notably Lost in Translation, Broken Flowers and Hyde Park on Hudson have gained him the respect as an actor that he seemed tohttp://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-murricane-comes-to-netflix-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-2149995360086602198Fri, 11 Dec 2015 15:30:00 +00002016-09-07T02:22:23.033-07:00binge watchingdr quinnearly breaksguest appearancesjane seymourprejudice on tvtv series I never watched the popular Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman TV show when it first aired in the ‘90s.  Perhaps I had other things to do that night, or perhaps my grad school years had me feeling too hip for something that wholesome.  (Nah, that couldn’t have been it -- I’ve never been all that hip.) Nevertheless, I started watching it on Amazon Prime recently, first out of http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2015/12/done-with-dr-quinn-why-im-walking-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-6820364298189092890Wed, 09 Dec 2015 14:33:00 +00002015-12-09T06:33:00.820-08:00Disney vaultearwormKimmy SchmidtNetflixoriginal programmingstudio supportTwelve Days of Christmas "Double down!", sayeth the Netflix bosses as the new year looms. The litany of plans for 2016 almost makes a nice "Five Days of Christmas", if you start with the golden rings: Thirty-one originalllll serieeeeeeees! 12 doc-u-men-ta-ries 10 feature films 10 stand-ups and a whopping 30 programs for kids! After inventive shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (with the best earworm-y theme http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2015/12/netflix-bets-big-on-original-shows-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-8534315739740488731Mon, 07 Dec 2015 13:30:00 +00002015-12-07T05:30:01.038-08:00black and whiteclassic filmsromantic comediesRosalind Russellwar filmsRosalind Russell was a rare bird: beautiful, smart, stylish funny and absolutely magnetic onscreen. Tonight I “discovered” a 1953 gem I’d never seen before:  Never Wave at a WAC, which also stars the terribly underrated Paul Douglas and classic “handsome actor”, William Ching. Russell plays a D.C. socialite, the spoiled daughter of a senator, who joins the army so she can get a http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2015/12/reconnecting-with-roz-never-wave-at-wac.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3550922281937839596.post-2721162577966342212Sun, 06 Dec 2015 05:30:00 +00002021-03-29T05:02:39.783-07:002014 filmsindie filmsmovie reviewsmovies about writersnarrator as characterwriter director films I love words, and tend to gravitate toward films that put them center stage.  But while movies about writers are often inspiring and revelatory, today I experienced a film that had all the right elements in place, yet just annoyed me for two hours.  Listen Up Philip, a 2014 film starring Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss, seems like it should have been an incredible http://happylittlecordcutter.blogspot.com/2015/12/get-out-of-my-head-narrator-as_5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Enby Gilbert)0