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BrainDead Series Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

BrainDead (2016)

Season 1 - 13 episodes (2016)
Rent BrainDead on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Michelle King, Robert King
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Danny Pino, Aaron Tveit, Tony Shalhoub, Nikki M. James, Johnny Ray Gill
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer

Plot
A government employee discovers that the cause of the tensions between the two political parties is a race of extraterrestrial insects eating the brains of the politicians.

Verdict
I love the premise that the reason political tensions are so high is due to alien bugs. That leads to contention and aggression, amplifying the worst human qualities and political gridlock. Despite that, this season stretches the premise with no subplots to effectively pad the runtime. There's a romance between political adversaries that exists for the comedy because the relationship isn't sufficiently developed. Instead of exploring politics, it trivializes the sides as being for or against war. This is a setup without an effective punch line.
It depends.

Review
The show planned for a four season arc with the bugs subsequently invading Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood. The series was canceled after the first season.

It's a great premise. The problem with Washington is that bugs are literally eating politician's brains. Laurel (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is the outsider. She's a documentary film maker that needs a job and begins working for her U.S. Senator brother Luke Healy (Danny Pino). A government shut down and an extra terrestrial meteor containing bugs sent to Washington leads to a widespread infection.

E2: Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Laurel Healy

With each politician infected, they become contentious and aggressive. That only amplifies the party line. It's a great satire of politics. The only way there could be so much discord is if people are deranged and bugs are eating their brains. Somehow Laurel and Luke are still not infected by episode three, though that's a bit of plot armor.

Laurel befriends Rochelle (Nikki M. James) and Dr. Bob (Johnny Ray Gill). They learn that the infected lack balance and suffer deafness. Despite some amount of proof, they have difficulty getting anyone to believe their story. They eventually theorize that drinking and dancing can fight off the bugs. I don't quite buy it, but this show is more interested in the premise than the science.

E8: Nikki M. James, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Johnny Ray Gill play Rochelle, Laurel, Dr. Bob

Episode five captures the current state of politics. Everyone argues over what to name a kiosk, arguing just to hear themselves speak.

Rochelle and Dr. Bob figure out how to communicate with the infected, through that they upend a Senate intelligence committee vote and in turn free Laurel who was detained by the FBI. By episode eight they capture an infected who attacked Rochelle. They get answers, but who would believe it? The episode also features a Michael Moore cameo. It's wild, and used to great comedic effect to create more turmoil in Laurel and Gareth's (Aaron Tveit) burgeoning relationship. The hurdle is already great as they have to bridge the political divide as they have different values. The series doesn't develop it well, using it more to bolster the plot and for comedy. It's contrived.

E6: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Tveit play Laurel Healy, Gareth Ritter

The larger conflict that emerges pits Luke against the staunchly conservative Red Wheatus (Tony Shalhoub) who, under the control of a bug, wants a war in Syria to destabilize the U.S. and pave the way for the alien bugs. Red manufactures evidence to bolster his claim.

The second half of this season gets lost in the premise. We see political infighting that goes nowhere. Maybe that's the point, but the plot doesn't progress. The characters know the bugs exist, but they can't find any allies yet they most also try to save the world from the republicans.

By the end of the season the bugs are seemingly defeated. I assume the next season would have resurrected them in some way or revealed that one of them survived. Laurel, Rochelle, and Dr. Bob determine that shame weakens the bugs and that provides them a window to attack. The final episode also provides the reveal of Dr. Bob's employer, but that's a reveal that seems too late. By that point it doesn't matter.

I like the premise, but I wish this was deeper than coming back to how divided political parties are. That joke only travels so far. I expected this season to roast politics more, pointing out several problems and even having both sides reject solutions due to the divide. Dr. Bob seems like a conspiracy nut that's actually right for once. That character could have had more development. This season is a great idea that never fully develops.

Widow's Bay Season 1 Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Widow's Bay (2026-)

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2026)
Rent Widow's Bay on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Katie Dippold
Starring: Matthew Rhys, Kate O'Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Stephen Root, Toby Huss, Hamish Linklater
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
A skeptical mayor leads the superstitious residents of a cursed New England island.

Verdict
The show strikes such a great balance between horror and comedy pitting a skeptic against believers. Native inhabitants accept the curse with indifference, which is funny on its own. We quickly realize the curse in this town is real. This show's writing and plotting is excellent, exemplified by all of the characters that manage to be unique and funny in their own ways. Episode four was my turning point. Initially it seemed like it was padding, but the episode takes a twist that makes the episode great. The next episode is even better. This show is so much fun as it balances horrors and silliness in a mundane town. Whenever I doubted the myths or legends, the show proved they were true with aplomb.
Watch It.

Review
The beleaguered mayor of a small New England town desperately wants to promote Widow's Bay. Tom (Matthew Rhys) admits to a reporter writing a feature that the town has a "lot of local color" as the town historian talks about the witch trials in the late 1600s, blithely stating they caught them and burned them. Tom plays damage control with the sordid history of the town, hoping this feature will be the first step in making the place a vacation destination.

This show is horror meets comedy as mayor Tom indirectly tries to convince us the town isn't haunted while the inhabitants worry about myths, legends, and ghost stories. They claim everyone born in Widow's Bay is cursed. After an incident at the hospital, even Tom grows paranoid.

E1: Matthew Rhys plays Tom Loftis

Tom is an outsider, having not been born on the island. In episode two when he's challenged to spend the night in the haunted Breakwater Inn, he agrees if for no other reason than to shut up the locals. He spends the night drinking with a local only to be confronted with the fact that the guy doesn't exist. The show writes it off as a black mold infestation, but in this show could it be a ghost?

Episode three was the funniest yet. Tom's co-workers rib him for giving an attractive woman a ride when he's failed to get them rides several different times. He tries to excuse it to no avail. Anyone else would freak out, having encountered a strange creature at night, but Tom wants this town to become desirable, and he's willing to deny a lot of experiences. He ends up with a real hag situation. He's saved at the last moment by Wyck (Stephen Root), a stout believer in the island's lore.

Initially I didn't like episode four as it focused on Tom's assistant Patricia (Kate O'Flynn). It seemed to slow the narrative, delving into a side character at the expense of the plot which is typical of modern shows. It rarely works, but I shouldn't have doubted this show. Patricia wants to throw a party in the hopes of being accepted. This episode takes a turn that makes it so much better. It went from an episode that seemed like padding, to a shining example of how sharp this show is. Patricia just wanted to be accepted but her plight is complicated by an evil spell.

E4: Kate O'Flynn plays Patricia

Through a series of events Tom takes hallucinogenic mushrooms in episode five. He keeps losing time as the episode cuts forward, leaving him bewildered. He keeps wondering how he got there and what's happened. It's funny and only gets better with each leap forward. I loved this episode. It exemplifies the great writing and a great take on Tom passing out that heightens the humor.

Tom, Wyck, and Patricia realize the town's curse goes all the way back to the founder. Of course, he's buried in town. I was curious where the show would go with that. I never expected Tom to be hanging out with the town's founder who never died.

Episode eight takes aim at the slasher genre. While Tom thinks the curse is over, Patricia is hunted by a serial killer she may or may not have known as a teen. The age of that relationship is finally revealed when she begs for help from old classmates that don't like her.

With a violent storm approaching the island forcing everyone to enter the bunker, the curse isn't over. Tom must consider what lengths he'll go to to save the town.

In the final episode, Tom struggles with his decision. He could save the town and do something reprehensible or do nothing and the curse remains. Tom tries to workshop the problem by arguing over the ethics of the Trolley Problem with his unsuspecting, potential victim. It doesn't help. He keeps trying to work up the nerve to carry out his crime, but his failed attempts yield interesting information.

What we thought was just a curse ends up being a whole new problem. Yet either way, people will die.

The Haunting of Hill House Mini-Series Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Mini-series - 10 episodes (2018)
Rent The Haunting of Hill House on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, Mckenna Grace, Timothy Hutton, Annabeth Gish
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.

Verdict
The show creates such a great mood. It's definitely dark, but this jumps between time periods and characters perfectly. Each episode reveals just a little bit more about the house and the siblings, augmenting what we know until it brings everything together towards the end. Tensions and stress within the family increase with each episode, as do the hauntings and scares. The way this builds the narrative is masterful. We've seen pieces of the whole from the beginning without knowing it. Each episode provides just a bit more context that continues to build the story. The culmination is well executed. It's such a well developed story.
Watch It.

Review
This jumps back and forth from when the Crain kids were young, living in the Hill house as their father attempted to repair and flip it, and when they're adults dealing with the trauma of having lived there. Growing up in that house affected all the children. Initially we wonder if the house is haunted, but with each scene the house is revealed to be menacing and definitely possessed.

Oldest son Steven (Michiel Huisman) became famous for his book about the house, but it alienated him from the family who objected. They didn't like he capitalized on their childhood. Shirley (Elizabeth Reaser) became a funeral director. Theo (Kate Siegel) has trouble connecting with people but is an adept child psychologist. Luke (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) struggles with substance abuse. Nell (Victoria Pedretti) still suffers from the memories of that house. The kids and the father grew estranged after they left the house, fleeing in the middle of the night with few answers.

While the first episode sets the plot about a haunted house, it also generates a lot of questions. What happened in that house? Through the season we learn piece by piece what happened as this deliberately builds the narrative. Each scene is edited to tie together via movements, actions, and subject. it helps to tie past and present together almost seamlessly.

E3: Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel play Shirley, Theo Crain

Episodes overlap as we see events from each sibling's point of view. In episode one we thought Luke was robbing Steven, but in episode four we see that he was trying to help a friend in rehab. While it appeared he was suffering from withdrawal, there was a reason for his demeanor.

Each of the kids had strange experiences in this house, and their father's efforts to repair the place only end in more work. One repair leads to multiple problems. Episode five focuses on Nell. Even as an adult, she never overcame her experiences. She was plagued by the "bent neck lady" throughout her life. For whatever reason Nell returns to the house. It seems like an effort to confront the ghosts that have haunted her. She's in an abandoned house, but we see the fantasy playing out in her mind.

E4: Carla Gugino, Victoria Pedretti, Michiel Huisman, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel play
Olivia, Nell, Steven, Leigh, Theo Crain

In episode six, the siblings and their father gather in one place and tensions overflow. There's the question of what happened that night when they were forced to flee. What happened to their mother Olivia (Carla Gugino)? Could she have been saved?

One room in the house has a red door, and throughout the season we've seen the kids try to get into that space to no avail. With each episode we see more ghosts, both in the past and present. We realize their father is covering up. Is he afraid to admit he encountered ghosts or is there something deeper, something he is protecting?

E4: Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Victoria Pedertti play Luke, Nell Crain

In episode eight, Luke decides to burn the house down, but we're told the house will defend itself. All of the Crains are lured to the house in the present. In the past, the house targeted Olivia, baiting her into a trap. In episode nine Olivia finally enters the room with a red door. We don't know what's inside, but that makes it all the more disturbing.

The final episode is full of reveals. The room with a red door wasn't always exactly locked. The reveal of that is executed expertly. Lured back to the house as adults, each of the children is mentally tortured in specific ways. It's Nell that helps them wake up from the nightmares as their father Hugh makes a pact to end the hauntings once and for all.

SPOILERS

Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Your Friends & Neighbors (2025-)

Season 2 - 10 episodes (2026)
Rent Your Friends & Neighbors on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Jonathan Tropper
Starring: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, James Marsden, Aimee Carrero, Hoon Lee
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
A hedge fund manager resorts to burglary after losing his job, targeting wealthy neighbors to maintain his family's lifestyle, but he makes a fateful error breaking into the wrong home.

In season two, Coop picks up an accomplice while the arrival of brash billionaire Owen Ashe spells trouble.

Verdict
I love the premise. Coop by all appearances is rich but desperation leads him to theft. We watch him fumble through thefts as he learns the ropes. It's a great premise, and the second season just doesn't have that drive. Instead it gives us shady billionaire Ashe. That generates several questions. Coop's thefts take a backseat as his team grows larger, and he's coerced to partner with Ashe. I wished this season focused on the growing pains of his operation. While that's part of the season, it's secondary. This season gives Coop a competitor for screen time that isn't warranted. It also has ramifications for next season.
It depends.

Review
In season 1, Coop (Jon Hamm) is a recently divorced money manager that just lost his job and his bank account, but he still must fund his and his family's lives. He can't possibly break the illusion that he's not rich. He sees an easy way to bridge the gap, by stealing from his friends who won't miss it. His life is crumbling yet he still has to go to the country club to keep appearances. He develops a disdain for the rich, but it's only because he was cast out. A murder investigation adds a hurdle to his schemes, and the deceased is his mistress's husband. By the end of the season Coop not only hasn't been caught, he also manages to get out of a murder charge. He even gets his old job back, but Coop has experienced something more than the typical rat race. He's not sure he wants to abandon an exciting life for what's normal and expected.

Coop has legitimized his business, at least the appearance of it. He spends his days in a rented office, mostly watching movies. His life is back on track, and he's getting along with his family. At night he partners with Elena (Aimee Carrero) to make the real money to support his life. He throws his back out on the job, forced to call in his friend Barney (Hoon Lee). Barney agrees to join the group and help them launder their money. With a baby on the way and feelings of inferiority, he's eager. Coop isn't sure it's wise to expand the circle, but it's too late now. Barney's push to make them appear legitimate gets expensive quickly.

E2: James Marsden, Jon Hamm play Owen Ashe, Andrew "Coop" Cooper

Owen Ashe (James Marsden) moves into town. He's a billionaire that's generating a lot of interest. He instantly takes a liking to Sam (Olivia Munn). She's the town outcast after framing an innocent Coop for murder last season.

Coop and his wife Mel (Amanda Peet) have to find the balance in parenthood when their daughter Tori declines Princeton. Tori wants to make her own choices, feeling forced into a future of her parent's choosing. Coop and Mel have to guide her while letting her make choices. That's not easy.

Knowing Ashe is out of town, Coop figures it's the perfect time to rob him. Ashe catches him, but he doesn't turn Coop in. What is Ashe's end game? It's clear he's into something criminal, and that's a recurring question this season. Ashe blackmails Coop into investing his funds to avoid the authorities. It's that or Ashe turns him in. By episode four, Coop realizes that it's easy to sell your soul but difficult to buy it back. He doesn't like being under Ashe's thumb. He also doesn't see a way out.

Episode six is all kinds of family drama. While it builds character by providing a chance to examine Coop's family dynamics, Coop is dazed and out of it. This doesn't add much.

Throughout the season Mel has been dealing with middle age and perimenopause. This is a world built on appearances with Mel having to confront aging. That's on top of Tori refusing college and her husband just be released on murder charges.

In episode eight both Coop's wife and daughter are arrested for separate incidents. He's also desperate to cut ties with Ashe, and that isn't easy. Sam also wants to distance herself from Ashe. The more we learn about him, the more it's clear he's into something illegal. When Coop is abducted, he's sure it's Ashe, though Ashe denies any knowledge. Was it Ashe or people after Ashe? Either way Ashe doesn't want to end their partnership which ends to a standoff with serious consequences.

E10: Jon Hamm, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman play Coop, Barney, Nick

Coop, Barney, and Nick figure out what to do in the aftermath of the last episode. They're determining actions and outcomes when Sam inadvertently gets involved. Coop tries to convey the mitigating circumstances, but it's difficult to dress up the situation.
As the characters and audience are coming to terms with what's transpired, this takes a turn that no one expected. This season is trying to make up for everything in just on episode. While Coop finally finds a way to distance himself from Ashe, that's not the end of his problems.

The latter half of the episode is setting up for next season. Through Ashe, Coop now has dangerous acquaintances that want to use his investing expertise. He's not done with investing or Ashe. Elena needed money with Coop and Barney telling her to hold on. She doesn't have the cushion they do, and that leads to complications that will likely play out next season.

I like the premise of the first season, and I like seeing Coop figure out how to be a thief. This season introduces a new character full of intrigue, Ashe. Ultimately he's just a plot device, and it feels like it. I'd rather this season focus more on the heists, which receives very little time. We see a bit of growing pains and Coop wondering how to wash the money he's bringing in, but that's mostly dialog.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

Watch the trailer
Written by: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers (written by), Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (based on the Marvel comic book by, Spider-Man created by)
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei, Mark Ruffalo
Rated: PG-13

Plot
A forgotten Peter Parker lives alone as a full-time Spider-Man until mounting pressure triggers a dangerous change and a powerful new enemy emerges.

Verdict
Instead of another world ending disaster, this narrows the focus. Peter Parker struggles with being isolated and alone. While that allows him to focus on criminals, it leaves his life hollow. Parallels are drawn between Spider-Man, the Punisher, and the villain. All of them have isolated themselves for similar reasons, and that leads to instability. While this is a bit long, Peter's evolution adding length, it remains entertaining while providing emotional and physical stakes. Holland established himself as the definitive Spider-Man with his first movie, and this explores the toll of being everything to everybody.
Watch It.

Review
The latest Spider-Man entry and the fourth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). At the end of that movie Peter Parker chose to have the entire world forget he exists to close the tears in the multiverse. That meant he was on his own again, providing the franchise a fresh start.

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is alone; his aunt is gone and he had his friends forget him for their own safety. He watches them through their social media posts as he lives vicariously with them. Four years pass as MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) attend and graduate MIT. The pair move back to New York where Peter happens to attend their house party. That only makes what he's given up for their safety more painful. Peter has gained acclaim as Spider-Man, having drastically reduced crime in the city, but Peter's only point of contact is the police chief, Dewolff (Liza Colón-Zayas).

Tom Holland plays Peter Parker / Spider-Man

An attack on the Department of Damage Control reveals a new villain, one with telepathic abilities including mind control. The telepath can mentally leap from person to person at will. That makes the telepath not just difficult to catch but nearly impossible to even track. Damage Control houses super villains while backwards engineering any bad guy tech to use for good. This villain stages yet another attack on a Damage Control facility.

Due to isolation, Peter has developed a next level of spider abilities. I think this whole sub-plot could be removed without changing the story. It adds artificial limits and stakes that are surface level at best and more of a nuisance. His new spider abilities make him more powerful yet erratic. He develops an inhibitor device to keep his spider hormones in check. As soon as that happens, we know he's going to have to take that limitation off later to 'level up.'

Tom Holland plays Spider-Man

The telepath can enter any mind except Peter's, but she can track him. That's how she finds his link to MJ, putting her in danger. Spider-man must save her despite the fact she doesn't know him as Peter. The telepath meddles in that, making fun of the trope that one kiss can save everything and restore order. Peter entrusts MJ's safety to the only sort of friend he has, The Punisher aka Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal). Peter also gets a moment with MJ and Ned, though they still don't remember him. It's cathartic for Peter.

The telepath attacks Damage Control yet again, this time using one of the Avengers for an advantage. Peter arrives to save the day. He's learned the telepath's identity, a character we've seen before from other movies in several iterations. While Spider-Man saves the day, he discovers that the head of Damage Control lied to him. That causes him to question the villain's motives against Damage Control. They not only experiment with villain technology, they also experiment on super powered people they capture, and they detain more than just bad guys. That's why the telepath is after them. Spider-Man helped facilitate the telepath's capture, and now he's back to make things right. The telepath has leveled up, it's the final fight after all, and Spider-Man must do the same. He removes his inhibitor to unleash his full power. It's awfully convenient to level up just as the penultimate battle happens to increase the tension. Peter and the telepath have a moment when a memory of Aunt May is accessed. They both know what it's like to have lost someone close to them.

Spider-Man saves the day, but Peter realizes he can't do everything by himself. What that means isn't exactly clear, but he does let the police handle a robbery in progress while he recovers from the big battle. Frank also helps him out as it's clear he cares about Peter.

Peter manages to find some peace, realizing the city cares about him. While he separated himself from his friends, it was in order to protect them. He's always trying to do the right thing. As Frank states, Peter is a good kid. This does leave a remote possibility that MJ and Ned might some day remember him, but that also seems to violate the rules this franchise has put in place. I suppose that's more an effort to end this on a hopeful note. I expect there to be another Spider-man movie, and it will likely explore a way to restore Peter's friendship with MJ and Ned. The next Marvel movie will be Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

Freaks and Geeks Series Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Season 1 - 18 episodes (1999-2000)
Rent Freaks and Geeks on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Paul Feig
Starring: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Busy Phillipps
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer

Plot
A high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts while her younger brother navigates his freshman year.

Verdict
It's not a new subject, but this does such a great job exploring the teenage experience. The focus is Lindsay, a junior, and her younger brother freshman Sam. Through them we see what it's like trying to figure out who you are while re-establishing your identity and struggling to survive that first year. This gives the characters such depth, exploring the underlying reasons of who they are. Lindsay and Sam benefit from a stable home life while several characters struggle in school due to their hardships. It's a shame this only got one season. It deserved so much more. This is such an endearing series where we quickly begin caring for the characters.
Watch It.

Review
While it was canceled after only fifteen episodes aired, the series later became a cult classic. It was popular critically, but it failed to get an audience due to erratic scheduling and competing with much more popular shows. The show didn't get a chance to establish itself.

This show is about finding your place in high school while simultaneously trying to figure out who you are. This does a great job of capturing the characters. There's the dichotomy of the freaks, Lindsay's (Linda Cardellini) new burnout friend group and the geeks, Sam (John Francis Daley) and his friends. Both of the Weir kids are trying to figure out who they want to be. Sam is trying to survive being a freshman. He's in this place where he's leaving childhood behind, and that can be emotional. Everyone is doing the best they can to make it in high school.

E1: Linda Cardellini plays Lindsay Weir

In the first episode, Lindsay joins a new friend group. She's trying to distance herself from her old friends. In the very first episode this captures the ups and down of high schools, the defeats and victories. Through Lindsay and Sam we see that whether just starting out or even a junior, high school doesn't get any easier.

Ben Foster appears in the first episode and Rashida Jones guest stars in the fourth.

In the second episode Sam tries to protect Lindsay while she throws a party that quickly grows out of control. They're both trying to be cool. It rarely works out. In episode four Lindsay gets to see how lucky she is when she visits Kim's (Busy Phillipps) house. Kim's aggressive, and that seems to stem from insecurity and unsupportive parents. The kids with most difficult circumstances cause the most trouble at school. It's easy to see the connection, though few people ever spend the time to investigate it.

E7: Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Busy Philipps play
Ken, Nick, Lindsay, Daniel, Kim

Lindsay's parents don't like her friends. She sees it as an affront, but her parents care for and worry about her. They don't realize she's trying to help her new friends. She's making poor decisions, but it's for good reasons.

Despite how confrontational the characters are, it's frequently the older teens that readily help out Sam and his friends. Daniel (James Franco) seems to have a learning disability. He's managed to skate through school this far, but the show never addresses it. He just wants to get by. Lindsay tries to help him, but he doesn't care. She also tries to help Nick's (Jason Segel) drumming aspirations, but that only generates contention. Nick asks the band to practice more and they quit. She unfairly gets blamed for making the band feel like school.

Sam has had a crush on Cindy since the beginning of the season. In episode eight he gets friend zoned. In contrast, Lindsay and Nick begin dating and she gets a lot of unsolicited advice. Sam tries to get closer to Cindy while Lindsay tries to get away from Nick.

E1: Samm Levine, Martin Starr, John Francis Daley play Neal Schweiber, Bill Haverchuck, Sam Weir

The reoccurring concern of Lindsay's parents are her new friends. We understand why she feels stifled and why her parents wonder about her friends. Lindsay's friendship is fractured when she crashes her father's car while helping them out. When they show up for her academic event, she realizes they're genuine. Sam changes his look to be cool. It doesn't work out.

While high, Lindsay ponders why she and Millie are no longer friends. Millie has been a great friend even while Lindsay tries to distance herself. Allen, the freshman bully admits to Bill that he's jealous of the geeks.

The show also gets serious with Neal's (Samm Levine) parents facing problems and Bill's (Martin Starr) mom dating the gym teacher. In episode seventeen, Sam realizes his dream girlfriend isn't so dreamy.

The seasons ends with Lindsay ditching an academic event. Daniel, forced to join the AV club as punishment, bonds with geeks by playing Dungeons & Dragons.

This show does such a great job of capturing the high school experience through both Lindsay and Sam. The series also balances children and parents. Both have valid concerns, but it's difficult to bridge the gap between them. It's one of the few shows that I wish got at least another season.
In a 2012 interview Paul Feig described the characters' futures: Lindsay would become a human rights lawyer after following the Grateful Dead, Sam joined the drama club, Neal joined a swing choir in school, Bill became a jock after joining the basketball team which led to tension with the geeks, Daniel went to jail, Kim become pregnant on tour while following the Grateful Dead, and Nick was pressured by his strict father to join the Army.

For All Mankind Season 5 Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

For All Mankind (2019-2027)

Season 5 - 10 episodes (2026)
Rent For All Mankind on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Ronald D. Moore, Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Toby Kebbell, Mireille Enos, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña, Costa Ronin, Sean Kaufman, Ruby Cruz, Wrenn Schmidt, Ines Asserson
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
In an alternative version of 1969, the Soviet Union beats the United States to the Moon, and the space race continues on for decades with still grander challenges and goals.

Season 5 takes place in 2012. The Mars base has expanded to house thousands. Mars wants independence from Earth and their "Earth first" policies, while Helios explores farther into space.

Verdict
I'm continually impressed by the scale and scope of the show, but this season's story follows the familiar beat of a colony seeking independence. There are fewer big 'space' moments as interstellar exploration is less important. Those missions always provided the season with a drive and destination. I love this show, and due to that this season is absolutely worth watching, but the season by itself isn't as strong as prior seasons.
It depends.

Review
I love this show. While the first season of For All Mankind begins in the 70s, each season jumps ahead a decade. We're now in the 2010s. Changing one small event, has a ripple effect on the world. The series has been renewed for a sixth and final season set to premier in 2027. Star City (2026) is a spin-off series that portrays the space race from the Soviet Union's perspective, starting in the 70s.

In season 4, Earth’s governments wanted to redirect the lucrative Goldilocks asteroid into Earth’s orbit for easier mining. Mars wants to claim it to cement the planet as a viable colony. Helios runs the Mars colony, but the grueling conditions and empty promises lead to a riot. Margot Madison took the fall for Mars 'stealing' the asteroid, with Ed and Dev's help.

The first episode provides a quick summary of the last ten years. Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) was found guilty in absentia for the theft of the asteroid. James Bragg becomes the 43rd president, serving two terms. He wants to stop funneling money to the Moon and Mars since he claims Earth gets nothing in return. Jay-Z and John Lennon perform at the Grammys. The Montreal Expos relocate to Portland. The introduction for each season is a lot of fun, showing us a world that never happened.

Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) is in prison now. She was a pioneer in NASA as the first woman on Mission Control. She committed treason, went into hiding, helped steer the asteroid to Mars, lost immunity, and ended up in an American prison.
Ed Baldwin is still kicking around, now over eighty years old. He's had more than his share of adventures, being one of the original astronauts that launched into space and now living on Mars. His grandson Alex (Sean Kaufman), the first baby on Mars, graduates.
Last season we saw the commodification of Mars. Now we see it's been commercialized. Domino's Pizza has a store and Blockbuster is looking to open a location. Miles (Toby Kebbell) went from bootlegger to business man with a restaurant. He's in an independence group with Ed. They want representation and an equal say on what happens on the planet. The plot of the season kicks off when Alex finds a dead body while exploring the surface. It's soon ruled murder.

Jung-Gil (C.S. Lee) is arrested for the murder. Why? He was the first human on Mars, and he was instrumental in securing the asteroid. Ed manages to get into the holding cell and talk to Jung-Gil, discovering the government on Mars, M-6, wants to take Jung-Gil back to Earth for trial. Ed's not going to let that happen.

M-6 officer Celia Boyd (Mireille Enos) doesn't buy the story about Jung-Gil. She starts her own investigation. That leads to Helios competitor Kuragin. They got the contract for a space elevator, but their undertaking suspicious surface explorations that are prohibited. Boyd witnesses a shipment at the space elevator and everyone at Kuragin denies it. We know she's going to keep looking and that will be trouble.

E3: Mireille Enos plays Celia Boyd

After organic compounds are detected on Saturn's moon Titan, Ed Baldwin's daughter Kelly (Cynthy Wu) argues for a manned mission, and she wants to be on that team. If Helios doesn't send a team, Kuragin will. Kuragin announces their launch days ahead of Helios. Are they spying? How do they know so much? Aleida (Coral Peña) flies to Mars to assist the Titan mission. She's the CEO of Helios, formerly at NASA, while Dev (Edi Gathegi) is the company's creator. They decide to pull an old ship out of storage to speed up their launch date.

Meanwhile Dev hires Alex to work at Helios. He gets special treatment, as Dev doesn't adhere to convention or decorum. It seems a bit too easy that Alex stumbles upon this automation file, especially being so new. Either way he uses Mile's daughter Lily (Ruby Cruz) to leak the information that Helios plans to make Mars almost completely automated and ship everyone back to Earth. Dev either knew or was directly behind it. He wants to cut costs to fund his utopian city. Dev criticizes Alex for leaking the information, citing selfishness. Alex retorts Dev is the one that's being selfish, which is true. It's a wild conversation considering the disparity between the two of them. Dev knows what he did. Is this dialog for people that aren't paying attention? Dev wants his vision built, and he doesn't care how. If he ships everyone off, who will live in his perfect city?

In episode four we're introduced to Avery Jarrett (Ines Asserson). She's a Marine interviewing for a spot in a group exploring off planet. She's the daughter of Danny Stevens who caused a catastrophic mining disaster in season three.

This season isn't as good as prior seasons. I like the ideas, but some of the writing leaves a bit to be desired.

I like the dichotomy between Miles and Lily. He's asking her to reveal who gave her the document, and she refuses. Miles gave in to pressure more than once during his time on Mars. He claims it was to protect his family, but it's more fear. The Mars inhabitants grow restless with the governor enacting a curfew to reduce tension. It doesn't work. While the base cops enforce it, I don't buy it. The cops live on Mars too. This automation plan affects them. They wouldn't blindly follow orders at this point. Where's the nuance? Tensions boil over in episode six when the independent group takes the governor hostage. It's an ill-formed plan, but they realize the real way to get what they want is to stop iridium shipments back to Earth. U.S. President Bragg speaks on behalf of M-6 and states Mars will be completely cut off, and that's the start of the stand off. Can Mars be self sufficient? It's time to find out.

Six months later and neither side has conceded. The few remaining cops are conducting hit and run raids on the independent group. The Kuragin group, which launched first, experiences a tragedy. Earlier in the season there was a question about whether their calculations were based on accurate information. It seems they were not. Helios doesn't want their mission to face the same fate. Kelly wants to continue, the mission commander wants to abort.

E3: Cynthy Wu plays Kelly Baldwin

I understand the Alex and Lily romance. It's the new generation on Mars, but it seems so unimportant when there's an active hostage situation. It seems part of that was just to make a dome breach more dramatic. Dev was the one that ordered that attack. He wants to break the dissenters and end the standoff so he can build his city. While he didn't mean to hurt anyone, you can't separate that from his actions.
In a parallel story Kelly in essence sabotage's the Titan mission to force the ship to continue to Titan. That's a breach of trust, though the ship successfully enters Titan's atmosphere and it's easily the biggest moment of the season. I just don't like how this uses Kelly to set it up. Later the commander Walt thinks he screwed up. We and Kelly know he didn't, and it's just manufactured drama.

In episode eight a military ship with Jarrett is en route to Mars to take it back Every time we see Earth talk about Mars, it's always with a bias describing them as terrorists or radicals when they're not. The independents don't want to be forced off their home. To counteract the Marines, Mars plans to destroy a docking platform so the ship can't land. That situation spirals out of control.

By episode nine the Marines have breached the compound. They immediately start killing inhabitants. I wondered if their orders were to take the base and kill all locals. It seems like it. This could be the end of the Mars colony. Miles sets up a choke point to attack the Marines. I get why, but what good is going to come of this? There are too many dead on both sides for either of them to forgive. Even then, Mars needs supplies. They aren't self-sufficient. Alex and Jarrett get a moment together to talk about the war and show us how there is common ground. While M-6 finally orders a ceasefire, I'd have to think tensions would still be quite high.

The Titan mission finds life, but they also find other issues from personnel to transport. It's a nice final episode, though my opinion is swayed by prior seasons. Season 1 was great, but season 2 and 3 were even better. Season 4 was a step down, and this season isn't bad but it never had the drive and focus of prior seasons. I wouldn't hold this show in such high esteem if I had only seen this season. It's coasting.

The Last House Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Last House (2026)

Watch the trailer
Written by: Matthew Robinson
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Greta Lee, Wagner Moura
Rated: PG-13

Plot
A family of four is suddenly sealed inside their house with no way out and must work together to survive against both their dwindling resources and the mysterious, looming threat that is keeping them trapped.

Verdict
This fails from nearly the beginning with pointless voice over that tells us exactly what's about to happen. The story is largely disappointing with a lack of consistency, stakes, and realism. The movie takes liberty when needed to add tension, but it's always a shortcut. It never comes close to doing enough. The first half was almost bearable. The second half was even less engaging as it became absolutely clear this movie was not going to get any better.
Skip it.

Review
Voice over in the opening scene robs this of any tension. We're told the rain is the problem and that humans aren't alone. It would be so much more fun to experience this instead of given a summary at the beginning. Why would you undercut the movie before it starts?

This wastes little time. Six minutes in and the family can't open the doors or windows to leave the house. This has done the bare minimum to establish the family. We're told the house is falling apart, and Jason (Wagner Moura) is out of work. He can't open the front door, resorting to kicking it open. That doesn't work, and the only problem is that the door swings in, so kicking it wouldn't accomplish anything. He then tries to smash a window. The glass fractures but remains in place. The rain has created some kind of shell around every house.

Noah Alexander Sosnowski, Wagner Moura, Greta Lee, Riley Chung play Graham, Jason, Anne, Ruth

Despite being trapped, they plan to keep a schedule. They'll also watch the two dvd's they own. There's a Netflix dvd mailer envelope briefly shown, a reference to the good old days. If the rain wasn't enough, and it's not, there are shapes moving in the rain. The rain also seems to have some amount of sentience.

In the first of many forced emotional stakes, the family has an old, sick dog. Locked in the house with no access to the outside workd creates an issue. After a couple of months, food is scarce and nerves are frayed. Jason manages to 'fish' for wildlife through the chimney. Somehow this rain creates an impenetrable shield around the house except for the chimney. After a few iterations, Jason creates a trap that works. With one of his prototypes, he almost pulled a live fox into the house. I wish that had worked just to see what would have happened. I also don't know how they keep getting things up and out of the chimney. Later they capture a skunk. The stink would be insane, either as they capture it or when they kill it. That aspect is completely ignored.

More pointless voiceover precedes a time jump. I did not expect the family to last five years. They seem to be the last house left. Trapped in a house for five years would exert an emotional toll. This portrays a family that's created a stable life, and somehow managed to grow enough food to sustain themselves. The dad restores his Camaro, yet know one else even knew. They're in the same house, there's no way they wouldn't know how it spends him time. Then there's the question of where he got gas. Later in the movie, the entire first floor of the house is flooded yet it doesn't break the door to the garage down. The water doesn't seem to even be running under the door.

Greta Lee, Riley Chung, Wagner Moura, Noah Alexander Sosnowski play Anne, Ruth, Jason, Graham

After five years, they have an encounter with a creature. It meddles around in the house frightening everyone and then leaves. There's no reason for this creature to play around except as a way to pad the plot. Why do these creatures want the family dead? Why wait so long if they even care? This movie makes no sense. These creatures seemingly could have eradicated this family whenever they wanted. Why now? Then the family gets their first emergency in five years. There's a human sized sewer pipe that runs under their bathroom. How convenient! It also runs straight to a neighboring house. These are incredibly well placed and sized pipes.

This is in the same genre as A Quiet Place (2018) or It Comes at Night (2017), but this is just nowhere near as engaging. This fits the definition of a movie, but it lacks the underlying emotion and vision that makes a movie enjoyable. This wants to create moments, but it doesn't want to create a foundation or stakes that build to the payoff.

The Age of Innocence Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Age of Innocence (1993)

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Written by: Edith Wharton (novel "The Age of Innocence"), Jay Cocks & Martin Scorsese (screenplay)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, Richard E. Grant
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer

Plot
In 1870s high-society New York, a young lawyer falls for a woman separated from her husband while he's engaged to her cousin.

Verdict
This is a movie where I love the themes and ideas more than the movie itself. The setting alone makes this seem aloof, and that's probably as intended. It's fancy attire, ornate meals, and lots of posturing. This is New York high society at the turn of the century where everyone is more interested in appearances than substance. It's not about who you love, but who makes the best match socially to align rich families. Newland becomes engaged as the match makes social sense, but then he becomes infatuated. He can't break off his engagement lest he ruin his reputation. As much as I like the story, the movie can be slow as many of the scenes are fancy dinners. It's a lot of longing due to restrictions that are self imposed and social.
It depends.

Review
This is a window into high society of the time. Newland (Daniel Day-Lewis) becomes engaged to May (Winona Ryder) because they're a social match. It's not about passion but upholding social norms and classes. When Newland meets May's cousin Ellen (Michelle Pfeiffer), he's enthralled. He reminisces about their childhood. She's recently returned to the states, her marriage close to the end due to unfortunate circumstances of infidelity. Ellen is ostracized in this society because she doesn't try to maintain the facade of her marriage like so many others do. She's not even trying to hide what happened or making an effort to fit in.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder play Newland Archer, May Welland

If Newland gives in to desire, he besmirches not only his reputation buy May's too. He also doesn't dismiss his feelings. He tries to have it all by balancing both women. May suspects his feelings for her are performative, but Newland insists that's not true. While Ellen cares for him, she realizes what society's rules mean for their relationship whether they like it or not. They simply can't be.

Despite that, Newland argues on her behalf as he tries to get her back into the fancy parties and the high class life. I wondered if it was less to repair her reputation and more so he'd get a chance to see her more often. He's clearly infatuated, and yet he's already engaged to someone else. May continues to question his motivations for rushing into marriage. She intuits correctly. He's trying to cover.

Being a lawyer, Newland gets involved with her divorce. He points out that it's a scandal, a mark of shame in this world. While the law favors divorce, society does not.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer play Newland Archer, Ellen Olenska

Newland confesses his affection for Ellen, though it couldn't have been a surprise. She responds that she avoided divorce at his urging to thwart disgrace, now he wants her to commit to something scandalous with him. Nothing happens and Newland indeed marries May, but that doesn't curtail his thoughts about Ellen.

The setting adds the social consequences. In this world divorce can affect your entire social standing. It's not so dire in modern times. While infatuation still has consequences, Newland struggles with knowing what he should do and wanting to follow his desires. It's only when May becomes pregnant that Newland finally commits to her and raises a family. He never consummated a relationship with Ellen, though many suspected he had. Newland realized what love is. It's a commitment and devotion to a partner rather than just a collection of feelings. He was chasing desire, and desire doesn't ensure a solid relationship or fruitful life. Passion is temporary. Even May realized his commitment to her. Newland didn't break up with her, eventually committing. Ellen too, she left the country to give the marriage a chance. This entire story is desire meets obligation in high society.

Dead Man's Wire Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Dead Man's Wire (2025)

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Written by: Austin Kolodney
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, Myha'la, Cary Elwes
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis entered the office of Dick Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off shotgun and a "dead man's wire" from the trigger to Tony's own neck.

Verdict
This has a frenetic energy from the beginning. Does Tony have a legitimate grievance or is he deranged? His response isn't rationale, but he has an elaborate plan as a means to get the justice he seeks. Initially wondering the why, we begin to wonder how this will end. The cops have to be playing him, but if his hostage Dick attempts an escape things could break down quickly. It's no surprise Tony is arrested, but what happens after is even more surprising. That's all the more intriguing as this is based on a true story.
It depends.

Review
This approaches the story by treating the audience like outsiders. There's not much context. We don't know what's happened to Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård), and from the onset we're against him. Throughout the movie, it's revealed what he perceived as a slight. All we have is Tony's word, and he's not acting like a sane person.

Tony's plan is to take the president of the bank, M.L. Hall (Al Pacino) hostage. When he discovers the big boss has skipped out on their appointment to go on vacation, he takes the manager, son Dick (Dacre Montgomery), hostage instead. Dick acknowledges issues Tony had with the bank. Tony wants to make his grievances public as a means of justice. It's unclear what he has planned, but he's holding a man hostage. Dick is tied to the shotgun and that's tied to Tony.

Bill Skarsgård plays Tony Kiritsis

The cops follow Tony and Dick out of the building, but they keep their distance as the two can't be separated. They take Dick's car as Tony's is having trouble, of all the days. A reporter in the area starts recording. Part of this mystery is why Tony is doing this. He's not seeking a peaceful resolution, Tony is making a statement. It's easy to believe the bank wronged him somehow. M.L. is dismissive of the situation, despite the fact that his son is captive, which makes us like Tony more.

Then there's the question of whether Dick will try to escape. Tony isn't someone you can reason with, but they do have a moment where they connect as they talk about their childhoods.

Tony has reached a point where he's fed up and at the end of his rope. This isn't a rationale response, but he's clearly past rationale actions. Tony alleges he had prime real estate and the bank ran around him so they could make the profit on another parcel, failing to show Tony's property to buyers.

Dacre Montgomery, Bill Skarsgård plays Dick Hall, Tony Kiritsis

Tony has a list of demands to which the company agrees to meet. We know part of that is show. They want to placate him to end this situation. Even Tony's favorite radio DJ gets roped into this. Tony just wants someone to listen to him. Tony bounces between outrage at the mistreatment from the bank and elation that the radio aired his call. When the Halls apologize and he's given what he considers a fair share, he releases Dick and is then arrested. It seems like he had no idea how serious the situation was.

A quick epilogue provides the verdict in Tony's case. We only see the judgement, this doesn't cover the trial. I wonder if Tony thought justice was served after all was said and done.

SPOILERS

Spider-Noir Season 1 Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Spider-Noir (2026-)

Season 1 - 8 episodes (2026 May 27)
Watch Spider-Noir with Amazon Prime (paid link)
Created by: Oren Uziel
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
Private investigator Ben Reilly is hired on a couple of straightforward cases until mobsters, monsters, and a mysterious femme fatale spin a web that brings him face to face with his former life as New York's only superhero: The Spider.

Verdict
This show is almost more novelty than anything with the setting, the Spider-man take, and Nicolas Cage in a series. The narrative isn't all that deep. It's a hero fighting a gangster. This could definitely do more with Silver Mane, giving him more motivation and making him a more interesting character.
The web swinging, somersaulting hero we've seen in the recent movies isn't what we get here. It's a lot less action and a lot more New Yorkese accents and talking. The setting along with Cage gives this just enough intrigue to make it worth watching. Cage isn't as over the top as you might expect, but he does get a few moments to have fun.
Watch It.

Review
The series released on Prime Video in both black-and-white as well as color versions. Which one you choose is preference, with black-and-white lending itself to the feel of something older. This is Cage's first starring television role, having voiced the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). Cage stated that watching Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008) and the pacing of the series convinced him to accept a television role.

This isn't Spider-Man in the traditional sense. This is an old school detective show, and Cage certainly has fun in the role. He's not as wild as some of his roles, but he gets a few chances to play to his strengths. This has all the hallmarks of a film noir mystery with the addition of super heroes.

E3: Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly

Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage) was the super hero The Spider that protect New York. When his fiance is killed, he's grief stricken, giving up on trying to save people because he couldn't save her. He just wants to be a regular guy. It always seems like private investigators are hard luck cases.

Ben gets mixed up with club singer Cat (Li Jun Li) who hires him to find Flint Marko (Jack Huston), as well as the mayor and local crime kingpin Silver Man (Brendan Gleeson). That forces Ben to dig up his old Spider costume, demanding Silver Mane leave Ben and his secretary alone. That inadvertently saves Silver Mane's life, causing him to miss a police raid. How did the police know?

Cage has fun in this. He's more restrained that you might expect, but he does get a few changes to go wild. I did wonder how Ben gets beaten up early in the season and gets a black eye. Later in the season he's attacked with a street sign and there's no visible bruising.

E2: Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly / The Spider

Ben is hired by Silver Mane to find the rat in his organization. Ben thinks it might be Cat, but since they've grown close he wants to protect her. Then again, she hired him to find Marko, so it's complicated. Marko ends up siding with Silver Mane, and that gives the kingpin an effective intimidator as the mayor wants to stop prohibition which affects Silver Mane's business.

Ben's friend Robbie (Lamorne Morris) knows his alter-ego. Robbie tries to convince Ben to return as the Spider to no avail. A side story this season is Robbie investigating several WWI POWs that developed super human abilities. Episode five answers how they got powers. It was military testing, and there's a doctor in New York connected to all of them.

Ben gets pulled into the experiments. He may be the answer to stabilizing super powers. That episode gives Reilly a sequence for Cage to showcase what he can do. In the process he finds an antidote to being super powered.

E7: Lamorne Morris, Nicolas Cage play Robbie Robertson, Ben Reilly

Robbie urges Ben to become the Spider again and help the city. Ben has to figure out what he wants to do. He can be the hero or take an antidote and become just a regular guy. That's something he's professed to want the entire season. He drunkenly admits to his secretary that he's the Spider. She reveals that he's drunkenly revealed that many, many times.

The final episode generates a lot of tension. Silver Mane thinks Ben is the Spider, and Ben has to figure out how to throw him off with the help of his friends while also using the antidote on all of Silver Mane's super powered enforcers. Eventually there's one antidote left and Ben has to decide whether he takes it or finally embraces being the Spider.

Letting Nicolas Cage loose on television made this interesting enough to give it a try. This has plenty of twists and turns and even a few comedic moments. I wish this did more with Silver Mane. Providing him some motivation and background could provide a contrast and comparison to Ben Reilly. As presented, Silver Mane is just an undeveloped villain. This also features a lot of dutch angles, I assume that's a call out to the 2008 comics. It does enough, but I wish the story was more developed.

In Time Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

In Time (2011)

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Written by: Andrew Niccol
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Johnny Galecki, Matt Bomer
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
In a future where people stop aging at twenty-five but only get one more year of life, you can either buy time, work for it, or steal more.

Verdict
This is such a neat idea that deserves to be developed better. The further this goes, the more the plot disappointed me as it succumbed to tropes and silliness. It's not that it's bad; the movie had so much potential that it squanders. This initially examines the divide between rich and poor and how money being time makes people desperate. You literally watch your life pass before you eyes. It's another way for the rich to control the world. The system is designed to exploit the poor, but not long into the movie this resigns itself to the action genre with frequent quips about time. The protagonists rob banks to redistribute time as if those in power can't counteract that easily. It could have been so much more, and that's disappointing.
It depends.

Review
This is such a neat idea, exploring the class divide through currency. An opening narration tells us time is literally money. The poor move quickly because they see their life counting down. The rich have no worries or hurries. The rich live forever, the rest hope to save enough time to live another day. When you hit twenty-five you stop aging, but you only get one more year unless you earn more. It is strange that everyone in the movie looks some version of twenty-five.

Will (Justin Timberlake) risks what little life he has for someone spending time way too freely in a bar. This guy, Henry (Matt Bomer), is so rich he has a century of time. Will's concerned someone will kill the guy to steal it. Will protects him, and one safe Henry reveals he is one-hundred and five. Will is only twenty-eight. Henry offers time for the assistance, and WIll refuses. Why? It seems like a lot of contrivances to start the plot. Henry reveals that prices are artificially inflated so the poor die and the rich can retain their spot in the hierarchy. There's enough for everyone if the rich would share. Henry no longer wants to live. He's seen enough. He transfer his time to Will, and we know that will cause issues if people find out as that's why Will worried for Henry.

Justin Timberlake plays Will Salas

Will has all this time, but his mom dies in his arms, out of time. Bus fare prices went up and she didn't have enough. He has some vague notion of revenge, but the specifics are unclear. He doesn't know what he plans, maybe he just wants to see how the rich live in Greenwich if only for a moment.

Timekeepers, this world's police, see a poor man near a dead rich man and assume he killed him. Will gets used to the fact that he doesn't have to constantly check his arm to see how close he is to death. He's enjoying life, perhaps for the first time. Will finds himself in a casino, and it's such a contrivance that he gambles and is within two seconds of death only to win big, gaining over one thousand years.

Will gains entry to the elite rather quickly, but the rich would never imagine someone poor could infiltrate their ranks. In a matter of days, he's richer than he's ever imagined, but he doesn't have a home. He can't go back to Dayton, not with that much time on his arm. The Timekeepers realize he's in Greenwich because he's moving too quickly, like a poor person. The Timekeepers only investigate the rich, it's not all that different from reality. The rich get privilege. This explores the class divide, and it's not very subtle.

Will falls for Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried), and he frantically kidnaps her when the Timekeepers track him down. That's where this becomes more of an action move that loses the original concept. They seem to make it to Dayton way too easily. To get to Greenwich Will spent years of time and had to go through checkpoints. Did he find a back road to Dayton? Otherwise he should have been stopped at a checkpoint. Sylvia's father is incredibly wealthy, and she gets to see what it's like to live with only minutes of time on the run with Will. He demands a ransom from her father. He doesn't balk at the amount but at giving it to the poor. The system is designed by the rich to keep the poor in line.

Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake play Sylvia Weis, Will Salas

This shoe horns a story about Will's father into the plot. Timekeeper Raymond (Cillian Murphy) knew Will's dad. He was always trying to give people time and he was killed. That's a revelation to Will who thought he died. The movie doesn't do much with that, at all. There's a hoodlum in the movie that wants to kill Will for no real reason other than plot contrivance. The movie posits it as a villain that just steals time. The hoodlum just so happens to challenge Will to an arm wrestling match where Will already stated he has an advantage he learned from his dad. I'm convinced this scene is the only reason the hoodlum character exists. Will wins by letting his time almost approach zero. Somehow he beats the guy while shooting three guys simultaneously. I don't believe for a second the hoodlum wouldn't fight for all his worth. This is life and death!

Cillian Murphy plays Timekeeper Raymond Leon

What starts this movie is Henry giving Will time. You can transfer time without consent, which seems like a huge problem. That creates several credible issues the movie sidesteps. It makes murder way too easy. As desperate as people are, death would be rampant. Grab someone's arm and you can kill them. They don't refrain just because of Timekeepers. Raymond has this dogged pursuit of Will to keep the balance, but why is he beholden to the rich? He states he's been doing this a long time, and it got him out of Dayton but there had to be much more to that story, at least their should be.

Why wouldn't people rush banks with nothing to lose? Will and Sylvia go on a bank robbing spree, proving just how easy it is. It undermines the movie. There's no way a bank would be in Dayton. Either people would have already been doing this or the banks should be built like military bases. It sidesteps the complexity of what this world should be.

I wonder if this should have been a mystery. The beginning could present the question, planting this desire for the truth in Will related to his father. He uses his time to figure out the mystery, to unravel what the rich are doing. Maybe he doesn't have enough time to do that, but he at least starts the puzzle for someone else that will have to continue it. There's hopelessness in that, but it feels on point for what this is exploring. That's the way the system is designed, to ensure the poor don't have enough time to figure out the system, instead making them too focused on surviving one more day. This movie should be more depressing. Instead it concludes with Will and Sylvia robbing banks and trying to balance the scales of justice. Those in power just raise prices, negating Will and Sylvia's Robin Hood gambit. They just keep stealing time. These tactics on both sides would only escalate causing more strife. This doesn't provide a resolution.

Title Card

First Cow Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

First Cow (2019)

Rent First Cow on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Jonathan Raymond (novel "The Half-Life"), Jonathan Raymond & Kelly Reichardt (screenplay)
Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
Starring: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones, Lily Gladstone, Alia Shawkat
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
In 1820, a cook travels to Oregon where he meets a Chinese immigrant also looking to make his fortune. Soon, they team up in a dangerous scheme to steal milk from a prized local cow, the first and only in the territory.

Verdict
It's very deliberate with a slow pace that reflects the time period. Two men have nothing, hoping for just a piece of anything. We know their plan is reckless and so do they, but they hope it lasts just long enough for them to save enough to move away. The production values are great, and I love the focus and minimalism of the film. While it's not going to appeal to everyone, it has a lot of confidence. The ending manages to show nothing while telling us everything, revealing a self-assurance so few movies possess.
Watch It.

Review
This isn't a movie that's going to have a wide appeal, but it is a very good movie. The first scene opens in the present day. A woman and her dog discover two skeletons just below the the surface. We watch as she uncovers them, only hearing ambient sounds as we see shots of the river nearby. The final image is the two skeletons lying next to each other before this cuts back in time to 1820 where Cookie (John Magaro) gathers mushrooms.

Cookie is the cook for a group of trappers in the northwest. One night Cookie finds Lu (Orion Lee) in the woods on the run. Cookie agrees to help him hide. I don't know why, maybe they're both two guys out of their depth. The next morning Lu runs off.

It's slow paced, but it fits the world and time. Life was slower back then. I like how deliberate this is.

Cookie's group makes it to a fort where he runs into Lu. Cookie took care of Lu, and Lu returns the favor by giving him a place to stay. They're bonded through aiding each other, and they share their goals of going into business. Cookie wants to open a bakery while Lu wants to start a farm.

Wealthy trader Chief Factor (Toby Jone) has three cows shipped in, though two die. Cookie muses about what he could make with milk, like biscuits. Both men lament that there's no way to get ahead. How can they achieve their dreams without some kind of help? Lu begins asking Cookie specifics on milking a cow, and they form a plan. They'll milk the lone cow under the cover of night.

Cookie makes biscuits, and Lu posits they could make a lot of money by selling them at the fort since resources are scarce. At first they want milk to make themselves biscuits, then they decide to sell cakes. Greed is predictable. They're going to need more milk to make even more cakes as they're so popular. There's no way the cow's owner doesn't grow suspicious. Their scheme can only last so long before they're caught or someone figures out what they're doing. The cakes becomes so popular that Chief Factor wants one. He asks the pair to bake for an upcoming event he has. Lu states it's dangerous, but Cookie retorts that some people can't imagine anyone would steal from them. Chief Factor won't realize. Plus, the pay is sizable. Cooke grows nervous about going to Chief Factor's house, but Lu tells them they must take what they can get. They have California dreams, and that takes money.

John Magaro, Orion Lee play Cookie, Lu

Their plot is discovered by accident, and they flee before apprehension though they leave their supplies. Chief Factor has his ideas on the culprits. Cookie and Lu's scheme fell apart so quickly. They're on the run and separated, but I appreciate both of them go back to their shack looking for the other.

The way this ends is so amazing. They're running from Chief Factor and his friends. Cookie lies down, exhausted and likely dazed by an earlier head injury. Lu lies down next to him and tells him he'll keep watch. We know they're being tracked. They shouldn't stop. We also saw the bodies found in the present day to open the movie. We may not know the exact details of what happened, but we know enough to guess. I love an ending that provides all the information but doesn't need to explain it all. It threads the needle on what to show and tell. A lesser movie would have shown us everything, but this movie is confident we'll know what happened and that our imaginations can spin a story bigger than anything this could show us.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Watch the trailer
Written by: Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni & Noah Kloor (written by), George Lucas (based on characters created by)
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder Jonny Coyne, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White
Rated: PG-13

Plot
Once a lone bounty hunter, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure.

Verdict
This does what you would expect from a Mandalorian movie. Unfortunately it feels more like a longer episode than a groundbreaking adventure. It's a solid action movie with the Mandalorian on yet another mission that keeps getting more complicated as he helps the rebels. This does have a sequence in the second half that all but stops the pacing, and part of that is that it's led by Grogu whose limitations as a character prevent him from leading a movie. We're also introduced to a new side character, a Hutt no less, that gets enough development to make them somewhat interesting. I enjoyed this, but it lacks any 'big' moments, feeling more small screen than big.
Watch It.

Review
A follow-up to the The Mandalorian (2019) series that helped launch the Disney+ streaming service, a fourth season was planned before the story was decided to be reformatted as a feature film. There is no plan to continue the series.

You don't need to have seen the series to watch this movie, though it does provide a lot of background. Similarly, this doesn't provide any closure or end the series in a meaningful way. It's just another adventure.

This opens with an ally of the Imperial totalitarian regime shaking down several town leaders. The Mandalorian, Mando (Pedro Pascal), cuts the meeting short, taking out soldiers en route to the Imperialist. Grogu is in tow because why not, his name is in the title. The Imperialist flees as Mando takes down AT-ATs en route. He's intent on taking out any threat to the rebels, working with them to end the Empire's threats.

Pedro Pascal plays The Mandalorian

Mando's next mission is to find a mysterious Imperial leader known only as Coin. With no leads, the rebels make a deal with the Hutts. Mando refuses, but the rebel general states he's working for the rebels, not the Hutts. That's splitting hairs, but it's good enough for Mando. The Hutts are the siblings of Jabba the Hutt who appeared in Star Wars Episode VI (1983). They want Mando to rescue their nephew. In return, they'll provide information on Coin.

The nephew, Rotta, isn't really imprisoned. He has an agreement as a gladiator as a means to distance himself from his father Jabba and make his own name. It does seem like a joke to have a ripped Hutt, especially in comparison to Jabba. Mando has to save someone that doesn't want to be saved. That ends up with Mando being imprisoned and forced to fight in the arena with Rotta. Of course Mando manages to win and free Rotta. By accident Rotta reveals Coin's identity, unaware that was who Mando sought.

Mando breaks his deal with the Hutts to help Rotta. The Hutts aren't as good as they seemed, which isn't a shock. While the rebels are concerned Mando broke the deal which reflects on them and the relationship they've built with the Hutts, they'd rather be on Mando's good side. The Hutts aren't as forgiving. Mando is captured and delivered to the Hutts who remove his helmet as a means of humiliating him. Part of the Mandalorian creed is that enemies should never see your face. Mando sardonically states that it's only a dishonor if he allows them to live. They laugh, sending him to his death, but we know killing the Mandalorian isn't so easy.

Grogu

Meanwhile Grogu enlisted Mando's mechanics to save his guardian. Their timing is impeccable as Mando needs time to recover, on the brink of death. With Mando incapacitated, the Grogu section drags. That's unfortunately emphasized with how fast paced the rest of the movie has been. I wondered if the movie would have Mando succumb to his wounds. It would have been a bold choice, but the longer the sequence continued, the more certain I became that he would recover. I suppose this wanted to devote screen time to Grogu, but the plot all but stands still. Grogu is great as a side character, but he can't lead a movie.

Realizing the Hutts will never stop hunting him and the fact that he's not one to run, Mando plans to kill the Hutts. It's a big flashy battle with Grogu even pitching in, but we knew how it would end as soon as the gambit began. The Mandalorian and Grogu ride off into the sunset, having defeated all of their enemies. It's more of the same, and the only reason I could think to convert this from a season to a movie is money.

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The Odyssey Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Odyssey (2026)

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Written by: Christopher Nolan (written for the screen by), Homer (based on "The Odyssey" by)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

Verdict
This is a historical epic that lives up to that grand title. It's exhilarating. Of course, watching it on an IMAX screen accentuates that. The trials of Odysseus are harrowing. After the horrors of war, he only wants to ensure his men return home. He's as eager as they are. What befalls them is death at every step by monsters, giants, and even a trip through Hades. The production value is unparalleled as this always feels authentic, though for understandable reasons this doesn't try to match the ancient speech, taking a contemporary approach. Odysseus's tribulations are the foundation for his thrilling final feat of securing his son's safety as he finally returns home.
Watch It.

Review
This is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX cameras. Before this the cameras were so loud that it made recording audible dialog impossible. Nolan wanted to film entirely with IMAX cameras, so the company creates equipment boxes to quiet the cameras.

Odysseus's (Matt Damon) plight through the movie sets up the final act when he finally returns home and must save his family; his son from jealous suitors and his wife from those same men. In turn Odysseus must embrace what haunts him. He regrets Troy. His Trojan Horse is the reason they took Troy, but he broke Zeus's law of hospitality. He took the city through a trick that appeared to be a peace offering. The deception haunts him, and he can't separate himself from it as violating that law is also the key to saving his wife and son, though it will result either in his death or exile if he somehow survives.

Matt Damon plays Odysseus

It took a minute for the movie to get it's footing as it bounced between Odysseus having visions of Athena (Zendaya) and then his time with Calypso (Charlize Theron). He can't remember his past. Meanwhile, we see his grown son in Ithaca where the island needs a king, with only a few of them still hoping for Odysseus to return. I assumed the movie would start closer to Odysseus's hardships.

His son Telemachus (Tom Holland) still believes his father will return while various suitors vie for his mother Penelope's (Anne Hathaway) attention. The many suitors remain feasting in the castle per the law of Zeus. Guests and strangers must receive hospitality. Tired of hosting these threats, Telemachus is desperate for proof his father survived, traveling to Sparta. That's where he hears the story about the Trojan Horse, and his father the hero.

Tom Holland plays Telemachus

Calypso encourages Odysseus to remember his past. He begins to remember his men and their trials, but he can't recall if he had a wife or child. His men left Troy, opting for a more direct route home. In trying to return to Ithaca quicker, it sets him on a course that would keep him away decades. Each obstacle leaves men dead, soldiers he vowed to bring home. They first encounter a cyclops while searching for provisions, and they believe that encounter brought bad luck on the seas. Another island leads to an encounter with giants that sends them running back to their boats. On the next landing, the men want Odysseus to stay back, believing he's in part to blame for their bad luck. That doesn't change their result, but it is Odysseus that manages to save them. In turn Odysseus is informed he must go to Hades before he gets home. He gets a message that despite his attempts, he's the only one that will survive. They encounter sirens and monsters before landing on another island, finally out of supplies. Despite all of his attempts, Odysseus is the only one that survives. Calypso finds him and spends years with him, helping him forget. She accuses him of not wanting to go back, and while we don't understand it at that point, seeing the battle of Troy from Odysseus's perspective.

Robert Pattinson plays Antinous

Odysseus's regrets the Trojan Horse. It was an affront, tricking their enemies through a peace offering. It's only towards the end that we learn about his disdain over the war, a war he didn't even want to join. You don't refuse the king. All of the death in Troy is part of why he fought so hard to keep his men alive. He finally makes it back to Ithaca, hiding his identity as he gets the lay of the land. He first visits his faithful advisor, Eumaeus (John Leguizamo). That's where he discovers Telemachus is in trouble. The most villainous of the suitors, Antinous (Robert Pattinson), plans to remove his competition for the throne, Telemachus. Odysseus saves him, but even in that encounter we see this rift between wanting to honor the dead while staying alive. Telemachus is shocked Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, plans to leave the dead as they lay. Odysseus made every effort to keep his men alive, and it didn't matter.

Returning to Ithaca, and this is where the foundation this movie has created pays off, Odysseus devises a plan to get rid of the suitors and allow his son to take the throne. We know who he is, eagerly anticipating that reveal to those closest to him. The suitors must die, and while that means breaking Zeus's primary law of hospitality, it's nothing he hasn't done before. This is the dichotomy. Greece sees him as the legendary hero of Troy, he believes he violated the law of hospitality. Odysseus plans to take out all of the suitors while winning his wife Penelope's challenge for her next husband. She challenges all of them to string Odysseus's bow. None of the suitors can, and they regard Odysseus, still appearing as a beggar, like some kind of joke. Even as a nobody, hospitality dictates he gets a seat at the table. You never know when a god could be disguised as a beggar. He strings the bow, and then begins firing arrows at everyone It's quite the fight, but by undertaking this Odysseus also seals his fate. The home he endured so much trouble to set foot on again, he only experiences it briefly. Odysseus does ensure a place for his son and finally reaches his wife.

Despite the length this doesn't feel long. Especially on the big screen this seems larger than life, and every monster encounter becomes an intense adventure. I don't think I'm biased by the size and scale of my experience. This movie is a journey, both across the world and the mental journey for Odysseus. He must confront his deeds while focusing on the future. Odysseus's return home is bittersweet as his plan to save his son means violating the law of hospitality that has fueled his regret. Everyone sees him as the hero of Troy, but he doesn't buy into it.

Heaven's Gate Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Heaven's Gate (1980)

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Written by: Michael Cimino
Directed by: Michael Cimino
Starring: Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Brad Dourif, Isabelle Huppert, Joseph Cotton, Jeff Bridges
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.

Verdict
It's not the worst movie I've ever seen, but I'm sure at the time it was the biggest disappointment based on the pedigree of those involved. This movie is so boring, the story is muddled and unclear, and it's incredibly indulgent. We don't get into the main plot until the two hour mark. No new director would get this kind of freedom, and because of this movie no future director would get this kind of leeway. I began this movie impressed at the ambitiousness, but I became annoyed with the lack of story progress or goals. In the last third I was just hoping this would end soon. This goads you into complete apathy which later became irritation as I was mad the movie hadn't concluded. I knew I was in trouble when I realized the first twenty minutes could have been cut with no effect whatsoever on the story.
Skip it.

Review
It's been called one of the worst films ever, though that's more to do with how expensive it was versus how little money it made as well as poor reviews. The movie was plagued by bad press alluding to cost over runs, re-shoots, and Cimino's authoritative management style. Cimino had an expensive and ambitious vision for the film, going four times over the planned budget. That was in part due to his obsessiveness for details that created countless delays. This movie alone is credited with the end of director driven films, with studios taking creative control. The original release of the movie received such backlash that the studio cut it down by one hour and re-released it. Cimino's script was rejected three times before his Oscar wins for The Deer Hunter (1978) gave him enough credibility to push this forward. The original cut was over five hours long, and the studio told him no. Cimino cut it down to three hours and forty minutes before the ultimate release, edited by the studio clocked in at two hours thirty minutes. The version I watched was three hours plus.

This is long and it feels like it. I get why people were disappointed. The production is impressive at least. It creates a busy and vibrant town unlike any I've seen, but the pacing of the movie is terrible.

The endless Harvard graduation scene that opens the movie feels like an indulgence. We get no indication why these two guys that keep getting closeups are important. There's also a girl. Does this have any relevance to the plot? Initially that seemed like a no, and ultimately it's a no as well. I don't know why the scene was included.

Kris Kristofferson plays Averill

Twenty years later, immigrants travel to a new town. Averill (Kris Kristofferson), a marshal now, stops over in Wyoming. We quickly get a sense of Averill when he steps in to stop a man from beating on someone. New, poor immigrants conflict with the settlement's wealthier ranchers that hold all the power. The ranchers, led by Canton (Sam Waterston), want to run off anyone new, and violence isn't out of the question. It's an age old tale, the rich want to get rid of the poor. Averill isn't a fan, and that was easy to guess earlier when he stopped a fight.

The production design and scale impresses. This settlement is full of people and it looks legitimate. I'm not sure I've ever seen a turn of the century town look so busy. Horses and buggy's roll through non-stop. It's almost too busy as the sound and motion overshadows conversations. Part of the excess is wanting to show what life was like in a frontier town. This does that as we see the mundane of the streets and dancing.

Averill and Nate Champion (Christopher Walken) are interested in the same woman, not that it amounts to much. Champion is a hired gun for the ranchers, enacting their brand of justice.

Christopher Walken plays Nate Champion

Everything in this movie is long and drawn out. It's a complete indulgence that it even got made, and that's only because Cimino won an Oscar. He couldn't get this made until he had more industry clout. There's a reason this was rejected, and everyone found out why.

Averill discovers the ranchers plan to murder all the immigrants. He heads to the city to inform the people. That happens at two hours into the movie, and that's the main plot. How is this scene not earlier to set the plot for the movie? What have we been doing for the last two hours? Canton and his posse upset Champion who attacks them out of revenge. Canton can't let that go.

Canton and the ranchers attack Averill and the immigrants, it's not as one sided as it could have been. The U.S. Army steps in to stop the fight, but that's more to save face for the wealthy.

This movie is painfully slow. It's indulgent and the pacing is so poor it's annoying. I reached a point where I actively hated the movie for being so long because this is intentional. Movies create a world in the service of telling a story. Cimino created a playground with the movie seemingly being an accidental result.

The Thursday Murder Club Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sun, 2 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Thursday Murder Club (2025)

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Written by: Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote (screenplay), Richard Osman (book)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Richard E. Grant
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.

Verdict
It's a murder mystery with more than a few twists as retirees try to save their home and find a killer at the same time. It has it's cute moments as almost everyone underestimates the group due to their age. That leads to more than a few scenes of triumph. This at least provided all the pieces where you might could make a guess as to who did what, some mystery movies don't even provide that, but this never felt cinematic. It does just enough, but it doesn't have the intention to do anything more. Everything that happens his subdued.
It depends.

Review
A group of retirees, Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), investigate cold cases in their spare time at the retirement home. Their first case is the death of a woman whom her boyfriend claimed happened at the hands of an attacker. I wondered if it was a clue when they mentioned the boyfriend ran after the attacker, and they later state he was former military discharged for a knee injury. Is that an indication his story about running after the culprit is false or did the movie miss a detail?

Ben Kingley, Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, Pierce Brosnan play Ibrahim, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron

Joyce (Celia Imrie) is a new member, and the group is quick to welcome her as a former nurse that can aid their investigations with her insight.

It's clear Ventham (David Tennant) is the villain with his sunglasses, expensive car, and over dressing. He's co-owner of the home and wants to sell it. His partner doesn't and then ends up dead. The Thursday Murder Club is ready to begin. Ventham is the main suspect with plenty of motive, but that doesn't last long. A third, unnamed partner is discovered, Bobby Tanner (Richard E. Grant). He's a gangster that's disappeared, and he has connections to Ron's son.

Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Naomie Ackie, Ben Kingley, Helen Mirren, play
Ron, Joyce, Donna, Ibrahim, Elizabeth

The Club recruits police constable Donna (Naomi Ackie) by managing to get her assigned to the case. They share information back and forth as the Club is quite adept. It seems Elizabeth may have ties to MI5 or a similar spy organization. She's able to pull a lot of strings to make thing happen. Eventually she manages to put enough pieces together to figure it out. That ties into the cold case we first saw, and Joyce becomes an official member of the Thursday Murder Club.

This isn't bad, but it never had the feel of a movie. It feels smaller, like a television show. The movie at least feels like all the pieces were present. Many modern mysteries feel like they purposely obscure the clues just to throw you off. Intentional or not, I figured this out just ahead of when the movie reveals it. Even then, there's still more to solve. Don't forget about the cold case at the beginning of the movie.

It's Such a Beautiful Day Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 02:00:00 -0400

It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

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Written by: Don Hertzfeldt
Directed by: Don Hertzfeldt
Starring: Sara Cushman, Don Hertzfeldt
Rated: NR [PG-13]
Watch the trailer

Plot
In this animated film that compiles Hertzfeldt's three short films, a series of dark and troubling events force Bill to consider the meaning of his life.

Verdict
The simplicity of the animation is exceeded by the depth of introspection. Bill deals with the mundanity of life, intrusive thoughts, as well as daily anxieties, and there's something so relatable and human about that. The animation obscures a dark humor that explores death and sickness as Bill eventually develops a serious illness. From there Bill focuses on the small things with the animation accentuating that. It's a touching conclusion that's surprisingly hopeful. I appreciate the non-conformity from animation to story. This is little more than a sketch, but this has such a deep narrative. The medium works rather well for that.
Watch It.

Review
The animation is incredibly simplistic, which sets it apart from other animated movies. This follows Bill in his daily life, and it's almost mundane, but there's also something about the narration and Bill's thoughts that's so very human and relatable.

This is also dark as Bill develops an illness. He gets good news that he'll survive, but his recovery seems like a burden to others.

The animation makes some things funnier, like a kid with a weird foot or a kid with a skin condition. That humor is always at the expense of someone else. That's true for a lot of the movie. There's also absurdist humor. He's told his mother died after a fit of senile hysterics. Then she was hit by a train.

It's a compilation of anxiety, concern, and random intrusive thoughts. Bill, like many of us, worries about the small things that don't matter. This is so simple in all respects, but it captures life: the fears, mundanity, and the comedy of life. The minimalism forces you to focus on the narration and story.

Later in the movie, Bill wrestles with existentialism. What does it mean? With everything he's experienced, we witness his neurological issues manifest as he has issues with his memory. He can't remember what's happening which causes several related issues.

Just as we think Bill's story nears a close, the narrator describes something different. It's a touching ending for a movie that's so atypical. While that sets it apart, this movie delivers.

Title Card

Alien: Resurrection Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

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Written by: Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett (based on characters created by), Joss Whedon (written by)
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Michael Wincott, Dan Hedaya, Brad Dourif, Raymond Cruz, Leland Orser
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Two centuries after her death, a powerful human/alien hybrid clone of Ellen Ripley aids a crew of space pirates in stopping the aliens from reaching Earth.

Verdict
It's a solid action movie, but it lacks the world building of other movies in the franchise. This is the same dance we've seen before as scientists bring back aliens only to realize they underestimated them the moment before they escape. The aliens wreak havoc. Ripley isn't really Ripley which is a fun departure, but the ending is too much. Part of this franchise is that aliens are scary because we don't see much of them. The design of the 'new' alien just isn't very good which doesn't help. It exists as a contrivance. A better ending would have helped this. It's an attempt at depth that falls flat.
It depends.

Review
The Alien franchise is such a great idea because of the simplicity. A monster only wants to kill and reproduce, and it has such a great design from the xenomorph to the face huggers.

The reason these movies keep happening, in this world, is that wealthy corporations want the alien for biomedical research. Greed will always trump the good sense of eliminating the alien threat completely. I'm not surprised that some c-suite executive thinks, this time it will be different. That or they just don't care who they put in danger.

This relies on Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) yet again. While she's the star of the franchise, this movie feels like it's stretching to keep her. I like that this isn't really Ripley, but a clone. Scientists cloned her to extract the alien inside of her from the third movie and start a tale of death and destruction all over again. It gives the actor freedom to be a much more menacing character. That had to be fun for Weaver, playing more of a villain.

Sigourney Weaver plays Ripley

If creating an alien wasn't bad enough, this science vessel is also paying mercenaries to kidnap people so they can experiment on them. One of the mercenaries challenges Ripley, and that gives us a chance to see that she's more than human. One of the mercenaries, Call (Winona Ryder), recognizes Ripley's name, but that's a plot contrivance. She could be any number of Ripleys in the two-hundred years since Ripley died. Call plans to kill Ripley, though I'm not sure it would do any good. That and Call is too late as the alien has already been harvested and duplicated. That leads to a fight between the mercenaries and military on the ship.

The aliens escape, because of course they do. The scientists created multiple aliens, and the creatures realize their blood is acidic and killing one of their own will grant them escape. This movie is more action with less world building. It's gets a little too cute at times, with a guy using his chest burster as a weapon. Then there's a ricochet bullet technique used twice. I would have granted the movie using it once or at least changing it up a bit.

Winona Ryder, Raymond Cruz, Kim Flowers, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Sigourney Weaver, Leland Orser play Call, Distephano, Hillard, Johner, Christie, Ripley, Purvis

Where this really stumbles is the new alien hybrid. I like a Ripley that has somehow been augmented, the alien changes are interesting but not welcome. The alien queen doesn't lay eggs, instead birthing an alien hybrid whole. All that does is make for an easy defeat. The movie wants it to be emotional between Ripley and the alien, positioning her as the mother. It's another plot contrivance masquerading as depth. A better ending would have helped this. It's just not very engaging.

I like this slightly better than Alien 3. While that built an interesting world, it failed to develop a credible action movie with the conclusion becoming muddled. This movie achieves the action, but there isn't much depth. Still, this ending is worse than 3. The alien hybrid ruins the creature's mystique. It exists to force an emotional moment for Ripley that never develops. That and the creature looks comical. It doesn't have the menacing edge of the original xenomorph The movie would have done better to make it look more normal or just abandon the alien hybrid idea. It's just not a good design, and that's where the credibility of the movie wanes.

Song of the Sea Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Song of the Sea (2014)

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Written by: Will Collins (screenplay by), Tomm Moore (based on an original story by)
Directed by: Tomm Moore
Starring: David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Lisa Hannigan
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer

Plot
Ben, a young Irish boy and his little sister, Saoirse, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the fairies and save the spirit world.

Verdict
It's a fairy tale full of magic and creatures. It's fun, built on a well plotted tale of family, grief, and love. You can't help but like this as it's so endearing. Ben overcomes the resentment of his sister to save her from a witch, but the witch is grieving her own son. While her actions are harmful, it's not out of malice which gives us sympathy for all the characters. On top of that the art style is fantastic, reinforcing the nature of the fairy tale.
Watch It.

Review
This is part of Tomm Moore's Irish Folklore Trilogy, consisting of The Secret of Kells (2009) and Wolfwalkers (2020).

A young boy, Ben, and his mute younger sister Saoirse, live with their father in a lighthouse. Ben resents his younger sister for the attention she receives from their father, and he blames her for their mother's disappearance.

The stories of the trilogies are based on folklore and the animation style lends itself to that aesthetic as it mixes hand drawn and computer generated animation to add depth. It looks great, and it feels like watching a story book. It also doesn't look like any other contemporary animations.

Ben

Saoirse finds a key and subsequently a chest that contains a seal skin coat. It turns her into a seal, but I wasn't sure if it was the coat alone or the coat along with a preternatural aspect of Saoirse. Apparently, after researching the answers, Saoirse has the power and the coat helps her unlock it. Saoirse swims in the sea with the seals, but when she returns to shore, her father takes the coat, locks it up, and throws the chest in the sea. With that reaction, he knows what's going on. Was his wife also a selkie, a mythological creature that can shapeshift between seal and human?

Saoirse and Ben

Their grandmother takes them to her home in the city, stating a lighthouse is no place to raise children. The kids don't like it, and Ben endeavors to get back to his home and dog. Saoirse joins him, but she's captured by what are basically elves. They think Saoirse can help them with her selkie song. Ben and Saoirse end up on quite the adventure. Ben must save his sister from a witch, but we learn that the witch isn't directly malevolent. She wants to spare others from sorrow and grief. Her method is the problem, as her solution is to remove all emotions. She can't face her grief, turning others to stone to prevent any future suffering. What she's done isn't right, but we at last understand the why. That makes her a powerful character. She's misplaced her grief and has a misguided endeavor to save others.

Ben saves his sister and the witch. In turn Saoirse manages to save all the magical creatures that had been under the witches spell. All three movies in the trilogy are fairy tales brought to the screen. The art style builds on that. It's a simple story with a lot of depth, and an endearing art style.

Kiss Me Deadly Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Buy Kiss Me Deadly on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Mickey Spillane (novel "Kiss Me, Deadly"), A.I. Bezzerides (screenplay)
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
Starring: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Maxine Cooper
Rated: Approved [PG]
Watch the trailer

Plot
A doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue, revolving around a mysterious "great whatsit".

Verdict
While it's mostly a standard detective movie, with Mike Hammer chasing down clues trying to figure out what has so many people agitated, this is much modern than contemporary movies of the time. A big factor is the object, a macguffin, that drives the story and that reveal is wild. This is a conclusion that makes the rest of the movie better, just because it's so unexpected. That's accentuated because the movie is seventy years old. We don't learn what's in the box, but we know it's mighty powerful. I like the mystery and the danger. We don't know the contents, but we see it can kill.
Watch It.

Review
Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) picks up a distressed woman on the side of the road. It turns out she escaped from a psychiatric hospital, but the cops aren't the only ones looking for her. We don't see it, but they detain Mike and Christina (Cloris Leachman) before trying to kill them. What's going on?

The cops question Mike about Christina after he's released from the hospital, but he does know anything. While he's a private investigator, it was just a coincidence he met her. The cops aren't so sure. When Mike gets home, he's being surveilled. Is is the thugs that tried to kill him or the cops?

Ralph Meeker plays Mike Hammer

Mike's assistant and romantic partner Velda (Maxine Cooper) gets him a lead, well Diker leaves a message about Christina. Mike wants to know why this woman generated so much interest. She must be part of something big, and Mike wants to know more. Diker sends Mike to Christina's last address which leads him to her roommate. The clues lead Mike to the local crime boss, Evello. Mike's on this quest to find what's at the heart of the matter, as he states, "the great whatsit."

All of this running around only proves that people are interested. Mike's warned off the case, but we knew he wasn't going to stop. Everyone is after something, but what? Mike's even kidnapped, but he escapes. If Mike had gone to the coroner first, that would have saved him a lot of trouble. The coroner found a key during his examination.

Gaby Rodgers plays Lily

Mike finds this box that's warm to the touch. He cracks it open and a blinding light escapes. At that point he doesn't try to see what's in the box. He knows enough, and leaves it there. I've never seen an older movie introduce something so fantastical. It's not dissimilar from Pulp Fiction (1994), where the characters are after a suitcase, but we never see what's in it. The antagonists, having followed Mike, take the box. The only character that dares to look inside the box catches fire as crazy sounds and a bright light emits.

This isn't the same old detective movie. The macguffin makes it feel very modern. All of the violence and backstabbing, and we never know what people are after. We can only assume, based on off-handed remarks, that it could be something radioactive. Mike manages to escape, but he's none the wiser.

The Bride! Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Bride! (2026)

Rent The Bride! on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Maggie Gyllenhaal (written by), Mary Shelley (characters, uncredited)
Directed by: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change.

Verdict
It's a movie with several ideas that just needs focus. I was never sure what this movie was trying to do. Initially, it's about a man that's lonely. He finds a bride, and then they become some kind of Bonnie and Clyde send up. The movie charges every scene with a frenetic energy, but there's no direction or anything that holds these scenes together. I kept wondering, what does this want to do? What's the goal of each new idea? At one point this seems like it wants to explore a feminist revolution, but that like everything else in this movie isn't developed.
Skip it.

Review
Does this want to be Poor Things (2023), focusing on the misogyny of the time while adding a bit of Joker from Suicide Squad (2016)? It shares similarities, but I was never sure of this movie's goal.

The first scene introduces Mary Shelley (Jessie Buckley) and her novel Frankenstein. She died before she could tell the story she desired to release. Shelley ends up possessing Ida (Jessie Buckley), horrifying everyone else in the restaurant with her new accent as she spills secrets. It's certainly an introduction, strong in a way I wasn't sure what it would mean for the movie. If Shelley wants to possess someone to tell her story, it seems ill conceived to agitate powerful people and get beaten up. It's jarring, but I guess that's the point. I assumed Shelley wanted to write her next story, but the person she possesses becomes the story.

Jessie Buckley plays Ida / Penelope

Frankenstein, having named himself Frank (Christian Bale) after his father, beseeches Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening) to create a mate. He's lonely, having lived for over a century. The body the two unearth just happens to be the woman possessed by Shelley, Ida. It's quite the coincidence. The possession isn't constant, and you know when Ida is being possessed as she spouts rhyming words and caustic insults. To be revived and possessed; that's some bad luck.

Frank has a partner, but she's not quite what he expected. Her fits of possession are interesting, but what is this movie about and where is it going? The Frankenstein story focuses on considering people for more than how they appear, realizing that even someone that looks like a monster can be kind. This movie is a strange romp. It's a monster movie send up with a weird twist. Frankenstein is concerned about being discovered and the city realizing what he is and in turn trying to kill him. Ida, now calling herself Penelope, doesn't care. In a way she's freed by the bounds of society, but that doesn't seem like what the movie wants to explore.

Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley play Frank, Ida / Penelope

Frank just so happens to meet his acting hero, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal). As unlikely as that is, this turns into a dance number replete with lighting and backup dancers. I don't know how, and I don't know what this is. This is about the bride's agency, but she also empowers Frank. He's been hiding since the beginning, but now he walks among others with a freedom. He introduced himself to Ronnie, something he wouldn't have done before Penelope.

Frank gets her name tattooed across his chest. It's almost like a Joker and Harley Quinn relationship. This has a lot of energy, but I don't think the movie has a destination. They're like a Bonnie and Clyde, having killed a cop and on the run. The movie tries to shock to conceal that this is an idea without elaboration. The bride also has a connection to detective Jake Wiles (Peter Sarsgaard) who is chasing her. It's contrived.

The bride's distinct look, the stain of silver on her face is being imitated. I don't know why. She killed a cop. If she had done something revolutionary at the time, like standing up for her rights, I could understand that. It isn't what happened, and I don't know why people are imitating her.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessie Buckley play Ronnie Reed, Ida / Penelope

We get this Romeo and Juliet conclusion where Jake's partner Myrna Malloy (Penélope Cruz) reveals she's a detective when she earlier stated she wasn't. Why the subterfuge? Just so she can get the cheesy line stating she is the detective near the end? What is the point of anything in this movie?

The feminist revolution idea had potential. That could have been powerful if Penelope had done something to warrant a revolution, other than shooting a cop. This is full of threads that end up meaning nothing. You could delete the connection to the detective and even the Shelley possession. It should have focused on how Penelope freed not only Frank from his social imprisonment but women treated as secondary citizens. Ultimately I don't know if the movie tried to do too much or just had no idea what ideas to develop.

Cross Season 2 Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Cross (2024-)

Season 2 - 8 episodes (2026)
Rent Cross on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Created by: Ben Watkins
Based on: Alex Cross by James Patterson
Starring: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Jeanine Mason, Wes Chatham, Johnny Ray Gill , Matthew Lilliard
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
Alex Cross is a complicated and brilliant Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist.

In the second season, Cross and FBI agent Kayla Craig track a ruthless vigilante named Luz who is systematically executing corrupt, ultra-wealthy billionaires involved in human and child trafficking rings.

Verdict
This is such an engrossing series. This season is especially relevant, focusing on the rich and powerful getting away with numerous crimes on their way to the top. The law can't and won't stop them. Initially, Cross is trying to stop a vigilante, but we soon see that street justice pales in comparison to what the CEO of a food processing company has done. Of course Alex Cross is at the center of it, threading the line of doing his duty and what's right. Justice isn't always easy. I like this season more than the first due to the focus. A rich CEO killing thousands of poor people isn't a problem; a poor person killing one rich CEO is a big deal. That's what this season explores.
Watch It.

Review
James Patterson's book series spans thirty-three novels at this point with three movie adaptations. This series isn't based on any one book, but taking elements from all of them.

In season 1, Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge) is a cop, psychologist, pianist, and he's grieving his wife. The investigation driving the first season is the death of a political activist. The police chief wants to write it off, but Cross is certain it's the work of a serial killer whose motivation is to make his victims look like notorious convicted killers. Simultaneously, someone is breaking into Cross's home. Is all of it related? The home invasion sub-plot stretches credibility as the culprit continues to torture Cross with increasingly complicated methods.
Cross meets the mugshot killer half way into the season, and that's intense. Of course Cross eventually stops him while also framing someone else for the crimes so the killer gets none of the credit he desperately desired.

E1: Aldis Hodge plays Alex Cross

Season two has everything I liked about the first season and and an even better plot, beginning with a topical murder case involving the rich and elite. It's probably more fact than faction. You don't get to the top without casualties. Another rich CEO has been threatened as the next target, Lance Durand (Matthew Lillard). Durand is incredibly smug. He wants to change the world and end hunger, having developed a resilient seed that will grow anywhere. He ignores the crimes he's committed to get to the top that are antithetical to the mission he's now preaching. The versatile and charming Alex Cross, along with FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal) are tasked with finding the person after Durand.

Our first introduction to Cross this season has him speaking at a commencement ceremony, telling the police cadets he represents the best and worst of them. He's received many accommodations, but he also beat an innocent man while on the job. It's a difficult career that requires your best every day. You can't put it on pause.

In the first episode Lux (Jeanine Mason) and Donnie (Wes Chatham) kill a man involved in a sex trafficking ring, freeing the women in the process. In episode two, their complex plan involves gaining access to a safe deposit box. We're not quite sure on the plan's specifics until it's happening. They're on a quest for vengeance, but the details aren't revealed until later. We think Lux is using an innocent couple to gain access to the bank, but there's more to that story.

E3: Wes Chatham, Jeanine Mason play Donnie, Luz

Cross discovers Durand is lying to them. He was sent a warning and claimed to know nothing about it. He did but decided to waste their time and try to hide his misdeeds. Cross is tracking "John Ramos" as a potential suspect in Durand's case, but this early in the season that has to be misdirection.

Elle (Samantha Walkes) broke up with Cross in the first season, but she still attends family brunches and leads him on only to say she can't be involved in his life due to the inherent danger of chasing killers. Either she's in or not, and she's trying to have it both ways. Meanwhile Kayla is mixed up in some kind of former military operation, Operation Bad Religion. To cover up her involvement she releases Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gil) to get answers and erase any trace of her connections. He's a wildcard and a fun character.

In episode three, Cross has found "John Ramos", but a DHS agent makes a mess of that. It seems just a bit suspect. Luz and "Ramos" are after Durand's company Crestbrook. "Ramos" tried to use the courts to hold Durand accountable for the crimes, but after finding Luz, he believes her vigilante justice is the only answer. While Durand claims to be solving world hunger, he's using illegal workers and even children so he can pay them next to nothing while they die in unsafe conditions. It's not just about solving a crisis, Durand wants to get rich in the process. He's got people in all levels of government working for him and helping him conceal crimes.

E4: Aldis Hodge, Alona Tal play Alex Cross, Kayla Craig

As details emerge about Crestbrook, Durand tries hard to spin. He claims while he had no idea illegal workers were employed, which is a complete joke, he also wants to take full responsibility by side stepping the issue. It sounds too close to reality unfortunately. Durand uses the press to tout his new Prosperity Seed and the need for it. Illegal workers came to America because of hunger, and he can fix that. Durand is so arrogant, unlikable, and despicable. Alex Cross tells Durand he'll do his job and find the person trying to kill him, but after that Cross is coming for Durand. Even Cross understand why Luz has it out for Durand. He's defending his actions as a mission to save the world, but he's destroying communities to reach that point.

It seems the argument Cross and Elle had about her not wanting to be with him but wanting to be part of his family was contrived so we could get this moment later in the season when Cross's daughter doesn't understand why Elle is rejecting Cross.

The core of this season is that rich people lie, cheat, and steal to gain power and money. Many times that's under the guise of something noble like Durand's quest to solve hunger. This isn't an isolated event. They protect each other, and CEOs have to be ruthless to get to and then stay at the top. They conquer the weak. What's chilling is that what this season portrays is closer to reality than we'd like to believe. Luz wants Durand to answer for the people he's killed.

In the final episode, the FBI want to cover up Durand's crimes and protect his Prosperity Seed as a means to boost America's image and in essence let him go without consequences. When the FBI asks Cross to turn over the proof of Durand's crimes, you know they're going to delete it. The rich don't face consequences, and Lux's vigilante justice is the only way to make that happen. Otherwise they're protected by other rich and important people. Working together nets them more power, money, and influence. Durand has the FBI working for him.

E8: Matthew Lilliard plays Lance Durand

Alex can't let this miscarriage of justice happen. He takes the evidence and runs while the FBI try to stop him from revealing the truth. Alex manages to release the truth in a way that absolves him of the FBI's trumped up charges against him. This season shows why it's so difficult to force powerful people to face justice. Their reach is enormous. Not many cops would sacrifice their entire lives to bring someone like Durand down. The consequences and repercussions are just too great. It's easier to ride the wealthy's coat tails and accept a bribe. Doing the right thing is incredibly difficult. There are more people covering up than exposing the truth. The odds are never in favor of the truth coming out as there is always someone willing to take a paycheck and do whatever is required.

While Cross gets to ride off into the sunset, it's not quite like I expected. I look forward to next season which has already been confirmed.

Gigi Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Gigi (1958)

Rent Gigi on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the novella (paid link)
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner (screen play), Colette (based on the novella by), Niven Busch (uncredited)
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli, Charles Walters (uncredited)
Starring: Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan
Rated: G
Watch the trailer

Plot
In this musical, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training, weary of the conventions of Parisian society,begin a platonic friendship which leads to both of them developing feelings for the other.

Verdict
It's a love story with an unlikely introduction. The movie decries marriage as playboys employ courtesans instead of settling down. While common for the time, it's certainly a mark of a misogynistic time period. We follow the ebb and flow of this relationship as Gaston and Gigi navigate their complicated connection. While I find older movies difficult to enjoy due to style and conventions, this one was especially boring. It doesn't examine this dynamic, instead loudly proclaiming that a woman's worth can only be evaluated by men.
Skip it.

Review
This won the Oscar for best picture, but it came out the same year as Vertigo (1958), which wasn't even nominated. I would guess that illustrates more how advanced Vertigo was as opposed to how misguided nominations and voting were. From a modern standpoint, it's an egregious miss.

Our introduction is provided by Honoré Lachaille (Maurice Chevalier), an old man enthralled with young women. It seems especially egregious today as he sings, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls." It's a misogynistic time, and mistresses were common in 1900 Paris when this takes place. Honoré states men choose not to get married while women that don't, can't. It's wild and it makes this feel incredibly dated.

Gigi (Leslie Caron) is being trained by her aunt as a courtesan. She's young and carefree, but she doesn't like that any relationship she has is only a business transaction instead of true affection.

Leslie Caron plays Gigi

Honoré's nephew Gaston (Louis Jourdan) dumps his girlfriend when she cheats on him. He in turn embarrasses her, and the movie implies she fakes a suicide which is problematic on its own. Honoré congratulates Gaston on the first woman to attempt suicide over him. That's just gross. It's a complete lack of regard for women. This movie treats them as objects from beginning to end. While Gaston wants to leave the city, uncle Honoré pushes him to stay in Paris and embrace the part of the playboy despite how he feels. Granted mistresses were the most common in France in 1900, I wondered if this movie was some kind of strange wish fulfillment or a stereotype of France.

Gaston begins spending time with Gigi, and I could easily guess where that would go. Gigi's aunt wants to train her to be Gaston's mistress while he's away. When he returns, he insults her new style. It had to be that he liked her or and didn't like the idea of Gigi being just a courtesan. Gaston soon realizes that's it, and that he does genuinely like Gigi. Despite that, he proposes an arrangement with the aunt while also telling Gigi he loves her. Gigi rightfully thinks he's toying with her, and that he's just telling her what she wants to hear so he can get what he wants. Gigi does like him, agreeing to the arrangement despite her reservations.

Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan play Gaston, Gigi

When Gaston takes her out, he's unnerved that people think she's only his mistress. Honoré jokes that she's such a good courtesan that she'll keep him entertained for at least a few months. Gaston rankles at the statement implying she's disposable and immediately takes her home. She's not sure why, thinking he's upset. All of this could have been rectified with a society that treats everyone like full fledged human beings, or at the least some communication about how Gaston or Gigi feel about each other. The big conclusion provides a happy ending for all, but by that point I was all but checked out.

I don't always care for older movies, the style and culture can be drastically different from the modern movies with which I'm more familiar. Likewise, the innovations early movies pioneered have been mimicked, copied, and improved. Usually I can see why an older movie was popular, but this is especially boring. This doesn't explore the dynamic or even comment on it. Women's only purpose is to provide value to men. I couldn't help but check the time frequently, thinking surely this has to be nearing the conclusion; no such luck.

Rumble Fish Movie Review

ward@fridaysonthefly.com (Ward) — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Rumble Fish (1983)

Rent Rumble Fish on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: S.E. Hinton (novel "Rumble Fish"), S.E. Hinton & Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay)
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Vincent Spano, Diane Lane, Diana Scarwid, Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper, Chris Penn
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Absent-minded street thug Rusty James struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days of gang warfare.

Verdict
It's experimental and artistic, but you could also summarize it as just weird. Still, there's something charming about a movie that lifts a story about teenage problems into some epic story exploring freedom and captivity against the expectations of others. The style is over dramatic, but that's also the point. You can't argue that teenagers aren't dramatic, and this embraces the idea. I like this movie not because I think it's great, but because it's curious. I wish it were both.
It depends.

Review
Coppola described this as "an art film for teenagers." I don't know if that audience wants such an endeavor, but he achieved what he was after. This is shot in black and white with the performances feeling very theatrical. Unfortunately, this is more of a curiosity than required viewing.

How many times will characters say the name "Rusty James"? The answer is every chance they get, and it will always be his full name. Rusty James (Matt Dillon) is in some kind of street gang. His gang schedules a fight for that night. They may be unruly thugs, but they're serious about their fights. Spending time with his girlfriend makes Rusty James late to the fight, but he's soon in a battle with the rival leader. Rusty James tries to live up to the reputation of his older brother, the Motorcycle Kid (Mickey Rourke). His return during the fight causes Rusty James to get distracted and injured before Motorcycle Kid steps in to save him by taking a kid out with his motorcycle.

Nicolas Cage, Matt Dillon, Chris Penn play Smokey, Rusty James, B.J.

While the injured Rusty James recovers, we get in his head. It's a weird movie, and I wasn't sure it had a plot. There's definitely a performance element to this. The teenage gang presence seems very West Side Story (2021). This is a world divorced from reality, that or we're seeing this from Rusty James's perception. It would explain the hero worship the community has for the Motorcycle Kid as well as the way cops regard him. Everything seems shallow, but that might be the point. This movie talks about the perception of things, and what we're seeing might be just that. Motorcycle Boy is more of an idea that developed character.

Motorcycle Boy tells Rusty James a story about when their mother left and how their father went on a bender, his first. A young Rusty James was left alone in the house for three days. That's why he hates being alone. The way the story is told, the sound is mixed like some kind of voice-over narration. It's disorienting. As if this movie isn't strange enough already, Rusty James is beaten up and has an out of body experience, literally floating and observing characters. Motorcycle Boy saves the day because of course he does.

Only the rumble fish appear in color. The fish would fight their own reflections, and that has to be a reflection of the teenage gangs. They would fight even if it meant destroying themselves and the community.

Mickey Rourke plays Motorcycle Boy

It's a movie about perception, but whose? This is in black and white as Motorcycle Boy is colorblind, though it doesn't work like that. Motorcycle Boy and Rusty James are similar but the elder brother wants peace. Rusty James longs for gang warfare so he can showcase his skills and make a name for himself. He's riding Motorcycle Boy's coat tails. This is melodramatic, but that's in part how teenagers are. The world is about how seems and how they want it to be.

This story could be the myth or epic of Motorcycle Boy. It's just that this subject matter isn't usually elevated to that kind of story, but overwrought and dramatic seems like the perfect way to capture the teenage struggle. They always think each situation is a superlative.

Motorcycle Boy wants to create peace but can't find it himself. Rusty James tries to carry out his brother's wish, setting the fish free. It's definitely an 'art' movie.