The Addiction: PILSD Surviving

I recently suffered a loss of Internet. After a minor struggle, it has been turned back on, but I'm still recovering from the emotional effects. 

Mainly, for a little while, I was tied to watching shows at the time that they were aired. So, last night, while hanging out with friends and being a part of stimulating conversations, I instinctively knew it was 7:00 PM on a Sunday and that I was going to miss this week's episode of Doctor Blake Mysteries. I couldn't remember what would air at 8:00 PM (Later I learned it was Dancing on the Edge, which I've already seen, so no worries.), but I voiced out loud that I wasn't going to miss the 9:00 PM showing of the latest Endeavor episode. Na ah. No way. 

I burst through my apartment door at 8:57 and turned on the TV (I still turn on the TV so that it can warm up for those of you folks who remember those old tubes!). Then, I saw my laptop and remembered that I can watch Endeavor online and I'm sure I can find Doctor Blake, too. 

Post-Internet-Loss Stress Disorder is real, and I'm sure, with the amount of TV shows and movies I'm bookmarking, that I'll recover soon. Thanks. 

Taking it

Movie: True Story (2015)**

What happened: It was about a journalist who lost his credibility by fudging on an article in the NYT Magazine. Then becomes literarily and emotionally entangled with this guy who was accused of murdering his wife and children. 

True Story was truly disappointing.Starring Jonah Hill and James Franco, produced by Plan B, Masanobu Takayanagi handled the camera, based on actual events. All those potentially good elements didn't add up to a good film. It was okay. I thought both lead actors only brought their characters half way. There was no doubt about Christian Longo's (played by Franco) guilt. If I was supposed to be suspended and surprised, I wasn't. James Franco played a guilty person as soon as he was flashed across the screen. 

Jonah Hill's character, Michael Finkel, was portrayed like he was always in disbelief. He kept up the "Oh my goodness! Why couldn't I see that from the beginning" face for most of the movie.

I watched the entire film, although I fell asleep midway and had to pick it up later. I'm giving this two stars ** because I was able to watch it through and it wasn't terrible, but I don't ever have to see it, again, and I really didn't like the acting of the two leads.

I watched this movie on a DVD I checked out from the library. 

TV: Home Fires (2015)***

This is a series about a group of women in a small English town leading up to, then dealing with the beginning of World War II and how their lives are affected at every stage. The characters are interesting, the acting is good and I love the costumes. I think the 40s is my true fashion era!

I'm giving this three stars*** because it isn't a favorite, or really notable for anything, it was just engaging TV and I'm looking forward to series two.

I watched this via broadcast TV on a PBS channel, but I rewatched it on DVD checked out from the library.  

TV: The Great Fire (2014)**

Now I know about the Great Fire of London in 1666. This show was okay. It could have easily been cut to feature-length instead of a 4-hour miniseries. I don't see any reason to watch it again. Watch Restoration (1995) starring Robert Downey, Jr. and then The Great Fire and you'll have an interesting King Charles II themed day.  

I'm giving this two stars** because I had to watched it while doing other things and I don't want to see it, again.

I started watching this on broadcast TV, PBS channel, but I finished it on the DVD checked out from the library. 

TV First Impressions: Underground (2016)

I wasn't expecting much because this show is on WGN, but I heard an overview of the show with actor interviews on Morning Edition (click here) and that kind of piqued my interest. It wasn't until I talked to my aunt, who told me Chris Meloni is on the show, that I decided to give it a try. It's like the entertainment industry knows to tuck Meloni in it's giant pocket and not let me know until the last minute (or when I see him on screen) that he'll make an appearance. I'm not ashamed to say, the fact that a certain white man is cast on this show about rebellious slaves is what actually got me to watch the first episode!

I thought it was good and I'm going to watch episode 2, as well. It is beautifully shot and I had much respect for the acting, although I thought the slave-owning family characters were extreme stereotypes of what you'd expect of the "massa" and the "massa's wife." Also, some of the music seemed out of place and jarred me back to reality. Although I get what they're trying to do with the music, I hope they don't let juxtaposing new with the old overtake the good storyline they've started. Hopefully the storyline can hold up past the first episode, which had some good twists in it. Looking forward to more!

I watched this online at the WGN America site.