Seth Rogen's THE STUDIO Series is Self-Indulgent Studio Insiders with a Myriad of Celebs

Seth Rogen's series THE STUDIO on Apple TV+ is a supercilious, self-indulgent comedy that is neither a laughable sitcom or clever parody. Rogen's self-effacing stereotyping of studio execs is too exaggerated to be taken as witty critique of the movie industry's mismanagement of millions. Furthermore, it makes the rolls and cameos of A list actors/directors too facetious to be credulous or comical. A huge irony here is the wanton waste of talent cast. Bryan Cranston plays the big studio cheese of Continental Studios only his dress, antics and ideas are too cheesy. Catherine O'Hara plays Party Leigh whose job Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) gets hired after she's fired. Matt's lying and conniving for the coveted, high powered position helped him seal the deal. Kathryn Hahn plays Maya Mason, one of Matt's most outspoken directors who takes her role in an over-the-top direction that loses laughs and believability. The only cast member that rose above the material is Ike Barinholtz, "The Mindy Project") as Sal Seperstein. Sal is Matt's best friend who also aspired for the position passed onto Matt. Rogen is the star of this charmless series that feels more like a dated sitcom. The show is set within the extravagant homes and lifestyles which are more off-putting and pretentious than evocative of enviable Hollywood glamour. The major dilemmas (which are all minor) that plagued Matt are his desires to create great art at odds with easy profitability and his need to be liked and accepted into the elite echelon of celebrities. These shallow conflicts fail to generate the inertia to invest in Matt's petty problems  or his whiny, self-absorbed persona. The other major irony with THE STUDIO is the fact a studio green- lighted this into production. Perhaps it was passed due in part to the star power Rogen brought to the project. Rogen donned many hats here including writing and directing. Pass on this sorry, lackluster series that overlooked the simple rule that any fool knows, it all comes down to the story, script and blueprint.   

THE RESIDENCE-A Who Dunnit Series with a Sleuth Who Slays-Stars Uzo Aduba/Randall Park

For those who liked the "Knives Out" movies (count me out) I have no doubt you will love THE RESIDENCE, an 8 part series on Netflix starring Uzo Aruba ("Orange is the New Black") as a sleuth, Cordelia Cupp, whose style is indefatigable. Cupp's fashion style is a modern take on Sherlock and contemporary birder chic. Cupp is an avid birdie whose meticulous methods of investigation are well suited for her unflappable pursuit of factual information and people observation. Although quite amazing and unique in her detective persona, Cuppa is a hybrid amalgamation of Holmes, Poirot and Colombo. THE RESIDENCE will occupy your TV viewing, watching the highfalutin shenanigans of an upstairs/downstairs cast of characters. There are the elite catered to or staff who do the catering to the President, his staff and White House guests. The guest stars in this clever and highly entertaining series that takes comedy and social parody seriously. Jason Lee plays the president's deadbeat kleptomaniac brother, Jane Curtain plays the alcoholic mother of the president's partner, Bronson Pinchot is the eccentric French pastry chef, Edwina Findley is a bumptious butler with endless banter, and Al Franken is back in politics playing Senator Filkins leading the congressional investigation into the murder of A.B. White Head Usher of the White House and the Head Usher is played to perfection by Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad"). Cupp is the lead detective but she has strong support from FBI agent Edwin Park (Randall Park) who slowly wins her confidence and Officer Larry Dokes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) whom she admittedly admires. There is so much to recommend in this show produced by Shondaland (Shonda Rhimes) and created by Paul William Davies ("Scandal"). The scenic tour of the White House is pleasurable and the backup story to Cupp's becoming a detective is endearing. All the staff are suspect and susceptible to thinking them culpable of the crime and its coverup. My only critical quip is the windup was too long winded and convoluted. Here the show should take a clue on being more succinct from Colombo. Even so, THE RESIDENCE is one of the most likable detective shows with good reasons. I hope a second season of Detective Uzo Aduba with FBI guy Randall Park will be revealed. 

Stella Heath "The Billie Holiday Project" Doesn't Project Holiday's Vibe at LBT

April 7th will mark Billie Holiday's 110th birthday. Along with learning Holiday's birthdate, I learned several things about the remarkable diva that Stella Heath shared from her "Project" which was first performed in 2019. Holiday was given the nickname, "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young. Heath reminded us that her Billie Holiday Shows were gaining traction all over the Bay Area when the 2020 Pandemic hit and shut them down. Heath, together with pianist and music director, Neil Angelo Fontana, collaborated to rebuild their band and present the music of big bands and Billie Holiday's to the audience. The 10-piece band featured some of the finest in swing musicians including Clint Baker (trumpet/trombone), Daniel Fabricant (bass), Johnny Bones (saxophone), Robby Elfin (saxophone/ clarinet). The 6 in the wind section each played 3 different instruments and Fabricant on bass used his bow for a mournful, molto adagio on "Billie's Blues" (Holiday). Stella Heath bedazzled in a shimmering gold lame gown and a a large white flower adorned her updo. She envisioned the spirit of Billie Holiday. Heath told the audience she and Neil were originally from the Sonoma area and were honored to be singing at the Luther Burbank Arts Theater where they attended musical concerts growing up. She invited everyone to feel free to get up and dance. Two professional swing dancers performed on stage to a few numbers, but no one in the audience chose to get up to dance. Heath's singing recalled the tin pan alley vocals of the early 20Th C and the big band era sound. The popular music singing aesthetic had a hollow vibrato that echoed the early sounds of radio. While at first this distinctive sound was intriguing it soon wore off especially when expecting the full falsetto and vocal sliding styles Holiday was best known for. Only two compositions on the program were written by Holiday. "Billie's Blues" and "Now Baby or Never". 'The very thought of' the programming leaning more towards "Swing Brother Swing" (Williams) tain't the business I came to hear. I want to listen to more of Holiday's singing style that made a profound impact on jazz and blues. Still, I have "No Regrets" (Ingraham) having attended "The Billie Holiday Project."  Just "The Very Thought of You" {Holiday}) (Noble) was not delivered as desired but I wasn't deterred enough to "Call the Whole Thing Off." (Gershwin) 

ADOLESCENCE-Necessary Viewing for Adults and Teens and Seen Together

Every parent's worst nightmare is the unimaginable loss of their child. In the unforgettable Netflix series "Adolescence," the anguish is compounded for one family whose 13 year old son is arrested and charged in the girl's killing. This taut, realistic drama plays out in 4 flawlessly acted episodes that leaves viewers stunned. The first episode begins with banal banter between officers in their patrol car. This brief respite  is short lived. The officers calmly vacate their car and approach a homes that is indistinguishable from the myriad of home in a British, suburban development. The father opens the door to the barrage of pounding by the police and then pushes aside the man confronted at the door. The officer informed the man they have a warrant for his son. A cavalcade of officers move stealthily through the tight quarters pushing aside a girl coming out from the bathroom to the floor. The parents follow the officers up the stairs as they burst into the bedroom of a 13 year old boy still in bed.  The boy, Jamie (played to perfection by Owen Cooper) is told his rights as he cowers and claims he didn't do anything. The officer informs Jamie's father, Eddie (an incredible Stephen Graham) they're arresting Jamie for murder and that he must refrain from interfering  or he'll also be arrested. The formidable acting, particularly by Cooper and Graham are superb. Graham was also a co-screenwriter on ADOLESCENCE. Jamie looks like a frail, pre-adolescent boy. When Jamie steps out of the bed you see he soiled himself. His father is called back into the room to observe his son change his clothes. Then handcuffed and whimpering, he tells his dad he didn't do anything, as he's ducked into a patrol car and driven to the precinct. There's not a false note in this gut wrenching crime drama. Everything rings true from booking procedures, to official interrogations, attorney conferences, private father/son conversations, school interviews and the crime investigations. Walking through the throngs of students in the halls of the high school with the detectives there's a visceral response felt to the sounds/smells and stress from academia and social pressures of teens and overworked staff. (One miscasting was the best friend of the murder victim. She looked too old for the role.) Otherwise, this is a tense, terrifying drama. Every episode is compact and filmed with what appears as one long, seamless take. The 3rd episode struck a raw nerve with the family appointment psychologist conducting an interview with a charming then volatile Jamie now 7 months into his detention. The wheels of justice are  run slowly. This swift and efficient crime/drama runs the gamut of emotions in a memorable series that takes the lives of teens and their parents seriously. ADOLESCENCE is a disturbing watch that must be watched because the consequences for not acknowledging issues presently plaguing our teens are too severe and destructive. 

Irish Raconteur David Nihill Talks a Load of Blarney

On Sunday night despite March Madness going full throttle, little thwarted a full house that turned out for a "slagging" from David Nihill. At the Raven Theater in Healdsburg, Nihill sauntered up to the mike wearing worn out jeans and a brown, buttoned down shirt. His layback attire belied his fast jabbering diatribe that went into overdrive. The long winded, rambling gab felt rehearsed and somewhat ambiguous and scattered. Titled "Self Help: Reading Recommendations," Nihill's ramblings referred to his upbringing in Ireland, his disastrous schooling, an obsession with sharks and a healthy thirst for Coors when low on stout. Any doubt on the what, why or where is he was headed hoodwinked by his clever windup.  The show was more orchestrated than one would think. In fact, it proved a bit heady by the end. Nihill talked 90 minutes non-stop. He evoked a deceptively intelligent nonstop chatter that was clever and touched on various matters: getting arrested, racial segregation, political elections, personal confessions and moments of sparkling revelations "I didn't see coming." Nihill is a motivational speaker, standup comic and self-proclaimed bibliophile. His humor wasn't the robust LOL type. But, he managed to keep us all fully engaged in his banter. For most of the show, his incessant blabber seemed full of blarney. Nevertheless, he turned the tables on the audience with a circuitous roundabout routine that roused plenty of skepticism. The milieu of manuals Nihill referred to ranged from Ireland's literary giants, Joyce, Ibsen and Beckett to novels "Catch 22," "100 Years of Solitude," "The Alchemist," Gladwell's"Tipping Point" to Feynman's "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman." I surely thought Nihill was pulling my legs when he said, "I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried." David Nihill possessed the luck of the Irish having a gift for the gab.  Me thinks perhaps Nihill protested too much when he claimed "public speaking terrifies me." Or, perhaps I imbibed more than I should. Regardless, Nihill made good on his outlandish gibberish. Still, Nihill should refrain from his fetish with fish. 

"The Half Life of Marie Curie" This Curious Biopic Play Is Listless

As the program notes for Lauren Gunderson's play points, it's being performed during Women in History Month. Unfortunately, the play misses out on conveying the significant life led by Madame Curie, the 1st woman to have received the Nobel Prize. She is only 1 of 4 people to have been awarded two Nobel Prizes. The two Nobel Prizes were in physics for her work on radioactivity, chemistry and for discovering radium and polonium. Gunderson is one of the most produced playwrights in the US, a 2 time winner of the Steinberg/AYCA New Play Award and the Lanford Wilson Award among numerous other playwriting honors. "The Half Life of Marie Curie," (THLMC) is Gunderson's one act, two character play. Besides Curie (played by a wonderful Leontyne Mbele-Mbong) the other character is Hertha Ayrton ("Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"). Ayrton, though not a household name, was an engineer, physicist and suffragette. She received the Hughes Medal for her scientific work and improved the relative new invention of the electrical light by reducing the cacophonous noise emitted from street lights. This we learned from Ayrton who immodestly shares her achievements in her opening oration which she concluded saying, "You're welcome!. Of the two women, it's Ayrton who relays relevant info pertaining to their achievements, their deceased husbands. It was Ayrton who supported Curie during her public excoriation. Curie, widowed with 2 daughters, engaged in an affair with a married man, physicist Paul Langevin. This resulted in an uproar from the press and the public. (Note: Langevin didn't suffer the stigma of a social scandal despite being the married party in their year long affair.) This affair was foremost in the play. Although Ayrton came to support her friend amidst the brouhaha, it seemed her focus was on obtaining lascivious details of Curie's sexual exploits. Instead of a biopic play on two very prominent women in their fields of  sciences and mathematics, these women were portrayed as either sullen or bombastic living half lives without their spouses. Curie's achievements from aiding soldiers in WWI with her mobile radiography units, her humanitarian contributions to the French War effort, advancements in radiation research and the advancements from her discovery of elements were sorely subjugated and placed on back burners. The play was more about Ayerton's quest to uncover Curie's sexual conquests. Ayerton was also dismissive of her own successes in mathematics, her inventions and her fortitude for women's rights appearing instead as a lecherous lush. "The Half Life of Marie Curie" missed out on presenting two distinguished female figures. These historic heroines seemed  frivolous and lacking without their spouses. The acting was commendable but the writing disappointingly desultory and listless. This was a sorely missed opportunity to import knowledge about formidable women in history especially during women's history month, 

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN-Left me Not Knowing about Bob Dylan-Timothee Chalamet/Edward Norton Star

This year's Best Picture Nominations included "A Complete Unknown" which also earned acting nominations for Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan who did his own singing. Chalamet's singing was pleasing. but please, he never sounded anything like Dylan. Nor did he resemble Dylan in any resounding manner. These are not what I take issue with in this lightly entertaining movie that failed to convey Dylan's persona, his mindset or his imperative creative drive. Dylan is the only songwriter to ever be awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Literature. (He also famously refused to receive this esteemed honor). Nonetheless, he is arguably one of the most talented singer/songwriters of the 20th C. Still, Dylan remains a recluse and mystery to the masses. Whether director James Mangold may have intended for Dylan's character to be portrayed enigmatically as his portrayal left me adrift. Forrest Gump displayed more emotion and direction than Dylan's character. The time span for this biopic pic was 1961 - 65, culminating in a calamitous time in our nation's civil rights movement. Though Joan Baez (Monica Barbara in an Oscar nominated performance) managed to contend with society's racial clashes in addition to pursuing her singing career. Dylan's only defiance was his refusal to play another rendition of "Blowing in the Wind" at The Newport Food Festival in '65 and his using an amped up rock band and electric guitar on stage. Seems the liberal minded fans of folk music felt their music sacrosanct; anything other than acoustic guitar strictly taboo. And Dylan was infamously booed by the crowd who were privy to his first live performance of "Like a Rolling Stone." The talented ensemble cast included Ed Norton as a very conscientious Pete Seeger and a teary eyed Elle Fanning as Dylan's girlfriend prior to his fame and won't take blame for standing in his way. The film plays out like a long MTV video (music videos were popular in the 80s decades after folk music fell out of favor. Overall, I enjoyed the music. I liked seeing the styles and the look of the film set in Manhattan in the early 60s. But, this movie didn't move me or enlighten me on an icon whose legacy will live on through his music. "A Complete Unknown" was easy savory but not satiating. I was left drifting in the wind. Dylan wisely said, "Don't criticize what you can't understand." He also said, "All I can be is me-whoever that is." 

Maxim Lando on Piano at the 222 WooHoo!

Maxim Lando (pronounced Maxeem) and Lando-rhymes with piano, is a piano prodigy whose love for playing classical compositions of all epochs performed energetically for an intimate group at the 222 in Healdsburg. The 222 doubles as a live arts performance space in the evenings and as an art gallery by day. The gallery space accommodates live audiences in a nightclub setting. There was a Q&A with Lando before the concert. I was a no show because I didn't know. The 222 needs to do a better job of marketing their events listing times/notifications for better communication. Nonetheless, Lando came on stage on this rainy, chilly Sunday evening.Lando's agile, complex piano playing and gregarious/genuine personality, provided a memorable evening of musical entertainment. Donning a red satin shirt, iridescent black/blue jacket and a mega watt smile, Lando warmly welcomed the audience who braved their way out on the gloomy, inclement night. Lando said. "I've been getting inspiration from the artworks." He also spoke about his frustrations when cooped up during COVID and unable to perform or attend concerts. He said, The glorious sounds of music and colors both resound gloriously." He went on to say he had to comprise ways to keep himself engaged with practicing and playing during the lockdown which lead him to try arcane compositions and play continuously pieces in unexpected combinations. "Go with me on some of the works on tonight's program," he besieged the crowd. The first piece on the program was an arrangement by Brahms of Bach's "Chaconne in D minor for Left Hand." Sitting up close I was fascinated with both the dexterity of his left hand and the staid positioning of his right which was steadfast on his right thigh. It was difficult to determine from the full orchestral impression it created. Londo's left hand played several octaves above and below middle C.  I wanted Lando to tell us why did Brahm's choose to revise Bach's piece solely the left hand. The second number, "Three Dances from Frankenstein Op. 140 (2022) by L Lieberman (b. 1961), was a 3 movement piano concerto. Lando said Liberian wrote it for him and gave him license to revise it. The piece invoked an eerie and moody ambiance that was both strange and alluring. After a brief intermission, Lando returned wearing a different shiny shirt, sans jacket. The mezzo forte playing on the Yamaha concert, baby grand was physically arduous and percussive. The 2nd half was comprised of works by composers I was unfamiliar ( Balakirev, Buskin & Lyapunov) except for a nocturne by Chopin, "Because, after all, Chopin's music is just so beautiful." The rousing applause brought Lando back on stage for an encore. He ended the brilliant evening with  Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue;" a classic crowd pleaser.  

DOC. "Every Little Thing" Saving Humming Birds is Beautiful but this Doc. is Dull

I'm a big birder and a die hard fan of hummingbirds. I consider myself a hummingbird whisperer having revived a number of these incredible tiny birds (albeit after striking my windows) back to life. There are numerous arbutus trees to attract them. There's also a bird feeder with a camera that alerts me when a bird lands on the feeder. (Coolest gift ever!) I share this to let you know I was excited to view this film.  It received a 95% and 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless,  I lost interest in the film when its lens flitted away from filming these Lilliputian phenoms of flight. Interesting facts about hummingbirds; the smallest migratory bird, they don't migrate in flocks, their flock is called a bouquet, and they are the only birds able to fly in every direction including backwards. The doc. "Every Little Thing" captures the magic and beauty of hummingbirds along with the wonderful volunteer, rehab work Terry Masear has provided for over 20 years. I commend the knowledgeable and skillful care Masear has devoted to these tiny creatures. Altogether, Masear has rescued more than 10,000of these birds and released them back into their natural habitats. Even so, the film is slow watching Masear repetitive tasks of fielding calls, fixing enclosures and administering multiple eyedropper feedings for these gentle beings. Masear has received multiple degrees she immodestly informs us. She's taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate classes in education and research writing at UCLA. But overall, there's little variety to her quotidian tasks. The more time spent watching "Every Little Thing" the more of a chore it became.  Background into Masear's life is warranted however her narrative was grandiose in regards to considering herself a bird of a different feather. In other words, Masear considers herself a maverick having branched out from her humble, hard working farm family living in a small WI town. Her independent streak, break from family and move out west where she met and married her spouse of over 30 years is commendable; though unremarkable. "Every Little Thing," is a lovely and sedate film which emphasized the best in humanity-the symbiotic kinship between people and animals. The film served as a wonderful tribute to compassion, devotion and the awe inspiring glimpse into aviation's most startling and tiny travelers; the remarkable humming bird.  I praise Masear for the miraculous care she's given towards nurturing injured hummingbirds. The cinematography, the unforgettable birds and trilling score are astounding. But, the film in its entirety remained a bore. 

BEST OF THE INT'L SHORT FILM FESTIVAL at Raven Theater in Healdsburg

The BEST OF THE FILM FESTIVAL was held in Healdsburg at the Raven Performance Art Theater on the last Sunday in February. There were 3 time slots; 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Each screening offered 6 short films from various international filmmakers and a Q&A, "talk back" with festival founders Pamela and Kirk Demorest following each series. The films cannot be longer than 15 minutes to qualify. One of the films, "Angst" submitted by a local, Santa Rosa filmmaker was one 1 minute. (I felt it was 1 minute too long.) The various genres included drama, comedy, dramedy, animation and documentaries. In addition to local submissions from Petaluma and Santa Rosa, foreign countries were represented: Russia, Spain, South Africa, UK, Germany, France, Nepal, Finland, Sweden and Italy. I attended the 4:00PM screenings. I will describe the 2 short films I felt were preeminent. The first film was from a local, Petaluma filmmaker. It was the animated, "Lightheaded" which was 5 minutes long and the documentary with mixed live footage and animation, "Wild Salmon" which was 14 minutes in length. "Lightheaded" was visually stunning. Anthropomorphic candles  illuminating billowing desert sands provided a keen sense of shadowing, melting, and humor. Astral objects zoomed past 3 candles who looked at each other questioningly. The most adventuresome decided to pursue what looked like a shooting star to where it was headed. Curiosity snuffed out the pursuing candle as it melted down. The 2 hesitant candles decided to investigate their mate and its fate. One candle derived  dire consequences but the one who went to school on the other two and with resourcefulness managed to find success. There was no dialogue, nor was it needed in this clever and luminous animation which conveyed wonder, dismay and ingenuity. My favorite film was the last one shown (probably it was considered foremost by most of the panel). It was "Wild Salmon from the UK," directed by Karen Arieli and Saul Freed. Listed in the program as a doc., I would clarify it as a nature/fantasy film, following the dramatic and harrowing life and consummate life cycle of wild salmon in human form. Marianne Faithfull passed away earlier this year. Faithful, a British actress and singer narrated the film. She's considered among the 1st female artists of the "British Invasion" and known as Mick Jagger's partner (1966-70). Her haunting voice adds to this hypnotic, unique film which begins enigmatically. It's not clear what we're witnessing. We discover we're watching a female, wild salmon from its nascent being into a salmon in human form through her life cycle including her spawning and demise. The film navigates us through lush natural habitats and into terrifying and often gruesome deaths that befall salmon in the wild. The anthropomorphic salmon is part fish and part scuba diver replete with engorged red lips and expressive eyes which conveyed strong emotions and determination from behind her scuba mask. I contend this is a film that advocates for being vegan.  I didn't know it at the time I saw the film, "Wild Salmon" won the Grand Jury Prize at the Healdsburg Film Festival.  In addition, this ingenious film won this year's Fantasy Filmfest, and Animation Film Festival. It was also nominated for the Pain d'Or for Best Short Film. It won my awe and continued vow not to eat any fish, meat or fowl.