Congratulations, you made it through another holiday season. Endured the throngs at Walmart ad the mall, breaking down the countless cardboard boxes from Amazon, and the pain of not having the consumer goods that you have so longed for bring happiness and maybe fill the gaping hole in your soul.  Sure, you still have New Years, but for those who don’t get in a car, you’re practically home free. The next holiday of any note happens to be Valentines Day, way off in Feb. So, enjoy your triumph and let’s get on with the blog.
 
I made it through the holiday only to catch a heck of a cold the very next day. I am writing this high as a kite on a licorice-flavored cocktail that tastes like Nyquil. Maybe it is Nyquil. I am unsure, as I am already on my third double. 
 
I saw a few streaming releases that I feel are worth a note or two. First is Red One, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Captain America, Chris Evans. Rumored to cost over two hundred million dollars, the question that everyone is asking themselves right now is, is it worth it? The answer is a non-committal “eh, kind of.” Most of it is fun, but the sum of its parts is not quite worth the price tag.
 
Now, something that proves worth the price tag and lives up the hype. Wicked is just as good as people and critics said it was. The performances are all stellar, especially that of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The production design and effects are eye-popping, and the politics and theme never endanger an incredible story. I have read the book and seen the theatrical version, and this film complements them both.  Even though this is only the first part, I doubt anyone will feel cheated over the third-act resolution. 
 
Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2, is an existential drama that will warm the bottom of your heart and smother you with holiday cheer. Kidding. You will get none of that with this bleak courtroom drama. And that is precisely why I liked this work. A talented director at the end of his career, he is taking on a movie that tackles complex themes such as grief and guilt and does not shy away from delivering a truthful and real-life conclusion. Highly recommended. As a side note, Warner Brothers decided to ship this one directly to streaming as the subject matter was not “tentpole” enough. Shame on you, WB.
 
And finally, a word about the Apple Streaming show, Shrinking. Easily the best television show. Do yourself a favor and binge all two seasons of this worthy successor to Ted Lasso.

Oh yeah, happiest of New Year to all of you!

As you know, the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is known as the great Hollywood migration. Anyone, who is anyone, in this business takes some well-deserved time off to either go skiing or book themselves into rehab. Some take more time off than others. Still others, anyone at Marvel,  are taking time off only to never return again. 

So, for all those and more, I offer my Christmas prayer (Copyright 2025, WGA #11327).

Bless and watch overall, regardless of who they are or their current standing in the entertainment industry. Please also remember the vast  streaming and moviegoing masses, anyone between the ages of 8 and 14, and know they are counting on the suits and their love of orginal creativity to inspire and entertain us throughout the new year. We humbly ask for more sequels and remakes, Marvel comic book movies and especially more reality television like MILF Manor, not to mention overseas content so that we can utilize the provided subtitle functions that also informs us of music cues and sound effects.  
 
Oh, yes, and if it’s not too much trouble, please keep us save from the incoming administration and the bird flu.

Amen

​Okay, if you are looking for adventure this holiday season, you can do no better than The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan and the follow up The Three Musketeers: Milady. Both of these films are directed by with bravado by Martin Bourboulon and are, in a majority of cases, far superior to the Musketeer films of the past. What sets these two films apart is an authenticity that is not found in past offerings and Bourboulon has layered both enough action, intrigue and romance for any fan of the action genre. Rivaling Lester’s wonderful films of the seventies, this modern version is not weighed down with  having to transition from the lighter aspects of the story to the more tragic elements. While not totally devoid of humor, Bourboulon is more concerned with escalating the story and because of that both parts are equally entertaining and worthy of a one-night binge.
 
Make no mistake, this is a French Film and I suggest you do it right with subtitles on. The cast is all top-notch with special kudos going out to Vincent Cassal as Athos, Louis Garrel as Louis XIII and  Eva Green’s remarkable performance as Milady deWinter. There are no stereotypes in either of these films, no blustering Porthos, no swishy Louis, these performances all hit perfect bullseyes.
 
Magnifique!

(Pictured Chuck Norris, 84 years old)

Happy December, everyone. Or as I like to call it, The Last Mile. Hope you are having a great start to the end of the year. Another year has come and almost gone, and, no doubt, some of us are beating ourselves up over how little progress we have made in our careers. Before you come down on the collective too complicated, please ask yourselves if you are judging your personal progress against your fellow writers. If you are, stop it! Or, as Mrs. Linde was fond of saying, “Stop it this instant.” Which was usually followed by, “Don’t make me turn the car around,” or my personal favorite, “Have you ever thought of dropping the whole comedy/writer thing and becoming a bartender?” Each of us is on our own path, some achieve early and sustain, others achieve early and can’t hold it. Some receive whatever they judge as success later in life. Some, well, we’ll not talk about “those” people. 
 
Examples of people who achieved later rather than sooner:
 
Harland “the Colonel” Sanders, founder of cardiovascular disease and Kentucky Fried Chicken. He was sixty-five.
 
A little-known fact: Charles Darwin was 50 years old before he replaced Dick York on Bewitched.
 
Grandma Moses was 78 years old when she became the grandmother of the prophet Moses. And she was also a painter.
 
Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 when she wrote Little House on the Prairie and the popular companion piece,  Sex in the City.

Mr Magoo. Over  one hundred and still driving
 
The point is the list goes on and on and on. And there is no reason you should not be on it. Unless you are younger, then I give all of us above a specific age permission to hate you.
 
So, all in all, take it from someone who hardly knows you. I think you are doing quite well!