johninla
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
21 years
Reviews
South of Pico (2007)
painful and true
this is a very LA movie - even if the actual scene of the climactic crash was filmed north-east of Pico, in Boyle Heights - and one can feel that all the characters are real, not stereotypes. Even though I, as belonging to only one ethnicity/culture, and have only lived in LA south of Pico for a decade I cannot claim to be an expert, but an informed observer.
Our cultures here are very isolated compared to San Francisco or New York. But, yes, people in LA do come together in occasional and random ways, like maybe at a Dodgers games (not Lakers - no working man can afford that and still make his rent) and yes, you cannot predict how it's going to turn out. Just like this movie. South of Pico makes your heart break, for the characters, for all the people of LA who live side by side in our cities and ghettos, walled mansions, enclaves, hoods and gated estates but rarely together.
Our cultures here are very isolated compared to San Francisco or New York. But, yes, people in LA do come together in occasional and random ways, like maybe at a Dodgers games (not Lakers - no working man can afford that and still make his rent) and yes, you cannot predict how it's going to turn out. Just like this movie. South of Pico makes your heart break, for the characters, for all the people of LA who live side by side in our cities and ghettos, walled mansions, enclaves, hoods and gated estates but rarely together.
Beggars and Choosers (1999)
Horribly realistic in its day to day high anxiety
Mixed up sperm and Russian gangsters aside (and every satire from Jonathan Swift to Arrested Development needs its exaggerations) B&C is pretty accurate about the angst- ridden life of TV execs in LA- believe me, I know, I have been there.
The swearing, if anything, is underdone - there are many places in America where cuss words are reserved for special occasions, but not in the Marines, the police or TV network head offices. The back-stabbing and social competition, too, is more prevalent than on, say, a Kentucky farm or at a Sunday morning bake sale, even on a Sunday morning.
Which, as one commentator wisely said, is maybe why this (and, lets be honest, HBO"s brilliant Larry Sanders) did not travel far beyond its natural constituency - LA and its media buddies in New York and London, and a few college grads, freaks and geeks aware enough to appreciate that all offices share the touch of evil. The same people who can watch either the BBC original of the NBC remake of The Office and recognize it as a kind of everyday life.
But TV-land is a degree nastier than working for a paper products firm because it's driven by the fear of 99% unemployment and the final one percent skilled/lucky.insane enough to have a job, being paid $250,000 a year plus, will do everything short of murder to hold onto that. Few would do that for a job paying minimum wage.
Anyway, hey, we got two fun-filled seasons out of this, which I suspect actually made no economic sense. I would guess B&C getting picked up for a second series was all about Showtime execs enjoying the in-jokes and critical kudos rather than the audience numbers. maybe it has a protector on a higher board which kept it alive longer than it would have survived on basic cable or mainstream TV.
PS The Showtime premium cable channel is almost HBO, but, somehow, routinely manages to lose its grip on some great novel programming- Dead Like Me, like B&C RIP after two series, Kistie Alley's Fat Actress (opened big and brave, shrinking faster than she is), etc.
Showtime, right now, is the almost brilliant channel, that may one day be a lesson taught in business schools.
PPS - Also Beggars and Choosers was and remains funny. And that is tough to get right.
The swearing, if anything, is underdone - there are many places in America where cuss words are reserved for special occasions, but not in the Marines, the police or TV network head offices. The back-stabbing and social competition, too, is more prevalent than on, say, a Kentucky farm or at a Sunday morning bake sale, even on a Sunday morning.
Which, as one commentator wisely said, is maybe why this (and, lets be honest, HBO"s brilliant Larry Sanders) did not travel far beyond its natural constituency - LA and its media buddies in New York and London, and a few college grads, freaks and geeks aware enough to appreciate that all offices share the touch of evil. The same people who can watch either the BBC original of the NBC remake of The Office and recognize it as a kind of everyday life.
But TV-land is a degree nastier than working for a paper products firm because it's driven by the fear of 99% unemployment and the final one percent skilled/lucky.insane enough to have a job, being paid $250,000 a year plus, will do everything short of murder to hold onto that. Few would do that for a job paying minimum wage.
Anyway, hey, we got two fun-filled seasons out of this, which I suspect actually made no economic sense. I would guess B&C getting picked up for a second series was all about Showtime execs enjoying the in-jokes and critical kudos rather than the audience numbers. maybe it has a protector on a higher board which kept it alive longer than it would have survived on basic cable or mainstream TV.
PS The Showtime premium cable channel is almost HBO, but, somehow, routinely manages to lose its grip on some great novel programming- Dead Like Me, like B&C RIP after two series, Kistie Alley's Fat Actress (opened big and brave, shrinking faster than she is), etc.
Showtime, right now, is the almost brilliant channel, that may one day be a lesson taught in business schools.
PPS - Also Beggars and Choosers was and remains funny. And that is tough to get right.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dirty dancing
Dirty Dancing continues to sell massively on video and DVD - why? Because it appeals to women for whom dancing is safe sex: exotic, exciting and, as a bonus, a work-out. With hunky Partick Swayze as a sensitive yet slightly wild man. Guys only see the cliches, like gals yawning at yet another car chase movie, but that does not diminish its lasting appeal. I can see why they are remaking it but suspect that that kind of lightening only strikes once.