Christiane Amanpour speaks with U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff and Colombian President Iván Duque about the political crisis in Venezuela. Walter Isaacson interviews author David Treuer about why he believes America is at war with itself.
Category: Watch
📺 Washington Week: A short-term shutdown fix | PBS
Plus, the latest developments in the Russia probe.
📺 Diner (1982) | MGM
Directed by Barry Levinson. With Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Daniel Stern. A group of college-age buddies struggle with their imminent passage into adulthood in 1959 Baltimore.
This was an incredibly cast ensemble piece with some excellent actors and Ellen Chenoweth certainly didn’t disappoint her well-established reputation. The writing was generally sharp from a character perspective and occasionally funny, though not as on point given the comedic talents of several of the cast. The directing even kept things moving along and brought out the chemistry between the friends. Sadly, it was really a lack of any serious plot which kept the whole piece from gel-ing into something significant.
Having spent several years living in Baltimore, I was surprised that the city didn’t play a more central and recognizable part. The city in the late 50’s would have likely been its heyday, but it looked more like the downtrodden version of itself in the 80’s instead. Local boy Michael Tucker was the only cast member to have a solid Maryland accent which seemed painfully missing to me, though I did appreciate the subtle portrayal of Baltimore and even Jewish culture in the late 50’s in a minor studio feature film.
To me this played like Levinson attempting his personal version of American Graffiti or The Godfather within his own milieu while also prefacing the coming age of independent films of the 1990’s.
I found it curious to see Bacon and Rourke playing roles opposite to the way I would likely have cast them given what I know about the arc of their careers. I wonder what would have happened had they switched at this point in their careers?
There were some quirky references to Cuba that seemed off given that I think Castro already had control by late ’59 when the film was set, so I’m not sure what happened to the plot here.
📺 January 24, 2019 – PBS NewsHour | PBS
Thursday on the NewsHour, two Senate bills to end the government funding impasse fail, but signs of progress emerge. Plus: How the shutdown is affecting the safety of air travel, the story of an American held captive in Syria, another Hollywood star is accused of sexual misconduct, jobs in the trucking industry, a book about being a prisoner in Iran and the death of a music icon in Zimbabwe.
📺 “The Alienist” The Boy on the Bridge | TNT
Directed by Jakob Verbruggen. With Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, Brian Geraghty, Robert Wisdom. The discovery of the mutilated corpse of a boy prostitute leads a psychologist to link the crime to the earlier murder of a child patient. He enlists the help of his college friend, a newspaper illustrator, to gather evidence in the case.
🎞️ Sleeping with Other People (2015) | IFC Films
Directed by Leslye Headland. With Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Jordan Carlos, Margarita Levieva. A good-natured womanizer and a serial cheater form a platonic relationship that helps reform them in ways, while a mutual attraction sets in.
Watched on Netflix.
📺 "The West Wing" Jefferson Lives | Netflix
Directed by Alex Graves. With Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina. With Bartlet back in the Oval Office, and back in his wife's bad books, the hunt for a Vice President begins.
📺 "The West Wing" 7A WF 83429 | Netflix
Directed by Alex Graves. With Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina. Seven hours have passed since Zoey's kidnapping and and the Republicans are in charge of the White House. Rifts are appearing in the leadership of both parties further complicated by the arrival of a ransom note demanding the release of terrorists.
📺 "The West Wing" The Dogs of War | Netflix
Directed by Christopher Misiano. With Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina. Zoey Barlet has been held for over a day. An international crisis looms that could have serious repercussions for the administration, let alone the hostage.
📺 "The West Wing" Twenty Five | Netflix
Directed by Christopher Misiano. With Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina. In the wake of his daughter's kidnapping, Bartlet must make a decision between being a father and being President.
📺 "The West Wing" Commencement | Netflix
Directed by Alex Graves. With Stockard Channing, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Joshua Malina. The assassination of Shareef threatens to become public, the president speaks at Zoe's graduation, and the unthinkable happens.
📺 “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” Breaking Free from a Mountain of Stuff | Netflix
Directed by Jade Sandberg Wallis. With Marie Kondo.
📺 “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” From Students to Improvements | Netflix
Directed by Jade Sandberg Wallis. With Marie Kondo.
📺 “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” Sparking Joy After a Loss | Netflix
Directed by Jade Sandberg Wallis. With Marie Kondo. Marie comes to the home of Margie Hodges and helps her tidy up her home following the loss of her husband.
📺 “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” When Two (Messes) Become One | Netflix
Directed by Jade Sandberg Wallis. With Marie Kondo.
I feel like you’re holding onto that that turkey gravy to be spiteful.