The Accountant 2

Ben Affleck is again "the accountant". A former colleague/fed is killed and he gets pulled in to find out what happened and avenge the death I suppose. Or more likely, to solve the puzzle. Continuing to tease out life with autism, relationships and happiness - but in the context of being a massive badass with the goal of saving kids lives, but no ethical qualm with killing the unsavory types. Very "American Individualist" in approach to cleaning up the world. There is a 10 second attempt at due process and rule of law, but (I guess) when the guys are SO BAD, you just gotta be a vigilante. And also insightful in the developing relationships between adult brothers. It really is well made, and in this context I continue to increase my awareness of the subtle and not-so-subtle messaging that media drills into my psyche.

4 stars (out of 5)

Counterstrike

A Mexican Special Forces team encounters a drug cartel boss with a vendetta against Mexican Special Forces. This is an excellent portrayal of how war and violence are lose-lose scenarios. We are supposed to say the good guys won since only two of them die vs scores of the bad guys. But there is no win. Short term or long. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal (serial)

A short series documenting the return to basketball shoes for Reebok, with Shaq and Allen Iverson leading the charge. In some ways, this is a 6 episode commercial for Reebok. But it is also a behind the scenes look at the shoe business and Shaq is just a monster personality to make anything he is in fun.

3 stars (out of 5)

Man on the Inside (serial)

Ted Danson is the lead in this amateur detective comedy. He has recently lost his wife, is retired and is looking for a new thing. He connects with a PI who needs an undercover senior in a retirement home to uncover a chain of burglaries. While this plot provides a through story, the real joy in this series is the "coming of age" for Danson's character Charles. The friends and relationships he develops and re-energizes even with his family are touching and meaningful and fun to watch. It surprised me, but really worth watching. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Fountain of Youth

Billed as a National Treasure and Indiana Jones genre, it fits the bill. Jon Krasinski and Natalie Portman play a sibling team of treasure hunters who are going up against a secret society of protectors to find the mythological Fountain of Youth. Since it is not set in WWII, we can't get the Nazis-seeking-Ark exactly, but it is as close to derivative to that storyline as you can get in the modern era. Which is both the joy and the problem with this script. Familiar and fun, and derivative. Maybe this is all we get anymore???

3 stars (out of 5)

Legally Blonde

Definitely needed a brainless comedy and this fit the bill. Witherspoons falling into law school for all the wrong reasons and finding that she has a brain for it, while at the same time seemingly completely unaware of her surroundings. Sort of a charming, socially clueless, narcissist. And yet in this cluelessness somehow both reinforces and subverts social stereotypes. Wait, why was this "good"? It is excellent hollywood giving the audience (regardless of your point of view) something to like. So it feels good. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Last Christmas

A 20-something is wandering aimlessly through life, unsure of her purpose in her post-heart transplant world. With a crazy family, no passion for her former passion and a truly deadend job, Kate is lost. Until she meets Tom, who is relentless in his pursuit of her and fundamentally changes her world view. A real romantic comedy that is more about coming of age and realizing what is important in life. 

3 stars (out of 5)