Amazon Prime – The Man in the High Castle

I dig high concepts.  There’s something designed to make you think is something that’s right up my alley.  It’s the reason why I like shows like Fringe or even Game of Thrones. 

The Man in the High Castle seemed like the most ambitious Amazon pilot in the batch.  Sadly that didn’t work out too well for The After.  That said, it’s based on a book, just like Bosch. 

Amazon Prime – Point of Honor

At this point, The Civil War can be summed up in by a series of clichés; North vs South, Brother vs Brother, States Rights vs Human Rights.  Also, by this point is there any reason to cover the Civil War if you aren’t saying anything new? 

Point of Honor would say “yes.” 

Amazon Prime - Down Dog

Amazon only has two half hour comedy pilots this pilot season.  It’s kind of disappointing that neither offering has the ambition of Transparent, which has easily become Amazon’s most successful show to date, in every regard. 

That said, does Down Dog offer up enough potential to get picked up by Amazon? 

Amazon Prime – Mad Dogs

You know how sometimes something looks too good to be true?  That’s how felt about Mad Dogs. 

It’s a show from the creator of The Shield, Shawn Ryan, and stars Steve Zahn, Romany Malco and Michael Imperioli.  That’s a pretty good pedigree of talent. 

So, was Mad Dogs too good to be true? 

Amazon Prime – Salem Rogers

One of the cool things about the explosion of “new media” is that it allows for the discovery of new voices and allows for success outside of the traditional means.  Also, because they’re less entrenched in the old ways, Amazon and Netflix are more willing to takes risks. 

Amazon Studios in particular accepts submissions, which presents a huge opportunity for aspiring creators.  Salem Rogers is a show that that was submitted to Amazon Studios and has now become a pilot. 

Amazon Prime – Cocked

I applaud Amazon’s resilience.   They are constantly churning out pilots for public consumption.  I missed out of the first batch, which produced Alpha House and Betas, but I was all in for the last two offerings. 

This time around Amazon has 13 different pilots up review, including six kid shows and one based on the New York Times.  It’s pretty ambitious.  

Movie Week - A Late Quartet

I’ve already mentioned how I’ve been seeking out Philip Seymour Hoffman films.  I very rarely use the search function in Netflix, but when I put his name in, A Late Quartet popped up. 

It’s always a gamble when you try out a film that you’ve never heard of.  It may be a hidden gem or perhaps you haven’t heard of it for good reason.  I happen to dig that gamble. 

So which one is A Late Quartet? 

Movie Week - The Savages

Like I said earlier in the week, I was completely blown by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.  He impressed me whenever he’d pop up in Paul Thomas Anderson films, which made me a fan of his.   He’s probably the best part of Mission Impossible III and I’m sad that he’s gone. 

If there’s a silver lining it’s that I haven’t seen everything he’s done.  I’m still discovering his roles and films. 

The Savages is one of those films. 

Movie Week - Beginners

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I tend to enjoy a good personal movie.  There’s something about a person really investing, emotionally, in a project that makes me want to at least give it a go.  I mean if they put that much into it, the least I can do is to try it our, right? 

Beginners is one of those types of films. 

Movie Week - In A World

I love films that offer a peek into a world that I don’t really know that much about.  I like that into of something that I don’t really understand.  Those films can be a bunch of fun.

I’m also very interested in writing and directing debuts.  I often find inspiration in see how these artists brought their vision to fruition. 

In A World is one such film. 

Movie Week - Escape From Tomorrow

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Part of the joy of Movie Week is checking out a film that I probably wouldn’t have ordinarily have watched.  Sometimes it’s because I wouldn’t have had access to it in theaters or because it’s not a huge movie and it flew under the radar. 

It’s a fun opportunity to venture outside of my normal comfort zone as a viewer.  Of course sometimes it’s not so fun. 

And so we have Escape from Tomorrow. 

Movie Week - World War Z

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I remember reading stories about how World War Z was doomed.  It was over-budget and had to do extensive reshoots.  Those are never good things and the film sounded like a mess.

Still, it ended up being successful enough to have a sequel announced.  World War Z was a hit, despite all of the things that apparently went wrong behind the scenes. 

I was kind of looking forward to watching it. 

Movie Week - Cold Mountain

I am not much of a reader.  I purchase maybe one book a year and I usually don’t read it.  Case in point; I picked up Jay-Z’s Decoded when it was released and never got around to reading it. 

So the whole idea of a film being based on a book, isn’t really a selling point for me.  Maybe if it’s based on a comic book, I might check it out.  But I guess I’m not the biggest fan of adaptations. 

Cold Mountain is an adaptation. 

Movie Week - Lovelace

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Movie Week - Fruitvale Station

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I kind of put off watching Fruitvale Station.  I think I was worried about what sort of mindset it would put me in, especially given the current climate. 

But I’m always rooting for alums of The Wire.  And especially for “Wallace.”

Watching Fruitvale Station was inevitable.

Movie Week - Filth

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I have an Apple TV.   I’m a fan.  It’s crazy convenient and given the other Apple products that I own, it fits right in.

I also have the screensaver set up to the movie poster option.  So, whenever things have been idle for five minutes, up comes a parade of movie posters.  Some are upcoming movies while others have come and flopped.  Some are new to iTunes, while others are apparently available on other services. 

It’s some great advertising.  And it’s how I first came across Filth. 

Movie Week - Pineapple Express

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Seth Rogen and James Franco.  A decade ago you’d never have guessed that in 2014 those two actors would have one foot firmly planted in pretentious.  I don’t think it’s a scenario that many people would have expected, yet it’s totally true.

Franco’s attempt at achieving polymath status has turned his critics into haters.  I’m fine with dude, because for every book of poetry you get a doc on Saturday Night Live.  He knows how to mix things up. 

Rogen on the other hand, not content to be famous as both a writer and comic actor, has recently ventured into social criticism via twitter.  It’s annoying and shows that he takes himself more seriously than anyone else does. 

Which brings us to Pineapple Express.

Movie Week - Lawless

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I remember being intrigued by Lawless.  Two-thirds of the brothers in this film were portrayed by actors that I first became acquainted with via Showtime shows. 

Tom Hardy played Jack Donnelly on Meadowlands, arguably the most compelling character on that show.  And Jason Clarke portrayed Tommy Caffee on Brotherhood, a show that’s easily one of my top ten all time favorites. 

So, how did I feel about Lawless? 

Movie Week - Step Brothers

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I used to be a fan of Will Ferrell.  I can remember when he was the funniest guy on SNL.  I remember watching the Don’t Fear the Reaper sketch live.

I even went along with Will when he ventured to the movies.  At least in the beginning.  Old School was dope and the first Anchorman felt fresh.  But something happened and Will Ferrell movies stopped being “must see.” 

And that’s how I missed Step Brothers the first time around. 

Movie Week - Stoker

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I’m really trying to remember how I first encountered the trailer for Stoker.  I want to say maybe it was in the theater?  Maybe The Charles?  I genuinely can’t recall. 

But I do remember being very intrigued.  It was a very well done trailer that gave the briefest hint of what the film was about  but completely captured the tone and mood of the film.  I liked what I saw and I’ve wanted to check out Stoker ever since. 

I’d missed it on HBO Go a couple times, but thankfully the stars aligned for Movie Week.