Report Card----"Truth"

"Truth" is Robert Redford as Dan Rather.
It's about his firing at CBS for reporting on George W. Bush's poor attendance record when he was in the National Guard, dodging the draft. They had him dead to rights but key witnesses were forced to recant after pressure was put on by the Bush family. This was right before Bush's re-election.
It's a great story, and the movie should have been made right after the election, when it might have done some good.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Extremely. And I knew nothing about it.
A+.

Compelling even?

Quite.
A+.

Is it controversial?

It cost Rather his job. It shouldn't have.
A.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Totally great storytelling. It's a great story.
A+.

Is it well written?

First rate.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Yes on all counts. Redford totally captures Rather.
A+.

Well shot?

Very.
A.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

Not that I could see.
C.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's never an issue.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Perfect.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I knew he was fired. Everything else was surprising and distressing.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Often. Mainly about how Al Gore should have been President. Twice.
A+.

Is it funny?

Sometimes very funny.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If you like to spend money on movies....
A.

Is it impressive?

Overwhelmingly.
A+

Overall grade: A+.

This is another truly great movie.
It's starting to become an embarrassment of riches.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Great storytelling. It's a great story.
A+.

Is it well written?

Nobody writes better dialogue than Aaron Sorkin. And his fingerprints are all over this one.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Yes on all counts.
A+.

Well shot?

Very.
A.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

It's Sorkin's movie
B.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's never an issue.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

At 2 hours, it just zips by.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

It was all news to me.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Often.
A+.

Is it funny?

When it's called for.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If you're so inclined.
A.

Is it impressive?

Overwhelmingly.
A+

Overall grade: A+.

This is a truly great movie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card-----"Steve Jobs".

I was truly surprised by how little I knew about Steve Jobs before I saw this movie.
Afterwards, I checked out Wikipedia to get a sense of how accurate it was.
Turns out, it was pretty accurate.
This is a fascinating story about a complete megalomaniac.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

I'll use the word again. Fascinating.
A+.

Compelling even?

Most of the time.
A+.

Is it controversial?

He seems to have been a lot of different things to a lot of people. Some give him very little credit for his contributions to
Apple's success. Some give him a lot. It's difficult to tell where the truth lies. This adds to the overall interest.
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Great storytelling. It's a great story.
A+.

Is it well written?

Nobody writes better dialogue than Aaron Sorkin. And his fingerprints are all over this one.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Yes on all counts.
A+.

Well shot?

Very.
A.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

It's Sorkin's movie
B.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's never an issue.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

At 2 hours, it just zips by.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

It was all news to me.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Often.
A+.

Is it funny?

When it's called for.
A.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If you're so inclined.
A.

Is it impressive?

Overwhelmingly.
A+

Overall grade: A+.

This is a truly great movie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card-----"Black Mass"

"Black Mass" is Johnny Depp as the notorious criminal-turned-FBI informant Whitey Bulger.
I was vaguely aware of his case.
"Black Mass" lays it out completely.
I don't know why it's called "Black Mass"
It's a particularly off-putting, inappropriate title, and wouldn't lend itself to my wanting to see it.
That being said, there are lots of good things to say about it.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Pretty consistently.
A.

Compelling even?

Occasionally.
A.

Is it controversial?

Nobody really disputes what happened.
B.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely. And it's true.
A.

Is it good storytelling?

Very violent, and gory. Much like his life.
A.

Is it well written?

Very.
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?

Yes on all counts.
A.

Well shot?

Very.
A.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

I don't think so.
C.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's immediately and quite colorfully established immediately as South Boston in the mid seventies and then the mid eighties.
Great looking cars.
I miss them.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Perfect.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and yes.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I had no recollection of what happened to Bulger. I was somewhat surprised when that information was revealed.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Not really, but it doesn't matter.
B.

Is it funny?

When it wants to be, which is often enough.
B.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

Probably not.
C.

Is it impressive?

Fairly impressive.
B.

Overall grade: B+.

When it shows up on HBO, I'd keep an eye out for it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE Eaton Magoon Jr.

So I'm watching a rerun of the old "To Tell The Truth" series, because there is just so much Paris news that I can stomach.
It's from about 1961.
Don Ameche is one of the panelists.
Bud Collyer is promoting and plugging Ameche's new Broadway musical, "Thirteen Daughters".
Now, I have prided myself in knowing everything there is to know about every Broadway musical, and who appeared in them.
I had never heard of "Thirteen Daughters".
I knew about "Silk Stockings" the Cole Porter show he starred in, and "Goldilocks" which had Elaine Strich and a wonderful Leroy Anderson score. And "Henry, Sweet Henry" which was an adaptation of "The World Of Henry Orient", with a nice score by Bob Merrill.
They all had Ameche.
But "Thirteen Daughters"? I was drawing a blank.
But the Internet didn't let me down.
I did a search. I learned that it took place in Hawaii in the late 1800's, and had book, music, and lyrics by one Eaton Magoon, Jr.
It also contains a song called "Puka,Puka Pants". Apparently not a highlight, at least according to Walter Kerr, who reviewed it.
This all begs the question "How do you raise the money for a piece of drivel like this?" How do you get Don Ameche to star in it?"
But somehow the money was raised and Don Ameche was roped into it, and spent the evenings speaking in pidgin English, with his eyebrows taped down.
It ran 28 performances before they had to fumigate the theatre.
This led me to check out Eaton Magoon Jr.'s other credits if he in fact had any.
One other credit: In the early 1970's, Magoon resurfaced by providing the book, music, and lyrics for another musical about Hawaii in the 1800s.
It was called "Heathen!"
This one didn't have no Don Ameche.
It didn't have anybody that I had heard of.
This begs the question "Did he have the nerve to go back to any of the original investors of "Thirteen Daughters" for another
go-round?
"Heathen" folded after opening night, unanimously slammed by the critics.
How the hell did he raise the money for this one?
This one baffled me.
So, in desperation, I called the only expert on Hawaii that I know. my sister Leslie.
She has spent half her life living in Hawaii.
I held out very little hope that she could help me, but I took a shot.
She never heard of Eaton Magoon Jr.
But after a minute or two she recalled the name Magoon as someone who was a member of her health club.
She did a search, and learned that the Magoons were one of the wealthiest families in the Hawaiian islands.
Old man Magoon could have easily sprung for whatever it cost to mount a Broadway musical in 1961, or 1972.
So there you have it.
They were both total vanity productions.
And I consider my knowledge broadened.


----------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card----"99 Homes"

"99 Homes" is a totally absorbing, tragic story about the recently burst housing bubble---the victims and the victimizers.
It's a very literate film, totally geared for adults.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Constantly.
A+.

Compelling even?

Constantly.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Extremely.
A+

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

It is a model of good storytelling.
A+.

Is it well written?

Very.
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?

It's got Laura Dern, having an adult son, and a young grandson. I don't like to think of Laura Dern in those terms.
but she was very good.
B.

Well shot?

Very.
A..

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

I don't think so. All that's needed is to follow the script.
C.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's established early on as Orlando Florida.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Perfect.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and yes.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Slightly predictable, but it surprises in its execution..
B.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Yes. It's subject matter is mesmerizing, and I learned a great deal about it.
A+

Is it funny?

Occasionally, in a deadpan way.
A.


Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

If you're so inclined.
A.

Is it impressive?

One of the most impressive.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

There should be more like this one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card----"Trainwreck"

I had much higher hopes for this one.
I love Amy Schumer's TV show.
I think Bill Hader is extremely talented.
And the first five minutes, a flashback of 23 years where Colin Quinn, as Amy's and her sister's father, explains to them why he's divorcing their mother.
It is manic, and easily the funniest thing in the movie.
So it peaked in the first five minutes.
And went steadily downhill from there.
Not much of a spoiler alert, but Quinn's character dies half way through.
His scenes were the only things I had to look forward to.
It reminded me of "City Slickers".
When Jack Palance died the movie died.
But "City Slickers" at least had the good taste to be hilarious for the first 45 minutes.
"Trainwreck" was only funny when Colin Quinn was on the screen.
So when Quinn's character died, the movie died.
I've been reading Judd Apatow's book of interviews with comedians, which turns out to be as much about Judd Apatow as the comedians he's interviewing.
There is a running thread about how he is less than happy about his film output.
He doesn't seem to enjoy his movies.
All I can do is agree.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Intermittently.
C.

Compelling even?

Never. Not even in Quinn's scenes.
C-

Is it controversial?

Not at all.
D.

Is it a story worth telling?

There's nothing new here.
C-.

Is it good storytelling?

It is unnecessarily dark and painful.
D.

Is it well written?

It's a complete contrivance.
F.

Is it well cast? Well played?

They have Quinn, and Norman Lloyd. The rest are all people I like to see, but are totally wasted.
B.

Well shot?

Not particularly.
C.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

Amy Schumer wrote it, and is capable of so much better. Maybe Apatow is a bad influence on her.
C-.

How long does it take to establish the film's locale?

It's New York, and it's early enough.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Way too long,
C-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

No, and no.
F.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Totally predictable, and absolutely no surprises.
D-.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Only about my disappointment with it.
D.

Is it funny?

Only Quinn. That's not enough.
C.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

No thank you.
F.

Is it impressive?

No.
F.

Overall grade: C-.

This movie was marketed fraudulently. They were selling a non-stop laff-riot.
What you got was a depressing downer that violated it's own reality.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.