It Was The Best Of Mickey Rooney.....

Yes, the man had character flaws:
Boorishness, especially in public, and I'm told, in private.
Poor judgment.
A total lack of discipline.
Yet, he probably had more raw talent than anyone else who ever lived.
When "The Odd Couple" was being planned as a TV series, it was Tony Randall's choice as to who would play Oscar.
Tony had performed the play in Las Vegas opposite Mickey.
Tony thought Mickey was the greatest thing since sliced bread, even though Mickey had a tendency to stray from the page and the action.
But Tony easily guided him back to civilization.
And to Tony, it was worth the effort.
That's how much he thought of him.
So when Garry Marshall asked Tony who he wanted as Oscar, Tony immediately shot back with Mickey Rooney.
On the TV stage, it was easier to yell "Cut!", and eliminate the straying.
After major wincing, Garry proposed that Tony write down on a piece of paper any other name, and sight unseen, Garry would be fine with him.
And that's how Jack Klugman was born.
Garry had worked with Mickey on a TV movie called "Evil Roy Slade".
Mickey did some really good work in "Evil Roy Slade".
Garry just couldn't stomach being around him.
As Jack Klugman was quite instrumental in launching my career, it must at least be somewhat attributed to how much people didn't want to be around Mickey Rooney.
So I owe him that.
But all of this is transcended by the wonderful work he displayed over a career that outspanned everyone else's.
 Where to start?
I guess chronologically.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream", where still  child, he played Puck.
Brilliantly.
"Boy's Town", opposite Spencer Tracy.
Exceptional.  Easily sharing the screen with Tracy.
"Young Tom Edison".  Great.
All those Andy Hardy movies, which I've always been a sucker for.
Evocative of a time in this country that probably never existed, but boy, did you wish it did.
The Mickey-Judy "Let's put on a  show" musicals.
She was his female match when it came to talent, and I was always in awe watching the two of them together.
"The Human Comedy".  The film adaptation of the William Saroyan play, where as a young teenager, Mickey had a job at Western Union, delivering telegrams.
This was during World War Two.
And I'll never forget the scene that depicted the first time that he had to deliver a telegram to a family, informing them that their son was killed in battle.
It seemed to torture Mickey's character more than the family.
It has always been haunting to me.
There will be a part two of this, because we have barely scratched the surface.
You'd think maybe I'd covered it, but really I haven't
And we will eventually get around to "The Worst of Mickey Rooney"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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, and my 4-hour interview at the Television Academy's Emmy TV Legends Website.
Here's the link:  www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/mark-rothman
Add to this, my new Kickstarter project, "Another Network".  Please check it out at Kickstarter.com

*****

Hey There, Bunky.....

One of the funniest people ever died last Tuesday.
His name was Eddie Lawrence.
Maybe you'd know him better as "The Old Philosopher"
Maybe you wouldn't.
But his Old Philosopher routine was as funny as I can remember.
And this goes back to my childhood.
It was usually in the form of a comedy album.
Perhaps the first clean one ever, of course not counting Redd Foxx and Belle Barth.
But I always thought it worked better visually.
He did all the major TV variety shows with it----Sullivan, Steve Allen, Carson, and invariably killed.

For the unfamiliar, I'll paraphrase an example of what he did from his New York Times Obituary:

(With the soft strains of "Beautiful Dreamer" in the background)
“Hey there, Bunky, you say you lost your job today?
You say it’s 4 a.m. and your kids ain’t come home from school yet?
You say your wife went out for a corned beef sandwich last weekend — the corned beef sandwich came back but she didn’t?
You say your furniture’s out all over the sidewalk cause you can’t pay the rent and you got chapped lips and paper cuts and your feet’s all swollen up and blistered from pounding the pavement looking for work?
Is that’s what’s troubling you, fella?”
(Then, as "Beautiful Dreamer" gave way to a marching band playing something boisterous by John Philip Sousa, he bellowed).

“Then lift your head up high!
Take a walk in the sun with that dignity and stick-to-it-iveness, and you’ll show the world, you’ll show them where to get off!
And you’ll never give up, never give up, never give up ((whap! whap!) — that ship!”
Then he'd do two or three more versions, with different jokes, but always followed up by never giving up that ship.

There is a live performance of this on YouTube.
Just type in Eddie Lawrence The Old Philosopher, and click on the one where you can see his face.
NOT one of the album covers.
An album cover will be at the beginning of that one too, but it's not the icon.
You all owe yourselves this.
Some people a little younger than me might be familiar with some of this because Soupy Sales, on his TV show, when he went to the radio to check the weather, would "stumble" across a cut from one of Eddie's albums.
Or he'd have Pookie the lion mime him.

Eddie Lawrence also had a very good part in the Broadway musical "Bells Are Ringing" and the distinction of writing the book and lyrics for the shortest running musical ever to open on Broadway.
It was "Kelly", and it ran one night.
Lawrence sued to prevent it from opening, after changes he didn't approve of were added.
It sounds like he had taste.
I also vaguely remember him briefly hosting a kiddie show on TV, not unlike "Howdy Doody", or maybe he was filling in for Buffalo Bob.
And whenever he did the live commercials, or when the kids in the Peanut Gallery were starting to bug him, he would mildly threaten them with "Thumps"
As in "If you kids keep this up, you'll be getting your thumps"
Or, If you don't buy these Tootsie Rolls, you're gonna get your thumps".
Occasionally he'd call them "your little thumperinos"
It made me hysterical.
He had a brief but memorable part in the film "The Night They Raided Minsky's"
He played one of the burlesque comics.
On the burlesque stage, he appeared in the sketch commonly known as "Crazy House".
In it, he played the patient in a hospital room, and people would come in and do crazy things
As each punchline was reached, Lawrence would punctuate it by yelling "Nurse! Nurse!", and rolling his eyes and his fingers.
As far as I'm concerned, he stole the picture right there.

He will be sorely missed, but it's really nice that he made it to be 95 years old.

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

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".
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, and my 4-hour interview at the Television Academy's Emmy TV Legends Website.
Here's the link:  www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/mark-rothman

 

*****

Officially Legendary.

A while back, (last September, to be precise,) I wrote an eight part series of articles entitled ""Why I Am Not Babaloo Mandel".
It was essentially a response to my former writing partner Lowell Ganz's 4-hour interview at the Television Academy's Emmy TV Legends website.
I followed it with a post entitled "Coda".
In "Coda", I informed my readers that I had just completed my own 4-hour interview at the same website.
I was told that it would probably take a few months before the interview would be put up on the website.
Well, a few months have since passed.
It is now March, and the interview is now online at the website.
Here's the link:  www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/mark-rothman
It covers a lot of ground about my life and career.
It deals with a lot of what I covered in the "Babaloo Mandel" articles, in a somewhat less gritty fashion.
I essentially followed my late mother's advice with this one----"You should make a nice appearance", and "Speak out loud, and with expression".
People who have seen it say I look great, so that takes care of the first.
And I can't think of a time when I have not spoken out loud and with expression.
So at least on that level, she'd be pleased.
Maybe less so when I made fun of her here and there.
I'm also hearing that the interview is very entertaining.
The interviewer is always instructed not to laugh, thus she didn't.
But I had the cameraman and the boom-mike guy in stitches.
I know this because I could see it, and they told me afterwards.
I don't think you can hear them, though.
If you watch the first part, and then want to see the second part, it can get tricky.
Just click where it says "Interview" underneath where my picture is.
The same applies to the third and fourth parts.
If you're still having trouble, e-mail me, and I can try to guide you through it.
I'm not going to post again this week, because I'd like to have this one be at the top of the blog, to call as much attention to it as I can.
But I'll be back next week.

 

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

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".
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, and my 4-hour interview at the Television Academy's Emmy TV Legends Website.
Here's the link:  www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/mark-rothman

 

*****

Calculations.

I went out for lunch with one of my friends here in Detroit last week at one of those restaurants that had lanterns over each table.
Kind of an upgraded Applebees, with better food.
The miracles of the 21st Century have eliminated two of my biggest weaknesses in life:
The GPS, which has neutralized my lack of any sense of direction behind the wheel, and my newly acquired app for a restaurant tip calculator, eliminating my inability to figure out how much of a tip  to leave, based on service received.
This week, the Malaysian Airliner is the top news story.
Last week, at the restaurant, it was the Ukraine.

I love intelligent verbal sparring with waitresses.
Call me sexist if you must, but I don't derive the same enjoyment verballizing with waiters, nor do they with me.
The young waitress we had that day was sharp as a tack.  We were making each other laugh repeatedly.
Part of good waitressing is how good a show you can put on.
It's not just about schlepping out food.
And she was brilliant at it.
We were having a grand old time.
I had already set her at 22% on my tip calculator
Then, I said to my friend, in front of the waitress,  You know what bugs me about this whole Ukraine situation?  It's knocked Chris Christie off the front page."
I consider the whole Chris Christie story just about the most compelling story of the last few years.
Perhaps not the most important, but certainly the most compelling.
It's classic Good Guys vs. Bad Guys.
You can't beat it.
And it's still unraveling.  Nothing should knock it off the front page.
This very sharp, very intelligent waitress stared at me and asked "Who's Chris Christie?
She hadn't a clue.
Then I asked "Do you  know what the Ukraine is?
She stared at me blankly.
I said "You know.  A  crane.  A bird.  And it goes  "Ooh, ooh".  Just like Gunther Toody."
Like I had a prayer with that one.
I learned the hard way that intelligence doesn't necessarily translate to knowledge.
And in this case, to have no respect for knowledge.
And this may seem a little harsh, but my only recourse was to roll down  my tip calculator to 13%.

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

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".
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.

*****

I See Nothing.

Cynthia Lynn died last week.
Until last week, I had no idea who Cynthia Lynn was.
That's because her only claim to fame was as Helga on the TV series "Hogan's Heroes".
I only watched "Hogan's Heroes" the first time it was on.
That's because I found it to be almost as big an atrocity as the Holocaust itself.
It was ostensibly based on Billy Wilder's great "Stalag 17".
But even though that film had it's comic touches, it was very much a serious movie.
The premise of "Hogan's Heroes"" was to portray Nazis as comic buffoons.
As idiots.
As non-threatening idiots.
In "Stalag 17", there was always menacing danger lurking.
My reaction to that singular viewing of "Hogan's Heroes" was quite similar to the first act audience's first response to "Springtime For Hitler" in "The Producers".
Except that I never recovered from it.
It's as if it was produced by Max Bialystock.
How does a Jew, who lost many of his ancestors to what went on in Concentration Camps, react to witnessing funny, silly Nazis?
If you're me, you're outraged.
And you don't watch again.
That's why I never heard of Cynthia Lynn.
Robert Clary is now the sole surviving member of the "Hogan's Heroes" cast.
You'd think he'd be particularly sensitive to the same concerns that I've had, since he spent most of his childhood in Concentration Camps.
But I guess a gig's a gig.
In the early 90's, I lived near Scottsdale Arizona.
One night I watched the A&E documentary about the murder of Bob Crane.
I realized that it took place about two miles from my house.
It was easy to track down.
So whenever friends would come to visit me in Scottsdale, I'd take them on a guided tour of the front of the apartment where Bob Crane was murdered.
That consistently provided me with more laughs than ""Hogan's Heroes" ever did.

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

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".
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---"Prisoners"

This will be the last Report Card for the past movie season.
Then, next week, we will go back to real life.

"Prisoners" is essentially a two-part episode of "Law and Order---Criminal Intent"
That was a show that I really liked a lot.
And the quality here is pretty much at that level.
The main difference is that the father of the two kidnapping victims (Hugh Jackman), not a criminologist, is the savant equivalent of Vincent D'Onofrio on "L&O----Criminal Intent".
All that's missing is Jackman stooping way over like D'Onofrio to interrogate his witness.
And the cop running the investigation (Jake Gyllenhall) is a bit of a lunkhead.
I found this to be an interesting twist.
I found this to be a very good movie, although it really felt more like a really good TV show.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Extremely.
A+.

Compelling even?

Sometimes.
A.

Is it controversial?

It's not really that deep.
B-.

Is it a story worth telling?

It is a ripping yarn.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Extremely.
A+.

Is it well written?

The writing serves the story very well..
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

I love Hugh Jackman, and he's terrific in this.
Gyllenhall is okay.   It's shot well.
B+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It's long, but doesn't feel it.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Jackman seems a little too smart, but that's easily overlooked.  You certainly care about the characters.
B+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

It manages to stay ahead of you, except at the very end.
B+.

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

It's not really that kind of movie.
B..

Is it funny?

Occasionally
B..

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

It really felt like television.
C.

Is it impressive ?

Somewhat.
B+.

Overall grade: A-.

 The enjoyment here is purely while you watch it.  Not at all what you bring away from 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".
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---"Before Midnight"

This movie got a nomination for Best Screenplay.
It would have gotten my vote for Best Boring Screenplay.
That's about it.
After I saw it, I learned that it was the third of a trilogy.
I can't imagine what the first two were.
The first hour or so is merely amiable chatter among a husband and wife and their friends.
Then the friends go away and things get less amiable, and slightly more interesting.
Slightly more interesting than Really Boring.

 On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Asked and answered.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

Only on the issue of "How did they get three movies out of these characters?
F.

Is it a story worth telling?

Not once, much less three times.
F.

Is it good storytelling?

Totally out of balance.
F.

Is it well written?

Only when the couple starts arguing.
B-.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

Not particularly, on any level.
C.
 
Is it too long? Too short?

WAY too long.
F.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Life can certainly be this tedious, but why immortalize it?
And no, I don't care about the characters.
F.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I was surprised when it made it's turn and got sort of interesting.
B.

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

I just barely recall it now.
F.

Is it funny?

No.
F.

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

I keep trying to come up with new ways of saying "No", but no.
F.

Is it impressive ?

Never.
F.
Overall grade: C-..

 The celluloid definition of "artsy-fartsy".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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----"42"

This is the other ennobling film dealing with racial intolerance that I'm reporting on this week.
Unlike the others, I thought "42" was magnificent on almost every level.
It deserved an Oscar nomination, at least.
And based on the way the voting went, it should have won.
I thought that just in terms of importance, it deserved more than the others of it's ilk.
Everyone, of every generation, knows what went on with slavery.
But we have to keep reminding kids, who think that baseball was always integrated, how important Jackie Robinson was.
And "42" did a wonderful job of that.  

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Thoroughly.  And I knew all about it.  Imagine those who didn't.
A+.

Compelling even?

Totally.
A+.

Is it controversial?

It cuts it's teeth on controversy.
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Vitally
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Excellent.
A+.

Is it well written?

Very.  Much was based on things that were actually said.
A.

Is it well cast? Well played? 

Harrison Ford bought tremendous presence to Branch Rickey.  The kid playing Jackie Robinson wasn't as interesting as Robinson himself.
B+.

Well shot?

I'm separating this question for the first time.  The shooting and the art direction in particular were so magnificent that it must be discussed separately.  I don't know how they managed to do it, but they managed to recreate, brick by brick, all the old ballparks that have been torn down that Robinson played in.  And all the teams' uniforms were perfectly recreated.  I know that this only matters to a rabid baseball fan, but I am one.  Care was taken.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Never an issue.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Of course, and of course.  I was a little surprised that, even though his character appeared in the film, nothing was made of Red Barber's expressing his reluctance to continue calling the games for the Dodgers.  Barber was from the Deep South, and had later expressed his regrets about feeling that way. Thus, his function in the film was as a mere sportscaster.  It makes me wonder if a scene about this was shot, but ended up on the cutting room floor.
B.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Not really an issue.
No Grade.

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

Only about Red Barber, and how good Harrison Ford was.  Where was his nomination?
A.

Is it funny?

When it tries to be, which isn't often.
B.

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

It depends on how big the TV screen in your house is, and whether you have HD.
B+.

Is it impressive ?

Totally.
A.

Overall grade: A.

This one was criminally ignored.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"Lee Daniel's 'The Butler' ".

Now that the Academy has rolled over and played dead for a picture ennobling the Black Experience, this and the next post will deal with two films with similar themes that the Academy completely ignored.
Beginning with "Lee Daniel's 'The Butler' ".
You kind of know you're in some sort of trouble when you give a possessive credit in the title to a director you've never heard of.
Seems, what's the word, pretentious?
This pretty much sums up the film.
I disliked it less than I disliked "Twelve Years A Slave", a dead horse that I will continue to flog at any opportunity, but that's not saying much.
This "Butler" film is essentially two movies.
One follows the butler character as he serves various Presidents in a career in the White House spanning generations.
The other follows his son, who has morphed himself into an Eldridge Cleaver type.
It's difficult to determine which is less interesting.
They each give each other a run for their money.
I was a little less impartial to the Butler's story.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

On rare occasions.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

It seems to strive for it, but it really isn't.
C-.

Is it a story worth telling?

I saw no need.
D.

Is it good storytelling?

It was told rather tediously.
C-.

Is it well written?

There wasn't much to work with, and the writing certainly didn't transcend it
C-.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

I suppose all three.  That's the kindest thing I can say about it.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

A little long.
B-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

I cared about the butler.  I didn't  care about his son.
B-.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

You don't even think about it in those terms.
C-.

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

Not a bit.
D.

Is it funny?

Never.
F.

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

Maybe if you're black.  Maybe.
C-.

Is it impressive ?

It didn't impress me.
C.

Overall grade: C-.

It was really just pageantry..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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.

*****

Rothman's Osar Picks. Part Three.

Best Picture;  This is essentially a recap of the Report Cards I did on each of these movies.
But at least it's all on one page.

American Hustle"----I enjoyed the hell out of it.  Much better than I enjoyed David O. Russell's other films.  Mostly excellent.

 "Captain Phillips"---Pretty dopey.  Really doesn't belong here.

 "Dallas Buyers Club"---Starts slowly, and builds very effectively.  Very impressive.

"Gravity"---Really, really doesn't  belong here.

 "Her"---Utterly imaginative.  Spectacularly executed. Wouldn't bellyache too much if it won.

 "Nebraska"---Far and away the best film of this and most years.

 "Philomena"---Haunting and effecting.  Some other year, perhaps.

 "12 Years A Slave"---Bringing up the rear.

 "The Wolf of Wall Street"---Bringing up the rear of the rear.

So where's "Blue Jasmine" and "August Osage County"?
They both got jobbed.
But I say "Nebraska".

Enjoy the show.

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

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".
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.

*****

Rothman's Oscar Picks. Part Two.

Best Actor and Best Actress:
(Again, my personal choices.  Not predictions.  I haven't the slightest idea who the voters will choose.)

Best Actor:

Christian Bale, "American Hustle"---Boy, is he good.  And versatile.
Only problem is, he's not Bruce Dern.

Leonardo DiCapri, "The Wolf of Wall Street"---Just an excuse to be loud and showy.  Certainly not Dern.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years A Slave----Quite convincing playing an African.  Being one might have helped.  Not Dern.

Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"---Good in every and all the things he did last year.
But nothing overwhelming.  Not Dern.

Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"---Had the very good taste to be Bruce Dern.  And to dominate and own the screen in a great movie.

Dern, Dern, Dern, Dern, and Dern.
I can't say it often enough.
.
Best Actress:

Amy Adams, "American Hustle"---I'm tired of her.  I think she's a one-note actress.

Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"---An incredibly nuanced performance.  Stunning.

Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"---What the hell is she doing on this list??

Judi Dench, "Philomena"  I love Judi Dench.  And she was wonderful in this.  But she totally underplayed it, making it less eye-catching.

Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"---Streep is the great scenery-chewer of all time.
And there is certainly what to be chewed here.  She chews it up and spits it out like it was Wrigley's Spearmint.

A two-horse race.  Blanchett and Streep. Either choice would delight me.  Put a gun to my head, and I'd have to go with Streep.

Next time, Best Picture.

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

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".
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".
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.

*****

Rothman's Oscar Picks. Part One.

Unlike years past, this year I have seen every nominee an every film up for the major nominations.
So I'm not doing any guessing here.
These are my choices.
Not my predictions of who will win.
Only who I think should.

We'll begin with Best Supporting Actor:

Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"----He was quite convincing playing an African.  Being one might have helped.

Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"---Way overshadowed by Christian Bale.

Michael Fassbender, "12 Years A Slave"---Nobody impressed me in this.   Including him.

Jonah Hill, "The Wolf of Wall Street"---Nothing I haven't seen him do before, except less gross than this.

Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"---Very impressive as a transgender.  I don't know enough about him to know what he is really like, but he scored well here.

A very thin selection to choose from .  If Paul Giamatti had been nominated for "Saving Mr. Banks", he'd easily get my vote.
As it stands, I'd give it to Jared Leto.

Best Supporting Actress: 

Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"---Way overshadowed by Cate Blanchette.  I barely noticed her.

Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"---Just great.  Maybe this generation's Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers.  A total chameleon from role to role.  And great every time.
 
Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years A Slave"---Very effective, and quite convincing playing an African.  Being one might have helped.

Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"---Very powerful, very showy, but I think ultimately miscast.
Her role required someone older-looking and frumpier.
 
June Squibb, "Nebraska"---Wonderfully funny.  If the competition wasn't stiffer, she'd have my vote.

It has to be Jennifer Lawrence.  Hands down.

Next time, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

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

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".
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---""Nebraska"

This is the last Report Card I will do until after the Oscars are given out.
Then, I'll do a few more.
But by doing "Nebraska" now, I will have covered all the major nominations.
And the next three posts will have my choices and reasons for who should receive the awards.
And this last one is easily the best.
I've seen a lot of wonderful movies this past season, but "Nebraska" is the only perfect one.
"American Hustle" had it's story hole.
"August Osage County was slightly miscast, and wasn't even nominated.
Nor was "Blue Jasmine"
"Dallas Buyers Club" started out way too slowly.
"Nebraska" surpassed all of these.
By being perfect.
 
On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Fascinating.
A+.

Compelling even?

Totally.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Only in that I keep telling everyone how perfect it is..
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Over and over..
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Wonderful. 
A+.

Is it well written?

Perfectly.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

Yes, yes, and yes.
Bruce Dern was brilliant and compelling.  June Squibb as his wife, was a complete hoot.
The cinematography was magnificent.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Perfect.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Perfect, and perfect.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Never, and always.  Perfect.
A+.

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

Often.
A+.

Is it funny?

Brilliantly.  And it's not a comedy.
A+.

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

I'm sorry I didn't see it that way.
A+.

Is it impressive ?

Perfect.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

I guess this has been a bit of a spoiler alert for my choice for Best Picture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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.

*****

Sid And Shirley.

Back to more Report Cards next time.

It's simple.
This week, we lost two of the most talented people who ever lived.
I mean two of THE most talented.

Shirley Temple, aside from brightening up the lives of an entire generation who desperately needed it, did it in a manner so incandescently that the word "dazzling" is a major understatement.
Talent just oozed out of her.
Singing, acting, making you care about her, making you feel that she cared about you, and most interestingly, dancing.
Witness when she shared the screen with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson to dance with him.
He taught her what he knew, and she instantly caught on.
Robinson himself was astounded.
Then, she grew up.
And it was all over.
What was there as a child wasn't really there as an adolescent or an adult.
But her talent as an adult wasn't a creative one.
It was a talent for living an honorable, successful life.
My favorite song that she sang in one of her movies is "I Love To Walk In The Rain".
Someday soon, I hope that it will be raining outside, and I will have the opportunity to walk in it.

When network television was in it's absolute infancy, one man made it almost instantly enormously popular overnight.
That man was Milton Berle.
And he caught the excitement and immediacy of live television, and rode that wave for several years.
But talent-wise, Berle was no more than a middleweight.
The Berle Show was basically shlock.
A couple of years later, one other man single-handedly turned television into an art form.
He was easily the most sophisticated, glib, physically gifted, and gut-busting funny sketch actor.
He was also the most sophisticated and gut-busting pantomimist.
I'm including Chaplin here.
He was the best interpreter of written material.
The better the material, the better he interpreted it.
Even to the point of improving it, in an improvisatory way.
Live.
In front of America.
It literally became Comedia Del' Arte, in the best sense.
That man was Sid Caesar.
He did satires of foreign movies in very convincing phony Italian, German, Japanese, and Russian gibberish, when most of his audience had never even SEEN a foreign movie.
Jackie Gleason attempted some artfulness, but was a distant second, and far more broad.
Then, people started getting TV sets in Wyoming.
And they weren't interested in art forms.
NOBODY in Wyoming had seen a foreign movie.
They were interested in Lawrence Welk, who knocked Caesar off in the ratings.
And it was over.
Caesar never lost his creative talent, but never recaptured his success.
And I understand that it embittered him.
And he never again had a talent for living a contented life.

Sid and Shirley both lived long lives chronologically, but their losses, in the same week, are staggering.

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

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".
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.

Report Card---"Blue Jasmine"

To be molested as a child is about as terrible a thing that can happen to a person.
To be accused of molesting a child when you didn't, in public, is a close second.
One of these things involved Woody Allen.
After reading all the pertinent things to be read about the matter, I'm inclined to think the latter.
It's not a firm judgment.
Just an inclination.
I saw 'Blue Jasmine" a few weeks ago, and nothing about this case has changed anything about my reaction to that film.
Woody Allen is that rare kind of filmmaker who can turn out five stinkers in a row, and I will  get in line to see the next one.
That's how great the great ones are.
"Blue Jasmine' is right up there with his greatest:
"Broadway Danny Rose"
"Crimes and Misdemeanors"
"Bullets Over Broadway"
"Manhattan"
"Radio Days"
"Annie Hall"
"The Purple Rose of Cairo"
"Zelig"

It is absolutely exceptional.
It's his take on the Bernie Madoff scandal, with a touch of Blanche DuBois thrown in.
That it wasn't nominated for Best Picture by the Academy is disgraceful.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Fascinating.
A+.

Compelling even?

Totally.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Only in that it wasn't nominated.
A.

Is it a story worth telling?

Better than the real version.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Wonderful.  Great intercutting between past and present.
A+.

Is it well written?

Tops.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

Beautifully cast.  Cate Blanchette was magnificent.  Nice turns by Alec Baldwin, and, of all people, Andrew Dice Clay.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It seemed all too brief.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Totally, and totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Never, and always.
A+.

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

It's quite haunting.
A+.

Is it funny?

Very.  But that's not what's great about it.
A.

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

Yes.
A.

Is it impressive ?

I was in awe.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

I would have sat through ten stinkers in a row to stand in line for 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".
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 Few Words about Jay.

No, I'm not done with the movie Report Cards, but this is far more topical.
And if not now, when?
I've mentioned before that I've had a couple of personal dealings with Jay Leno in the past, and found him to be extremely pleasant and ingratiating.
I remember seeing him as far back as the early 70's at the Comedy Store and the Improv in L.A., where he worked far hipper, much like he did when he guested on "Letterman", and was as funny as just about anybody.
I think it's pretty apparent that he got some unfairly bad press from the media and from Conan O'Brien, when he reclaimed "The Tonight Show".
It is, after all, a business.
And show business at that.
I watched Jay's interview on "60 Minutes" and was somewhat taken aback by something he said.
When asked if he had felt "screwed" by NBC, he posed the question "If you were told in your 20's that you'd end up making millions of dollars, and then get screwed over and over, would you constantly scream 'I'm always getting screwed!' ?  Or would you take that deal and shut up?"
I must say it stopped me in my tracks for a moment, considering that I have had something of a reputation for crabbing about being screwed over the years.
But then, I recognized that it was not a level playing field.
I've never made the kind of money Jay has, he has far more options than I do, and I've been screwed far more often than Jay and Conan put together.
And usually (not always), I at least have a pretty good public face about it.
Anything to justify crabbing, I guess.

In his early days hosting "The Tonight Show", I never missed Jay's monologues.
And I thought he was quite brave to do essentially 20 minutes of it every night.
And you could tell that he loved it, and I loved it.
It certainly outshined Letterman's, who to this day, looks like he's phoning it in.
And Jay's Vegas act is nothing short of sensational.
Far more about storytelling and sharing life's intimacies with you.

All of this being said, he lost me along the way as a "Tonight Show  (And 10pm)
viewer, and I never returned.
I think it began with the snarky "Jaywalking", the very unhip sketches, and the more and more formulaic nature of the monologues.
My wife Tivoed the final week, but the only one I wanted  to watch was the final show.
The farewell.
It was, of course, an event.
Billy Crystal put together a faux Von Trapp Family, in costume, singing special lyrics to "So Long, Farewell"
It was brilliant.
Then, he brought out celebrity Von Trapps.
Jack Black, Kim Kardashian, some basketball player from the L.A. Clippers, Cheryl Crowe, Jim Parsons, Carol Burnett, and to close, Oprah.
I don't know if there were any tiffs about order of appearance, but it seemed right.
All of the celebrity Von Trapps came out in civvies.
No costumes for them.
Think of how much funnier it would have been if they were all in costume.
Think of how difficult it would have been to convince them to do it.

Jay then did a very touching, heartfelt farewell from his desk.
It made me like him even more.
But at no point did it make me feel that I'd missed anything by not watching the show for all of this time.
Then, they quite anti-climactically had Garth Brooks close the show with some shit-kicker song.
As the show business saying goes, "I wouldn't give that spot to a leopard"".
And Brooks certainly made the least of it.
But the show certainly lived up to  it's billing as an event, and I was very glad I saw it, and very glad for Jay that it was as good as it was.
It's the way you'd want to remember him.

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

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".
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----"Captain Phillips"

"Captain Phillips". like "Gravity", is also an amusement park ride.
This one is sort of like "Pirates of the Caribbean"
It is much more of a ripping yarn than "Gravity".
But there are two significant problems with it.
All the promotion for it, and the interviews with the real Captain Phillips create a spoiler alert.
You know he'll end up fine.
Also, Captain Phillips, portrayed by Tom Hanks, is essentially a shmuck and a putz.
There are fully insured ships carrying cargo through Somali Pirate infested waters, where the crew can be armed with weapons to defend themselves.
Yet, Captain Phillips knowingly and willingly commands ships that aren't insured for weaponry.
This is known as 'Asking for it".
Or perhaps "Captain Phillips is not a good enough captain to gain employment on one of those weapon-insured ships.
It leads, in any case to "shmuck and putzdom'

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Very.
A-.

Compelling even?

Not really
C.

Is it controversial?

Only in what I've already mentioned.
D..

Is it a story worth telling?

Why not?
A-.

Is it good storytelling?

At least you briefly got to see the good Captain's home life when his wife drives him to the airport.
"Gravity" cried out for such scenes.
B+.

Is it well written?

Not bad.
B.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

They sure got Africans who sounded like Africans.
I guess that's why they got all those Oscar nominations.
I'm curious to see how they would tackle other roles.
C-.

Is it too long? Too short?

A little long.
B-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

It happened.  I didn't care.  In the end credits, it said that Captain Phillips went back to sea.
Probably in another of those uninsured ships.  So I cared even less.
C-.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

You didn't need no crystal ball for this one.
D.

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

Just about how anyone can be nominated for an acting award because of accurate casting.
D.

Is it funny?

Occasionally.
B.

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

Not even in Somali trinkets.
F.

Is it impressive ?

It didn't impress me.
C.

Overall grade: B-.

Another one that didn't deserve it's Best Picture nomination.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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----"Gravity"

"Gravity" is a glorified amusement park ride.
It didn't do much for me.
I saw it on my 60-inch HD screen.
Some people that I know told me that to really appreciate it, you have to see it in IMAX.
I can think of very few movies that wouldn't be better in IMAX.
But they sent me a regular DVD, so that's how I'm judging it.
It takes two very well-known actors and put them in spacesuits and space helmets, has them hurled into outer space, and expects you to care about them purely on that basis.
Not me, Charlie.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Just barely.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
D.

Is it controversial?

No.
D.

Is it a story worth telling?

I really don't think so.
D.

Is it good storytelling?

This is where it really fails.
The movie starts with Clooney and Bullock already suited up, already in space.
It required scenes between them before they left the ground, to establish a relationship of some kind.
Antagonistic, affectionate, SOMETHING.
But no.  We're already in space when the movie begins.
F.

Is it well written?

It didn't even seem written.
D.

Is it well cast? Well played?  Well shot?

How do you not like Clooney?  How do you like or believe Bullock?
It was supposed to be a technical achievement.
I guess it was.
In IMAX.
B-.

Is it too long? Too short?

Pretty long.
C-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

It was all too technical for me., and I couldn't care less about Bullock.  It was really her movie anyway.
D+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

You pretty much know where it's headed.
D.

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

Not at all.
D.

Is it funny?

It tries occasionally, but no.
D.

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

It is to laugh.
D-.

Is it impressive ?

Technically, yes.
B+.

Overall grade: C.

That this was nominated for Best Picture and others were not, is criminal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"Mud"

"Mud" is a much, much better version of "Labor Day".
A criminal on the run with people(in this case, kids) who believe in him.
There was certainly no reason to make both movies.
There was really no reason to make either movie.
Even though "Mud" was much better than "Labor Day', that's like saying it was the smarter bear in the zoo.
If you call a movie "Mud", you kind of expect there to be a whole lot of mud in it.
Actually, it's Matthew McConnaughey's name in the movie.
Yet, there also is a whole lot of mud in this movie.  
 As I've said, this is McConnaughey's year to be in every movie.
They probably tried to get McConnaughey for "Labor Day", and he probably read it, saw that there was no place for him to take off his shirt, so he passed on it.
So they got Josh Brolin.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Fairly interesting.
B+.

Compelling even?

No.
D.

Is it controversial?

No..
D.

Is it a story worth telling?

It's still the same old story....
C.

Is it good storytelling?

Good enough
C.

Is it well written?

No memorable dialogue.
D.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

McConnaughey is very good.  I kind of understand why everybody wants him, aside from the shirt issue.  It's well shot.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

Length is not a problem.
A.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and yes.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I'm not really ahead of it.
B+.

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

I barely remembered that I saw it.
D.

Is it funny?

No. 
D.

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

Not mine.
D-.

Is it impressive ?

No.
F.

Overall grade: C+.

Just a way to fill two hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---""Labor Day"

Josh Brolin plays an escaped convict who foists himself on a mother and her kids.
They develop a fear-love relationship.
I didn't care about any of it.
I've seen worse movies than this.
And I've seen far better movies than this.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Sometimes.
B.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

Not at all.
F.

Is it a story worth telling?

I really don't think so.
D..

Is it good storytelling?

It's hard to tell a weak story well.  The use of several brief flashbacks told from Brolin's point of view was very confusing and very annoying.  Very.
C-.

Is it well written?

It's hard to write interesting dialogue for a weak story.
C-.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Brolin is kind of interesting.  I don't even remember anyone else in it.
It's shot serviceably.
B-.

Is it too long? Too short?

Way too long.
D-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Sort of, and sort of.
B.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Predictable, no surprises.
F.

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

I barely remembered what I saw.
D.

Is it funny?

No.  A little levity might have helped.
D.

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

Why not give it to charity instead?  Adopt a tiger or a polar bear or some other animal that's about to become extinct.  This movie should become extinct soon enough.
F.

Is it impressive ?

Never
F.

Overall grade: C-.

Just a time waster.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"The Wolf Of Wall Street"

Martin Scorcese:

Hugo

Casino

Goodfellas

The Color of Money

The King of Comedy

Raging Bull

Taxi Driver

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Mean Streets

These are movies that are unmatched in their artistry.
Scorcese is a national treasure.
He is the best we have.
So how did he come up with a piece of shit like "The Wolf of Wall Street"?
"The Wolf of Wall Street" is a movie about excess, made excessively.
It's nearest comp is ""American Hustle".
It shares the same theme:  The Big Con.
But it is flabby.  It is vulgar.
It spends most of it's time depicting the spoils of the successful con.
Debauchery.
Drugs, women, more drugs, alcohol, more women, and more drugs.
After about fifteen minutes, we get it.
Far more than fifteen minutes is spent on it.
Did I say flabby? vulgar?  Let me add "bloated".
"American Hustle" tells a great linear story.
"The Wolf of Wall Street" doodles and dribbles.

On to the scoring: 

Is it interesting?

Only occasionally.  Less so as it goes forth.
C.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

I keep asking how it got nominated for Best Picture.
F.

Is it a story worth telling?

We've heard it before.  Better.
F.

Is it good storytelling?

It makes a major left turn from the point.
D.

Is it well written?

Loud is no replacement for Literate.  But there are snatches of good dialogue.
C.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Everyone and everything is over the top.
D.

Is it too long? Too short?

A good hour could be cut out and wouldn't be missed.
D-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

I'm sure stuff like this has happened.  I didn't care about anybody.
D.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Predictable, no surprises.
F.

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

Mostly about my disappointment in Scorcese.
D.

Is it funny?

It tries----and mostly fails.
C-.

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

They would have to pay for me and for my popcorn.
F.

Is it impressive ?

Never
F.

Overall grade: D-.

I'm simply astounded.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"American Hustle""

"American Hustle" is a movie about the big con.
What's more fun than a movie about con men?
It was a take on the Abscam scandal a generation ago.
What was more fun than Abscam?
I think that I've established that this movie is fun.
It also has  a lot of depth to it.
It' is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen this  year, with magnificent performances up and down the line.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Totally.
A+.

Compelling even?

Often.
A+.

Is it controversial?

There are certainly moral issues at play.
A.

Is it a story worth telling?

Why not?
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Mostly.  There is one huge story hole that needed to be addressed.
To reveal it here would be a Spoiler Alert.  But anyone who wants to here it from me directly can e-mail me and I will respond about it.
It's what makes it a less than perfect movie.
B-.

Is it well written?

Very much so..
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Amy Adams, of course, is in this one too. (I keep writing that.)  Wonderful turns by Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Louis C.K., Jeremy Renner, and particularly Jennifer Lawrence.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Never an issue.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Absolutely, and absolutely.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Never predictable, always surprising.
A+.

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

Mostly about how much I enjoyed it..
A+.

Is it funny?

Hilarious
A+.

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

I suppose I could have waited for HBO.
C-.

Is it impressive ?

Very.
A.

Overall grade: A.

It's in my top three of those which were nominated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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----"Her"

""Her" is (are? am? be?) a wondrous movie.
Imaginative, intriguing, gripping,stunning, groundbreaking, thoughtful, intelligent, brilliant, clean, thrifty, brave, and reverent.
Obviously, words fail me in describing this movie.
In the not too distant future, a man develops a personal relationship with his computer program.
It's as if his Siri developed a soul.
It sounds simple enough, but it is extraordinarily layered.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Asked and answered
A+.

Compelling even?

Almost constantly.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Eerily.
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Unquestionably.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Wonderful storytelling.
A+..

Is it well written?

Dazzlingly.
A+.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Amy Adams, of course, is in this one too.  Though unseen, Scarlett Johanssen steals the show.
It is shot amazingly
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Never an issue.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Absolutely, and absolutely.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

You do see where it's  headed a mile away.  It's the only possible weakness.
But you don't mind that it goes where it's going.
B-.

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

Particularly when I'm communicating with my Siri.
A+.

Is it funny?

Here and there, not that it matters.
A.

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

Thirteen Euros, even.
A+.

Is it impressive ?

Astoundingly.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

It certainly deserves it's Oscar nomination.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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----"Twelve Years A Slave".

There it is.
There's pretty much your problem right off the top.
The title.
The title is in itself, a Spoiler.
You have a pretty good idea that you're in trouble when you need a Spoiler Alert for the TITLE.
You've got a free black man from New York who is kidnapped into slavery in the South.
So how long do you suppose he's going to remain a slave?
I'm guessing twelve years.
There are scenes early on of him possibly getting lynched. 
Do you think he gets lynched?
Not if you do the math.
He doesn't get lynched because he is "Twelve Years A Slave".
Then, shortly after there are scenes where he tries to escape.
Do you think he escapes?
Class?
That's right.
He doesn't.
And why, class?
That's right.
Because he's "Twelve Years A Slave".
As we get to the end, and they shlep in Brad Pitt, you know it's got to be for something important, or they wouldn't shlep in Brad Pitt.
Ya think it's that the kidnapee is going to get his freedom, after what looks like about twelve years?
Very good, class!
I think you're all ready for screenwriting 102.

This is one of the most predictable movies I have ever seen.
To avoid that, all it needed was a different title.
They could have called it "Morty".
Even though nobody in the movie is named Morty.
That would have been confusing, but at least it wouldn't have been predictable.
The audience might be continually asking itself "Why is this movie called "Morty"?
It's still a step up.
Aside from it's predictability, "Twelve Years A Slave" had other problems.
It is a grotesquely ugly, ham-handed movie.
And it suffers from the same problem I had with "Schindler's List"
There, you were asked to care about the survival of 1100 Jews when millions around them were being slaughtered.
Here, you are being asked to care about one black man kidnapped into slavery, when there are all these real slaves, utterly humiliated and tortured on a daily basis, with no possibility for escape.
Where's their triumph?  Why shouldn't you care just as much about them?

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Here and there.  Not very.
C.

Compelling even?

On rare occasions.
C.

Is it controversial?

Only as controversial as the issue of slavery itself.
C.

Is it a story worth telling?

Only with a different title.  Maybe "Morty".
B.

Is it good storytelling?

Only with a different title.  Maybe "Morty".
B.

Is it well written?

So so.
C+.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Amy Adams is this year's distaff version of Matthew McConnaughey.  It seems to be in her deal to be in every movie this year.  And she's pretty good.  Brad Pitt does a nice turn.
It's shot well enough.
B+.

Is it too long? Too short?

When you know what's coming, and what's not coming, it seems endless.
F.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, because it's true, and no, because it's  pre-ordained
C.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Asked and answered, many times over.  And all they needed was "Morty".
F.

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

Not even while I was watching it.
F.

Is it funny?

Never.
F.

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

Not any bucks.
F.

Is it impressive ?

Not to me.
C-.

Overall grade: D+.

It's one of those movies that has garnered all this attention because of it's "nobility of purpose"
This has got to stop.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"Saving Mr. Banks".

I only saw "Mary Poppins" once, when it was on TV in the late 60's.
I didn't enjoy it.
As a result, I don't remember it very well.
I didn't even recall that it had cartoon penguins.
As a result, much that was told about the making of the film was a surprise to me.
I certainly didn't know that the author of the novel had to have her arm twisted to allow the film to be made.
""Saving Mr. Banks" is essentially two movies: one was about the making of "Mary Poppins",  the other, flashbacks to the author's childhood.
It takes a long time for the two movies to get tied together.
There has been much written about whether or not the movie was accurate.
I haven't the foggiest idea, and it does not reflect my overall reaction to it.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Just about everything dealing with the making of "Mary Poppins" is interesting.
Almost everything that takes place in the flashbacks isn't.  And way too much time is spent in the flashbacks.
B.

Compelling even?

I'll go as far as occasionally really interesting.
B-.

Is it controversial?

It seems to be very controversial to those more "in the know" than I.
B.

Is it a story worth telling?

Depending on it's accuracy, which is apparently in doubt.
B.

Is it good storytelling?

Too many flashbacks and questions of motivation.
B-.

Is it well written?

I wasn't bowled over by the level of dialogue writing.
B.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

The cast, led by Emma Thompson, with Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, is excellent.
Special kudos to Paul Giamatti.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It dragged during the flashbacks.  The rest of it zipped along.
B.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and yes, mainly because of the performances.
A.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Again, less predictable and more surprising for me than most.
A.

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

No.  It doesn't even make me want to re-watch "Mary Poppins".
D.

Is it funny?

On occasions. 
B.

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

No sir.
D-.

Is it impressive ?

Sometimes.
B-.

Overall grade: B-.

Giamatti, as Emma Thompson's chauffeur, steals what there is to steal in this one. 
He's on my list for Best Supporting Actor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"Inside Llewyn Davis".

Today, I am keeping my word.
I am doing a Report Card on a movie that I absolutely detested.
And it's been getting a lot of hype.
And it's by the Coen brothers, whose work I am generally in awe of.
It's about folk singing in the early 1960's.
I remember folk singing in the early 1960's.
It was fun.
"Hootenanny" and all that.
Llewyn Davis, the title character, doesn't have fun.
He NEVER has fun.
The audience NEVER has fun.
This is a dreary movie.
Llewyn Davis is a dreary character.
Nothing good happens to this character.
He doesn't seem to want anything good to happen to him, unlike the audience, who does.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

It starts out interesting,  just from establishing the atmosphere,  but by about twenty minutes into it
all interest is lost.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
D.

Is it controversial?

Never.
D.

Is it a story worth telling?

Not to me.
F.

Is it good storytelling?

Only if you like well-crafted stories about deterioration.
C.

Is it well written?

I was too bored  to notice.
D.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

The lead actor, who I never heard of, is a complete cipher.
He sings well, but that's not enough.
You know you're in trouble when you have John Goodman in a movie and HE'S boring.
C-.

Is it too long? Too short?

It seemed endless.
F.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and not at all.
D.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Not predictable, surprising, but none of it in a good way.
F.

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

I've tried not to.
F.

Is it funny?

On rare occasions.  Too rare.
C.

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

What do you think?
F.

Is it impressive ?

Only the music.  All it needs is a better movie to be wrapped around it.
C-.

Overall grade: D.

I promise you that there will be more movies that I didn't like.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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---"Philomena"

I know.
It's starting to look like I've liked every movie that I've been sent.
Well, "Philomena" is no exception.
It is an outstanding movie.
Judi Dench is marvelous, but comparing her to Streep is like comparing apples to pears.
I happen to prefer apples
A mother is searching for her long lost son.
It's a true story, and a fascinating one.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Extremely. .
A+.

Compelling even?

Often.
A+.

Is it controversial?

Quite..
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

A great story, told in great fashion..
A+.

Is it well written?

Well enough.
A-.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

All of the above.
A+..

Is it too long? Too short?

It never seemed long.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Absolutely, and absolutely.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Not predictable, totally surprising.
A+.

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

Quite a bit.
A..

Is it funny?

Occasionally, considering that it is not a comedy..
A.

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

I easily could have waited.
C.

Is it impressive ?

Totallly.
A+.

Overall grade: A.

I promise you that there will be movies that I didn't like.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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".
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.

******