mwengler-1 Reviews

Diamonds (1999)

A lovely film about fathers and sons

[10/10 · 14 December 2005]

The scenes between Dan Aykroyd and Kirk Douglas where they are working through Dan's disappointment that Kirk was not a better father are fantastic! Every man who has ever been disappointed in his father should watch the old post stroke Kirk Douglas telling his son "I never kicked you in the ass, and I'm proud of that. My father beat me and I didn't beat you and that was a great thing." Maybe the definition of growing up is learning that your parents were children once, and they were hurt and disappointed and did not get enough from their parents, and that we are just all in this together, trying to find love. Maybe I am not a grown up until I have cried for the pain and disappointments my own mother and father have had in their lives, even though they also disappointed me.

It is just lovely to know that even in a movie I never heard of, that never really made it, I can find such moments of genuine humanity.

Commander in Chief (2005–2006)

Will this last 13 weeks? I think not.

[28 September 2005]

I was appalled at the arbitrarily thrown in unbelievable aspects in the first episode. The president never discussed with his VP that he wanted some other succession plan in case he got dead? The president's chief of staff flies to France to tell the VP something there in person while the President is in surgery for a stroke? The VP can't get that info from her own staff faster than it takes the chief of staff to fly to France? A VP moves aircraft carriers around after glancing at a map of their locations, without asking for recommendations? I would love wallowing in the fantasy of a strong female president. With its rampant disregard for sense, this show doesn't allow me to do that, and that disappoints me.