The 5 Best (and 3 Worst) Things We Watched This Week – May 9th, 2022

May 9, 2022 · AJ · Score: 7.1 out of 10

We’re going to mix things up a bit and give you a top five movies and TV shows we’ve watched every week. Send us a message on Facebook/Twitter, or comment below and let us know if you like this format. Don’t worry, we’ll still do some normal reviews as well!

5. Withnail and I (1987)

Backed by a soundtrack featuring greats such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and King Curtis, this British buddy comedy is set in the late 1960s. Two out of work actors find themselves hankering for a road trip, so they decide to borrow the key to an Uncle’s countryside cottage. As they navigate inclement weather, a grumpy neighbor, some unexpected guests, and “The Poacher”, Withnail and Marwood see their unique friendship tested and strained, often in some very entertaining ways. Admittedly, some of the vernacular and references fly by unrecognized and requiring context, but there is still good fun to be had.

Score: 7.1 out of 10

4. The Survivor (2021)

Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, Lone Survivor) has emerged as one of the greatest character actors of his generation, and his talent is on full display here as Jewish concentration camp survivor, Hertzko “Harry” Haft. Although based on actual events, and a very well-made film, I was a bit disappointed to find out just how much was embellished, altered and omitted from the true story of Haft’s life. Granted, it’s a movie and not a documentary, so deviations from the truth are expected and permitted. But my post-viewing research resulted in slightly more disappointment than I typically would have with most biopics. Nonetheless, Harry Haft is a fascinating historical figure, and while the film is appropriately quite bleak, it is worthy of your time.

Score: 7.2 out of 10

3. Kill Me Again (1989)

The second of two trips back to the 80s this week gave us a chance to visit a younger Val Kilmer, who was riding high on the saddle of stardom following the success of Willow (1987) and Top Gun (1986). Directed by MovieSlap favorite, John Dahl (Rounders, Red Rock West), this is the story of a beautiful woman named Fay Forrester (played by future Mrs. Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley) who is on the run from unsavory and dangerous criminals, while also in the possession of their stolen money. One of those unsavory characters is her dangerous ex-beau, Vince, who comes to life through the efforts of Michael Madsen. Although we can’t prove it, Madsen’s performance here as the main baddie must have been one of the main reasons why he became such a favorite of Quentin Tarantino. Anyway, Fay hires cash-strapped private investigator Jack Andrews (Kilmer) to assist her in faking her death to escape her past, and away we go! (For those who may be unaware, Val Kilmer has fallen on hard times with regard to his health. If you have not seen it, we strongly recommend the excellent documentary, Val, which is currently available on Amazon Prime.)

Score: 7.4 out of 10

2. Ambulance (2022)

Michael Bay films certainly get people talking and offering opinions. What he may lack in scripting and dialogue is more than made up for in pure action and excitement. Ambulance takes hold early on and doesn’t let go until the final frame. If you’ve been critical of Bay in the past (EXPLOSIONS!), you may find shortcomings here as well. But if you can appreciate Bay’s knack for high octane, big screen energy, we think you’ll be very pleased. Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza Gonzalez fill out a majority of the on-screen action, and each of them shine. Gyllenhaal and Abdul-Mateen II play siblings – one a former Marine, the other a career criminal – who team up for what looks to be a major heist opportunity with a narrow window for success. Gonzales is an EMT with a reputation for professional excellence, but is a challenge to partner with. This one gets better as it goes on!

Score: 8.0 out of 10

1. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Season 1 (2022)

Ironically, I can count the number of NBA games I’ve watched over the past twenty years on one hand. But as a kid and into my 20s, I loved the NBA. The Showtime Lakers, which this series focuses on, were my favorite team to watch as a kid (later to be supplanted by the rise of Jordan and the Bulls), and their rivalry with Larry Bird’s Celtics was really something to behold. Showrunner Adam McKay (Talladega Nights, Step Brothers) may have seen his relationship with Will Ferrell blow up when he ultimately went with John C. Reilly (instead of Farrell) in the role of Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, but it’s clear from the get-go that the entire show is perfectly cast. Stylized in retro-fashion, the show is a mix of fact and fiction, and it is executed to great effect. Whether you are an NBA fan or not, give this one a chance. It’s one of the best things on TV right now.

Score: 8.9 out of 10

The Rest of the Best…and Worst

Nitram (2021)

This Australian drama based on actual events features a mesmerizing performance by Caleb Landry Jones, as the socially inept and unadapted “Nitram”. Set in the 1990s, this one centers on one of the most tragic and horrific events in Australian history. Unfortunately the rest of the film couldn’t quite match the high bar set by Jones’s performance, but it’s still worth a watch.

Score: 6.9 out of 10

Outer Range (2022)

This Josh Brolin-led series started off with intrigue and mystery that piqued our interest. It’s hard to go wrong when you combine solid acting with a giant time-bending hole out in the middle of your property. The sci-fi elements certainly produced short stretches of entertaining television, but by episodes 5 and 6, the series became disjointed and unfocused. We bailed after the seventh episode.

Score: 6.2 out of 10

Moonfall (2022)

Filmmaker Roland Emmerich changed the game in the 1990s, heading such blockbusters as Godzilla (1998), Independence Day (1996), and Stargate (1994). His success continued into the 2000s, and he’s been synonymous with big budget “popcorn” movies for years. His latest, Moonfall, feels like going back to a well that is running a bit dry. Casting is pretty solid, but when you have a story that pushes the bounds of believability combined with CGI that appears cheesy and outdated at times (e.g. a “falling” moon that spins like a giant beach ball in the sky), we recommend giving this one a pass.

Score: 5.3 out of 10

And that’s the top five movies and TV shows for the week ending May 9th. We hope you enjoyed it!

To see our movie reviews, check here; to see our TV series reviews, check here.

(“Top 5” image courtesy of Vics Movie Den)