Z/Web

Author: Rod Serling

Director: Robert Wise

A remarkable little film (a Showtime original) with a brilliant performance by Peter Falk (“Columbo”) as a grumpy, Jewish delicatessen owner who’s stuck with a kid from Harlem visiting as part of a “fresh air” program for inner-city youths. It’s predictable: obviously the kid melts the old man’s bitter heart and the old man brings wisdom to the kid, but it’s extremely well-written. Set in 1969, it touches on issues of war, death, and racism. It’s occasionally bitter, often funny, and sometimes poignant. There are some great lines. In one, Falk says about his loser nephew, “He’s got the mouth of a whale and the brains of a sardine.” In another, Falk lectures the boy on racism, defending why he didn’t fight back when attacked: “That’s the worst thing about prejudice: it turns the hated into haters themselves. Line up the two sides and you can’t tell the difference.”

What a terrific concert! Weird Al is so often dismissed as nothing more than a parasitic comedian, living off the art of others, but he is really an incredibly talented musician and consummate entertainer. He pulled out all the stops in his live show, incorporating a light show, smoke, bubble, and snow effects, costumes, and video clips. The video stuff was hilarious, including clips from “Al TV,” mock celebrity interviews, music videos, parody commercials (my favorite was an ad for a nature-horror film called “60 Percent Chance of Rain”), and twisted 1950-style public service films educating us on things like personal hygiene (with practical advice like “Wash your hands every five minutes” and “Visit your dentist every day”). Between the one or two minute video segments Al would change costumes, wearing the same outfits used in his classic videos (i.e. dressed in hospital scrubs for “Like a Surgeon,” in black with a beard for “Amish Paradise,” and in his fat suit for “I’m Fat”). He did a ton of songs (over two hours worth), including recent stuff from Running With Scissors and classics like Dare to Be Stupid. There were classic moments, like when Al’s piano player interrupted his monologue to go off on a wild impromptu (and very cool) keyboard solo, and Al, waiting until the man finished, calmly pulls out a gun and shoots the man! The audience was having a blast: most knew all the lyrics, even little children. I don’t any performer than spans generations like Al: there were toddlers to grandparents! (It’s also a clean show the whole family can safely enjoy.) Al goes across all music genres, from rap to country, and he not only mimics singing styles to perfection, he mimics dance moves, costumes, and gestures. Absolutely amazing. He’s a genius. (Who else do you know who can sing and dance with one foot behind their head?)

Author: Richard Curtis

Director: Roger Michell

Sweet romantic comedy about the conflicts in a romance between a movie star and a nobody. Nicely done, and occasionally even heartwarming, but basically too light to be significant. Julie Roberts tried hard, but never got beyond being a pretty face, and one can’t help but be amazed that such a charming Hugh Grant could be single! The most interesting thing for me was the “coincidence” that Netflix just happened to deliver the DVD to me right after I finished reading the Natalie Wood biography (Netflix rentals are delivered by mail, so you must order several days in advance). Since that book is so revealing about the difference between the famous and not famous, I found the film more intriguing than I normally might have.

Author: Robin Cook

Excellent medical/legal thriller, with an anesthesiologist, wrongly convicted of malpractice and second-degree murder, jumping bail to prove his innocence. Intelligent, well-drawn characters, believably paced (no superheroes here), with lots of medical detail, action, and suspense. I couldn’t put it down (I started it on Saturday). The ending was a little suspicious (lawyers were at the heart the conspiracy), but it’s such a feel-good conclusion you don’t care.