film + show = post

[rose_griffes]

I finished one thing! And watched something else, too! Hurrah!

While I still think that seasons one and two were the strongest for The Good Place, they rallied well in the second half of season four. Once Chidi was back on the team--confident Chidi really is sexy, by the way--the energy picked up quite a bit. They moved through a lot of plot in those last three or four episodes, but it didn't feel too hasty; the execution was solid.

That last episode was a fantastic way to wrap things up. Jason's departure--both times! Chidi and Eleanor, and Eleanor learning to let go because she loves him and it's not fair to make someone else sacrifice their desires for her! Tahani and Kamila! The sisters and their parents! (I do like "found family" as a storytelling staple, but SISTERS! FAMILIES, AND SISTERS WHO LEARN TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE EACH OTHER IN SPITE OF THEIR DIVISIVELY ABUSIVE PARENTS! My heart!)

TAHANI AS AN ARCHITECT! I saw someone else describe it as the ultimate party planner role, a lovely way to let her move forward. Edited to add: I think it was ladytharen's reaction post that I read just before making this post?

The frog-loving doorman gets a real frog and Michael gets to be a real boy after all; even Mindy St. Clair has a promise of eventual progress.

Yeah, that made my brain happy. Good job, show.

The movie Little Women (2019) was well-written and crafted; the acting is what truly makes it, with Saoirse Ronan as Meg and Florence Pugh as Amy. Pugh in particular made a huge impression; I get why she's the current Hollywood blonde It-Girl. Also, the costumes were glorious.

Still undecided if I should watch Knives Out before it leaves theatres. I still have a smidge of residual ugh, Rian Johnson's annoying smugness resentment left from The Last Jedi and his commentary about the film. On the other hand: it could be fun? I like what I've seen of Ana de Armas, and the rest of the cast is a top-notch bunch. So it's a quandary.

Comments

[elperian]

I agree the end of S4 was much better, and more similar to S1-2. A good way to end it all around!

Same on Tahani being as architect as the ultimate party planner :D

[singedsun]

Knives Out is so much fun. Definitely worth a watch in the theater.

[fleurviolette]

The Good Place series finale was overall great. I can't believe the show is done, but at the very least it had a good run.

Little Women was a decent film adaptation of a well renowned piece of American literature.

For Knives Out, the acting performances were good but the script/dialogue was rather messy and too loquacious that it does not flow.

[nic]

I haven't been brave enough to watch the finale of "The Good Place" because I know I'll cry. But your review makes me feel braver about it!

[helen_c]

The Good Place finale was wonderful. I spent the entire hour crying, but it was good crying.
Such a nice goodbye to these characters... ♥

[brickhousewench]

re: Knives out - If you like Agatha Christie mysteries, you'll probably enjoy it. I got a big kick out of it (everybody in it is chewing the scenery like mad, it's borderline camp). Ana de Armas is the quiet center of the film. Everything else crazy is going on around her and she's wonderful.

[daybreak]

I don't know how I feel. I just watched it. Hmmm. I didn't realize it was really Michael's story. Is he the only one who remember who he is?

Sisters!

Jumpy Legs! Who is the doorman anyway? A demon? An angel? Neutral?

I liked that they went to real!Europe. Speaking of which, I should check out your Paris post!