“Whistling In The Dark” is a 1941 film starring Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, and Conrad Veidt and was directed by S. Sylvan Simon.  It was based on a play by Laurence Gross.

The writer and star of a radio mystery series and his girlfriend are held by a cult leader/gangster while he comes up with the perfect murder so the cult can collect on some kind of inheritance.
This was supposed to be pretty comedic in nature, but I didn’t find much that worked all that well.  The cast was talented enough, however I didn’t find much that amused me.  It was interesting to find that this was the first in a trilogy of films to feature Skelton as a Wally Benton, who is the writer and star of some radio series called “The Fox”.  There just wasn’t much that didn’t come across as really all that original.  There weren’t any lines I found that memorable.

It was another film that seemed longer than the actual running time.

“Short Trips: Life Science” is a collection of Doctor Who short stories collected and edited by John Binns.  Big Finish Productions used to publish a series of anthologies, and this particular volume was published in 2004.  There are sixteen stories here that feature the first eight incarnations of the Doctor, so I won’t get into an examination of each one.  The theme presented is the idea of different aspects of life that from clones to artificial intelligence as well as other entities not so easy to categorize.

David Bailey starts off with “Syntax” in which the Eighth Doctor and his companion, Izzy, arrive on a planet where a mysterious form of algae is able to exert a powerful influence on the inhabitants.  It’s a pretty good story, however Izzy is not all that profound of a companion.  I am not terribly familiar with this one because she appears to have been featured in the comic books.  Izzy was once in a Big Finish audio play but she was not featured regularly.

“Observation” by Ian Farrington has the Fifth Doctor anxious to see the meeting between Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal man, however things don’t go quite as planned, as usual. It’s a rather interesting story in which Turlough is the only one with the Doctor here.

“The Reproduction Cycle” by Matthew Griffiths has the Sixth Doctor and Peri finding that a child has been left by another previous occupant of the TARDIS.  A rather surprising revelation occurs as to the origin of this baby and the effect on the two friends’ perception.  I thought it was pretty cleverly presented.

“Jonah” by Todd Green has the Eighth Doctor explore the morality of using cloning as a means of healing the sick.  He isn’t too pleased when he finds a doctor doing just that.

Alexander Leithes’ “The End” has the Eighth Doctor in a startling encounter with his first incarnation who reminds him of the difference between him and other time travelers.  That was a nice surprise.

I also enjoyed “The Age of Ambition”  by Andy Campbell in which companions Victoria Waterfield relates a story in which she returns to 1866 with the Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon and finds that an old family friend has been experimenting with reviving the dead.

Jim Mortimore’s  “A Rose By Any Other Name” ends this collection in a situation where I was not sure which Doctor was featured.  I think it was the Seventh, but I cannot swear to it, which is frustrating.

There are other stories that didn’t quite grab me as much, but it’s a pretty good collection for the most part.  All of the anthologies in this series are engaging.  It is pretty fun to figure out which Doctor comes next once a story ends.  I was a rather impressed that the Sixth Doctor was featured rather heavily here considering his was not the most popular in the television series.  He tends to come off considerably better in print or in the audio adventures which Big Finish produces much more prolifically.

If one can find this volume, it’s worth a look. This series is sadly out of print, so the collection of the remaining volumes is slow going.

The next literary indulgence has Dr. Alex Delaware pitching in to help his friend, Milo Sturgis, which another murder investigation in “Night Moves” by Jonathan Kellerman.

 

“The Upside” is another unlikely friendship cinematic tale that stars Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, and the still gorgeous Nicole Kidman.  Some fellow named Jon Hartmere, whom I have never heard of, wrote the screenplay which was then directed by Neil Burger.  The film is based on a true story, so it says.  It is probably more accurate to tag it as being inspired by a true story.  There is a French film with this premise called “The Intouchables” that was released in 2011, that I suspect is probably more true to the actual events it is depicts.

Kevin Hart plays this parolee in need of a job lands an unexpectedly lucrative position as a caregiver to a paraplegic billionaire.  Dell Scott is a typical Kevin Hart role in which he is a down on his luck, streetwise black man who is sharper than he thinks.  It’s kind of thing we have seen from Hart numerous times.  Hart is actually quite good here, but there isn’t enough separation from pervious roles to feel that his dramatic moments are that unique.

Cranston manages to remain pretty compelling as the paralyzed billionaire, although there is not much here that has not been seen before in other films of this sort.  Cranston is usually likeable but with a bit more range.

I found this film to be a little frustrating at times even though I would say I ended up liking it.  I am sure that readers of this blog may find my assessment just as frustrating, but I will try to be more clear.  There is a lot that works fairly well, usually due to the charisma and talent of the cast.  I do include Hart as being one of those with talent and charisma.  I just wish he could surprise me with some range and variety.  It just seems more like the same Kevin Hart antics and sass.

I do want to say that Kidman is not normally seen in a supporting role such as this, however she really does make the most of it.  She had a character which could be seen as the typical stern assistant with a proverbial stick up her backside, however her character of Yvonne thankfully was written with considerably more depth and ended up having her own moments where she could be charming and consequential.  Having Kidman in the cast did nothing but help in this case.

There were a few incidental surprises, but not that many.  I also get tired of this business of starting the movie with a flash forward sequence and then the bulk of the piece having to catch up to that moment.  I feel that it is getting a little overused and some how diminishes the sense of suspense and surprise.

There also seemed to be some missed opportunities to leave a more unique impression on the audience.  It still stayed with the formula with having two very different characters meet, have some friction, come to an understanding, and then have to resolve some major rift between them in the third act of the story.

Also, I am getting tired of the Hollywood solution to relaxing or finding some ways to release tension of heading out to get hands on the nearest joint.  The constant prodding or suggestion from Hollywood that getting stoned is the best way to just relax or cope with disappointment and heartache is really gotten quite stale with me.

Another point that I found irritating is that Dell’s parole officer is threatening to send him back to prison if he cannot secure employment or verify his efforts to find employment.  I actually do similar work in my daily life.  It ain’t that easy to send someone to prison or back to prison over employment snafus.  I am sure New York faces the same issues with prison overcrowding as Texas.  These writers need to do a little better research in how pieces of the criminal justice system actually works.  The parole officer would probably have some knowledge and suggestions on where an ex-con is likely going to find work given his circumstances.

Okay, now that I got a few things off my chest, I will say again that much of this film still works fairly well, but I can also see some problems with it.  The performances are convincing enough for the  most part even though Kevin Hart still does Kevin Hart.  He does seem to be an unlikely but somehow appropriate fit with his castmates.  There are some well-acted moments and interesting exchanges between characters.  Hart and Cranston really do seem to be having fun playing off each other, so the friendship between their characters is not quite impossible to believe.  The other supporting characters were pretty good.  No one really missed the mark.  Julianna Margulies has a small but crucial part in this film and handles it well.  She’s pretty good anyway, so that’s not surprising.

I think fans of the various actors won’t find anything too disappointing.  I still enjoyed the film for the most part in spite of some ways that I think it could have been better.

“The First Sontarans” is a Doctor Who audio play from Big Finish Productions and is part of the Lost Stories range.  This particular piece is written by Andrew Smith and stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant.  Dan Starkey, John Banks, Lizzie Roper, and Anthony Howell are included in the guest cast.

The Doctor and Peri begin this adventure on the moon in 1872 where a misplaced signaling device sends them to Earth to investigate.  It doesn’t take too long before the Doctor learns that there is quite of collection of aliens gathered on Earth at this time.  The Sontarans and the Rutans are finally together in the same story, which rarely occurs in the series.  The Sontarans and Rutans have been engaged in ferocious war for an absurdly long time.  The listeners are then introduced to the Caveetch, another race with a more profound connection to the Sontarans.

I am not a fan who necessarily needs origin stories, but I enjoyed hearing how the overly militaristic potato heads were brought into the universe.  It’s a somewhat familiar story in that they turned on those who created them had an unstoppable force on their doorstop.  It was fun to realize that fans never really saw the Rutans and the Sontarans fight each other  before this release.  They appeared separately in the television series and spoke trash about each other.

In spite of how the plot may sound, or maybe how I describe it, this is actually a very enjoyable episode.  There are some action sequences that are sometimes hard to follow, but it still holds up quite well in spite of that.

The chemistry between Bryant and Baker is quite good here.  They almost always do well together, but the banter between them was especially entertaining. It was banter without the typical bickering that went on between the two of them in the television series.

Starkey and Banks usually serve as the voices of the Sontarans, and they did well in this episode as expected.

The guest cast also performed well.  There was quite a bit of personal and emotional levels touched on here among the characters that were performed quite well.

This is one of those stories that demonstrates how much better the Sixth Doctor is showcased than on the original television series.

“The Gate Keeper” is the twentieth novel from Charles Todd in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series.  This has a bit of a different kick to it since Rutledge happens across a murder scene within minutes of the act. He is driving late at night after attending his sister’s wedding and encounters a young woman with a gunshot victim at her feet. Luckily, Rutledge has been with Scotland Yard for a while and is able to get himself assigned to the case.

The setting is 1920 England.  Rutledge returned from his service in World War I suffering from shell shock, which in his case manifested itself as a voice belonging to a comrade and friend he executed for disobeying orders.  Now, Hamish MacLeod is always with him. alternating between taunting and guidance at times.  Due the stigma of shell shock, Rutledge keeps his condition a secret as he investigates one perplexing murder after another.

Although this installment relies on a very unlikely coincidence at the beginning, it’s still quite compelling.  It seems a fair depiction of what the national mood in the United Kingdom must have been like when the Great War concluded.

The explanation for the title comes pretty late in the story, but it works.  Rutledge also learns that sometimes mothers don’t give the expected loving attention to their children as he probes the victim’s background.  Then a second murder happens that tells Rutledge that his investigation is going to get even more complex.

I have enjoyed this series quite a bit over the years since I started following it.  Even though Rutledge is a fictional character, there is a certain tenacity in him I can respect.  I imagine there are loads of  real people who persevere through tough duties while struggling with the demons of mental illness.  This is also taking place in a setting in which there were probably not many people in serene mental places in their lives.

“The Gate Keeper” is pretty engaging and satisfying even if it doesn’t quite lift the spirits. Rutledge is a fictional character who represents real people still out there seeking justice and answers in spite of their own pain.

I think it’s time to step back into the TARDIS with various incarnations of a certain Time Lord who left his home to seek justice and answers in his own way.  Next up on the reading block is a Doctor Who anthology from Big Finish Productions that was first published in 2004 entitled “Short Trip: Life Science”.

 

“Escape Room” is a horror/thriller/suspense/whatever category one can throw this one film directed by Adam Robitel.  Bragi F. Schut and Maria Melnik co-wrote this somewhat familiar scenario about strangers being thrown together to figure out some complex puzzle before they are killed in some devilishly creative and complicated manner.  This time, the practice of escape rooms was utilized.  The film stars Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, and all kinds of other people I couldn’t quite place.  Nik Dodani was a cast member I somewhat recognized as the supposed expert on escape rooms.

In spite of the nonsense involved here, I was actually drawn into this film quite effectively. There was great set design and fairly interesting traps thought up for this latest collection of hapless and eclectic group of people.  The performances were pretty convincing even if the premise of the story was well beyond the realm of far-fetched.

There were few twists and surprise that I did not really see coming.  Like most films of this genre, it sort of stumbles a bit at the climax and end.

This isn’t quite the crème de la crème of movie making, but there were elements that impressed me.  It’s not a bad escape to the movies.

“Warlock’s Cross” is a Doctor Who audio play from Big Finish Productions starring Sylvester McCoy, settling quite nicely yet again in his role as the Seventh Doctor.  Steve Lyons, a long-time contributor to Doctor Who lore, provides the final entry into what has apparently dubbed as the UNIT trilogy featuring the damaged Lieutenant Daniel Hopkins, played by Blake Harrison.  Hopkins has encountered two previous versions of the Doctor in “The Helliax Rift” and “Hour of the Cybermen”.  Tracey Childs also returns as Dr. Elizabeth Klein, everyone’s favorite temporally misplaced former Nazi from an alternative timeline.  Yeah…this is why I love the series. It can get so insane trying to explain these things.

Anyway, the Doctor comes across a group of malcontents protesting the apparent mistreatment of visitors from the stars, trying to take down UNIT, or United Nations Intelligence Taskforce for the uninitiated.  After being imprisoned yet again, the Doctor has a bit of an uneasy alliance with Hopkins and UNIT when they investigate the presence of a long-buried spacecraft with troubling psychic influences that feed on doubts and hidden fears.

I am not sure I would call this Lyons’ greatest contribution to the series, but it gets the job done.  McCoy is still quite energetic and intriguing with his take on the Doctor, certainly one of the more manipulative and dangerous incarnations of the Time Lord. Of course, this Doctor can often seem more innocuous at times, but we fans know better. I know some Big Finish fans are huge Klein fans, but I sort of thought her story was done. I am not sure her inclusion in this added that much to it.  Hopkins is a rather intriguing character, however there could also be a danger of him being a bit overused as well. To be fair, it has been a few years since Klein’s last appearance in the range.  I just am not someone who wistfully hopes some other reason could be concocted for her to make another return.

This is a reasonably enjoyable episode in which the chemistry of the cast led by McCoy’s energy helps considerably.

“Beware, My Lovely” is a 1952 thriller that stars Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, and Taylor Holmes in a film directed by Harry Horner.  Mel Dinelli wrote the script which was apparently based on his own play entitled “The Man”.

Ida Lupino plays a widow who impulsively hires a handyman who has wandered into town.  Robert Ryan is cast in the role as the handyman known as Howard Wilton who has some serious mental health issues.  The widow finds herself trapped in the house with him and his schizophrenic delusions.

This is a pretty good one with strong performances from Lupino and Ryan.  The ending is a little peculiar but it works.  Ryan gives a pretty chilling performance and be quire disturbing.

The story has an interesting history of being adapted several times in different media, including as a radio play.  I would say this one not be one to miss for those of us interested in classic cinema.

“Doctor Who” has been a huge part of my life for over thirty years.  I have now finished watching the latest episodes that have Jodie Whittaker in the lead.  After the part of the Doctor had been played by men for over half a century, a woman was cast as the wandering, trouble prone Time Lord.  I was one of the skeptics of this decision when it was first announced in 2017.  Now, there seems to be some discussion about changing the gender of James Bond although Barbara Broccoli, the head producer of that film franchise, has been clearer lately about that not being considered.  “Doctor Who” has a bit more of a possibility of working a change of gender into the narrative since the Doctor is not human and is able to regenerate into other people.  “Doctor Who” lands it self to some flexibility in many ways, however the whole thing can still come apart.

There is this thought that “Doctor Who” is about change and freedom or something along this lines.  The show is about a traveler in time and space who happens to be good at fighting off alien menaces and other such crises.  The concept of regeneration started out of necessity and a desire to keep a promising show on the air when the first lead actor, William Hartnell, got too ill to continue in the role.  In spite of the changes the show has endured over the years, some simple concepts should remain in place.  If the show was all about change, why not ditch the police box disguise for the TARDIS?

As far as I feel about the show now, I am at a bit of an emotional quandary.  I am not yet ready to stomp off and swear off new “Doctor Who” although my enthusiasm for this era has waned considerably.  I am still an avid collector the novels and Big Finish audio plays.  I think the problems with this past series that introduced Whittaker into the role are pretty deep and numerous.  I think the notion of the Doctor regenerating into a woman could have worked with a better head producer.  Then, we get into the ideas of one Chris Chibnall.  He was the head writer for a show called “Broadchurch” which had David Tennant, aka the Tenth Doctor, with Jodie Whittaker also in that cast.  I am doubtful that any real serious audition took place for the current Doctor before the announcement of Whittaker being in the role.

One of the ideas I had was it may have been a good idea to get rid of long story arcs, which Chibnall actually did, however his episodes are not all that interesting.  Other fans complain of the PC and social justice elements being so prominent.  “Doctor Who” has addressed issues such as prejudice and pollution in the classic era, however it was handled a bit more subtly and with better scripting.  “Doctor Who” is primarily a science fiction adventure series.  People tune in to escape the trappings of reality for a brief time.
Chibnall’s hiring for the role of head producer is somewhat baffling since the previous episodes he wrote in the series since it was revived in 2005 are not that widely acclaimed by the fans.  I think Nicholas Briggs would have been a much more exciting selection since the direction he has helped guide the Big Finish series in is much more to my liking.

Now the encouraging thing about “Doctor Who” is that it could get better.  It may not be all that necessary to boot Whittaker out of the role if the writing and the direction could be better implemented.  I think the TARDIS is a little crowded, however the Doctor having three companion has been done before.  I hope I can rediscover some enthusiasm for new television episodes one day soon. Fortunately, the Big Finish audios will help me through such troubling times as they have before.’

I would also like to say that some of the viciousness from other fans is a bit troubling. I think those who expressed some concern about casting a female in the lead role should not automatically be dismissed as sexist dinosaurs or whatever.  Some other commentators expressed outright hatred for the show’s current trajectory. I am not there yet, but I do think some of the harsher criticisms have some merit.

My enjoyment of the series as a whole is too deep and long for me to give up on it just yet. When the show comes back in 2020, I will be watching and commenting.  I am not satisfied with the current direction, but I remain hopeful that I will regain enthusiasm and excitement for new episodes once it returns.

“Resolution” is the only new Doctor Who episode to be aired by BBC in 2019.  Jodie Whittaker returns to the role as the Doctor alongside Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill.  Head writer, Chris Chibnall, penned this episode and still has not gotten  much better.  This episode irritated me a little less than his previous installments in the painfully mediocre eleventh series of the revived version that started in 2005.

The Thirteenth Doctor faces a Dalek. That’s right…one bloody Dalek that has apparently been trapped on our fair planet since the ninth century.  The Dalek managed to escape a destroyed casing after being revived and took over a poor woman forcing her to gather materials to build a new casing.  I was pleased to see that Nicholas Briggs returned to voice the Dalek.  I guess he still has a gig whenever the Daleks return.

There’s a couple of personal storylines in that the audience meets Ryan Sinclair’s estranged father, so some issues there get some resolution.

I have thought over recent years that Daleks could be overused, however their inclusion this time has become a necessity since the Doctor’s reaction to their presence should be familiar each time.  Whittaker still hasn’t gotten me on board with any sort of enthusiasm with her version of the Doctor, however her having to face the Dalek helped a little.  Chris Chibnall spent so much time trying to come up with new adversaries this past series and failing to come up with anything too engaging or memorable, it was a relief to see that he kept some familiarity with the Doctor’s most enduring enemies.

There were two other characters in this episode served as temporary companions making the TARDOS even more crowded.  Walsh still services as the heart of the new crew as Graham O’Brien.  He is surprisingly the best addition to this cast.

Chibnall still fails to impress me with his direction for the series, however this episode was a bit better than recent episodes.  Whittaker had a couple of amusing moments, but she just needs better scripts for her Doctor.

I do enjoy the visual effects of the TARDIS traveling through the space/time vortex.  The special effects overall were fine.

It appears that the next series is not due to be aired until early 2020.  Hopefully, Chibnall starts to respect the long-time fans such as yours truly and look into putting some more elements that are more familiar to that segment of fandom.

“Resolution” isn’t great but not as obnoxious as some of the recent preceding episodes.