The Covid-19 PHZ-Sicks Movie Watch (4/17/20)
With the Covid-19 virus keeping everyone inside, sometimes its really hard to take your mind off what’s going on. Sometimes we need a way to escape and for me, outside of writing, movies are the way I escape.
As long as the virus is here, I will be doing a weekly blog of first watch movies I’ve seen as well as giving you my opinion on it. If you want to follow it in real time, follow the hashtag #covid19moviewatch on Twitter or follow my Twitter account.
The Apartment
Watch on Hulu
Plot: Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he’s left with a major problem to solve.
Directed by Billy Wilder
Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, & Fred MacMurray
Rating: 7/10
This is definitely a plot of its time. There are some flights of fancy throughout the film that keeps you intrigued but watching Bud Baxter not stand up for himself throughout most of the movie can get to you.
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me
Watch on Showtime, Hulu, & Sling TV
Plot: The untold and ultimately inspiring story of legendary singer, Teddy Pendergrass, the man poised to be the biggest R&B artist of all time until the tragic accident that changed his life forever at the age of only 31.
Directed by Olivia Lichtenstein
Rating: 10/10
Being an artist, watching this movie was inspiring and also sad. Teddy Pendergrass was just on the cusp of being a generational artist and it was cut short right before he made that transition. This movie is great companion piece with the documentary, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon.
Galaxy of Terror
Plot: As a lone spaceship proceeds on its long voyage across space, the crew are surprised to encounter a strange pyramid form. Surprise turns to horror as one by one, they discover that their darkest nightmares are all starting to become real. The pyramid has to be behind it all somehow, but how can they save themselves from its influence?
Directed by Bruce D. Clark
Starring Edward Albert, Erin Moran, & Ray Walston
Rating: 6/10
A B-movie film that starts off with camp to keep you interested and spins its wheels as the movie gets to the end. There are some horror set pieces and creature designs that you will remember for how ridiculous they are, but nothing in the movie is as bad ass as the poster. Damn you, Corman and your making great posters before you even start making the movie.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Watch on Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, & Tubi
Plot: Revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father’s legacy.
Directed by David Gelb
Rating: 7/10
A meditation in loving your craft, doing it everyday, and constantly moving forward. One of these days when I head over to Japan, I would love to experience this place.
Women of Troy
Watch on HBO Now
Plot: Women of Troy is an HBO Sports documentary exploring the transcendent career of the Cheryl Miller-led USC Trojans and their impact on women’s basketball.
Directed by Alison Ellwood
Rating: 8/10
Man, do I miss sports. Growing up a basketball fan, Cheryl Miller has been a fixture in my life. I never got to see her play in her heyday but I would always hear stories. This is another documentary of a person striving for greatness that was cut short but changed the game of women’s basketball forever before it was. I highly recommend especially if you’re missing sports at the moment.