WHAT TO WATCH

 It's been months since I focused on film and series programs.  We must have watched at least 25 flicks on the Seabourn Odyssey.  We've been home now for more than a month, and I have still avoided movie theaters.   Here are a few noteworthy productions worthy of your interest.

On Netflix is Missing, a gripping, high tech effort with wild twists that made me envious.  Why?  The teenage girl seeks to find her "missing" mother and boyfriend on a trip to Cartegena, Columbia.  This youngster is a whiz on the computer, something I just cannot do.  A 2023 film, Rotten Tomatoes gave it 87/90 scores.

I loved Good Night Oppy, an inspirational documentary about Opportunity, a rover that was sent to Mars for a 3 month mission, but survived for 15 years.  Released late last year, the film shows how a robot and humans can bond from distances that varied from 36 million to 250 miles away.  Did he find life on Mars?  Not really, but Oppy had perseverance.  As one critic said, It's a wonderful film.  You can find it on Amazon Prime.

Watched, and finished The Diplomat on Netflix, a new American series that just got renewed for season 2.  You don't really know the actors, but they all do well.  8 episodes of around 50 minutes each.  Got good 84/83 scores from Rotten Tomatoes.  

It's all about love, politics and diplomacy, occurring mostly in London.  Was this spring Netflix's most popular program.  Various real ambassadors have been quoted to say the script was unrealistic and wrong.  But, go see it, and you'll look forward to season 2.

A film I'm looking forward to seeing is Monster, a Japanese effort with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes reviewers' rating.  Here is one critic's view:

Monster is cleverly engineered, subtle and supple. It’s a film that hides its true intentions until the very last.

May 22, 2023 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda's previous movie was Shoplifters, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Then, there will be the final one by Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.  Rotten Tomatoes reviewers did not like like, giving it 50%.  Of course a Nazi is involved, who now works for NASA.

RT reviewers like Killers of the Flower Moon, giving it 97%.  Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and John Lithgow.  A 3-hour movie set in 1920's Oklahoma involving a serial killer and the birth of the FBI.

Time magazine has the 30 most anticipated movies of Summer 2023.  Rotten Tomatoes lists the Best Shows from June 2023.  Here are a few:

• Katla, 100/79, 8 episodes.
• Beef, 98/86.
• The Order, 100/71, series of 10 episodes.
• Mo, 100/89.
• Red Rose, 100/57, British teenage horror drama.
• The Baby-Sitters Club, 100/79, 2 seasons of 10 and 8 episodes.

• 
  Unbelievable, 98/89.
• Arcane, 100/96 (animated).
• Heartstopper, 100/96.
• Blood of Zeus, 100/83 (animated).
• Chimp Empire, 100/98.

And what to avoid:

• Sex/Life, 21/46.
• Queen Cleopatra, 20/3.
• Muted, 33/39.
• Children of the Corn, RT:  11/38.
• Life Upside Down.  Bob Odendirk is great as Saul, but here?  RT:  5/65.

On Tuesday I alerted you to the next Tiger Woods.  It was about 27 years ago that as a 20-year sophomore at Stanford, he turned pro.  Only came in at 60th place, but did get a hole in one.

This week another 20-year old Stanford sophomore turned pro at the Mizuho Americas LPGA Open, and after three rounds, Rose Zhang leads by 2 strokes.  Watch her Sunday on the Golf Channel, 5PM EDT.

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