Entertainment Binge

By Isaac White.

Sometimes I’m writing these articles, and I want to talk with some of you as readers before I put my ramblings on the page. Frequently, a reader’s input would give me more insight and turn out a better product. So now, I’ve made sure that when I receive praise from any reader, I make sure that you all know it happened. Who else would dare take up the task without me being my own hype man?

Now that my initial conversation with you has concluded, I’ll explain why we’re here. To talk about movies and TV. I have an older movie I want to talk about, and I am reviewing the series remake/reimagining of A League Of Their Own. Just for my edification, I am warning you right now that in terms of the show I’m going to cover, there will be spoilers, so ye readers beware. I won’t give too much, but you should know what you’re walking into this week. Plus, I do a fair job of giving you a warning of spoilers to come.

One of my favorite genres of movies I made up is what I sophisticatedly term “Lawyer Movies.” I’m sure that someone has figured out the correct term, and while I respect that, I’m just a movie fan who makes mental notes that, for whatever reason, stick and become permanent fixtures of my film and television terminology. It’s not academic; frankly, I’m not doing this to try and pass myself off as some Ph.D. film expert. I know a lot of movies and tv, not from a technical standpoint, but I do know what is good, and I can explain relatively well why I think a certain way about various entertainment efforts.

Now that I’ve defended myself properly against no one in particular, I will return to “Lawyer Movies.” I’ve been fascinated with this specific genre since I was about 10 when I watched A Few Good Men. Of course, I recognize the military part of the film, but honestly, that wasn’t the draw for me. Being 10, I was intrigued by the investigative aspect and the arguing in court. Those who know me will not be surprised. It is those parts of the movie that drew me into the film.

On the same note, being ten or so when I saw it, I had no idea what happens in an actual courtroom or what an attorney does. I fell in love with being high profile and getting paid to be nosey and yell at people in a courtroom without getting in trouble. Maybe this makes me sound like I was a dysfunctional child. I may have to ponder that when I finish this article.

Anyway, since then, I have always been excited to see a movie or show focused on lawyers and investigations. What some would term thrillers, I guess, but what I refer to, as you just read above, is “Lawyer Movies.” I will produce some top 5 lists, as mentioned in previous articles. “Lawyer Movies” may be the first one I create.

So, I was flipping around and came across an awesome “Lawyer Movie.” A Civil Action, which stars John Travolta as Jan Schlictman, is an attorney who takes on two giant companies that contaminated the water in Woburn, Massachusetts, that resulted in severe illness and death for many people in that town. If you have yet to see it, the movie is based on a real story, and while that does add to the drama after viewing the film, it doesn’t register as you might think it would because the piece is so good.

When I came across this movie on regular TV (fancy term, eh?) I had already seen it probably 20 times; it’s based on a true story, and in all candidness, I have read a little about the case and the real Schlictman. I must also add this to the article, and while I might be giving away too much or possibly seem foolish, I still plan on going to law school because I was infatuated with “lawyering” when I was a kid watching these movies.

I’ve had the fortune to work in a legal setting and with some outstanding attorneys, judges, prosecutors, and public defenders in those years. I also was schooled by a top-notch lawyer, and I realized that a career as an attorney is one I want. I bring up A Civil Action because I have no interest in monetary gain, which Travolta’s character eventually realizes through the story’s progression. That resonates with me to this day.

Activist lawyers are what interests me, and while Jan in the movie starts out as what most would categorize as an “ambulance chaser,” he has a monumental shift in perceptions and instead fights to protect and get justice for those whom these careless and callous companies harmed. If you’ve not seen A Civil Action, you should watch it immediately. But, of course, it’s not an action movie, and it won’t make you laugh or jump out of your seat at a jump scare. It’s straight-up drama and a great one at that.

The film will leave you thinking about the state of humanity, though, and it will remind you that the little guy frequently gets trampled by the big corporate bullies simply because they have fewer resources to fight back with. So please give it a shot. It’s a film from 1998, so it’s a throwback. Worth the watch, though, particularly if you enjoy a good ole small fry fighting the big baddie, actual good vs. evil. Not only that, but Travolta is excellent in this movie. As an addition that must be made, though he plays the top lawyer for the enormous corporate ghouls, Robert Duvall performs superbly. Excellent film; watch it.

On to the series remake or whatever you want to call it of the 1992 movie, A League Of Their Own. This was an interesting choice for a remake of an older film. I wouldn’t have thought to do it, mainly because I’ve always found the original good, a movie I still enjoy today.

The show follows the women’s professional baseball league formed during WWII when many big leaguers were overseas fighting the Axis scourge. The movie is quite heavily comedic. The series is not. That’s my opinion anyway, and I think I have that correct. There are some heavy themes in the film, don’t get me wrong, but the movie’s overall tone is much lighter than the show.

I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; it’s just the way it’s presented and the manner in which the story is told. The show has only eight episodes. It could have been done in 6 if I’m being entirely forthright. There was too much filler, superfluous dialogue, and character interactions that weren’t necessary. It’s not horribly unreasonable, and for the most part, I understand why they did it. But the old adage “less is more” could have been taken to heart by the show’s makers.

One thing the show made me think about very hard is the subject of lesbian players. In the movie, the subject matter of gay women in the pro league isn’t ever touched upon. It’s a focal point in the show, and I’m glad they made it like that. When I think back on the movie as an adult and understand humans better, I know there would have had to be women who loved women on those teams. The film didn’t touch that, and yes, it was 30 years ago, and things are different now, but I can’t help but be proud of the show’s creators for making it a priority to show the realities of life for gay women in the 1940s.

The series is not playing up some fake LGBTQ+ concern. This series shows us what I think was most likely the way it was back then. And let’s face it; life was frequently unbelievably cruel for gay people nearly 100 years ago. So, I was happy they addressed the whole truth about the women on these teams.

Another thing I enjoyed was that the show also revealed the trials and tribulations of a gay black woman, Maxine, played by Chante Adams, an excellent pitcher who can’t find a team of her own. Because she’s black, a woman, and secretly gay, it seems like she represents multiple real-life people who had to deal with bigots and racists. It just struck me that the show’s creators squeezed all of these things into one character. The perspective of Max (Adams) is such a contrast to the lives of the white women of the Rockford Peaches; it’s striking. But the writing and acting are done marvelously, so the distinction doesn’t come across as preachy. Instead, it feels real, and to me, it’s beautiful when we see Max finally get her shot on a real team that will pay her as a professional.

My biggest complaint is about the lead character. Abbi Jacobson, of Broad City fame (a show I love), plays Carson Shaw, the star catcher for the Peaches, who, as the story progresses, also becomes the coach. While Jacobson does an admirable job trying to pull off the role, I can’t buy her as a leader. It felt hollow to me; I would never identify her as a leader in her acting. She is a fair performer but was not the right choice to play Carson. She would have been better suited for a secondary role but being that she is one of the show’s co-creators, it is what it is.

All in all, I liked this show. It’s a peek into the 1940s, and while I still love the original movie, the series brings more depth to the story of these real-life women who played the game of games. It’s a little too long, and my critique of Jacobson as the lead may seem like a big hint to stay away, but that’s not what I’m saying. Check out the show; it’s a good one. Adams as Maxine is amazing. I see Chante Adams being a big star, and if she doesn’t start getting huge roles in big-time movies, it would be a shame. She’s incredible, and the story of these women is as well. Thanks for reading, and until next week…