Siren555

This movie deserves so much more credit than its low IMDB rating. It's is a solid 7.5, simultaneously dark and empowering. Considering all the uninspired scripts being turned into movies these days, Miss Meadows dares to be different. Sure there are a couple of heavy-handed scenes, but pretty much about the film works well, particularly the solid acting (even the kids) and the fresh dialogue, Miss Meadows is a deliciously unique character, and Katie Holmes plays her perfectly. It's been a while since I've seen Holmes in anything, but Miss Meadows is a great reminder of how riveting Holmes can be on screen.

Holy female bad-ass, Netflix's Jessica Jones is Marvel-ous. You'll stay up until the wee hours binge-watching episode after episode until you can't keep your eyes open--it's THAT kind of show.

Great casting, acting, music, writing, and cinematography aside, Jessica Jones (played by Ann Hathaway lookalike Krysten Ritter) is a character you'd want to watch even if she didn't possess superpowers. Beneath Jessica Jones' ability to throw 300-lb. guys through walls is an aching fragility. She is conflicted, boozy, peeved, sh*t-talking, embraces her own sexuality, thinks fast on her feet, and is devoted to what she does. Jessica's bordering-on-con- artist skills as a private detective are especially entertaining.

Fair warning: There are sexually explicit scenes–-no nudity but, whoah--and occasional gore (maybe every three episodes.)

More than any other series except Orange is the New Black, Jennifer Jones brims with a perfect cast of interesting, strong female characters, notably Carrie-Ann Moss of Matrix/Trinity fame and Australian actress, Rachael Taylor, probably best known by American audiences as Maggie Madsen in Transformers (2007--and for looking an awful lot like a grownup 24's Elisha Cuthbert.

In case you haven't watched Jennifer Jones yet, I'll hold back from revealing which actor was chosen to play the sociopathic, mind-controlling super villain, but I will say this: the casting choice was brilliant.

Unique, infused with magic realism, and featuring fine actors, I think I loved Birdman. People who've ever been involved in theater will especially like this film, I think. I'm not surprised it won lots of Academy Awards.

Special recognition goes to long shots that pan high up city buildings and follow characters around the small downtown theater, on-stage, along hallways, in dressing rooms, across backstage. All the while, middle-aged actor Riggan (Keaton) tries to prove he is not a has-been. I'm not usually a fan of Michael Keaton's, but he did well as desperate, generally kind-hearted, washed-up Riggan. Also, as seems to be the big trend in movies and shows like Orange is the New Black (I'm not complaining), Keaton was not afraid to look old and ugly for his role.

Now a word about the film score: in theory, jazz drums as the only soundtrack was a good idea, but after nearly two solid hours of incessant, aggravating, excruciating, hissing and spitting jazz drums, I wanted to kill myself. Other than that, no complaints.