Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

The announcement today of Joan Rivers’ passing away caught me by surprise. Robin Williams then Lauren Bacall and now Joan. I don’t normally go with that whole “death comes in threes” thing, but…yeah.

Okay, back to Joan. She was definitely a legend in the entertainment industry. But I have to confess:

I wasn’t a huge fan.

Nothing against Ms. Rivers. I was just normally turned off by her trademark snarky, crass humor. But in 2011 I watched a documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, which covered her career and offered an intimate look of her life at the time (filmed a few years ago when she was 75).

After watching this documentary, I had much more respect for her. It didn’t change my mind about her humor, but I gained a greater appreciation for her work ethic and what she experienced throughout her career. That’s one thing I love about documentaries: you are introduced to a new world or a different perspective on an issue or person you thought you knew everything about.

Piece of Work is available on Netflix Streaming. It’s definitely worth a viewing.

XOXO,

roqberry

Celebrating July 4th: Me + Netflix Instant

I live in Nashville, TN and the weather for July 4th isn’t looking good for the Music City. A high of 75 sounds sublime. But the 80% chance of rain is, well, pretty messed up. Looks like those fireworks displays and cookouts will need to be on hold until the weekend… If we’re lucky.

Never fear. Netflix Instant is here!

True, rainy holidays can absolutely suck. But look on the bright side. This is a great chance to get caught up on favorite shows and start watching those movies on your bucket list.

Here are some recommendations of movies and TV shows to check out on Netflix Instant:

• Captain America. It’s Independence Day after all. He’s a hero. He’s really cute. God bless America!
• The Avengers. While we are on the Marvel super heroes theme, why not watch one of Netflix’s recent additions to the Instant lineup.
• Thor. But before you watch The Avengers, check out this other Marvel goody to get the back story of two of The Avengers main characters.
• Fringe. This Fox show recently ended its series run after five years. A great sci-fi show. Smartly written. Brilliantly acted. You can catch seasons 1-4 on Instant.
• 24. If you have never watched this intense drama before, it’s okay. I forgive you. We can still be friends. But I urge you. It is your duty to start watching this show. All 8 seasons are on Instant. Start with season 1. Season 5 was the most intense. Overall this show was genius, addictive and deserved its iconic status. By the end you will fight the urge to yell “Damn it Chloe!”
• Parks and Recreation. This show takes the mockumentary format and follows the park and recs department in Pawnee, IN. Amy Pohler stars in the show and every actor is perfectly cast. Even Ron Swanson’s mustache.
• Super 8. I’m a fan of J. J. Abrams’ work and his film about young kids who witness an alien encounter while shooting their own movie is a mix of The Goonies meets Close Encounters. Nice option for the whole family.
• The Walking Dead. What’s more American that watching a show about zombies? Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Instant.
• Mission Impossible films 1-4. Hey, today is Tom Cruise’s birthday! I can think of no better gift that to watch Tom run from the bad guys in these films.

Happy watching! And I hope you have a very Happy 4th of July!

XOXO,

roqberry

What To Watch: Pressure Cooker

Hey there foodies and reality show fans!

The next season of Food Network Star airs Sunday, June 2. A lot of my friends are into this show. I’m more of an HGTV Design Star fan, but I definitely see the appeal. You get to watch talented chefs create amazing recipes and even get inspired yourself to get into the kitchen and work your own culinary magic.

May I make a recommendation? Before you see Food Network Star this weekend, set aside some time to watch the documentary Pressure Cooker. This documentary follows 3 high school students as they navigate both the inner city of Philadelphia and the culinary curriculum at their school. Led by their tough teacher, Wilma Stephenson, these kids learn more than the basics- they also learn about discipline, working together as a team and skills that help them (well, anyone) survive beyond the kitchen.

This documentary has everything you would expect from a reality show. It is emotionally engaging- you can not watch this doc and not make a connection with these students. It has drama and it’s own “bad guy”- Ms. Stephenson is equally tough yet nurturing- she knows what it takes to get these students to shine.

But like most reality shows this documentary has the drama of an intense competition. Each student in the culinary program is working toward a city-wide culinary showdown. Stephenson has a winning record and she intends to continue that. But is this year’s class ready to rise to the challenge?

This doc holds a very special place in my heart. When I watched this at the Nashville Film Festival, the audience was as engaged as I was with this film. You will cheer. You may even cry a bit. But you will not forget these kids. Unlike most reality show competitions, these kids are not competing for a shot at fame or for their own shows. They love what they are doing. They want to win not only for their school, but also for themselves. These young minds are reaching for the stars. And as a viewer you will sincerely want them to soar to new heights.

Pressure Cooker is available for instant viewing on Netflix. It is suitable for families to watch. In fact, if I was going to have my own summer film festival for families, this documentary would be on the list.

Watch and enjoy!

XOXO,

roqberry