Coastal Elites

Everyone in this unusual film is good, although Bette Midler is a bit "Bette Midlery" (but how could she not be?) But the standout is Daniel Levy, whose work I only know from Schitt's Creek. He's really good.

I'd read a few snooty reviews that dismissed Coastal Elites as smug, self-satisfied, preaching to the choir... etc. The predictable put-downs of critics and commentators who always have to know better. In fact, it's smart, incisive, extremely timely and ultimately quite moving - and while being simultaneously depressing and uplifting. It's exactly the kind of whip-smart political theatre we need right now, when we can't even go to a theatre. Bette Midler is her usual powerhouse self as Miriam, a feisty Jewish momma who channels the collective rage at he who shall not be named. Dan Levy gives a nuanced turn as an actor with mixed feelings about his auditions for a gay superhero. And Kaitlyn Dever gives a restrained, yet masterful performance as a nurse on the front line. All five monologues are exceptionally well-written and brilliantly acted. And all the dopey 1/10 reviews from witless MAGA-hat wearing morons only go to prove that they are, as ever, utterly clueless and doomed to wallow in their cluelessness forever.

From Director Jay Roach and Screenwriter Paul Rudnick. Based off a Play.

HBO throws down the gloves in a brave and bold stand against the current administration (my apologies for refusing to say his name). They are largely preaching to the choir I suspect at this point.

Each actor delivers a fictionalized story which is meant to represent most importantly a conglomeration of actual people.

All the stars gave great performances in my opinion. Bette Midler, Dan Levy, Issa Rae, Sarah Paulson, and Kaitlyn Dever. I have to admit I was seriously surprised to see Kaitlyn Dever who is a young still on the rise in the show.

Everyone should watch it though I would rate it PG13 for language.

Excellent theatre, well written and performed by all concerned, and I am totally on the same page as the writer!

Hopefully, there is to be an additional monologue to come, and it will be from a person who danced on the grave of Trump!

I wish I could have danced on the grave of Margaret Thatcher, and I feel the same about Trump and Johnson, the two most divisive fascists since Hitler!

God Bless, Miriam.

Long since done with the Austin Powers and Meet the Parents franchises, Jay Roach has spent the past twelve years directing political-themed movies: "Recount" (about the 2000 election), "Game Change" (about the 2008 election), "The Campaign" (depicting a heated campaign for a congressional seat), "Trumbo" (about the blacklisting of Dalton Trumbo), "All the Way" (about Lyndon Johnson's efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act) and "Bombshell" (about the women at Fox News who exposed Roger Ailes as a sexual predator). Now he gives us "Coastal Elites", in which five people give monologues describing their displeasure with the Trump presidency and the coronavirus.

Opinions of this movie will almost certainly be split along ideological lines. Personally I found Sarah Paulson's character's monologue the most impressive. The movie isn't any sort of masterpiece, but I enjoyed it.