TimMath-545-333580

This story reminds me of a really good Black Mirror episode: It is compelling and satirical. The performances are great. The only thing that keeps this movie from being stellar is the lack of editing. The special effects could have been amazing, but the camera lingers on them so long that they become less and less striking. Demi Moore gives a stellar performance, which makes the film worth seeing, but the movie could have been so great if the director and editors had realized that at times maybe less is Moore (sorry, couldn't resist). I realize that today's audiences are used to more visceral shock value than, say, Hitchcock would have delivered. But I am not asking for a Hitchcock level of subtlety. I only wish that please, please, don't bludgeon us over the head with special effects or the effects will not be so special. And that's what happens in The Substance. Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid give everything you could ask for in this movie. Also, the soundtrack is note perfect. There's a lot to like here despite my critique.

It is rare that in this day and age when you think you've seen it all, you find something so fresh and entertaining. The show's title sounds mundane, as if you are in for another round of Judge Judy, but it's a wild ride exquisitely performed. James Marsden is incredibly good at self parody. The no-name actors around him are so believable that it's almost hard to accept that a script actually exists. I am no fan of reality shows, but I will make a huge exception in this case. The objective of the production team is to make Ronald, the only non-actor, believe that he is really on a jury. At any time, a slip up could expose the premise as false, creating the demise of the entire project. Talk about drama. . . The show is a high wire act of comedy, I can't recommend it enough.

The first two seasons of this show are strong. Season 3 is up and down. Season 4 is almost ridiculous. The problem with this shows is that it takes the story sideways to extend its natural length. Season one and two are fresh and interesting. From then on, you can almost see the writers scratching out ideas and crossing them out to make the show live on. By season 4, the show is a parody of itself, recycling plot points, going into soap opera territory. Terribly disappointing by the end. It's really hard to stop watching a show after you've invested so much time into it. Naturally, you want to see how it ends. This show ended long before it died a dismal death.