Connect with us

Entertainment

‘Better Call Saul’ breaks in the right direction with its satisfying series finale

Published

on

‘Better Call Saul’ breaks in the right direction with its satisfying series finale

By no means precisely a racehorse when it comes to pacing, the extra-long finale continued to pursue the present’s slow-and-steady technique, which this season included a whole episode seemingly devoted to at least one drop-dead-funny sight gag inside a division retailer.

Nonetheless, the collection reached a logical if understated conclusion, one which noticed Jimmy/Saul (Bob Odenkirk) interact in a single noble, self-sacrificing act in an effort to deliver himself again collectively, even fleetingly, together with his ex, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). Her destiny had at all times served because the present’s most elementary thriller, and the important thing to Jimmy’s evolution (or descent) into the fast-talking huckster he grew to become.

Having been caught in of all locations a dumpster by of all issues a medical-alert bracelet (making a priceless visitor starring function for Carol Burnett), Saul went concerning the process of doing what he does greatest — particularly, gaming the system.

It was one thing, as Walter White (Bryan Cranston) noticed in a pointed flashback, that he was without end susceptible to do, which explains why he could not resist returning to his larcenous methods, ultimately resulting in his seize.

Advertisement

“So, you had been at all times like this,” Walt mentioned.

Again in his ingredient arguing on his personal behalf, Saul appeared to have outsmarted the fits but once more by securing an absurdly mild sentence. That was regardless of one other “Breaking Dangerous” alum, Marie Schrader (Betsy Brandt), demanding justice for his complicity after the actual fact within the demise of her husband, Hank.

The “Dangerous” characters served a objective, with fellow transplant Mike (Jonathan Banks) expressing thinly veiled contempt when Saul asks him a couple of time machine, saying that he would use it in an effort to make investments shrewdly and develop into a billionaire.

“That is it? Cash?” Mike sneered.

Ultimately, although, Saul discovered one thing extra essential, for what gave the impression to be much less about rescuing Kim, or clearing her from a possible lawsuit, than merely seeing her once more. It was an costly cigarette when it comes to years added to his sentence, however all issues thought of, value it to him, reclaiming a minimum of a chunk of his soul.

Advertisement

Written and directed by Peter Gould (who co-created the present with Vince Gilligan), “Saul” clearly could not present the identical fireworks that distinguished the “Breaking Dangerous” finale, however it did show satisfying in a means the felt true to the present.

Notably, “Higher Name Saul” had by no means received an Emmy in any class heading into the present season. Along with its pending nominations, this second batch of episodes — which performed outdoors the present eligibility window — will probably put the collection, and maybe particularly Odenkirk, who survived a near-death expertise to ship the efficiency of a lifetime, in competition for subsequent yr, assuming anyone can bear in mind again that lengthy.

Along with his cowl blown early within the episode, Saul exhibited his priorities by attempting to take his cash and run. Finally, although, first Kim after which Saul/Jimmy needed to atone for what in hindsight was the present’s pivotal second: How their shared glee in perpetrating scams lastly resulted, if solely inadvertently, within the demise of Howard (Patrick Fabian).

At that second any innocence was misplaced, drawing a straight line to Jimmy’s “Breaking Dangerous” years and his drab, colorless future.

Even then, his Cinnabon-honed expertise with baked items would come in useful, a ability he was proven making use of in his new function as a prisoner. As a result of like “Breaking Dangerous,” “Higher Name Saul” at all times discovered methods to deliver the previous, current and future collectively, even when it was one thing as small as Jimmy’s knack for manipulating a unique form of dough.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Movie Reviews

Movie review: “The Watchers”

Published

on

Movie review: “The Watchers”
“The Watchers” is a horror/thriller movie that is Isha Night Shyamalan’s directorial debut, released in 2024. It is based on the book The Watchers by A.M. Shine. There is a hint of fantastical elements throughout the movie and lore that would have made for a great overall story, but unfortunately,…
Continue Reading

Entertainment

How did Travis Kelce know he was falling for Taylor Swift? He offers a 'genuine' answer

Published

on

How did Travis Kelce know he was falling for Taylor Swift? He offers a 'genuine' answer

Travis Kelce isn’t afraid to share his love story.

It turns out that Taylor Swift’s unexpected behavior during the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears in September tipped the relationship into this-is-the-real-deal territory, he said on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast.

Kelce explained that they had already been seeing each other privately but that her attitude toward taking things public impressed him.

He offered her a security escort into the stadium, but she brushed it off and walked in with the rest of his guests.

“She really won me over with that one,” the tight end said, describing how Swift preferred to “be around family and friends and experience this with everybody” instead of getting celebrity treatment.

Advertisement

“She’s very self-aware. And I think that’s why I really started to really fall for her, was how genuine she is around friends [and] family. It can get crazy for somebody with that much attention … and she just keeps it so chill and so cool.”

The two have kept the intimate details of their relationship under wraps but are notably more public than Taylor has been with past boyfriends. Their passionate kiss after Kelce’s Super Bowl win in February effectively broke the internet, and he joined her onstage in London over the weekend, spicing up the Eras tour.

Kelce says he wants to “keep things private,” but “at the same time, I’m not here to hide anything … that’s my girl, that’s my lady.”

He did admit there have been a few downsides to entering her spotlight — notably, random fans showing up at his pad in Kansas City, Kan.

“I’ve had fun with just about every aspect of it. It’s just when you’re at home you want privacy, and you don’t always get that,” he said.

Advertisement

The wild online speculation is another annoyance. The athlete said that his father would come across crazy tabloid stories from time to time and call him to fact-check.

“He’d see something so f— out of the blue, like something about me and Taylor, he’s like, ‘Hey, you guys OK?’”

Kelce always has a reply at the ready: “Get the f— off Facebook, Dad.”

And for those still wondering — KillaTrav’s favorite TSwift songs are “Black Space,” “Cruel Summer” and “So High School.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: ‘Summer Camp’ is an entertaining disappointment

Published

on

Movie Review: ‘Summer Camp’ is an entertaining disappointment

Nothing forges a friendship like treating an arrow wound. For Ginny, Mary and Nora, an ill-fated archery lesson and an injured classmate are just the beginning of the lifetime of trouble they’re about to start.

Ginny is a year above the other two, more experienced in both summer camp and girlhood, and takes it upon herself to somewhat forcefully guide her younger friends. Mary cowers in the bathroom away from her bunkmates, spouting medical facts, while Nora hangs back, out of place. When their camp counselor plucks them out of their cabin groups to place them in the new “Sassafras” cabin, they feel like they fit in somewhere for the first time.

50 years later, “Summer Camp” sees the three girls, now women, reunite for the anniversary reunion of the very same camp at which they met. Although they’ve been in touch on-and-off in the preceding decades, this will be the first time the women have seen each other in 15 years.

Between old camp crushes, childhood nemeses and the newer trials of adulthood, the three learn to understand each other, and themselves, in a way that has eluded them the entirety of their friendship.

I really wanted to like “Summer Camp.”

Advertisement

The opening scene, a glimpse at the girls’ first year together at Camp Pinnacle, does a good job at establishing Ginny, Mary and Nora’s dynamic. It’s sweet, funny and feels true to the experience of many adolescent girls’ friendships.

On top of that, this movie’s star-studded cast and heartwarming concept endeared me to it the moment I saw the trailer. Unfortunately, an enticing trailer is about the most “Summer Camp” has to offer.

As soon as we meet our trio as adults, things start to fall apart. It really feels like the whole movie was made to be cut into a trailer — the music is generic, shots cut abruptly between poses, places and scenes, and at one point two of the three separate shots of each woman exiting Ginny’s tour bus are repeated.

The main character and sometimes narrator, Ginny Moon, is a self-help writer who uses “therapy speak” liberally and preaches a tough-love approach to self improvement. This sometimes works perfectly for the movie’s themes but is often used to thwop the viewer over the head with a mallet labeled “WHAT THE CHARACTERS ARE THINKING” rather than letting us figure it out for ourselves.

There are glimpses of a better script — like when Mary’s husband asks her whether she was actually having fun or just being bullied, presumably by Ginny. This added some depth to her relationship with him, implying he actually does listen to her sometimes, and acknowledged the nagging feeling I’d been getting in the back of my head: “Hey, isn’t Ginny kind of mean?”

Advertisement

Despite all my annoyance with “Summer Camp,” there were a few things I really liked about it. I’m a lot younger than the main characters of this movie, but there were multiple points where I found myself thinking, “Hey, my aunt talks like that!” or, “Wow, he sounds just like my dad.”

The dynamic of the three main characters felt very true to life, I’ve known and been each of them at one point or another. It felt especially accurate to the relationships of girls and women, and seeing our protagonists reconcile at the end was, for me, genuinely heartwarming.

“Summer Camp” is not a movie I can recommend for quality, but if you’re looking for a lighthearted, somewhat silly romp to help you get into the summer spirit, this one will do just fine.

Other stories by Caroline

Advertisement

Caroline Julstrom, intern, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or cjulstrom@brainerddispatch.com.

Caroline Julstrom finished her second year at the University of Minnesota in May 2024, and started working as a summer intern for the Brainerd Dispatch in June.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending