Netflix has become the new way for virtually all of us to absorb new movies, and this week it's I Care A Lot with the incredible Rosamund Pike.

I don't really know what kind of movie this is.  Is this a drama? A very dark comedy?  Or just a very cruel movie that may give terrible people really bad ideas as a business in real life?  This movie will make you mad.  This movie also has a focus problem, as it loses its primary focus and story line and switches directions to the point of silliness.  With that said, it does create a character in the lead that you hate so deeply, it's hard to watch at times, but you also can't turn away.  That is the genius of Pike.  She is terrific here.

Pike plays Marla, a woman that runs this insanely despicable business of essentially kidnapping rich, elderly people from their homes through a network of on-the-take and equally God awful professionals like doctors, nursing home people, etc.  They "legally" kidnap seniors and get them "sentenced" to nursing homes where they are drugged and held against their will forever - legally. ? Then she makes it happen to be court appointed as their legal guardian.  She then sells all their assets  -  and gets personally rich off their money and thier life's work, and she does it all in a very giddy fashion. This story line is interesting, though utterly reprehensible, and thoroughly disgusting.

Movie Trailer Can Be Watched On YouTube

She then "kidnaps" the wrong woman, who is totally healthy and totally loaded with incredible riches.  But who is this woman? And why are so many people looking for her, and for her immediate release?  Marla has certainly made the mistake she never thought she'd make. And why are seemingly very, very bad people after Marla now?

Then the movie falls off a cliff.  The focus changes dramatically and becomes something it wasn't.  It falls into total silliness as easily as Marla gets the elderly committed and fleeced.  Now our main character sort of becomes  Wonder Woman-like, a highly skilled stunt woman, a weapons expert, a tactical commando, and about every other silly thing she can become in her quest to elude the people now after her.  It's like a different character.

It's almost like two different movies, and that's the fatal flaw.  There are compelling moments here, but its shift is too much to overcome. As it shifts, it becomes very predictable, as in the first half, it is not.  Also her "enemies" (who are very bad people) are the most inept bunch of mobsters you'll ever see. And in real life this entity would be anything but.  But here, we are supposed to think they are about as bright and ruthless as the 3 Stooges.

This is not a wasted night on the couch, but this certainly could have been a whole lot better.  Great lead character, and a perfect Pike performace, but the writers ruined it after the first hour.  Compelling moments and an original story that eventually goes wrong.  There will be those who love this, and some where this will hit way too close to home, especially if you have an elderly person in your life having a tough time.

I Care A Lot - Adequate

It's that week, the temps are up a bit and we look at our cars and go, sheesh!  I don't know about you, but my car had about 25 pounds of road gunk on it and I couldn't wait to get it taken care of.  So I went out over the weekend, to Ultimate Car Wash in Streetsboro, not far from the house and got it washed. I love being in the Clean Car Club!

So this week, please support your local car wash place as they have been waiting to see you all winter!   You'll have a clean car and you'll support local people working at local businesses. 

And keep in mind, you'll be in your warm car, but they will be out in the cold, so please tip them well. Also, check into monthly plans at your favorite car wash, you can save a ton of money and always have a clean car! And while you're there, maybe a gift certificate for someone.

Local Car Washes Have A Friend In Me!   They are a hard working bunch!

Thanks!

Click For Local Car Washes!

Toni asked about a song called Love Without Mercy.  It's from an artist I hadn't thought of in a while, and I'm glad my memory was activated.

In the early 1990's country was continuing grow rapidly and evolve not solely in its musical sound, but in its presentation and the style of the stars singing it.  This artist, even though his chart run was short, was among the first of what was to come in this new and exciting era. He was a sizzling guitarist, a soulful singer, a songwriter and just a new kind of performer.  Then, virtually all the major stars were wearing hats, long sleeved button down wild shirts, tight jeans and boots with an acoustic guitar they sort of played in concerts, but were more of a prop.  All putting on great shows, but the look was all kinda the same, as that was the formula.  This guy didn't wear a hat, he wore sunglasses, he had a beard, and he was going to be heard, if not in voice -  through his guitar.

His First Big Song -1992

In 1999, we all met Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban.  Great singers, and really fantastic guitar players with a long line of hits.  In 2017 we met Lindsay Ell, another incredible guitar player and singer, and today the "guitarie"  Brothers Osborne.  These artists are really co-stars with their guitars.  But before there was Brad, Keith, Lindsay and The Brothers, there was the trailblazing Lee Roy Parnell.  What a fresh act he was, with his bluesy voice, a slick image, very cool songs, and beyond incredible guitar work.  He is one of the most underrated stars ever in our format.

On The Road -GREAT Song  - Big Favorite

He was unlike the great guitarists before him, say like Glen Campbell, Roy Clark and Ricky Skaggs, all incredible and from a very different time.  Parnell was different.  He was more along the lines of Jerry Reed, or Junior Brown, in the fact the work was louder and electric -  not acoustic.  (BTW Junior Brown is an incredible player)  And even tough the song styles are very different, I believe Parnell helped pave the way for Paisley and Urban, and others.

Very Underrated Love Song

Parnell really broke through in 1992 with his second album, Love Without Mercy.   It's in my top five albums of 90's country, and my top 10 all time country.  The first single, The Rock was less than a mild hit, but it got him noticed.  The next three singles were all big songs.  What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am, went to #2, as did Tender Moment, and the title track #5. He had created a sound that was his, with his vocals and his guitar telling the story. In 1993, the On The Road album was another big success with the title song going to #6 and I'm Holding My Own going to #3. In all he charted 20 some singles during his run.

The Rock - This Song Got Him Noticed

Parnell was a lot of new things.  He was a non-hat act in the hat act era.  He wore waist coats, nice boots and tee's, and he was almost always photographed and filmed with his guitar.  He was just "cool."  It's hard to explain it any other way. I always felt that way about rocker Lenny Kravitz, he was just  - "cool. " LRP's guitar work was aggressive, it was loud, it had the "Parnell Sound."  It was swampy, it was in your face but not too much.  The subject matter in his songs was straight forward and to the point. And if you listen to a couple of his albums, they were very different from start to finish than what was mainstream then.

Big Song - Straight Forward - Honest - Good 

For the remainder of the 90's Parnell changed record labels a couple times, had more albums and some decent success.  But I wish his real successful chart run would have been longer.  He is a great example of a guy with a ridiculous amount of talent, coming through in country's biggest decade.  Did he get lost in the stampede?  Who knows, but this much we do know.  He is a great songwriter, as he wrote hits for other artists like That's My Story for Colin Raye.  He also played guitar on many other artist songs and tons of other projects and still performs.  I have no doubt that he gave confidence to new artists (and managers and record labels) that there was indeed room for great guitar work from the star standing at the mic on stage.

Tender Moment - #2 Hit

Parnell has his own line of fine guitars now with Gibson Guitars and is considered the premiere electric slide guitar player anywhere. He's played everywhere, with everyone for many years.  I would gladly pay to see him play again, because the few times I saw him, it was an experience, and I played all his songs on the radio.

He's 64 now - I have no doubt -  he's still cool.

I know, this really slick Miranda Lambert song has been out for a short while now, but this song is worth another look and listen.  Settling Down is my favorite Miranda song in a while.

To me, this is what she really does well.  I really like her medium  - to up tempo songs that make you feel something.  And that's always her calling card, Miranda makes you feel, whether is be Gunpowder And Lead, or The House That Built Me, she has the ability to take you to extremes equally well, and that's rare.   She generally makes emotive song choices that we all can bite into and relate to one way or another. 

This song has a real nice feel, and a really sharp video to go along with it.  Miranda has done it all over the past few years especially, and has shown incredible versatility. But in the end songs like Heart Like Mine, and this, is what I feel she really does best.

Grab a coffee, take a break, and take a listen!  Love this song!

Today is Random Acts Of Kindness Day,  as part of the week of the same name. Here are some ways to be kind today.

Remember, anything can be "Nice" - only humans can be "Kind"

Be listening to Sarah and me this week and find out how you can be kind, and maybe get a little something for being so.

Ways To Be Kind Today

Maybe the Kindest Song Ever  (There Are Not Very Many Of Them)  LOL  (Been a while)

Being International Womens Day, I thought we would look back at some of great women I have featured here. So grab a coffee, get comfy, and get your earbuds, as you can read about and listen to, some great country maybe you have not heard for a while.  Plus, you can learn the incredible contributions they made outside of the music.  

There will be many more, but these are the amazing women I have featured so far.  Just in case you missed them the first time they were posted here. Thanks for reading!

Pam Tillis

The Judds

Holly Dunn

Sylvia

Suzy Bogguss

Patty Loveless

Olivia Newton-John

Country In Good Hands - Women

Terri Clark

Deana Carter

K.T. Oslin

The Forester Sisters

Juice Newton

Wynn's Weekend Watch -   2 years ago today!

Box Office – The Croods: A New Age- $2.6 Million

Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar  - Which opened last weekend (on demand now).

New This Week -  Land (opened last week)  Streaming on Prime this week. 

Filming On Mission Impossible 7 and 8 -  Has been postponed because the crew is allegedly refusing to work, with revolts among the cast and crew.  (Story)

Entertainment Tonight - Says ''Chappelle's Show'' is returning to Netflix.  (Story)

NCIS: New Orleans -- Starring Scott Bakula -- is ending after its seventh season on CBS, May 16 - 155 episodes.  (Story)

Kevin James - Is starring in a new Netflix sitcom called "The Crew." It's set in the world of NASCAR  (Story)

James Cameron - Is turning his True Lies movie into a TV series for CBS.  (Story)

An animated - Series based on the board game Clue is in development at Fox. (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane  (link)

See My Other Articles From This Week -  Browns No Man's Land  /  Song Of The Week  /  Random Acts Of Kindness

I'm sure you heard Friday defensive end J.J. Watt formerly of the Houston Texans was released after over 10 years there. And the rumor is, he could come to the Browns.  Wouldn't that be fun?

Social Media was, and is all lit up with many keyboard experts squawking about the salary cap, the cap room, the fact he's older, he gets hurt, and quoting stats that really don't matter.  He's too expensive, we can't give up a draft pick, think of the future blah blah blah...all these "financial general managers" chiming in.  Yes, J.J. Watt is 32.  Yes he's had injuries and yes he's not the player he once was. Most of everything mentioned is undeniably true.  But who the heck cares? It's time to think about where we are.  Time to adjust the thinking. 

For us Browns fans, we are kind of in No Man's Land.  The Browns are in rare air and we are right there with them, as we really haven't been here before.  Usually right about now we are thinking about who we are taking with the first pick in the draft, trading up or down, who will be the QB, head coach, what obscure name will be our Offensive Coordinator, what third string WR that played at Auburn will fit in here, or some nonsense like that. Those days are temporarily over as the Browns are now legit, and poised to make a real run at the AFC and beyond.

The Browns have the talent for the most part, and what they don't have today they will have in short order, with the draft, free agency and a trade or two. They have the coach, and the fans, now they need the missing part - The intangibles.  They need a few grownups on both sides of the ball to lead this team on and off the field. There are a few crevasses in the NFL, the head coach can't fill, that only the leaders on the field can when it matters. The Browns have proven they can win, now the Browns need to find the guys  -  that won't let them lose.

J.J. Watt would be one of those guys, but not the only guy. My gut feeling is he wants to win badly, and so do the Browns.  If they could get him for a bargain, in a specialized role, he would be very valuable.  Older, hungry veterans to show the young players how to win, on and off the field.  We need to stop thinking the way we always have.  STOP with the draft, the future, the salary cap, the past, the luxury tax....STOP.  Look where we are right now. We are not rebuilding, we are ready.  It's winning time and time to get the final pieces we need.  The painting is just about done and it's time to frame it.  We are not used to this, many fans are stuck in the Cleveland sports quagmire.

Cleveland teams have a great record with this.  When Cavs traded for Akron's own Nate Thurmond, he was "too old." But from the second he came to town, the Cavs were easily the best team in the NBA - Thus the Miracle In Richfield.  When the Browns got defensive end Lyle Alzado, and Calvin Hill they were "too old," and the Browns became the Cardiac Kids and were probably the best team in the AFC.  Indians got a "washed up" Orel Hershisher, and Dennis Martinez and went to the World Series and were the best team in MLB.   And the Tribe and Andrew MIller?  See, these older guys showed a young team how to win, and that's where we are. Hey, it doesn't always work out, but it's worth the risk.

It's our time and J.J. Watt is right on time, but he's not the final piece, or the only one the young Browns need. But his pedigree is, and if the Browns take a chance on him, others may follow him here. Winning in football -  as much as any sport there is, begins way before kick-off -  in the locker room.  Look at what Brady did with the Bucs.  I am aware there is one Tom Brady, but the formula is the same. He signed, others came with him, as it showed players around the league and in the locker room in Tampa, the Bucs were serious about winning. 

Oh yeah, Brady was too old too.  GO BROWNS!

This week you may have heard that former Browns coach Marty Shottenheimer died at 77 years old. Upon hearing this many of us were taken back to a different time.  I know I was.

Marty was the Browns head coach in the mid and late 80's and was the General of some great teams. The Kosar led Browns, that in my opinion were the best team in the AFC then. It was also the first and last time the Browns were really poised to win a Superbowl. Some very bad luck of course prevented that a few times. The Browns today are seemingly headed that way and that's great to see.  He was a powerful head coach for the Browns and a few other teams and ended up with 200 career wins. Seventh on the all time list.  Who knew?

His famous quote to the Browns of, "There's a gleam, men....there's a gleam...let's get the gleam!"  That goes down in
Browns lore as a great quote, delivered by a cerebral coach to a hungry team, on the sports biggest stage before the biggest game of all of their lives.  Emploring them to get the gleam of a champion.  Without The Drive, and The Fumble in successive years, that quote would be what is really remembered, not the heartbreaking losses.

Marty At His Best

Marty is still the last Browns coach to have back-to-back winning seasons with the Browns.  Now, Kevin Stefanski will pass that, and hopefully pass him in winning an AFC title game (or two) too.  Marty was a winner, he was a coaching warrior, and for some reason is not in the Hall Of Fame.  True, no title, but the only coaches ahead of him are, Don Shula, George Halas, Bell Belichick, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau, and Andy Ried.  He has more than Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, (sorry Steeler fans x2)  Bill Parcells, and the father of the Browns and of modern football, Paul Brown.  

He won wherever he went, and that includes here.  I think he's the best coach the Browns have had in my lifetime.  I wish he would have stayed a few more years back then, but you lose disagreements with the owner, and trust me in those days, Art Modell let everyone know he was the owner.  But to me, I would rather think of those teams not as teams that were heartbreaking losers of huge games, but as the great team they were. And they were great, because Marty made them great. His Browns teams were among the best in franchise history. 

Put him in the Hall, and the Browns should honor him this year, for the year. Although his football style was very different, he was the Kevin Stefanski of his time.  We have reason to be excited about Browns football at last, post Marty.

"There's a gleam, men....there's a gleam...let's get the gleam!"

Sometimes songs come out that evoke an immediate response.  That's the new song by Elvie Shane, That's My Boy. This is a very nice song about a man who is a stepfather to a young son, and see's him as his own absolute.  This song has a real nice feel to it, and makes the case that there are nice guys out there, and that's a good thing.

This song speaks to so many listeners in so many ways.  First, if you are in his position, you relate.  If you were raised by a great step parent, you relate and if you are thankful for the second parents in your life no matter the circumstances, this song speaks to you. We have had these songs before in country, but this may be the most heartfelt yet. This song always spawns texts when we play it, and that's the mark of a powerful song.

This is straight forward, honest, emotional and I think right on time for a nice song. If you have not heard this song yet on WQMX, take a listen right here with a coffee.   I hope this does well, there is always room for a song that makes you feel good.  And this one certainly does.