STREAMING REVIEWS: Adaptation and adapting

A scene from 'Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret'

Today, there are two streaming choices to consider. One is a film adaptation of an old favorite from Judy Blume. The second is a new Limited Series from Steve Soderbergh, demonstrating how effectively people adapt to changing circumstances.
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret (Amazon Prime on Demand) - Deftly directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, it’s evident that Kelly grew up with this 1970 Judy Blume novel, or loved it so much upon reading it. Her affection for the subject, and the richness of the characters, that all come out when we watch this film. As a film adaptation, it’s a refreshing reminder of what Hollywood can still do well, churning out old-school comedies of this kind, and tackling sensitive subjects such as an 11-year-old girl’s onset of puberty and the kind of camaraderie she generates as with new friends she moves to the suburbs and a new school. While the time setting is firmly placed in 1970, in faithfulness to the book, it’s nice to watch and appreciate how some things are universal and still resonate. Portraying Margaret is talented child actress Abby Ryder Fortson. And her Mom Barbara, is played by Rachel McAdams, with grandmother Sylvia has Kathy Bates taking on the role. These three totally rule and dominate the narrative in a good way, so our involvement rarely flags. In the support cast, I’d single out Elle Graham who plays know it all Nancy, classmate of Margaret; Benny Safdie as Margaret’s Dad. Benny is one-half of the Safdie Brothers, who directed Uncut Gems and Good Time. The film is a lighthearted look at sex education, getting your period, wearing a bra, and just coming of age with values, personality, and friends intact. Religion, present or absent, is also a major topic of the film. This film knows how to charm and entertain, without overstaying it’s welcome.
Full Circle (HBO Go) - Director Steve Soderbergh has been around so long, and has had his name attached to such franchises as Oceans Eleven and Magic Mike, that it’s easy to forget he also directed Erin Brockvich; and way back in 1989, was considered one of the first American Indie directors of note, with his Sex, Lies, and Videotape. When he gets involved with the TV series, he has collaborated with the likes of Ed Solomon, and they had a mind-boggling Mosaic a few years ago. Here’s their latest, and it’s called Full Circle. The first two of six episodes dropped just this week; and typically, for Soderbergh and Solomon, it’s a twisty crime drama that mixes violence, intimidation and coercion, and how things from the past will creep up and mangle your today and tomorrow.

A scene from 'Full Circle'

Derek (Timothy Olyphant) and Sam (Clare Danes) are parents of a son who has theoretically been abducted. The two work for their father, a somewhat shady celebrity chef (Dennis Quaid with a ponytail). It’s a botched kidnapping perpetuated by a Guayanese crime family and their henchmen. There’s Zazie Beetz as Harmony, a police investigator who has issues of her own with her boss, played by Jim Gaffigan. CCH Pounder and Jharrel Jerome are among those taking on the major roles of the crime family. From the first two episodes, it’s clear we’re in for a tale of revenge, retribution and poetic justice. There’s a vast cast of characters, and in terms of establishing, the first two episodes are busy enough doing that. Will one feel a bit lost? Yes, and I’d say that’s intentional.