“Joker” Directed by Todd Phillips Let’s get this out of the way up front. Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” in terms of film-craft, atmosphere, focus, and performance, is one of the greatest films of this decade. Maybe any decade. That statement, while … Continue reading “Joker”
There is nothing I can write to tie these three shows together, other than that they were the last three shows I watched beginning to end. So…we’ll just get to it, shall we? Let’s go in order of quality, and, … Continue reading The Great, The Good, and The SMH: “Peaky Blinders” (S5), “Carnival Row” & “Knightfall” (S2)
There’s been a slate of theatrically released music icon film bios released in to theaters over the last few years. No doubt this was a response to the success of “Searching For Sugarman”, “Twenty Feet From Stardom” and “Amy” – … Continue reading Two from Laurel Canyon: “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” & “David Crosby: Remember My Name”
“Downton Abbey” Directed by Michael Engler Is there a purpose to writing a review of a film that is a continuation of a beloved television show? It is, of course, fairly evident, that those who love a show will go … Continue reading “Downton Abbey”
Ah, the Teen Coming-Of-Age Sex Comedy. A staple of Hollywood summer offerings going back as far as “Animal House” (1978) & its many knockoffs like “H.O.T.S.” (1979) & “Little Darlings” (1980), it is a genre steeped in hetero-normative ideals, institutionalized … Continue reading “Booksmart” & “Good Boys”
Two eagerly anticipated fifth entries to two beloved shows. One borne of popularity after claiming season four was the show’s finale, and the other borne of a hypnotic central locale clung to by a fervent audience. Could either one possibly … Continue reading Season Five of “Luther” & “Shetland”
“Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood” Directed by Quentin Tarantino You may look at the photo above and wonder what significance it has to the story of Quentin Tarantino’s newest tale, “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”. The truth is it has … Continue reading “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”
Three is a magic number. At least that’s what De La Soul kept telling me back in ’89. But are the third seasons magic for these two one-time critical Netflix darlings? When their brilliant first seasons came out, I’m sure … Continue reading “Stranger Things” S3 & “Jessica Jones” S3 (Netflix)
As it’s the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, networks are tripping over themselves to get out content revolving around that conflict’s European Theater. Of course, taking well-known entities and recreating them is much easier than creating something out of … Continue reading WWII Binge: “Das Boot” (Hulu), “Catch 22” (Hulu) & “The Cold Blue” (HBO)
Tremendous creator, writer, actor, comedienne and zeitgeist inhabitor, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has become one of the most important voices in the aftermath of the #MeToo and #TimesUp explosion. Her shows, “Fleabag” and “Killing Eve”, seem to be the tip of the … Continue reading Two from Phoebe Waller-Bridge: Fleabag (S1-2) & Killing Eve (S2)
