For those lucky enough to see Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed” this past weekend (and it’s only in 4 theaters currently so it might take a while to reach you) you’ve seen the type of film Alabama Liberal might make if he stumbled onto a financier with lots of money and no immediate need to see…
Category: Mindless Mondays
Movie/TV Review: “Fahrenheit 451” (the Book) is More Relevant Today than Ever
Coming out only 4 years after George Orwell’s more famous “1984” was published, Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” isn’t given nearly as much credit as it deserves for predicting the future. Although a debate has raged about whether Huxley’s “Brave New World” or Orwell’s “1984” is the more prescient work, I actually think “Farenheit” deserves to be (at…
Movie Review: “Tully”
“Tully” is a movie that almost hit too close to home for me. The Charlize Theron character may be a little more similar to myself than I’d like to admit, and I can’t say that about the vast majority of parenting movies. What Works: For the majority of “Tully,” we watch quietly realistic scenes building towards…
TV Reviews: Why It’s So Troubling “Barry” Killed Off Two Interracial Couples
I mostly loved “Barry”‘s first season. The great Bill Hader delivered a career-best performance (no small feat for the genius behind the excellent “Documentary Now” parodies). Stephen Root displayed a crackling newfound ruthlessness that felt electric. And Henry Winkler was a delightful, easy “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy” series contender as Gene Cousineau the…
Bad Movies Revisited: “Speed Racer”
Is “Speed Racer” really a bad movie? AL investigates this buried work and quickly revisits the often-misunderstood work of the Wachkowskis like the “Matrix” sequels and “Cloud Atlas”
The 5 Best TV Shows You’re Not Watching
What are the 5 best TV shows you may not be watching? Watch this and find out…
Quick Reviews: “Ready Player One” vs. “Rampage”
I watched these movies a while ago now, but thought about them so little that I forgot to review them. Not a great sign, but one is clearly better if you’re looking for dumb-assed blockbuster entertainment and can’t get tickets for “Infinity War,” “A Quiet Place,” “Deadpool 2,” “Pacific Rim 2,” damn there’s been a…
Movie Review: Beirut
Tony Gilroy’s cerebral, complex thriller is a perfect antidote for the Springtime blues. People used to talk about how dumb movies were in May and June, but Summer is now year-round which is why supposedly quieter months like February, March, and April have had Sci-Fi/Fantasy CGI-blockbusters opening nearly every weekend. “Beirut” is actually more at home opening…
Movie Review: Go See “The Death of Stalin”
Go see this movie. I almost don’t even want to discuss it with anyone until they’ve watched. Seriously, don’t watch a trailer. Don’t look up a cast list. Just go in cold, and be grateful you did, and know that the tonally-misleading title makes it sound like much, much more of a “sit” than it…
Movie Review: Isle of Dogs
Sometimes, trailers are quite deceptive for movies, but this is an occasion of truth in advertising. I can’t say the trailer is in any way deceptive of what this movie is–so watch it, and if you’re excited, you should go see it. If you hate it, then odds are slim-to-none you’ll enjoy this… What Works: For sheer, pound-for-pound…
Reviews: Red Sparrow, Tomb Raider, Unsane, Game Night, A Wrinkle in Time
By using five random reviews I’m able to properly explore how Rotten Tomatoes rewards mediocrity. Although they usually evaluate great films correctly—which a blind pig could do, honestly—most movies don’t live in the space of “greatness” or “terrible.” The vast majority of movies are between a C- and B+ grade and Rotten Tomatoes routinely gives…
Does the Media Really Want Trump Gone?
A great big question as I wonder if late night talk shows and cable news channels (both experiencing record ratings) actually want Trump gone, and how the “brain hacking” techniques of social media are also being used by traditional media.
I Got Shamed at “A Quiet Place” for Eating Loudly
Alabama Liberal re-enacts his “Quiet Place” experience: a great movie but hell for loud chewers like him.