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…
Category: Mindless Mondays
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.
Movie Review: “A Quiet Place” Held the Theater Spellbound
That mysterious film with the largely silent trailer that’s been intriguing audiences for a while now is finally here. And although it won’t be good for a theater’s concession sales (popcorn eaters may get shamed for loud chewing, as I was), audiences will mostly love this unique gem. What Works: This is as close as a…
TV Reviews: Barry, Silicon Valley, The Terror
Three series premiered at the same time last night, two of them brand-new. And although you never can judge a series by its pilot alone, I already feel “The Terror” and “Barry” are worthy of watching for a full season… The Terror…An 1845 British expedition through the arctic, as two naval vessels attempt to find…
Why “Get Out” STILL Sucks–An Analysis
Like a drunk at the roulette wheel, Alabama Liberal takes one last spin to convince people “Get Out” actually sucks. What’s been mis-labeled an anti-racist or anti-Trump film is actually the most anti-interracial couple movie since “The Family that Preys Together.” I make the case that actual racists would love “Get Out” and take a stab…
The Season Finales of “American Crime Story” and “X-Files” Play to Strengths and Weaknesses
Two very different series had their season finales last night (possibly series finale in “The X-Files” case), and even if both were inconsistent experiences, it was quite surprising which show ultimately had the stronger season… American Crime Story: The Assasination of Gianni Versace…There could’ve been no clearer example of this series strengths and weaknesses than…
TV Reviews: Did “Crashing” Get Better in Season Two?
That’s a deceptively simple question since in many ways “Crashing”‘s season two was a more satisfying, more consistent experience with an interesting arc (perpetual lost puppy Pete Holmes meets a razor-sharp, competitive female comic in a very realistic and twisty version of “Boy Meets Girl”), but I also found myself mysteriously sluggish in watching the…
Oscar Thoughts: Best Speech, Worst Snub, Best Joke, Best Song, and Why Meryl Streep Backlash May be Coming
It was a very predictable telecast. Astoundingly, I guessed the winner of every single award correctly, except the “who cares?” short film categories. I mean, when even the technical categories don’t inspire surprises, something is up. And usually, there’s at least one mild upset in the major categories (like if Laurie Metcalf had won over Allison Janney…
TV Reviews: “UnReal,” “McMafia,” “Final Space”
Three very different series premiered this week, and the only returning show of the bunch (“UnReal”) may have waited a little too long to come back after a weak season 2… UnReal, Season 3…The show had a terrible second season, but–to me–it doesn’t look like they fully understand what the problem is: stagnant, obnoxious characters…
Review: “The Polka King” is the Best Film of Early 2018
We live in a world of unbelievable things. In an unusually strong January/February period stacked with Natalie Portman mindblowers like “Annihilation,” charming family films like “Early Man” or “Paddington 2,” and Marvel’s best film in a decade, “Black Panther,” the film I found myself most drawn to is an obscure Netflix original starring Jack Black…