“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…
Category: Mindless Mondays
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.
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…