A perfect example of why a movie reviewer should avoid reading the book a movie is based on–if they can–because I probably would’ve enjoyed this film (about an omnipotent tech company) much more if I hadn’t read the book. It’s true that when you really, really love a book that no movie can really adapt…
Category: Mindless Mondays
Movie Review: “The Fate of the Furious”…Does Charlize Theron Owe Back Taxes?
Life’s biggest questions: Is there a God?…What happens when you die?…What is the secret to life?…Why are “The Fast and the Furious” movies popular? Answers: Concepts of “God” are structured around an all-knowing and guiding being, and the creation of life (and millenniums of evolution) was probably much more random than that…I really doubt there…
Monday Morning Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy 2
The box office is huge, the reviews are ecstatic, and the Cinemascore grade from audiences is an “A.” So it’s safe to say nearly anyone will really love this movie, and even if I thought it was only good rather than great, that’s no small thing at all considering I haven’t truly loved any Marvel property…ever, and am just…
When British Actors Play Southern Roles
Featuring The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, Billion’s Damian Lewis, Tom Hardy, Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam, and Sir Lawrence Cableton (“Larry the Cable Guy”). As seen in a “Selma,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Preacher,” “Genius,” “Cold Mountain,” “12 Years a Slave,” “I Saw the Light,” and a million other fucking examples…
Why Won’t Hollywood Positively Portray Interracial Couples?
Alabama Liberal investigates Hollywood’s negative portrayals of Interracial couples…
Amazon Series Round-Up: Bosch, Hand of God, Goliath, Mad Dogs
The way I grouped yesterday’s series–Man in the High Castle, Fleabag, One Mississippi, Sneaky Pete, Patriot–may have felt more than a little random, but today has a distinct theme: anti-heroes. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, I actually enjoy even the weakest of these series during their worst episodes more than most series. Even if “Hand of God”…
Amazon Series Reviewed: Sneaky Pete, Patriot, One Mississippi, Fleabag, Man in High Castle
After reviewing Amazon’s Pilot Season and upcoming shows, why not take a look back at several series they’ve had recently…[And a handful more tomorrow too]… Sneaky Pete…This con artist-set series has already been renewed for a second season, but I found it to be a mixed-bag overall. There are certainly great things to recommend like…
Movie Review: Logan Vs. King Kong Skull Island
In this landscape of Disney remakes, unasked for Power Rangers reboots, uncalled for Fast and Furious sequels, and even a–oh, what the fuck?–R-rated, kitchen-sink CHIPS remake it may look like Hollywood has officially run out of ideas. Even a technically new idea like the sci-fi thriller “Life” looks cobbled together out of 100 “astronauts run…
Amazon’s Upcoming Series: The Tick, I Love Dick, Last Tycoon, and Jean Claude Van Johnson
While I reviewed this current crop of Amazon’s pilots yesterday, it might be time to take a look at the series they greenlit from last year’s pilot season… The Tick…A dedicated group will love this update of “The Tick” but I wasn’t encouraged by the pilot. The lead character/actor (Griffin Newman playing an accountant with…
Odds on Which Amazon Prime Pilot Season Series Will Get Picked Up
Amazon Prime’s pilot seasons—in which viewers watch a handful or so of TV pilots and pick which ones they want to see made into series—started out revolutionary and often invoked the praise “Finally! Why don’t more networks do this?” Well, partly because cable series and our bingeable culture (Amazon itself releases all episodes of its…
Monday Morning Movie Reviewer: John Wick Chapter 2
“John Wick Chapter 2” is thrillingly serialized so make sure you see the first one before heading into a theater. You’ll still probably be able to follow this movie—obviously, most scenes work on a visceral level and there’s not much to “get” about a guy killing his way out of a room—but the world-building is…
“Get Out” IS Racist, but Towards Interracial Couples
The buzz and controversy of “Get Out” is deafening, but the few–too few–criticisms the movie appears to be getting is that it’s anti-white or racist towards white people. I don’t really believe that, and there’s little in this movie that hasn’t been in “Machete” or Blaxploitation films, but the film is anti-interracial couples and in that way…
Why “Moonlight” is Really Good, but “La La Land” is Better
Quick Note About Last Night’s Oscars: I nailed literally all the big categories except Best Picture, correctly predicting Mahershala Ali, Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Casey Affleck, Moonlight’s Best Adapted Screenplay, Manchester by the Sea’s Best Original Screenplay, Zootopia, and Damien Chazelle’s Best Director win. So some of this post may be affected by “Moonlight” screwing up my prediction…