In my “Summer Movies” preview where I listed which ones I was most anticipating and least anticipating, I singled out “Finding Dory” as something I was pretty lukewarm to, and–I hate to say it–but I was right. Welllll, I was at least right that I wouldn’t like it that much, despite all the box office bajillions it’ll…
Category: Mindless Mondays
What Are the Most Fitting TV Shows to Watch On 4th of July?
These are not necessarily the most patriotic shows or even the most American ones, but the shows I like to think that represent a certain American-feeling that is appropriate for the 4th… Silicon Valley…What better than watching a bunch of intrepid explorers try—and sometimes fail—to create something great out of nothing? The spirit of innovation…
The Five Best TV Shows You’re Not Watching…
What are the best shows currently on television that don’t have “Game” or “Thrones” in the title? I’m glad you asked… 5. [Tie] Turn and Hell on Wheels…AMC’s two all-but-forgotten, mostly buzz-less historical dramas are in different places in their runs. “Turn” has finally realized its potential with its best season so far, and has discovered a…
Movie Review: “Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stoppin'”
Even if it’s not “Spinal Tap” level, it’s still one of the most worthwhile theater experiences you can have this Summer. What Works: As you can tell by that dead-on subtitle (which makes me laugh just thinking about it), Andy Samberg and Co. are going after the faux-aspirational qualities mixed in with today’s pop star egomania….
Movie Review: “X-Men: Whatever”
In an age of needless sequels there can be no better example than the latest X-Men film, a series that has honestly not produced a single satisfying or truly good movie, yet has still survived 6 different installments. [I count the Wolverine series separately, and did like the Japan-set “The Wolverine” although the first Wolverine…
Movie Review: Money Monster
A movie I wanted to like more than I did. The other films I reviewed today were a useless sequel (“Neighbors 2”) that strives to make a faux-statement about sororities having a right to party and a film that is deliberately light and throwaway (“The Nice Guys”) but successful at it. So it feels wrong…
Movie Review: Neighbors 2
A worthless sequel in a Summer chockful of them…except that that’s not exactly true since people looking for big studio comedies actually do have original choices like “Popstar” or “The Nice Guys” or the indie dark comedy “The Lobster” or “Love and Friendship.” “Neighbors 2” is quite simply the worst comedy choice in theaters right now, and…
Movie Review: The Nice Guys
A movie I liked more than I thought I would, but still forgot about almost five minutes after getting home. What Works: As Ryan Gosling has proven in “Crazy, Stupid Love” and last year’s “The Big Short,” he has a knack for comedy, and this is his most strictly comedic role yet. Also, he and Russel…
“Banshee” Finale Review, and Ranking the Seasons
It was the end of times, and—as is so often the case with TV finales–it was the worst of times. Cinemax’s “Banshee” was one of the most consistently underrated shows on television, and in fact many readers of this article may not have even heard of the series, let alone watched it. I want to…
Petty Issues: So Long Ted Cruz…You Will Not Be Missed
[Ted Cruz Edition] Ted Cruz exited the race after losing Indiana primary by huge numbers. He needed to spend more time accidentally elbowing his wife in the face, forcing his daughter to hug him, and taunting the police with letters of his accomplishments as The Zodiac Killer. [Cruz and his family reminds me of the…
The 10 Most (and Least) Anticipated Movies of the Summer
It’s time for our Summer Movie preview, and as usual there’s at least ten movies I’ll not be looking forward to along with the good ones. The Least Anticipated Movies of the Summer Runner-Up: Captain America: Civil War…I know, I know, it’s gotten “great” reviews so far, but so did Captain America 2 and if anything my interest in…
Movie Review: The Jungle Book
Just as there are some movies I want to like more than I do, there are some I want to resist—pretty much anything Disney—that actually work really well. What Works: “The Jungle Book” is one of the best big-studio movies to come out this year and that is perhaps a back-handed compliment in this year of…
Movie Review: Criminal
A movie I wanted to like more than I did. What Works: You’ve got to admire Kevin Costner. At a time when a lot of 80’s stars have become self-parodies (Ah-nuld) or bizarre, outright disgraces (Mel “Let Me Tell You About Jews–Hey Where You Going?” Gibson), Costner still manages to star in diverse, interesting projects…