Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Monday, December 30, 2019

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Oh, for heaven’s sakes, that’s NOT how tour zodiacs work.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2365580/

Community: Season 1

While the best part is every line out of Brown’s mouth, every time Chase says Pudi’s character’s name it makes me giggle.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1439629/

Mindhunter: Season 1

Those who are worried how explicit this is? Not graphically, but it sure is verbally. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5290382/

Toy Story 4

Perhaps a bit too much MeToo creeping in, but all around as touching as the previous 3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979376/

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

I believe this is what’s known as a call to action.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2527338/

The End of the F***ing World: Season 2

First 4 eps - huh? Last 4 eps - ok, that’s more in keeping with the series (whew).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6257970/

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

The very, very, very best part of this film is the “Fast & Furious Presents” part. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6806448/

Making It: Season 2

Nick = funnier than on P&R. Amy = needs a bit of work. Contestants = adorbs.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6874206/

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Crown: Season 3

The heart of this series - every season - is the pairing of the Queen's humanity with her divinity.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Last Christmas

George Michael's songs are rather refreshing, but most all, this is far funnier than you'd expect.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8623904/

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Mirai

It's Miyazaki without what made Miyazaki special.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6900448/ (Original title: Mirai No Mirai)

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Rocketman

So what if you're not a fan of Elton John? This is the definition of heartfelt.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2066051/

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Yesterday

It doesn't matter that the film doesn't achieve everything it set out to achieve. The Beatles are always worth it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8079248/

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Happy Death Day 2U

Jessica Rothe continues to shine, and this franchise continues to be too similar to what it's paying homage to.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8155288/

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 5

Finally! What we were all waiting for! (Plus some other great stuff involving turkeys and jails.)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467372/

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Stranger Things: Season 3

A vastly more disgusting and terrifying monster, a tighter plotline, the same excellent homages = a far better season than the others.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

Monday, August 12, 2019

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Escape at Dannemora (mini-series)

I am generally not one for "true crime" anything, however these portrayals are superbly done.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6866266/

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Homeland: Season 7

This time around, I thought they did a particularly good job explaining the difficulty of proper medication for bipolar disorder.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1796960/

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 3

We're moving through these way too fast to remember what Season 3 was about, but let me say this: thank you, creators, for keeping Amy&Jake as a constant, not a kerfuffle.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467372/

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Perhaps one of the most notable things about the film is the cityscape they don't show you. (Also, much more from Jonathan Majors, please.)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4353250/

Twin Peaks: Season 3

This show is hypnotic. How Lynch got this on TV to begin with is beyond me, but I'm ever so glad there is a 3rd season 25 years later.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098936/

Sunday, June 9, 2019

The Umbrella Academy: Season 1

I'm dying to say what I really thought of Vanya. Instead - this starts kind of slowly, but gains ground fast in the last half.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312171/

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Call the Midwife: Season 8

I still watch religiously, but I feel like it may have jumped its own shark.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1983079/

Everybody Knows

Definitely a Farhadi film, but not with as adept an ending as the others.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4964788/ (Original title: Todos Lo Saben)

The Captain

This is a true story?! Ugh, what a powerful lesson.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6763252/ (Original title: Der Hauptmann)

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Hail Satan?

This is not ridiculous. In fact, it's not ridiculous to say that the film likely produces converts!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9358044/

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Widows

Smart and stylish, exactly what you'd expect from McQueen. Too incongruous, though.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4218572/

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Mary Queen of Scots

I'm not sure how I feel about Saoirse Ronan playing a Scot, or David Tennant playing a woman-hater.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2328900/

Saturday, April 27, 2019

The Orville: Season 2

It hasn't figured out how to be The Humorous Space Opera series yet (also that title was won long ago by both Farscape and Firefly).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5691552/

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Instant Family

I'm sure this glosses over much of reality, but I found the Spencer / Notaro interactions quite compelling.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7401588/

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Will & Grace: Season 5

Unsurprised on where this season headed, but not altogether comfortable with it. (Will & Grace not in close proximity = less comedy.)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157246/

Pitch Perfect 3

Why did this need a trilogy, again?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4765284/

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The Simpsons: Season 24

Those utterly surreal episodes that flit in from the side give this series its edge (and maybe I don't care?).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096697/

Monday, April 8, 2019

The Americans: Season 3

One person in our household appreciates this show. The other one is skeeved out by it every episode.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149175/

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Friday, April 5, 2019

Smallfoot

An animated film about scientific research and the value of reproducibility? More of these, please.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6182908/

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

This Is Us: Season 3

Saying this season was too plot heavy feels dumb (for this series), but that's the lingering impression.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5555260/

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

The Walking Dead: Season 9

Totally fine until that last episode, which devolved into levels of melodrama and ridiculous plot devices not yet sunk to on this series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

The Favourite

This is a movie about perspective. Just look at how it's filmed, and those eye-popping end titles.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083738/

Monday, March 18, 2019

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Captain Marvel

To compare to grades, I'd give this a B+. Mostly because the music was all about Pushing The Agenda.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154664/

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Monday, March 11, 2019

Sunday, March 10, 2019

The Great British Baking Show: Series 8

Perhaps not the winner I wanted, in the end? But the bakes have gotten better and better and better overall.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877368/

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Wind River

Without Renner this film would have been nothing, and I think that's not a great thing to say about it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5362988/

The Americans: Season 2

About a billion zillion times better than the first season, plus it ends with another zillion questions unanswered.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149175/

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4

Glad it's over? The series had its moments, but man, they were spotty.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3339966/

Julieta

That's what you want! Watching an intriguing film and realizing at the end that the director based it on 3 Alice Munro short stories.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4326444/

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Bad Times at the El Royale

Eh? Cannot fathom why this is a favorite of critics.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6628394/

The Great British Baking Show: Series 7

These contestants are made of steel, especially those that receive The Hollywood Stare followed quickly by The Hollywood Handshake.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877368/

Sunday, February 24, 2019

A Simple Favor

French surf music? Plot twists I didn't see coming? The correct way to make a martini? Thumbs up all around.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7040874/

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Saturday, February 9, 2019

The Grinch

Am I allowed to say that I don't appreciate when a classic is updated to be more PC? I feel like a traitor to the cause.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2709692/

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Saturday, February 2, 2019

The Great British Baking Show: Series 3

Putting aside how emotional this is for a sec, the best part is how... British these baked goods are. (Hand-raised pies, anyone??)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877368/

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Borg vs. McEnroe

This isn't about tennis so much as it is about very different personalities prevailing. (I mean, duh, see the title.)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5727282/

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Crazy Rich Asians

An adequate romantic comedy, but with that added fillip of (at least) raising people's awareness.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/

Thursday, January 10, 2019

The Good Place: Season 1

"I want to discuss ethics and morality in this day and age. Let's make it a comedy! About death and the afterlife! They'll never know what hit them!! Bwahahahahaha."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4955642/

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Doctor Who (new): Season 11

It's worth the time to give someone breaking the mold decent material to work with!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/

House of Cards: Season 6

Implausible and poorly plotted, unfortunately. I'd say its intentions were good, but I disagree with many of those as well.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1856010/