Film: Confess, Fletch

 

GENRE: Crime Comedy
RATING: 14A for language and some sexual content
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 38 minutes
PLATFORM: Download
STARRING: Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Bridesmaids, Tag)
Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show); Ayden Mayeri (The Afterparty)
DIRECTOR: Greg Mottola (Superbad, Keeping Up with the Joneses)
WRITERS: Greg Mottola (Adventureland) & Zev Borow (Chuck)
PLOT: Fletch tries to solve an art case while being a prime suspect for multiple murders.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I enjoyed the Chevy Chase versions.        

STORY STUFF: I like how this film puts you right into the investigation. The mystery is not amazing but its light-heartedness and cast of characters kept me interested. Fletch has some great one-liners and he’s great as a Lyft client. I thought there was a bit too much driving around in this film though I did enjoy the way Fletch evaded his police tails. There’s a pretty good pace to this movie. I hope they keep making them.

ACTING STUFF: Hamm is a lot suaver than Chevy Chase; I did enjoy Chase’s disguises though. Hamm looks like he’s having fun in the role so I enjoy watching him. Mayeri is also fun as the rookie detective. I liked that they stunt casted with John Slattery (Mad Men) as Fletch’s former boss. Looks like everyone is having fun.    

ARTISTIC STUFF: I don’t know what it is but this just seems like a TV movie and not a feature film, not that there is anything particularly wrong with that. Not much else to say.

VERDICT: Three and a half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You enjoy Jon Hamm and a light caper.
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Knives Out: Glass Onion

Film: Avatar: The Way of Water

GENRE: Action Fantasy
RATING: PG-13 for language, violence and partial blue nudity
RUNTIME: 3 hours and 12 minutes
PLATFORM: Movie Theatre (3D)
STARRING: Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, Hacksaw Ridge)
Sigourney Weaver (Alien franchise); Stephen Lang (The Lost City)
DIRECTOR: James Cameron (Titanic, T2, Aliens, True Lies)
WRITERS: Cameron (Titanic, True Lies, Terminator, Avatar) and
Amanda Silver & Rick Jaffa (Mulan, Rise of the Planet of the Apes)
PLOT: Jake and his Na’vi family hide from a familiar threat

FULL DISCLOSURE: My expectations were really low.        

STORY STUFF: “The way of water has no beginning and no end.” Well, they got the last part right. What a long movie that felt long. While the first film was practically Ferngully with its environmental warning and cartoonish villainy, this one is more of a revenge film. The bad guys seem to want to take over Pandora but it becomes a hunt for Jake instead. There is way too much getting to know the water people and adapting to a new environment. As a teacher, I found their laughing at kids trying things for the first time and calling them morons not the best pedagogy. Also, allowing someone to get killed because they punched you seems disproportionate. The big attack sequence at the end also goes on forever. There’s a child who complains they are in the same predicament again ten minutes later. Sounds like boring writing to me. At one point, the ship sinking looks Titanic-ish with climbing over the edge of the railing. The family also forgets it can swim. Just so many bloated parts. Ironic as water usually helps prevent bloating.

ACTING STUFF: Wasn’t too impressed with anyone. The kids are okay. Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuk is adorable. Britain Dalton as middle problem child Lo’ak also does good work. Worthington just gives advice while Zoe Saldana screams a bunch instead of using her words. Lang is still cartoonish but this time he’s blue so I guess he’s allowed to be.   

ARTISTIC STUFF: The visuals are the only reason to watch this film. There are beautiful shots throughout. The water world is inviting. I’m guessing that CGing water is tricky. The Na’vi look too computer generated though. Watching it in 3D didn’t distract me like it sometimes does. If you have 4K TV, just wait to watch it on a streamer even though it will make James Cameron cry if you don’t watch it in the theatre.

VERDICT: One and half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You like water?
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Knives Out: Glass Onion

Film: Spirited

 

GENRE: Musical Comedy
RATING: PG-13 for language and some suggestive material
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 7 minutes
PLATFORM: Apple TV+
STARRING: Will Ferrell (Elf, Anchorman, Stranger than Fiction)
Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, Free Guy); Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures)
DIRECTOR: Sean Anders (Daddy’s Home, Instant Family)
WRITERS: Anders & John Morris (We’re the Millers, Horrible Bosses 2)
PLOT: A Christmas Carol but modernized and musical and comedic.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Reynolds and Ferrell are enough of a draw.        

STORY STUFF: My one big beef about this film is that I have seen way too many Christmas Carol stories. I liked the modern take and the twists and turns of having the ‘Scrooge’ mess with the Christmas Present Ghost but it felt a little Bill Murray Scrooged at times. It also goes on for too long. Keep this at a cool 90 minutes and I would be more on board. With that all said and done, I was entertained due to the next two categories.

ACTING STUFF: Ferrell and Reynolds are a treat to watch. They play beautifully off each other. You can’t help but root for both of them for most of the film. They pour on the charm and keep you invested. Spencer is a nice add-on but the two leads are the reason to watch this film. Also enjoyed Tracey Morgan’s voice.  

ARTISTIC STUFF: The backgrounds did not do it for me. It looked too digital. It really felt like they were on a huge soundstage for 90% of the time. I guess they filmed during Co-vid, but I still didn’t like that part. Other than the two leads, the best part of this film are the songs. They are so unbelievably catchy with clever lines and great progression of storyline. At the end, I had to find out who wrote the songs. Of course, it was the genius duo of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. These guys wrote the songs for Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, and La La Land. They are amazing musical song writers. I might need to find this soundtrack in the near future.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You like Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell and awesome songs.
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Avatar 2, Glass Onion

Film: Don't Worry Darling

 

GENRE: Drama, Suspense
RATING: R for sexuality, violence and language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 3 minutes
PLATFORM: Crave
STARRING: Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Little Women, Midsommar)
Harry Styles (Dunkirk, Eternals); Chris Pine (Star Trek, Wonder Woman)
DIRECTOR: Olivia Wilde (Booksmart)
WRITER: Katie Silberman (Booksmart, Isn’t It Romantic)
PLOT: A 1950s housewife questions the secrets behind her experimental utopian community.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Their press junket delayed my interest in the film.        

STORY STUFF: The story is pretty Stepford Wives-ish. The seemingly perfect society with a dark underbelly is a pretty common trope; they play it well and the truth is pretty twisted. Unfortunately, I think seeing this type of story recently in WandaVision and Get Out, took me a bit out of this film. Most of the sensuality in the beginning is understandable in the context of the film but it might make some blush (there’s no nudity though).

ACTING STUFF: Pugh is spellbinding as Alice. She is full of passion, emotion and energy. She kind of reminds me of Kate Winslet at times. Pine is also engaging with his smugness as the ruler of this utopian society. The jury is still out on Styles – he has some great moments but I think some other actors could have done just as well. I enjoyed seeing comedian Nick Kroll doing something different.

ARTISTIC STUFF: There is so much 50s music in this film. The first hour is almost back to back. I really enjoyed the production value of the houses and the neighborhood. The cinematography is pretty top-notch as well. I’m impressed with Wilde’s ambitious follow-up to Booksmart.

VERDICT: Three stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You like the 50s and seeing someone exposing the truth.
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Avatar 2?, Glass Onion

Film: The Fabelmans

 

GENRE: Drama
RATING: PG-13 for some language and brief violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 31 minutes
PLATFORM: Movie Theatre
STARRING: Michelle Williams (Greatest Showman, Dawson’s Creek)
Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood); Gabriel LaBelle (newcomer)
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (newcomer – just kidding, Jaws, E.T., etc.)
WRITERS: Spielberg (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Poltergeist)
Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Munich, Lincoln, West Side Story)
PLOT: Sammy Fabelman wants to be a filmmaker but is sidetracked by a big family secret.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I love Spielberg films.        

STORY STUFF: This story grabbed me. I smile from ear to ear seeing a young ‘Spielberg’ fall in love with film and use his creativity and imagination to make his dreams come alive. I knew this film was ‘loosely based’ on Spielberg’s childhood but after doing a bit of research, it’s pretty accurate. Spielberg didn’t want to call it autobiographical as it could be seen as narcissistic. I was enthralled watching Sammy develop his passion for film and maneuver around his big family secret. It does go on a bit too long though. Once he gets to senior year of high school, I was surprised it was still going on. During this time, he is bullied for being Jewish. I don’t recall seeing this treatment in film before outside of WWII movies. It shocked me, which I’m guessing was the point. All in all, it’s a stirring family drama for those who love the arts.  

ACTING STUFF: Both LaBelle and Mateo Zoryan play Sammy so well; I believed I was watching a young Spielberg on screen. There is a passion and innocence and maturity that they convey so beautifully. I love Paul Dano as the father, he plays it so naturally. Seth Rogen also does a great job as Uncle Bennie. Unfortunately, I find Michelle Williams miscast once again. I just don’t like what she brings to the role. I think my Dawson’s Creek watching has ruined her (although I did like her Manchester by the Sea). Her face seems fake and I just don’t buy her free spirit personality. I do find it funny that she fell for Dawson who was a huge Spielberg fan and now she’s playing Spielberg’s mom.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The stand out for me is the recreations of Spielberg’s 8mm films he made as a child. They are so inventive and pure. Apparently, they are close to the originals with the exception of better camera equipment now. It’s the ultimate do-over. It’s also fun seeing little connections to future Spielberg films like E.T. and Last Crusade.  

VERDICT: Four and a half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You love filmmaking and/or Spielberg
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Don’t Worry Darling

Film: Blonde

 

GENRE: Biography Drama
RATING: NC-17 for nudity and graphic sexual content
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 47 minutes
PLATFORM: Netflix
STARRING: Ana de Armas (Knives Out, No Time to Die, The Gray Man)
Adrien Brody (The Pianist); Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire)
DIRECTOR: Andrew Dominik (Chopper, Mindhunter, Killing Them Softly)
WRITER: Dominik (Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward…)
PLOT: A fictionalized biography of the inner life of Marilyn Monroe.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I like de Armas and she looks good as Monroe.       

STORY STUFF: I’ll be honest that I was not aware of much of Monroe’s life except for a couple films and some of the men she was with. While there are iconic moments, this film is filled with fictionalized conversations and inner turmoil. I think there are parts that can be trimmed. I understand there is a certain sexuality that is connected to Marilyn Monroe, but there is a lot of lingering shots that are too voyeuristic and made me roll my eyes. There are some straight forward narratives but most of this film feels like watching a fever dream and that gets tiresome for me for some reason.  

ACTING STUFF: De Armas is fantastic as Monroe. She has the sex appeal but also the sadness, the exuberance and the prima donnishness. With the exception of her crazy mother played scarily by Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Eastown), Monroe is mostly surrounded by men. Lots of great performances including Brody and Cannavale. At one point, I wasn’t sure if Whitey, played by Toby Huss (Weird), was a figment of her imagination but found out he was a make-up artist that was always around her. I enjoyed Huss’ caring role.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Dominik is extremely experimental. There are strange cuts, bizarre angles, blurs and lighting flashes. It all works for his vision and I enjoy a lot of the visuals but some of them are a little too weird for my taste. I was not a fan of the music. You’ll notice that the aspect ratio and color changes to black and white constantly in the film. I was looking for some deeper meaning but found out it that was used more to just show dual natures and highlight specific iconography associated with Marilyn Monroe. It worked for me.

VERDICT: Three and half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You are old enough and can stand a star’s breakdown
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Don’t Worry Darling

Film: Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever

 

GENRE: Adventure Drama
RATING: PG-13 for violence and some language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 41 minutes
PLATFORM: Movie Theatre
STARRING: Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Ready Player One)
Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave); Danai Guira (The Walking Dead)
DIRECTOR: Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station, Black Panther)
WRITERS: Coogler(Creed II) & Joe Robert Cole (Black Panther)
PLOT: Wakanda mourns the death of King T’Challa and needs to protect their home from outside forces.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My expectations were low.      

STORY STUFF: I was pretty bored. I think the film was very respectful to the late Chadwick Boseman but that’s about it for me. The problem with mourning is that it takes a long time. This film’s runtime is excruciating. I was also annoyed early on. A group of people want to kill a scientist for inventing something. Could they not just tell the scientist to stop – is murder the only option? Also, you can’t claim vibranium if the world doesn’t know who you are. Just say, “Hey, that’s mine.” Maybe that could reduce the bloodshed. Just a lot of extremes in this film that didn’t work for me in any way.  

ACTING STUFF: Letitia Wright is the saving grace of this film. She is captivating to watch, though she’s sad for a long time. I also liked Winston Duke taking on a bigger role this time around. And, not to sound racist, but I enjoyed the three white American government power players.

ARTISTIC STUFF: I was impressed with the set and costume design like I did last time. The rest seemed copied from other films. Blue water people – looks like Avatar. Fighting under the sea – looks like Aquaman. Blue people’s greeting – looks like Pokemon. A new power suit – looks like Iron Man. I wonder if this film will get charged with plagiarism. Oh, and there is only one post-credit sequence; no need to sit through all the names after being in the theatre for three hours.    

VERDICT: One star out of five
SEE IT IF: You want to say goodbye to Chadwick Boseman on film.
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Blonde, Don’t Worry Darling

Film: Weird - The Al Yankovic Story

 

GENRE: Comedy ‘Biography’
RATING: 14+ for violence and mild sexuality
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 48 minutes
PLATFORM: Roku (good luck trying to get this though)
STARRING: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter; Swiss Army Man; Horns)
Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld); Toby Huss (Halt and Catch Fire)
DIRECTOR: Eric Appel (Die Hart; Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
WRITERS: Appel (Pretend Time) & Weird Al Yankovic (UHF, parodies)
PLOT: An incredibly fabricated biography of the most well-known lyrical parody-ist of all time.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I absolutely love Weird Al Yankovic.      

STORY STUFF: If you are looking for an accurate biography of Yankovic’s life, you won’t find it here. There are true moments but most of the movie is played for laughs with ridiculous detours. I love how they try and make this film into an Oscar bait drama but then have an outrageous scene of Yankovic’s dad dealing with an accordion salesman. I really enjoyed the childhood and teenage segments. There’s a party that Al sneaks into that is so well done. I did wish there was more story dedicated to his inspiration for songs. There’s too much of Madonna in this film and the detour to the jungle seems unnecessary.  

ACTING STUFF: Radcliffe was chosen because he can do comedy and drama and is willing to do weird stuff like being a flatulent corpse in Swiss Army Man. He does an admirable job as Yankovic and is fun to watch. I also enjoyed the younger versions of Al. There’s a great party scene where a bunch of actors cameo playing odd celebrities like Pee-Wee Herman and Salvador Dali. Huss and Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Eastown) do a great job as Al’s disapproving parents. Also really enjoyed his incredibly supportive friends/bandmates.

ARTISTIC STUFF: You can tell that they are not playing with a very large budget. It looks a little TV movie-ish at time. I am very fine with the film using Weird Al’s original vocals instead of having Radcliffe sing himself. Also, listen to the lyrics over the credits. Fun stuff.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You like Weird Al Yankovic and want some laughs
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Black Panther 2, Blonde

October TV Checklist

 

Here’s what I was watching this October. Lots of shows ending and starting. Here are the shows:

ANDOR (DISNEY+)
Someone described Andor as a Star Wars series for adults. There’s no kid-friendly characters and more of a slow-burn intrigue. I’m still half and half about it. The heist episode was pretty awesome and I like a lot of their ideas. Hope they can end the season strong.

AMAZING RACE (CBS)
Loving the race so far. Love that every leg is an elimination. Actually glad that they didn’t let the ones who got co-vid back in, as I think it’s unfair to the other contestants. Love that they went to Jordan and saw Petra. Really enjoying the changes and locations. Don’t know who I’m rooting for to win, but glad some of the teams I didn’t like have been eliminated.

GOOD DOCTOR (ABC)
This show is just not grabbing me like it used to. Glad the aftermath of last year’s finale is playing out longer with no quick wrap-up. The new interns are okay and I still like Richard Schiff, so I’ll keep watching.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC)
I like what this show is trying to do and shed a light on the education system. Some good laughs but could go a bit bigger in that department.

WELCOME TO FLATCH (FOX)
Not sure the addition of Jamie Pressly is working for me, though I like that Kelly has someone to look up to. They have really changed Cheryl from the first season – she’s a lot crazier now with her chickens. Father Joe is boring to me. I still like Shrub but getting tired of the thruple he’s in.

LEGO MASTERS (FOX)
Lots of Canadians this year. Didn’t like that they brought in some young whippersnappers a few episodes in. Seems unfair. Like that they upped people’s game though by making brick people instead of just using the regular ones. Some of the early creations seemed more sparse and not as complex as last year. The dog show one was impressive.

THE SIMPSONS (FOX)
The series is still cranking out great episodes. Liked the It parody and the anime short for the recent “Treehouse of Horror” episode. They still got it.

YOUNG SHELDON (CBS)
Loving Missy and Georgie on this show. Missy gets great commentary lines. Georgie is so sweet as a soon to be father trying to be a responsible adult. Even Meemaw is killing it this season. Unfortunately, Sheldon is too annoying.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC)
Lots of hit and miss. Loved the return of David S Pumpkins and Drunk Uncle last week. Also the AA meeting turned into a Pixar pitch meeting. Hoping for more quality like that this season.

JEOPARDY (ABC)
Eager for the Tournament of Champions. I’m a nerd. Not a huge fan of the celebrity version though. Those ‘celebrities’ are too animated.

HANDMAID’S TALE (HULU/CTV DRAMA)
Still watching. Still annoyed at character decisions. Don’t know what else to say.

ATLANTA (FX)
Some strange episodes like usual. Some fun commentary. It’s almost done.  

REBOOT (DISNEY+)
It was an enjoyable first season of eight episodes. Some fun writing but not much story development going on. Not sure if there’s a second season. I’ll keep watching if they keep making them.  

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (HBO)|
I was pretty impressed with this season. I am very intrigued as to where the story is going and think the performances are pretty incredible. The one darkly lit episode got my eyes rolling but I like how the season ended and look forward to season two. The graphic childbirth scenes have got to stop though.

RINGS OF POWER (PRIME)
It was a pretty good ending with some nice twists. I keep thinking it could be better though. Maybe there’s too many stories to keep track of. I like the production value except the elf rings look too gaudy. Wonder how long we’ll have to wait for season two.

SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW (DISNEY+)
It didn’t quite stick the landing as the meta-ness got out of control in the finale. I loved the Daredevil cameos and can’t wait for his series to surface. I had fun watching this series but think the fan backlash may prevent more from being made. People, stop taking this Marvel Universe so seriously.

What are you watching?

Film: Amsterdam

GENRE: Dramedy
RATING: R for violence and bloody images
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 14 minutes
PLATFORM: Movie Theatre
STARRING: Christian Bale (Batman Begins, American Hustle)
Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad); John David Washington (Tenet)
DIRECTOR: David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, Three Kings)
WRITERS: Russell (American Hustle, I Heart Huckabees, Joy)
PLOT: A couple of veterans are framed for a murder and uncover an outrageous plot.     

FULL DISCLOSURE: The trailer, the cast and Russell brought me in.      

STORY STUFF: While I have enjoyed a lot of Russell’s scripts in the past, I felt the story went all over the place with this film. The detours and rabbit holes make me care a little less as to what’s going on. Quirky characters can be fun but there are too many of them. I like some of the humour but I wish there was more to make the story lighter and far more entertaining. I did enjoy that Robbie’s character goes by Valerie Vandenberg for some of the film. It’s nice to hear my name not only associated with an air force base.  

ACTING STUFF: This is an incredible cast who all get moments to shine and try out their comedic muscles. It is evident they are having fun making this film. It reminds me of Ocean’s 12 though where the cast fun interfered with the plot. Bale, Washington and Robbie make for an entertaining trio. I also enjoyed Chris Rock and Rami Malek joining the ensemble. Timothy Olyphant is a weird choice for this film and is underused for his talents.

ARTISTIC STUFF: I liked the 1930’s production design. The scars and facial recreations are a bit off-putting but work well for the plot. There’s not much else stylistically that stood out to me.

VERDICT: Two and half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You have enjoyed previous work from Russell
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Black Panther 2, Blonde

September TV Checklist

 

Here’s what I was watching this September. Some high quality productions but I wish the epic fantasy shows were more spread out during the year instead of all on top of each other. That’s a lot of sword play for a month. Anyway, here are the shows:

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (HBO)
I was skeptical about this Game of Thrones prequel. Didn’t think it was needed. I am actually one of the few that didn’t really have a problem with the final season of Thrones. However, Dragon has laid out some interesting characters that love to scheme. I am enjoying the power playing around delivering heirs and making marital alliances. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock are great to watch. With a time jump half way through the season, a big kudos to the casting team for older versions of some of the characters (haven’t seen it done this well since This Is Us). Also, enjoying seeing early Lannisters and other Thrones ancestors. My one issue is the graphic nature of the childbirths from excess blood to disturbing sounds. I’m not a father, so I can’t relate.

RINGS OF POWER (PRIME)
You can tell that a lot of money has been poured into this show. The production value is incredible and blends well with the films. I kind of like the fact that I do not recognize any of the actors, it allows for more open-mindedness about the characters. I do think there are too many stories going at once. I’m liking the dwarf/elf storyline the most, followed by Galadriel and her raising of an army. Looking forward to seeing where this all goes.

ANDOR (DISNEY+)
It’s a good thing that Disney released the first three episodes of this series all at once. It took me to the third episode to get into in. The first ep is needed world building which is important but not always enthralling. The second ep is mostly filler. The third ep, things happen and I got more invested. The fourth ep starts off the real plot of the story. There are some interesting characters but no one that I’m loving right now. I have a feeling that some of these will grow on me, hopefully sooner before later.

REBOOT (HULU/DISNEY+)
I like a good behind-the-scenes look at television being made. It has a great cast led by Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Rachel Bloom and Paul Reiser. They are solid performers. Johnny Knoxville seems like stunt casting (no pun intended). Newcomer Calum Worthy is a fun addition as is the divided writing staff of old and new. I was a little shocked at the language. I guess I’ve only seen network friendly stuff from Steven Levitan (Just Shoot Me, Modern Family). The first four episodes have had their moments but I have a hard time seeing this series get a second season, I just don’t think it has the legs. I could be wrong though.

SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW (DISNEY+)
It’s interesting to see the MCU try their hand at comedy. I’m enjoying She-Hulk. I like that I don’t have to take it seriously and find important Easter eggs and how they may affect the Marvel universe. Also, enjoyed the Madisynn character introduced in episode four, they should find more excuses to add her. I’m looking forward to Daredevil cameoing soon. This show is just a breath of fresh air in my opinion.  

HANDMAID’S TALE (HULU/CTV DRAMA)
I’ll be honest, I’m just watching this show to see it die. It has gotten so dark and depressing it’s just not appointment television anymore. Watching an angry and ragged Elisabeth Moss snipe at Yvonne Strahovski who smugly retaliates just doesn’t do it for me. I also don’t know what Bradley Whitford’s character is doing anymore. It’s just a slog. Not sure I can continue watching much longer.   

ATLANTA (FX)
This final season has been pretty good. I’m glad they are back in Atlanta instead of touring Europe. The episodes have some good social commentary and bizarre humour and I’m relieved that they are often sticking with Earn and Paper Boi. Curious how they’ll end the series in a couple eps.

What are you watching?

Fall Movie Preview 2022

 

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Here are some of the movies I’m looking forward to the fall. Some may be difficult to find as they are not only in theatres anymore. Also, I’m sure there will be some Oscar bait movies coming out soon that they just haven’t announced release dates yet. Anyway, here we go:

CLERKS III (Sept.13) Screenings only
Director: Kevin Smith (Jay & Silent Bob Reboot)
Starring: Brian O’Halloran & Jeff Anderson (Clerks)
Why: I’ve watched a bunch of the View Askewniverse already

CONFESS, FLETCH (Sept.16) Rental
Director: Greg Mottola (Superbad; Adventureland)
Starring: Jon Hamm (Mad Men; Bridesmaids)
Why: Seems like great casting; not sure how I’ll watch it though

DON’T WORRY DARLING (Sept.23) Theatres
Director: Olivia Wilde (Booksmart)
Starring: Florence Pugh (Black Widow)
Why: The story seems Stepford-ish but with great visuals

BLONDE (Sept.28) Netflix
Director: Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly)
Starring: Ana de Armas (Knives Out; No Time to Die)
Why: Looks like an interesting Marilyn Monroe biopic

AMSTERDAM (Oct.7) Theatres
Director: David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)
Starring: Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Why: You should look at the amazing cast list

WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY (Nov.4) Roku
Director: Eric Appel (Son of Zorn; Die Hart)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
Why: I’m a big fan of Weird Al Yankovic

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Nov.11) Theatres
Director: Ryan Coogler (Creed; Fruitvale Station)
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya (Nope; Get Out)
Why: Curious to see how they honor Chadwick Boseman

THE FABELMANS (Nov.23) Theatres
Director: Steven Spielberg (The Post; Jaws, E.T.)
Starring: Michelle Williams (Dawson’s Creek)
Why: Spielberg ‘autobiographic’ film should be fun

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (Dec.23) Netflix
Director: Rian Johnson (Brick; Looper; The Last Jedi)
Starring: Daniel Craig (No Time to Die; Spectre, Skyfall)
Why: I enjoyed the mystery of Knives Out

MATILDA: THE MUSICAL (Dec.25) Netflix
Director: Matthew Warchus (newcomer)
Starring: Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
Why: I’ve seen the musical a few times; fun stuff

Fall TV Preview 2022

The fall television season is here. Here’s the run down of what I’ll be watching (by premiere date), I’ve stopped writing times as people can stream or PVR at multiple times now.

[NEW!] SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW [DISNEY+]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Thu. Aug. 18
Genre: Marvel Sitcom
Starring: Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black; Perry Mason)
Ginger Gonzaga (Kidding; I’m Dying Up Here)
Creator: Jessica Gao (Rick and Morty)
Premise: Jennifer Walters is She-Hulk and a lawyer
Why I’ll give it a chance: I’ll watch any Marvel show
What could hurt it: A little too meta at times

[NEW!] HOUSE OF THE DRAGON [HBO]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Sun. Aug. 21
Genre: Fantasy Drama
Starring: Paddy Considine (In America, The World’s End)
Matt Smith (Doctor Who; The Crown; Morbius)
Creators: Ryan J Condal (Colony) & George R.R. Martin (GoT)
Premise: Game of Throne prequel about the Targaryens
Why I’ll give it a chance: I enjoyed the production value of GoT
What could hurt it: No Benioff or Weiss as showrunners?  

[NEW!] LOTR: THE RINGS OF POWER [PRIME]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Thu. Sept. 1
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Starring: Morfydd Clark (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones; The King’s Man, Antebellum)
Creators: Patrick McKay & John D Payne (newcomers)
Premise: Prequel thousands of years before The Hobbit.
Why I’ll give it a chance: Lots of money has been spent
What could hurt it: Might be more Hobbit and less LOTR

JEOPARDY [SYNDICATION]
Upcoming Season: 39
Premiere Date: Mon. Sept 12
Genre: Trivia Game Show
Starring: Ken Jennings (The Chase)
Creator: Merv Griffin (Wheel of Fortune)
Why I watch: Love testing my knowledge

THE HANDMAID’S TALE [HULU]
Upcoming Season: 5
Premiere Date: Wed. Sept. 14
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Starring: Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, West Wing; Top of the Lake)
Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck; Dexter; 24: Live Another Day)
Creator/Showrunner: Bruce Miller (The 4400; Eureka; The 100)
Why I watch: I’ve come this far with this dystopian drama

ATLANTA [FX]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date: Thu. Sept. 15
Genre: Dramedy
Starring: Donald Glover (Community, Solo: A Star Wars Story)
Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train; Eternals; Into the Spider-Verse)
Creator/Showrunner: Donald Glover (Mr. & Mrs. Smith – TV series)
Why I watch: Some gems in the seasons each year

[NEW!] REBOOT [HULU]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Tue. Sept. 20
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!; Key & Peele)
Paul Reiser (Mad About You; Stranger Things; Aliens)
Creator: Steve Levitan (Modern Family; Just Shoot Me!)
Premise: A 2000s family sitcom is disastrously rebooted
Why I’ll give it a chance: Love behind the scenes stuff
What could hurt it: The premise doesn’t seem long lasting.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 2
Premiere Date: Wed. Sept 21
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Quinta Brunson (iZombie; Big Mouth)
Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris; Walking Dead)
Creator/Showrunner: Quinta Brunson (Quinta vs Everything)
Why I watch: One of the few school-related shows that work

[NEW!] ANDOR [DISNEY+]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Wed. Sept. 21
Genre: Star Wars Adventure
Starring: Diego Luna (Rogue One; The Terminal; Milk)
Genevieve O’Reilly (Rebels; Tin Star; Episodes)
Creator: Tony Gilroy (Bourne Legacy; Michael Clayton)
Premise: Pre-Rogue One adventures
Why I’ll give it a chance: Maybe it’ll be like Mandalorian
What could hurt it: Maybe it’s be like Book of Boba Fett

AMAZING RACE [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 34
Premiere Date: Wed. Sept. 21
Genre: Reality Competition
Host: Phil Keoghan (Tough as Nails)
Creator: Bertram van Munster (The Quest; Cops)
Why I watch: Love the locales

LEGO MASTERS [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date: Wed. Sept. 21
Genre: Reality Competition
Host: Will Arnett (Arrested Development)
Why I watch: I like the challenging Lego builds

THE SIMPSONS [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 34
Premiere Date: Sun. Sept 25
Genre: Animated Comedy
Starring: Dan Castellaneta (Hey Arnold!)
Hank Azaria (Smurfs, Ray Donovan)
Creator: Matt Groening (Futurama)
Showrunners: Al Jean (The Critic) & Matt Selman (newcomer)
Why I watch: I’ve seen every episode, why stop now?

WELCOME TO FLATCH [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 2
Premiere Date: Thu. Sept 29
Genre: Mockumentary Comedy
Starring: Sam Straley (The Dropout); Holmes (newcomer)
Seann William Scott (American Pie; Dukes of Hazzard)
Creator/Showrunner: Jenny Bicks (Divorce; The Big C)
Why I watch: Hoping it gets better. I like Shrub.

YOUNG SHELDON [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 6
Premiere Date: Thu. Sept 29
Genre: Family Comedy
Starring: Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies, The Glass Castle)
Zoe Perry (Scandal, The Family)
Creators: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory)
Showrunner: Steven Molaro (The Class, The Big Bang Theory)
Why I watch: Missy and Georgie are awesome

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 48
Premiere Date: Sat. Oct 2
Genre: Sketch Comedy
Starring: Colin Jost (Coming 2 America)
Bowen Yang (Awkwafina is Nora from Queens)
Creator: Lorne Michaels (30 Rock, Portlandia)
Why I watch: It’s an institution. Hope it gets to 50.

THE GOOD DOCTOR [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 6
Premiere Date: Mon. Oct 3
Genre: Medical Drama
Starring: Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, Finding Neverland)
Richard Schiff (West Wing, I Am Sam, The Affair)
Creator/Showrunner: David Shore (House, Houdini and Doyle)
Why I watch: Gotta see their ER-copying cliffhanger resolved

[NEW!] BLOCKBUSTER [NETFLIX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date: Thu. Nov 3
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Randall Park (Fresh off the Boat; WandaVision)
Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine; One Life to Live)
Creator: Vanessa Ramos (Superstore; Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Premise: Trying to survive as the last Blockbuster Video
Why I’ll give it a chance: I used to work at Blockbuster
What could hurt it: The nostalgia could get old

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 10
Premiere Date: ongoing
Genre: Talk Show
Starring: Seth Meyers (SNL, The Awesomes, New Year’s Eve)
Creator: Lorne Michaels & NBC
Why I watch: Mostly just his Closer Looks, sometimes his interviews

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER [HBO]
Upcoming Season: 9
Premiere Date: Sundays
Genre: ‘News’ program
Starring: John Oliver (Daily Show, Community)
Creator: John Oliver
Why I watch: Love Oliver’s rants and the “Now This” segments

What new shows are you going try this year?