Review – Mudbound

Wow, I was not expecting that. Maybe the fact that it was a Netflix movie made me think it would be something different. But what a hard-hitting, emotionally affecting film. I was really impressed with the execution here. We hop from intimate moment to intimate moment, somehow effortlessly. It helps to paint a picture that is both micro and macro at the same time, exploring...
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10 Shows To Look Forward To in 2018

2017 was a dense, exciting year for television. We’re currently in the midst of a passing of the guard, in a way, as we move into 2018. Some of my favorite shows have retired (The Leftovers, Halt and Catch Fire), are on hiatus until 2019 (Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, Fargo), or are on mysterious, unknown hiatuses in which we don’t know if we’ll ever see another episode...
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Micro Review – War Dogs

This is basically The Hangover mashed with Scarface. It’s aesthetically and thematically similar to The Hangover – it’s got trips to Vegas, people trapped in trunks, and Bradley Cooper. Which makes sense, considering it’s directed by Todd Phillips. And much like The Hangover, War Dogs is a very fun watch. It’s got equal measures of humor and action. The fact that it’s based...
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Micro Review – Manchester by the Sea

I liked this movie. But man, what a downer. I think the tragedy of it actually limits the movie a little bit. It’s forced to take itself very seriously. So there isn’t a lot of room for any other emotion to explore except for grief. The whole film is infused with melancholy – even when it’s not focused directly on the tragic events that build the story’s foundation. There a...
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Review – Inside Llewyn Davis

Halfway through watching Inside Llewyn Davis I wrote down a couple notes of what I was thinking of the movie, and how I’d think of it at the end (having thought I’d already pegged what kind of a movie it would be). But after watching the whole movie, those notes I had are completely invalid. I suppose I shouldn’t have gotten ahead of myself, considering this is a Coen Broth...
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Micro Review – Passengers

  *POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW* This is a movie that tries desperately to hide its fatal flaws behind the veneer of attractiveness. The spaceship setting is fascinating, the technology is sometimes mind-blowing. The special effects are what you’d expect for a major blockbuster. Christ Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are two of the biggest stars in the world right no...
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Review – Ex Machina

  “You should see Ex Machina, Adam.” “Oh yeah? What’s it about?” “It’s right up your alley. It’s about a guy who gets to meet the first artificially intelligent robot, and decide if it’s actually artificially intelligent.” “Oh wow, that does sound good.” “Yeah. It’s right up your alley.” “You said that already.” “Because it’s true.” “Okay, I’ll ...
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Guide to 2018 TV Shows

  In this guide, I include shows that seem interesting, or relevant, or funny or exciting. This does not include every show on every network or streaming service. That would be a ridiculously long list. So I’m basically just sticking to shows that I already watch, plan on watching, or are at least intrigued by (even if I don’t end up watching). I will update it peri...
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Review – Moonlight

One of the reasons we watch movies is to learn things we didn’t know. To discover something we didn’t even know that we didn’t know. Watching the progression of one man’s life as he grapples with his identity is a very personal experience. It allows us to drop our expectations and prejudices. It allows us to walk in another person’s shoes. It allows us to see the world how ...
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Micro Review – Three Billboards

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is what the world would look like if we all acted out our impulses. Hint: it’s a lot of anger. The trailer did a great job making this movie look like a Cohen Brothers film. The difference between authentic Cohen and Martin McDonagh is that Three Billboards doesn’t manage to tie all the crazy things that happen up into a strangely c...
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