Archive for January 2016
The Diary of a Teenage Girl Blu-ray Review: A Remarkably Forthright Film
The plot might remind one of Andrea Arnold’s ‘Fish Tank,’ but the tone is decidedly different
Read MoreGrandma Blu-ray Review: A Common Story with Uncommon Grace
The legendary Ms. Tomlin delivers her career best performance in one of the very best films of 2015.
Read More2016 Oscar-nominated Animated Short Films Review: An Excellent Group
Short films, big emotional punch.
Read MoreThe Devil Wears Prada 10th Anniversary DVD Review: One of the Best Films of the Last Ten Years
These Prada boots are made for walking…but all over you, literally.
Read MoreA Thoughtful Solo Adventure with the Outsiders
If you think this write-up is all over the place and confusing as hell, then you know how I felt about that 60 minutes of my life.
Read More2016 Oscar-nominated Live Action Short Films Review
All five films feature characters in situations that challenge them and their assumptions.
Read MoreThe Finest Hours Movie Review: Fine for About an Hour
Disney’s latest has great effects but squanders a decent plot in a contrived love story.
Read MoreNikkatsu Diamond Guys Volume 1 Blu-ray Review: Action Heroes ’50s Japanese Style
Three action/crime films from Nikkatsu studios that showcase their popular leading me of the late 50s.
Read MoreDoctor Who: Series Nine, Part Two is the Pick of the Week
This week brings us Doctor Who split apart, Spike Lee modernizing the ancient Greeks, Jack Black fighting children’s monsters, and Bradley Cooper playing with food.
Read MoreThe Rolling Stones: From the Vault: Live at the Tokyo Dome 1990 Blu-ray Review
This entertaining performance proves all the naysayers wrong.
Read MoreTV Review: American Masters: Mike Nichols
An entertaining, funny, and very insightful glimpse of a genius trailblazer.
Read MoreThe Wonder Years: Season Four DVD Review: The Characters and Writers Struggle with Transitions
Transitioning from junior high school to high school can be exciting, awkward, and even scary. This season could easily be described in the same way.
Read MoreKung Fu Panda 1 & 2 Ultimate Edition of Awesomness DVDs Review: Not Awesome, But A Lot of Fun
Average animated stories made good by good performances and some stunning animation.
Read MoreBook Review: The Art and Making of Hannibal: The Television Series by Jesse McLean
This book perfectly captures what was special about the show and the beauty behind it.
Read MoreTV Review: Sherlock: “The Abominable Bride”
The new special intricately weaves three different threads of plot and leaves the viewer with dozens of puzzles to tide them over until the next season.
Read MoreBitter Rice Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Beauty of the Downtrodden
This 1949 Italian film marries social commentary about the lower class with rewarding drama and romance.
Read MoreShadows and Fog Blu-ray Review: or, Smoke and Mirrors
Even with an unmistakable style and fine supporting cast, Woody Allen’s final Orion Pictures production is a bittersweet one indeed.
Read MoreIp Man 3 Movie Review: Love, Redemption, and Mike Tyson
Some of the best action sequences in years are on display in Wilson Yip’s latest martial-arts romp!
Read MoreThe Doughgirls DVD Review: When Girl Comedies Didn’t Need Fart Jokes
The Warner Archive Collection unveils a vastly underrated WWII comedy about three groomless brides, with scene-chewing support from Eve Arden and Charles Ruggles.
Read MoreJaco DVD Review: Tribute to a Jazz Legend
Jaco is a balanced and compassionate look at the legendary jazz bassist.
Read MoreScorpio (1973) Blu-ray Review: A Different Kind of Zodiac Killer
Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon shoot the breeze ‒ and just about everything else in sight ‒ in Michael Winner’s oft-criticized (but still enjoyable) espionage flick.
Read MoreCriterion’s Inside Llewyn Davis is the Pick of the Week
This week brings us one of the Coen Brothers’ best films, some influential hip hop, a deadly mountain climb, a deadlier internship, and much more.
Read MoreNever a Dull Moment (1950) DVD Review: Why You Never Say Never
Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray do their best with subpar situational comedy material in this recent obscurity from the Warner Archive Collection.
Read MoreTenderness of the Wolves Blu-ray Review: Not What You Expect, But Better
Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s company make a surprisingly gentle serial killer movie.
Read MoreDavid Bowie: Station to Station (Special Edition) Album Review: A Great Piece of Work
Station to Station is special on its own, and the Special Edition is well worth owning for the live album.
Read MoreMy Favorite David Bowie Songs
Bowie made many musical masterpieces, but it was hard to list them all. These are just a few that really spoke to me.
Read MoreDavid Bowie, The Heart’s Filthy Lesson, Se7en, and Me
A creepy song on the end credits of a creepy movie created a lifetime fan.
Read MoreBroken Lance Blu-ray Review: The Open Range (Robert) Wagnerian Opera
Twilight Time presents the Oscar-winning western remake that inspired even more movies.
Read MoreSanta and the Ice Cream Bunny Deliver the Gift of the Rifftrax Experience
And treat yo’self to some Rifftrax this month.
Read MoreBeasts of No Nation Movie Review: Beautiful Brutality
Not my favorite film of the year, but a bold and unbridled effort nonetheless.
Read MoreRemembering David Bowie and “Under Pressure”
RIP to the Thin White Duke.
Read MoreThe Martian is the Pick of the Week
This week brings us two Criterions, a Victorian Sherlock, a hacking Robot, and Ridley Scott once again making great films.
Read MoreDavid Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” Signified the Arrival of an Innovator
Bowie defied convention musically and visually, intertwining rock and film in a way no other artist will equal.
Read MoreForbidden Hollywood, Volume 9 DVD Review: Bogart’s Face and Bette Davis Eyes
The Warner Archive Collection ups the ante with their latest release of pre-Code rarities, adding a fifth bonus flick into the fray.
Read MoreIt’s in the Air (1935) DVD Review: Benny and the Debts
The Warner Archive Collection unties a rare Jack Benny comedy featuring the even rarer sight of Ted Healy playing the stooge.
Read MoreMojave Movie Review: Death and Pretension in the Desert
Despite its talent, Mojave trades on incomprehension as opposed to tension.
Read MoreMan-Proof DVD Review: Pidegon Shoots Down Tone Deaf Loy
The Warner Archive Collection unveils an uneven war of the sexes dramedy featuring an unbeatable cast.
Read MoreTV Review: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: “Chardee Macdennis 2: Electric Boogaloo”
The season premiere finds the Gang involved in the typical outrageous high jinks fans have grown accustomed to and been delighted by.
Read MoreThe Mad Genius / The Great Man Votes DVDs Review: Unburiedmore
The Warner Archive Collection digs up two forgotten starring vehicles of cinematic titan, John Barrymore.
Read MoreBook Review: The Twilight Zone FAQ by Dave Thompson
An uneven, yet informative look into a dimension of sight and sound.
Read MoreSicario is the Pick of the Week
This week brings us some cool sounding action, high-wire acts, zombies, detectives, Quentin Tarantino inspirations’ and much more.
Read MoreT&A Take on TV 2015
A thoughtful and abstract look at the best and worst of TV in 2015.
Read MoreDeathgasm Blu-ray Review: Good, Brutal Fun
Maybe not quite my favorite horror-comedy, but definitely a good watch nonetheless.
Read MoreMistress America Blu-ray Review: The Voice of a Generation
A modern-day human psychology lesson with smart and insightful humor.
Read MoreMurder in the Private Car DVD Review: A Pre-Code Mulligan Stew
Wisecracking Charles Ruggles and Una Merkel highlight this odd comedy-romance-mystery that is as outdated as rail travel itself.
Read MoreRage Against the Machine: Live at Finsbury Park Blu-ray Review: Christmas in June
Viewers will be able to testify how great this band is after seeing this concert.
Read MoreThe Green Inferno Blu-ray Review: A Truly Visceral Experience
Human savagery is the name of the game in Roth’s gripping throwback to Italian cannibal flicks.
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