Maps to the Stars Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us new films by David Croneberg, Jean-Luc Goddard, and Tim Burton plus old films by Carol Reed and Preston Sturges and much more.
A Most Violent Year Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us the Netflix rabbit hole, the Fighters of Foo, The Immigrant, and some TV boxed sets.
The Imitation Game is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
It’s a big week for interesting new releases including an Alan Turing biopic, a big outer-space epic, Reese Witherspoon getting real, Hugh Grant being Hugh Grant and much more.
Into the Woods Blu-ray Review: Bringing out My Inner Theater Geek
By Mat Brewster |
Making me believe in big, bold musicals once again.
Into the Woods is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings a big Hollywood musical, a bigger battle for Middle Earth, a collection of documentaries, neatly packaged fury, and Angelina Jolie as a director.
The Soft Skin is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us early Truffaut, new Chris Rock, classic film noir, a silly sequel, and more.
The Sound of Music (50th Anniversary Edition) Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us a Bible story, a silly remake, a sillier b-movie, and hills coming alive.
Foxcatcher Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us a very serious Steve Carell, a not so humble Al Pacino, an old Robin Hood, and a gruff sheriff.
Lillies DVD Review: A Bittersweet Post-war Drama
By Mat Brewster |
With but one season in existence, Lillies makes a nice snack between larger television meals.
Whiplash Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week features two Oscar winners, two Criterions, and a quaint historical drama.
Serangoon Road DVD Review: It Might Be HBO but It Plays Like Broadcast TV
By Mat Brewster |
HBO Asia’s first foray into original programming brings forth an entertaining, but ultimately disappointing crime drama.
Crime Scene Cleaner DVD Review: A Job Ripe with Comedy
By Mat Brewster |
Seriously, Hollywood, take a cue from the Germans and make more shows like this.
Birdman Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week has us talking about has-been super-heroes, Japanese folk-tales, dumb comedies, and life itself.
Nicolas Le Floch Volume Two DVD Review: Sword Fights and Laughter
By Mat Brewster |
A silly French historical crime drama delivers good mysteries and some hearty laughs.
Marie’s Mind for Murder: Set One DVD Review: The German Mr. Monk
By Mat Brewster |
For detective genre fans, Marie’s Mind for Murder is a nice bit of diversionary television.
The Story of Adele H DVD Review: Of Love and Madness
By Mat Brewster |
The tragic true story of Victor Hugo’s daughter.
Nightcrawler Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us social commentaries, based-on true stories, foreign horror, and a drugged-up nurse.
International Settlement DVD Review: A Forgotten, Forgettable Film That Has Its Pleasures
By Mat Brewster |
A minor and forgotten B-picture winds up being surprisingly entertaining.
Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 13 DVD Review: The Very End of Poirot
By Mat Brewster |
With these five movies David Suchet has now played the detective in every Poirot story Agatha Christie ever wrote.
John Wick Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
After missing a week I’m back talking about Keanu Reeves, the search for happiness, Australian nurses and more.
ANZAC Girls DVD Review: Ladies at War and in Love
By Mat Brewster |
The exciting true story of Australian nurses serving in WWI.
Above Suspicion: Complete Collection DVD Review: It’s No Prime Suspect, but It Ain’t Half Bad
By Mat Brewster |
It’s impossible not to compare it to La Plante’s other series, but it is well worth watching.
Gone Girl Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us David Fincher’s latest thriller, an empires final boardwalk, a Hendrix biopic, a space documentary and The Facts of Life.
Boyhood Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
After a week off I’m looking for movies about boys, girls, a former wizard growing horns, and Nick Cage in his most inexplicable role ever.
The Night Porter Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Nazi Love Story
By Mat Brewster |
It’s a thin line between exploitation and art.
Pride (2014) Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
It’s a slow week and I’m using that as an excuse to say very little.
Intruders (2014) DVD Review: Moody Paranormal Thriller Looks Good but Lacks Depth
By Mat Brewster |
An interesting premise that’s well executed but not entirely thought through.
Arrested Development: Season 4 Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
Another banner week of releases as Christmas comes near.
Book Review: Popeye: Classic Newspaper Comics, Volume Two 1989-1998: A Surprisingly Modern and Adult Take On The Classic Character
By Mat Brewster |
If you think Popeye is some silly kids comic from a bygone era, think again.
Guardians of the Galaxy Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us several Criterions; more Woody Allens; three TV collections; a talking, space-traveling raccoon; and so much more.
The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears Blu-ray Review: Bizarre, Incomprehensible, and Mesmerizing
By Mat Brewster |
A hallucinatory fever dream of a film that is surprising, strange and wonderful.
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week brings us an excellent concert series, some damn, dirty apes, short journeys, vampires, and more.
Drunk History: Seasons 1 & 2 Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
I’m taking a chance that an odd comedy will actually tickle my funny bone.
The Rolling Stones: From the Vault – L.A. Forum (Live in 1975) DVD Review: It’s Only a Concert Video, but I Like It
By Mat Brewster |
The band shows why they remain the very definition of rock and roll.
It Happened One Night Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
The Christmas season keeps bringing all sorts of great stuff.
Borgen: The Complete Series DVD Review: Danish Politics Fit for Americans
By Mat Brewster |
Borgen makes the incomprehensible Danish political system not only understandable but lots of fun to watch.
Saturday at Wizard World Tulsa 2014: My First Con Experience
By Mat Brewster |
My first ever Con found me checking out cosplayers and listening to James Marsters and William Shatner.
Lots of TV Series Sets Are the Picks of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
Halloween is over so its time for the Christmas season and with it lots of big TV collections.
Book Review: Puck: What Fools These Mortals Be!: Political Cartooning at its Finest
By Mat Brewster |
A collection of historic, important, and just a little bit esoteric political cartoons from a bygone era.
Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
Christmas is coming and with it comes big boxed sets and lots of TV collections.
Earth to Echo Blu-ray Review: Steven Spielberg’s Lawyers Ought to Be Happy
By Mat Brewster |
A nostalgic family film that wants to remind you of classic ’80s adventure movies, but instead made me chuck things at my TV.
Dr. Katz Live Album Review: The Classic Animated Comedy Live and on Stage
By Mat Brewster |
There’s no squigglevision, but the laughs are as strong as they ever were.
Deliver Us from Evil (2014) Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
Surprisingly, it’s a weak week for scary movies, but a good one for everything else.
Maleficent Blu-ray Review: Gorgeous to Look at, but Hard to Watch
By Mat Brewster |
It is an entertaining, well performed, family film that lacks a coherent vision and feels like it was made by a committee instead of a filmmaker telling a singular story.
Book Review: Lit Up Inside: Selected Lyrics by Van Morrison: You’ve Heard the Songs, Now Read the Lyrics
By Mat Brewster |
Have I told you lately that I love Van Morrison?
Book Review: Percy Crosby’s Skippy: Daily Comics 1931-1933: Long-forgotten Magic
By Mat Brewster |
With any luck this collection will bring Skippy back to the public consciousness – it certainly deserves it.
Snowpiercer Is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
This week’s releases include a highly acclaimed science fiction movie, several complete television collections, an HBO special, and more.
Book Review: Owsley and Me: My LSD Family by Rhoney Gissen Stanley with Tom Davis
By Mat Brewster |
Making music, love, and enough LSD to get the whole world high.
The Honorable Woman DVD Review: A Slow, Dense and Immensely Entertaining Thriller
By Mat Brewster |
A densely plotted drama that loses none of its depth while remaining thrilling to watch.