REVIEW: The Rider (2018)

Release Poster – Sony Pictures Classics

The following is a review of Sony Pictures Classics’ The Rider — Directed by Chloe Zhao.

You may not be surprised to learn that, to my knowledge, the competitive sport of rodeo is not really a popular activity in coldish Scandinavia. Although it may have had its roots elsewhere (I, honestly, have no idea), I have always associated rodeo with America and the cultural fascination with thrill-seeking cowboys. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Rider (2018)”

REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Talk”

The following is a recap and review of the fourth episode of the fourth season of Better Call Saul, available on AMC in the U. S. and on Netflix internationally. Expect story spoilers. 

In the fourth episode of the fourth season — Talk — Mike (played by Jonathan Banks) talks in group therapy, Kim (played by Rhea Seehorn) observes, and Jimmy (played by Bob Odenkirk) goes to work. Talk was written by Heather Marion and directed by John Shiban. Continue reading “REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Talk””

91st Academy Awards Predictions: August Update – Special Features #30

The Oscar season is about to kick into a higher gear with the major end of the year festivals coming our way very soon. So, before we get to hear what major film critics think about Damien Chazelle, Barry Jenkins, and Alfonso Cuarón’s new films, I here provide you with the current update of my Oscar predictions. Continue reading “91st Academy Awards Predictions: August Update – Special Features #30”

REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Something Beautiful”

The following is a recap and review of the third episode of the fourth season of Better Call Saul, available on AMC in the U. S. and on Netflix internationally. Expect story spoilers. 

In the third episode of the fourth season — Something Beautiful — Kim Wexler (played by Rhea Seehorn) gets back to work, Nacho (played by Michael Mando) gets hurt, and Jimmy (played by Bob Odenkirk) tries to steal a Bavarian Boy Hummel-figurine. Something Beautiful was written by Gordon Smith and directed by Daniel Sackheim. Continue reading “REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Something Beautiful””

REVIEW: Sharp Objects (2018 – Mini-Series)

Series Poster – HBO

The following is a review of HBO’s Sharp Objects — A Mini-Series Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.

I had been looking forward to this show for quite some time when I first sat down to watch the first episode of Sharp Objects, which is titled Vanish. The entirety of HBO’s latest well-cast mini-series was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée who, just last year, was the talk of the town with his first HBO series Big Little Lies — one of my favorite shows from 2017. It only made me more interested in the show when I learned that Sharp Objects, his new mini-series, was based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote Gone Girl. Continue reading “REVIEW: Sharp Objects (2018 – Mini-Series)”

Ethan Hawke Doesn’t Think LOGAN Is A Great Film – Special Features #29

During an interview with the Film Stage, actor Ethan Hawke discussed the quality of superhero movies and went on to disagree with the notion that Logan is a great film. In this Special Features-article, I want to discuss his quotes and give my own opinion about the Hawke quote and quotes like them. Continue reading “Ethan Hawke Doesn’t Think LOGAN Is A Great Film – Special Features #29”

REVIEW: Disenchantment – Season One (2018)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following review is of the ten episodes released on August 17, 2018.

Say what you will about the quality of Netflix films, but one thing you absolutely cannot deny is the high quality of Netflix’s American adult animated series. Although I didn’t care for F Is For Family, last year’s Big Mouth starring Nick Kroll and John Mulaney was a surprisingly strong animated series. But the cream of the crop in adult animation on Netflix is Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s BoJack Horseman, which I think is one of the best things Netflix has ever greenlit.   Continue reading “REVIEW: Disenchantment – Season One (2018)”

REVIEW: King in the Wilderness (2018 – Documentary)

Release Poster – HBO

The following is a short review of HBO’s King in the Wilderness – Directed by Peter W. Kunhardt.

On the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, HBO released a documentary portrait of the late-great activist, baptist, and civil rights movement leader from Emmy-winning director Peter W. Kunhardt. The documentary titled King in the Wilderness is made up of talking head interviews with the people that knew King, who all try to paint us a picture of King’s state in the last few years of his life before he was shot and killed in 1968. Continue reading “REVIEW: King in the Wilderness (2018 – Documentary)”

REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Breathe”

The following is a recap and review of the second episode of the fourth season of Better Call Saul, available on AMC in the U. S. and on Netflix internationally. Expect story spoilers. 

In the second episode of the fourth season — Breathe — Jimmy (played by Bob Odenkirk) goes jobhunting, and Kim Wexler (played by Rhea Seehorn) stands up for her partner. Breathe was written by Thomas Schnauz and directed by Michelle MacLaren. Continue reading “REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Breathe””

REVIEW: The Meg (2018)

Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros. Pictures

The following is a review of The Meg – Directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Jon Turteltaub’s The Meg, short for Megalodon, is a film based a series of novels from author Steve Alten. The film follows Jonas Taylor (played by Jason Statham), a rescue diver who believes a giant sea creature was responsible for the destruction of a submarine, as well as the lives lost in the destruction.  Continue reading “REVIEW: The Meg (2018)”