Billboard Hot Rock Songs – Week of October 21, 2017

October 10, 2017

jmunney Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot Rock Songs, Music , , , , Leave a comment

Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart, and then I rearrange the top 25 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 25, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
2. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
3. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
4. Tom Petty – “Free Fallin'”
5. Tom Petty – “I Won’t Back Down”
6. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”
7. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Learning to Fly”
8. Tom Petty – “You Don’t Know How It Feels”
9. Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
10. The Revivalists – “Wish I Knew You”
11. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “American Girl”
12. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Don’t Bring Me Down”
13. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Don’t Do Me Like That”
14. Theory of a Deadman – “Rx (Medicate)”
15. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Don’t Come Around Here No More”
16. Tom Petty – “Wildflowers”
17. Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk on Water”
18. The Killers – “The Man”
19. Zach Williams – “Old Church Choir”
20. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Breakdown”
21. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl”
22. Linkin Park – “One More Light”
23. Fall Out Boy – “The Last of the Real Ones”
24. U2 – “You’re the Best Thing About Me”
25. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Into the Great Wide Open”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Don’t Come Around Here No More
2. Runnin’ Down a Dream
3. Breakdown
4. I Won’t Back Down
5. American Girl
6. Don’t Do Me Like That
7. Free Fallin’
8. Learning to Fly
9. Feel It Still
10. Mary Jane’s Last Dance
11. Into the Great Wide Open
12. You Don’t Know How It Feels
13. The Man
14. Here Comes My Girl
15. You’re the Best Thing About Me

Billboard Hot 20 – Week of October 21, 2017

October 10, 2017

jmunney Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot 100, Music , , , Leave a comment

Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot 100, and then I rearrange the top 20 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 20, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
2. Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar”
3. J. Balvin and Willy William ft. Beyoncé – “Mi Gente”
4. Logic ft. Alessia Cara and Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”
5. Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me”
6. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
7. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
8. Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
9. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
10. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
11. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
12. Yo Gotti ft. Nicki Minaj – “Rake It Up”
13. Sam Smith – “Too Good at Goodbyes”
14. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
15. Charlie Puth – “Attention”
16. 21 Savage – “Bank Account”
17. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
18. Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”
19. Maroon 5 ft. SZA – “What Lovers Do”
20. Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Feel It Still
2. Mi Gente
3. Unforgettable

This Is a Movie Review: ‘Professor Marston and the Wonder Women’ is a Love(s) Story Like No Other

October 10, 2017

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , , , Leave a comment

CREDIT: Claire Folger/Annapurna Pictures

This review was originally posted on News Cult in October 2017.

Starring: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, Connie Britton, Oliver Platt

Director: Angela Robinson

Running Time: 108 Minutes

Rating: R for Getting It On Unapologetically

Release Date: October 13, 2017

I think every man, woman, boy, girl, or whatever personal nomenclature you prefer should go and be inspired by Wonder Woman. I also want to recommend just as wholeheartedly Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, the story of Wonder Woman’s creator and his inspiration, but fair warning: William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans) lived an unprecedented life, by any era’s standards. His biography is not absolutely necessary to understand the context of Diana Prince, but it is enlightening. His story is also alarming, but also ultimately joyous, and that is true especially in light of the Wonder Woman film so pointedly emphasizing Diana’s prerogative to protect all life.

To get right into it: Marston did not come into comic books through publishing or 9-to-5 hackery, but rather psychology and academia. He is noted for developing DISC Theory, which proposes that all human behavior can be categorized as either dominance, inducement, submission, or compliance. To be clear, this is not just sexual behavior he is talking about, but all human behavior. If you’re wondering if a guy like this would be intrigued by sexual bondage, then your instincts are correct. However, if you’re also thinking that this part of the story has nothing to do with the creation of Wonder Woman, you clearly have not read her early issues. Marston is also famous for inventing an early lie detector prototype, and now that are you are remembering the Lasso of Truth, it should be abundantly clear how his ideas have lived on.

But while all that history is important to the film, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is a love story through and through, and an unapologetically nontraditional one. Marston and his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston (Rebecca Hall), a fellow psychologist, lived with another woman, Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote), lover to them both. If this arrangement sounds like misogyny lurking underneath a supposed ally of women, well, this staunchly feminist does not see it that way, and neither do its staunchly feminist characters. Instead, Bill, Elizabeth, and Olive, in their decision to live together in defiance of society’s standards, are positioned as self-sacrificing heroes ahead of their time. This is true perhaps in the sense that as the inspirations of an iconic fictional character, the ladies’ legacy lives on. But it is not exactly true (at least not yet) in the sense that polyamory is still far from normal.

Personally, I do not object to polyamory on any moral grounds, but rather, because I find the prospect emotionally exhausting. But damn if Professor Marston doesn’t have me cheering for those who believe in it. There is no doubt that this trio are in fact deeply in love with each other. A series of lie detector scenes make that effervescently clear. These moments may be cinematic contrivances, but I don’t care, as they are so entertainingly bold! Indeed, it is rare to find any major theatrical release whose social and romantic politics are so unapologetic, and for that, it should be cherished.

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is Recommended If You Like: Wonder Woman comics – the classic and the obscure stuff, Jules and Jim, Shakespeare in Love, Secretary

Grade: 4 out of 5 Lie Detectors

SNL Review October 7, 2017: Gal Gadot/Sam Smith

October 8, 2017

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , , Leave a comment

CREDIT: Will Heath/NBC

This review was originally posted on News Cult in October 2017.

Love It

Pete Davidson – Pete Davidson’s Update segments were one of those recurring bits that I resigned myself to accepting that they would be good enough but also pretty much the same thing each time. But then wouldn’t you know it, he comes out with a new energy while discussing a condition known for sapping the energy of those it affects. This discussion about depression is far from depressing itself. Instead it is quite agreeably loopy. The doctor’s note to put Pete in more sketches is plainly inspired. Now I actually want to see the sketch that’s about a chicken who ate eggs AND Black Lives Matter!

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What Won TV? – October 1-October 7, 2017

October 8, 2017

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In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.

Sunday – Bob’s Burgers
Monday – Austin Rogers securing his place in the Jeopardy! record books
Tuesday – Austin going even further into Jeopardy! history
Wednesday – Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Thursday – The Good Place
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – Halt and Catch Fire better be careful about being so good about making me so sad.

This Is a Movie Review: ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ Keeps Equestria Buoyant and Simple

October 6, 2017

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

CREDIT: Lionsgate/Hasbro

This review was originally posted on News Cult in October 2017.

Starring: Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Cathy Weseluck, Emily Blunt, Michael Peña, Liev Schreiber, Taye Diggs, Zoe Saldana, Kristen Chenoweth, Uzo Aduba, Sia

Director: Jayson Thiessen

Running Time: 99 Minutes

Rating: PG for the Stone Hearts and Warped Magic of Cartoon Villains

Release Date: October 6, 2017

There’s a contingent of young adult (mostly) male fans of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV series who go by the moniker “bronies.” Some might suspect irony in this demographic’s devotion to a cartoon about unicorn ponies, but everything I know about them indicates that they are completely genuine. As I am curious enough to check out any show meant to appeal to demos completely different than mine, I once upon a time wondered if I too might become a brony. So I watched an episode of Friendship is Magic several years ago, and … I didn’t really get what all the fuss was about. But with a movie adaptation on the horizon, and with me as someone who is professionally bound to sample every wide release, the ponies stood another chance of hooking me into their fold.

Alas, after catching My Little Pony: The Movie, I must report that I still remain unconverted. But I suspect the fandom will be pleased. Normally when reviewing something, I keep every possible audience in mind, but MLP should not be faulted too hard for catering to one crowd in particular. It has no desire to expand its appeal with the self-awareness of DreamWorks, or the adult themes snuck into Pixar’s childlike wonder, or the anarchy of Despicable Me. Furthermore, the plot is simple, straightforward, and archetypal: the heroes make a bunch of new friends on a Campbell-esque hero’s journey, and the villain is not evil so much as misunderstood. While I would be more impressed with My Little Pony if it were more ambitious, there is something to be said for easy-to-understand positivity.

For those looking for some distinct personalities and imaginative flourishes, there are some  pleasures to be had. Emily Blunt is positively purring as Tempest Shadow, a heavy metal-influenced purple unicorn who threatens to ruin the good vibes of the ponies’ homeland of Equestria. Then there is Taye Diggs familiziairing everyone with the message of the beatniks in his voicing of hepcat humanoid feline Capper. The color palette is relentlessly bright, which certainly earns my favor, but for those who like it a little darker or at least subdued, it is still impressive how fastidiously each shade of the rainbow is woven together. In total, MLP: The Movie does what it sets out to do.

My Little Pony: The Movie is Recommended If You Like: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Unikitty from The Lego Movie, Parent-child bonding time

Grade: 2.5 out of 5 Hippogriffs

This Is a Movie Review: ‘The Florida Project’ is a Portrait of Life on the Edge Just Outside the Sunshine State’s Tourist Meccas

October 4, 2017

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , , Leave a comment

CREDIT: Marc Schmidt/A24

This review was originally posted on News Cult in October 2017.

Starring: Brooklyn Kimberly Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera

Director: Sean Baker

Running Time: 115 Minutes

Rating: R for Constant Potty Mouth, a Few Scrapes, Discreet Sex That Doesn’t Stay Hidden, and An Impromptu Use of a Tampon

Release Date: October 6, 2017 (Limited)

I have frequently wondered how people with a thin personal economic safety net stake their place in the world. It’s such a different life than I know that it might as well be on a separate plane of existence entirely. But it is not absolutely foreigg. We all do what we must to survive, and we’re all wired to find fun where and when we can. But there are certain realities of a capitalist society that make any sense of a satisfactory life illusory. I firmly, theoretically, believe that material possessions are not the ultimate source of happiness, but I recognize that in practice, lack of material goods is the cause of a lot of hardship. The Florida Project is a portrait of such an existence, and thus it is a stressful watch, though I am happy to have seen it.

The marketing for The Florida Project is a lot more unfailingly happy-go-lucky than the actual film. The trailer and poster are not outright lies, as indeed a group of cute little kids do run around having the time of their lives and Willem Dafoe is more adorably gruff than hardass grump. But an overarching grim context is inescapable. Perhaps there is a concerted point in putting the film’s peppiest step forward, as it takes place in Kissimmee, Florida, not too far from Orlando. Head beyond that city’s tourist mecca, and you might just be a little less inclined to still call this land “the happiest place on Earth.”

The Magic Castle Motel may be a purposeful misnomer intended to lure in a few gullible tourists and also self-delude its longtime residents, but try telling that to 6-year-old Mooney (Brooklyn Kimberly Prince) and her best friends Scooty (Christopher Rivera) and Jancey (Valeria Cotto). Mooney knows that she and her mom Halley (Bria Vinaite) don’t exactly have a lot of money (that is, when they have any at all), but she still knows how to spend a hell of a day, like by sneaking around an abandoned building or scrounging up cash for ice cream (by pretending to have asthma that can only be relieved by ice cream). And hey, soliciting secondhand goods in a hotel parking lot with Mom is a lot of fun, too!

But when The Florida Project delves into the less savory ways in which Halley gets by, it’s a little harder to say that everything is copacetic. Questions that society really needs to grapple with become to impossible to ignore. When living in poverty is so expensive, how can you expect a young adult on waiting lists for every legitimate job not to turn to illegal ventures? And when those ventures become serious enough for social services to get involved, is the best solution really removing a child from a loving, non-abusive parental relationship? A lot of this grappling within the narrative falls upon motel manager Bobby (Dafoe in a role tailor-made for him), who is alternately a father figure, taskmaster, guardian angel, and just human. Written all over the lines of his face is the thesis of the film: this is all too intense to fully make sense of, but someone (but really, everyone) needs to live in it.

The Florida Project is Recommended If You Like: American Honey, A Little Princess, Boyhood

Grade: 4 out of 5 Cussing Kids

Billboard Hot Rock Songs – Week of October 14, 2017

October 3, 2017

jmunney Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot Rock Songs, Music , , , Leave a comment

Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart, and then I rearrange the top 25 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 25, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
2. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
3. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
4. The Revivalists – “Wish I Knew You”
5. The Killers – “The Man”
6. Walk the Moon – “One Foot”
7. Theory of a Deadman – “Rx (Medicate)”
8. Zach Williams – “Old Church Choir”
9. Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk on Water”
10. Linkin Park – “One More Light”
11. Lord Huron – “The Night We Met”
12. Fall Out Boy – “The Last of the Real Ones”
13. Foo Fighters – “The Sky is a Neighborhood”
14. Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
15. U2 – “You’re the Best Thing About Me”
16. Judah & the Lion – “Suit and Jacket”
17. NEEDTOBREATHE – “Hard Love”
18. Asking Alexandria – “Into the Fire”
19. The Lumineers – “Angela”
20. Vance Joy – “Lay It on Me”
21. Highly Suspect – “Little One”
22. Queens of the Stone Age – “The Way You Used to Do”
23. Beck – “Up All Night”
24. X Ambassadors – “Ahead of Myself”
25. Greta van Fleet – “Highway Tune”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Highway Tune
2. The Way You Used to Do
3. Feel It Still
4. The Man
5. The Sky is a Neighborhood
6. Up All Night
7. Little One
8. You’re the Best Thing About Me
9. Hard Love
10. Lay It On Me

Billboard Hot 20 – Week of October 14, 2017

October 3, 2017

jmunney Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot 100, Music , , , Leave a comment

Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot 100, and then I rearrange the top 20 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 20, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
2. Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar”
3. Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
4. Logic ft. Alessia Cara and Khalid – “1-800-273-8255”
5. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
6. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
7. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
8. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
9. Yo Gotti ft. Nicki Minaj – “Rake It Up”
10. Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
11. Charlie Puth – “Attention”
12. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
13. Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”
14. Sam Smith – “Too Good at Goodbyes”
15. 21 Savage – “Bank Account”
16. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
17. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
18. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
19. Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
20. Maroon 5 ft. SZA – “What Lovers Do”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Feel It Still
2. Unforgettable
3. Wild Thoughts

What Won TV? – September 24-September 30, 2017

October 1, 2017

jmunney Television, What Won TV? , , , , , , Leave a comment

In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.

Scoot McNairy as Gordon Clark – Halt and Catch Fire _ Season 4, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Tina Rowden/AMC

Sunday – Rick and Morty
Monday – Young Sheldon
Tuesday – Difficult People
Wednesday – You’re the Worst, and the title is back to being so true.
Thursday – The Good Place, The Good Place, The Good Place
Friday – VICE
Saturday – Halt and Catch Fire, and I keep watching the saddest parts again and again.

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