September 14, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Alistair Sewell, David Corenswet, Emma Jenkins-Purro, Matthew Sunderland, Mia Goth, Pearl, Tandi Wright, Ti West, X
Pearls Prays for Popularity (CREDIT: Christopher Moss/A24)
Starring: Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, Emma Jenkins-Purro, Alistair Sewell
Director: Ti West
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Rating: R for Bloodlust Breaking Free and Some Peaks at Naughty “Stag Films”
Release Date: September 16, 2022 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: Did you see this spring’s X and wonder what the deal was with that old lady? I know I sure did. Well, it turns out that Ti West actually made two movies at once, so now we get to discover what Pearl’s formative years were really like! It’s 1918, Mia Goth has shed the old lady makeup, and she and her family are living a semi-secluded life to avoid the horrors of World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic. But Pearl longs for so much more than that! She wasn’t born to care for her paralyzed father (Matthew Sunderland) and simply wait for her husband’s return while her domineering mother (Tandi Wright) browbeats her into submission. She can’t help but dream of stardom, which she hopes to achieve while hanging out with a local hunky projectionist (David Corenswet) and auditioning for a dance troupe with her sister-in-law (Emma Jenkins-Purro). And if any of this doesn’t work out for her? Hoo boy, you’d better stay out of her way.
What Made an Impression?: I haven’t seen very many movies set in the 1910s, so I didn’t know quite what to expect in regards to Pearl making the most of its setting. But I was still thrown for quite a loop. When the title character starts dancing around her barn and serenading her animals, I was getting wholesome classic sitcom vibes in the vein of Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. The fanciful font used in the credits is also reminiscent of fantastical programs like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. Maybe those shows were taking some of their cues from Old Hollywood? Regardless of the exact nature of the influences, this is an unmistakable throwback to an era when all of the main character’s most melodramatic emotions are all over every single inch of the celluloid.
Let’s make absolutely no mistake about it, this is a 100% tour de force for Ms. Mia Goth. With her big saucer eyes and ethereal voice, she’s always been a distinctive screen presence, and that’s never been truer than it is here. Her sheer force of will ensures that the connection between the two movies (thus far) in this series is as deep as possible. Pearl and her other X character of Max are historical doppelgängers, bound by a shared desire to become a star at all costs. When that drive manifests itself in the form of an impromptu song-and-dance number with a scarecrow, there’s no question that I’m all in. You all should feel the same.
Pearl is Recommended If You Like: Classic Hollywood, Classic sitcoms, Classic slashers
Grade: 4 out of 5 Axes
September 13, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Annie Mumolo, Ayden Mayeri, Confess Fletch, Fletch, Greg Mottola, John Behlmann, John Slattery, Jon Hamm, Kyle MacLachlan, Lorenza Izzo, Marcia Gay Harden, Roy Wood Jr.
So many confessions, so little time (CREDIT: Miramax/Paramount)
Starring: Jon Hamm, Roy Wood Jr., Lorenza Izzo, Ayden Mayeri, Marcia Gay Harden, Kyle MacLachlan, John Slattery, Annie Mumolo, John Behlmann
Director: Greg Mottola
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Rating: R for Some Gunfire and a Little Bit of Wacky Horniness
Release Date: September 16, 2022 (Theaters and On Demand)
What’s It About?: Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher is back! But did he ever really go away? Well, yeah, kind of. Chevy Chase played him in a couple of outings in the 80s, but they haven’t really left much of a lasting cultural impression on the younger generations. If you’re wondering how Jon Hamm could ever take over a part made famous by Mr. Pratfall-in-Chief, be assured that it doesn’t matter. The version of this slippery investigative reporter we meet in Confess, Fletch hardly resembles the white guy who sported an Afro wig and a Lakers jersey. He bumbles around a bit, but so would just about anyone who gets accused of murder in a case of mistaken identity. Anyway, Fletch sets out to clear his name and interacts with a bunch of wacky characters along the way. But, you may be wondering, are they wacky enough?
What Made an Impression?: There are a few early scenes in Confess, Fletch in which Hamm seems to be trying to summon his inner Chevy Chase, and I’m like, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Sure, he can be funny despite his preternatural handsomeness, but it’s not of the crash-into-everything, smart aleck variety. What he can nail is the psychopath lurking underneath the pristine surface. But ultimately he’s not asked to deliver either of these personas. Instead, he’s more of the straight man reacting to all the chaos around him (in various flavors of cockamamie from the likes of Annie Mumolo, Marcia Gary Harden, and Kyle MacLachlan). Hamm can certainly provide that competently, but it’s hardly spectacular. Which pretty much describes this movie as a whole.
But one actor does shine especially bright, and that would be Ayden Mayeri, who’s having quite the breakout year, along with her turns in Spin Me Round and Apple TV+’s The Afterparty. She’s one of the two detectives (alongside Roy Wood Jr.) on Fletch’s tail, and at first it seems like she’s playing your typical flummoxed, overmatched authority figure. But she knows what she’s doing, despite her bouts of clumsiness. Sure, she may spill a milkshake all over her shirt, but her investigative instincts are sharp. She gets a big “thank you” from Fletch at the end, and I’m happy to second that sentiment.
Confess, Fletch is Recommended If You Like: Fidelity to source material that’s not super famous
Grade: 2.5 out of 5 Lakers Caps
September 12, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Brett Morgen, David Bowie, documentary, Moonage Daydream
Rockin! (CREDIT: NEON)
Starring: David Bowie
Director: Brett Morgen
Running Time: 140 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for Some Brief Snippets of Profane Rock ‘n’ Roll
Release Date: September 16, 2022 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: David Bowie lives! Not in the most literal sense, of course. But certainly in plenty of metaphorical senses, as his entire discography remains readily available to listen and re-listen to, while his on-screen appearances are also similarly accessible. But in the six years since his death, his presence has never been more profoundly felt than in the new Brett Morgen-directed documentary Moonage Daydream. It’s a montage primarily consisting of rare and never-before-seen concert footage and interviews. Edited in a stream-of-conscious, mostly chronological fashion, it gives off an uncannily transcendent vibe of simultaneous familiarity and revelation.
What Made an Impression?: If you’re a fan of David Bowie, Moonage Daydream will make you fall in love with him all over again. If you’re not a fan, hopefully you can at least appreciate the deep dive into his psyche that this film offers. And if you’ve somehow never heard of Bowie, hoo boy, I don’t know if there’s any way for you to fully prepare for this experience.
This is the type of movie where you could rearrange the order of every single scene, and it would still feel pretty much the same. Or maybe it would feel a little different, but still equally satisfying. In my attempt to recreate it in my mind since watching it a few weeks ago, I’m not sure what followed what exactly. I didn’t take as many notes as I usually do, as it felt much more appropriate to let the whole thing just wash over me. (The only Bowie quote I did write down was “What’s my relationship with the universe?”, which feels apt.)
Mixed in with all the Bowie-centric footage are snippets of thematically similar pop culture artifacts, including quick clips of some choice sci-fi B-movies, like Plan 9 from Outer Space and This Island Earth. Is this some sort of cosmic message assuring us that Ziggy Stardust has found his otherworldly place alongside these classics? I’m certainly happy to interpret it that way.
Moonage Daydream is Recommended If You Like: Koyaanisqatsi
Grade: 4 out of 5 Personae
September 9, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television
Atlanta, Barbarian, Clerks III, College Bowl, Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Creative Arts Emmys, Emmys, Jeopardy!, Ozzy Osbourne, Patient Number 9, Santigold, Spirituals, The Handmaid's Tale
Time to be a Barbarian!!!! (CREDIT: 20th Century Studios/Screenshot)
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Barbarian (Theaters)
–Clerks III (Theaters Beginning September 13)
TV
–College Bowl Season Premiere (September 9 on NBC) – The dynamic Manning duo are back.
-Creative Arts Emmy Awards (September 10 on FXX)
–Jeopardy! Season 39 Premiere (September 12, check local listings)
-Primetime Emmy Awards (September 12 on NBC)
–The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Premiere (September 14 on Hulu)
–Atlanta Season 4 Premiere (September 15 on FX) – Final Season Alert!
Music
-Ozzy Osbourne, Patient Number 9
-Santigold, Spirituals
September 8, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Amy Sedaris, Austin Zajur, Brian O'Halloran, Clerks, Clerks III, Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, View Askewniverse
That’s so Clerks … III (CREDIT: Lionsgate)
Starring: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Rosario Dawson, Amy Sedaris
Director: Kevin Smith
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Rating: R for Casual Potty Mouths
Release Date: September 13, 2022 (In Theaters September 13-18)
What’s It About?: Are Dante Hicks and Randal Graves stuck in purgatory? Or maybe they’re happy to still be working at the Quick Stop nearly 30 years after we first checked in with them. Randal (Jeff Anderson) is certainly his same happy-go-lucky self, but maybe he should take things a little more seriously, since Clerks III does start with him having a heart attack. But instead of focusing on eating healthy and exercising, he decides to direct a movie about life as a convenience store clerk. Uh-oh, is Kevin Smith making a stealth remake of his own signature film? Kinda-sorta, as there are plenty of in-jokes and callbacks, but he’s actually more concerned about just giving his characters some proper story arcs. So while Dante (Brian O’Halloran) gets roped into the whole production, he’s also pining after a now-deceased Becky (Rosario Dawson), while Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) are still hanging out, and there’s also a whole lot of talk about crypto and NFTs.
What Made an Impression?: I’ve never seen the first Clerks, though it’s not for lack of interest. (It’s on my long to-watch list, I promise!) But I have seen Clerks II, every episode of the short-lived animated series, and now Clerks III. From my vantage point, it’s almost as if Numero Uno exists in a completely different universe. It emerged in black & white during the indie boom of the early 90s, and then II was released in the summer of 2006 as a crisp studio comedy. Now the third one is opting for a roadshow tour alongside a limited-time wide theatrical release. If you’re wondering why Clerks III even exists, it’s because Kevin Smith just wanted to make another one for all the people who have supported him over the years.
Considering the circuitous preproduction path and untraditional release strategy, it might be a little surprising how straightforward the plot is. Randal has a big idea, everyone else bands together to make it happen, then he and Dante have a falling out, and finally the whole crew ultimately realizes what’s truly important. This is by-the-books comedy feature writing, nothing revolutionary about it. And that’s okay! Sometimes we just want to check in on our friends and see how they’re doing. And if you can throw in a running gag about size anxiety, go for it. It might be a little juvenile, sure, but it’s also open-minded and comforting. In conclusion, I chuckled here and there, I soaked up the bonhomie, and I was happy to live another day.
Clerks III is Recommended If You Like: Late 90s/Early 2000s Alt-Rock, Shameless celebrity friend cameos, Eternal youth evolving into something a little more adult
Grade: 3 out of 5 Moobys
September 2, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., Megadeth, Rick and Morty, Taylor Hawkins, Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert, The Good Fight, The Sick the Dying... and the Dead!, The Simpsons, The Simpsons: Welcome to the Club, Wedding Season
If it’s season, I’m sneezin’ (CREDIT: Hulu/Screenshot)
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. (Theaters and Peacock)
TV
–Rick and Morty Season 6 Premiere (September 4 on Adult Swim)
–The Good Fight Season 6 Premiere (September 8 on Paramount+) – Final Season Alert!
–The Simpsons: Welcome to the Club (September 8 on Disney+)
–Wedding Season Season 1 (September 8 on Hulu) – Rosa Salazar’s in this.
Music
-Megadeth, The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
Music on TV
-Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert (September 3 on Paramount+ and CBS)
August 31, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Alessandro Nivola, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Ayden Mayeri, Ben Sinclair, Debby Ryan, Ego Nwodim, Fall, Fred Armisen, Grace Caroline Currey, Hiro Kanagawa, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Baena, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Julia Stiles, Lil Rel Howery, Mason Gooding, Matthew Finlan, Molly Shannon, Orphan, Orphan: First Kill, Rossif Sutherland, Spin Me Round, Thomas Mann, Tim Heidecker, Tricia Helfer, Virginia Gardner, William Brent Bell, Zach Woods
What’s going to Fall? (CREDIT: Lionsgate)
Fall:
Starring: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Director: Thomas Mann
Running Time: 107 Minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: August 12, 2022 (Theaters)
More
August 26, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Sports, Television
Breaking, Bret McKenzie, DC's Stargirl, Muse, Songs Without Jokes, Sprung, Stargirl, The End is Nye, The Invitation, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Three Thousand Years of Longing, US Open, Video Music Awards, VMAs, Will of the People
This is the End that says “Nye!” (CREDIT: Peacock/Screenshot)
‘Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Breaking (Theaters)
–The Invitation (Theaters)
–Three Thousand Years of Longing (Theaters)
TV
–The End is Nye (Premiered August 25 on Syfy and Peacock) – The Science Guy helps us survive disasters.
–Sprung (Premiered August 19 on Freevee) – Greg Garcia’s latest show!
–DC’s Stargirl Season 3 Premiere (August 31 on The CW)
–The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Series Premiere (September 1 on Amazon Prime) – I didn’t realize this was arriving so soon!
Music on TV
-2022 MTV Video Music Awards (August 28 on MTV)
Music
-Bret McKenzie, Songs Without Jokes – Bret’s full-length solo debut!
-Muse, Will of the People
Sports
-US Open (August 29-September 11 on ESPN and ESPN2) – Serena Williams’ Last Hurrah?
August 26, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Alana Boden, Courtney Taylor, Hugh Skinner, Jessica M. Thompson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sean Pertwee, Stephanie Corneliussen, The Invitation, Thomas Doherty
Who’s RSVP-ing, Natahalie Emmanuel would like to know (CREDIT: Screen Gems)
Starring: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Hugh Skinner, Stephanie Corneliussen, Alana Boden, Courtney Taylor, Sean Pertwee
Director: Jessica M. Thompson
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for A Few Pokes in the Chest and Neck and Some Tasteful Sexuality
Release Date: August 26, 2022 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: You know, a lot of people nowadays submit their DNA to various companies. The Invitation posits that that might not be the best idea, though. Do we really want distant family members we never knew we had to suddenly be able to contact us? Probably not. Although, maybe it might be nice if they’re fancy Brits who can whisk us away on an all-expense paid trip to a giant mansion in the English countryside. That’s what happens to adult orphan Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) when her newly discovered cousin Oliver (Hugh Skinner) invites her to a wedding. That sounds a little fishy to me, and honestly, it sounds a little fishy to Evie as well, but girl, she could sure use a vacation. Anyway, after she arrives, she has a meet-cute with man of the house Walter (Thomas Doherty), but he’s just a little too suspiciously charming, isn’t he?
What Made an Impression?: The Invitation doesn’t fully reveal its hand until about three-quarters of the way through. But based on the trailer, it’s clear what’s going on, so this appears to be a case of the premise being treated like a twist. Put another way: this movie sure takes its dang time. The teases in the early going are also far and few between. One aggressive character sucks on Evie’s finger after it gets cut, and that’s about the only clue we get. It’s really all we need, though, because what else could that mean?! But this isn’t a mystery movie, it’s an escape-from-the-prison-of-your-toxic-secret-family movie. Unless I’ve completely misunderstood director Jessica M. Thompson and her co-screenwriter Blair Butler’s intentions. And in that case, I just wish they had made something more compelling.
The Invitation is Recommended If You Like: Ignoring obvious red flags
Grade: 2.5 out of 5 Cousins
August 24, 2022
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
John Boyega is … Breaking (CREDIT: Bleecker Street)
Starring: John Boyega, Nicole Beharie, Michael K. Williams, Selenis Leyva, Connie Britton, Jeffrey Donovan, Olivia Washington, London Covington
Director: Abi Damaris Corbin
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for Constantly Being on the Edge of Disaster
Release Date: August 26, 2022 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: Brian Brown-Easley is a most desperate man. A clerical error is preventing him from getting his benefit payments from the Veteran Affairs office, and with his precarious financial situation being what it is, that could very easily mean ending up on the street. So he decides to hold up a bank to procure his money. But his plan isn’t robbery. Rather, it’s about getting the VA’s attention so that they’ll finally hold up their end of the bargain. So he announces that’s he got a bomb and takes a couple of bank employees hostage. As the tense day unfolds, Brian checks in with his ex-wife and young daughter, contacts a local news station on his own, and flummoxes the authorities with his intractable demands.
What Made an Impression?: Breaking is based on a true story, and I imagine that the real Brian Brown-Easley would be happy with the way it turned out. After all, the underlying purpose of his holdup was getting the message out about the VA’s broken system. His monetary demand was quite paltry, in fact. He’s owed $892.34, and that’s all he’s asking for. Not a penny less, and not a penny more. If you were to offer him, say, ten dollars extra, hoo boy, get ready to watch his blood boil all over Georgia. And even though he’s at the bank, he insists that the cash has to come from the VA. He’s willing to die over that demand. A few breaths might be enough to make most people conclude that that’s a drastic overreaction, but I can see where Brian’s coming from.
In a movie where the performances are essential, four stand out as absolutely doing everything we need them to do. Thankfully, we can count John Boyega as Brian among those essentials; he’s fully locked in to seeing everything through to the end. Then there’s Nicole Beharie as the bank manager and Selenis Leyva as the teller, the former pulling out all the stops to make a lifesaving connection and the latter sunken deep into survival mode. And then we’ve got a posthumous gift from Michael K. Williams as the lead negotiator; if there’s anyone who could ever possibly lead us out of such an impossible situation, it’s gotta be the guy who so famously taught the value of a personal code. Let’s hope society takes the lesson of Breaking and catches up.
Breaking is Recommended If You Like: Dog Day Afternoon, Subtle activism, Behind the scenes of live news broadcasts
Grade: 4 out of 5 Benefits
Older Entries
Newer Entries
Jmunney's Blog 