Sarah Jett Rayburn isn’t just a Jeopardy! champion, she’s also the latest contributor to Karaoke Korner, as she has Jeff make his selections from the works of country gal Miranda Lambert, Euro-disco crew Boney M., and Mother Monster Lady Gaga.
That’s Auntertainment! Karaoke Korner 23
November 14, 2021
Podcasts, That's Auntertainment Boney M., karaoke, Lady GaGa, Miranda Lambert, Podcasts, That's Auntertainment Leave a comment
‘Julia’ is on Fire
November 13, 2021
Cinema, Movie Reviews Betsy West, documentary, Fire, Jimi Hendrix, Julia, Julia Child, Julie Cohen Leave a comment
Julia (CREDIT: Sony Pictures Classics/Screenshot)
Starring: Julia Child and Friends
Directors: Julie Cohen and Betsy West
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 12, 2021 (Theaters)
The beginning of the Julia Child documentary Julia features footage of Ms. Child in the kitchen to the tune of Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic hard rock classic “Fire.” Which had me going, “Awww, yeah!” I love that sort of juxtaposition! The rest of the movie is a fairly typical biographical documentary, what with its mix of archival footage and interviews with family, friends, and fans. But that opening has me wondering about other potential mashup ideas: the Barefoot Contessa set to Metallica, perhaps? Emeril Lagasse chopping away while Phish jams on? The Swedish Chef bork bork-ing as Yoko Ono howls with abandon? Chime in if you’ve got any other ideas!
Grade: 3 Chopped Fingers in the Beef Bourguignon
Jeff’s Wacky SNL Review: Kieran Culkin/Ed Sheeran
November 12, 2021
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television Ed Sheeran, Kieran Culkin, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 47, SNL, SNL Season 47 1 Comment
SNL: Heidi Gardner, Kieran Culkin, Chris Redd (CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot)
I ran the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 7, 2021, which made it a little difficult to post my review of the 11/6/21 SNL on Sunday as I normally do. Sorry, Kieran Culkin and Ed Sheeran! (They were the guests of this episode.) So I decided instead to write this review over the course of the week, at a rate of a few sketches per day. Anyway, maybe it was the post-marathon glow, but I really enjoyed this episode!
Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 11/12/21
November 12, 2021
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television Belfast, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Courtney Barnett, Damon Albarn, Gov't Mule, Heavy Load Blues, Julia, RIverdale, Snoopy in Space, The Nearer the Fountain More Pure the Stream Flows, The Shrink Next Door, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Things Take Time Take Time Leave a comment
The Shrink Next Door (CREDIT: Apple TV+)
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Belfast (Theaters) – This takes place in Belfast.
–Clifford the Big Red Dog (Theaters and Paramount+) – I love dogs.
–Julia (Theaters) – Documentary about Julia Child.
TV
–The Shrink Next Door Series Premiere (November 12 on Apple TV+) – Starring Will Ferrell and newly minted Sexiest Man Alive Paul Rudd.
–Snoopy in Space Season 2 (November 12 on Apple TV+)
–The World According to Jeff Goldblum Season 2 Premiere (November 12 on Disney+)
–Riverdale Season 6 Premiere (November 16 on The CW)
Music
-Damon Albarn, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
-Courtney Barnett, Things Take Time, Take Time
-Gov’t Mule, Heavy Load Blues
‘Belfast’ Presents a Coming-of-Age Story in a Time of Troubles
November 10, 2021
Cinema, Movie Reviews Belfast, Catriona Balfe, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Lara McDonnell, Olive Tennant 1 Comment
Belfast (CREDIT: Rob Youngson/Focus Features)
Starring: Jude Hill, Catríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, Lara McDonnell, Olive Tennant
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for Explosive Violence and Some Language
Release Date: November 12, 2021 (Theaters)
If you’re a nine-year-old boy who takes school seriously, can’t you just pine after the classmate you’re sweet on without having to worry about a war raging in your neighborhood? That’s the conundrum in which little Buddy (Jude Hill) finds himself in 1960s Belfast, Northern Ireland in the film named after the city written and directed by Belfast native Kenneth Branagh. He’s at that age when he’s really starting to notice the opposite sex, but you get the sense that he’s also the one of those kids who never thought that girls were icky. His teacher has a system wherein whoever does best on the math tests gets to sit at the front of the room. Buddy’s stuck in the middle when we meet him, while his crush Catherine (Olive Tennant, daughter of David) is firmly ensconced in the #1 position. Will Buddy work his way up to the front? It’s good motivation if you can get it.
We never doubt Buddy’s sweetness, or his studiousness, but we do worry that he might get waylaid by forces beyond his control, considering the time and place he’s living. This was the beginning of “The Troubles,” a decades-long ethnic conflict in the country. As presented in Belfast, it’s primarily a fight against Catholics instigated by Protestants. Buddy’s family are Protestants, but they’re decidedly against participating in the fight in any capacity. My reaction to the presence of The Troubles, both within the movie and in real life, is much the same as that of Buddy’s dad (Jamie Dornan), who basically tells the local ringleader, “Get out of here. We don’t want any part of this.” I really just want to see Buddy’s budding love life and the rest of what he does for fun. Perhaps the context of national strife provides some extra dramatic oomph, but I’m pretty sure I like coming-of-age stories even when they take place in times of peace.
So what else did I like about this movie? Buddy’s relationships with his family members were certainly a treat to peak in on. His mom (Catríona Balfe) steadily holds down the fort, while his grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds) are founts of wisdom. Also, there’s this really memorable scene at the end when his dad gives him some great advice about tolerance and open-heartedness. The moments when the family watch movies are also quite a bit fun (partly because they provide a bit of color to the otherwise black-and-white presentation). This certainly feels like the most personal directorial effort I’ve ever seen from Branagh. It is semi-autobiographical after all, and you can feel that.
Belfast is Recommended If You Like: British villages, Love fueled by academic success, Guileless discussions about religion
Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Maths
‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ is Worth a Watch If You Feel Like Being Silly
November 9, 2021
Cinema, Movie Reviews Alex Moffat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Darby Camp, David Alan Grier, Izaac Wang, Jack Whitehall, Jessica Keenan Wynn, John Cleese, Kenan Thompson, Mia Ronn, Paul Rodriguez, Rosie Perez, Russell Peters, Russell Wong, Sienna Guillory, Tony Hale, Walter Becker 1 Comment
Clifford the Big Red Dog (CREDIT: Paramount Pictures)
Starring: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang, John Cleese, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Alex Moffat, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Russell Wong, Paul Rodriguez, Russell Peters, Mia Ronn, Kenan Thompson, Rosie Perez
Director: Walter Becker
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Rating: PG for The Nuttiness Caused by a Giant Puppy
Release Date: November 10, 2021 (Theaters and Paramount+)
What would YOU do if a 20-foot-plus red-furred dog started running around all over everywhere? I imagine most people would react with a mixture of shock and confusion, but in this particular pup’s cinematic adventure directed by Walt Becker (Wild Hogs, Old Dogs), there’s a wider range of reactions. Clifford is cause not only for sublime awe, but also for worries about being a good caretaker, or the impetus to justify eviction, or for a standard-issue evil mega-corporation to swoop in and claim that they own everything. And of course, he becomes a bit of a local neighborhood hero. People act very wacky in Clifford the Big Red Dog, in ways that are fairly typical of a family flick, but not always in ways that necessarily go hand-in-hand with the presence of a gigantic canine, and I appreciate that.
The plot essentials that you might want to know are that sixth-grader Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) finds herself with an incorrigible dog after an encounter in Central Park with the mysterious and magical Mr. Bridwell (John Cleese) and his animal emporium. Her Uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) isn’t so keen on her keeping Clifford, mostly because he wants to prove to his sister, Emily’s mom Maggie (Sienna Guillory), that he can be responsible. Meanwhile, Mr. Packard the super (David Alan Grier) doesn’t like dogs, and Tony Hale swoops in as a plainly devious CEO to capture Clifford and discover the secrets of his genetic code.
Obviously, something as kid-friendly as this movie is going to end with every character (except the most villainous or toady-ish) rallying around to save the day. So the most important question is: just how goofy do things get? And the answer is … pretty dang goofy. For a generally tame PG movie, there were several moments that had me delighting in their brazenness. A choice example happens when a veterinarian played by Kenan Thompson tries to gently inform us that Clifford’s temperature is supposed to be taken in the normal animal-temperature-taking location (“rhymes with nuthole”). And Clifford himself is as expressive as any real dog, so that plays well whenever there needs to be a definitive reaction shot.
So now the final question: do I want a big red dog of my own? My current living situation isn’t exactly the most dog-friendly, but let’s suppose I have a theoretically more welcoming setup. So with that in mind, I’d have to say: while a mutt like Clifford is great in a pinch whenever you need to run across a bridge, this movie isn’t shy about reminding us of the anatomical and practical matters that need can’t be avoided. Believing in magic can only take us so far, but we can always lighten the mood by saying silly things along the way.
Clifford the Big Red Dog is Recommended If You Like: Goofy uncles, Kid-friendly scatological humor, Standard kids movie tropes
Grade: 3 out of 5 Whimpers
Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 11/5/21
November 5, 2021
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television Aimee Mann, Animaniacs, Big Mouth, Diana Ross, Dickinson, Eternals, Joe Pera Talks with You, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Queens of the Summer Hotel, Thank You, The Beta Test, The Future Leave a comment
(CREDIT: Apple TV+)
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–The Beta Test (Theaters)
–Eternals (Theaters)
TV
–Animaniacs Season 2 (November 5 on Hulu)
–Big Mouth Season 5 (November 5 on Netflix) – Looks like November is Animat-vember.
–Dickinson Season 3 Premiere (November 5 on Apple TV+) – Final Season Alert!
–Joe Pera Talks With You Season 3 Premiere (November 7 on Adult Swim)
Music
-Aimee Mann, Queens of the Summer Hotel
-Diana Ross, Thank You
-Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, The Future
‘The Beta Test’ Earns an Alpha Grade
November 3, 2021
Cinema, Movie Reviews Jacqueline Doke, Jessie Barr, Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, The Beta Test, Virginia Newcomb, Wilky Lau 1 Comment
The Beta Test (CREDIT: IFC Films)
Starring: Jim Cummings, Virginia Newcomb, PJ McCabe, Jessie Barr, Jacqueline Doke, Wilky Lau
Director: Jim Cummings
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Rating: Unrated (But It Would be R for Spiraling Profanity and Blindfolded Sex)
Release Date: November 5, 2021 (Theaters)
When I sat down to watch The Beta Test, I initially thought that I had walked into the wrong room. What the heck was this Swedish domestic drama doing on the screen? Wasn’t I supposed to be watching an American satire about Hollywood wheeling-and-dealing? But then, sure enough, the words “The Beta Test” showed up on screen and the opening credits started unspooling in the English language. But then I had another worry, as this whole affair quickly began to feel a little too inside baseball.
Jim Cummings stars (and also co-wrote and co-directed alongside co-star PJ McCabe) as high-strung Hollywood agent Jordan, who’s dealing with a looming wedding right when a mysterious purple envelope pops into his mailbox inviting him to an anonymous sexual adventure. Could something so squarely set within the showbiz industry play anywhere outside Southern California? I’m here to say that it can, as long as you’re in the mood for a darkly comedic horror tale about data collection and personal facades slipping away.
Now is the time when I pose the question: would I myself like to take The Beta Test? I’m certainly tempted by the lustiest moments, and those purple envelopes are rather alluring. But the consequences are also unavoidably clear, as each instance of the test involves infidelity that pretty much inevitably leads to a deadly lovers’ quarrel. I’m single, though, so I theoretically wouldn’t have to worry about that. But the parameters of The Beta Test are set up so that only people in relationships are targeted. So, if I were in a relationship, I would promise The Beta Test that I would be completely honest with my partner, no matter what decision I make.
There’s a strong suggestion within the movie that honesty is the best policy, as Jordan gets himself into heaps of trouble but ultimately finds his way back, or discovers a new way forward, by essentially vomiting up the contents of his soul during the climax. Couple that with some subtle hints that seem to suggest that his fiance Caroline (Virginia Newcomb of The Death of Dick Long fame) might also be somehow involved in The Beta Test, thus giving off this surreal sense that maybe everyone on screen is ensnared in one way or another.
So perhaps we’re all a part of this game anyway. This movie hinges on the seemingly limitless possibilities presented by data collection. In the social media era, so much information about ourselves is publicly available, and The Beta Test posits that with just a few clicks, a whole parade of suckers can be lured into a dangerous Eyes Wide Shut-style game. When this premise is explained within the movie, it’s certainly based on a foundation of reality, though you might confidently respond, “But at least it’s not really that bad.” The thing is, though … what if it is? What if The Beta Test really is playing out right under our noses? In the wake of watching this movie, I’m finding myself in a push-pull between “no, that’s not possible” and “actually, it might be very possible.” That’s the sort of pendulum where unforgettable movies like this one get stuck in your cerebrum for a good long while.
The Beta Test is Recommended If You Like: Deleting your Facebook account, Jokes about absurd cinematic reboots, Enigmatic flashbacks
Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Purple Envelopes
‘Spencer’ Goes in Deep and Claustrophobic on Princess Diana
November 2, 2021
Cinema, Movie Reviews Freddie Spry, Jack Farthing, Jack Nielen, Kristen Stewart, Pablo Larrain, Princess Diana, Richard Sammel, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, Spencer, Stella Gonet, Timothy Spall Leave a comment
Spencer (CREDIT: NEON)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris, Sally Hawkins, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry, Stella Gonet, Richard Sammel
Director: Pablo Larraín
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Rating: R for A Little Bit of Salty Language
Release Date: November 5, 2021 (Theaters)
If you go see the new Pablo Larraín-directed moving picture Spencer, there is one scene I can pretty much guarantee you won’t be able to forget. I’m talking about the moment when Princess Diana (as played by Kristen Stewart) announces that she is going to masturbate. Self-pleasure is not typically a topic broached in polite company, and the British royal family is perhaps the most stifling of polite company. That moment also sticks out because it’s the only time that Diana says anything like that during the whole movie, and you get the sense that it’s the first time she’s said anything like that in the past twenty years or so, or quite possibly her entire life. It’s hard to break loose when someone’s always watching.
Larraín is adept at crafting claustrophobic environments, and the one in Spencer is like an alternate reality that everyone except Diana has accepted as normal. The action takes place in the days leading up to Christmas, and let’s just say it’s not the most festive atmosphere. Timothy Spall shows up as a new employee whose job it is to “watch,” and I would venture to guess that he was transferred from the Overlook Hotel. He has a knack for always showing up during Diana’s most vulnerable moments, like when she’s binging on sweets in the kitchen in an episode of bulimia. This scene isn’t played as a moment of concern, or an offer for treatment, or much of anything really, except perhaps as a reminder to remain on schedule.
I found the toxic environment constructed in Spencer compelling, but its portrait of the woman at its center didn’t strike me as especially insightful. It didn’t necessarily have to be that way to be successful, but we do spend a lot of time with Diana, so it would be nice to get to know her (or at least the version of her that Larraín and Stewart have created) beyond the public figure. Although, perhaps that lack of clarity was by design. Maybe she was supposed to be opaque all along. If that’s the case, then mission accomplished. But as a viewing experience, it makes for a movie that’s difficult to connect to, though interesting to consider.
Spencer is Recommended If You Like: Ghosts stalking the royal abodes
Grade: 3 out of 5 Christmas Dishes
That’s Auntertainment! Episode 37: Only Murders in the Building
October 31, 2021
Podcasts, That's Auntertainment Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building, Podcasts, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, That's Auntertainment Leave a comment
CREDIT: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/Screenshot
Jeff and Aunt Beth are joined by Dom and Andre (of Dom and Andre in the Morning fame) to discuss Steve, Marty, Selena, and all those murders on the podcast.
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