This Is a Movie Review: Beast

May 10, 2018

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

CREDIT: Roadside Attractions

I give Beast 3.5 out of 5 Glass Shards: https://uinterview.com/reviews/movies/beast-movie-review-british-thriller-reveals-that-the-animal-lies-within-us-all/

Billboard Hot Rock Songs – Week of May 12, 2018

May 9, 2018

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 of the top 25, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
2. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
3. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
4. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
5. Foster the People – “Sit Next to Me”
6. Bad Wolves – “Zombie”
7. Alice Merton – “No Roots”
8. Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
9. lovelytheband – “Broken”
10. Godsmack – “Bulletproof”
11. Five Finger Death Punch – “Gone Away”
12. Portugal. The Man – “Live in the Moment”
13. Vance Joy – “Saturday Sun”
14. Muse – “Thought Contagion”
15. Two Feet – “I Feel Like I’m Drowning”
16. Shinedown – “Devil”
17. Sir Sly – “&Run”
18. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “You Worry Me”
19. 30 Seconds to Mars – “Dangerous Night”
20. AWOLNATION – “Handyman”
21. Three Days Grace – “The Mountain”
22. Godsmack – “When Legends Rise”
23. Five Finger Death Punch – “Sham Pain”
24. James Bay – “Us”
25. SYML – “Where’s My Love”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. No Roots
2. Feel It Still
3. You Worry Me
4. I Feel Like I’m Drowning
5. Live in the Moment
6. &Run
7. Where’s My Love
8. Thought Contagion
9. Handyman

Billboard Hot 20 – Week of May 12, 2018

May 9, 2018

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. Drake – “Nice for What”
2. Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Psycho”
3. Drake – “God’s Plan”
4. Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
5. Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey – “The Middle”
6. Camila Cabello – “Never Be the Same”
7. Post Malone – “Better Now”
8. Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar”
9. BlocBoy JB ft. Drake – “Look Alive”
10. Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
11. Post Malone – “Paranoid”
12. Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
13. Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown – “Freaky Friday”
14. Post Malone – “Rich & Sad”
15. Post Malone ft. Swae Lee – “Spoil My Night”
16. Post Malone ft. Nicki Minaj – “Ball for Me”
17. Nicki Minaj – “Stay”
18. Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It”
19. Bazzi – “Mine”
20. Post Malone ft. G-Eazy and YG – “Same Bitches”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. No Tears Left to Cry
2. Never Be the Same

SNL Review May 5, 2018: Donald Glover/Childish Gambino

May 6, 2018

jmunney Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television , , , , , , 2 Comments

CREDIT: Will Heath/NBC

My letter grades for each sketch and segment is below. My in-depth review is on NewsCult: http://newscult.com/snl-love-itkeep-itleave-donald-gloverchildish-gambino/

Michael Cohen Wiretap – B

Donald Glover’s Monologue – B

Jurassic Park Courtroom – A-

Friendos – B+

Raz P. Berry – “The Night I Watched You” – A-

A Kanye Place – B

Dirty Talk – B+

Childish Gambino performs “Saturday” – A-

Weekend Update
The Jokes – B+
Pete Davidson – B+
Leslie Jones – B-

Galactic Summit for All Black Humans – B

Barbie Instagram (BEST OF THE NIGHT) – A

Childish Gambino performs “This Is America” – B+

Prison Customer Service – B

This Is a Movie Review: Overboard (2018)

May 4, 2018

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CREDIT: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/Pantelion Films

I give Overboard (2018) 3 out of 5 Baggy Seahawks Jerseys: http://uinterview.com/reviews/movies/overboard-movie-review-anna-faris-and-eugenio-derbez-are-a-sweet-enough-duo-to-overcome-this-remakes-fundamental-flaws/

This Is a Movie Review: Does Motherhood Gradually Get Better for Everyone? I Don’t Know, But Let’s Watch ‘Tully’ in the Meantime

May 2, 2018

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CREDIT: Focus Features

This review was originally posted on News Cult in May 2018.

Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston, Mark Duplass

Director: Jason Reitman

Running Time: 96 Minutes

Rating: R for PG-13-level Profanity, a Wish-Fulfilling Sex Scene, and Some Nudity (Mostly Breastfeeding-Related)

Release Date: May 4, 2018

“How could anyone possibly want to be a mother?” I find myself thinking multiple times while watching Tully. Sure, kids can be bundle of joys for folks who are parentally inclined, but the purgatory of pregnancy and postpartum malaise that Charlize Theron steeps herself in conveys unequivocally the crushing sacrifices required to assemble a happy family. Now, not every mother or mother-to-be is as susceptible to depression as Theron’s Marlo is, but creating another life inside your body pretty much guarantees a transformation of your sense of personhood. So what a blessing it would be to have someone devoted to helping with that transition, and I think we can all agree that a smiling, eager Mackenzie Davis on our doorstep fits the requirements perfectly.

Davis’ titular nanny, hired to take care of Marlo’s new baby overnight so that Mom can get some much-needed sleep, shares a lot of DNA with Manic Pixie Dream Girls, that oft-bemoaned breed of rom-com stock character designed for the express purpose of making the lead character discover the joy of loving life. But the Manic Pixie Night Nanny, or at least this particular one, avoids being similarly frustrating, because taking care of all of Marlo’s needs is kind of in her job description. She comes across as a real, layered person because some people really are that expertly enthusiastic about childcare, and she is granted a life and concerns of her own outside her employment. But as Tully proves to be the most perfect nanny ever and starts to become a friend and confidante, the questions arise: just how is it possible that she is this perfect? How long can, and should, this arrangement last?

In her third collaboration with director Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody takes plenty of piercing (but loving?) digs at the sort of suburban bougie lifestyle that accompanies the concept of a night nanny. According to Marlo’s brother Craig (Mark Duplass, so often playing the embodiment of bougie entitlement), this may be the sort of indulgence only rich assholes get to have, but at least these particular rich assholes are of the unwittingly hilarious kind. The New York crowd at my screening cracked up heartily at a dog named “Prosecco” and the reveal that an elementary school kid’s talent show talent is “Pilates.” (Distressingly, though, I was the only one laughing at a sneaky reference to a certain ’90s cartoon.)

I feel that I must now get into a spoiler alert, which I want to be careful about, because the fact that there is a spoiler alert is already a bit of a spoiler, as this is not the type of movie you would expect to have secrets that need protecting. But because of the nature of what is spoilable, it feels irresponsible not to mention that it could be traumatic to mothers who have experienced pregnancy-related mental health issues. Tully ultimately reveals itself to be a different movie than it initially appears to be – not worse, but a lot heavier. It is something I cannot get out of my head, and I think that is a good thing, as it offers an approach to certain facts of life that is well worth digesting.

Tully is Recommended If You Like: Bougie Suburban Satire (like that of Beatriz at Dinner), Young Adult, The Babadook

Grade: 4 out of 5 Milk Spills

Billboard Hot Rock Songs – Week of May 5, 2018

May 2, 2018

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 of the top 25, now I just rank the cream of the crop.

Original Version
1. Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
2. Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
3. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
4. Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still”
5. Bad Wolves – “Zombie”
6. Foster the People – “Sit Next to Me”
7. Alice Merton – “No Roots”
8. Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
9. lovelytheband – “Broken”
10. Five Finger Death Punch – “Gone Away”
11. Portugal. The Man – “Live in the Moment”
12. Godsmack – “Bulletproof”
13. Vance Joy – “Saturday Sun”
14. Muse – “Thought Contagion”
15. Two Feet – “I Feel Like I’m Drowning”
16. Shinedown – “Devil”
17. Coldplay – “A Sky Full of Stars”
18. 30 Seconds to Mars – “Dangerous Night”
19. Sir Sly – “&Run”
20. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “You Worry Me”
21. Three Days Grace – “The Mountain”
22. AWOLNATION – “Handyman”
23. Breaking Benjamin – “Red Cold River”
24. The Score – “Unstoppable”
25. Florence + the Machine – “Sky Full of Song”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. No Roots
2. Feel It Still
3. You Worry Me
4. I Feel Like I’m Drowning
5. Live in the Moment
6. Sky Full of Song
7. &Run
8. Thought Contagion
9. Handyman

Billboard Hot 20 – Week of May 5, 2018

May 2, 2018

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. Drake – “Nice for What”
2. Drake – “God’s Plan”
3. Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
4. Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
5. Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Psycho”
6. J. Cole – “ATM”
7. Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey – “The Middle”
8. J. Cole – “Kevin’s Heart”
9. BlocBoy JB ft. Drake – “Look Alive”
10. J. Cole – “KOD”
11. Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
12. Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown – “Freaky Friday”
13. Camila Cabello – “Never Be the Same”
14. J. Cole – “Photograph”
15. J. Cole – “Motiv8”
16. Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin – “I Like It”
17. Bazzi – “Mine”
18. Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It”
19. The Weeknd – “Call Out My Name”
20. J. Cole – “1985 (Intro to the Fall Off)”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. No Tears Left to Cry
2. Never Be the Same
3. Call Out My Name

This Is a Movie Review: ‘RBG’ Presents Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Story as a History of American Justice

May 1, 2018

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CREDIT: Magnolia Pictures

This review was originally published on News Cult in May 2018.

Starring: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Nina Totenberg, Clara Spera

Directors: Betsy West and Julie Cohen

Running Time: 97 Minutes

Rating: PG for Eyeroll-Style Rebukes to Years of Discrimination

Release Date: May 4, 2018 (Limited)

RBG is not so much about lionizing Ruth Bader Ginsburg as much as it is about capturing the moment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is compelling in that regard because the fact that a woman achieves her greatest fame in her eighties, for whatever reason, is notable in and of itself. Ginsburg’s singularity is understandable insofar as becoming a justice on the United States Supreme Court is typically the culmination of a decades-long career, but her uniqueness is nonetheless still remarkable. Directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen make the case that this moment is richly deserved, as Ginsburg has played critical roles in key moments in American legislative history. This is a documentary that makes the case for someone who has so assiduously made many cases for others.

As a progressive-minded individual, and a fan of Ginsburg’s already, I am pre-disposed to enjoy a doc that takes an admiring approach towards her. But as a critic, I am always inclined to wonder if I have fallen prey to a bit of hagiography. I imagine this film would not have gotten made if not for the existence of the “Notorious R.B.G.” tumblr, but this is not the “RBG memes” movie. It puts in the work to justify why this story is worth being told. In clear, efficient terms, it presents how Ginsburg was integral in multiple landmark decisions involving gender equity, as she rectified institutional discrimination that had been hurting both men and women. And as much as RBG reveals how Ginsburg deserves gratitude from certain constituencies, it does not turn a blind eye to her more questionable moments, as it examines the appropriateness, or lack thereof, of her critical comments about Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign.

Overall, RBG demonstrates admirable commitment to the concept of cura personalis, Latin for “care for the entire person” (an idea that graduates of Jesuit institutions will intimately recognize). This is surely not the first documentary focused around the totality of an individual, but this particular doc displays care for the entire person more than most, whether or not its makers are familiar with any particular term. It is hardly groundbreaking that a chronicle of Ginsburg’s career is accompanied with stories of her family life, or friendly interactions with her colleagues, or her reactions to Kate McKinnon’s SNL impression of her as a Def Jam-style comedian. (It is perhaps a little bit surprising, though, that we also get to see footage of her daily workout routine.) Ultimately the value of a film like this is fully in focus in the scenes with Ginsburg and her granddaughter, law student Clara Spera (who is equal parts admiring of the public figure and loving of the family member), and that value is that everyone should be treated with such thorough, compassionate care.

RBG is Recommended If You Like: Ruth Bader Ginsburg the Person, Ruth Bader Ginsburg the Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg the Meme, Kate McKinnon’s impression of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Grade: 3.75 out of 5 Dissents

This Is a Movie Review: With ‘Disobedience,’ the Rachels Weisz and McAdams Seek Love in an Orthodox Place

April 26, 2018

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CREDIT: Bleecker Street

This review was originally posted on News Cult in April 2018.

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola

Director: Sebastián Lelio

Running Time: 114 Minutes

Rating: R for Bodily Fluid Swapping

Release Date: April 27, 2018 (Limited)

It’s nice when a movie like Disobedience, which looks like it is on a one-way track to a depressing conclusion, actually manages to have a happy ending. Now, “happy ending” might be a bit of a stretch, as it does not wrap up with the most joyous of notes, but the main characters do have decent prospects for the future, thus managing a note of hope I was nowhere near expecting.

Ronit Krushka (Rachel Weisz) is a photographer living in New York who returns to the insular Orthodox Jewish community in London where she grew up to attend the funeral of her rabbi father, a pillar of the community. While there, sparks re-emerge between her and Esti Kuperman (Rachel McAdams), a childhood friend and clearly much more. Disobedience then is a close relative to Brokeback Mountain, as it is a gay love story negotiated within an oppressively culturally conservative community, but whereas Brokeback’s arc is tragic, Disobedience manages to be about resolution and compromise.

While the Orthodox Judaism of this film is hardly open-minded to the prospect of a lesbian couple, there are other traditional ideas that manage to be more insidiously oppressive. It feels like a bigger scandal that a woman would choose to be childless or abandon her home than for her to fall in love with another woman. Thus, Ronit bears the brunt of the ostracization, whereas Esti, who has married a man and made a steady living as a schoolteacher, maintains cordiality and respect despite her orientation being something close to an open secret. Esti’s husband Dovid (Alessandro Nivola) knows the truth about her, and he embodies the idea implied by the community that if you are a woman and you have an affair with another woman, it will be more or less ignored so long as you get married and have sex once a week and at least try to have a baby. Disobedience is smart about recognizing that while romance and its attendant passions are important, there are other fundamentals to life that are worth focusing on.

This is a drab film, with characters endlessly dressed in black or other dark tones. Surely that is partly to due with mourning the loss of a loved one, but you get the sense that this is how this community always dresses. Perhaps they are taking a cue from the perpetually rainy weather of their hometown. Even the brunette Esti wears a wig of a darker shade. While these outfits strike me as painfully passionless, much of the community wear them well. Esti can make them work to a certain extent, while Ronit is clearly uncomfortable throughout. This is a story about whether the two of them can meet in the middle, and being surprisingly okay with it when they cannot quite get there.

Disobedience is Recommended If You Like: Brokeback Mountain, Doomed (But Not That Doomed) Romances, Portrayals of Orthodox Life

Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Orthodoxies

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