Billboard Hot 20 – Week of January 14, 2017

January 6, 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.

Original Version
1. Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane – “Black Beatles”
2. Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad and Boujee”
3. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – “Starboy”
4. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
5. Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
6. Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall – “Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem)”
7. Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side to Side”
8. DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber – “Let Me Love You”
9. Drake – “Fake Love”
10. D.R.A.M. ft Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
11. Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Don’t Wanna Know”
12. Machine Gun Kelly x Camila Cabello – “Bad Things”
13. twenty one pilots – “Heathens”
14. Aminé – “Caroline”
15. Alessia Cara – “Scars to Your Beautiful”
16. Jon Bellion – “All Time Low”
17. Shawn Mendes – “Mercy”
18. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey ft. Zedd – “Starving”
19. Young M.A. – “OOOUUU”
20. Niall Horan – “This Town”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Scars to Your Beautiful
2. OOOUUU
3. Black Beatles
4. Starboy
5. Side to Side
6. Broccoli
7. Closer
8. 24K Magic
9. Heathens
10. Starving
11. Bad and Boujee
12. All Time Low
13. Bad Things
14. Let Me Love You
15. Caroline
16. Fake Love
17. This Town
18. Don’t Wanna Know
19. Mercy
20. Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem)

This Is a Movie Review: Toni Erdmann

January 1, 2017

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , , , 2 Comments

toni-erdmann

The German comedy Toni Erdmann focuses on the relationship between Ines Conradi (Sandra Hüller), an ambitious, high-strung business consultant and her dad Winifried (Peter Simonischek), a music teacher who can apparently take off as much time off as he pleases. Winifried is worried that Ines has lost all the joy in her life, so he deploys his persona disguise known as “Toni Erdmann” (complete with fake teeth and Tommy Wiseau-style wig and sunglasses) to subtly invade her professional life. She is at first unsurprisingly horrified (though she does passively-aggressively play along a little bit), but eventually he wins her over and she hugs him with all her love and gratitude.

I know what you’re thinking: “Another Manic Pixie Dream Dad movie?!” Here it is important to note a crucial difference between MPDD and the OG MPD Girl: the calculus is very different when the relationship is not romantic. Winifried’s entire purpose in the film can be making Ines discover how to enjoy life because fulfilling that role is part of the parental instinct. He has known her whole life, so he should have some idea what can lift her spirits. In conclusion, Toni Erdmann is kind of like if in the future Louise from Bob’s Burgers happens to forget her sense of humor and good old dad Bob Belcher has to intervene and remind her of what makes her happy.

I give Toni Erdmann 9 Tommy Wiseau’s out of 10 Europeans.

This Is a Movie Review: Assassin’s Creed

January 1, 2017

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews , , , Leave a comment

assassins-creed-movie

In Assassin’s Creed the Movie, Marion Cotillard sends Michael Fassbender into the past by having him inhabit an ancestor of his. In premise and execution, it’s a lot like Wolverine being transported to his younger self in X-Men: Days of Future Past. So watching this movie gives me a sense of “Been there, done that” but also “This can be done well.” Also encouraging: the intricacies implied by the secret societies and the prison-like facility that is supposedly not really a prison. There are some sci-fi mystery concepts worth exploring here.

Unfortunately about halfway through, Assassin’s Creed confirms that it will not buck the trend of unimpressive video game adaptations. Plot developments, pieces of mythology, and new characters are introduced with little, if any, explanation. I suppose if you play the games you might have some semblance of understanding, but I have my doubts that such comprehension would actually improve anything.

I give Assassin’s Creed 200 “Why Are They in This’s?” out of 500 Shadowy Figures.

What Won TV? – December 25-December 31, 2016

January 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.

dez_bryant_td_pass

Sunday – Doctor Who Christmas – fluffy, but fun
Monday – Lions-Giants, including the first TD pass of Dez Bryant’s career!
Tuesday – Jeopardy!
Wednesday – Jeopardy!
Thursday – Jeopardy!
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – College Football Playoff, I guess

2016: A Year at the Movies

January 1, 2017

jmunney A Year at the Movies, Cinema , Leave a comment

jeffrey_malone_with_umbrella_in_front_of_star_trek_beyond_poster

(Included with the list of titles are grades, dates, showtimes, theatre locations, and folks I saw the movies with.)

Keepin’ it 100: I saw more movies in the theaters in 2016 than I did in any other calendar year.

1. The Good Dinosaur – B- (1/6, 12:45 PM, Regal United Artists Oxford Valley, Langhorne, PA; Walter Wojcik)
2. The Forest – C+ (1/7, 7:15 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – A- (1/9, 3:20 PM, Oxford Valley; Pat Dansbury)
4. Concussion – B- (1/14, 6:35 PM, Oxford Valley; Mary Claire Dansbury)
5. Daddy’s Home – C (1/18, 9:30 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
6. Room – B+ (1/25, 6:40 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
7. Joy – B (1/27, 3:20 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
8. The Boy – B- (1/31, 9:10 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
9. The Revenant – B (2/2, 2:30 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
10. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – B- (2/4, 7:50 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
11. Hail, Caesar! – B+ (2/4, 9:50 PM, Oxford Valley; myself)
12. 45 Years – B- (2/8, 3:30 PM, AMC Empire, New York, NY; myself)
13. Carol – B+ (2/11, 1:25 PM, Angelika Film Center, New York, NY; myself)
14. The Witch – A (3/3, 8:00 PM, Regal Union Square, New York, NY; myself)
15. Zoolander 2 – C+ (3/3, 9:50 PM, Union Square; myself)
16. Knight of Cups – B- (3/10, 12:00 PM, Landmark Sunshine, New York, NY; Rob Malone)
17. 10 Cloverfield Lane – B+ (3/14, 8:15 PM, AMC Empire; myself)
18. Creative Control – B+ (3/17, 7:30 PM, Landmark Sunshine; myself)
19. Midnight Special – A- (3/18, 4:40 PM, Union Square; myself)
20. Deadpool – C+ (3/25, 7:50 PM, AMC Neshaminy, Bensalem, PA; Walter Wojcik)
21. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – C- (4/1, 7:45 PM, Empire; Rob Malone)
22. Hardcore Henry – B (4/8, 7:50 PM, Regal United Artists Court Street, Brooklyn, NY; myself)
23. Zootopia – A- (4/8, 9:50 PM, Court Street; myself)
24. 2016 Tribeca Film Festival: Warped Speed Sci-Fi Shorts (4/18, 8:45 PM, Regal Battery Park, New York, NY; myself)
24a. Curve – B+
24b. The Tunnel – B
24c. The Last Journey of the Enigmatic Paul WR – B-
24d. Never Happened – B+
24e. Future Boyfriend – B+
24f. Reality + – A-
25. 2016 Tribeca Film Festival: Rebirth – B+ (4/20, 8:30 PM, Battery Park; myself)
26. 2016 Tribeca Film Festival: The Hunt for the Wilderpeople – B+ (4/21, 6:45 PM, Battery Park; myself)
27. 2016 Tribeca Film Festival: Nerdland – C- (4/24, 8:30 PM, Bow Tie Cinema, New York, NY; myself)
28. The Jungle Book – B (4/28, 2:00 PM, Court Street; myself)
29. Rifftrax Live: Time Chasers (5/5, 8:00 PM, Union Square; myself)
30. Green Room – A- (5/7, 7:55 PM, Neshaminy; myself)
31. Captain America: Civil War – B+ (5/8, 9:30 AM, Oxford Valley; Bob and Sue Malone)
32. The Lobster – A- (5/16, 7:00 PM, Angelika; Rob Malone, Erin McGill, and Andrew Parrish)
33. X-Men: Apocalypse – B+ (5/28, 8:00 PM, Union Square; myself)
34. Keanu – B- (6/1, 7:50 PM, Union Square; myself)
35. The Nice Guys – B+ (6/2, 1:30 PM, Court Street; myself)
36. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – B (6/3, 9:45 PM, Neshaminy; Walter Wojcik)
37. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising – B (6/10, 7:50 PM, AMC Empire; myself)
38. The Conjuring 2 – B+ (6/10, 10:15 PM, AMC Loews 34th Street, New York, NY; myself)
39. King Jack – B+ (6/11, 9:10 PM, Cinema Village, New York, NY; myself)
40. Little Sister – B+ (6/17, 9:45 PM, BAM Rose Cinemas, Brooklyn, NY; Rob Malone and Marie Bardi)
41. Finding Dory – B (6/18, 9:00 PM, Neshaminy; Walter Wojcik)
42. Now You See Me 2 – C (6/23, 7:35 PM, Regal E-Walk, New York, NY; myself)
43. The Shallows – B+ (6/23, 9:45 PM, E-Walk; myself)
44. Swiss Army Man – B (6/24, 8:20 PM, Union Square; myself)
45. Wiener-Dog – B (6/25, 8:30 PM, Angelika; myself)
46. Me Before You – B- (6/29, 9:20 PM, Union Square; myself)
47. The Neon Demon – A- (7/1, 7:30 PM, Angelika; myself)
48. The Purge: Election Year – B- (7/2, 10:15 PM, Neshaminy; Walter Wojcik)
49. The BFG – B- (7/8, 8:20 PM, E-Walk; myself)
50. Rifftrax Live: MST3K Reunion (7/12, 7:30 PM, Union Square; myself)
51. Ghostbusters (2016) – B- (7/15, 8:00 PM, The Pavilion Theater, Brooklyn, NY; Evan Cardona and Maya Bee-Fairy)
52. Captain Fantastic – B+ (7/16, 8:30 PM, Landmark Sunshine; myself)
53. Lights Out – A- (7/22, 7:20 PM, Court Street; myself)
54. Star Trek Beyond – B in RPX (7/23, 9:00 PM, E-Walk; myself; also 7/30, 3:20 PM, Oxford Valley; Bob Malone, Rob Malone, and Erin McGill)
55. Nerve – B+ (8/4, 7:35 PM, Union Square; myself)
56. Florence Foster Jenkins – B (8/13, 6:40 PM, Oxford Valley; Pat Dansbury)
57. Café Society – B- (8/14, 4:15 PM, Princeton Garden Theater, Princeton, NJ; Kaity Malone)
58. Rifftrax Live: Mothra (8/18, 8:00 PM, Neshaminy; myself)
59. Don’t Breathe – B+ (8/25, 7:40 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
60. Indignation – B (8/31, 5:25 PM, Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, New York, NY; Kaity Malone)
61. Sausage Party – B- (9/2, 7:50 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
62. Suicide Squad – C- (9/2, 10:00 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
63. Don’t Think Twice – B+ (9/7, 7:10 PM, BAM Rose Cinemas; myself)
64. Morgan – C+ (9/12, 6:50 PM, AMC Empire; myself)
65. Blair Witch – B- (9/15, 7:30 PM, Union Square; myself)
66. Sully – B (9/18, 1:30 PM, AMC Empire; Kaity Malone)
67. Kubo and the Two Strings – B- (9/29, 6:50 PM, Union Square; myself)
68. The Magnificent Seven (2016) – B (9/30, 7:30 PM, Union Square; Rob Malone, Erin McGill, and Gabby Nadig)
69. Masterminds – B- (10/1, 7:40 PM, Court Street; myself)
70. Shin Godzilla – B- (10/5, 8:00 PM, AMC Empire; myself)
71. The Girl on the Train – B (10/7, 4:50 PM, Union Square; Kaity Malone)
72. Ouija: Origin of Evil – B+ (10/21, 7:40 PM, Court Street; myself)
73. Keeping Up with the Joneses – C+ (10/21, 9:45 PM, Court Street; myself)
74. Doctor Strange – B+ (10/26, 11:00 AM, AMC Empire; myself)
75. Always Shine – B (10/26, 6:00 PM, Dolby 88 Screening Room, New York, NY; myself)
76. Rifftrax Live: Carnival of Souls (10/27, 8:00 PM, Union Square; myself)
77. Loving – B+ (10/31, 10:00 AM, Magno Screening Room, New York, NY; myself)
78. The Handmaiden – B+ (11/3, 8:20 PM, Alamo Drafthouse, Brooklyn, NY; myself)
79. Paterson – B (11/7, 10:00 AM, Park Avenue Screening Room, New York, NY; myself)
80. Arrival – A- (11/7, 6:30 PM, AMC Empire; myself)
81. Rules Don’t Apply – C+ (11/10, 6:30 PM, E-Walk; Rob Malone)
82. Manchester by the Sea – B+ (11/14, 10:00 AM, Park Avenue Screening Room; myself)
83. The Edge of Seventeen – B (11/15, 10:00 AM, Magno Screening Room; myself)
84. 20th Century Women – B- (11/16, 12:00 PM, Dolby 88 Screening Room; myself)
85. Allied – B (11/17, 6:30 PM, AMC Loews 34th Street; Rob Malone)
86. Hidden Figures – B (11/21, 6:30 PM, E-Walk; Kaity Malone)
87. Jackie – A- (12/1, 6:00 PM, Fox Screening Room, New York, NY; myself)
88. Elle – B+ (12/2, 7:15 PM, Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn; myself)
89. Nocturnal Animals – A- (12/3, 8:05 PM, Angelika; Kaity Malone)
99. Why Him? – B (12/5, 7:00 PM, E-Walk; myself)
91. La La Land – A- (12/6, 2:00 PM, Dolby 88 Screening Room; myself)
92. Hacksaw Ridge – B (12/7, 7:10 PM, AMC Loews 34th Street; myself)
93. Moonlight – B+ (12/8, 6:15 PM, Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn; myself)
94. Moana – B (12/9, 7:50 PM, E-Walk; myself)
95. A Monster Calls – B- (12/12, 3:00 PM, Park Avenue Screening Room; myself)
96. Passengers – B- (12/14, 4:00 PM, AMC Lincoln Square, New York, NY; myself)
97. Patriots Day – B+ (12/14, 7:00 PM, AMC Loews 34th Street; myself)
98. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – B- (12/16, 8:00 PM, Union Square; Rob Malone, Erin McGill, and Blake LaRue)
99. It’s a Wonderful Life (12/19, 7:00 PM, IFC Center, New York, NY; Rob Malone, Erin McGill, and Orlando Ollier)
100. Assassin’s Creed – C- (12/27, 7:20 PM, Oxford Valley; Walter Wojcik)
101. Toni Erdmann – B+ (12/30, 8:00 PM, Film Forum, New York, NY; myself)

Best Movies of 2016

December 31, 2016

jmunney Best in Film 2016, Best of 2016, Cinema , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots

This ranking was originally posted on News Cult in December 2016.

Yes, it’s another best movies of the year list, which you are reading perhaps because you know me personally. Or maybe you don’t know me in the flesh, but you follow my writing and want to keep up with my opinions regardless of how much you agree or disagree with them. Or it could be that you have stumbled upon this article by sheer happenstance. In that case, I shall do best to steer you straight.

Is this list more “right” than any other critic’s? It is certainly correct in the sense that it has come from a place of honesty. I feel enthusiastic about these films, and so I have decided to say to the world, “This is my interpretation. Perhaps you will feel the same.”

Enjoy!

10. 10 Cloverfield Lane
An anthology-style cinematic universe grows into itself in its second chapter. Mary Elizabeth Winstead finds herself in a bunker under the iron fist of John Goodman, giving the performance of his career. A drum of acid is even scarier than the monsters supposedly outside. Our pulses adapt to the rhythm of the thrills.

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Best TV Shows of 2016

December 30, 2016

jmunney Best of 2016, Best of TV 2016, Television Leave a comment

CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots

This ranking was originally posted on News Cult in December 2016.

We are at the point in history when we must accept that even those whose job it is to watch TV cannot possibly keep up with all that the medium has to offer. The same thing happened long ago with literature, and we have made our peace with it in such a way that we are still able to make year-end best-of lists of books. Thus the value in continuing to do the same for the boob tube remains.

When other lists feature shows I haven’t been watching, I do not despair over the impossibility of watching everything. Instead, I express gratitude that I will never be bored. And when I include my own obscure and underappreciated selections, I treat those decisions with the utmost responsibility.

10. Rectify (Sundance)
Perhaps the most patient series of the 21st century, Rectify came to an end in 2016. Its conclusion is satisfying, which is unsurprising because it has always been consistently satisfying. The central question of former death row inmate Daniel Holden’s innocence or guilt is basically answered, even though the matter is not directly addressed, because this series is more about examining humanity than anything so simple as “answers.”

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Billboard Hot Rock Songs – Week of January 7, 2017

December 29, 2016

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.

Original Version
1. twenty one pilots – “Heathens”
2. X Ambassadors – “Unsteady”
3. twenty one pilots – “Ride”
4. Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, & Imagine Dragons with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign ft. X Ambassadors – “Sucker for Pain”
5. Fitz and the Tantrums – “HandClap”
6. Coldplay – “Hymn for the Weekend”
7. Kaleo – “Way Down We Go”
8. The Lumineers – “Ophelia”
9. OK Go – “The One Moment”
10. Judah & the Lion – “Take It All Back”
11. Kings of Leon – “Waste a Moment”
12. Highly Suspect – “My Name is Human”
13. The 1975 – “Somebody Else”
14. Green Day – “Still Breathing”
15. The Lumineers – “Cleopatra”
16. John Mayer – “Love on the Weekend”
17. Green Day – “She’s Out of Her Mind”
18. The xx – “On Hold”
19. Zach Williams – “Chain Breaker”
20. twenty one pilots – “Cancer”
21. Five Finger Death Punch – “I Apologize”
22. The Lumineers – “Sleep on the Floor”
23. Metallica – “Atlas, Rise!”
24. Rag’n’Bone Man – “Human”
25. Empire of the Sun – “High and Low”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Human
2. My Name is Human
3. Way Down We Go
4. Unsteady
5. High and Low
6. Somebody Else
7. On Hold
8. Ride
9. The One Moment
10. Ophelia
11. Heathens
12. Atlas, Rise!
13. Waste a Moment
14. Cleopatra
15. Take It All Back
16. Cancer
17. Hymn for the Weekend
18. I Apologize
19. Still Breathing
20. HandClap
21. Sleep on the Floor
22. She’s Out of Her Mind
23. Love on the Weekend
24. Sucker for Pain
25. Chain Breaker

Billboard Hot 20 – Week of January 7, 2017

December 29, 2016

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.

Original Version
1. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – “Starboy”
2. Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane – “Black Beatles”
3. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
4. Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
5. Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall – “Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem)”
6. Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side to Side”
7. DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber – “Let Me Love You”
8. Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Don’t Wanna Know”
9. Machine Gun Kelly x Camila Cabello – “Bad Things”
10. Drake – “Fake Love”
11. Aminé – “Caroline”
12. twenty one pilots – “Heathens”
13. Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad and Boujee”
14. Alessia Cara – “Scars to Your Beautiful”
15. D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
16. Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas is You”
17. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey ft. Zedd – “Starving”
18. Zayn and Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”
19. Young M.A. – “OOOUUU”
20. Rihanna – “Love on the Brain”

Jmunney’s Revision
1. Scars to Your Beautiful
2. OOOUUU
3. Starboy
4. Black Beatles
5. Side to Side
6. Broccoli
7. Love on the Brain
8. Closer
9. 24K Magic
10. Heathens
11. Starving
12. All I Want for Christmas is You
13. Bad and Boujee
14. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)
15. Bad Things
16. Let Me Love You
17. Caroline
18. Fake Love
19. Don’t Wanna Know
20. Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem)

This Is a Movie Review: 20th Century Women

December 27, 2016

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

20th-century-women-cast

This review was originally published on News Cult in December 2016.

Starring: Annette Bening, Lucas Jade Zumann, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup

Director: Mike Mills

Running Time: 118 Minutes

Rating: R for Frankness When It Comes to Sexuality and Drug Use

Release Date: December 28, 2016 (Limited)

In this semi-autobiographical effort from writer/director Mike Mills (Beginners, Thumbsucker), Dorothea (Annette Bening) is a single mom struggling to raise her son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) by herself in 1970s Southern California. The idea that she is struggling mostly comes from her own neurotic self. But regardless of how accurate her worries are, she decides to enlist the help of some of the women in her life in the making of Jamie into a man. Her cadre includes Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a wayward boarder at Dorothea’s house, and Julie (Elle Fanning), a plainly independent teenager prone to sneaking into Jamie’s bedroom (but not doing much else once she gets there). Also on hand is the rugged and sensitive William (Billy Crudup), another boarder.

Your appreciation of 20th Century Women will likely depend on how much you can relate to this living situation, whether via experience or imagination. For me personally, I could not connect with it too deeply because I found the relationships between the main characters ever-so-slightly off-putting. They do not lack for affection, and they are thoroughly observed, but they are uncomfortable in a way that makes this film easier to merely appreciate rather than embrace.

There are a couple elements that I do want to praise without qualification. The film often evokes a dreamy, hazy quality that evokes the liberal atmosphere of the time. Splashes of vibrant color are strewn across the screen, and montages of major incidents ramp up the intensity via manipulation-of-time editing techniques. Then there is the dinner scene, in which everyone in attendance suddenly finds themselves tasked with teaching Jamie the proper way to sexually please a woman. Crudup delivers a soon-to-be-classic line of sage wisdom on that topic (don’t watch the trailer if you don’t want to be spoiled), and those who see 20th Century Women will never be the same again.

20th Century Women is Recommended If You Like: Beginners, The Kids Are All Right

Grade: 3 out of 5 Billowy Shirts

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