Aunt Beth recommends a progressive rock album from 1982. Therefore we shall call it The Alan Parsons Project.
That’s Auntertaiment Mini-Episode: Aunt Beth Tells Jeff to Listen to ‘Eye in the Sky’
December 3, 2023
Podcasts, That's Auntertainment Eye in the Sky, Podcasts, That's Auntertainment, The Alan Parsons Project Leave a comment
Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 12/1/23
December 1, 2023
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television Doctor Who, Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder, Eileen, Godzilla Minus One, i/o, Peter Gabriel, RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ, Silent Night, The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd Leave a comment
(CREDIT: HISTORY/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
–Eileen (Theaters)
–Godzilla Minus One (Theaters)
–RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ (Theaters)
–Silent Night (Theaters)
TV
–The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd Series Premiere (December 1 on History) – Dan Aykroyd likes weird stuff.
–Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder (December 2 on Disney+) – Another 60th anniversary special.
Music
-Peter Gabriel, i/o
jmunney’s Top Cinematic Choices for December 2023
December 1, 2023
Cinema, Monthly Top Cinematic Choices American Fiction, Anyone But You, Movie preview, Poor Things Leave a comment
Baa! Baa! (CREDIT: Searchlight Pictures/Screenshot)
They keep making new movies, and some of them are even worth watching. Here’s what’s at the top of the slate for December 2023:
American Fiction: Jeffrey Wright plays a novelist who’s really, really frustrated by racial stereotypes. So he attempts to totally lampoon them, and the results may not be exactly what he was expecting. This looks ferocious.
We’ll be able to check out some American Fiction in select American theaters on December 15 before it expands in the coming weeks.
‘Eileen’ Contains Multitudes
November 30, 2023
Cinema, Movie Reviews Anne Hathaway, Eileen, Marin Ireland, Owen Teague, Shea Wigham, Thomasin McKenzie, William Oldroyd 1 Comment
Come on, Eileen! (CREDIT: NEON)
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Wigham, Marin Ireland, Owen Teague
Director: William Oldroyd
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Rating: R for Masshole Behavior and a Sudden Violent Turn
Release Date: December 1, 2023 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: Eileen Dunlop (Thomasin McKenzie) has a real going-nowhere job as a secretary at a juvenile prison in 1960s coastal Massachusetts. She lives with her alcoholic widowed father, Jim (Shea Wigham), who mostly berates her for not measuring up to her married sister. But her world is suddenly opened up by an exponential order of magnitude when she befriends the prison’s new resident psychologist, Rebecca (Anne Hathaway). There’s an undeniable frisson of romance as well, but Eileen is so enthralled by Rebecca mainly because she’s never encountered anyone so cosmopolitan. Their connection is deep and genuine, but a much darker story is lurking in plain sight
What Made an Impression?: Breaking Free: In the likes of Leave No Trace, Jojo Rabbit, Last Night in Soho, and well, pretty much everything she’s had a starring role in, Thomasin McKenzie has specialized in playing the most delicate of delicate creatures. And Eileen sure looks like she’s just the latest scarred entrant in this distinguished lineup. But she quickly demonstrates that she’s much more complicated than a standard-issue shrinking violet. Her self-assuredness was actually there all along, or at least it was present by the time that we meet her. She just needed the right spark to be set off.
Sapphic Thrills: What a joy it is to luxuriate in endlessly seductive dialogue! While it’s abundantly clear in their conversations just how smitten Eileen is with Rebecca, there’s also a hint that she’s somewhere in the middle of the Kinsey scale, as we also see her fantasizing about a male co-worker. So her romantic struggles thus far haven’t been for lack of bodies, but for want of wit and philosophy. Rebecca is just the right amount of individualistic and unapologetic to activate the same in Eileen. And the dialogue as a whole is just wonderfully ferocious throughout, coming courtesy of co-writers Luke Goebel and Ottessa Moshfegh (the latter of whom is adapting her own novel).
Here Comes the Twist: On Christmas Eve, Rebecca unexpectedly invites Eileen over for the evening. And she eagerly accepts. After all, her next best option is looking over her dad while his liver wastes away. At this point in the story, I was all ready for the two ladies to just toast to the baby Jesus as the credits roll, or maybe, if they’re feeling dangerous, to drive away together to somewhere that their love will be accepted. But then something much more unpredictable happens. I won’t say anything anymore, and honestly I’m worried I may have already said too much. But this was the moment for me that Eileen went from perfectly satisfying to astoundingly unforgettable. It might have been nice if the running time were 10 or 20 minutes longer to let this swerve breathe a little bit. Still, it’s a bracing and breathtaking conclusion to an unexpected thrill ride.
Eileen is Recommended If You Like: Carol, Lady MacBeth, Gone Girl
Grade: 4 out of 5 Martinis
It’s a ‘Silent Night’ for All the Worst Reasons in John Woo’s Christmas-Set Tale of Vengeance
November 29, 2023
Cinema, Movie Reviews Catalina Sandina Moreno, Harold Torres, Joel Kinnaman, John Woo, Scott Mescudi, Silent Night 1 Comment
Joel Kinnaman and Catalina Sandino Moreno having a Silent Night (CREDIT: Lionsgate)
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Catalina Sandina Moreno, Harold Torres
Director: John Woo
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Rating: R for Bloody Violence, Mostly Due to Gunfire
Release Date: December 1, 2023 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: Brian Godluck (Joel Kinnaman) has just survived the most terrible tragedy during the holiday season. His young son has been killed by a stray bullet in a gang-related shootout. Fueled by adrenaline in the heat of a moment, he chases after the men who are responsible, a decision that ends with him being shot in the neck. He manages to make it out alive, but in the process he loses the ability to speak. After recovering, vengeance takes over his life, and he circles Christmas Eve on his calendar as the day for payback. And because the movie he’s in is called Silent Night, there’s hardly any audible dialogue throughout.
What Made an Impression?: Poetic Vengeance: It’s quite the challenge for an actor to realize a full characterization without being heard. Scott Cudi (aka the rapper Kid Cudi), for example, can only do so much as the lead detective, although to be fair, he doesn’t have that many scenes, and he’s mostly filling a utilitarian purpose. Kinnaman at least has plenty to do as the main character, with anguish written all over his face even at his most determined. But perhaps the most profound performance is delivered by Catalina Sandina Moreno as Brian’s wife Saya. With her deep eyes and full cheeks, she’s always had a visage that you can get lost in, and director John Woo knows exactly how to frame her. In many ways, Saya is the stereotypical action movie spouse who gets dropped by the wayside before the flashy set pieces arrive. But her eventual absence hits more profoundly than most, as Brian sinks further and further into the underworld.
Unrelenting … and Cathartic?: There are plenty of Christmas-set movies that aren’t exactly holly-jolly, so Silent Night isn’t exactly sacrilegious. But it is among the bleakest ever in this particular subgenre. When all is said and done and Brian has fed his desperation as much as he possibly can, I couldn’t help but feel devastated, even knowing that this is just a movie. But in a way, Silent Night also works as a what-not-to-do guide if the Worst Possible Thing happens to you as a parent, much the same way that the true crime genre is so popular in part because it can help warn us how to be less vulnerable in the face of life-threatening danger. Additionally, I can’t help but be impressed by Woo’s commitment to the gimmick, and breathe a sigh of relief when the tension of the whole mission finally concludes.
Silent Night is Recommended If You Like: Bracing yourself for the absolute worst tragedy
Grade: 3 out of 5 Christmas Sweaters
Am I Thankful for ‘Priscilla,’ ‘May December,’ and ‘The Marvels’?
November 25, 2023
Cinema, Movie Reviews Ari Cohen, Brie Larson, Cailee Spaeny, Charles Melton, Dagmara Domińczyk, Dan Beirne, Gary Lewis, Iman Vellani, Jacob Elordi, Julianne Moore, Lynne Griffin, Marvel Cinematic Universe, May December, MCU, Mohan Kapur, Natalie Portman, Nia DaCosta, Park Seo-joon, Priscilla, Saagar Shaikh, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Coppola, Teyonah Parris, The Marvels, Todd Haynes, Zawe Ashton, Zenobia Shroff 1 Comment
Priscilla being all Priscilla-like (CREDIT: Philippe Le Sourd/A24)
Priscilla
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen, Dagmara Domińczyk, Lynne Griffin, Dan Beirne
Director: Sofia Coppola
Running Time: 113 Minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: October 27, 2023 (Theaters)
May December
Starring: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Director: Todd Haynes
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: November 17, 2023 (Theaters)/December 1, 2023 (Netflix)
The Marvels
Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh
Director: Nia DaCosta
Running Time: 105 Minutes
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Theaters)
Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 11/24/23
November 24, 2023
Cinema, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television BLOCKBUSTA, Busta Rhymes, Doctor Who, Doctor Who: The Star Beast, Maestro, Napoleon, Wish Leave a comment
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Maestro (November 22 in Theaters, December 20 on Netflix)
–Napoleon (Theaters)
–Wish (Theaters)
TV
–Doctor Who: The Star Beast (November 25 on Disney+) – It’s the 60th anniversary!
Music
-Busta Rhymes, BLOCKBUSTA
Napoleon’ Review: Raucous Romance, Straightforward Warfare
November 20, 2023
Cinema, Movie Reviews Anna Mawn, Édouard Philipponnat, Ben Miles, Catherine Walker, Davide Tucci, Gavin Spokes, Ian McNeice, Joaquin Phoenix, John Hollingworth, Ludivine Sagnier, Mark Bonnar, Matthew Needham, Napoleon, Paul Rhys, Phil Cornwell, Ridley Scott, Rupert Everett, Sam Crane, Scott Handy, Tahar Rahim, Vanessa Kirby, Youssef Kerkour 1 Comment
Napoleon just does whatever he wants, gosh! (CREDIT: Aidan Monaghan/Apple)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Matthew Needham, Youssef Kerkour, Phil Cornwell, Édouard Philipponnat, Ian McNeice, Rupert Everett, Paul Rhys, Catherine Walker, Gavin Spokes, John Hollingworth, Mark Bonnar, Anna Mawn, Davide Tucci, Sam Crane, Scott Handy
Director: Ridley Scott
Running Time: 157 Minutes
Rating: R for Horny Napoleon and Grisly Injured Horses
Release Date: November 22, 2023 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: If you paid attention at all during history class, then surely you remember Napoleon Bonaparte, the opportunistic general who rose all the way up to emperor and nearly conquered all of Europe. But ambition and ego got the better of him, as he lived out the end of his life in exile and inspired one of ABBA’s most popular songs. His story has similarly stymied filmmakers over the years, but now director Ridley Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa have finally managed to bring it to the big screen, with Joaquin Phoenix diving shamelessly into the title role. The movie mostly alternates back and forth between his military campaigns and his courtship with his first wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), and there’s certainly plenty to cover on those fronts. (Although I gotta be honest, whenever I read this movie’s title, I can’t help but reflexively hear Aaron Ruell’s immortally nasally delivery of a certain other “Napoleon.”)
What Made an Impression?: Making a Mockery Out of History: I’m no Napoleon scholar, so I can’t say with 100% certainty how accurate any of this movie is. But I can say that his interactions with Josephine sure feel accurate. Mr. Bonaparte strikes me as one of the most impetuous world leaders of the past few hundred years, and that is abundantly clear when he decides that he must find himself a wife. Their relationship is childish, raunchy, and profoundly id-driven. This is all to say: I wish that the entire movie had been a Napoleon/Josephine romantic comedy! They throw insults and food at each other, and then kiss and boink like rabbits in between all the cacophony. You gotta love it when costume dramas dress down.
A Bunch of Explosions, Too: In its efforts to be thorough, the movie also features seemingly every single one of Napoleon’s major battles. They’re all competently staged by Scott and his crew, but during those sequences, I was mostly waiting to return to the intimate humanity of it all. There’s just not much personality to all the mayhem. Although, at least at Waterloo, we get a clear sense of his enemies cattily boxing him in.
In conclusion, I don’t really have much to say about the battle scenes, as they didn’t get much of a reaction out of me. But the Josephine business is enough to make Napoleon worth recommending.
Napoleon is Recommended If You Like: Reading Wikipedia, The naughtiest bits of Amadeus
Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Coronations
Jeff’s Wacky SNL Review: Jason Momoa/Tate McRae
November 19, 2023
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television Jason Momoa, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 49, SNL, SNL Season 49, Tate McRae Leave a comment
Momoas for All! (CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot)
It’s time to review Jason Momoa’s second time hosting SNL! I know him better as “Jason Mimosa,” although I rarely imbibe that early in the morning. Tate McRae is the musical guest, and I think I’ve heard her name before, but I somehow hadn’t heard her tunes yet.
Anyway, since Thanksgiving is knocking on the door, I’m reviewing each sketch of this episode by declaring what I’m thankful for.
That’s Auntertainment! Karaoke Korner 37: Thanksgiving Edition
November 19, 2023
Podcasts, That's Auntertainment karaoke, Karaoke Korner, Podcasts, Thanksgiving, That's Auntertainment, Turkey Leave a comment
CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot
Songs to be Thankful For
Gobble Gobble.
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