Starring: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Renartz, Samuel Theis, Jehnny Beth
Director: Justine Triet
Running Time: 152 Minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: October 13, 2023 (Theaters)
It’s a Wonderful Knife
Starring: Jane Widdop, Joel McHale, Justin Long, Jess McLeod, Aiden Howard, Hana Huggins, Katharine Isabelle, Cassandra Naud, Erin Boyes, William B. Davis, Sean Depner, Zenia Marshall
I’m feeling a little chalamet today. That’s probably because I just watched the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Timothée Chalamet. Am I also feeling like a genius, seeing as boygenius was the musical guest? Baby, I feel like a genius every day!
For the last episode, I reviewed each episode by asking a question, and it worked out so well that I decided to do it again!
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Dream Scenario (Theaters)
–It’s a Wonderful Knife (Theaters)
–The Marvels (Theaters)
TV
–The Curse Series Premiere (November 12 on Showtimes, Premieres Early November on Paramount+ with Showtime)
–Whose Line is it Anyway? Season Premiere (November 14 on The CW) – Although according to Wikipedia, this is actually a continuation of the season that began in the spring.
–Ghosts UK American Premiere (November 16 on CBS) – The inspiration for the American version, now on the same channel.
Music
-Cat Power, Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert
-Cold War Kids, Cold War Kids
-PinkPantheress, Heaven Knows
-Chris Stapleton, Higher
Free your Lance, and the rest will follow! (CREDIT: Relativity Media/Screenshot)
Starring: John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas, Christian Slater, Molly McCann
Director: Pierre Morel
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: October 27, 2023 (Theaters)
As I write this review, Freelance is currently luxuriating with a 0% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes. So I went into this frivolous little action comedy with that benchmark (or lack thereof) in mind. And now that I’ve emerged, my ultimate verdict is: it’s not that historically bad. Rather, it’s just a mere trifle. And since I’m in a speculative mood, it probably wouldn’t have remained at zero if more than 25 critics had bothered to review it.
Anyway, the main reason I went to see it was of course because Alison Brie is second-billed. She plays a journalist angling for a Pulitzer who’s recently been brought low by scandal. There are a few scenes of her having to get by on some random celebrity schmoozefest, and I kinda think there should have been more of that. Alison’s really good at elevating characters in low-culture situations who shouldn’t be underestimated, after all.
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Priscilla (Opened in Limited Theaters October 27, Expands Wide November 3)
–What Happens Later (Theaters) – Ryan and Duchovny.
TV
-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (November 3 on Disney+)
–Colin From Accounts American Premiere (November 9 on Paramount+) – I enjoy Harriet Dyer.
Music
-Semisonic, Little Bit of Sun
-The Struts, Pretty Vicious
Sports
-New York City Marathon (November 5 on ESPN2 and ABC7 Locally)
They keep making new movies, and some of them are even worth watching. Here’s what’s at the top of the slate for November 2023:
Dream Scenario: Nicolas Cage plays a guy who keeps inexplicably appearing in other people’s dreams. And yes, there is Freddy Krueger-based imagery in the trailer.
The Dream Scenario is that it will arrive in theaters on November 10.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, Tilda Swinton
Director: David Fincher
Running Time: 118 Minutes
Rating: R
Release Date: October 27, 2023 (Theaters)/November 10, 2023 (Netflix)
Sometimes an earworm gets stuck in my head for eternity, and a certain word will henceforth always trigger it without fail. So whenever I hear about a professional life-taker, I can’t help but be transported back to a high school dance routine that included a section set to the Ying Yang Twins’ “Shake,” specifically, its repeated lyric of “This one’s a killa.”
This is all just a windup to asking: could David Fincer directing Michael Fassbender in The Killer live up to my persistent memories of the Ying Yang Twins? Only about 18 years or so will tell for sure, but in the meantime it didn’t quite hit me square in the chest. It moved along nicely enough and got to where it needed to go, but I didn’t really feel like I was getting unforgettably poked memorably until Tilda showed up.
You’re not gonna believe this (unless you already know): Nate Bargatze hosted SNL. (He was surprised as we were.) He’s a stand-up comedian whose name I recognize, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in anything before this. I kind of remember him releasing a well-liked Netflix special a few years ago.
On the other end of the familiarity spectrum, the musical guest was one of the most frequent ever, with Foo Fighters making their ninth appearance (and their first since Taylor Hawkins’ passing, RIP).
Since I’m in an inquisitive mood, I’ve decided to review each of this episode’s sketches with a question.
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Five Nights at Freddy’s (Theaters and Peacock)
–Freelance (Theaters) – Alison Brie Alert!
–The Holdovers (Theaters)
–The Killer (Limited Theaters, Netflix on November 10) – Da Finchman!
TV
–South Park: Joining the Panderverse (October 27 on Paramount+)
Music
-Black Pumas, Chronicles of a Diamond
-DJ Shadow, Action Adventure
-Duran Duran, Danse Macabre
-The Gaslight Anthem, History Books
-The Kills, God Games
-King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, The Silver Cord
-Shabazz Palaces, Robed in Rareness
Sports
-World Series (Begins October 27 on FOX) – D-Bags vs. The Rangos
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