‘Glass Onion’: A Friends Out Moviegoing Experience

November 26, 2022

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Will they solve it? (CREDIT: John Wilson/Netflix © 2022)

Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline

Director: Rian Johnson

Running Time: 139 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: November 23, 2022 (Theaters)/December 23, 2022 (Netflix)

I saw Glass Onion (one of those newfangled Knives Out mysteries) in a cinema with a larger-than-normal party than I usually go to the theater with. And I’m very grateful for all of that! That’s what it called for, and if I’d been watching on Netflix, I’m worried that my attention would have strayed too much during the first act. Undoubtedly, that mental wandering would have been a HUGE problem if I’d looked down while Ed Norton was dressed just like Tom Cruise in Magnolia. And that just simply would have been unacceptable.

Grade: A Satisfactory Amount of Flavor When Peeling the Layers of the Onion

Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 11/25/22

November 25, 2022

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A Willow that’s NOT whipping hair back and forth
(CREDIT: Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved)

Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.

Movies
–All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Theaters)
–Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (November 23 in Theaters, December 23 on Netflix)
–Nanny (November 23 in Theaters, December 16 on Amazon Prime)
–Strange World (Theaters) – I could’ve sworn I heard Will Forte in the trailer, but apparently not.
–White Noise (November 25 in Theaters, December 30 on Netflix) – Based on a book that is postmodern.

TV
–The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (November 25 on Disney+)
–Willow Series Premiere (November 30 on Disney+) – I remember watching the movie when I was really young.
–Gossip Girl Season 2 Premiere (December 1 on HBO Max)

That’s Auntertainment! Karaoke Korner 31

November 20, 2022

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CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots

Jeff’s cousin Megan sends him back to the 90s* in the latest Karaoke Korner! (*-Only 90s kids will understand.)

N.B.: Jeff accidentally miscounts which edition of Karaoke Korner this is during the episode.

Is What the World Needs Now ‘Triangle of Sadness’?

November 19, 2022

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“Why is your triangle so sad?” (CREDIT: NEON)

Starring: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Burić, Vicki Berlin, Jean-Christophe Folly, Woody Harrelson

Director: Ruben Östlund

Running Time: 149 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: October 28, 2022

As I ventured out to go see Triangle of Sadness, I was wishin’ and hopin’ that it would include “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” as that was my favorite part of the trailer. I absolutely love that song, whereas I’m a little more lukewarm on Ruben Östlund. I enjoyed The Square, but Force Majeure was mostly not my style.

So I’m sad to report that Triangle featured no crooning from Jackie DeShannon (or any cover version), nor was there any sufficiently joyful replacement. So I’m left to say: food poisoning is terrifying, and the shipwrecked section was best when it most felt like Gilligan’s Island.

Grade: Not What the World Needs Now

Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 11/18/22

November 18, 2022

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I wondered where that fish did go. (CREDIT: Netflix)

Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.

Movies
–Bones and All (Limited Theaters November 18, Expands Nationwide November 23)
–Disenchanted (November 18 on Disney+) – I really liked Enchanted, hopefully I like this too.
–The Menu (Theaters)
–She Said (Theaters)

TV
–Ziwe Season 2 Midseason Premiere (November 20 on Showtime)
–Wednesday Season 1 (November 23 on Netflix) – Wednesday premiering on a Wednesday.
–MST3K Turkey Day Marathon (November 24 in the Gizmoplex)
-National Dog Show (November 24 on NBC)

Music
-Neil Young & Crazy Horse, World Record
-Röyskopp, Profound Mysteries III
-Weyes Blood, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Music on TV
-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (November 19 on HBO)

Sports
-FIFA World Cup (November 21-December 18 on FOX and FS1) – Kickin’ that ball.

‘Bones and All’ is the Cannibal Love Story We Could Never Have Prepared For

November 17, 2022

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“Send us your bones!” (CREDIT: Yannis Drakoulidis/Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures
© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Starring: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance, André Holland, Michael Stuhlbarg, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon Green

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Running Time: 130 Minutes

Rating: R for Bloody Chomping and Some Horny Cannibals

Release Date: November 18, 2022 (Limited)/November 23, 2022 (Expands Nationwide)

What’s It About?: If you only knew the poster and the title of Bones and All, you’d probably think it’s some overflowingly passionate romance. You know, the sort of thing where the main characters scream, “I love you! With every fiber of my being! BONES AND ALL!” Director Luca Guadagnino and one of his stars, Timothée Chalamet, certainly have memorable experience in the genre, what with 2017’s Call Me by Your Name. And in fact, it basically is that movie, except that the main characters have an unquenchable hunger to literally consume their fellow human beings.

What Made an Impression?: When Mark Rylance shows up, hoo boy, there’s no turning back. He’s a veteran “Eater” who arrives to provide some guidance to Maren (Taylor Russell), who upon turning 18 has been abandoned by her father (André Holland), who has decided that everyone will be safer if she’s on her own. With an inscrutable accent and an outfit that screams “arts and crafts cannibal hobbyist,” Rylance’s Sully is an unforgettable presence who is sure to make you confused about what type of movie you’re watching. Is it campy comedy, quirky indie whatchamacallit, or disturbing-to-the-nth-degree psychological horror? At first, Sully seems kind of charming, but then he’s totally a villain. This is the kind of movie that you have to sit with for a while to fully digest it, as it’s kind of inventing its whole deal as it goes along.

Now, you may be wondering: will I, or should I, root for the central love story? Maren and Lee (Chalamet) both seem like decent people, who just have the rare (mis)fortune of being bound by an unusually violent biological impulse. They do their best to not be too destructive about it and to live as normally human as possible when they can. But it’s more or less impossible to be 100% perfect in their efforts. I found myself on their sides, as much as I could be. A big reason for that was because I just wanted to see where this was going. Bones and All has a similar vibe of social alienation as most vampire tales, but with a taste that I’ve never quite experienced before. Simply put, I’ve never before gone bones and all the way myself, and now that I have, I’m not sure how much I enjoyed it, but I do kind of want to try it again.

Bones and All is Recommended If You Like: The Vampire Diaries, Road Trips, Allowing yourself to be disarmed

Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Bites

‘She Said’ Shines a Thrilling Beacon

November 16, 2022

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She Said (CREDIT: Universal Pictures)

Starring: Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Angela Yeoh, Ashley Judd

Director: Maria Schrader

Running Time: 129 Minutes

Rating: R for Detailed Discussions of Sexual Assault

Release Date: November 18, 2022 (Theaters)

What’s It About?: Looking back now (and even while it was going on), the downfall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein seems like it was inevitable. But it wasn’t going to just happen on its own. Instead, of course, it required the dedication of plenty of dogged people. This included the work of New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor. They’re played in She Said by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, respectively. The movie firmly establishes itself in a long and beloved line of based-on-a-true-story thrillers about journalists uncovering abuses of power. Twohey and Kantor have a lot of non-disclosure agreements to work around, and a lot of sources rightfully scared of retribution, but they also have the wherewithal for their simple sense of right and wrong to guide them towards what needs to be done.

What Made an Impression?: She Said could have easily been a traumatizing and depressing experience. Its focus, after all, is on one of the most famous people to have ever been accused and convicted of harassment, assault, and rape. But it doesn’t linger in the darkness any more than it has to, and I’m so thankful about how fully rounded the portrayals of Twohey and Kantor are. Despite reporting on the worst of humanity, they still manage to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. There’s one scene in particular when they’re about to go interview a source, and they discover that they’re wearing basically the same white summer dress, so Kantor declares the two of them “reporting twins.” That’s basically the cutest thing ever, and it’s fully genuine despite being stuffed between all the horrors. And the glimpses into their home lives with their husbands and young kids are similarly adorable in a slice-of-life way.

The rest of the cast is filled with veterans providing welcome support, like Andre Braugher and Patricia Clarkson in the newsroom; and Samantha Morton, Jennifer Ehle, and Ashley Judd (as herself) among the sources. But perhaps the most crucial creative contribution comes from composer Nicholas Britell, who’s probably best known for his award-nominated work on Barry Jenkins and Adam McKay projects. That’s already a fair range of tones and genres he’s put out, and he knows exactly what the assignment is in this case. Namely, it’s all about setting a vibe of constantly pulse-pounding action. The action in this case involves making phone calls, driving across town, booking impromptu flights, and clacking away at the keyboard. It’s not the stuff of whizbang wizardry, but it’s essential and requires a steady hand, and the score is there to constantly, safely remind us that.

She Said is Recommended If You Like: All the President’s Men, Spotlight

Grade: 3.5 out of 5 NDAs

Plenty to Chow Down On in ‘The Menu’

November 15, 2022

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You show me your Menu, I’ll show you mine (CREDIT: Eric Zachanowich/Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved)

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, John Leguizamo, Reed Birney, Paul Adelstein, Aimee Carrero, Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, Rob Yang

Director: Mark Mylod

Running Time: 106 Minutes

Rating: R for Deadly Threats That Demand to Be Taken Seriously

Release Date: November 18, 2022 (Theaters)

What’s It About?: Would you pay upwards of $1000 for a seat at the most exclusive molecular gastronomy restaurant in the world? I certainly wouldn’t! Although maybe I would think about it if somebody else were paying for me, though I might still look askance at the whole affair. In that way I’m very much like Margot, Anya Taylor-Joy’s character in The Menu, as she finds herself whisked along by her pompous foodie boyfriend Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) to a remote island dedicated to the culinary craftsmanship of Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). He’s assembled an exacting series of courses and a very particular lineup of guests for the evening. This is his last hurrah, and that’s very bad news for his customers, if you catch my drift…

What Made an Impression?: I gotta be honest: I thought this movie was going to be about cannibals. And that very much made me want to go see it! But there are in fact zero cannibals in The Menu, at least not literally. Nevertheless, I still had a good time. So that should tell you something. When a film simultaneously fully defies and satisfies expectations, you know we’re in business. Director Mark Mylod delivers the fun and games by meticulously altering reality just so. You might find yourself screaming, “There’s no way this could possibly happen!” Yet in the same breath, you’ll gladly concede, “But I’m grateful for this fantastical catharsis.”

A big reason for that is because Taylor-Joy is so preternaturally easy to root for. The brand of seared-black satirical humor on display here requires characters who obviously deserve their comeuppance. Most of the cast fits that bill with aplomb, but Margot on the other hand is an unassuming interloper. It’s nice to have a peep of light piercing through the darkness. Otherwise, you’d have to wallow in the stink of the wisecrackers, which can be entertaining, but also somewhat exhausting. With a surrogate like Margot, however, you can safely smile as everything burns.

The Menu is Recommended If You Like: Eating the rich

Grade: 4 out of 5 Courses

Who’s Feeling ‘Spirited’? Let’s Find Out!

November 14, 2022

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No spirits for you! (CREDIT: Apple TV+)

Starring: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Patrick Page, Joe Tippett, Andrea Anders, Marlow Barkley, Tracy Morgan, Aimee Carrero

Director: Sean Anders

Running Time: 127 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: November 11, 2022 (Theaters)/November 18, 2022 (Apple TV+)

Right before seeing Spirited, I walked a few blocks past the theater and picked up a gelato milkshake. It was my first Christmas movie viewing of the season after all, and I wanted to feel festive. Now, it may be true that I didn’t order a candy cane variety or any other seasonal flavor, and it’s also true that I eat ice cream pretty much year-round anyway. But this shake managed to hit the spot I was seeking nonetheless. Anyway, I think the added sugar may have helped me stay awake the whole time, so I have to say thank you baby Jesus, because we’re talking a 2-hour-plus runtime here! Anyway, this riff on A Christmas Carol managed to pull off a minor heist, and the main love story was not what I would have guessed, so it’s got that going for it.

Grade: 2.5 Milkshakes out of 4 Bags of Popcorn

Jeff’s Wacky SNL Review: Dave Chappelle/Black Star

November 13, 2022

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We can’t see Yasiin’s face (CREDIT: NBC/Screenshot)

It’s November 2022, and it’s time to talk about an SNL episode hosted by Dave Chappelle with musical guest Black Star. The latter is a hip-hop duo made up of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, while the former is an oft-funny comedian who’s unfortunately now more often nowadays making headlines for making transphobic jokes on his comedy specials. So it feels a little tone-deaf to book him now, even though he’s been a perfectly hilarious SNL host in the past. We’re not going to be able to figure all that out right here right now, obviously (although it would be nice if Dave came out and said something along the lines of “Maybe I missed the mark”!), but it feels weird not to at least acknowledge it.

Anyway, for this review, I’m going to provide a simple description of my emotional response to each sketch.

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