TV Series Review: Close Enough

July 25, 2020July 25, 2020 Film

I can’t believe this September marks ten years since J.G. Quintel’s Regular Show series debuted on Cartoon Network. Eight seasons and a movie later, that show wrapped up a few years ago and now Quintel is back with a new show, this time aimed at older audiences. The series was first announced in 2017 and was originally going to be a part of an animated block on TBS. Those plans fell through when a show from Louis C.K. that was also going to be part of the block had its production shut down after his sexual misconduct allegations. Fans were left wondering if Close Enough was ever going to see the light of day, and it finally, debuting on HBO Max earlier this month.

The Girl with a Bracelet 2019 Movie Poster

Film Review: The Girl with a Bracelet (2019)

July 25, 2020 Film

A loose adaptation of the Argentine film ‘The Accused’, The Girl With a Bracelet (La fille au bracelet) from director Stéphane Demoustier is a film that teaches you to not make assumptions, even if the circumstances, evidence, and emotions (or lack thereof) paint someone in a certain light. Even beginning with the film’s title and the word bracelet, you make assumptions and think it’s about a bracelet around her wrist, but that’s incorrect — it’s referring to Lise’s ankle monitor, as she’s been accused of murdering her best friend.

Film Review: The Surrogate (2020)

July 24, 2020 Film

If you were pregnant and knew the baby was going to be born with Down’s Syndrome, what would you do? Keep the baby amidst the many challenges you’re going to be faced with after giving birth? Adopt it out? Abort it? That’s the struggle Jess (Jasmine Batchelor) is faced with. After agreeing to be the surrogate for her friend Josh (Chris Perfetti) and his husband Aaron (Sullivan Jones), during a prenatal test it’s discovered to be almost certain that the baby will be born with Down’s Syndrome.

Film Review: Scoob! (2020)

July 20, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

I have no shame in admitting it: I’m a fan of Scooby-Doo. While I don’t watch everything Scooby, the cartoon-character is something I’ll check in from time to see what new movies or TV series the beloved mystery-solving dog is involved in. I have fond memories of watching some of the series such as the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, not to mention some of the direct to home video movies such as Alien Invaders, Zombie Island, or Witch’s Ghost. Sure, some of that may be nostalgia, but I’ve also seen a good chunk of Mystery Incorporated as well as Be Cool, Scooby-Doo.

Film Review: Hereditary (2018)

July 19, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

While he’s previously made a few short films falling under the horror genre, Hereditary is the first feature-length film from director Ari Aster. Back in 2018 I wasn’t paying as much attention to film releases as I was now so this was a film I was unfamiliar with outside of its song being used on some TikTok videos. When Aster’s second film Midsommar was released last year, I made a mental note to check both films out. Finally, I found the time to sit down and watch Hereditary.

Film Review: Asako I & II (2018)

July 19, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

I originally wanted to see Asako I & II when it was playing at the 2018 Philadelphia Film Festival, but due to scheduling conflicts I was unable to attend. Thankfully, Grasshopper Films distributed it on home video earlier this year and I was able finally watch it. Although I’ve heard of other films from director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi such as his five hour epic from 2015 titled Happy Hour, this is the first film of his I’ve seen.

Film Review: Woman on the Beach (2006)

June 28, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

I don’t want to say I’m judging a book by its cover (or rather, a director by its films), but so far I’m two for two in not enjoying films I’ve seen from director Hong Sang-soo, and I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to check out another film from him. It’s a shame, really — although IMDb plots are only a few sentences, usually they do a great job at summarizing a film’s plot and don’t leave anything to be desired. However, so far these descriptions of Hong Sang-soo’s films sound quite intriguing, only to leave me disappointed. Doing a little digging, it seems his films often involve a man involved in an affair, and the male protagonist is, often enough, a director as well. I wonder if it’s a sort of projection?

Film Review: Stuff and Dough (2001)

June 27, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

Up until seeing Stuff and Dough, the first film from director and writer Cristi Puiu, I had never seen a Romanian film before, so I was interested in seeing what this film would bring to the table. Virtually screened as part of the Philadelphia Lightbox Film Center’s “The Romanians: 30 Years of Cinema Revolution” collection of films, this one caught my attention and sounded worth checking out. In addition to being Puiu’s directorial debut, for two of the three main characters, this is also their film debuts. This was Alexandru Papadopol (Ovidiu) and Ioana Flora’s (Betty) first credited roles, whereas Dragos Bucur (Vali) had one previous role in 1998’s “Next Stop Paradise”, a film I also want to check out sometime down the road.

Film Review: Hill of Freedom (2014)

June 18, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

I’ve heard of several films by director Hong Sang-soo, all sounding interesting. Admittedly I have not gotten around to viewing any of them yet, so when I saw Grasshopper Films had his 2014 film Hill of Freedom available for streaming as of last week I figured I would give it a go.

Film Review: Inheritance (2020)

June 15, 2020July 22, 2020 Film

Although its plot is a bit farfetched, Inheritance, the first feature length film from screenwriter Matthew Kennedy, makes a good story. One day when out and about in New York City, Archer Monroe (Patrick Warburton) passes away suddenly. He’s the father of a political family: his son William (Chace Crawford) is a politician running for re-election, and his daughter Lauren (Lily Collins) is a Manhattan District Attorney. She’s always felt that her father likes her brother, which is only solidified when Archer leaves William $20 million and Lauren “only” $1 Million in her will. After the will has been read, their family attorney Harold (Michael Beach) privately tells Lauren there’s one more thing, something just for her.