#this has been movie reviews with kes

[aperture-of-bullshit]

jentry chau vs the underworld was quite fun. Very stylish. It is unfortunately not the best paced. Episode ten reads like a season finale, and if it were the finale most of my issues would instantaneously disappear.

And so this may just be me tin hatting a bit, but I think the show may have been pitched with two seasons, but they were only given one. And the creative team had some reason to believe that they’d be extremely unlikely to get a season two (I simply couldn’t imagine why, what with the general state of the American animation industry)(this is the most sarcastic I’ve ever been in my life). And the result is they condensed their plans for season two into three episodes and tacked it onto the backend of season one.

The condensing not only removes some pretty pivotal character development scenes (Micheal learning and developing his visions, Micheal and Jentry’s relationship and breakup) but it also severely fucks with the pacing, because once again: Episode ten is a perfect season finale.

TL;DR go watch jentry chau, but be forewarned that the general state of the tv animation industry is looming and ever present.

[moviewarfare]

A Review of “Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)”

I love the Kung Fu Panda trilogy! The 3rd movie felt like a nice wrap-up for the series. However, modern movie studios just can't give up on milking a franchise. Now we have a 4th entry in the series. Is this movie justified, or is it just another cash grab?

Jack Black is still great as Po. He still hasn't lost his charm and continues to deliver a hilarious and charismatic, vocal performance. I also love that his character Po is still a badass dragon warrior. He is always the most skilled fighter in the room and I am glad they didn't make him weaker for the sake of it. Awkwafina is again voicing another sidekick character. She is fine but that is mostly because her character isn't written to be unbearable and that makes Awkwafina bearable. Their characters do have a fun buddy dynamic throughout. Speaking of buddy dynamics, it was nice to see James Hong and Bryan Cranston return as Ping the Geese and Shan the Panda again. Po's fathers have their own, fun mini-adventure in the movie.

The animation is beautiful. Not to the extent of other dreamwork animated movies such as How to Train Your Dragon or Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. However, it looks very appealing for the most part. The action scenes are still very entertaining with its well choreographed Kung-fu scenes. It was also nice to see Ian McShane return as Tai Lung even though it was clearly done for nostalgia bait.

Unfortunately, the story is predictable and boring. Po is required by Master Shifu to pick the next Dragon Warrior but Po doesn't want to and wants to remain the Dragon Warrior. This idea in itself, can be very interesting as he could potentially have to choose between his friends, The Furious Five. Sadly, they are not even in this movie so instead we get a new character in Zhen played by Awkwafina. Oh wow, I wonder who Po will pick…

Po and his dynamic with The Furious Five have always been a highlight but removing that, makes this less interesting. The villain, The Chameleon, is also extremely underwhelming. She can steal the Kung-Fu of martial artists, including previous movie villains. Her motives are weak and her presence is just not menacing enough. They try to say throughout that Po might finally meet his match but they don't do a good job of convincing us that this is true. If anything, the big final battle feels like the easiest fight that Po has ever had so far. How is The Chameleon a threat if the Furious Five weren't even needed?! Ke Huy Quan is also in the movie but his character has no depth at all so it feels like a glorified cameo. Additionally, many of the jokes didn't land. I hate that they leave awkward pauses cause they clearly thought we the audience would laugh.

Overall, this 4th movie had no reason to exist. The story is not meaningful enough to justify its existence. This will be the start of the second trilogy but the ending itself doesn't do much to make me interested in more. The ending is a fine ending to wrap up the series (again). Hopefully, the 5th entry is a lot better and this time, make sure The Furious Five are actually in the movie!

For more reviews like this visit:

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[tinyreviews]

Tiny Review: Kung Fu Panda 4. Wholesome passing of the staff.

I went into this with very low expectations. The franchise has been quite lacklustre. The previous movie barely had any story.  

But this one, like its theme, brings change. It’s commendable that they are transitioning the franchise past Po and into a new generation.

I love Po’s slow acceptance of passing on the staff. And look forward to Zhen’s heroic growth arc, in the next one.

Edit: OMG, I realized this so late... Po's awkward transition into bad jokes is a reflection of him slowly becoming a father-figure(dad jokes)!

Hmm, I can’t help but think of the MCU’s transition as well. I think this succeeds where Marvel failed, because Zhen is a wholly different personality than Po.  

Whereas in the MCU, the successors were mostly gender/race-bended bland copies of the originals.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is a 2024 American animated martial arts comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation. It features Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane, with Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn, and Viola Davis. 

[litcityblues]

I Finally Watched This Movie

I am way overdue for this movie, I realize this and for that, if anyone out there is judging me for it, I apologize. I don't know if modern life requires a lot of content consumption, but I try and manage my fire hose of content so I don't drown, so it took me a while to get here.

So, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once:

The story of Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who runs a laundromat with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), they immigrated to the United States two decades earlier- eloped as well, and had a daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu.) As the movie opens, the laundromat is being audited by the IRS, Evelyn is stressing out over the visit of her demanding father Gong Gong (James Hong), Joy's relationship with her mother is strained because of many things, but Evelyn's reluctance to accept her non-Chinese girlfriend Becky is at the top of the list. Oh and Waymond, her husband? He's trying to serve her with divorce papers.

At the meeting with the IRS Inspector, Deirdre (Jamie Lee Curtis), Waymond's body is suddenly taken over by Alpha-Waymond, a version of Waymond from the Alphaverse. He explains to Evelyn that many parallel universes exist because every life choice creates a new alternative universe. Her version from the Alphaverse developed 'verse-jumping' technology that enabled people to access the skills, memories, and bodies of their parallel selves by bizarre actions. The multiverse is under threat from Jobu Tupaki (Alpha-Joy) whose mind was splintered after too much verse jumping. She experiences all universes at once and can verse-jump and manipulate matter at will. She has created a black hole in the shape of an 'everything bagel' topped with literally everything that could destroy the multiverse.

Evelyn, understandably, doesn't believe Alpha-Waymond at first, but soon finds herself caught up in the action, jumping from multiverse to multiverse where she's a stone in one, a movie star in another and everyone has hot dogs for digits in a third. She keeps jumping and jumping until finally, her mind splinters and she collapses. Like Jobu, she uncontrollably jumps across all the universes at once and Jobu almost convinces her that nothing matters, she has been looking for an Evelyn who agrees with her so they can both enter the bagel and finally die, but just before Evelyn does, she listens to one last plea from Waymond who begs her to stop fighting and be kind, even when life does not make sense. She decides to take his advice and experiences an existential epiphany and takes his advice, using her multiversal powers to fight with empathy.

This repairs the damage and neutralizes Jobu and her forces and brings her back to her home universe. She reconciles with Waymong, tells Gong Gong about Joy's girlfriend and Deidre even agrees to redo their taxes. One final task remains as Jobu enters the bagel alone and in the home Universe, Joy begs Evelyn to let her go- but instead, she tells her that even when nothing makes sense and they don't get along and she could be anywhere else in any universe, she will always want to be with Joy. This saves Jobu from the Bagel and Evelyn and Joy embrace.

This movie is a lot, I'm not going to lie. The title is perfect because there are times when you really feel like you're getting everywhere, everything all at once and it's almost overwhelming, but it's also an absolutely stunning visual spectacle. The visuals of this movie are beautiful and it deserves all the flowers and hype that it got on that basis alone.

I wanted to say that I had issues with the story, but having written out this review, I really don't. I think it's a perfect example of what science fiction at its best is like: it transports you to other worlds and other places and other universes oftentimes to tell the simplest of stories- in this case, how a broken family fixed itself and how a mother finds a way to tell her daughter that she loves her. Given the massive amount of disrespect the Academy shows to 'genre' films, it is so awesome to see a movie that demonstrates the power of genre in such a visually stunning way that underpins what's really a pretty simple and timeless story.

I can see why people might not like this movie. If multiverses aren't your thing, this might be a hard sell but at the same time, if you haven't gone near science fiction ever before and are looking for an entry point this could be a good one for you.

I, however, loved this movie. i loved the story. I loved the acting-- I have yet to see Michelle Yeoh in anything that I have actively disliked, and you would have to be the Grinch not to be absolutely thrilled for Ke Huy Quan who is awesome in this movie. James Hong has been around for what seems like forever and even though the dude is 95 years old, he proves that he still has it. Stephanie Hsu is absolutely incredible and goes toe to toe with Michelle Yeoh in this film.

Overall: It deserves all the flowers, hype, and awards that it got. It's visually stunning. A beautiful film to look at. A simple, beautiful story about the power of empathy and kindness. A stunningly good cast and a GENRE FILM that gets SOME RESPECT. FINALLY. My Grade: **** out of ****

(Okay, I went and looked at this list and went all the way back to 1930. Birdman did win Best Picture, but you can make the argument that it was less a genre film and more about an actor playing a genre character. And yes, Lord of the Rings did win. In 2003. Other than that, I can find nothing that comes close to a genre film even getting a sniff at serious critical recognition. 2001: A Space Odyssey came out in 1968 and was not even nominated. So nitpick me if you will, but I am right. Some respect for genre films was long overdue.)

(Damn it. The Shape of Water won in 2017 as well. Okay, so maybe genre films are slowly gaining a little more respect. But there have been 96 Years of the Oscars and I can find three (maybe four) movies that fit the bill of genre films that have ever won Best Picture. That's still less than one percent however you cut it.)

[agentnico]

Past Lives (2023) Review

This. This is romance. Not that silly Sydney Sweeney/Glen Powell romp coming later this year where they go to a wedding and pretend to be a couple just to spite their exes. Like honestly, we've already been through Fifty Shades of Grey. And Darker. And flipping Freed! Now we've got this ridiculous Anyone But You. Yikes. Thankfully Past Lives has come out this year and reminds us that solid mature love stories can be made.

Plot: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are thrust apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life.

A new A24 movie. Plot twist - it's good. Honestly, A24's track record in recent years has been insanely solid! It's delightful to see, as they give such a strong voice to indie filmmaking, and support independent cinema by believing in them and providing them a platform to be seen by the world. The most notable recent example has been Ari Aster's wacko psychological attack on the senses with his odyssey of Beau Is Afraid. Love or hate that movie, one has to appreciate that a movie like that would not have been possible would it not have been for A24. Taking such a risk by literally allowing filmmakers to really go out there with their ideas is wonderful and as such any new A24 release always sparks my attention.

Past Lives is very much a film that shines through with its simplicity and restraint. First-time director Celine Song seems to really understand that idea of human connection, and as such for the most part, trusts her actors to make the magic happen. Many scenes involve characters exchanging long lines of dialogue and then simply staring into one another eyes in silence, and it never felt awkward or off, but simply very real. The actors' body language in particular was impressive, with the simple twitches of the eye or light nodding of the head expressing so much emotion and deeper meaning. Again, this is a very simple plot, yet it manages to become this rich and complex tale of identity, lost love, sought closure, and found purpose, with elements of spiritualism and inner psychology; and it's all due to Celine Song having the proper understanding of when to allow silence to speak. Yet despite the frequent bouts of silence, not a moment feels wasted. Every shot and sentence is meticulously edited to give us exactly what we need to feel each moment with its full emotional power. Speaking of the shots, the cinematography is crisp and powerful, managing to capture the beauty of lonely cities, reflecting the inner psyche of its central characters.

Again, Past Lives isn't in any way groundbreaking or mind-blowing. In fact, the movie can be fully summed up using the quote that Ke Huy Quan says in Everything Everywhere All at Once - "In another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you." It's that idea of what-if that I'm sure every single one of you had where you look back into your memories and wonder what if you did something different and how that would have changed your present. In terms of Everything Everywhere that very much is an exaggerated version with multiverses and alternate realities, but the idea is the same. Also, Past Lives delves into the Buddhist idea of reincarnation, and how some people are not meant to be with each other in this life, but in another do get together. In the movie's context, it's about connections and the inarticulate way we cannot understand why we have these people in our lives.

This is very mature filmmaking, with serious themes and poetic connotations, which I very much enjoyed. My one gripe and this is definitely just me, but John Magaro's character of the modern-day husband of Nora - he seemed too nice to be true. Like his woman is so over this old friend from childhood where romance is definitely insinuated, and he's just so accepting of it. I would have personally been really jealous, but no, Magaro was just like "I trust ya". That's not me complaining about the film, it's just me questioning his character's thought process and overly trusting nature. Regardless, Past Lives is an honest, delicate, and ambling movie that doesn't try to be anything bigger than what it is - a simple story of love.

Overall score: 7/10

[aworldforastage]

2023 Q2 Reading Recap: Personal Favorites

(Art for audio adaptations of Blazing Armour (audiobook), Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry, and Spoil)

I finished 14 titles between April and June, which is a surprise because I had a really hard time finishing novels these last few months. This post will cover six personal favorites:

Blazing Armor / 火焰戎装 by 水千丞

Nei Yu Di Yi Hua Ping (Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry) / 内娱第一花瓶 by 三三娘

Placid Chang’an / 太平长安 by 盐盐Yany

The Retirement Life of a Runaway Desperado / 亡命之徒的退休生涯 by FOX

Wilderness Vegetation / 荒野植被 by 麦香鸡呢

Zuo Jian (Spoil) / 作践 by 十步方寒

火焰戎装/Blazing Armor by 水千丞

“我都发誓，要带每个人，平安回去。” "I always swore I would bring everyone home, safely home."

Most novels in SQC's 188 series focus on the relationship arc, but Blazing Armor is driven by a tightly-paced and well-researched plot around the protagonist's career as a firefighter. As he races to put out fires and investigate cases of potential arson, he gets to know a rich, smart, and 188cm tall police officer with the face of a movie star and the personality of a craggy rock. They develop a close bond through their work, and decide to reopen a decade-old case that haunts both of them.

My favorite parts of this novel are the details put into Ren Yi's work as a firefighter. We see him handling dozens of sites and accidents big and small, and the inner five-year-old in me is fascinated by the information on different types of firetrucks! The mystery/procedural aspects of the story is also very engaging, though personally I find its resolution a bit underwhelming. As a member of a 188 Club, Gong Yingxian is less of a scum gong and more of a jerk who doesn't think of other people's feelings. Rather than toying with Ren Yi's romantic feelings for him, Gong Yingxian betrays his trust on other important issues (like criminal investigations), and YMMV if that is better or worse.

内娱第一花瓶/Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry by 三三娘

"我已经做好了为你画一辈子分镜的准备," I am prepared to storyboard for you for the rest of my life.

Ke Yu has a reputation as a "flower vase" who looks pretty and can't act, but he absolutely shines through the lens of Shang Lu, a genius aspiring director. At just under 1 million characters long, this novel takes us through LuYu's first meeting, the gradual development of their relationship, a heart-wrenching breakup, and a deliciously bittersweet reconciliation arc in which they must face the regret and pain sowed by their own actions. Alongside the movie-making, we also get treated to dark secrets, painful backstories, and the rivalries and schemes among the artistic and business elites.

This novel stands out for treating performance and film-making as serious professions that require careful study and hard work. The highlight in this story is the LuYu relationship, but it's through the rich details about their movie-making that convince us Ke Yu and Shang Lu's share a truly special bond built on respect for each other's art and talent. In a few places, the novel made me a bit uncomfortable with its idolization of the wealthy elite, depictions of foreigners and the Chinese diaspora, and female characters repeatedly getting the short end of the stick in the narrative, though this may simply have been me becoming more critical as I revisit the story for rereads.

太平长安/Placid Chang'an by 盐盐Yany

“你既然选择了大理寺，查找真相、还原真相就是你的事，而我身为摄政亲王，稳定朝局，制衡天下是我的事。你做你该做的，剩下的我来处理。” "Since you have chosen to join the Court of Judicial Review, investigating and uncovering the truth is now your duty; I am the Prince Regent, so stabilizing the court and governing the nation is my duty. Do your duty, and I will handle the rest."

Su Cen is the newly-minted Zhuangyuan in the most recent Imperial Exams, but his political career is complicated by the factional rivalry in government. He starts as a lowly administrator with the Court of Judicial Review, and soon shines as a talented investigator with with a sharp intuition and fierce determination. He repeatedly crosses path with the Prince Regent, eventually falling into the Prince's faction at court and his bed at night. As Su Cen continues his work and tries to figure out what kind of public servants he wants to become, he notices something or other always seem to lead back to this secret society and a decade-old cold case....

I really like this novel for its cases and mysteries, as well as for clever handling of several tropes that I generally dislike. The Prince Regent is more powerful and older than his love interest (~ 40 y.o. vs early 20s). This novel does not shy away from how this difference in power, knowledge, and experience generally do not work in Su Cen's favor, even though he also benefits from being doted on, taken care of, and taught by the older and wiser Prince. The ending feels a bit rushed and cartoon-ish compared to the rest of the story. Some of the supporting characters feel a bit flat, but the main relationship and plot mysteries in this novel are very enjoyable.

亡命之徒的退休生涯/The Retirement Life of a Runaway Desperado by FOX^^

"你当父亲当得的确可怕，我不敢相信世界上有人不会热牛奶。" "Your efforts at fatherhood are indeed terrifying. I can not believe there exists people who do not know how to make warm milk."

Detective Lynn and Dr. Arthur are both widower single fathers who settle in a small American town to cope with the loss of their wives. Their daughters become fast friends, which forces them to become co-parents of sorts despite their dislike and distrust of each other. Soon it becomes very hard for Lynn to explain that he and Arthur are not together, even though Arthur is now looking after his child, making his food, picking out his outfits and aftershave.... However, there is a hidden danger in this small town, and Arthur is keeping some important secrets just like Lynn suspects.

This is a short novel at only 12 chapters. The prose is in the style of a translated novel, which can be a bit weird to read. Arthur and Lynn have their secrets and reservations about each other, but that's nothing next to the town's gossip engine or the convenience of keeping their kids in one place. The general atmosphere of the story is dominated by the slow pace of small town life and the frivolity of neighborly gossip, and I enjoy it the most for the domesticity of two jaded men raising their girls together in such a place.

荒野植被/Wilderness Vegetation by 麦香鸡呢

如果可以，谁不想体体面面的，体面地爱人，体面地被爱。 If it's possible, who wouldn't want dignity? To love with dignity, and be loved with dignity.

Xu Yan is still desperately holding onto his lopsided relationship with Shen Zhi at the start of the novel, but changes his mind and leaves by Chapter 5. Shen Zhi communicates so little that it takes him another ten chapters to realize he has been dumped for real. Although he never cheats on Xu Yan or thinks of him like a second-rate backup, Shen Zhi's behavior throughout their relationship is essentially emotional abuse. Despite his sad backstory and genuine feelings for Xu Yan, none of it justifies the harm caused by his behavior, and it's a long and hard road to win Xu Yan back.

It's strange to say it's a "healthy crematorium", but it's one of the few that does not try to justify, retcon, or minimize any bad behaviors. Xu Yan surrounds himself with a support system who reminds him that he deserves a truly nourishing relationship. Shen Zhi, despite his feelings, is actually quite respectful of Xu Yan's rejections and boundaries, and eventually lets Xu Yan go when he realizes how horribly wrong things have gone. Shen Zhi has the maturity to take responsibility for the mental and emotional work to become a better partner. When Xu Yan and Shen Zhi get back together, I believe they can build a good dynamic this time with their growth and maturity.

作践/Spoil by 十步方寒

我把我的心，系在了鸟的覆羽上，让鸟随着梦，把我带向自由的远方。 I tied my heart, onto the feathered wings of a bird, and let the bird follow its dreams, and carry me toward freedom in a faraway land.

Facing the exorbitant medical cost to treat his father's chronic liver failure, Xu Qingzhou agrees to sell "himself" to local entrepreneur Lu Cheng. He is a respectable teacher, husband, and father by day, and a sex slave during his off-hours. Lu Cheng's actions are less about pleasure and more about taking revenge for past actions of Xu Qingzhou's father. Between fear, guilt, and habits, Xu Qingzhou's actions and attitude toward Lu Cheng softens. But as Lu Cheng's controlling tendencies escalate, the delicate balance of Xu Qingzhou's double life begins to fall apart ...

This story is dark and brutally realistic. Innocent people are ruined by the cruelties of reality, while some can live their entire life without facing the consequences of their actions. The narrative touches on a host of social issues like homophobia, wealth inequity, a flawed healthcare system, as well as highlighting the harms caused by some traditional values like blind deference to figures of authority and the stigma attached to sex and sexuality. A true happy ending is impossible in this story, because some mistakes and wounds just cannot be fixed, but the characters do come to terms with the past, and starts on a path forward.

[heywoodsays]

Oscar Picks 2023, Part III: The Big 8

Despite a runaway expected winner for Best Picture, this promises to be an exciting Oscar year for most of the big categories. There are several hot two-horse races and some that are anyone’s game.

But just like in national elections, happenings in one place could be the sign of things to come elsewhere. Look for the Supporting Actress category early in the Ceremony to give us a sense of how things will play out for the night. A win for Jaime Lee Curtis could mean a sweep of the table for EEAAO. If Bassett or Condon wins, it may mean a more tempered night.

Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Austin Butler, Elvis

Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin

Brendan Fraser, The Whale

Paul Mescal, Aftersun

Bill Nighy, Living

This is supposed to be Brendan Fraser’s year. But polarizing reviews for The Whale may cost him his trophy. As much as this seems to be a two-man race, any of the other three performances are highly deserving, with all but Mescal winning some piece of major hardware. I still give the edge to Fraser, as he won the SAG award and actors make up the biggest chunk of the Academy.

Who will win: Brendan Fraser

But look out for: Austin Butler

Who I’d vote for: Colin Farrell

If I could add one more: Eden Dambrine (Close). There was no way the Academy was going to recognize a teenage lead in a foreign movie, but few performances by actors of any age are as deeply moving.

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Cate Blanchett, Tár

Ana de Armas, Blonde

Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie

Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans

Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Equally exciting as the Best Actor contest, this one appears to be a two-woman race between Blanchett and Yeoh. Even with their impressive résumés, both give career-best performances and have split the awards this season. I presume they’ll be the top two on most ballots. But Blanchett already has two Oscars. I think Academy voters will want to finally reward Yeoh for her exceptional career.

Who will win: Michelle Yeoh

But look out for: Cate Blanchett

Who I’d vote for: Cate Blanchett

If I could add one more: Danielle Deadwyler (Till). Where my Black women at?! Kudos to Riseborough for a strong performance and even stronger campaigning, but it did preclude the Academy from recognizing Deadwyler’s performance and the film as a whole.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin

Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway

Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans

Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin

Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

This is one of the few sure bets of the evening. Ke Huy Quan has won almost every major award. But Keoghan’s recent victory at the BAFTAs and 3rd place ranking from the National Society of Film Critics may make an impact. Henry and Hirsch are long shots, but I wish Gleeson would have garnered more hardware for his excellent performance.

Who will win: Ke Huy Quan

But look out for: Barry Keoghan

Who I’d vote for: Brendan Gleeson

If I could add one more: Paul Dano (The Fabelmans). After so many exceptional performances in Oscar-nominated Best Pictures, what does Dano have to do to finally get a nod?

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Hong Chau, The Whale

Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin

Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Angela Bassett seemed a surefire choice early in awards season, but Jamie Lee Curtis has been on a tear recently. Momentum for EEAAO may just propel her to victory. And while I think Hsu’s performance was actually the more engaging and moving of the film, Academy voters are more likely to pick the veteran favorite. Chau has garnered great praise for her role in The Whale, but she’s the only real long shot here. Condon is coming off a BAFTA win and was the pick of the National Society of Film Critics.

Who will win: Jamie Lee Curtis

But look out for: Angela Bassett

Who I’d vote for: Kerry Condon

If I could add one more: Dolly De Leon (Triangle of Sadness). In her role as toilet manager turned captain, De Leon commands the screen and stimulates the moral and ethical questions the film seeks to ask of its audience.

Directing

Nominees:

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, Tár

Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

This award seems written in stone, which is sad considering the incredible depth in the category. Spielberg and Field both offer masterclasses in directing with their entries. McDonagh’s expertise as a playwright shows in his superlative storytelling. Östlund skillfully translates his political and social commentary to pictures. But the Daniels’ creativity, vision, and mastery at so many different styles makes them a shoe-in.

Who will win: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

But look out for: Steven Spielberg

Who I’d vote for: Todd Field or Steven Spielberg

If I could add one more: Sarah Polley (Women Talking). Not merely for female representation, Polley deserves to be in this group because her film is one of the most unique, emotional, and engaging stories told on screen this year.

Original Screenplay

Nominees:

The Banshees of Inisherin

Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Fabelmans

Tár

Triangle of Sadness

This may just be my favorite category of the 2023 Oscars. The five nominees could not be more different from each other, and yet (almost) equally deserving of praise. Banshees took home the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and National Board of Review award. EEAAO won the Writers Guild, Critics’ Choice, and NY Film Critics awards. Tár was the pick of the National Society of Film Critics and LA Film Critics. I think the signs are pointing to EEAAO, though the Academy may offer this as a consolation prize to the excellent Banshees.

Who will win: Everything Everywhere All at Once

But look out for: The Banshees of Inisherin

Who I’d vote for: The Banshees of Inisherin

If I could add one more: Aftersun. Charlotte Wells’ intimate account of a father-daughter relationship manages to say so much without hitting you over the head with anything.

Adapted Screenplay

Nominees

All Quiet on the Western Front

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Living

Top Gun: Maverick

Women Talking

Sarah Polley’s Women Talking is only up for two awards this year – Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. While the performances and directing deserve praise, its script is its strongest asset. I think the Academy will choose to recognize it with this award. All Quiet on the Western Front may be a spoiler, though, having just won the BAFTA and being the pick of National Board of Review back in early January. With nine nominations, it could be up for a big night. I also wouldn’t rule out Living, which has got a lot of attention recently.

Who will win: Women Talking

But look out for: All Quiet on the Western Front

Who I’d vote for: Women Talking

If I could add one more: Aftersun. Charlotte Wells’ intimate account of a father-daughter relationship manages to say so much without hitting you over the head with anything.

Best Picture

Nominees:

All Quiet on the Western Front

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Banshees of Inisherin

Elvis

Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Fabelmans

Tár

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Women Talking

All signs point to EEAAO. It’s won the top prize at the awards for the Producers Guild, Directors Guild, Writers Guild, and Screen Actors Guild. But ranked choice voting in the Best Picture category can often create pathways you don’t suspect.

Top Gun: Maverick will be a popular choice among American Academy members. It’s likely to occupy that number 2 or 3 spot on a lot of ballots, which could matter if multiple rounds are needed to select a winner. The film was the top pick of the National Board of Review. But without a Best Director nod or any acting nods, the odds aren’t in its favor.

Banshees is also one that’s likely to do well on most ballots, even if it doesn’t occupy the top spot for most people. Sadly, its Best Comedy win at the Golden Globes hasn’t been followed up with any other top prizes.

All Quiet on the Western Front was the surprising BAFTA winner, but I think that has more to do with the subject matter and the importance of the First World War to British audiences. It’s a powerful film, but I think the Academy will reward it with International Feature.

Spielberg’s The Fabelmans had a great early push with a Golden Globe win for Best Drama, but support has fizzled as it’s made way for EEAAO in recent award shows.

Tár has been the favorite of most critics, it seems, topping the list for the National Society of Film Critics, NY Critics, and LA Critics (tied with EEAAO).

With 8 nominations, Elvis may have an outside chance, especially if Butler ends up winning Best Actor.

The other films in this category are all long shots for whom the nomination is the prize.

Who will win: Everything Everywhere All at Once

But look out for: Top Gun: Maverick

Who I’d vote for: Tár

If I could add one more: Close. Belgium’s entry for Best International Feature deserved much more recognition at the Oscars, including a Best Actor and Best Picture nomination.

---

That's it for this year's Oscar picks! Thanks for joining me. Enjoy the show!

[infohub-24]

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga: A Heist Thriller that Lives Up to the Hype

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is an engaging, fast-paced heist thriller with unexpected turns and good performances keeping the viewer glued to their seat. This gripping tale of a hijacking, with a best heist movies undertone, has been directed by Ajay Singh. Featuring Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal as protagonists, the espionage thriller movieoffers a seamless blend of high-octane action, drama, and intrigue, making it one of the most anticipated new bollywood movies.

Keep watching this space as we maiden people who lift and run ensued guidance to much that happens on the other hand of Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga Performances Development and Summary, Dialogs Chorpersonally as well such things! Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga Review: A gripping thriller heist film with twists Read more...

[dangal9932]

Stream The Top Premium Horror Bhojpuri Movies Online.

Introduction:

Dangal Play is the ideal place to go if you enjoy Bhojpuri Movies Online and the horror genre. Dangal Play is a horror movie streaming service that offers a wide range of scary Bhojpuri films to suit different preferences. You'll find something to shiver to, whether you're into traditional ghost stories, psychological suspense, or supernatural horror. In this blog, we'll review some of the best premium horror Bhojpuri Movies Online on Dangal Play, which you should take advantage of.

Pati Patni Aur Bhootni:

You'll go through a range of emotions in the thrilling horror and comedy film Pati Patni Aur Bhootni. The narrative centers on a couple who start having weird and unsettling experiences after a mystery figure known only as a Bhootni (a female ghost) appears in their lives. The plot unfolds as the spouse becomes involved in the ghost's schemes, and hilarious yet terrible things happen. This film strikes the ideal mix of humor and terror, giving viewers a lighthearted yet eerie experience.

Nandini:

A timeless horror story that explores the paranormal is Nandini. The story of the movie centers on a haunted mansion where a young lady named Nandini meets the resentful ghost of a previous resident. Nandini finds sinister realities linking her history with the fury of the spirit as she delves into the mansion's mysteries. The film is a must-watch for fans of the horror genre because of its compelling plot and unsettling atmosphere. Your entire experience is enhanced by the eerie soundtrack and graphic images, which keep you on the edge of your seat.

Aanand Baugh (Hindi):

Aanand Baugh is a Hindi horror film that isn't Bhojpuri, but its gripping story and horrific sequences have made it famous with Bhojpuri viewers. In the movie, a family experiences unexplained paranormal activity in a deserted village. They learn that the town has sinister secrets from the past as they struggle to break free from the grasp of supernatural forces. With a plot that leaves you wondering until the end, the film is a thrilling blend of horror and suspense. It is an excellent choice for those who enjoy a good mystery mixed with horror.

Bairi Kangana 2:

The highly acclaimed horror Bhojpuri Movies Online Bairi Kangana has a sequel called Bairi Kangana 2. The movie tells the tale of a woman who was harmed in a past life and now wants retribution. Horrifying events result in her ghost returning to haunt those who wronged her. The film grips you with its powerful plot, suspense, and moments of terror. Bairi Kangana 2 is an excellent option for those who enjoy horror dramas because of its compelling plot and outstanding performance.

Ghoonghat Mein Ghotala 2:

Ghoonghat Mein Ghotala 2 is the ideal choice for a horror movie with a comedic touch. This film, a follow-up to the well-liked Ghoonghat Mein Ghotala, features a dash of terror mixed in with the same peculiar humor. The narrative centers on a recently married couple who discover their ancient home is haunted by evil spirits after moving there. This movie is entertaining and frightening at the same time since it combines humor and terror. The humorous take on horror is ideal for audiences who like their shocks to be funny.

Indumati Ke Badla:

The story of Indumati Ke Badla revolves around revenge and paranormal justice. The main character is Indumati, a woman who rises from the dead to exact revenge on those who have mistreated her. Her ruthless and unrelenting nature sets off terrifying occurrences that will make your skin crawl. Horror fans who appreciate a superb revenge plot with a supernatural twist should not miss this film because of its violent sequences and powerful performances.

Laado:

The horror movie Laado explores superstition and the paranormal. The story takes place in a small rural community where a young girl named Laado is the victim of a demonic spirit. The villagers discover sinister secrets that have been kept hidden for years as they work to drive out the spirit. The film is a frightening experience because of its creepy mood and rural setting. Laado is a fantastic addition to your watchlist of horror films because of its gripping and disturbing plot.

Why Dangal Play?

Dangal Play is a streaming service that offers a wide range of Bhojpuri Movies Online, making it suitable for a broad audience. The website is renowned for its excellent content and intuitive design, which make it simple for users to locate and enjoy their preferred films. Dangal Play offers something for everyone, whether you're in the mood for a scary, spooky thriller or a lighthearted horror comedy.

Furthermore, a wider audience may access premium content thanks to Dangal Play's reasonable prices. The website regularly updates its catalog to ensure users have access to the newest and best Bhojpuri Film Online. Dangal Play is the preferred platform for fans of Bhojpuri films due to its emphasis on local content.

Conclusion:

If you enjoy horror and Bhojpuri Movies Online, Dangal Play has a fantastic collection of movies that will frighten and amuse you. From contemporary horror comedies to timeless ghost stories, the platform offers something for everyone. So gather your popcorn, turn out the lights, and prepare to enter Dangal Play's world of Bhojpuri terror. 

[24hrsallnews]

The First Glimpse video of the Indian thriller film Maharagni, featuring Kajol and Prabhu Deva, has been unveiled

We will read about, "The First Glimpse video of the Indian thriller film Maharagni, featuring Kajol and Prabhu Deva, has been unveiled." Kajol and Prabhu Deva are going to entertain you in a big way with the film Maharagni. In the South Indian film industry, Prabhu Deva works as a director, dancer, producer, and actor. The pairing of Kajol and Prabhu Deva is going to entertain you once again.  

First Glimpse Video Maharagni

The first glimpse video of Maharagni has been quite spectacular, which the supporters are looking forward to. The much-awaited glimpse of the pan-Indian film 'Maharagni' is finally out, marking the reunion of Kajol and Prabhu Deva after a period of 27 years. The film promises intense drama, raw emotions and mind-blowing action sequences. The Maharagni movie's slogan is "Queen of Queens", showcasing women on a mission. Packed with an intriguing narrative, breathtaking cinematography and an extraordinary cast, this film guarantees to be a must-watch. The first glimpse of the film will be seen on the action scene of Prabhu Deva in the video, then after that Kajol's entry is seen in red outfit, saying that, "Power maang k nahi, cheen ke lee jaate hai, maan sarasvatee ka gyaan, maan lakshmee kee samrddhi aur maan durga ka itana kalyaan, sabake baad bhee agar darana pade". Prepare yourself for an extraordinary movie experience that is sure to give you intense drama and action. Upon catching a sneak peek of the video, Prabhu Deva portrays the character of the antagonist. The first schedule of Maharagni has been completed as per as Variety.

Image credit: @bawejastudios The video offers a sneak peek into Kajol's thrilling film, sparking a growing anticipation for its release. There is a lot of excitement, discussion and craze about the Maharagni: Queen of Queens film. Baweja Studios while sharing on his Twitter handle Caption, and wrote, "Baweja Studios & E7 Entertainments present 'Maharagni - Queen of Queens' starring @itsKajolD & @PDdancing Directed by @tej_uppalapati Produced by #HarmanBaweja & co-produced by Smitha Baliga for #BawejaStudios Produced by @DVANISHREDDY for @Eternal7_enter" They worked together 27 years ago in Minsara Kanavu, directed by Rajeev Menon. The film also starred Arvind Swamy along with Prabhu Dev and Kajol. Kajol takes on a role in the film that will undoubtedly captivate the audience throughout. Naseeruddin Shah is also present in the film. Nowadays, numerous films are achieving significant box office success without relying on a male lead. "Mardaani" and "Mardaani 2" serve as prime examples. The Maharagni  film will be released across India in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. More About Maharagni The film is directed & written by Charantej Uppalapati, Produced by Venkata Anish Dorigillu, Harman Baweja under Baweja Studios, E7Entertainments. The film stars Kajol Devgn, Samyuktha, Prabhu Deva, Naseerudin Shah, Jishu Sen Gupta, Adithya Seal, Chaya Kadam, Pramod Pathak. GK Vishnu has done the cinematography and Naveen Nooli has done the editing. The music has been composed by Harshvardhan Rameshwar.   Read More - The film Luv You Shankar, starring Shreyas Tanisha Mukherjee, has officially released. - The ultimate guide to Tillu Square: A must-watch film for romantic crime comedy fanatics - Psychological thriller Kartam Bhugtam is set to hit the big screen on May 17, 2024, showcasing the concept of karma and its repercussions. - Bhaiyya Ji Movie Review: Manoj Bajpayee explores his foray into the realm of mass hero genre. - Amaran Update: Sivakarthikeyan presents yet another content-driven film following the success of Maveeran - Bilingual 'Man of Steel: Sardaar' motion poster released - Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit Teaser Out Now - Chaitanya Akkineni has posted a photo from the filming location of Thandel. - The arrival of 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' in India is scheduled for tomorrow - The release date for Devil the Hero has been officially confirmed - Munjya Trailer Out Now: Is it possible for Munjya and Munni's love story to reach a conclusion? - Phooli Official Trailer Out Now Read the full article

[aperture-of-bullshit]

Bumblebee 2018 MAY just be iron giant with a cool can of transformers paint slathered over it but well. What can I say. A deeply enjoyable movie. They babygirlified Bumblebee. Hailee Steinfeld has a weird tension with her car. Memo’s only reason for existence is to create a plausible deniability that Hailee Steinfeld does not have a weird tension with a car. It does not work. She has weird tension with a car. But it’s fine. Fun even! (John Cena voice) “They call themselves Decepticons, does that not raise any red flags?”

[the-best-guide]

KNOW THE DARK TRUTH OF CELEBRITY WORLD

Bollywood stars are also human beings like ordinary people. A tide of emotions rises in them as well. These stars, who meet each other warmly at parties, are in fact so surrounded by a feeling of competition, jealousy, and insecurity that the pressure of this keeps pushing them towards depression. To avoid this, they resort to liquor or medications,  due to which this depression gets worse, due to which it is difficult to handle both success and failure. Last year, on June 15, 2020, when the news of the suicide of film artist Sushant Singh Rajput was published, the entire nation was stunned. . What happened due to which the star, while moving towards this stardom of the film world, taking his life by hanging.

Why only one Sushant, who lives a luxurious life on screen, shows romance with beautiful heroines, Superman who beats ten-ten in one punch and makes millions crazy with his style, charging crores for each film. There is so much in the real-life and reel life of the Venus of Bollywood which is shocking.

Deepika Padukone, the heroine of films like 'Piku', 'Chhapaak', 'Chennai Express, 'Bajirao Mastani', has also been a victim of clinical depression, which she disclosed at the World Economic Forum in the year 2020. Guru Dutt, a well-known director of the Indian film industry in the seventies, producer of 'Pyaasa', 'CID' and 'Kaagaz Ke Phool' and the best actor, was found dead in his apartment in 1964. The reason being, he had ended his life by consuming a lot of alcohol and sleeping pills.

Synonymous with success, director Manmohan Desai, who gave films like 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Coolie' and 'Mard', died in 1994 at his Gir village home. No one could understand why the 19-year-old Divya Bharti, who had made crores of people crazy in the films 'Shola Aur Shabnam' and 'Deewana', jumped off the fifth floor or Silk Smitha, the sex bomb of the South. Why did he embrace death?

Talking about some more names in this, MTV's famous VJ Nafisa Joseph, Jiah Khan, who has worked with Amitabh and Aamir, Indian TV industry's girl bride Pratyusha Banerjee, TV actor Kushal Punjabi, as many names as can be taken. Can't believe that this can also be the face of this glam world. There are many reasons behind these famous names of the Bollywood industry full of glamour, fame, and glitz going into depression or suicide in the final stage of depression. Let us try to take a look at them-

READ MORE:

[entertainment-talkies]

Jones first tryst with controversy: A no spoiler review of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Movie Review 🍿

Title: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Year of Release: 1984

Genre: Action, Adventure

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Harrison Ford, Ke Huy Quan, Kate Capshaw, Amrish Puri

Rating: 2.5/5

Review:

The second installment in the series and chronologically the first one which is basically why I am also posting this one before the actual first movie in the franchise, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom has had it’s fair mix of controversy and clearly sticks out as being different from the rest of the movies in the series. It was so controversial that it was banned in India for being racist about the Indian Community.

The movie follows around the yet another adventure of larger than life archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones as one of his affairs in shangai end up with him crash landing in India along with singer willie scott and his adorable young sidekick short round. The movie then follows in Indiana trying to help an indian village recover it’s stolen shivling and missing children.

So why the controversy, well unlike it’s other parts the temple of doom is much darker with elements of gore present. The portrayal of colonial india is extremely racist with a touch of the great white american savior complex.

Amish Puri does an incredible job playing the lead antagonist though his character could have been fleshed out far better. The movie is available to stream on Disney+ (Disney+ hotstar in India).

[greensparty]

Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Has there even been an action movie hero as good as Indiana Jones? It’s a rhetorical question, but the fact that you’ve just thought about it means that Dr. Jones is easily #1 if not in the Top 5 action movie characters of all time! The very first Indiana Jones movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in June 1981. It marked the first collaboration between the cinematic icons director Steven Spielberg, producer/creator George Lucas, and star Harrison Ford. What I wouldn’t give to have been a fly on the wall as these three were on set making this epic action adventure. When I was 5 years old, this was released in theaters and being the Star Wars fan I was, I wanted to see it. But I got kind of scared in the first few minutes, so my Mom took me to Superman II in the next cinema over instead. Years later, after I saw the 1984 prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, I re-watched Raiders and loved it. In English class in Junior High we did a whole dissection of the story and characters of Raiders and I had an even deeper appreciation for it. In 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was an adventure with Indy and his father that I saw opening weekend and loved. After traveling to Venice, Italy I had an even stronger respect for filming of the action scenes there. In 2008, a later-in-life Dr. Jones gets into a new Cold War adventure in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. That one gets the worst wrap of them all it’s not as bad as everyone thinks. Bottom line, even when it’s bad, it’s still better than most adventure movies. Raiders stands as a near-perfect film: just one epic action set piece after another. Now the sequel from director James Mangold Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens this week.

movie poster

Here’s the plot overview to the best of my ability to not spoil: In a prologue during the Allied liberation of Europe in World War II in 1944, Indiana and colleague Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) are captured by the Nazi’s and Nazi scientist Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) has found half of Archemedes Dial, which can enable time travel. Skip ahead to 1969, Dr. Jones is now divorced and he’s about to retire as a college professor. He is now a grumpy old man (you almost expect him to quote Dana Carvey’s SNL character or Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino character). He is approached by Basil’s daughter who is also his God-daughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and she is after the half of the dial. But then as Voller and his goons are after Indy, Helena makes a run for it and Indy chases after her. They find themselves banding together, even if suspicious of the other, to find the other half of the dial. There’s also brief appearances from old friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) and ex Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen, who I interviewed in 2017).

me with Karen Allen, who plays Marion Ravenwood, for an interview in 2017

One of the biggest complaints fans had about Indy 4 was that aliens do not belong in Indiana Jones’ movies. While you do have to suspend disbelief at the thought of one man taking on an entire army in chase after chase and an ark that makes Nazi’s heads explode, it is based in history and aliens make it sci-fi. Here with Indy 5, the haters are going to be unhappy that time travel is finding its way in. It’s not far from the historical themes of the previous films IMHO. The script is, well, not perfect and it’s definitely lacking Spielberg and Lucas. James Mangold is an able director (re-watch Cop Land or Walk the Line if you doubt it) and he is definitely bowing at the altar of Spielberg, but storywise it feels like it was made by a committee as opposed to a singular vision. Biggest complaint I have is Helena. Why did they have a daughter of a close friend we are only now learning about be the anchor for this story? I think a much better move would’ve been if it was the daughter of Short Round and that also would’ve brought back Ke Huy Quan (how cool would that have been?) and for the audience it would’ve been a deeper connection to the older films. Now that I’ve complained, let me just say it was definitely better than Indy 4 and boy is the nostalgia on full blast! Seeing Harrison Ford back as Indiana Jones...well, he could read the phone book in that hat and whip and it’d probably be exciting. This doesn’t rank nearly as high as Indy 1-3 and at times I wanted to just re-watch Raiders, but when it gets going and Indy is outrunning the bad guys on a horse in NYC, you know it’s going to be a fun ride, even if it can’t live up to its own legacy. There’s been loads of sequels and reboots lately, but this one had the biggest shoes to fill and it couldn’t possibly fill over 40 years of watching and re-watching a classic, but I give credit for trying. Again, a bad Indiana Jones movie is better than most adventure movies and having Harrison Ford at 80 give this legendary character a send off is worth seeing!

me hanging with Indiana Jones

For info on IJATDOD: https://www.lucasfilm.com/productions/indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny/

3.5 out of 5 stars

[crowdvscritic]

round up // FEBRUARY + MARCH 23

February and March are strange months for a film enthusiast. One part of you is excited to start seeing new, star-studded studio movies on the big screen: 80 for Brady! Ant-Man and the Wasp! Cocaine Bear! Creed! But it’s also when the previous year’s films are wrapping their season with the final hurrah of a new, star-studded Oscars. In the case of Everything Everywhere All at Once, it means we spent a full year discussing and dissecting this year’s Best Picture winner! Much of this Round Up is dedicated to 2023 releases, though as always, you can find throwbacks to ‘30s, ’80s, and ‘00s flicks I missed till now, plus a few other media forms such as stage and page (as always, in a rough order of when I experienced them). But before we start building 2023’s Best Of lists, make sure you don’t miss these highlights from this year’s Oscars, which was a mostly refreshing return to (non-slappy) form: 

Hugh Grant on the Red Champagne Carpet - Sometimes people refuse to play the game, and the result is glorious (Kudos to Ashley Graham for keeping her composure!)

Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue - While he’s not afraid to take some shots, he actually seems to be rooting for the movies and the Oscars to succeed, which is not something I can say for the last year’s trio of hosts

Ke Huy Quan wins Best Supporting Actor - Perhaps the best speech of the night

Jamie Lee Curtis wins Best Supporting Actress - If not him, then it’s this one

Navalny wins Best Documentary - If you want to get political in your acceptance, please refer to this well-executed speech

Jenny the Donkey from The Banshees of Inisherin!

A performance of “Naatu Naatu” from RRR - If you want to perform at the Oscars, please refer to this well-executed one from the RRR crew

Lady Gaga performs “Hold My Hand” - The gal never misses in finding new ways to innovate on her performances

Michelle Yeoh wins for Best Actress - Best Actress and best-dressed of the night

Now on to the Best of 2023 so far!

February + March Crowd-Pleasers

1. Cookies: The New Classics by Jesse Szewczyk (2021)

A co-worker gifted me this for Christmas, and not one recipe has been a dud yet. The book categorizes 100 creative cookie and cookie-adjacent recipes into Boozy, Chocolatey, Fruity, Nutty, Savory, Smoky, Spiced, and Tart chapters so you can find just what you want for each season. Many of them are not-too-difficult, and the photography is both beautiful and actually similar to what comes out of my oven. My favorite recipes so far include Berry Blast Marbled Sugar Cookies, Chewy Triple-Spiced Sugar Cookies, Chipotle Fudge Squares with Crunchy Raw Sugar, Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars, Lavender Chocolate Chunk Cookies, and Salt-and-Vinegar Potato Chip Cookies. 

2. 80 for Brady (2023)

Together the 5 leads have won 5 Oscars, 12 Emmys, 2 Grammys, 3 Tonys, and 7 Super Bowl rings, so even though the script is a corny underdog story about people who have not been underdogs in ages, 80 for Brady a feel-good winner. Read my full review for ZekeFilm. 

3. Double Feature - ‘80s Comedies: Fletch (1985) + Troop Beverly Hills (1989)

In Fletch (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10), Chevy Chase works as an undercover reporter who gets caught up in a conspiracy so complex and silly I couldn’t do it justice here. In Troop Beverly Hills (8.5/10 // 7/10), Shelley Long works as a troop leader for a knockoff Girl Scout Troop who gets up in cookie selling schemes so creative and silly I couldn’t do it justice here either. More fun from the best decade for Hollywood comedies!

4. Enough (2002)

A subgenre I’ve yet to tire of: thrillers about abused women getting the last word. (See also: Double Jeopardy with Ashley Judd and Sleeping With the Enemy with Julia Roberts.) Perhaps it was because my entire thought process in watching this was, “It’s on Netflix, why not?” but J. Lo’s take on the subgenre brought enough clever twists and empowering moments to become a surprising success. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7/10

5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

The third Ant-Man reminds us Paul Rudd is one of the funniest actors alive and it’s kicking off Phase 5 of the MCU with the momentum missing from Phase 4. Read the triple-shot review I wrote with two other critics at ZekeFilm. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10

6. Cocaine Bear (2023)

Cocaine Bear lives up to what you’d expect from its title, and like some of the most fun hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s, it’s all-in on the silly, one-note premise with no desire for sequels, spin-offs, or universes. Read my full review for ZekeFilm.  Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

7. M3GAN (2023)

I consider horror about creepy dolls off-limits, but M3GAN is hardly horror, and its doll is so over-the-top she’s hilarious. There’s a little bit of thoughtful commentary about our dependence on technology, but mostly it’s an excuse for pure entertainment. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10

8. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

I’ve always been cool on John Wick. In fact, I turned off the first one in the middle when I first tried it almost a decade ago because its violence felt gratuitous. But fourth time’s a charm? Maybe it’s because of its visual flair or perhaps it’s because it feels like director Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves were going for broke, but this nearly-three hour epic won me over. The movie it most reminded me of? Singin’ in the Rain of all things. The fight choreography is as inventive and athletic as “Moses Supposes,” turning the action thriller into an art form. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

9. Your Place or Mine (2023)

Corny? Formulaic? Yes and yes. But Aline Brosh McKenna’s directorial debut delivers charm in spades, meaning it more than exceeds the Netflix rom-com average threshold (a low bar to be sure). Contrary to the buzz, Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon make believable BFFs and a couple to root for. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

10. The Golden Girls (1985-92)

Every day I get closer to my true, spiritual age of 83, and after the silliness of 80 for Brady, I decided it was time to binge the silly-but-slightly-more-caustic The Golden Girls. Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia’s jokes and adventures in their Miami bungalow remind me of my days rooming with my college besties, and it gives me hope that one day I’ll get to experience something as joyful, messy, intimate, and, yes, silly as their friendship all over again.

February + March Critic Picks

1. HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes (2020)

In September, I shared my appreciation for Elizabeth Holmes’s fashion and culture commentary in the wake of another Elizabeth’s passing. I received her coffee table-worthy book for Christmas, and her insight into how the Queen, Princess Diana, and at-time-of-publication Duchesses Kate and Meghan use their wardrobes to speak for causes and for themselves doesn’t disappoint. They have all become style icons not just because of their titles but because of their sartorial choices, and Holmes helps pinpoint why and how alongside a robust and beautiful collection of photography.

2. Triple Feature - Classic Screwball Rom-Coms: Libeled Lady (1936) + The Mad Miss Manton (1938) + The Palm Beach Story (1942)

In Libeled Lady (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10), Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Spencer Tracy get mixed up in a love quadrangle when a socialite threatens to sue the paper for libel. In The Mad Miss Manton (8/10 // 8.5/10), Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda team up (against their wills) in proto-Legally Blonde style to solve a murder. And in The Palm Beach Story (8/10 // 8.5/10), Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea plan to divorce so they can marry wealthier people. Don’t worry—in spite of all the mixups and shenanigans, everybody ends up with just the right person in all three of these comedies.

3. Creed III (2023)

In the middle, I found myself thinking, “This is what Hollywood entertainment for adults should be!” Yes, there’s a place for 80 for Brady, Ant-Man, and Cocaine Bear, but Creed builds its stakes on character instead of gimmicks or elevator pitches. Read the full review I tag teamed with fellow ZekeFilm writer Erik Yates.  Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10

4. To Kill a Mockingbird National Tour

Perhaps the highest praise possible for this show came from my TKAM-devotee mother: She has some nitpicks about the changes Aaron Sorkin made on Harper Lee’s novel, but she liked this better than her Broadway viewing. Since I am closer to a devotee of Sorkin than Lee, I found most of the updates thoughtful and fresh for a text that saturates our culture.

5. The Parallax View (1974)

A political thriller in the frame of a journalist uncovering a conspiracy? Hmm…Alan J. Pakula really has my number. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

6. Boston Strangler (2023)

Speaking of journalism thrillers, I’m not into true crime, but Queen Keira makes me to step outside my comfort zone. In her most exciting part in years, Knightley plays a reporter investigating a series of homicides at a third-rate Boston newspaper. She and Carrie Coon team up against workplace sexism and the strangler himself to get the truth out. It’s a real homage to Zodiac, but a solid one at that. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8/10

7. A Good Person (2023) 

If Garden State was Gen X coping with the reality that the American Dream couldn’t protect them from the pain their parents avoided in a pre-9/11 world, A Good Person is Millennials and Gen Z realizing the American Dream has betrayed them. Read my full review for ZekeFilm. Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

8. Captain Blood (1935)

I had no idea when I fired up this Errol Flynn/Olivia de Havilland adventure it’s basically a prototype for Pirates of the Caribbean—what a treat! How do the action, sets, and special effects look better than most adventure films today? Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

9. Australia (2008)

And now I have watched all of Baz Luhrmann’s lush, extravagant, colorful canon. In prep for the Faraway Downs miniseries he is making with never-before-seen footage from this shoot, I finally checked out the Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman World War II epic. As usual for Baz, it’s a little shaggy, but it’s also part of what I love about him. Every movie feels like a realized vision of texture and emotion, and Australia is no exception. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

10. John Mayer Solo

Come for the heartbreaking tunes and stay for Mayer’s delightfully awkward banter between songs. At our show he performed a retrospective of his career on guitar on piano and debuted a new song. While I enjoy a razzle-dazzle show, he’s proof you don’t need to rely on gimmicks in an arena.

Also in February + March…

In preparation for the Oscars, I reviewed Best Picture nominee Triangle of Sadness (which I had previously recommended in my last Round Up, which is why it’s not listed above). Like Best Picture winner Parasite, part of the fun of Triangle of Sadness is its surprises, but if you want to get a preview, you can read my review for ZekeFilm. 

Kyla and I also checked out the 1977 Best Picture nom The Turning Point, a ballet melodrama starring Anne Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Shirley MacLaine in ep. 136. And in ep. 135, we watched classic TV medical shows Marcus Welby, M.D. and ER.  

Photo credits: Cookies, HRH, To Kill a Mockingbird. John Mayer my own. All others IMDb.com.

[healthwellwisher]

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga Movie Review (2023)

Sunny Kaushal and Yami Gautam's starrer movie 'Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga' has been released on Netflix. Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is the story of Ankit and Neha. Businessman Ankit Sethi flies from here to there like a rich man, and Neha is there on almost every flight. Ankit starts flirting with Neha, and the two eventually fall in love with each other after bumping into each other.

Despite having a solid central idea of ​​the story of Chance Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, its writing is weak. If we talk about the direction of Ajay Singh, then he has tried to connect the audience with his story and direction. Although loopholes are also seen in some places in the movie, if we ignore them, then you can watch this movie once.

The movie's casting is excellent; the pair of Sunny Kaushal and Yami left no stone unturned to rock. The story has been woven around Sunny and Yami, so no scope is left for anyone else. Sharad Kelkar won everyone's hearts with his character, and he looks pretty impressive in the movie.

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga is a new-age cinema with a power-packed mix of romance, thrill, action, and suspense. There was scope in the movie for romantic songs and music with the romance between Yami and Sunny, but the director could not capitalize on it. The cinematography in the movie is remarkable. Most of the movie was shot inside the plane, so there isn't much to see on the location.