2020’s seemingly neverending pandemic left a lot of free time to revisit and reflect. One of the shows that brought me comfort—and a saucy, endlessly entertaining first-time binge watch—was NBC’s Smash. An immaculate deconstruction of Broadway devoted to intimate character moments and elaborate choreography, Smash may have only lasted two seasons, but it remains a … Continue reading Theater Review: Smash
SXSW 2025: O’Dessa
★★ A post-apocalyptic rock opera led by Stranger Things breakout Sadie Sink? What could possibly go wrong? Certainly writer/director Jeremy Gasper brings a unique visual style to the bright extravaganza of muchness that is O'Dessa. Unfortunately, almost none of it works, save for maybe the silky-smooth vocals of Sink. In the strange other-world of this … Continue reading SXSW 2025: O’Dessa
Our Favorite Films of 2024
Join Josh and Allison as we revisit the cinema of 2024 through our trademark yearbook-style superlatives, then unveil our favorite movies of the year! One thing is certain: we have definitely been changed for good! Movie Yearbook Superlatives! Best horror movie JOSH: As with the past couple of years, horror has been thriving—especially in the … Continue reading Our Favorite Films of 2024
Film Review: A Complete Unknown
★★★★★ The ever-elusive, eternally mysterious Bob Dylan has come to the big screen before at least once. Flashing back to 2007, Todd Haynes directed a puzzling take on Dylan’s life, wherein six different actors portrayed him at different stages in his life. Now, two-time Oscar nominee James Mangold takes a stab at demystifying the king … Continue reading Film Review: A Complete Unknown
Film Review: Wicked
★★★★★ After becoming a smash hit—and playing on Broadway now for over two decades—it would have been easy to make a rushed, condensed version of Wicked that failed to live up to the Tony-winning hype of its show counterpart. I still remember hearing about the concept for the first time when I was in high … Continue reading Film Review: Wicked
Theater Review: Maybe Happy Ending
Back in 2015, nearly a decade ago at this point, Glee's Darren Criss replaced Neil Patrick Harris in Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Belasco Theater. My mom surprised me with some wonderfully close orchestra tickets, and the rest, as they say, is history. Being a big fan of the movie and its … Continue reading Theater Review: Maybe Happy Ending
Theater Review: Once Upon a Mattress
Sutton Foster soars in Broadway’s snazzy new update of Once Upon a Mattress, on the Great White Way for the first time since 1996. One’s familiarity with the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” should not impede upon their enjoyment of this hilariously off-kilter throwback musical. Despite being weary of checking out another … Continue reading Theater Review: Once Upon a Mattress
Annecy 2024: Spermageddon
★★★★ In case a reminder was needed that animation can be just as much for adults as for children, look no further than raunchy, ridiculously fun musical comedy, Spermageddon. This 3D-animated outrageous Norwegian import charts the path of the innumerable sperm cells living inside the ballsack of teenage nerd-gamer, Jens (Christian Mikkelsen), on their way … Continue reading Annecy 2024: Spermageddon
Inside Out 2024: Bonus Track
★★★★ Rarely does a film come with its own built-in mixtape, or carry the same feel-good whimsy as queer favorite, Heartstopper. Co-writer/story creator Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Challengers), I was not familiar with your game. Music aficionados will find plenty of familiar indie rock tunes to blast—Years & Years lead singer Olly Alexander helms the … Continue reading Inside Out 2024: Bonus Track
Film Review: Gaga Chromatica Ball
★★★★ Concert movies are a dime a dozen. So many artists fall back on this super easy way to monetize an event they are already performing at. The difference between an average concert film and an exceptional one comes down to both the quality of the music and the power of the live performance show … Continue reading Film Review: Gaga Chromatica Ball