★★★ Existing outside the reality of any plausible scenario, absurdist romantic comedy The Valet is the perfect fit for streamer Hulu. Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving headline this quirky easy watch, complete with a sugary-sweet message. Those longing for a bygone throwback or a meta modern take on the genre can look elsewhere; The Valet … Continue reading Film Review: The Valet
Film Review: Senior Year
★★★★ As an adult freshly in my 30s, I cannot say that where I am now is how I envisioned my future forming after high school. How can one even fathom waking up from a coma at age 37—having skipped the maturing and personal growth of two decades—still in a 17-year-old state of mind? This … Continue reading Film Review: Senior Year
Film Review: Mascarpone
★★★★ LGBTQ+ content continues to be churned out at a rapid pace, often to the point where quantity has not been matched with quality. Mascarpone posits all the delights of a coming-of-age dramedy, proving that even at age 30, it is still possible to find oneself. Filmed in just three weeks in Rome, this Italian … Continue reading Film Review: Mascarpone
Sunscreen 2022: Icon
★★★ Icon is a decidedly different brand of romance/drama. While the story itself is nothing we have not seen before, the passion and talent assembled behind the camera is clear as day. Writer/director Tony Ahedo crafts his feature film debut into a vibrant coming-of-age indie. The film is partially a romance, and deals with how … Continue reading Sunscreen 2022: Icon
TV Review: Heartstopper
Based on the acclaimed graphic novel of the same name, Netflix’s Heartstopper is my favorite new show of the year thus far, and an absolutely adorable queer coming-of-age story. For those hoping for an overly-sexualized journey in line with Euphoria or Genera+ion, Heartstopper has a different flavor of filmmaking on its mind. The sweetness and … Continue reading TV Review: Heartstopper
CIFF 2022 Wrap-Up
2022's Cleveland International Film Festival hosted a variety of excellent screenings, both in person and online. Being unavailable to go in person, we covered this one virtually. Check out our full roundup of films that screened this year, including links to those we have previously covered. 1991 Depicting a specific time period (expressly, 1991 Guatemala), … Continue reading CIFF 2022 Wrap-Up
Oscar Roundup 2022
The 2022 Academy Awards are tomorrow; as per usual, a sizable divide exists between audience preference and critical acclaim. In fact, 2021's highest-grossing film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, garnered merely one nomination, for best visual effects. After the jump, check out links to our coverage for the nominated films, along with information about their nomination, … Continue reading Oscar Roundup 2022
SXSW 2022 Wrap-Up
As with 2021, this iteration of the South by Southwest Film Festival is wildly varied in tone and consistency, delivering what I assume will be some of our favorite movies of the entire year and we are only in March! After the jump, check out our full coverage from SXSW, including capsule reviews for the … Continue reading SXSW 2022 Wrap-Up
TV Review: Bridgerton – Season 2
Bridgerton’s debut season set the world on fire when it debuted all the way back in December of 2020, which at this point seems like a distant memory. Much ado has been made about breakout star Rege-Jean Page not returning even for a reduced role, but there is very good reasoning regardless. The Netflix series … Continue reading TV Review: Bridgerton – Season 2
SXSW 2022: Pretty Problems
★★★★ An unconventional adult love story oozing with awkward charm, Pretty Problems manages to steadfastly churn entertainment from relatable dumb-couple issues and privileged, borderline-satirical rich-bitch characters. For a movie that opens with an unsatisfying sex scene in which both leads settle for a “good try” before soldiering on with their day, I was genuinely surprised … Continue reading SXSW 2022: Pretty Problems