★★ On paper, Apple TV+'s Fountain of Youth should be a total blast. Director Guy Ritchie has a great eye for fun action set pieces; screenwriter James Vanderbilt has a stellar track record in the genre space; and leads John Krasinski and Natalie Portman have filmographies overflowing with outrageously entertaining spectacles. So why does this … Continue reading Film Review: Fountain of Youth
Film Review: Borderline
★★★★ Who doesn't love a good genre hybrid? Certainly, scream queen Samara Weaving is no stranger to the concept, excelling in the deliciously wild worlds of Netflix's The Babysitter duology and Radio Silence's propulsive Ready or Not. Borderline, written and directed by Jimmy Warden (Cocaine Bear, The Babysitter: Killer Queen), promises to be just as … Continue reading Film Review: Borderline
TV Review: Grosse Pointe Garden Society
While streaming has all but absorbed the standard network TV drama, there are still some notable exceptions to the rule. Take the new mystery/crime/drama Grosse Pointe Garden Society from co-showrunners Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs: a midseason gem that will use Peacock as a way to bring in many more weekly viewers than the series … Continue reading TV Review: Grosse Pointe Garden Society
Film Review: Lifeline
★★★ Every actor eventually has a dud or two amongst their filmography, sometimes due to script issues, faulty direction, or any other manner of reasons that lead to an end product simply not living up to what was first envisioned. Both Judah Lewis (The Babysitter films, Suitable Flesh) and Josh Stewart (The Collector, Insidious: The … Continue reading Film Review: Lifeline
Film Review: Carry-On
★★★★ Despite being unceremoniously snubbed at the Oscars for a magical turn as Elton John in Rocketman, Taron Egerton has proven himself to be a skilled acting chameleon with a deep well of performances hidden below his charming exterior time and time again. A campy, action-packed thriller is up next on his filmography, directed by … Continue reading Film Review: Carry-On
Film Review: MaXXXine
★★★★★ In this outrageously entertaining finale of his surprise X trilogy, writer/director/editor Ti West culminates the story of “being a star” that he has been building towards since the very beginning. Switching gears into grimy 80s slasher sleaze, MaXXXine presents an entirely different subgenre of horror than either of its predecessors. Stylistically owing much to … Continue reading Film Review: MaXXXine
Film Review: Reunion
★★ Murder mysteries are big again, and Reunion attempts to strike while the iron is hot. Unfortunately for the creative team here, nearly everything attempted was done better in 2022's underrated series, The Afterparty, and countless projects both before and after it. One element not lacking on any level is the talent assembled. Each member … Continue reading Film Review: Reunion
Tribeca 2024: Darkest Miriam
★★★★ Anytime executive producer Charlie Kaufman is involved in a production, even in the most minuscule of ways, one has to take notice. His films Anamolisa and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind rank amongst my favorites of all time, and this year's Orion and the Dark was a clear standout earlier this year. Now, … Continue reading Tribeca 2024: Darkest Miriam
Tribeca 2024: Presumed Innocent
Rarely are the television selections at Tribeca anything worth writing home about. In recent years, only FX's smash hit The Bear left any real mark on the industry as a whole. With Apple TV's mystery/crime adaptation Presumed Innocent and the pedigree of seasoned actor Jake Gyllenhaal, the television wing of this festival becomes revitalized in … Continue reading Tribeca 2024: Presumed Innocent
TV Review: Pretty Little Liars: Summer School
At this point, ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars is practically a footnote in the cheesy teen high school show pantheon. Slashers, however, are forever. Max's Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin birthed new life into the young adult series adaptation with a horror-heavy take on the material, and a fresh cast of diverse talent. Against all … Continue reading TV Review: Pretty Little Liars: Summer School