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rickchung · 3 months

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True Detective: Night Country (prod. Issa López).

An inverse of the first season's sweaty Louisiana masculinity, this season is set in frozen darkness during the annual month-long period of continous nighttime in a remote Northern Alaskan town as López both enhances and subverts what intially drew audiences to pulpy detective drama.

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tinyreviews · 2 months

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Movie Review: American Fiction 2023. Sarcastic wit. Hilarious punchline. Must Watch!

I gave this movie a pass at first. But the hype from the Oscars made me watch it and I enjoyed this movie a lot! For a comedy, it dealt with quite a lot of serious topics. The last act is kinda messy but the punchline hit right.

It’s a clever story. The structure is clever. The characters are clever. The dialog is clever. The ending is hilarious. MUST WATCH!

Did you find the movie (and dialog) clever? I like the sister, Lisa, a lot!

American Fiction is a 2023 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson, in his feature directorial debut. Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, it stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, and Keith David.

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manonreviews · 9 months

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barbie (2023)

"We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they have come."

Barbie is not just a movie about the famous dolls. On a random fabulous day in Barbieland, Barbie (Margot Robbie) starts having dark thoughts, gets cellulite and can't tiptoe anymore. On the advice of Weird Barbie, she embarks on a journey to the Real World, with Ken (Ryan Gosling) alongside her. But as soon as they arrive in Los Angeles on their roller blades, they are shocked to see that life isn't as sweet as they thought... Both of them try to find new versions of themselves, for better or worst...

I have been waiting for this movie ever since the first pic of Barbie and Ken rollerblading got out. Though I have never been a fan of the original dolls, this movie felt like a must see to me.

And oh was I right. It was everything I expected and more. What starts as a beautifully decorated movie, with pretty clothes and pretty people, ends with such a heart wrenching finale. I never thought that going in the theater dressed in pink and happy to finally see this movie would leave me going home feeling so proud of being a woman and a human. The whole stance on feminism and womanhood was so well brought-on, in a way that made me feel like us women were finally seen and appreciated. America Ferrera's speech about what it is like to be a woman was amazing and so well delivered. What touched me the most was the way Barbie, who's the "representation" of what a woman "should" look like, felt so useless and not enough. But at the same time, Barbie is inspiring to little girls : you can be anything you want ! I loved that.

Without spoiling, Ken's storyline made me laugh way more than I expected. Ryan Gosling was outstanding and gave out a fabulous interpretation. Margot Robbie was also excellent in her role, and I liked America Ferrera very much.

The whole set, coupled with an amazing soundtrack, made the movie feel eerie. I know I will watch it whenever I feel a little down, cause it felt that good. And it made me feel proud to be a woman. Thank you Greta Gerwig!

directed by : Greta Gerwig release year : 2023 my rating : ★★★★★ ♥

#manonreviews #movie review #barbie #barbie movie #barbie 2023 #greta gerwig #margot robbie #ryan gosling #ken #america ferrera #ariana greenblatt #kate mckinnon #michael cera #issa rae #emma mackey #noah baumbach #review

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adamwatchesmovies · 5 months

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Barbie (2023)

2023’s Barbie turned out to be a pretty big deal. Not only is it Warner Bros. Studios’ highest-grossing film ever, it also received rave reviews and was directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote it with Noah Baumbach. Some say it proves that art is dead, that the bad guys have won, that even the artists with the most pristine integrity can be bought and sold like plastic dolls by soulless corporations. I say it proves there are no bad premises, only bad executions. When someone talented really cares about a project, they can turn even what some might call a commercial into a great, memorable, stylish and surprisingly thoughtful piece of art.

In Barbieland, all of the Barbies, Kens, and other Mattel dolls live in harmony - playing at the beach, working at their prestigious jobs and doing everything the children in the real world have them do. When Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie as “Barbie”) suddenly develops bad breath, and flat feet, then begins thinking about death, she travels to the real world to confront the child who’s been playing with her. Along for the ride is Beach Ken (Ryan Gosling as “Ken”). While Barbie is horrified to discover that the real world is not the ideal matriarchy she imagined, Ken is fascinated.

The movie Barbie most resembles is 2014’s The Lego Movie. Like it, Barbie is a frequently goofy and surreal comedy featuring a beloved children’s brand. It is also colorful, with many stylish visual flares that prove the people in charge have a deep and loving appreciation for the property. When Barbie leaves her bedroom to eat breakfast, she doesn’t take the stairs; she floats down to the ground floor. It’s because that's the way the dolls move when little girls play with them. If you look at the movie, you’ll see many of the various Barbies Mattel has sold over the years appear in cameo roles or roles you think are cameos (but turn out to be much more). Some of the Kens and Barbies we see aren’t even official Barbies but are part of the doll’s history, such as Kate McKinnon's “Weird Barbie” - the Barbie whose hair got cut up, has broken hips and weird “makeup” applied all over her face. Like The Lego Movie, Barbie has the occasional musical number and eventually leaves the made-up play world to visit the real world - a way for it to become more than just an ultra-colorful, super stylish adventure with costumes that are sure to win it awards.

There’s a lot to unpack in this film. Some of it you might anticipate from Barbie's trip to our world. Every 10 years or so, a mob with torches and pitchforks rises up to condemn Barbie for projecting unrealistic beauty standards upon little girls but never before has the character of Barbie actually been confronted with those criticisms; it’s always been the people at Mattel who’ve been on the receiving end. Obviously, in reality, it’s because Barbie isn’t real, but this movie asks “What if she WAS real? How would she take these criticisms? What would she say about them?” I don’t know how Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach did it but they convinced Mattel to all sorts of things I would’ve never expected. The movie also makes some strong points - all while being funny and going in unexpected directions.

Barbie is one of the most memorable movies in recent years. Even if you don’t remember the exact song that played during the Beach Battle, you’ll remember what the choreography was like while it played. You’ll remember Margot Robbie’s outfits, the visuals showing how her and Ryan Gosling’s characters travel from Barbieworld to our world, what the offices at Mattel look like, the wonderfully bizarre interpretation of its board of directors, the sets, Barbie's interactions with Gloria (America Ferrera) & her daughter Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) and the way it made you laugh. It’s got so much going on you could rewatch it several times and find something new in the visuals or the dialogue. There’s a point made about what role the Kens have in society, particularly at the end regarding how much Mattel/the rest of the world cares about them that still has me smiling long after the movie is over.

My only criticisms towards Barbie are that a) it probably could’ve been slimmed by about 10 minutes and b) it’s so successful that we’re all but guaranteed to have a sequel and I can’t imagine a follow-up being as fresh and satisfying as this original. I know there are people who will not be interested despite all the positive word of mouth. To them, I say you’re missing out. This is a great film that just happens to be about a plastic doll made by a giant corporation. It does so much with its premise, that I'm still in shock. (Theatrical version on the big screen, August 11, 2023)

#Barbie #movies #films #movie reviews #film reviews #Greta Gerwig #Noah Baumbach #Margot Robbie #Ryan Gosling #America Ferrera #Kate McKinnon #Issa Rae #Rhea Perlman #Will Ferrell #2023 movies #2023 films

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bubblegumbeech · 4 months

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Bee’s 2023 Fic Review

2021 2022

My AO3

Works: 8

Word Count: 154,635

Events: Invisobang | Phic Phight | EctoberHaunt (Mod Tucker)

Here’s my fics! I didn't write nearly as much as I hoped but I did start a Masters Program so I am learning to write better hopefully! (I actually wrote a lot I didn't post that I am saving for when I am more caught up on my WIPs tbh >>)

Danny Phantom:

WIP:

Pieces of Time (26,520 words) Subscriptions: 154 Hits: 3,390 Kudos: 267 Comment Threads: 45 Bookmarks: 118

Some questions don't have answers, some answers aren't worth having and some make you wonder where the truth is being hidden. Danny asks Clockwork a question, now, what about the answer?

Finished:

We Interrupt Your Scheduled Programming (10,062 words) Subscriptions: 5 Hits: 486 Kudos: 70 Comment Threads: 7 Bookmarks: 20

Nocturne generally hates doing favors. He’d honestly rather be sleeping, or messing with someone’s head or … well anything really. But Clockwork got himself into a mess that even he wasn’t going to have an easy time digging himself out of. But hey, what are brothers for? Clockwork was going to owe him for this one though.

Pruning the Branches (30,289 words) Subscriptions: 3 Hits: 215 Kudos: 14 Comment Threads: 12 Bookmarks: 2

Flynn is finally headed back to his home in the Ghost Zone! But something happened in the short time he was away, something that put his family at risk. Struggling to once more find his footing now that everything seems to be falling apart around him, Flynn needs to get answers-even if that means running from his Mother and overprotective siblings and dodging a murderous ghost that's a little bit too murderous. Nothing is going to be the same after this.

Other:

WIP:

Hyde Inside (7,847 words) Subscriptions: 11 Hits: 257 Kudos: 27 Comment Threads: 5 Bookmarks: 7

The only place for a murderer is a hangman's noose… but there is another place for a madman if Gabriel can make the argument. He could save his friend's life. Even if he'd never be forgiven for it. It might have even worked if it wasn't for the mysterious sharp-toothed woman outside Hyde's room, and the answers the good doctor seems reluctant to share.

Finished:

Treasures and Tricks (1,518 words) Hits: 314 Kudos: 55 Comment Threads: 4 Bookmarks: 8

Hastur was an all powerful inhuman King. He did not spend his days thinking about Arthur Lester.

Not a Home but a Haunt (2,319 words) Hits: 77 Kudos: 13 Comment Threads: 3 Bookmarks: 2

Arthur Lester is adjusting just fine to his new 'situation' thank you. Being blind doesn't make him helpless, it's just a new fact of his life. He can still be a detective, if Parker would just let him prove it. Ignoring of course, the strange new voice that seems to come from no where, and Parker swearing that it's just the two of them alone in the apartment…

Grand Line Carnival (24,140 words) Subscriptions: 51 Hits: 3,909 Kudos: 268 Comment Threads: 45 Bookmarks: 81

Law doesn't want to go to a carnival ever again, but his crew doesn't know that and they insist that he has been spending far too much time in the hospital. So he's stuck, but at least he's with friends, now if only he could get that weird stranger off his mind. Or better yet, Stop running into him everywhere. Literally.

Beneath Different Stars (51,940 words) Subscriptions: 175 Hits: 7,784 Kudos: 520 Comment Threads: 125 Bookmarks: 116

A role-reversal that has Dynn Jaren, a stormtrooper with an attitude problem running away with a stolen asset. And Corin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter that’s supposed to be hunting him down for the good of his clan. Except, what happens when the “asset” isn’t what he thought it was? And the “stormtrooper” he was chasing packs a bit of a punch?

#fic year in review #Bee's writing #bumble thoughts #yearly review #Danny phantom #Issa me! Bee!

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omnivorouscinephilia · 8 months

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Barbie: Gerwig's Self-Aware Pop-Feminist Deconstruction

Gerwig had the Herculean task of making a Barbie movie that was not only commercially but artistically successful, and she did maybe the best job any director could have. Consider reading my review of the film!

Greta Gerwig, hot off the successes of Lady Bird and Little Women, chose to make her third outing a film adapting the iconic Barbie for Mattel. That move makes sense, as her projects’ scope and ambition grow with each project, effectively going from scrappy indie film to sweeping period literary adaptation to major studio tentpole. Yet cynicism cannot help but creep in; will the machinations of…

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jvzebel-x · 1 year

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"I hate how they have the power to kill my future-- kill me. They treat my black skin like a gun or a grenade or a knife that's dangerous and lethal. When, really, it's them. The guys at the top, powering everything."

x. "Ace of Spades", Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

#Ace of Spades #Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé #📚#so. as a rule i usually dont like books that center around school for extremely obvious reasons lol.#a young protag is one thing but a plotline that heavily revolves around school life is. issa no for me lol.#BUT i got recd this book&when i went to go look for reviews the first one listed ripped the book apart.#the language the reviewer used was... questionable seeing as systemic racism was the primary theme lol.#the next review i read however was by a reviewer who LOVED it. in fact the reviews i saw were split basically down the middle.#seeing as the primary theme was systemic racism+antiblackness (w a strong focus on microaggressions) in higher acedemia specifically #&socioeconomics in general it wasnt difficult to guess WHY the split was there lmao&i read the book&yeah lol.#anyway it wasnt like. a perfectly plotted book; like there were certain sideplots that were never really given closure #but its also the debut novel of a Nigerian British author who v specifically wrote a whole authors note #to detail the fact that she wrote the book during a v dark time in her life when she was dealing w systemic racism in academia #so the lack of closure on certain points sounds&feels like she wrote this book for a purpose&those themes werent it.#&the purpose&allegory she was trying to make was really well done. i hope she keeps writing.#... as an aside i was recd this book bc i was recd donna tart first&realized while reading the goldfinch that like.#theres a reason why i see her work clipped&out of context everywhere lmao shes racist as fuck.#nothing like being punched in the gut by the n word out of nowhere spoken by a yt character written by a yt author lmao.#... cannot understand why this woman is like. The End Word in dark academia fiction??? shes terrible???#so yeah i went looking for a better dark academia book lmao.#also found several articles about this issue w donna tartt so i guess i should have just googled it first LMAO.

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chronomally · 7 months

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I'm watching Vengeance (2022) by BJ Novak and I'm less than halfway through and I'm already obsessed with it

#please feel free to ignore this #I'm watching Vengeance #movie review #BJ Novak has a habit of writing and playing the worst types of dudes who are so un-self-aware #but everyone else knows that he's the worst and is trying to politely communicate it to him #Issa Rae and Ashton Kutcher are killing it in equal and opposite directions

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rookie-critic · 1 year

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Vengeance (2022, dir. B.J. Novak) - review by Rookie-Critic

Vengeance seemed very well-intentioned. The debut feature from The Office breakout B.J. Novak (who you probably know better as Ryan), Vengeance tells the story of a self-absorbed New York journalist/wannabe podcaster named Ben who, as a result of a misunderstanding, goes to West Texas to attend the funeral of a girl who, outside of hooking up with her a few times in the past, he knows nothing about. After the funeral, the older brother of the girl (played by a fully dedicated Boyd Holbrook), based on nothing but "gut," tells Ben that his sister did not die of an overdose like the reports say, but that she was murdered and they need to avenge her death. So that's the setup.

The family of Abilene, the girl who died, is made up of a cast of borderline-caricatures that are all dislikable, but lovable in their own ways, and each get their moment to shine throughout the movie. I say borderline because, from an insider's perspective they'd seem ridiculously overblown, and from an outsider's perspective they might seem just fine. However, being from Texas (although, according to the film, "Dallas isn't Texas"), and having family members that live in a more rural area of the state (although my family is from East Texas, not West), a lot of the way they're written is 100% right on the money. There are just a couple of moments where they tipped over into straight parody. Outside of the family, there are a large cast of characters, all mostly incompetent and of no help, except for Ashton Kutcher's character, small-town record producer Quentin Sellers, who is the first person to really break Ben's narcissistic and jaded shell. Kutcher excells the movie forward and almost feels like a breath of fresh air from all the "haha funny country" people in the movie.

Some of the jokes land, some of them don't, some of them will make you roll your eyes, and you never really feel a deep, emotional connection with any one particular character until getting close to the end of the movie, and the film never misses a chance to turn a heartwarming moment into one of bleak, grim realism. Again, sometimes this works, other times you wish the moment had just been allowed to be heartwarming. For the most part, the film is good. The parts that work, work well, and again, Novak seems very well-intentioned with what he was trying to say. Sadly, he makes the movie tackle so many different subjects and tries to say so much about them that the messages end up getting muddled by the time the credits start to roll. Novak is a director to watch, though, and I'll be excited to see whatever his second attempt is now that he's got one under his belt.

Score: 7/10

Currently streaming on Peacock.

Worth it for the hilarious cameo scene with John Mayer at the very beginning alone.

#Vengeance #B.J. Novak #B. J. Novak #Boyd Holbrook #Issa Rae #Ashton Kutcher #J. Smith-Cameron #Dove Cameron #Isabella Amara #Eli Bickel #Lio Tipton #Louanne Stephens #Zach Villa #John Mayer #film review #movie review #2022 films

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twenty-words-or-less · 9 months

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Barbie

Summary: Barbie's (Margot Robbie) world is perfect... until one day, it isn't, and she and Ken (Ryan Gosling) must find out why.

Borders on preachy but Robbie and Gosling great, ZSJL joke leftfield, and fourth-wall breaking funny. Only truly important live-action adaptation.

Rating: 4/5

Photo credit: IMDb

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creativedifferencespodcast · 11 months

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Five stars! Amazing! Spectacular! Superior! All other Spider-Man adjectives! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had immense expectations, and it managed to meet or exceed every last one of them. Listen to our new episode to hear more of why we love it!

#creative differences #podcast #movie review #Spider-Man #spider man: across the spider verse #miles morales #gwen stacy #miguel o’hara #hobie brown #spider punk #shameik moore #hailee steinfeld #oscar isaac #jake johnson #daniel kaluuya #karan soni #issa rae

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ciegeinc · 11 months

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Movie Review...Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

(5/5) So the worse part about this movie is that it is not live action. That is literally it. How is the best representation of Spider-Man on the big screen an animation? After three different actors, three different stories and the one that outshines them all is the animated one? Do you only think this story can be told in animation form? I need answers now!!! I want this live action...it deserves to be.

With just two films Miles Morales has eclipsed all other Spider-Man films. The story is the strongest part of the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man. It was even stronger in this second film. You get this jovial kinda campy villian origin creation story that then leads the hero and characters down a more serious character development path for Miles.

As the plot progressed and more truths were revealed the story got even better. Spots, one of the antagonist, tone even changed as he got stronger. That represented the change in tone of the story. This was like a combination of Loki meets The Flashpoint Paradox. They are not right for the cliffhanger (ended like a great anime episode) at the end but just like the first film I want to know more about Miles as well as Spider Man 2099.

I am still not a fan of the style of animation just like the first film but at this point in the franchise its just something I have to accept. This might be the old man in me talking but it just hurts my eyes. Now this other note is showing my age as well. When Punk Spider-Man was speaking I needed sub titles. When British people be comfortable and lay on the accent real heavy I need subtitles (Like the film Rock N Rolla). Their accent and the slang together...nope (lol).

Miles Morales has now set the bar to a new height for Spider-Man films. My favorite up to this point was still Spider Man 2 but Across the Spider-Verse is now my favorite Spider Man movie and Miles Morales is my favorite Spider-Man.

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders. He must soon redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.

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tinyreviews · 9 months

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It’s a movie by women, for women. Choked full of witty, allegorical quotes.

Barbie is a 2023 American fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig, who wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, it is the first live-action Barbie film after numerous computer-animated films and specials. The film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, with America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Helen Mirren, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.

#barbie #ken #margot robbie #helen mirren #ryan gosling #issa rae #simu liu #america ferrera #kate mckinnon #michael cera #rhea perlman #will ferrell #barbie doll #fantasy comedy #greta gerwig #movie review #2023 #social commentary #barbie review

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letmerunitbiyou · 11 months

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rockzone · 1 year

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Issa - Lights of Japan

Release Date: 20 Jan 2023

Norwegian melodic rock queen Issa is back with her seventh studio album, “Lights Of Japan”, released yesterday.

A ‘rebirth’ of sorts, fans can expect to hear a revitalised and inspired artist who is evolving her sound, while also staying true to her roots. That being said, sonically, this latest album from Issa lands somewhere between her revered debut album “Signs of Angels” and 2018's well received “Run With The Pack”, which makes "Lights Of Japan" one of the talented singer's absolute best albums thus far.

As fans have come to expect with this absolutely fabulous vocalist, "Lights Of Japan" has huge vocals, soaring, beautiful melodies an hooks galore.

For "Lights Of Japan", Issa worked with producer Michele Guaitoli, who has produced albums by Visions Of Atlantis, Kalidia, SheWolf, and many more, and is also the vocalist for Visions Of Atlantis, Temperance, and Era. Michele also plays guitars and bass on the album as well as contributing to the songwriting on two tracks.

For the bulk of the album's songwriting, Issa's husband James Martin and his brother Tom, both former members of UK melodic rockers Vega, contributed their immense talents.

Issa’s musical growth over the years has been tremendous to hear. Fans will regard “Lights Of Japan” as another jewel in her crown.

#Album Review #Issa

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bob-the-movie-man-film-reviews · 1 year

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The Swimmers (15): Swimming the Aegeon in a Quest for Glory.

#onemannsmovies review of "The Swimmers" (2022). #theswimmers. An extraordinary true story of refugees beating the odds. 4/5.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Swimmers” (2022). Yet another film on my BAFTA catch-up list, this one nominated for “Best British Film”. “The Swimmers”, on Netflix, tells the true life story of two sisters, both professional swimmers, and their journey to escape the war in Syria. Bob the Movie Man Rating(s): Plot Summary: Yusra Mardini (Nathalie Issa) and her sister Sara (Manal Issa) are…

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