New REVIEW COMING SOON
Come back soon for my next briefing of a film or TV episode.
Ice Road [2021]
Liam Neeson and his in-film disabled Veteran brother attempt to deliver heavy equipment across the northern ice roads of the weeks after they are seasonally declared unsafe due to methane workers trapped in a mine collapse. Laurence Fishburne has a supporting role. Issues explored include race, class, corporate greed, how the US treats Veterans, and the like.
The ‘burbs [1989]
This comedy-horror film directly touches on suburbia and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s & 1990s in the USA. Starring a variety of familiar faces like Tom Hanks, Carrie FIsher with Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman, this film explores the wonderful life of being neighborly while being swept up in hysteria.
Walking Dead: World Beyond [S01E06]
The ending scene from ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’, S01E06, reminds me of a scene from ‘Mad Max: Thunderdome’ where the children replicate a primitive version of a television to tell their own story//history of the apocalypse.
In the ‘Walking Dead: World Beyond’ episode, a traveling troupe does a shadow-puppet version of similar: the Before Times, the apocalypse, and the like.
Both remind me of medieval times where traveling troupes gave news and entertainment [or news/history as entertainment like today?] at the same time. The “World Beyond” troupe leader even refers the performance as “entertainment” even though it contains the [semi-recent] history of the end of the world.
Regarding the show as a whole, it’s ok so far; a reasonable first season. As most know, first seasons can be rough around the edges.
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
This documentary about Anthony Bourdain was as enjoyable as it was difficult to watch.
The first two-thirds of the movie had familiar elements to those who read Anthony Bourdain’s two autobiographies, with elements of nuance and other information.
The last third of the movie focused on Anthony Bourdain’s last year or so; his downward spiral toward his end. Folks who knew him provided emotional, honest truth about what was going on – or at least what appeared to be going on.
For a touch of transparency: it is my understanding that there was//is some discussion about AI being used to produce replica of Anthony Bourdain’s voice for the movie and how this may or may not be appropriate. Morals and ethics aside, and that is a tall order, I could not audibly tell the difference whilst in the theatre audience even though I knew going in there was supposed to be a difference; I had to think about it if I wanted to know the difference whilst watching the movie live in person.
I recommend watching. Third act can provide a punch to the gut.
The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
A well-cast self-aware and self-referencing zombie comedy.
Clearly a “for fun” movie, which I didn’t find as a detraction for enjoying.
I forgot about seeing trailers (because of life, not because of the movie itself) and I’m glad to have re-discovered and watched.
I find it a sibling or cousin of the Zombieland franchise.
The VANISHING (2018)
This film regards the Flannan Isles Lighthouse Mystery, where three lighthouse keepers vanished without trace in 1900. Many tales have surrounded this, including a Doctor Who stretch in the Tom Baker Era [the Fourth Doctor].
This film’s iteration involves a lifeboat crashed ashore, past trauma, and greed. A decent film to watch; I admit rose-colored glasses regarding romanticizing the mystery of the tale. Acting was well done; direction and cinematography was well fitting.
Aftermath (2014)
Directed by Thomas Farone and starring Anthony Michael Hall, this 2014 thriller has an aesthetic of a 1997 film; I’m not sure if that’s on purpose or due to budget issues. I didn’t find that aspect as a negative necessarily, but interesting. There were noticeable editing cuts both in and between scenes which could have been better, but with such the film seemed to hold just enough together to not be terrible (I’ve seen worse).