ScreenCrave.com » Reviews

Glee: Season 3 Episode 12: The Spanish Teacher – TV Review

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:47:30 +0000

Last night, “Glee” introduced us to Mr. Martinez a.k.a Ricky Martin. In honor of the Latin star, the whole episode sort of paid homage to Latin culture with songs by famous singers like Gloria Estefan and Enrique Iglesias. Let’s go over ‘The Spanish Teacher.’

The Players:

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Cast: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Matthew Morrison, Ashley Fink, Chord Overstreet, Harry Shum, Jr., Cheyenne, Darren Criss, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch, and Mike O’Malley

Episode Title: “The Spanish Teacher”

Mr. Schue assigns the glee kids a Spanish singing assignment and enlists the help of his musically inclined night-school teacher (Ricky Martin). Meanwhile, Rachel tells Kurt and Mercedes about Finn’s proposal; and Mercedes has romantic complications of her own

The Good:

A New Rival For Sue Sylvester: Sue has met her match in swim coach Roz Washington. It was about time Sue gave up trying to sabotage the glee club (though we’re no sure she has) and Mr. Schue, and found herself a new rival. We expect a lot of deliciously wicked moments from these two outspoken ladies.
Kurt Gives Finn A Pep Talk: The writers have really created something very special between Kurt and Finn. Their bond is one of the best things on the show. These two have been through a lot, but it’s thanks to those hardships that they are now able to have such a strong and believable relationship.
Best Line (SPOILERS!): Sue tells Becky that she knew Becky outed her to Principal Figgins’, “ever since [she] tinker tailor soldier spied [her] way into Figgins’ cabinet.” Brilliant!

The So-So:

David Martinez (Ricky Martin): As charming and handsome as Ricky Martin may be, his character, David Martinez, feels like another Mr. Schue. Both are better looking than your average high school teacher, both can sing and dance, and both are extremely nice. But we’ll cut him some slack this time just because his performance of ‘Sexy and I Know It’ was pretty rad, and who knows, maybe he’ll have an interesting arc.
Mother Sue: So everyone is asking themselves the same question – Sue, a mom? What? The other characters are in as much disbelief of Sue wanting to be a mom as we are. Yeah, it’s great to see Sue grow as a person, but what is a baby suppose to prove?

The Bad:

Mercedes and Sam: In order for us to believe in this relationship, we need to know why Sam is so head-over-heels for Mercedes. We can’t support or get behind this relationship without understanding it. Show us what exactly happened that summer that made them crazy for each other, or something.
Nothing Memorable Happens: Aside from the introduction of Ricky Martin and an entertaining face-to-face argument between Sue and coach Washington (NeNe Leaks), this episode was just a plain old mess, a lot like ‘Pot O’ Gold.’ It was mainly used as a means to introduce a new character and not much else.

The Music:

“La Cucaracha” Various – Will entertains his English-speaking students with a little Spanish folk song.
“Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO – Ricky Martin shows off his singing and dancing talents to the glee kids.
“Don’t Wanna Lose You,” Gloria Estefan – Mercedes expresses how she feels about Sam with a Gloria Estefan number.
“Bamboleo/Hero” Simon Diaz/Enrique Iglesias – Sam reciprocates, and dedicates a smash of ‘Bamboleo’ and ‘Hero’ to Mercedes.
“Las Isla Bonita,” Madonna – Santana recruits Mr. Martinez for her performance. Definitely the best of the night.
“A Little Less Conversation,” Elvis – Mr. Schue puts on a silly bullfighter costume and sings Spanish and English version of ‘A Little Less Conversation.’ Everyone loves it, except Santana… and us.

Overall:

Last night’s episode had very few entertaining moments. We got to meet Mr. Martinez, and that was pretty much it.

Rating: 5.5/10

“Glee” airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on FOX.

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Gossip Girl: Season 5 Episode 14: The Backup Dan – TV Review

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:30:06 +0000

Last night’s “Gossip Girl” picked up right where it left off, with a runaway bride dressed in Vera Wang. As we found out in last week’s episode, Blair’s emergency call was Dan, who drove her away from her horrible royal nightmare. More than anything, ‘The Backup Dan’ felt like a continuation to the wedding episode. Everyone’s still dressed in the same gowns and tuxes, and some are still celebrating the holy union (not knowing that a bride is on the loose). When the word is finally out that Blair is on the run, everyone is desperately searching for her – Serena, Chuck, Nate, the horrible Grimaldis – but she’s got a plan, a backup plan. Let’s go over the ups and downs of ‘The Backup Dan’.

The Players:

Director: David Warren
Writer: Matt Whitney
Cast: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick

Episode Title: “The Backup Dan”

Blair struggles with a decision that could hurt those she loves the most; Serena tries to protect someone important to her; Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) pursues a scandal.

The Good:

JFK (SPOILERS!): After finding out Louie’s real intentions, Blair and Dan headed straight to the airport. Blair’s plan is to book a quick flight to the Dominican Republic where she’ll be able to get a divorce (apparently Elizabeth Taylor did this) without the groom’s consent. The scenes at the airport are all about Dan and Blair. They are like fugitives, trying to escape the evil monarchs. One of the best moments is when Blair takes Dan’s credit card and purchases some casual jeans and an ‘I Love NY’ T-shirt (she’s been running around in her wedding dress). A T-Shirt? Blair? Is this a hint at Dair?
A Sincere Apology (SPOILERS!): Towards the end of the episode, Dan gets fed up with Blair’s bossy behavior and leaves her with her ‘true friends’ (Serena and Chuck). Later, Blair finds Dan and makes a genuine apology, telling Dan that she does care about him.
New Mystery: There’s a new mystery of who sent the video blast that ruined Blair’s wedding? There are several hints that point to Dan, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves.
Best Line: Serena to Chuck, “Maybe I’ve seen The Hangover too many times.”

The So-So:

Is Georgina Gossip Girl? (SPOILERS!): So Georgina isn’t the original Gossip Girl. Apparently, GG abandoned the site after Blair’s accident, and G took over. Although it makes a lot more sense that G isn’t Gossip Girl, we can’t help but wonder, what are her true intentions? And, who is the real GG?

The Bad:

The Dowry (SPOILERS!): In the end, after all the running and searching, Blair returns to Louie. What? Yes. Why? Because if she doesn’t, The Waldorfs will have to pay a huge dowry. Wait, what? It doesn’t make any sense! This is the 21st Century. Who pays a dowry? This is completely unbelievable. It seems like the writers are messing with us to see how much we’ll be able to let slide. But this new ‘plot twist’ is hurting one of the most important relationships on “GG.”
Chuck and Blair (SPOILERS!): How much humiliation can one guy take? Once again, Blair has rejected Chuck. Their relationship is losing its heat, its chemistry. At this point, it just seems like Blair is making up excuses not be with Chuck. We’re starting to think she doesn’t actually love him.

Overall:

It breaks our heart to see Chuck humiliated so many times. His life is on hold because Blair can’t make up her mind. But as their relationship is losing its heat, another is gaining it – Dair. After last night’s scene between Dan and Blair, it seems like these two may give it a shot. As for some of the other characters, well, Serena’s role in the series is just fading away. She’s such a secondary character at this point, which is unfortunate because she use to be quite interesting. Overall, ‘The Backup Dan’ didn’t really work. There should have been a plan C.

Rating: 5/10

“Gossip Girl” airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Nikita: Season 2 Episode 13: Clean Sweep – TV Review

Krystal Clark — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:23:04 +0000

“Kill them all!” That’s one of the deadly orders given in this week’s episode of “Nikita.” The gang of assassins have their hands full when Percy breaks free and tries to take down Oversight. There’s nothing more dangerous than a revenge-seeking psycho, with Guardians at his disposal.

Check out our review…

The Players

Director: Brad Turner
Writer: Kalinda Vazquez
Cast: Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca Aaron Stanford, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Devon Sawa

Episode Title: “Clean Sweep”

Nikita, Michael and Sean attempt to rescue the captured members of Oversight. Percy and Amanda strike a deal that finally grants him freedom. Meanwhile, Alex returns to Division and tries to disable “Operation Clean Sweep.”

The Good:

Percy Has a Way with Words. Percy is the king of manipulation. When confronted by Nikita’s gang, he hit all the hot button topics. He brought up Michael’s part in the death of Nikita’s fiance, then taunted him with a possible Nikita-Owen fling, and tapped into Sean’s mommy issues. He went for the jugular in one fell swoop.
Nikita joins Oversight: After realizing she’s lost control of Amanda, Senator Pierce asks Nikita to help her dismantle Division. At first, Nikita’s against it but Michael convinces her that it’s the safest, smartest way to do it. We never thought we’d see the day.
Amanda’s Gone Rogue: Speaking of Amanda, we can never read her! She’s worse than Percy. Her back-up-back-up plans have back-up plans. We genuinely thought she cared about the innocent Division employees whose brains would turn to mush if the nerve gas was released. But we should have known better. She was prepared to slip on a gas mask and watch them all die. Her fake concern knows no bounds.
Percy’s on the Move: Where’s Percy going? Over the past two seasons he’s been a stationary character. This time, the tables have turned and now he’s on the run. It will be interesting to see him in a different setting that has him adapting to his surrounding. Nikita does it all the time.

The Bad:

Anyone Else Confused?: There are a lot of story lines going on right now and we’re trying to keep up. Nikita is still taking down Division, but with the help of Oversight. Division is in cahoots with Gogal, who’re still working for Semak, whom Alex is trying to kill. Oh, and did we forget to mention that Percy is still out there? Or that Ryan is still imprisoned? And where the heck is Owen when we really need him?!

Overall:

“Clean Sweep” was a decent episode. The first half was rather slow, but the final 30 minutes made up for it. One of the things we love about “Nikita” is its hand-to-hand combat scenes but this week, they were scarce. We mostly saw gun-play and lots of threatening, which is pretty generic.

Rating: 7.5/10

“Nikita” airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on The CW

What did you think of this week’s episode of “Nikita?”

Glee: Season 3 Episode 11: Michael – TV Review

Laura Aguirre — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:04:14 +0000

Last night, “Glee” hit us with a smooth Michael Jackson tribute episode. Previously the New Directions paid tribute to both Britney and Madonna in ways that didn’t resonate well with the series, mostly because there was too much show and not enough story. But “Michael” wasn’t just about honoring the King of Pop with song and dance, it was also about the ongoing storylines and characters. Rachel finally gives Finn an answer to his marriage proposal, and a few of the seniors find out where they’ll be next fall. Let’s see what set this tribute episode apart from the rest…

The Players:

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Cast: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Matthew Morrison, Ashley Fink, Chord Overstreet, Harry Shum, Jr., Cheyenne, Darren Criss, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch, and Mike O’Malley

Episode Title: “Michael”

The New Directions-Warblers rivalry heats up (with Michael Jackson music on the soundtrack) as Regionals near; Kurt and Rachel hear about their applications to the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts; and things between Sam and Mercedes get hotter.

The Good:

There’s A New Villain In Town: Who would have expected the next villain to be dressed in a Warblers suit? Didn’t see that one coming. We got to give it to Sebastian, he’s one slick and handsome devil – definitely the best villain since Jesse St. James. Can’t wait to see more of him.
Dance off: The Warblers and the New Directions meet in a lonely parking lot and dance off to Michael Jackson’s “Bad.” It’s an overall good performance, but what made it really good was the grand finale. Sebastian, attempts to hurt Kurt by throwing a slushie with pop rocks on his face, only to miss and hit Blaine instead. All we see is Blaine covered in bright red chunks of ice, rolling on the floor because he’s in so much pain.
Kurt And Rachel Get Good News (SPOILERS!): After all Kurt has been through, it’s only right that he get into NYATA. Sure, his dad didn’t have to travel all the way to school to give Kurt the envelope, but we’ll let that slide. Sadly, at the time Kurt got his ‘finalist’ letter, Rachel still hadn’t gotten hers, so she couldn’t share the enthusiasm, but once she got her letter, it was all joyful tears. These are two kids that definitely deserve to get into the school of their dreams.
Rachel’s Answer (SPOILERS!): And her answer is, one shocking ‘yes.’ In Rachel’s defense, this was a desperate moment. It wasn’t so much a ‘yes’ more of an ‘okay, i guess.’ These kids are going through tough times. They don’t know what lies outside of McKinley and they are scared. Like the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and these seniors are desperate for answers.

The Bad:

Quinn Hears From Yale (SPOILERS!): As someone who knows someone who got into Yale, I say, Quinn doesn’t qualify! It takes a lot more than a high GPA. Yale is one of the top universities in the whole world, and Quinn just happened to get in? Nope. This doesn’t make sense.

The Music:

“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” Michael Jackson – Blaine takes on the King of Pop. By now, Blaine has replaced Finn as out favorite new male vocalist. Sure Finn can sing, but Blaine has the smooth moves.
“Bad,” Michael Jackson – The Warblers and New Directions take their competition to the streets in a dance-off.
“Scream,” Michael Jackson – Arty’s dream sequence in black and white. The one performance that doesn’t make any sense.
“Never Can Say Goodbye,” The Jackson 5 – Quinn sings about never being able to say goodbye.
“Human Nature,” Michael Jackson – Wait, here’s another number that doesn’t make much sense – Mercedes and Sam performing a duet that ends in a kiss…?
“Ben,” Michael Jackson – Rachel, Finn and Kurt bring Michael to a sick Blaine.
“Smooth Criminal,” Michael Jackson – Santana seeks revenge, and gets tangled in a messy sing-off with Sebastian.
“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” Michael Jackson – Instead of telling Rachel how he feels, Finn sings to her, which is more adequate since this is a show based on singing.
“Black or White,” Michael Jackson – The New Directions take the high road and instead of getting even with The Warblers, they teach them a lesson a la Michael.

Overall:

“Michael” wasn’t just about paying tribute to another pop icon. The writers were able to do an episode where they paid tribute, yes, but also incorporated the MJ covers into the storylines, and that’s why this episode worked. There were a few misses, like Arty’s dream sequence where he gets up off his chair and starts dancing, but overall, all the covers coincided with the plot of the story.

Rating: 8.5/10

“Glee” airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on FOX.

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Gossip Girl: Season 5 Episode 13: G.G. – TV Review

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:48:08 +0000

It’s time for Blair’s royal wedding, Georgina’s reappearance, and the almighty revelation of Gossip Girl. The 100th episode of the series was sure to be a grand feast of tears, romance, scandals and twists – anything but dull. Chuck vowed not to intervene during Blair’s fairy tale nuptials, but did he keep his promise? Will Blair actually marry a man she doesn’t love? And, after all this time, who is gossip girl? So many questions, and yet, so little time. Let’s go over the highs and lows of “Gossip Girl‘s” 100th episode.

The Players:

Director: Mark Piznarski
Writer: Joshua Safran
Cast: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick

Episode Title: “G.G.”

Chuck must face the fact that Blair is getting married to another man; Georgina’s return might turn the wedding into a complete disaster.

The Good:

Serena Dreams Of Marilyn: We’ve seen Blair’s dreams plenty of times, but in this week’s episode Serena does the dreaming. In her dream sequence, she channels Marilyn Monroe, while her bestie Blair appears as Audrey Hepburn (duh!). Serena’s Marilyn is sexy, flirty and spot on. Along with the boys, Serena pays homage to the blonde bombshell with her version of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. But that isn’t the best part of her dream, or shall we say nightmare? Serena’s fears are brought to the forefront when Dan chooses Blair’s Audrey instead of her Marilyn.
Royal Wedding Fashion: Blair’s wedding was a total fashion show.
The Royal Wedding Twists and Shocks (SPOILERS!): As much as we hoped this day wouldn’t come, we knew that if it did, something would go horribly wrong. So, the expected does happen, but in the most unexpected of ways. Chuck shows up at the wedding to try and stop Blair from marrying Louise, but is interrupted by Gossip Girl’s comeback blast that shows a video of Blair proclaiming her love to Chuck just minutes before walking down the aisle. And then, Blair runs, not to Chuck’s arms, but because she’s so embarrassed. In the end, Blair goes on with the wedding, only to be shocked by Louie’s true agenda. It is the saddest moment when Blair realizes the huge mistake she’s made, but she’s not one to be bullied, and so she runs.
Nate Meets The Real Charlie Rhodes (SPOILERS!): Nate realizes what a jerk he is to women when he comes across a pretty looking catering girl, who just happens to be the real Charlie Rhodes. There’s a spark between the two, which makes us believe that there will be something there in the future.
A Cry For Help (SPOILERS!): One of the final twists of the night comes when the runaway bride makes an SOS call. We expect (and suspect) her to call her real prince charming, Chuck, but instead, she dials an unlikely toad – lonely boy. It’s nice misdirection, and it shows us, once again, how close Dan and Blair are.
Best Line: Blair to Cyrus, “Oh Cyrus, one escort is not enough.”

The So-So:

Serena Drops a Bomb (SPOILERS!): We all knew that Serena was rapidly falling for her ex, but none of us expected it to go this far. This week, Serena drops the massive ‘I love you. Always have. Always will’ bomb on Dan. It is completely unbelievable. Once there was great chemistry between the two. Now, there’s just friendship. We know that. They know that. The only people who don’t seem to know that are the writers. Still, we don’t mind seeing where this goes.
Gossip Girl Revealed (SPOILERS!): If it’s true, and Georgina has always been Gossip Girl, then we have a lot of unanswered questions. How on earth was Georgina able to pull off being Gossip Girl without anyone ever suspecting it was her? There’s a lot of explaining to do.

Overall:

It isn’t the perfect episode. There are definitely a handful of cheesy, eye-rolling moments (as there are in every episode), but it is those shocking moments, those completely unexpected plot twists that make this 100th episode worth it. Make no mistake about it, “Gossip Girl” can still leave us wanting more, and for the first time in a long time, it did.

Rating: 8.5/10

“Gossip Girl” returns January 16, 2012 at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Sundance 2012: Goats – Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:57:36 +0000

I woke up early to catch a 9:00am screening of Goats at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s hard to enjoy just about any film at that hour of the morning, get caught up in a not-so-fast-moving drama, or let alone laugh out loud at a odd concept, but somehow Goats managed it all and had me leaving the theater ready for more.

The Players:

Director: Christopher Neil
Screenwriter: Mark Jude Poirier, based on his novel
Producer: Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Eric Kopeloff, Shannon Lail
Cast: Graham Phillips, David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Ty Burrell, Justin Kirk, Keri Russell

Sundance Synopsis:

Having a self-absorbed New Age mother and an estranged father means 15-year-old Ellis Whitman has grown up relying on an unconventional guardian: a goat-trekking, marijuana-growing sage called Goat Man. So when Ellis decides to leave the alternative ways of his desert homestead for a stuffy East Coast prep school, major changes are in store. But not in the way you’d think. Though often stoned, the exceedingly smart and capable Ellis effortlessly aces school and excels at track. As the year progresses, it’s his relationships with the adults in his life that test him, challenging his beliefs about responsibility and trustworthiness.

The Good:

The Supporting Cast: Vera Farmiga goes over, David Duchovney goes under, Justin Kirk wiggles through and all together they somehow manages to create a perfectly balanced, albeit insane cast.
The Goats: The meaning behind them and how they’re weaved into the story works perfectly. They are the perfect balance of purpose and comedic value that helps move the story forward while also decorating the scenery.
The Dynamics: In any good drama, the thing that sells it is the chemistry between the characters and this film has just that. With odd but realistic responses that seem completely appropriate in the situation provided and story-line that doesn’t take their audience for granted, the characters and the script really are what makes this film.

The Bad:

Lack of a Solid Ending: The ending is sweet and nice, but the film as a whole feels like it needed the stakes raised and the ending to have more purpose. This comment may have been the result of seeing too many films without a grand finale on the same day, but there was so much build up, that it was a shame to see it not add up to more.
No Emotional Release: Though Graham Phillips gives a solid performance in the lead role, it’s frustrating that his character never gets to release the tension that he’s caring with him throughout the entire film. Not that the film needed a cliched, over the top dramatic scene, but the fact that you’re so invested in his character makes you want to see him have his moment and allow him to release all the frustration that we, the audience, feel for him.

Overall:

It’s a nice, sweet comedy, with some fun moments at an interesting family dynamic. Much like all of the Sundance film this year, there’s nothing ground-breaking nor innovative about it, but it is an easy watch, and a very good representation of the dramedy genre.

Rating: 7/10

Sundance 2012: The End of Love – Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:00:06 +0000

Check out Christie’s take on The End of Love here!

One of the most emotional and touching films of this year’s Sundance Film Festival is The End of Love. This is one of those films that sits with you long after you’ve left the theater and doesn’t let you go. It’s a beautiful representation of what a look at one mans story in a very simple way can be represented.

The Players:

Director: Mark Webber
Writer: Mark Webber
Producers: Mark Webber, Liz Destro, Matt Sprague
Cinematographer: Patrice Cochet
Cast: Mark Webber, Shannyn Sossamon, Michael Cera, Jason Ritter, Amanda Seyfried, Frankie Shaw

Sundance Synopsis:

Mark is a struggling actor stuck between the life he once knew and the one waiting for him. When the mother of his two-year-old son suddenly passes away, Mark is forced to confront his shortcomings. Their fates, now intertwined, hang in the balance as Mark grapples with his ability to grow up. When he meets Lydia, a young mother, he is no longer able to live in the comfort of denial.

The Good:

The Relationship: Webber and his son are beautiful to watch on screen together. There’s really no other way to show the true love between father and child than by showing just that. Using toddlers on set is one of the most difficult things in the world, but for this film, used in this way, it not only works for the film, it makes it.
The Simplicity: This is not an outwardly complicated story, the complications are in the natural drama that comes from human emotions. Because of simplicity, you’re able to focus on the minute which makes this film a truly beautiful experience all around, proving that you don’t need a giant spectacle to have an impact on audiences.
The Heart: This is something that you can’t manipulate out of a film, it’s just something that’s there or it’s not. This film is packed with heart and it emotes from the screen giving you everything you you could hope for in a drama.

The Bad:

Not really feeling anything.

Overall:

This is an amazingly simple and yet introspective film that is well worth settling into.

Rating: 7.5/10

Sundance 2012: About Face – Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:22:11 +0000

About Face: The Supermodels, Then and Now is a new Sundance documentary that attempts to talk about the fashion through the eras. There are elements to this film that I want to love, but unfortunately it’s really more of a fluff piece featuring interviews with too many different models at once and no real in depth perspectives or new takes on the modeling industry. The models have low self-esteem, eating problems and different takes on Botox. It doesn’t take 80 minutes to realize this. So what was it trying to do…

The Players:

Director: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Producers: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Chad Thompson
Models: Christie Brinkley, Carmen Dell’Orefice, Jerry Hall, Beverly Johnson, Paulina Porizkova, Isabella Rossellini, Christy Turlington

Sundance Synopsis:

About Face: The Supermodels, Then and Now is a step back in time to a glamorous, yet complicated, era when drugs were rampant and women were routinely harassed and mistreated. The divergent attitudes among the women about everything from the business of modeling, to aging and plastic surgery, are fascinating and priceless. This insightful documentary celebrates the raw intelligence and staying power of these timeless icons

The Good:

The Models: They managed to get a great group of models from throughout the eras who all represented a change in time and how fashion effected women, civil rights, drugs, politics, medicine and issues around the world. It would have been nice to ask them more about these issues because they all seemed to have a lot more to say about it then was seen on screen… And botox is just not that interesting.

The Bad:

No Exploration: There are a few near reveals that capture your attention, but then they never explore the ideas brought up. The psychology behind some of the events that happened to these women are fascinating, it’s a shame not to look a bit deeper at them and really find out the effects of what living in the world of fashion does to a person.
Locations: The footage was basically just interviews with the models in one location, with a couple of photos of their previous work. There was no new footage of them working, nor anything from their lives now that would gives us any further insights to where they are now. This was simply one long interview with a handful of different voices.
Nothing New: Let’s break down the films reveals and see what we found out… Models in the 70′s did cocaine… a lot of cocaine. Models still do, have done and will do drugs. Models don’t eat. Models don’t ever feel pretty. Models are bitchy to other models. Models lie about being older to model when they’re too young and lie about their age later when they’re too old. Anything new here? Nope.

Rating: 4/10

Sundance 2012: Smashed – Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:50:28 +0000

Another solid film coming out of Sundance, Smashed is one of those films that may seem like “just another Sundance film” but has enough twists and interesting dynamics that is seperates it from the pack. And though Mary Elizabeth Winstead steals the movie with one of her best performances to date, the film’s strong supporting cast and a number of surprising and fun moments are really what make it a success.

The Players:

Director: James Ponsoldt
Producers: Jonathan Schwartz, Andrea Sperling, Jennifer Cochis
Writer: Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt
Cinematographer: Tobias Datum
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Mary Kay Place

Sundance Synopsis:

Kate and Charlie like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music, laughter . . . and getting smashed. When Kate’s partying spirals into hard-core asocial behavior, compromising her job as an elementary schoolteacher, something’s got to give. But change isn’t exactly a cakewalk. Sobriety means she will have to confront the lies she’s been spinning at work, her troubling relationship with her mother, and the nature of her bond with Charlie.

The Good:

Mary Elizabeth Winstead: It’s wonderful to see her leading a powerful drama and doing it brilliantly. It’s also great to see her running around with no make-up, in horrible clothing and being completely comfortable in letting herself indulge in this extremely rich, off the wall, non-cliched role. She’s made splashes before, but this is really a film that will hopefully bring her career to another level.
Pushing the Boundaries: With a film that deals with relationships and subject matter we’ve seen before, it’s refreshing to have a few moments that still manage to surprise the audience, without them being completely unrealistic.
The Relationships: Aaron Paul and Winstead are wonderful on screen together and completely believable as that quirky, close, in love, Silverlake couple. Their chemistry is beautiful and together they make for a powerful duo.
Nick Offerman: He has some of the best lines in the film, ones that very few actors could get away with saying and still have an audience like the. He’s wonderful to watch and again, added an interesting dynamic to the film that no one really see’s coming.

The Bad:

The Peak: The film peaked a little early and then the finale didn’t really pay off as much as it could have. It was honest ending, and one that deserves respect, but there was a part of me that wanted a little something more. In the end, there wasn’t a strong or clear message to the film. Perhaps I’ve just seen too many films in a row that don’t really end with a bang, but this one did such a great job at setting up all of these wonderful story-lines, that it felt like there could have been that extra little kicker at the end that would have made it even more impressive.

Overall:

Packed with a fun mixtures of humor, darkness, drama, and a number beautiful performances this is a Sundance darling that’s well worth your time.

Rating: 7.5

Sundance 2012: Red Hook Summer – Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:21 +0000

Spike Lee is back! He premiered his latest joint, Red Hook Summer this week at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival to a sold out crowd of 1300, and it has become one of the most talked about films of the festival. In a return to form (and Brooklyn), Lee brings back the colorful visual and storytelling style (and even a few characters!), that made him famous with Do The Right Thing. As usual, he doesn’t pull any punches, and left audiences with a lot to discuss. Check out the rest of the review after the jump…

The Players

Director: Spike Lee
Screenwriters: Spike Lee, James McBride
Starring: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, Nate Parker, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Spike Lee

Synopsis:

Flick (Brown), a 12 year old boy from Atlanta, is made to spend the summer with his Grandfather Enoch (Peters), a Baptist Bishop in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Removed from his cushy, suburban trappings for the first time, Flick gets a strong dose of urban life, and an even stronger dose of his Grandfather’s spirituality. As he acclimates to his new surroundings, Flick learns about friendship, young love, and his mysterious family history.

The Good:

Welcome Back, Spike - This film feels much closer to Lee’s earlier works, like, She’s Gotta Have It, Do The Right Thing, and Crooklyn. In fact, he even brings back Mookie, the pizza delivery man he played in Do The Right Thing for a couple of key moments. But the film’s richly colored look (Shot digitally on the Sony F-3 as well as an iPad 2), quick editing (by an NYU grad-student of Lee’s), and large cast of diverse characters, makes for an engaging story. Lee insisted, though, that this film is not a sequel to Do The Right Thing, but just a chapter in his “Brooklyn Chronicles.” Somehow, it’s nice to know that all these stories take place in the same universe.
Clarke Peters - Peters might be the most soulful actor working today. Between HBO’s The Wire and Treme, as well as his numerous supporting roles, Peters has a winning track record as far as solemn, sincere performances go. His gravitas and authority allow him to dominate the film whenever he is featured on screen. His sermon scenes are energetic and powerful, and the struggle that is rife within him is clear and dynamic. Though the story is told through the children’s eyes, the film belongs entirely to him.
More Wire Actors – Though they’re only briefly featured, Red Hook Summer also features James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sabotka in the 2nd season of The Wire, as well as Isiah Whitlock Jr., who played Clay Davis on the show. Ransone gives a particularly charming performance, in the brief scenes in which he’s featured, and Whitlock gets to deliver his trademarked line: “Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiit.” This is of no real consequence to the film…I’m just a giant fan.

The Bad:

The Kids – Now, this is not to say that the kids are bad performers, but it is to say that they’re handed a little more than they can manage. Both children have a few meaty monologues that are written so distinctly in other peoples voices, that it is clear they’re struggling to achieve their speeches’ true meanings. In fact…
The Voices – I certainly can’t fault Spike Lee for having a distinct and unique voice among other filmmakers. However, at a certain point, it sounds like almost every character is speaking as him. If he wanted to postulate in his own timbre, he could have simply left it up to his self portrayed character, Mookie (which he does, more than a couple of times). The characters all have separate traits & characteristics, but verbally, are almost indistinguishable.
Twisty 3rd Act – Now this is something that I don’t actually consider to be bad, but it seems to be the most divisive aspect of the film among audiences here at Sundance. Without divulging too much, the movie takes a hard left turn towards the end that changes the tone of the film entirely. Others seemed to find it inconsistent with the rest of the story, and that difference seems to have driven a lot of the controversy surrounding this film. But for the record, I actually enjoyed it, and don’t count it as a negative when tallying up my final score for this film.

Overall:

Spike Lee has always been an unflinching filmmaker, who makes exactly the film he wants to make. If this story were in the hands of anyone but his, it would have turned out to be a chore. However, Red Hook Summer has a strong energy and enjoyable characters that keep the story clipping along from beginning to end. As a unique coming of age story, ultimately Red Hook Summer turns out to be a film that will provoke the discussion of whether or not religion is a force that compels people to be decent to each other, or enables them to hide from their own truths.

Rating: 8/10

Sundance 2012: Kid-Thing – Movie Review

Christie Ko — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:41:46 +0000

This is my first exposure to the Zellner brothers’ work, and I’m intrigued, but I found it a bit confusing. They have a quirky comic edge and a healthy respect for the bizarre that amuses and attracts me. That said, there is a darkness and a stillness to Kid-Thing that I found unsettling and hard to watch. The Sundance Film Festival is often a staging ground for experimental dramas, and I would put this film in that category.

The Players:

Director/Screenwriter: David Zellner
Cast: Sydney Aguirre, Susan Tyrrell, Nathan Zellner, David Zellner

Synopsis:

Annie is a depressed, angry, 10-year-old loner growing up outside of Austin. With no strong adult figure and no real friends, she spends her days in search of things to steal, smash, or terrorize. One day she discovers a trapped woman in an abandoned well in the woods. Unsure of what to do, or whether or not the woman is real or “the devil”, Annie refuses the woman’s pleas for rescue. Instead, she brings her food, drink, and a walkie-talkie, forming a bizarre and contentious relationship between them.

The Good:

Sydney Aguirre is a disturbingly convincing angry child with violent and destructive tendencies. The offbeat comedy of her deadbeat, useless father, and the antics of her boredom lend the film some much needed relief in Annie’s bleak and lonely existence. The humor in this film is drawn out of the prolonged repetition of sounds and actions; extending scenes beyond comfort until you’re led to an uneasy laughter. It succeeds in being at once both devastatingly depressing and cruelly funny.

The Bad:

In the same way that the comic scenes are drawn out, so are the dramatic and soul-crushing scenes. With what felt like a multitude of long, stationary shots chronicling the desperation and isolation of Annie’s life, it was difficult after a while to stomach.

Overall:

It seemed as though the humor and the drama were fighting each other for our attention in this film. There are some interesting and daring ideas, but the cohesion wasn’t quite realized. It was a scenic but bumpy ride.

Rating: 5/10

Sundance 2012: I Am Not a Hipster – Movie Review

Christie Ko — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:22:42 +0000

Based on the title and Sundance 2012 program description, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this film. Full disclosure, I was pretty sure I was going to hate it, mainly because I, too, Am Not a Hipster (hint). But an unexpected thing happened part way through: My heart started pounding, and I realized that I was anxious for the characters and their situation. And later, when I teared up, I had to give up on my aspirations of being an eye-rolling naysayer…

The Players:

Director/Screenwriter: Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast: Dominic Bogart, Alvaro Orlando, Brad William Henke, Tammy Minoff, Kandis Erickson, Lauren Coleman
Music: Joel P. West

Synopsis:

The protagonist, Brook, is a popular, but depressed San Diego musician dealing with the passing of his mother some months before. Wary and disinterested in success or fame, he thwarts the efforts of his well-meaning best friend and is a bona fide, disaffected asshole to the people around him.

When his three sisters and father show up on his doorstep to spread their mother’s ashes, Brook is pushed to his emotional breaking point. Lashing out at everyone with a holier-than-thou pretension, cruel japes, and even with his fists, Brook’s sole redeeming factor is the side of him that comes out when he’s with his loving and adorable Midwestern sisters.

The Good:

“Hipster Culture” is a tricky subject because one of its central themes is an identification with the idea of being counter-culture. So, naming the phenomenon and categorizing it as a subculture is self-defeating. Nevertheless, I think it’s fair to say that we have accepted a working definition of the term “hipster” and associate it with certain negative connotations. And all those negative connotations you can think of when you hear “hipster” completely apply to Brook. So what saves him as a character? How can you like him or care what happens to him?

Dominic Bogart manages to pull off Brook’s ennui without it being whiny. This film is not a pity party. Instead of dwelling on his “hipsterdom”, the film explores why he is so depressed. You find yourself empathizing with him, as deplorable as he has been, because in truth, he is not disaffected nor disinterested. He is deeply affected by loss and loneliness.

The Bad:

I really enjoyed the dynamic of Brook with his caring, quirky, lovable sisters. I would have liked to spend more time with them in the film. Their relationship with him and with each other could have felt more developed. Also, I was expecting more of a resolution with his estranged father.

Overall:

This film is well written and well executed by a talented cast. It has a great original soundtrack by Joel P. West, and some moving musical performances. This is a funny and touching character study that turns your preconceived notions of what it means to be a hipster upside down.

ScreenCrave.com » Reviews

Glee: Season 3 Episode 12: The Spanish Teacher – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “The Spanish Teacher”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

The Music:

Overall:

Rating: 5.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

Gossip Girl: Season 5 Episode 14: The Backup Dan – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “The Backup Dan”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 5/10

Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Related Posts

Nikita: Season 2 Episode 13: Clean Sweep – TV Review

The Players

Episode Title: “Clean Sweep”

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7.5/10

Related Posts

Glee: Season 3 Episode 11: Michael – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “Michael”

The Good:

The Bad:

The Music:

Overall:

Rating: 8.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

Gossip Girl: Season 5 Episode 13: G.G. – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “G.G.”

The Good:

The So-So:

Overall:

Rating: 8.5/10

Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode?

Related Posts

Sundance 2012: Goats – Movie Review

The Players:

Sundance Synopsis:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7/10

Related Posts

Sundance 2012: The End of Love – Movie Review

The Players:

Sundance Synopsis:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7.5/10

Related Posts

Sundance 2012: About Face – Movie Review

The Players:

Sundance Synopsis:

The Good:

The Bad:

Rating: 4/10

Related Posts

Sundance 2012: Smashed – Movie Review

The Players:

Sundance Synopsis:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall: