Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
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Kinds Of Kindness

John Stark

I don’t know how many other critics consider themselves a work in progress, but I’m always trying to absorb stuff about film from everywhere. More recently, podcasts, and when i hear this title, it makes me wonder what the team at You Are Good would say about a film that suggest it might be about emotions and feelings, and is kind of adjacent to that, because we are always feeling or emoting, but the title isn’t the nail on the head you assume it is. Then again, was Poor Things? The Lobster? Do you even care what yorgos titles his … Continue reading Kinds Of Kindness

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/26/24

John Stark

Today should be an interesting day, as Hurricane Helene will bring me some kind of extreme weather. If I don’t have a small screen diary tomorrow, I’m not necessarily dead, i might just not have power. Or internet. You know, the things we now rely on to do things like this. TV Shows Watched: American Sports Story: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, High Potential: S1E2 (Hulu) with audio description, Midnight Family: S1E1 (Apple plus) with audio description, Murder In A Small Town: S1E1 (Hulu) no audio description, Penelope: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Women In Blue: S1E10 (Apple Plus) with … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/26/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/24/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Monsters: EPS 8 and 9 (Netflix) with audio description, Solar Opposites: S5E8 (Hulu) with audio description, English Teacher: S1E5 (Hulu) with audio description, 911: Lone Star: S5E1 (FOX) no audio description, Brilliant Minds: S1E1 (Peacock) no audio description, and Only Murders In The Building: S4E5 (Hulu) with audio description. Podcasts: The Christian Harloff Show (The Penguin Reactions), The Ezra Klein Show (Interview: Mayor Pete) YouTube: none Movies: None OK. So, the fall season is upon us. I’ve now watched a handful of new network TV shows: Universal Basic Guys, High Potential, Rescue: high Surf, and Brilliant minds. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/24/24

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The Small Screen diaries- 09/23/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Twilight Of The Gods: S1E7 and S1E8 (Netflix) with audio description, Monsters: S1E6 and S1E7 (Netflix) with audio description, rescue High Surf: S1E1 (Hulu) no audio description, Have I got News For You: S1E2 (MAX) no audio description, and Last Week Tonight with john Oliver: Most Recent (MAX) no audio description, but they do add it later depending on how long you are willing to wait. Podcasts: Strict Scrutiny (A Supreme Court podcast) YouTube: Adam Does Movies (Review: Am I Racist?) Movies Watched: Cult Of Chucky (Netflix) with audio description Well, I have discussed most of those … Continue reading The Small Screen diaries- 09/23/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/22/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: La Maison- S1E2 (Apple Plus) with audio description, A Very Royal Scandal: S1E2 and S1E3 (Amazon), How To Die Alone: S1E6 (Hulu) with audio description, monsters: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Twilight Of The Gods- S1E5 and S1E6 (Netflix) with audio description, 911: S7E1 and S7E2 (Hulu) with audio description, Young Sheldon: S3E11 (MAX) with audio description, What’s Next with Bill Gates: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Bad Monkey: S1E6 (Apple Plus) with audio description, and Tulsa King- S2E2 (Paramount Plus) with audio description. Podcasts: Offline with John Faverau (Politics) YouTube: Perry Nimirovv (For your Consideration: Best … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/22/24

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Firebrand

John Stark

Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived. The girls of Six have really made it easy (and catchy) to remember the fates of the wives of Henry VIII, and that comes in handy here as Alicia Vikander plays… one of them. now if i tell you, it’ll ruin it, because you’lll have the song stuck in your head. At least you know there are only four options. She’ll either get a divorce, die, get beheaded, or… survive? While Firebrand has a supporting cast, they just can’t match the performances of Vikander, or Jude Law as Henry the VIII. And, the audio … Continue reading Firebrand

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The Supremes At Earl’s All You Can eat

John Stark

I think when people initially were buzzing about the Oscar potential for this, they thought it was about the actual Supremes. it is not. It is about three women who are so tight they have a name for themselves. Kind of like The Plastics, but if those girls had gotten to choose their nickname. Other than corralling three great actresses in Uzo Aduba, Sanaa Lathan, and Aunjuane Ellis Taylor, the movie is a lot like so many others that have come before it with a group of women who meet somewhere and age gracefully together. we get the flashbacks to … Continue reading The Supremes At Earl’s All You Can eat

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the Small Screen Diaries- 09/21/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Pachenko: S2E5 (Apple Plus) with audio description, La Maizon: S1E1 (Apple Plus) with audio description, Twilight Of The Gods: S1E3 and S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Monsters: S1E4 (Netflix) with audio description, A Very Royal Scandal: S1E1 (Amazon) with audio description, Futurama: S5E5 (Hulu) no audio description, justified: S6E10 (Hulu) no audio description Podcasts: Hack The movies (Best/Worst Legacy Sequels) YouTube: Perry Nimaroff (For Your consideration: Best Director Predictions) movies: Paranormal Activity 4 (MAX) with audio description, Stopping The Steal (MAX) with audio description, Transformers (Paramount Plus) with audio description Like, I’m not feeling Twilight Of The … Continue reading the Small Screen Diaries- 09/21/24

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Horizon: An American Saga: Part 1

John Stark

What a hot button film considering how little it made at the box office. Around its release, this became the lightning rod for what was labeled as a “woke vs anti-woke” battle over whether or not the film was actually not what the other half was claiming it to be. is it too long? Are people just rejecting the idea of an original epic? Is it politics? Why did Horizon fail? In my opinion, it was likely due to a few things. The runtime, of 3 hours, doesn’t necessarily welcome audiences, though movies are seemingly getting longer on average. But, … Continue reading Horizon: An American Saga: Part 1

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/20/24

John Stark

TV News: I understand their choice, but I was kind of into the really campy nature of the show, but MAX has cancelled their Pretty little Liars reboot after 2 seasons, the same length their Gossip Girl reboot got. It’s not actually a “good” show, but it was entertaining. TV Shows Watched: The Penguin: S1E1 (MAX) with audio description, the Rings Of Power: S2E6 (Amazon) with audio description, The Old Man: S2E3 (Hulu) with audio description, How To Die Alone: S1E5 (Hulu) with audio description, Twilight Of The Gods: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Monsters: S1E3 (Netflix) with audio description, … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/20/24

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American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 years ago, Sam Mendes took a screenplay from Alan Ball, and directed a simple film about peeling off the shine of suburbia. This went on to win a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture, forever cementing itself in film history. But in the 25 years since, it has suffered from the passage of time. Some feel like it feels just too 1999. is this really middle class suburbia? Do mom and dad actually earn enough for this lifestyle? Is this just a modern Lolita, or a response to the reflective teen nightmare that was Columbine? Is this an early … Continue reading American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

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Tuesday

John Stark

If you have a fear of parrots, this movie might not be for you. This one has a talking parrot right at the center, and the parrot is death. Literal death. Of course, this is exactly the kind of film A24 would release, and while I’ve already sent his, it is coming to MAX in October, very likely with audio description. And I think you should watch it. Not just because it feels like it has a fresh voice, and I’m so interested in a latinx director producing a film that stars white Americans, but was funded through an independent … Continue reading Tuesday

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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

John Stark

My first encounter with the Mad Max franchise was, if we’re being honest like many, the epic Best Picture nominee Mad Max Fury Road. It is an exquisite work of art, acting as one giant chase that relentlessly pursues its goal of blowing your mind. It’s not just the stunts, or the stunt performers, but the amount of practical effects that made the film look fantastic. Even now as a blind viewer, I find so much enjoyment in the characters, the dialogue, and the rockinn’ score. There’s a vehicle in fury Road whose sole purpose seems to be to rock … Continue reading Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/19/24

John Stark

TV News: So, Taylor Sheridan is pumping out the content because I just saw a teaser for Season 2 of Lioness which is apparently coming really soon to Paramount Plus. He just had Mayor Of Kings Town in the summer, Tulsa King just dropped, and Lioness is coming next month? He’s like Ryan Murphy, who has an ungodly amount of TV shows premiering in sept/Oct. Seriously, I can think of five off the top of my head. TV Shows Watched: Agatha All Along: S1E1 and S1E2 (Disney plus) with audio description, Monsters:EPS 1 and 2 (They added an S to … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/19/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/19/24

John Stark

TV News: SNL has announced the first little batch of hosts for this upcoming 50th season. I’m sure there’s a big 50th Anniversary special coming later this season, with all the former cast members, but I was really hoping they would lean heavily into nostalgia this season. use those big names. Have them host. The first three hosts are Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, and John Mulaney. The latter of that trio has entered the five-timers club, so I guess he feels like part of the show. Part of me is really excited to see Jean Smart. But honestly, I would … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/19/24