Category: Movie Review

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Silent Night (2023)

John Stark

Every year, there’s always some kind of an award for audio description. Not that it reaches mainstream audiences, but for a blind film critic like myself, I’m very aware. If the team at Deluxe and William Michael Redmond aren’t nominated, simply nominated, the actual award itself means nothing. It would be like trying to compete in an athletic event where the obvious choice has somehow been disqualified. It puts a bit of a damper on your win, because the tiger in the fight wasn’t, so you don’t actually know if the win you got was earned. There is zero question … Continue reading Silent Night (2023)

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Bobi Wine: The People’s President

John Stark

This Oscar nominated documentary is just one of many documentaries that Disney Plus seems to not want to bother with audio description. It’s like they have this huge National Geographic wing, but they are afraid to add audio description to most of it. I already reviewed The mission, which was a failed Oscar bait earlier this year, and it lacked audio description. This film, from what I can tell, deserves to be where it is. it just can’t get my vote in terms of accessibility. We all have our causes, and I’m here to discuss film and advocate for accessibility, … Continue reading Bobi Wine: The People’s President

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The After

John Stark

With a title this generic, you can be forgiven for not knowing what The After is. However, it means you aren’t paying attention to the list of Oscar nominees, because this one is nominated for Best Short, and it feels like we are really starting to use this category as a sleeper way for people to easily get accolades. This is on Netflix, with audio description, and it has David Oyelowo as the lead. It’s in contention with another Netflix backed short film, The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar, which is directed by Wes Anderson and stars Oscar nominees like … Continue reading The After

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The Equalizer 3

John Stark

I don’t know why this is the one film Denzel Washington feels emotionally attached to that he keeps making sequels. The first film was fine. Gritty, he kicked ass, and equalized. Now, somehow he’s in Europe protecting Dakota Fanning and some Italians, and I’m really not sure how we got here. It’s like they are trying to apply the rule of John Wick to the Equalizer, but he works much better as a Luke Cage figure, who defends his own neighborhood than going global. Wick needed to stop a global organization, I’m not sure that fits here. Still, the first … Continue reading The Equalizer 3

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Last Song Of Kabul

John Stark

It made the shortlist for Best Documentary Short at the Oscars, but failed to get an actual nomination. This challenging doc is available on Paramount Plus with audio description, a stark contrast to The ABC’s Of Book Banning, a short documentary that was nominated, yet features no audio description. Last Song Of Kabul is another documentary exploring the ramifications of leaving Afghanistan in Taliban control, as we see a music school and its students worry about their futures. Girls had been gifted the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, but as the girls detail, under Taliban rule, they could … Continue reading Last Song Of Kabul

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Memory

John Stark

Sadly, this review of memory is based on a screener copy I received, and I don’t have any audio description information as a result. However, you may not even know there was a film called memory in contention last year, and now you know. So, that’s a reason to give me more screeners. I honestly don’t know how there are critics on the internet with clearly less social engagement than me who are getting advance copies of things. Blows my mind. Memory features a recovering alcoholic, played by Jessica Chastain, who attends her class reunion where she notices a man … Continue reading Memory

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The Color Purple

John Stark

You must be adventurous, as I did not specify which version this review would be for. Is this the multi-Oscar nominated 80’s classic directed by Steven Spielberg that helped push forward the acting career of Oprah Winfrey, as well as help Whoopi Goldberg be taken seriously as a dramatic actress? or, is this a review of the 2023 musical adaptation brought to life with songs from the Broadway award winning musical that only managed one Oscar nomination for Danielle Brooks? Why can’t it be both? In fact, this is kind of a review of both films. The Colors Purples, or … Continue reading The Color Purple

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The Abyss

John Stark

Back in December, James Cameron released his restoration of The Abyss theatrically, not just updating it to the technical specifics of modern times, but also tweaking it to his own director’s cut, releasing the version he wanted to release. For a director like Cameron, whose resume is actually quite small as he takes a lot of time to develop an idea, The Abyss is like the Moby Dick of his filmography. It has been pretty notoriously hard to find on any home media up until this point, but now that Cameron has a version of it that he approves of, … Continue reading The Abyss

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American Fiction

John Stark

Rarely is a debut film so exceptionally biting in its attempt to drive home a point, but Court Jefferson’s American Fiction is that pleasant surprise. As a white male film critic, even though my main purpose is to come at this perspective as a blind film critic, i always look at certain films and wonder if what i have to say is valid, or even what criticisms I could offer. Honestly, I have none. So, this time, I have nothing to worry about. My only criticism at all is just in how the film is received, as I wasn’t quite … Continue reading American Fiction

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The ABC’s Of Book Banning

John Stark

Nominated this year for Best Documentary Short at the Academy Awards, the ABC’s Of Book Banning was a title that jumped out at me immediately. I figured it would be right up my alley. Long ago, before we ever got into our current political climate, when I had my first car and could put bumper stickers, I had “Read Banned Books” on my car. That was back before even the Bush/Gore election, so I’d say I’ve thought banning books is stupid as long as I thought about the concept of reading. Sadly, this short doesn’t have audio description, which makes … Continue reading The ABC’s Of Book Banning

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All Of Us Strangers

John Stark

It’s tragic that Andrew Hague’s All Of Us Strangers wasn’t nominated for a single Oscar. honestly, it’s a travesty. Considering the widespread praise this film has had, the only possible reason could be the belief that this is just another gay movie, and that would be such a mistake. Andrew Scott plays a man who lives in England in one of those new condo buildings where no one else has moved in. Except one day, he finds a neighbor, who lives on another floor. Lost in their loneliness, these two connect, which sparks something within Scott, and he basically returns … Continue reading All Of Us Strangers

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Dicks: The Musical

John Stark

Just in time for its debut on MAX, my belated review of Dicks: The Musical, an A24 film i rented from the Apple Store with audio description from Deluxe, narrated by Julian Smith. Right off the bat, this film is not for you. Yes, you. I don’t even know you, but I’m pretty sure this film isn’t for you. I’m honestly not even sure who this film is for, because it seems to want to be for nobody. The duo behind the film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical ‘Fucking Identical Twins’ have concocted something Trey Parker and Matt Stone would … Continue reading Dicks: The Musical

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Eileen

John Stark

Sometimes, when you have a small audience that sees a film out of a festival, they put out thoughts into the world as to not spoil the eventual film’s release. I feel like that happened with Eileen, but in a way that did not represent the film. Luckily, as this film was available to me for my consideration with audio description made possible by Neon, I was able to actually understand what this film was about. Previously, the general vibe from the festival crowd was something about a prison, a young Thomasian Mackenzie working there, and how the introduction of … Continue reading Eileen

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The People Vs Larry Flynt

John Stark

More of my Oscar Shame, though this one I’m less ashamed of. I wasn’t old enough to se this on my own when it first came out, and it just became a matter of never catching up on this double nominee. Nominated for Best Director for Milos Foreman and Actor for Woody Harrelson, it is easy to write this film off as inconsequential. In fact, I assume that is why it doesn’t have audio description on Paramount Plus. but, ultimately, the film is very much about free speech, whether you agree with that speech or not. And that is the … Continue reading The People Vs Larry Flynt

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Marriage Story

John Stark

Somehow, and I really don’t know why, I never watched Noah Baumbach’s Marraige Story upon release.Not only does the film have audio description, and it’s not very old, but it is a Netflix original. What the hell have I been doing with my life? So, in opening up my Oscar Shame period, I admit that I needed to right this wrong, and I’ve now seen this. It is amazing. Stunning. The cast is exceptional. I would hand out nominations right on down the line. Best Picture, Director, Actor (Adam Driver), Actress (Scarlett Johansson), and if we are giving a nod … Continue reading Marriage Story