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The Commandante’s Shadow

John Stark

The Commandante’s Shadow- Profound, Heavy, and Timely, and One Of The Best Films Of 2024 Quick Take: I’m really disappointed that this documentary didn’t make the Oscar shortlist. Sometimes, documentaries are born out of a world on fire, and sometimes they are reflective of a world that was. The Commandante’s Shadow is one that takes a look at a time when the world was on fire, specifically the Holocaust, and uses the lens of generational trauma. One woman seeks to find her Jewish and German roots, as her mother survived a death camp, and did not like to talk about … Continue reading The Commandante’s Shadow

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the Small Screen Diaries- 12/22/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Earth Abides: S1E4 (MGM Plus) with audio description, What If: S3E1 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Dream productions: S1E4 (Disney Plus) with audio description), The Agency: S1E5 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Landman: S1E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, SNL: Charlie SCX (Peacock) with audio description. Movies: Last Stop In Yuma County (Apple Store) no audio description, An Almost Christmas Story (Disney Plus) with audio description, I Am Ready Warden (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Crossing (screener) no audio description, Inside The Yellow Cocoon (screener) no audio description, She Taught Love (Hulu) with audio description Best Episode: … Continue reading the Small Screen Diaries- 12/22/24

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10 Things I Hate About you: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

10 Things I Hate About You: 25th Anniversary- Julia Stiles, Heath ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Quick Take: I got this once during a sale in the Apple Store, because it had audio description, and it was on sale. I’m not remotely objective here. There’s no critical consensus. I was in high school when this came out, and my nostalgia is too strong. This is a desert island movie for me, easily qualifying with a totally view count somewhere between 10-15 times in my life. I own this on DVD, but sadly, despite the medium supporting multiple audio tracks, no one was … Continue reading 10 Things I Hate About you: 25th Anniversary

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My Old Ass

John Stark

My Old Ass- If You Could Tell Your Past Self One Thing, What Would It Be? Quick Take: One of the more charming surprises of the year, this film features a simple concept, if you got really high and suddenly could communicate with your future self, what would you learn? Well, in this case, the older version (which depresses me because I’m older than her old ass) is played by Aubrey Plaza, and she just wants her past self to stay away from one guy. She can’t tell her why. But, of course… So, even though you know the trajectory, … Continue reading My Old Ass

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Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary- I Nominate This For “So Bad It’s Good” Status Quick Take: The same year Bruce Willis made Pulp Fiction, he also pushed out this ill conceived, but somehow brilliantly terrible erotic thriller. This is one of the most entertaining terrible films I’ve ever seen. It was a first watch for me, and I’d love to open up more people to this experience. I think this is a gem waiting to be uncovered and have a new following of people who recognize it for all its awful glory. I’d say that this is the worst thing … Continue reading Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary

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In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

John Stark

In The Land Of Saints And Sinners- Liam Neeson’s Set Of Skills Wears Thin Quick Take: Even when Liam Neeson appears in an IRA drama, it still feels like one of those films that has its roots all the way back to a time when he was given a particular set of skills. At this point, Neeson has to avoid action movies altogether, and would be best served in a limited series of some kind, or cast completely against type in kids or comedy films. A nice romance perhaps. But, he’s still being thrown these scripts that go nowhere and … Continue reading In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

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Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary- Was Matthew Broderick Really The Best Choice? Quick Take: I watched this again just because it had audio description. I didn’t like this when it came out. I wouldn’t have cast Matthew Broderick. I’m just not a fan. It is so hard for me to like him in things. So, to clear the air on my bias, he’s one of my least favorite actors. Do I find things I like that have him in it? Yes. but in all of those cases, he is never the sole reason I like those things. Election has an excellent … Continue reading Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary

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Harold And The Purple Crayon

John Stark

Harold And The Purple Crayon- I’m Drawing The Conclusion This Film Is Underrated Quick Take: Not the most obvious choice for a film adaptation, but I liked it. It takes Harold out of the book and sends him on a journey to find his creator (the author of the book), along with his friends from the book, and his purple crayon. It smartly casts Zachary Levi, who is great at playing a manchild, and puts him opposite Zooey Deschanel, who is excellent at dealing with manchildren. Like Elf, which she starred in, she’s the voice of reason as Harold brings … Continue reading Harold And The Purple Crayon

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Always: 35th Anniversary

John Stark

Always: 35th Anniversary- The Often Never Mentioned Steven Spielberg Film Quick Take: When tackling movies with audio descriptions that were in an anniversary year, I took this opportunity to get one film closer to having seen Spielberg’s entire filmography. I’m really close now, and basically the remaining ones are films people try to ignore. I’ve seen all his heavy hitters. Always is definitely at the bottom of his list, or near it, depending on your taste, which is sad because it is also the final film for Audrey Hepburn. For that reason alone, I enjoyed it. She doesn’t have a … Continue reading Always: 35th Anniversary

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Timecut

John Stark

TimeCut (Netflix)- Didn’t I See This Movie Already? Last Year? Quick Take: Last year, Amazon released Totally Killer, which saw Kiernan Shirpka travel back in time to save her mom from a serial killer. Netflix took that plot, and made it more confounding. Based on the dates given, this doesn’t make any sense. Bailee Madison now has to travel back, to save her sister, who was murdered 20 ears ago. but, she’s a teenager now, so like… her sister would be how old? I kept trying to pick up what this movie was putting down, and the random time travel … Continue reading Timecut

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Janet Planet

John Stark

Janet Planet- A24’s Spin On Coming Of Age Movies Quick Take: A24 gravitates toward movies that that take often typical concepts and present them in atypical fashion. Case in point, Annie Baker’s feature directorial debut Janet Planet, which evokes a similar style of last year’s Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?, which was well received already. Toss that into a blender, with a dash of and a dash of a more complicated mother/daughter dynamic like in something like Anywhere But Here or 13, and you have the groundwork for this three act story. What looks like a coming of … Continue reading Janet Planet

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The Small Screen Diaries- 12/21/24

John Stark

One voting block done. It was all film, and I had the opportunity to vote for several of my favorites this year, including )in at least one category): Ghostlight, Conclave, The Substance, Ezra, A Real Pain, Nickel Boys, September 5, A Complete unknown, Sing Sing, The Last Showgirl, Late Night With The Devil, nosferatu, Deadpool and Wolverine, It’s What’s inside, Strange Darling, Boy Kills World, A Wild Robot, The Commandante’s Shadow, Wicked, Hard Truths, Problemista, and many others. It isn’t 100% reflective of my personal lists, which I’ll put out later, but I worked around titles that had been deemed … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/21/24

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My Favorite Martian: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

My Favorite Martian: 25th Anniversary- Does It Hold Up? Did It Ever? Quick Take: So, I only have passing knowledge of the TV show, and this was my first time watching this. Not every movie stands the test of time, and much like the 90’s adaptation of Leave it To Beaver, I’m pretty sure this has been buried. I’m surprised it had audio description on Disney Plus. The cast is intriguing, ranging from Jeff Daniel’s and Christopher Llloyd to Elizabeth Hurley and Wallace Shawn. Did it stand the test of time? Honestly, if this was the 10th Anniversary, I’d answer … Continue reading My Favorite Martian: 25th Anniversary

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Entrapment: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

Entrapment: 25th Anniversary- The Film Sean Connery Made Instead Of The Matrix  Quick Take: Entrapment isn’t a groundbreaking piece of cinema, but it is a fairly entertaining film from a very strong year full of movies. Sean Connery plays an experienced thief who is either being taken as a mark by Catherine Zeta-Jones, or she is actually a real thief herself, and her job is the cover. A game of cat and mouse is afoot, and for good measure, there’s a little bit of sexual tension between the generationally different leads, but it isn’t driving the story. In 1999, … Continue reading Entrapment: 25th Anniversary

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The Small Screen Diaries- 12/20/24

John Stark

So, this diary, and likely tomorrow’s will be a bit light on TV. I’ve been able to balance a pretty impressive amount of shows and movies, but basically today (Saturday) is one of my deadlines for guild voting. So, I’m going to cram a lot of movies in just in case something strikes my fancy at the last minute. Not a ton of TV here today, nor likely tomorrow. But… some. TV Shows Watched: Silo: S2E5 (Apple Plus) with audio description, St Dennis Medical: S1E? (Peacock) with audio description, No Good Deed: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, and Dream Productions: … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/20/24