Tag: A24

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Undertone

John Stark

We need to have a conversation about elevated horror and what that term even means anymore. Especially now, at a point where horror isn’t just getting critical acclaim, it’s actually becoming part of the Academy Awards conversation. Last year alone we saw horror films earning major nominations, Amy Madigan winning an Oscar for a horror performance, Jacob Elordi landing a nomination for playing Frankenstein’s monster, and even Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, an unapologetically grotesque body horror film, breaking through for Best Picture. This year, there’s already a serious conversation around Obsession and Backrooms, with Obsession looking like a legitimate Best … Continue reading Undertone

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Movies With Pride: Pillion

John Stark

I first watched this back in December as part of A24’s awards consideration package. While I did get a few screeners from A24 last year, Pillion sadly wasn’t one of them,and there was clearly a lot happening. I really wanted to wait to review it until I got the audio description, and now in time for Pride month, Pillion: Unrated is on HBO MAX with audio description! If any of this made it into the R rated cut, we’ve come a long way from This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Kirby Dick’s exploration of the MPAA and its bizarre ratings … Continue reading Movies With Pride: Pillion

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Opus

John Stark

Cast: Ayo edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Melissa Chambers, Tony Hale, Amber Midthunder Written and Directed By: Mark Anthony Green Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 104 Minutes Audio Description produced By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated by: Laura Post What Is It?: A young writer (Edebiri) has the opportunity to join other music journalists at the cult-like retreat of an aged rock star (Malkovich), who has reportedly recorded his first new music in years. Although, the opportunity may seem too good to pass up, the little oddities keep popping up, and quickly she begins to wonder if the … Continue reading Opus

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Warfare

John Stark

Cast: D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai as Ray, Will Poulter as Eric, Cosmo Jarvis as Elliot, Joseph Quinn as Sam, Aaron Mackenzie as Kelly, Alex Brockdorf as Mikey, Finn Bennett as john, Michael Gandolfini as Lt. Macdonald, Kit Connor as Tommy, Noah Centineo as Brian, Charles Melton as Jake Written By:Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland Directed By: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime:95 minutes Rated R for intense war violence, bloody/grisly images, and strong language throughout Audio Description By: Written By: Narrated By: What Is it: Co-Director ray Mendoza is an Iraqi combat veteran, … Continue reading Warfare

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Look Into My Eyes

John Stark

Look Into My Eyes- A24 Does Documentaries As Well Quick Take: I watched this as part of my screener packet from A24. They did not include audio description. My only viewing, which the video reflects, is that of no audio description. You can catch the film on MAX now with audio description. I’m not looking forward to watching it again anytime soon, so this original review stands. I wasn’t a huge fan of the psychic/medium documentary, and there are other movies I’d rather watch a second time first. This may not do much for you, as you can now access … Continue reading Look Into My Eyes

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Heretic

John Stark

Heretic- Could Hugh Grant Get An Oscar Nomination For This? Quick Take: this is the year of horror. Normally, horror movies don’t get their day in the awards sun, but several films have popped up various places, from a surprising Best Actress nomination for Smile 2 at the Astro awards, to the strong showing for horror-adjacent films like Love Lies bleeding and I Saw The tV Glow, to even recognition for performances in movies like Cuckoo. The International Oscar race even had a few titles that were being submitted by IFC/Shudder, including The Devil’s Bath. The film with the most … Continue reading Heretic

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Sing Sing

John Stark

Sing Sing- Is This One Of The Very Best Of The Year? Quick Take: Last year, when critics were bouncing around festivals looking for 2023 Oscar contenders, the Toronto International Film Festival landed a buzzy indie that had everyone saying “just wait for 2024”. Coleman Domingo was already firmly in the race with Rustin, and the hope was this little gem would be given room to breathe by entering 2024 an early frontrunner. Then, A24 bought the film, and scheduled it for a summer release. last year, this helped the little indie Past Lives get noticed, but that ultimately led … Continue reading Sing Sing

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Maxxxine

John Stark

Maxxxine- A Spooky Season Review Ti West has finished the trilogy we never knew we needed. Honestly, I’m not even sure need is the right word, though I’m aware people love Pearl and X a lot more than i do, with those same fans having been hopeful Mia Goth would get an Oscar nomination for Pearl. The Oscars almost never nominate horror films, and even some of the films that might loosely qualify are pretty tame. Sure, there were nominations for The Sixth Sense, including Toni Collette, but when the Oscars were faced with watching her saw her own head … Continue reading Maxxxine

Movie Review2 Comments

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

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Civil War

John Stark

When I learned Alex garland was taking this bold topic on as a high profile A24 release, my interest was super high. I was initially worried how the film would be received. Politically, we are a mess right now, and heading into the films release, I was hesitant to sit in a theatre for this. But, reviews were mixed, and then I became even less likely. Now, at home, I can enjoy civil War, or I could, if it was good. Alex Garland managed to take on a hot button topic that has nothing to say. On one hand, there … Continue reading Civil War

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Movies With Pride: Love Lies Bleeding

John Stark

I’m always amazed by the cult of A24. They’re just a distribution company, yet there are some out there that think this studio is carefully curating the best cinema of the year. If not the best, certainly the most challenging. I don’t disagree with the latter, as A24 films always seem like we’d never see them released by anyone other than A24 or Neon. Rose Glass’s Love Lies Bleeding is very much one of those films. I struggle to see where a film where the two leads are lesbians would fit in, especially in a way where the studio would … Continue reading Movies With Pride: Love Lies Bleeding

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Problemista

John Stark

If I had known this thing was so close to dropping on MAX, i wouldn’t have renewed it. I will say, that with almost 100 titles so far this year, this is currently at the top of my list. I am probably the only person who can say that, since I think everyone is likely to have seen something at one of the festivals by now. But for me, I thought this quirky A24 comedy hit the mark, a rare feat for what has been a fairly mediocre year thus far. The audio description is produced by Deluxe, with primary … Continue reading Problemista

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Zone Of Interest

John Stark

This years Oscar winner for best international Feature is brought to you by Jonathan Glazer, who previously directed films like Sexy Beast and Under The Skin. While there is some flair here, this couldn’t be more different. A24 distributed this, and it is tough to look away from. 30 years since Schindler’s List, and we are just getting another truly masterful but frightening look at one of the worst periods in our history. Glazer captures this through his determination to show the life of a Commandate’s family that lives just outside the death camp of Auschwitz, and how their mundane … Continue reading The Zone Of Interest

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Dream Scenario

John Stark

A24 has to manage their portfolio better. It is a little like how WB dropped Wonka, Aquaman and the lost Kingdom, and the Color Purple on the same weekend. A24 needs to figure out their awards contenders, so films like Dream Scenario, The iron Claw, and other late entries aren’t forgotten. I’m happy Nicolas Cage got a Golden Globe nomination, but with the work he’s been putting in recently in films like this, Pig, Massive Talent, and a few other choices, I feel like we are pulling him away from exceptionally awful straight to streaming titles. he had at least … Continue reading Dream Scenario

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt

John Stark

The title is a lie. I found a dirt road, and it did not taste of salt. it tasted awful. Luckily, this feature debut from Raven Jackson, and has a few Independent Spirit Award nominations. As a voter, I was provided with a screener. As a blind voter, I was not provided with accessibility. As a human being, I was ignored by A24, so I hope Raven can take some solace in the fact that I did actually pay to watch a film I had a free screener too just because I’m disabled and apparently that’s a big problem for … Continue reading All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt

TVLeave a comment

the Small Screen Diaries- 02/02/24

John Stark

Today, I finally found out how Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix) ended, and I’m not sure what a second season would look like. The adventure is always in getting Scott and Ramona together, so unless they keep telling alternate versions of that story, they’d likely be together in another season. So I fully support the creators intent of this being a limited series. Has Been Hotel (Amazon) crossed into trust building. The songs are silly. This is still a show I like but don’t love, though I give it props for being unlike anything else on the market, and also … Continue reading the Small Screen Diaries- 02/02/24

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

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

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Bo Is Afraid

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Paramount Plus (with Showtime) English Audio Description?: Yes Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Parker Posey, Kylie Roger’s, Denis Menochet, Zoe Lister Jones, Richard Kind, and bill Hader. Written And Directed By: Ari Aster Boy, am i glad this had audio description. Someone deserves overtime pay, because Aster certainly made them earn their money. Bo Is Afraid is one of those divisive films some will love and some will hate. Even among Ari Aster fans who look forward to his particular brand of oddity, this may not be what they expected from the … Continue reading Bo Is Afraid

TVLeave a comment

The Too Much Tv Roundup- 12/26/23

John Stark

Apparently Percy Jackson is doing solid numbers for Disney. Over 13M in the first week. Maybe the series will survive. 1) Bodies (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Limited I may not always know what is going on, but as the series moves forward the series has intrigued me a lot. By episode 5, things are really starting to come together, and you can see characters understand what is going on. Episode Grade: B+ 2) Monarch (Apple Plus) English Audio Description?: Yes Narrated By: Jedidiah Barton Status: Unknown Our characters find themselves really trapped in the freezing tundra being chased … Continue reading The Too Much Tv Roundup- 12/26/23

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Showing Up

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Apple VOD English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Narrated By Laura Post Cast: Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, Judd Hirsch, Amanda Plummer, Andre 3000, John Magaro Written By: Jonathan Raymond Directed By: Kelly Reichardt First Cow is still on my very long list of “I’ll get around to it”, so this is my first experience with Reichardt. Showing Up ended up winning an all inclusive Altman award, which blessed the entire production. No one asked me. I think as an independent film, or a meditation on normality, and the banality of existence, Showing Up works. but as … Continue reading Showing Up

TVLeave a comment

The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/17/23

John Stark

It’s too close to Christmas for any good TV news. 1) Scott Pilgrim Takes off (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Limited The creators of this show have already said they have no plans for a second season, but this basically is a remake of the film, just done in a different style. I really liked it, and I was happy to hear many of the original voice cast. It has such a strong anime flavor to it, it feels very different from the film. And, it will run longer than the movie, giving us more time to explore these … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/17/23

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Talk To Me

John Stark

Where I watched It: iTunes English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Narrated By: William Michael Redman Like most horror films, Talk To Me has an element you just have to accept. If you can’t accept the element, the film will never work for you. There is a hand, people grab onto it, and let a spirit inside them. The rule is that it can only be for a short period, like a quick high, but sadly this Aussie horror film is really bad at explaining how people know things. So, you just have to accept that this is the world. … Continue reading Talk To Me

TVLeave a comment

The Too Much TV Roundup- 11/24/23

John Stark

What did you do for Black Friday? Did you buy some awesome gadgets? Any physical media? Did you finally splurge on that air fryer even though you don’t cook but you hope by owning an air fryer you will be more inclined to cook? 1) Neon (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Not Yet Renewed It’s charming me more and more with each episode. The gang gets an offer to shoot a music video, while their would-be agent gets shot down at work even though clearly she saved the day, and our budding musician has a nepotistic interview for a … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 11/24/23

TVLeave a comment

The Too Much TV Roundup- 11/17/23

John Stark

It it looking like the solution to paying actors more isn’t for people in the boardrooms to not continue to make absurd amounts of money in non-creative positions managing creativity, instead the solution is to kill that creativity. Another show has gotten the axe, as Hallmark has cancelled their Yellowstone knockoff Ride after one season. Will more cancellations be coming? Most definitely my dude. 1) Sex Education (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Final Season Otis and Amy are both there for Maeve when she returns home to meet up with her brother and see her mom in the hospital.Only … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 11/17/23

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Past Lives

John Stark

Where I Watched It: iTunes English Audio Description By Deluxe Primary Narration By Jedidiah Barton Do you ever think “Oh, that seems interesting.”, and then everyone on the internet responds to it with the level of dedicated Ferber that suggests the movie is now a religion. Do you worship at the church of Past Lives? Perhaps you saw the A24 logo, and just stared at that for two hours, and let A24 be your new God. in short, cal the hell down. I went into Past Lives really trying to keep my expectations measured and fair, allowing a film to … Continue reading Past Lives

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

You Hurt My Feelings

John Stark

Where I Watched it: iTunes English Audio Description By Deluxe Narrated By Laura Post I went into this with way too much hype. I think that was the problem. the reviews were solid, I’m a big fan of Nicole Holofcener, and I was excited to see her reteam with her Enough said lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as intrigued by the A24 label. hell, I’ve even come to really enjoy Tobias Menzies, and I was excited to see how he would be used here. Honestly? It’s the only thing I think holofcener has written or directed that hasn’t worked for … Continue reading You Hurt My Feelings

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Minari (Tubi Has Audio Description!)

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Tubi English Audio Description: hell To The Yes! This is barely a review of Minari, which I should probably review, but I really wanted to talk a lot about how great it is that Tubi has audio description, even if it’s just on a handful of titles right now. Tubi has started offering audio description as of June, and if you follow the Audio Description Project (adp.acb.org) you can find their current list. They are a fast service, so their offerings are changing a lot. The way i use it is that audio description, like on … Continue reading Minari (Tubi Has Audio Description!)

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Sharper

John Stark

Where I Watched it: Apple plus English Audio Description?: Yes Yes, i did watch this A24 Apple release. it does make me wonder how an A24 became an Apple exclusive, but i went in with the best foot forward on this one. I recently read a scathing column about critics, and how insignificant we are, and what it is that we do. I suppose, we give our thoughts about a film from our perspective, to help people decide how to spend their limited time? For me, I usually focus on the audio description, and how that applies to my experience. … Continue reading Sharper

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Whale

John Stark

Where I Watched it: iTunes English Audio Description Provided By Deluxe Narrated By: laura Post Back before I saw the movie, or really before anyone had seen the movie, I was in a Facebook group that prohibited its members from discussing this film because it would bring up emotions for the plus sized community. Basically, someone went on a tirade about how the movie was fat phobic, using the word fat a dozen times, and talking about how triggering all this was. Me, being me, told that guy to fuck right off, explained to me that I believe we are … Continue reading The Whale

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Inspection

John Stark

Where I Watched it: Apple VOD English Audio Description Provided By Deluxe Narrated By Michelle Deco Jeremy Pope’s awards run seemed to begin and end with his nomination at the Golden Globes, something I thought for sure would result in more attention. I was a little surprised that we ended up with a giant marshmallow of whiteness in the Best Actor block at the Oscars, but after seeing Jeremy Pope’s performance… I kinda understand why he missed the cut. The Inspection, is based on a true story, or at least a real person, and that makes it hard for me … Continue reading The Inspection

Movie Review2 Comments

Aftersún

John Stark

Where I Watched It: iTunes (I really need to get screeners, Jesus) English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Narrated By: Marsha Bartenelli Like i said above, Screeners. I’d love to reduce my costs, since this whole thing generates no income. Hah. Anyway, this A24 underdog did recently manage a Best Actor nomination for Paul Mescal, and it is well deserved. Let’s just get that right out of the way. Even if you haven’t seen Aftersún, just trust the process. Even if he wasn’t in my or your top 5, it’s pretty hard to deny that he’s not within range. It’s … Continue reading Aftersún

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Funny Pages

John Stark

Where I Watched it: iTunes English Audio Description?: Yes Owen kline’s directorial debut is a bold statement for the kinds of stories he wants to tell moving forward. The son of Kevin Kline, who does have an acting background himself, has decided to shoot for this john Waters-lite style. He’s not quite subversive enough to go full Pink Flamingos, but tehre’s something about kline’s adoration for garbage, and featuring a character who believes the only way to ever be a true artist is to start from the bottom. Kline is saying a lot here, not just about artists, but possibly … Continue reading Funny Pages

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Eternal Daughter

John Stark

Where I watched It: iTunes English Audio Description?: Yes Narrated By: Darren Polish This film has one of the most obsessively and aggressively annoying sound designs. This, and the Amazon movie Nanny, are both designed to drive you mad by creating sound design that isn’t scary, but so obnoxious you lose your damn mind. The whole reason this film exists, and why someone like Martin Scorsese would be a producer (Yes, really) is Tilda Swinton. This is a perfect A24 release. it’s artistic as fuck, and people will debate and dissect this for years to come. The reality is that … Continue reading The Eternal Daughter

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

After Yang

John Stark

Where I Watched it: iTunes English Audio Description provided By: Deluxe Narrated by: Darren polish This is one of those films i actually attempted to watch without audio description earlier in the year on Showtime, but it became abundantly clear to me really fast that this film was unwatchable without audio description. I still believe that, even after enjoying it with Darren’s narration. The film is just so entrenched in this indie science fiction world, it’s almost like a love letter to what could be, or what might have been. Colin Farrell, who had the best year of his life, … Continue reading After Yang

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

John Stark

Where I Watched it: iTunes English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Narrated by: laura Post Before you read a review of me gushing over this film, you need to know that i did not understand this Marcel The Shell stuff before. Then, when it got a feature film, I rolled my eyes. I thought it was the equivalent of giving Grumpy Cat his own film. I am pleasantly wrong. What Jenny Slate created with Marcel is almost the purest form of a being, someone who seeks rather simple means of happiness, and for a shell, is about as relatable a … Continue reading Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

John Stark

Where I Watched It: iTunes (VOD) English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Narrated By: William michael Redmond I admit that I’m late to a party about a film about a party, but I have gotten to see how divisive this film is, at least among the movies fans with internet connections. It seems to be a love or hate movie, and for various reasons. Some people feel betrayed, some people wanted something else, some people thought it was something else. I never saw a preview for this film, so I’m not really sure what was marketed, and why people felt … Continue reading Bodies, Bodies, Bodies