Tag: audio description

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Wake Up Dead Man

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. If you build it, he will come. In Rian Johnson’s third outing in what is called the Knives Out series (for no other reason than it being the title of the first Benoit Blanc outing), we are asked to have a little faith. or, perhaps it is better to have a lack thereof. Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man may center in a church, but this is no Murder In the Cathedral. If you dress it up with simplicity, it could be seen as a modern day version of that, but woven in Johnson’s narrative … Continue reading Wake Up Dead Man

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Thoughts And Prayers

John Stark

The benefit of being on my own is being able to write whatever I want. is this a review? I don’t know. as long as I can remember, i wanted to be a Dad, likely due to my own Dad being around but not present. I remember having dreams about having kids before I was even ten, or anyone had a birds and bees conversation.when Columbine happened in April of 1999, I was wrapping up my Sophomore year in High School. I came from a small town, and we did fire and tornado drills. I’ve never participated in an active … Continue reading Thoughts And Prayers

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Choral

John Stark

I’ve already gone to the “they don’t make them like they used to” well this year with Nuremberg, a courtroom drama that seems pulled from somewhere between 1995 and 2005. Here, The Choral reminds me of the kind of uplifting war-adjacent stories we got like Mrs Henderson Presents, or other “movies for grown ups” like Calendar Girls or Waking Ned Devine. Somehow a film like this now comes around and festival audiences react like they’ve just seen some schmaltzy drivel. the reality is, we’re living in an everything Everywhere Saw The TV Glow kind of world, and the kinds of … Continue reading The Choral

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Hamnet

John Stark

Was Shakespeare ever really in love? Considering how fractured our knowledge of William Shakespeare is, we certainly seem enamored with his romantic life. This year, I’d be shocked if Jessie Buckley didn’t become yet another actress to win an Oscar for their fictional romance with Shakespeare. The difference between this and the Best picture winning Shakespeare In love is that this film is not a comedy. Not in the slightest. Releasing at thanksgiving is a bold move for a film that is not really a warm and inviting experience. this is a film where tissues will clog cupholders, and people … Continue reading Hamnet

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Christy

John Stark

I’ve been watching and reviewing a few things recently based on people I had no idea existed. I’m really starting to question my pop culture knowledge, but is knowing a roster of female boxers really pop culture? Should I have known who Christy Martin was? If Stop The Insanity is a cautionary tale on contract law, Christy is a cautionary tale for homophobic parents who just keep hoping their lesbian daughters will marry a man. Bee careful what you wish for. Christy is a biopic about one of the most successful female boxers, who also struggled with her sexuality, and … Continue reading Christy

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Frankenstein (2025)

John Stark

Sometimes the interesting thing about film is watching the growth of an auteur. Depending on when you were born, you might have gotten to see the rise of certain artists honing their craft, but the exciting part is that first film, and feeling like you just witnessed the birth of something. I’d consider myself a big fan of Del toro, who even when he doesn’t top himself as a director, certainly is never boring. he has such a love for film, and for the celebration of monsters, that it really does carry through all the themes. Even his stop-motion animated … Continue reading Frankenstein (2025)

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Die My Love

John Stark

Film truly has the opportunity to reach just you. Depending on where you are in your life at any given moment, watching the right film is like feeling seen and heard by some unknown force. Something put this film in my path at this exact moment in time. You could be going through a break up, and be far more affected by a film about two people falling in love, or two people also breaking up. you could be experiencing a loss, and at the same time watch a film about a similar situation. When this happens, it alters your … Continue reading Die My Love

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

In Your Dreams

John Stark

2025 has not really been a banner year for animation, which perhaps has worked in favor for Netflix, who went to the bank with a certain group of singing demon hunters earlier this year. The largest opening weekend for an animated feature went to CrunchyRoll, for their continuation of Demon Slayer. I’ve been waiting for a film to really pull some emotion from me. I like my animation to have a bit of heart with it. Not that it can’t make me laugh myself silly, but my favorite animated movies have a punch to them. An emotional gut punch. We … Continue reading In Your Dreams

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Hedda

John Stark

Cast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Haas, Tom Bateman, Imogene Poots, Nicholas Pinnock, Katherine Hunter Written and Directed by: Nia DaCosta Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Prime video Runtime: 107 minutes Audio Description Produced by: the Media Access group Written By: Narrated By: what is it?: An update to Henry Gibson’s classic work, director Nia DaCosta has decided to take the work from 1890 and move it to the 1950’s, combining the complex character with new undercurrents of racial identity and queerness, in a movie that has characters race swapped as well as gender bent. Hedda seems supportive of her husband, and throws … Continue reading Hedda

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Ballad Of A Small Player

John Stark

Cast: Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton, Fala Chen Written By: Rowan Joffy directed By: Edward Berger Original Score By: Volker Bertamin Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Netflix Runtime: 101 minutes Audio Description Produced By: VSI London Written by: Narrated By: What Is it?: based on a book, Ballad of A Small Player follows a seemingly upstanding British citizen in Macao who is struggling with debt, and keeping up the appearance that they are not in quite as deep, and if they can just get a line of credit now, everything will be cleared up after the weekend. dodging those he owes, and … Continue reading Ballad Of A Small Player

Editorial, Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Ordinary People: 45th Anniversary

John Stark

Cast: Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, M. Emmett Walsh, Elizabeth MCGovern, Dinah Manoff Written By: Alvin Sargeant directed By: Robert Redford release Year: 1980 Runtime:124 minutes Nominated for six Academy Awards, winning 4. *This Film may Have Existing Audio description, however I Watched In response To The Passing Of Robert Redford, And At The time It Was Not Available With Audio Description* What is it?: A family deals with depression and loss. A father (Sutherland) and mother (Moore) fret over what to do about their recently returned teenage son (Hutton), who survived a suicide attempt, following … Continue reading Ordinary People: 45th Anniversary

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Ice Road Vengeance

John Stark

Cast: Liam Neeson, Bing Bing Fan, Marcus Thomas, Grace O’Sullivan Directed By: Jonathan Hensleigh release Year: 2025 Runtime: 112 minutes Audio Description Produced By: Written By: Narrated By: What is it?: Liam Neeson’s brother dies and his dying wish is to have his ashes scattered on Mount Everest. So, 73 year old Neeson flies to Nepal to climb Mount Everest to do just that, but is thwarted on his journey by a local criminal enterprise. Time to unleash some vengeance. What Doesn’t Work: what a baffling sequel. Did we need this? did anyone want this? I know we can say … Continue reading Ice Road Vengeance

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Lost Bus

John Stark

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera Directed By: Paul Greengrass Studio/Streamer: Apple Films Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 129 minutes Audio Description Produced By: Pixel Logic Written By: Narrated By: Yuki What Is it?: Based on the wildfires that ripped through Paradise, CA, and one bus driver’s attempt to get a bus full of kids out safely. What Doesn’t Work: Paul Greengrass thrives in these ripped from the headlines films, and also has a strong sense of mounting tension and holding it. I wish he had an ability to look at the Final Cut of his film and see what isn’t working, … Continue reading The Lost Bus

TV ReviewsLeave a comment

Marvel’s Zombies: Season 1

John Stark

Featuring The Voices of: Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, Elisabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, David Harbor as Red Guardian, Florence Pugh as Black Widow, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Simu Liu as Shang Chi, Awkwafina as Katie, Todd Williams as Blade Knight, Hudson Thames as Peter Parker, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Randall Park as Jimmy, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, Carrie Condon as F.R.I.D.A.Y. Length: 4 episodes Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Disney Plus Audio Description Produced By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated By: Jedidiah Barton What is it?: A continuation of the themes and ideas set … Continue reading Marvel’s Zombies: Season 1

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Bodyguard Of Lies

John Stark

Documentary Directed By:Dan Krause Release Year: 2025 Studio/Streamer: Paramount Audio Description Provided By: no credits given Written By: Credit Needed Narrated By: Credit Needed What is it?: An explosive look into the Afghanistan War from those who were there. were we ever winning? Was there ever a point? Interviewing several officials who were involved across the 20+ years of Afghani occupation, the picture becomes clear. We were never properly prepared for what came next What Works:An interesting look and compendium to a lot of the documentaries that have come out and focused on the good things we may have done … Continue reading Bodyguard Of Lies