Tag: audio description

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The Life List

John Stark

Since the last bucket list film was Blink, a film I was not fond of its messaging, the bar was fairly low going into The Life List for it to exceed expectations. Still, it is a Netflix release, and one that certainly doesn’t seem like it is poised for awards consideration. A lot of this has to do with Sofia Carson’s inability to land theatrical releases, and a seemingly unbreakable bond with Netflix,but Netflix also does this very well. In fact, while I can’t place the name of the film, I feel like there was a Netflix film where a … Continue reading The Life List

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Holland

John Stark

Holland (Amazon)- Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jude Hill As someone who uses sites like Gold Derby to track the awards races, I have noticed that for the past two years, there was a Nicole Kidman mention for something called Holand, MI. It never materialized in 2023, nor did it join the multitude of projects Nicole Kidman churned out in 2024. Amazon instead opted to abandon this title in March of 2025, sidestepping a theatrical launch, and serving it to their hungry Prime subscribers.Should that give you pause? Perhaps. Holland is a bit of a mess, but it … Continue reading Holland

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Control Freak

John Stark

What I can say about Control freak is that it has good audio description. Roy Samuelson is narrating this,and while he’s pretty much his consistent usual strong performer, this is a horror film, so the devil in these details belongs to the audio description writer. For a film that isn’t pervasively gory, but does have fleeting moments, and even some attempts at jump scares, the writing is strong. From describing pus coming out of a wound, to the manifestation of a demon, and an intense drowning flashback, this is a very well written film considering its genre. What it isn’t, … Continue reading Control Freak

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Wolfman

John Stark

Wolfman (2025)- Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner Need New Agents Part of Universal’s classic movie monsters, or now as they lovingly call it “the Dark universe”, is the Wolfman. Obviously, there are folk tales about werewolves predating this monster classic, but once a moon has been howled at, it cannot be unhowled. The howling has taken place. In fact, quite a few movies with wolf people in them have taken place, from the scary, like Dog Soldiers or An American Werewolf In London, to far more tame versions like Jacob in Twilight, or Teen Wolf (the Michael J fox version). … Continue reading Wolfman

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The Electric State

John Stark

The Electric State (Netflix)- Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, Anthony Mackie Years ago I remember when Robopocalypse was being kicked around as a potential summer blockbuster, based on a best-selling novel. I believe Spielberg was actually interested at one time, but likely became more interested in ready Player One. Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise to not have your book turned into a film. I loved the ready Player One book, but not the film. Robopocalypse likely dodged a bullet. What didn’t dodge the bullet is the Electric State. While I have not read the source material, … Continue reading The Electric State

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The Parenting

John Stark

The Parenting (MAX)- This Movie Feels Tailor Made For Me It is always a cabin in the woods. No one ever rents a haunted condo in Fort Lauderdale on a timeshare. It is always something oddly rustic in these horror movies. I like horror comedies more than straight horror because I feel like it is easier to be funny and poke fun at the genre, than it is to be reliant upon jump scares that don’t work. Most of my favorite horror titles have a tinge of comedy to them, so I was already predisposed to liking this. the cast … Continue reading The Parenting

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Flow

John Stark

Academy Award Winner Flow has finally landed an audio description track here in the United States, courtesy of WBD. Flow streams on MAX, and while I don’t have direct proof as to who paid for the track, my options appear to be WBD, Sideshow/Janus, or Criterion. While Criterion has released a handful of physical discs with audio description, I don’t believe they have ever bothered to create a track. their service is highly inaccessible and features no audio description. I think WBD, which also landed the streaming debut rights to The Boy And The Heron and Drive My Car, two … Continue reading Flow

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Wicked

John Stark

Wicked- An Adaptation That Does More Than Defy Gravity Quick Take: I’m this far behind. I’m just now at the point where I can review Wicked, which I put a review out for easily over a month ago on my YouTube channel. Universal made a point of getting me a screener for this, and I was delighted. I did not make the journey to the cinema for this, as that time of year was just far too busy. Then, here comes the screener for my consideration, and I’m delighted. I was never worried about Ariana Grande. I think Cynthia Erivo … Continue reading Wicked

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The Wizard Of oz: 85th Anniversary

John Stark

The Wizard Of Oz: 85th Anniversary- One Of The Best Audio Description Tracks Ever? Quick Take: This is one of the best tracks I’ve ever heard. It is as if the people making it knew they were touching greatness. The audio description for this film was going to be used time and time again, and needed to be perfect. To transport us into the world of oz, to give us a strong depth of description on Dorthy and her black and white life in Kansas, while embracing the technicolor parade of the Yellow Brick Road. And, to have this at … Continue reading The Wizard Of oz: 85th Anniversary

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Analyze This: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

Analyze This: 25th Anniversary- DeNiro And Crystal Still Pair Well Together Quick Take: Not everything needs a sequel, and this Billy Crystal/Robert DeNiro comedy got one anyway, but the first film was magic. It took what makes each one of these actors great, and just leaned in. Of course DeNiro plays a mob boss. That’s his thing. Crystal plays a psychiatrist, something he just did again in 2024 in Apple’s limited series Before. It is the story of a mob boss who has a panic attack, and seeks the counsel of a shrink to figure out what’s wrong with him. … Continue reading Analyze This: 25th Anniversary

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Christmas Eve At Miller’s Point

John Stark

Christmas Eve In Miller’s Point- Feels Like If IFC Started Making Christmas Movies Quick Take: I’ve actually seen this movie twice. And I’m just now getting around to putting those thoughts here. Originally, I was given a screener that did not have audio description, and later, i watched it with audio description, because I’d rather put out a review reflecting the actual worth of a movie, and not the lack of accessibility for that film. this Christmas movie feels like the most indie Christmas film. There really isn’t a lead character, or even an obvious plot. It just is a … Continue reading Christmas Eve At Miller’s Point

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Sebastian

John Stark

Sebastian- They Do Always Say Write What You Know Quick Take- Here’s an under the radar film from 2024 that has audio description, the queer drama Sebastian. The film centers around a young man who is looking to impress as a writer, and takes the assignment too seriously. He decides to write about sex workers, and then becomes one himself, using his own experiences to fuel his novel. Of course, there are complications, and backlash, but this film is pretty surface level, and isn’t really looking on tearing down the privilege of Sebastian, and instead any consequence he faces is … Continue reading Sebastian

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Saturday Night

John Stark

Saturday Night- Live From New York It’s 1975! Quick Take: Jason Reitman’s fast paced ensemble comedy didn’t quite land with audiences, though it landed on a lot of Top 10 lists. It became an underdog, which is kind of poignant, because it is based on a show that was an underdog. Saturday Night Live was set to fail, just a dalliance that was used to leverage against Johnny Carson and Tonight Show reruns on that night. The Not Ready For Primetime Players were an amalgamation of mostly future household names, but relatively unknown at the time. And a young Lorne … Continue reading Saturday Night

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Carry On

John Stark

Carry On (Netflix)- Taron Egerton And Jason Bateman Die Hard For The Holidays Quick Take: Every year there are a few Netflix titles that end up being worthy, that aren’t just festival pickups or Oscar bait. This past year, Carry On is one of a handful of Netflix originals I’d watch again. It didn’t reinvent the genre, by any means, but it plays to its strengths, and creates a solid action movie for the holidays. the strength lies in this back and forth between the mysterious baddie played devilishly well by Jason Bateman, and our intrepid hero, played with eagerness … Continue reading Carry On

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It Ends With us

John Stark

It Ends With Us- Blake Lively Makes The Most Out Of This Quick Take: this film has been in the news a bit after Blake Lively came forward about her co-star/director’s bad behavior. Even when I saw this, which does have audio description, I thought he was the weak link on pretty much every front. He’s not a great director, nor a scene partner for Lively. She steals a mediocre film, and makes it better. Lively has chosen some really solid roles since exiting Gossip Girl, most notably A Simple Favor and The Town, but this is another reminder that … Continue reading It Ends With us