Tag: audio description

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The paper: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

The Paper: 30th Anniversary- Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marisa Tomei Quick Take: Not my first time through Ron Howard’s The Paper, which feels like some alternate reality nowadays. Trying to get kids to accept that a film about newspaper journalism is full of actors who are mostly still alive (Yes, Robert Duvall is still kicking, but RIP Jason Robards), and they see in films all the time, and when this was made… it was not a historical period piece.This is not The Post, or even All The President’s Men. The Paper takes place in the year it was … Continue reading The paper: 30th Anniversary

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Music By John Williams

John Stark

Music By John Williams (Disney Plus)- The GOAT Of Film Score Composition Quick Take: A movie for film lovers, specifically those who really appreciate a great film score. John Williams is the greatest there has ever been. There are plenty of other composers that knock out work all the time that is perfection, and yet, Williams’s reach seems so unattainable. From Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and even the legendary Ennio Morricone, Williams has created so many iconic themes that how could he not be remembered for the remainder of cinema. This takes a … Continue reading Music By John Williams

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American Star

John Stark

American Star- Ian McShane Shines In This Indie Drama Quick Take: I noticed Ian McShane was in a new film, but I didn’t bother to prioritize it until I was sent the FYC campaign for him. He sadly hasn’t gained much traction, and I think that has a lot to do with American Star feeling like so many other films of its ilk. An aging assassin is sent to a target, but when the target isn’t home, he starts familiarizing himself with the local area, the people, and the culture, who think he’s just another tourist, or an ex-pat. Of … Continue reading American Star

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The River Wild: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

The River Wild: 30th Anniversary- Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon Hold Up This Survival Thriller Quick Take: 30 years ago, Meryl Streep did her most action packed performance, playing a mom who has to use her particular set of skills to stop criminals and save her family. Later, Netflix made an ill advised remake, but we’re not talking about Bruno today. This is The River Wild, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathair, and john C. Reilly. It is a movie I’ve seen several times, and have loved every single one. I was just starting to … Continue reading The River Wild: 30th Anniversary

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Twisters

John Stark

Twisters- An Indie Director Brings Americana And Glen Powell To Stir Up This Series Quick Take:I loved the first Twister. I lived in tornado alley, and Twister is always a fun movie until it becomes someone’s reality. the ride at Universal Studios was hot garbage though (ride is a strong word). I’ve seen Twister enough times to qualify it as a desert island movie, except now I can’t find it with audio description, and it is way less fun. But, I did own it on VHS, and later BluRay. Twisters is basically trying to have its cake. It wants to … Continue reading Twisters

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Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary- Tim Burton’s Classic Look At A Maligned Filmmaker Quick Take: While not my favorite Tim Burton film, I do really enjoy the energy he brings to this tale of the maligned director of Plan 9 From Outer Space. There’s something about Burton and his style that oddly compliments one of the most notorious directors of all time, and he managed to get a strong cast together as well. Johnny Depp is good, Sarah Jessica Parker is fun, Patricia Arquette does fine, but it is the MArtin Landau performance as Bella Lugosi everyone remembers. That is because … Continue reading Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary

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Martha

John Stark

Martha (Netflix)- Martha Stewart Clears The Air… And You Can Too In Your Own Home! Quick Take: I normally am trepidations when subjects are involved in their own biopics or documentaries, because often they show you what they want to show you. Martha Stewart is someone who has spent a lot of time in the public eye, and a lot of it isn’t flattering. One of the reasons I bothered to give this the praise, is I think Martha really did open up about some unflattering or personal details, and the director also holds her accountable. There are moments where … Continue reading Martha

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Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary

John Stark

Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary- Will Smith, Jack Black, Robert DeNiro, Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie Quick Take: I’m always surprised this didn’t become a franchise. After all, there are two Nut Job movies. Gnomeo and Juliet got a sequel. The Boss Baby had a sequel. How this movie managed to evade becoming a franchise likely has to do with the expense and popularity of the voice cast. Will Smith, jack Black, Renee Zellweger, Robert DeNiro, Angelina Jolie, and Martin Scorsese. do you realize that out of the entire main voice cast I just listed, only one of them is not an … Continue reading Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary

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Despicable Me 4

John Stark

Despicable Me 4- A Screenplay That Feels Like It Was Written By 10 Minions Quick Take: The fourth outing, and the sixth technically in the franchise at large, Despicable Me 4 has a lot happening. it feels like the script was written and then rewritten almost like a game of “Yes, and” where the next person added another subplot. this movie is so scattered, so disorganized,it makes the third film seem better. I wasn’t a fan of the third, because I didn’t think Steve Carell should have voiced both. It was a missed opportunity to go in a completely different … Continue reading Despicable Me 4

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Our Little Secret

John Stark

Our Little Secret (Netflix)- Lindsay Lohan Tries To Impress Kristin Chenoweth This Christmas Quick Take- It feels like Lindsay Lohan is on film probation, and she’s having to work through Netflix content creation to get a real film offer. In this latest film, which is disguised as a holiday film, Lohan plays a young woman who breaks up with someone at the top, only for us to have a weird montage of the passage of time, so that we can see her years later with a new boyfriend. this one has invited her home for the holidays, and when she … Continue reading Our Little Secret

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The Piano Lesson

John Stark

The Piano Lesson (Netflix) Misguided Direction Saved By Stunning Detweiler And Ensemble Quick Take: Malcolm Washington, son of Denzel, is making his feature directorial debut with a challenging August Wilson work. We meet several members of a tight knit family, with Samuel L Jackson serving largely as the de facto patriarch of this clan, and most of the film taking place in his home. Though, he is often just a voyeur as the energy between John David Washington and Danielle Detweiler powers the film, as he is looking to buy some land that has a deep familial connection, and wants … Continue reading The Piano Lesson

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Meet Me Next Christmas

John Stark

Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix)- Christina Milian featuring Pentatonix Quick Take: Christina Milian got her Netflix holiday film. She’s also having a bit of a career bump now, following her casting in Dexter: Original Sin. Here, the actress/singer is stuck with a male co-star with less name recognition, but the presence of Pentatonix. The entire movie hinges on a young woman (Milian) who has a meet cute moment with a guy who says he’s going to be at this Pentatonix concert, and if they run into each other there… it is fate. So, she tries to get a ticket, and … Continue reading Meet Me Next Christmas

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Casa Bonita Mi Amor

John Stark

Casa Bonita Mi Amor (Paramount Plus)- All That South Park Money Goes Somewhere Quick Take: Trey Parker and Matt Stone have made a ton of money. A ton. From South Park to the Book Of Mormon, these two are doing just fine. This is a movie about how they tried to take a chunk of that money and save something they loved in Colorado from their childhood. It can best be described as some similar minded Chucky Cheese or Dave And Busters. A place where you could have all the fun and food. I had a place like that when … Continue reading Casa Bonita Mi Amor

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Meet Me In St. Louis: 80th Anniversary

John Stark

The Holiday Classics: Meet Me In St Louis: 80th Anniversary Quick Take: As much as I love musicals, this is actually my first time. I found it with audio description, and it is a Christmas film on an Anniversary year. it had to finally happen. I found it oddly entertaining looking back on how things were done 80 years ago, and this film is also commenting on a period even earlier than it. So, the grandfather in this movie, when he talks about courting his wife, I’m fairly certain did that during the Civil War. Perspective. but aside from this … Continue reading Meet Me In St. Louis: 80th Anniversary

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Fall Into Winter

John Stark

Fall Into Winter (Netflix)- Lori Laughlin Makes Another Wholesome Christmas Film Quick Take: For Christmas, I noticed Netflix had also gotten the rights, and the audio description to Fall into Winter, one of Lori loughlin’s many TV movies. It feels like it was made on a conveyor belt of Lori Loughlin holiday films that have the same cast and just recycle the set. Here, she’s a baker, and her brother is leaving town, and sells his half of the business to this guy she hates, but you know they will fall in love by the end of the film. It … Continue reading Fall Into Winter