Tag: audio description

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Supremes At Earl’s All You Can eat

John Stark

I think when people initially were buzzing about the Oscar potential for this, they thought it was about the actual Supremes. it is not. It is about three women who are so tight they have a name for themselves. Kind of like The Plastics, but if those girls had gotten to choose their nickname. Other than corralling three great actresses in Uzo Aduba, Sanaa Lathan, and Aunjuane Ellis Taylor, the movie is a lot like so many others that have come before it with a group of women who meet somewhere and age gracefully together. we get the flashbacks to … Continue reading The Supremes At Earl’s All You Can eat

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Horizon: An American Saga: Part 1

John Stark

What a hot button film considering how little it made at the box office. Around its release, this became the lightning rod for what was labeled as a “woke vs anti-woke” battle over whether or not the film was actually not what the other half was claiming it to be. is it too long? Are people just rejecting the idea of an original epic? Is it politics? Why did Horizon fail? In my opinion, it was likely due to a few things. The runtime, of 3 hours, doesn’t necessarily welcome audiences, though movies are seemingly getting longer on average. But, … Continue reading Horizon: An American Saga: Part 1

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 years ago, Sam Mendes took a screenplay from Alan Ball, and directed a simple film about peeling off the shine of suburbia. This went on to win a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture, forever cementing itself in film history. But in the 25 years since, it has suffered from the passage of time. Some feel like it feels just too 1999. is this really middle class suburbia? Do mom and dad actually earn enough for this lifestyle? Is this just a modern Lolita, or a response to the reflective teen nightmare that was Columbine? Is this an early … Continue reading American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

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

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

John Stark

My first encounter with the Mad Max franchise was, if we’re being honest like many, the epic Best Picture nominee Mad Max Fury Road. It is an exquisite work of art, acting as one giant chase that relentlessly pursues its goal of blowing your mind. It’s not just the stunts, or the stunt performers, but the amount of practical effects that made the film look fantastic. Even now as a blind viewer, I find so much enjoyment in the characters, the dialogue, and the rockinn’ score. There’s a vehicle in fury Road whose sole purpose seems to be to rock … Continue reading Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Union (An Anti-Review)

John Stark

The Union is so bland it just feels like so many other mediocre films Netflix has vomited at us this year. Honestly, I think we all need this, because Netflix’s ratio at this point seems far more quantity over quality, and they don’t even really allow for the random missteps even a talented writer/director/actor can make. So, what is putting out more positivity today is to talk about ten great films that are on Netflix that aren’t The Union. 3) the little Prince Now, this was an acquisition. I remember this was supposed to be released by a larger studio … Continue reading The Union (An Anti-Review)

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Happy Campers: A Second Look

John Stark

Occasions like this are why I choose to continue to review films that don’t have audio description, with the hopes of having a discussion about accessibility that has some kind of positive effect. When it came to Happy Campers, which I reviewed last week, I was sent a screener of Amy Nicholson’s documentary ahead of its debut across video-on-demand platforms. That review led to my discovery that the film did have a recorded audio description track that had been used in previous screenings, as Amy takes accessibility seriously. She personally spent time making sure that the audio description by ThreePlay … Continue reading Happy Campers: A Second Look

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The instigators

John Stark

This has been a weird year for Apple Studios. It follows after they tried to make some box office headway last year with their major Oscar releases Killers Of The Flower Moon and Napoleon to middling results. Then, Argylle flopped, I’m not sure Fancy Dance had much more than a qualifying run, and The Instigators basically got the same treatment, though isn’t an awards contender. Doug Liman is reteaming with Matt Damon after kicking off the Jason Bourne franchise with him 22 years ago, and it also marks his second directorial effort after Amazon’s road House remake. The Instigators also … Continue reading The instigators

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Ghostlight

John Stark

My pull quote: “before the Oscar onslaught, Ghostlight might be the best film of 2024, and certainly is the best you haven’t seen.” This little indie that should was just a random choice for me because it was in the Apple Store, and it had audio description. Never doubt the power of audio description, because the word on this film has been rather soft. I discovered, and fell in love with Ghostlight, which proves to be a thoughtful examination of art and tragedy, juxtaposing the grief of a family against the Shakesperian depth of Romeo and Juliet. in theatre, a … Continue reading Ghostlight

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The bike Riders

John Stark

I always find the work of Jeff Nichols to be engaging in its cinematic form even if I’m not completely enamored with his offerings. the bike Riders is one of those films that seemed good on paper, and then I ended up with a film that matched the worthiness of a viewing, but not necessarily the praise that would elicit multiple viewings, or encourage others. the movie is also a bit of a tough sell, audio description wise, since the movie takes place in a certain time period, where the aesthetic takes over, and actors are likely finding subtle ways … Continue reading The bike Riders

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Treasure

John Stark

Normally, when you think of a road trip comedy, you don’t think of a 90’s set film where Americans retrace their generational footsteps through Poland. Certainly, you don’t expect it to carry the weight of an older father showing his daughter, almost with unfettered pride,the land he grew up in before being forcibly removed during World War II. Certainly, you don’t expect this to turn into a film about death camps. But, Treasure, almost as vague as its title can be, is a journey best taken on a whim, with little known, and the expectations broadly expanded to allow yourself … Continue reading Treasure

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Story

John Stark

I think Paramount got confused when the third SpongeBob movie opened in the middle of the pandemic and did really poor at the box office. That is the only reason I can think of to explain how this new SpongeBob film is premiering on Netflix. Yes, it does center around our aquatic squirrel, but she does basically go on the adventure with Mr SquarePants, so, she’s essentially swapping in for Patrick. In preparation for this, I rewatched all thre SpongeBob movies leading up to this, because they all have audio description. When we get to the fourth film, it is … Continue reading Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Story

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Rebel Moon: Directors Cuts

John Stark

Reality check. The existence of Snyder cuts for films no one asked for is everything wrong with cinema today. The fact that fans lobbied for Zack Snyder to go back and finish Justice league, which led to not just additional reshoots, but the actual addition of actors, is the most ridiculous thing. He got to marinate on all the critical feedback, sit there and stare at what joss Whedon gave to the world, and then go back and do some massive near 4 hour version of Justice League that never was going to see the light of day, even in … Continue reading The Rebel Moon: Directors Cuts

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Ezra

John Stark

It’s an honor and a privilege to discuss Ezra. Not really uniquely as a blind film critic, or LGBTQ film critic, but just because this film resonated with me on such a profound level. It’s just being tossed away as some random summer film that won’t get any attention from critics, and I think I probably am over indexing here on the sliding scale of critic, but with some 130+ and counting films from 2024, Ezra is very much one of my favorite. I think it is one of the best of the year, and the only question with that … Continue reading Ezra

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Young Woman And The Sea

John Stark

Up front, I want to be honest with you. Yes, you. David Spade. I know you are reading my site. Actually, I don’t know that, but wouldn’t that be pretty cool? But in all honesty, I’m about to break some sacred rule of film criticism, but it is one I’m being honest about, and I feel like the thing in itself is a valid criticism. I fell asleep. It isn’t that this film is so terrible it put me to sleep, it was just dull. Nyad had just come out a few months prior, and managed to really make it … Continue reading Young Woman And The Sea