Tag: audio description

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The Equalizer 3

John Stark

I don’t know why this is the one film Denzel Washington feels emotionally attached to that he keeps making sequels. The first film was fine. Gritty, he kicked ass, and equalized. Now, somehow he’s in Europe protecting Dakota Fanning and some Italians, and I’m really not sure how we got here. It’s like they are trying to apply the rule of John Wick to the Equalizer, but he works much better as a Luke Cage figure, who defends his own neighborhood than going global. Wick needed to stop a global organization, I’m not sure that fits here. Still, the first … Continue reading The Equalizer 3

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Last Song Of Kabul

John Stark

It made the shortlist for Best Documentary Short at the Oscars, but failed to get an actual nomination. This challenging doc is available on Paramount Plus with audio description, a stark contrast to The ABC’s Of Book Banning, a short documentary that was nominated, yet features no audio description. Last Song Of Kabul is another documentary exploring the ramifications of leaving Afghanistan in Taliban control, as we see a music school and its students worry about their futures. Girls had been gifted the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, but as the girls detail, under Taliban rule, they could … Continue reading Last Song Of Kabul

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Memory

John Stark

Sadly, this review of memory is based on a screener copy I received, and I don’t have any audio description information as a result. However, you may not even know there was a film called memory in contention last year, and now you know. So, that’s a reason to give me more screeners. I honestly don’t know how there are critics on the internet with clearly less social engagement than me who are getting advance copies of things. Blows my mind. Memory features a recovering alcoholic, played by Jessica Chastain, who attends her class reunion where she notices a man … Continue reading Memory

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The Abyss

John Stark

Back in December, James Cameron released his restoration of The Abyss theatrically, not just updating it to the technical specifics of modern times, but also tweaking it to his own director’s cut, releasing the version he wanted to release. For a director like Cameron, whose resume is actually quite small as he takes a lot of time to develop an idea, The Abyss is like the Moby Dick of his filmography. It has been pretty notoriously hard to find on any home media up until this point, but now that Cameron has a version of it that he approves of, … Continue reading The Abyss

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The Small Screen Diaries- 02/04/24

John Stark

the way my week works, is that I typically try and introduce new shows on Sunday to my rotation, and then Monday starts going through another episode of each show I’ve decided to continue with. So, this Sunday, my watching of Sexy Beast (Paramount Plus) was so disjointed and interrupted, I decided I’d just use its “second” episode that would happen later this week to rewatch the pilot coherently. but, technically I tried. While I do really enjoy the Jonathan Glazer film on which the series is adapted, it’s been years since I’ve seen the film. At least twenty, but … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 02/04/24

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American Fiction

John Stark

Rarely is a debut film so exceptionally biting in its attempt to drive home a point, but Court Jefferson’s American Fiction is that pleasant surprise. As a white male film critic, even though my main purpose is to come at this perspective as a blind film critic, i always look at certain films and wonder if what i have to say is valid, or even what criticisms I could offer. Honestly, I have none. So, this time, I have nothing to worry about. My only criticism at all is just in how the film is received, as I wasn’t quite … Continue reading American Fiction

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All Of Us Strangers

John Stark

It’s tragic that Andrew Hague’s All Of Us Strangers wasn’t nominated for a single Oscar. honestly, it’s a travesty. Considering the widespread praise this film has had, the only possible reason could be the belief that this is just another gay movie, and that would be such a mistake. Andrew Scott plays a man who lives in England in one of those new condo buildings where no one else has moved in. Except one day, he finds a neighbor, who lives on another floor. Lost in their loneliness, these two connect, which sparks something within Scott, and he basically returns … Continue reading All Of Us Strangers

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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

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Marriage Story

John Stark

Somehow, and I really don’t know why, I never watched Noah Baumbach’s Marraige Story upon release.Not only does the film have audio description, and it’s not very old, but it is a Netflix original. What the hell have I been doing with my life? So, in opening up my Oscar Shame period, I admit that I needed to right this wrong, and I’ve now seen this. It is amazing. Stunning. The cast is exceptional. I would hand out nominations right on down the line. Best Picture, Director, Actor (Adam Driver), Actress (Scarlett Johansson), and if we are giving a nod … Continue reading Marriage Story

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Killers Of The Flower Moon

John Stark

No matter what words I have for this film, it already has won a barrage of trophies, and is a Best Picture nominee this year, among its many other nominations. Of course, it is directed by Martin Scorsese, who earned his 10th Best Director nomination, becoming the most lauded living director.It’s part of the reason streaming services like Apple and Netflix give him massive budgets for films that likely will never make that back. The profile his films hit, and the status he gives to them during awards season is almost this intangible quality you can’t put a price on. … Continue reading Killers Of The Flower Moon

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/25/24

John Stark

It’s been so long since any news that I was not shocked that Wolf Pack was cancelled by Paramount Plus after one season. I kinda already thought it had been. Especially with Paramount going through a much reported mass firing shortly. Fool Me Once (Netflix) I see is still trending in Netflix’s top 10. Harlan Cobin’s adaptations seem to always attract enough attention, and the British audio description on the series is solid. In this episode, a car alarm was triggered in a way I hadn’t thought of, but I thought the narrator did a nice job of explaining it. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/25/24

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Anatomy Of A Fall

John Stark

Justine Treat’s lauded courtroom drama is exactly everything you’ve heard. And, Neon has come in clutch with an audio description track, allowing a rare international title that is accessible to American blind audiences. So, you too can live out the drama of this mostly in English title. Sandra Hueller plays an actress who is living with her husband, their son, and their dog. Seriously, the dog has been included in the awards circuit. I think the dog from this film has more awards than Ava Duvernay does for directing Origin. Pretty much at the top, we discover that the husband … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Fall

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/20/24

John Stark

Lawmen (Paramount Plus) gave me the second to last (or penultimate) episode as Bass faced his own demons and decided he needed to face Mr. Sundown. I love the audio description on this series. Absolute excellence. There’s a scene where Bass keeps fever dreaming other things that cuts with reality which I thought was done rather well. Also managed another episode of Reacher (Amazon) which had the team get closer to the truth, until the truth decides not to leave any tracks. And on a short news day, also watched an episode of Young Sheldon (MAX) which has audio description. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/20/24

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Birth/Rebirth

John Stark

the good news is that you can find this title with audio description. the bad news, is despite this being a Shudder release, and on AMC Plus, you won’t find it there. If I was going to wait this long to see Birth/Rebirth, I decided I’d rent the damn thing and make sure I got the audio description. It helps that I’m a voting member for the Spirit Awards and this is in consideration. However, I didn’t use the non-audio described screener offered to me. I knew too many people who kept swearing this was the best, or one of, … Continue reading Birth/Rebirth

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Murderball

John Stark

When I decided to start revealing my failings with Oscar nominees I hadn’t seen yet, I remembered having seen a certain title on the list for Peacock, and I knew what I was watching. Somehow, despite the fact that the majority of the described content on Peacock does not predate the streaming service, even with their own content, and even with titles that have known audio description, Murderball has audio description. It’s not a Universal or Focus release, it is 20 years old, and a documentary I’m sure isn’t climbing their ratings ranks. However, this nominee qualifies. Yes, nominee. It … Continue reading Murderball